Avenue Jan/Feb 2024

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

CALGARY WELCOMES

CANADA FOR THE 2024 WINTER GAMES

HOME ICE

Calgary families show off their backyard hockey rinks

COFFEE

TALK

Superstar baristas, new cafés and beans that give back

WHERE TOSKATE INTHE ROCKIES

DISCOVER SOMETHING New! NG

Aspen Landing Shopping Centre features top retailers and services in unique, locally-owned storefronts sprawled across a distinctive landscape in southwest Calgary. Whether you need a quick check-up, a mouth-watering lunch, or need to complete an extensive to-do list, you can get it all done at Aspen Landing! FREE INDOOR PARKING.

Homes By Us

Crystal Creek Homes

Homes By Us

Crystal Creek Homes

Homes By Us

Aspen Woods Estates is a development community inspired by Calgary’s architectural heritage. The development features beautiful executive homes, breathtaking views, walking and biking paths, and west Calgary’s premier shopping destination Aspen Landing Shopping Centre.

6 Editor’s Note

90 You Are Here

DEPARTMENTS

11 Detours

The story behind a new website that helps sellers of unique homes tell their stories. Plus, where to play summer sports indoors during the winter, what to do on a road trip to Red Deer, a deconstruction of the tasty “ugly” cornbread at Fortuna’s Row, and fun things happening in January and February.

48 Dining

A look at what’s brewing in Calgary’s coffee scene, including new cafés, old cafés, equal-opportunity cafés and mobile cafés.

FEATURES

on the cover

Outerwear designer Stephanie Eagletail, a Dene/Cree woman from Tsuut'ina Nation, in one of her custom coats, photographed at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers.

56 Calgary Style

Designer Stephanie Eagletail models one of her runway-ready coats.

58 Shop Talk

Ted Jones of Tea Trader spills the “tea” on sipping, selling and tasting tea.

60 Decor

A peek at a home gym with designerinspired features and a wall mural.

62 Mountains

Top spots in the regional Rockies for wild-ice skating.

18 Special Olympics Spotlight

As Calgary gets set to host the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games at the end of February, we take a look at the legacy and logistics of this impressive event and introduce some of the local athletes competing on home turf. by Deaniell

Cordero

28 Home Ice Advantage

All over the city, driven by a love of hockey, people are building backyard skating rinks. Five families let us peek over the fence to see theirs up close. by Dominique Lamberton

67 Avenue Weddings

Our annual celebration of celebrations, with stories of couples who tied the knot here in 2023, a look at how current economic factors are influencing how people plan their weddings now, and the winners and runners-up from our fourth-annual online ballot in which readers voted for the best wedding businesses and service providers in and around Calgary.

by Tsering Asha, Deaniell Cordero and Michaela Ream

SKATING PHOTO BY PAUL ZIZKA; ATHLETE PHOTO BY JARED SYCH; WEDDING

PHOTO BY NICOLE SARAH

Photo by Jared Sych

67

OLYMPIC CITY REVISITED

SHELLEY ARNUSCH EDITOR IN CHIEF sarnusch@redpointmedia.ca

It has been more than 35 years since Calgary hosted the Winter Olympic Games, long enough that Olympic Plaza, the downtown urban park built to host the medal presentation ceremonies in 1988, is said to be reaching the end of its life cycle. In June 2023, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announced the Olympic Plaza Transformation project, intending to “reimagine” it as an “innovative, flexible, arts-focused gathering space in the core.” The timing aligns the plaza project with the CMLC-managed transformation of adjacent Arts Commons, announced in 2021 and set to break ground this year.

But, before any reimagining can happen, the ol’ plaza has at least one last Olympic hurrah left in it: on Tuesday, Feb. 27, it will mark the start of the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run to Stampede Park, site of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. The Games then continue over the next four days, with athletes from across the country competing in eight sports.

The 1988 Winter Olympics arguably brought out the best in our city, inspiring a vibrant hub of warm hospitality, good sportsmanship and community spirit. These are all things that Calgarians can revisit as hosts for the 2024 Games.

In our Special Olympics spotlight story we break down some of the unique and interesting elements of the upcoming Games — the sensory-friendly area during the closing ceremony to ensure neurodiverse participants feel at ease, for example — as well as introduce some of the local athletes competing on home turf. As any elite-level athlete will tell you, it’s a special and rare privilege to feel the support of a hometown crowd after all the training and preparation that got you to that moment.

To all the athletes, Calgarian and beyond, we’re rooting for you.

SPORTS IN THE CITY

We must have been feeling extra sporty while putting together this issue: in addition to our feature story on the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, we’ve also got a roundup of the best spots for wild-ice skating in the regional Rockies as well as a photo essay on backyard hockey rinks — a source of immense pride for many Calgarians in neighbourhoods across the city.

And, if you’re not the winter-sporting type, we even have a list of places in the city where you can play your favourite summer sports (like golf, baseball and beach volleyball) indoors through the cold-weather months. Game on!

L ETTER TO THE EDITOR

Due to editing errors, the May/June 2023 story “A Flood of Change,” about the flood of 2013 and the measures that have been taken since to increase flood resiliency, contained incorrect information about the budget of the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir. This was brought to our attention by representatives of the Springbank Community Planning Association (SCPA). We deeply regret this error and have corrected the budget figures in the version of the story on avenuecalgary.com. The following letter further outlines the SCPA’s concerns:

Re: “A Flood of Change,” May/June 2023 issue Springbank residents and community groups were extremely disappointed to see errors regarding the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir in your article. We would like to provide corrections and clarifications. The project is well under construction, and the community is trying to make the best of integrating it into our community.

The provincial project budget was grossly understated as “$432 million”, whereas (at time of publication) the Alberta government website stated the budget as $744 million for construction, in addition to the federal government contribution of $168.5 million. Therefore, the current total of public money invested for project construction is now estimated at $912.5 million versus the original budget estimate of about $250 million. Springbank residents strongly voiced concerns about the accuracy of the original budget because the project cost was a key reason the Alberta Government used to justify the Springbank option and to drop further consideration of other options.

The story in Avenue also did not make clear that the Springbank reservoir is being built as a dry dam that will hold flood water temporarily and will not help conserve water during periods of drought. The dry dam decision has always been controversial since drought conditions have been more common than flooding in this area of Alberta, especially with climate change. Water storage would have been an important and practical integration of regional water management, as argued during public debate of dam options. An alternative option at McLean Creek included water storage opportunities, but was quickly dropped from further consideration despite similar project costs.

Springbank community groups and stakeholders were invited to work with the Alberta Government to identify opportunities to blend the project into the community and to provide local benefits. The Joint Land Use Advisory Committee made several recommendations to leverage the project for public benefit, including public access to proposed new regional pathways during non-flood periods, as well as retaining excess land along the Elbow River for environmental benefit and public access.

Sincerely,

Springbank Community Planning Association (SCPA) on behalf of Springbank residents

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THE AVENUE EDITORIAL BOARD

Joy Alford, Mariangela Avila, Rachelle Babcock, Chris Ballem, Erin Best, Shalini Bhatty, Desiree Bombenon, Richard Boyer, Bridget Brown, Doug Bruce, Ellie Bruce, Danielle Caffaro, Elizabeth Carson, Melinda Channon, Carla Chernetz, Alan Chong, Tom Cox, Connor Curran, Kristiana, Dayrit, April DeJong, Speranza Dolgetta, Anne Donaldson, Michel Dufresne, Nicole Dyer, Jan Eden, Mohammed Eljabri, Raissa Espiritu, Elizabeth Evans, Anneke Forbes, Janice Lynn Froese, Karen GallagherBurt, Lindsey Galloway, Derege Gebretsadik, Sarah Geddes, Jameela Ghann, Briggitte Gingras, Gabriela Gonzalez, Ashley Good, G. Grewal, Gaurav Gupta, Amanda Hamilton, Katherine Harmsworth, Rameez Husseini, Alison Jeffrey, Pritha Kalar, JP Kansky, Heather Knowles, January Kohli, Brad Krusky, Wil Lakatos, Shannon Lanigan, Heather Lawton, Andrew Layzell, Anila Lee Yuen, Chris Lemke, Jamie Leong-Huxley, Trina Lo, Sharon Martens, Emma May, Stacy McFarlane, Diana McIntyre, Robert McIntyre, Karen Metrakos, Joann Meunier, Elizabeth Middleton, Catherine Moar, Cory Moench, Aeji Moon, Judi Parrott, Tiffany Petite, Steven Phillips, Kelly Pitaoulis, Gord Plouffe, Victoria Plouffe, Carmyn Prefontaine, Paul Salvatore, Rob Schultz, Montana Shaw-Antonio, Tom Spatola, Kelli Stevens, Janet St. Germain, Theresa Tayler, Jessica Theroux, Ryan Townend, Dianne Upton, Gail Urquhart, Arleigh Vasconcellos, Wendy Winder, Bradley Zumwalt

Best Restaurants 2024

The hotly anticipated list of the top spots to dine out in Calgary right now, plus best new restaurants, accessible restaurants and more!

The Game Changers

The density doldrums

The Avenue editorial board is exclusive to members of the

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PHOTO BY HAYDEN PATTULLO

Detours

A NOTEBOOK OF THE CITY ]

STORIES OF HOMES

CURATED REAL ESTATE MARKETING SERVICE ARCH HOUSE DIGS DEEPER TO PORTRAY ARCHITECTURALLY STUNNING HOMES IN A UNIQUE LIGHT.

When a house is listed for sale, the next step is usually to schedule an open house or a viewing. Showing off a home and all it has to offer is key to entice potential buyers and promote specific features such as a gourmet kitchen, expansive primary bedroom or large backyard.

In 2020, the founders of Studio North, a Calgary-based home design and construction business, had a new vision for marketing homes, particularly those with striking architecture and design features. Their vision came to life in Arch House, a real estate marketing service that digs deeper into what makes a home special and

unique. “We created Arch House as a way of representing well-designed homes in a better way — telling their stories, unravelling their design vision and presenting them in a better light in the marketplace,” says Studio North’s Mark Erickson.

Most Arch House clients are looking to sell to someone who will honour their home’s story and how it came to be. The houses brought to Arch House all feature unique design and were built by notable architects or home designers.

The Arch House team treats each home as a case study, Erickson says. Visualization designer and photographer Hayden Pattullo specializes in architectural photography, and his images capture the spaces from an architectural point of view, documenting the home’s unique character.

Videographer and storyteller Brendan Kane then walks through the home room-by-room with the homeowner and the architect or designer to learn about the house, its story and the vision behind it. The process creates video and photos that speak to more than just the square footage and number of rooms.

When it’s time to list, Arch House works with local realtor Jake McIntyre, who handles the specifics of selling the home.

“We’ve developed an eye for the things that make spaces unique and special,” says Erickson, “and it gives us an opportunity to walk into and present beautiful architectural homes.”

Michaela Ream

Sports and Leisure

WHERE TO PLAY SUMMER SPORTS INDOORS IN THE WINTER

INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR WARMER MONTHS TO ENJOY YOUR FAVOURITE OUTDOOR SPORT, VISIT THESE INDOOR

FACILITIES TO SURF, SWING AND VOLLEY ALL WINTER LONG.

It’s ski and snowboard season, but if that has you aching for the outdoor sports you actually love instead of joyfully pulling on your snow pants, know that you don’t have to wait until summer rolls around to enjoy them. Here’s how to play your favourite summer sports during Calgary’s snowiest months. Karin Olafson

Golf

Calgarians are spoiled for choice when it comes to indoor golf lounges, with options like Go Go Golf, which has six simulators, and K Golf, where players can pair putting practice with Korean street food. There’s also LaunchPad Golf, which has indoor/ outdoor suites with overhead heaters to make playing in the winter more comfortable.

Go Go Golf, 10135 Southport Rd. S.W., 587-349-4943, gogogolf.ca; K Golf, 11850 Sarcee Tr. N.W., 403730-2417, kgolf.ca; LaunchPad Golf, 34133 East Harmony Cir., Rocky View, and 31 Heritage Pointe Dr., Heritage Pointe, launchpadgolf.com

Tennis

In 2022, the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre levelled up its five outdoor courts by installing a 40-foot-tall bubble dome over them. The dome keeps the courts at a comfortable temperature, even if it’s cold and snowy outside, allowing tennis lovers to practise their swing all winter long.

295 90 Ave. S.E., 587-393-1600, albertatenniscentre.ca

Baseball

Work on your swing all winter to impress your beer league teammates this summer. Train like a pro at Absolute Baseball Academy & Fitness Centre, a stateof-the-art facility with batting cages and pitching machines, training opportunities, pitching lanes, and even professional instruction to help you become an all-round better ballplayer.

2221 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-2844006, absolutebaseballacademy.com

Surfing

Surf all winter right here in the city at the Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton. The world’s biggest YMCA is home to Calgary’s only FlowRider, a surfing and bodyboard simulator within the aquatic centre. The machine creates stationary waves, allowing users to surf continuously in the same spot and work up surfspecific strength.

4995 Market St. S.E., 403-351-5262, ymcacalgary.org

Beach Volleyball

You can’t hear the ocean at The Beach YYC, but you can feel the sand between your toes while working on your beach volleyball skills and improving your fitness at the same time. Join an adult beach volleyball clinic on Friday nights, stop by to play during drop-in hours, or sign up for one of the facility’s leagues, like its Lunch League.

3030, 2600 Portland St. S.E., 403-475-4031, thebeachyyc.ca

VOLLEYBALL PHOTO BY CAL ACTION PHOTOS; GOLF PHOTO COURTESY OF GO GO GOLF; TENNIS PHOTO BY JARED SYCH

getaways

WHAT TO DO ON A DAY TRIP TO RED DEER

1) H IT THE SLOPES at Canyon Ski Resort

The largest non-mountainous family ski area in Alberta is located about 12 minutes east of Red Deer. With 80 acres of skiable terrain, 23 runs, six lifts, a terrain park, a snow tube park, two lodges and a cafeteria, Canyon Ski Resort welcomes more than 50,000 guests every year. And, thanks to the resort’s snow-making system that covers 95 per cent of the park, you can expect coverage, even if the weather is unseasonably warm.

38433 Range Road 264A, Red Deer County, 403-346-5588, canyonski.ca

2) H AVE A COZY C OFFEE

at the Little Red Barn

Take a break at the Little Red Barn for a bit of shopping, snacking and locally roasted coffee from Satinwood Coffee. The menu here ranges from shareable meals to salads, pizzas, flatbreads, soups and sandwiches (try the gluten-free and vegan carrot-zucchini-coconut curry). On Sundays, treat yourself to brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 4, 38349 Range Road 270, Red Deer County, 403-392-8924, littleredbarncafegift.com

3) E XPERIENCE V INO THERAPY at Solorzano Spa

At this spa in downtown Red Deer, indulge in “vino therapy” with treatments like manicures, pedicures,

PACK YOUR SKIS AND HEAD UP THE QE2 FOR WINTER SPORTS, CARIBBEAN BARBECUE, WINE-INFUSED SPA TREATMENTS AND MORE.

massages, body wraps, facials and foot baths that incorporate a variety of wines. Hands and feet soak in tubs of merlot before being treated with crushed cabernet scrubs and massaged with grape-seed extract oil. Body treatments use merlot mud wraps and polishes, and some treatments even include refreshments and nibbles.

4631 50 St., Red Deer, 403-596-9492, solorzanospa.ca

4) D IG INTO C ARIBBEAN FOOD

at Chubby Jerk & BBQ Kitchen

This eatery has been serving fresh and authentic Caribbean barbecue for five years. Head over and fill up on dishes like jerk chicken, goat curry, Jamaican beef patties and more to warm up on a cold day.

5005 50 Ave., Red Deer, 825-221-9798, facebook.com/chubbyjerk

5) CATCH A RED DEER REBELS GAME at Peavey Mart Centrium

For another dose of winter sport (albeit as a spectator), cheer on the Red Deer Rebels hockey team at a home game. The Western Hockey League team plays on various days throughout the week. Don’t miss the chance to see the Rebels take on the Calgary Hitmen there on Feb. 13.

Tsering Asha

4847C 19 St., Red Deer, 403-341-6000, chl.ca/whl-rebels

dish it

FORTUNA’S ROW’S UGLY CORNBREAD

DECONSTRUCTED

THE BATTER

Unlike conventional cornbread, there’s no flour or cornmeal in Huff’s glutenfree creation. She blends corn kernels (fresh local corn, Mexican corn or frozen corn, depending on seasonality) with cornstarch, sugar, cream, butter and eggs. The creamy batter results in a bread that is crispy on the top with a custardy interior. The type of corn used changes the texture, meaning guests may experience different versions of the bread throughout the year.

THE HUSK

Huff bakes the individual cornbreads in a large muffin pan for about an hour to cook down the liquidy batter. Rather than sourcing custom-sized muffin liners, she utilizes the kitchen’s leftover cornhusks, which add visual and aromatic flair. “The toasted corn husk imparts a bit of flavour and plays with your olfactory senses,” Huff says.

Is there an interesting, innovative or iconic Calgary dish or drink you think we should deconstruct?

Send us a DM on Instagram: @avenuemagazine

THE CREAM

Every sweet brunch dish needs a hit of decadent creaminess. The Ugly Cornbread comes with a dreamy dollop of 52-per cent-milk-fat unsweetened whipped crème fraîche, topped with a sprinkle of salt. “It’s very heavy, very creamy and very milky to cut the sweetness of the cornbread a little bit,” Huff says.

Ugly Cornbread, a cornerstone of the Fortuna’s Row brunch menu, was inspired by a bite executive chef Mikko Tamarra ate during his travels in Mexico. Pastry chef Teisha Huff got her hands on the recipe, but, once she tried making it, regional ingredient differences left her with an irresistibly tasty, yet crumbled and ugly mess. Despite making a few tweaks for more visual appeal, the “ugly” moniker stuck. —Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

THE BERRY COMPOTE

Inspired by the classic combination of cornmeal cake and blueberries, Huff pairs her Ugly Cornbread with a generous spoonful of compote. Blueberries dominate, but she also throws in some haskaps. “The haskaps give that nice rich purpley-blue colour,” she says. “It contrasts with the bright white cream and toasty yellow cornbread.”

JANUARY FEBRUARY

I NDOORS

Warm Up at Cedar & Steam

Decompress with a two-hour drop-in session or appointment at this cozy spa, which has a cedar sauna, infrared sauna, Himalayan salt sauna, steam room and rinse station; along with kombucha on tap.

Go Skating at Bowness Park

Along with the skating lagoon and 1.6-kilometre ice trail, there are ice bikes, a crokicurl rink and firepits. The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre does on-site skate rentals (bringing a helmet is recommended).

The Fun-Things-To-Do List O UTDOORS P

Make Valentine’s Day Reservations

Restaurants book up quickly for V-Day, so reserve your spot now at an intimate, cozy fondue spot like Frenchie Wine Bar or Moonlight & Eli. Nothing says romance like wine and melted cheese!

N

Catch Zoolights at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

If you didn’t manage to see Zoolights over the holiday break, it’s not too late! You have until Jan. 7 to see the entire zoo lit up with colourful light displays before this popular attraction closes for the season.

Attend a ProArts Society Concert

The ProArts Society, which has been around for more than 20 years, presents free lunch-hour concerts (vocal, instrumental, contemporary, folk or classical music) on Wednesdays at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer.

See a Play About Love at Lunchbox Theatre

Kisapmata, a Tagalog word meaning “blink of an eye” that’s also the name of a song by Filipino band Rivermaya, inspired this play about a love story between two Filipino women. The show runs Jan. 30 to Feb. 18.

Take in the Festivities at Chinook Blast

From Feb. 2 to 19, you can brighten up your winter nights at this annual festival that fills Calgary’s downtown core with live music and dance performances, light installations, markets and culture.

Get Your Tickets for the Calgary Expo

Calling all fans of sci-fi, superheroes, cosplay, comics, anime, gaming and cult TV shows: Get your tickets now for Calgary Expo 2024, which runs April 25 to 28 (then start planning your outfit for the parade).

See the National Ballet of Ukraine

One of the world’s most renowned ballet companies concludes its Canadian tour on Feb. 11 with a performance at the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons.

SUBSCRIBE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A VALENTINE’S/FAMILY DAY ESCAPE FOR TWO!

Enter to win the ultimate elevated mountain experience at Purcell Mountain Lodge — a prize package worth $5400! — a three-night stay, fresh powder, gourmet meals and luxe accommodations, including a helicopter ride up to the mountain-top lodge.

Explore Contemporary Calgary

First Thursdays at Contemporary Calgary means free admission on Feb. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m., to see current show Three Dimensions, a trio of multimedia installations. –Deaniell Cordero

To enter, scan the QR code and subscribe to avenue Good luck!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LOCAL ATHLETES JACQUELINE COUTTS, ANDREAS WALTHER, PAUL OLDRIDGE AND JENNIFER RIDDELL ARE SET TO COMPETE AT THE UPCOMING SPECIAL OLYMPICS CANADA WINTER GAMES IN CALGARY.

BY DEANIELL CORDERO PORTRAITS BY JARED SYCH

8ThingsTo KnowAbout theSpecial OlympicsCanada WinterGames

C

algary has a proud legacy as an Olympic host city and will be building on that legacy when it welcomes the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games at the end of February. Over five days, teams of athletes from across the country will compete in eight different events in the spirit of true sportsmanship that is the cornerstone of the Games. To celebrate our return to being a winter Olympic city, here’s a primer on how the Special Olympics were founded and what to expect at the 2024 Canada Winter Games in Calgary, plus some of the local athletes who will be representing on home turf.

JACQUELINE COUTTS

SPORT

Figure Skating AGE 28

What she loves about her sport:

“I am always learning new techniques and skills, and meeting new people.”

Competition venue: 7 Chiefs Sportsplex

1THE GAMES WERE INSPIRED BY RESEARCH DONE IN CANADA

The Special Olympics were founded in the United States, though there was a strong Canadian contribution from the start. In the 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, an American philanthropist and sister to former president John F. Kennedy, started a summer day camp for youth living with intellectual disabilities to realize their athletic potential. Around the same time, Frank Hayden, a sports scientist with the University of Toronto, was working with students from Beverley School, a public elementary school for youth with developmental disabilities, to study the effects of regular exercise for children with an intellectual disability. Hayden’s discoveries concluded that, with the right opportunity, those with intellectual disabilities can thrive in sports.

Informed by Hayden’s research, and with a proposal for a national sporting competition, Shriver kicked off the inaugural Special Olympics World Summer Games in 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago. In 1977, the first World Winter Games were held in Steamboat Springs, Colo. In 1997, Toronto was the first Canadian city to host the Special Olympics World Winter Games. More than 2,000 athletes competed in the five main sports at the time: alpine skiing, crosscountry skiing, floor hockey, short track speed skating and snowshoeing.

Special Olympics Alberta hosted the first National Summer Games in Calgary in 1986, and the first National Winter Games a decade later in 1996.

2THE 2024 GAMES WERE PLANNED IN LESS TIME THAN USUAL

The COVID-19 pandemic created unique challenges for the organizers of the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. The last Winter Games were held in Thunder Bay in February, 2020, right before the world locked down, and the organizers of Calgary’s Games needed to accommodate a post-pandemic environment in a significantly shorter window.

Karen Dommett, general manager of Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024, had just 14 months between winning the bid and the kick off date, when typically host organizations (along with the provincial sporting chapters and the athletes themselves) have at least three years to prepare. But displaying can-do spirit, the Calgary Games went ahead.

“We’re so fortunate in Calgary with the support from the corporate community, from our sponsors, to all of our venues and hotels, that we’ve been able to react and respond quickly,” Dommett says. This positive response has inspired the Special Olympics community to do what they can to host the best National Games yet, even in a reduced time period.

PAUL OLDRIDGE

SPORT

Curling

AGE 42

What he loves about his sport:

“Being with friends and teammates.”

Competition venue:

North Hill

Curling Club

JENNIFER RIDDELL SPORT

Snowshoeing

AGE 43

What she loves about her sport:

“It is outside; it is good exercise for you and also fun.”

Competition venue: Maple Ridge Golf Course

3

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL BE MORE THAN $10 MILLION

The Winter Games will bring athletes, support staff and fans from across the country to Calgary. More than 4,000 visitors are anticipated. As such, the Games are expected to give the city a huge boost, says Carson Ackroyd, senior vice-president of sales at Tourism Calgary. The expected economic impact of the Games is $10.7 million, accounting for the competitive events, plus transportation, hotels, food and beverages, and retail spending. The benefits are expected to extend beyond economics, as well.

“With an event like this, you’re not only going to engage and raise awareness of the Special Olympics in Calgary, [but] we intend and expect that there will be a spike in volunteers for Special Olympics Calgary that will support their sustainability in the long run,” Ackroyd says. “You end up seeing very strong social impacts from these events, in addition to the economic impact.”

4

THE NEXT STEP IS THE 2025 WORLD GAMES IN TURIN, ITALY

The Winter Games will showcase eight sports: five-pin bowling, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speedskating. For athletes to compete in the Canada Games, they must qualify in Provincial/Territorial Games held by the 12 Provincial/Territorial Special Olympics chapters. The athletes who have qualified for the Calgary Games will compete not just for medals, but for the opportunity to represent Team Canada at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

Both the Winter and Summer Games use the same qualification system — a four-year competition cycle that starts with district qualifiers for Provincial Games in Year 1; Provincial Games in Year 2 and National Games in Year 3, culminating in the World Games in Year 4.

Retired Canadian speedskater and double Olympic gold-medallist Catriona Le May Doan is the current president and CEO of Sport Calgary and a former board member of Special Olympics Canada. “Half of my Facebook friends are Special Olympics athletes,” Le May Doan says. “They have this way of humbling me and humbling themselves. The spirit for sports they have is hard to match.”

MICHAEL NAUSS

SPORT

5-pin Bowling AGE 35

How he got into his sport:

“I was in a junior league when I was 14 and have been bowling ever since.”

Competition venue: The Bowling Depot

ANDREAS WALTHER SPORT

Alpine Skiing AGE 53

How he got into his sport:

“I started early in my youth skiing with my family, and I like racing.”

Competition venue: WinSport

AWARDS ARE GIVEN OUT TO COACHES AND SUPPORT TEAMS

Special Olympics recognizes the achievements of all participants, including coaches and support teams. Each year, two athletes, two coaches and one team are honoured not just for their competitive achievements, but for their true embodiment of the Special Olympics’ spirit of inclusion and accommodation.

The Frank Selke Jr. Fundraising Volunteer of the Year Award honours the efforts and contributions of a volunteer directly involved with making the Games a lifetime success. The Rob Plunkett Law Enforcement Torch Run Award, named after the late Detective Constable Robert Plunkett of the York Regional Police, honours a law-enforcement official who has given their time and efforts to the Special Olympics cause. The recipient of the Dr. Frank Hayden Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award exemplifies the same determination, goals and care for the Special Olympics as Hayden showed through his contributions to making them a success.

6

THE GAMES REQUIRE MORE THAN 1,200 VOLUNTEERS

Putting on a national-level competition like the Special Olympics requires a significant volunteer contribution. The minimum number of volunteers needed to make the Calgary Games a success is 1,200, but Dommett’s goal for the number of registered volunteers is about 1,500. This accounts for medical volunteers, food services, transportation, signage, installations, deliveries and scoring teams, among other types of volunteers. “Every [volunteer] role and contribution to these Games goes to creating an experience of a lifetime for these athletes,” Dommett says.

Volunteering is not the only way to get involved; the Games also accepts financial donations (Special Olympics Canada can issue a tax receipt, if applicable). There is also official Special Olympics Calgary 2024 Winter Games merchandise available for purchase (shop online at calgary2024.specialolympics.ca), items such as joggers, jackets, water bottles and a stainless steel tumbler ideal for keeping beverages hot at an outdoor event such as snowshoeing.

SARAH MCCARTHY

SPORT

Cross-country Skiing

AGE 40

What she loves about her sport: “I like training, getting outdoors and getting lots of exercise.”

Competition venue: Confederation Park Golf Course

A perfect venue for lovebirds.

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Tip 2: Celebrate your love with a party. The zoo has four stunning wedding venues to best reflect your personality and create the gathering of your choosing. Whether you’re looking for the intimacy of being under the twinkling lights of Grazers restaurant or having a big bash on the Asia Lawn and Tent, we’ll tailor each setting to make your dreams come true.

You’re planning for a special day, and that can be overwhelming. At the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, we have decades of experience in planning weddings at the most unique location in Calgary.

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Say “I Do” at the Zoo CalgaryZoo.com/weddings

7 8

THE 2024 GAMES KICK OFF WITH A TORCH RUN

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a longstanding tradition where law-enforcement professionals participate with the athletes in carrying the torch to the opening ceremonies venue to begin the Games. On Feb. 27, Runners from across the provinces and territories will meet at Olympic Plaza for the final leg and run the torch from there to the opening ceremony at Stampede Park.

Competition venues include The Bowling Depot for five-pin bowling (closed, inviteonly event); WinSport for alpine skiing; Confederation Park Golf Course for crosscountry skiing; North Hill Curling Club for curling; the Tsuut’ina 7 Chiefs Sportsplex facility for figure skating and floor hockey; Maple Ridge Golf Course for snowshoeing; and the Olympic Oval at University of Calgary for speedskating.

THERE WILL BE A SENSORY-FRIENDLY AREA AT THE CLOSING CEREMONIES

In the spirit of inclusion and respect, the Special Olympics team and Tourism Calgary have considered various ways to accommodate the neurodiverse athletes, coaches and other visitors. The Calgary Airport Authority has come on board to ensure participants and support staff will be welcomed in a calm, quiet manner. The closing ceremonies, traditionally a time when the athletes unwind and celebrate together, will include a sensoryfriendly area with accommodating festivities for neurodiverse participants.

Both Special Olympics organizers and Tourism Calgary are committed to making the Games safe and inclusive. “We work with all the teams to see what accommodations we can make for any of the athletes to be sure they have the best experience possible,” Ackroyd says.

PHOTO BY JARED SYCH

Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 runs Feb. 27 to March 2, calgary2024.specialolympics.ca.

PAUL OLDRIDGE AND LAUREN MACMILLAN AT NORTH HILL CURLING CLUB, OFFICIAL VENUE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS CANADA WINTER GAMES CALGARY 2024 CURLING EVENTS.

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE

The process typically begins in the fall when the days get shorter and the air turns crisp. First, the boards go up, then the liner is laid down and, when the temperatures drop below zero, the flooding starts. In backyards across the city, dedicated

hockey parents and DIY enthusiasts work tirelessly to erect their very own ice rinks, a labour of love that requires regular maintenance (from sweeping and shovelling, to re-flooding and repairing liner tears) all winter long. For the backyard rink-builders profiled here, it’s a passion for the game, and

a passion for passing on that love for the game to their kids, that fuels the desire to get out there, even on the coldest of Calgary nights. “A big source of joy for me, and probably lots of hockey parents, is seeing my kid out enjoying it,” says rink-maker Geordie Macleod. “That’s what it’s all about.”

STEVE COLLINS

PHOTO

THE MINI RINK

For years, Geordie Macleod, who works for the Calgary Flames, wanted to build a backyard rink, but was deterred by what he thought was too small a space. However, last winter, when his son Owen, now 8, was in his second year of the Timbits hockey program, Macleod bought a kit on Kijiji and gave it a go. “It takes up every bit of grass we’ve got — everything that’s not rink is garden beds,” he says of the 16 ft.-by-16 ft. sheet of ice. While tiny, it’s enough space for Owen to work on stickhandling and shooting, and it has been a game-changer (literally) for the family: “We love our yard in the summer months, but, in the winter, it became abandoned,” says Macleod. “The rink has turned it into a usable space that helps us enjoy the season a lot more.”

GEORDIE AND KRISTAL MACLEOD WITH DAUGHTER, ISLA, AND SON, OWEN.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS LANDRY

THE RIVERSIDE RINK

With six years of backyard-rink creation at two different homes, Erin Donnelly-Ferguson and her husband, Iain Ferguson, have learned a lot. For example, last year, the couple discovered that hiring a water truck to flood the rink, rather than taking 12 hours to do it on their own, proved to be time- and cost-effective. While Donnelly-Ferguson admits it’s a lot of work to set up and maintain the rink at their Elbow Park home, it’s worth it: eldest sons, Gunner, 10, and Magnus, 7, use it every day, heading out before school and playing into the night with friends. “Even when it’s minus-20 or minus-30, they’re out there,” DonnellyFerguson says. “Our youngest is only three, so I foresee this rink being around a long time.”

ERIN DONNELLY-FERGUSON WITH SONS, GUNNER, MAGNUS AND THOMAS.

LIGHTING AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE FERGUSON FAMILY RINK MEANS LOTS OF NIGHTTIME GAMES.

THE FAMILY HANGOUT RINK

As the parents of three hockey-playing kids, including 10-year-old twins, Martin and Nicole Zacharias have a hectic schedule filled with practices and games, as well as socializing with the kids’ teams. Their 27 ft.-by-48 ft. rink, strung with lights behind their Brentwood home, gets lots of use with drills and shinny games, but it’s also the ideal setting for friends and family get-togethers during the winter season. “It’s a huge part of our winter,” says Nicole. “As soon as the rink is ready, we post it on Instagram and people say, ‘Let’s plan a skate date at your house!’ Any night that’s free, we usually have a group come over to skate, and we’ll have a fire, play music and drink hot chocolate.”

NICOLE AND MARTIN ZACHARIAS, WITH DAUGHTER, JORDYN, AND SONS, LUKE AND NICO.

THE SIDE-BY-SIDE RINKS

Jason Williams is a DIY guy, and, after being on a computer all day, looks forward to heading to his backyard to work with his hands on his family’s rink. “It’s become a fun project for me every fall,” says Williams, who first put up a rink in their Lakeview backyard five years ago, after a friend passed down the materials so his kids, Chloe, 15, and Brady, 11, could know the joys of at-home ice. Adding to the fun is the fact that their neighbours, Ryan and Heather Manitowich have a rink, too, resulting in frequent chats on technique and troubleshooting for the two hockey dads. “Both of us enjoy building them,” Williams says, “and sharing stories about what we’d do differently next year to make them better.”

JASON WILLIAMS WITH SON, BRADY.

Ryan Manitowich was inspired to build his backyard rink a couple of years after the birth of his first son. More than a decade later, the 30 ft.-by-60 ft. ice is the site of yearly faceoffs for what is now a family of five (first son, Matthew, was joined by a daughter, Emily, and another son, Andrew), with friendly rivalries coming out as each family member reps their favourite NHL team — they’ve currently got Flames, Oilers and Habs fans under one roof. While Ryan is admittedly laidback about rink maintenance, he likes talking shop with his neighbour, Jason Williams, over the fence. “I think both sides have a little bit of FOMO on each other’s rinks,” Ryan says. “Jason gets a couple more weeks at the end of the season due to the shade he has, but I think we get up and running quicker than he does.”

RYAN MANITOWICH WITH SONS, ANDREW (LEFT) AND MATTHEW (RIGHT).

HOWDY, NEIGHBOURS: THE WILLIAMS RINK (LEFT) AND THE MANITOWICH RINK (RIGHT).

BRIGHT MINDS : A SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION

From university prep courses and learning another language to individualized programs for specific learning needs, this guide lets you discover Calgary’s many specialized education options to help your child succeed. We’ve compiled a comprehensive listing of schools for a convenient, big-picture look at the private and charter school options in the city, as well as specialized programs available through the local school boards. Read on to see what’s on offer to meet your family’s education needs and goals.

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

STRATHCONA-TWEEDSMUIR SCHOOL TRANSFORMS THE WAY STUDENTS LEARN WITH EXCITING ENVIRONMENTS.

Imagine a school where students go out for outdoor hikes, discuss newfound plants when they actually discover them in the wild and write poetry surrounded by nature. This is the reality at StrathconaTweedsmuir School (STS).

Beyond influential teachers and families, children also learn a lot from their environments. STS educators know this, and it’s why they’ve established effective learning spaces to act as a third teacher for students.

Unique learning environments

At STS, outdoor learning is a core part of the curriculum. With a 220-acre natural campus — a vast outdoor space used for day-to-day classes — students study earth sciences, the arts, physical education and outdoor education all in the open air. Learning beyond the classroom is what sets STS apart, and it’s what intrinsically motivates its students to learn.

The care for learning environments extends to the school’s indoor spaces as well. STS has studios and labs designed for different student needs, a full-sized theatre and even a glass-walled outdoor classroom nestled in the woods.

“Every square inch of our campus is designed with purpose: to create compassionate, curious and creative global citizens who lead with courage,” says head of school, Carol Grant-Watt.

Students also learn beyond the classroom through various global travel and service opportunities. STS offers extensive options for volunteer and community work, as well as international exchange programs and global leadership conferences. At STS, students learn from what surrounds them, wherever that may be.

Looking forward

To further advance the use of environments as a third teacher, STS has implemented Flourish 2031 — an ambitious 10-year strategic plan. The goal of the plan is a sustainable future for the school, focused on the development of good humans, thought leaders and global citizens. The plan commits to a brighter and bolder tomorrow, a profound sense of

community, deeper student learning and engagement, and becoming a global hub in a natural setting. The aim is also to evolve from a local school to a global school with strong community roots by creating new connections and partnerships, expanding global opportunities and harnessing the power of new technology and innovation — all while anchoring the student experience in nature-based learning.

“I often glance out my office window and consider how innovative spaces allow the beauty and wisdom of nature to weave their way into the hearts and minds of our students,” says Grant-Watt. “Just as they are

exploring our expansive system of trails, so too are they connecting with all of the ways that they will become contributing members of the STS community and society as a whole.”

Flourish 2031 also celebrates the foundation that’s already been built at STS, and academic excellence is at the forefront of that. STS is Calgary’s only International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, meaning it offers IB programming intertwined with the Alberta Program of Study as early as kindergarten through to grade 12.

FINANCIAL LITERACY STARTS EARLY AT NORTH POINT SCHOOLS

THE FINANCIAL ACADEMY PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE IN AN ENGAGING WAY.

Too often, students leave school without a clue about how to go about their finances. But North Point Schools’ program prepares students early on to tackle today’s challenging financial landscape.

North Point offers a state-of-the-art financial program for all of its K–12 students. The Financial Academy enables students to hone skills and knowledge about personal finance, economics, investing and entrepreneurship, giving them the proper tools to financially succeed in the future.

“Empowering the future of finance, where young minds trade, pitch and create, captures the essence of the activities and programs we offer,” says Bruce Groberman, director of the Financial Academy.

Learning by doing

For students who might deem finances boring, the academy offers more than weekly lessons. It also provides fun learning opportunities through unique hands-on activities.

“Learning by doing is so much more effective than just sitting and listening,” says head of school, Brent Devost.

North Point has Canada’s largest virtual investing simulation in a K–12 school with many simulations aimed for grades four and up. Students begin with a virtual cash amount and invest in different stocks, bonds, funds and more. To put their skills

to the test, the school puts on two stock market and cryptocurrency investing challenges with this simulation.

The program also offers a financial meme contest and a business pitch competition. And students participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Annual Business Fair, Canada’s largest student business fair, where they create a product or service and present it with a developed brand, business plan and marketing strategy.

For more information about North Point School for Boys, North Point School for Girls, North Point High School and its Financial Academy, visit www.northpoint.school.

SETTING STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS

CALGARY ACADEMY’S EARLY YEARS PROGRAM HELPS DEVELOP FUNDAMENTAL LIFE SKILLS.

It’s not uncommon to walk into Calgary Academy and see students working on a variety of different activities. One might be figuring out a math problem on the board while some work in teams and others use more creative ways to problem solve. That’s because Calgary Academy bases its instructional approach on individual student needs.

At Calgary Academy, students develop lifelong skills in many areas, giving them a well-rounded foundation for success. While academics are key, great value is also placed on supporting student interests and expanding opportunities for engagement. The school encourages students to build skills and community through altruistic-based initiatives,

athletics and Integrated Studies options such as art, drama, construction and multimedia.

“The magic in what we do is that there’s a place for everyone here. Every student is provided with a safe place to learn, where they can work not only

on their academics, but on their whole self, and build skills that will support them later in life,” says Liz Thompson, Calgary Academy’s junior school assistant principal.

Building foundational skills early is critical. Calgary Academy offers an Early Years program, designed for kindergarten to grade three students. The program’s focus is on approaching numeracy, literacy and social-emotional learning from a play-based perspective where students can build interpersonal skills. Children move forward with stronger reading and writing skills, and they also learn to understand their emotions and discover valuable problem-solving techniques.

“We identify where there are opportunities for learning improvements with our students, then we work to build foundational building blocks to do so,” says Thompson. “The earlier we can intervene, the more effectively we can build those blocks so that as they get older, they have what they need to be successful.”

To learn more, visit early.calgaryacademy.com.

CONNECTION BEYOND BORDERS

SHAPING ENGAGED GLOBAL CITIZENS THROUGH IMMERSIVE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

In a world where global events often seem distant or inaccessible, Calgary French & International School (CFIS) stands as a beacon for students deeply engaged in global affairs, diverse cultures and multiple languages. At CFIS, students don’t just learn about the world — they live it, forging connections that bring the world closer together.

Immersive global education is at the heart of CFIS’s curriculum, beginning as early as junior preschool through to grade 12. Students receive more than just a top-tier education; they step into the world’s diverse realities through firsthand experiences. Starting with outdoor field studies in the nearby Paskapoo Slopes, CFIS experiential education opens doors to host international students and engage in enriching exchanges, embark on transformative trips and provide avenues to participate in global conferences and networking opportunities.

CFIS Travel Studies

Travel Studies experiences offer students the chance to explore new cultures and practice the French and Spanish languages they learn at school. CFIS inspires them to step beyond their comfort zones, fostering cross-cultural connections and nurturing their innate curiosities. The curriculum empowers students to deepen their social responsibility, catalyzing positive change both locally and internationally.

“Global education is all about preparing us for the complex challenges of the future; it’s essentially education to make the world a better place,” says Chantalle Bourque, associate director of Global

Education and Experiential Learning at CFIS.

“We really see firsthand the impact that it has on the students to be curious about a new place, to be exposed to new ideas and to be inspired by people that they’ve met.”

For CFIS students, traversing the globe isn’t about sightseeing. It’s an opportunity to hone skills, immerse in diverse communities, embrace new cultures, engage in multiple languages and leave a positive mark wherever they tread.

CALGARY SCHOOL LISTINGS

AP=Advanced Placement, CBE=Calgary Board of Education, CCSD=Calgary Catholic School District, ES=Educational Support, FS=FrancoSud School Board, GATE=Gifted and Talented Education, HPAD=High Performance Athlete Development, IB=International Baccalaureate, PSD=Palliser School Division, STEAM=Science, technology, engineering, arts and math, TLC=Traditional learning centre

Listings were compiled by the RPM Content Studio and information was included based on space and discretion of the editorial team. Enhanced listings include paid content. Early and Late French immersion are available through CBE and CCSD.

Listings were compiled by the RPM Content Studio and information was included based on space and discretion of the editorial team. Enhanced listings include paid content. Early and Late French immersion are available through CBE and CCSD.

GRADES

SCHOOL TYPE:

The foundation of success at River Valley School (RVS) is based, firstly, on how students feel. RVS takes pride in its inclusive, safe and consistent learning environment. Students come to school knowing they belong, and in turn, grow confident in voicing their opinions, taking appropriate risks and making mistakes. From early childhood through to grade six, RVS students know they have unwavering support at school, and it’s what allows them to be and become the best version of themselves.

RVS also upholds a high academic standard. Instruction is student-centered and builds on individual strengths and interests. Every child is unique, filled with wonder and curiosity, and RVS celebrates this in its mission to nurture future leaders who succeed both academically and socially.

Step into the vibrant world of Fine Arts at WIC, where doors are opened beyond the classroom walls. WIC is more than just academics; it’s a place where students can explore their passions without limits.

In the Band Program, students don't merely learn notes—from the first sounds of an instrument to the thrill of performing at renowned venues like Jack Singer Concert Hall and the magical realm of Disneyland, young performers develop and hone their musical skills.

Setting the stage where self-expression shines brightly, the Drama Program goes beyond the spotlight, fostering student confidence through captivating performances like Macbeth and Little Women. Beyond acting, the program also delves into the world of technical theatre.

Led by Fine Arts Specialists, the Visual Arts Program not only transforms imagination into reality but also empowers students to share their perspectives in new and unique ways. Through exploration of diverse mediums, WIC’s budding artists are given a ‘canvas’ where creativity is unleashed.

Join a school community where students are encouraged to discover their creative side while receiving a first-class education.

In their first year, Gr. 7 students participate in Band, Drama and the Visual Arts, allowing them to build their artistic confidence.

Listings were compiled by the RPM Content Studio and information was included based on space and discretion of the editorial team. Enhanced listings include paid content. Early and Late French immersion are available through CBE and CCSD.

At Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS), learning goes beyond the four walls of a classroom. STS has no shortage of innovative and engaging spaces where students learn. From its 220-acre campus in the beautiful Foothills, just minutes from Calgary, to bright modern science and arts spaces, a full-sized theatre and a glass-walled outdoor classroom in the woods, STS equips students with a variety of inspiring learning settings. It’s what leads STS students to academic success and holistic well-being.

Students are encouraged to learn and experience the school’s K-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in this variety of campus environments as well as through plentiful global travel and service opportunities. STS students leave the school well prepared to take on the world and lead lives of purpose.

BY TSERING ASHA , ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTH , CHRIS LANDRY AND ALANA WILLERTON

The steamy hiss of an espresso machine, the low hum of FRIENDS catching up over a cup of joe, the tap-tap-tap of someone working away on a laptop: This is the soundtrack of Calgary’s coffee SCENE , a mix of stalwart local chains, UNIQUE neighbourhood cafés and INDEPENDENT roasters that help keep the city caffeinated and CONNECTED. It’s a scene that has evolved considerably over the last decade and shows no sign of slowing down.

From award-winning baristas, to coffee beans that give back, to INNOVATIVE (and sometimes nostalgic) new cafés, here’s a look at some of the latest developments and initiatives shaping Calgary’s coffee LANDSCAPE .

COLLINS

GOPPORTUNITY BREWING

BOTH A COFFEE SHOP AND A NON-PROFIT, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, LIL E HELPS PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND/OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ON THEIR CAREER PATHS.

“We believe everyone has greatness, but someone has to give them the opportunity.”

PAUL CONSTANCE founder of Lil E

rabbing a latte at the Lil E Coffee Cafe kiosk in The Ampersand building downtown feels much like getting your morning caffeine fix anywhere else in the city. The keen counter staff will pass your order on to a skilled barista who will hand you a steaming hot cup within a matter of minutes. The only difference is the service might feel a bit friendlier than at other urban coffee houses. There are no stereotypically grouchy baristas at Lil E — everyone behind the counter is genuinely proud to be part of the team.

The enthusiasm of Lil E’s staff isn’t just a result of it being a great place to work. Founded by businessman Paul Constance in 2022, Lil E is a non-profit, charitable organization designed to provide people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities with career opportunities. The concept was inspired by Constance’s daughter, Ella (the “E” in Lil E), who has Down’s syndrome. Constance wanted to give other people the chance to show off their strengths and bring joy to their local communities, too.

“It’s about creating a platform and developing careers,” he says. “A lot of these individuals have never had a job before coming here.”

Lil E is indeed a working coffee shop, ready and willing to serve paying customers. It sources its beans from Rosso Coffee (Rosso co-founder Cole Torode is on the Lil E board of directors) and serves all your typical espresso-based drinks, as well as smoothies and hot chocolate. There are also snacks in the form of energy balls, yogurt parfaits and a few baked goods.

The staff at Lil E greet customers, run the till, make coffee, clean up and work in the kitchen. No one is expected to stay at the café permanently — once they build experience and skills, the staff are connected with other employers to progress their careers. This process is intended to be completed within a year and comes with a certification. Constance’s goal is to build 10,000 careers for Lil E “graduates,” not only through the Calgary café, but also by expanding the concept to other markets. Currently, Lil E employs 10 staff members in Calgary and 15 in the Toronto location that opened last summer.

While selling coffee is what Lil E does day-to-day, Constance says customers know that the real drive behind the shop is creating social change.

“We believe everyone has greatness, but someone has to give them the opportunity,” he says. “Once they’re given an opportunity you see them blossom. Our customers feel like they’re part of that journey, too.” —E.C.B.

GOOD VIBRATIONS

THE VHF COFFEE VAN BREWS AND SERVES UP HIGH-QUALITY THIRD-WAVE COFFEE EVERYWHERE IT GOES.

Shawn Mankowske is very particular about what coffee he brews, and how he does it. For several years, in between co-curating or co-directing projects like the Wreck City art collective, the Indigenous artist-turned-entrepreneur worked at some of the best local coffee shops, brewing beans of the highest quality available. “There’s actually skill and style to it,” says Mankowkse. “Not every barista makes coffee the same, and there’s a lot of technique that goes into influencing the final product.”

To his credit, that’s likely why VHF Coffee, Mankowske’s mobile coffee van, is in such high demand today. In 2020, Mankowske challenged himself to bring third-wave coffee (a movement emphasizing premium coffee, fair trade practices, sustainability and consumer education) to the masses — any time, any place. It took him a year and a half to build the self-contained van, which is partially powered with a solar and battery system,

before launching in February 2022. Since then, VHF Coffee has served thousands of drinks at markets, concerts, movie nights, private events, film sets, sports competitions and other locations.

Mankowske describes VHF as an artistic adventure as much as an entrepreneurial one. The name, which stands for “very high frequency,” is inspired by VHF radios, like walkie-talkies, which are used for direct, person-to-person communication, often in adventurous and off-the-grid scenarios. (It also nods to the buzzy feeling one gets from caffeine.)

The van is equipped with a five-filter and reverse osmosis system to ensure the water going into the coffee is as pure as possible, plus two espresso machines and removable carts for on-site catering. Mankowske carries beans from local names like Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters and Hammer & Chip, and sticks to smaller, traditional coffee sizes, serving eight-ounce flat whites, americanos and cappuccinos, and 10-ounce americanos and lattes.

“A big part of having good coffee is to let the coffee do the talking,” he says. —T.A.

BEST OF THE BARISTAS

If the mere smell of coffee can be enough to wake people up in the morning, just imagine what it must do for Calgary coffee powerhouse Ben Put.

Put wears many hats. He’s a co-owner (and barista and roaster) of Monogram Coffee, which has four Calgary café locations. The Monogram team also opened Soon Coffee in 2021 in Burnaby B.C., and last year, teamed up with chef Matthias Fong (formerly of River Café) to open Calgary restaurant Primary Colours Café.

Put’s biggest claim to fame, however, is his competitive prowess. He has been competing at national and international barista championships for more than a decade, winning the Canadian National Barista Championship (CNBC) a record

six times and placing in the top five at the World Barista Championship (WBC) four times.

Put recently competed at the 2023 WBC in Athens, where he created one drink in three categories — espresso, milk-based and signature beverage — within a 15-minute timeframe. Because of the nuanced nature of coffee, much of the competition preparation involves perfecting one’s game plan through testing, tasting, roasting and refining routine timing. It’s an ongoing, year-round process for Put, who says it all comes down to controlling the finest details, while creating an engaging story.

“A big thing with competition is you need to have a message,” he says. “It’s like a meal where all the courses are connected under some kind of theme. That’s really hard to do and have it be meaningful, interesting and innovative.”

Because of strict rules around the ingredients themselves, innovation for competitive baristas often comes in the form of ingredient manipulation. In 2017, Put pioneered the use of freeze-distilled milk, a technique that has since become a standard at barista competitions and a phenomenon amongst home baristas looking to step up their coffee game.

Now, Put is putting his experience as the winningest barista in CNBC history to good use by coaching others from around the world, including Monogram baristas, and competitors from Mexico.

And he plans to keep competing.

“[The competitions are] like the TED of coffee where there are a lot of brains in one place,” he says. “I always come back inspired.” —C.L.

MONOGRAM COFFEE CO-OWNER BEN PUT IS A SIX-TIME CANADIAN NATIONAL BARISTA CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER AND HAS REPRESENTED CANADA ON THE WORLD STAGE.

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDRY; OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTO BY MARIAH WILSON

A process pioneered by Monogram Coffee’s Ben Put (pictured), freeze-distilled milk is the first run-off from frozen milk as it thaws. The sugars and fats in the milk thaw quicker than the water, creating a thicker, more concentrated “milky” milk.

coffee Roasters that Give Back

Co-founders Mike Wenzlawe and Jamie Parker used to be wildland firefighters, so it’s fitting the roastery works with the Blue Green Planet Project and Summit Reforestation to plant one tree for each purchased bag of beans. More than 101,000 trees have been planted, and the team aims to reach one million trees by 2030. calgaryheritageroastingco.com

The Kingdom Coffee team uses part of its coffee bean sales to provide weekly coffee, food and supplies to those in need on Calgary streets — a mission inspired by the owner’s late father, who struggled with addiction and homelessness during his life. Kingdom also has a food bank that accepts monetary and food donations. kingdomcoffee.ca

This women-led and 2SLGBTQIA+ team gives back through two non-profit organizations. Part of the proceeds from sales of the No Closets Pride bag help 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees through Calgary’s End of the Rainbow Foundation, while all other coffee bags support post-secondary education for Peruvian women through the Peruvian Hearts organization. —A.W. motherlodecoffee.ca

FROM THE ORIGIN TO YOUR CUP

Brown Sugar

Tea Latte

Brown Sugar

Flat White

Brown Sugar Frappe

GOOD EARTH’S NEXT CHAPTER

With more than 50 café locations across Canada, it’s safe to say that Calgary-based Good Earth Coffeehouse is one of the city’s biggest coffee success stories.

Every story has a beginning, and, for Good Earth Coffeehouse, you can see where it all started at the original location along 11th Street S.W. in the Beltline neighbourhood, which still welcomes newcomers and regulars, alike, more than three decades later.

While dozens more locations have opened since that first one, the company’s goal of fostering community gathering spaces has remained constant.

“When we opened in 1991, we were joining a really wonderful café culture in Calgary; it included Caffè Beano, The Roasterie, Heartland [Café] over in Sun-

nyside,” says Good Earth Coffeehouse co-founder Nan Eskenazi. “These were really genuine places where people in those communities liked to gather. Our attitude about growing across Canada has been trying to bring that same core value or idea to multiple places all across the country.”

Now, Good Earth Coffeehouse is expanding into new territory. In March 2022, the company announced it would be opening cafés in select Indigo bookstores (replacing now-closed Starbucks locations) through a new partnership with the national book retailer. By November 2022, Good Earth’s first Indigo location was open in a fully renovated

“it’s very humbling and satisfying to hear that people share our excitement and our pride in the partnership.”

NAN ESKENAZI, co-founder, Good Earth Coffeehouse

space in CF Chinook Centre’s Chapters store. With its plentiful seating, tempting baked goods and the smell of coffee wafting in the air, the café is a welcome addition for shoppers and readers looking to relax with a good book or gather over a hot drink. “I was so pleased to be able to sit and have a cup of coffee and look out at that sea of books,” says Eskenazi. “It felt like home.”

In a way, it’s a full-circle moment for Good Earth, which originally had a small bookstore in its first Beltline café. “We’ve had such a lovely welcome,” says Eskenazi. “Partly, it’s just that people were really anxious to get back into a community space and meet their friends and enjoy time in the bookstore and the coffee house, and part of it is people have a lot of pride in their Calgary roots and Calgary businesses and have shared that with us. It’s very humbling and satisfying to hear that people share our excitement and our pride in the partnership.”

Good Earth now has locations in three Indigo/Chapters stores in Calgary, as well as a few in other cities, and plans to have 12 to 18 in total across Canada by mid-2024. With its purposeful growth and continued support from the community, the company’s story continues. —A.W.

PHOTO BY JARED SYCH

THE CALGARY-BASED COFFEEHOUSE MAKES THE MOVE INTO BOOKSTORES.

GOOD EARTH COFFEEHOUSE AT CHAPTERS IN CF CHINOOK CENTRE.

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDRY

new coffee shops

CALGARY’S COFFEE SCENE IS BUZZING WITH NEW CAFÉS OFFERING LOCALLY ROASTED BREWS, SPECIALTY COFFEE EXPERIENCES AND MORE.

BONO COFFEE ROASTERS

Your Phil this Winter

January

Bono was born out of owners Danait Tesfay and Dawit Wubie’s love for Ethiopian coffees. Its newest café in Bridgeland celebrates Ethiopian coffee traditions in a bright, modern space. Each batch is handroasted with beans sourced directly from Ethiopia. 737 1 Ave. N.E., 403-200-2166, bonocoffee.ca, @bonocoffee.co

CONGRESS COFFEE

Congress is a throwback to the coffee culture of the ’90s. Featuring concert posters from long-gone Calgary music venues Night Gallery and Republik, rotating art from local artists, a stage where local musicians perform and pay-what-you-want drip coffee, Congress is all about supporting the community. 1A, 215 36 Ave. N.E., 403-452-7320, congresscoffeeyyc.com, @congresscoffeeyyc

1 2 3

Q.LAB COFFEE

This Beltline coffee tasting room has something for connoisseurs and casual caffeine seekers, alike. Q.Lab brings out the unique characteristics of each of its ethically sourced brews. Along with the usual suspects, the menu features micro-lot pour-overs, coffee or espresso flights, and a “Barista Breakfast” that combines espresso, cappuccino and batch brew. –C.L. 1223 11 Ave. S.W., qlabcoffee.ca, @qlabcoffee

Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert 1 January

Starman: David Bowie 13 January

Drag Story Time: Peter and the Wolf 14 January

Spectacular Spanish Guitar 19 + 20 January

IndigiDivas: Opera Hits + Indigenous Stories 27 January

February

Montgomery + Mesa 2 February

On Stage with Alex Cuba 10 February

Birthday Bash! Bruckner + Louie 16 + 17 February

Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireTM in Concert 22, 23 + 24 February

March

Beethoven’s Seventh 1 + 2 March

Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony 3 March

Totally 80s 8 + 9 March

Tchaikovsky 5 15 + 16 March

BY MICHELLE MCIVOR PHOTO BY JARED SYCH

HOW TO STAND OUT IN OUTERWEAR

DESIGNER STEPHANIE EAGLETAIL CELEBRATES HER INDIGENOUS HERITAGE WITH HER LUXURIOUS CUSTOM BLANKET COATS.

Come winter, you’ll mostly find Stephanie Eagletail, a Dene/Cree woman and fashion designer from Tsuut’ina Nation, staying warm in UGG boots, a parka, long johns underneath jeans and seal-skin mitts she bought while teaching sewing lessons in Yellowknife. But, when the founder of Stephanie Eagletail Designs wants to make more of an impact with her winter attire, she wears one of her custommade blanket coats.

Eagletail uses Pendleton blankets, angora fur and other fibres to create coats honouring her heritage. They’re authentic and unique, not to mention fashion-forward pieces that were showcased on the runways at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in September 2022 and 2023. “I love wearing my coats because the snow brings the colours to life,” Eagletail says. “Any time I wear one of my pieces, I feel bougie and luxurious.”

Coat, custom-made by Eagletail for 2023 NYFW; earrings, top and jeans, Dynamite; hat, Smithbilt, with custom quillwork by Nadine Deegan; choker and necklace, made by Merlin James; shoes, Aldo; belt, made by Gilbert Crowchild; braided ring, gifted by musician Micki Free; crown ring, Michael Hill.

Talking Tea with Ted Jones owner of Tea Trader

ea Trader has been serving Calgary tea aficionados for three decades, carrying hundreds of specialty teas from around the world. Owner Ted Jones opened the first Tea Trader store in Inglewood in 1994 in a ground-floor space shared with an antiques shop. From there, Tea Trader moved a number of times within Inglewood — one of the most memorable locations being the second-floor space accessed by a street-level door on 9th Avenue that opened directly to a stairwell. Jones has since moved the shop into a ground-level space in the Ramsay Design Centre, a heritage building in neighbouring Ramsay.

Hailing from Norwich, England, Jones practically has tea running through his veins — Tea Trader’s eshop counterpart, Mr. Maxey’s Tea, is named in ode to a local tea purveyor he recalls from his childhood years.

Jones now travels to tea gardens around the world to meet with his suppliers and source new varieties of tea. His Ramsay shop is full of old teapots, canisters and tea chests collected over its many years in business.

We asked Jones to give us all the “tea” on selling and sipping tea.

QWhy do you love tea?

“Growing up in England it’s a staple; you’re drinking it all the time. We had a tea supplier called Mr. Maxey who would deliver to our door — he’d buy the tea at the London auctions, repackage it and bring it to the doorstep — so there’s a strong reminiscence for me.”

QHow much tea do you drink in a day?

“Less now that I’m getting older, but I’ll drink a couple strong mugfuls in the morning — I don’t drink from teacups because

you can’t get much volume. Later in the day, I’ll have three or four cups while we are tasting, but spitting a lot of it out.”

QWhat kinds of tea do you like to drink?

“I drink assam in the morning with milk, but, when I’m at the shop, it’s a mixture. We’ve got a lot of tea [samples] to go through, so we’re often tasting to pick and choose what to potentially buy. And then we have to try the ones we buy routinely, because the quality and character can change over time.”

QWhat is one thing someone should invest in if they want to truly appreciate specialty teas?

“When I make tea, I use a fine china mug and a regular tea filter — you can take the filter out, put it on the saucer and, half an hour later, you can reinfuse those leaves. The china is partially for elegance, but also, it’s because if you use a big, thick, ceramic [mug], it will suck the heat out of the cup of tea.”

1902 11 St. S.E., 403-264-0728, teatrader.com

BY VALERIE BERENYI

In 2011, when Rhett and Kelly Read built and moved into their single-family home in Evergreen Estates, a community nestled up against Fish Creek Provincial Park, they intended to finish the walkout basement themselves.

They started the project, with Rhett doing the framing and electrical work, but life kept interrupting. The Reads, who both work in the energy industry, are fitness enthusiasts who head to the mountains to ski, hike and bike whenever possible. Their two boys, now 14 and 11, downhill ski competitively. Even though they had a plan for the basement — a gym for them and a hangout space for the kids — there was precious little time to work on it.

Ten years elapsed before the couple hired interior designer Karen Attwell to create and finish a stylish, multipurpose, kid-friendly space, that was tough enough to meet the needs of their fun-loving, highenergy family. Completed in 2022 with the help of contractor Catalyst Builders, the basement now includes a gym, a snack bar, a media/family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, mechanical room and storage space.

It was important to make the entire space feel cohesive, says Attwell, founder and creative director of Form Interiors. A consistent colour palette used throughout enlarges the space visually and builds flow from one area the next. A custom-made pivot door in teal tamps down noise from downstairs play; whimsical tiles in the snack bar provide visual punch; and commercial-grade rubber flooring in the gym and nylon carpeting in the other areas stand up to heavy use.

The most striking feature is, arguably, the gym, with a mural adorning one wall. The homeowners originally envisioned the gym with a closed (drywalled) wall and pocket door, but Attwell recommended going with glass instead. “I said, ‘What if we created a glass wall, with a glass door, to let the lovely light in?’ As a result, it makes the gym an artful display of values for this fun, active family,” Atwell says.

Kelly says they are thrilled with the outcome. “It’s so much more than what we could have done on our own,” she says. The boys enjoy entertaining their friends in the family room, while the parents love the gym best.

“We’re inspired by the view of the trees, the mural and the light coming in,” Kelly says “It reminds us why we’re down there grinding it out.”

Favourite Spaces

FITFORA

FAMILY

THE GLASS

To separate the home gym from the recreational, multipurpose media room, designer Karen Attwell suggested a glass partition with a built-in glass door that would still provide flow between the two spaces. “It’s beautiful to look at, but it’s also a really functional workout space,” Attwell says.

THE MURAL

The wall covering, a mountain mural with minimal lines and colours, provides an eye-catching backdrop to the weight racks and gym equipment and is also free of formaldehyde and heavy metals, being made with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-sourced paper.

THE MATERIALS

Attwell says when possible, sourcing environmentally sustainable materials is an important consideration and a part of her process. For the mat flooring in the gym, Attwell went with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) recycled rubber. “I always want to bring the right product,” says Attwell. “But, if I can do that with an environmentally safer choice, I will always choose it.”

THE LAYOUT

“Nothing that looks really clean and simple generally ever is,” says Attwell, in describing how she laid out the Reads’ workout equipment, bike trainers and electronic elements (like the integrated Tabata clock) while still providing ample floor space in the multifunctional room. —Tsering Asha

A basement home gym is as stylish as it is functional for a sporty couple and their active sons.

PHOTO BY EYMERIC WIDLING

WILD & FREE

T HE ALBERTA ROCKIES ARE KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR S CENIC A ND SPECTACULAR N ATURAL SKATING SPOTS . H ERE ’ S WHERE TO GO GLIDING THIS WINTER.

Every winter, if the conditions align, you can lace up your skates and glide on the frozen lakes, reservoirs and ponds in the mountains near Calgary. On a clear day, you’ll see the peaks of the Rockies reflected in the glassy ice below.

“There’s so much to appreciate all at once when the ice is good,” says Paul Zizka, a Banff-based photographer and wild-ice skating enthusiast.

Zizka has been skating the natural ice surfaces of the Rockies for the past 15 years and has captured stunning photos of other skaters, including a famous shot of Canadian figure skater Elladj Baldé backflipping against a bluebird sky on Lake Minnewanka. Zizka grew up skating outdoors in Quebec.

When he moved west, he found an avid community of wild-ice-chasers and an abundance of scenic spots. As a photographer, Zizka loves how wild ice gives him fresh elements to work with each winter.

SPRAY LAKES RESERVOIR, KANANASKIS COUNTRY.

Mountains

BY CAILYNN KLINGBEIL

L AKE L OUISE

PHOTOS BY PAUL ZIZKA

“The ice forms completely differently every year, so you always find new features, new foreground, new textures that you’ve never seen before,” he says. Occasionally, Zizka adds, the ice is so clear you can look down to the lake bottom and see the odd stump or fish under your skates. “You add to that some of the best scenery in the world, when the landscape is mirrored all around you, and you’re effortlessly gliding past it, and that takes it up a notch,” he says.

The number of people skating in the mountains near Calgary has snowballed in recent years, in part because the picturesque sport translates well to social media. Zizka also noticed an uptick during the COVID-19 pandemic, as travel restrictions saw people sticking closer to home and seeking outdoor activities that allowed for social distancing.

Exceptional conditions in recent years also factor into the recent surge in skating activity. It’s also more accessible than other costly winter sports (hello, downhill skiing), requiring just skates, safety knowledge and a little help from Mother Nature — ideally, a cold snap early in the season that provides sustained low temperatures for thick, smooth ice, without an accumulation of snow on the surface. The strong winds in this region that clear the ice are another bonus — Zizka calls it the “Chinook Advantage” — in which lakes, particularly those in the easternmost parts of the Rockies, can be blown clean overnight.

Wild-ice enthusiast Marissa Hunter grew up playing hockey. In 2020, she got her first taste of skating in the mountains when a friend recommended she check out Spray Lakes Reservoir in Kananaskis Country. She has since skated on numerous other mountain lakes, seeking out the short windows when the surfaces are glassy and snow-free. “It’s a magical, memorable, cool experience,” Hunter says.

Here are five scenic, must-skate spots in the regional Rockies.

Scenic Lake Louise is among the most-visited destinations in Canada and arguably one of the most stunning wild-ice-skating spots in the world. Staff at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise clear the surface regularly and the skating area is lit up in the evenings. If you don’t have skates, you can rent them at Chateau Ski & Snow inside the hotel.

V ERMILION LAKES

One of the most accessible and picturesque places to skate near the town of Banff is Vermilion Lakes. “It’s like skating through a postcard,” Zizka says. The lakes are at the base of splendid Mount Rundle, one of Banff’s most recognizable sights. Zizka loves the friendly atmosphere on the three lakes, where he has watched beginners glide alongside experienced skaters. He warns, however, that warm springs keep some parts of the lakes unfrozen and that the ice thickness can be uneven.

L AKE MI NNEWANKA

Approximately 20 kilometres long, Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park is a personal favourite spot for Zizka, who says that the size means you can essentially skate into the backcountry. However, due to its massive size — and depth — Minnewanka typically doesn’t fully freeze until mid-winter, with the west end of the lake, near Lake Minnewanka Road, the last part to fully harden.

SAFE SKATING

S PRAY LAKES R ESERVOIR

Mountain views abound on Spray Lakes Reservoir in Kananaskis Country. At 21 km long, the reservoir provides an expansive skating surface (when conditions align), with the surrounding mountains reflecting beautifully on the glassy ice. Even though Spray Lakes is also a popular ice-fishing spot, it still doesn’t get too crowded, given that there are numerous access points to the reservoir along the gravel-surfaced Smith-Dorrien Highway (Highway 742).

Ten minutes north of the town of Jasper lies scenic Pyramid Lake, where you can skate backdropped by photogenic Pyramid Mountain. As with Lake Louise, the ice here is cleared regularly by staff at the recently renovated Pyramid Lake Lodge, part of the portfolio of properties run by international tourism experience company Pursuit. Roadtrippers should be aware the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) between Lake Louise and Jasper passes through rugged mountain terrain and winter closures are not uncommon.

Skating on wild ice is undeniably alluring, but it can also be dangerous. Natural ice surfaces are not maintained nor monitored, so skating is at your own risk. Anyone skating on wild ice needs first to determine if the ice is thick enough to support them. Do not rely on seeing other people out on ice as an indication the surface is safe. Make your own observations and take a measurement to determine the thickness, using a tool such as an ice chisel, auger or cordless drill. Parks Canada recommends an ice thickness of 15 centimetres for walking or skating and 20 cm for skating parties or games. Be aware that ice thickness won’t necessarily be consistent across the entire surface, and conditions can change overnight — a spot that was safe to skate on one day may not be safe the next. Parks Canada also recommends carrying rescue gear, such as rope and ice picks, and wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) while skating if you are uncertain about ice thickness. –C.K.

LAKE

P YRAMID LAKE

Best. Weddings. Ever. W

avenue

W EDDI NGS

We love love here at avenue, so, naturally, that means we love weddings. From stories of couples who said “I do” in Calgary in 2023, to the results of our fourth annual online ballot in which our readers cast their votes for the Best Wedding Businesses and Service Providers in Calgary, love is all around us, and it’s time to celebrate!

page 69 Real Wedding Stories: Three Couples, Three Very Different celebrations page 82 The Cost of SAying I Do: why Big Fat Weddings are slimming down page 84 Best Wedding Services Ballot: 2024 Winners and Runners-up

REAL WEDDING STORIES

BY MICHAELA REAM

Jasneet and Prabhv ir Dhil lon’s M ODERN-TRADITIONAL SIKH WEDDING

Romantic comedies often portray falling in love as an all-encompassing and easily recognized emotion. But, in reality, sometimes love creeps up on you slowly.

That was the case for Prabhvir Dhillon when he met his future wife, Jasneet Chalal (now Jasneet Dhillon).

The two met when Prabhvir was working at Best Buy and a mutual friend suggested Jasneet buy a cellphone from him. They hit it off immediately, even more so once they learned they both were doing graduate studies at the University of Calgary. Their friendship blossomed as they began taking the bus to university together, though in those first few months it was just that: friendship.

“I always thought he would be a great husband for whomever he marries, but I never thought he would marry me, and it was never in my mind to marry him,” Jasneet says.

All that changed when Jasneet’s parents, who still live in India, reached out with a potential marriage match. In Indian culture, Prabhvir explains, it’s typical that the parents will select potential matches for their daughters to meet and hopefully marry. However, when Prabhvir learned about the match, it was like a switch flipped in his heart.

“At that moment, I realized I wouldn’t be happy if she married someone else. So, that’s when I told her, ‘Let’s us get married.’” The proposal took Jasneet by surprise, but it sparked the same feelings

TRADITIONS.

in her, especially when she understood how serious Prabhvir was. “I realized after he asked me that I had feelings for him,” she says.

Coincidentally, Jasneet’s mother was coming to visit, giving the new couple a chance to discuss their intentions. After getting her blessing, they went to India to get the same blessings from Prabhvir’s family. After that, the wedding preparations could officially begin.

Sikh weddings typically take place at a gurdwara, a place of assembly and worship for members of the faith, but Prabhvir and Jasneet wanted an outdoor wedding. They eventually found a granthi (Sikh priest), who agreed to perform the ceremony outdoors, allowing them to move forward with

T HIS COUPLE BLEND ED CONTEMPORARY I DEAS SUCH AS AN OUTDOOR C EREMONY WITH L ONG S TANDING CULTURAL

PHOTO

AKALJOT PHOTOGRAPHY

“ATTHATMOMENT,IREALIZED IWOULDN’TBEHAPPYIFSHE MARRIEDSOMEONEELSE.”

PRA BH VIR DHILLON

selecting a venue. Ultimately, they decided on the Wingfield Golf Club.

In the days leading up to the wedding on June 2, 2023, the couple participated in a number of traditions, starting with the ring ceremony. This is when a couple formally exchanges rings and declares their commitment to each other in the presence of their families.

“I’d always wanted to put a ring on her finger, and now was the moment,” Prabhvir recalls. “I got down on my knee and made my proposal in front of everyone, and then we finally exchanged rings.”

There was also a mehndi party, where Jasneet had henna applied to her palms and the back of her hands. The red-orange pigment lasts one-to-three weeks and signifies good wishes and good fortune for the bride. After that was the jaggo. Loosely translated as “wake up” the jaggo is a historic celebration with food, drinks and dancing that took place in the village the night before the wedding. Prabhvir and Jasneet added a modern spin by hosting their jaggo at the Wingfield Golf Club.

The next day, Prabhvir and Jasneet were married outdoors at the golf club. Following the ceremony, there was a vegetarian lunch, then an evening reception at Magnolia Banquet Hall for more dancing, dining and celebration of their union.

After meeting, falling in love and getting married, Jasneet is most excited for her next chapter of life alongside Prabhvir. She recalls during the ceremony, a moment when the granthi opened a page in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the Holy Book of the Faith) and read a phrase that represented a meaningful sign of what their life together will look like.

“That was my favourite part,” says Jasneet. “When the priest read how our life would be and it turned out so amazing.”

PHOTO BY AKALJOT PHOTOGRAPHY

REAL WEDDING STORIES

BY MICHAELA REAM

Sarai Robles-Stan g and Kyle Stang ’s CENTRE ICE W EDDING

KPHOTO BY NORA HANAKO

yle Stang and Sarai Robles-Stang are proof that no distance is too far when two people are meant to be together.

Kyle was living in Saskatchewan and Sarai in Vancouver, when the two were connected through a mutual friend, who happened to be dating Kyle’s cousin. The friend described Kyle as a great guy who would be perfect for Sarai. They weren’t wrong — when Kyle reached out, he and Sarai hit it off immediately.

One thing the two had in common was that they were hockey fans (even if, Kyle jokes, Sarai was a Vancouver Canucks fan back then). After chatting long distance for months, on Valentine’s Day, 2015, the pair decided to meet halfway in Calgary and

watch a Calgary Flames game at the Scotiabank Saddledome. As they watched the game, Sarai knew they were going to be more than just friends.

The couple maintained their long-distance relationship until 2016, when they bought a home together in Saskatchewan so Sarai could relocate there. Sarai thought the hunt for a new home was just that, but Kyle had other plans in mind. “Once we finally got the keys to the place we bought, I waited until we were walking into the house together for the first time as owners. That’s when I got down on one knee and proposed,” he says.

The proposal caught Sarai by surprise and she happily accepted. “I knew he was right for me in many ways, even before he proposed,” she says.

The wedding itself wouldn’t happen until 2023.

In planning the wedding, they decided to revisit the location and date where it all began: Valentine’s Day at the Saddledome. Fortunately, there was a game happening that day: the Calgary Wranglers, the Flames’ affiliate AHL team, were playing against the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Abbostford Canucks.

The intention was for the wedding to happen in a suite right before puck drop, so Kyle reached out to the Saddledome staff for permission. Rather than a simple “yes,” Kyle got a response from Jamie Cochrane, the Wranglers’ business operations manager at that time, proposing an even grander plan.

“He writes, ‘Well, what would you guys think about [getting married] on centre ice during an intermission of the game?’”

H OW TWO HOCKEY FANS SAID “I DO” AT THE ’DOME.

“WALKINGTHROUGH THEPLACETHATOUR FAVOURITEPLAYERSWALK THROUGHWASASURREAL EXPERIENCE.”

SARAI ROBLES-STANG

Although hesitant initially, as Kyle and Sarai put it, how could they say no?

Between the Wranglers staff and Cochrane, all Sarai and Kyle had to do was choose their witnesses. It turned out that the Calgary Flames then-assistant general manager (now general manager) Craig Conroy and former head coach Darryl Sutter were watching the game in a neighbouring suite. They agreed to be witnesses and sign the wedding licence. “It was pretty special,” says Sarai, “an extra little token for an already unique wedding.”

Stepping out onto the ice along with their son, Dario, and daughter, Blaize, was another special moment. “We watch every single game with our kids, and walking through the place that our favourite players walk through was a surreal experience,” Sarai says.

While both had feelings of nervousness and anticipation before the ceremony, once they locked eyes, they felt nothing but calm. (Kyle jokes that it helped that Sarai had since become a Flames fan. “I’ve become more invested in the games and scream at the TV more than Kyle,” Sarai says, laughing.)

At the end of the ceremony, the Wranglers staff sent the newlyweds off with a gift card to Ben Moss jewellers, custom jerseys, a case of Great Western Brewing Original 16 (official beer of the Calgary Flames) and many more well wishes. For a pair of hockey fans, the experience of getting married at centre ice came together as a perfect day.

“We’ll remember it forever,” Kyle says.

HANAKO

YOU SAY

&WE’LL DO THE REST

Let us create a day you and your guests will remember for a lifetime!

Our professional Event Specialists create a stress-free experience through our complimentary wedding planning services. Filled with elegant and vibrant spaces, the RC has everything you’ll need foryour perfect day. Our culinary team offers a delectable catering menu featuring fine dining cuisine, stunning wedding cakes created by our in-house pastry chefs, and a wine list from our sommelier-curated cellar. We also work with our preferred vendors to organize entertainment, floral arrangements, final touches such as decor finishes and linens, and so much more.

Make your wedding dreams come true with The Ranchmen’s Club!

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT OUR SENIOR CATERING & EVENTS MANAGER COURTNEY POWER AT COURTNEY@RANCHMENSCLUB.COM.

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION!

Hi Tech Productions focuses on transforming spaces and transporting guests through creative technology, fluid lighting and personally curated music

Imagine today is your big day; it may be your wedding, an important corporate event or a celebration with friends and family. But, instead of being greeted by a simple room with tables, chairs and some décor, guests are transported into a winter wonderland with tranquil snow trickling down the walls or an underwater world where fish swim through rippling waves. It sounds like a dream, but it’s not. This transportive display of lighting is called projection mapping and is what Hi Tech Productions, an entertainment and DJ company, specializes in creating.

business because of the technical side. I wanted to cure my appetite of merging my artistic design capabilities with my technical aptitude,” says Dan McNeil, coowner of Hi Tech Productions. “Now it’s more because it is amazing to see the impact you have on people’s events and lives.”

Since opening in 1992, Hi Tech Productions has focused on two key elements: creating lasting memories and turning regular days into extraordinary experiences. To do just that, McNeil and his team push the boundaries of technology and incorporate event lighting design, such as projections and visual effects that acts as or becomes an integral part of the décor. Additionally, Hi Tech Productions works with clients to find the perfect fit.

“We believe a DJ should be picked specifically for you, particularly for weddings” says McNeil. “For example, if one person is from an Italian background and

the other Latin, your DJ should have experience in those cultural backgrounds and music. If we don’t have the right DJ available, we simply don’t take the booking.” That, McNeil says, has been the key to their success for over 30 years.

For McNeil, lighting is one of the most important aspects of what they do at Hi Tech Productions because of its ability to be fluid, not static. “When it comes to lighting, many people use it as an accent, like up lighting. Often in one colour only, but it can do so much more. Dynamic lighting can make northern lights appear and change colours, or we can turn a formal lounge into a rustic barn or have moving scenes like fireworks for a first dance, all at the flick of a switch,” explains McNeil. “We transport guests and couples to whole new spaces through the use of

colours and transitions.”

Popular requests in the past have included projection-mapped cakes, which use a white or plain cake to project images, texts or moving pictures. Customized digital textures, sparklers, low-lying fog and holographic DJ systems are also popular requests. Across weddings, corporate events, anniversaries and more, McNeil says his favourite events have been the hours and work donated for events including the Boys and Girls Club and the Airdrie Health Foundation. These events offer the most creative and rewarding freedom in giving back as much as possible. “As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to give back to the community,” says McNeil. “Simply put, we love what we do and take the utmost care in doing it.”

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): COURTESY HI TECH PRODUCTIONS; PHOTOGRAPHIK; PAISLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

REAL WEDDING STORIES

BY MICHAELA REAM

Kel ly a nd Ia n Macdonald’s U RBAN “BACKYARD” WEDDING

A COUPLE CELEBRATES THEIR WEDDING DAY IN AND AROUND THE I NNER-CITY COMMUNITY WHERE THEY MET AND FELL IN LOVE.

The Italian phrase colpo di fulmine literally means “lightning strike,” but also refers to being struck by love. It’s the feeling of being so taken with someone that it’s as if your world has been turned upside down, the feeling of an instantaneous connection.

When Ian Macdonald met his future wife, Kelly Ngo (now Kelly Macdonald), for the first time, he felt that strike. “There’s no question about it,” he says. “There was this bolt through my body, and I thought to myself, “Wow, who is this person?”

After their second date, Kelly had her own colpo di fulmine. “I walked through my door and started crying out of the blue and got this really strong conviction that I’m going to marry this man one day,” she says.

Even so, Ian and Kelly didn’t start dating immediately. They had met through a mutual friend, a spin instructor at the fitness studio where Ian did spin classes and Kelly was teaching yoga and barre. Shortly after, however, Ian moved to Victoria, B.C.

A year later, he moved back, and he and Kelly reconnected at a Movember fundraising event she had organized called “Barre for Balls.” Then, five months later, they paired on the online dating app Bumble. The match was another twist of fate — each had set their maximum distance to just one kilometre. Luckily, Kelly was living in East Village and Ian was exactly one km away in Victoria Park. To this day, the couple joke that if either of them had lived farther away, they would never have gotten together.

They stayed close to home for their first date at The Simmons Building in East Village: tea at Phil & Sebastian followed by dinner at Charbar.

NICOLE SARAH

PHOTO

Two years later, while travelling in Bali (the couple were on an extended world tour that, unfortunately, had to be cut short due to the onset of the global pandemic), Ian popped the question. He held the engagement ring next to a sleeping Kelly. When she opened her eyes, he told her: “I want to wake up next to you like this for the rest of our lives.”

“IWALKEDTHROUGHMY DOORANDSTARTEDCRYING OUTOFTHEBLUEAND GOT THISREALLYSTRONG CONVICTIONTHATI’M GOINGTOMARRYTHISMAN ONEDAY.”

KELLY MACDONALD

Back in Calgary, Ian had moved in with Kelly in her East Village home. Both worked in the area and appreciated the community, especially their daily long walks together along the RiverWalk. Though their original wedding plans had been affected by the pandemic, they used those walks to plan their perfect day for when the time was right.

That day would be June 10, 2023, with a wedding and reception that reflected the unique elements that had brought them together and shaped their relationship. The day started with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony at Charbar to celebrate Kelly’s heritage and as a symbolic remembrance of their first date. Afterward, the couple did photos at

Platform Calgary and the Central Library.

The wedding ceremony was held outdoors at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, attended by a small group of family and friends and officiated by Kelly’s cousin Joanne Luu. “We chose this place as it holds many special meanings,” Ian says. “The symbolism of the rivers coming together, the birthplace of Calgary, the backyard to our home in East Village, and the path we walked almost daily for the past three years, hand-in-hand.”

At the end of the ceremony, Kelly surprised Ian with a bagpiper to pay respect to his Scottish heritage and lead the way back to Charbar for the reception.

At Charbar, it was Ian’s turn to pay respects

to Kelly’s heritage as he kicked off the reception with a speech in Cantonese. The dessert bar reflected the couple’s shared love of sweets, with pastries from Coaldale Bakery, Crave Cupcakes, and ice cream from Village Ice Cream. On the simple white wedding cake, instead of a classic topper, the couple opted for a Scottish shortbread cookie and a fortune cookie. Kelly later stole the show by successfully sabering her first bottle of Champagne.

The couple concluded their perfect day with a late-night snack of Connie and John’s pizza and by reciting lines from their own vows: “Kelly, you are the yin to my yang,” said Ian, with Kelly answering, “And you are the yang to my yin.”

PHOTO BY NICOLE SARAH

Image: Jack Singer Concert Hall, Arts Commons Ramsey Kunkel photography

NO ONE EXPECTS YOU TO HAVE A BIG FAT WEDDING ANYMORE

BY TSERING ASHA ILLUSTRATION BY PETE RYAN

People generally know whether or not they want to get married. But when it comes to planning the wedding there are a lot more things to consider.

Couples these days have likely made one or two large financial decisions before ever walking down the aisle, such as applying for student loans, purchasing a home or car, or even having children, says Cynthia Ferguson, a branch manager with connectFirst Credit Union. Ferguson says she sees more couples in their 20s and early 30s thinking long-term, considering things such as establishing retirement accounts and emergency funds before budgeting for a wedding.

“I think the pandemic really taught us that the financial landscape can change very quickly, and we can enter a period of a lot of unknown and uncertainty,” Ferguson says. “Once you have that emergency fund set in place, you’re willing to invest more heavily in your ‘fun money,’ if you will.”

“The worst thing that could happen is for you to make a decision and feel financial remorse on one of the biggest celebrations of your journey as a couple.”

Cynthia Ferguson connectFirst Credit Union

GUESTS VS. SPECTATORS

Sydney Elton and Chris Rutledge lived together for years —with a mortgage and two vehicles — before getting married in September 2023. They wanted a low-key wedding, “kind of like a dressed-up party,” says Elton. “Our budget and our desire to have a more simplistic wedding was, partially, monetarily driven.”

The couple wanted their families at the wedding, but they didn’t want a lot of “traditional” details like

a bridal shower or a rehearsal dinner. They invited only immediate family and close friends. Ultimately, the cost was approximately $20,000.

Jane Paterson, a Calgary-based civil marriage commissioner, says that many couples have become more pragmatic about spending on a wedding. She has noticed a trend in reduced guest lists and simplified receptions, where food is served buffet-style instead of having a plated dinner.

Paterson says she’s also seeing a lot less reprisal from family and friends around inviting fewer guests, which she says is due, in part, to economics, but is also a holdover from the era of COVID-19 gathering restrictions, which made large weddings prohibitive for health reasons. Couples who might have at one time felt obligated to expand their guest list, even though their personal preferences align with a small, intimate wedding, are beneficiaries of these changing attitudes.

“A lot of [couples] are so wise,” says Paterson. “They’re not caving into societal pressure at all. They are doing what they want to do.”

LESS IS MORE

While it might seem that a tendency toward smaller weddings would spell trouble for the wedding industry, that’s not necessarily the case. “People are going for quality rather than quantity all the way around,” says Paterson.

With smaller guest lists, couples are going bigger on other elements, such as food and drinks, or decor (or, in some cases, drinks and decor — Melissa Brown-Hiller, owner and operator of the mobile bar cart business Suds & Sodas, describes her service as an all-in-one beverage station, decor item and interactive experience).

With e-vites and wedding websites replacing hard-copy invitations, Debbie Wong of Debbie Wong Designs says she has been commissioned by clients to create original watercolour paintings of their wedding venues and locations — particularly those hosted in iconic places like Lake Louise or the Fairmont Banff Springs — which the couples will then have printed on thank-you cards or guest favours for a bespoke take-home item.

“With a smaller wedding, say 50 to 75 people, it gives the couple more flexibility to make these selections,” says Wong.

Brides are responding to rising costs with an open mind about their dresses. Amber Stephen of Stephen Cleaners says her business is cleaning significantly more gowns as more brides purchase their dresses second-hand, off-the-rack or at sample sales. Stephen has also noticed more brides having their gowns cleaned immediately after the wedding in order to sell or consign them.

FUNDING THE FUTURE

Even in the best economic times, as Ferguson points out, money is a touchy subject. She recommends couples complete a “holistic financial overview,” before uniting in marriage and planning a wedding, and suggests couples consider talking to a financial expert to discuss things like what their immediate financial goals are after the wedding is done.

“The worst thing that could happen is for you to make a decision and feel financial remorse on

one of the biggest celebrations of your journey as a couple,” Ferguson says.

While there seems to be a consensus that smaller weddings are having their moment, that’s not to say that big weddings have disappeared entirely — especially when factoring in cultural wedding norms, such as those in the South Asian community. But even here, you’ll find a shift in thinking: The New York Times published “Lavish Indian Weddings Are Back and Bigger Than Ever” just months before a South Asian-American publication, The Juggernaut, declared that “The Big Fat South Asian Wedding is Shrinking.”

But, whether the wedding is big or small, across the board, it appears increasingly more acceptable for couples to justify bucking tradition in favour of affordability —and for families to be okay with that.

“[The current generation] really wants to obtain the same things that their parents and their grandparents did,” Ferguson says.

“Although the economy has really changed, their goals and dreams haven’t.”

2024

CALGARY’S BEST WEDDING SERVICES

BRIDE ATTIRE

WINNER

Durand Bridal durandbridal.com, @durandbridal

RUNNERS-UP

Blush & Raven blushandraven.com, @blushandravenyyc

The Bridal Boutique thebridalboutique.ca, @thebridalboutiqueyyc

Lovenote Bride lovenotebride.com, @lovenotebride Cameo & Cufflinks cameoandcufflinks.com, @cameoandcufflinks

BRIDAL PARTY ATTIRE

WINNER

Park & Fifth parkandfifthco.com, @parkandfifthco

RUNNERS-UP

Adorn Boutique adornboutique.ca, @adorncalgary

The Bridal Centre bridalcentre.com, @thebridalcentre

David’s Bridal davidsbridal.ca, @davidsbridalcalgary Maide

@maidethelabel

UNDERGARMENTS

WINNER

Knickers ‘N Lace knickersnlace.net, @knickersnlace

RUNNERS-UP

Body by Chai bodybychai.com, @bodybychai Bratopia bratopia.ca, @bratopiastore

La Vie en Rose lavieenrose.com, @lavieenrose

Cream Lingerie creambodyandbath.com, @creamlingerie

GROOM/ GROOMSMEN ATTIRE

WINNER

Fari Hara

farihara.com, @fari_hara

RUNNERS-UP

Atelier by Ensemble atelierbyensemble.com

Ed Williams Mens Wear ewmw.ca, @ewmenswear

Harry Rosen harryrosen.com, @harryroseninc Indochino indochino.com, @indochino

HAIR

WINNER

Sapphire Studio Ltd. @sapphirestudioltd

RUNNERS-UP

RJ Styles Co. rjstylesco.com, @rjstylesco Bellamore Beauty bellamorebeauty.ca, @bellamorebeauty Hair & Make Up by Robin Calgary hairandmakeupbyrobin.ca, @hairandmakeupbyrobin_ Bare Beauty shopbarebeauty.com, @barebeauty___

MAKEUP

WINNER

Glow Beauty bookglowbeauty.com, @bookglowbeauty

RUNNERS-UP

Sapphire Studio Ltd. @sapphirestudioltd

DE Makeup Artistry demakeupartistry.com, @danaenglandmua

Cassandra Maria Makeup cassandramariamakeup.com, @cassandramariamakeup

BEST FLORALS WINNER: FLOWERS BY JANIE.

For the fourth year running, Avenue readers nominated and then cast their votes for their favourite wedding service providers via an online ballot. Here are this year’s winners and runners-up, the local businesses that make our special days extra special.

Amplified Artistry amplifiedartistry.ca, @amplifiedartistry

NAILS WINNER

Butter Beauty Parlour butterbeautyparlour.com @butterbeautyparlouryyc

RUNNERS-UP

Esmé Beauty Boutique esmebeautiful.com, @esmebeautiful Sarah Thompson Spa sarahthompsonspa.com, @sarahthompson_spa Distilled Beauty Bar distilledbeautybar.com, @distilled_beautybaryyc MetroPolish 17 metropolish17.com, @metropolish17

JEWELLERY/ ACCESSORIES

WINNER

Joanna Bisley Designs joannabisleydesigns.com, @joannabisleydesigns

RUNNERS-UP

Adorn Boutique adornboutique.ca, @adorncalgary The Cinder & Sage Loft cinderandsage.com, @cinderandsage Durand Bridal durandbridal.com, @durandbridal Rococo Brides rococobrides.com, @rococobrides

WEDDING/ ENGAGEMENT RINGS

WINNER

Ellinor V. Stenroos evstenroos.com, @ellinorstenroos

RUNNERS-UP

Alberta Diamond Exchange abdiamond.ca, @adx_diamonds Spence Diamonds spencediamonds.com, @shopspence Calgary Jewellery calgaryjewellery.com, @calgaryjewellery Maxime’s maximes.ca, @maximes_yyc

CAKE/DESSERTS

WINNER

Kakes & Kanvas kakesandkanvas.com, @kakesandkanvas

RUNNERS-UP

Bake My Day bakemydaycalgary.com, @bakemydayyyc Black Dog Bakery blackdogbakery.ca, @blackdog_bakery Modern Bake modernbakeyyc.com, @modernbake Gold Box Bakery goldboxbakery.com, @goldboxbakery

CATERER

WINNER

Fork + Farm Catered Events forkandfarmcatering.com, @forkandfarmyyc

RUNNERS-UP

La Belle Graze labellegraze.com, @labellegraze Brie & Banquet Wild Catering Co. brieandbanquet.com, @brieandbanquet

An Affair To Remember anaffair.com, @affairtoremember Food Works Craft Catering food-works.ca, @foodworksyyc

DANCE LESSONS

WINNER

Dancesport MD dancesportmd.ca

RUNNERS-UP

Free Spirit Dance freespiritdance.ca, @freespiritdnc Christifer Duxbury Dance Collective cddancecollective.com, @cddancecollective Arthur Murray Dance Studio arthurmurraycalgary.ca, @arthurmurrayyyc Decidedly Jazz Danceworks decidedlyjazz.com, @decidedlyjazz

THIS PAGE: GROOM ATTIRE PHOTO BY DIMITRI ASPINALL; CATERING PHOTO COURTESY OF FORK + FARM; JEWELLERY PHOTO BY TARA WHITTAKER; OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTO BY HEIDRICH PHOTOGRAPHY

BEST GROOM/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE WINNER: FARI HARA.

BEST CATERER WINNER: FORK + FARM CATERED EVENTS.

BEST JEWELLERY/ACCESSORIES WINNER: JOANNA BISLEY DESIGNS.

DECOR AND RENTALS

WINNER

Coven Creative covencreative.ca, @coven.creative

RUNNERS-UP

Chair Flair Inc. chairflair.ca, @chairflair

Orange Trunk Vintage Styling & Rentals orangetrunk.ca, @orangetrunk Modern Rentals modernrentals.ca, @modernrentals.ca

Lavish Canvas lavishcanvas.com, @lavishcanvas

DRYCLEANING/ PRESERVATION

WINNER

Stephen Cleaners stephencleaners.ca, @stephencleanersinc

RUNNERS-UP

Fishman’s Personal Care Cleaners fishmans.ca, @fishmansyyc Mari’s Bridal Alterations maris-bridal.ca, @marisbridal

Dolphin Dry Cleaners dolphincleaners.com, @dolphincleaners Anika’s Alterations facebook.com/AnikasAlterations, @anikasalterations

FLORALS

WINNER

Flowers by Janie flowersbyjanie.com, @flowersbyjanie

RUNNERS-UP

Small Flower Floral Studio smallflower.ca, @smallflowerfloralstudio Little Daisy Florals littledaisyflorals.com, @little_daisy_flower_garden

Paper + Petals catherinalovespetals.ca, @catherinalovespetals

Hue Florals hueflorals.com, @hue.florals

GIFT REGISTRY SERVICES

WINNER

Crate and Barrel crateandbarrel.ca @crateandbarrel

RUNNERS-UP

Hudson’s Bay thebay.com, @hudsonsbay

Rubaiyat

rubaiyatcalgary.com, @rubaiyatgallery Britannia Kitchen & Home britanniahome.ca, @britannia_home

INVITATIONS

WINNER

Paper + Petals catherinalovespetals.ca, @catherinalovespetals

RUNNERS-UP

Paper Panache Invitations & Design panacheinvitations.ca, @paper.panache

Debbie Wong Design

debbiewongdesign.com, @debbiewongdesign

The Social Page Design Studio thesocialpage.ca, @thesocialpagedesignstudio Lovesky Design loveskydesign.ca, @loveskydesign

MOBILE BAR SERVICE

WINNER

The Prosecco Cart Inc. proseccocart.ca, @theproseccocart

RUNNERS-UP

The Wildflower Wandering Bar thewildflower.ca, @the.wildflower.bar WanderBar Travelling Taps wanderbar.ca, @wanderbaryyc Suds & Sodas sudsandsodas.com, @sudsandsodas True Spirits Mobile Bar truespiritsmobilebar.com, @truespiritsmobilebar

BAND/SOLOIST

WINNER

Cool Sax’n’Keys coolsaxnkeys.com, @coolsaxnkeys

RUNNERS-UP

Uptown Strings uptownstrings.com, @uptown.strings Highly Strung @highlystrungharpists

Mode Music (formerly Dos Music) modemusic.ca, @modemusicyyc

Palladio Music palladiomusic.ca, @palladiomusic

DJ OR AV SERVICE

WINNER

Hi Tech Productions hitechproductions.ca, @hitechyyc

RUNNERS-UP

Split Circuit Sound splitcircuitsound.com, @splitcircuitsound

Vegas Entertainment vegasthedj.com, @vegasthedj

Pez Productions pezproductions.ca, @pezproductions

Edge Entertainment edgeentertainment.ca, @yycedgeentertainment

OFFICIANT

WINNER

Hitched By Fuzz hitchedbyfuzz.ca, @hitchedbyfuzz

RUNNERS-UP

Sue Deyell professionalmc.ca, @suedeyell

Tamara Jones weddingsbytamara.com, @tamarajuju

Jane Paterson (JP Weddings) jpweddingsyyc.com, @jpweddingsyyc

PHOTOGRAPHER

WINNER

Dana Cole Photography danacolephotography.com, @thedana

RUNNERS-UP

Tkshotz Photography tkshotz.com, @tkshotz

Revel Photography & Films revelphotography.ca, @revelphotography.ca

Ritz Photo and Film ritzphotoandfilm.com, @rtizphotoandfilm

Nora Hanako Photography norahanakophotography.com, @norahanako

PHOTO BY DANA COLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Judy Wiltse (Vows by Judy) vowsbyjudy.ca, @vowsbyjudy

BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER WINNER: DANA COLE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Curated wedding design, planning, and coordination

Photo: Lily & Grey Photo Co.

VIDEOGRAPHER

WINNER

Castaño Films castanomedia.com, @castanofilms

RUNNERS-UP

Ritz Photo And Film ritzphotoandfilm.com, @rtizphotoandfilm Lewis & Co. lewisandco.ca, @thelewisandco

Parfait Productions parfaitweddings.com, @parfaitproductions

Tkshotz Productions tkshotz.com, @tkshotz

INDOOR VENUE (UNDER 100 GUESTS)

WINNER

The Brownstone thebrownstoneyyc.com, @thebrownstoneyyc

RUNNERS-UP

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo calgaryzoo.com, @thecalgaryzoo

Venue 308 venue308.com, @venue308yyc

Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant bvrrestaurant.com, @bowvalleyrancherestaurant River Café river-cafe.com, @rivercafeyyc

The Lake House lakehousecalgary.com, @thelakehouseyyc

Delta Hotels

by Marriott Calgary Downtown marriott.com, @deltahotelcalgarydowntown

Deane House deanehouse.com, @deanehouseyyc

Flores & Pine floresandpine.com, @floresandpine

The Inn on Officers’ Garden theinncalgary.com, @theinnyyc

INDOOR VENUE (OVER 100 GUESTS)

WINNER

Azuridge Estate Hotel azuridgehotel.com, @azuridge

RUNNERS-UP

The Brownstone thebrownstoneyyc.com, @thebrownstoneyyc

Heritage Park heritagepark.ca, @heritageparkyyc

The Lake House lakehousecalgary.com, @thelakehouseyyc

Venue 308 venue308.com, @venue308yyc

Fairmont Palliser fairmont.com/palliser-calgary, @fairmontpalliser

Hudson

oliverbonacini.com/event-venues/hudson, @hudsonyyc

The Commons thecommonscalgary.com, @thecommonsyyc

Valley Ridge Golf Club valleyridgegolf.com, @valleyridgegolfclub

Carriage House Inn carriagehouse.net, @carriagehouseyyc

OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUE

WINNER

Azuridge Estate Hotel azuridgehotel.com, @azuridge

RUNNERS-UP

Meadow Muse Pavillion meadowmuse.ca, @meadowmuseyyc Stargazer by Shoe & Canoe (Delta Calgary Downtown) shoeandcanoe.ca

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo calgaryzoo.com, @thecalgaryzoo

Deane House deanehouse.com, @deanehouseyyc

The Gathered thegathered.ca, @the.gathered Silvertip Resort silvertipresort.com, @silvertipresort Flores & Pine floresandpine.com, @floresandpine

Spruce Meadows sprucemeadows.com, @spruce_meadows

Thanksgiving Ranch thanksgivingranch.ca, @thanksgivingranch

UNIQUE VENUE

WINNER

Park by Sidewalk Citizen parkbysidewalk.com, @parkbysidewalk

RUNNERS-UP

Willow Hill Lodge willowhilllodge.ca, @willow_hill_lodge Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo calgaryzoo.com, @thecalgaryzoo

Eau Claire Distillery Speakeasy eauclairedistillery.ca @eauclairecraft

Sub Rosa subrosayyc.com, @subrosayyc

WEDDING FAVOURS

WINNER

Pure Portrait Photobooth calgaryphotobooth.ca, @pureportraitbooth

RUNNERS-UP

Rob Milton Caricature Artist robmiltoncreations.com, @robmiltoncreations Our Lavish Guests ourlavishguests.com, @ourlavishguests

Mirage Photo Booth miragephotobooth.ca, @mirageyyc Oxeye Floral Co. oxeyefloralco.com, @oxeyefloralco

WEDDING PLANNER

WINNER

Blush & Co. blushandcoevents.com, @blushandcoevents

RUNNERS-UP

CNC Event Design cnceventdesign.com, @cnceventdesign Megan Sawchuk Weddings megansawchukweddings.ca, @megansawchukweddings Day of Diva Planning & Coordination dayofdiva.ca, @thedayofdiva

Fiore Fine Events fiorefineevents.com, @fiorefineevents

BEST UNIQUE VENUE WINNER: PARK BY SIDEWALK CITIZEN.

BEST WEDDING PLANNER WINNER: BLUSH & CO.

You Are Here

77th Avenue S.E. at Heritage Drive

The Shooting Edge

Established in 2000, Calgary’s first and largest indoor shooting range offers 30,000 square feet of range, retail, training and special event facilities. There are 16 indoor shooting lanes across three bays, including the only indoor 50-yard rifle bay in the city. Those who don’t shoot can try laser axe-throwing in the axe-throwing entertainment centre, which has six lanes and a choice of more than 20 games.

Calgary Farmers’ Market South

This bustling Calgary Farmers’ Market location welcomes more than 1 million visitors annually. There are 78 vendors offering a range of goods, including fresh and prepared foods, artworks, jewellery and other items. The 55,000-square-foot space encompasses a food hall with seating for 300, a kids’ play area (a.k.a. the “Barnyard”) and a licensed outdoor patio open during the summer.

The Laundry Store

This family-owned appliance retailer specializes in selling, delivering and installing a range of North American and European appliance brands of washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, ranges and more. It promises a relaxing showroom and shopping experience hosted by a team of no-commission product specialists.

Romero Distilling Co.

Father-son duo Diego and Tomas Romero operate this craft distillery and cocktail bar specializing in rum and sugarcane spirits, including an award-winning bourbon-barrelaged dark rum. In 2022, Romero Distilling set a Guinness World Record for mixing the world’s largest Cuba libre cocktail, at 1,006 litres. Another fun fact: Wrestling legend Bret “The Hitman” Hart is a partner.

Lamborghini Calgary

A division of Grand Touring Automobiles Calgary, which owns auto dealerships across Canada, this dealership and showroom opened in 2015. The showroom is closed for renovations until spring, while the dealership operates temporarily out of the nearby Aston Martin/Bentley dealership. When it reopens, Lamborghini will occupy the main floor with Rolls Royce on the upper. –Tsering Asha

GAIN WITH US

YMCA Calgary is dedicated to igniting the potential in others by eliminating obstacles and fostering safe, inclusive spaces where everyone belongs.

As a collective of certified health and wellness professionals, we empathize with the common January routine. There's a drive for ambitious goals, a readiness to sacrifice indulgent foods, but come mid-February, the gap between our resolutions and our actions often widens.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone, and it's not about lacking commitment or willpower. You've got what it takes! However, solely focusing on losing can lead to a loss of motivation and the goal itself.

So how do we stay on track? We redefine our resolutions!

Instead of losing, we focus on gaining:

Strength:

Elevate your metabolism while protecting your bones and joints.

Mobility:

Move freely and comfortably, whether you’re hiking to the summit or building LEGO on the floor.

Confidence:

Energy, Focus, Clarity:

Carry yourself with confidence in every step. Unlock vitality in your everyday life.

Let’s make 2024 all about gaining more in life and creating lasting changes!

Simple steps to start gaining more in your life

Start by adding more:

Water:

Tailor your water intake to meet your personal needs. Calculate this by taking half your body weight and dividing it by 2, i.e., 150 lbs / 2 75 ounces of water a day.

Steps:

Begin by tracking your steps and gradually increase your daily step count by 1,000 until you hit 10,000 steps consistently every day.

Strength Sessions:

Commit to 2 - 3 30-minute strength workouts a week. Join our strength-focused group fitness classes to help motivate you, or leverage bodyweight exercises at home.

Mindfulness Moments:

Natural Foods:

Read, meditate, practice yoga, or disconnect from technology and dive into music. Choose foods grown and raised from our earth, embracing their natural goodness.

Need a little support?

We’re here to help you. Stop by one of our YMCA branches and ask us about the Y Thrive program, available to all YMCA members at no extra cost!