Avenue July 2017

SUMMER .................................................. SOAK UP THE INVITES YOU TO ..................... AT .....................

SPRUCE MEADOWS

presented by Rolex

featuring the CP Grand Prix

World-renowned show jumping plus shopping and entertainment for the whole family! Tickets for the ‘National’ begin at $5 (seniors 65+ and kids 12 and under: no charge). Join Spruce Meadows as we salute our city’s First Responders.

presented by Rolex

CONCERT at the MEADOWS

World-renowned show jumping plus shopping and entertainment for the whole family! Tickets for the ‘Continental’ are free, with our compliments.

presented by Rolex

MOVIES at the MEADOWS

World-renowned show jumping plus shopping and entertainment for the whole family! Including Canada Day special events and celebrations. Tickets for the ‘Pan American’ are free, with our compliments.

Celebrate Canada Day with Spruce Meadows and the Rocky Mountain Symphony for a free concert in the park! But that’s not all, Canada Day will be filled with family fun activities throughout the day - all with our compliments (no tickets required).

World-renowned show jumping plus shopping and entertainment for the whole family! Tickets for the ‘North American’ begin at $5 (seniors 65+ and kids 12 and under: no charge). Join Spruce Meadows as we salute our Canadian Military.

Enjoy some time together under the stars. Spruce Meadows will feature a movie every Wednesday night starting at dusk. Bring a chair, blanket, friends, family and enjoy. Tickets available in advance from sprucemeadows.com.

ATCO invites you to celebrate a summer of family fun activities from June to August at Spruce Meadows! Here are some of the events planned for this summer ... see sprucemeadows.com for details!

“I felt most Canadian when my Mother had me and my siblings reaffirmed as Canadian citizens in a citizenship ceremony when we were kids.”

Pete Feenstra

Crafter of fine furniture and motorcycles

10.8 acre estate, lake/vineyard views, 12,750 sq.ft. of opulence, private, heli-pad, indoor pool & riding arena. MLS 10132554

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Sotheby’s Auction House has been marketing the world’s most cherished possessions since 1744

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A masterpiece in Elbow Park. 3 bedrooms, 3 full/2 half baths, 3,992 sqft. Coach house and triple garage. MLS C4095552

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

Opulent Mount Royal mansion has just been totally gutted and renovated by well-know Rockwood Homes.

Heather Waddell 403.471.0467

Rare brick 5 bedroom home on a corner lot in the sought-after community of Elbow Park. MLS C4112918

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

19

A rare opportunity to own a .84 acre contemporary river-front home in Bragg Creek. MLS C4111960

Jacqueline Thorogood 403.909.8766

Stunning Bungalow on .34 acre lot. Over 4,400 sq.ft. West backyard in the exclusive community of Watermark. MLS C4116524

Louise Willerton 587.228.1890

Farm offers a stunning home, guest house, and equestrian facilities on 360 acres. Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

2 Storey attached quality build with high end granite, in floor heating, ICF concrete walls, and south-facing backyard. MLS C4112187

Kyle Stone 403.669.5390

Proudly offering this immaculate two-storey home set on a gorgeous landscaped 1-acre lot in Elbow Valley. MLS C4112840

Heather Waddell 403.471.0467

Semi-detached, 2.5-storey fronting onto park with finished loft area, 4 bedrooms, & double car garage. MLS C4108126

Kyle Stone 403.669.5390

103 Aspen Green, Calgary, AB

1151a Reader Crescent NE, Calgary, AB

1320 Prospect Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

Centre Avenue, Bragg Creek, AB

6487 Dixon Dam Road, Vernon, BC

109 Waterside Court, Calgary, AB

709 18 Avenue NW, Calgary, AB

11370 Valley Ridge Park NW, Calgary, AB $3,999,900

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

The Bragg Creek & Area Chamber of Commerce

FEATURES

37

Secrets of the Stampede

After more than 100 years, the Stampede still has its share of secrets. Whether you’re interested in learning how to win a sugar art competition, the finer points of blacksmithing or deep–frying your own midway food monster, we’ve got the inside scoop.

By Andrew Guilbert

O h ,

COVER STORY

51 Oh, Canada!

61

Beyond Oil

INTERVIEWS BY Andrew Jeffrey PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Over three days at Repsol Sport Centre, Bankers Hall and Sunridge Mall, we spoke with Calgarians about their thoughts on Canada and Canadians. See what some of them had to say.

By Jennifer Dorozio, Andrew Jeffrey and Käthe Lemon

Top 40 Under 40 alumni from the realms of technology, manufacturing, arts and culture share their thoughts on how the city can diversify its economy.

By Meredith Bailey

20 EDITOR’S NOTE

22 CONTRIBUTORS

DEPARTMENTS STYLE LIFE

81 THE SOURCE

82 WORK OF ART

CITY

27

Detours

Two brothers bring broken skateboards back to life as unique furniture items and an entrepreneur sells prints of rainbow-coloured animals that poop hearts to support the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology.

66 Mountains

Though Revelstoke might evoke snowy winter activities, its hiking trails, hotels with mountain views and bars with plenty of craft beer on tap mean there’s plenty of fun in the summer sun as well.

70 Style Q&A

Chinenye Okatpor, the creative mind behind the blog Queen's Playground, talks about her refined street style.

31 Dining

Avenue's take on new restaurants, including Bridges on First and Cotto Italian Comfort Food.

74

The List Photographer Nigel Midwinter on his favourite local finds.

76 Decor

Marda Loop homeowner

Aly Sumar enlists his friend, the designer Elena Del Bucchia, to create a sophisticated home with unique features.

Revolutionary CresseyKitchen™ with its walkthrough layout, ample storage and decadent finishes Air conditioning for warm-weather comfort

Wide-plank engineered hardwood flooring in main living areas

Over 250 square feet of outdoor living on a private terrace

Stay warm with in-floor radiant “Nu-Heat” in ensuite bathroom

Walk on stylish pure wool-blend carpeting in all bedrooms

Over 1,250 square feet of space over two levels

MODERN CLASSIC.

Styles and tastes can change with the seasons. Your new home is a somewhat longer-term proposition. That’s why we infuse every one of our creations with a timeless modern quality that’s based upon solid fundamentals - access to natural light; e nt use of space; the elegant interplay of materials; sensitivity to surroundings. Ideas like these never go out of fashion, which means that your new Alloy Home will remain an important part of Calgary’s urban fabric for years to come

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Fact Checkers Nicole Halloran, Fraser Tripp

Contributors Lori Andrews, Jean-Luc Bonifay, Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Dan Clapson, Jennifer Friesen, Rosena Fung, Kait Kucy, Dylan Leeder, Nigel Midwinter, Andrew Penner, Teslin Ward, Katherine Ylitalo, Ricky Zayshley

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Perspectives On Canada

My family are settlers with roots in Ontario that stretch back at least five generations. There is a street (well, more of an alley) in Toronto named for my great-great-grandfather, a doctor who delivered the Canadian journalist Gordon Sinclair. I am probably what Stephen Harper was referring to when he talked about “old stock” Canadians.

That type of information is often given as proof of having more of a claim on the country or its identity than other people have, but that is not my intention. Rather, I hope to show that I have a certain perspective, informed by a long history, but no more valid than anyone else’s.

As we celebrate 150 years since the creation of the Dominion of Canada, I find myself more than a bit uneasy with the idea of national pride.

It is far too easy for patriotism to shade into nationalism and from there into xenophobia. True patriotism is not about flag-waving or devotion to an anthem. It’s about putting in the hard work to make our communities better for all of us. It’s about showing up, not showing off.

And while it’s important to acknowledge our past, history is, at its best, a living document — constantly being revised — used to inform how we move forward rather than to calcify our actions.

In this issue we set out to ask Calgarians what Canada means to them, to hear and share

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

a variety of experiences and perspectives on what makes Calgarians feel Canadian. For three days we set up shop at Bankers Hall, Repsol Sport Centre and Sunridge Mall to photograph people and interview them about their thoughts on the country. You can read some of their stories starting on page 51 and even more on our website.

Of course, a defining characteristic of this city is the Stampede and in this issue we also take a look at some of that annual celebration’s secrets and quirks.

Another defining characteristic of this city is the oil and gas industry. But our dependence on

When I was in my 20s, taking ViaRail from Toronto to Vancouver and back was a chance to feel how big the country was and see the variety of landscapes, both natural and manufactured, that this country offers. It’s a great trip but not for the faint of heart.

the energy industry is something a lot of people are hoping to change. We talked to some of our Top 40 Under 40 alumni to pick their brains on the trending topic of economic diversification. To read their ideas on how Calgary can work its way out of being over-dependent on the energy industry, turn to page 61.

If there’s a single through-line here it’s that while we have a strong and proud history in both Canada and Calgary, we can also do more and be more. Our strength is in our diversity and willingness to change, with a recognition of our past to inform where we are going.

See CoolStuff AtGlen bow

JEAN-LUC BONIFAY

Jean-Luc Bonifay is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in galleries and magazines as well as on TV. An avid screen-printer, his work is inspired by antique ephemera and his travels around the world. When he is not illustrating, Bonifay heads a screen-printing and enamel pin studio in Toronto. To view more of his work, visit jeanlucbonifay.com or his Instagram, @jlbonifay_illustration.

ROSENA FUNG

Rosena Fung is a Toronto-based illustrator and comic artist who specializes in editorial work. In addition to Avenue, her clients include The Boston Globe, The Globe and Mail, Bust, Maisonneuve and Swerve. She particularly enjoys drawing her food adventures. When the temperature rises, she has an inexplicable fondness for blooming onions and mini-doughnuts. When not drawing, Fung can be found vending at zine fairs. The rest of her time is spent reading and building book queues at her local library.

ANDREW JEFFREY

Born and raised in Alberta, Andrew Jeffrey is an Edmonton-based freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the Edmonton Journal, Fort McMurray Today and Vue Weekly. In 2017 he came to Calgary to work as an editorial intern at Avenue. Since moving to one dreaded rival city this year wasn’t enough, Jeffrey is relocating to Toronto this fall to pursue studies in journalism — and turn his back even further on his Alberta roots.

RICKY ZAYSHLEY

Ricky Zayshley’s sartorial aspirations found a natural fit when he moved from his hometown of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to Toronto to study acting and journalism at Ryerson University. After a stint at CTV National News, Zayshley joined the team at Fashion Quarterly magazine — and thus began his mentorship with fashion icon Jeanne Beker. He went on to serve as the senior production coordinator at Beker’s show Fashion Television, before heading west again to take a job as senior editor at Avenue, overseeing all things fashion- and decor-related prior to his departure this past May.

2017

BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS

Find out the results of our annual Best Neighbourhoods survey.

THE NEW MAIN STREETS

Both the City and developers have shifted focus to improve or create main streets with vibrant pedestrian retail areas and a variety of housing styles. We look at why.

INSPIRED EATING

Calgary chefs find inspiration all over the place. Find out the thought processes behind your favourite restaurant meals.

Summer in the Mountains

Our proximity to the mountains is one of the best things about Calgary. We have ideas on how to make the most of it.

AvenueCalgary.com/Mountains

FOOD & DRINK NEWSLETTER

Our tips for where and what to eat.

STYLE NEWSLETTER

Weekly advice on fashion, decor and shopping.

WEEKENDER

The best events and happenings in the city.

Photograph by Dave Best courtesy of Tourism Golden

cityDETOURS Board With Woodcraft

Local woodworkers Adrian and Martinus Pool take the increasingly desired “reclaimed wood” aspect of their craft to a new level with their company AdrianMartinus. In addition to working with typical reclaimed materials such as barn wood and old flooring, the brothers have come to be known for their work with an otherwise overlooked material — broken skateboards.

Growing up close to their grandfather, a hobby woodworker, and simultaneously immersed in skateboarding culture, the brothers naturally acquired the skills to combine these two worlds.

“We didn’t approach woodworking seriously until we started using skateboards,” Martinus Pool says. “At the time it was an easily accessible material that wasn’t being used.”

Since each skateboard deck comes pre-shaped, drilled and significantly beat up and covered in extremely adhesive grip tape, building with this material can be challenging. But these challenges also come with their rewards — because each skateboard has such unique characteristics, each finished piece ends up being unique.

When asked about their process, the brothers are evasive. They like to keep their technique a secret, but joke that it’s “a lot of making things square and gluing them together.”

AdrianMartinus coffee table (left) and wallmounted hangers and necklace (right).

Photography supplied by Adrian Martinus

DETOURS

Droppings that Delight

Erin Moffatt first conceived of her Poop Hearts art project because of boring bathroom walls.

“I was looking for funny art for my bathroom. That’s really where it started,” Moffatt says. “I was looking for something funny and couldn’t find anything that worked, so I thought about making a pooping unicorn, since that’s kind of a popular thing.”

The intention is to create pieces that are visually appealing but also practical. “Our approach is to refine the process enough that we’re able to create products that have the interesting skateboard aesthetic but also maintain the intended functionality,” Pool says.

With the increasing success of their business, more and more AdrianMartinus work is popping up around the city. In addition to private furniture commissions, their work can be seen at a variety of local businesses, such as Last Best Brewery, Made By Marcus Microcreamery and several of the Teatro Group restaurants including Alforno, Cucina and Royale Brasserie.

Aside from surviving the 60-plus-hour workweeks, Pool says their focus for now is on maintaining standards. “We have no interest in expanding just yet, as all of our ideas come from doing the production ourselves. We’re always focused on refining our product line and plan to soon launch a furniture line,” he says. “We can be as busy as we want to be, and we always seem to be incredibly busy.” —Dylan

Leeder

Moffatt’s quirky creation, made from recycled materials, caught the eye of several friends, who asked for their own. She continued making pieces with bears, owls and other rainbow-coloured, heart-pooping fauna in her spare time. When the economic downturn put Moffat, a mechanical engineer, out of a job, it occurred to her that she might be able to turn her art into a business.

In April of last year, Moffatt met celebrity entrepreneur W. Brett Wilson as part of a pitching event put on by Uber. While Wilson didn’t invest, per se, he bought $5,000 worth of product, providing both some funding as well as motivation for Moffat to get serious. “While talking to Brett, I mentioned I was going to do a Kickstarter,” she says. “I thought, now that I’ve told somebody, especially someone like Brett, I’d better do the Kickstarter.”

The crowd-funding campaign raised more than $8,000, exceeding Moffat’s $5,000 target. She donated 10 per cent of proceeds acquired during the crowd-funding campaign to the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology [CAWST], a Calgary-based organization that helps people around the world get safe drinking water, and educates about sanitation and hygiene. Moffatt continues to donate a percentage of her proceeds to CAWST. “I knew I wanted to use my artwork to be a ‘voice for sanitation’,” she says. “When I found [CAWST] I realized they’re exactly the kind of charity I had in mind.”

Jacob Kelly Quinlan

RIVER SURFING INSTRUCTOR

For more information, visit adrianmartinus.com.

Andrew Guilbert

Asked about having her name inextricably tied to poop for the foreseeable future, Moffatt is goodnatured. “I’m fine if I’m known as the crazy poop lady, I appreciate that,” she says. “It’s not something that people want to sit around and talk about; I want to be able to change that. Really, poop is the key to our health. I think it’s important to talk about it.” —

For more information, visit poopheart.com.

It’s difficult to think of landlocked Calgary as a surfing destination, but the Alberta River Surfing Association (Alberta RSA) is working to change that. River surfers channel currents to create artifical waves that can be ridden just like the ones in the ocean. Local river surfers can be seen riding such waves in the Bow and Kananaskis rivers.

River surfing appeals to veteran surfers who want to practice and to beginners looking to learn the basics, says Alberta RSA instructor Jacob Kelly Quinlan.

“It’s an authentic experience. We’re using the same sort of surfboard that you would use in the ocean, and on the right river wave, the feeling is almost identical. Whereas in the ocean, you have a small window of time where the wave is breaking for you to pop up and start riding down the wave, [with] the eternal wave of river surfing, you can take as much time as you need.”

riversurfing.ca/arsa

AdrianMartinus work at Made by Marcus Microcreamery.

Made by Marcus Microcreamery photograph by Dylan Leeder

Openings

BLONDIE BOUTIQUE

Cute dresses, feminine tops, choker necklaces — you’ll find them all at this sleek 1,400-square-foot Lower Mount Royal shop. Blondie carries stylish womenswear and accessories, from a range of brands that includes Frasier Sterling Jewelry, Tiger Mist, Amuse Society, Lumee and Private Party. 101, 1019 17 Ave. S.W., 403-478-7697, blondie-boutique.com

BLOWERS & GRAFTON

Take your taste buds on a culinary journey to Eastern Canada at Blowers & Grafton in Crescent Heights. Named after two Halifax streets known for their foodie offerings, the Calgary Blowers & Grafton serves Maritime-inspired dishes like donair nachos, mini-lobster rolls and fish tacos. Wash them down with a “Peggy’s Coke” cocktail or a draft beer from Halifax or Saint John.

709 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-276-1770, blowersgrafton.com

BOLDER CLIMBING COMMUNITY

Beginner and experienced climbers alike will feel at home at the first bouldering-specific climbing gym in the city. Around half of the 10,000-square-foot facility is filled with 14.5-foot climbing walls, which feature colourful holds set up in different sequences. When you need a break from climbing, grab a coffee at the gym’s cafe, which uses coffee beans from Bolder Coffee Company.

5508 1 St. S.E., 403-998-8140, bolderclimbing.com

NEIGHBOUR

The team behind Our Daily Brett has opened a new grab-and-go café in Altadore. The 500-square-foot eatery, which features a natural wood interior, hanging plants and plenty of natural light, offers a range of breakfast and lunch options such as sourdough toasts, sandwiches and smoothies. Neighbour is also the only place in the city serving Nova Scotiabased Anchored Coffee.

4038 16 St. S.W., @nhbrcoffee

SPORT CHEK WOMEN

CF Chinook Centre recently welcomed Sport Chek’s first store dedicated to women. The bright, 16,000-square-foot space has a huge selection of sport and fitness apparel, shoes, accessories and swimwear. Visit the New Balance Stride I.D. Experience Lab to have your stride analyzed and feet scanned to find your best-fitting shoes.

CF Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-697-5618, sportchek.ca/sportchekwomen

this month do to

EQUESTRIAN SPRUCE MEADOWS

NORTH AMERICAN

JULY 5 TO 9

See some of North America’s best show jumpers compete at Spruce Meadows and experience a variety of additional attractions, such as the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, shopping in the Riding Hall and wagon rides. Spruce Meadows, 403-974-4200, sprucemeadows.com

CALGARY STAMPEDE DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS

JULY 7 TO 16

You don’t have to stick to Stampede Park to experience the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Each day of the Calgary Stampede, the Downtown Attractions Committee presents free activities at Olympic Plaza and on Stephen Avenue, such as Stampede breakfasts, the Indian Parade and square dancing. stampede-downtownattractions.com

FESTIVAL CREEKFEST

JULY 15

This annual family-friendly event at Fish Creek Provincial Park is a celebration of Alberta’s natural areas. The day’s lineup of free activities includes live performances, interactive displays and nature walks.

Bow Valley Ranch, 15975 Bow Bottom Tr. S.E., 403-238-3841, friendsoffishcreek.org

MUSIC CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

JULY 27 TO 30

The 38th annual Calgary Folk Music Festival takes over Prince’s Island Park for four days at the end of this month. See musicians from around the world perform on six stages, spend some time shopping at the artisan market, buy food from one (or several) of the food trucks and unwind in the Big Rock Beer Garden. This year, the festival’s lineup includes throat singer Tanya Tagaq, French-Canadian singersongwriter Coeur de Pirate and the return of crowd-pleasing roots-rockers Blue Rodeo. Prince’s Island Park, 403-2330904, calgaryfolkfest.com

ASTRONOMY MILKY WAY NIGHTS

JULY 20, 21 AND 22

Head out to Priddis this month to admire the night sky. The University of Calgary’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory is open to the public at a time of year when the conditions are ideal for stargazing and viewing distant galaxies. You can observe the night sky through the telescopes from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. and astronomers will be on hand to answer questions.

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, 403-931-2366, ucalgary.ca

SPORT RUGGED MANIAC

JULY 29

This race returns to Calgary for a third year and will see participants tackle 25 obstacles, such as water slides, fire jumps and warped walls over a five-kilometre course. But Rugged Maniac is more than a race — it’s a full-day festival with live music, pie-eating competitions, mechanical bulls and beer gardens to look forward to after you cross the finish line. Spruce Meadows, ruggedmaniac.com

Creekfest.

Rothney Astrophyiscal Observatory.

A competitor tackling last year’s Rugged Maniac course.

For more great events, sign up for our Weekender newsletter at AvenueCalgary. com

HASKAYNE Executive MBA

‘‘I had reached a point where I needed to further develop my business skills in order to advance my career, and needed a program that fit my busy life. The flexibility of the Alberta Haskayne Executive MBA allowed me to learn while continuing to work full-time and build my professional network in Calgary. Completing my Executive MBA was a lot of hard work, but was arguably the best career decision I’ve ever made.”

James Cleland, EMBA’10 Global General Manager, Heavy Oil GE Power

It’s patio season and boy do we have a good one!

DINING

BY Elizabeth Chorney-Booth AND Dan Clapson PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

Bridges on First

Bridgeland gets a neighbourhood pub, and this one’s fun for all ages

PUB

After shutting down their previous restaurant, the Black Pig Bistro, Larry and Denise Scammell thought they might try something new in a different location, but ultimately decided to stay put. The Scammells’ location on Bridgeland’s increasingly interesting restaurant row (1st Avenue N.E.) remains the same, but the Spanish bistro has been transformed into a neighbourhood pub.

Righteous rib burger at Bridges on First.

DINING

When the Scammells were developing Bridges they had three key priorities: the place needed to be identifiable as a pub, there needed to be plenty of TVs for watching sports, and it needed to be kid-friendly. With six-to-eight rotating craftbeers on tap they managed to tick the first box. The TV requirement was easy enough to fulfill, and the kid-friendly piece came together with the addition of a “Kids’ Lounge” in the back corner of the restaurant, complete with a foosball table and other games to occupy the smalls.

But even if you don’t care about any of that, Bridges is worth checking out just for the food, all of which fits into the “pub grub” category, with an emphasis on making things in-house. There’s pizza, fish and chips and poutine, but Bridges’ burgers are the must-try. With patties made from Brant Lake wagyu and fixings ranging from a fried egg to a chunk of short rib, Bridges is poised to make its mark in Calgary’s already very strong burger scene. —E.C.B 825 1 Ave. N.E., 403-460-0350, bridgesonfirst.com

ITALIAN Cotto Italian Comfort Food

Chef Giuseppe Di Gennaro has a strong reputation when it comes to Italian food in Calgary — the Italian-born chef has been the driving force in the kitchens of the much-missed restaurants Il Sogno, Capo and Borgo Trattoria, but has been away from Calgary for the last few years. Now Di Gennaro is back with the recently opened Cotto Italian Comfort Food in the space in Kensington that used to be Pie Cloud. Anyone who is familiar with the magic Di Gennaro can perform with simple pastas will find plenty of comfort in the restaurant’s menu.

The room itself is cozy without being too casual. This isn’t stuffy fine-dining, but with its rustic wood decor and attentive servers, it’s a definite cut above most casual dining. Pastas dominate the dinner menu, with dishes like a fresh pappardelle served with a giant beef-and-pork meatball and a rich red sauce, and a simple spaghetti carbonara with seared porchetta representing Di Gennaro’s commitment to true Italian comfort food. Those looking for less of a carb-load can go for more meat-centric entrees or an antipasto board for two stacked with cured meats, a Tuscan chicken-liver spread and other goodies. As for lunch, a number of Italian egg dishes, baked panini, pasta and a daily fish dish are on offer for mid-day diners.

Plus, Di Gennaro’s famed arancini are back. Since Cotto doesn’t do a risotto dish, the risotto is made fresh just for the arancini. It’s a small detail, but one that illustrates Di Gennaro’s ongoing commitment to doing even the simplest of dishes absolutely right. —

E.C.B

314D 10 St. N.W., 587-356-4088, cottoyyc.com

Chef Giuseppe Di Gennaro with Cotto's arancini.

Bridges on First fish and chips.

Interior of Bridges on First. we love

BOUTIQUE HOTEL DINING Oxbow

The Kensington Riverside Inn recently transformed its restaurant (formerly known as Chef’s Table) into a new, more approachable eatery called Oxbow. This reimagined restaurant, named for a Ushaped bend in a river, is decorated in tones of luscious blue, plush grey and tan. The colours flow throughout the small dining room and into the new lobby bar, which has quickly become the place for aprèswork drinks in Kensington.

Like any thoughtful hotelrestaurant menu, Oxbow’s is extensive and spans morning to night. Any morning of the week, you can slide into one of the comfy navy-blue leather chairs and opt for dishes like Chef Sean Cutler’s inventive rosemary-waffle-and-friedegg sandwich with roast ham, Swiss cheese and maple-whisky Dijon or the freshly baked and sizeable cinnamon buns that are finished with a dollop of strawberry crème fraîche, hemp hearts and flax-seed granola.

The real brunch win here, though, is the Oxbow Caesar. It’s garnished with beef jerky and house-made pickles and will only cost you $5. Regardless of when you’re dining here, rest assured that the succinct drink menu has something suitably quenching.

If you manage to get a table on the south-facing patio over lunch, a plate of tender butterleaf lettuce dressed with Parmesan vinaigrette, anchovies, asparagus, seared scallops and poached egg is just the thing to enjoy while soaking up the

sunshine. And the steak sandwich with house-made steak sauce and onion jam should hit the spot perfectly for those with bigger appetites.

Dinner at Oxbow has more of a hearty focus. Seared lamb sirloin rests on top of chorizoand-wild-rice pilaf with a robust charred-onion purée and sourdough romesco. Then there’s beef tartare with a blackberry-miso barbecue sauce, roasted peanuts and homemade hickory-stick chips for a little crunch. Plant-minded diners

will find their fill in the surprisingly hearty white-bean hummus that’s topped with everything from marinated eggplant to sprouted lentils, feta and pickled carrots.

The warm fruit turnover with almond-pecan streusel and brown-butter ice cream makes a fine finish to a meal (or a meal in and of itself). Top off your evening with a nightcap in the lobby bar. — D.C. 1126 Memorial Dr. N.W., 403-2284442, kensingtonriversideinn.com, @oxbow_yyc

White bean hummus, topped with marinated eggplant, pickled vegetables, feta and smoked chili dressing.

Chef Sean Cutler at Oxbow.

6 MONTHS 6 RESTAURANTS 6 EXPERIENCES

Reserve your seat at Avenue’s 2017 Dinner Series.

Dining experiences presented by Avenue’s Best Restaurants Award winners.

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For more information and to purchase tickets, visit AvenueCalgary.com/ dinnerseries

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TICKETS 403.268.8500 OR HERITAGEPARK.CA

Originally a 1929 Canadian Pacific solarium, the River Forth has been recommissioned as an elegant 1920s dining car. Pulled by an antique steam engine around Heritage Park, this unique dining experience is complete with a historically inspired menu created by Executive Chef Leighton Smyth. Tuesday lunches and private bookings available.

DR. WENDY TINK, BSC DIST, CCFP, FCFP

DR. PAT CONNICK, CCFP, FCFP, DMTH DR. FARAH JIVRAJ, CCFP, FCFP

SEcrets of the sTAmPEDe

With thousands of people working to make the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth happen annually, and more than 100 years under its belt, the odds that you know everything about Cowtown’s midsummer party are as unlikely as finding a food that midway vendors won’t deep-fry.

So whether you’re new to Stampede or have been coming for years, we’ve collected some of the more interesting odds, ends and anecdotes to beef up your Stampede knowledge.

BY Andrew Guilbert

ILLUSTRATIONS BY Rosena Fung

HOMEMADE MINI

DoUGhNUTS

Food writer Julie Van Rosendaal often finds herself cooking her own Stampede food every July, saying it’s easier than people think, and the iconic mini-doughnut is no exception. “Minidoughnuts are easy to start with, and they’re fun for kids to help out with,” says Van Rosendaal. “If you can make your own minidoughnuts, you’re like a superhero to all your friends. It’s the best thing, and super fun to do during Stampede.” Here’s her recipe for frying up a classic.

INGREDIENTS

1 package (2 tsp.) active dry yeast

2 tbsp warm water

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional flour for rolling

1 cup milk, at room temperature

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 large egg

2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp. salt

Canola oil, for frying Cinnamon sugar, for dipping

1 2 3 4 5

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large bowl, stir together the yeast and water and set it aside for five minutes until it’s foamy. (If it doesn’t foam, throw it out and buy fresh yeast. It won’t foam much, but if it just sits there and does nothing, it’s inactive.) Add the flour, milk, butter, egg, sugar and salt, and stir/knead until you have a soft, tacky dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, cover and set aside for an hour.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat with floured hands until it’s about a half-inch thick. Cut out as many rounds as possible with the rim of a shot glass and poke a hole in each with your finger, stretching it out a bit as it will puff up as it cooks, closing the hole somewhat. If you like, cover with a kitchen towel and let them rise for another 20 to 30 minutes (this isn’t necessary, but will produce lighter doughnuts).

Heat about two inches of oil in a deep, heavy saucepan until it’s hot, but not smoking. You’ll know when it’s hot enough by dipping in a piece of bread or a bit of dough — it should start sizzling right away. If the oil is too cool, the doughnuts will take too long to cook and will absorb too much oil, making them heavy.

Cook doughnuts in batches, turning occasionally with tongs or a slotted spoon until puffed and golden, about two minutes per batch.

Transfer to paper towels to drain, then toss in cinnamon-sugar while still warm. Makes lots.

CIRCLE THE WAGONS

Exploring Stampede can be murder on cowboy-booted feet, so if you ever want to take a load off, the Stampede Downtown Attractions Committee provides free horse-drawn wagon rides through the city’s streets every morning on a first-come, first-served basis. Head to the northeast corner of Fluor Rope Square (Olympic Plaza) at 8:30 a.m. to snag your tickets for the ride, which starts at 10 every morning during Stampede. The ride takes place in one of 15 vintage wagons, some of which date back to the late 1800s, and lasts about an hour.

Doughnut photograph by Jared Sych; horse wagon photograph by Allan Baxter

JUST PLANE CRAZY

July 5, 1919, was shaping up to be a bad day for First World War flying ace Fred McCall. He’d taken Calgary Exhibition and Stampede co-founder E. L. Richardson’s two boys for an aerial tour of what was then Victoria Park, when suddenly he lost power. Faced with the decision to land his plane on either the crowded midway, a racetrack with speeding cars or atop the nearby merry go-round, he “practically speared” the plane on the ride’s centre pole, and both the pilot and passengers walked away without a scratch. The Calgary Daily Herald described the feat as “a wonderful exhibition of daring aviation, quick thinking and pluck.”

SHEEP ON TRUCKIN'

Every day during Stampede, a few lucky city slickers get to do the Shepherd’s Challenge, a competition that involves taking a sheep through real-life farm tasks, such as feeding, loading it on a trailer and gathering wool. If you’re up to the challenge, Tony Legault, a chair on the Calgary Stampede Sheep Committee, has these tips: “Don’t rush it. Every time a competition occurs, people want to go fast, but you’re better to be good than fast. Remember it’s an animal, it wants to be led. Animals sense if you’re nervous, but if you’re confident, it will sense that and do a lot more for you.”

MIDWAY BY THE NUMBERS

60 RIDES ON THE MIDWAY

80 GAMES ON THE MIDWAY

650 PEOPLE EMPLOYED ON THE MIDWAY EVERY YEAR

2,163 KILOMETRES YOU WOULD HAVE TRAVELLED IF YOU’D RIDDEN EVERY RIDE OF THE POLAR EXPRESS EVERY DAY DURING STAMPEDE

4,000 to 5,000 STUFFED ANIMALS COLLECTED IN THE BIG BINS AT PARK EXITS EVERY YEAR

The toys are donated to the Humanitarian Aid Response Team, which delivers them to children in war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine.

WARDING OFF WESTERN WASTE

Last year marked the first time that Leftovers YYC, a foundation that rescues leftover food and distributes it to organizations that feed those in need, picked up Stampede foods. By visiting a handful of community pancake breakfasts in addition to the Stampede grounds, the foundation collected about 1.4 tons of food, or 2,860 pounds, says founder Lourdes Juan. “A lot of it was pancake batter and the dough they use to pre-make everything deep-fried at the Stampede. There were a ton of hamburger buns. And a lot of those colossal onions,” says Juan. While collecting all this food kept her on site until the early hours of the morning, there were certain fringe benefits. “We did pick up a lot of mini-doughnuts,” she says. “My car smelled of minidoughnuts for about a week.”

156,000 LIGHTS ON ALL RIDES

752,288 MINI-DOUGHNUTS SERVED

*Numbers are based on 2014 data

Plane photograph courtesy Glenbow Archives na-1451-27

GAME OF GAMES

Jessica McGrath has worked Stampede games for four years and says there aren’t too many secrets to share about winning a prize, but there are some things worth knowing if you’re looking to bring home a teddy bear.

Every kid’s a winner McGrath says that those seeking a guaranteed payout would do well to swallow their pride and try the kids’ games. “You’ll see older people come through kiddieland and play the games there and

they comment, ‘I should have come here first, because I at least get a prize here for sure.’”

Midway skills

When it comes to grown-up games, luck isn’t as important as skill, says McGrath. If you’re trying to knock down a collection of blocks, there’s going to be a specific block you’ll need to hit. When you try to get a ball into a basket, you’ll have to hit the back of the board to bounce it in. “It’s those games where it’s

a very precise movement, and if you don’t hit that movement then you’re not going to win,” she says.

Pity prizes

Can’t manage to beat a game? If you spend enough money at a booth, the attendant will probably give you a prize anyway. “Once they’ve spent a certain amount of money, you are supposed to give [patrons] a prize; otherwise, you’re just taking away their money and that creates an angry customer,” says McGrath.

THE PERFECT PANCAKE

Every year, well-meaning community associations, churches and businesses of all stripes dish out what must be the most dirt-simple of meals, the pancake breakfast, with no idea that they’ve been making cakes in pans all wrong.

Luckily, we have math to save us from pancake mediocrity. This equation, developed last year by math students at the University of Sheffield in England, ensures the perfect volume of batter every time: (D² x T x π x P)/4, where D is the frying-pan diameter in centimetres, T is the desired thickness in centimetres and P is the total number of pancakes.

So, if you wanted to make 12 pancakes that were one cm thick, and your pan was 18 cm wide, you would need 3.05 litres of batter to make your delicious dozen.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A horse is a horse, of course, but its name is still important, though not just in the way you’d think. According to Tyler Kraft, the Calgary Stampede’s ranch manager, you can tell a lot about a horse from its name and brand, including the year it was born as well as its pedigree. “One famous mare we have is called

FLavOureD CHerry

,

her brand is F16. She has a daughter named

rum

FLavOureD

her brand would be R16. So the letter represents the year, the number represents something to do with the mare.” All horses born during a particular year have a name that starts with that year’s given letter (2017’s is E), while also playing on the mother’s name. For example one mare named

New mOney

had a foal born in an “A” year, so it was named aDDeD mOney

HONEY, hONey

Last April marked the Aggie Days/Stampede’s second-annual honey competition, where aspiring apiarists competed to have their products labeled the best in four categories. You can see the winners on display in a special showcase during Stampede week. But what makes an award-winning honey?

Jim Rogers, a member and former president of the Calgary District Beekeepers Association, goes through the criteria for a 100-point, prize-winning jar.

FLAVOUR AND AROMA

20 POINTS

“Honey is like wine, in the sense that a lot of times honey has a very unique flavour based on [environmental] factors.”

STEEL YOURSELF

The blacksmithing competition can be visually enticing, what with the molten metal and the flames and all. You don’t want to get nailed as a poseur when it comes time to talk farrier terms, as that can put a damper on things, so here are a few terms you should know.

Match the illustrations below to the numbered descriptions and see how you do.

1. Bar stock Straight linear metal used to make horseshoes.

2. Frog When you look at the underside of a hoof, it’s the v-shaped triangle in the middle, analogous to the human fingertip.

CLEANLINESS

20 POINTS

“Foam or air bubbles can get in there one way or another, so you have to warm it to a point where you can get rid of those air bubbles and the appearance is nice and clear. You also want to avoid having bee legs in there.”

FILLING ACCURACY

10 POINTS

“You fill the jar up far enough so you can’t actually see through from the lid to the top of the jar, but you don’t want to overfill it either.”

3. Hot or cold shoes How the horseshoes are fit and forged. A hot fit shoe is heated in the forge, shaped hot on the anvil and fit hot on the horse. A cold shoe is one that’s roughly fit to the foot without heat.

4. Roadsters A type of horseshoe used for long wear on hard surfaces such as pavement, typically used for horses pulling carts or buggies.

5. Toe grab A thin bar of elevated steel on a horseshoe that provides additional traction by digging into the ground.

DENSITY AND VISCOSITY

15 POINTS

“Basically the moisture content. If you have honey that has greater than 19-per cent moisture it’ll go bad. In our part of the world, we usually get about 15- to 15.5-per cent. That makes it really good and thick.”

SUGAR, SUGAR

The Western Showcase’s creative arts and crafts competition is packed with cool things such as quilts, paintings and cakes-andsugar art. Lynette Oosthuizen won best overall in the latter section last year with her “Out of Africa” cake. As she explains, there’s a lot more to creating a prize-winning cake than you might think.

“It takes months,” Oosthuizen says. “I worked a couple hours a

SMOOTHNESS

15 POINTS

“[Judges] look for smoothness in a creamed or crystallized category because honey can cream or crystallize different ways.”

BRIGHTNESS

CONTAINER

10 POINTS

“I came in third last year. My honey was okay, but there was a little dint in the lid and I lost a point or two that way.”

10 POINTS

“There’s a colour guideyoucan judgeby.”

week, starting in September. I don’t honestly know [how much it cost in total], but there’s a couple hundred dollars of sugar and molds there. I had to make five lions before I got a good one!

“I had [to make] two good lions because anything can happen when you’re putting the cake together. You can break its leg off, so you need a spare. I had to have spare flowers, a spare hut, spare rocks, spare everything.”

6. Toe and heel shoe A type of horseshoe with heel and toe traction for pulling, commonly used on draft horses.

20 BEST COOL TREATS

BY Karin Olafson

Gelato Taco BURGER 320 | $9

Tacos aren’t just for dinner. At the Kensington location of Burger 320, tacos are for dessert. The gelato taco is served in a fresh waffle cone shaped like a taco shell. Choose two house-made gelato flavours (the flavours change daily) and pick as many toppings as you like from the sundae bar. You can eat it like a taco if you wish, but eating it with a spoon is totally okay, too. 126 10 St. N.W., 403-515-0035, burger320.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

BEST FLAVOUR SELECTION

Gelato

AMATO GELATO | $4.75

Amato in West Hillhurst always has 70 flavours in its case — 48 authentic Italian gelatos and 22 dairy-free options. It’s fair to say you’ll be spoiled for choice here.

2104 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-270-9733, amatogelatocalgary.com

Kombucha Float

BRÜHE | $7.50

Brühe in Ramsay has Happy Belly Kombucha on tap and uses it to make several frozen treats found only at this grab-and-go spot, including the purple ginger kombucha float with Mapleton’s eco-certified organic, gluten-free vanilla ice cream. While the house-made kombucha popsicles ($2.25 each) are sold here all year, the floats are a summer-only treat. Kombucha contains healthy probiotics, making it a healthyish choice.

1024 Bellevue Ave. S.E., 403-262-6700, bruhe.ca

Screamers

THE CALGARY ZOO | $4.50 FOR 16 OZ. OR $5.50 FOR 24 OZ. Convenience stores aren’t the only place to buy this very Canadian treat. The part-slushy, part-soft-serve is available in two sizes at two concessions at the zoo. Pick up an orange Screamer (the zoo’s most popular flavour) to cool you down as you stroll through the sunny Dorothy Harvie Gardens.

1300 Zoo Rd. N.E., 403-232-9300, calgaryzoo.com

Popsicles

BETTER BY CHERRY PIT | $5 EACH

These colourful handcrafted pops are as pretty as they are refreshing. The flavours are always changing since they’re made using seasonal fruits and vegetables, mostly from Alberta and British Columbia. Expect a lot of B.C.-grown fruit in this summer’s offerings.

Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E., 403-770-9689, betterfresh.ca

Custard Shakes

BEST COMBINATION OFFIZZYAND FROZEN

CLIVE BURGER | $6

These are no ordinary milkshakes. The thick, creamy and oh-so-sweet custard shakes at this 17th Avenue S.W. burger joint come in chocolate, cherry, vanilla, strawberry, banana and coffee flavours. If you’re looking for a summer drink with a bit of a kick, add a shot of bourbon for $3, or try one of the special boozy shakes from the menu for $9 each. 736 17 Ave. S.W., 403-229-9224, cliveburger.com

Ice Pops

FAMILY FREEZED | $5

Local, family-owned gourmet popsicle company Family Freezed makes all its 50-plus flavours in small batches by hand using local ingredients and fresh fruit whenever possible. The result: lip-smacking pops bursting with freshness and flavour. Try the Mini Donut pops, which won Best New Food on the Midway at The Calgary Stampede in 2015. Multiple locations, familyfreezed.com

Sorbetto

FIASCO GELATO | $9

The sorbettos from local artisan gelato company Fiasco Gelato are a gluten-free and dairy-free treat. You can find them in both pint-size and mini “single-serve” containers at various markets and grocers around town, as well as at the Fiasco Gelato Factory, which always has at least seven sorbetto flavours on hand. The Fiasco factory also serves up sorbetto scoops, as does the Fiasco food truck (look for it wherever summer is happening).

If you can’t decide on a flavour, we recommend the mango-pineapple.

Available at various markets and grocery stores and at the Fiasco Gelato Factory and Coffee Bar, 110, 221 19 St. S.E.,

TOP TO BOTTOM Lava flow, pink lemonade, aloe vera mango and bomb-proof coffee flavoured popsicles.

403-452-3150, fiascogelatoshop.com

Root Beer Float

FLIPP’N BURGERS

The Mission location of Flipp’n Burgers makes this retro treat using Grizzly Paw root beer, the flagship soda of the Canmore-based brewery. 2308 4 St. S.W., 403-475-9965, flippnburgers.ca

BEST CAFFEINE FIX

tion on 11th Street S.W., but now you can order it at a second Good Earth location in the southeast (if you know to ask). To make it particularly divine, get it with liqueur after 3 p.m.

1502 11 St. S.W., 403-228-9543; 356 Cranston Rd. S.E., 587-471-2480, goodearthcoffeehouse.com

Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

ICEWORKS FROZEN TREATS | $6.50 EACH

BEST UNORTHODOX ICECREAM SANDWICH Yotopia

LEAVITT’S ICE CREAM SHOP | FROM $4.75

Iceworks makes this handcrafted treat by sandwiching ice cream between two meringue cookies. The sandwiches are available in 10 flavours, such as coconut pandan (the most popular), black sesame (above), mango and chocolate. Place your order online (minimum order of six). You have to wait at least 48 hours after ordering to get your hands on this treat, but it will be worth it. iceworksfrozentreats.com

If you’ve been in Calgary a while, you probably know this family-owned Parkdale ice cream parlour as “Lics.” The shop opened back in 1982 but its yotopia frozen yogurt treat was only introduced about five years ago. Made with low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt and up to three kinds of frozen fruit and served in a dish, waffle cone or waffle bowl, it has since become one of Leavitt’s signature items. 3410 3 Ave. N.W., 403-283-3578, lics.ca

Strawberry-banana yotopia in a waffle cone.

Happy Camper Sundae

MADE BY MARCUS

MICROCREAMERY | $6.50

Salted caramel liquid nitrogen ice cream with gummi penguins, gummi bears and chocolate chips.

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Cone

NICE CREAM | $4.55

If you’re not sure which of Marcus’s creative soft-serve treats to try first, start with the Happy Camper Sundae. It’s inspired by the classic camping treat, the s’more, and made with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, hot fudge, graham-cracker crumbs and a torched marshmallow. Eat it when you want to reminisce about outdoorsy summer nights around the fire with friends — but without the actual camping part. 121, 1013 17 Ave. S.W., 403-452-1692, madebymarcus.ca ON

Nice Cream is the first ice cream parlour in Canada to use liquid nitrogen to make its ice cream, and the result is the smoothest ice cream you’ll have ever tasted. The -196°C liquid nitrogen freezes the liquid ice cream mix so fast that ice crystals don’t have the chance to form. Seeing it made is kind of like watching a science experiment. Get two scoops in a fresh-baked waffle cone (we recommend salted caramel or strawberry) and choose three of the 12 toppings.

4, 4604 37 St. S.W., 403-978-3210, thenicecream.com

The Mango Mania

MANGO MANIA | $8

This big, blended drink is the ultimate cool beverage for the mango-lover. On top of the dairy-free mango slushy are mango-flavoured coconut jellies, mango juice balls and fresh mango pieces. But the highlight might be the chewy mango mochi pieces, which are made in-house.

1115 Centre St. N., 403-6680802, mangomaniayyc.com

MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE TREAT

Milkshakes

RE:GRUB BURGER BAR | FROM $4

You could get a classic milkshake ($4) or you could opt for a milkshake that is several desserts in one (from $7). The creative shakes here are topped with everything from doughnuts to ice cream sandwiches to a slice of cheesecake. Really. 625 11 Ave. S.W., 403-475-2845, regrub.ca

BESTBANG FORYOUR BUCK

Kulfi

SHALIMAR KULFI & FOODS | $2

Shalimar Kulfi is a family-owned business in Castleridge that makes, packages and sells its own kulfi, an East Indian and Pakistani treat that’s similar to an ice cream popsicle, but denser and creamier. The Ali family uses a traditional Pakistani recipe to make this refreshing treat, which is available in three flavours: mango, pistachio and vanilla.

4656 Westwinds Dr. N.E., 403-453-2415

BEST FORTHAT MONSTER DESSERT CRAVING

Streetshakes

THE STREET EATERY | $14

Street Eatery shakes are not a delicate dessert to have after dinner. They could be dinner. All three shakes on the menu are extravagant, and we love them for that. Spike your shake with a “party rock” shot of Patron XO Café tequila liqueur, Ercole Gagliano strawberry vodka, Godiva white chocolate cream liqueur or Phillips butter ripple schnapps for an extra $3.50. 890 4 Ave. S.W., 403-234-9969, thestreeteatery.com

Rolled Ice Cream

SWEET TOOTH ICE CREAM | $8

This Thai ice cream craze came to Calgary last fall. To create the signature shape, a liquid ice cream mix is poured on a chilled surface, freezing it into a thin sheet, which the server scrapes up into rolls. The rolls are then placed upright in a cup and garnished with whipped cream and fruit and other toppings. Sweet Tooth has eight regular ice cream flavours on the menu and you can pay extra for more toppings. 206 Centre St. S.E., 587-832-0128, sticyyc.com

The last straw from Sweet Tooth topped with pretzels, strawberry wafer and a strawberry drizzle.

Little Villagers

VILLAGE ICE CREAM | $4 EACH

If you’re guilty of eating ice cream to the point of overindulgence, the Little Villagers from Village Ice Cream are your self-control solution. The 133-millilitre containers are the perfect snack size (or, you know, an actual single serving), and are available in salted caramel, melted chocolate and toasted coconut. Send in a request for a large order of these little treats if you’re having a big summertime event or party. Three locations, villageicecream.com

Berry crush love shake from The Street Eatery.

THURSDAY

a d a n a

INTERVIEWS BY Jennifer Dorozio, Andrew Jeffrey AND Käthe Lemon

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

Alexander

Sargeant

As

Aswe celebrate the 150th anniversary of confederation, we wanted to know what Calgarians think of Canada and being Canadian. So we asked. Over three days in April, on location at Repsol Sport Centre, Bankers Hall and Sunridge Mall, we interviewed and photographed more than 150 people about what Canada means to them. We heard over and over that Canadians are welcoming, diverse, friendly and polite. We also heard the value people place on living in a country that is safe, open and that provides opportunity. Many people spoke about their travels — how good it felt to have others welcome Canadians and how easy it is to travel on a Canadian passport, and that travel makes people appreciate home that much more. We heard criticism as well — several people noted that it’s easy to become complacent and that Canadians don’t examine their own racism, especially when it comes to indigenous Canadians. Here is a selection of some of our favourite comments from the people we spoke with. You can see more on our website at avenuecalgary.com

To read all the interviews go to avenueCalgary.com/ OhCanada

Birthplace: Calgary

“I’m a basketball player, and I’ve played international before. The approach that I had to the game as a Canadian was very encompassing of everybody. How it works is there’s three players that are import players and the rest are local to that country. When I started training with them they had everybody training on one side from the other country and then the Americans on one side and I was like, ‘We’re a team. Why don’t we train together?’ I was the only Canadian there, and I felt like that’s how we see things.”

Birthplace: Nigeria

Wayne

Gordanier

Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario

“I looked for gold for 15 years of my life up in northern Canada. I spent eight to 10 months every year living in a tent in northern Canada. The northern people have a totally different way of looking at life than the people who live in the ring around the U.S. border like most Canadians do. In Northern Canada, you take every day as it comes and you live every day from the minute you wake up to the minute you go to sleep, because you never know what’s going to happen. It’s a wonderful way to live.”

Micheal Paris

Birthplace: Calgary

Pat Steinke

Birthplace: Bienfait, Saskatchewan

“People don’t realize how fortunate we are being Canadian. The fact I was just equal. The fact that I knew no matter what I wanted to do in life I could do it and from a child up I just knew that there was no door closed to me, that I could do what I wanted to do.”

“I was born in Calgary, raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I’ve lived in Ontario and Saskatchewan as well. In Saskatchewan people are so amazing. I thought my vehicle was broken when I moved there because everyone waves at you.”

Oluwatoyin Adeyemi

“I came here as a refugee. I came here with pain. But now I have free rights. The pain is gone.”

“There’s no model citizen of Canada. Whether you are an immigrant or you were born here or you have ancestors that have lived here for a long time, everyone is a Canadian and they’re equal. I believe Pierre Elliott Trudeau said there is no model Canadian boy or girl, there are stereotypes, but there’s no model Canadian. It is just you and who you are as a person.”

Amna Adnan

Birthplace: Pakistan

Birthplace: Fort Nelson, British Columbia

“When I think of Canada I think of Ottawa, pretty much. I used to perform over there. I was a Metis dancer. I represented our culture out in Ottawa. I got to perform for the prime ministers. I met three of them. Chretien’s last year, Paul Martin, and then Stephen Harper also. It was good, it was quite an experience.”

Birthplace: Duncan, British Columbia “In my family we have hidden disabilities and my boys have had opportunities that they certainly wouldn’t have had elsewhere, and it’s really tremendous. I’m just so thrilled that we’ve had the opportunities to accomplish the kinds of things we’ve accomplished when that simply might not have been possible anywhere else.”

Olatunbosun

Oyewole

Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria

Dion Morin

Maureen Jones

“Canada means everything to me. Right from the first time I entered this country something just told me that this is my promised land. So, it’s been like that from day one.”

Ian Dundas

Birthplace: Calgary

“It’s very easy to underestimate the advantages we have as Canadians. There are challenges, there are real fiscal challenges. I think Canada is moving backwards in some respects from where we’ve been historically. But then you put that in the context of the rest of the world and you realize how fortunate we are that we really have an incredible foundation that allows us to compete. I think there’s a real opportunity there if we take advantage of it.”

Pal Aggarwal

Birthplace: Arusha, Tanzania

“We came here as newcomers, and it took us nearly no time to get a group of Canadian friends. That was very positive, I thought. We’re in a library group. We meet twice a week now, the whole group, and we visit each other’s homes, and it’s a really nice group. I’ve lived in Europe, it’s friendly as well, but I find it friendlier over here.”

Adrienne Price

Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta

Dave Baird

Birthplace: Halifax, N.S.

“Being in Canada means that, no matter how bad things can get for any one of us, there is a whole city, a whole province, and an entire country of people who will wade through sewage to clean up after a flood, will fill their trucks with gasoline and drive straight into a forest fire to rescue stranded motorists. We live in a community that just can’t help but come to the rescue when we need it most.”

Corinne Chong

Birthplace: Calgary

“I think it’s important that we’re accepting of other people who are looking for freedom. To be part of a country that willingly accepts others when they’re at their lowest points in time I think is something to be really proud of.”

Mabel Stoness

Birthplace: Kamloops, British Columbia

“My mother’s people were from Ontario, early settlers. And they travelled to North Battleford in Red River ox carts. My paternal great-grandfather [John Fall]

Allison has Allison Pass named after him and my great grandma Allison, Susan Louisa, was one of the first white ladies in the Similkameen. But about our First Nations people— what would we have done in the very early ages without the canoe? Who showed us how to hunt?

I think it’s time we said thank you.”

Max Chernetsov and his son, Ignat

Birthplace: Kazakhstan

“It’s opportunities for us but also for our kids. We came in with one son, and now we have two boys and a girl and they have good opportunities to study, to go to university to find a job, and that’s very important, and that’s why we came here for our kids’ future.”

“I’ve lived in Fort McMurray and I’ve been to Churchill, Man., to see the polar bears. I’ve worked in northern Alberta as a geologist, and it’s the open spaces and the barren landscape that I think of when I think of Canada. I know I live in an urban metropolis, but when I think of Canada, I think of that. I think of the northern lights, I think of polar bears, I think of the tundra, I think of huge expanses of forests. That’s what I do and that’s I like. I like to be outdoors.”

Meili Zhang

Birthplace: China

“I love the country here. I love the people here. The only thing I don’t like is the distance between people. People always protect themselves. Inside they all feel lonely. We all need help. We all need closeness to each other. The culture here is that people like to be more private. Here you can meet people and everyone says ‘Hey! Hi!’ But nobody cares about you.”

Birthplace: Shanghai, China

Stephanie Kandic

Birthplace: Calgary

“When you travel across the world and then you come back to Canada and you’re in the airport, you just see all kinds of people. Everybody coming home to their family or visiting their family or whatever, you just see multiculturalism everywhere. You travel to different places and for the most part you see the same kind of people there, but you come to Canada and there’s everyone imaginable here.”

Rada Baljak

Birthplace: Calgary

“We have no idea what we have. My family is from the former Yugoslavia. We had a really good gig going back in Yugoslavia. It was a really, really good country. In fact there were years in the ’70s ’80s where they actually lived better than we did [in Canada] just because everything was government. You were protected by the government. Your jobs were protected. And until we lost that we didn’t realise what we had. And in Canada we have all kinds of opportunities. If we think we’re hard done by I mean we’re just so fooling ourselves.”

Ebenizer Mensah

Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia

“Watching the 2010 Olympics and Sidney Crosby scored that goal, and I just roared — that’s how I knew I was Canadian. And then just seeing all the Canadians’ faces. It made me proud of my country.”

James Ye

“Canada is multicultural. There’s freedom and human rights and it’s a peaceful country. I enjoy life in Canada.”

Day Tripping to Banff is a Breeze with On-It

Stress-free and comfortable regional transit service whisks you to the Rockies.

Banff is bound to buzz with activity this season as Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, and the federal government has offered free entry to national parks to mark the occasion.

A new regional transit service means summer visitors can head to Banff in comfort and style, exchanging traffic and parking headaches for a relaxed, scenic ride — for less than you'd spend on gas driving there.

The On-It Regional Transit Pilot Service to Banff offers the perfect way to get to and from the mountains.

Six 54-seat coach buses will leave from the Okotoks Recreation Centre, Somerset and Crowfoot LRT stations, plus points in Cochrane and Canmore, for a cool $10 per one-way ticket.

On-It's Banff service is the second pilot project of its kind run by the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP), a unique, collaborative network of 11 municipalities working together to ensure sustainable growth.

"The pilot is part of a longer-term vision to launch a transit system that seamlessly connects the entire Calgary region so that people can get to jobs, recreation and services in any of our communities," says Colleen Shepherd, executive director of CRP.

It's an ambitious vision that Parks Canada officials applaud.

“With Canadians taking advantage of free admission to national parks this year to celebrate Canada 150, Parks Canada has been working with partners to make sure visitors have best possible experiences while being environmentally friendly,” said Dave McDonough, Parks Canada Field Unit Superintendent for Banff. “Our team is excited about the launch of the Canada 150 Calgary/Banff service that will allow visitors to experience Banff National Park car-free this summer.”

While visiting the mountains, On-It customers can transfer onto Banff’s Roam Transit system for free and can also access free Parks

Canada shuttles to Lake Minnewanka, Lake Louise and more.

The first On-It pilot project, still underway, includes Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and Calgary.

Next up is a Strathmore-Chestermere regional service slated for 2018.

The On-It service to Banff runs Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from June 17th to September 4th. Tickets are $10 each way, as part of a special Canada 150 rate, and children 5 and under ride free. Tickets can be purchased online.

To book tickets and learn more, visit on-it.ca.

Top: Members of the Calgary Regional Partnership celebrate On-It’s launch. Above: The 54-seat coach buses offer a comfortable and affordable option for day trips. Left: The On-It service to Banff runs until September 4th.

David Stonehouse

Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario

“I died six months ago, fully dead, and they brought me back over and over and here I am six months later. Rock and Roll. We live in the best country in the world, I knew it was good, but how they treat people in the hospitals is amazing. I was in I.C.U. for two weeks and then 10 weeks in the hospital, everything with a smile.”

Mitran Mehta

Birthplace: Pakistan

“I’m a minority where I come from in Pakistan and I never felt secure there. Here, I can go places, do anything I want. There’s a sense of freedom that you get. It’s not freedom to [carry a gun around] it’s freedom because it brings a sense of purpose and fulfillment.”

Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta

“I felt the most Canadian actually being a volunteer in the 1988 Olympics. Just the energy! To sit there and say Calgary pulled this off. I think it was just the excitement to be part of a world event. And everybody looked up to us. And it went on — it wasn’t just that one period of time. It was continuous. It was for months after and years after that we could say we were a part of that.”

Birthplace: Vietnam

“I was one of the boat people that left Vietnam. I think when you’re 13 you’re more fearless, right. But it took a few years to adapt. I didn’t even know one word of English. As a child when you’re in school it’s different. Adults are friendlier but school kids they can be bullies, especially when you don’t speak the language they bug you even more. Especially when my sponsor put me in a #99 jersey and sent me to school in Calgary here. It was like sending a person into a bullpen. So that wasn’t pretty for a few days. I didn’t know until later in the year — 99, Wayne Gretzky, oops.”

Birthplace: Wollongong, Australia

“There is an innate sense of fairness that exists here that probably doesn’t exist anywhere else — it’s just that simple — people are kind and equitable. Take traffic blending. Canadians blend. Go anywhere else in the world and nobody blends, it’s all horns and middle fingers. And that’s just Canada the way it all sort of works.”

Kamalpreet Minhas

Birthplace: Calgary

“My parents aren’t from here, so being Canadian for me is finding a balance. It’s hard, it’s so hard. My parents are completely different than I am, and their values are so much different. Being at school, and being outside, and being at home are completely different. Finding a balance means satisfying both means and meeting both ends.”

Nadejda

Qureshi

Birthplace: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Kenny Nguyen

Steve Wilson

Ramona Biggar

“I became Canadian two weeks ago. I’m just so proud. It was a long way for me to get here, almost 10 years. I almost cried because it was a very important step in my life becoming a Canadian. Canadians made me feel a part of the country right away. And I feel like it’s home now.”

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Beyond Oil

Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 alumni weigh in on creating and sustaining a diversified economy.

There’s no denying that Calgary’s economy is linked to the energy sector. Ever since Imperial Oil struck black gold at Leduc in 1947, the fortunes of this city have been intertwined with the petroleum industry.

It’s this industry that draws international talent and investors. The high wages that are standard in oil and gas create a high tax base that builds city infrastructure and employees that spend cash locally, bolstering the city’s retail and culinary scenes as well as supporting new-home building. The industry also directly and indirectly helps fund arts organizations and not-for-profit organizations.

BY Meredith Bailey ILLUSTRATIONS BY Jean-Luc Bonifay

When the price of oil is high, things are rosy in Calgary — real estate prices soar, commercial and residential vacancies are low, businesses flourish and unemployment numbers drop. But when the price of oil plummets, the city struggles.

In early 2017, Calgary’s unemployment rate hovered around 10 per cent, the highest of any major Canadian city, and vacancy rates for downtown commercial properties climbed to 25 per cent.

It’s during downturns — and Calgary has experienced many over the years — that the calls for greater economic diversity grow. The rationale is sound. With all our eggs in one energy-sector basket, the economy is devastated when the bottom falls out of that basket. A more diverse economy can more easily weather economic downturns. Building a number of different industry “baskets” would help to mitigate that risk.

But when oil and gas recovers, the urgency to diversify dwindles. Few other industries offer the gains of oil when it’s high. It’s easy to forget there are disadvantages to boom times as well, including an overheated real estate market, shrinking vacancy rates and ultimately unsustainable salaries.

This time around, the economic turnaround projected for Calgary is more modest than in previous downturns. It’s looking more and more like the days of $100 barrels of oil may be permanently behind us. As such, there’s never been a better time to work to create and sustain a more economically diverse city.

We asked some of the savviest people we know, Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 alumni, what they think about how to achieve an economically diverse future. These seven entrepreneurs, community leaders and policymakers share their perspective on the sectors outside of oil and gas that have the potential to grow, and the private and public support needed to make those changes happen. They paint a picture of an innovative, resilient city with the potential to make an international impact on much more than just oil and gas.

WHERE WE CAN DIVERSIFY:

Manufacturing

Manjit Minhas (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2007), CEO and co-founder of Minhas Brewery and one of the Dragons on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, says manufacturing could play a key role in Calgary’s economic stability. “This country, and North America in general, was built on manufacturing, and I really feel sometimes we turn our back on it because it takes time, it’s long term and doesn’t happen overnight,” says Minhas. “But per $100 spent in the manufacturing core, the amount of people it employs over any other industry is remarkable, and I think people forget that. [Manufacturing is] also about creating something locally and it can bring a community together.”

Jennifer Carlson (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2012) has also seen the community-building aspects of manufacturing in her business. Carlson is the co-founder and director of Baby Gourmet Foods Inc., an organic baby-food business that got its start at the Calgary Farmers’ Market. Baby Gourmet products are now sold in stores across North America, including Walmart.

Despite her success, Carlson says her manufacturing subcategory, consumer-packaged goods, has never been dominant in the city — though it could be. “You look at consumer packaged-goods companies and they exist in Toronto and Vancouver, but it is a space that Calgary has never been dominant in. It’s surprising because Calgary has a lot of creativity and Alberta is a very agricultural and food-driven province. It’s surprising there aren’t more consumer packaged goods around what the province has to offer,” Carlson says.

Houston Peschl (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2012), founding partner of strategy-management company Creating Eudaimonia and an instructor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, says Alberta has an abundance of raw materials, including hemp, wheat, dairy and beef, and the province could take advantage of processing those materials in a more financially meaningful way.

“So, we chop down a tree and send it to another country where they have an amazing machine and the manufacturing intelligence that

can break that tree down, adding more value to what we sold to them,” Peschl says. “That’s where I think more jobs can be created. Holding on to our raw materials and adding value and creating something — whether it’s patents or intellectual property or manufacturing facilities — that has the potential to make Alberta a world leader and not just be a place that has raw materials and ships them away.”

Tech

Last year, Calgary’s Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Calgary Economic Development president and CEO Mary Moran made a trip to Silicon Valley to pitch the city as a potential site for tech companies.

Sherif Gemayel (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2015), president at Sharp Insurance, says the idea to make Calgary the “Silicon Valley of the North” is not so far-fetched.

“Every industry right now is being disrupted by technology. It’s becoming the heart of everything. So if you focus on a vibrant tech sector,

you start to attract a lot of talent that could be tech in financial services, in health services or in different commercial services.

It’s tough to establish any kind of economic diversity without having a focus on tech, Gemayel says. “If you focus on tech, it allows you to open up the doors to a lot of different worlds.”

Dr. Breanne Everett (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2012) is the CEO of Orpyx Medical Technologies Inc., a company that was launched to get to market a sensor she invented that helped prevent diabetics from developing conditions that can end in amputation. Everett says the potential tech has to open doors in different industries is vital to long-lasting diversification.

“Attempts at diversifying the economy before have been largely focused on diversification in areas that still support oil and gas, so a pseudodiversification,” Everett says. “I think we really need to start looking at industries that aren’t tied to oil and gas for true diversification, things like health care, health-tech and technology itself that may have applications in oil and gas, but certainly that is not the core focus. That will enable us to weather downturns like this.”

“IF YOU FOCUS ON A VIBRANT TECH SECTOR, YOU START TO ATTRACT A LOT OF TALENT... YOU OPEN UP THE DOORS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORLDS.”

—SHERIF GEMAYEL, PRESIDENT, SHARP INSURANCE

Culture

There’s no question the past two years have been tough on the city, but there are strong indications that Calgary’s economy may already be more diverse than is was in the past, and, as such, better equipped to rebound this time around. “There are a variety of ways in which the economy is already diverse,” says Patti Pon (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 1999), president and CEO of Calgary Arts Development (CADA). “I think that it’s important to note that it isn’t like Calgary is just thinking about this today. This has been in the DNA of our city for quite some time.”

Pon says that Calgary’s already diverse and growing arts and culture scene is an important factor in attracting talent from the tech industry and in making existing businesses want to stay in the city. “It’s about acknowledging the assets and the conditions that we’re trying to create as a city to encourage people to live a creative life,” Pon says. “When that happens, all of these conversations we’re having about being the Silicon Valley of the North, being innovative, all of these possibilities become much more real because we’re actively acknowledging and realizing that Calgary has all kinds of creative people in it. There is all kinds of innovation in [Calgary] and we already have these amazing cultural assets that make people want to stay.”

Not only can great cultural offerings help attract employees and businesses, but a vibrant culture, sports and entertainment scene is a key factor in creating and maintaining a healthy tourism industry, another vital part of the city’s economy. In 2014, tourism contributed more than $1 billion to the city’s gross domestic product. But building Calgary into a destination in its own right, rather than just the site of the international airport closest to Banff, will depend on creating unique arts- and cultural-tourism opportunities.

Pon says Hainan Airlines’ recent addition of a direct flight to Calgary from Beijing is a clear example of Calgary’s growing reputation as a tourist destination. “There are over a billion people in China who want to visit and experience the things we have here in Calgary,” she says.

Brenda Lieberman (Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2009), programming manager and senior features programmer at Calgary International Film Festival and director and co-founder of the Calgary Underground Film Festival, says Calgary’s burgeoning film and TV scene is another industry with great potential. “Toronto and Vancouver are getting maxed out, so there’s a big opportunity for Alberta to be the next big hot spot for film and TV,” Lieberman says.

The opening of the new Calgary Film Centre and an already strong international reputation for great crews and beautiful locations are attracting big budget productions. “There is more and more film being shot in Calgary and the surrounding area,” Lieberman says. “The productions that are filming in 2017 [including the Netflix movie Hold the Dark] are with some of the best directors in the industry. These productions will spend a lot of money and give a lot of people work.”

NOT ONLY CAN GREAT CULTURAL OFFERINGS HELP ATTRACT EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESSES, BUT A VIBRANT ARTS-AND-CULTURE SCENE IS A KEY FACTOR IN CREATING AND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY TOURISM INDUSTRY.

HOW WE CAN DIVERSIFY:

Tax Breaks, Grants and More

For diversification to succeed, businesses — particularly start-ups — need the support of government and industry. The provincial government has stepped up with a variety of grants and tax breaks. “There are new grants for innovation. There are potentially new grants coming around if you want to improve the efficiency of your manufacturing facility. There’s the new investor tax credit,” says Houston Peschl.

“We’ve got a lot of the dominoes set up to create an awesome ecosystem for innovation.” Peschl would like to see grants for start-up founders and investors to pay themselves a salary or other form of compensation in the development stages, freeing them up to pursue the new venture rather than splitting their time with a job to “pay the bills.” Such a grant would significantly decrease the risk factor for start-ups.

A lack of investment is often the reason why start-up businesses fail, so removing barriers for venture capitalists is vital. The Alberta Investor Tax Credit (AITC) is designed to give industries outside of oil and gas a leg up by offering investors who provide capital to eligible companies a 30-per cent tax credit during the three years the program is in place. Though the AITC was launched with restrictions on what sectors were eligible, those restrictions have since been removed, due in part to heavy lobbying by the tech ecosystem in Alberta.

“Historically in Alberta, certain governmentrun programs established with the intent to support economic diversification have been built with highly limiting restrictions, effectively limiting their potential impact,” says Dr. Breanne Everett. “More and more, however, there has been a coming-together of minds in the tech community to lobby and ensure such support programs are doing just that. A good example of this is the Alberta Investor Tax Credit, which has evolved into a really powerful program that will provide critical support to Alberta-based SMEs [small-tomedium enterprises] in non-traditional sectors.”

The film and TV industry in Alberta is also hungry for government support, says Brenda

Production Industries Association, launched the #ABcreates campaign to raise awareness about the need for provincial film and TV tax credits and flexible funding. Currently, Alberta’s tax credit and grant programs aren’t competitive with other provinces. “There are a lot of people fighting for better tax incentives in Alberta for film production,” Lieberman says. “Productions will compare the locations and the crews, but they will also look for a good incentive to be there. A tax incentive goes a long way toward [a production’s] budget.”

Manjit Minhas says the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program grant, introduced in 2016, is a major reason for the current boom in her industry. Four or five years ago, there might have been a “couple dozen” breweries, says Minhas.

“Now there are 45 up-and-running microbreweries, which is amazing,” she says, with 50 or so more in the pipeline. “Each individual brewery employs people, revitalizes neighbourhoods and is a local movement,” Minhas says.

Calgary is also becoming a hot spot for business incubators and accelerators, such as Innovate Calgary, Startup Calgary, Growing Forward and Alberta Treasury Branch’s AlbertaBoostR.

“No matter where or what your creation or idea is, you can find some community that will support you and help you build your business model and [teach you] how to pitch your idea,” says Peschl. “Now we just have to make sure there’s the mentorship and the guidance to help these companies grow.”

“THE ALBERTA INVESTOR TAX CREDIT HAS EVOLVED INTO A REALLY POWERFUL PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT TO ALBERTA-BASED SMALL-TO-MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NON-TRADITIONAL SECTORS.”

—DR. BREANNE EVERETT, CEO, ORPYX

Baby Gourmet’s Jennifer Carlson is one of those providing guidance for local start-ups as a mentor at District Ventures, Canada’s first accelerator for packaged-goods companies. District is owned by local celebrity entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson, one of the original Dragons’ Den Dragons (she will be returning to the show this fall). District recently joined forces with IBM to open the District Ventures and IBM Innovation Space. “Mentorship plays a big role in the success of a new business,” Carlson says. “I didn’t have that when I started. I really had to do it all on my own, which is why I’m mentoring now, because I really would have appreciated and valued that guidance right from the beginning on how to commercialize and take it to the next level.”

From a policy perspective, Calgary Arts Development’s Patti Pon says one way this downturn is different is local civic agencies — CADA, Calgary Economic Development, The Calgary Chamber, Tourism Calgary and others — are working more collaboratively. “We’re being more intentional about interweaving our strategies,” Pon says. “Collectively, we have evidence-based research that says Calgary is an innovative city, [and that] it does have the conditions to attract the tech industry, agrafoods, construction and others.”

All of this indicates that conditions are ripe for diversifying, instead of just talking about it. “I’m a life-long Calgarian and have been through a lot of ebbs and flows, and this time feels different,” Pon says. “I do feel like there is recognition that what we can do together will be much greater than working on our own.”

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Ask an Expert:

How can we make a contribution to the environment while living in urban spaces?

Brian Gervais, Senior Vice President, Prairie Region, TD Bank

Our province is pretty lucky to be blessed with gorgeous scenery: the incomparable Rockies, pristine lakes and rivers, sprawling prairies. But if you’re living in a large urban centre, you may feel you’re missing out on all that lush greenery on a day-to-day basis. The good news is that there is plenty that can be done in a concrete jungle to help make the air cleaner, provide almost immediate stress relief, increase a person’s resilience and well-being, and promote an overall healthy attitude that carries over into other areas of life. The magic bullet? Urban green spaces.

Green spaces are where communities come together to meet, talk and play – it’s where people find common ground and connect.

For over 25 years, TD has been committed to revitalizing and enriching green spaces across the country, including some of Canada’s busiest urban centres. To mark Canada’s 150th birthday, TD will be helping to grow and enhance parks and green spaces across Canada, bringing communities together in exciting and diverse ways. In May, a TD grant provided Fort McMurray with a special needs accessible garden containing raised and ground-level planter beds, and tree identification signs for existing trees. Plans are already in the works for here in Calgary to create a natural playground at Ralph Klein Regional Park.

TD’s Common Ground project is designed with the goal of bringing people together, helping contribute to livable and healthy cities and improving the quality of life for communities in a lasting way.

For more information on Calgary’s Ralph Klein Park project, please visit http://commongroundproject.td.com/calgary

Brian Gervais Senior Vice President, Prairie Region TD Bank Brian.Gervais@td.com

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Trust our experience, expertise and strength to guide you to the life you deserve.

Breaking up is hard to do.

MOUNTAINSlife

BY Andrew Penner

Summer-stoke

With its striking scenery and wealth of outdoor adventure activities, Revelstoke is just as much fun in the summertime as when it’s covered in snow.

Ringed by ice-scoured peaks, pristine wetlands, mighty rivers and wildflower-filled meadows, Revelstoke is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. A small, historic city located approximately 400 kilometres west of Calgary on the TransCanada Highway, Revelstoke is well-loved among skiers and snowboarders, who brave the gnarly winter driving conditions of Rogers Pass to ride the steep runs and deep snow at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

But Revelstoke also has a lot going for it as a summer destination for hikers, cyclists, climbers, paddlers, photographers and anyone else who appreciates sublime mountain scenery. The epicentre of the action is downtown Revelstoke; a character-filled zone with eclectic shops, riverside parks, cool cafés, craft breweries and the kind of friendly, laid-back vibe you might expect from an authentic mountain town that has fully embraced its adventurous ways.

The Meadows in the Sky area of Mount Revelstoke National Park is a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts.

Photograph courtesy of Parks Canada / Karen Best

What To Do Go Paddling on Lake Revelstoke

Lake Revelstoke is a 115-square-km body of water created by the massive Revelstoke Dam. Rising 175 metres high, the dam is an impressive structure in its own right, with a visitor centre that offers guided and self-guided tours, plus a gift shop, theatre and interactive exhibits.

For those looking to explore the lake, Natural Escapes Kayaking offers a variety of tours that incorporate glacier-fed waterfalls, sandy beaches and peaceful forests. Led by knowledgeable guides, the tours include the use of locally made, handcrafted wooden kayaks.

For stand-up paddleboarding and whitewater rafting, Everything Revelstoke is a local adventure-booking company with a storefront office on Mackenzie Avenue (Revelstoke’s main street) that offers a variety of experiences on regional waterways. Their whitewater-rafting trips down the Illecillewaet River will appeal to adrenaline junkies, as the river plunges through Rogers Pass and includes sections of class-three rapids, as well as relaxing stretches floating past idyllic old-growth forest.

naturalescapes.ca; everythingrevelstoke.com

Ride the Pipe Mountain Coaster

“The Pipe” at Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a white-knuckle winner. Launched last summer, the downhill coaster proved popular with all ages, far exceeding ridership expectations. More than 80,000 riders took a plunge down the Pipe in 2016, making it one of the most popular attractions in Revy in just its first season. The exhilarating ride starts from the gondola midstation and runs down a 1.4-km fixed track, reaching speeds of up to 42 km per hour over a dizzying drop of 279 vertical metres. Kids who are too little to pilot the coaster cars can double with an adult.

revelstokemountainresort.com

Explore the Meadows in the Sky Meadows in the Sky is one of Revelstoke’s top attractions — a stunning alpine zone with a web of hiking trails, aerie viewpoints and vast expanses of wildflowers. Located just up from town to the northeast in Mount Revelstoke National Park, the area is accessed by the 26-km Meadows in the Sky Parkway, a stretch of road built between 1911 and 1927. The sweeping turns and 16 switchbacks make the Parkway a roadcyclist’s dream (at least those who can handle the grunt-fest on the way up).

For hikers, the short stroll to the historic fire tower lookout at the summit via the 350-metre Firetower Trail is a must-do. The lookout was originally built in 1927 and was operational until 1988. It has since been designated a Federal Heritage Building and features a viewing platform for public use. For those looking for a longer hike, the full-day (return) trek to Eva Lake is an undisputed classic.

pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/revelstoke

Get up Into the High Alpine With a Guide

The splendour of the high alpine draws intrepid hikers upward, though the effort required to reach these zones is formidable. If you don’t know the area, don’t own the right gear and are inexperienced when it comes to navigating technical terrain, it can even be deadly. The best option? Hire a professional climbing guide. Revelstoke

Backcountry Guides can facilitate an unforgettable high-alpine experience (including day hikes and multi-day adventures to backcountry huts) to some of the most sublime terrain in western Canada. For example: attempting the summit of Mount Sir Donald, one of the classic climbs in Canada, isn’t for the faint of heart. However, with a guide, the eight-to-12-hour climb in exposed terrain along the famous Northwest Ridge becomes a doable deed. revelstokebackcountryguides.com

Stroll Historic Downtown Revelstoke

When the trails have been trod and rapids have been run, downtown Revelstoke is where you want to roll. A summer concert series runs every evening in the central Grizzly Plaza, providing a great opportunity to mingle with locals and groove to live music. For a rustic local coffeehouse, head for the Modern Bakeshop & Cafe on Mackenzie Avenue. If it’s ice cream you want, try the house-made gelato at La Baguette. And don’t leave town without picking up some local beer from Mt. Begbie Brewery.

If you want to learn more about Revelstoke’s past, work in a trip to the Revelstoke Railway Museum or do a self-guided tour of the architecture in the downtown area — one highlight is the neoclassical Revelstoke Courthouse. seerevelstoke.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Paddling on Lake Revelstoke; Pipe Mountain Coaster; Revelstoke Railway Museum.

Where to Stay

A luxurious, condominium-style ski-in-ski-out hotel with stunning views of the surrounding Monashee Mountains, the Sutton Place Hotel at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort is an ideal place to call home during your getaway. The hotel features underground heated parking, premium amenities and a beautiful outdoor-pool and hot-tub area. The resort village offers a range of dining options, including the West Coastcontemporary Rockford Wok, Bar and Grill, The Mackenzie Common Tavern, a second location of local café La Baguette and Revelation Lodge, a cafeteria-style restaurant at the mid-station of

the Revelation Gondola with a 2,400-square-foot outdoor patio. Both the Rockford and Revelation Lodge offer a buffet breakfast during the summer season.

If it’s camping that melts your butter (or s’mores), head for Williamson Lake Campground. Located just a few minutes’ drive south of Revelstoke, this clean and cozy 50-site campground features a private beach, huge playground, canoe and paddleboard rentals, concession stand, free Wi-Fi and super-clean showers. revelstokemountainresort.com; williamsonlakecampground.com

THREE GREAT SPOTS TO GO FOR A BEER IN REVELSTOKE

The Village Idiot

By its own admission, this pub is a hub for “toque-wearing, beer-drinking, pizza-eating skiers and snowboarders,” as well as anyone else who appreciates a bona fide mountain-town hangout.

306 Mackenzie Avenue, Revelstoke, 250-837-6240, thevillageidiot.ca

Craft Bierhaus

This place has the best beer selection in Revy (smoked porter, anyone?) with a delicious comfort-food menu to boot.

107 2 St. E., Revelstoke, 250-805-1754

The Mackenzie Common Tavern

“The Mac” is located just steps from the base of the Revelstoke Mountain Resort gondola, making it a great place to stumble into for all your après needs.

2950 Camozzi Rd., Revelstoke Mountain Village, 250-814-0087, revelstokemountainresort.com

RIGHT The Village Idiot pub.

BELOW Overhead view of the pool area at the Sutton Place Hotel at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

Sutton Hotel photograph by Royce Sihlis

Q&Astyle

BY Jennifer Friesen

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

MAKEUP BY Teslin Ward

Chinenye Otakpor

With her trademark heels and penchant for wearing head-turning, shoulderbaring pieces, Chinenye Otakpor embodies her own style philosophy: “Every woman is a queen and fashion is her playground.”

The Nigerian-born beauty launched her fashion blog, queensplayground.com, in early 2016 and it has been on the rise ever since. Splitting her time between her job as a disability support worker, finishing her university degree and shooting photos for her blog, Otakpor is constantly on the go. But wherever that is, her bold style goes with her.

Top from nakd.com; shorts from aqaq.com; shoulder bag from nakd.com; shoes from Spring.

How did you go from being a disability support worker to a fashion blogger?

That’s a funny story, actually. I started my blog for stress relief when I first began working with kids. It’s hard not to bring your work home with a job like that, so I started writing about my experiences. But every time I wrote a blog, I’d include a picture of myself to show who I was. Almost all the feedback I got was less about what I wrote and more about what I was wearing. My sister suggested I make it into a fashion blog instead, and here we are.

So it was kind of an accident?

Definitely! I’m still so flattered that people like it. Everyone has their own style, so I’m happy to share mine.

Have you always been into fashion?

I love it. I’m that friend who’s always dressed up — even just to get coffee. I’m always in heels, so that makes everything I wear look extra dressy. I don’t know how to dress without them and if I don’t wear heels, I don’t feel like myself. My feet feel depressed.

Heels in all seasons?

Oh yeah. I like to feel tall. Everyone in my family is taller than me, so I like to meet eyes with everyone. I drive everywhere, so I have to admit I have two pairs of Crocs in my car. My friends laugh at me all the time, asking, “How do you call yourself a fashion blogger in Crocs?”

It’s a safety measure!

That’s how I get away with it! But there have been times I’ve gotten out to get gas and forgot that I had them on, which is a no-no.

What is your “getting ready” process?

It's kind of a tedious process

sometimes, especially the hairand-makeup part. I always find that your hairstyle is just as important as your outfit.

Do hair days dictate what you wear?

I visualize what I want to look like when I pick out my outfits, so when my hair doesn’t do what I planned, it’s time to change.

Did growing up in Nigeria have any effect on your style today?

No, actually. I moved here when I was 12, so I didn’t think too much of fashion at that age. I was 14 when my interest in fashion started, because I’d steal my sister’s clothes and think: “This is what an adult woman looks like.”

If I was to go back to Nigeria now, I don’t know if I’d know how to dress because it’s constantly hot. As crazy as it sounds, I’d miss the cold.

What are your shopping habits?

I’m a big online shopper. When I started my blog, I was aiming for affordable fashion for college students. As a college student myself, I would see things on fashion blogs that I loved but knew I couldn’t afford, so I always attach some kind of discount to each item I buy and pass that on.

How did you choose “fashion,” “lifestyle” and “culture” as the three categories of Queen’s Playground?

I knew fashion had to be a main pillar, so I started to think about what else I love. The culture pillar started out as my day-to-day experiences at my job, but [the blog] became more about travel because I love it and I wanted to use it to explore different cultures. Lifestyle is more about places I love to go in the city and things I could recommend outside of the fashion world.

How does that relate to your life in Calgary?

For fashion, it’s definitely about catering to the weather in Calgary. I do like to break the rules of winter, though, because I cannot be bundled up all the time. I had never actually experienced winter until I moved here, so now I have an obsession with coats. As for lifestyle, I find that a lot of people think Calgary is boring, but that’s absolutely not true.

What about culture?

I’ve always loved how multicultural Calgary is. All of my friends here are from different areas of the world, and that’s what inspired me to want to travel to begin with, because whenever we talk, we share stories of our own cultures.

Do you have a different style for different parts of your life? My school style and my going-out style are basically the same, but what I wear to work is different. At work I’m more laid back and comfortable because it’s not about what I wear there, it’s about the individuals I work with and how I can make their day better.

“I’M THAT FRIEND WHO’S ALWAYS DRESSED UP — EVEN JUST TO GET COFFEE. IF I DON’T WEAR HEELS, I DON’T

FEEL LIKE MYSELF. MY FEET FEEL DEPRESSED.”

White crop top from lulus.com; maxi skirt from saboskirt.com; gold arm cuff from missguidedus.com; earrings from Zara.

How would you describe your style outside of work?

I dress for my mood. If I’m feeling a little sassy, you can tell. Overall, I’d say I’m classy with an edge. I love colour because I like to stand out, and I wear a lot of off-the-shoulder or open-back tops, with anything high-waisted. It makes me feel sexy, like I’m revealing enough without over-exposing myself — just giving a glimpse of skin. I like feeling sexy and I like that confidence.

Do you find that your draw to fashion comes back to that feeling of confidence it gives you?

I find my interest in fashion keeps growing and keeps making me bolder. There are a lot of things I wear now that I never would have considered before. As my passion for it grows, my confidence also grows.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Where were you born?

Benin City, Nigeria.

What did you think you’d be when you grew up?

A doctor.

What do you listen to in the car?

The radio is always set to 98.5 [FM Virgin Radio].

What book are you reading?

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

What was the last movie you saw in the theatre?

Get Out, and it was very uncomfortable [laughs].

Red or white wine?

Red wine is for the real adults — I like sweet white wine.

Favourite breakfast food?

French toast, turkey bacon and scrambled eggs.

Pet peeve?

When people use the word “moist” to describe food.

Midnight snack?

Special K Coconut and Almond cereal.

Favourite cocktail?

Caesars.

Favourite locally made edible treat?

Village Ice Cream is my kryptonite. Build your ideal nacho platter. Nacho chips, pulled pork, chicken, mixed cheese, pineapple (don’t judge me), sour cream and salsa.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Food and coats.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Wow, you are so extra,” when someone is being over-dramatic.

Favourite season?

Winter for the fashion.

Romper from Princess Polly; heels from Zara; belt from Suzy Shier; earrings from Zara.

THE LIST

Nigel Midwinter

Only a camera could come between Nigel Midwinter and the mountains. The Calgarybased landscape and commercial photographer was in grade eight when his father gave him his first Minolta film camera. He promptly broke it (or, as he says, “it just stopped working while in my possession”), but it sparked a passion in him that hasn’t cooled.

Here, Midwinter shares the 10 things in Calgary (and the Rockies) he can’t live without.

1The Camera Store It’s my number-one stop for camera gear. The staff are crazy-knowledgeable — they always have what I need and they always have the best prices.

2Scotsman’s Hill It’s a great place to see the city at any time of the year, especially as the sun sets behind the cityscape. During Stampede, it’s also a great place to see the fireworks.

6 Banded Peak Brewing Co.

I go over there with my growler every weekend to grab PlainsBreaker It’s my favourite really crisp and the best summer beer for a patio.

7 Hiking at Rawson Lake and Sarrail Ridge

3 Deep-fried Oreos at the Stampede Oreos are the greatest cookie, so this combines two of the greatest things: Oreos and deep-frying.

4 The Naked Leaf

They have a great selection of Japanese teas that I love — my favourite is gyokuro. They also work with local artists, so you can get your tea in a custom tin with a local print.

The hike to the lake is under an hour and you end up below a huge rock face. The ridge walk is a bit more gruelling, but the view you get of the Kananaskis lakes is unbeatable.

8 Carino Riserva I’m a big Japanophile and this is astounding food. The combinations work so well — it’s just a mind-blowing mouth experience. I can’t believe food can taste this good.

9 Folk Fest What can you say about a weekend of lying in the sun, listening to music, hanging out with friends and drinking in the beer gardens? It’s the best.

5 Moraine Lake at Sunrise

People travel across the world to see it in the middle of the day on a tour bus, so if you can go to an iconic spot and be there for the best light of the day, what more could you ask for?

10 Resolve Photo It’s incredibly rewarding to hold your printed photograph, as opposed to looking at it on your phone or computer screen. I’ve been printing with Resolve for a few years now and have always been impressed and happy with their work.

See more of Nigel Midwinter’s photography at midwinterphoto. com, and on Instagram at @midwinterphoto

AS TOLD TO Jennifer Friesen SELF PORTRAIT BY Nigel Midwinter

Moraine Lake photograph by Nigel Midwinter

Classic Contemporary

Aly Sumar’s Marda Loop infill is black and white and wood all over.

BY Kait Kucy PHOTOGRAPHY BY Lori Andrews

FORM AND FUNCTION

When bank executive Aly Sumar (along with his dog, Polo) was on the hunt for a new home, he enlisted his longtime trusted friend, interior designer Elena Del Bucchia, to assist in his search. Together, they scrutinized countless homes and new builds before Sumar finally settled on a dup-lex infill in Marda Loop that was on the cusp of the development phase.

Sumar had many ideas on how he wanted his home to look, but needed them refined by a designer. “I wanted the home to look effortless, but also like I put some thought into it,” he says. “It was a little bit challenging for Elena to work with me as I didn’t know exactly what I wanted yet, but I had opinions about everything. In the end, I put my trust in her, and based on her knowledge of my design sense, she was able to come up with an incredible plan for the entire home.”

That master plan involved scrapping the builder’s cookie-cutter blueprint for the space and designing a completely custom interior with strong attention to detail and custom millwork. Exquisite detailing is apparent throughout the home, from the custom cabinetry in the kitchen to the inventive storage solutions found in every room. The custom staircase, built by Spindle, Stairs & Railings with a black-slat feature wall, is a showcase example of the clever and dynamic contemporary design that Del Bucchia injected into the infill.

Inky-black and grey tones layered with warm, neutral woods and textiles create the effortless but thoughtful look the homeowner wanted.

DECOR

NEAT SEAT

As someone who loves to entertain and cook, Sumar wanted an open-concept kitchen, dining and living area that would allow his guests to meander effortlessly throughout the main floor. While each individual area stands alone beautifully, the entire floor is designed to flow and connect.

The monochromatic colour scheme is intentional — the inky-black lower cabinets and Muuto Bell pendant lamp ground the design, whereas the subtle colours found in the furniture, art and accessories project Sumar’s bold personality.

“The first thing people always say when they visit for the first time is how

calm and peaceful it is in here,” says Sumar. “I think that is the biggest compliment I could get as a homeowner. I wanted it to be open and clean, with nothing too over-the-top.”

The island countertop is made of a unique material called Dekton, a nearindestructible surface that is ideal for the epic home-cooked buffets Sumar serves up to friends and family. “No matter what, everyone always ends up in the kitchen when they come over, so Elena and I were really conscious of the space around the island during the design process,” says Sumar.

The oval Italian Carrera-marble dining table adds a luxe touch to the dining space, while Blindness, an original photo by Francis A. Willey, adds a layer of intrigue to the setting.

Custom cabinetry and millwork by Marvel Cabinetry are complemented perfectly by the 1C counter stool by Calgary-based Room B.

DESIGNER ELENA DEL BUCCHIA’S TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A PERSONALIZED LOOK

1. Finishes Keep the overall space monochromatic and introduce colour, pattern and texture in other applications. Go the extra mile by focusing on the client’s main interests. In Aly Sumar’s case it was the kitchen and his love of cooking. Del Bucchia made sure to source the best kitchen appliances that also worked with the overall look of the room.

2. Furniture Introduce unique materials and textures to add impact. The wooden puzzle coffee table from Sanctuary Loft in the living room is both visually interesting and reflects the homeowner’s taste.

3. Accessories and Art

The home’s accessories and artwork should always reflect the homeowner’s personality. Showcasing artwork that represents your personal style and taste will express a more natural approach to the home’s overall design.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Designer Elena Del Bucchia added extra seating and storage into the design of the custom-built slatwall and staircase.

The custom slat-wall and railing leads to the second level of the home, where Sumar can enjoy the natural light in a small sitting area.

Del Bucchia in the custom-built kitchen, which includes unexpected touches such as this Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba monkey lamp from Dade Loft.

The master bathroom features dramatic wallpaper by Cole & Son.

Custom millwork details, such as this built-in bookshelf adjacent to the fireplace in the living room, are found throughout the home.

DESIGN CUES

Del Bucchia used the time allotted for selecting finishes and furniture as an opportunity to really get to know Sumar better. “You learn about things like their lifestyle, personality, interests and what they do for fun, what their heritage is, whether they have pets or kids or both,” says the designer. “It is all important to the overall concept.” As she went to task on filling the home with sophisticated pieces of furniture and fixtures that would fit Sumar’s lifestyle and taste, Del Bucchia’s decision to include warm neutrals and textures into the otherwise predominantly black and white space surprised even her.

“The living-room rug was our inspiration starting point for the rest of the decor,” she says. “Most of the finishes are monochromatic, but once we saw the rug we decided to add more colour. You’ll find those great muted hues in the rug popping up throughout the rest of the home.”

Instead of the dark leather living-room furniture he’s usually drawn to, Sumar fell for a custom Montauk sofa that has an almost vintage-looking soft, neutral, plaid upholstery (his dog Polo happens to love it, too). They kept the master bedroom simple, with a warm walnut Modernica bed frame, matching nightstands and an understated patterned wallpaper on the ceiling.

“The home is very masculine; the finishes and architectural elements are on the contemporary side with modern touches. At the same time, some of the decor has classical elements,” says Del Bucchia. “Aly likes luxury, but only when it is presented in a subtle way.”

The minimal master bedroom is kept from feeling sparse with the addition of quirky touches such as the Restoration Hardware wall sconces and the patterned wallpaper on the ceiling.

THE SOURCE

DECOR PAGES 76 TO 80

Sectional living-room sofa from Montauk Sofa 617 10 Ave. S.W., 403-265-6777, montauksofa.com

Puzzle coffee table and marble-top dining table from Sanctuary Loft 405 11 Ave. S.E., sanctuaryloft.com

Living-room rug from HPR Gallery Bay 22, 3220 5 Ave. N.E., 403-262-5323, hprgallery.com

Custom drapery throughout by RL Design House 403-828-2809, rldesignhouse.com

Jonathan Adler globo boxes on coffee table and antique chair in diningroom from Dade Loft 104, 1212 13 St. S.E., 403-454-0143, dadeartanddesignlab.com

Knoll Platner end table and Blu Dot perimeter floor lamp in living room, Muuto bell pendant lamp over the dining table and Tom Dixon bone bowl on the dining table all from Kit Interior Objects 725 11 Ave. S.E., 403-508-2533, kitinteriorobjects.com

Living room chairs by Carl Hansen and grey Ettoriano dining chairs by Ligne Roset from Le Belle Arti 1435 9 Ave. S.E., 403-234-9700, lebellearti.com

Organic Icelandic sheepskin in living room and black-and-grey Normann Copenhagen geo thermos on dining table from Guildhall 1222 9 Ave. S.E., 403-454-4399, guildhallhome.com

“Blindness” original photographic artwork in the dining area by Francis A. Willey franciswilley.com

1C counter stools by Room B 7, 4380 76 Ave. S.E., 587-350-8212, roomb.ca

Custom cabinetry throughout by Marvel Cabinetry 271028 16 St. W, Dewinton, AB, 403-995-0228, marvelcabinetry.com

Staircase and slat wall Spindle, Stairs & Railings, 6423 30 St. S.E., 403-294-0555, greatstairs.com

Shelf bench in stairs Dream Space Interiors 601 28 St. N.E., 403-800-9378, dreamspaceinteriors.ca

Pasha armchair by Pedrali and Ludo cedar stool by Riva 1920 in hall and bathroom from Le Belle Arti Monkey lamp on the kitchen counter by Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba from Dade Loft

Salt and pepper shakers from Guildhall Dropp bowl Pomp & Circumstance 1204 12 Street S.W., 403-270-9376, pompandcircumstance.ca

Unfold lights by Muuto from Kit Interior Objects

Brizo faucet from Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre 4120 Blackfoot Tr. S.E., 403-245-8637, robinsonlightingandbath.com

Cole & Son wallpaper in the bathroom from DWA Interior Furnishings Inc. 501 36 Ave. S.E., 403-245-4014, dwainteriors.com

Gotland sheepskin from Kit Interior Objects

Mirolin Tub from Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre

Case Study V-leg bed and night stands by Modernica from Kit Interior Objects

“Rest” by Lauren Whitaker from Wu & McHugh 3, 9727 Horton Rd. S.W., 403-475-8814

Gun metal wall sconces from RH Modern, Southcentre, 403-271-2122, rhmodern.com

Maxwell Bedding from Crate and Barrel, Southcentre, 403-278-7020, crateandbarrel.com

Ceiling wallpaper from Stewart Drummond Studios 5836 Burbank Rd. S.E., 403-236-9414, stewartdrummondstudios.com

Builder Dream Master Developments 2025 51 Ave. S.W., 403-863-0808, dreammasterdevelopments.ca

The National Music Centre (NMC) is a national catalyst for discovery, innovation and renewal through music. NMC preserves and celebrate Canada’s music story and inspire a new generation of music lovers through programming that includes on-site and outreach education programs, performances, artist incubation, and exhibitions.

For more information, please visit nmc.ca.

WORK OF ART

CURATED BY Katherine Ylitalo

Emperor With No Clothes

Aclassic cowboy on horseback gazes directly at you while a young girl, perched on the top rung of a ladder, holds his hat above his head. Her simple gesture is the focal point of this painting. Her pose emphasizes the awkward grace of a prepubescent girl: long-limbed, barefoot, pigtailed. She is in shadow; a sliver of light delineates one leg; a blush falls on the folds of her dress and one shoulder. She is coming into the light, on the verge of womanhood. She doesn’t share the bright light source that illuminates the cowboy and his horse, yet their shadows combine on the ground.

Together, they stand in stark contrast to the sun-bleached landscape suggested by the curving lines of wood grain. Layers of transparent colours pull the big sky, clouds, distant mountain and parched foreground out from the smooth surface of the wood.

Artist Rosanna Marmont has an insider’s view of ranching life. Born in rural New Zealand, she lived on Waldron Ranch in southern Alberta at an early age.

Since graduating from Concordia University (BFA) in 2009, she has made sculptures and paintings that draw on the traditional genre of Western art, but with a twist. Marmont melds conventional romanticism with aspects of contemporary reality that have been left out of the story. She staged her real-life 14-year-old model, Sophia, in a dress-up scenario. In combination with the image of a quintessential cowboy, this painting speaks to the “undressing” of cowboy culture.

TITLE: Emperor With No Clothes, 2016 (previously titled Sophia)

ARTIST: Rosanna Marmont

MEDIUM: Oil on birch.

SIZE: 60 inches by 48 inches.

LOCATION: cSPACE King Edward, 1721 29 Ave. S.W. On display as part of “I Am Western,” June 30 to Oct. 1, 2017.

Marmont splits her time between studios in Calgary and Tucson, Ariz., and has exhibited widely, including at the Calgary Stampede from 2014 to 2016. She is committed to broadening the conversation around the mythologies of Western art, and serves as the

director of Off Limits Arts, a non-profit initiative to bring artists and the public together, often in non-traditional spaces, such as the newly opened cSPACE in the former King Edward School in Marda Loop where this work is on display.

Photograph supplied by Jared Tiller

HAPPY CANADA 150

FROM THE NATION’S LARGEST HOMEBUILDER

Mattamy is proud to be a part of the Canadian landscape since 1978, when Peter Gilgan built his first home in Oakville, Ontario. And now, with 90,0000 homes across North America, we’re happy to remain Canadian-owned.

We design homes that are part of a larger community, prioritizing the way you live from day to day – that’s the Mattamy way.

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