Spencer Magazine's current issue WINTER 2022/23

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GOTSTYLE

DRESS BETTER. DO BETTER. Award-winning retail store Made-to-Measure suiting for men & women Corporate dinners with a private chef and wine pairings Private styling appointments Over 30 international and local brands curated in store Gotstyle.Com

21 Trinity St, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4 3

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Hair and Beauty Matters?

All People, All In?

132 Cumberland Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1A6 8

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Since 1968 the creative force of Raffaello Salon has crafted cutting-edge hair for thousands of Torontonians with the capacity to influence the ever changing needs of individuals, conservatives, eccentrics and the fashion conscious.

Artistic Creative Director, Christopher Marrello Colour Director, Mellissa Marrello Founder, Raffaello Marrello Welcome to Raffaello Salon and Spa where you will experience relaxation and restoration. Our first-class, quality services include: t Personalized Haircuts & Style for Women and Men t Colour Services: Hair Colour, Highlights, Body Waves, Thermo Straightening t Complete Skin Care: Advanced Services with Skin Care Specialists t Spa Services: Body Waxing, Manicure, Pedicure, Makeup Application, Lash Extensions

416-9 29 -00219 www.raffaellosalon.com Spencer

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Credits

C EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Therasa A. McLennan MANAGING EDITOR

Rose Marie Bresolin

CREATIVE/PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR SENIOR EDITOR STYLE EDITOR ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR MUSIC EDITOR LIFESTYLE EDITOR SPIRITS EDITORS HEALTH & BEAUTY EDITOR TRAVEL EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGN

Jonathan Levy Steve Pryce Roger Lamoureux Joanne McLennan Steve Falusi Darren Dobson Blair Phillips, Davin De Kergommeaux Paola Ortiz Harlen Troost Vesuvius Bay Productions

PUBLISHER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Joseph Edward Schur

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER CONTROLLER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR SPECIAL EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHER SUBSCRIPTION & CIRCULATION MANAGER

Harlen Troost Hasnain Chhatriwala, CPA Marcia Reid Richard Emannuel Foltys Maggie Habieda Andrew Torres

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, CORRESPONDENTS, EDITORS and PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hannah Alper, Vian Andrews, Will Bartlett, Evens Belleus, Analucia Beltran, Joey Benoliel, Greg Benz, Rose Marie Bresolin, Travisha Budder, Camden, Steep Daniels, Darren Dobson, Logan Ford, Tara Giles, Sharon Hansen, Hozefa Hararwala, Maddie Hession, Maria Hatzis, Ranya Hatzis, Aaron Ignacio, Davin De Kergommeaux, Brittany Krystantos, Todd Monk, Estelle Ohayon, Paola Ortiz, Heidi von Palleske, Blair Phillips, Vasili Prangikos, Steve Pryce, Marcia Reid, Fanny Rice, Jadyn Rylee, Joseph Edward Schur, Sonny, Terry Tomlinson, Harlen Troost, Stephen Wallis

©2022 SPENCER MAGAZINE LIMITED | All Rights Reserved

Spencer Magazine is published in print + "Limited Edition" Hardcover Issues. ISSN 2563-5395 (Print) ISSN 2563-5409 (Online)

ADVERTISING & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP INQUIRIES

Acceptance of ad placement in Spencer and/or subsidiaries is at the discretion of the Publisher. To reach our sales department or one of our strategic partnership coordinators, call (800) 719-2468 SINGLE COPY SALES & SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES 1-800-719-2468

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SPENCER welcomes your comments. Please send your "Letters to the Editor" to: Spencer Magazine Limited, 1200 Bay Street, Suite 202, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 1J2 or email us at: editor@spencer-magazine.com The Publisher cannot be held responsible for loss of, or damage to, unsolicited material.

All materials for editorial consideration must include a self-addressed envelope and return postage.

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Publisher’s LETTER

“The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” Mahatma Gandhi

I

don’t hug trees. I have no idea what “kumbaya” actually means, nor do I really care. I’m just a cigar smokin’ and whisky drinkin’ kind of guy who likes hockey and football, and on a good day, cricket. By Canadian standards, fairly average, I suppose. Kinda hard on the outside, but soft where it counts.

Which brings me to compassion.

There's a lot of suffering in our world right now. I refuse to turn a blind eye to the challenges that humanity is facing. Whether on a local, community level, or addressing global issues, we have the power, within us all, to consider compassion as a great response, collectively, to resolving the issues that plague us.

In the indomitable spirit of the Spencer Team, we pledge to foster compassion in our editorial content, by bringing attention and awareness through our stories.

Oh yeah, by the way, I actually have hugged a tree. It was an experiment (honestly!) to determine if there was any validity with the claim that it increases levels of hormone oxytoxin. Did it work? Ask me the next time we run into each other.

We are Spencer, and we are the World.

Joseph Edward Schur Publisher & CEO joseph.schur@spencer-magazine.com

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Spencer Contents Spencer's World

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SPENCER e-Clips

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KLAUDIA ZINATY

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THE 2022 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARDS

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THE ROSE PICNIC

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THE "CREATOR'S PARTY" at TIFF '22

MTM Men's 46mm RAD Radiation Tech Wristwatch; Urban Elegant by D-Snow; Cartier Black Horn Sunglasses; Woodpecker Coats; Gravity Jet Suits; Gutenberg Printing Press; The Prague Astronomical Clock; Tumi Innovations Luggage; Tile by Life360 Trackers; Acrodo Space Saver Compression Bags; Soarigami Airplane Portable Armrest; Viking Expedition Ships; Canadian Trivia.

Feature Cover Story: "Retracting the Glass Ceiling."

By Rose Marie Bresolin At the luxurious Shangra-La Hotel in Toronto, Canada

By Harlen Troost Spencer was there! Celebrating premium wines, food, fashion and more. By Joseph Edward Schur Produced in partnership between Hollywood North and the Canadian International Fashion Film Festival.

50 ON THE COVER KLAUDIA ZINATY, Founder and President of the Women Empowerment Awards.

Read Klaudia's Festure Interview by Rose Marie Bresolin (Page 36).

Creative Director: Jonathan Levy Art Director: Haris Sardar Photographer: Jonathan Levy Make-up: Karyme With Joseph Edward Schur

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SPENCER CONTENTS

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Spencer Style 54

DE-MYSTIFYING THE METAVERSE AND DIGITAL FASHION Just when you thought you had grasped the most recent concept, another one rapidbly emerges. By Estelle Ohayon

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A CONVERSATION WITH MARIE COPPS

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NEW FASHION STYLE

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ANDREW BANK

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OOOBABY

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LIFESTYLE TORONTO PRESENTS "RIWAYAT"

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SALON DEW

Spencer Feature Interview with the acclaimed artist and designer. By Maddie Hession.

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A comprehensive self-discovery guide. By Marie Copps Exclusive: Spencer Feature Interview with Designer Andrew Bank "Creating a Culture." By Joseph Edward Schur The new generation of handbags, designed in Canada and handcrafted with luxurious Italian leather.

Spectacular Runway Show and Exhibition, held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, celebrating the beauty of South Asian couturiers and artisans. By Joseph Edward Schur

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Still creating looks "As Fresh As Dew" in Yorkville, Canada.

By Rose Marie Bresolin

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SPENCER CONTENTS

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Arts & Culture 96

HARIS SARDAR: SPENCER'S FEATURED ARTIST He is an actuary by day, and a referential surrealist by night. Meet one of the most incredible artists in Canada.

By Joseph Edward Schur

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THE BODO STORY: JOURNEY OF AN ARTIST

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HOPE RISES LIKE A PHOENIX...

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DEFINING THE GREAT CANADIAN BLOCKBUSTER

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LYNNE STOLTZ: "SONS 2 THE GRAVE"

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CARMEN BY DIRECTOR VALERIE BUHAGIAR

Heralded as a painter, sculptor, set designer, music editor, and digital wizard. By Harlen Troost

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From the ashes of shattered dreams. NFTs, Tokens and the Metaverse. By Estelle Ohayon A term that you have likely never heard. Or probably never will in your lifetime. Special to Spencer Magazine.

OPED by Director Stephen Wallis Spencer interviews the Novelist, Screenwriter, Filmmaker on her journey producing this extraordinary feature film.

By Steve Pryce

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Feature Film Review. Starring Natascha McElhone, Steven Love, and introducing Michela Farrugia. By Steve Pryce

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SPENCER CONTENTS

Spencer Lifestyle 126

MUSIC: A FAMILY ADVENTURE, AND MORE...

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CHEF ROLAND TOROK-DUCHARME

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FROM CERES TO MATSUTAKES: CANADIAN SPIRITS TELL A STORY

Spencer Special Series featuring the Giles family.

By Tara Giles.

The "Chef de Cuisine" at 1 Hotel Toronto, shares with us his passion for creating seasonal dishes while striving towards a zero-waste operation. By Joseph Edward Schur

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Featuring Bearface Matsutake Whisky, Sons of Vancouver Distillery's Chili Vodka, Dubh Glas Distillery's Noteworthy Gin, Crown Royal Fine Deluxe Canadian Whisky, and Alberta Distillers Ltd. Alberta Pure Vodka. By Blair Phillips and Davin De Kergommeaux

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HONDA HR-V

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CZINGER 21C: 0 to 60 in 1.9 SECONDS

It's the Honda of compact crossovers. Read this detailed review. By Steve Pryce

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MIZORAM

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ASK CAPTAIN JOEY

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SPENCER'S RESOURCE DIRECTORY

And the lost tribes of Israel. By Subhasish Chakraborty For first-class yachting and travel experiences... on the water and in the air. By Captain Joey Benoliel

The first production car, representing the future of human AI design and sustainable systems. By Daren Dobson

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Spencer's

World

Spencer's e-Clips; Klaudia Zinaty's Cover Feature: Retracting the Glass Ceiling; The 2022 Women Empowerment Awards; The Rose Picnic; The "Creator's Party" at TIFF '22

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e-Clips "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

Albert Einstein That's why at Spencer Magazine, we embrace the imagination... leading to new ideas, inventions, great products, design and so much more. We encourage creativity! Here's our curated collection of old & new:

MTM Men's 46mm RAD Radiation Technology Quartz Strap or Bracelet Watch

Urban Elegant by D-Snow Elegance Aroma Canada Art by D-Snow @artbydsnow Every Machine has a Unique Design

$1,600.00 CAD https://www.elegancearoma.com Diogo Neves, also know by his artist name D-Snow, is an artist born and raised in São Paulo Brazil who currently resides in Toronto. The artist started his career early in his teens in Brazil with graffiti street art that grew into a passion.

With a military-grade Geiger counter and two LED displays to indicate exposure to gamma radiation, this watch utilizes technological advancements that go above and beyond the call of duty. The accuracy and precision of its measurements will keep its wearer safe and in-

His art is a mix of urban with a twist of modern. He uses a variety of materials to make his paintings stand out such as spray paint, acrylic, prints, leather, epoxies, and crystals. D-Snow has also created murals inside trending restaurants around the city, Zebu Steak and Bar, Santorini Estiatorio and The Kings Arms, Parisco and Mother Tongue to name a few. Snow’s work has been delivered to Neymar Jr, Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Fetty Wap, Sean Paul, Tyrone Rex Edwards, Bruno Caboclo, James Johnson, Jeremy Bieber, Ovo40 and Drake.

formed while its titanium case protects its technologies. A reading of the time joins the features of this watch for maximum effectiveness.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Movement: Quartz Movement Country of Origin: Switzerland Case Measurements: 46mm Thickness: 20mm Case Material: Titanium Bezel: Unidirectional rotating Crystal: Sapphire Dial Material: Brass Crown: Screw down with function pushers Complications: 6:00 - Digital window Bracelet: Titanium Bracelet Measurements: 7-1/2" L x 24mm W Strap: Nylon or rubber Strap Measurements: Nylon: 11-1/2" L x 24mm W Rubber: 9-1/2" L x 24mm W Clasp: Nylon: Buckle Rubber: Buckle Titanium: Deployant Water Resistance: 10 ATM - 100 meters - 330 feet Watch Country of Origin: United States

$ 1,945.00 USD

Cartier Black Horn Sunglasses, Gold Detail, Gradient Grey Lens The Iconic Cartier Black Buffalo Horn Sunglasses, aka black buffs, with Gold Detail and Gradient Grey Lenses. The intricate detail embodies the everlasting luxury and craftsmanship of Cartier.

$4,000.00 CAD Cartier SKU: CT0049O-001 See Darren in Yorkville at 51 - 162 Cumberland Street, Toronto, ON

Model Number Black rubber 2: RADSBKR2MTM

(416) 961-3000 darren@aeomeyewear.com

https://www.shophq.com

Specializing in Gucci, Balmain, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Saint Laurent, Maybach, Tiffany & Co., Pomellato, Lapima and more.

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e-Clips

WOODPECKER: A Splash of Gold to Embrace Winter in Luxurious Style and Comfort Will Poho, the founder of Moose Knuckles, launched his Woodpecker brand as a cruelty-free vegan line of outerwear. Blending style and comfort with warmth and sustainability. Featured above (with Jonathan Levy, Spencer's Photography/Creative Director) is Woodpecker's new "Gold Collection" for 2023. Lightweight, moisture resistant and breathable for your next trip hanging with polar bears in Canada's far north.

$795.00 CAD Men's Bumnester 3/4 Coat in Gold So, how many Influencers wear Woodpecker? See for yourself: Visit www.woodpeckercoats.com

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e-Clips Finally, progress in creating a real Jet Suit!

Gravity Industries designs, builds and flies Jet Suits, pioneering a new era of human flight. The company was founded to challenge perceived boundaries in human aviation and to inspire others to dare to ask, “What if?"

Launched in March 2017, the business secured $650,000 investment within the first two months from Tim & Adam Draper. Tim is best known for his early investments in Baidu Inc., Tesla and Skype.

Founder and Chief Test Pilot, Richard Browning, brought together cutting-edge technology to reimagine human flight, forging an elegant partnership between mind, body and machine. This vision led to the creation of the world's first patented Jet Suit.

The Jet Suit currently can perform speeds in excess of 80 mph and is technically capable of reaching an altitude of 12,000 ft (although for safety purposes it is flown lower). The company’s focus is on the relentless evolution of the technology and bringing this inspirational spectacle to live audiences all over the world and scaling the numerous professional applications of this technology. Gravity has built a successful business spanning Search & Rescue, paramedic, entertainment and defense applications, as well as a flight training school, which is now welcoming clients to experience the unforgettable of learning to fly a Jet Suit (on a safety tether) at the world-renowned Goodwood Estate in the UK and at Gravity’s locations in the U.S. At Future Lab 2021 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Gravity Industries presented their brand new eSuit concept – the world’s first electric Jet Suit. Made from carbon fibre, aluminium and 3D printed polypropylene – to achieve great strength and minimal weight – and delivering 150 kg of thrust, which consumes 105kW when at full throttle, the eSuit uses high-discharge LiPo batteries capable of outputting immense power at a moment’s notice. The Gravity eSuit is a raw prototype, right at the edge of innovation.

This is a starting point for Gravity Industries, which will embrace ongoing advances in battery and motor technology. Most recently, they showcased the eSuit for Jeff Bezos personally (March 2022).

https://gravity.co

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e-Clips

The Gutenberg Printing Press - 1440 Gutenberg didn't actually invent printing as we know it. The unsung heroes were really the Chinese and Koreans with their moveable type. However, the Gutenberg Bible, for which Gutenberg is known, was printed in Mainz in 1455 with his associates, Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer. Only 48 copies are known to have survived, of which 12 are printed on vellum and 36 on paper. Twenty are complete, two of them at the British Library, one printed on paper and one printed on vellum.

The Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj - 1410

One could argue that it was truly a time of enlightenment.

It is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still operating.

First installed in 1410, this medieval astronomical clock is located in Prague, Czech Republic.

Mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall, the clock has three components.

The astronomical dial, representing the positions of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details.

The Walk of the Apostles, a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures, notably a figure of a skeleton, representing Death.

A calendar dial, with medallions representing the months.

The mechanical clock and astronomical dial are the oldest part of The Orloj.

The clock can tell the time, show various zodiacal and astronomical details, provide dates and present theater to it’s viewers through the Walk of the Apostles.

https://prague.eu/staromestskaradnice

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Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth ll

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg 1966 photograph by Yousuf Karsh Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and 15 at the time of her death.

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e-Clips

ACRODO Space Saver Compression Bags Frustration-Free Packing.

$53.00 CAD - 10 Pack B01960PY96 https://www.amazon.ca Description

TUMI Innovations This expandable carry-on combines the hustle mentality of urban cities with TUMI innovation. The pigeon camouflage pattern is a nod to the iconic STAPLE pigeon and the streets of New York City.

• • • •

Increase storage space by 300% No vacuum or pump required Air and water tight Most durable plastic, at 70 micron thickness

$1,435.00 CAD Style: #1448671776

https://ca.tumi.com

Featuring: Aircraft Grade Aluminum Extension Handle; Tumi Tracer® The Tumi Tracer® is an exclusive, complimentary program that helps reunite Tumi customers with their lost or stolen items; Omega Closure System; X-Brace 45® Handle System. This patented, innovative handle tube system protects the telescopic handle of the travel case. The TUMI closure system significantly reduces the risk of damage to the zipper.

SOARIGAMI Airplane Portable Armrest Extender/Divider

$51.00 CAD 759016960

TILE by Life360

https://www.amazon.ca

The powerful tracker.

Find misplaced things nearby and far away with Tile trackers and the free Tile app that works on both iOS® and Android™.

$135.00 CAD - 4 Pack https://www.tile.com Description • • • • •

Up to 400 ft / 120 m -- Their longest Bluetooth range Up to 1-year replaceable battery Water-resistant Works with Android™ and Apple® devices.

Voice-assisted finding with Alexa, Google and Siri

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Soarigami is a patented portable armrest extender that works on most armrests, doubling the usable space. The origami-inspired design makes the device thin and sleek, perfect for the savvy traveler's carry-on. Made from recyclable plastic and leatherette parts (not paper). The device clips onto an existing armrest with 'clamps', and the screws adjust the width to accommodate a wide range of armrest sizes. Savvy insiders will know that the device can be turned around so the smaller side is facing the user; this allows for more space around the mid-section, which is always welcome! Soarigami is a perfect gift for anyone who travels, goes to the movies, or finds themselves stuck in an armrest war. To use, mutual permission between two passengers is always the way to go. Unfold savvier skies with Soarigami!

e-Clips

NEW VIKING EXPEDITION SHIPS Expedition Cruising: Sumarine Excursions Included.

Setting a course for adventure! Twin expedition ships Octantis and Polaris are offering sailings to Antarctica, coastal Canada, Patagonia and the Chilean fjords, as well as a few offbeat destinations, such as the Great Lakes. Itineraries start at eight days, but most are in the 12-24 day range. A free submarine ride may or may not be enough to set Viking apart in a crowded sea of expedition cruises, but the company is betting that brand loyalty, coupled with its clientele’s itch to explore, will make for smooth sailing in this latest ambitious undertaking.

https://www.vikingcruisescanada.com

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e-Clips

FIRST Documented Game of Baseball On June 4, 1838, a year before Abner Doubleday was credited with inventing baseball in Cooperstown, N.Y., two teams from Oxford and Zorra townships did battle in Beachville, Ontario in what’s now recognized as one of the first documented game in North American history.

CANADIAN TRIVIA Here's a bit of trivia for our Spencer readers. Over the years, Canadian ingenuity has shone brightly on the world stage. Let's start with Peanut Butter, created in 1884 by Canadian pharmacist Marcellus Gilmore Edson. And how about basketball? Yes, invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891. Imagine the world without telephones! Scottish-born and immigrant to Canada, Alexander Graham Bell imagined it first by inventing a practical telephone in 1875 while working in Boston. Think about this the next time you paint your house: Norman Breakey invented the paint roller around 1940 in Toronto, Ontario. And we bet that you didn't know this: the ugly, yet indispensible green polyethylene garbage bag was invented by Harry Wasylyk and Larry Hansen in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1950! Are you old enough to remember pagers? Invented by Alfred J. Gross, a wireless communications pioneer in Toronto, Ontario in 1949. He also invented the CB radio, the cordless telephone and shares credit for inventing the walkie-talkie with fellow Canadian Donald Hings in 1939.

Below: Cover of Superman #1 (summer 1939). Art by Canadian Joe Shuster.

1876: Alexander Graham Bell Patents the Telephone In 1870, Bell arrived in Canada with his family, purchasing a farm near Brantford, Ontario, now known as the Melville House.

Setting up a workshop in a carriage house on the property, Bell experimented with electricity and sound, leading to his revolutionary invention of the telephone. In 1877, at just 29 years old, Bell and his investors formed the Bell Telephone Company.

The Green Garbage Bag The first green garbage bag was invented in 1950 by Canadian inventors Harry Wasylyk Sr. and Larry Hansen. Their invention relied on a low-density polyethylene material.

They successfully created their first green garbage bag in Wasylyk's home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. About 10 years later, Wasylyk and Hansen agreed to sell their invention to Union Carbide, manufactured under the brand name Glad Trash Bags.

IMAX: Image Maximum The Canadian-designed IMAX (Image MAXimum) format was created by filmmakers Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William C. Shaw. IMAX was able to record and project images in a much larger format and much higher resolution than conventional film systems.

CANADARM Anthony Zubrzycki, a design engineer at DSMA ATCON, while seconded to SPAR, originated the concept for the Canadarm End Effector, inspired by an elastic band around his fingers. Zubrzycki formally presented this concept to NASA officials.

Think of it as a 15-metre human arm with a wrist, elbow and shoulder.

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Photot Credit: Jonathan Levy

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SPENCER COVER FEATURE

Spencer Cover Feature

KLAUDIA ZINATY

retracting

the glass ceiling with

KLAUDIA ZINATY

By Rose Marie Bresolin

H

istory is a testament to the shift in the way that women are viewed by society and in the workplace. Tracked over a century, the change has been gradual. Nonetheless, the seed has taken. While societal response continues to be a mix of excitement, indifference and reluctance towards a change that is slowly making its print on how our future will evolve, what’s clear is that education can make a strong impact on our perception.

In the quest to learn what fuels the women who are moving an aged and rusted wheel forward, I returned to a person previously featured in Spencer Magazine to ask about her recent initiative. The interview that follows will take us into the motivation behind WOEA, an organization to raise awareness and advance the status of women. The overwhelming response being received by the Women Empowerment Awards created by Klaudia Zinaty would suggest that what started as an event is positioned to become a movement.

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SPENCER'S WORLD Yes, the experience was definitely an eye opener, but I was also aware that things had already begun to get better. Luckily there were women preceding me who pushed the bounds.

Still, the ratio of female Math students and teachers to male was far from balanced. And, that I later worked in marketing, media and events for the NBA in Canada clearly shows that other doors were slowly being pried open as well.

Rose Marie Bresolin: Klaudia, A check into your activities on social media quickly reveals that being a voice for women is not new to you. And more recently we see that you’re continuing the advocacy through WOEA. Tell us a little about how you came to develop this organization for which you are the President and CEO.

“The government

Klaudia Zinaty: Yes, I’m very excited about it! The purpose in creating the Women Empowerment Awards is to develop a platform to recognize and celebrate the diverse achievements of women in Canadian business. It started as an idea back in 2019, but at the time I was leading a non-profit organization in the fashion community and also a professor, teaching fashion, marketing, and public relations. When Covid hit, the bitter consequences were felt across every area of my work. It didn’t take long to see how it affected many other women, and that turned the idea of women empowerment into a mission for helping them through those challenging times and beyond. I began to develop a platform with my business partner, Michael Monaco where women could be recognized for their various achievements. The larger goal of course is to create a line of support that can be sustained.

I’m imagining that you would have done a ton of research to back up the need and gain more support before taking the idea to market. Were you surprised at some of your findings?

Absolutely. The government statistics were staggering. For example, there are over 19 million women and girls in Canada, representing about 50% of the total population, and of those over one million are self-employed as of 2018, accounting for 37% of all self-employed persons.

statistics were

staggering. For example, there are over 19 million women and girls in Canada, representing about 50% of the total population, and of those over one million

Timely indeed. Take us into the details of the Award giving; their categories and the selection process to determine winners. That can’t be easy.

are self-employed as of

It hasn’t been. Let me share that we were astounded at the response. The need is definitely out there. The nominations opened on International Women’s Day all across Canada and closed on June 1st. We broke it down to 10 categories from Leadership, Entrepreneur, Lifetime Achievement, Rising Star, Global Impact, Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur which includes a generous grant of $10k to the recipient, Mentorship, Businesswoman of the Year, Diversity Inclusivity and Equality, and Innovator. We had over 600 submissions across the categories, and they were narrowed down to 3 finalists in each category by our diverse panel of judges from different sectors and industries. Finalists will be announced in August and the recipients of the Awards will be formally acknowledged on stage at the upcoming live event at the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto on Sept 21.

2018, accounting for 37% of all

self-employed persons.”

Only 8.5% of the highest-paid positions in Canada’s top 100 listed companies are held by women. Close to 1 in 4 (23%) women are immigrants, and almost 1 in 4 (23%) women belong to groups designated as visible minorities, with indigenous women and girls making up 5% of the total female population in Canada.

Impressive! What life do you see for WOEA beyond that event?

When we look at the strong number of women in business, it’s astounding to find that they currently earn approximately 76.8 cents on every dollar compared to men in similar full-time positions, and female entrepreneurs earn approximately 58% less than their male counterparts.

This is only the beginning! We are building a community that is being expanded beyond the awards. It includes a structure of programs and initiatives that will help our generation of women and provide inspiration and mentorship for the next generation of young women. This already includes quarterly events, resources and access to angel investors, advice and mentorship, and the opportunity to connect with other incredible women for collaboration and education.

Ouch! But surely you would have had an inkling of the varying attitudes towards women, given that your degree and earlier career in teaching were in Math.

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When I think back to my early years, I’ve always seemed to pursue the more male dominated fields – mathematics, sports marketing, broadcasting. But we are seeing an increased representation of women in these areas including STEM careers, sports (the NBA Canada managing director is female which is encouraging to see.) Having a daughter of my own, I want her to have role models to look up to in every career and industry and to know that anything is possible, not limited by gender. We need to bridge the gap of inequality in traditionally defined male roles and continue to push for equal opportunity and pay.

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SPENCER'S WORLD Impressive! Let’s zero in on the event itself.

Renfrew as our Corporate Sponsor, not to mention our event management team Yellow House Events and all of our Associate Sponsors and Partners who have contributed wine, spirits, floral centerpieces, balloon décor, filtered water, dessert favours and so much more by female-owned and operated businesses which makes this event even more special.

Yes! We’ve built WOEA as a brand whose founding ambassadors have been selected from among strong, inspiring, diverse businesswomen. The awards are purposed to welcome and acclaim female leaders and entrepreneurs who have made an outstanding impact on our society, and empowered others to do the same.

And of course, to issue out a thanks to other greats before us, in their determination to break the ground that made this possible, and to the growing list of Sponsors that will keep the fire alive.

But you couldn’t have predicted the response! I know the event at Shangri-La has sold out, so what’s the plan for next year?

A larger venue for sure!

I’ve always been a firm believer that “we rise by lifting others” and the number of women who paved the way before us along with the women who support our organization because they believe in our mission and want to be a part of this movement has been such a humbling and inspiring experience. They say it takes a village, and I can tell you firsthand that this village is made of strong, powerful, brilliant, determined, resilient, empowering women and it will continue to grow as each year passes. I cannot wait!!

And I want to send out a thank you to all our supporters, partners, sponsors, media rep, and highlight their importance in sustaining the organization to ensure it is much farther reaching than a one-time event. The event, however could not have become a reality without the support of our Presenting Sponsor- Rogers and Suzanne Rogers - the Mantella Corporation with CMO Sylvia Mantella who in addition to being our Lead Sponsor, has generously provided the Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur Grant Award to the recipient - a $10,000 grant to help them further their business- Holt

Photot Credit: Jonathan Levy

To learn more about the organization, visit www.woea.ca

Klaudia taking a much deserved moment to relax!

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The

2022

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARDS

By Joseph Edward Schur

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oronto's luxurious Shangra-La Hotel offered the perfect venue for the inaugural Women Empowerment Awards on the evening of September 21st, 2022. The gala, co-hosted by wellness expert Sonia Jhas and Sportsnet's Danielle Michaud, brought together 250 of Toronto's elite to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Canadian women and their contributions in the areas of business, leadership and community service.

Upon arriving, guests enjoyed cocktails provided by sponsors Green Owl Vodka and vino from Sister's Run Wine. It was a great opportunity to network with some of the most powerful and accomplished women in the country. Of note, Suzanne Rogers, representing the gala's presenting sponsor, Rogers Communications Inc., along with lead sponsor Sylvia Mantella of the Mantella Corporation, graciously shared the red carpet.

Michael Monico with Klaudia Zinaty, Founder & President of the "Women Empowerment Awards"

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Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Following the reception, guests were ushered into the Queens Park Ballroom. The room was beautifully decorated, with each table featuring the most striking rose arrangements by Maragarita Oudalova. Whilst being engaged with the awards ceremony, celebrating the recipients of each category, we all enjoyed our first-class dinner.

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In my opinion, the most wonderful thing was to see how Klaudia Zinaty, the Founder and President of the Women Empowerment Awards, the person who invited us all to the gala, embraced the success of the event. As she states: "I’m a firm believer that we rise by lifting others and our mission is to create a platform for women to share their stories and experiences while recognizing these empowered women through the trailblazing impactful work they are doing to change the world and inspire others to do the same."

Of course, the "After Party" was something else! With many Toronto celebrities dropping by in support of the Women Empowerment Awards, it truly made for a spectacular evening.

Until next time... www.woea.ca

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The Women Empowerment Awards hosted their inaugural event at the Shangri-La Toronto, with over 250 Guests in attendance.

All Left to Right: 1. 250 Guests enjoyed dinner in the Ballroom. 2. Anna Lolomari and Francine Mbvoumbo. 3. Dori Tunstall, Fennella Bruce and Iris Simpson. 4. Co-hosts Danielle Michaud and Sonia Jhas. 5. Christi Himmelheber and Sangita Patel. 6. Christine Cruz Clarke. 7. Jeanne Beker. 8. James Milonas and Candice Sinclair. 9. Sylvia Mantella and Suzanne Rogers. 10. Valerie Pringle and Zabeen Hirji. 11. Jenna Bitove and Holly Miklas. 12. Christine Faulhaber. 13. Beckie Di Leo, Shannon Passero and Jennifer Harper.

Photo Credits: George Pimentel and Ernesto Distefano.

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RECIPIENTS OF THE 2022 Businesswoman of the Year Award FENNELLA BRUCE Founder, FKB Media Solutions

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Zabeen Hirji (Right) The world of business is full of talented, innovative leaders and entrepreneurs who run successful ventures. This award recognizes an individual who has shown dedication in achieving phenomenal success in business and continues to drive her business forward while fostering and encouraging female entrepreneurship.

@fkbmedia Category Finalists: Christine Faulhaber, Founder & CEO, Faulhaber Communications; Mary Jean Tully, Founder & CEO, Tully Luxury Travel

Leadership Award DR. LAURA DESVEAUX Founder and Executuve Director, Women Who Lead

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Sage Paul (Right) Leaders create leaders. This award recognizes an individual who is seen as an instrumental and influential leader in business or their community, demonstrating how their personal leadership has led to business growth and development, or how they have impacted the quality of life in their community.

@lauradesveaux Category Finalists: Reetu Gupta, Chairwoman, The Gupta Group; Ovie Onagbeboma, Founder, Canadian Black Nurses Alliance

Diversity, Equality & Inclusivity Award ASHLEY McKENZIE-BARNES Creative Director, D.PE Agency

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Muluba Habanyama (Left)

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Celebrating the diversity of ethnicities in the workplace, supporting colleagues with physical or mental health challenges, and for inclusion of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community, this award recognizes an individual with a continuous and long-term commitment to Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) within the workplace and community.

@ashleymckenziebarnes Category Finalists: Alexa Jovanovic, Founder, Aille; Amie Archibald-Varley, Health Equity Specialist

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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARDS Entrepreneur of the Year Award EMILY O'BRIEN Founder and CEO, Comeback Snacks

Exemplifying the ideals of entrepreneurship by running a successful start-up or being the driving force of a successful business (1-3 years).

This award recognizes an individual with a strong focus on vision, passion and strategic direction.

@comebacksnacks Category Finalists: Stephanie den Hollander, Phenomenally You Life Coaching; Jiordana Saade, CEO & Founder, The Mind-Full Clinic Inc.

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Patricia Jaggernauth (Right)

Mentorship Award BECKIE DI LEO Creative Director, 6ix Academy

Inspiring and providing guidance to others, this award recognizes mentors that go above and beyond, empowering other women to accomplish their goals and fostering the next generation of leaders.

@beckiedileo Category Finalists: Iris Simpson, Instructor, Toronto Metropolitan University; Francine Mbvoumbo, Founder & Strategic Leader

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Sangita Patel (Right)

Innovation Award IZZY CAMILLERI Founder, IZ Adaptive

Impacting the way they do business, working with others in product and service development, this award recognizes an individual who demonstrates significant innovations within the scope of business, which includes quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness or creativity.

@izadaptive Category Finalists: Patricia Drewnowska, Owner, Patricia's Cake Creations; Tatiana Soldatova, Principal, Strategic Design and Co-founder, Syllable Inc.

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Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Noelle von Tesmar (Right)

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RECIPIENTS OF THE 2022 Global Impact Award ALMAS JIWANI President & CEO, Emeritus UN Women Canada

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Raj Girn (Right) Impacting and inspiring women beyond our Canadian boundaries, this award recognizes the leadership, contributions and actions taken to reach and impact women globally, making a difference within communities in developing nations.

@jiwanialmas Category Finalists: Ana Gabriela Juarez, Founder & Director, Women in Mining Central America; Christine Cruz-Clarke, CEO, Balzac’s Coffee Roaster

Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur Award MARCIA BROWN Founder & Executive Director, Trust 15 Youth Community Support Organization

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Sylvia Mantella (Right) This award includes a generous $10,000 grant and recognizes successful BIPOC business leaders who have overcome greater challenges, breaking through roadblocks to gain credibility and establish themselves in their industry.

@marciabrown_trust_15_ Category Finalists: Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO, Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics; Lesley Hampton, Creative Director, Lesley Hampton

Rising Star Award SARAH LALJI-MAWJI Founder & CEO, SLM Prep

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Nicolina Brozzo (Right)

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With recognizing young individuals whose examples serve to inspire our next generation through entrepreneurship, advocacy, community involvement or global change, this award is presented to an individual who is seen to be an inspiration to our younger generation. (This Award is only open to those aged between 14–22 years.)

@slm_prep Category Finalists: Kenisha Arora, Founder, The Hope Sisters; Cierra Johnson, Founder, creArt Foundation

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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARDS Lifetime Achievement Award JEANNE BEKER

About the Lifetime Achievement Award The Lifetime Achievement Award is given in recognition to an individual who has made a significant impact on a large number of individuals or organizations during a distinguished career. Documented achievement must have taken place over a minimum of 10 years through individually designed or implemented high-impact programs or projects, the development of influential initiatives, publications, community or business mentorships.

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We rise by lifting others. Women Empowerment Awards celebrates the achievements of women entrepreneurs and recognizes empowering leaders in the industry.

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

With a career that began in journalism and flourished into the host of internationally acclaimed Fashion Television for 27 years, an author of 5 books, contributing editor of multiple publications, her own clothing line and hosting a regular series for TSC called “Style Matters with Jeanne Beker” and her more recent podcast Beyond Style Matters, Jeanne has made such an impactful contribution to our community and inspired so many during her career.

Photot Credit: Ernesto Distefano

Presented by Suzanne Rogers

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t was a sea of pink and white as over 10,000 people gathered at Toronto's Woodbine Park to celebrate the 4th annual Rosé Picnic. Canada's largest premium picnic, an epic event, and likely the biggest in the world! Everyone enjoyed the delicious food by celebrity chef Mark McEwan, along with the incredible selection of rosé wines. Over thirty vendors served as the life of the party.

The beats were on fire (summer heat!) with DJ's Jug E, DJ Dennis Rojas, Add Audio, Fizza, and Static blasted from the stage, yeah: Dance, dance, dance!

The best? What's a picnic without catching up with friends...

Andrea Bolley (The 6 Mom), Craig Smart, Gordon Weiske, Mr. Kaizen, Justin Lacey, Anna Lolomari, Karim Mirshahi and so many others!

Can't wait for Rosé Picnic 2023. We'll paint the town rosé again!

JES

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THE ROSE PICNIC: TORONTO

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SPENCER'S WORLD

tiff '22 "The Creator's" Party

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ne of the most exciting parties during the Toronto International Film Festival '22 was produced by a partnership between the Canadian International Fashion Film Festival (CANIFFF) and Hollywood North. MARKED Restaurant (132 John Street) served as the perfect venue, in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district. With over 500 guests, the "Creator's Party" was the place to be and be seen. Featuring 7 live bands, along with artists painting couture fashion pieces, live on stage. Peter Triantos painted a dress by Shelli Oh, worn by Joni Kim. Elyse Saunders painted a Stephen Caras dress, worn by Stella Steinberg. And Julia Mercanti painted a bespoke suit by Garrison, worn by Kristian King. Carlos Delgado, the Colombian artist was also performing his magic. Making the event extra special was the attendance of Yanka, wife of TIFF's Co-founder, Henk Van Der Kolk. Kudos to Roger and Martine Gingerich, Gordon Weiske, Sophon Chou and Mark Sarson for "Creating" the extraordinary "Creator's Party" celebrating Canadian talent on the world stage. Bravo, from your friends at Spencer!

All Photos Supplied by CANIFFF and Hollywood North

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Style

with Roger Lamoureux, STYLE EDITOR

De-Mystifying The Metaverse and Digital Fashion; A Conversation with Marie Copps; New Fashion Style; Andrew Bank: Creating A Culture; Ooobaby; Lifestyle Toronto Presents Riwayat; Salon Dew

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SPENCER STYLE

De-mystifying the METAVERSE and DIGITAL FASHION "No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness."

- Aristotle

By Estelle Ohayon

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With the emergence of digital and immersive spaces, it only seems fitting that the digital fashion market evolved as well.

Not only is digital fashion a fun and creative way to individualize and accessorize our Metaverse avatar but it is so much more.

o most of us the emergence of the Metaverse, most often associated with Web3, NFT's and The Blockchain, seems to be yet another confusing concept that simply adds to the never ending vocabulary we can't keep up with.

Just when you thought you had grasped the most recent concept, another one rapidly emerges. Seemingly in an attempt to remind us that we are possibly not as smart as we thought we were.

The new age of digital fashion and wearables is inevitably the next step in the advancement of fashion and design. As digital wearables, metaverses and NFTs will allow us to redefine the boundaries of the fashion industry and open it up to a brand new demographic.

Leaving us perplexed with skepticism, what on earth is the Metaverse?

"The metaverse is really any 3d immersive experience. This can include VR and AR but doesn't have to. I am really excited about the application of digital fashion and art in the Metaverse. The art and fashion that we choose in the Metaverse is an expression of ourselves. No different than in the real world. I am really excited about the future and the opportunity for the creators."

In order for us to understand where we are going, we must take a closer look at how we got here - the history of fashion, art and cinema as creative industries that have historically been driven by ideating fantasy-like narratives and persona-like icons. For example, the cinema industry played a large role in innovation when it introduced 'images in movement', in the early 20th century.

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DE-MYSTIFYING THE METAVERSE constant human desire to expand the body and mind beyond the physical limits of this world, taking our beings into an environment where they are not limited by genetics, geographies, athletic abilities, looks or even physics. The Metaverse has simply given us a new medium to execute and grow our personal and public persona with never ending bounds.

In art, we saw Old Masters enhance features in portraits, painting important figures with the intent to highlight and emphasize power, status, wealth and present flawless beauty through a traditional medium..

Fashion has also had a long history of embellishing and glorifying reality. High heels to improve height and posture, corsets to emphasize the female form.

Similarly, this idealistic beautification was seen emphasized in upper classes through other mediums such as: wigs, make up, jewelry, etcetera...

These methods of artistic glorification soon influenced the norm, where at times we can't distinguish the real self from the persona created. Society normalized these elements as a collective shared value, highlighting that today technology is directly related to self identity and expressionism as well as cultural diversity and growth. Such examples are most evident on social media platforms with our personal realities being enhanced to build an augmented public persona.

“Digital fashion and

self-expression will become the next development to the layers with which we can add to our personas.”

With the emergence of Metaverses we have seen designers, creators and artists of all walks experimenting with these new virtual worlds, learning to use the digital realm as a new medium to bring value to their collectors. Creating their own communities and narratives virtually.

Digital fashion and self-expression will become the next development to the layers with which we can add to our personas. As this segment of the market grows, fashion designers are understanding that digital design and fashion are a part of their brands ability to story tell and will organically grow into the next stage of Web3 e-commerce.

Once digital clothing becomes as available as an Instagram filter, we may begin to see a merger between the physical and digital worlds. At that moment, NFT's and digital fashion will be normalized and could become a very powerful asset to our society.

The Metaverse has given us yet another virtual world we are able to conquer through our imagination and creativity. It is simply a byproduct of our continuous evolution, in our never-ending search for revolutionary ways to visualize our deepest desires and fantasies. Virtual reality fulfills the

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DE-MYSTIFYING THE METAVERSE When thinking of fashion specifically, Metaverse capabilities provide designers and creators an opportunity to truly tap into another dimension ultimately expanding their creative capabilities without constraints of the physical world.

Fashion, Art, Dance and Cinema have always been intertwined. Shaping our identity and tracking our cultural transformations. This new wave of technology is here to accentuate the mundane reality, grow our creativity, promote greater transparency in asset transactions and lower the barriers of entry into a well guarded sector. Fashion will forever be a tangible instrument of self expression, a powerful tool for tracking a generation's growth and humanity's common shared values.

Similarly, in cinema these benefits are also extremely prominent and untapped to date. Enabling immersive experiences with the ability to shop directly during that experience. Picking up a "skin", item of clothing, accessory, or even the choreography of your favorite actor and celebrity and add it to your cart while viewing a stream or in theater. The possibilities are endless not only in fashion, art and cinema but in everyday commerce.

For the first time we are now able to merge technology, art, streaming capabilities and expression like never before. Allowing for an amazing opportunity for consumer experiences. Everyday we interact with these elements on demand and at our fingertips. Whether it be via a YouTube video, online shopping, or taking a deep dive into online forums - all with a simple swipe of our phones.

In closing, the Metaverse is not as confusing as the public perceives it to be, nor is it an iteration of Sims. The Metaverse is the net portal into e-commerce, granting limitless creativity, access and innovations into all sectors physical or digital. Bridging these gaps will become more prominent as the technology advances, where we will be able to acquire physical assets through Metaverses and NFTs or buying digital assets in real world retailers. The opportunities are endless to those willing to open their eyes to its capabilities.

Fast forwarding to Web3, we have the exact same needs, yet with a heightened experience. Perhaps you want to go shopping, but don't have the time to visit a mall or boutique, yet you also don't trust your online providers. With Web3 and Metaverse capabilities you can now bridge the best of both worlds. Merging the convenience and accessibility of the internet with the experience and trust of a physical store, gallery or boutique.

The ability to create these experiences propose an unbelievable opportunity for retailers, designers, artists and creators.

Special to Spencer Magazine: Written by Estelle Ohayon, President & CEO Art Concierge Inc, Co founder NFT BAZL Collaborators on this article: Lorne Sugarman, CEO Metaverse Group Dr. Giovanna Graziosi Casimiro, Senior XR Web3 Producer & Head of Metaverse Fashion Week Rebecca Batterman, Strategic Advisor & Consultant Web3 + NFTs Gerald Deluca, Investor, Founder, Web3 Advisory

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Spencer Feature Interview

MARIE COPPS

A Conversation With

MARIE COPPS

By Maddie Hession

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he soulful Marie Copps is quickly becoming a Toronto household name. From a childhood in the Czech Republic to a Canadian acclaimed artist and designer, Marie Copps uses her voice and art to dive into the true human experience with confidence and grace. From floral arrangements to gowns, to elaborate jewelry & millinery, Marie has sold her paintings in European auctions, created gowns for the Cashmere Collection, Czech Republic beauty pageants and “She is a Queen” collection for FAT.

An underlying beauty of many of Marie’s works is the platform she gives to social and environmental issues around the globe. Her painting, Queen of the Arctic, brought attention to arctic drilling, her monumental Toronto-based Fashion Shoot Extravaganza event was held in support of the Breakfast Club of Canada. Today, Marie speaks out about the environmental impact of the fashion industry itself.

With a passion for unique personal style and a heart of female empowerment, Marie opens up about her life and the inspirations that drive her today.

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MARIE COPPS: FEATURE INTERVIEW This is a big one. I’ve come from a country where we only had a few things to choose from. Here, we have more than we need. The opposition still blows my mind. On top of this, we now have a social media culture where we show our outfits once and it’s over. This is damaging to our environment and to our mental health. We are bombarded with fashion “trends”, and the race to keep up with this social construct is insane.

Some people have a huge following base where the power of influence is immense. There are some incredible influencers promoting thrifting and wearing vintage pieces.

That is something I would like to see more of in the future.

My hope is that each individual person will realize the unimportance of these trends and start cultivating their own personal styles instead.

Maddie Hession: As a child in the Czech Republic, you were alienated for wearing your own hand-made clothing. How does that impact your design style today?

Marie Copps: I grew up during the ‘80s in a much different era. In the Czech Republic, we did not have much fashion choice. Luckily, I had creative women around me, including my mom, who made beautiful clothing for my sister and I. Learning to knit and sew before the age of 10, I started making my own garments. I loved the fact no one else had the same outfits as me. In grade school, I encountered one very challenging and traumatic experience that impacted my life. A schoolmate of mine did not approve, or was jealous of my unique self-expression, and convinced our class to ignore me for weeks. I was too young then to understand how it might impact me as an adult. When we go through these hurtful moments at such a young age, we come to think it is not safe to be ourselves. I now understand the profound feelings that come when wearing original clothing. That being said, the expressive way I dress today is something I started only 3 years ago.

I had to clear those blocks from early childhood and go through very painful personal transformations. Now, in my fifties, I am finally able to be myself and am okay with the fact some people will not like it. I learned the hard way that it has nothing to do with me.

As a designer, what is important to you for the future of fashion?

I think fashion needs to change worldwide. Our consumption is unhealthy and unsustainable. The metrics are already screaming at us loud and clear. Fast fashion is responsible for 1/3 of industrial water pollution and consumes 98 million tons of non-renewable resources annually. Even more alarming, less than 1% of materials for clothing production is recycled, and 30% of fast fashion items go unsold. Even though I love fashion and am a fashion designer myself, I dislike the industry and its practices. It has secrets nobody, especially in the mainstream, wants to talk about. We must admit to ourselves that we are facing a major problem and change our approach to fashion. 713 gallons of water to produce a single white cotton t-shirt is a huge price to pay.

Statistics from www.herbones.com/ fast-fashion-statistics/

“I think fashion needs to

This issue of Spencer Magazine is focusing on women’s empowerment.

As a successful artist and business woman, what does women’s empowerment look and feel like to you?

change worldwide.

Our consumption is unhealthy and unsustainable. The metrics are already screaming at us loud and clear. Fast fashion is responsible for 1/3 of industrial water pollution and consumes 98 million tons of non-renewable resources annually.”

I can honestly say I am not where I want to be myself and am still learning every day. It is a slow growth journey with lots of twists and turns. Going down this path, you come to face many challenges and obstacles. I would call myself a workaholic, so learning how to pace myself is still a challenge. I have been through a few bad burnouts. We are taught to believe different things about “success” and some are not true. We are told to compete with each other and I believe that is detrimental and unsustainable. I believe we each have unique gifts and skill sets that are aligned with who we are at the core. If we find a way to share these with the world to make it a better place, that is ultimate success. I am thrilled when I see someone finding the courage to take small steps toward their dream career. I am a big cheerleader to everyone who wants to break free from what makes them unhappy. Life is too short to wait for the perfect moment. There is no such thing. You have to go get it. Being stuck somewhere you feel you don't belong is draining. I love hearing success stories of people who navigate hardship, but make it work anyways. It is so inspiring and uplifting.

What are some things you do, and we can do at home, to make a positive impact on these fast-fashion statistics? What more can Canadians do to be mindful in their fashion purchases?

What I would like to say is focus more on your unique personal style and forget about the trends. Before a purchase, I urge everyone to think hard about this new piece. Do I know how it was made? Do I really need it? How long will I wear this piece? Original personal style will always be more attractive than the latest dress from a famous fashion house. I love using pieces over again and I upcycle my garments as much as I can.

What was a long skirt years ago is now a blouse or sleeves to a new jacket. I rotate the textile and try to use what I have to minimize the waste. I have put together a Fashion Self Discovery Guide for readers to start uncovering their own personal style!

I know you have major concerns on the environmental impact of the fashion industry, as do I. Can you talk to me about some of your biggest concerns?

SHOT ON LOCATION in Yorkville, Toronto, Canada.

by Photographer and Creative Director Jonathan Levy

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Photot Credit: Jonathan Levy

the STYLE GUIDE according to Copps

SPENCER STYLE

NEW FASHION STYLE Self Discovery Guide by Marie Copps

Do you like your style as it is right now?

If not, what is it that you would love to change first if you could?

What is your style icon and fashion inspiration if you have one?

What are your five favourite colors and patterns?

What are your five favourite garments that you are frequently wearing now?

What is your ultimate dream look?

What is your silhouette? Do you understand what looks great on your body type?

Do you like attention when it comes to wearing fashion?

Are you comfortable when people look at you when you go out?

Do you take compliments easily or do you feel shy?

Do you like to stand out or blend in with the crowd?

Are you afraid of what people will think of you or their reactions?

If you want to introduce more colours to your wardrobe start with smaller items e.g., scarf, belt, shoes, necklace, or other smaller accessories. Build your confidence by adding more every time you dress up.

If you want to add more drama to your look, e.g., headpieces or bold jewelry, start with smaller designs first.

Make sure your posture is correct. Stand tall and own your style!

Embrace yourself fully! There is only one YOU. Share yourself with the world and have fun, you will inspire others to become themselves too…

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Spencer Feature Interview

BANK:

ANDREW BANK

Creating a Culture

‘‘Andrew Bank is not just another generic fashion brand, this is art. These pieces are alive because of the life we breathe into them. These are masterpieces in part created by the very person you see wearing it.’’

Andrew Bank

By Joseph Edward Schur

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ringing together the finest of materials and craftsmanship, with a focus on contemporary design, Andrew Bank is a luxury designer based in Toronto, Canada.

I caught up with Andrew in Yorkville, Toronto to find out about his brand, what projects he is working on, and what his goals were for the future.

During our conversation, he made a statement that resonated with me: "If you want something to last forever, create a culture around it." Profound, yes? Read on and enjoy this interview. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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ANDREW BANK: FEATURE INTERVIEW

Collegiate Bomber Jacket, Orange, Deer Suede Made in Italy. $1,595 CAD Tuxedo Trousers, Dark Blue, Leone Napoli Made in Italy. $595 CAD Velvet Loafers, Signature Red Leather Sole, Leone Napoli Made in Italy. $495 CAD

Available at Leone Napoli, Toronto Sunglasses, Black, Cartier CT0220S Made in France. $915 CAD

Available at All Eyes On Me Eyewear, Toronto Joseph Edward Schur: I understand that you had your start in the luxury market with... diamonds. And jewellery design.

Looking like everyone else, no thank you. I completely understand your logic.

Andrew Bank: That's correct, selling diamonds and designing custom made jewellery was the first time I ventured into the luxury space.

Right. So yes, there was a defining moment.

There must have been a moment, a defining moment when you decided to launch your own luxury line.

The Bank collection includes jewellery design, duffle bags, wallets, perfume/cologne, silk scarves and even cool kicks.

What was the biggest challenge when starting the Bank brand?

I recall walking into Holt Renfrew in Toronto with the thought of purchasing a Louis Vuitton duffle bag for my upcoming trip to Miami. I remember thinking to myself, 'everyone has this, I'm going to spend $5,000 to look like everyone else?" Something about that didn't sit right with me.

The high-end jewellery portion of Andrew Bank is actually a joint venture between Andrew Bank and my jewellery company Maison Centauri. Having the ability to design and manufacture the highest quality pieces made the expansion into high-end jewellery make sense. The biggest challenge for me was deciding

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SPENCER STYLE Meeting so many amazing people along the way. Fashion is the thing that we are all a part of in some way because we all pick an outfit every single day. We select colours, patterns and textures based on our mood and how we want to be viewed, but more importantly how we view ourselves. From brainstorming to delivering a piece to a client, I'm constantly having conversations with people and it is absolutely incredible to see what you can learn about them. I love how people project who they are to the world through their personal style.

what piece to lead with. It had to be something bold, something that clients would use regularly, something that makes a statement from across the street. A duffle bag was the first choice! From shopping to traveling, business to leisure, no matter your age or gender, everyone needs a duffle bag! It's one size fits all and that is a huge advantage when developing your brand. The main focus was; quality and exclusivity. I wanted people with the bag to feel unique, not like everyone else and I wanted people who saw the bag to feel like they were looking at art, the Mona Lisa!

Your focus is obviously on providing outstanding quality, which is an expensive undertaking. The luxury brand marketplace is incredibly competitive. How do you stand out from the crowd?

Art. I like that. No cookie-cutter nonsense. What has been the most rewarding for you, creating the Bank collection?

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ANDREW BANK: FEATURE INTERVIEW Andrew Bank is not just another generic fashion brand, this is art. These pieces are alive because of the life we breathe into them.

These are masterpieces in part created by the very person you see wearing it. The Fitzgerald Duffle (our flagship piece) is customizable, from colour to functionality to number selection. We will only release 100 duffle bags each year which, of course, makes each piece very exclusive.

Of course, creative expression can take many forms... art, music, etc. Where do you find your inspiration, Andrew?

Life! Every single day I venture off into the world and experience everything it has to offer.

See, touch, smell, listen, taste... what better way to get inspired than to just live life to the fullest.

But you must have been influenced by someone or something, beyond inspiration. Can you list some of your design influences, or the designers who have influenced you, both past and present?

Absolutely. Virgil Abloh who I had the pleasure of meeting. My short list includes Kanye West, Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Martin Margiela, Jean-Paul Gaultier... Icons, all visionaries.

A short list to be sure! Icons, yes. Brilliant, creative minds.

Which leads me to this question: There's a lot of work in coming up with new collections. How do you handle the pressure of being on trend, creating somethimg fresh?

Easy! I don't give in to pressure. I personally feel zero pressure to be trendy because I aim to be timeless. Trends come and go, I want to stay forever.

Let's talk for a moment about your Bank "Fitzgerald" duffle bag collection. What's with the Fitzgerald name?

I can trace a lot of my success back to a chance meeting when I first met my friend John Kennedy Fitzgerald and later his family. If I had never met him, I do not think I would have had the opportunity to bring Andrew Bank to life. So it was only right to name my flagship piece after him.

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“Every single day I venture off into the world and experience everything it has to offer. See, touch, smell, listen, taste... what better way to get inspired than to just live life to the fullest.”

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SPENCER STYLE You could have manufactured these duffle bags offshore, at much less expense. And yet, you chose to have them produced right here in Toronto, Canada.

The Birkin has set the bar, the Birkin is in my opinion, perfect.

Perfection. I can see how that would be an intoxicating ideal to reach for. Right now, you're producing a limited edition of 100 numbered duffle bags per year, and each are numbered from 1 to 100. I'm curious, why is this?

Quality control is paramount. I have the ability to walk right onto the manufacturing floor and inspect every stage of production within 40 minutes of leaving my home. In Canada, we have the capacity and ability to match the high quality standards set by famous fashion cities such as Paris, London, Napoli and Milan.

If you want something to last forever, create a culture around it. In 100 years I want some to say "I have a season 1 number 1 Fitzgerald duffle in my collection and I'm trying to add numbers 2 and 3 as well." At this point the individual owners of each piece can set the price based on what that piece means to them. There you go, you've just created the perfect collectors culture. It's something that everybody now wants to have in their wardrobe, it's sought after.

Upon inspection and handling, the first thing I noticed about the Bank Fitzgerald bags was the quality and attention to detail, such as the fine Italian leather, the lining and the hardware. Dramatic color as well! In fact, I'd go so far as to say it reminds me of the quality of Hermès.

Lardini Jumper Top, in Navy, Microfibre Made in Italy. $498 CAD PT Torino Cargo trousers, Khaki, Japanese Microfibre fabric Made in Italy. $688 CAD

Available at Nicolas, Toronto White Sneakers, Bank Duffle Bag in Blue, Bank Fitzgerald, Limited Edition

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ANDREW BANK: FEATURE INTERVIEW Gabriele Pasini Camo Cotton Jacket Made in Italy. $1298 CAD PT Torino "Active" Epsilon trousers, kinetic fabric Made in Italy. $688 CAD

Available at Nicolas, Toronto White Sneakers, Bank Duffle Bag in Blue, Bank Fitzgerald, Limited Edition

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“If you want something to last forever, create a culture around it. In 100 years I want some to say: I have a season 1 number 1 Fitzgerald duffle in my collection and I'm trying to add numbers 2 and 3 as well.” w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Evening Suit, Peaked Lapel, Neapolitan Style, Midnight Blue Made in Italy. $1,795 CAD

Available at Leone Napoli, Toronto Sunglasses, Black, Gold Frame, Cartier Made in France. $1,295 CAD

Available at All Eyes On Me Eyewear, Toronto Duffle Bag in Red, Bank Fitzgerald, Limited Edition

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SPENCER STYLE Firstly, Thiago is a GENIUS and master at what he does. This was my first time developing a fragrance and we worked really hard to create something that is so perfect. I learned so much from Thiago and we are extremely proud of what we've made. Prendimi translated from Italian to English is "take me." Take me away, take me in your arms, take me right here, right now... Prendimi. It's perfect.

I've had the chance to enjoy the Prendimi scent and it's quite remarkable.

This luxurious eau de parfum (30% concentration) is a citrus, woody, musk with top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, green apple and elemi. The mid notes consist of vanilla, sandalwood and patchouli. And finally, the base notes are made up of amber and white musk to give this fragrance a perfectly balanced and well-rounded array of aromas.

Beyond creating a luxury brand, what are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about motorcycles and cars!

I hope to one day collaborate with a major luxury manufacturer such as Bentley, Mercedes or Rolls Royce (the list goes on) to create an Andrew Bank edition interior.

So, Andrew, how would you describe your own personal style?

It's a perfect reflection of my mood and how I feel that day. It's easier that way... not adhering to a specific dress code.

What can we expect to see in the future with Bank?

You can expect to see our shoes and the official launch of our high-end jewellery collection in 2023.

During our photo shoot for this article in Yorkville, Canada, we happened to run into a customer of yours, Andrew. He proudly mentioned that he invested in three Fitzgerald duffle bags, with the numbers starting at 7. That must be quite the rewarding feeling to have achieved such a great following in a relatively short period of time. I mean, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Brunello Cucinelli and many others have been around for a long time.

Finally, what does luxury mean to you?

It's simple, something that everybody wants, but not everybody can have. That's luxury.

SHOT ON LOCATION in Yorkville, Toronto, Canada.

That feeling is something that is difficult to articulate, but it's incredible! It's been amazing to see people excited to own something I've created from scratch. Blows my mind every time!

Photographer Evens Belleus (@ebsince19xx) captured these images in the heart of Toronto's luxury "Fashion District."

Special thanks to Nicolas Kalatzis of Nicolas Men's Wear, and David Petrash of Leone Napoli.

Prendimi, your scent that is available right now. You collaborated with Thiago Snow to create this exclusive fragrance. Was this your first experience developing an Eau De Parfum?

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@

ooobaby is the new generation of handbags: designed for the always moving & invariably role-changing woman wherever she may go.

$358.00 CAD

Designed in Canada and handcrafted with luxurious Italian leather.

The Urban Handbag - 1969 Woodstock Brown width: 11.5 in (29 cm) height: 8.5 in (22cm) depth: 5 3/4 in (21.25cm)

Ooobaby was launched in 2017 by Tulin Sallabank when Tulin was unable to find the perfect bag suited to stand up to the rigours of everyday life. Recognizing a gap in the affordable luxury range, Tulin interviewed Italian manufacturers that work with top luxury brands, to produce unique handcrafted designs.

* * * * * *

Each collection is handmade in small batches by industry artisans with premium Italian leather.

soft grained Italian pebbled leather secure zipped interior 4 interior compartments detachable crossbody strap one exterior end pocket polished nickel hardware

Designed in Canada Handmade in Italy

Ooobaby is a slow fashion label that designs minimalistic handbags encouraging the wearer to avoid overconsumption and keep high quality and classic handbags that last for many years. Working with artisans in Italy, ooobaby handcrafted luxurious leather and affordable handbags are made in small batches with great attention to detail. Biodegradable, ethical, sustainable and slow fashion is what inspires ooobaby.

$448.00 CAD The Urban Backpack 1969 Woodstock Brown width: 12 1/2 in (32 cm) height: 11 3/4 in (30 cm) depth: 4 3/4 in (12 cm) * * * * * * * *

Italian pebbled leather secure zipped interior 6 internal sections interior key holder waterproof interior lining 2 exterior end pockets (magnetic closure on one) 37 in (94 cm) adjustable and removable straps polished nickel hardware

Designed in Canada Handmade in Italy

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Lifestyle Toronto's

RIWAYAT

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LIFESTYLE TORONTO: RIWAYAT RUNWAY SHOW

a 2-day South Asian

Fashion Extravaganza

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THE RED CARPET

LIFESTYLE TORONTO'S RIWAYAT

By Joseph Edward Schur

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inus the 15+ hour flight, I was transported from Toronto to South Asia for one exciting weekend this year at the luxurious Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Thanks to "Lifestyle Toronto," an extension of Riwayat and Pakistan Fashion Week London, I experienced one of the most remarkable runway shows and exhibitions to ever land in Toronto. The beautiful collections, presented on both days, featured emerging and accomplished designers, as you will see from the following pages.

Riwayat ( meaning: tradition) is helmed by Adnan Ansari, the Founder and CEO. With a decade of experience presenting events in London, Prague, Rome, Geneva, Karachi, Lahore, and now Toronto, he is achieving his mission of spreading awareness of the beauty of South Asian couturiers and artisans. According to this visionary, "Fashion has no boundaries. I always say fashion is not limited to any race, class, nation, community or even gender; fashion is for everyone!""

It was a runaway hit with a packed house of diplomats, fashion connoisseurs and even the Consulate General of Pakistan Toronto.

Yes, this was one of the grandest events I have ever enjoyed, and you can bet that I'm looking forward to their return!

All Photot Credits: Courtesy of Riwayat

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Gogi by Hassan Riaz A brand that empowers women's personality through style and fashion. Fashion consultant, Creative director, Stylist, fashion Artist. https://www.instagram.com/official_hassanriazgogi Lahore, Pakistan

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Komal Nasir Komal Nasir has made her name within a niche circle of designers doing amazing work in reviving our rich heritage and dying crafts, by producing bespoke shawls, scarves & stoles.

Komal has her hands full being a mommy of four with a running business that is flourishing.

Her work is a labor of love which is a testimony to her sheer mastery over design aesthetics. https://komalnasir.com

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Zarsha Established in 2018, Zarsah is their commitment to providing a contemporary design solution to all our clothing needs. The design label offers a broad range of apparel ranging from wedding formals, luxury pret and casual pret for both men and women. https://zarsah.com

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Sophia Lahore Sophia specializes in female casual, formal and bridal wear. The brand caters to all age groups and has dressed brides around Pakistan as well as in India. https://sophia.com.pk/

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Hamna Amir Designer Jewelry Jewelry with the classic embodiment of elegance and class perfect for the modern woman of today. https://www.hamnaamir.com/

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LIFESTYLE TORONTO: RIWAYAT RUNWAY SHOW

Samsara by Khadija Batool Samsara is all about art and elegance translated through fashion, for the conscious, evolving woman. With more than 10 years of experience in the market, our company believes in contemporary and traditional craft artistically assembled on this platform by our specialized team of designers and pattern makers. https://samsarabykb.com

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Moazzam Hussain Abbasi Designer in Pakistan. https://m.facebook.com/AbbasiMoazzam/

https://www.instagram.com/moazzam.abbasi

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Ash/Designers The global online market in Indian Ethnic Fashion, Ash Designer offers end-to-end customizable ethnic wear solutions to all India-lovers, ranging from Sarees, Lehengas, Salwar Kameez & Indo-western Wear to Accessories.

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Raheila Junaid Raheila Junaid’s collection grabbed the attention of the audience with bold colours and glamourous golden touches. We could see the beautiful, intricate bead work with floral accents.

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LIFESTYLE TORONTO: RIWAYAT RUNWAY SHOW

MDs Fashion House MDs Fashion House’s collection took our breath away with the pop of colours blended with traditional patterns. You could almost feel the models dancing in a Bollywood movie.

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Faiza Saqlain Faiza Saqlain has imbued Pakistani luxury fashion with its endearingly intricate designs.

Established in 2012 in Lahore, the fashion powerhouse earned success because of its chic and modern silhouettes infused with elegant yet traditional embellishments. www.faizasaqlain.pk

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still creating looks

As Fresh As DEW

By Rose Msrie Bresolin

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After a little time in the Salon, what stands out is the upbeat interaction among staff, despite a setting that compartmentalizes services to allow for clients to be matched with the right stylist or colourist, ensuring they come away with that coveted look.

alon Dew is a chic yet sophisticated salon in Yorkville that specializes in modern, contemporary and versatile haircuts and colors to enhance hair texture and personality.

It has been a Go-to for hair-care by Toronto & Celebrities for many years. Word still has it that at Dew, there’s always the chance of an A-List celebrity taking up the chair next to you.

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SALON DEW

Asked how it feels to be in the salon again, Maia says, “It’s great to be back doing what we love to do. That we can make a positive difference in how our clients look and feel. There’s a new energy in the salon.”

Partner Vicky who manages the desk and is the designated PR person adds, “Many of our clients are regulars that seem really grateful to be back, and eager to support the salon.”

A business that is surviving the pandemic, proudly shares that it has celebrated 18 years at the Yorkville location. A team that works hard together and plays together.

Photot Credits: Jonathan Levy

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Arts &Culture

with Joanne McLennan, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Haris Sardar: Spencer's Featured Artist; The Bodo Story: Journey Of An Artist; Hope Rises Like A Phoenix; Defining The Great Canadian Blockbuster; Lynne Stoltz: Sons 2 The Grave; Film Review: Carmen By Director Valerie Buhagiar

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Spencer Feature Artist

HARIS SARDAR

What is it with Haris Sardar?

Lotus c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 60" x 48" x 1.5"

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HARIS SARDAR: FEATURE INTERVIEW

Actuary by day, referential surrealist painter by night

By Joseph Edward Schur

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'm a lucky guy. As the Publisher of Spencer, I get the chance to rub elbows with some extraordinary people. Case in point: Haris Sardar, one of the most imaginative, creative artists whom I have ever met. What's intriguing to me, and why I absolutely had to interview him was because I wanted to know what makes him tick. He has the rare ability of being able to harness both the left and right hemispheres of his mind, achieving great success. Genius? Yes, that's taken for granted, partially explaining how he can excel both as an incredibly successful actuary and a highly sought after painter.

But really, what is it with Haris Sardar? I suggest that you take a few moments and read his interview. You'll be inspired.

Flowerin' Audrey at Tiffany's c. 2021 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 72" x 60" x 2"

Boxed Golden Temple c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 30" x 40" x 1.5"

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ARTS & CULTURE Joseph Edward Schur: Tell us about your early childhood... where exactly are you from?

Haris Sardar: I was born in the historical and stunning city of Lahore Pakistan. The land of the Mughal Empire (16th - 19thC) with astounding architectural jewels along with a rich and colorful culture of dance, gastronomy, sports, arts and fashion.

I am the baby of the family with 2 older siblings and grew up in a tight network of extremely creative cousins, uncles, aunts, and family friends. I was blessed with a very loving family and my childhood was full of wonderful experiences. Especially being born in a non-secular country as Pakistan, my parents brought us up in a tremendously liberal environment where freedom of thought, expression, creativity, and belief were encouraged and nurtured. From the very beginning music, poetry, painting, arts, crafts, jewelry design, clothing design and all forms of creativity were practiced in the household.

My father, in addition to being an agriculturist was also a hobbyist painter, mum took several cracks at designing clothes and jewelry, sister went on to become an uber successful set designer for lavish weddings and fashion events and brother sang and played the guitar. As a matter of fact, a number of my cousins and school friends are now primary art practitioners in Pakistan and beyond. These include professors at the National College of Arts, singers, internationally renowned fashion designers and chefs and owners of major clothing brands.

Mardi Gras Sax Fantasy c. 2022 Oil on canvas, 40" x 40" x 2"

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Then there were the annual trips to our summer house in Murree where all the extended family would gather to escape the sweltering heat of Lahore.

Murree, set in the beautiful foothills of Kashmir, for the young troupe of cousins was like being at theatre camp. We would rehearse, and put-up talent

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HARIS SARDAR: FEATURE INTERVIEW shows for family and other local residents. Dancing, painting, singing and acting were all part of the 3-month long gig. Of course, between the creative performances we would regularly hike through the stunning mountains and geographical landscape of the area taking in all sights, sounds and smells.

“My main inspiration comes from the ultimate creator, call it nature, the universe, God or the higher power.”

Some of the other childhood memories that have a special place in my heart are fishing trips with dad, learning how to cook and bake with the aunts and mum, swimming and dance lessons with my brother, drawing and creative arts with my sister and cousins. Attending and dancing at the flurry of 7-day weddings full of vibrant colours and characters with even more vibrant personalities. All in all, I had an amazing childhood and would not trade it for the world.

What was your motivation to move to Canada?

The primary motivation to move to Canada was for university.

However, quickly realizing the privilege of my upbringing, the main strife evolved to become an academically trained, selfmade man free of nepotism and any silver spoon treatment.

That is also the primary reason why I abandoned the arts to pursue a career in finance.

Flowerin' Marilyn c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 36" x 48" x 1.5"

I understand that you attended Western University. What degree did you earn, and when?

I graduated from Western University back when it was called the University of Western Ontario in 2006 with a double degree in Honors Bachelor of Actuarial Science and Statistics.

Let's talk about your work as an artist, Haris. Do you find inspiration from other art genres, such as music, film and literature? And do they influence your sense of aesthetics?

And now, you're are an actuary for the not for profit Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) Pension Plan. How do you overcome the challenge of shifting from your professional career as an actuary to facing a blank canvass as an artist?

My main inspiration comes from the ultimate creator, call it nature, the universe, God or the higher power. You will always find an element of nature in my paintings such as flowers, water, clouds, figures etc. Antonio Gaudi’s famous saying has definitely left a mark on me “Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator.”

Yes, that is correct, I am the Director of Pension Solutions at the CAAT Pension Plan. With $18bn in assets, CAAT is one of the largest jointly sponsored defined benefit pension plans in the country open to employers across Canada. At this point in time and with the nontraditional actuarial position at CAAT, I don’t even feel like it’s a shift to a blank canvas. I would classify it as more of a natural transition going from one to the other..

Coming back to other art genres and given that I am a very visual person, most of my inspiration comes from film, television, dance and ballet. Although, there is a significant influence from Sufi poetry, music and of course fashion. For example, in my Flowerin’ Ladies series “Flores de primavera,”

I get to be a creative actuary during the day to ensure sustainable lifetime pension for as many Canadians as possible whilst making a national impact. During the night and on weekends, I am able to translate the mathematical analysis and conversations with the c-suite employers into fuel for expressing my inner self on the canvas. Think of it as the art enables me to completely divorce myself from the math and in turn refuels the pension tank for the next day and vice versa.

For this particular series, inspirations were also drawn from the mammoth sized personalities of the leading ladies in my life, mother dear, sister and my spouse. I wanted to desexualize the female body by presenting it as radiant flowers yet maintaining the sense of elegance, strength, beauty and intelligence, all which envelop the essence of a woman.

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ARTS & CULTURE You work exclusively with oil. Was this always the case or was there a specific transition to using this medium?

My art training went only as far as high school with water colour being the main medium. In middle school years I did learn dry and oil pastels along with pencil, charcoal and clay.

I still remember my high school teacher saying once you have mastered water colour you can paint in any medium.

Flowerin' Fighter, O-Ren Ishii

After the 18 year hiatus and having visited most of the major museums across the globe, I realized the pigmentation in the old classical oil paintings has not only weathered the test of time but the brilliance in colours can never be replicated in the newer mediums.

Thus, when I started to paint again, I went straight to oils and never looked back.

c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 48" x 36" x 1.5"

You seem to gravitate to producing large works. Why?

“I am determined to define my own unique style with elements of

surrealism, impasto impressionism as well as references to pop art.”

To be frank, it’s as much of a business decision as a requirement to express myself. My first commission was on a 7ft x 5ft canvas which set my introductory pricing and left me addicted to scale and the corresponding pay cheque.

I do believe art should be accessible and that’s the reason for the limited edition, museum grade giclee reproductions, most revenue of which I plan on donating to charities.

What is your creative process like?

My creative process is like the number 8 or infinity, whichever way you want to look at it. Number 8 is the luckiest in Chinese tradition and I feel extremely lucky that my creative process works in an infinite loop. Be it while on vacation, in transit, working on pension merger pricing, attending social events, presenting to the board of trade and even while dreaming.

Images of fully realized surrealistic paintings pop up in my mind as soon as I see something that inspires me. It can be something as small as a lily in the garden or as big as the Sagrada Familia itself. Right away I write down the composition and elements of that image and email it to myself, so it serves as a repository of ideas for the future.

Your work is incredibly detailed. I can only imagine that you invest a considerable amount of time into each piece.

Yes, a lot of time. Art not being my means to the next meal, I do have the luxury of time on my side. I want to produce my best work on every canvas I touch and fortunately/unfortunately the detail-oriented day career has forced me at times to bring out the single bristle brush and a magnifying glass to paint oils on a gigantic canvas.

From my actuarial consulting years and billing by the hour, I do keep a log of hours spent on every canvas. The time varies based on the scale and complication of the composition.

On average I would say anywhere from 200-400+ hours per canvas.

The process varies slightly between when I am doing commissioned works or collecting for a show. I call the commission process “Haris’ Art Therapy” which begins with a questionnaire to hone down the collector’s affinities with a subsequent discovery call to finalize the subject matter. Next comes the sketch reflecting the agreed upon details sent for the client’s approval. Then the sketch goes on to the canvas followed up by a 50% completion call with the collector, one at the 80% mark, finally one at the completion stage. In contrast, the collection is completely my voice and no formal timelines. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

I'm curious. What is the one tool that you use in your art that you couldn’t live without in your studio?

Oh this one is hard. If you count my hands and eyes as tools then that would be the first. Apart from that I love my highest quality artist grade oil paints some of which come from Paris.

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HARIS SARDAR: FEATURE INTERVIEW What would you say is unique, or at least uncommon about your artwork?

How do you know when a painting is completed, when you can let go?

Well, if you look at it, I think its apparent that unique is the first thing that comes to mind.

I will start the answer to this question by quoting the man whom I made a promise at his crypt in Figures in 2019 to start painting again and resurrect surrealism in the new modern minimalist contemporary art scene.

For me art is about originality, dedication to the craft and the sheer hard work that goes into producing original works.

Even though I am inspired by the techniques of Dali, Gough, Monet, Greco and Sadequain, I am determined to define my own unique style with elements of surrealism, impasto impressionism as well as references to pop art.

“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.”

- Salvador Dali Therefore, for me a painting is never finished ever as I do suffer from that perfectionist syndrome. However, I have learned to walk away once my abilities on a piece have been exhausted.

I want to bring a visual style that no one has done before and I think my lack of formal training actually helps me take more risks and define my own practice free of major influencers of the previous and current generations. This is simply because I have not studied them and my only exposure is from museum visits.

Boxed Sagrada Familia c. 2021 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 72" x 60" x 1.5"

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Flowerin' White Swan c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 48" x 60" x 1.5" w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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HARIS SARDAR: FEATURE INTERVIEW Flowerin' Black Swan c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 48" x 60" x 1.5"

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Haris and Isabella Sardar with Bhaloo Isabella is an accomplished artist in her own right. She is displaying one of her Mexican-inspired paintings. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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HARIS SARDAR: FEATURE INTERVIEW What motivates you to use art to communicate to the world?

The motivation is simple and yet complicated. It is my voice and I want to use my talent to tell a visual story of a teenage, Muslim-born boy’s immigration to Canada from Pakistan in the midst of the 9/11 crisis.

I want to tell the story of my secular beliefs and the ideology of oneness of humanity without the divide of man-made political borders, religions, race, sexuality, or cultures. I consider myself a human from this world, this universe, a true global citizen that has been impacted by people from across the world. I also want to represent the majority of people of South Asia who are peace loving, open minded, and respectful of women and their elders. I want to change views on either side of the spectrum, by breaking down the pre-conceived ideology of differences between the East and West. Hello people wake up, we are all the same!!!

There is also a political agenda in the near future, and I don’t want my art career to die before it has really even taken off. I will wait to paint my thoughts on the American price of freedom and aristocratic lifestyles of the bigoted religious quacks and such subjects until I am a bit more established.

And then of course the mental health affliction that has touched every person’s life, especially the creatives. I want to produce works to normalize mental health issues and spread awareness of available treatments and the advances made in this field.

The motivation goes on to include charitable efforts. I want to donate as many funds, especially from the sale of the giclee print reproductions, to mental health, heart and cancer societies as well as for children who cannot afford art supplies.

Lastly, the motivation is to leave behind a legacy. If we never have kids, at least these babies of mine may keep me alive beyond the usual second generation.

What adjectives would you use to describe your art?

Colorful, Impactful, Surrealist, Unique, Original, Provoking although the technique can improve.

How does living in Toronto, Canada inspire your art?

The multi-cultural hub that we are lucky enough to call home has exposed me to people from all walks and corners of life. It is the city that honed-in on the oneness of humanity aspect of my belief, where my actuarial life mentors and champions have been Jewish and best friends agnostic. It is Toronto where I met my Mexican spouse who was raised Catholic, most x-pat family and friends from Pakistan identifying as Muslim, colleagues and friends from every country possible representing a colorful spectrum of culture, sexuality and political views.

Canada and in particular Toronto has provided me with a platform where I can be myself and flourish in both my actuarial and art careers.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on Flowerin’ Rhianna from the 2015 Met Gala to be unveiled at the Art Expo New York 2023.

How are you preparing for your show in NYC, at the Art Expo NY (by the Redwood Art Group) March of 2023?

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Flowerin' Desi Dancer – Leela, Padukone c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 36" x 48" x 1.5" The first order/cancellation of business to prepare for the show was to cease all commission work and push all interested collectors to after the show. I am very lucky and blessed that the commission line-up is going well into 2024.

Apart from that I have managed to save a few pieces from my collection that will be going to the show such as the Flowerin’ Black and White Swans etc. I plan on painting 2 more pieces which include Flowerin’ Rhianna and am contemplating a Flowerin’ Marilyn 2.0 on a larger scale for the show as the original has already been collected.

Apart from that, there are a lot of logistics to figure out such as crating, shipping, customs, boarding and lodging. Also, my sister and manager for South Asia is preparing merchandise, print media marketing materials, booklets and so on. There is a lot of coordination required and it is going to take a village to get ready.

Luckily, numerous friends from Toronto, actuaries from various cities around North America and other family members are going to be flying in for the show, thus there is real excitement.

We are also very thankful for all the family and friends currently living in New York City that have volunteered/told to help out.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Keep on going you have always been on the right track!

You will eventually find your calling and the path that was laid out for you is exactly what you need in order to follow your passion but from a place of strength. Oh and also eat less, exercise and don’t touch that first cigarette.

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Mohatta, Bordeaux, Milan! This is the dream of Mij Rahman - by Haris Sardar c. 2020 Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 60" x 36" x 2" w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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All Photot Credits for this article: Jonathan Levy

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Journey of an Artist Series

The BODO Story This talent has seemingly appeared from no where, and the limits of creativity and mediums appear to have no bounds.

Bodo raises the scale both in size and level of detail; from first attempt as a canvas painter to a year later teaching himself digital design, photogrammetry, creating some of Canada’s most unique augmented reality art works.

By Harlen Troost

B

ODO is heralded as a canvas painter, sculpture, set designer, music video producer, fashion icon, fashion maker, digital wizard, all while keeping the look of his singular, innovative style.

Just as his physical paintings are spectacular in the day, Bodo has incorporated into every painting a "fluorescent capability" with a truly immersive experience. The painting glows in spectacular amazement once the "black light" fluorescent light hits the canvas.

Surely a unique bonus for his clients and an exciting new service for events and clubs a like.

Completely self-taught, with no formal schooling, Bodo has only recently (within the last 4 years) discovered his capabilities in the arts. It took a very personally troubling series of events that ignited an unrelenting pursuit of passion-driven art.

matthew dean bodo artist name: Abstractbodo artist and director company name: Bodo.eth studio / gallery located at: 118 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Title: Opposite, "2020, the first lockdown" Medium: acrylic on canvas. Size: 5.5ft x 4 ft Opposite, Top: Natural Daylight Opposite, Bottom: Under Fluorescent Light

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Hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes of shattered dreams...

now have the power to play with mind boggling concepts and programs from the comforts of our own homes, managing our public relations via twitter and discord or team meetings using a google hangout.

With this new era of innovation came an entirely new jargon and community, revolutionizing our financial system.

Whilst Bitcoin revolutionized decentralized finance, NFTs armed us with the ability to own unique physical and digital assets, arming creators with all the powers typically owned by the old guard. Creators are now liberated from the confines of an antiquated system that lacked equality, transparency, and most importantly freedom to own one's data and intellectual property.

Why is it that we are so resistant to change?

Digital assets were reaching all-time highs with the anticipation that the asset class would continue to grow at unprecedented rates. Market analysts predicted further spikes, flooding the market with junk coins, and other second grade promises of overnight wealth to the unsavvy investor. Bored Apes sold for millions and other NFTs with no true value were selling out before release. As Warren Buffet referred to digital assets as the “Greater Fool” theory of economics, proving that public perception of digital assets has shifted from an innovative technology to a marketing, money grabbing opportunity.

By Estelle Ohayon

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hy does our nature drive us to fear change, innovation and the abnormal? Why do a tiny percentage of us dare lead the world into uncharted territory, whilst most are happy following the lead of others?

As people noticed that NFTs, Tokens and Metaverses were becoming the hot topic of discussion, “FOMO” took over, investors began to throw their money into projects with little reasoning beyond “FOMO”.

It takes true leadership and an innovative mind to alter our world from the norms that we have become so accustomed to today. We are currently living in an era of decentralized innovation, where the world doesn't care about the university you went to, or where you interned during your studies.

Suddenly, just as quickly as it rose, the crypto market started to crumble down. Crypto millionaires found themselves scrambling, investors panicked and projects began to disappear.

The great minds, creators and innovators behind many of the blockchains latest developments including DeFi, Metaverses and NFTs are no different to the likes of you and I. Thanks to the gift of the Blockchain, the cost of becoming an innovator both emotionally and financially have shrunk drastically. We w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

Was this a ticking time bomb? Did we get overly confident?

Were we the “greater fool”?

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STEPHEN WALLIS: OPED

Special to Spencer Magazine: OPED by Director Stephen Wallis

DEFINING THE GREAT CANADIAN BLOCKBUSTER

The Great Canadian Blockbuster. A term that you have likely never heard. Or probably will in your lifetime. A phrase that we as an industry have never aspired to reach as a collective.

By Stephen Wallis

T

Jason Reitman and Shawn Levy. Let alone our most important filmmaker, Norman Jewison, whose films and service to developing Canadian talent will be remembered a hundred years from now. But how many of these tell Canadian stories?

Certainly Cronenberg and Egoyan have been unapologetically Canadian at times but the others are mostly known for US films. Which is not meant as a negative comment on my part. Truthfully, the pathway was never really there for them to not go the way that they did.

he film industry has grown in many ways in Canada over the past few years. But has our position as largely a service industry for American productions damaged our ability to create and develop our own films? When one looks at the facts surrounding the development of our own talent, we inexplicably find that our best people either are drawn to Los Angeles or New York to ply their trades. Why is that? Is it the money? The fame? The quality of work? Or is it something sadder and more damning? Perhaps we just have an industry that doesn't actually support our own creativity.

Our own people. Perhaps there is no Canadian film industry and most of us are doomed to be purely technicians damned to work on other people's films because we're afraid of the work it will take to make our own.

It's hard to be a director of a Canadian film. It's an uphill battle to finance films here that will get seen. It's an almost impossible exercise to get a proper theatrical release. Our theatres would rather show the twelfth week of the latest Marvel movie than a Canadian film about life in Toronto. Or a story of a family in Nunavut. Why is that? Is it that we as film-goers don't support those sort of movies? Preferring the popcorn escapism of Marvel films to the style of films that movie-goers used to dive into wholeheartedly in the 60's and 70's. And if at the end of the day it is just about making popcorn movies, then why aren't we doing them as well? What prevents us from doing so? What stops us from being great?

When you look at the history of cinema in this country you'll find that very few films have resonated to worldwide audiences or are even vaguely remembered by the Canadian ones. Yes, there are filmmakers out there who are terrific. Some have made a lasting impact such as David Cronenberg, Ivan Reitman and Atom Egoyan. All are vital to our history. There are also others who are doing well presently like Denis Villeneuve,

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ARTS & CULTURE not for the money I was paying them but for the quality of the writing I presented. We had Oscar nominees and lifetime achievement winners literally working for one tenth of what some Canadian actors ask me to this day for a one-day role - people with little to no credits. It took me a long time to realize what the problem was. It was simple when you broke it down. The reason for the breakdown is that we've become such a service country, that our artisans are making such higher levels of pay on those projects that it's impossible for them to not try to work those bigger shows rather than the lower-level Canadian ones. In the long run, it pays your rent, but eventually it leads actors to supporting work as the eighteenth name on the call sheet on one of the fifty Christmas movies made here each year. It's not an effective way to build a career. Though I'd be the first to admit that it is a fertile learning ground for crew, who’ve really grown to be some of the best in the world.

Canadians are an interesting lot. We can be incredibly passionate on occasion, yet suffer from a pervasive national passiveness that accepts anything American as superior to anything we could do. So why bother trying? How do we change that? Do we even want to?

“When you look at

As a director myself, I had to leave Canada to achieve any sort of success. When I first started out I found out quickly that the actors union in Canada was far from interested in small Canadian movies and even less in helping small Canadian directors. They were and still are, for the most part, built for bigger American projects. There was no system in place for young directors to be able to create small, profitable films. To learn. To grow. Even when they tried to do something, the costs were too high, the limitations on what could be done were too big. Which is why it failed over and over.

It wasn't built to succeed. It was built to look like they were trying.

the history of

cinema in this

country you'll find

that very few films have resonated to worldwide

audiences or are

I have noticed recently that most of my closest friends in the business have moved into shooting either horror films or Christmas movies. This shows me where the industry currently is. It's not that those people want to make terrible romantic comedies. It's just that there's a market for them. So they lean into them as it pays the bills. But, with each film you make that ends up being lower quality due to the content, then the farther away you get from real artistic expression. I think we can all agree that this is not the sort of work that is rewarded with lifetime achievements. And why so many complain privately that this is where they ended up. Where has the movie-goer's demand for excellence gone? Where has the artist's insistence on it?

I ended up like many Canadians and moved to Los Angeles. Independent filmmaking was thriving when I got there in early 2003. A place where the actors union gave you various ways to do smaller films which were affordable and reasonable. Actors and crew understood that a small film was someone trying to build a career and not seen as a dark mission to underpay people. I was able to shoot films for half the cost that I could back home. Meaning that I literally shot two features in my first year because of the way their system works. That helped me move forward far more than anything else. I tried for a decade to do films in Canada. I always ended up going back to the States.

even vaguely

remembered by the Canadian ones.”

I quickly found out that the Americans had a completely different attitude to filmmaking than we did. It was about the work. It was about the creation of art at that independent level. I was fascinated that big-name actors attached to my films

When you look at the history of Canadians at the Oscars you'll find some mind-boggling facts. Here's the breakdown of Canadian Oscars/nominations.

Best Actor: Never won Best Actress: Won two but not since 1931 Best Supporting Actor: Won three but only one since 1948 Best Supporting Actress: Won once (Anna Paquin) Best Director: Won once (James Cameron) Best Costume: Never won Best Cinematography: Never won BTS: Burt Reynolds with Director Stephen Wallis in "Defining Moments"

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STEPHEN WALLIS: OPED of being the best filmmakers in the world; I don't doubt that.

There is so much talent here. But we're wasting those talents by not developing our own industry more.

Once you realize that both Cameron and Paquin left the country early in their childhood, you quickly realize that we are embarrassingly underrepresented. Until Ryan Gosling came along, there hadn't been a Canadian Best Actor Nominee since 1944. A period of over sixty years. There's been as many Dodo birds and T.Rexs seen since the beginning of the industry as there's been Canadian Best Actor winners. Zero.

To add insult to injury, it's been ninety-one years since we won a Best Actress award. 91 years! What the hell happened?! You can probably place some of this on American nationalism over the years. They've always been divisive in genuine representation at the Oscars. Minorities have always, sadly, been shoved aside. Canadians as well it seems. But is it just that? Is there an anti-Canadian slant or are we just not making enough films of quality compared to other countries?

How do we change this? For one, you'll need to be patient.

Rome wasn't built in a day and our system is so completely broken that it needs to be put back together slowly and with great care. Our actor's union for one needs to develop better strategies for filmmakers to shoot lower-budget films with their membership.

That's how you build an industry. You have to have people making their first film here. Because if they make their first film here, they're likely to make their second. And so on. As I've said to them in the past, I have to pay back the people who invest in my movies. That's how I get to make more. Help me help you.

“My story is most

people's story. It's even harder for

women directors

In my opinion, they also need to change how they allow people into the union.

How it's done presently doesn't work.

Which confuses even the most hearty amongst us. On one of our films we flew in a Canadian actor who'd done ten films or so in the US but he wasn't ACTRA. We were not allowed to use him. He's a Canadian. We had to send him away. Literally lived here his whole life and they wouldn't allow us to use him because we had two US actors already in the film.

Again, he was Canadian. Those moments are brutal and maybe not common but they are indicative of the issues we face as producers and directors. The US has a law (Taft-Hartley) that allows anyone who has found work to be in a union. You can't block them from making a living. They of course have to pay their dues etc. But, they're allowed in.

Which is the point. And although they can fine a producer a very small amount for doing so, they never did on any of my US films. The reasoning I've heard over the years for our system makes no sense to me. It makes no sense to the actors who are trying to find work either. Of all the countries where I've shot (Canada, Ireland, US, England) no one complains more about their union than Canadian actors. Which might upset people. But sometimes facts are facts.

and those who

The answer is likely to be a bit of both.

But, as an industry, we can do so much more to bring quality films to the screen. As Canadians we need to do so much more to support our artists. Our unions and distributors should all do more. I see cinema chains like Cineplex doing more for Canadian artists. I recently had one of my films there - a year ago - and I'm very thankful for that.

But I'm a Canadian director who's had three times the number of movies with a US theatrical run as they’ve had with a Canadian one. How is that even possible? US theatricals are supposed to be the hardest to achieve and yet I seem to get one every movie now and I have to literally beg to try to get one in my home country. All my films have been released in the US, but not all in Canada. And, it's not just me with this issue. It's 99% of the filmmakers out there. My story is most people's story. It's even harder for women directors and those who identify differently than myself who have been afforded more privileges over the decades. Which is shameful. When we did press for my last film, I had over thirty interviews in the US and yet not one in Canada. And that wasn't from lack of effort. It's that we undervalue our own people. We had a segment on Entertainment Tonight in the US, and couldn't even get local coverage in Toronto!

identify

differently than

myself who have

been afforded more privileges over

the decades. Which is shameful.”

Next, we need to start showing more Canadian films in theatres. Not for a weekend or a week at one theatre. But real theatrical runs. Real chances to be seen. I've been in theatres this summer and have been the only person sitting there. On big budget films. The issue isn't the movies they're showing, which is really about their relationships with the big studios.

Which they have to appease understandably. It's that people aren't happy with the films they're showing. The days of going and seeing a film ten times is long gone. People want choice.

The excuse that people won't go to a small film is a bogus one.

Film festivals are flocked to because people want to see that type of content. People should start demanding it more. Our stories are as important as anyone else's.

It's not that we don't have enough people either. Or that the market can't be there. Which is what all the talking heads will tell you. This is a bogus argument to get you to be quiet. All you have to do is to look at Quebecoise and French filmmakers to see how to do it right. They have an incredibly vibrant industry and people there support it. And that's not just because they are French language films. It's about all the people within the industry and outside being focused on its success.

Distribution, artists, media and filmgoers. All pointed in the same direction. And it works. You can argue that most of our true artistic talents come from this system. We are capable

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ARTS & CULTURE When I first started, Canadian distributors made me take out the Canadian flag in my films. True story. Not the American distributors. The Canadian ones. I don't do that anymore. Or will I again.

Our guiding light needs to be excellence. The industry needs to stop making preferences that are made due to anything but excellence. Excellence exists in so many people and in every colour, gender and lifestyle. Excellence is what matters. CSA's need to reflect excellence. Period. Our system needs to demand it. They're supposed to showcase and reward the best of us. I know of so many film makers who have stopped trying to get nominated for awards in Canada. Because the process isn't about rewarding the best movie or creatives. It's become a political exercise. Ask yourself how many CSA winning films can you name? How many directors? Actors? Most people in our own industry can't remember more than one or two. If that. Why not? Maybe we're not rewarding the most deserving.

Or is it again a problem with being able to see those movies in our own country? Likely both.

My fight for the soul of our industry has been a long frustrating one. My biggest film to date (The Martini Shot with Matthew Modine, Derek Jacobi and John Cleese) comes out soon but in all honesty, it was filmed in Ireland because of the issues we faced in doing it in Canada. I'm returning to Ireland shortly to shoot another film for the exact same reason. But having said that, I am coming back to Canada with a film I wrote with John Cleese next summer. I will take another run at trying to work in an industry that doesn't seem to have itself together. I'm doing it because I need to pass forward the good fortune I've been given over the years. I'm doing it because we must protect our own artistry. To encourage others to create Canadian stories for Canadians. And to know that over time, the world will want to see those stories.

It's not just the CSA's. It's no different than TIFF where I've had several people over the years tell me that their entrance to the festival was based on them wrangling their most famous participants into being there. Again, so many Canadians have stopped applying to TIFF. Can you imagine if French film makers stopped applying to Cannes?

Because that's what's happening here. We are crumbling as an industry and no one is noticing.

Along with my business partners we are opening a 200 acre back lot in the southern most part of Northern Ontario that will be accompanied by lots and lots of large sound stages. These will be built starting in the Spring of 2023 and will be available by the start of 2024. It will be a studio that How our people allows filmmakers to provide grants and shoot films of any size assistance needs to be given based on ex- On the set of Defining Moments. From left to right: Nikki Filipelli, Roy Colavino, and where you can be Burt Reynolds, Stephen Wallis, Susan Ilott, Nathan Street. transplanted to Loncellence. Blocking exdon in the 1880's or cellence in order to hit New York City or Paris or Small town USA. Over 20 different check marks isn't how you fix the other issues we face. Develdestinations will be created within our back lots over the next oping filmmakers at the root level is how you fix that. Giving few years. We built this for filmmakers but most importantly all the same opportunity. Providing mentorship, scholarships we built it for Canadian filmmakers. So they can stay here and and developing talent at an earlier age. In schools. I lived in help develop our industry. To build on the great work of those England for several years and watched how much art is inwho came before us. stilled in the everyday life of a student. That's why they have so many wonderful artists. Not just in acting and music but in We will provide mentorships to those who need them and will all forms of art. It's because they care about it. It reflects who ensure that everyone no matter who they are, who they love they are. Why are we so scared of doing the same? or what their background is afforded the exact same opportunity. We'll try to provide guidance and be a helping hand for Perhaps the most important of these suggestions is for our those who strive for excellence. To help develop the next genA list actors and directors to ask themselves about the Great eration of filmmakers. To give hope to those who might one Canadian Blockbuster. And figure out how to make one. Then day finally create the Great Canadian Blockbuster. make another and so on. Bring the spotlight on the big stage to Canadian films. Are there any amongst us that wouldn't watch a film with Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogan and Rachel McAdams in a film directed by Denis Villeneuve? Of course we would. What a cast. What a fabulous director. The question is why not? The days of our big production companies crying poor is over. There are tons who can handle movies at that size. It's about doing it. It's about stop making excuses for why we can't do something and look for the reasons we can.

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LYNNE STOLTZ: INTERVIEW

novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker

LYNNE STOLTZ

By Steve Pryce

L

duction, another feature already released, and a follow-up series in the works.

ynne Stoltz didn't set out to be a novelist, a screenwriter, or a filmmaker. But here she is, her first feature, Sons 2 the Grave, rating 5/5 on Amazon Prime, and a 9.5/10 viewer rating on IMDB. Her company, Have Faith Productions, has a spin-off series in pre-production, and a second, separate feature in the early stages of pre-production.

Lynne Stoltz: Thank you. For me, it's just the way life has gone.

Of course, it hasn't happened overnight. 'Loud Silence' was first published in 1996, it's about to be re-released, and we expect to begin shooting the feature adaptation late in 2023.

It did well – it caught a lot of people's attention, including the late Dr. Maya Angelou; she was attached to direct Loud Silence, but passed away before that could be. We have a television series in the works, too.

I sat down with her to talk about the film, her novels, and her slate of productions.

Steve Pryce: Lynne, you have a remarkable track record. Two novels written, both adapted as screenplays and in pre-pro-

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ARTS & CULTURE You did the adaptations yourself?

Yes. Always have, always will. Likewise, my starting point is no one is going to be directing them but me. Dr. Angelou presented an exceptional argument for delegation, but it was not to be. These are stories I had to get out of my system, and now I see no way other way for them, the part of me that is them, to be represented adequately, other than by my own efforts. But it's not an absolute dogma that I direct.

This wasn't a career choice?

Not at all. I had a whole life, fully involved with the businesses of an entrepreneur husband and raising a young child. Actually, it was as parents that we ran into a situation of hidden bias that shook us to the core. The elitism that emerged from a facade of inclusion disgusted us to the extent that something just had to be done. So I wrote 'Loud Silence' to address the elephant in the room. It is fiction, but closely inspired by those events. I really don't think of myself as a director, or as a writer. That's just what I'm doing at this stage in my life.

'Loud Silence' is about to be re-published, it's adapted for the screen, and you're expecting to shoot it in 2023. But Sons 2 the Grave reached the screen first?

It did. Inspired by an actual event that made it clear it was time for "Sons 2 The Grave."

Are we really qualified to portray these stories?

Where we live, doesn't mean we should ignore the other side of the bridge – it exists.

We need to do more than buy a ticket to a ballet, an opera or a play and say that I've done my part. This isn't about race or religion; it's about society and where we stand in it. These circumstances exist everywhere. Our characters just happen to be black.

Have Faith Productions?

It is a name that I chose after the loss of my husband. It was a time when I needed to lean on my faith. "Sons 2 the Grave,” and the other projects on our slate, are not aimed at the faith market, but with faith being a big part of my life, it certainly appears in what I write. People say they connect to my writing because they see a part of themselves, they keep hidden, not sure they will be forgiven.

Every one of your cast delivers a strong performance.

Our cast was phenomenal. They portray how young men get into situations they think they can handle themselves and walk away whenever they want. "Sons 2 The Grave" gives understanding to both sides. The young men controlling these communities cannot afford to give up their power. After speaking with Faith Leaders, educators, and people who have spent their whole lives in like communities the understanding became clear; I hope we portrayed that. The actors gave their hearts to all these roles.

You shot the film in Georgia. Is everyone cast from Atlanta?

No, Trevor Jackson is from LA, so is Darrin Dewitt Henson. Everyone else is from Atlanta. The cast felt just right. We spent a lot of time in Atlanta and had the honour of privately screening the movie for Martin Luther King III and Mrs. King.

Are you taking the story of “Sons 2 the Grave” any further?

We're going to do a series, “HUDSON.” The episodes will take on an honest, raw view of the society we live in. Our hope is that viewers will connect with Hudson's characters, cheer them on when they are up, and forgive when they are down. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Above: Cast of "Sons 2 The Grave"

Just the series?

No, there are two features: "Loud Silence" and "The Other Side of the Bed" both novels of mine. Loud Silence is in re-release and the Other Side of the Bed is to be released fall 2023 in both Canada and the US. Additionally, we're going to make a Faith & Family based Television Movie, “Dropped Off.”

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Spencer Feature Review

DIRECTOR VALERIE BUHAGIAR

CARMEN

By Steve Pryce

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Director Valerie Buhagiar

"In a small Mediterranean village, Carmen has looked after her brother, the local priest, for her entire life. When the Church abandons Carmen, she is mistaken for the new priest. Carmen begins to see the world, and herself, in a new light."

'Carmen' is a film that only a capable actor could write and direct, and only a master actor could lead. It intelligently weaves multiple stories of redemption and self-actualization, with a subtle humour seen all-too-rarely recently.

Valerie has posed me quite the dilemma here: how to endorse her work, without ruining the movie by giving away too much. You should probably stop reading right here and go watch the film. But for those who insist on more...

The understated delivery of the plot vividly illustrates collaboration between Valerie and Natascha, such that a great deal is left unsaid, and largely open to the interpretation of the viewer. Carmen's hesitations betray her own moments of discovery, even before she understands them. Without a word, Natascha's eyes convey Carmen's realizations, as she begins to grasp for her own freedom and redemption. Natascha's performance is captivating; few actors can deliver as much with a nuance.

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VALERIE BUHAGIAR: FILM REVIEW

Actor Natascha McElhone

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VALERIE BUHAGIAR: FILM REVIEW Carmen's independence has been cast aside long ago, decades after social pressure has enslaved her as the maid to her priest brother. Suddenly discarded, entirely, she finds herself completely alone. While she struggles merely to survive, she starts to see glimpses of the life she has missed, and the possibility that she might yet have a life of her own; she takes time to plead with the next priest's sibling to find her own life and love, not to repeat her own mistake. Carmen breaks many rules, but it turns out that the village she has lived in, but outside of, prefers the real Carmen too. You'll have to watch the movie for further detail of that.

The script is fictional, albeit based on the tragic, wasted life of Valerie's Aunt. I see its message as an assertion that we are fools to let dogma dominate our lives. The mark of a good filmmaker is that you will find your own, and I am sure that is true of 'Carmen'.

CREDITS Cast - Natascha McElhone, Steven Love, Michaela Farrugia Writer/Director - Valerie Buhagiar Producers - Pierre Ellul, Coral Aiken, Anika Psaila Savona Exec Producers - Daniel Bekerman, Dorothy Coetzee, José Luis Escolar, Mark Gingras Director of Photography - Diego Guijarro Editors - Matt Lyon, Peter Strauss Production Designer - Sandra Smirle Sound Designer - Joe Mancuso Composer - Richard Feren

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Lifestyle

with Darren Dobson, LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Music: A Family Adventure with Tara Giles; Chef Roland Torok-Ducharme; From Ceres To Matsutakes: Canadian Spirits Tell A Story; Honda HR-V, Czinger 21C; Mizoram; Ask Captain Joey; Resources Page

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Spencer Special Series

THE GILES FAMILY

Music: a family

ADVENTURE

By Tara Giles

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y husband and I started out on this musical journey with our daughter Jadyn about 6 years ago. Two full-time working parents - one doing alternate shift work, but now both switched to day shifts. Two active, and creatively different daughters Jadyn (16) and Devyn (9), the dog, the cat, the late nights, and the complaining that there aren't enough hours in the day.

The Giles Family

It actually sounds about the pace of what today is for most people...

We realized early on that Jadyn liked to sing, and she soon inquired about lessons. We decided to give it a try to see if it was something for her. She went to a lesson and decided that she loved it. She was 6 years old at the time.

As a couple, we single-handedly developed her social media - YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and almost everything else out there, independently trying to make her known. Was all this worth it? Did she really want all of this? Would it make a difference?!

A friend suggested that taking the slow route, building numbers, a fan base, and a name for herself was by far the smarter route. Yes, it took longer, and paid nothing, but in the end we are thankful for the advice. He was absolutely right, and we are so glad we listened.

This incredible, brilliant soul is Mike Wilbury who resides in Germany with his family, including the wonderfully talented professional drummer daughter Sina of @sinadrums. The girls have done many successful virtual covers online, creating amazing content which the fans love. We have never met Sina IRL, even though, from the videos you wouldn't know it... but someday we’ll meet her on a bucket list trip! In today’s connected world, it truly is incredible… what you can accomplish with someone thousands of miles away!

Now, with all the above said we were still completely lost about promoting Jadyn and admittedly, new to all of this. We really had zero experience in this field, but decided to listen to every good piece of advice along the way and went with it. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Tara and Jadyn Over time, Jadyn’s numbers grew and our content on social media platforms improved. We selected and chose great music that we thought people would respond to and like. The more we posted the more it was shared! Before long, we met a producer in Nashville and started creating original content there.

We watched the spider-web effect of how something posted was shared hundreds, even thousands of times. Collaborating with others is key! Fact: you like it you share it, they like it, they share it, and the base grows exponentially.

Within a couple of years, we surpassed the 100,000 subscriber mark and kept climbing. During this time, Jadyn was nominated for the Josie Awards at Dollywood and the awards seemed to pile up. In the midst of this she auditioned for, and became, a Mini Pop Kid and toured in sold-out shows all over Ontario. After a year of touring, we decided to leave the group and return Jadyn as a solo artist. The next phase of this exciting journey? In studio, recording “The Voice of Change” in Nashville! The music and people we met along the way were incredible. The album has an anti-bullying theme; its songs

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SPENCER LIFESTYLE us out to Vancouver, where we had an interview, when he explained that while looking for music online for the movie, that Jadyn looked like his daughter and thought she would be good for his film. The movie came out in 2020 and she was in it. This incredible opportunity allowed us to realize that shifting from music to film was a natural progression.

When Covid hit in 2020, I was in a position as a new business owner/operator to step it up and learn to become technologically savvy. Difficult times. It definitely hurt us through the ups and downs. However, I wasn't about to let my dream job, which I had so many hopes for, slip away. Hard work deserves to be rewarded; there is a need for music, especially now, and we all need it. Between two very fast-paced schedules, we arranged that the school could function remotely with almost 120 kids on board. It was a learning curve, but we managed to get through it. That said, on the heels of working with Sean Penn in Flag Day, Jadyn was getting self-tape requests, and online auditions that we had to keep up with to stay in the game.

Now, having a great Canadian agent and an American one, we became very active in trying to get anything out there during this crazy Covid time.

Then, in 2022, my husband, Colin, started his own business.

During Covid the pace seemed to get faster and faster. At the end of the day, work schedules or not, my husband and I still managed to sit down after hours to check Jadyn’s socials and to build numbers. We figured that after all the other work was done, we were spending about 2-4 hours per evening patrolling the sites, making sure each had enough content to keep everyone going, and that it was being monitored properly. This would be such an awesome job if we were being paid, but… we were not! No matter what, we do what we can for our kids right?

As you can imagine by now, the last couple of years have been crazy, but what else is there to do but try? If you don't try you will never know. Yes, our lives seem wild. We always get comments of "I don't know how you guys do it" my answer

to that is 'Well, we will sleep when we’re dead' and we keep moving forward. There have been results, and there have been successes along the way.

Devyn with sister Jadyn are of uplifting positivity for kids who have been bullied. For the main anthem song, we canvassed for kids who came from all over Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and other places to be in it. It was a fantastic music video of kids holding signs with uplifting messages - showing that they were taking a stand and a walk against bullying. The whole thing was truly heartwarming.

In 2019, I resigned from my job, and ironically enough opened a music school. I figured we have been music-oriented our whole lives, so why not take a go at this too? I've never been my own boss, nor have I done anything like this, but I was sure I could figure it out.

This allowed me to have the flexibility to be with my family more with better hours, in case we got busier with Jadyn.

As soon as I opened the school, Jadyn was unexpectedly seen, a fluke really, by the Academy Award Winning actor/ director Sean Penn - who wanted to cast her in his film Flag Day, when he caught her trending on YouTube. As it turns out, he is highly influenced by music, and the next thing he's telling me is that he listened to her whole channel. He flew w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

Jadyn with Sean Penn and the cast of the film "Flag Day"

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SPENCER SPECIAL SERIES and help to monetize Jadyn's work further. This could lead to greater numbers, concerts and more. One step at a time.

We keep on building as we go, on this exciting journey!

For our family this has been a wild and fast ride, but we are so happy. We have spent countless hours - with long days and long nights, travelling and struggling financially, but we are all on board with the fact that it took so much to get here, and that we refuse to stop now. We can only hope that all this hard work will pay off.

Positivity, faith, and the people we have met whom have helped us are never to be forgotten along the way. I often recite to Jadyn, and she will recite it as well… "You never forget the people who helped you to get to where you are today." NEVER. Those people, friends, supporters, and fans are part of the picture. Without them we wouldn't be here, and you never forget the advice, and guidance along the way. The real win after all this is said and done, is that all of those who helped you have now just become lifelong friends supporting our journey.

We can't wait to show you where this adventure takes us in the years to come. If this is a path that you are on with your child, and they want it as badly as we seem to do... then my advice to you is go for it!!! These kids are talented, and they deserve to be heard, and to be seen.

As you can imagine by now, the last couple of years have been crazy, but what else is there to do but try? If you don't try you will never know. Yes, our lives seem wild. We always get comments of "I don't know how you guys do it" my answer to that is 'Well, we will sleep when we’re dead' and we keep moving forward. There have been results, and there have been successes along the way.

“Positivity, faith, and

the people

Now further into 2022, we have sold our suburban home and are currently renting. We’re planning to build on a property we bought next spring/summer of 2023. We are trying to think ahead, to make good choices, and we are trying to invest in a future that we think will go somewhere. This past summer had us finally in Nashville again where we dropped a seven song EP for Jadyn with new, upbeat, original content. It's loud, it's different and it's great. In a week we dropped seven songs, did a photo shoot, and managed to complete three videos.

We had production come in to back the album, and it was mastered by 'Clarksville Creative Sound' under Curt Ryle in Tennessee. It will be released on all platforms on all social media at the end of 2022. Further adventures moving forward, we have found a wonderful music manager - Kathrine Weiss who will help us achieve higher levels in socials,

we have met whom have helped us

are never to

be forgotten along the way.”

Tara and Colin Giles Photot Credits for this article supplied by: Tara Giles

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chef ROLAND TOROK-DUCHARME

By Joseph Edward Schur

F

rom the moment that I met Chef Roland, I knew that I was in the company of an extraordinary man. His passion for the culinary arts is only eclipsed by his ability to communicate the significance of the sustainability of our agricultural resources. So I was curious, of course; who is this guy?!

With some research, I discovered that he earned his BSc in 2011. I believe that's when his culinary journey really took off: Commis de cuisine, Lasserre Restaurant, Paris (Two Michelin Stars); Senior Chef-de-Patie, Gordon Ramsay Group, Pétrus Restaurant, Knightsbridge London, One Star Michelin; Pastry Cook, The Square Restaurant, Mayfair London Two Stars Michelin; Sous Chef, Adrift by David Myers, Singapore; and then to Canada...

Joseph Edward Schur: Roland, please tell us a bit about yourself, especially where you are today professionally, and how you landed at 1 Hotel Toronto.

Roland Torok-Ducharme: I am a French-Canadian, Hungarian chef with classic French training.

I have experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants and other top establishments across multiple countries such as France, England, and Singapore. I moved back to Canada about 6 years ago, working in well-known restaurants in Toronto. Currently, I’m the Chef de Cuisine at 1 Kitchen located in the 1 Hotel Toronto where I create seasonal dishes while striving to work towards a zero-waste operation.

If someone hasn't yet experienced your food, how would you best describe it?

I would best describe my food as “Modern Canadian” based on French technique, focusing on locally sourced, seasonal produce with a high emphasis on sustainability.

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What is the most memorable meal that you have ever created?

In 2019 I started a private dinner series with a chef friend of mine, Desmond Murphy, where we created a one-time multi course tasting menu with Canadian wine pairings for a select group of people. It was an amazing experience to have the freedom to be creative while having a wonderful time with our guests, providing a truly immersive and memorable experience for everyone.

I understand that you are always on the hunt for the freshest, organic produce. How does this play into crafting your menu?

Having a close relationship with our suppliers is key to understanding what produce will be available next and crafting my menus around what is in season and at its peak.

How do you test the quality of your ingredients?

As most chefs will tell you, it is by using our senses, first looking at the ingredients, smelling them, touching them and the ultimate test is always taste, texture and flavor profile.

What are your favourite ingredients to work with right now?

Late summer and early fall are some of the best seasons for chefs in Canada. I love working with tomatoes, peaches, peppers right now and the list goes on; the best time of the year after the spring season.

What's the process from choosing the ingredients to making a star dish?

I always start by looking at what is available first and work on my creations around the ingredients. After that I research what combination of ingredients and techniques could

work best. Then comes the testing of the dish and the creative part, the presentation. And it always helps to get your peers to taste the dish to get their feedback as well.

Which dish on your current menu at 1 Hotel are you most proud of and why?

One of my favorite dishes on my menu currently is the Alberta Lamb Rack with sautéed kale, celeriac puree and sea buckthorn jus. It is a perfect representation of my style of cooking using Canadian ingredients in a classic yet not necessarily usual way to some people, simply letting a few ingredients speak for themselves in great harmony. It is also one of the bestselling items on the menu, which is just a bonus.

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tablecloths, old boxing posters and pictures on the wall. There is something about that place and its people that you just cannot quite find anywhere else in the city.

Do you have a best time of year, or season, to cook?

Any season can be the best time of year as it is ever changing with what is available. It really depends on personal preference. For instance, I love late summer, but I also greatly enjoy the Christmas holiday season with its traditional offerings and big family gatherings.

In your culinary journey, you have worked in different places. Does one country stand out to you, in terms of culture and unique flavours?

Do you follow food trends, and if so, which ones do you like and dislike?

I tend not to follow food trends as most of them are very niche and do not last. However, I do believe that working towards being sustainable is especially important. Creating more plant-based menu items is not just a trend but it will be the key to a healthier and sustainable future not just for our customers but also for future generations.

Toronto, and Canada in general, is finally being recognized on the world stage as a "culinary destination." What do you think contributes to this progress?

The main contributor is not just the world-class chefs we have in this country but the fact that our customers are actively looking for better, new dining experiences.

With a lot of customers being well travelled it is important that we meet those expectations, and it gives Canadian chefs the platform to shine on the world stage.

“Some of the most influential chefs in my life were peeling carrots and picking herbs next to me while having multiple

One of my favorite restaurants in the city is Sugo.

It is a classic Italian-American eatery with amazing food and staff. Small menu, red and white checkered

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What's the most important thing that you have learned working as a chef?

Most important is to not take things personally. Working in a fast-paced kitchen it is important to understand that people make mistakes and there is no sugarcoating things. We must learn to adapt, fix things, and succeed on the fly sometimes.

During your culinary arts training, what's the most important thing that you have learned? And which chefs have had the most influence on you?

Lead by example. Some of the most influential chefs in my life were peeling carrots and picking herbs next to me while having multiple Michelin stars. No job is too big or too small for a chef and if you can keep that mentality throughout your career people will follow you and work for you. Sean Burbidge, who was my chef at Petrus, a one Michelin star restaurant in London, England at the time, has been one of the biggest influences in my career and 10 years later I still aspire to manage the way he does.

Michelin stars.”

When you're not at 1 Hotel, where is your favourite place to dine in Toronto?

For me personally it must be Singapore. It was amazing being exposed to so many distinct cultures, traditions, and flavors that were all new to me. I had the chance to experience and learn from this.

CULINARY ARTS

In every profession there are obstacles to overcome. Can you share with us some of the ones that you have had to deal with as a chef?

grandfathers. They both passed away when I was young and I never got the chance to show them how far I have come.

One that has been a repeating obstacle is age as it is directly correlated with experience. By that I mean being old enough to hold a certain position. Which in most cases makes sense as a lot of young, ambitious chefs lack the experience or the management skills to step into certain roles. But as I progress in my career it gets harder to accept the reasoning of being ‘too young’ for a certain role.

And finally, what is the one comfort food that you can't resist making at home?

What advice would you offer to other chefs to grow professionally?

I encourage you to check out 1 Hotel, in the heart of Downtown Toronto's Enteetainment District: 550 Wellington Street West, M5V 2V4 - Reservations: 1-833-624-0111

Push yourself to adapt to different environments, kitchens, places, and cultures. If you do it enough times and you succeed in each place, then you can adapt to any environment and any kitchen. Also never chase the money, do what makes you feel alive, happy, and passionate.

Pho soup is one of my favorite comfort foods that resonates with me for several reasons. I could have it any season and any time.

Thank you, Roland!

If you had a chance to cook for anyone, alive or passed, who would that be?

In all honesty, as much as it would be interesting to cook for a celebrity or a well-known chef, if I had the chance I would cook for my

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From Ceres to Matsutakes: Canadian Spirits Tell a Story By Blair Phillips & Davin De Kergommeaux

T

he story is a critical spoke in a complex wheel of elements in our finest films and literature. All the special effects in the world cannot cover up a dull narrative. This is no different in the world of spirits, where the story drives the other creative forces to make something new and exciting. Canada's distillers are multi-talented storytellers who craft a complete experience into their flavourful spirits.

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Bearface Matsutake Whisky Bear Country, Canadian North

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hen the entire planet went into lockdown, Bearface blender Andres Faustinelli was strapping on his hiking boots and filling his backpack with small bottles of whisky. His plan was to self-isolate with British Columbia nature, hoping that Yogi the Bear and his Grizzly pals got the memo about social distancing. But this wasn't an ordinary walk in the woods. Faustinelli accompanied two foragers and as they navigated the mountains, collecting an experimental array of ingredients to infuse into whisky.

When the fearless trio encountered Matsutake mushrooms and introduced them to their samples, it was like Faustinelli discovered a lost page from Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier's Elements of Chemistry. The earthy, delicate flavours of the mushroom added a brown flavoured top dressing. Every day after, Faustinelli brought his foraged fresh Matsutakes back to a cabin and added them to a barrel of Bearface whisky, where they released their mild ethereal waters. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Faustinelli works with his whisky like a chef. The Matsutake-infused cask is just an accent in a much more complex blend. He matures other components in ex-wine French oak and various sherry pipes, including Amontillado Sherry, which shares a flavour profile similar to the matsutake. Faustinelli prepares his creations in metal shipping containers which maximize exposure to the seasons, a process he describes as harvesting the weather.

This all contributes to a whisky with an umami kick, rich with dark maple, peppery spices and a nutty dry char where every component binds into a singular identity. It's a whisky that transports a walk in the Kootenay mountains into a whisky bottle.

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Sons of Vancouver Distillery's Chili Vodka North Vancouver, British Columbia

I

n the 1981 blockbuster film Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford and Karen Allen's characters survived God's wrath by closing their eyes when the Nazis opened the Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis didn't and, so, met their maker. Ronald Lacey's famous pre-CGI face-melting schtick was most dramatic. To get into character, Lacey drank a blistering shot of Sons of Vancouver Chili Vodka, and as the cameras rolled, his face turned into a puddle. Well, that's what it looked like, and the thought of the Sons' vodka smelting faces is not farfetched.

James Lester and Jenna Diubaldo use British Columbia spring wheat and malted barley to make an exceptional vodka they cleverly call "Vodka Vodka Vodka." A slightly sweet palate braces a clean nose with just a smidgen of pepper. But chili heads rejoice! When J&J steep Vodka Vodka Vodka in bird's eye chili peppers, that smidgen ramps up to a roasting 180,000 Scoville units. Remember, jalapeno comes in between 2,500 and 8,000 Scovilles, so Chili vodka is like kissing the sun.

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Still, Chili Vodka is more than just heat. The peppers lend a surprisingly bright and fruity profile that pairs naturally with herbal and savoury ingredients. For example, the Sons showcase Chili Vodka by mixing one ounce with four ounces of pineapple juice and garnishing it with a sprig of mint. It's simple and stimulating with the glowing warmth of walking into the light. And anyone shooting this vodka straight will testify – this is one near-death experience worth the risk.

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Dubh Glas Distillery’s Noteworthy Gin

Stevely is a whisky maker, so it's no surprise he turned to 100% BC-grown barley as the base of his Noteworthy gin. After fermenting and double distilling the grain, Stevely adds an array of botanicals for a third distillation. Juniper balances an herbal nose as intense flavours unload like a Pompeii banquet on a citrus-forward palate with a pop of fresh oranges, lavender, floral accents and calming spice. One taste and you'll understand why it wasn't gin the Romans offered Ceres.

Oliver, British Columbia

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hy is Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, chiselled into the label of Noteworthy Gin? Before biblical times, the Romans would offer Ceres grain and then sacrifice a pregnant pig to launch the growing season. Ceres, for her part, would bless the crops and livestock. Dubh Glas Distillery founder Grant Stevely doesn't need old-fashioned Roman rituals to appease a higher power. His Okanagan whisky-making program sacrifices enough through its angel's share. So, when it comes time for Stevely to make gin, he offers 100% British Columbia barley and eight botanicals to his gleaming copper pot instead of eyeing local expecting livestock.

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Crown Royal Fine Deluxe Canadian Whisky

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Gimli, Manitoba

uxury and self-indulgence, we crave it. We travel for it, wear it, eat or drink it, and spend hard-earned money to buy it. From a simple indulgence in our favourite food to a 2-million-dollar diamond-encrusted Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac bottle, we yearn for the elegant delicacies of living. For Canadian spirits, luxury began in 1939 when Sam Bronfman saw an opportunity to rub elbows with royalty and created Crown Royal as his regal passport.

Crown Royal's story starts when Mr. Sam predicted prohibition's demise and stepped in to fill an impending vast thirst.

He expanded his distillery and waited patiently for times to change, maturing his whisky instead of selling it for a quick profit. This was Bronfman's toolbox when, in 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Canada, and Samuel Bronfman personally developed a whisky to pay tribute to them. The royal stopover marked the beginning of a legacy for Crown Royal.

He packaged the precious amber liquid in a regal crownshaped bottle and robed it in a purple velvet bag. For the time, the opulent whisky was untouchable, almost sacred. No one else treated Canadian whisky like a showpiece. A case accompanied the royals on their train across Canada, but that was just the start. Crown Royal entered the U.S. market 25 years later, where consumers crowned it the biggest selling Canadian whisky on the continent. As the whisky became more common on liquor store shelves, it lost a certain prestige, but don't let this fool you. The easy sipping whisky is versatile to mix, stir into cocktails or enjoy on ice. It's a Canadian classic well worth rediscovering.

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CANADIAN SPIRITS A few years earlier, vodka rumour mongering ran deeper than Cold War farm espionage. Vodka was improperly sanctioned as a brutal socialist spirit and Canadian liquor boards refused to sell it by the bottle. But doors opened in Ontario when in 1955, the LCBO finally listed vodka, and liquor boards in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia followed suit.

British Columbia liquors stores did not sell vodka by the bottle until 1960, and then they stocked domestic vodka only. Until then, it was sold by the case to discourage consumption.

But vodka's première was met with more disdain. Speaking in British Columbia, Corby Distillery president, Leo W. Vezina, claimed vodka contributed to juvenile delinquency. Asked why Corby made vodka then, Vezina said it was because of demand, telling reporters, "We think it is a passing fad and frankly, I'll be pleased when it's passed into oblivion." When vodka hit BC shelves, it remained out of sight, despite a stipulation that a lack of sales would mean its withdrawal.

Alberta Distillers Ltd. Alberta Pure Vodka

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As Alberta Pure Vodka began to roll off the bottling line, ADL fought vodka's negative reputation by building its own on the backs of quality grain. To ensure consistency, they tested each vodka ingredient rigorously, including the glacier-born water.

Calgary, Alberta

The resulting vodka pours crystal clear with a creamy grain character highlighted by faint traces of puffed wheat on the nose. The almost neutral palate has a slightly fruity and citrus-like sweetness, with a spicy heat dusting on the finish.

Alberta Pure breaks down grain into its purest form, which is why it continues to rack up awards, including a trio of gold medals in 2022.

hen Vasily Tarasov joined the Calgary Press Club on Thanksgiving weekend in 1963, he wasn't looking for turkey recipes. Instead, the foreign correspondent for a state-owned Russian newspaper showed interest in Canadian agriculture, quickly making friends with writers on the farm beat. It was just three years since Calgary's Alberta Distillers (ADL) had begun distilling Alberta Pure Vodka from Canadian grain. Was there a link? No one knows for sure, but in 1964 Tarasov tried to obtain what the Royal Canadian Mounted Police described as "classified information of importance to Canada." News broke and Tarasov was deported for spying. Calgary journalist John Schmidt joked that Tarasov had gathered enough information for four books, including one titled, The Alberta Vodka Scandal or I was a Communist in the Calgary Press Club.

Alberta wouldn't permit provincial liquor stores to sell vodka until 1962. Sixty years later, Alberta Pure has closed Tarasov's books on The Alberta Vodka Scandal. And though we still don't know what he did, we can imagine. Unlike politicians and anyone else who turned their nose up at Canadian-made vodka, Tarasov went home knowing what international awards have confirmed – Alberta Pure is the real McCoyski.

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SPENCER LIFESTYLE Blair Phillips Blair is a lifestyle and spirits writer specializing in Canada's growing landscape of spirits and distilleries.

He is the Canadian contributing editor for Whisky Magazine and writes for the popular Distiller app. He also contributed features for drinkingmadeeasy.com during the TV Series' three season run. He judges several spirits competitions including the World Whisky Awards and Canadian Whisky Awards.

Davin De Kergommeaux Davin is a drinks writer, public speaker and spirits judge, recognized as the world expert on Canadian whisky. He has travelled to four continents to visit spirits producers and distilleries, and make presentations about Canadian spirits. In 2016 the Globe and Mail named him one of the 50 most influential Canadians in food and drink, then in 2018 the New York Times said his significance in the revival of Canadian whisky could not be overstated.

The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries is an indispensable guide to the past, present and future of Canada's distilleries. Written by bona fide Canadian spirits expert Davin de Kergommeaux, this book covers more than 200 of the most exciting and cutting-edge distilleries, large and small, who are shaping the industry today.

Just a decade ago, fewer than a dozen distilleries, concentrated in two provinces, produced almost all the spirits (mainly whisky) made in Canada. Today, there is a movement afoot in Canada's spirits world. There has never been a better selection of rich specialty spirits--from gin to moonshine, from flavoured vodka to liqueurs--to tempt the palate and supplement your long-time favourites. Despite flourishing public enthusiasm for Canada's distillers, other than incomplete and inaccurate web-based information, no one has offered consumers an all-inclusive guide... until now.

DREAM DRIVE VACATIONS

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Honda HR-V It's the Honda of compact crossovers.

By Steve Pryce

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or this review, Honda was good enough to loan their press fleet's HR-V EX-L to yours truly. Neither of them knew that aforesaid scribbler has actually been obsessed with cars for over forty years.

of precision, even driven with discretion on August's warm, dry roads. Occasionally, I thought the power steering was over-boosted - but I would like it to switch OFF at anything above a walking pace, which makes me a very peculiar fellow.

The thing that strikes me, very much, about the HR-V is how much it reminds me of the Civic coupe Si I bought new in 1995.

From the inside, there's a similar view out the forward-facing 180 degrees, albeit from a vantage point a little higher than that coupe; similar profiles on the dash, similar pitches to the pillars and radii to their curvature. So far, so good. Driving along normally, even gently, I can feel the same taut response to driver inputs that give away the things Honda always does - rigidness of the body-shell between the front suspension towers, the minimal distortion in the geometry of the steering and suspension in their operation, the low centre of gravity that Soichiro's gang always pursue, are all still there. Even driven modestly, a Honda just feels right.

My neighbours tell me that they like their SUVs squarer, which apparently makes them look more rugged. I have a lot more confidence in the notion that Honda's compound curves produce a strong, rigid body with minimal weight and better aerodynamics; I'm pretty sure Honda is going down the right road. Honda made a point of telling me that the new design is cleaner, sportier, and more rugged than its predecessor. I agree. It's already growing on me, just a few days into its tenure here in Forest Hill, Toronto.

This new, second-generation HR-V is quite different to its predecessor. The first one was based on the Fit/Jazz platform, but I have to think this larger one is based on the altogether superior Civic. Unlike my beloved Civic coupe, there's loads of knee room under the steering column for a six-foot-two editor (me), and the hip-point of the seat is far enough from the ground that I can more or less step into and out of it without a vertical adjustment - a very important feature as the sixth decade of my life approaches, despite my best efforts to ignore its tragic inevitability.

The test car came with everything, the way they always do. I was most impressed with the all wheel drive, even if I'm not supposed to care until there's enough snow around to challenge traffic. The HR-V's system always feeds some power to the rear wheels, varying it according to multiple parameters, including steering input. I'm pretty sure it lends to that feeling

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from Economy to Normal mode when you feel you might need to sprint makes a world of difference, too. There's never anything quite as affective as driving the car properly.

Honda made a point of letting me know that the standard CVT has been "reengineered for more power delivery and more fun drive." I had to prod them to establish that a lockup torque converter is now used instead of a dry clutch, as it always should be. It's a huge improvement for the whole experience of driving the car. The hesitations and minor vibrations of launch and pick are gone, and the kick-down response at speed is far better. It's not like a 95 automatic Si; that could drop a gear or two and spin up to 7200 rpm, much impressing my younger self. Even at that age, I realized that the impressive noise was achieving little extra acceleration, that it was in fact a shallow performance, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Now I'm a grown-up, I'll take the genius combination of the CVT's flexibility and economy, with the torque converter's compensation for its kick-down weakness. Switching

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There's the usual plethora of driver-assist features that seem to work as usefully as anyone else's, and an Apple Car Play/ Android Auto just like all the others. You should be focused on driving, anyway. The HR-V has a splendid set of LED headlamps that function well enough in high and low beam, a massive relief to your ageing correspondent, and far more important.

I like the HR-V a lot. It was hard returning it to the dealership.

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C stands for 148

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CZINGER 149

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3D PRINTED HYPERCAR

CZINGER 21C The first production car, representing the future of human AI design and sustainable systems.

By Darren Dobson

C

zinger Vehicles is a new supercar brand pioneering

speed. As a result, Czinger is on track to break multiple pro-

a new era in automotive manufacturing space by

duction track records, as demonstrated when a McLaren P1

changing the way cars are designed and manufac-

record at Americas F1 track, COTA, was beaten more than six

tured. The company was born in 2019 and named after the

seconds with the Czinger.

Founder and CEO Kevin Czinger. Built around a core ethos

First deliveries of the 21C may arrive in late 2022, but expect

of utilizing revolutionary, proprietary technology to create

to see a 21C on the road, most likely in 2023, with a production

vehicles equipped with both stellar performance and iconic

limited set at 80 cars. Price will be north of $2 million USD.

design, Czinger’s 21C is the first production car, representing the future of human AI design and sustainable systems.

The current model represents just the first in a series of exclusive performance vehicles coming from the Czinger stable, with the

Together with his team of Los Angeles designers and engi-

surprise unveiling of the HYPER GT AT THE QUAIL.

neers at the parent company, Divergent3D, Czinger developed and patented a production system combining automated de-

www.czinger.com

sign and optimization software, state of the art additive manufacturing driven processes (3D printing technology), automated assembly and in house performance materials, of which, the 21C is the first vehicle from this process.

Using AI, weight was minimized, and performance enhanced. Inspired by the SR71 Blackbird and with its aerodynamic shape, the two cabin seats looks like the interior of a fighter jet with the 21C seats, with the passenger behind the driver. The lightweight carbon fibre, aluminum and titanium body weighs just 1,250 kg, allowing the vehicle to accelerate to a mind blowing 0-60 mph in just 1.9 seconds. The 21C’s 2.88 litre engine was built in-house, with a capable twin turbo V8 hybrid configuration with a combined output of over 1250 HP and 250 plus mph top

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Kevin and Lukas Czinger with the 21C, a 1250 hybrid hypercar that demonstrates the 3D printing capabilities developed by this father-son duo.

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Mizoram and the Lost Tribes of Israel

By Subhasish Chakraborty

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izoram – Land of Blue Rolling Hills and the hidden pearl of India’s Northeast is a landlocked state, but once you reach it, paradise awaits! However, this beautiful state is also the least visited of all the states in the Indian Union, largely due to poor connectivity and the lackadaisical treatment by the travel media.

In Mizoram, Western way of life is very evident and the quintessential Mizo youths’ love of music is legendary. The state is home to some of India’s best known Rock Bands. Music by Nazareth, Mettallica, Guns & Roses, Scorpions etc. has a huge fan following that raises the bands to levels reserved for demigods.

Having spent my formative years in a Christian Missionary school in the remote North Eastern riverside town of Tezpur in Assam, I grew up in the company of tribals – Manipuris, Kukis, Nagas and the quintessential Mizos. Let me tell you, the influence of Christianity is very evident in this region and Mizoram in particular, with more than 98% of the Mizos being Christian.

Legend has it that the missionaries - Rev J H Lorrain and Rev F W Savidge first set foot in Mizoram on January 11th, 1894. Their influence ultimately led to the conversion of the entire population of Mizoram to Christianity. Even today, Mizos observe January 11th as “Missionary Day” with local churches holding services and galas to celebrate that part of their history.

Opposite and Above: Max Jamali's "Life is a Mystery" Show at the Vagabondo Restobar in Toronto, Canada

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SPENCER LIFESTYLE Aizwal – the picturesque capital city of Mizoram used to be my favourite haunt, especially during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. A time for taking in the Rock Shows, staying in Mizo homestays, gorging on Mizo cuisine consisting of Koat Pitha (fried fritters), Misa Mach Poora, Paanch Phoron Torkari, and a host of other delicacies unique to the area.

The city is replete with churches, big and small that cater to the religious sentiments of the Christians. Every evening Aizwal is bursting with spiritual performances that incorporate hymns and prayers throughout the buildings of worship.

The bazaars are bustling with activity – Bara Bazaar, Ritz market, Burma Lane, Thakthing Bazaar, New Market and Solomon Cave are chockablock with electronic items and gizmos that complement the native handcrafted items made of bamboo and cane.

The ambience of Chanmari, the trendiest neighborhood of Aizwal is replete with hip restaurants serving lip smacking Oriental delicacies. Dining at Beijing Blue with its eclectic mix of Korean, Chinese and Japanese foods offers an exciting menu for gastronomical feasting.

However, the real Mizoram lies in Village Mizoram where life has remained more innocent than the cities that are stamped with a Dickensian impression! The village of Falkawan (18 Kms. South of Aizwal city), Durtlang hills and Reiek Tlang are breathtaking and provide visitors with an amazing cultural immersion into the Mizo way of life.

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MIZORAM: TRAVEL Mizoram comes alive in a rioting of colors during the time of festivals. Visitors would do well to visit this speck of paradise in that period – Chap Char Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut. Mizo festivals are harvest-oriented, and their folk dances have remained unscathed by the influx of modernity.

“The meteoric rise of Mizoram from the ashes of jungle warfare & terrorism to the forefront of development is the stuff of

Northeast India has always been a sensitive region and the socio-political landscape experienced paradigm changes after II World War. It may be recalled that the state was torn apart by the two decades long armed rebellion of the Mizo National Front from 1961; a rebellion that ended peacefully with the signing of the Mizo Peace Accord in 1986.

The meteoric rise of Mizoram from the ashes of jungle warfare & terrorism to the forefront of development is the stuff of legends and today, Mizoram is considered to

legends.” be one of the most peaceful states in India’s Northeast.

The metamorphosis undergone by modern Mizoram from the days of head-hunters has been a transition from a nomadic past to the comforts of the contemporary world.

The shift from the indigenous practice of “Jhum Cultivation” to today’s permanent high-yield cultivation methods can astound today’s discerning traveler to Mizoram. That the state has also achieved a literacy rate of 91.33%, despite being landlocked, is a marvel.

The sight of beautifully attired Mizo tribals living in bamboo huts is striking, and are usually strategically located near bodies of water. The innovative yet ancient indigenous system used for piping water to supply the village is constructed of hollow bamboo pipes and can give contemporary engineers food for thought.

Mizo women are believed to be among the most beautiful in India’s North East and first time visitors are awestruck by their feminine grace – the sight of Mizo damsels carrying intricately woven baskets on their backs for instance, is straight out of a fairytale kingdom!

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SPENCER LIFESTYLE The former Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the Jewish ancestry of Mizoram’s Bnei Menashe tribe.

To paraphrase a statement he made in that acknowledgement:

The Mizo people’s belief system built on the existence of Khazangpa – the one God who lives in a celestial region of the universe, reprimands all wickedness and blesses all those who subscribe to goodness- is fascinating. No wonder that “Spirit Appeasement” and “Ancestor Worship” are trademark features of the society.

There is among us a living bridge; the wonderful Bnei Menashe, whose members have made and continue to make Aliyah from India to Israel. With their love for Israel and their great humility, and through impressive efforts, they are integrating well into Israeli society, while also maintaining a living bridge between our two peoples.

Mizo people’s obsession with Israel and all things Israeli is legendary. How desperately they wish for the rest of the world to understand their existence. Very similar to that of the plight of the Israelis– both are surrounded by hostile Muslim countries (Bangladesh and Myanmar for Mizoram, and the Arab countries in the case of Israel.) For each, the spectre of terrorism looms large – Israel from the Jihadi Muslim organizations, and Mizoram from the North East guerrilla outfits.

To make the process of transition from India to Israel hassle free and ease their integration within the Israeli society, the Government of Israel has provided the Bnei Menashe tribes with rights to residency in the northern part of Israel’s Carmiel region. What is more, since the Bnei Menashe tribes are renowned for their power of endurance, they are also being recruited in Israel’s defence forces.

“Legend has it

that Israel’s Lost Tribes were

Legend has it that Israel’s Lost Tribes were banished from ancient Israel by the Assyrians in the 8th century B.C. The momentum for identification of the Israel’s Lost Tribes began in the 1970s when Rabbi Avichail who was travelling all over the world in search of them stumbled upon Mizoram’s tribes. In finding a lot of similarities in their rituals and traditions, he designated them with the Bnei Menashe tag, literally meaning Son of Manasseh or one amongst Israel’s Lost Tribes.

banished from

ancient Israel by the Assyrians in the 8th century B.C.”

Already 20,000 people belonging to the Bnei Menashe tribe of Mizoram who were recognized by Israel’s Chief Rabbi back in 2005 as being one of the Lost Tribes have migrated to Israel. And in 2021, a 218-member group belonging to Mizoram’s Bnei Menashe tribe were transported to the Promised Land by chartered flight, after undergoing a purification ritual and adhering to the Covid protocols.

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MIZORAM: TRAVEL gists for some time, and it’s a fact that with the region being blessed with more than 250 tribes, it is a top contender for being rated as the world’s Anthropology Hotspot. Thus, in the coming days, if anthropology is the index of judging the Lost Tribes of Israel, it would follow that the North East of India which has many other tribes- the Nagas for instance, who claim to be descendants of Danites, may also be considered as one of the Lost Tribes of Israel.

Today, Mizoram is at the crossroads of culture. Mizo society is in flux and yet the resilience they are showing to safeguard peace, stability and harmonious co-existence is exemplary.

We live in an era where proliferation of terror outfits across the globe is the biggest concern of human civilization, with India and Israel enduring the worst of the impact.

In the US led military campaign Global War on Terror, India and Israel are natural allies, and with Israel giving official recognition to little known Mizoram and its Bnei Menashe tribe, geo-political experts worldwide are waiting with bated breath to see how the story unfolds at the global level.

The Northeast of India has been on the radar of anthropolo-

The stage is set for the world to witness a dramatic socio-political awakening with India’s North East being at the epicentre! From a purely tourism point of view, indeed, there is no denying that Mizoram exemplifies that Tourism is too vast an industry to be swallowed by terrorism!

Traveler’s Fact File:

For further information on Mizoram, contact: Director Tourism Department MINECO, Aizawl - 796001 Ph - 0389-2333475

Getting There: By air: the nearest airport of Mizoram is at Lengpui, an hour’s drive from Aizwal, the capital city. It is connected by Alliance Air (a subsidiary of Indian Airlines) to Kolkata. Hired cabs are readily available at Lengpui airport.

Email - mizoram.tourism@gmail.com Permits: Inner Line Permits have to be obtained by both the domestic as well as foreign tourists, which are obtainable from the address mentioned above.

By Rail: the nearest station is at Silchar, (North Cachar Hills), Assam. From Silchar, a 6 hours drive brings you to Aizwal.

By road, the National Highway 40 (Guwahati to Shillong), and from Shillong on the National Highway 44 to Silchar and from Silchar to Aizwal on the National Highway 54.

Accommodation: Mizoram Tourism’s Berawtlang Tourist Complex is much preferred by visitors. Hotel Chief Zarkawt, Ritz and Hotel Royale also offer decent hospitality.

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for first-class yachting travel experiences...

Ask:

Captain Joey!

By Captain Joey Benoliel

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elcome to my series for Spencer Magazine. I'll be sharing my travel experiences and answering your questions on planes and yachting.

How long have you been boating/Yachting?

I have had a fascination with boating all my life and always dreamed of being by the water. My father started us off relatively young with a 20’ bowrider that we used exclusively for waterskiing. He would always allow us to get behind the wheel even as a young boy at 11 years old. That’s when my interest was really born. Later in life, I purchased a little cottage on Lake Simcoe and that’s when the desire to get into yachts and set my sites for larger bodies of water began.

What are the differences between owning and renting?

This is a great question and is one that I get asked the most.

The differences are quite significant. Generally, if you will be using your boat/Yacht on a regular basis, every week or at least two times per month during the year then, owning can be more economical compared to renting. Costs associated with owningcan add up fast and renting becomes a far less expensive proposition if you only plan to use the boat a few times per year.

What got you into Sailing?

As a young man, I attended summer camp and that’s when I was first exposed to sailing. I found it incredibly exciting to have the wind move the boat at a good speed without the need for an engine or any other propulsion method. Later in life after I moved to the lake, I found sailing more exciting and interactive. This version of being on the water required me to be hands-on and involved in being at the helm, adjusting the sales, along with the speed, was a huge adrenaline rush for me. I was in love with sailing and wanted more. w w w. s p e n c e r- m a g a z i n e . c o m

What are the costs associated with owning?

Costs to own a boat or yacht are directly associated with the size of your boat. Costs for ownership will include: Slip costs that are usually based on the footage of your boat. Insurance, will also relate to the size and also where you will be using the boat. Keeping your boat on a lake will be less expensive

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than in the ocean. Other costs include general maintenance. Because boats are on the water they are exposed to the weather elements and in many cases salt water, these factors cause systems onboard to fail faster than usual. Keeping your boat well maintained will keep expensive last-minute repairs at bay. Lastly is the cost of fuel. Fuel burn on boats and yachts is far higher than you will see in cars or trucks. Many of my co-boaters easily spend several hundred dollars of fuel per week when cruising. Again, the bigger the boat you own, the higher the fuel burn. Sailboats are far less expensive with regards to fuel burn.

Is yachting safe?

Yes, Yachting is very safe. As with any activity on the water, there are certain risks. These can be mitigated through safe seamanship, knowledge of your vessel and the use of safety measures like PFD’s rafts, flares etc. Being a good swimmer is not a must. Good judgment will keep you safe.ton function to correct spatial disorientation.

Is a certified captain required or can I be my own captain?

You can definately be your own captain. This really depends on your mission and in many cases the size of the yacht that you own.

Smaller yachts are easier to maneuver and need fewer skills and crew. Are you the type of person that likes to be fully responsible, and enjoy the duty of captaining your own vessel, or would you simply prefer to hire a professional captain and crew that virtually takes all the responsibility, allowing you to be more relaxed and enjoy the odd cocktail with your guest while underway.

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SPENCER LIFESTYLE Do you use your yacht for travel or just daily outings?

We recently sold our boat to make way for a larger yacht that will be in Fort Lauderdale Florida. We defiantly do both. We love inviting guests out for a Sunday sail around the intercoastal for the day. We pack lunch snacks and of course drinks, then sail into the sunset. We also use the boat for mini-vacations to the islands of the Bahamas and other Caribbean Islands. We generally will go to a nice Marina and dock there for as short as three days or as long as two weeks. We live on board all the while.

How many people can a yacht reasonably carry?

That depends on the size. By definition, a yacht is a minimum of 33 feet. This usually allows for a cabin at the bow (front) and one very small one in the stern (back). A good size yacht will generally be 44 feet with 3 cabins and can accommodate 7 to 8 people, although that would be tight for any long length of time. A 50-foot yacht will have 3 to 4 cabins and can be very comfortable for 8 people for longer periods of time.

In your opinion what are the differences between Sailing and Motor Yachting?

The biggest difference between Motoring and Sailing is the feeling of heeling or “tipping” to one side. This is a byproduct of sailing. Some people simply don’t like this feeling. Sailing also requires more work from the captain and crew. Motor yachting is far more relaxed as there is no heeling and, in most cases, becomes quite simple to learn. People who love sailing love it for the thrill of having a several-ton vessel move with only the power of the wind. Sailboats are the only mode of transport where you can circle the globe without fuel. Motor yachting is far more relaxed, although becomes expensive because of the fuel burn.

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Is it practical to live on a yacht permanently?

Absolutely, there is a growing number of individuals that are retiring and selling it all, buying a yacht and living their dream. The modern yacht comes with all the luxuries of a five-star condo in the biggest city. The difference here is that this condo can go from city to city with relative ease. The costs can be far more reasonable if you’re ok to stay just outside a marina on a mooring as opposed to being in a marina for a long period of time. A few years ago, I stayed a few weeks on anchor just outside Great Exuma, Bahamas. The bay we were in was very protected and we generally had the best weather.

Our boat had a dinghy that we used to motor to the mainland (a seven-minute ride) where we would go to restaurants and shows and do general provisioning. Our boat also had a water maker that converted salt water into water that could be used for showers cooking etc.

The trip was a total of 21 days on the water and was during the beginning of the Covid pandemic. The trip for me started on the island of Lanzarote on the Canaries islands. This is where I boarded the ship. We then sailed south to the islands of Cape Verde Africa for repairs and provisioning. We were not allowed to get off the boat as the island had strict Covid measures, so we stayed on the anchor for 2 nights there. We then set sail due West for our crossing that lasted for 15 days. The scariest part of the trip for me was when we were just outside the Cape Verde islands and our main sail ripped and got cough in our motor. This was a serious issue as we now had no engine to come to the marina and all we had was our small jib sail and it was pitch dark at night in a marina that was littered with old wrecks.

Other than that, I got used to the constant rolling of 3 to 4-meter waves and learned to live within a very tight space with six other people. The best part was sitting under the stars at night for hours.

What made you decide to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing yacht?

Joey Benoliel A friend and sailing mentor of mine had purchased a yacht in France where many of these fantastic boats are made. He was looking for the right crew to help him bring the boat across to the US. I couldn’t refuse, this would be my chance to explore this lifestyle and take my skills to the next level. The trip was full of adventure some fear and some extreme joy. My shift was from 12 am to 4 am. This is when things would either go terribly wrong or things were great. I loved it and would do it all again tomorrow.

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Voyaji Charters

Commercial Pilot & Maritime Captain Tatiana Kunitskaya Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer of Voyaji Charters

Maritime Captain

How long did it take and what were some of the best and worst moments?

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resource directory GOTSTYLE for Men & Women 21 Trinity Street, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4 416-260-9696 www.gotstyle.com

BROKEN CAGE GALLERY 548 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1Y4 416-254-1994 www.brokencagegallery.com

HARLEY DAVIDSON DURHAM 850 Champlain Avenue, Oshawa, ON L1J 7A6 905-434-6550 www.durhamhd.com

THE ROSE PICNIC The Largest Premium Picnic in Canada www.rosepicnic.com CANIFFF The Canadian International Fashion Film Festival www.canifff.com

CHATEAU LE JARDIN 8440 Highway 27, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A5 905-851-2200 www.lejardin.com

ESTELLE OHAYAN ART CONCIERGE 647-505-0420 www.estelleohayanart.com

ANALUCIA BELTRAN DIAMONDS www.analuciabeltrandiamonds.com

MARIE COPPS: FASHION DESIGNER www.mariecopps.com

RAFFAELLO SALON 132 Cumberland Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1A6 416-929-0021 www.raffaellosalon.com

ANDREW BANK: DESIGNER @andrewbankofficial @maisoncentuari

VOYAJI PRIVATE CHARTERS 1-888-869-2581 www.voyaji.com

OOOBABY: CANADIAN DESIGNER 519-433-2229 www.ooobaby.com

PASS IT ON: THE FOUNDATION FOR A BETTER LIFE www.passiton.com

LIFESTYLE TORONTO: RIWAYAT www.riwayat.events

MR. KAIZEN: ELEVATING YOUR STYLE OF LIFE 416-849-2000 www.meetmrkaizen.com

SALON DEW 68 Scollard Street, Toronto, ON M5R 1G2 416-934-0073 www.salondew.com

THE OPPULENT CLUB 647-286-4799 www.TheOppulentClub.com

HARIS SARDAR: CANADIAN ARTIST www.1haris1.com

FOTOGRAFIA BOUTIQUE 1525 Cornwall Road, Unit 1, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 905-338-3686 www.fotografiaboutique.ca

MATTHEW DEAN BODO: CANADIAN ARTIST Gallery: 118 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY Travel Writer: subhasish.chakraborty@spencer-magazine.com

PETER TRIANTOS ART GALLERIES 416-539-0275 www.petertriantos.com

PAOL ORTIZ Health & Beauty Editor 800-719-2468 ext. 832

RICHARD FOLTYS REAL ESTATE 416- 450-0450 www.Emmanuel-Homes.com GOODZILLA: EVERY SALE MAKES A CHANGE www.goodzilla.ca

BLAIR PHILLIPS, DAVIN DE KERGOMMEAUX Spirits Editors 800-719-2468 ext. 846 blair-phillips@spencer-magazine.com

THE INSTITUTE OF FASHION Fashion + Photography + Design www.tiof.ca

DREAM DRIVE VACATIONS 855-222-5710 www.dreamdrivevacations.com

RUNWAY UNLIMITED www.runwayunlimited.com

ASK CAPTAIN JOEY! Joey Benoliel 647-298-6980 www.yachtsplaneslifestyle.com

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AWARDS www.WOEA.ca

SCUDERIA FERRARI CLUB TORONTO www.scuderiaferraritoronto.club

RHOWAN JAMES HOMME www.rhowanjames.com

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CANADA FASHION NETWORK www.canadafashionnetwork.com

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