Avenue January 2017

the new NEW

Luxury consignment clothing is all the rage

Weddings

RUN CALGARY. EXPERIENCE CANADA.

FINISH STRONG, PROUD & FREE

more and more adult kids are relying on the “bank of mom and dad” to help them out. We take a look at what parents are paying for these days and how this affects family finances and the economy.

By Marzena Czarnecka

Weddings

Winter, spring, summer or fall, Avenue’s wedding guide has tips for tying the knot in any season.

By Shelley Arnusch, Meredith Bailey and Sarah Comber

Manage Your Money Now

The best tools, apps and services for people to track their finances, manage their debt and invest their money.

By Fraser Tripp

48

Hockey for a Cause

Canada’s game is more than just sport for Calgarians. We look at a few examples of hockey being used for the greater good.

By Meredith Bailey

CITY

55

Mountains

Mountain-town pride festivals have all the parties and fun of their urban counterparts, plus skiing and other outdoorsy activities. Read more about the prides in Aspen, Jasper and Whistler.

23

Detours

A stilt-dancing company takes movement to new heights, why the High Performance Rodeo’s 10-minute Play Festival continues to be a hit, and how to pole dance, rage and boulder yourself fit.

59

Workout

Meaghan Mikkelson-Reid has won Olympic gold, a world championship and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s Clarkson Cup, all while making time to be a mother.

29

Dining

Whether you want to eat more veggies, be more social or support local producers, here’s how you can keep your New Year’s resolutions while dining out.

63

Civic Space

A look at Courtroom 1800, a uniquely built space where First Nations restorative justice is mediated through a marriage of First Nations and Western approaches.

68

Style

Four Calgary consignment business owners on why the city’s resale market is thriving.

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Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Sarah Comber, Marzena Czarnecka, Christina Frangou, Stephanie Ann McKay, Brent Scout, Benoit Tardif, Fraser Tripp, Julia Williams, Katherine Ylitalo

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Money Talk T

alking about money has traditionally been considered terribly gauche — an attitude Canadians inherited, like so many things, from the British, and mostly perpetuated by people for whom money didn’t matter. That said, people who are suffering financially are often equally adverse to the subject, preferring, understandably, not to speak about their situation. And then there are the regular, middle-class folks who tend to keep mum because it’s none of anyone’s damn busi ness how much one earns, saves and spends.

But the social code around money talk is changing, because, as they say, knowledge is power. In 2014, the now infamous Sony hack revealed that female actors were being paid less than their male counterparts, spawning a move ment to close the Hollywood wage gap. While it may be hard to summon sympathy for movie stars who spend more on a handbag than many people earn in a year, it points to the notion of fairness and the fact that certain fiscal realities can perpetuate a system where people get cheated and miss opportunities to better themselves financially.

In short, we short-change ourselves when we fail to think and talk about money effectively, which is why, in this issue, we decided to broach the subject, with “The Bank of Mom and Dad” (page 36) and “Manage Your Money Now” (page 47). The former piece contains substantial food for thought and fodder for conversation for any parents out there who may be considering help ing their adult children finance a major purchase like a home or start a business. The latter offers practical advice for helping manage your money, whether you have a little or a lot, and presents some useful tools to help you track your spend ing, pay down debt, maximize your savings and navigate the world of investing.

And speaking of spending wisely, “The Pros of Consignment” (page 68) features four retailers in the city’s thriving high-end second-hand fashion

Jennifer Hamilton Executive Editor jhamilton@redpointmedia.ca

Caution: Low Flying Planes

A systematic approach can help investors keep their focus on the road ahead.

When out for a drive, it can be somewhat unnerving to see a sign saying “Caution: Low Flying Aircraft.” What are you supposed to do with that information?

Are you supposed to turn around? Pull over? If you keep driving are you risking a collision with an oncoming plane?

Fortunately, this sign does not signal impending doom; its purpose is to tell us not to panic. It is meant to prevent drivers from being startled by the sudden noise or vibrations caused by low flying planes. Armed with this information, drivers have less chance of being accidentally scared off the road.

Investing could use its own version of this sign. Big macro events are like the planes that fly over that road: they come with the investment territory. Events like emerging market blow ups, Middle Eastern wars, rising interest rates, and currency shocks have been around since

stocks traded on exchanges. They will probably always exist.

Yet while major economic crises can have a large impact if they were to fully develop, they are often highly improbable.

This is not to suggest that pilots can’t make mistakes or that mechanical errors won’t occur. So this road sign is also meant to signal “be on guard.” you’re in your car and a plane is in sight, wobbling and with smoke behind it, it would likely be wise to slow down or stop the car.

At this point, we have one eye on the road and one to the sky. While China and emerging markets are on our radar screen, there does not yet appear to be enough smoke in the sky to stop the car (although we are being careful about our positioning on the road). But a lot of the risks we are seeing now are likely just planes on a

normal approach: noisy, a bit scary, but not something that requires evasive maneuvers. In situations like these, investors are best advised to stay calm and keep driving.

Following a systematic and common sense investment approach can help. At Mawer, our approach is to invest in “boring” wealth creating companies, run by excellent management teams, that can be purchased at attractive prices. This process helps us put the investing odds in our favour by focusing on the things that we can control vs. those we can’t.

We know that planes will continue to fly overhead. By following a disciplined and time-tested investment approach, we can put our focus on the road ahead rather than anxiously looking toward the sky. It may be boring, but it works.

#AlloyHomes

Be sure to follow our projects live on social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be inspired, discover ideas and watch our buildings take shape from sketches to drawings to built works.

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CONTRIBUTORS

403-264-3667

alloyhomes.com

info@alloyhomes.com

STEPHANIE ANNE MCKAY

Stephanie Anne McKay is a Toronto-based fashion illustrator, who takes a raw approach to figure study through an abstract use of watercolour and digital media. McKay studied at Academy of Realist Art, MTM Animation School and Ryerson University. She currently works full time as an illustrator for numerous clients including Hudson's Bay, National Ballet of Canada and Chanel Beauty. You can see her work at stephanieanne.ca.

ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTH

Elizabeth Chorney-Booth is a Calgary-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to Avenue as well as a number of other local and national publications including the Calgary Herald, Today’s Parent and The Globe and Mail. She started her career as a music writer, but after a decade of interviewing bands and reviewing records, she shifted her focus to write about food, travel, social and cultural issues and local events. Chorney-Booth has been a finalist for two AMPA awards and is also one of the new authors behind the Best of Bridge cookbook series.

CHRISTINA FRANGOU

Christina Frangou is a Calgary-based freelance journalist who specializes in writing about medicine and health. A graduate of Carleton University’s School of Journalism and the London School of Economics, Frangou writes Avenue’s monthly Workout column. Her work has appeared in Avenue, Swerve, The Globe and Mail and The National Post, among others. Frangou is one of four Greek Cypriot-Newfie Saskatchewanians and is related to the other three. She’s happiest outside — running, hiking or cycling, and usually shadowed by a little black dog. Follow her on Twitter @cfrangou.

BENOIT TARDIF

Benoit Tardif was born in Montreal, Quebec, and has been represented by Colagene creative clinic since 2013. After completing his studies in graphic design at the Université du Québec à Montréal Tardiff started working as an illustrator. His simple, colourful images are often tinged with irony and are marked by an interest in silkscreen and posters. He uses both traditional and digital techniques to convey a specific and conceptual message.

SPONSORED EVENT

HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO AND ONE YELLOW RABBIT INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE HEAT WAVE THIS JANUARY!

We’re turning up the thermometer at the 31st High Performance Rodeo, Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts. Here’s how:

• 28 sizzling shows – dance, music, theatre, comedy and more – from near and far selected to warm your heart and ignite your passions

• 18 venues

• 1 month

• $15 Wednesdays & other deals

Come Rodeo with us – Rabbit style.

JANUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 2, 2017

Info: Hprodeo.ca

Get social: @hprodeo #hprodeo facebook.com/hprodeo

Avenue is proud to support local initiatives in our community. Visit AvenueCalgary.com/events to find out more about upcoming events in the city.

NEXT ISSUE

February 2017

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FRENCH DINING 101

Making sense of the terms, regions and cuisine of France and where to find it in Calgary.

CALGARY’S COLOUR PALETTE

Top local designers talk about how the natural world around Calgary inspires their design choices.

PROSPERITY OR BUST

A look at the economic ups and downs of Calgary since the 1800s, and how we can learn from them so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

January 2017 SPONSORED EVENTS

High Performance Rodeo

January 5 to February 2 hprodeo.ca

Theatre Junction’s “Portraits in Motion”

January 18 to 21 theatrejunction.com

Theatre Calgary’s “The Audience”

January 24 to February 28 theatrecalgary.com

Brakemen Foundation

Celebrity Chef Showdown

January 26 brakemenfoundation.com

Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Benefit: The Billy Horror Picture Show

January 27 calgaryhealthtrust.com

YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

Official Launch

January 28 yychotchocolate.com

Avenue is proud to support local initiatives in our community. Visit AvenueCalgary.com/events to find out more about upcoming events in the city.

cityDETOURS

Elevated Dance

For Tangy Lime Dance Projects, stilts aren’t just a prop.

The first time Allara Gooliaff danced on stilts, she didn’t like it all that much. She was performing a tall character in a show by Three Left Feet Movement Creations, the youth dance-education company where she is artistic director. The aluminum drywall stilts she wore weighed seven pounds apiece.

But, as awkward as the stilts were, Gooliaff found herself intrigued by the higher vantage they allowed her. The show wrapped, but her interest grew. Stilt work complemented her passion for the exaggerated shapes in West African dance. It also resonated with her emotionally and philosophically.

Stilt dancer Allara Gooliaff, founder of Tangy Lime Dance Projects.

Photograph by Trudie Lee

DETOURS

“Should we have a higher perspective? Should we be the better person? Stilts are an easy metaphor for exploring these ideas,” she says.

Swapping the awkward drywall stilts for lighter wooden peg stilts, Gooliaff trained with acrobatic stilt group Carpetbag Brigade Physical Theatre Company in San Francisco. In 2012, she started Tangy Lime Dance Projects, Calgary’s first stilt dance company.

While stilts are traditionally used as props,

Through Tangy Lime, Gooliaff has created several solo and collaborative pieces, and has performed at numerous festivals and events. Sometimes she’s six feet off the floor. Once, she performed on ice. “There’s no room for improvisation,” Gooliaff says. “It’s a two-by-two-inch surface and it doesn’t cantilever at all.”

Gooliaff began Tangy Lime without peers or mentors — most Canadian stilt artists live in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, and few share

A 10-Minute Play in One Day

The 10-Minute Play Festival at High Performance Rodeo is a perennially sold-out event that counts Mayor Naheed Nenshi among its devotees. Invited theatre companies create 10-minute plays over the preceding 24 hours, each featuring a specific prop and line of dialogue introduced as the countdown period begins.

The event has become a rite of passage for emerging theatre artists in the city. Originally founded by Ground Zero Theatre, the reins were passed to Downstage theatre in 2011, a company that had participated prior to assuming the producer role. “Because it’s such a popular event, it’s a great chance for smaller companies to put their artistic identity in front of a larger audience,” says Downstage artistic director Simon Mallett. As both performer and producer, Mallett has a considerable number of 10-Minute plays under his belt. “Every year gets harder as I get older — the sleep deprivation isn’t as easy now as it was 10 years ago,” he says. While there’s no real formula for success, he’s certainly picked up a few things along the way, namely that comedy is easier to create in 24 hours than heavy drama.

“That the audience usually has a drink or two before the show starts certainly helps, as well,” Mallett says.

Drinking aside, Mallett says the enduring appeal of the 10-Minute Play Festival is due to its titular brevity, something that bodes well for the event if theatregoers, like the rest of society, are becoming increasingly prone to distraction.

“If there’s a show that doesn’t work for you, there’s going to be a new one on in 10 minutes, so you’re not stuck in the theatre watching a show you don’t like for two hours,” Mallett says.

“It’s like Calgary weather — in 10 minutes, it will change.” —Shelley

Arnusch

High Performance Rodeo 2017 runs Jan. 5 to Feb. 2. For a complete schedule visit hprodeo.ca.

Dancer Allara Gooliaff on her stilts.

Allara Gooliaff photograph by Susanna Gordon, 10-Minute Play Festival photograph by Chantal Wall

A scene from the 10-Minute Play Fest 2016.

Everyone wants to live in a house that fits the way you want to live. Like a pair of properly fitted shoes, a well-designed home can make life easier and more enjoyable. But lives change and needs evolve. The house that was perfect 5 or 10 years ago may not work so well anymore. We created Future Adaptive Building to help alleviate this problem. FAB is a way to design and build a custom-designed home that can easily adapt to your changing needs. A FAB house will fit your life – both now and in the future.

We created the Bungaloft as a variant of the FAB system for older adults who want a cool, beautiful place to live that can also adapt, as needed, to meet changes in lifestyle and physical health. It combines the sophistication of one level living with the latest age-in-place design thinking to support the promise and reality of growing older.

John Brown is a registered architect. He is a founding partner in Housebrand and a Professor of Architecture at the University of Calgary where, through the Design Research Innovation Lab, he explores the future of age-in-place design.

A Bungaloft combines an open plan living, dining and kitchen space with a main floor master bedroom and ensuite This layout is ideally suited for empty nesters who want to live in a well-designed modern home without the necessity of stairs

DETOURS

Alternative Athletics

Did you drunkenly swear to get your butt to the gym this year? Again?

Kick your clichéd resolutions to the curb with these five alternative fitness options so fun you’ll forget you’re exercising.

—Fraser Tripp

this month do to

FESTIVAL HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO

DANCE

JULIET & ROMEO

JAN. 18 TO 28

Decidedly Jazz Danceworks’

2017 winter show is the second production in the company’s new building. Audiences will see the famous Shakespearean story of two young lovers whose families are at odds with each other come to life on stage, though in this production the story is a little different. The show features choreography by Kimberley Cooper and will be performed to live music.

DJD Dance Centre, 111 12 Ave. S.E., 403-245-3533, decidedlyjazz.com

WEDDING SHOW THE BASH

JAN. 21 AND 22

In Concert

Reverend Peyton’s Front Porch Sessions

JAN. 13 AND 14

Engineered Air Theatre, Arts Commons, 403-294-9494, artscommons.ca

Joel Plaskett In Concert With the CPO

JAN. 24

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 403-571-0849, calgaryphil.com

Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band

JAN. 29

ADULT GYMNASTICS

Yes, you get to jump in the foam pit. Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics offers beginner courses as well as adult drop-ins. Don’t let the “beginner” status fool you, as you’ll be discovering muscles you never knew you had. 3442 118 Ave. S.E., 587-349-2004, kyleshewfeltgymnastics.com, @ksgymnastics

BOULDERING

The Crux Bouldering League (offered at The Crux Climbing & Bouldering) is ideal for upwardly mobile types with new climbing problems to solve each week and an awards party at the end of the program. 1415 28 St. N.E., 403-235-2789, thecruxclimbing.com

DANCE

Decidedly Jazz Danceworks offers beginner classes in styles such as hip-hop, tap and funk. Drop in to any class for $5 from Jan. 2 to 6. 111 12 Ave. S.E., 403-245-3533, decidedlyjazz.com, @decidedlyjazz

POLE DANCING

Spice up your life and wake up your core with a pole class at Strut Fitness. If you really want to work on your strut, the studio also offers burlesque training. 126 16 Ave. N.E., 403-999-0847, strutfitness.ca, @strutfit_dance

RAGE YOGA

Give the middle finger to broken resolutions with instructor Lindsay Istace’s bastardization of the vinyasa practice, complete with F-bombs. Rage out Mondays and Wednesdays at Dickens pub. 1000 9 Ave. S.W., 403-233-7550, dickenspub.ca; rageyoga.com

JAN. 5 TO FEB. 2

The long, dark days of winter are well suited to the mind-bending offerings of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo. This year marks the 31st edition of HPR, and, as always, there will be a range of theatre, dance and stage events, with a lounge at Motel in Arts Commons where audiences can mingle with artists. This year’s lineup includes an all-female comedy inspired by the Bechdel test, a multimedia show about Australian aboriginal traditions and a solo performance from comedian Cathy Jones. Various locations, 403-294-9494, hprodeo.ca

BALLET LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO

JAN. 12 TO 14

This boisterous performance pokes fun at convention as an all-male company of dancers do some of the most popular ballets of all time clad in tutus and wigs. The dancers might look ridiculous, but their skills are of the highest calibre.

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. N.W., 403294-9494, albertaballet50.com

Not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill bridal show, the Bash is curated to introduce brides- and groomsto-be to creative and innovative wedding professionals from Calgary and the surrounding area. Attend the weekend-long event and learn how easy it is to give your dream wedding a local flavour. Festival Hall, 1215 10 Ave. S.E., thebash.ca

Bella Concert Hall, Mount Royal University, 403-440-7770, mtroyal.ca

THEATRE WAIT UNTIL DARK

JAN. 21 TO FEB. 19

Vertigo Theatre presents a new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s psychological thriller about a blind woman living in New York City’s Greenwich Village who finds a way to use her sightlessness to her advantage when she is faced with a threatening situation.

Vertigo Theatre, 115 9 Ave. S.E., 403-221-3708, vertigotheatre.com

THEATRE THE AUDIENCE

JAN. 24 TO FEB. 18

Seana McKenna portrays Queen Elizabeth II in Theatre Calgary’s latest production that delves into who Her Royal Majesty truly is and highlights the elegant woman behind the crown.

Max Bell Theatre, Arts Commons, 403-294-7447, theatrecalgary.com

Openings

DOODLE DOGS

Treat your pooches like the royalty they are at this new dog boutique and daycare in Parkdale. Pick up stylish dog apparel, collars, beds and toys from international and local brands including DOGO, Elanor, Hamish McBeth, Eco-Pup, Pretty Paw and BARK, or drop your furry friend off at the daycare for some cage-free fun. You can even stop by for Doodle Dog’s $15 lunch special, where your dog will be taken care of for up to two hours while you eat. 3A Parkdale Cres. N.W., 587-349-3647, doodledogsyyc.com, @doodledogsyyc

NAM VIETNAMESE KITCHEN

Warm your insides with a bowl of pho or vermicelli from NAM, which opened this past August in the Beltline. Designed by Frank Architecture + Interiors, the eatery also serves rice bowls, salad rolls and spring rolls. Stop by any day of the week for lunch or dinner, or take advantage of NAM’s takeout and delivery services.

SWEET TOOTH ICE CREAM

Located in Chinatown, this is the city’s first brickand-mortar shop to offer rolled ice cream. Choose one of Sweet Tooth’s seven flavours such as strawberry shortie (with strawberries, vanilla bean and whipped cream), then watch as the ice cream and toppings are mixed together on a cold plate and scraped into rolls. Finish it off with extra toppings like brownie bits, Pocky sticks or toasted coconut. 206 Centre St. S.E., 587-832-0128, sweettoothicecreamyyc.com, @sweettoothyyc

UNDRCARD BOXING STUDIO

Jab and hook your way to a fitter lifestyle at this non-contact boxing studio next to Craft Beer Market in the Beltline. Designed by McKinley Burkart, the two-level, 5,600-square-foot studio offers 50-minute group boxing classes for all fitness levels set to highenergy music. UNDRCARD also has an in-house café called Yo Adrian!, offering cold-pressed juice from Cru Juice, coffee from Fratello and quick bites from Sidewalk Citizen, as well as a store that sells stylish workout apparel, boxing gear and streetwear. 349 10 Ave. S.W., undrcard.com, @undrcard

DINING

BY Elizabeth Chorney-Booth PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

Restaurant Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. But, if your annual promise to better yourself can incorporate eating at some of Calgary’s most buzzed-about restaurants, you may be able to keep yourself on track. There are restaurants out there that will keep you on a healthy diet, contribute to the local economy and spend time with family and friends. This list of spots will help you fulfill your resolutions while treating yourself to a night out — all in the name of self-improvement, of course.

Roasted artichoke with pear, chestnut, rosemary and cashewmilk sauce from White Rose Vegetarian Kitchen.

RESOLUTION: SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCERS Deane House

The historical home once occupied by Fort Calgary Superintendent captain Richard Burton Deane is steeped in local lore. Now the next chapter in the landmark house’s story is being written with the newly opened Deane House restaurant.

Executive chef Jamie Harling’s offerings are largely centred around sustainable and locally sourced ingredients that pay homage to his own ideas about food, as well as the provenance of the building itself.

“I’ve been calling it contemporary Canadian cuisine,” Harling says of his menu, which he tweaks regularly to incorporate in-season produce. “The big thing is celebrating ingredients at their peak and celebrating the here-and-now. You’re not going to see asparagus here in February.”

Sal Howell, Deane House’s proprietor and “curator” of the elegantly designed space, also has a deep love for local food: her other restaurant, Prince’s Island’s River Café, was a pioneer in Calgary’s local-food movement and continues to champion regional suppliers.

Taking the local concept a step further, Howell made sure that Deane House would have a backyard garden full of edible plants for Harling to use in the kitchen. Once patio season returns, diners will be able to sit alongside the working garden as they gaze at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers and contemplate the rich history of the Deane House and its place in the city.

Howell sees the food coming out of the kitchen as an extension of that experience. “It’s an exploration of the region,” she says. “There’s so much history and storytelling that can be told through food.”

806 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-0595, deanehouse.com

Smoked Northern Divine sturgeon and caviar. must try

Pearlic Leng, server at Deane House.

RESOLUTION:

EAT MORE VEGGIES White Rose Vegetarian Kitchen

Calgary restaurants have been getting increasingly creative with their vegetable dishes over the last few years, but the city has always suffered from a dearth of strictly vegetarian restaurants. Alberta and Dwayne Ennest, the couple behind Big Fish and Open Range, wanted to remedy that with their newest venture, White Rose, a casual, vintage-styled restaurant that is 100-per cent vegetarian.

The concept is pretty simple: the menu lists plates that go for either $8 or $18, all of which are designed for sharing. What isn’t simple are the menu items themselves: dishes like yellow beet risotto cakes with plums and goat cheese, fennel with grilled apple and saffron cream and roasted artichoke with a cashew-milk sauce are brimming with complex flavours that many wouldn’t expect from vegetarian food.

“I let myself run away with the menu a little bit,” says Dwayne, who, like many chefs, has always considered meat a bit of a muse. “We try to be creative, but also to create a meal that will leave people satisfied.”

Ironically, the Ennests have used the excess space in front of White Rose to set up The Coal Shed, a “permanent food truck” that serves burgers and barbecue. Diners can sit at one of the communal tables on the east side of the restaurant to order off of both menus. After all, the best resolutions require a little balance.

6512 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-455-8055, whiterosekitchen.ca

Seana McKenna in

THE AUDIENCE

by Peter Morgan

Directed by Miles Potter

January 24 to February 18

tickets start at $35 403-294-7447 theatrecalgary.com

@TheatreCalgary #tcAudience Max Bell Theatre at Arts Commons

BOTTO lE BOUILLABAISSE, BREAD & BEIGNETS

White Rose Vegetarian Kitchen.

6920 Macleod Trail S, Calgary | (403) 252-4365 | tangobistro.com

“The world can wait, it’s teatime.”

RESOLUTION: BE MORE SOCIAL Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey

Traditional barbecue — we’re talking the stuff that comes out of a smoker, not off a backyard grill — is meant to be shared. Take a trip down to Texas, the spiritual home of barbecue, and you’ll find big platters of smoked meat served with buckets of beans and coleslaw plopped down on picnic tables for big groups to share. The social aspect is almost as important as the food itself.

At least that’s what the folks behind Kensington’s Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey learned when they travelled stateside to hone the concept of their new restaurant that specializes in Texas-

style barbecue and a wide selection of American and international whiskeys. The front part of the restaurant is dominated by long communal tables that sit up to 20 — perfect for friends and family to convene at, or for smaller groups of strangers to sit around and get to know their neighbours as they pass the barbecue sauce.

But it’s the food that really brings Hayden Block patrons together. Chef Dave McAuley smokes his meat for up to 16 hours and makes it fresh every day, selling off any leftovers at half price after 10 p.m. Most of the meat on the menu — brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast and

pork ribs — are sold by the half pound (with hot links, half chickens and massive beef short ribs on the bone sold by the item) and are presented on sharing platters alongside classic sides and starters such as watermelon-and-mint salad and McAuley’s outstanding smoked chicken wings. Share a little bit of everything amongst a big group, or take a gander at what the people beside you are having (and ask them what their favourites are) before placing an order of your own.

1136 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-283-3021, haydenblockyyc.com

TOP Bib & Tucker Whiskey. ABOVE Watermelon salad. RIGHT The Meat Platter, which includes six types of meat, as served with sides and cocktails.

2nd SHOWHOME - 20 Wycliffe Mews, Watermark “The Arden” $3,499,000

- Walk-out bungalow -Fully Custom - 3 Bedrooms

- Loft,able to build 2 bedrooms

- 3 Car garage

- Natural stone and wood paneling

- Climate controlled wine tasting room, accommodates over 800 bottles

- Southern and western exposure

- Mountain views

ALSO BUILDING IN

3rd SHOWHOME - 116 Waterside Court, Watermark “The Wilmcote” $1,949,000

- Fully custom

- 4 Bedrooms,each with own ensuite

- 4 Car garage

- Separate prep kitchen

- Finished basement with wet bar

- Facility style gym

- walk-out, backing onto pond

RESOLUTION: EVOLVE WITH THE TIMES

The Belvedere

Personal evolution and growth can be difficult for an individual, but it can be even harder for a restaurant. When Clayton Morgan, owner of The Belvedere, saw the local restaurant scene — especially that on Stephen Avenue — changing around him, he knew he needed to change things up if he wanted his restaurant to survive. Nearly two decades old, The Belvedere was elegantly old-school, but that vibe wasn’t bringing in younger, more adventurous diners anymore or the downtown business crowd that has thinned out in general.

So Morgan made a conscious effort to evolve. Last spring, he hired John Michael MacNeil (best known to Calgary food scenesters from his stint as executive chef at Teatro) to breathe in some new life. MacNeil maintained the restaurant’s commitment to higher-end quality, but his menu is a little more spirited, showing off his skills with more of-the-moment cooking techniques like fermentation and sous vide.

“I like to try to transform the ingredients in the most technical way, but also in the simplest way to bring out the true flavour,” MacNeil says. “It’s a simpler style, but it’s more elegant, I think.”

The result is a menu that won’t put off Belvedere’s customers who are used to more traditional fare, but now they’ll

get a potato mille-feuille with their beef tenderloin in place of more standard steak frites, and pickled charred shallots alongside their rack of lamb.

That, coupled with a few decor changes to soften up the look of the place (Morgan got rid of the dining room’s white tablecloths so people would feel a bit more relaxed), has allowed The Belvedere to hold onto its place as one of the great fine-dining restaurants in the downtown core.

“The regular clientele are receiving it very well,” Morgan says. “The flavours are clean and bright and crisp. People still look for classic cooking, but done in a modern fashion.”

107 8 Ave. S.W., 403-265-9595, thebelvedere.ca

MUST TRY

Alberta lamb rack with pickled charred shallots.

A home that transcends trends

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No credit, No job? No problem:

BY Marzena Czarnecka PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

TWELCOME TO THE BANK OF MOM & DAD

Tanysia Komers is trying to not be a hypocrite.

The certified financial planner with Investors Group moved to Calgary less than two years ago, and she already has one of the fastest-growing practices in the region. Ambitious and driven, she nonetheless credits the pace of her success in large part to the financial support she received from her parents early in her career.

“My parents supported me through school and through the early stages of launching my business,” says Komers. “Graduating without student loans gave me an immediate and tremendous leg up. What it meant was that I could start focusing on investing in my career right away.”

Knowing her parents had her back also meant that Komers could pursue the riskier track of building an independent business and financial practice instead of having to take a “safe” job with a predictable paycheque that would pay the bills — and pay off those student loans.

But when she sits across the table from clients who want to make a major financial gift to their children, the first question Komers asks them is, “Does it make financial sense?”

It’s a question too many generous baby boomers don’t ask themselves, or their financial advisors, before jumping in to assist their adult children. And the consequences can be catastrophic.

Consider this scenario: you’re five years away from retirement, and your son comes to you and asks you to help him buy a business. You feel you’re in a good position financially — you and your spouse are both working at well-paying jobs, your house is paid off, and you have what you think is a comfortable nest egg in RRSPs and other savings. You love your child and you want to help him be successful. Job-wise, he hasn’t really “found himself” — never been happy, never found the right fit. Maybe this, finally, is it. How can you possibly deny him?

So you help him buy the business. It’s more expensive than you initially thought, and you don’t want to dip into your RRSPs, so you take out a new mortgage on your house. And the business doesn’t really take off right away. And there’s this bill to pay and this creditor to settle up with, and so on. The business is never in the black, and then the inevitable happens, and it goes belly up.

And the year you were going to retire, you find yourself with a massive mortgage on your once-clear house, and, because you co-signed this and that, responsible for debts your son incurred.

Unfortunately, that is not a hypothetical scenario. It’s one that left Tina Tehranchian, a senior financial planner and CFP professional with Assante Capital Management, Ltd., devastated as she watched her clients lose virtually all of their savings and put

THE KEY DRIVERS BEHIND THE BANK OF MOM & DAD:

1Lower interest rates.

2Government financial programs, such as RRSPs and RESPs.

3Accumulation of wealth from two-plus decades of economic prosperity for the boomers.

4Dramatic increase in price of big-ticket items.

5Wealth transfer to boomers from their parents and resulting estate planning.

themselves in a position of near-bankruptcy when they should have been beginning to enjoy their retirement.

“It was awful,” Tehranchian says. “I kept on telling them it was a bad idea, but they felt compelled to help their son.”

Scared? Good. Tehranchian, Komers and every financial planner alive wants you to be. Not so scared that you go Ebenezer Scrooge on your children and make them suffer through the school of hard knocks while you drink martinis on the deck of your retirement yacht. Just scared enough to think hard before you give — both about how the gift will affect your children and your own financial future.

Because you will give. “Every parent wants the best for their children,” says Alana Riley, district vice-president of Calgary South with Scotiabank. “And they will give, with the best of intentions, whether it’s to help them start a new business, get them into their first house, or help them with a major purchase like a car.”

In most ways, the Bank of Mom and Dad is nothing new. Parents have always provided some financial support to their adult children, particularly around “big ticket” purchases like houses. Parents and family members have long been dominant “angel investors” for most start-up businesses by young people. And government student-loan programs specifically expect parents to contribute financially to their children’s post-secondary education.

What’s new is the extent to which parents are expected to provide this support. Studies by the major banks, for example, report that more than half of house-hunting millennials expect their parents or family members to provide some or all of the money necessary for their first home purchase.

According to Dion Linke, senior vice-president of Retail Banking at Servus, there are five related variables that contribute to the reliance of adult children, millennials in particular, on the Bank of Mom and Dad.

The first is lower interest rates, which simultaneously encourage borrowing, discourage saving and reduce the “opportunity cost” of giving for the parents. “If the parents’ savings are getting them a return of one per cent, there is much less of an opportunity cost to giving those savings to their children toward a house purchase or business investment than if those savings were making six or eight per cent, as they might have in the past,” Linke explains.

Second, government financial programs, such as RRSPs and RESPs, which Canadians have been taking advantage of enthusiastically, have given fiscally responsible boomers both a habit of saving and a pool of money from which to give to their children.

Third, intermittent downturns notwithstanding, Canada has gone through more than two decades of consistent economic growth. “This has allowed Canadians to accumulate significant wealth,” says Linke, again, deepening that pool of funds from which parents feel they can draw to support their children.

Fourth, the cost of big-ticket items has gone up dramatically. Middle-class baby boomers were able to afford to buy an entrylevel house with their entry-level salary. Millennials? Not so much.

Studies by the major banks report that more than half of house-hunting millennials expect their parents or family members to provide some or all of the money for their first home purchase.

PERCENTAGE OF MILLENNIALS IN CANADA WHO EXPECT PARENTS TO PROVIDE SOME

ALL OF THEIR FIRST-HOME PURCHASE:

27% 2015 42% 2016 65%

2013

Finally, many millennials are the beneficiaries of multi-generational estate planning. “There is a significant wealth transfer underway in Canada right now,” Linke says. “Baby boomers are inheriting money from their parents, and many are choosing to pass some or all of this inheritance directly to their children now, as part of their own estate planning.”

You can certainly see their point. Why make your children wait for their grandparents’ inheritance when odds are you’re going to live to be 90? Better to give it to them now. Get them into a nice house in a nice neighbourhood, give their business a healthy injection of cash, support them financially while they get their second or third degree at the London School of Economics or Oxford, spend a year studying art in Paris…

Makes sense. Except sometimes, it doesn’t.

“The scary thing is how few people have a really accurate view of what their financial situation is and what their retirement needs really are,” says Komers. “They have a sense that they are doing very well. They have a good and growing income. They have some savings. And they are sure they can afford to give their kids this major gift. But you don’t know what’s really going on behind the scenes until you drill down and start asking some hard questions, and doing some long-term planning and projections.”

Long-term, in the era of 80-plus life expectancy, really means long term. Which, among other things, means periodic review and reassessment. Riley suggests sitting down with your financial planner once every six months. “Treat your financial health as you would your physical health, and see your financial planner as often as you would see your doctor or dentist for a check-up,” she says.

Tehranchian agrees. Regular reviews, particularly for gifting parents, help predict coming shortfalls and, hopefully, provide time to address them. She recently did a review with a long-term client, with whom she had set up a healthy retirement plan about 20 years ago.

“When we did her update, all of a sudden, I saw shortages,” Tehranchian says. The client had been assisting her adult daughter, and then her grandchildren as well, without factoring those costs into her overall financial and retirement plan.

As she’s helping her client reposition her finances, Tehranchian is also asking her to consider the consequences of financially supporting one child to the detriment of another. “In most families, not all children need or ask for help equally,” she says. “So what is the effect of giving a lot to one child on family dynamics, and also on the future financial health of the other sibling?” If you’re depleting your retirement savings to help out a struggling daughter, does that mean that in a decade or two, the son you haven’t helped at all will have to deplete his savings to support you?

Like Komers, Tehranchian got a financial boost early in her career from her parents, and she plans to do the same for her own child. “I think it’s important to help children, especially in today’s market, with something like buying a home,” she says. “But it’s also important to do it in a way that doesn’t endanger

OR

ces of the gift,” counsels Komers. “I’ve had clients say, ‘You know, I don’t mind retiring two or three years later if that gives my kids a head start.’ And that’s great, if you’re aware of the consequences of the gift, and you’re willing to accept them.”

It’s even better if your children are aware of the consequences of the gift. Riley suggests that you include your adult children in the discussions with your financial planner on how buying them a house (or a car or a business or another degree) affects your overall financial health. “Actually, don’t wait until they’re adults,” she says. “Get your younger children financially literate. Bring them with you to your bank, get them in the habit of saving, and show them how you’re saving for them.”

Don’t give more than your children can afford to support. “Suppose you give your children a lump-sum gift that allows them to purchase a house in a really nice neighbourhood. Does that put them into a lifestyle that’s out of reach at their current income? Will they be able to sustain the payments over the longterm?” asks Linke. You’ve paid for the property. If it turns out your children can’t afford to maintain it, are you willing to subsidize utilities, repairs, taxes and condo fees?

It’s also important that parents give tax-effectively. “When gifting a down payment, flow the money through the adult child’s RRSP under the Homebuyers’ Plan. Not only does that increase your after-tax dollars, but it has that payback factor,”

says Laurie Rutherford, district sales leader, Retail Banking at First Calgary. “Your children have 15 years to pay it back — to themselves — so there’s a responsibility component to it that’s

Don’t trust RRSPs? There are other options, especially if you have time on your side. “There are so many other products and structures you can use,” says Komers. “If you know you’re going to be supporting your children with big purchases, start planning for it now. Investigate trusts, bonds and insurance products.”

In particular, when it comes to angel investing in your child’s business, make sure the kid has “skin in the game,” says Tehranchian. Consider structuring the gift as a low-interest loan, or as an actual investment that they will repay to you when their venture is a success. That will make them feel more responsibility, and also more ownership over their ultimate success. Both these factors may contribute to their eventual financial self-sufficiency. Keep in mind that if you overextend yourself in generosity to your children now, you may be putting them in a position where they will have to support you in your golden years, because you’ll have tapped out your retirement fund supporting them. Will they be able to afford that? Or have you fostered such a reliance on the Bank of Mom and Dad in them that they’ve never learned the real cost of living?

“As a parent you absolutely want to help, but you also have to teach your kids financial responsibility,” says Tehranchian. “You need to teach them to take responsibility, as adults, for their own financial future. Because the Bank of Mom and Dad is going to close one day, permanently.”

When it comes to angel investing in your child’s business, make sure the kid has skin in the game.

BY Fraser Tripp ILLUSTRATION BY Benoit Tardif

Manage Your MONEY Now

Get SMART G

eneric resolutions like, “I want to save more,” or “I need to get my act together” are doomed for failure, says Brian Betz, a debt counsellor with Alberta-based non-profit credit counselling agency Money Mentors. Instead, Betz suggests taking the SMART approach to goal setting — that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. “If you say you want to save $100 at the end of the month for the next 12 months, that’s a very specific goal where you can set up a plan, you can measure your progress and you know when you’ve achieved it,” he says.

To create money goals based on realistic expectations, Betz says the first thing to do is understand the in-flow and out-flow of your income. Money Mentors offers free counselling services, monthly seminars and online guides that allow you to tailor your financial literacy learning, an important first step since, as Betz puts it, “No one is going to take care of your money as well as you are.”

If you’ve tried tackling money management in the past but your efforts never seem to amount to much, then let 2017 be the year you turn it all around. A new year means new financial habits. Here’s how you can get on track and go beyond “don’t spend more than you make.”

TREND ALERT

The B-Word

Budgets might not be sexy, but they are the basis for a healthy bank account. As ATB associate investment counsellor Jason Maniotakis says, the tedious exercise of tracking your daily spending is necessary to eventually get a reasonable estimate of your spending habits. (When you discover how much you spend on coffee, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been drinking the free stuff in the office’s communal kitchen.)

Maniotakis says once you have a reasonable estimation of your spending habits, you can begin building a budget by allocating your income toward regular categories such as housing, car payments, entertainment, savings and more. You can take an old-school approach to tracking this information using spreadsheets or, for a true throwback, by busting out a pen and paper. But why sacrifice a tree when your phone can do all the heavy lifting? Both ATB and TD offer tracking tools for their clients via their respective TrackIt and MySpend apps. The apps track and categorize spending from your various chequing, savings and credit accounts, allowing you to see where your money is going.

Brian Gervais, TD’s senior vice-president of branch banking for the prairie region, admits even he’s scared of seeing his spending laid out by MySpend, but it’s valuable information for better decision-making around spending habits. “It tracks typical behaviour and typical spending,” Gervais says. “It will alert you if you’re spending more this week than in previous weeks. So maybe going out for dinner on a Friday night isn’t in the plans because of how your pattern has gone that week.”

Mint is a third-party application that works similarly to TrackIt and MySpend to help you identify spending trends. Apps such as Goodbudget and You Need A Budget require a little

Your Next HOT Date

Linda Davies totally understands if you want to see other people before settling down. The First Calgary personal banking specialist says it’s important to build a relationship with an institution and advisor where you feel comfortable. To do that, you might need to shop around until you find the one. “[Prospective clients] ask about my experience, how long I’ve been working at First Calgary Financial, how long I’ve been working in the industry,” Davies says. “People really just want to find out whether we can service their financial needs in their entirety.”

Learning about an advisor’s qualifications is also important. Most of First Calgary’s personal bankers, for example, are Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) licensed, meaning they can help you enter into investments that, while more volatile than a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC), historically have a better return.

–Jason

more input, but also keep you engaged in your spending and saving. “Understanding trends in your [spending] habits can lead to small changes that add up to big savings over time,” says Maniotakis. “The key thing with a budget is that it’s not a one-and-done exercise. It’s going to be an ongoing commitment to changing your attitude about money and being aware of your financial position at any given time.”

However you go about it, there’s no reason to avoid budgeting. Brian Betz of Money Mentors says many people equate the practice with a diet, thinking they can’t spend money like they can’t touch carbs, but that’s not what it is. “It’s a spending plan,” he says. “It says, ‘Here’s what you make. It’s your money. Where are you going to spend it?’”

ATB’s Jason Maniotakis suggests asking how a prospective advisor would manage your money. “If they give you the impression they’re able to time the markets or select the best investments to get you the highest return, proceed with caution,” he says. “A good advisor is going to be humbler. If someone comes across as too confident, they’re likely just talking the sales game.”

Maniotakis also says not to be afraid to ask how an advisor is compensated. He suggests seeking out someone who receives a salary or a share in fees from fee-based accounts and not someone who receives a commission based on the products they sell.

“UNDERSTANDING TRENDS IN YOUR SPENDING HABITS CAN LEAD TO SMALL CHANGES THAT ADD UP TO BIG SAVINGS OVER TIME.”

Maniotakis, ATB investment counsellor

The Financial Root Canal E

ven the best-laid financial plans can encounter surprises like a change of employment status or illness. That’s why it’s important to think of your financial health as you would your physical health, requiring regular check-ups, as opposed to a resolution that you make once a year and then ignore for the other 364 days.

TD’s Brian Gervais likens it to going to the dentist. “I go and see the dentist every six months, and when I leave I make sure to book another appointment for six months down the road,” he says. This ongoing dialogue about your financial health, will mean unexpected “root canals,” such as the loss of a job, will be easier to manage.

An even better practice, says Servus Wealth Strategies investment advisor Catrina Roth, is to have three to six months of living expenses socked away. “That can be overwhelming for a lot of people, when they’re thinking about building up to that number,” Roth says. If someone is responsible with debt, she might suggest a line of credit as an alternative. Ultimately, the goal is to avoid high-interest, last-minute approaches such as a credit card or high-fee loans.

For those who can’t seem to curb their spending, Roth suggests looking into programs like Servus’s Pay Yourself First, a one-year GIC that only requires a minimum monthly commitment of $25. And, if your income allows, deducting savings from your paycheque will allow you to naturally adjust your spending and saving rather than giving the Canada Revenue Agency a tax-free loan.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK OF YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH AS YOU WOULD YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH, REQUIRING REGULAR CHECK-UPS.

From honing my networking skills, exchanging lessons learned with fellow students and corporate leaders and connecting with a mentor who helped me find my passion, the Haskayne MBA played a big role in my journey towards a rewarding career in Social Corporate Responsibility.”

Jill Salus, MBA’11 Stakeholder & Aboriginal Engagement ConocoPhillips Canada

The Haskayne MBA. Calgary’s MBA.

Making A Million The Millennial Way B

ridget Casey paid off $21,000 in debt in just two years. It sounds like one of those work-fromhome, get-rich-quick schemes that pop up along the edges of your web browser, but in this case it came down to hard work and determination — and maybe a little financial nerding out.

Casey conquered her student loans after realizing she needed to gain some financial literacy when she calculated the potential $45,000 debt she could have been burdened with after graduating. She went from treating money as something to be spent to saving small amounts here and there, while teaching herself money-management skills.

Casey now shares that wealth of knowledge on Money After Graduation, a financial literacy blog with the tag line, “Get rich young.” While the blog’s audience is typically aged 25 to 35, Casey says the principles of saving are the same for anyone, even if variables differ.

The website offers tools and advice for doit-yourselfers to get their finances on track, including a downloadable budget pie inspired by the TV show Til Debt Do Us Part, hosted by straight-talking Gail Vaz-Oxlade. Money After Graduation also contains useful tips such as setting up regular deposits into savings accounts or investments on payday, which can really add up. If you can work like a millennial and find a side hustle (a second stream of income), then you can direct all of that money into savings and free up your primary income.

Bears and Bulls and Robots! OH MY!

You don’t have to be the Wolf of Wall Street to make stock investments. In fact, you barely need to be human. ATB clients can use an online investment tool called ATB Prosper that uses a robo-advisor to recommend investment portfolios based on your risk tolerance. All it takes to get started is $100, says ATB’s Jason Maniotakis. Money blogger Bridget Casey recommends the robo-advisor as well. “The difference between saving and investing over 35 years is $250,000,” she says. Put that way, you can probably afford to take a few hours now to learn about investing if it means another $250,000 over your lifetime.

Being Boring

Once you’ve mastered money management, you’ll no doubt want to get started with investing. For some, this means jumping into a hot sector of the market for a quick return. But if you feel put off by the unpredictability of this investing style, it might be time to consider a wealthmanagement group like Calgary-based Mawer Investment Management Ltd., which takes a self-described “boring” approach.

When forming investment resolutions, Mawer investment counsellor Paul Wheaton suggests long-term goals rather than quick returns. Mawer’s approach seeks out companies with strong business models that are run by high-quality teams, and have a proven track record of weathering different economic climates and providing returns over a long period of time. “Your investment portfolio should give you no surprises,” Wheaton says. “It really manifests in how we invest in companies and what we look for when we’re potentially investing.”

If you’ve been told you have gum disease and need deep cleaning, laser treatment, surgery or extractions, you may benefit from a visit to a periodontist.

Periodontists are specialists in treating gum disease, and they have a full understanding of the foundation structures that support teeth and implants.

They also know that straight, white teeth and a nice smile don’t necessarily mean you have a healthy mouth. Gum disease can begin to deteriorate your dental health before there are any visible symptoms. If left untreated, gums may swell and bleed, teeth can loosen or shift, and gum tissue may be lost. These are not normal signs of aging.

If these symptoms are ignored or treatment is delayed, gum disease can progress and may result in tooth loss and unsightly aesthetics.

Gum disease is the most common inflammatory disease in individuals today. It is also associated with other medical conditions including heart disease and diabetes.

When you are advised to get treatment for a gum-disease issue, you need the kind of expertise that a periodontist can provide.

The million-dollar minimum investment in Mawer’s private-client funds may seem out of reach, but that doesn’t mean working with a wealth-management group is. Mawer’s “direct investing” approach begins at $50,000, and is also accessible through discount brokerages for as little as $5,000. With a few thousand bucks you, too, can be as boring as the big shots.

“YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO SHOULD GIVE YOU NO SURPRISES,”

–Paul Wheaton, Mawer investment counsellor.

It’s Canada’s game, but in Calgary, the sport is also more than a game. It fosters connections, breeds generosity and champions community spirit.

My son’s favourite book right now is Goodnight Hockey, written by Michael Dahl and illustrated by Christina Forshay. It's a simple story about a little boy’s experience visiting an arena to watch his favourite hockey team play. My son is still too young to watch the Flames or scrimmage on a backyard rink, but he has been surrounded by ardent hockey fans since birth. You could say he knows instinctually that the game of hockey is about more than just the game.

In Calgary, hockey is a metaphor for community. It brings people together in honour of a friend who passed away too soon, serves as a way to mentor underprivileged youth and helps new Calgarians feel welcome by including them in this quintessentially Canadian activity. Whether it’s raising money for charity, raising kids’ confidence or raising the morale of refugees, here are some of the ways Calgarians are using hockey to give back.

Hockey to Remember

For Dr. Jason Baserman and Dr. Joe MacLellan, hockey is how they remember and celebrate the life of their friend Lindsay Kimmett, who died suddenly in a single vehicle rollover accident on a sunny winter morning in February 2008. Kimmett was 26 years old and one year away from becoming a doctor. On the morning of her death, she was coming home from an early morning hockey game.

Kimmett was a Flames fan and loved winter sports, especially hockey. As a teammate she was skilled and competitive, the kind of player you always want on your team. She was also inclusive, encouraging and happy to teach newer players.

MacLellan and Baserman played on Kimmett’s informal university hockey team made up of fellow medical students and faculty at the University of Calgary. Both can tell you exactly where they were when they got the news of their friend’s death.

“It was a beautiful Sunday morning when I got the call. I was sitting at my desk at my computer. I was shocked. It didn’t make sense,” Baserman says.

Photograph by Chris and Nenita Lindsey from Jayden Images

“It was definitely one of those life-changing events,” MacLellan says. “Her death shifted the course of my life.”

Kimmett’s parents would go on to create the non-profit Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation as a way to honour their daughter’s legacy through charitable acts. MacLellan and Baserman wanted to contribute to the foundation in a way they knew Kimmet would love — by organizing a pond-hockey tournament.

With the blessing of the family, on Jan. 10, 2009, 11 months after Lindsay’s death, the inaugural Kimmett Cup pond hockey tournament was held at Mitford Ponds in Cochrane.

It was cold and windy that day — MacLellan remembers wearing two jackets to keep warm. Twenty teams played round-robin games

of three-on-three from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. That first year, the tournament raised $8,000 for the Kimmett Foundation.

Now in it’s ninth year, the Kimmett Cup has grown to 500 players, playing on nine rinks over three ice surfaces. The tournament has raised thousands of dollars for charity in Kimmett’s name — almost $400,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation and another $400,000 for the Right to Play Foundation, providing sponsorship for more than 8,000 children in West Africa in the areas of sports, health care and education. Kimmett’s family is still a big part of the event with Kimmett’s younger brother Reid serving as one of the tournament’s co-chairs.

The Kimmet Cup is co-ed (every team must have a female player) with three divisions: fun, recreational and competitive. The format is something MacLellan says Kimmett would have appreciated. “It’s the right mix of competitiveness and inclusion, which Lindsay was all about,” he says. The tournament fees are also designed to be affordable with a team of 10 paying about $30 per player, but no one is barred from playing if they can’t afford it.

MacLellan and Baserman say the appeal of the tournament goes beyond the experience of playing outdoor pond hockey under a bright blue Alberta sky. “Hockey is what gets people through the door. What gets people staying and coming back is Lindsay’s legacy, Lindsay’s family, and the children who benefit from each stride you take on the ice and each goal you score and the money you raise,” Baserman says. “That’s the magic of the tournament; it’s so much more than just the game. It shows you what a community can do.” The 2017 Kimmet Cup will take place Feb. 10 to 12, presented in conjunction with Rogers Hometown Hockey. To learn more, visit lindsaykimmett.net.

“That’s the magic of the tournament; it’s so much more than just the game. It shows you what a community can do.”

–Dr. Jason Baserman

Scenes from the 2016 Kimmett Cup.

Photography by Chris and Nenita Lindsey from Jayden Images

Hockey for Life Skills

HEROS stands for the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society, a national volunteer-driven charitable program that uses hockey as a way to provide life skills to kids from low-income neighbourhoods. In this way, for many participants in the HEROS program, hockey is more than just a game; it’s a stepping-stone to success.

With two programs in Forest Lawn and one in Bowness serving almost 100 kids in total, the Calgary branch of HEROS is one of the largest in Canada. The program is divided into two age groups — future stars (grades four to eight) and all stars (grades eight to 12).

Once a week, HEROS volunteers teach hockey to kids who wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise. The program provides transportation to the rink, equipment, ice time, coaches and snacks. All the kids have to do is show up.

“We want to make sure that we’re providing access to sport and mentors and positive activity. In some cases it’s as simple as providing access to food and safety,” says HEROS program director Kevin Hodgson.

HEROS partners with neighbourhood schools and accepts participants based on the school’s recommendation. “We let the schools pick the kids who need the program the most, regardless of gender, cultural or religious background,” Hodgson says. “It just happens organically.”

As a result, HEROS participants are a diverse group. Almost half of the Bowness program’s future stars are girls, a significantly higher percentage than you’ll find in traditional organized hockey.

The program operates in what’s referred to as the “critical hours,” the chunk of time immediately after school when many children are without parental supervision or support. HEROS kids learn to skate, stick handle and score, but the program also includes off-ice programming in a variety of life-skills such as conflict resolution and resumé writing. Participants also learn about volunteer opportunities and hear talks on subjects such as the value of teamwork.

But perhaps the most important aspect of HEROS is mentorship. There is roughly one volunteer for every six kids which means every

participant has an enthusiastic cheerleader in their corner who will support them on and off the ice. “Everybody in the helping professions understands that the single greatest way to impact any young person’s life is through the introduction of a mentor,” says Hodgson. “Hockey is the thing that brings us together, but it’s the mentoring relationship between the kids and our volunteers that keeps them coming back week after week. At HEROS every kid has someone who believes in them no matter what.”

Most HEROS participants won’t go on to play in the NHL, but many do go on to excel at the game. “The highest-level hockey player to come out of the Calgary HEROS program played at the AAA level, and he spent the first eight or nine years of his life in a refugee camp in Tanzania” Hodgson says. “You’d never have predicted that young person would have had success in this frozen sport having grown up in a dusty, sandy camp in Tanzania.”

The HEROS ice times always include a scrimmage and, while scoring is fun, it’s not the only thing that matters. HEROS participants are part of a team, but unlike traditional organized hockey, they’re not in competition with each other. The older kids help the younger kids get dressed for ice time and support each other off the ice as well. It’s not unusual for an older HEROS kid to stand at the door on the first day of Junior High to welcome a younger HEROS kid to their new school.

But perhaps the biggest sign of the program’s success is that many former HEROS kids continue to come out and play. “Many of our kids are in university now and we figured they might want to come back as full-fledged adult mentor volunteers, but they actually sat us down and said we can be a better role model if we still put on the gear and go out and sweat with the younger kids. They still lace up their skates every week,” Hodgson says.

“We joke that HEROS is like Hotel California, once you’re in, you’re in for good.”

To learn more, visit heroshockey.com.

Photography by Tristen Hetherington

LEFT Older HEROS kids help younger kids suit up for the game.

“At HEROS every kid has someone who believes in them, no matter what.”

–Kevin Hodgson

BELOW On-ice coaching is part of the HEROS program.

Hockey for Newcomers

Harnarayan Singh knows firsthand that hockey is for everyone. The host and play-by-play commentator of Rogers Hockey Night in Canada in Punjabi spent his childhood in Brooks, Alberta, during the 1980s. Singh’s parents immigrated from India to the small Albertan city in the 1960s. Singh is Sikh, so growing up he didn’t look like many of his fellow classmates, but he remembers using his love for hockey as an icebreaker to make friends (he later learned from his colleagues on HNIC: Punjabi that they had similar experiences).

Singh played ball hockey, “mini sticks” and shinny, but even as a youngster he was more interested in talking about hockey than playing it, offering his own colourful play-by-play commentary.

It’s something he has made a career of as an adult, hosting regularly for Calgary Flames TV as well as HNIC: Punjabi, which has earned him a loyal fan base of Sikh Canadian hockey fans in its nine seasons on the air.

The show represents what Singh loves about hockey — that it is quintessentially Canadian but also universally appealing. “Sport has this special universal force that brings people together,” he says.

“I always think of the 2012 Vancouver Olympics when Crosby scored that golden goal during the men’s gold medal hockey game. It didn’t matter where you were from, what your background was, what language you spoke or how you looked, everyone in Canada was cheering together.”

Last February, Singh joined forces with his friend Rob Kerr, a host on Sportsnet 960 The Fan, to cohost a hockey event for more than 100 newcomers called Hockey Is For Everyone. Put on by the Calgary Flames Foundation, the event was in support of the National Hockey League’s Hockey is for Everyone youth development program that champions diversity in the sport.

“The idea was Rob’s, and I thought it was great. Instead of waiting for newcomers to take the initiative, let’s invite them to our game, let’s invite them to Canadian culture and have them participate and learn more about it,” Singh says.

Held at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the free day-long event was like a crash course in hockey geared towards who Singh deems “new Canadians and new fans.” Participants watched a Flames practice and heard from guest speakers Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s ambassador for diversity and the league’s first black hockey player and Cassie Campbell, Olympic gold medalist and former captain of the women’s national team.

“Having O’Ree and Campbell was really important and significant for a lot of the newcomers, to see the history of the game and where it was back then and where it’s come to today,” Singh says. “The game is becoming more welcoming and inclusive.”

While the day was hockey-focused, the attendees Singh spoke with took away more than a new appreciation for the game. “I received feedback about my own personal story, of being told television wasn’t possible for me because of how I looked,” he says. “If you have hopes and dreams and goals they’re achievable here

no matter who you are. That was the message that was really resonating with the audience.”

He’s looking forward to the 2017 event as another opportunity to share all the reasons why he loves hockey — how fast and entertaining it is and the exceptional skill level of the players — but mostly to celebrate hockey’s ability to bring people together.

“Canada is a place where different people from different backgrounds live together harmoniously and hockey is such a big part of that Canadian culture,” Singh says. “The Hockey Is For Everyone program is what that’s all about.”

Learn more at hockeycalgary.ca and icesingh.com.

TOP Harnarayan Singh on Hockey Night in Canada BOTTOM A family learning the intricacies of a hockey skate at the Calgary Flames Foundation Hockey Is For Everyone event held this past February at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

HNIC photograph by Amrit Gill, Family photograph by Eric Boldt

“Instead of waiting for newcomers to take the initiative, let’s invite them to our game.”

–Harnarayan Singh

lifeMOUNTAINS

AlpinePrides

Mountain-town pride festivals take the urban-pride scene and add fresh air, striking scenery and skiing. Here are three key alpine prides to add to your winter calendar.

BY Shelley Arnusch, Fraser Tripp AND Ricky Zayshley

Whistler Pride’s annual ski out and march through Whistler Village.

Photograph by Mike Crane courtesy of Tourism Whistler

Jasper Pride Festival

When you think of pride celebration locales, Jasper, Alta., might not jump to mind. But it should. Now in its eighth year, and held in the third weekend of March, it’s the calmer, cooler, more collected pride week, compared to its mountain-town counterparts.

The stage is set upon driving into town, with dozens of rainbow flags lining Connaught Drive, Jasper’s main drag. It’s immediately apparent that this is an event with remarkable community support. Restaurants, banks, hotels and boutiques around town are bedecked in rainbow flags, murals and windows painted with pride-positive messages.

A stroll around town is a great way to meet people, support the businesses that support pride and take in the crisp mountain air. Locate this year’s Pride House (last year it was at Karouzos Steakhouse) and stop by to meet the helpful volunteers, secure tickets for the many parties and events, buy Pride merchandise or just kick back and have a coffee and some snacks. Or, if you’re feeling parched, pop into Jasper Brewing Company for a pint of its special-edition pride beer. It’s a great place to socialize and plan your itinerary for the next few days.

Jasper Pride has more than 25 organized events, ranging from low-key coffeehouse meetups and family-friendly movie nights to sportier fare like guided ice-climbing tours to the bottom of Maligne Canyon and skiing outings on the slopes of Marmot Basin. The nightlife heats up

with events like the lively Lum-Bear-Jack party and the Girls Night Out, to name a couple.

Whatever you choose to do at Jasper Pride, the name of the game is inclusion, respect and diversity. Unlike many other celebrations where men outnumber women by a wide margin, according to the Jasper Pride Society, women here actually outnumber the men at 54 per cent. It’s also a family-friendly atmosphere, where kids are as welcome as anybody else.

For the ultimate Pride experience, you’ll want to stay at the newly renovated Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Sink into comfy lounge chairs in the charming lobby, order one of the delicious Fairmont signature cocktails and people-watch to your heart’s content. Chances are, the friends you met earlier in the day will shuffle by on their way to one of the many events hosted at the hotel.

The highlight of Jasper Pride is arguably the gala party hosted by the JPL. Last year’s theme was “From Jasper with Love” and, as you might guess, the camp factor was high — guests came dressed as Bond heroes and villains — and gender diversity and the expression of fluid gender roles were encouraged, resulting in lots of fun, creativity and warm fuzzies all around.

This year’s theme will be “Jasper Proud and Free,” marking Canada’s 150th anniversary, not to mention the free admission into all National Parks throughout 2017. —R.Z.

Jasper Pride 2017 runs March 9 to 12, jasperpride.ca

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Jasper Pride at Marmot Basin ski area; Jasper Pride party; Flags line Connaught Drive in Japser; Aspen Gay Ski Week.

Jasper photographs by Brian Van Tighem; Jasper flag photograph courtesy of Jasper Tourism; Aspen photograph by Matt Power

Aspen Gay Ski Week

Aspen Gay Ski Week is the drag mother of mountain-town prides and she is serving up an extravaganza for her 40th anniversary this month. With seven days of brunches, cocktail receptions, shopping, art and pool parties, there’s almost no time to hit the slopes.

In addition to your skis, you’ll want to pack your best drag for the Downhill Costume Competition (this year’s category is “40 Never Looked So Good”). Last year, favourites from RuPaul’s Drag Race broke out their best snow-bunny couture, so you never know who might be on board for this year’s event — literally. The competition requires competitors to ski or snowboard down the hill to music of their choosing.

If slope-styled drag queens aren’t enough, there are guided Mountain Du Jour tours so you can ski the best of the four mountains that comprise the Aspen Snowmass. If you aren’t feeling Aspen’s iconic peaks, rub elbows with the stars as you wine, dine and shop your way through town before joining the daily après-ski at the Limelight, Gay Ski Week’s official host hotel. Grab a drink and some free swag or relax in one of the two 20-person hot tubs before heading off to a mountaintop dance party, movie night or celebrity comedy show.

And because pride is more than just partying, the most fabulous thing about Aspen Gay Ski Week is that it’s a fundraiser for AspenOUT, benefitting groups like the Western Colorado AIDS Project and local and national youth programs and scholarships. —F.T. Aspen Gay Ski Week 2017 runs Jan. 15 to 22, gayskiweek.com

Whistler Pride and Ski Festival

Whistler’s pride event started as a protest of sorts. Late founder Brent Benaschak had been going to the Aspen Gay Ski Week for a number of years, but when the state of Colorado passed discriminatory legislation against the LGBTQ community in 1992, Benaschak encouraged skiers who wanted to take a stand by boycotting visits to the state to come instead to a fledgling gay ski gathering he had started in Whistler. That handful of skiers turned into a couple hundred the following year and continued to grow. Though the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the offending legislation in 1996, by then the momentum in Whistler had established it as a major gay ski week in its own right, with the off-piste parties becoming as much of a draw as the top-ranked ski terrain.

After Benaschak passed away in 2003, a group called Alpenglow Productions took the reins in 2006. (In 2010 they would receive international recognition for the Whistler and Vancouver

Pride Houses at the Olympic Winter Games — the first ever LGBTQ pavilions at a major sporting event.) What’s now known as the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival enjoys official civic status, with a proclamation from the mayor and a rainbow flag flown at the town hall.

The 2017 edition marks the 25th anniversary with a packed lineup that has everything from guided skiing and snowboarding outings to daily après-ski gatherings. Of course, there are also the parties, including the annual Splash! pool party and the Furrocious military/uniform ball as well as the main event, Snowball25, headlined this year by Italian EDM duo The Cube Guys.

Whether guests are there to party or play in the snow, this gay ski week prides itself on its inclusive vibe. “The entire resort comes out and embraces the week,” says CEO and executive producer Dean Nelson. “People have met life-long friends and others have found their life partners. We have been told countless times that Whistler Pride is the gay version of The Love Boat, but at a massive ski resort with a lot of hot tubs.” —S.A.

Whistler Pride + Ski Festival 2017 runs Jan. 22 to 29, gaywhistler.com

ABOVE Whistler Pride party at the Garibaldi Lift Co. LEFT Whistler Pride ski guides.

Whistler pride party photograph courtesy of Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane; Ski guides photograph by Matt Murray Photography/GayWhistler.com

Meaghan Mikkelson-Reid

With a career that has included two Olympic golds, a world championship and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s Clarkson Cup, this hockey star has scored a balance between her sport and motherhood.

BY Christina Frangou

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

One morning, a little more than a year ago, Meaghan Mikkelson-Reid stepped onto the ice at WinSport’s Joan Snyder rink and started skating to the far end, testing her body with long gingerly strides. Her legs felt okay, but Mikkelson-Reid’s abdominal muscles, which are displayed in all their chiseled glory on her website, did not. For the first time in 25 years of playing hockey she couldn’t pass or shoot the puck. “There’s a lot of core [strength] needed to pass a puck — I didn’t realize that,” says the two-time gold medalist with Team Canada’s women’s ice hockey team, describing her inaugural skate after giving birth to a son in September 2015.

WORKOUT

At that point, Mikkelson-Reid knew that the very ambitious plan she’d laid out — to return to the national team within three months of giving birth and to play in the world championships around the time her son would be six months old — was going to hurt.

There were many times over the course of that year she would wonder if she made the right choice. “I would come [to the rink] some days and I’d have slept three or four hours. I would have to do everything that everybody else was doing off of eight or nine hours of sleep. I would cry some days. I would think to myself, ‘I’m so tired. I don’t know if I can do this,’” she says.

Today, Mikkelson-Reid plays for both Team Canada and the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. On a typical day, she wakes up early, drops her one-year-old at day care and arrives at WinSport at 7:30 a.m. She trains until noon, then spends afternoons with her son. “We both nap,” she says.

Twice a week, Mikkelson-Reid returns to the rink in the evening for Inferno practices. The team, which is coached by her husband, former professional player Scott Reid, has games on the weekends. It’s a busy schedule that involves hefty planning and reliable babysitters, but now that Mikkelson-Reid is back, she says she has a renewed appreciation for life as a professional hockey player. “To play hockey for a living is pretty special and it’s pretty unique to represent your country. I never doubt what I do,” she says.

Mikkelson-Reid grew up in hockey-crazy St. Albert, a small city that borders Edmonton to the northwest. She first set her sights on the women’s national team when she was 13, the same year women played hockey in the Olympics for the first time.

As a kid, there were no all-female teams of her calibre so she played on boys’ teams. “It was tough sometimes, I got made fun of, I got picked on a bit, but it made me stronger. Playing with the boys always pushed me,” she says.

Mikkelson-Reid went on to play college hockey in the U.S., graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2007, after four years on a full hockey scholarship. She came home to join Canada’s national women’s team, earning her spot after her first tryout. She was part of the Olympic gold-winning teams in 2010 and 2014, and her world championship medal tally includes five silvers and one gold.

After the 2014 Olympics, Mikkelson-Reid decided to take time off from playing hockey so she and Reid could start a family. She stopped training but stayed in the game by coaching the Calgary Inferno for a year. Coaching made her realize that she wanted to return to playing after having a baby. “I wasn’t done yet,” she says.

When Mikkelson-Reid became pregnant in 2015, she set her sights on returning to the ice as quickly as possible. She worked with a local sports-medicine doctor and a Toronto-based pregnancy exercise specialist to create a training program for, during and after the pregnancy. It was an entirely different approach to training. For the first time in her career, she was encouraged to hold back. “When they say to do three-to-five sets, I’ve always done five and then maybe a couple more, just because I’ve always tried to push myself,” she says. “It was hard for me to not push myself and stay within certain boundaries.”

All the hard work paid off last spring when Mikkelson-Reid and the Calgary Inferno won the CWHL’s Clarkson Cup in 2016 — a career highlight, she says. In the team photo after the win, Mikkelson-Reid celebrates on the ice with her husband and their son, who is sitting in the trophy.

“One of the things I believe is the greater the sacrifice that you make to get something, the greater the satisfaction you feel in the end,” she says. “Last year was that times 100 for me.”

“TO PLAY HOCKEY FOR A LIVING IS PRETTY SPECIAL. I NEVER DOUBT WHAT I DO.”

The

Courtroom

Form meets function in this unique space where First Nations restorative justice is designed to flourish in partnership with the Western judicial system.

BY Brent Scout PHOTOGRAPH BY Jared Sych

hen you first walk into Courtroom 1800 in the Calgary Courts Centre, it feels like any other courtroom: there are two small conference rooms used by lawyers and their clients on each side of the vestibule; the security features attract your attention without offering any surprise; and the dark wood panelling lining the entryway and courtroom itself announces the formality of the room and the gravity of its function.

But Courtroom 1800, also known as the Aboriginal Courtroom, is unlike any other courtroom in the building. Indeed, it is unlike any other courtroom in the country.

When a new courthouse was originally proposed for Calgary, it included the Aboriginal Courtroom, a place where First Nations advocates and the accused could work with Alberta’s court system and negotiate respectful relationships, cultural interpretation and a First Nations approach to law called “restorative justice.” A disproportionate number of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people are incarcerated in Canada, accounting for nearly one-quarter of all admissions into correctional services. Part of the planners’ intent was to try to address this imbalance through a culturally sensitive marriage of two different approaches — First Nations and Western — to justice issues.

The Tsuu T’ina Nation Court uses Courtroom 1800 on the first and third Friday of every month for hearings and sentencing circles, as well as special occasions such as Law Day in April, says Dodi Hodgson, an administrative assistant with dispute resolution services in the centre’s civil mediation department. The courtroom is also used to familiarize courthouse staff with traditional practices of First Nations people.

The size and shape of Courtroom 1800 lends itself to an additional function as a classroom and meeting space and is used for that purpose three or four times a month. As well, courthouse staff occasionally meet with the assistant deputy minister of justice in the space, says Hodgson. The additional use was no accident, but rather built into the design.

Comparison of Aboriginal Courtroom (right) and Supreme Court of Canada’s traditional courtroom (below).

Supreme Court of Canada image copyright of SCC, photographer Philippe Landreville

Teepee

Sixteen “poles,” arranged in a circular pattern, mimic the traditional structure of a teepee.

Vent for sweet grass smoke

Posing a big challenge to the design team, a ventilation system in the ceiling was authorized by the development authority to permit ritual sweetgrass burning.

Colours

White, yellow, red and blue are symbolic colours representing, among other things, the four directions.

Sweet Grass buring circle

The centre of the courtroom can be used as a hearth for sweetgrass smudge or the middle of a talking circle, the traditional form in the context of restorative justice.

“THE SPACE ALLOWS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO SIT AS EQUALS, EYE-TO-EYE, UNLIKE THE TRADITIONAL COURTROOM DESIGN WHERE THERE ARE CLEAR LINES OF SEPARATION AND INTIMIDATION FOR THOSE FACING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.”

–BILL CHOMIK, SENIOR PRINCIPAL, KASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN

CIVIC SPACE

Beginning in 2004, Bill Chomik, senior principal with Kasian Architecture and Interior Design, collaborated with a group of judges and the Alberta government, among others, to design and build the Calgary Courts Centre, which opened in 2007. The precedent-setting building is the largest courthouse in Canada and emerged from the era of Premier Ralph Klein. Klein had a vision to bring all three judicial levels — the Court of Queen’s Bench, the Provincial Court of Alberta and the Calgary Court of Appeal — together within the same building as a new model in Canada. The result is one of the few courthouses in North America that merges all three courts. The mostly concrete, steel and glass structure includes many post-9/11 security features and hosts 73 courtrooms, judicial chambers and other facilities.

One of Chomik’s most interesting projects involved his collaboration with First Nations Elders and others on the specific design of Courtroom 1800.

“We wanted to be respectful and creative in designing a special place, so we consulted with judges, First Nations and Métis communities, representatives from the Tsuu T’ina Peacemaker Centre and Elders from various communities, and we listened,” says Chomik. “We knew we wanted to build a space that held universal First Nations principles, and it had to be large and flexible enough to accommodate Aboriginal justice.”

Chomik modelled the courtroom on the ceremonial teepee, a deceptively sophisticated conical form of architecture. Teepees were once used as lodgings and made from materials that could be quickly disassembled and transported. They continue to be used today for ceremonies and occasional dwellings. The traditional teepee

features a circular structure with a fire in the centre, an altar for smudge and an opening at the top, which allows for the release of smoke. The circular shape encourages healthy air circulation within the living and ceremonial space. Poles support the exterior covering, made traditionally of buffalo hides, though canvas is widely used today. Door openings face the rising sun.

By comparison, Courtroom 1800 features a round granite hearth representing the teepee’s fire in the middle of a circle-patterned carpet. Teepee pole motifs on the ceiling mimic the teepee’s structural poles radiating outward from the centre. The traditional smoke hole is represented by a huge fan that ventilates smoke from the occasional sweetgrass smudge.

“We had to get all kinds of allowances and exceptions to variances for this unique space,” says Chomik, referring mainly to the need to burn sweetgrass in the courtroom, which provincial building codes disallowed.

“We tried to make a space with softer colours that was not intimidating, [but rather] comfortable and non-hierarchal. The space allows for participants to sit as equals, eye-to-eye, unlike the traditional courtroom design where there are clear lines of separation and intimidation for those facing the justice system.”

Chomik says the team researched other First Nations courtrooms in Saskatoon and toured the Tsuu T’ina reserve for ideas, taking part in a smudging ceremony and learning about the Aboriginal justice process. “Restorative justice is about bringing harmony back to the community with a focus on healing and positive initiatives and coming together on common solutions,” he says.

In addition to the teepee structure and the ceremonial smudging altar in the middle, the Aboriginal Courtroom includes other features meant to emulate a traditional Aboriginal justice venue. A large round table can be used in court hearings or removed and stored to allow for the judge, lawyers, security, court personnel, Elders, victims, families and their supporters to sit in a circle.

“The circle model and teepee speak to governance, or Aakaak’tsimaan, in terms of Blackfoot cultural values and practicality,” says Dr. Reg Crowshoe, a Piikani Blackfoot Elder and former chief of the Piikani Nation. “The teepee design perfectly meets the needs of our traditional society. For example, the circular shape is constructive for face-to-face communication by promoting a sense of equity and participation and consensus in discussions and decision-making. There is nowhere to hide in a circle.”

Crowshoe worked with the justice system to introduce Aboriginal sentencing circles in the 1970s and ’80s. The teepee models were later used on an ad hoc basis in various courtrooms to mete out justice and prevent many from reoffending.

“The circle represents all things connected in the universe, the four directions, the four seasons, the four elements, the four sacred medicines and so on,” says Crowshoe. “The opening at the top of the teepee also allows for constant visual contact with the sky world as well, the above-beings, heaven and the Creator of all living things. The fire serves as a source of heat and spirit shared by anyone in the teepee. The fire represents the essence of being, the life force and the connecting link between the worlds above and below the earth’s surface.”

Some of these rich symbols of First Nations spirituality were directly incorporated into Chomik’s design for Courtroom 1800.

“First Nations don’t undertake justice the same way we do,” says Chomik. “It’s based on restoration, not necessarily punishment, which requires a different approach to dispute resolution where, for example, families come together on a civil or criminal matter to talk and listen around a medicine wheel — or a round table on a carpet that depicts the medicine wheel — and its four directions depicted by the colours red, blue, yellow and white. A lot of different dispute resolution measures take place [in Courtroom 1800] that other courts don’t have.”

But depicting First Nations iconography in the courtroom obviously only scratches the

THE TIPI DESIGN PERFECTLY MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR TRADITIONAL SOCIETY — THE CIRCULAR SHAPE IS CONSTRUCTIVE FOR FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION BY PROMOTING A SENSE OF EQUITY AND PARTICIPATION AND CONSENSUS IN DISCUSSIONS AND DECISION-MAKING.”

–DR. REG CROWSHOE, PIIKANI BLACKFOOD ELDER

surface of cultures with great depth and breadth. Representing the spiritual, even mystical, side of these cultures in the design should have been a far greater challenge, but, the more Chomik worked with the Elders, the more he was drawn into the depth of meaning behind the symbol.

“The teepee was one of the places in which important discussions were held and decisions made in traditional Blackfoot society,” says Crowshoe. “However, taken as a whole, the teepee is symbolic of the sphere of interconnected life forms and energy forces, levels of existence, that make up the universe — all that is seen and unseen, in the waters and in the clouds, as well as those walking on the earth or living below its surface. It is based on Kimmapiipi’tsin, or, ‘Sanctified Kindness.’”

In other words, the teepee is not merely a clever structure, but a sacred form, one that connects its user — or, in this case, the accused in Courtroom 1800 — to a complete spiritual system, outside of which the misconduct the accused has been charged with makes no sense. As Crowshoe says, Kimmapiipi’tsin works for good to those that honour it.

Today, the Tsuu T’ina Nation Court, which is a government entity, not a physical space, uses Courtroom 1800 for sentencing circles and special occasions. This judicial entity grew out of the Tsuu T’ina Nation Court and Peacemaker initiative, the first organization to try to marry Aboriginal justice traditions with the Provincial Court of Alberta in a new judicial program. Participants in the court — the judge, Crown prosecutor, judicial clerks and peacemakers — are all Aboriginal people. Long before Calgary’s new courthouse was even built, this Aboriginal court sat for its first session in October 2000, when it was held in chief and council chambers.

Ellery Starlight, an elected tribal councillor with the Tsuu T’ina Nation, was the coordinator of the Tsuu T’ina Peacemaker program from 1999 to 2010 and worked with Chomik on the design of Courtroom 1800.

“It took a lot of time. It took a lot of consultation, education, a lot of persuasion — even among our people,” says Starlight. “But peacemaking was guided by the Elders and validated by community. Most of the knowledge, the foundation and the process of restorative justice come from Tsuu T’ina experience and laws.

“The process was serious and, in many ways, more difficult because offenders are made to face and accept the harms they have caused. The victims that participate often find the process much more satisfying and empowering than usual justice procedures. There’s often less fear and trauma after taking part in a healing circle.”

Willie Littlechild is from the Ermineskin First Nation, within the Maskwacîs Territory near Edmonton, and a lawyer who serves as international chief for treaties 6, 7 and 8. He’s also a special rapporteur to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and vice-chair of the UN Human Rights Council’s Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He has also served as a chief, a Member of Parliament and a commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation commission that wrapped up its hearings last year and released its final report in December 2015.

“Reconciliation is about respect,” says Littlechild. “We need a holistic approach because each aspect of ceremony has structure and purpose and provides a framework to help guide and sustain life in harmony and balance through respect, discipline, honour, humility, compassion and kindness. Oral traditions and teachings come with a set of rules and procedures or protocols.”

When Littlechild served as the chair for the Saskatchewan Justice Reform Commission in the mid-2000s, he encountered various young offenders who did not respect or honour traditional oral practices, let alone justice in the traditional Western setting. He recalls one occasion when First Nations art and motifs were allowed to be displayed in a Saskatoon courtroom, and the practice offered a sense of belonging. An eagle staff was set up and a smudge was lit. The Cree language was spoken, and Elders were consulted and engaged in proceedings. Littlechild says this created an environment of relevant ceremonial importance, and the offenders were more willing to take part, to listen, to learn and to apologize.

“I think this is a great opportunity to have a space where Aboriginal people can feel comfortable and feel that their identity, protocols and their ceremonies are being honoured,” says Littlechild. “It’s not that we don’t believe in punishing offenses; it’s more important to reconnect our people with natural laws or practices for the survival of a community, to invoke reflection, rules, forgiveness and reintegration into the community based on health, healing and holiness. The smudge invoked respect with those young people and reminds us that our ancestors are all around us, that we must be accountable for reconciliation.”

Starlight adds, “The main goal is to make peace between the victim, the wrongdoer and the community, using the traditional values and beliefs of the Tsuu T’ina people. Our mandate is to resolve problems, study and discover the root causes of the behaviour that led to criminal activity or conflict in the community or among families. We include Elders, support persons, the accused and the victim.”

The peacemaking process usually results in a plan of action that may include restitution, apology, treatment, community service or a traditional feast.

“We have a ways to go, but it’s a good start,” Starlight says. “This allows community participation, a sense of ownership, openness, victim participation and offender restitution. It’s a good thing.”

Chomik is also pleased with the result of his effort on the courthouse. “We often went back to Alberta Justice to see how the courtroom was working and what we can learn,” he says. “We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback. The Aboriginal Courtroom is a special place. It truly speaks a different spirit.”

OFFENDERS ARE MADE TO FACE AND ACCEPT THE HARMS THEY HAVE CAUSED. THE VICTIMS THAT PARTICIPATE OFTEN FIND THE PROCESS MUCH MORE SATISFYING AND EMPOWERING THAN USUAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES. THERE’S OFTEN LESS FEAR AND TRAUMA AFTER TAKING PART IN A HEALING CIRCLE.”

–ELLERY STARLIGHT, TRIBAL COUNCILLOR, TSUU T’INA NATION

FEATUREstyle

BY Meredith Bailey PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

The Pros of Consignment

Calgary’s high-end consignment scene is booming. The past two years have seen a rise in the number of new consignment businesses opening, from curated pop-ups to online boutiques, as well as banner years for decadesold brick-and-mortar stores.

Danielle Hadden, owner of Danielle’s Consignment Boutique in The Devenish Building on 17th Avenue S.W., has been in the business for 23 years and credits her busy 2016, in large part, to media coverage of how to be thrifty in an economic downturn. “Whenever we have a dip in the economy, the consignment industry gets more press because it’s a great tip for how to save money but still have great clothes,” Hadden says.

New businesses on the scene also mean increased competition, which means even better deals for shoppers. “This year has been particularly busy,” says Tanya Puka, founder and owner of Fond Boutique, a mobile retail business that specializes in curated pop-up shopping events. “Up until this point, I haven’t seen this much competition, and I think it’s causing businesses to set their standards higher and offer a more curated experience, which is really important.” That curated experience includes a luxury approach when it comes to packing items for delivery, private shopping parties and even mobile stylists who will edit your closet and consign items for you.

While Calgary consignment is attracting more shoppers in search of a good deal, it’s also attracting more sellers, or “consignors” keen to make money. Depending on the business, consigners can receive 40 to 60 per cent of the sale price of their item, and when that item is designer, the payout can be generous.

“I always tell people to spend their money on items that hold their value,” says Lauryn Zhukrovsky, founder of the-upside.ca,

a luxury online consignment retailer. “Designer handbags hold their value really well. When it comes to selling, you can often recoup the majority of the price you paid.”

Authentication — that is, the guarantee what you’re purchasing is, in fact, a Gucci and not a “Guechi” — is an extremely important part of the luxury consignment process. “I require a lot of information about a designer piece from my consignors and if we can’t prove it’s 100-per cent authentic, we just won’t take it,” says Kristin Halpape, owner of Expressions Ladies Consignment as well as Man of Distinction, one of the city’s only consignment stores specifically for men.

Although designer items aren’t cheap, a pristine-condition consigned luxury bag is still cheaper than buying new. “The price of a 10-year-old Prada bag is decided by the condition it is in, things like what shape the lining is in and if the zippers are working. Regardless, though, buying a designer bag is cheaper than buying it new,” says Hadden, adding that consignment is for those who want to buy beautiful things, but in a savvy way.

Consignment shopping can also be a stand against the environmental ills of the fast-fashion industry. A healthy resale market encourages consumers to purchase higher-quality items and take better care of those pieces, as “perfect used condition” will fetch a higher price. This increases the life of each garment, subsequently decreasing the demand for items that are cheaply made and designed to be disposed of after a season of wear.

Ask any savvy consignment shopper, though, and they’ll tell you it’s the thrill of the hunt that they love more than anything else. There’s something delicious in knowing your new-to-you Burberry trench coat isn’t just fabulous, but that you also got it for a fabulous price.

Four consignment retailers weigh in on the city’s thriving resale scene.

Lauryn Zhukrovsky

the-upside.ca, a luxury online consignment retailer

Consignment process

“Our consignment process is done on our website. You create an account and select whether you would like to pack and ship for free or request an in-person pickup, which is available in Calgary only. We offer 60 per cent of the sale price back to our seller once the item sells.”

Clientele

“Anyone who has a love for high-end designers and is priceconscious. I’d say 80 per cent of our sellers become buyers.”

Bestsellers

“Handbags are always bestsellers: Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermès hold their value really well. Also classics like Louboutin shoes and Burberry trenches.”

Why online?

“We’re the largest, fully functioning online boutique in Canada. This gives us the opportunity to access a much wider market than brick-and-mortar [retailers]. We sell to all of Canada and to the U.S., as well. Items are delivered right to your door in beautiful white-gloss boxes and we even iron the tissue paper. Just because you’re not paying full price for Louboutin shoes doesn’t mean you can’t have that same sense of excitement and gratification and luxury.” the-upside.ca, @theupsideca (Instagram)

Tanya Puka

Fond Boutique, a mobile retail business that specializes in curated pop-up events

Consignment process

“We have a studio space in the Beltline where consignors can drop off items. Right now, we also offer closet editing. We’ll sort through our consignors’ closets right there with them. We will even donate the items we don’t take to charity for them. We offer up to 50 per cent back on the sale price.”

Clientele

“The style-minded woman, not necessarily brand-focused, but brand-aware. Creative individuals who really want to express themselves by what they wear.”

Bestsellers

“Anything that’s quirky or interesting and unique goes quickly. Brands like AllSaints and Alexander Wang.”

Why pop-ups?

“Because we don’t have a retail shop and our overhead isn’t extreme, we can actually hold on to pieces for longer. We can wait until they find themselves in the right hands, which also guarantees a higher price for our consignors. Because it’s mobile, there isn’t the need to flip things as heavily or consistently as a non-mobile shop.” 403-616-1095, fondboutique. com, @fondboutique

JANUARY.17

Danielle Hadden

Danielle’s Consignment Boutique

Consignment process

“We have consignment appointments. We accept seasonal items in perfect condition that are less than two years old. Everyone who consigns with us has an account, and every piece we take in is itemized. After an item sells, the consignor gets 40 per cent of the sale price. We donate unwanted items once a week to Women In Need.”

Clientele

“I’ll have three generations of women shopping in the store at the same time. My clientele really loves the thrill of the hunt. It’s a really social, fun thing.”

Bestsellers

“High-quality, trendy, casual pieces. We specialize in high-end denim, especially Rag & Bone and Current/Elliott.”

What makes it unique?

“We offer stylist appointments through our website. If you’re overwhelmed by consignment, we’ll phone you and find out what you’re looking for, your size, the colours you love and the brands you’re looking for. When you come in, we’ll have a change room stocked for you.” 908 17 Ave. S.W., 403-244-4752, daniellesconsignment.com, @daniellesconsignment

Kristin Halpape

Expressions Ladies Consignment and Man of Distinction

Consignment process

“You can bring your items in any time; no appointment is necessary. We’ll go through your items with you right away. As soon as the items sell, we pay out to the consignor. You get 40 per cent of the sale price.”

Clientele

“Men and women from 18 to 80 years old.”

Bestsellers

“We sell a lot of Vince, Rebecca Taylor, Joseph Ribkoff and Eileen Fisher. At Distinction, we sell every thing from Seven and True Religion jeans to Zegna and Etro suits.”

Why different stores for men and women?

“They do brother-sister stores really well in Phoenix [Arizona], and I wanted to do that here. I thought it was a great idea to have stores for both men and women in the same strip mall. I think women feel more comfortable having their own space. I wanted a men’s store with its own identity, and Man of Distinction is one of the only consignment stores just for men in the city.”

Expressions: 202, 12100 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-278-0966, expressionscalgary.com, Man of Distinction: 115, 12100 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-523-0120, manofdistinction.com, Halpape also owns a third store called Rhoda’s Elegance...Again, in Okotoks.

GET TO KNOW OUR RESIDENTIAL SIDE

For over a century, PCL has built an unequalled reputation constructing large-scale commercial projects. What is lesser known is the fact that we also build residential and mixed use developments - each with the same passion, expertise, and competitiveness that are the hallmarks of PCL.

Every day we push ourselves to deliver beyond the expected; to build superior products for, and trusting relationships with, our clients.

For more information about PCL Residential, contact: Carlos Gollega | Manager, Residential and High Rise Division 403-250�4851 | cagollega@pcl.com

Sharing

There’s something about Calgary that makes each season shine. Spring brings forth new life and energy. Summer days are impossibly long and languid. The colours of fall are as rich as the harvest. And winter is a wonderland of snow kissed by warm chinook winds.

Each season is the perfect time for a wedding, and here’s why.

BY Shelley Arnusch, Meredith Bailey AND Sarah Comber FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych ILLUSTRATIONS BY Stephanie Anne McKay

Spring WEDDING

Spring in Calgary is all about renewal. Celebrate the season to its fullest with these suggestions and tips.

MEDIUM

THE VENUE

SMALL CILANTRO

Capacity: 70 seated, 100 for cocktails

Fee: No rental fee; however, there is a food-and-beverage minimum spending requirement that varies. Contact venue for details.

Why we love it: A cozy interior with warm wood accents and large, bright windows, coupled with a hidden courtyard patio just off of 17th Avenue S.W., makes Cilantro the epitomy of an intimate atmosphere perfect for celebrating your special day with your special someone.

338 17 Ave. S.W., 403-229-1177 cilantrocalgary.com

@cilantro17thave

@cilantro17thave

The

Nash and Off Cut Bar

Capacity: 150 to175 seated, 275 for cocktails

Fee: $15,000 to $30,000, depending on the day. Contact venue for details.

Why we love it: Located in Calgary’s oldest community of Inglewood, The Nash is housed in a historic building, built in 1907. Through its colourful past as the National Hotel, this venue has amassed a treasure trove of stories, making it the perfect place to host your big day, and add your own story to the rich history of the site.

925 11 St. S.E., 403-984-3365 thenashyyc.com, @thenashyyc @thenashyyc

LARGE

Fairmont Palliser

Crystal Ballroom

Capacity: 320 seated, 391 for cocktails

Fee: Contact venue for details. Why it’s perfect for spring: The Crystal Ballroom makes for a graceful and tastefully opulent background to your spring wedding. Fill the room with fresh flowers and take inspiration from the cream and ivory colour scheme, adding splashes of blush, pale violet and baby blue to tie in the season’s delicate and sophisticated palette.

133 9 Ave. S.W., 403-262-1234 fairmont.com/palliser-calgary @fairmontpalliser

@fairmont_pal, fairmontpal

Cilantro.

Fairmont Palliser Crystal Ballroom.

Cilantro photograph by Andras Schram Photography; Fairmont photograph by Christina + Nathan Photography courtesy of the Fairmont Palliser

THE DRESS

Delicate Bohemian Sheath

Embrace the most dainty of seasons with an elegant, sheer chiffon or lace sheath dress that elegantly drapes your figure in an understated, feminine manner. “This is the season for that boho-flair to let loose,” says Rio Hanlan, boutique manager at Pearl & Dot Bridal Boutique. “No more corsets, heavy skirts or cupcake styles.”

Things to consider

“A lot of brides nowadays are going against the trend of totally strapless, so I think a really cute idea would be a fluttery, flirty sleeve,” says Joyce Tai, lead event architect, stylist and owner of Urban Vogue Weddings & Events.

Tai adds that a fresh floral crown atop loosely curled hair encapsulates a delicate, natural look for spring. Additionally, she says, embracing the Pantone colours Rose Quartz, a “pale, subtle pink,” and Serenity, “which leans towards a greyish blue,” can turn out to be very beautiful and unexpected.

403-891-2669, urbanvogueweddings.com, uvweddings, @uvweddings, uvweddings

WHERE TO FIND IT

Pearl & Dot Bridal Boutique

1117 1 St. S.W., 403-452-0244

pearlanddot.com

@pearlanddot

@pearlanddot

pearlanddot

The Dessert

“A strawberry shortcake is perfect for spring. You could do individu al servings with everyone getting three little biscuits with straw berries and whipped cream.”

–Marnie Fudge, pastry chef,

THE FOOD

Spring cuisine should be as light and lovely as the season it represents, highlighting the vibrant colours and flavours of crisp greens, bright citrus and succulent berries. “When you think spring, you want to think summer, as well,” says Xavier Lacaze, executive chef and regional manager at Rational, a professional kitchen appliance retailer.

Lacaze, who has more than 20 years of experience working in kitchens (not to mention a top-five finish on Top Chef Canada starting with light appetizers such as grilled can taloupe with prosciutto or peaches stuffed with goat cheese. In terms of main dishes, he suggests choosing a protein such as lamb, duck or quail to incorporate spring flavours.

“Quail is delicious and very cute-looking. You can serve it with grilled asparagus with a lemon or grapefruit dressing,” he says. Lacaze also sug gests setting up stations, such as a raw bar.

In terms of finding a chef to cater your wed ding, Lacaze recommends going straight to the industry — visit your favourite restaurant and ask if the chef there can cater your reception. “If they can’t do it, ask if they can recommend someone,” says Lacaze. “Chefs know each other. If they can do it they will and if not, they will gladly recommend someone that has the same vision or skill set.”

@xavierlacaze

THE SPRING DRINK

FLORAL PUNCH

Spring is a perfect time to incorporate fresh blossoms into your wedding. One tasty way to do so is to create a signature cocktail using edible flowers.

“One thing that works nicely is making punches with flowers,”

says Jeff Savage, bar manager at Proof Cocktails & Curiosities. “Filling the bowl up with a number of different things, flowers included, is lovely and super beautiful.”

Savage says local flowers such as nasturtium, violas, pansies and borage make for distinctly flavoured cocktails, adding that, while gin is typically a great option for floral cocktails, that doesn’t mean you should shy away from brown liquors such as bourbon or rye.

WHERE TO BUY EDIBLE FLOWERS

Basil Ranch 506 19 St. N.W. 403-807-8643

@thebasilranch

LOCAL SPIRIT SUGGESTION

Parlour Gin from Eau Claire Distillery ($49) 113 Sunset Blvd. N.W., Turner Valley 403-933-5408

eauclairedistillery.ca

@eauclairecraft

@eauclairecraft

THE MAKEUP

“Create a fresh and dewy look by using translucent powder across the forehead, the sides of the nose and the chin, and keep your highlighting products on the temples, top of cheekbones and brow bones. False eyelashes enhance your eyes without getting too heavy with eye makeup.”

–Kate Barutowicz, katebmakeup.com and kashalashes.com

The Wow Factor

“Flowers are the ‘wow’ factor in the spring. Seasonal spring florals are actually very budgetconscious, cost-effective and readily available. Tulips are really popular in March and April.”

Centrally located on Macleod Trail South, the Carriage House Inn is the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional. With over 16,000 square feet of function space, three magnificent ballrooms and ample free parking, we can accommodate groups from 5 to 500. Creative and custom menus, in-house bakery and personalized service carry forward our reputation for memorable events. Our experienced and attentive staff will ensure every detail of your special day is as YOU want it to be.

located on Macleod Trail South, the House Inn is the

–Lynn Fletcher, creative director and CEO, Lynn Fletcher Weddings

CAYLEY WEBBER AND GRAYSON ADAMS’ SPRING WEDDING

DATE March 19, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER Heart & Sparrow Photography heartandsparrow.com

VENUE Ceremony held on private property in Bragg Creek; reception at the Southern Alberta Pioneers Memorial Building pioneersalberta.org

FLOWERS The bride did her own flowers and showcased ranunculi, her favourite seasonal bloom.

“Spring is so beautiful. There was a dusting of snow, tiny buds, golden grasses, moss and lichen. It’s a great season to get married in, especially if you want a short engagement. Finding a dress didn’t mean having to make appointments weeks in advance and finding a photographer was one or two phone calls. So much was available and it wasn’t a mad hunt for what we wanted.”

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The appeal of this seaside city in southwestern Mexico is its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, says Barbara Fancsik de Pérez, a Puerto Vallarta-based wedding planner who moved to the city from Toronto 19 years ago. Cobblestone streets and romantic haciendas are nestled in with contemporary resorts and a renowned restaurant scene, exemplified in the venerable Café des Artistes and trendy spots like La Leche. There’s also a vibrant nightlife, with hot spots where you can dance until the sun comes up.

Puerto Vallarta sits on the visually stunning Bay of Banderas, which is lined by the famous Malecon, a vibrant, sculpturestudded stroll that serves as the city’s social hub. It’s an ideal vantage for the nightly show.

“There’s nothing more romantic than sitting with the love of your life, watching the sun go down on another glorious day,” says Fancsik de Pérez. “At many places along the beach you’ll find people clap as the sun makes its final descent.”

visitmexico.com/en/ puerto-vallarta

—Cayley Webber, spring bride

THE SPRING HONEYMOON

Honeymoon photograph by Elenathewise

Your celebration starts here.

Palladium Hotels & Resorts combine exotic settings with luxury resorts to bring people together in places that inspire romance, stories and new beginnings.

Riviera Maya

The perfect setting to start your new life. A beautiful destination with long, sandy beaches, hundreds of magical natural wells, Mayan ruins, eco-tourism activities and underwater marine worlds that are a paradise for lovers of scuba diving and snorkelling.

Resorts in Riviera Maya

Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa ««««+

Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa ««««+

Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa ««««+

Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa ««««+

The Royal Suites Yucatán by Palladium «««««

Riviera Nayarit

Riviera Nayarit will make you want to propose a toast to all that is beautiful in life. Swim among sea lions, whale watch in the Bay of Banderas, enjoy the most romantic sunset from the Puerto Vallarta pier and say “I do” with all your heart. So romantic.

Resorts in Riviera Nayarit

Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa ««««

The Royal Suites Punta de Mita by Palladium ««««+

To book your vacation package, visit westjetvacations.com or call your travel agent.

Summer WEDDING

Warm days, bare arms, endless twilights — summertime weddings in Calgary are what dreams are made of.

THE DRESS Fitted and Fabulous

Summer celebrations lend themselves to fun, flirty and body-hugging shapes with a hint of sexiness — think plunging necklines, backless designs and tasteful cutouts. These details are simultaneously elegant while working to keep you cool. “We have also seen a lot of sleeveless off-the-shoulder dresses, or off-the-shoulder dresses with sleeves, which is a more dramatic trend that brides are embracing,” adds Joyce Tai, owner of Urban Vogue Weddings & Events.

Things to consider

Stacie Lee Heron, owner of SLH Personal Stylists, recommends playing with the hemline to keep your look breathable in warmer weather. “You could think about doing a high-low hemline or a shorter dress,” she says.

Heron and Tai both agree that floral applique details tracing the gown’s sleeves, skirt or cutouts are also on-trend for this summer.

403-891-2669, urbanvogueweddings.com, @uvweddings, @uvweddings, uvweddings

403-404-7496, slhpersonalstylists.com, @slhpersonalstylists, @stacieleeheron, slhstylists

THE MAKEUP

WHERE TO FIND IT

Frocks Modern Brides & Bridesmaids

1118 12 Ave. S.W.

403-263-5580

frocks.ca

@frocksyyc

@ilovefrocks

frocksmodern

“You can divide a summer wedding into four different times: morning, mid-day, late-afternoon and evening. A morning bride’s makeup can be soft and subtle, mid-day brides should avoid reflective foundation, late-afternoon brides can wear richer colours and evening brides can wear a dramatic smoky eye with a soft lip.”

–Caro Schmaltz, caromakeupartistry.com

Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, $57, from Holt Renfrew.

ALYZÉE SIBTAIN AND SUMEER MANN’S SUMMER WEDDING

DATE July 30, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER

Dean Pictures, deanpicturesweddings.com

VENUE The Westin Calgary, westincalgary.com

PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION

SAIT Campus and the banks of the Bow River

“Book your summer wedding early, especially your venue. At least two weekends of July are gone because of Stampede. Incorporate the outdoors into your photos. We live near the mountains, which is wonderful, but there are some really cool outdoor locations within the city. Pick a photographer who really knows the locations and backdrops to help you achieve your unique vision. And always wear sunscreen!” —Alyzée

Sibtain,

summer bride

THE FOOD

Since summer is peak season for fresh produce, the culinary options are abundant if you want something health-conscious (yet still delicious).

“I think a lot of people are trying to eat healthier,” says Daryl Kerr, corporate chef at Great Events Catering. “There is a lot of lighter stuff that couples are going for, like Hawaiian ahi tuna poke and a lot of Middle Eastern or European flavours, like Moroccan-style foods.”

Though not exactly on trend with this lightereating approach, Kerr says one trendy dessert option right now is a layered apple pie in a mason jar. Alternatively, he suggests a light panna cotta piled high with berries and infused with orange liqueur.

To make your special day a truly unforgettable experience, Kerr recommends involving the chef when building your menu. “[Us chefs] can come up with different ideas or, if you have allergies in your group, then we can come up with ways to still make the meal memorable.”

7207 Fairmount Dr. S.E., 403-256-7150, greateventscatering.ca, @greateventsyyc, @greateventsyyc Hawaiian tuna poke.

The Venue

SMALL Reader’s Garden Café

Capacity: 40 seated, 70 for cocktails

Fee: Food cost varies; contact venue for details. Why it’s perfect for summer: One of Calgary’s best-kept secrets, Reader’s Garden Café sits in the midst of one of the city’s most beautiful parks, Reader Rock Garden. Soak in the lush gardens and take advantage of the park’s picturesque gazebo and bridge as a backdrop to capture memories of your special day.

311 25 Ave. S.E., 403-263-0210, readersgardencafe.ca, @readersgardenyyc

MEDIUM

Ralph Klein Park Environmental Education Centre

Capacity: 104 seated, 160 for cocktails

Fee: $3,000

Why we love it: This contemporary space in the city’s southeast offers a unique opportunity for couples wishing to tie the knot in style. The Environmental Education Centre at Ralph Klein Park presents a striking setting with floor-to-ceiling windows, a gushing waterfall that spills out into the surrounding wetlands and radiant lighting at night. 12350 84 St. S.E., 403-476-4350, calgary.ca

LARGE Spruce Meadows Congress Hall

Capacity: 450 seated, 500 for cocktails

Fee: Contact venue for details.

Why we love it: Congress Hall at Spruce Meadows is an airy space that you and your partner can truly make your own by decorating in your particular style, while the Congress Hall Staircase provides endless photo opportunities on warm summer nights. 18011 Spruce Meadows Way S.W., 403-974-4200, sprucemeadows.com, @spruce_meadows, @spruce_meadows, sprucemeadows

Spruce Meadows Congress Hall.

The Dessert

If you’re a couple whose idea of a great Saturday is waking up early to beat the crowds to the trailhead of your favourite hike, you’re not going to be happy lying on a lounger sipping slushy drinks. Active bodies are better suited to a backcountry chalet high in the mountains of B.C.

The Wow Factor

Purcell

right from the get-go — the lodge sits at an elevation of 2,200 metres in the northern Purcells and guests are ferried in and out via a 15-minute helicopter flight.

The three-storey timber-framed lodge sleeps 28 and offers private

THE SUMMER DRINK Sip on Something Slushy

Even us landlocked Calgarians dream of hitting the beach come summertime. Though dipping our toes in the ocean typically requires a plane ticket, you can easily transport your guests to a tropical oasis on your special day by renting a slushy machine. With a variety of fun flavours and the option of spiking the drinks with any alcohol that you want, slushie machines make for an entertaining and unexpected treat at your reception.

WHERE TO RENT A SLUSHY MACHINE

Party Rental Depot Inc. 910 55 Ave. N.E., 403-735-6133

partyrentaldepot.com

Single Barrel, $125 (per day)

spent hiking the wildflower-filled meadows while the winter season shifts the focus to guided skitouring excursions (there’s also a daily après-ski/après-hike hour by the fireplace with drinks and appetizers). Either way, adventurous soulmates are sure to find the setting most invigorating. purcellmountainlodge.com

Double Barrel, $225 (per day)

LOCAL SPIRIT SUGGESTION

White rum from Secret Barrel Distillery, $45. 403-813-1110

secretbarreldistillery.com

@secretbarreldistillery

@secretbarrelyyc

“A traditional French wedding cake is croquembouche , a tower of cream puffs drizzled with caramel. Everyone can walk by and yank off a piece.”

–Marnie Fudge, pastry chef, Cuisine et Château

“Get creative and use yellows, pinks and corals, colours that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. That’s especially true for patterns. You can play in tropical prints and bright ikat patterns; they make things a little more interesting.”

–Julianne Young, owner and lead wedding designer, Julianne Young Weddings

Mountain Lodge near Golden will appeal to thrill-seekers

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Dr.AndreiMetelitsa Dr.AlimR.Devani Suite203,493540AVENW 403-271-3627

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Resultsandpatientexperiencemayvary.WhileCoolSculptingissafe, someraresideeffectsmayoccur.Aswithanymedicalprocedure,only yourCoolSculptingprovidercanhelpyoudecideifCoolSculptingisright foryou.IntheU.S.,theCoolSculptingprocedureisFDA-clearedforthe treatmentofvisiblefatbulgesinthesubmentalarea,thigh,abdomen andflank.OutsidetheU.S.,theCoolSculptingprocedurefornon-invasive fatreductionisavailableworldwide.ZELTIQ,CoolSculpting,the CoolSculptinglogo,theSnowflakedesign,andFearNoMirrorare registeredtrademarksofZELTIQAesthetics,Inc.©2016IC1995-A

Resultsandpatientexperiencemayvary.WhileCoolSculptingissafe, someraresideeffectsmayoccur.Aswithanymedicalprocedure,only yourCoolSculptingprovidercanhelpyoudecideifCoolSculptingisright foryou.IntheU.S.,theCoolSculptingprocedureisFDA-clearedforthe treatmentofvisiblefatbulgesinthesubmentalarea,thigh,abdomen andflank.OutsidetheU.S.,theCoolSculptingprocedurefornon-invasive fatreductionisavailableworldwide.ZELTIQ,CoolSculpting,the CoolSculptinglogo,theSnowflakedesign,andFearNoMirrorare registeredtrademarksofZELTIQAesthetics,Inc.©2016IC1995-A

Resultsandpatientexperiencemayvary.WhileCoolSculptingissafe, someraresideeffectsmayoccur.Aswithanymedicalprocedure,only yourCoolSculptingprovidercanhelpyoudecideifCoolSculptingisright foryou.IntheU.S.,theCoolSculptingprocedureisFDA-clearedforthe treatmentofvisiblefatbulgesinthesubmentalarea,thigh,abdomen andflank.OutsidetheU.S.,theCoolSculptingprocedurefornon-invasive fatreductionisavailableworldwide.ZELTIQ,CoolSculpting,the CoolSculptinglogo,theSnowflakedesign,andFearNoMirrorare registeredtrademarksofZELTIQAesthetics,Inc.©2016IC1995-A

FEAR NO MIRROR®

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Fall WEDDING

As the days get shorter and the air crisper, fall becomes a picturesque time to get married.

The Lake House.

Photograph by Abby + Dave Photography

THE FOOD

For fall weddings, it’s all about the harvest, says Dennis Jeffery, chef and proprietor at Fork + Farm Catered Events. “Communal tables and serving family-style meals is popular these days, really taking advantage of all the wonderful produce that western Canada has to offer.”

Jeffery says his company takes inspiration from seasonal vegetables to create autumn menu items, such as honey-and-chili glazed hakurei turnips. “In terms of proteins, we are very big on sourcing from local farms, so using 4K Farms and Broek Pork Acres meats and stuff like that,” he says.

During the fall season, Jeffery says popular proteins also include venison, duck — a favourite he says could be paired with a blackberry-and-ginger gastrique — or rack of elk.

Jeffery’s company, which employs seven chefs and does all its own pickling, preserving and charcuterie, aims to get a feel for what clients are looking for when creating a menu. “It’s such an important and special day, it should be tailored to them,” he says. “So we really take the time to bring the clients in, sit them down and talk about the food that they love.”

920 28 St. N.E., 403-457-9931, forkandfarmcatering.com, @forkandfarmyyc, @forkandfarm, forkandfarm

The Wow Factor

The Dessert

“For

fall, I think you can definitely incorporate pumpkin. You can stack four pies or a few pumpkin cheesecakes on a tiered cake stand.”

–Marnie Fudge, pastry chef,

Cuisine et Château

“Right now all metals are in, especially copper. I would use copper charger plates and copper napkin rings on a cream-coloured tablecloth. The look is very warm, but not cluttered.”

–Alexandra Slawek, owner and principal wedding planner, Boutiq Weddings & Events

LEFT Forno roasted Alberta duck breast with Poplar Bluff Organics fermented carrot puree, charred chipolini hearts, winter herb gnocchi and fig jus.

BELOW Rosemary-smoked Alberta venison rack with agria pomme salardaise, house cured bacon, hestia brussels and Poplar Bluff roasted carrot.

Pumpkin desserts are perfect for fall.

THE DRESS Minimalist Statement

Let your personality shine through with a minimal, elegant and simple gown accessorized with tasteful details that make the look uniquely yours. “Keep it sleek,” says Stacie Lee Heron, owner of SLH Personal Stylists. “You’re not going to do a big floral pattern or crazy embroidery. I think for fall, everything leans more to that minimalistic look.”

Things to consider

“We live in Canada and plaid is a huge thing,” says Heron, who says that brides can incorporate the season’s coziest pattern through a poncho, caplet or bomber. If plaid is not up your alley, Joyce Tai, owner of Urban Vogue Weddings & Events, suggests making a statement with a simple, elegant dress that incorporates a pop of colour in the accessories. “Bring in a jewel-tone accessory that’s not over-the-top but gives your look more of an autumn feel without overpowering the dress,” says Tai.

403-891-2669, urbanvogueweddings.com, @uvweddings, @uvweddings, uvweddings 403-404-7496, slhpersonalstylists.com, @slhpersonalstylists, @stacieleeheron, slhstylists

WHERE TO FIND IT

David’s Bridal

7337 Macleod Trail S.W. 403-386-3250

davidsbridal.ca

@davidsbridal

@davidsbridal davidsbridal

FALL PLAID ACCESSORY

Shawl, sash, scarf or ribbon from Highland Scottish Gift Shoppe 390 85 St. S.W. 403-286-1932

highlandshoppe.ab.ca

THE MAKEUP

Chanel Les 4

Ombres in Codes

Subtiles, $68, from Hudson’s Bay.

“For the fall wedding, trends tend to be more bold with deeper shades such as cold berry tones and a more dramatic eye. If you were doing a smoky eye I would add copper eyeshadow to the centre of the eyelid to give it more of a pop. It also plays up the autumn colours.”

–Sandra To, beautybus.ca

Fresh & Modern Banquet Facilities

Ceremonies, Receptions, Rehearsal Dinners

Gift Openings, Bridal Showers

Exceptional Full-Service Hotel

Complimentary Parking & Wireless Internet

All-Inclusive Wedding Packages

ANNIE AND ADRIAN DUECK’S FALL WEDDING

DATE September 26, 2015

PHOTOGRAPHER

Allison Seto, allisonseto.com

VENUE Ceremony at the Saskatoon Farm and reception at the Shawnessy Barn, saskatoonfarm.com and shawnessy.ca

CATERER Farm Girls

Food Truck & Catering, farmgirlsfood.com

“Fall is such a short season and unpredictable weather-wise, so it’s ideal for brides who are pretty easy-going. It rained a little during our outdoor ceremony, which was perfect for photos and actually very romantic. Our meal highlighted the season the most. We had dishes like Boursin-stuffed chicken and mustard-maple salmon. It was served family-style, which is something I’d definitely recommend. It was warm and cozy and got everyone talking.” —Annie Dueck, fall bride

THE FALL HONEYMOON NAPA VALLEY

California’s Napa Valley is heaven on earth for couples that count sharing a bottle of fine wine among life’s great pleasures. One of the premier wineproducing regions in the world, the area is also a honeymooner’s paradise, with lovely boutique hotels, world-class restaurants and vineyards as far as the eye can see. To get to heaven, fly direct to San Francisco then rent a car for the northward drive to Napa — this is definitely the time to indulge that dream of cruising the California highways in a cool convertible.

The charming town of St. Helena makes an ideal base for exploring the region. While wine touring is ubiquitous, the historic Beringer Vineyards estate in St. Helena is a must, as are the tasting rooms at Sterling Vineyards, which is high on a hilltop overlooking the nearby town of Calistoga, and accessed by an aerial tram. Truly, the wine is fine in Napa, but it’s the warm autumn California sun that’s intoxicating.

visitnapavalley.com

THE

All About the Pickles

Pickles are the ultimate garnish for one of Calgary’s favourite cocktails, the Caesar.

“A Caesar with a skewer of pickled vegetables, like yellow and orange peppers, cucumbers and a pickled green bean, tastes really good and people like the presentation of it,” says Katie Mondey, owner and operator of Cheers

Event Bartending.

You can take this classic cocktail to the next level by garnishing it with homemade pickles. For the D.I.Y.-inclined, pickling is a great opportunity to take a break from wedding planning and spend some quality time with your partner. As a bonus, homemade pickles also make for a personal and thoughtful wedding favour.

For those couples that cringe at the very idea of D.I.Y. anything, fear not. CRMR Kitchens provides a variety of house-made pickled vegetables ready for your special day.

403-617-2612, cheerscalgary.com

WHERE TO TAKE A PICKLING CLASS

Poppy Innovations

403-919-0176

poppyinnovations.ca

@poppy_innovations @talkpoppy poppyinnovation

WHERE TO BUY PICKLES

CRMR Kitchens

3628 15A St. S.E. 403-252-9924

crmrkitchen.com

@crmrkitchen @crmrkitchen

LOCAL SPIRIT

SUGGESTION

Classic Vodka from Park Distillery, $46 219 Banff Ave., Banff, Alta. 403-762-5114

parkdistillery.com @parkdistillery @parkdistillery

FALL DRINK

Napa Valley photograph by Bob McClenahan, courtesy of Visit Napa Valley

photo: @tarawhittaker

photo: _jamiehyatt

photo: @heartandsparrow

photo: @janiceleephoto

Special occasions deserve extra special services.

Winter WEDDING

THE DRESS

Fairytale Layers

Winter’s chilly weather is the perfect reason to go all-out with luxurious layers of tulle, lace, silk, satin and fur. Joyce Tai, owner of Urban Vogue Weddings & Events, recommends “a ballroom-style gown with long lace sleeves, maybe accessorized with a fur stole or bolero to keep warm during chilly outdoor photos.”

Things to consider

“I would go with something classic for shoes,” says Tai, “something very fairytale-like, maybe a satin or sparkly pump with a jewel accent.” She adds that the juxtaposition of a winter boot can also be fun for brides during an outdoor photo shoot.

For additional accessories, Tai says she can envision a long cathedral veil for a winter-wonderland wedding paired with “an heirloom clutch or a hand-me-down from a grandmother.”

403-891-2669, urbanvogueweddings.com, @uvweddings, @uvweddings, uvweddings

THE MAKEUP

WHERE TO FIND IT

Cameo & Cufflinks

1324 11 Ave. S.W., 403-288-5006

cameoandcufflinks.com

@cameoandcufflinks

@cameocalgary

“Our winters are so cold and so dry. Make sure your skin is really moisturized. Go for a cream instead of lotion, or rosehip oil is wonderful if your skin isn’t too oily. Also, a berry-coloured lip looks gorgeous in a winter wedding. It really pops against winter white.”

Ward, teslinward.com

–Teslin

The heart-catching loveliness of freshly fallen snow glittering in the sunlight by day and the moonlight by night is what makes winter weddings so magical.

THE VENUE

SMALL Teatro Opera Room

Capacity: 50 seated, 100 for cocktails

Fee: Weekend minimum spending fee is $3,000; weekday minimum spending fee is $2,000; room rental fee is $175.

Why we love it: Teatro’s Opera Room strikes the ultimate balance between luxury and intimacy. The 18-foot ceilings evoke a sense of grandeur and a private entrance off 1st Street S.E. makes guests feel like V.I.P.s, from the moment they arrive.

200 8 Ave. S.E., 403-290-1012, teatro.ca, @teatrorestaurant, @teatrocalgary

MEDIUM

Sub Rosa at The Guild

Capacity: 60 seated with inhouse furniture, 120 with rental furniture, 289 for cocktails

Fee: Rental fee is dependent on amount of guests, day of the week and whether the event is seated or standing. Minimum spend ranges from $1,000 to $18,000.

Why it’s perfect for winter: The Sub Rosa room is literally “underneath” The Guild restaurant — creating a delightfully covert atmosphere for your guests. Plush leather furniture, as well as brick and wood details, create a classic, sophisticated atmosphere perfect for a winter wedding.

200 8 Ave. S.W., 403-770-2313, theguildrestaurant.com

@theguildcalgary

@theguildcalgary

LARGE Theatre Junction Grand Flanagan Theatre

Capacity: 250

Fee: Fees range from $9,500 to $12,000, depending on time of year. Contact venue for details.

Why we love it: Theatre Junction Grand’s Flanagan Theatre oozes creativity and, as such, is the ulti mate venue for couples who want to let their creative juices flow and make the space their own. Put your personal touches on this styl ish blank canvas with artistic floral arrangements and a well-chosen colour palette.

608 1 St. S.W., 403-205-2922 theatrejunction.com

@theatrejunction

@theatrejunction

The Wow Factor

TRACY AND DUSTIN DESLAURIERS’ WINTER WEDDING

DATE February 14, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER

Corrina Walker, calgarywedding-photographer.com

VENUE

Silvertip Resort, Canmore, silvertipresort.com

have to plan for a worst-case scenario. For example: we had planned to welcome our guests with skating, but because it was warm the rink was unsafe.

“I’ve recently been playing around with this mould where you can bake cookies into a shot-glass shape. You can fill them with a beautiful drinking chocolate with a touch of Cointreau”

–Marnie Fudge, pastry chef, Cuisine et Château

“Think about the entire guest experience. Choose a venue with a warm, cozy and glamorous feel inside and with great curb appeal outside where guests can park easily. If parking is far away from your venue or not easy for your guests, hire a valet service.”

–Jasmine Esau, owner, Reflections Weddings and Events

Teatro.

THE FOOD

Colder winter climes create the desire for warm comfort foods and hearty flavours, although Dean Kanuit, executive chef at The Glencoe Club, says that, ultimately, it’s the happy couple’s culinary cravings that are of the utmost importance in dictating a menu for their special day. Dishes like a soup en croûte, followed by a babykale-and-roast-squash salad dressed in a maple vinaigrette, are flavours that set the tone for a winter wedding.

“For the entrée, generally I would lean towards beef. When you have a big group, I like to try to keep everyone appeased,” says Kanuit, adding that, if you are working with a smaller party or you know your guests well, try branching out with more adventurous proteins.

To round out the evening, Kanuit suggests a light, three-part dessert that incorporates frozen, chilled and warm components, such as Mexican-spiced hot chocolate, white-chocolate raspberry gelato and milk-chocolate mousse gateau.

636 29 Ave. S.W., 403-243-2506, glencoe.org, @glencoeclub

WHERE TO BUY THE CHOCOLATE

Chocolate shavings from Cococo Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut make a superiortasting cup of hot chocolate.

Bernard Callebaut, Bankers Hall, 403-288-3010 and nine other Calgary locations bernardcallebaut.com

LOCAL SPIRIT SUGGESTION

Céili's Irish Cream from Highwood Distillers.

Highwood Distillers Ltd., 4948 126 Ave. S.E. 403-216-2440

highwood-distillers.com

@highwood_distillers

@highwooddistill

THE WINTER DRINK Grown-up Hot Chocolate

Evoking memories of tobogganing, skating and long walks in the snow-covered woods, you can add a touch of cozy nostalgia to your reception with an adult hot-chocolate bar. “You have to have mini marshmallows,” says Evelyn Clark, director, lead planner and owner of Evelyn Clark Weddings. “I like to also have crushed peppermints and some people like coconut or even chocolate chips.” Treats like chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks or marshmallow kabobs are also fun additions to a hot-chocolate bar.

Clark notes that it is important to touch base with your venue before bringing in your own hot-chocolate bar, as the company may not allow outside food and drink. Alternatively, your venue may step up to provide a delectable hot-chocolate bar on your behalf.

403-837-9667, evelynclarkweddings.com, @evelynclarkweddings, @ecweddings_, ecweddings

THE WINTER HONEYMOON

Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is about as laidback as holidays get, a quintessential tropical paradise that’s easy to get to from Calgary (WestJet offers seasonal service between October and April).

The striking geography is a big part of the reason why Kauai remains less developed than its sister Hawaiian islands. The Napali Coast on the island’s north shore is a 27-km stretch of jagged, verdant mountains and, while serious hikers might endeavour to tackle the 17-km Kalalau Trail, visitors on a more easy-going program can enjoy views of iconic Makana Mountain, which is still referred to as “Bali Ha’i” from its starring role in the 1958 film, South Pacific

Boho-leaning just-marrieds will find their ideal honeymoon on the north side of Kauai in the area around picturesque Hanalei Bay. There’s a distinctly retro vibe in these parts, a hint of the hula-girlon-the-dashboard era that Instagram filters try so hard to recreate. The winding Kuhio “highway” still features one-lane wooden bridges en route to secluded spots like lovely Ke’e beach, and Hanalei Town is a great place to sign up for surfing lessons, grab a bite to eat and catch some chilled-out live music.

gohawaii.com/kauai

Beef with carrots and baby potatoes.

Hot chocolate bar photograph by Tara Whittaker

CURATED BY Katherine Ylitalo

Nature’s Playground

Visitors to Calgary often request a trip to the mountains. At the new YYC Calgary International Airport terminal, artist Jeff de Boer cleverly turns the tables: he brings the mountains to the airport as a giant tin-toy forest. Airports are great for people-watching; here, the wildlife watches people. Its vintage styling and interactive mechanisms make a compelling combination.

Three towering evergreens accentuate the openness of the architectural space within the international departures hall, while the rock bases are home to familiar Alberta creatures — beaver is hard at work along a riverside, a vigilant owl watches over a prairie and foothills ecosystem and a shy marmot finds shelter in an alpine meadow. Like early tin toys assembled with sheet metal and decorated with printing, the trees of Nature’s Playground are made of aluminium sheets and ornamented with vinyl graphics. The three wildlife characters are hand painted with old-school stencils and spray paint. Like their predecessors, these figures also move, but they are animated with high-tech robotics. As you approach, they sense your presence and respond.

Jeff de Boer started his artistic training as a metalsmith. Since graduating from the Alberta College of Art + Design in 1988, he continues to expand his range, from articulated suits of armour for duelling cats and mice to intricate jewellery and public-art pieces. Nature’s Playground incorporates new processes and sophisticated technology, thanks to collaborations with other artists and technicians, to create a responsive, sculptural environment.

MEDIUM: Vinyl on aluminium and MDF, enamel on aluminium, glass, sensors, robotics.

SIZE: Three island landscapes, each approximately 36 feet tall and 14 feet in diameter.

LOCATION: International Departures Level, International Terminal, YYC Calgary International Airport. Commissioned by the Calgary Airport Authority as part of the thematic art program Rhythms of the Landscape. Produced in collaboration with graphic designer Deborah Puffer; Cameron Farn of F&D Scene Changes (Calgary); Grant McKee of Fringe Robotics (Red Deer); and Dave Sangra of CIMtech Mfg. (Calgary).

TITLE: Nature’s Playground, 2016

Photograph by Deborah Puffer

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