Avenue Calgary May 2021 by RedPoint Media

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Our mouth-watering list of can’t-miss, must-try, locally made treats

GREAT THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK NOW

MAY 2021 | $4.95 AVENUECALGARY.COM

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26 YEARS OF CITY | LIFE | STYLE | CALGARY

TOP TRA ILS

Three amazing mountain bike rides

THE URBA N FORE ST Why we need more trees

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A Destination Unlike Any Other

Revive your free spirit off the beaten path where your well-being is top of mind. When travel is encouraged, we welcome you to visit. Start planning your trip today.

Fernie will be ready to safely welcome visitors once travel restrictions ease. This includes welcoming our Alberta friends and fans. Escape the crowds and travel to our beautiful landscapes of pristine rivers, lush valleys and the majestic Rocky Mountains. Fernie is an idyllic and friendly mountain community just 3 hours southwest of Calgary. Experience its historic downtown, endless outdoor activities, quaint attractions, great places to eat, a local micro-brewery, coffee roaster and distillery too.

Golfing, rafting, hiking & biking start mid-May. Fly fishing starts mid-June. Island Lake Lodge opens June 18th. Fernie Alpine Resort opens June 26th. Lodging specials and packages now available to book.

ExploreFernie.com | #ferniestoke avenuecalgary.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE

WORK OF ART

May 2 0 2 1

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D E P A R TM E N TS TA

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M AY 2 0 2 1 3 1 T H I N G S T O E AT & D R I N K N O W | U R B A N F O R E S T | T O P M O U N T A I N B I K E T R A I L S

GREAT THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK NOW

MAY 2021 | $4.95 AVENUECALGARY.COM

ALB ER

26 YEARS OF CITY | LIFE | STYLE | CALGARY

TO P TRA I L S

Three amazing mountain bike rides

TH E URBA N FO RES T Why we need more trees

Our mouth-watering list of can’t-miss, must-try, locally made treats

PM# 40030911

ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH MODEL ASHIA, THE PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

avenue May 21

11 DETOURS All about AllThingsBossy, a local brand that represents and elevates Black women’s success and entrepreneurship. Plus, a peek inside the adrenaline-fuelled culture of prairie storm chasing, and we track down TV’s Mantracker (it was surprisingly not that hard to do).

F E AT U R ES are all worth checking out. Plus, perfect local beers to enjoy at the end of the ride.

42 DECOR A formerly dark and dated 1940s bungalow in Okotoks’ historic River District is transformed into a light and bright boutique home in the modern farmhouse style.

17 THE 31 BEST THINGS TO EAT AND DRINK RIGHT NOW Our annual list of must-try treats being cooked up and concocted around the city right now. From baked goods and beverages to doughnuts and dim sum, there’s an item for each day in May. By Carmen Cheng

39 MOUNTAINS

48 THE LIST

28 SEEING THE TREES

If you’re itching to get out on your mountain bike, these two new trails in West Bragg Creek and Revelstoke and a classic ride in Crowsnest Pass

Alloy restaurant co-owner Uri Heilik gives us his top 10 picks for places to eat, drink, shop and play in and around the city.

Calgary’s trees aren’t just landscaping, they’re an important environmental resource valued at more than $1 billion. Find out more about

the management of our urban forest and why it’s in our best interest to expand the local canopy cover. By Taylor Lambert

34 REMEMBERING AMY WILLIER A memorial for the respected Indigenous artisan, entrepreneur, gallerist and Knowledge Keeper, whose untimely passing earlier this year has been deeply felt across the many communities she touched. By Stephanie Joe

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J A R E D S Y C H , S T E V E M O K A N . I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y C R I S T I A N F O W L I E

Zooventure! e! Timed tickets are required in advance – book now at calgaryzoo.com/Zooventure

#FollowUsAtTheZoo

EDITOR’S NOTE

SAVOURING LIFE Käthe Lemon Editor-in-Chief klemon@redpointmedia.ca

avenue May 21

this year’s Readers’ Choice winner until May 15th at MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca. Among those entries you’ll find a lot of great food and drink products. In past years, we served up our annual list of the best things to eat and drink in Calgary in the fall, right after the Made in Alberta Awards came out. But this year, we decided to move this tasty feature to May. So it’s in this issue that you’ll find our 31 Things to Eat and Drink Now. Food writer Carmen Cheng ferreted out lots of new-to-Avenue locally made delights, and from decadent brioche doughnuts to steam-at-home dim sum the results are truly mouth-watering. You can follow Cheng’s culinary explorations on Instagram at @FoodKarmaBlog. And make sure to join Avenue on social media this month as well, as we highlight one item each day and bring you a second helping of insider information about them. While springtime can be completely unpredictable in Calgary, at this point I would hope we are fully in the clear of winter’s grasp, and that the time is not far off when the city’s trees will be in full leaf again. Taylor Lambert takes us on an exploration of Calgary’s urban forest and what the City is doing to expand our “canopy coverage” to a goal of 16 per cent. To get there we would need to almost double the existing canopy. Last November the City approved an increase of $2.5 million to the forestry budget for both this year and next year to allow for more planting. Find out more about the forest all around us starting on page 28. No matter what aspect of the city you enjoy most — the culture, the environment, or the culinary offerings — I hope you can get out and explore it this month.

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You can see the entries in the first Amy Willier Indigenous Artisans Award and vote for this year’s Readers’ Choice winner until May 15th at MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca.

PHOTO BY JARED SYCH

arlier this year, as stories that appear in this issue of the magazine were starting to come in from the writers, we learned that artisan, entrepreneur and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Amy Willier had passed away unexpectedly of unknown causes. Willier and her mother Yvonne Jobin, co-owners of Moonstone Creation in Inglewood, were subjects of a profile that was set to be published in this issue and writer Stephanie Joe had just submitted her first draft. For many years, Willier, alongside Jobin, bridged cultures by sharing traditional Indigenous arts as a teacher, artisan and gallery owner. The Moonstone Creation storefront in Inglewood is mere blocks from the Avenue offices and Willier had been a speaker at our Made in Alberta conference last year. We had hoped she would act as a judge for this year's awards program. Sharing Willier’s legacy took on new urgency after her death, and so Joe began the difficult task of rewriting the piece as a memorial instead of a profile. We were certainly not the only organization profoundly affected by Willier in the community and several local groups and artists felt immediately compelled to create work about her. Moonstone's neighbour, Festival Hall, displayed a temporary mural of Willier on their front window as part of Inglewood's Northern Reflections augmented reality mural festival. And a display of flowers and mementos immediately grew at Moonstone's front step. The final story that Joe wrote starts on page 34. We also created a memorial award in Willier's name as part of the Made in Alberta Awards program. You can see the entries in the first Amy Willier Indigenous Artisans Award, as well as the entries in all of the other categories, and vote for

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Take Home Treats S W E E T

S A V O U R Y

A S P E N L ANDI NG SH OP P I NG CE N T RE

O N E OF C A LG A RY ’ S MO S T D ESI R AB L E P LA C E S TO C A LL H O ME

FREE INDOOR PARKING

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Early retirement isn’t for you. It’s for your loved ones. At ATB, we prefer being frank with financial advice. We’re able to talk honestly, having taken the time to understand your individual needs. This also means you get a more personalized service and real peace of mind. So, before you make any investment decisions, talk with one of our wealth experts. You’ll soon discover that you’re in very capable hands, and that regardless of an uncertain economy, you can be certain of our advice.

atb.com/inheritance ATB Wealth consists of a range of ﬁnancial services provided by ATB Financial and certain of its subsidiaries. ATB Investment Management Inc., ATB Securities Inc., and ATB Insurance Advisors Inc., are individually licensed users of the registered trade name ATB Wealth. ATB Securities Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

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Gift wrap your love for mom. Spend a minimum of $200 on Oxford Gift Cards or eGift cards and get a 5% bonus gift card (offer starts May 5th). Visit southcentremall.com for more details.

DETOURS She’s the Boss HOW ALLTHINGSBOSSY PROMOTES EXCELLENCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OF BLACK WOMEN IN CALGARY.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JARED SYCH

SHUANA PORTER, CREATOR AND CEO OF ALLTHINGSBOSSY.

raditionally, the image of what success looks like hasn’t been very inclusive of Black women. But Shuana Porter, CEO of the AllThingsBossy brand, is working to turn that notion on its head. AllThingsBossy aims to provide personal and professional events, business mentorship and networking opportunities for Black and

women of colour entrepreneurs in Calgary. “I feel like there’s a deficit here in Calgary, where we don’t do a lot of events that just celebrate and normalize Black luxury, Black excellence, especially for Black women,” says Porter. Porter conceptualized AllThingsBossy in late 2019 as a networking brunch where speakers from a variety of industries would present on a range of topics, including avenuecalgary.com

DETOURS

EYES ON THE STORM

SHUANA PORTER

mental health, entrepreneurship and relationships, for a Black female audience. She intended the original brunch to take place in early 2020, prior to the first pandemic lockdown and later, the Black Lives Matter protests that happened in the city. The brunch ended up postponed to September 2020 (the 100 tickets sold out in 10 days) while Porter created virtual events and a video speaker series on topics such as finance and self-care that she put out on social media. “It’s hard to navigate a business, but also [to] navigate social injustice, and how you’re dealing with that mentally,” she says. Porter, who knows a thing or two about business and Black female excellence as the founder of local branding consultancy Upper House Agency, says the long-overdue reckoning with racial injustice cast a necessary spotlight on Black business owners in Calgary. 12

avenue May 21

Last year, in late October, AllThingsBossy staged its “Billionaire Babes Club” photo on Stephen Avenue as a response to the demand for representation. Porter invited local Black female entrepreneurs from an array of industries to walk through downtown together sporting their best power suits and in doing so creating visibility for Black female entrepreneurship and excellence. It was an opportunity for “finally being seen, finally being recognized,” Porter says. She and the team behind AllThingsBossy plan to expand by providing businessbuilding services to business owners, selling Billionaire Babes Club merchandise and organizing a wellness retreat, tentatively planned for later this year. —Tsering Asha For more information visit allthingsbossy.com or follow @allthingsbossy_ on Instagram.

Members of the Prairie Storm Chasers spend their summers tracking and understanding forces of nature.

eing present when blue skies During a chase, instrumentation atgive way to menacing storm tached to Morisseau’s armoured Jeep clouds is a feeling Beth Allan Wrangler measures wind speed and dichases — literally. “There’s rection, temperature, humidity, dew point nothing that can compare in terms of and pressure. The group has become a ‘oh my goodness,’” says Allan, who reliable information source for the public, has chased and photographed storms media and government organizations throughout Canada and the U.S. since forming in 2012. Members also Allan is part of Prairie Storm Chasers, a share their experiences through keynote six-member collective based throughout and school presentations, and this past the Canadian west dedicated to forewinter, the crew was featured on CBC’s casting, targeting and pursuing severe Wild Canadian Weather docu-series. weather. Specifically, the group tracks su“If more people understood what was percell thunderstorms — the happening with these “THERE’S storms that in some cases severe weather storms, NOTHING THAT will produce tornadoes. they wouldn’t be as afraid While a rush of adrenaline of them,” says Morisseau. CAN COMPARE IN comes with chasing, the Both Morisseau and TERMS OF ‘OH, collective’s main focus is Allan normally head MY GOODNESS.’” providing information. Much stateside in early May to BETH ALLAN of their reporting is done on spend time in “Tornado Twitter using #ABStorm in Alley” (the U.S. central Alberta, #SKStorm in Saskatchewan and plains region known for frequent twisters), #MBStorm in Manitoba, all of which are though COVID-19 restrictions may delay monitored by Environment and Climate chasing until the start of the Canadian Change Canada. prairie tornado season around mid-June. The government bureau relies on this Regardless of when the first chase hap“ground truth” to be certain that a storm pens, both Allan and Morisseau say the is producing a tornado or is about to proanticipation every year is palpable. duce a tornado, says Braydon Morisseau, “If there’s one thing storm chasers are a Cochrane-based chaser and a Prairie really good at, it’s spending time thinking Storm Chasers co-founder. “By posting about storms in the 10 months when you photos, they can see those things and don’t have them,” Allan says. issue a warning or watch.” —Nathan Kunz

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y H E N N Y, B R AY D O N M O R I S S E A U

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Openings Bardöt Beauty Boutique Botox, chemical peels, IV vitamin drips and micro-needling are just some of the services offered at this new beauty boutique in Cliff Bungalow. 130, 2207 4 St. S.W., 403-475-4025, bardotbeauty.ca

“Humans do very predictable things in the bush. When we come to a river we’re going to follow it downstream.” TERRY GRANT (A.K.A. MANTRACKER)

Clearly

Deville Coffee Start your day with some coffee and baked goods from Deville Coffee’s newest Calgary location inside the former Starbucks space in Kensington. 1122 Kensington Rd. N.W., devillecoffee.ca

Noto Gelato Treat yourself to a scoop of delicious Italian gelato at Noto Gelato in Bridgeland. Try flavours such as cappuccino caramel, Aperol spritz, lemon and Nutella, or grab some pints to enjoy at home. 236 4 St. N.E., 403-234-8118, notogelato.ca

avenue May 21

TRACKING DOWN THE MANTRACKER

erry Grant, or “Mantracker” as he’s known, has enjoyed an adventurous career based on his ability to find people in the wild. From 2006 to 2012 Grant starred in nearly 60 episodes of the OLN (formerly Outdoor Life Network) adventure-reality series Mantracker. Despite his long-standing success, he wasn’t actually the first choice for the show. “They asked my cousin and he wasn’t interested, so he passed my name on,” Grant says. “I said yes. I really didn’t know what to expect.” Each episode followed Grant as he hunted down two contestants, or “prey” who tried (and usually failed) to evade him. Prior to the show, Grant’s human-hunting experience had been limited to volunteering with Foothills Search and Rescue Society, but when the cameras started rolling he knew instinctively what to do. “They really just sent me out there and said, ‘be yourself, do what you do,’ and that’s it. It was really me using all the skills I had learned from 30 years of cowboying,” he says. Today, nearly a decade after Mantracker’s end, Grant teaches his skills to groups in Alberta and across the country. He sets small simulation tracks and shares his techniques for footprint tracking,

identifying imprints in grass and foliage and good old-fashioned human nature. “Humans are going to do very predictable things in the bush. When we come to a river, we’re probably going to follow it downstream. We will gravitate downhill or to the path of least resistance — we are all lazy,” he says. Grant’s work isn’t just about adventuring in the outdoors. He also taught a course on human tracking for the Edmonton Police Service to give them additional tools for finding suspects fleeing the scene of car collisions. Generally, when someone flees an accident, they will “run about 100 yards, turn left, turn down an alley and then hide,” Grant says. After working with the Edmonton police, Grant got a call from them saying that they took his advice and at least one subject was found 200 metres away hiding down an alley/side street, just as he predicted. Grant also served as a media consultant during the high-profile search across Western Canada for fugitive murderers Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky in the summer of 2019. “I’ll keep helping and teaching wherever I am needed,” Grant says. “This is what I do and who I am. If someone needs me, I’ll help.” —Travis Klemp

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH

Eyewear brand Clearly has opened its first Alberta storefront inside CF Chinook Centre, offering stylish glasses, sunglasses, contacts and optometry appointments. CF Chinook Centre, clearly.ca, 1-866-501-2729

Scan the QR Code to tour our showroom

Cambridge Manor The Brenda Strafford Foundation is bringing our ‘people-first’ approach to our innovative new seniors wellness community. Cambridge Manor is now over 70% occupied and suite selections are becoming more limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be among the first residents to call Cambridge Manor ‘home’ this spring. 253 Smith St. NW | 403-536-8675 | cambridge@theBSF.ca Visit us online at: cambridgemanor.ca | theBSF.ca

Market Mall Sm

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avenue May 21

Move in This

Spring

WELCOME HOME TO CAMBRIDGE MANOR Renowned for award winning care, The Brenda Strafford Foundation is proud to introduce Calgary’s newest seniors’ wellness community in the University District. Enjoy a rich and full life with the comfort and security of a true aging-in-place experience, from private independent and assisted living to private long term care.

H A I R A N D M A K E U P B Y C I T L A L I L O Z A , A RT I S T S W I T H I N , TA B L E WA R E S T Y L I N G B Y S A R A H N E A L O N

C U R AT I O N A N D W R I T I N G B Y C A R M E N C H E N G P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J A R E D S Y C H F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y S Y LV I A K O N G M O D E L A S H I A , T H E P E O P L E M A N A G E M E N T

things to EAT DRINK right now

Food trends come and go, but eating (and drinking) local is always in style and in season. Here are 31 amazing can’t-miss, made-right-here things to try — one for each day of the month.

avenuecalgary.com

3 PA O

DIY Pao Kits The pillowy siopao (Filipino steamed buns) central to Pao’s menu are made from a family recipe passed down through generations. DIY Pao kits come in a variety of options, but the braised five-spice pork belly and buttermilk-fried-chicken karaage are customer favourites. 403-630-9076, paoyyc.com

S H I K I M E N YA

Chili Goma Ramen Kit

BUN BO HUE DELI

Spicy pork and noodles in a peanutty sesame broth, Shiki Menya’s chili goma ramen is beloved in this city. With these kits, you can have your bowl at home, or even take it camping. First Avenue Corner Store, 824 1 Ave. N.E., shiki-menya.myshopify.com

Bring-Your-Own-Pot Bún Bò Hué Bún bò huế is a spicy and savoury central Vietnamese noodle soup flavoured with lemongrass and saté chili. Bun Bo Hue Deli is best known for its “bring-your-own-pot” (BYOP) service: customers bring a pot to be filled with beef and pork broth and wrapped tightly for safe transport. The minimum order for BYOP is four servings and includes all the typical accompaniments for $25. Let the staff know if you need more servings and they will adjust the portion and cost accordingly. 311, 4909 17 Ave. S.E., 403-248-3030

avenue May 21

CALGARY BANCHAN

Ko r e a n Fa m i ly - Sty l e Meal Kits Since 2016, Lena Park and her mom Sunny Kim have been sharing Korean meal kits with Calgarians. The family-style menu changes weekly and includes savoury soups, braised meats and dishes such as the popular marinated raw crabs. Customers get to choose from a selection of banchan (Korean side dishes) and mains. The kits are delivered around the city and include easy-to-follow cooking instructions. calgarybanchan.wixsite.com/calgarybanchan-1, @calgary_banchan

TOP GUN KITCHEN

Frozen Dim Sum Top Gun’s house-made frozen dim sum has been a welcome addition in a year where we have all been eating at home more. There’s an extensive menu of steam-at-home dishes, but the Top Gun pork and shrimp siu mai, barbecue pork buns and Top Gun lava buns are all stellar. 7, 3927 Edmonton Trail, 403-453-8671

TABLEWARE THIS PAGE: enamelled wood tray, $18, from Simons; noodle bowl, $25, and chopsticks, $20 (for a set of five pairs), from Nanao Kimono; footed bowl, $8.95, from Britannia Kitchen & Home; ceramic plate, $14, from Anthropologie. OPPOSITE PAGE: stoneware baker dish, $18, and shallow bowl, $88 (for a set of four), from Nordstrom; white serving bowl, $40, from Britannia Kitchen & Home; porcelain pinch bowl, $6, and enamelled wood tray, $18, from Simons.

FOOD ITEMS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: siopao made with a DIY Pao Kit; chili goma ramen from a Shiki Menya kit; Top Gun Kitchen steam-at-home dim sum.

avenuecalgary.com

8 MOLCAJETE

Salsa Negra This smoky-spicy salsa is made with roasted chilis, garlic and onion. Although delicious with chips, it is also a superb ingredient in stews, rice or chicken dishes. Add a dollop to your refried beans during cooking to impart complexity and flavour. Crossroads Market, 1235 26 Ave. S.E.

9 C L U C K N C L E AV E R

Just Cluckin’ Hot Sauce Fans of Cluck n Cleaver’s Mother Clucker chicken sandwich can now buy the slightly tangy and lightly smoky made-from-scratch hot sauce that makes it so craveworthy. 1511 14 St. S.W. 403-266-2067, cluckncleaver.com

10 SHEF’S FIERY KITCHEN

FOOD ITEMS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Molcajete Salsa Negra (with chips); Just Cluckin’ Hot Sauce (on chicken sandwich); Shef’s Fiery Kitchen Chili-Lime Peanut Paste (with shrimp). TABLEWARE: shallow bowl, $88 (for a set of four), from Nordstrom; clear bowl, $1.35, from Zest Kitchenware; footed bowls, $8.95 each, from Britannia Kitchen & Home; ceramic plate, $14, from Anthropologie; enamelled wood tray, $18, from Simons.

6 T I P PA I N C .

7 GARCHI

Chili-Lime Peanut Paste Loaded with Thai aromatics including garlic, chilis and kaffir lime leaves, the spicy-tangy flavour of this paste makes it a great marinade for grilled prawns, or a delicious addition to a coconut milk-based fish or chicken curry. Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E., shefsfierykitchen.com 11 R O Y ’ S K O R E A N K I T C H E N

Alchemist Honey Vinegar

Gourmet Garlic Condiment

Roy’s Sauces and Marinades

Best known for its artisan gins, Okotoks-based Tippa is currently the only Canadian distiller producing vinegar. Made from Alberta wildflower mead, the raw unpasteurized and unfiltered honey vinegar is a unique product that can be used in cooking or cocktails. tippadistillery.square.site

A portmanteau of garlic and chili, “garchi” is crunchy, chewy, a little spicy and quite addictive when sprinkled on top of Caesar salads, pasta and noodles. It’s made from a secret family recipe that was created 12 years ago in the Phillipines. Available at retailers around the city. garchi.ca

At his former restaurant Anju, Roy Oh fielded many customer requests for his sauces. Finally, Oh’s sauces and marinades are available for purchase. Marinate your choice of protein and serve with lettuce, rice and Roy’s ssamjang (fermented soybean paste) for Korean-style barbecue at home. 2024 4 St. S.W., royskoreankitchen.com

avenue May 21

VOTED 2021 BEST NEW CANADIAN WHISKY Gray Jay Deluxe Canadian Whisky is perfect for all occasions. Smooth and unpretentious, it lets you make your own rules. Buy a bottle today, and enjoy every sip, just as you like.

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TABLEWARE/BARWARE THIS PAGE: rectangular stoneware serving tray, $14, from Indigo; low bowl, $8.99, footed bowl, $8.95, and glass cocktail mug, $28 (for a set of six), from Britannia Kitchen & Home; enamelled wood tray, $18, from Simons; stoneware baker dish, $18, from Nordstrom.

FOOD ITEMS LEFT TO RIGHT: Empire Provisions Cheeseburger Smokies; Edgar Farms Pickled Sugar Snap Peas; samosas from The Samosa Factory.

1 2 A L B E R TA C H E E S E

1 4 L L O Y D ’ S PAT T Y P L U S

C O M PA N Y

Jamaican Beef Patties

Franco’s Mozzarella Buttery and melty, Franco’s mozzarella is fantastic in lasagna, casseroles, on pizza, or combined with cheddar or Gruyère for stretchy picture-perfect grilled cheese. Retailers around the city, including Bridgeland Market and Italian Centre. albertacheese.com/franco-brand

1 3 PA S TA L A M A N O

Pasta Club Fresh handmade pasta delivered right to your door makes a convenient and tasty meal. Patrons of Pasta La Mano’s Pasta Club receive a monthly delivery of two quality pastas paired with a sauce and a recipe, often developed in collaboration with local chefs. 101-342 15 Ave. S.W., pastalamano.com 22

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Cheeseburger Smokies These snappy smokies are made with classic burger ingredients such as Alberta pork and beef, cheese and onion. The addition of kosher pickles and Empire’s secret burger sauce provides some extra zip. 8409 Elbow Dr S.W., 403-244-0570, empireprovisions.com

EMPIRE PROVISIONS

Lloyd’s Jamaican patties are iconic in Calgary. Made fresh daily, the patties are defined by flaky pastry and wellseasoned fillings. The slow heat of the spicy beef patty doesn’t overwhelm the flavour of the meat or the pastry and is a popular choice with customers. 255 28 St. S.E., 403-207-4455

E D G A R FA R M S

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas Pickled sugar snap peas from Edgar Farms are a wonderful accompaniment for sandwiches or as a garnish for your Caesar. The crisp pickled peas come in traditional dill and garlic pickle flavour, or for an extra kick try the spicy peppercorn version. Available at the Innisfail Growers booth at the Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E., and in the summer from the Edgar Farms Country Store located 14 kms west of Innisfail, edgarfarms.com 1 7 T H E S A M O S A FA C T O R Y

Spinach and Cheese Samosas The Samosa Factory makes these delightful samosas using paneer, a Punjabi-style cheese, combined with fresh spinach, carrots, green peas, ginger and other spices. Wrapped in pastry then fried until golden and crispy, they come ready-to-eat or frozen, to be cooked at home. 135, 55 Westwinds Cres. N.E.; 105, 11652 Sarcee Tr. N.W.; 403-568-1447; samosafactory.ca

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DONUT CLUB YYC

Brioche Donuts These doughnuts made by chef Kayle Burns (Una Pizza + Wine) are so popular that pre-orders sell out weekly. Flavours change up every other week and have included hits such as pecanbutter tart and Ferrero Rocher. donutclubyyc.ca

23 18 BOLO CAKERY

Hazelnut Gelato

Bolo Cakery owner Lisa describes this as “a delicious concoction of cheese, butter and love rolled up in Bolo’s signature dough.” The eight-inch cheesebun wheels are available plain or with bacon. Cut off a slice and heat it slightly in a toaster oven or pan for a bite of cheesy heaven. 5403 Crowchild Trail N.W., 587-231-9069, bolocakery.com

Adamant about the quality and authenticity of its gelato, Noto carefully sources ingredients and painstakingly tests each of its recipes. The hazelnut gelato is made with roasted hazelnut paste imported from Italy and has a luxuriously rich texture. And for those who prefer fruity flavours, the black cherry is definitely worth a try. 236 4 St N.E., 403-234-8118, notogelato.ca

L e m o n C r e a m Ta r t Marie and Yves Ghesquiere are veterans of the pastry world. Their beautiful lemon cream tart has a buttery shortbread crust, bright lemon curd and sweet meringue — just enough sweetness offsetting the tartness. Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E., shebakesbouquets.com

2 0 N O T O G E L AT O

Cheese Wheel

SHE BAKES BOUQUETS

A R I N H I E B E R T C O M PA N Y

Arin’s Famous Gluten-Friendly Carrot Cake A finalist on season six of Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship, Arin Hiebert opened his virtual bakeshop in June 2020. His moist, layered carrot cake with rich cream cheese frosting has become a staple item for many of his customers, whether they’re gluten intolerant or not. arinhiebert.com

25 1 9 B R E A D C U LT U R E

21 MARI BAKESHOP

Canelés

Sourdough Loaves

The crispy caramelized crust of Bread Culture’s canelés is contrasted by the soft rum and vanilla custard centre. This classic French pastry is notoriously difficult to perfect, which makes Bread Culture’s version even more worthy of savouring. 1502 14 St. S.W., 403-270-0490, breadculture.ca

Sourdough appreciation has grown in the past year and Mari Bakeshop’s artisan sourdough loaves are worthy of all that love, whether it’s the signature pain rustique or one of the weekly feature flavours such as the apricot, cranberry and walnut loaf. 529 Riverfront Ave. S.E., 587-356-4461, maribakeshop.ca

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ALFORNO BAKERY AND CAFÉ

Blueberry Caramel C u s t a r d Ta r t This fruit tart satisfies a sweet tooth but isn’t too decadent. The pâté sucrée base is filled with blueberries, custard and a touch of caramel. Throughout the year, they’ll often substitute the blueberries for other seasonal fruits. 222 7 St. S.W., 403-454-0308, alforno.ca

TABLEWARE THIS PAGE: ceramic plate, $14, from Anthropologie; white dinner plate, $100 (for a set of four), from Nordstrom; rectangular serving tray, $14, from Indigo; square coaster, stylist’s own, from HomeSense. OPPOSITE PAGE: white dinner plate, $100 (for a set of four), from Nordstrom; porcelain bowl, $6, from Simons.

FOOD ITEMS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Donut Club YYC Brioche Donuts; Arin Hiebert Company’s Famous Gluten-Friendly Carrot Cake; Alforno Bakery and Café’s Blueberry Caramel Custard Tart; She Bakes Bouquets Lemon Cream Tart.

22 24

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TABLEWARE/BARWARE THIS PAGE: small clear bowl, $1.35, from Zest Kitchenware; Fifth & Vermouth double rocks glass, $24 for set of two, coupe glass, $9, and Collins glass, $5.95, all from Vine Arts.

30 PROOF

Canned Cocktails 26 CRICKLE CREEK COFFEE CO.

Coffee Beans Crickle Creek Coffee Co. takes pride in providing customers with the freshest possible coffee beans to brew and offers varieties from around the world. Coffee orders are delivered one-totwo days after the beans are roasted — usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays. 403-931-4074, cricklecreekcoffee.com

2 7 C O N M I TA C O

Agua de Horchata ConMi Taco’s horchata is made fresh with rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. The cooling drink is a perfect complement to tacos and salsas, or shake it with cold-brew coffee, Kahlúa and rum for a horchata shaft. 208 9 Ave. S.W., 587-890-7192, conmitaco.com

BRIDGELAND DISTILLERY

Ta b e r C o r n B e r b o n Bridgeland Distillery makes this bourbon-inspired spirit with ingredients all sourced within 100 miles, including Taber corn, Penhold barley and wheat, and water from the Rockies. Use it in any of the classic whisky cocktails, or, sip it straight, either neat or on the rocks to truly appreciate its quality. 77 Edmonton Trail, N.E. 403-988-4466, bridgelanddistillery.com

R V I I TA

Fulsome and clean flavours differentiate these canned cocktails from the rest of the pack. From the hopped pineapple and guava in the Island Hopper to the grapefruit and rosebud tea in the Ruby Rose, Proof ’s canned cocktails are as tasty as they are convenient to consume. Available at Proof Cocktail Bar, 1302 1 St. S.W., proofyyc.com; and Vine Arts, 1310 1 St. S.W. and 101-932 17 Ave. S.W., vinearts.ca

31 WILD LIFE DISTILLERY

E n e r g y Te a s

To n i c S y r u p

Made with caffeine from tea and guarana seeds and sweetened wtih organic honey, these refreshing beverages offer an energy boost with natural ingredients. The lineup of juicy fruit flavours includes divine strawberry, midnight blackberry, “speachless” peach green tea and royal elderberry. Available at retailers around the city, rviitalize.com

This bright tonic syrup makes it easy to create artisan cocktails at home. Try it with hot water and gin for a warm gin and tonic, or use as a sweetening agent in cooking or baking. 160, 105 Bow Meadows Cres., Canmore, and select liquor stores in Calgary, wildlifedistillery.ca

S OUR C E Anthropologie, CF Chinook Centre, 403-252-7411, anthropologie.com; Britannia Kitchen & Home, 816 49 Ave. S.W., 403-243-4444, britanniahome.ca; Indigo, multiple Calgary locations, chapters.indigo.ca; Nanao Kimono, 215 10 St. N.W., 403-891-9221, nanaokimono.com; Nordstrom, CF Chinook Centre, 587-291-2000, nordstrom.ca; Simons, The Core Shopping Centre, 403-697-1840, simons.ca; Vine Arts, 1310 1 St. S.W., 403-290-0700, and 101, 932 17 Ave. S.W., 403-454-1106, vinearts.ca; Zest Kitchenware, Unit 131, 5005 Dalhousie Dr. N.W., 403-286-5220, zestkitchenware.com

avenue May 21

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B Y T AY L O R L A M B E R T I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y C R I S T I A N F O W L I E

SEEING THE TREES

More than just landscaping, Calgary’s urban forest is an environmental asset that the City wants to grow.

e generally don’t think of urban areas as forested. Cities have trees, of course. But in the urban environment trees often feel more like objects than a forest — singular and static rather than a living collective, a decorative afterthought amongst the buildings and pavement. But trees offer more than just shade and autumn leaf-raking opportunities. They sequester air pollution and help fight climate change. They significantly reduce the “heat island” effect of large cities, thereby reducing the amount of energy used to regulate building temperatures. Trees mitigate the destructive effects of stormwater, provide wildlife habitats and serve as noise buffers in the cacopho28

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nous urban landscape. Research has demonstrated the positive effects of trees on psychological wellbeing and general health. They are also tools for urban design, increasing walkability and decreasing traffic speeds. Trees are vital but underappreciated parts of any city, our living infrastructure.

2014 TD Economics study in Toronto found that every dollar invested in an urban forest sees a return of $1.35 to $3.25 in benefits and cost-savings, everything from stormwater management,

air quality, energy savings and carbon sequestration. Think about that for a moment: not only are trees something everyone loves, they are a net fiscal gain. Here on the prairies, trees are not exactly a defining feature. Most of the trees in Calgary were planted by people, making our urban forest, in a way, as unnatural as the rest of the built city. “When you consider what this place was maybe 150 years ago, it was just prairie. There were just a few trees along the river,” says Alex Nagy, an urban forestry technician with the City of Calgary. “If you go up on Nose Hill, you can see how green the city is, especially the inner city and established communities. It’s the outskirts, the newly developed com-

munities, where you notice less canopy coverage.” The sun is warm, bordering on toasty, and walking across the shadeless sections of Riley Park is nearly enough to break a sweat. Bird chirps sweeten the distant sound of light traffic as Nagy leads me and Julie Guimond, the City’s urban forestry lead, to a pair of trees near the southeast corner of the park. “These,” he says, gesturing, “are apricots.” Calgary, as any green thumb knows, is a hard place to grow anything. Unpredictable weather, huge temperature swings, the dry climate and soil more suited to sustaining grasslands than growing gardens — it’s a tough life for gardens and gardeners. And yet, apricot trees. Yes, real apricots, the ones

On the prairies, trees are not exactly a defining feature. Most of the trees in Calgary were planted by people, making our urban forest, in a way, as unnatural as the rest of the built city. avenuecalgary.com

you’re thinking of: Prunus armeniaca, also known as Armenian plum. Nagy estimates these trees are well over 50 years old. “I know some people in Varsity who have apricot [trees] in their backyard and they get so much fruit on them, it’s crazy,” he says. Few would think of Calgary as a place to grow stone fruit. But urban forests hold many surprises for those who take time to appreciate them. Calgary has about seven million trees, and the City estimates the value of the publicly owned urban forest at more than $1.3 billion. Those are pretty big numbers. But a more revealing figure is 8.22 per cent. That’s the estimated tree canopy coverage over the city. While other cities have current or targeted canopy figures of around 40 to 50 per cent, Calgary is aiming for a whopping 16 per cent. That might not sound like much, but such a comparatively low goal is not for lack of ambition. In fact, reaching that target, effectively doubling the current canopy coverage, is a spectacularly lofty objective. 30

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If our urban forest fades into a Trying to compete with other cities pleasant backdrop most of the time, with friendlier tree climates would Can we really September 2014 brought it sharply be quixotic. place an amount to the fore. “Trees have a hard time here on on the years it took The sudden storm popularly a good day, because of our soils known as Snowtember (although and the lack of moisture,” says a tree to grow, the I greatly prefer Treepocalypse) Nagy. Calgary also has a sprawltime and resources it dumped as much as 45 ing footprint, which means it would take to raise centimetres of heavy wet snow on requires more trees to move the a replacement, the some Calgary neighbourhoods in canopy coverage number since the one day. If the volume of snow was figure is a percentage of the city’s heritage pedigree of a nuisance for the city’s human total area. As with other civic infraan old tree? You bet residents, it was truly devastating structure such as the transit system we can. for trees, whose still-green leaves aland fire department, our urban lowed masses of snow to accumulate forest would be more effective and in the canopies, causing branches to dollar-efficient if we didn’t live so snap. far apart from each other. The snowfall affected large, mature trees When the City plants a tree, it factors in particular. The storm damaged hundreds in the cost of five years’ worth of watering, of thousands of public trees — an estimated a necessity for a young sapling in our dry 50 per cent — and as many as 1.5 million climate. This means it probably costs more private trees. The City’s 311 line received to establish a healthy tree here than in more more calls that day than during the 2013 tree-friendly climes. Trees are also typically flood. the last thing planned in a new development In response, the City injected new fundso they get the leftover space, which isn’t ing into urban forestry, creating the ReTree always ideal for growing.

YYC program to restore canopy coverage, increase the resilience to future storms and repair the damage to affected trees. The new funding also allowed the City to purchase its first bucket trucks — previous work requiring them had been done by contractors. Perhaps most important was the creation of a new computerized system for tracking the City’s tree inventory. Using a GPSenabled tablet, workers can immediately access and update data for individual trees — when each was last watered or pruned, for example. “We definitely took that infusion of money as a big gift and took advantage of it,” says Guimond. “We weren’t correctively pruning. We didn’t necessarily have our inventories as up to date as we should have.” Nagy says the app helped change the basic perspective of the City’s urban forestry program from reactive to proactive. Even for veteran tree hands like himself, the Treepocalypse was a huge learning experience. “I used to think green ash were the most indestructible tree we had in this city,” he says with a touch of sadness. “I don’t think that anymore.”

If a developer’s plans include cutcould sit here and ting down a public tree, they have list all the wonderful It’s hardly to pay the City the value ascribed attributes of trees and surprising that to that tree in addition to the cost the value they add to we form emotional of removing the tree and stump. If cities, both obvious and covert. But ours attachments to trees... someone inadvertently damages or destroys a public tree, the appraisal is a capitalist society that ascribes They are living things value determines the amount on value with a dollar sign. So what is inhabiting the same the bill they receive. “I don’t want a tree worth? Can we really place space as us. In a to say ‘sell,’ but quite often we have an amount on the years it took to no choice but to authorize a tree’s grow, the time and resources it word, they are our removal based on approvals by would take to raise a replacement, neighbours. others, whether it be from root loss the heritage pedigree of an old tree? or half the canopy is being removed You bet we can. because the building footprint is The Guide For Plant Appraisal, expanded,” says Nagy. published by the International Society of Whether you think of it as the sale price, Arboriculture, is the widely used handbook the cost of development, or a penalty for to evaluate trees. In valuing trees, the City’s harming a living asset, the fee pays for the parks department considers several factors, City to plant a replacement tree in the same such as trunk diameter, location, condition or similar location. Of course, a half-cenand species. tury-old elm gets replaced by a thin, young We put dollar values on things to literally sapling. But it’s better than nothing. put a price on them, to buy and sell them. In addition to proactively valuing trees as The value placed on public trees is no differa “deterrent” to them being cut down, Nagy ent: it’s primarily to determine the bill if the and his colleagues have input on developtree is damaged or has to be removed. avenuecalgary.com

ment permits that endanger trees. “We review plans when they’re submitted by [the planning department], and then we make suggestions to try and save the tree, whether it be relocating a sidewalk or underground utilities, underground sprinkler systems — anything that might impact the tree. We provide those comments to the park generalists, and they apply them to the release of the [development permit]. We’re kind of their eyes and ears when it comes to urban forestry,” Nagy says. On the City’s urban forest management interactive map, you can browse select data from the digital database used to track the tree inventory. It displays data from neighbourhood level (Inglewood’s 3,827 trees are worth $14 million) to street level (that tree outside my apartment is a Japanese lilac with a trunk diameter of 12 cm and an assessed value of $796.21). This is a wealth of information, but it’s designed for browsing not searching. It doesn’t lend itself to finding, say, the oldest or most valuable tree in the city. Although he notes there are some 400-year-old Douglas first off of Sarcee Trail that the City hasn’t valued yet, Nagy guesses the title of most-valuable belongs to the Stampede Elm, which he figures could be assessed at between $100,000 and $125,000. He’d know — part of his job is testifying as an expert witness in court cases about the value of specific trees. The Stampede Elm is also one of the oldest trees in the city at over a century. It was probably once a feature in someone’s Victoria Park yard, but now it stands in the middle of a sprawling parking lot on 12th Avenue S.E., rising from the asphalt in defiance. Yet still it thrives, likely because it has a deep root system that can reach the water table. It only recently became a public tree when the land it sits on was transferred to the City for the new arena project. Nagy believes the Stampede Elm still has untold years of life in it. “It’s still actively growing, it’s putting on new buds, it’s got good 32

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The Stampede Elm was probably once a feature in someone’s Victoria Park yard, but now it stands in the middle of a sprawling parking lot, rising from the asphalt in defiance.

shoot elongation, there’s not a lot of pests or diseases in it. That tree is a survivor.” The City and UCalgary are working to see if there’s a way to save the tree by moving it, but it is by no means clear if that will be possible. Seedlings and clippings have also been taken to propagate offspring. No matter what, the Stampede Elm will not be on the Stampede Grounds for much longer. Trees don’t have to be famous to be beloved. When someone illegally cut down two decades-old spruce trees in Britannia, the community was outraged. A similar response arises for sanctioned tree removal: when the City abruptly removed several trees in preparation for constructing the new zoo bridge, the outcry from Inglewood residents forced officials to pause and meet with the community. It’s hardly surprising that we form emotional attachments to trees, particularly those in our immediate environment. They are living things inhabiting the same space as us. In a word, they are our neighbours.

ine Creek Nursery is tucked alongside the Bow river just before it turns east. The only entrance is from a faraway side road off 194th Avenue that twists and turns and runs for so long you have plenty of time to wonder just how lost you are. Adjacent to the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, the nursery has something of an industrial park vibe. Trees notwithstanding, it’s not designed to be a pleasant

Calgary’s Urban Forest By the Numbers 7 MILLION TOTAL ESTIMATED TREES IN CALGARY

$1.3 BILLION TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF PUBLIC TREES

7,000 TREES IN THE CITY’S PINE CREEK NURSERY (WITH A GOAL OF 10,000)

$2.5 MILLION INCREASE TO THE FORESTRY BUDGET THIS YEAR AND NEXT

3,500 TREES PLANTED BY THE CITY IN AN AVERAGE YEAR

6,000 TREES TO BE PLANTED BY THE CITY THIS YEAR AND NEXT

Like the trees, most of us are transplants to this region. We live out our lives not knowing which of us will grow old and which will fall victim to disease or destruction.

park to stroll in. It’s designed to efficiently grow trees to transplant elsewhere and create pleasant parks to stroll in. Gary Dillon is one of the “gardeners” here, though that seems too small a word for all he does to care for this little forest of baby trees. In November, 2020, City Council approved a $2.5 million increase in the forestry budget for this year and next, enough to allow the department to plant around 6,000 trees a year in 2021 and 2022 (an increase of about 2,500 trees from past years). It takes three to four years for a baby tree to be big enough to graduate from the nursery. Because of the need for trees, and because Pine Creek is a fraction of the size of commercial nurseries with only around 7,000 trees, the City purchases around 40 per cent of its trees from other regional growers. Driving around the nursery in a work truck, Dillon points out aspens, poplars, larches. Guimond notes that the most important characteristics for a good Calgary species are a great root system, sturdy build and the ability to withstand big temperature swings — attractiveness helps a lot, too. There are 17 species and 31 cultivars in the nursery, some of which are tried and true, such as green ash and Manitoba maple. “If you can put native plants back into where they grow best, you’ve got a better chance of success,” says Dillon, but with only three native trees, that’s difficult. Diversity in the urban forest is important for its health and survival. Back when Dutch elm disease struck North America, many cities were primarily populated with elms. As the disease spread across Canada from

east to west in the mid- to late-20th century, many cities lost a tremendous portion of their canopy, (although Alberta was largely unaffected.) With an eye to diversity, the City participates in trials with other nurseries to test novel species. “They want to know how they work on the prairies, because their climate is so different,” says Dillon. Of course, it’s called a nursery for a reason. “We babysit these trees,” he says. “They get watered every time they’re supposed to, they get fertilized twice a year.” The nursery even plants wildflowers that attract the bugs that eat the bugs that prey on a given species. Once they get planted in the real world, it’s up to the trees to prove their mettle. How well a tree can roll with the punches over the years determines whether it survives to grow large enough to provide shade for picnics or a home for wildlife. There are also things beyond the tree’s control: most significantly, us. No matter how well or how long a tree serves us, no matter how big and beautiful it becomes, its life often ends to make way for a new development. This is the tension between the urban and the forest. Perhaps it’s useful to consider our urban forest as a reflection of ourselves, fellow living beings who find a way to live amongst the sprawl and concrete. Like the trees, most of us are transplants to this region. We live out our lives without knowing which of us will grow old and which will fall victim to disease or destruction. We put down roots, try to weather the inevitable storms, and in doing so we collectively create the city itself. Like the trees, our futures are tied to how the city develops and changes around us. But unlike them, we are responsible for those decisions and in control of not only our future but also theirs. We need them much more than they need us, and so we ought to imagine those futures as inextricably entwined — when our trees thrive, so do we. avenuecalgary.com

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BY STEPHANIE JOE

LEGACY OF A KNOWLEDGE KEEPER

The death of artist and entrepreneur Amy Willier leaves a gaping hole for Indigenous and non-Indigenous

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y YA M U N A F L A H E RT Y

artists, but what she created lives on. he first thing Amy Willier ever said to me was, “I think we’re cousins!” We laughed, and began talking, eventually confirming that we were, indeed, cousins through marriage. I had connected with Willier, a Cree artist, entrepreneur and Indigenous arts advocate, in 2017 when we both volunteered for Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary. Last December, I connected with her again to interview her for a profile story for this magazine that was also about the success of Moonstone Creation, the business Willier co-owned with her mother Yvonne Jobin, and what the two of them were doing to champion traditional Indigenous arts both locally and on the international stage. But then Willier died unexpectedly in January from unknown causes, just after I finished the first draft. Now, this is both a profile and a memorial. Instead of looking forward to Willier’s promise, the story became a legacy piece on her accomplishments and the impact she had on her community.

n Indigenous cultures, a Knowledge Keeper holds traditional knowledge and shares it with others in order to preserve or promote a culture.

Amy Willier was a Knowledge Keeper. “Our family’s mantra has always been, ‘knowledge without sharing is worthless,’” she told me back in December. Willier grew up surrounded by her mother’s teachings. Jobin chose to stay home and raise her children rather than put them in daycare while she worked outside of the home. Though Jobin had started a career in finance, she had long felt called to help preserve and promote Indigenous culture. In the 1970s, Jobin enrolled in a 10-month Native Cultural Arts program at the Alberta Vocational Centre. The program offered her a job as an instructor before she even completed the course work. She says she felt as if grandmother was working through her, which is the reason everything fell into place. “I believe it’s really important to keep traditions alive,” Jobin says. Jobin founded Moonstone Creation in 1994 as a home-based business selling traditional Indigenous clothing and artworks and offering classes in traditional Indigenous arts. She moved an industrial sewing machine into the dining room so she could keep an eye on the kids while working on custom garments and parkas. It always amazed friends and customers that the

children wouldn’t touch her materials or play with the pins and scissors. “It’s something that they grew up with,” Jobin says. “It was their life.” Sewing had been a constant in Jobin’s childhood, too. Sewing is a significant component in traditional Indigenous arts and Jobin had learned to sew when she was a young girl. She lived with her aunt and kokum (grandmother), who both taught her fine needlework, embroidery, crocheting, knitting and sewing — skills she later used to start her business. When Jobin was just eight years old, she sewed herself a dress from start to finish, and by the time she entered middle school, she was sewing herself a new outfit every weekend out of repurposed clothes. “It’s in my blood,” she says, explaining that the first Jobin to immigrate to Canada was a tailor of women’s clothing. “I think that DNA mixed with the Native — we’re a creative people.” When Willier had a son of her own, she faced the same dilemma her mother once had — put him in daycare or find a way to have him alongside her while she worked. Like her mother, Willier chose to keep her son with her as she officially became co-owner of Moonstone Creation. avenuecalgary.com

Moonstone Creation moved from Jobin’s house to a shop space in Inglewood in 2009 (the business later moved to the current shop on 10th Avenue S.E.). Jobin had already been teaching classes in her basement, but the new space allowed her to expand and both teach and display Indigenous art. To finish the space, she called on family and friends to donate furniture and set up a makeshift playpen in the back for the baby. Years later, Jobin’s success is defined by her gratitude for every aspect of her work. “It’s amazing for me to see where I came from in ’94,” she says. “Friends tell me, ‘you know, it’s pretty amazing how you’ve been able to create a living out of beads and buckskin.’” Giving thanks to the earth is important in Indigenous culture, and Jobin always acknowledges where her materials come from. She collects fur and hide scraps after every class and the Moonstone family takes them to a field and returns them to the land with prayers of gratitude. “Every year we have a feast for the animals and birds that go into everything we create,” Jobin says. Willier fully embraced Jobin’s teachings, and she was keen to share them with others. She first taught a dreamcatcher-making course to 50 students when she was only 13 years old. Willier was especially passionate about teaching non-Indigenous people. She believed it bridged cultural gaps. “You get a better appreciation of our art and history,” she said, adding people who took classes at Moonstone Creation left with a better understanding of why authentic Indigenous art often has a high price tag. “It’s hard work — beading is definitely a labour of love.” Willier was starting to take on more of a martriarchal role for the family and business when she died. Though her mother founded the company, Willier had become the one with boots on the ground. She was often the first person you encountered at Moonstone Creation, and she knew about every single art piece the shop carried by the more than 60 artists they represented from across Canada. She worked the front serving customers, taught classes in the back, and made her own art in the middle. When Willier passed away, a collective lament rippled throughout the Indigenous 36

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“Our family’s mantra has always been ‘knowledge without sharing is worthless” and arts communities. Community members set up a memorial outside the shop and a GoFundMe campaign under Willier’s name quickly surpassed its $10,000 goal. Willier’s son is living with his kokum and they have leaned on this support to get through their grief. Moonstone’s Inglewood neighbour Festival Hall, headquarters of the Calgary Folk Music Festival (CFMF), hosted an augmented reality mural during the month of February created in tribute to Willier. “She was a huge force,” says CFMF artistic director Kerry Clarke. “She was a key to the arts community. It’s so important to have someone like her who really [brought] such a positive perspective and a deep perspective on many different Indigenous cultures.” Knowledge Keepers are paramount in preserving and promoting Indigenous culture — especially after the implementation of the Indian Act, residential schools and other government initiatives meant to eradicate Indigenous culture and assimilate Indigenous people into mainstream society. Not long ago, Indigenous people were legally barred from practising their culture and ceremonies and would often face jail time as a result. The few Elders and Knowledge Keepers who practice and share their culture today have become extremely important — with every death, a library of unrecoverable information is lost and the connection to those cultural touchstones becomes even more precarious.

FESTI VAL HALL HOSTED AN AUGMENTED REALI TY MURAL OF AMY WI LLI ER AS PART OF I NGLEWOOD’ S AUGMENTED REALI TY EXHI BI TI ON, NORTHERN REFLECTI ONS. THE COLLABORATI VE TRI BUTE WAS PAI NTED AND ANI MATED BY ARTI ST AND FI LMMAKER TANK STANDI NG BUFFALO AND PAI RED WI TH A MUSI CAL SCORE BY SHANE GHOSTKEEPER.

In the wake of Willier’s death, artists Kayla Bellerose and Mackenzie Kamâmak Brown collaborated on an illustration they shared on Instagram showing Willier in her buffalo robe surrounded by floral motifs. Brown and Bellerose met Willier through Indigenous Tourism Alberta where they worked, and where Willier was often asked to speak at summits and events. Brown says she created the portrait to help deal with her grief and spend time with Willier simultaneously. “She was the perfect person for representing what Indigenous arts should be,” Brown says. “Amy was art, and that’s how she’s going to be remembered.” Bellerose added floral motifs inspired by beading to the portrait because she and Willier shared the same interest in traditional medicines. Bellerose says she often consulted with Willier on the best natural medicines to help with common ailments. “The way she shared wisdom on cultural protocols, appropriation versus appreciation, was so uplifting,” says Bellerose. “Her words were medicine.” Like any artist and entrepreneur of note, Willier’s death has both a personal and community impact. For me, she is woven into the fabric of the traditional Indigenous arts projects that I’ve created. She is in the porcupine quill medicine bag I made with her guidance. She’s in my moccasins, and in the beads she helped me pick out. These art forms had been lost to me — they were skills I never bothered honing because succeeding in a colonial world had become more important. Willier brought those skills to the forefront for me. Being First Nations is something I’ve been conditioned to be ashamed of, but she gave me permission to take pride in myself. Willier’s life is a reminder that we’re all responsible for picking up the pieces of the past and creating spaces for Indigenous culture to grow. Her death is a tragic loss for the entire community, but her legacy doesn’t die with her. Moonstone Creation is still open and eventually, classes will resume and operations will continue. “We’re still here,” says Jobin, teaching anyone who wants to learn.

YVONNE JOBIN AND AMY WILLIER.

WILLIER WITH HER SON, COLTON, AND NEPHEW, AJ, WHO SHE WAS ALSO RAISING.

Avenue has created a new Indigenous arts category in the annual Made in Alberta Awards in honour of Willier, who had been a speaker at the 2020 Made in Alberta Conference. Online voting on the Readers’ Choice award is open now at madeinalbertaawards.ca and you can see the entries in all categories, including the first Amy Willier Award for Indigenous Artisans.

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Calgary’s first Vietnamese Dessert Café, specializing in fresh, nutritious ingredients.

FIND US AT THE INTERSECTION OF CENTRE STREET AND 10TH STREET NORTH!

CURBSIDE PICKUP & TAKE OUT AVAILABLE. CALL: 403-457-8897 1115 CENTRE STREET NORTH BAMBU.YYC

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After 90 years of hosting visiting dignitaries and serving quality cuisine and beverages, Currie Barracks’ Officers’ Mess has been re-established as The Inn on Officers’ Garden. This historic Alberta structure located in the new community of Currie, has been rejuvenated—the beauty and history respected—again becoming The Place to Gather with friends and family. You are welcome to tour this unique building before and after your scrumptious meal and beverages! Once your family has experienced our tasty options for dining-in at The Officers Pub or take-away with Flanders Fine Foods, you will have a new favourite Innovation for affordable, quality meals.

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Join us on Mother’s Day May 9th for Brunch or Dinner

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26 YEARS OF CITY

Special Menu Options available.

Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth & His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh’ spent a romantic evening during their 1951 visit, in what is now called The QE II Suite. It is also known as The Wedding Suite, because of the Brides who continue to be carried over its Threshold.

PA N D E M IC C A L G A RY the fut ure Pre dic ting ppi ng, din ing , sho of hom es, and mo re sit of f ice s, tran

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All mothers will be given a rose in appreciation of their untiring love, devotion, and attention. Bring the children. They can enjoy the park with Mom & Dad and Grandma & Grandpa, playing on the swings and slides. You can even dine on our beautiful patio or in The Conservatory overlooking the 90 year old garden!

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MOUNTAINS

MUST-RIDE

M OUNTAIN B IKE T RAILS

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE MOKAN

New singletrack in West Bragg Creek and Revelstoke and a classic trail in Crowsnest Pass that you need to get out and experience.

great mountain biking trail brings both pleasure and pain: the exhilaration of clearing a technical section or coasting through a perfectly shaped corner often comes at the expense of face slappers, endos and “yard sale” wipeouts. Here

are three trails that are worth every “bark tattoo.” And remember that behind most great trails are crews of industrious volunteers who build and maintain them for all to enjoy. Raise your post-ride beer to them in thanks, or better yet, make a donation to the regional off-road cycling association in the place you most love to ride.

BY ANDREW PENNER

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KESTREL W E S T B R A G G C R E E K , A LTA . “Intermediate and advanced riders are loving this ride for its variety, challenge, excellent flow and stunning scenery,” says Conrad Schiebel, president of Bragg Creek Trails. “It’s destined to be the crown jewel at West Bragg.” To demo a bike contact Calgary Cycle Bow Trail, 4623 Bow Trail S.W., 403-277-3430, calgarycycle.com. For your celebratory post-ride beer head to the patio at Creekers Bistro in Bragg Creek for a pint of Wild Rose IPA. This coppercoloured brew is the gold standard for hopheads who appreciate a thirst-quenching, no-nonsense beer with plenty of bite.

BUCK 50

C R O W S N E S T P A S S , A LTA .

rowsnest Pass in southwestern Alberta is a prime place to get dialed, huck gaps and clean sick booter lines — or, you know, just ride your mountain bike. Advanced riders can take on hard-core grinds like Big Bear, while the flowy trails built by the United Riders of Crowsnest cycling association at Pass Powderkeg ski area in Blairmore are great for the beginner-intermediate set. If you’re new to mountain biking in “The Pass,” start at the skills park at the base of the ski hill and warm up with a few laps around the pump track. After you try a few jumps, ride a “skinny,” and figure out the best way not to faceplant into a machine-built berm, head up the mountain via the Double Dirt-Spresso and Chain-

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saw Massacre trails and get mentally prepared for an awesome descent on Buck 50. This rip through the woods isn’t new — it was completed in 2017 to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary — but it remains a thrilling, must-ride for intermediates. Beginners who don’t want to get bloodied can stick to the easy loops near the bike park. For professional mountain-bike instruction or tours in the region look up former World Cup downhill racer Karey Castellarin, owner-operator of Sweet Riders, 403-563-7809, sweetriders.com. For your celebratory post-ride beer hit up The Pass Beer Company for a pint of Whiskey Six Scotch Ale, a rich, malty brew that will magically cure your skinned knees.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALF SKRASTINS, SCOTT CODY

here are dozens of rocky rides worth wheeling over in West Bragg, though the fan favourite is undoubtedly the Braggin Rights-to-Merlin View loop. If you are familiar with Merlin View, you’ve probably noticed that just before the delicious descent begins, a brand-new trail darts off along the ridge. This is Kestrel, a 4.9-kilometre ridge run that serves up spectacular views of the eastern slopes as it dips and dives along the rim. While the official final 200-metre descent down to Tom Snow is not yet complete (the aim is to have it done this summer, volunteers needed), you can still do Kestrel right now as an out-and-back ride.

FIFTY SIX TWENTY

REVELSTOKE, B.C.

f you’re searching for a singletrack Shangri-la, hightail it to Revelstoke. Gorgeous grunt-fests like Frisby Ridge and Keystone Standard Basin have established “Revy” as one of the best alpine riding destinations in North America. The area is riddled with sweet singletrack that zigs and zags over the mountainsides in all directions from town. Most recently, it’s the downhillers who are especially stoked: indeed, if berms are bliss and jumps are joy, then the happiest trail in all the land is the newly sculpted Fifty Six Twenty at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. This 15-km pleasure plunge is rumoured to be the longest machine-built flow trail in the world, descending 5,620 feet (hence the name) from a barren, snow-smudged summit. The hour-long (for mortals), knee-numbing descent will test every gnar-

shredding muscle in your body. Even if you just tackle it from the halfway point at the top of the lift and forego the remaining climb of roughly seven km to the top for the full enchilada, you’ll still be dreaming of perfectly sculpted berms for the rest of eternity. For guiding services and instruction in the Revelstoke region contact Matt Yaki at Wandering Wheels, 250-814-7609, wanderingwheels.ca. For your celebratory post-ride beer (if you still have enough energy left to lift a glass), head to the Rumpus Beer Company for a pint of Space Nugs Legendary Oat Pale Ale. If you rode the whole way from the top, have two.

For the most up-to-date information about interprovincial travel restrictions due to COVID-19 visit hellobc.com.

A NEW BASECAMP IN REVELSTOKE Canmore-based hospitality brand Basecamp Resorts expanded into Revelstoke last November. Basecamp Resorts Revelstoke is the fifth Basecamp property for developer Sky McLean (a member of Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2019) and the first to open outside of Canmore. Like the original Basecamp Resorts Canmore, Basecamp Revelstoke is designed to feel less like a

hotel and more like multi-family residential housing, with a virtual check-in system taking the place of a conventional front desk. The accommodations all have fully equipped kitchens and range from “microstudios” to adjoining apartments that sleep up to 16. There’s also secure storage for bikes and other gear. —Shelley Arnusch basecampresorts.com/revelstoke

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The home’s white and bright kitchen is ideal for hosting guests of all ages, including active grandchildren. (Bottom corner) Artfully positioned along a shelf in the kitchen nook, various decorative objets lend a casual look.

FARMHOUSE FOR ONE

part-time joint venture analyst at an intermediate oil and gas company, who has been living single since 2005, Karen Mercier came to realize her sprawling former home was just too much. “I thought a four-bedroom home in the suburbs of Okotoks was what I wanted, but I found myself resenting the fact that I was furnishing rooms I never used. The tipping point came after two winters of heavy snow and all the shovelling,” laughs the petite Mercier. “That was it.”

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So she ditched the 3,000-square-foot house and bought an 850-square-foot 1940s bungalow in the historic River District in Okotoks, where she could walk to shops and cafés and stroll by the river with her dog. The new property was dark, dated and cramped, the layout was a warren of little rooms and the fixtures were at least 40 years old. A full renovation was in order. Mercier enlisted the help of awardwinning boutique builder Creek Stone Fine Homes to build her the home of her dreams. While Creek Stone, which is

DECOR Authentic-looking imitation brick creates a feature wall in the spacious foyer, with custombuilt cupboards providing much-needed storage. (Bottom corner) The farmhouse sink and black faucet are in keeping with the rustic vibe.

BY KAREN ASHBEE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH

F E W E R WA L L S , L O T S O F W H I T E A N D A M U LT I - P U R P O S E L AY O U T MAKE A SMALL OKOTOKS BUNGALOW A STUDY IN CLEVER DESIGN. known for modern farmhouse interpretations, handled the bulk of the layout and build, Mercier weighed in on the interior design. “I knew I wanted a large entryway, a showstopper front door, some brick, and shiplap in the kitchen,” says Mercier. “Scott and Dani Lawrie, the husband-and-wife team behind Creek Stone, would present ideas and we would decide collaboratively.” Creek Stone gutted the home to the studs and bumped it out two feet in front to accommodate Mercier’s request for a larger foyer. After proposing several layouts, the builders mapped out the

space with a series of cut two-by-fours. The process helped Mercier envision her desired layout by replicating the rooms in a way that she could stand in and imagine the flow and size of each. Instead of two cramped bedrooms in the front, the reconfigured design gave the kitchen/dining room centre stage. Thirteen-foot-high vaulted ceilings, clad in shiplap and painted white, not only impart the illusion of a larger space but also channel the modern farmhouse vibe. All-white cabinetry, backsplash and a quartz countertop further expand the avenuecalgary.com

room’s horizons, while a large island gives Mercier an ideal work zone and a place for everything. Open shelving imparts a feeling of spaciousness, while a “magic corner” with shelves that swivel out, ensures nothing gets lost in the back of the cabinet again. With only one bedroom in the home, a space-saving Murphy bed and powder room in the basement make for a fabulous guest suite. In addition to the sunroom, the only other visible features remaining from the original bungalow are the fir beams in the basement and a single window. “I loved the natural imperfections of the beams and they worked perfectly with the farmhouse look,” says Mercier. The addition of egress windows to comply with building codes visually expand what could be a cramped space due to the six-foot-seven-inch ceilings. Savvy storage spots and built-ins allow for additional closet space without taking up too much real estate. Except for one feature wall in the main bedroom and bathroom, Mercier maintained a neutral palette throughout the home. After a full renovation, the once-dated abode has been turned into a cheery space that is as comfortable as it is functional. “Downsizing meant a lot of purging,” says Mercier. “But it is no longer about what I own, but what I can do. I asked Scott and Dani to build me a little ‘jewel box’ and I can’t help but smile and pinch myself every time I walk through the front door.” 44

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Clockwise from left: Crisp white walls appear to expand the living room while a deep blue sofa keeps it grounded.

Cool-toned neutrals and a warm wood accent were natural design choices for the small main bathroom.

Full-size built-in closets are deep enough to store even off-season items.

A savvy storage spot underneath the stairs does double duty as the cat’s privy.

“Downsizing meant a lot of purging, but it is no longer about what I own, but what I can do.” — K A R E N M E R C I E R , H O M E O W N E R

ZZ073 SCOUT | 511 OYSTER SHELL

DECOR

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H O W T O M A I N TA I N ORDER IN A S M A L L S PA C E A home that’s small in square footage needn’t be short on storage, say Dani and Scott Lawrie, of Creek Stone Fine Homes. Here are some of the couple’s top tips for maximizing usable storage space and putting an end to cluttered spaces.

“I can’t help but smile and pinch myself every time I walk through the front door.” — KAREN MERCIER, HOMEOWNER

THINK THIN

While deep cupboards are a storage savior, products often get lost in the back. “Install an English-style pantry, which at 10-inches deep, is slightly smaller than a typical one,” says Scott. “It doesn’t take up as much space and keeps essentials at hand.” EXPOSE SHELVES

“Exposed shelving makes a space feel larger, due to the absence of more boxes on the wall,” says Scott. It also forces one to adhere to the mantra of less is more, keeping the space neat at all times. MIX AND MATCH

“If standard sizes cramp your style, don’t be afraid to mix and match pieces that suit the layout,” says Dani. “For example, instead of using all chairs,pair a bench with a dining room table to allow for maximum seating without visually consuming the space.” 46

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Clockwise from top left: “I’m a big believer in a bold front door,” says homeowner Karen Mercier. “This one was made by Crafted Windows and Doors in Nanton.”

In the basement, a sidewaysinstalled Murphy bed can be tucked away during the day, allowing the space to be used for other activities.

Mercier enjoys her morning coffee in the company of her beloved pets in this large sunroom off the kitchen.

An accent wall painted in Sherwin Williams “Mountain Road” lends a calming feel to the main bedroom while the beaded chandelier brings a touch of drama.

DECOR SOURCE Renovation by Creek Stone Fine Homes, 403-973-3714, creekstonefinehomes.com Flooring throughout by CDL Carpet & Floor Centre, 11752 Sarcee Tr. N.W., 403-275-3304 and 7265 11 St. S.E., 403-255-1811, carpetandflooring.com Kitchen cabinetry and shelves by True Custom Kitchens & Millwork, 2, 2835 19 St. N.E., 403-703-4655, truecustomkitchens.ca Cabinet hardware from Rhino Finishing Materials, 18, 2305 52 Ave. S.E., 403-452-9636, rhinofinishing.ca Countertop from Crown Granite & Marble, 3519 62 Ave. S.E., 403-457-3031, crowntops.ca Kitchen sink and faucet from Bartle & Gibson, 4300 21 St. N.E., 403-291-1099, bartlegibson.com Appliances from Trail Appliances, three Calgary locations, trailappliances.com Pendant lights from Pottery Barn, CF Chinook Centre, 403-259-2100, potterybarn.ca Lanterns from HomeSense, six Calgary-area locations, homesense.ca Dining table from Pottery Barn Dining-room light fixture from Crate and Barrel, Southcentre Mall, 403-278-7020, crateandbarrel.ca Mirror from Bouclair, 240, 8180 11 St. S.E., 403-776-3395, bouclair.com Brickwork by Arnold Masonry, Okotoks, 403-982-1160, arnoldmasonryltd.ca Coat Rack from Crate and Barrel Basket from An Honest Room, Okotoks, 403-938-0177, anhonestroom.com Living-room couch from West Elm, 868 16 Ave. S.W., 403-245-1373, westelm.ca Coffee table from Urban Barn, four Calgary locations, urbanbarn.com Painting by Jennifer Mack Fine Art, jmackfineart.com Fireplace from Classic Fireplace Distributors, 8002, 11500 35 St. S.E., 403-279-4448, classicfireplace.com Shelves and bench by Griffels Custom, 4220 23 St. N.E., 403-689-1109, griffelscustom.com Bed from Crate and Barrel; bedding from West Elm; bolster cushion from An Honest Room Closets by True Custom Kitchens & Millwork Bathroom faucet from Bartle & Gibson; vanity from IKEA; mirror from Bouclair Bathroom tile by CDL Carpet & Floor Centre Shower doors from YYC Closets & Glass, 1, 6304 Burbank Rd. S.E., 403-235-2005, yycglass.com Custom front door by Crafted Windows and Doors, Nanton, 403-472-7324, craftedwindowsanddoors.com Basement sofa bed from West Elm Custom Murphy bed by Griffels Custom Rug from HomeSense

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THE LIST AS TOLD TO TSERING ASHA

hef and restaurateur Uri Heilik has been a coowner of Alloy restaurant for 13 years. He says the best part of his business is the heartwarming feeling of serving good food to good people. “It’s the relationships that only time can develop… having couples come back for anniversary dinners each year, and then years later introducing me to their children,” he says. So, even during a pandemic that has hit the restaurant industry hard, Heilik finds himself more motivated than ever to hone the Alloy experience. Here are his 10 favourite things in and around Calgary.

S HO P P I N G AT T HE I TA L I A N C E NT R E “I love shopping at the Italian Centre – you could spend hours there. I also admire all the charity work that Gino [Marghella] and the team do for our community.”

COTTONWOOD GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB “I could golf every day, and Cottonwood is my home away from home.” PHO CHU THE “My favourite pho place right now. Their ingredients are very fresh and they have some unique spins on their offerings.” POMEROY KANANASKIS MOUNTAIN LODGE “Our family really enjoys the Lodge. [Pre-COVID-19] the staff would really make it special for my son, creating ‘cocktails’ for him.” BIKING AT SOUTH GLENMORE PARK “We loved the splash park when my son was little and we love the bike path now that he rides his bike everywhere.”

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B O NT E R R A T R AT T O R I A “My wife and I have celebrated many occasions with Curtis [Gallinger, general manager] and his team. If I can’t sit on Alloy’s patio, then Bonterra is the place to be.” E S TA B L I S HM E N T B R E W E RY K O L S C H “Alloy is blessed to be in the Barley Belt with dozens of craft breweries within blocks of us. My Best Friend’s Girl kolsch by Establishment Brewery is my go-to beer.”

C O NNI E A ND J O HN’ S P I Z Z A “Our ‘can’t sit still’ child made us wait two hours in line for a pizza from Connie and John’s. But he did proclaim it the best pizza ever! So, time well spent.” HE NRY S I NG E R A N D HA R RY R O S E N “Dressing up for work takes me to Henry Singer and Harry Rosen. My favourite designer is Hugo Boss – just fits me right.” C A L G A RY FA R M E R S ’ MARKET “I like walking the aisles and cooking dinner based on what catches my eye. It usually revolves around seafood from Market Seafood. Or, if I want someone else to cook for me I’ll pick up some Eastern European dishes from my friend Danny Korduner at Margarita’s.”

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J A R E D S Y C H , R I C M A T K O W S K I P H O T O G R A P H Y, C O N N I E A N D J O H N ' S P I Z Z A , E S T A B L I S H M E N T B R E W I N G C O M P A N Y

URI HEILIK

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Home is where we nurture and grow. It’s here we celebrate the good times and challenging moments. Experience what our residents already know in one of our pet-friendly communities. Discover various amenities including: • In-suite laundry

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

SO YOU WANT TO TALK REAL ESTATE Whether you’re buying your first home, selling to upsize or looking to change things up by moving to a new neighbourhood, you’ll need a knowledgeable, trustworthy real estate team.

VECTOR HOUSES BY VECTEEZY

There’s no doubt about it: selling your home or buying a new one is a big event. And, whether it’s your first time or your fifth, you need a team of real estate experts supporting you throughout the entire process. Local agents are experts in the market. They offer educated advice about Calgary’s neighbourhoods and information about the building types buyers are interested in. Plus, chances are, they’ll get to know you well, making it easier to find a dream home or make that perfect sale. Here, we shine a light on several Calgary real estate agents and agencies you should know about.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MATCHING A GREAT LIFESTYLE AND A GREAT INVESTMENT For Kamil Lalji, Associate Broker with CIR Realty and Team Lead at YYC Real Estate Advisors and YYC Inner City Towns, finding clients a dream home comes down to understanding their values. Often, Lalji and his team of four understand what clients want from their real estate purchase because they want the same thing. “There is an alignment between where I sell and my own personal values. I like being close to the action, and I find a lot of my clients want the same,” says Lalji. “They also want to spend more time with friends and family versus commuting to the suburbs.” Lalji’s team shows clients all that Calgary’s inner-city neighbourhoods have to offer. As well as the desire to be close to favourable amenities, Lalji says Calgarians interested in the inner city love its walkability and the high-value proposition of its real estate. Inner-city neighbourhoods, including Marda

Loop, Mission, Lower Mount Royal and Erlton, are all popular with buyers. In addition to specializing in Calgary’s inner-city neighbourhoods — and in new and previously owned townhouses and single-family homes here — this real estate team makes a point to form genuine and honest relationships with its clients. It’s these relationships that make the buying or selling process easy, enjoyable and fun. “I always tell buyers that you have to feel comfortable making the right choice for you. I’m just here to guide you through that process,” says Lalji, adding that building trust helps his team find their clients exactly what they’re looking for. “Buying a home is a very intimate experience. You have to really open up to your real estate agent so that they can better serve you.” Lalji’s 17 years of expertise selling in the inner city means he knows what appeals to his clients. He also shares that knowledge with developers, advising them to help ensure they build what inner-city buyers truly want, which ultimately leads to successful projects. “When I’m showing property, I see why people are making the decisions to buy or not to buy,” says Lalji. “When I’m consulting with a developer, I’ll advise them to create a house that is as objection-free as possible.” For example, Lalji saw countless new townhouse developments and infills constructed without considering furniture placement, influencing clients not to buy. The team knows that Calgary’s inner city is a good investment and is an ideal fit for Calgarians who love its convenience, vibrance and who, above all else, value their time.

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With YYC Inner City Towns, you’re in the hands of experts. With decades of experience, and relationships in the Calgary market, we ensure a quality product gets the recognition it deserves. Do buyers pay more for a better product? 100%. Our team is highly intentional with the listings we represent, and spend a tremendous amount of effort and money marketing and promoting each. Because we are highly invested into every listing, we only stand by products we genuinely believe in. Get in touch today!

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Kamil Lalji Associate Broker 403-383-1579 klalji@cirrealty.ca

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY Dennis Plintz, the broker and owner of Plintz Real Estate, is a third-generation Calgarian with almost 20 years of experience in the local real estate industry. For Plintz and his team of three real estate agents — as well as the brokerage’s admin support and service providers — service, connection and communication are at the heart of what they do. Together, they are reimagining the future of real estate in Calgary. The hard-working real estate brokerage focuses on service by striving to fulfill Calgarians’ huge expectations around buying and selling residential real estate. At the same time, Plintz Real Estate wants to make the process streamlined and enjoyable. “You can order a pizza and track its progress from adding the pepperoni all the way through to boxing and delivery,” says Plintz. “Why can’t real estate be similar?” And, like ordering a pizza, the team is committed to finding new ways to elevate the experience by letting its clients know how the entire process is unfolding in real-time.

“We have been investing in the technology, systems and people to make this happen,” says Plintz. But responsive communication is not just about speed; it’s about the depth of information provided. The team offers its clients hard stats and facts, effective strategy and answers to all questions — even before they’re requested. For Plintz Real Estate, the future of the real estate industry also involves going above and beyond. Agents don’t just tell clients how to prepare their homes to list. Instead, the team helps clients through the entire process, from staging consultations to donation pick-ups to disposal support. This focus on service also extends to the greater community. Plintz Real Estate is working to build a better future for Calgary by aiding local businesses and supporting local charities. Its donation service helps clients prepare to move and then shares their unwanted items with people who may need them: the team gives those goods to local charities and groups like Calgary Emergency Women’s Shelter, a group Plintz personally credits as helping him and his family through some of their tougher years. Plintz Real Estate is also an active supporter of The Impact Society and has partnered with The Calgary Dream Centre, hosting youth camps for recovering addicts. “Our goal is to grow our business, both in our service and how it is impacting the community,” Plintz says. “To get there, we are also excited to expand our team with an addition of two new real estate agents.” With the right people and the right values, Plintz Real Estate believes it can continue to elevate the real estate industry by mentoring new agents and creating an exceptional experience for clients. And that memorable experience solidifies the agent-client connection, forging a connection and developing relationships that last for generations.

RESPONSIVE. CREATIVE. CONNECTED.

WELCOME Joining the team at Plintz Real Estate are two new responsive, creative, and connected individuals who are committed to provide an outstanding client experience way beyond the end of your sale.

JONAS MAGNIEN - In joining Plintz Real Estate, Jonas brings with him a vast amount of experience in construction, retail management, wholesale distribution, and entrepreneurship. With a positive attitude and determination, he will make sure you achieve your real estate goals.

MANDY MARTIN - As an accomplished professional, team leader, and respected individual in the community, Mandy has a passion for communication, collaboration, and relationships. Her skillset and experience will be an asset for all clients when buying or selling a home.

The real estate market is BOOMING!! Low inventory, selling before listed, competing offers, selling over asking - it’s the perfect storm for sellers to come out ahead.

Dennis and team have been our go to real estate professionals for close to 15 years. I trust his

But record low interest rates also make it a great time for buyers!

advice and have faith in the highly curated process he’s

This won’t last forever so if you’re thinking of buying or selling, the time is now. Get in touch for a comprehensive strategy to reach your real estate goals.

developed for buying and selling homes. The back oﬃce team was incredibly helpful and enjoyable to work with as well. - Bryce A.

dennis@plintz.com 587-317-8347 plintzrealestate.com

BRITANNIA - SOLD

ERLTON - SOLD

MOUNT ROYAL - BOUGHT & SOLD

CLIFF BUNGALOW - BOUGHT & SOLD

MOUNT ROYAL - SOLD

BRITANNIA - SOLD

ROXBORO - SOLD

WINDSOR PARK - SOLD

ALTADORE - SOLD COMPETING OFFERS

RIDEAU PARK - SOLD

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MOVE ON UP Christa Aleman, Hayley Poirier, Michelle Eldjarnson and Carey Rose own RE/MAX Key and started the REPs Group. The team specializes in real estate in Calgary, as well as Strathmore, Langdon, Chestermere, Wheatland County and Rocky View County. These four experienced agents have their finger on the pulse when it comes to real estate trends. Currently, they’re seeing buyers interested in homes with a bigger backyard, more bedrooms for additional privacy and extra square footage for present-day necessities like a home gym or home office.

“People are looking at their homes differently than they did a year ago,” says Poirier. “They don’t just want a resting ground or a place to make the odd dinner. Now, home is where they spend 90 per cent of their time.” And it turns out, it is a great time to sell and up-size or find that perfect home that fits everything buyers now need. “It’s a great moveup market right now,” says Aleman. She adds that it’s possible to buy a higher-value home and have “the same mortgage payments because of historic low-interest rates.”

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a condo, a townhouse or a single-family home, what sets the RE/MAX Key team apart is their skill in matching the perfect home to the family. “We make sure we’re taking our time with clients. From that first phone call to ask the questions, [we] listen and follow through,” says Aleman.

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WORK OF ART C U R AT E D B Y K AT H E R I N E Y L I T A L O

T I T LE

The Garden

THE GARDEN

D AT E

2021 ARTIST

Yvonne Kustec MED I A

Underglaze and glaze on midfire white clay, synthetic fibre.

avenue May 21

D I MENS I ONS

Figure is approximately five feet tall (not including base). LOC AT I ON

Esker Foundation Project Space, 1011 9 Ave. S.E. NOT ES

Curated by Shauna Thompson. Created in studio at Medalta in the Historic Clay District, Medicine Hat, Alta. Base fabricated by Epic Metal Services in Redcliff, Alta. The Garden is on display until June 6.

a lengthy transformative period triggered by the loss of both parents to cancer within four years of each other. The story of transformation in The Garden reflects the enthusiasm Kustec has for working with clay and the love of gardening she developed during that difficult time. She reframes memories of growing up in Oakville, Ont., with hardworking parents of Slovenian heritage, bringing fresh perspective to her mother’s pride in her nourishing garden and bringing beauty into the house with porcelain dolls and collectibles. The Garden is Esker’s 30th presentation in its Project Space, a street-level gallery win-

dow facing 9th Avenue S.E. in Inglewood. In early 2019, Esker curator Shauna Thompson encouraged Kustec to take a giant step as an artist by inviting her to create a new installation for the space. The Garden came to life over the course of two studio residencies at Medalta in the Historic Clay District in Medicine Hat — the second of which is ongoing until September 2021. The result, a marvellously detailed hybrid woman in the company of glazed snakes and giant blooms, conjures a magical garden that mediates the feminine and feminism with exuberant pleasure and care.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN DEAN

ith this fantastically detailed, rosy, porcelaneous figure, artist Yvonne Kustec reclaims pink with panache. Air-brushed colour energizes this life-size sculpture of a woman melding with nature. She extends her graceful arms in a gesture of offering and appears to pause, midsentence, or perhaps, mid-metamorphosis as the supple tissue of her blush-toned skin becomes a living garden. Toadstools curl up her shins, foliage hugs her thighs, turkey tail fungi cover her knees and pelvis, blooms garland her collarbone, garter snakes align as sentinels, flowers and leaves frame her face and chanterelle mushrooms crown her shimmering dollar-store wig. The figure embodies themes of transformation and rebirth, which abound in the gardens of literature and art history. Consider Primavera, the allegorical Renaissance painting by Sandro Botticelli: the nymph Chloris (with roses coming out of her mouth) and Flora, the goddess Chloris will become, appear as two forms of one woman, who has the power to transmute grief with the creation of flowers. With The Garden, Kustec acknowledges the influence of contemporary artists whose work Calgarians have seen in recent years, notably Rita McKeough (Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Truck Contemporary Art exhibition space and Walter Phillips Gallery), Shary Boyle (Esker), Nick Cave (Glenbow) and Louise Bourgeoise (Esker). Kustec graduated from the Alberta College of Art + Design (now Alberta University of the Arts) with distinction in 2011. She describes the years following graduation as

Photo by Flavien Carlod and Baptiste Le Quiniou, for advertising purposes only. *Conditions apply, contact store for details.

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