TWM Winter 2017

waterfront TORONTO

FEATURE EXCLUSIVE

LEONARDO DICAPRIO BEFORE THE FLOOD PLUS: > WWF CANADA: SPECIES EXTINCTION > PROTECTING OUR GREAT LAKES > BILL KING: THE SINGER & THE PRODUCER > THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHAMPAGNE > YOU ARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE > MEDITATION TOOLKIT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE > SKIN CARE SECRETS > BUDDHA DOGS > TORONTO’S TECH ECOSYSTEM > WHERE’S THE PARTY?

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COMMUNITY 10 Publisher’s & Editor’s Notes 38 Community Integration 40 World’s Largest Hockey Mural 42 Single in the City 43 Cartoon

29 ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT 29 32 34 36

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Exclusive Feature: Leonardo DiCaprio Philip’s Testament Reelword Rises The Singer and the Producer

LIFESTYLE 56 Where’s the Party?

58 Best Events 60 Toula Celebration 62 Creating a Passage 64 The Ultimate Champagne Guide 66 Review: Wildfire Steakhouse 82 The Scene w/Michelle Levy

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PETS 68 Buddha Dogs 70 To Spay or Not To Spay

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THE ENVIRONMENT 14 David Suzuki 18 Species Extinction 20 Other Waterfronts 22 EcoModernism 24 What’s Happening to TO Harbour 26 Protecting Our Great Lakes

44 HEALTH&WELLBEING 44 You Are What You Believe 46 Meditation Toolkit 48 Waterside Living 50 Pain Management 52 Skin Care Secrets 54 Astro Insight

72 BUSINESS&WEALTH

72 Your Condo 74 Blockchain 76 Royal Meats 78 Toronto’s Tech Ecosystem 80 The Waterfront Agency

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COVER PHOTO: U.N. PHOTO, RICK BAJORNAS

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

K

ARIM MIRSHAHI

I am very gratified to present the Winter Issue of Toronto Waterfront Magazine for your reading pleasure. This issue is full of incisive, informative articles that stimulate the intellect and excite the imagination.

As well as covering the Environment, Arts & Entertainment, the Waterfront Community, plus Health and Lifestyle, we have added a Business Section, Beauty & Fashion, articles on Pets and much more.

Plus we are delighted to have a special feature on Leonardo DiCaprio, with an overview of his recent documentary, Before The Flood - including a summary of the film, in his own words.

Meanwhile, there is a lot happening here on the Waterfront, and you can be sure Toronto Waterfront Magazine will help bring it to you - including chronicling Canada’s Sesquicentennial celebrations in 2017.

Here’s to 150 years!

EDITOR’S NOTE

R

OSS ULYSSES MUNROE

New developments are afoot that are changing the complexion of international relations and societies everywhere. Communities of people abroad are fragmenting into opposing camps, deserting their common values in many cases, polarized.

In Canada, we have challenges. But we still draw our strength and our values as a nation from our tolerance, respect, egalitarianism and mutual understanding for the most part. This voice we have is becoming increasingly important as events unfold in the world at large, and here at home.

Toronto’s Waterfront Community is a mirror for a truth that is reflected across the country: we come from many walks of life; we hail from different backgrounds; but our communities are woven together in a fabric as multicoloured as that of any individual culture.

Let’s all wear it with pride.

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Karim Mirshahi Ross Ulysses Munroe Aida Memisevic Virginia Munroe Linda Montgomery Monique Enriquez Georgina Bencsik Sandra Creighton Dorothy Guerra Darren Dobson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Justin Morgan

PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EDITOR BUSINESS EDITOR FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR POLITICAL EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS

CONTIBUTING WRITERS Georgina Bencsik, Melissa Bessey, Laura Bilotta, Donna Bulika, Sandra Creighton, Dorothy Guerra, Hassan Jaffer, Myra Jenkins, William Kaye, Bill King, Michelle Levy, Rick Maltese, Aida Memisevic, David Miller, Karim Mirshahi, Linda Montgomery, Gillian Moody, John Munroe, Krystyn Tully, Ross Ulysses Munroe, Virginia Munroe, Glen Murray, Liz Palmer, Monica Rorvik, Roanna Sabeh-Azar, Shannon Skinner, Rebecca Spour, David Suzuki, Natasha Von Rosenschilde CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS William Kaye, John Ortner, Tom Sandler, Gary Van Netten CONTRIBUTING VIDEOGRAPHERS Rodger Edralin, Tony Morrone, Hugh Reilly CARTOONIST Dave Ross DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS Nico Bacigalupo DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING Max Trunov DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Christine Cirka PRODUCTION MANAGER Rick Maltese GRAPHIC DESIGN Mary Hui Eng, Minyan Liang, Rick Maltese DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGN Parham Yazdy, Hudson Bozorgi CIRCULATION MANAGER Carmen Cicciarella PUBLIC RELATIONS Gillian Moody EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR Daniela Spirlac, Laura Bilotta

CONTACT US Waterpark Place 88 Queens Quay West, Suite 2500 Toronto, Ontario, M5J 0B8 Tel: 888.295.2060 Fax: 416.352.7530 Advertising: 888.295.2060 info@waterfront-magazine.com www.waterfront-magazine.com Toronto Waterfront Magazine is published for daily consumption on line and in print. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the contents, either in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the publisher’s written authorization. All letters and their contents sent to Toronto Waterfront Magazine become the sole property of Toronto Waterfront Magazine and may be used and published in any manner whatsoever, without limit and without obligation and liability to the author thereof. Views and comments expressed in all the articles reflect only those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher and staff of Toronto Waterfront Magazine.

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THE ENVIRONMENT

IF YOU’RE IN A HOLE

Stop Digging

BY DAVID SUZUKI With contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Editor Ian Hanington.

I

’ve often thought politicians inhabit a parallel universe. Maybe it’s just widespread cognitive dissonance, coupled with a lack of imagination, that compels them to engage in so much contradictory behaviour. Trying to appease so many varying interests isn’t easy.

Rather than focusing on short-term economic and corporate priorities, though, politicians should first consider the long-term health and well-being of the people they’re elected to represent. When it comes to climate change and fossil fuels, many aren’t living up to that.

We celebrate the federal government’s decision to implement nation-wide carbon pricing, even though what’s proposed won’t, without additional measures like regulations, get us to our commitments under the Paris Agreement, which is also inadequate for keeping global warming from catastrophic levels. A government could be forgiven for going slow on a measure opposed by some industrial sectors, provinces and citizens, but it’s difficult to take a government seriously when it approves or supports expanding fossil fuel infrastructure and development while the world continues to break warming records, with increasingly dire consequences.

A massive B.C. “carbon bomb” LNG project in the midst of critical salmon-rearing territory, in defiance of many area First Nations’ wishes. Likely approval of at least one more bitumen pipeline to support expanded oil sands development. A provincial government that pretty much says, “We’ll support federal efforts to fight climate change if you support our efforts to fuel it.” None of this makes sense.

As a report from non-profit Oil Change Interna-

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That leaves us with three choices: managed decline, stranded assets or climate chaos. tional and 14 other groups concludes, “The potential carbon emissions from the oil, gas, and coal in the world’s currently operating fields and mines would take us beyond 2°C of warming,” and “The reserves in currently operating oil and gas fields alone, even with no coal, would take the world beyond 1.5°C.” That’s without any new development!

That leaves us with three choices: managed decline, stranded assets or climate chaos. The first, which the report recommends, means no new fossil fuel infrastructure, existing supplies become depleted and replaced with clean alternatives and employees redeployed to latter. As the report’s authors point out, “This does not mean stopping using all fossil fuels overnight. Governments and companies should conduct a managed decline of the fossil fuel

industry and ensure a just transition for the workers and communities that depend on it.”

Stranded assets means, “Companies continue to develop new fields and mines, governments are eventually successful in restricting emissions, and the resulting reduction in demand causes many extraction assets to become uneconomic and shut down, causing destruction of capital and large job losses.”

Under the third scenario, we keep digging, mining, fracking, building, transporting, selling and burning until we’re well beyond the 2 C threshold, resulting in “economic and human catastrophe.”

Sadly, in Canada and globally, we’ve chosen the second option, and in some cases, the third. Subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, the most profitable industry ever, continue despite a 2009 G20 commitment to phase them out. Canada alone promotes the industry to the tune of about $3.3 billion a year in tax breaks and handouts, not including provincial incentives. Politicians say they care about climate while arguing we need more bitumen, natural gas and coal to fuel growing economies and human populations, and more pipelines to get “product” to tidewater and

overseas markets. Saskatchewan has Canada’s best wind and solar resources, but the government focuses on expensive and unreliable schemes like carbon capture and storage while arguing against carbon pricing and other tools to cut emissions.

It’s all a form of denial. Conserving energy, shifting to cleaner sources, reducing automobile use by improving transit and bike and pedestrian infrastructure, protecting and restoring carbon sinks such as forests and wetlands, and getting a handle on agricultural emissions are all possible, and would create numerous jobs and economic opportunities.

Most national governments have committed to the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 2 C above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational goal of 1.5 C. We’re already nearing the latter, with growing consequences, including increasing extreme weather events, water and food shortages, migration crises and extinctions. We must conserve energy, quickly phase out coal power and continue to develop renewable resources.

As Oil Change International says, “If you’re in a hole, stop digging.”

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THE ENVIRONMENT

MASSIVE PLUNGE IN WILDLIFE EXPECTED BY 2020: Here’s Why, and What You Can Do

BY DAVID MILLER President & CEO of WWF-Canada

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very two years, the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London report on the health of the planet with an updated index of wildlife populations. This year, the numbers are especially bleak: Populations have already declined on average by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012. And unless we act quickly, we risk a decline of 67 per cent by 2020. That’s more than two-thirds of wildlife on this planet lost in just one lifetime.

A third of sharks, rays and skates are estimated to be threatened with extinction primarily because of overfishing.

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The biggest threats to species are habitat loss and degradation, followed by over exploitation

The Living Planet Report 2016 tells us that landbased populations have experienced a 38 per cent decline. Ocean populations have declined by 36 per cent. And freshwater populations have suffered a staggering 81 per cent decline.

Despite all our efforts, the trend is moving in the wrong direction, and we have only ourselves to blame. The pressures on wildlife are human-caused: Habitat loss and fragmentation due to climate change, land-use decisions and pollution are some of the most significant drivers of wildlife decline.

According to the report, the global population consumes each year the renewable resources of 1.6 Earths.

It’s often said that the world needs more Canada, but how do we compare? We know that in Canada, our ecological footprint is even greater: If all the

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world lived like Canadians, we would need 4.7 Earths.

We are consuming more than nature can deliver. And wildlife is paying the price. A mass migration has already begun as wildlife move in reaction to changing seasons, to find water, to escape wildfires, to go where sea ice once prevented them from going.

Clearly, something has to give. The Living Planet Report identifies key systems to target first, including fuel and finance. To limit warming to just 1.5°C (which could still mean 5°C warming in the Arctic), we must accelerate the widespread transition to habitat-friendly renewable energy. And we must devise an economic measure that takes the environment into account.

WWF-Canada is pioneering approaches to renewable energy deployment that is habitat friendly for every energy type: on land, in freshwater, marine and Arctic environments.

Measuring the growth of GDP as our main policy goal won’t work in the long term because GDP fails to measure the cost of environmental destruction. Growth sounds like a good goal, but we are beginning to reach the limits of what is possible. Instead, we need to think in terms of prosperity for all.

And with this new goal, we need new economic measures that include the value of benefits we derive from a healthy environment (like fish to eat, clean water to drink and air to breathe) and the environmental costs of production and con-

sumption that are currently being borne by all wildlife, including people.

We know we can live – and prosper – within nature’s limits.

To get there, we need a more sophisticated equation. Carbon pricing is a significant first step.

But it’s not enough. Canada is home to 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater supply and 10 per cent of the world’s remaining forests. We have the ability to protect significant portions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Considering the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems, Canada has a unique responsibility to protect biodiversity.

Wildlife in Canada, too, are facing increasing pressure from climate change, habitat loss and industrialization. The destruction of habitats and ecosystems hurts us all, as these habitats provide food, energy and materials vital to human survival as well. We can do better.

The biggest threats to species are habitat loss and degradation, followed by overexploitation.

WWF-Canada works with communities, industry and academia to devise, test and implement on-the-ground solutions to the problems that threaten wildlife and their habitat. In the course of that work, we also make policy recommendations to government in hopes of creating conditions for success.

For all wildlife, including us. Before it’s too late.

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Two great cities on two giant bodies of water. One ‘sweet’, the other ‘salty’. The Toronto Waterfront neighbourhood is on one of the biggest fresh water lakes in the world. Cape Town’s Victoria and Albert Waterfront neighbourhood is located on the second largest ocean - the Atlantic. Both cities share their favourite waterfront locations with millions of visitors from near and far, and recently I visited Cape Town’s Victoria and Albert Waterfront neighbourhood and felt right at home. In Toronto for TIFF, Monica Rorvik, Head of Film and Media Promotion for Wesgro, Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Cape Town and the Western Cape gave some insight into the vibrancy of Cape Town’s Waterfront.

BY SANDRA CREIGHTON & MONICA RORVIK

T

he harbour itself is dramatic and in keeping with the historical buildings, the V&A waterfront has more visitors than any other Cape Town tourist attraction and has become a must-do venue for shopping, dining and living. Like Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, there are live music events at its amphitheatre and the gentrification of the area allows for great mixed use areas with running routes and other exercise by the sea while sharing the harbour with the Cape Fur Seal and beautiful birds. The harbour is also regularly used by the water

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The countdown has begun for the opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

sport community - although there are great beaches, the big yachts come into V&A in order to take advantage of the specialist suppliers while refitting and refueling on their round-the-world trips.

Cape Town’s grain silos were built in 1921, and at 57m tall, the grain silo remains an icon of the Cape Town skyline. Similarly, the Canada Malting silos at Bathurst were built in 1928; the technology of agriculture rendered the silos defunct. However rather than destroy them, the V&A Waterfront Commission of Cape Town decided to retain the shape of the iconic working harbour and to transform the silos, by building on top of them, creating an art gallery to add an educative and community cohesion.

PHOTO: DOLLAR PHOTO CLUB

OTHER WATERFRONTS

The countdown has begun for the opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the most significant museum of contemporary art in Africa, and the largest art museum built in Africa in more than 100 years. In addition to exhibiting an extensive art collection from some of Africa’s most talented artists and its Diaspora, Zeitz MOCAA has sought to create an art museum that is easily accessible to South Africans and continental visitors.

V&A Waterfront CEO David Green said, “Given the history and socio-economic role the V&A Waterfront plays in South Africa and the sheer number of visits we achieve annually, we felt this gift to the nation, where commerce meets culture, was entirely appropriate and will correctly continue to position the Waterfront as a social nexus for all Capetonians, South Africans and international visitors who take joy in celebrating culture.”

IMAGE: ZEITZ MOCAA

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ECOMODERNISM Provides a Way to Nurse Earth Back to Good Health

BY RICK MALTESE

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comodernists are also called ecopragmatists. They embrace the idea that many of the world’s worst problems can be solved with technology and human ingenuity. They recognize that much of the damage that has been done to the oceans, the air and the weather is caused by humans, and that the tipping points leading to tragedies such as mass extinctions are happening already.

Emergency measures need to take place. The truth is that everything is connected and such reality permits their philosophical outlook to embody a diverse range of topics from ocean acidity, genetically modified organisms, energy sources, air pollution, climate change, economics, transportation, population, health, well being, etc.

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Ecomodernists believe the task of reversing climate change is a moral necessity.

Respect for the wonders of nature is fundamental to ecomodernism. The Ecomodernist Manifesto is a document that pays tribute to nature. It was created by a group of scientists, researchers and scholars but most of all environmentalists outlining the philosophy of ecomodernism. It is also in essence a policy paper about what is needed to save the planet. Learning the cost of choosing one technology over another is the kind of situation for which ecomodernists concern themselves. The matter of how much time we have to save ourselves from the point of no return is a driving force for the solutions they pursue.

When it comes to predicting the future of civilization most people assume doomsday scenarios won’t affect them personally and won’t happen in their lifetime. Many people want to believe answers exist for how to reverse climate change. Ecomodernists believe the task of reversing climate change is a moral necessity not a topic for debate. However they recognize how much we have selfishly abused our

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only home and seek solutions that separate humans and their activities from interfering with nature as much as possible.

That is why cities are seen as the best way to assemble humans. This cooperative exists naturally with bees and ant colonies.

Their extraordinary ability to thrive is due to the systematic and self-governing instincts that nature predestined them to carry out performing specific tasks from each member of their community.

An example of an ecomodernist activity might be to demystify those who are afraid of anything that uses genetic modification.

They might explain a safe procedure to eliminate the Zika virus, the mosquito virus that can harm babies in the womb. By altering a gene in the male Egyptae mosquito they are able to prevent the Zika virus from spreading by impregnating the females to lay eggs that never mature from the larvae stage.

The misconception is that these mosquitoes will mate other species and cause a disruption to the ecological balance. But the gene-altering technique improves on the insecticide approach because it targets just one species so that there is no danger to the dozens of other species never mind what chemicals do to humans.

Some critics have expressed that Ecomodernism is naive from the point of view that not all countries have the same priorities. When citizens of the past needed sweeping reform they were occasionally rescued by leaders preaching populist sentiments. Raising the minimum wage or improving the working conditions are examples. But more challenging topics exist, such as the alleged dangers of nuclear energy in Japan, for instance.

After the Fukushima meltdowns that have proven to be far less serious than were generally stated, support is minimal due to fears of radioactive substances. A number of agencies and scientists have stated that far more harm was done from disruptions to people’s lives due to evacuations than any exposure to trace amounts of radioactive Cesium or Iodine.

Ecomodernism provides a philosophical point of view that, like all systems, is not flawless. Yet, considering the times we live

in, there is a pressing need for a fast track approach to deal with preventing potentially irreversible tipping points such as species extinction and loss of human life. Now, in an age when knowledge is more often entertainment value for the middle class than it is serious ammunition for change, we need the analysis and techno-savvy of special interest groups like ecomodernists who embrace knowledge and value engineering and science so that those with less knowledge and awareness can be given the arguments for what technologies are the best choices.

Many other problems exist that require a rational and logical argument

to counter the politics and corrupt regimes and situations where the average citizen is not educated on the important issues.

The thinking behind Ecomodernism comes at a time when deniers who are motivated by personal gain are allowing a civilization to collapse. H. G. Wells stated that “Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe.”

If civilization is a process then rather than leave it up to chance for the outcome let’s try to affect the outcome in a prosperous and productive way. If that means becoming more educated so that we can make more informed decisions then so be it.

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THE ENVIRONMENT

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO

Toronto Harbour?

BY KRYSTYN TULLY Waterkeeper

Y

ou’ve seen the headlines and you must be wondering: what’s happening to Toronto Harbour?

Toronto Harbour is a natural harbour in the heart of Canada’s largest city and on any given summer day, it’s teeming with life. Sailors, paddlers and ferries criss-cross the lake, while migratory birds find haven on the nearby islands. Below the surface swim trout, perch, pike and bass. Millions of tourists visit Toronto Harbour every year. The waterfront is the city’s most important asset.

After a busy weekend at Harbourfront, you can always find litter in Lake Ontario. Food containers, cigarettes and other garbage harm fish and birds.

They drive people away from the lake. But pollution’s reach in the Toronto harbour goes beyond litter. Look closely. There is sewage here, too.

Recreational water quality is all about protecting the health and safety of the public. Millions of Canadians use our water recreationally, so monitoring where we use the water is paramount to helping boaters avoid getting sick. We test the water in the harbour to gauge the threat level to our health. Quite simply, the more sewage in the water we paddle, fish, and swim in, the greater chance we have of getting sick.

Currently, the city does not monitor anywhere in the Toronto Harbour, and that’s a big concern for all the sailors, kayakers and other boaters who use this area. Backed by generous donations and with the help of volunteers, we went on 10 sampling trips in Toronto Harbour throughout the summer. We wanted to know the truth about water quality in Toronto’s Harbour.

WE FOUND SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS Our Investigation Team collected 166 water samples

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That’s 106 Out Of 166 Samples That Failed To Meet Canadian Water Quality Standards

from the harbour. Most of the sewage pollution they found was near the water’s edge. When we were testing, the water sometimes looked clean, but bacteria levels still soared. These results show why water testing is important. It is really the only way for anyone to know when the water is clean.

Of the 166 single samples that were taken, 57 of them contained more E. coli bacteria than is recommended for safe boating by Health Canada’s Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. A further 51 individual samples contained more E. coli bacteria than is recommended for swimming. That’s 106 out of 166 samples that failed to meet Canadian water quality standards (64%). For a single sample to be considered a fail for boaters, the test result must exceed 2000 E. coli/100 ml. Anything more than 100 is a threat for swimmers and aquatic life.

The single highest sample we got came from Bathurst Quay on September 27th was 170,000.

That’s 170,000 E. coli bacteria colonies, a number that far exceeds any measure of safe water quality.

Out of 40 samples taken from Bathurst Quay, only six were below 100.

Though not as much as Bathurst Quay, other areas along the waterfront produced high results as well.

Waters tested in Outer Harbour and at the Islands tended to have much better results, and more passes on average.

When you look at all the results as a whole, it suggests what we’ve suspected all along: the worst sewage can be found near sewage and stormwater outfalls and the mouth of the Don River.

SEWAGE, PIPES AND RAIN You are probably wondering how sewage gets into Toronto Harbour in the first place. In old cities like Toronto, pipes carry sewage and stormwater to the lake to relieve pressure on the city’s wastewater system.

There are 9 key places where pipes empty into Lake Ontario underwater, hidden from sight.

And then there’s rain. Rain makes all this pollution

worse. The Waterkeeper Investigators found that most of the failed water tests, or 73-percent of them, occurred after rainfall. This is because rain fills sewers with water, then sewage and stormwater mix, become pollution, and flow through pipes into our harbour.

choice for Toronto Harbour. You can help. If you boat or paddle or surf in Toronto Harbour, your story is important. If you take the ferry to the islands or catch fish here, your voice should be heard. Your story is the real story. Do you love this harbour? Do you want it clean? Then you need to speak up.

THE GOOD NEWS There is good news. Water quality is like weather, it changes every day and most days, pollution’s grip on Toronto Harbour is pretty weak. The further you go from the harbourfront, away from the outfall locations, the cleaner the harbour water. On most days, bacteria doesn’t even reach the middle of the harbour. Basically, if we can turn off the pollution taps, Lake Ontario will rebound.

If we stop the sewage flows, we can have our harbour back. We’ve done it before.

In the 1990s, most beaches in Toronto failed water quality tests. Today, you can swim without worry at most city beaches. That’s what hard work and infrastructure investment can do. That’s what happens when people decide it’s time to win back Lake Ontario. Every success story starts with people - like you - deciding they want clean water. We can make this

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PROTECTING

Our Great Lakes OPINION EDITORIAL

BY GLEN MURRAY Ontario Minister Of The Environment And Climate Change

W

hether you love to fish, swim, boat, or walk along a shoreline trail, the Great Lakes encompass vast and unique ecosystems that make Ontario a remarkable place to live.

Most Ontarians — almost 99 per cent — live within the watersheds of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system. They’re an unparalleled treasure — holding one-fifth of all the fresh surface water on Earth. Their resources provide us with drinking water and energy, food and recreational opportunities. They are a boon for business, too, forming the third-largest economy in the world.

These vast bodies of water are crucial to the lives of all Ontarians. Together, with our partners, we have addressed many legacy issues to improve their health. However, new scientific research underscores the vulnerability of our Great Lakes and the need to address pressing issues such as climate change, harmful algal blooms, invasive species and the demands of a growing population.

Ontario is a leader in working with other governments and hundreds of community partners across the province to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes. We’ve done this proactively since we signed our first agreement on Great Lakes protection with Canada in 1971. We have invested tens of millions of dollars in projects to restore historically contaminated areas of concern; to protect the lakes from harmful pollutants; to conserve and rebuild fish and wildlife habitat; and to prevent aquatic invasive species from entering the lakes.

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We have invested tens of millions of dollars in projects

Climate change is not a distant threat and Ontario is demonstrating leadership and commitment to fighting climate change through a series of bold actions, including the protection of surface and ground water with watershed-based source protection plans, and better stormwater management to help communities adapt to climate change impacts. We’re also working to reduce sewage overflows and bypasses, and enhance the protection of Ontario’s streams, lakes and aquatic life.

We’ve also created our own roadmap for protection with Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy and the first progress report. We’ve established new protection tools under the Great Lakes Protection Act. We’re making sure more voices are heard through the Great Lakes Guardians Council, working with partners to increase scientific understanding and traditional ecological knowledge of the Great Lakes, and helping thousands of volunteers protect their corner of the Great Lakes with grants from the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund.

This October marked the fifth year of funding provided through the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. Since it was created in 2012, the fund has awarded $6 million to 305 projects in the Great Lakes watershed areas.

To learn more about your Great Lakes watershed, what you can do to protect them and how to get involved, visit Ontario.ca and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Great Lakes depend on Ontarians. Each of us has a role to play in keeping our Great Lakes and their watersheds healthy. Healthy Great Lakes are essential to the success of our province. We need to work with all our partners to increase our efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes. Only by working together can we ensure that our children will inherit a legacy of a healthy and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem.

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U.N. PHOTO, RICK BAJORNAS

LEO ADDRESSING THE U.N.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO:

‘BEFORE THE FLOOD’

BY GEORGINA BENCSIK & ROSS ULYSSES MUNROE

W

ith six Academy Award nominations and the Academy Award for Best Actor for the movie, The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio has had a film career that other successful thespians can only dream of. With such box office smash hits as Titanic, Gangs of New York and Inception to name only a few, DiCaprio has also been a force to be reckoned with on the topic of climate change - having produced a number of documentaries on the subject, culminating in his newest offering, Before The Flood.

In the following pages, we accompany DiCaprio through his multifaceted journey, and hear him recount his experience on his most recent documentary in his own words.

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FEATURE EXCLUSIVE

THE ACTOR BECOMES THE ACTIVIST

H

aving had a longstanding passion for the environment, at 24 years of age, Leonardo DiCaprio launched the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. While this non-profit organization is dedicated to providing education and support on a wide range of environmental issues, its primary focus is on climate change.

Active in over 40 countries, the foundation has also produced a number of documentaries on the subject, including his latest feature-length film, Before The Flood.

In 2000, the actor-turned-activist, as Chair of the national Earth Day celebration, interviewed President Bill Clinton, discussing strategies for ameliorating the effects of global warming, as well as other environmental concerns.

In 2007, DiCaprio co-wrote, co-produced and narrated the documentary film, The 11th Hour, exploring the relationship between mankind, nature and the warming of the planet. On the heels of this film, he organized a charity auction that raised nearly $40 million in support of his foundation - the highest grossing environmental fundraiser in history.

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Leonardo DiCaprio believes that global warming is the most pressing environmental problem facing mankind.

He has served on the boards of a variety of environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Green USA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, as well as the World Wildlife Fund. In 2014 DiCaprio was appointed as a United Nations representative on climate change. He addressed the United Nations in April of 2016, prior to the finalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

In 2016, DiCaprio won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant. He used his acceptance speech to express his very real concerns regarding climate change.

“Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous peoples of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this. For our children’s children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed.”

Leonardo‘s most recent achievement in the service of helping to protect the planet is his feature film documentary, Before The Flood, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.

This is just the latest chapter in his role as an actor turned environmental activist.

FILMOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTS

THE DEPARTED, 2006

BEFORE THE FLOOD, 2016

THE AVIATOR, 2004

THE REVENANT, 2015

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, 2002

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, 2013

GANGS OF NEW YORK, 2002

THE GREAT GATSBY, 2013

THE BEACH, 2000

DJANGO UNCHAINED, 2012

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK, 1998

J. EDGAR, 2011

TITANIC, 1997

INCEPTION, 2010

MARVIN’S ROOM, 1996

SHUTTER ISLAND, 2010

ROMEO + JULIET, 1996

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, 2008

THE BASKETBALL DIARIES, 1995

BODY OF LIES, 2008

WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE, 1993

BLOOD DIAMOND, 2006

THIS BOY’S LIFE, 1993

ALL PHOTOS: 2016 RATPAC DOCUMENTARY FILMS, LLC AND GREENHOUR CORPORATION, INC.

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“Before The Flood is the product of an incredible three-year journey that took place with my co-creator and Director, Fisher Stevens. We went to every corner of the globe to document the devastating impact of climate change and questioned humanity’s ability to reverse what may be the most catastrophic problem mankind has ever faced.

“There was a lot to take on. All that we witnessed on this journey shows us that our world’s climate is incredibly interconnected, and that it is at an urgent breaking point.”

“I’ve been incredibly moved by so many climate change documentaries in the past, but I never felt that I saw one that articulated the science clearly to the public. I think people grasp it, but it seems something distant, far off, intangible and almost otherworldly. An individual doesn’t feel like they can make an impact.

“The journey for me was to try and make a modern-day film about climate change. I’ve been studying this issue for the past 15 years, and I’ve been watching it very closely. What’s incredibly terrifying is that things are happening way ahead of the scientific projections, 15 or 20 years ago. We wanted to create a film that gave people a sense of urgency, that made them understand what particular things are going to solve this problem.

“We bring up the issue of a carbon tax,

DICAPRIO IN HIS OWN WORDS for example, which I haven’t seen in a lot of documentaries. Basically, sway a capitalist economy to invest in renewables, to bring less money and subsidies out of oil companies. These are the things that are really going to make a massive difference. It’s gone beyond, as we talk about in the film, simple, individual actions.

“We need to use our vote. We cannot afford to have political leaders out there that do not believe in modern science, or the scientific method, or empirical truths. We cannot afford to waste time having people in power that choose to believe in the 2% of the scientific community that is basically bought off by lobbyists and oil companies.

“They are living in the Stone Age. They are living in the Dark Ages. We need to live in the future.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PHILIP’S TESTAMENT

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BY DOROTHY GUERRA

he vision of seeing your name attached to a major motion picture is the desire of actors and actresses as they set out to acquire a steady career in the film industry. This is not an easy gig, many struggling to land their debut role would tell you. There is one thing that you must have and that’s faith in yourself.

I recently sat down with Philip Moran, a native to Toronto, who landed the starring role in Adam’s Testament, a new Canadian feature film. I had the pleasure of viewing Philip’s work in the movie and noticed that his dedication to battling obstacles and demons as Detective Joseph Gable in the movie is comparable to his real life success.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Philip said “working with this power around me gives me the ability to stay focused, and work hard.” He feels that to make it in show business there are many obstacles you have to work around and it takes tremendous will power to stay on the right track. Philip is a long time student of Bob Proctor, studying the Law of Attraction, which notably manifested his achievements in his current acting reel.

He feels that too often actors wait for opportunity to knock or to be handed to them and unfortunately the industry is just too difficult to wait for that to happen. Meeting the right people at the right time and knowing exactly what he had in him as an actor is what set Philip soaring to career recognition in his role as an alcoholic faith-driven father.

Philip dedicates his time to pushing himself and honing his skills. He actively studies with his acting teacher David Rotenberg and has taken his profession a step further by mentoring and guiding other actors in the industry. The intrigue of Philip’s film credits and brand makes him a sought-after Toronto actor; he was handpicked and cast in the film Total Recall in 2012 as an immigration officer by Len Wiseman, featured in the series The Room by Executive Producer Todd Yuill, nominated for Best Actor 2016 by InFame Awards and submitted for the 2017 Toronto Actra Awards.

By far, Adam’s Testament has proven his ability to conquer tougher roles that are now being sought out by other agents.

Philip’s talent was highlighted in the fact that 65% of the script was his to memorize and was shot in only 30 days instead of 3

Philip has taken his profession a step further by mentoring and guiding other actors in the industry

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months -dictated by the industries need to keep budgets low but talent of high quality.

Philip is broadening his horizons and making his way to Los Angeles where his passion for acting and his dedication and commitment to his character portrayals will land him major motion picture lead roles. Philip said that his heart is still in Toronto where he envisions himself bringing his talent in the future to grow the Toronto film industry and inspire his fellow actors with opportunities to grow and feature their talents.

His reasoning for mentorship is that less than 2% of Canadian actors have steady industry income and most need to moonlight to keep things afloat. To help fellow actors, Philip has gone on to start Pink Rose Productions Inc., with Executive Producer Todd Yuill, in memory of the late Elva Yuill, which aims to create more film and television series to give Canadian actors opportunities to work.

“The law of attraction is not something that just happens,” says Philip. He has worked hard to carve out his space in the spotlight. He believes that actors must work towards creating a brand, doing work that producers can familiarize themselves with their talent. “Being an actor hasn’t been easy,” claims Philip, “You have to commit to the highs and lows.” Philip started out as a background performer and refused to join the union for 20 years until he had built a sufficient acting portfolio. Philip is proud to belong to Actra today, which is committed to helping actors build their careers.

Adam’s Testament was Philip’s latest challenge and he praises his relentless belief in himself and his ethic of hard work in preparing for roles. The entire production team including Executive Producer, Todd Yuill, writer, director and producer from Reel Deal Guys Inc., Jason Barbeck praised Philip’s work in that he left nothing unturned; he showed up in character, stayed in character and dedicated his energy to ensuring his role truly made the movie.

“Actors can make things happen but they have to make it happen for themselves,” Philip mused. When tying this approach into the synopsis of the movie Adam’s Testament, where belief in a higher force of love, and demons conquered by angels, it’s clear that Philip Moran’s journey to manifesting stardom as a recognized acclaimed actor is its own testament to his faith and determination.

Former Bay Street Lawyer/TV Executive Elevates Film Fest

BY GILLIAN MOODY

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ackground: During October 12th - 16th, 2016, at the Harbourfront Centre, supported by TD, Telefilm Canada, CBC, the Bell Fund, NOW Magazine and Exclaim!

Magazine, the Reelworld Film Festival 2016 executed its sixteenth edition with a landmark thirty-six filmmakers and twenty non-profit organizations. Following a daylong media conference, a powerful evening screening was vigorously discussed and debated at the Opening Night Party, held at the Steam Whistle Brewery.

We were excited to meet new Reelworld Film Festival Executive Director Mr. Gave Lindo for what was his inaugural launch. Effective May 1st, 2015, Mr. Lindo became head of all ReelWorld operations, including the festival’s Reelworld Foundation, professional development programs, the film festival itself, its industry initiatives and year-round public activities.

“Gave stood out for me because he’s cool under pressure, he’s pragmatic and he knows how to pace himself, and not get caught up in the panic of others”, explains Reelworld Film Festival Founder and President Tonya Lee Williams, who is firmly established in Los Angeles, about her Toronto-based film festival successor.

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“Hundreds applied for the job and just fourteen made the shortlist.”

Mr. Lindo holds BA, JD, MBA and LL.B degrees, the latter two degrees of which, astonishingly, he obtained concurrently. He then practiced media law at a Bay Street firm and was also a CanWest Media consultant, acting for broadcasters such as CHUM/CityTV and Astral. In addition, Mr. Lindo was the chair of their independent productions’ inclusion and diversity sub-committee, and a member of the national steering committee.

In 2013, he was selected as a CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, one of North America’s top programs for rising leaders interested in impacting community change. Mr. Lindo has served with a number of arts and nonprofit organizations, including the Obsidian Theatre Company, Hot Docs, ArtsSmarts, blackandblue dance projects, the United Way Toronto, and the Emerging Leaders Network.

He is currently Vice Chair of the Laidlaw Foundation and on the board of the Ontario Media Development Corporation. As deputy director of business and rights manager, Mr. Lindo’s six years at CBC included negotiating and structuring deals with independent producers and distributors for originally scripted programs and films such as Schitt’s Creek, The Book of Negroes, Midnight’s Children, and the CBC’s children and youth division.

According to Ms. Williams, she was also impressed with Mr.

PHOTO: TBD

REELWORLD RISES:

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Lindo’s knowledge of the festival and his vision to advance it, “Most times, I get [people] who want the job while they continue to fulfill their real passion for their art, and eventually they get depressed with the job.”

So, what was Gave’s Vision? Here is our interview with Mr. Gave Lindo:

*** It has been a few years since I’ve covered Reelworld. Is it just me or has the amount of films and industry sessions been severely reduced? If so, why?

In our planning, our focus was on “deeper” not “larger”. With respect to our industry program, it was structured as a full day intensive conference instead of sprinkling panels across all days of the festival. This allowed us to have a razor focus and provide a meaningful industry program that was both engaging and pragmatic.

We launched Canada’s first ever Media for Impact Conference which brought together filmmakers, nonprofits, funders, educators, and CSR professionals together to connect, learn, and explore how to use media as a tool for social good.

In attendance at this inaugural event were organizations behind acclaimed issue-driven films such as Virunga, This Changes Everything, The True Cost, Girl Rising, Bully, The Hunting Ground, The Square and Gasland. Also, organizations such as AJ+, RYOT-Huff Post, NFB, CBC, Hot Docs, Telefilm, Vulcan Productions, Right to Play, ReThink Breast Cancer, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, WWF, Greenpeace and many others convened to create partnerships and collaborations in Canada to leverage film and storytelling for social good.

At the same time, the quality of the films appears to have gone through the roof. We wanted to leverage emerging forms of storytelling to enable audiences to experience the world in deeper ways. In addition to traditional short and feature length films, we programmed virtual reality experiences and interactive video games so that audiences could be fully immersed in new worlds and better experience what it’s like to live in a refugee camp, escape a war zone, or venture underneath the ocean. For example, we programmed a film called Exodus which chronicled the journey of refugees leaving Syria on their way to Europe.

We then programmed a virtual reality experience called Seeking Home which the viewer at the centre of life in a migrant encampment in Calais, France. With 360 vision, viewers enter a tent city where thousands of migrants are decamped as they wait to cross the English channel in search of a better life. Finally, we programmed a video game called Syrian Journey where audiences had to relive real choices made by today’s migrating Syrians, hear true stories from refugees who made the journey to Europe, and have the chance to interact with each other online.

Please discuss this year’s choice of themes.

The refugee crisis, war, mental health, PTSD and moral injury, food security and GMOs, civil rights and police brutality, and racism and inclusion.

Mid-festival, what surprises have you encountered?

Please discuss.

We have been blown away by the response that students have had to our programming. Our students program ran in the daytime during the festival and we had several hundred junior high and high school students participating in screenings, VR experiences and interactive video games.

They were highly engaged, willing to participate in discussions and were very active in exploring all elements of the programming. We’ve already heard from many teachers who can’t wait to bring their classes back to the festival next year.

We’re thrilled that we’re able to create a program that has been so meaningful to students who are increasingly harder to reach.

If you want to add any general thoughts on the festival and successes of the festival as a foundation year, please do.

Reelworld took place at the Harbourfront Centre for the first time this year. We think this is a better home for the festival, since we have expanded to focus on both traditional and emerging forms of storytelling such as virtual reality films and interactive video gaming. As a result, the Harbourfront Centre is a perfect venue since there are many multi-purpose spaces that can be used to feature different types of programming that happens outside of a traditional theatre.

We’re making great use of the Harbourfront Centre’s versatile venues.

*** Mr. Lindo wanted the festival’s focus to be one of global importance. The Reelworld Media for Impact Conference saw 200+ media representatives. Also new this year was the post-screenings’ Conversation Room; Reelworld’s very first Art Battle, the Social Market and Art Stage, the Toronto Poetry Slam showcase, and virtual reality films and games via the Digital Storytelling Zone. Reelworld tripled the size of its Schools Program with more than 250 students.

Mused Mr. Lindo, “The ability to engage with a live audience and to really have a close connection is very special.” For the future of Reelworld, Founder Williams will remain President in an advisory capacity. Concludes Mr. Lindo, “ReelWorld, for the last fifteen years, has been able to grow an audience. [It] has a great opportunity to expand. It will be exciting.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE SINGER AND THE PRODUCER

BY BILL KING

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ow many times as working producers have you heard a voice that has stopped you dead in your tracks? For most, not many.

There have been moments when you were certain the person you heard was magnificent yet upon positioning in front of a microphone something entirely different transpires.

I’m of the belief there are recordable voices and serviceable voices. A recordable voice hits all the finer points. It moves people, there’s something in the voice that connects soul, mind and body. You can listen or record days on end and it will surpass the life of the recording and remain desirable and not wear or fade. A serviceable voice plays well in front of an audience but rarely translates in the studio. This happens for most theatrical – Broadway style singers. Check out the singers opening sporting events.

Big presence in an arena, no presence in a recording studio.

There have been thousands of hours listening to the likes of Dinah Washington, Annie Lennox, Aretha, Streisand, Otis, Ray, Marvin, Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, Willie, Nancy Wilson, Patsy Cline, even Elton John, Freddy Mercury, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder evaluating what it is these folks have others don’t.

These artists have enriched our lives far more than any of us could have anticipated.

There are times we need to be alone with a compassionate or invigorating voice and invite them to comfort or beguile us. I was a Streisand fan during my mid-teens which were not pleasant, especially secured tight in an evangelical holding cell until sprung

by Nancy Wilson and Barbra Streisand. When others were hanging out I was in the living room - just Barb and me and the Hi Fi spinning my girl. Streisand was warm and affectionate and would hit those crazy high notes that could pierce bone. Touching the album cover was as close as one could get to her. These are moments only a rare few singers can pull off.

A couple nights back I caught Dan Rather’s revealing interview of Linda Ronstadt from 2013 as she’s arranging her life around an oncoming battle with Parkinson disease. We once shared a piano bench in Hollywood and worked our way through songs she

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Sophie Milman Juno Award Winner Whose Debut Sold 150,000 CDs Elizabeth Rodriguez member of Jane Bunnett’ Juno Winner Maqueque

would soon perform live. At twenty-years old I was taken more by who she was and her grand beauty than the voice. Janis Joplin was all theatrics in my mind. I bought into the energy but wasn’t sold on the sound. Both of us shared an organ bench and went through the repertoire. It was these moments I heard something different in her singing – a quietness and quality that was missing when she was jacked.

It was Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas who got me seriously thinking about the voice. Up until working with her in 1976 I was like most instrumentalists who considered singers interfering with a good improvised solo, I began to witness magic.

Martha had just finished recording with producer Richard Perry Martha, her solo debut and making the rounds. I remember reading a review of the album in

Rolling Stone, buying the album, but it wasn’t until hearing and watching in front of a microphone I realize how great a singer she was and the profound impact of the human voice.

As music director, we worked through a list of songs - a mix of past hits, ‘’Dancing in the Street Heat Wave, Jimmy Mack’’ and new material – Van Morrison’s “Wild Night – Many Rivers to Cross, My Man, Ain’t That Peculiar,” etc.

Martha stood close to the microphone and filled every intake vent with the entire region of her voice - speaking voice at times a whisper, yet when behind a sensitive microphone, she was in full command.

Then she says, “There’s a song that didn’t make the cut, the Righteous Brothers – “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” I’d caught the duo in Louisville, Kentucky in the sixties perform and found their sound riveting. Hearing Martha’s version brought me closer to singers. I found myself listening and further committing to making her comfortable and confident as music director. It was one hit after another and night after night I anticipated hearing that voice boldly ring through the sound system.

Recently, I was thinking about this – how many times Joni Mitchell has sat across from me and performed – not live but through recordings – the house enlivened by her aural presence. The decades so many singers have been house guests – the volume knob turned to ten.

It was Liberty Silver in 1985 then again in 1992 who became the first singer I felt compelled to record. I remember the sessions and how the players positioned behind this magnificent set of pipes and let her carry the weight. Much different scenario than a singer brushing through a set or two of tired standards. This was take charge time.

By early 2000 – it was all about working with the best voices no matter the genre. Real Divas night arrives – a Tuesday night club gig featuring the best of the best in local singers downtown in Toronto’s entertainment district. The backing trio was splendid with the late Archie Alleyne drums and Artie Roth bass. Fourteen months later we wrap up but not before working with some sixty-four of the finest local singers; Jackie Richardson, Alex Parker, Melissa Stylianou, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Dawn Tyler Watson, June Garber etc.

One evening, a sweet faced eighteen-year old woman arrives with a couple sheets of music and asks to sit in. Second set was reserved for the brave. Sophie Milman had something about her that set her apart. There was a quality in her voice, determination in her make-up and focus that hit all the right chords. We invited her back week after week then offered her – her own night. Then the big work – the long hours – the two of us in the basement listening to CDs – scouring YouTube and thinking about songs.

Not long after Geoff Kulawick signs Sophie to Linus Entertainment and from that, a great start to a career, hundreds of thousands of recordings sold and a shot at making it.

This is what makes producing the most exciting part of making music.

Since then it’s been a pleasure working with blues dynamo Shakura S’Aida, singer extraordinaire, Selena Evangeline, the Nylons Gavin Hope, the Real Divas, Kinga, Sophie Berkal-Sarbit, Kim Stockwood, Maiko Watson, Broadway’s Cornelia Luna and recently, Cuban sensation Elizabeth Rodriguez.

When there’s no pressure to make a hit there’s greater joy in making music. Bouncing genre to genre and painting with all the colors in a voice is exhilarating. Just thinking about the first-time Elvis walked into Sun Records and what went through producer Sam Phillips’ head hearing both worlds of gospel and country blues collide and the possibilities ahead must have brought a thrill. The same when Stevie Wonder first opened that voice up at Motown, or the moment Celine Dion first uttered a note.

The singer will always be the producer’s best friend or maybe the reverse. Let’s call it a draw!

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATION ARE CORNERSTONES OF GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE’S WATERFRONT CAMPUS

BY MELISSA BESSEY

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eorge Brown College is an institution that is constantly growing and evolving in order to meet the changing needs of students and staff. Inspired by a commitment to achievement through excellence in teaching, applied learning and innovation, the school also takes pride in considering the surrounding communities within which their campuses are located.

When opening their ultra modern Waterfront campus Anne Sado, President of George Brown and staff, along with developers and the school’s additional stakeholders, were firmly focused on positively contributing to reinvigorating downtown Toronto’s Waterfront, while providing access to and support for the local community. Additional core focuses for their newest facilities include having an awareness of the environment, as well as overall flexibility and usability of space.

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The school integrates into the community in a unique and meaningful way

By building a campus that is very open-concept and affording access to the public, the school integrates into the community in a unique and meaningful way. Anne reaffirms this sentiment: “It was very important to create a great feeling of openness and also, a space that can be used for events. Many other spaces don’t have a lot of room for people to move around or for hosting events, but utilizing this space allows us to support other groups.

We host our annual aboriginal pow wow here, we’ve hosted a mayoral debate to introduce the students to civic issues, we’ve worked with groups like Baycrest to host hack-a-thons on topics such as dementia, and our School of Fashion Studies has had their annual fashion show here. So students from our other campuses get to enjoy the space as well.”

The school recently hosted its 3rd Annual Food Court Social, to raise funds for their Augmented Health programs. Offered in partnership with CAMH, George Brown defines ‘Augmented Health’ as programs designed for people who have had mental

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health or addition problems. Anne explains that “there are two programs, one is Construction Craft Worker and the other is our Assistant Cook Program. We have about 10-12 chef food stations; in the past we’ve had visiting chefs like Roger Mooking, alumni Mark McEwan and Lynn Crawford. The government does provide money for these special programs (though not enough). Some funding support comes from both The City of Toronto and The Ontario government but by hosting the annual Food Court Social, the school is able to sustain these programs. We do this because students taking these courses often need extra support and they get it by having life coaches and job coaches provided as part of their studies.”

At least 80% of all graduates from the Augmented Health courses are still gainfully employed 6 months after they graduate, so it’s evident that participating in the programs transforms their lives.

The school’s state-of-the-art Health Sciences Campus is set in a picturesque locale right at the foot of the waterfront. Just a little more than a stone’s throw east of the Harbourfront, near Sugar Beach, the Health Sciences Campus was built to be fully digital and according to LEED Gold standards. Achieving LEED Gold certification is part of the school’s commitment to both the community and the environmental sustainability of the area.

The full name for the main building of George Brown’s waterfront campus is The Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences, named after the mother of Jack Cockwell (from the Brookfield Foundation), in recognition of the 8 million dollars he donated to the waterfront campus, to support the school’s plans for future expansion.

George Brown also has a large ECE program with multiple locations around the city; some are even housed within other schools (like Ryerson) so expansion plans include adding a daycare to the new facility.

An innovative series of programs housed at George

These programs provide services to the public that include dental care, hearing tests and fitness training

Brown’s Centre for Health Sciences is called WAVE, which stands for Wellness, Applied Research and Visionary Education. It is all about immersing students in the future of health care. Based firmly on the principle that students ‘learn by doing’ these programs provide services to the public that include dental care, hearing tests and fitness training.

“The WAVE services offered to the public provide cost effective options for the local community while giving students hands-on opportunities to learn through real life experiences, in a well monitored, educational environment. To date, these programs service 500 students and over 10,000 clients annually.”

The school’s commitment to weaving health and wellness together includes the building design having a central staircase that runs up and down the middle of the facility. By placing the main stairwell in the middle, rather than on the outskirts of the building, it encourages people to walk instead of taking the elevator, prompting students, staff and visitors alike, to consider making healthy choices like walking, whenever possible.

Every classroom inside George Brown’s waterfront campus is equipped with the same AV setup so that it is easy and efficient for faculty members to set up a class. Classrooms also feature large whiteboards for teachers and smaller, movable whiteboards that students use for group work that can easily be hung at the front of any classroom, for presentation purposes. The student desks inside each classroom are also moveable; these non-fixed (vs. fixed) features were all designed to create a flexible teaching and learning environment.

Another unique feature of the school’s new campus is its open-concept auditorium spaces that have been renamed as Learning Landscapes. The Learning Landscapes were designed with retractable and moveable seating, as well as plug & play charging stations, which all help to promote student collaboration.

Whether you’re a student fresh out of high school, preparing for college admissions, a new learner of any post-high school age or you’re a member of the waterfront community, George Brown College’s waterfront campus offers programs that encourage learning by doing, with the WAVE Clinics providing real life experiences that are beneficial to students and the public alike.

If you have yet to see the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences, take a stroll by the Waterfront campus or visit their website to stay up to date on events and affordable services that are open to the public. www.georgebrown.ca/waterfront/

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THE WORLDS’S LARGEST HOCKEY MURAL In Toronto

BY AIDA MEMISEVIC

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oments of glory and the heroes who continue to inspire the imagination of a nation form part of this historic mural, located on Davenport Road just west of Caledonia. The mural highlights a golden age in Canada’s hockey history, representing Canadian victories and the people that delivered the message to create an iconic culture.

Hometown Stanley Cup victories are also honored, beginning with Bill Barilko’s ‘flying goal’ for Toronto in 1951, along with other memorable champions that played the game with

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passion for their cities and their country.

“It’s important that we preserve Canadian history and have somewhere to appreciate artwork that is inspired by the city we live in,” said lead artist and visionary Marcelo Pinero, an award winning artist painter. The project began with a ‘public paint day’, where all members of the community were invited to contribute to the mural’s creation.

At over 100 feet wide, the ‘Hockey Heroes’ mural contributes to the surrounding landscape, helping to establish a mural culture west of Caledonia Park. It radiates a nostalgic appeal that speaks volumes to adherents of Canada’s hockey glory and serves to spark intrigue in anyone who is yet to be inspired by it.

The project was commissioned in part by the City of Toronto through the Street ArtToronto program.

COMMUNITY

SINGLE IN THE CITY: FROM HOOKUPS & HEARTBREAKS TO LOVE & LIFEMATES, TALES & TIPS TO ATTRACT YOUR PERFECT MATCH

BY LAURA BILOTTA

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n a complex world it’s easy to lose track of the intricacies of human relationships. Most dialogues have been reduced to 140 characters or emails that convey no tone, leaving much room for misinterpretation. How many times have you sent a quick email, intending to convey information, only to find yourself spending hours clarifying it for your recipients? We all decipher information through our own filters, so what you say to someone isn’t necessarily what they hear.

It is particularly daunting in the dating world. You have precious little time to make a first impression, and first impressions can be the difference between making a connection and being passed over for the next ‘candidate.’

When you think you’re ready for a relationship and set about taking the first steps to put yourself out there, it is amazing how many people pay little attention to their ambassador to the dating jungle: their profile. It is also amazing how many people describe what they want in a mate, but bear absolutely no resemblance to their criteria. For example, someone who isn’t terribly fond of exercising or anything remotely athletic, states that their ideal match is physically fit. If you want someone who’s physically fit, you should visit a gym at least a couple of times a week.

In my 15 years experience as a dating coach and matchmaker, one of the first questions I always ask is; would you date you? If the answer is no, then they have a lot of work to do on themselves before they dip their foot in the dating pool. You attract what you send out, you get what you give. If you aren’t ready to date, you won’t like who you attract.

There are many things people can do to prepare themselves for the dating world, but it always starts with them. When they are happy with who they are, they will be happy with who they attract. That’s the

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One of the first questions I always ask is: would you date you?

first big hurdle, and my book Single in the City addresses that and much more.

I provide insight and methods to bring your opinion of yourself from undatable to highly desirable.

Once you’re ready to put yourself out there, I offer tips, tricks, solutions and advice to help get you on your way, and that phase starts with: ‘what are you looking for in a mate?’

Your idea of what you are looking for in a mate will change exponentially with how much you value yourself.

I’m not going to lie, the majority of my clients describe their ideal mate with the highest of expectations; he/she has to have a great body, beautiful face, make good money, treat me like a king/queen… The list is practically generic, but the people issuing the criteria are vastly different. Often times, people don’t really know what they’re looking for. And, for a lot of them, the proof is in their ‘type.’

If you find yourself dating the same ‘type’ over and over again, and it never works out - that ‘type’ is not for you, even though you think it is.

Relationships are mirrors, and your past relationships should give you some insight as to who you really are and what you really want. One should look at every break-up as an opportunity to do a post-mortem on the relationship; find the lessons, learn them and never make that dating mistake again.

Don’t get me wrong, dating can be fun if you approach it from the right mindset. There are a lot of ways to date: online dating, speed dating, single’s socials, matchmakers, etc. and there are ‘best practices for success’ for each of them. My book aims to guide you through them all. Pulled from my extensive experience and through real life stories, Single in the City will take you by the hand and walk you through the steps to finding your perfect match.

Laura Bilotta is an Author, TV Host, Dating Coach, Matchmaker and Founder of successful dating website www.singleinthecity.ca.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT BELIEVE

BY AIDA MEMISEVIC

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hen we think about food and exercise the rules seem pretty clear.

If you exercise you burn calories.

When you eat food you ingest calories. In the end it’s about calories in, versus calories out, right?

Well... it may not be that simple.

Psychological scientists have discovered the powerful effect that ‘suggestion’ can have on our lives.

This occurs as a result of our response expectancies, in other words the beliefs we have about how we will respond in any given situation. They are automated internal responses that help orchestrate the specific outcomes we believe will occur.

Our thoughts and behaviours then support us to bring that expectation or ‘truth’ to fruition. You may have heard the old adage; whether you believe you can do something or you believe you can’t, either way you are right.

Scientist Elia Crum and her research associates have studied the correlation of beliefs on our body’s response to food and exercise. Crum created a huge batch of vanilla milkshakes. Forty participants were asked to read the label, drink and then rate the milkshake of each batch. The first week the batch of milkshakes were marked as a ‘140 Calorie Sensible Shake’.

When participants came back the second week, the milkshakes were labelled as ‘620 Calorie Indulgent Shake’.

The biological measurement indicator the scientists used for the experiment was measuring levels of ghrelin, measured through intravenous blood samples. The scientists measured the participants’ ghrelin levels before, during and after the shakes were consumed.

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate whether the body would respond differently depending on the mindset the person had towards consuming the food. In other words would there be a different physiological response based on what the participants ‘believed’ they were drinking: a low calorie, healthy shake, or a rich, decadent high calorie shake. In truth, the shakes were exactly alike, each had 380 calories.

Biologists will tell you that when ghrelin levels rise,

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Although both shakes were identical, the participants’ ghrelin levels decreased almost three times more.

it’s a driver of hunger, signalling to the body to seek food. Decreasing levels signal to the brain that the body is satiated and to stop consuming food. Although both shakes were identical, the participants’ ghrelin levels decreased almost three times more when people ‘believed’ they were consuming the high calorie shake, as opposed to their body reacting to the actual nutritional value of what they consumed.

This research has profound implications that point to our thoughts, more precisely our ‘beliefs’ having a deep influence and ability to change our physiological, metabolic responses to the content and calorie count of a food. The experiment seemed to point to

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the argument that we react with physiological accuracy to what we ‘believe’ is happening in our body.

So if our mindset can have that kind of impact on how our body processes food, how would exercise be impacted by our beliefs? In one of Crum’s other studies, she observed hotel room attendants. Attendants clean on average 15 rooms per day, each room taking up to 30 minutes to complete, yet when asked, most of the attendants did not consider their work as ‘exercise’.

Researchers Crum and Langer divided the attendants into two groups. One group had been given fitness education about the impact of their manual labour on their health; with researchers explaining that they, the participants, were actually getting a daily physical workout equivalent to what the surgeon general recommends for a healthy lifestyle. The other group, the control group, was not given any information.

Each group was monitored for four weeks with nothing changing in the attendants’ amount of work, or amount of exercise outside of work, or change in dietary intake. When the scientists looked at the results, attendants in the treatment group who had been told, and now believed they were getting a daily work out, reacted with physical changes: they lost weight; lowered their body fat percentages and waist-to-hip ratios, and systolic blood pressures dropped.

People in the control group showed no such improvement. The only indicated variable of change was that the treatment group now understood and believed they were getting exercise, a powerful indicator of how our beliefs can impact our physiology.

A belief can be described as a mental architecture of how we interpret ourselves and the world. Cognitively we would be overwhelmed with data, as our brain has to filter millions of internal and environmental sensory impulses per second. Based on our ingrained personal truths and beliefs, the reticular activating system in our brain helps to bring to conscious attention what information it deems to be important to us, what it ‘believes’ to be true.

So it seems that in addition to beliefs constructing our own unique reality of the world, they can affect our biological processes, and apparently our taste buds. The National Academy of Sciences published a paper by Plassmann and his research team, looking at how taste and pleasure were affected by the quality and value of what we believed we are ingesting.

Logic dictates that taste should be based on the molecular composition of a food or drink, with each of us having our own individual preferences. But can those preferences be changed, based on inert suggestion? The scientists scanned twenty partici-

Sometimes medical conditions possessed by one personality will disappear when another personality takes over.

pants in a functional MRI machine while drinking wine (probably the first time that has been done!) to see if neural representations of experienced pleasantness would change depending on what the person believed was the price point of the wine.

There were a number of wine samples given, and unknown to the subjects the same wine was introduced at both a high and low price point. The results showed that the participants reported the higher priced wine as having higher levels of flavor pleasantness, as well as blood oxygen levels in the medial orbitofrontal cortex. It seemed that the brain created the experienced pleasantness by correlating the actual properties of the wine with the expectations about how flavourful it ‘should be’ based on what the participant believed was the price point.

In addition to these studies surrounding eating and exercise, there have been a number of anecdotal stories documented by medical professionals dealing with Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder). Sometimes medical conditions possessed by one personality will disappear when another personality takes over, including seemingly instant biological shift changes such as allergy reactions, changes in glucose levels, vocal patterns and eye colour variations. One interesting case was documented by the controversial Dr. Bennett Braun, original founder of the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality.

He described a case in which all five of the personalities of a patient were allergic to orange juice, except one. If the man drank orange juice when he was being one of the allergic personalities, he would break out in a terrible rash. But, if he switched to his non-allergic personality, the rash would instantly start to fade, and he could drink orange juice with no medical consequences; creating a seemingly impossible instant, physiological change.

Scientists have dealt with such anomalies surrounding a patient’s beliefs for years in health care experiments and trials, known as the placebo effect. But oftentimes this powerful effect is discounted, almost as a nonsensical factor. However, today scientists are beginning to look at how beliefs affect us in an entirely new light, exploring how to harness the potential and power of beliefs to create positive change.

Maybe one day soon instead of a pill, the doctor will prescribe a required ‘belief shift’.

Aida Memisevic is a media, marketing and digital entrepreneur who utilizes mindset and brain optimization strategies to help create radical performance shifts. www.PositiveLivingProductions.com

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PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS NETWORK

At PBN “We Build Relationships.”

MEDITATION TOOLKIT:

Take An Inner Break

BY JOHN MUNROE

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ore than half the world’s population now lives in cities, and urban life can be stressful. Meditation can help. Naturally, we’d like to follow the popular adage to “make your life your meditation.” But how? Here are five simple exercises to handle stress by meditating instead of medicating. Why stress out when you could be smiling?

FEELING ANXIOUS:

PBN is a community of business professionals committed to helping each other succeed in their professional and business lives through networking and building relationships. Social networking is a powerful tool to help you achieve professional and business success. For the last 15 years, PBN has faithfully been inviting you to networking events and you’ve been there with us. PBN is one of the most prestigious networking organization for sophisticated professionals in Toronto.

PBN “meet and greet” events” – At these events you will meet other like-minded individuals and increase the size of your business as well as your personal network.

You will build referrals while you exchange ideas with other members who want to help you in creating a more successful life.

PBN - TV interview – PBN produces TV interviews featuring PBN members. These interviews will be done by a professional crew including a host and a co-host. Our mission is to find out and let everyone know about your business, project or organization. Your interview will be featured on PBN and your website, YouTube, and other social media networks and continue to generate interest and awareness in you and your project or business.

mypbn.com

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Sit comfortably. Smile gently. Feel the pleasant sensations around your smiling lips. Now imagine a beautiful pink glow in the middle of your chest. It could look like a flower. It feels just like the soft warm smile at your lips. As you breathe into this light, it stabilizes. As you breathe out, it expands - to heal tension and discomfort wherever you feel it. Once it fills your body, let it surround you and protect you. Rest in this light and share it through your smile.

GOING INTO A PRESENTATION: Prepare well, rehearse, and know your material. Be rested, exercised (stretches, a walk), groomed, fed and hydrated. Review your notes and reflect on what excites or moves you about your material. Imagine the people you will meet and how today will help them. Visualize your presentation. If you are nervous, rest your hands on your thighs and begin to alternate tapping lightly with an index finger on one thigh and then the other for three minutes while feeling your fear. Now relax. You are ready.

EXPERIENCING A DEATH: Set a picture of your loved one on a table and sit facing it. Allow yourself to grieve. Feel your breath during lulls in your sorrow and confusion. Notice how it comes and goes in each moment. Talk or journal to your loved one. If you had unfinished business, imagine they can hear you and tell them what you feel. There’s no need to edit. When you feel ready, thank them for what you shared, and wish them well on their journey.

WHEN FACING A HEALTH ISSUE: Imagine yourself sitting under a beautiful moonlit waterfall. Its comforting waters flow down through your crown, bathing and washing you both inside and out. As your body fills with liquid luminescence, all fear, tension, regret and illness melt away and are absorbed into the ground below you to be recycled as positive energy. Once you feel purified, imagine you are surrounded by an exquisite, deep blue orb that provides you and all living beings with healing and protection.

WHEN LETTING GO OF A RELATIONSHIP: The end of a relationship is like a death. Reflect on the five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These are not linear and tend to unfold in a gradually loosening spiral. Sit quietly and feel your breath. Imagine the person with whom your relationship is ending. Remember your life before you met them. Thank them for all they have given you. Grieve their loss. Finally, wish them well and give them permission to leave.

Meditation is all about the quality of consciousness.

Mindfulness and compassion are the keys. If you are uncomfortable, check the basics. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you drinking enough water? Are you working toward realistic goals you believe in?

Fix the basics. Then apply meditation to brighten up your world.

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TRAVEL TO THESE WATER SITES FOR CREATIVE INSPIRATION

BY SHANNON SKINNER

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ater has a profound impact on us.

The human body is mostly made of water, about 70 per cent, and we cannot survive more than three days without it. Coincidently, 70 per cent of the earth is covered with water. A large portion of the population lives on a waterfront. Tourists travel all over the earth to see or bathe in bodies of water.

Water has many benefits. It impacts our mood. It is cathartic and healing. We meditate and reflect next to it. We play and exercise along beaches and shorelines. We sail and cruise on big bodies of water. There are sacred, holy rivers that appear in religious texts,

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There is something magical about walking along London’s riverbanks.

and are used for rites of passage, such as baptism and spreading ashes after death.

Poets write about it: consider R.W. Emerson’s brilliant poem, Water. It is a recurring theme in literature (e.g.) Avalon. In mythology and folklore, holy wells or sacred springs are entrances to other worlds. The fantastical Fountain of Youth for centuries has had believers thinking we can stop the aging process – if only!

What’s more, water boosts our creativity and inspiration. When we are inspired and feel invigorated, we can unleash our creative genius. This is key to following our heart’s desires and having a fulfilling life.

As a traveler, I like to seek out places near magical water sites where I can recharge my energy and get inspired for my creative work. It especially helps me get out of a rut. I’m not a beach bum, though. Mostly, I like

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to walk near the water, and meditate and reflect as I go. This kind of meditative walk has been the most effective way for me to dig deep into my creative reservoir.

If you are in a rut or want to find your creative juices again, consider traveling to a place near water where many others have found inspiration, and tap into that energy. Here are some ideas: 1. GANGES RIVER, INDIA: the sacred and holy Ganges River is India’s longest river and has great importance in Hinduism.

Millions of Hindus come here annually to bathe in the water to wash away their sins, and be freed from the death-rebirth cycle. The sacred, historical city of Varanasi along the Ganges banks is impressive, and people visit from all over to practice yoga and visit temples that are centuries old. It has inspired many creative works.

2. LAKE GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Geneva, Switzerland, the ‘capital of peace,’ sits on Lake Geneva, which is snuggled in the Alps and shared between Switzerland and France. Lake Geneva has a long history of inspiring artists. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein got its inspiration here. Deep Purple’s song Smoke on the Water was sparked when a hotel on the lake caught fire. Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn and David Bowie

lived nearby, and today singer/songwriter Shania Twain owns a castle in the area. Geneva’s promenade offers a pleasant experience in which to stroll and meditate.

3. RIVER THAMES, LONDON: the longest river in the U.K., the banks of the Thames in London, particularly, has for centuries drawn many artists, has rich history and, of course, is popular for rowing. There is something magical about walking along London’s riverbanks, where one can soak in the amazing historical architecture. When I lived in London in the late ‘80s, every Sunday morning, my ritual was to walk along the banks to meditate and reflect – a time I treasure.

4. LAKE ONTARIO, TORONTO: For those who either cannot or would rather not travel to get the creative inspiration that water offers, we have, of course, a fabulous lake in our own backyard.

Best of all, it is free.

Shannon Skinner is a Toronto-based, award-winning television and radio show host, inspirational speaker, author, and she occasionally writes travel articles. For information on her speaking engagements and interviews, visit: ShannonSkinner.com and ExtrarodinaryWomenTV.com.

Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.

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HEALTH & WELL BEING

NUTRITION & SUPPLEMENTS FOR

PAIN MANAGEMENT

BY DR. J. GUPTA

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he importance of nutrition is not only for the health of your body, but can be quite beneficial in helping your body deal with, manage, and possibly treat pain. Although at times I do manage pain with medications, I recommend to start with the most conservative and safest approach, thus I’m focusing this article on Nutrition.

MAGNESIUM: This is one of my favorite powerhouse nutritional supplements.

Magnesium is an essential mineral in our bodies, and many people have a relative deficiency due to poor intake from diet. Magnesium is very useful in helping muscles relax, and treating muscle spasm.

Many times, by allowing muscles to relax, this alone can significantly reduce your pain levels and improve your quality of life. Magnesium can also improve sleep by being involved in the pathway to produce Melatonin, one of the body’s natural hormones for sleep. Studies also show that magnesium can reduce migraine headaches. Magnesium is available in stores as a salt, and magnesium citrate is quite common, however, I recommend Magnesium Glycinate 165mg (or Bis-glycinate) as a form that is better absorbed. I start my patients with 2 tablets 1 hour before bedtime, and some people benefit from higher amounts.

VITAMIN D: Vitamin D, although classified as a vitamin, is also an

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important hormone in the body with multiple functions beyond bone health and absorbing calcium.

With people with low levels, it has been shown to help improve chronic pain as well as helping people with low moods in the winter. Many people in Canada do not get sufficient sunlight exposure, the main source of Vitamin D, and most people have low levels of Vitamin D. To know for sure, a blood test can easily determine your levels. In general I recommend 2,000 IU daily.

These can be obtained in drops that are 1,000 IU each. So adding 2 drops to something you drink daily would work. For people who have low levels I recommend 4,000 IU daily, while some people may need more if they are very deficient.

OMEGA 3 AND HEALTHY OILS: Omega 3 oils have been shown to help decrease inflammation, and are also essential nutrients for the body and nerves. This can also be useful in controlling your pain.

I recommend either a good quality fish oil or a good quality flax/ hemp seed oil which should be taken daily as recommended on the bottle.

TURMERIC: Research shows that turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and this can also help reduce pain. I recommend patients to either take 1 large tablespoon of turmeric powder daily, as this is cheaply available in most large grocery stores. The turmeric powder can be mixed into a smoothie, soup or even milk to make it easier to swallow. Some people prefer to take it in capsules, in quantities recommended on the bottle.

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OTHER NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS: Although not directly related to pain, sleep is also very important in reducing pain.

People unable to sleep tend to have lower pain thresholds and thus experience more pain. Melatonin taken 1 hour before bedtime can help bring your body to a sleep state. Light can deactivate this natural hormone, so ensuring that either your sleeping space is dark or wearing a dark eye cover can help significantly. Nutrients involved in the production of Melatonin through serotonin include the amino acid tryptophan, several B-vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and omega 3 oils. Some of these were mentioned earlier, so adding a simple supplement of B-Complex (includes several B vitamins), vitamin C 500mg twice daily can be useful.

Melatonin can be directly supplemented to aid in sleep. I recommend between 1 to 10mg taken an hour before bedtime, starting from the lower amount and increasing to your own body’s need.

GENERAL DIET: Try your best to eat more whole foods that are closer to their natural form, including a healthy amount of fruits, vegetables and nuts/seeds. Try to avoid overly processed or refined foods/sugars, as well as artificial chemicals. Some people have sensitivities to certain chemicals or even certain foods, and this can increase inflammation and pain.

Common food components people may have sensitives to include gluten and lactose. Finally, maintaining proper hydration by drinking water is also important.

Further advice can be obtained by seeing a health care professional trained in nutrition, such as a nutritionist, naturopath or medical doctor with knowledge in nutrition.

You can call or visit Dr. Gupta’s office at: CLOUD PAIN CARE 55 DUNDAS ST. EAST, 2ND FLOOR 416-361-1000 JAG@CLOUDCARECLINICS.CA WWW.CLOUDCARECLINCS.CA WWW.JAGMED.COM

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SKINCARE 101:

Layering Of Products

BY MONIQUE ENRIQUEZ

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he quality and health of your skin is determined by your daily and weekly skincare routine. Besides knowing how to choose and buy the right products for your skin type, it is also important that you know how to layer them correctly and use the right amounts of each product for best results. This daily routine is also great for flawless, no make-up selfies, if you have a date coming up, a social gathering or a red carpet event and you wish to look your best.

Here is a 6-Step Guide to help you do just that: STEP 1: CLEANSING should be practiced in the AM/PM with a cleanser that suits your skin type. Cleansers are available in foam, oil, gel and milk textures including miscellar waters. It is the most important step in your skincare routine. I highly recommend you get into the habit of “double cleansing” at night time to remove all traces of make-up including waterproof mascara, dirt and pollution your skin absorbs during the day.

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PRO TIP: By mixing together a small amount of your favourite exfoliating scrub and cleanser into your palm you can get both the mechanical exfoliating and cleansing action of both products in one step.

STEP 2: TONING is an often missed step. Should also be applied daily in the AM/ PM right after cleansing. It is essential because it allows better absorption of your serum and moisturizer application into the skin.

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PRO TIP: Dispense your toning solution into a sanitized spray bottle for a facial mist instead of pouring toner onto cotton pads which absorb most of the product.

STEP 3: EYE CREAM needs to be applied every day in the morning and at night. The skin around the eye area is much thinner and more fragile than the rest of the face. Fine lines and wrinkles are far more visible if proper care is not started during early adulthood. An eye cream can target multiple eye concerns including dark circles, puffiness and sagging skin.

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PRO TIP: Dispense a pea size amount of eye cream onto the ring finger and apply on both eyes with light outward tapping strokes, this will help with decongestion of puffy eyes and brighten the eye area. Avoid applying over eyelids and too close to the eye waterline as this will cause irritation.

STEP 4: SERUM is a targeted skincare product whose main function is to correct and treat skin conditions such as fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, pigmentation, dehydrated and dry skin types.

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PRO TIP: Two serums can be “layered” together. The key is to choose and apply one serum to treat your first and

main skin concern followed by a second serum application that will address your next biggest skin problem. Keep in mind when applying each product, less is better. It is all about the amount being dispensed and applied at every step of your daily skincare routine.

STEP 5: MOISTURIZER is a seasonal product. The choosing and buying of a moisturizer is required every six months and according to your skin type. Moisturizers are available in gel, light-weight, medium, rich and balm textures. Some brands provide moisturizers with a built-in sunscreen protection which is great if you are a fan of using “multi-purpose” skincare products.

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PRO TIP: A night-time moisturizer is richer in texture and emollients because they provide deeper hydrating, moisturizing and repairing benefits.

Use in combination with a daytime moisturizer for faster and better results.

STEP 6: SUNSCREEN is the last step of your daily daytime routine. Should not be missed even on a cloudy day or during the winter months. Sun exposure is the leading cause of pre-mature aging and different types of skin cancers. Choose and buy a physical or chemical UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen from a reputable skincare brand approved with the Health Canada UVA seal.

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PRO TIP: During the spring and summer months apply a sunscreen with SPF45 up to SPF60. Take extra care and caution outdoors and do not forget to also protect your lips, eye area, ears and the rest of your body. During the cooler months of fall and winter, apply a sunscreen from SPF15 up to SPF30.

Follow me on social media @beautydivaglam and read exclusive articles on the Benefits of Skin Moisturizing, Exfoliating Products and Ways to Prevent Aging.

Tune in for my upcoming TV segment on Face Masking.

Monique Enriquez, C.N.H.P., is an upcoming Book Author, an Image Consultant and Educator on Anti-Aging Beauty Care. She writes magazine articles on skincare, lifestyle trends and healthy living. On camera she promotes a variety of beauty and lifestyle products that help improve the lives and self-images of both men and women. For advertising and editorial product placements in the next Spring/Summer issue, contact her directly at: monique@waterfront-magazine.com

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

ASTRO INSIGHT

DECEMBER 2016 - APRIL 2017 WITH HASSAN JAFFER

uary and April are favourable months with regard to love matters but be certain to avoid being too possessive in February and March, as this could hinder your progress. Your deep humanitarian side is getting activated as well and it will help you in your long-term mission. In the short term you should embrace this side of yourself by taking care of others.

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LEO (23 JUL – 22 AUG) Venus enhances your natural charisma in December, February and March, which will add a spark to your love life too. This is a great time to buy new clothes and accessories because you will be confident in your choices. You will have abundant energy in December, February and March but will also have to work hard to avoid ego conflicts from mid March to April. This coming summer is an excellent time for pursuing long term goals and making decisions pertaining to love matters, as you are sure to make steady progress. You will also have quite a few opportunities from foreign countries and in relation to travelling. Take full advantage!

TAURUS (20 APR – 20 MAY) Although your stamina and endurance will be exceptional from mid December till January, don’t be afraid to hesitate when it comes to timing things right. January will be lucky for you when it comes to romantic matters as you will be feeling less cautious and more physical. January is an excellent month to take up salsa dancing to get rid of the extra pounds as Venus will be in Pisces! Throughout 2017 your desire for long-term commitment will deepen.

VIRGO (23 AUG – 22 SEP) Although you are going through a testing period in love, the new perspective it gives you will help you discover who your true friends are and who may not have your best intentions at heart. You should focus on establishing yourself for the next seven years and use this period as a test of your long-term planning. You will become more physical and conscious of health and nutrition from mid December till the end of January, so be clever by embracing this aspect into your long term planning. January will not necessarily mean post Christmas blues for you, as it will be a great month to pursue social activities and love matters.

RIES (21 MAR – 19 APR) You are in a major new 7 year cycle so keep working hard as the rewards will follow, but only after you have laid a strong foundation. Keep your mind open as there will be opportunities for expansion helped by a luck element from foreign countries.

In December and February till mid march Mars makes you very active, physical and passionate when it comes to love matters but also rather impulsive. February and March will also spark your love life while stimulating your artistic side. Venus enhances your natural charisma in December, so take full advantage of this.

GEMINI (21 MAY – 20 JUN) You are naturally versatile and a talented multi-tasker, but it is critical that you now choose a long-term direction as you are in a major 7-year cycle. Bearing this in mind, there will also be many opportunities for self-growth, travel and in your career - which will help you decide on the right direction for you. Your increased feeling of responsibility will create rewards as you establish yourself further. You’ll be glad to know that your testing period in love is almost over. December, February and March are good months for being social and pursuing love matters. You will also have the energy, the drive and the opportunities to finish many projects during these months.

CANCER (21 JUN – 22 JUL) If you sometimes feel as if powerful forces are opposing your goals in life don’t worry too much as it only feels this way because you are going through a major transformational period at the moment. Be happy because you will be energetic and less moody from mid December to January. Jan-

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LIBRA (22 SEP – 22 OCT) You are currently in the middle of major new 7-year cycle so keep working hard as the rewards will follow but only after you have laid the foundation well. Take advantage of the numerous opportunities for expansion that will present themselves and be on the lookout for a lucky element coming from foreign countries. In regards to love matters, Mars makes you very active, physical and passionate but rather also impulsive in December and February right through to mid March. Your artistic side will be stimulated in December, February and March and your love life is set to blossom. Venus will also enhance your natural charisma during this time.

SCORPIO (23 OCT – 21 NOV) Watch your timing till mid December but also acknowledge that from mid December till the end of January you will have the

potential for great stamina and endurance. January also looks to be lucky in matters of the heart as you will be even more magnetic than usual and be feeling intense, both emotionally and physically. January is a good month to take up something like salsa dancing as Venus will be in Pisces! Your yearning for long-term commitment throughout 2017 will deepen along with your desire to complete your mission.

SAGITTARIUS (22 NOV – 21 DEC) Although you are naturally versatile and a fantastic multi-tasker you are also now amidst a major 7-year cycle and therefore need to assess your main long-term goals. The good news is you will also be presented with many opportunities for self-growth, travel and also in your career, which will help direct you throughout this period. You will be more responsible now than ever before and this will yield rewards as you establish yourself. More good news is that your testing period in love is almost over. The best months for you to pursue social activities and love are December, February and March. Use your extra energy and drive to finish any pesky projects you have started (or have yet to start) in December, February and March.

CAPRICORN (22 DEC – 19 JAN) You will be energetic and less moody from mid December to January. You may feel as if powerful forces are opposing your goals in life but rest assured you may only be feeling this way because you are going through a major transformational period. It is a great time to re-evaluate your health and to spend more time with your family. January and April are excellent for love matters but be sure to remain conscious of a tendency to become possessive in February and March. Your need to help others and your humanitarian side is getting activated as well, which in turn will help you in your long-term mission.

AQUARIUS (20 JAN – 18 FEB) Venus enhances your cool, aloof personality in December, February and March, and sparks your love life. This is a great time to indulge in social media and your love life. Enjoy the high energy that December, February and March brings but avoid ego conflicts from mid March to April.

You stand to gain steady achievement this summer, making it the perfect time for pursuing long term goals and any decisions pertaining to love matters as well. Foreign countries will play a key part in opportunities that present themselves and will have a positive bearing on travel plans.

PISCES (19 FEB – 20 MAR) Despite the fact that you are going through a testing period in love you will also benefit from this time by finding out who your true friends are. Begin to seriously establish yourself for the next seven years and treat this time as a test of your long-term planning. You will enjoy more physical activities and your conscientiousness regarding health and nutrition will increase significantly from mid December till the end of January. January is also an excellent month for social activities and love matters.

BK ON THE SCENE

WHERE’STHEPARTY?

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It was a red carpet ceremony on the grounds of the C.N.E. at the Allstream Centre on a beautiful October day to celebrate one of the most high profile inductions for Canada’s Walk Of Fame. Among the 2016 class inducted were NHL Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler, actor-director Jason Priestley, filmmaker Deepa Mehta, veteran fashion entrepreneur and journalist Jeanne Beker, singer-songwriter Corey Hart, and the late stage-and-screen icon Al Waxman.

Al Waxman’s family was present to accept his induction in the Walk Of Fame.

(Nordstrom grand opening+Sick Kids Gala)

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Nordstrom Eaton Centre, at 220,000 square feet, held a pre-opening gala at their Eaton Centre store on Wednesday featuring shopping, fashion shows, as well as delicious food, signature cocktails, savoury dinner and amazing desserts. We enjoyed live music by Dwayne Gretzky, and we also did a bit of shopping. All proceeds, which totalled over $270,000, benefit St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, Toronto’s leader in critical and trauma care; Women’s College Hospital Foundation, Canada’s leader in advancing healthcare for women; Covenant House Toronto, which serves homeless youth; the state-of-the-art Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario; Humber River Hospital Foundation, which is currently focused on equipping a new hospital; and the globally renowned children’s hospital, Hospital for Sick Children’s Sick Kids.

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The who’s who were in attendance for the after party at the beautiful Shangri La Hotel with a special performance by Shaggy and Naughty By Nature. The guests included Damon Allen-CFL Hall Of Famer, David Chilton of Dragon’s Den, Alan Thicke-Actor,Dwayne De Rosario-4-time MLS Cup Champion, Cedric The Entertainer-Actor, George Lopez-Comedian/Actor, Dan Marino-Legendary Miami Dolphins Quarterback, Devon White-Toronto Blue Jays Legend,Neil Smith2X Super Bowl Champion and the host Joe Carter.

(Argyle Affair)

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Sunnybrook Next Generation presented the 3rd Annual Argyle Affair in support of Sunnybrook.

Partying with a purpose on a Thursday night at the beautiful Arcadian Loft! It was an art filled evening out with great friends, great food, and great music at Toronto’s premier fundraising event

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Jason Priestley & Family @ Canada’s Walk Of Fame Jeanne Beker @ Canada’s Walk Of Fame Cheryl Hickey @ Canada’s Walk Of Fame Guest arrive @Nordstrom opening gala Guest arrive @Nordstrom opening gala

for young professionals. Gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a premium bar and an investment in the future of health care.

There was a Gallery exhibition and live art performance by Jessica Gorlicky. And the D.J. had the guests dancing all night long!

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The Giulia Quadrifoglio (cloverleaf in Italian) was unveiled at The Maranello Alfa Romeo in Vaughan. The car is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine used in the Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans. The car delivers 85 hp more power than the BMW M3 (425 hp), which is also is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine.

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Artist For Peace And Justice During TIFF 2016 This year’s Artists for Peace and Justice: 2016 Festival Fair guest list was impressive, with many high-powered celebrities attending to lend their support for a cause close to their hearts: Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer Paul Haggis, Maria Bello, r&b soul superstar Maxwell, Pascal Raffy of Bovet 182, Jeremy Renner, Catherine Keener, Dean & Dan Caten (DSQUARED), artist Peter Tunney, Jeanne Beker, songstress Nelly Furtado, cochair Natasha Koifman, and notable honoree of the event, actor Sean Penn.

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Dakota Fanning @The Creative Coalition gala 7. Ewen McGregor @The Creative Coalition gala 8. Nick Cannon @The Creative Coalition gala 9. Pascal Raffy, Paul Haggis and Sean Penn @ Artists for Peace and Justice 10. Maria Bello @ Artists For Peace and Justice

During TIFF 2016 STK Toronto Rolled Out the Red Carpet for The Creative Coalition Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner & STK also hosted the events for I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House and Below Her Mouth Saturday, September 10, 2016. STK Toronto and A-List Communications, along with sponsor Grey Goose, hosted The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner at the STK Supper Suite during the Toronto International Film Festival. Guests included Ewan McGregor, Dakota Fanning, Paul Haggis, Christopher Guest, Lou Gossett Jr., Jennifer Beals and Terry George who presented awards to honorees including Uzo Aduba (American Pastoral, “Orange Is the New Black”), Maria Bello (The Journey is the Destination, A History of Violence), Nick Cannon (King of the Dancehall, Chi-Raq), Jennifer Connelly (American Pastoral, A Beautiful Mind), Jonathan Demme (JT & the Tennessee Kids, Rachel Getting Married), Parker Posey (Mascots, Cafe Society), Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father), and Ron Chapman (Poet of Havana).

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NICO BACIGALUPO, REBECCA SPOUR, CHESTER & BRENDA KONWISARZ @CRYSTAL BALL

TU LY, GEORGE WHITESIDE, GLEN BAXTOR & PAUL MASON @DX

JOHN ORTNER

BESTEVENTS MODELS FROM THE FASHION SHOWZ @CATWALK CURE

JOE MINRAM & TONY GAGLIANO @TORONTO LIFE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

SYLVIA MANTELLA @AMBI GALA

SABINA & ROGER GINGERICH TOM ADVISORY BOARD @CASHMERE COLLECTION

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RACHELLE & STEPHEN KEARNS WITH HOST ANNE MARIE MEDIWAKE CTV @BUY ART NOT KIDS

ALLAN WERGER & MORRIS SMITH WITH SHOWGIRLS @NIGHT AT THE CASINO

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ARTIST’S WORK HONOURED AT

Waterfront MAGAZINE’S

TOULACELEBRATION

BY VIRGINIA MUNROE

T

he Toronto Waterfront Magazine party at Toula Restaurant on September 30th was a resounding success. Over 400 guests were in attendance, including Waterfront Magazine advertisers and sponsors. Entertainment was provided by Leah Hawkins (daughter of Ronnie Hawkins) and Vira Burmenko.

The work of world-renowned artist, Alexey Klokov, was presented by his agent, Naira Velumyan. The next Waterfront Magazine event is scheduled for January 13th, to celebrate the launch of the Winter issue.

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ABOUT THE ARTIST: Alexey Klokov’s paintings have been widely exhibited throughout Russia, as well as in the USA, Japan, the UK and Continental Europe. His works are in the collections of Silvio Berlusconi, Hillary Clinton, the family of Emir Qatar, Tony Blair, Condoleeezza Rice, Madeleine Albright, Boris Jordan, Quentin Tarantino, Emir Kusturica, Paco Rabanne, Marwan Chatila and Russian politicians, businessmen and celebrities.

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CREATING A PASSAGE To Port Union

PORT UNION’S NEW HERITAGE MURAL CONNECTS LOCAL COMMUNITY TO ARTISTS & NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY IN SUMMER-LONG PAINTING PROJECT.

BY MELISSA BESSEY

T

his past summer a team of local artists worked side by side, day and night, with the support of the local community, to create an elaborate mural in Port Union, depicting the history of the Rouge River. Flowing from north to south and tracing the history of the Indigenous people, to European settlers, right on through to current day, the mural portrays both people and the local landscape from the base of the Rouge, down to the Waterfront.

Led by Master Painter, Allan Bender, I was fortunate to be one of the artists on this project and joined Allen’s Blinc Studios team during some of the longest, hottest, most rewarding (and challenging) of summer

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The term ‘watching the paint dry’ did not apply here.

days, to create a colorful and realistic-style mural of Port Union past and present.

Located in Centennial Plaza, facing the Port Union Community Centre, the mural came to life on a massive 110’-long brick wall that was in need of some serious TLC. The initial surface took nearly two weeks to prime and prep before any artistic painting could begin. Being situated in direct sunlight, the early painting days on this project served as great endurance training before the fun of painting in all the details began.

The term ‘watching the paint dry’ did not apply here, as the sun made the wall too hot for anything except a paint brush to touch and some days the paint would quite literally dry immediately as it hit the wall’s edge.

The sweat-inducing days of the Port Union mural;

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now coined the ‘Passage To Port Union’, were made bright not only by the intense heat of Summer Sixteen but also by the friendly curiosity of the community and the diverse range of people of all ages who populate the surrounding areas and wanted to be part of the transformation of their space.

After six solid weeks of painting dedication, led by the constant guidance of Allan and painting partner John Nobrega, being part of the creation of the Passage To Port Union was a heart-felt experience that bonded our team and the community in a way we will not soon forget.

The artists on this project were: Allan Bender, John Nobrega, Azadeh Pirazimian, Jesse McCuaig, Chris Brown, Frances Potts and myself. The project was made possible

by Blinc Studios, Mural Routes, The City of Toronto and many additional local businesses and supporters.

The project was truly a passage for all concerned.

Toronto Wate

CIVIL LITIGATION LAWYER Contracts and Debt Collection Enforce ment Real Estate Dispute s Wrongful Dismissal Divorce, Support, E qualization and Div ision of Property Shareholder Disput es and Oppression Remedies Libel and Slander Fraud and Negligen ce Personal Injury (no n auto) and Slip an d Fall FREDERICK SIMON HAWA BSc MBA LLB(JD) 20 BAY STREET, SUITE 1100, TORONTO T: (416) 707-2969 fredhawa@sympatico.ca

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

CHAMPAGNE 6 pouces

u lt i m at e

g u i d e

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LIZ PALM ER

T

The most comprehensive, visually stunning guide to Champagne.

In these pages you’ll discover:

here is much more to Champagne than the drink - Champagne is named after the region where it is grown, fermented and bottled. This essential guide takes you to this region, explores its culture and honours its history.

Unlike any other book about Champagne, The Ultimate Guide To Champagne by Liz Palmer is the most comprehensive and visually stunning guide you’ll ever come across. In these pages you’ll discover: • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Over 220 engaging photos, maps & detailed charts Historical anecdotes How to explore the regional grape varieties & styles Grand Marques/growers and cooperatives The annual viticulture cycle, harvest & production Champagne & food pairing guides How to cook with Champagne Recipes from Champagne families How to taste & identify flavours How to describe & rate Champagne How to shop, store & serve Champagne Etiquette & style tips for weddings International Champagne bars The economics of Champagne Health benefits Science facts Extensive glossaries & much more

The Ultimate Guide To Champagne is highly recommended for everyone, from beginners to experts.

It’s a remarkable point of reference into which any wine lover or professional can dip in and browse.

This is the Champagne Bible for ALL wine lovers. Pour yourself a glass, and start reading The Ultimate Guide To Champagne!

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Over 220 Engaging Photos, Maps and Charts, Historical Anecdotes, Economics of Champagne, Extensive Glossaries, Tips for Weddings, How to Explore the Region, Grape Varieties and Styles, The Houses / Grand Marques / Growers and Cooperatives, The Annual Viticulture Cycle, Harvest and Production, Champagne and Food Pairing Guides, Recipes from Champagne Families, How to Taste and Identify Flavors, Describing and Rating, How to Shop, Store and Serve, Champagne Etiquette & Style, International Champagne Bars, Health Benefits, Science Facts, and much more...

champagne

t h e

champagne

T H E U LT I M AT E G U I D E TO

BY LIZ PALMER

6 pouces

(315x0,002252)

Highly recommended for everyone, from beginners to experts.

The Champagne Bible for ALL wine lovers.

t h e ISBN 978-0-9918946-3-5 ISBN 978-0-9918946-3-5

9 780991 894635 >

You can judge this book by its cover.

LIZ PALM ER

LI Z PA LM E R M E D I A G R O U P I N C . www.liz-palmer.com

u lt i m at e

g u i d e

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champagne LIZ PALM ER

Liz Palmer’s The Ultimate Guide To Champagne has garnered praise from numerous influential wine journalists and other industry peers; here is a list of some recent reviews: “Liz, What a beautiful book!”

Frederic Mairesse -- Managing Director, Champagne Barons de Rothschild “Liz, What a huge and perfect achievement. Very complete, beautifully designed, clear and well written. It will be a ‘must have’ for wine lovers. My warmest congratulations for this remarkable contribution to Champagne prestige.”

Representative of Comite Champagne - France “I’m so proud of this – beautifully done and well represented!”

Representative of Business France - Canada “Amongst well-known Champagne authors like Michael Edwards and Tom Stevenson we can now add Liz Palmer from Canada. The ‘Ultimate Guide to Champagne’ is so comprehensive that Liz must has lived and worked like a monk the past years when she wrote it. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it here! It is well-written and is perfect for your nightstand! If it’s not on your nightstand, put it somewhere so you have easy access! I really loved it!”

Dr. Charlotte van Zummeren WA - winebusiness.nl, International Wine Judge - Netherlands “An extremely comprehensive yet easy to read

WINTER 2017

and very approachable guide to the world of Champagne bringing together everything from history to production, bottles to etiquette, cooking to tourism and much more. Interspersed with anecdotes, facts, tips and notes, this concise guide is the ultimate reference for Champagne lovers!”

Sarah Flook - Champagne-Ardenne Tourisme France “You can judge this book by its cover. The title might be considered a hostage to fortune but it is not an idle boast, this really is a thorough and complete guide to Champagne the region and Champagne the wine. You can ‘cover-judge’ it further by the simple, stylish design which heralds similar style in the layout and presentation of every page that follows. It’s classy and elegant, easy on the eye and easy to navigate too. Liz’s enthusiasm has served her well, for the task of researching and collating such a massive compendium of facts and figures, tales and anecdotes must have been daunting. The Ultimate Guide To Champagne is never weighty or intimidating, you can open it at any page, dip in for five minutes – which will turn into an hour – and each time

you will come up with another nugget: a fun fact, a historical anecdote, the name of a favoured restaurant, a good place to stay a few nights. It is commendably thorough and it will surely find a place on the bookshelves of all Champagne enthusiasts. Liz Palmer’s Ultimate Guide To Champagne does exactly what it says on the tin. And then some.”

Raymond Blake -- Wine Editor, Author, Breakfast in Burgundy – Ireland “The Ultimate Guide to Champagne is exhilarating like ten million bubbles in your glass. Unlike many books of its genre, the guide urges action, be it opening a bottle or planning a journey to the world’s most fabulous wine region. Liz Palmer’s fact-packed pages feature plenty of practical tips, curiosities and even style advice ensuring that the book will be a Champagne lover’s best companion on many different occasions.”

Eleonora Scholes, spaziovino.com, Publisher Member of The Grand Jury Europeen - Russia www.TheUltimateGuideToChampagne.com www.liz-palmer.com

we build success stories Waterfront Agency 88 Queens Quay West, Suite 2500 Toronto, Ontario, M5J 0B8 Tel. 888.295.2060 (toll free) Fax. 416.352.7530 info@waterfront-agency.com www.waterfront-agency.com ww

Welcome to The Waterfront Agency. A marketing communications company that combines razor sharp strategies and powerhouse creative ideas to take your project to the top. Including the positioning that separates it from the ordinary. Advertising that commands attention, both online and conventional. And the point of sale vehicles & boardroom presentation DVDs that close the sale. If you want to achieve world-class results, we should be talking. Because with the right help, there are no limits.

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WILDFIRE STEAKHOUSE & Wine Bar REWRITING WHAT A GREAT DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT IS ALL ABOUT.

BY VIRGINIA MUNROE

L

ocated in the heart of downtown Toronto in the Cosmopolitan Hotel at 8 Colborne Street, Wildfire Steakhouse & Wine Bar is rewriting the book on what a great steakhouse is all about in this city. The ambience is delightful, with hardwood floors, barnboard & brick walls and fine woods everywhere, creating an atmosphere that is at once warm and welcoming.

The wine list is so extensive here that it resembles a Victorian novella, although reading it is much more enjoyable. The scintillating pages tell the story of champagne and fine wines hailing from a dozen different countries; there is something to satisfy the tastes of the novice and the connoisseur alike. And like it they will.

My dining companion and I took a whirlwind world tour, sampling vintages from Italy, New Zealand and Chile, ending up right here at home in Canada.

Our wine tastings included a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Riesling-Gewurztraminer, a Chardonnay - all whites of course. The reds go more to our heads, but there are plenty of those to choose from for the discerning wine lover.

There is also a superb selection of fine craft beers, cocktails and more.

“People who love to eat are always the best people.”

- Julia Child AND NOW TO THE FOOD! I enjoyed a hearty potato and leek soup, zesty, spiced to perfection, not too filling, but an ideal first chapter in what was to be an award winning dinner. Of course, we were to be the judges of that. My partner had the Escargot Provencal, which he pronounced to be succulent and inspired.

A little more wine, a little more conversation. A lot of charm-

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ing chit chat with our very personable server, Allan Berkle.

And then the mains arrived with a flair! In order to keep himself from wasting away, my associate ordered a man-sized steak - a New York striploin to be exact - accompanied by sides of garden vegetables and the creamiest mashed potatoes this side of Paradise.

I asked him how it was, but of course he knows it’s not polite to talk with your mouth full. He attacked it with such ferocity that not a word was spoken at our table for a good ten minutes. At that point, he couldn’t stop extolling its virtues.

I ordered the Piri Piri Chicken Breast with mashed potatoes and vegetables, probably the most delicious chicken entree I have ever had the good fortune to have dinner with. Juicy, tender, delicately spiced - it literally melted in my mouth.

THIS IS THE STUFF FOOD AFICIONADOS’ DREAMS ARE MADE OF...

Wildfire Steakhouse & Wine Bar also features many other cuts of steak, grilled to your personal preference, as well as a host of other menu options, including lamb, seafood and vegetarian dishes.

“There is no love more sincere than the love of food.”

- George Bernard Shaw And that’s without the dessert. Everything on the menu looked so scrumptious that we threw ourselves on the good graces of Allen, who recommended his two favourites: a housemade flourless Belgian chocolate torte and a moist carrot cake with walnuts and an unforgettable cream cheese frosting.

According to Nobel Prize Winner William Faulkner, “The work never matches the dream of perfection the artist has to start with.” In the case of Wildfire Steakhouse & Wine Bar, that sentiment is decidedly incorrect.

This culinary experience has been as close to perfection as you can achieve in downtown Toronto. www.wildfiretoronto.com.

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DOES A DOG HAVE A

Buddha Nature?

BY NATASHA VON ROSENSCHILDE

T

he words were not spoken, but echoed through the air. My German Shepherd looked soulfully into my eyes and silently asked me that question. Mesmerized, I immediately answered her… and the answer was, “Yes!” From that moment, this Zen koan took me into the magical inner world of dogs. All one has to do is to look deeply back into their beautiful brown eyes to find the answer. It was years ago, yet that moment stayed etched in my mind and opened my heart to the soul in all animals.

Animals, especially small animals like dogs and cats have responded to me since I was a child as if we had our own language. An almost psychic interaction takes place between us, one on one, when we meet if we connect. It happens often, even just walking down the street, but comes out especially when I photograph them. Like humans, some, more than others just feel me. They respond with keen attention, eager to please; knowing they are honoured and loved.

Living on a farm in the Canadian North, I had five

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I became a dog whisperer, like a horse whisperer

German Shepherds. I became a dog whisperer, like a horse whisperer. I healed my dogs with songs when they were young and sick, soothed them when they were weak, and with love and patience, I taught them to communicate. They soon responded to my commands in various languages and to the most subtle of hand and finger movements, obliging me with polite consideration. They all walked beside me on my left when we walked in town in perfect formation as a group, always eager to show their manners and proud of their accomplishments.

An inspiration due to their complete devotion and selfless love, our canine friends make the most wonderful four legged companions.

Dogs are often said to reflect the personality of their owners. I decided to portray dogs as humans in different costumes and historical time periods, bringing out and reflecting their inner personalities. Each one of my chosen models has obliged me with sweet enthusiasm and cooperation. They have posed with pleasure and patience, instinctively understanding that we were working together to make and create something very special.

Creating these canine portraits continues to be an inspiration and I hope they also bring the viewers a smile and great delight.

WINTER 2017 ABOUT NATASHA VON ROSENCHILDE: From New York to Milan, to Canada, Natasha Von Rosenschilde is a renowned artist, fashion designer, sculptor and painter as well as a photographer, Her work ranges from abstract painting to digitally manipulated fantasy portraiture, tableaux vivants and bronze figurative sculpture.

Known for her visionary work with the body as a canvas, much of her art incorporates magical symbolism. A spiritual focus characterizes her work, reflecting a lifelong study of astrology and various spiritual disciplines. Dreamlike, finely wrought fantasies merge with layers of symbols, creating a unique dimension of whimsy. Fusing traditional painting techniques with psychedelic imagery and photography, she brings her visions to life on canvas and multi media.

Natasha has been both an actress and modern dancer, performing with the Munich Frei Theater in Bayreuth, Germany at the Bayreuth Festspiele, as well as designing costumes and sets for various theater and film projects. She has worked as a freelance announcer and journalist for CBC Radio in Canada, creating programs focused on the arts, interviewing top contemporary composers from Penderezki, to Herbie Hancock in the areas of both jazz and contemporary classical music.

Natasha’s involvement with music blossomed into creative collaborations in spoken word and jazz recordings with her ensemble, The Sweet Soul Lovers and the Aurora Borealis Ensemble. She has done voiceover narration in various film projects, and her musical spoken word recordings have been used in shorts and animated films. Natasha has worked with arts organizations raising funds for artists to realize their dream projects, and has been actively involved with raising awareness of the arts through profit organizations in Brooklyn and New York.

A true contemporary of the future, her work with painted bodies shown on HBO several years ago inspired a generation to adorn and cover themselves in tattoos and personal imagery.

Natasha Rosenschilde’s paintings represent Canada in ITT International’s corporate art collection.

Her work has been commissioned by Lenny Kravitz, Gordon Lightfoot and Diana Ross among others. Her photographic work with painted bodies has been featured on television, in books, billboards and publications such as Time Life and Scientific American.

A practicing astrologer, Natasha continues her lifelong love affair with interpreting horoscopes and studying the stars. She is currently writing and illustrating a series of occult fantasy novels, painting her exquisite fantasies and designing headdresses and costumes for contemporary high Priestesses. Her work can be seen at: www.thelookoflove.ca

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PETS

TO SPAY/NEUTER OR NOT TO SPAY/NEUTER ?

BY ROANNA SABEH-AZAR

S

paying is the practice of sterilizing female animals by removing their reproductive organs, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.

Neutering is the practice of sterilizing male animals by removing the testes; this procedure is also referred to as an orchectomy or castration. The penis is not operated on during this procedure and the outer sac that once held the testes is left in place.

There is no upper age limit on spaying; however, an animal must be healthy enough to successfully make it through the surgery; this can be identified through blood work. Dogs who are not ‘fixed’ are susceptible to ovarian, breast and prostate cancer, wandering, feeling nausea and moody to only name a few symptoms.

This is a very stressful decision for most people. Of course some nationalities don’t believe in the practice, but more and more North Americans understand its importance. For years

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people have been asking themselves whether or not they should spay or neuter their pet. Hopefully this article will help you decide.

REASONS TO SPAY/NEUTER: 1. The tag from animal services is less expensive.

2. The animal becomes more obedient, less distracted and more focused on you.

3. A female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90% of cats.

4. Neutering a male pet prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.

5. Improved health outlook, improved temperament.

6. A reduction in expense caused by breeding in case the female gets pregnant.

7. A declining homeless pet population: approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7

WINTER 2017

million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats).

8. Breeding dogs that do not have ‘clearance’ from breeding organizations can lead to breed dilution and a much weaker dog with various inbred health conditions. By spaying and neutering dogs that are not the best of the breed, we can ensure that healthy breeding lines live on and dogs experience fewer genetic health concerns.

9. The effect that hormone release has on the behavior of an animal is a significant factor. Males in particular can become extremely dominant or bullheaded as a result of surges in testosterone. These pets can become extremely difficult to control and difficult to train. Hormones also play a role in natural instincts such as marking behavior and shows of dominance and aggression. Spaying and neutering can reduce these types of behaviors and not only make animals easier to manage but also result in far fewer frustrations for the animal.

10. A single un-spayed cat and her offspring can add over 400,000 cats to the population in seven years and a single un-spayed dog and her pups can add over 67,000 dogs to the population in six years with an average litter size of four.

REASONS NOT TO SPAY/NEUTER: 1. One of the reasons that many pet owners give for not spaying or neutering their animals is the cost of the surgery. If cost is an issue, there are shelters that will offer you this service at a fraction of the cost.

2. If you think your dog should have babies once in its lifetime, this is not necessarily a good thing for the puppies who are being born, especially if they have disabilities.

3. It is also an extremely costly exercise for the owner, since the mother needs more vitamins, a higher quality dog food and all the puppies need to be vaccinated and dewormed, etc; there are many other costs that come into effect as well.

4. It is also possible for the birthing female to experience complications that cost her the ultimate price: her life.

It must be clear to the reader by now that I am emphatically in favour of spaying and neutering for the reasons mentioned above. Of course, it’s an issue pet owners will have to decide on their own, after long and considered thought.

Roanna Sabeh-Azar is the owner of Neo-Paws International Inc. www.neopaws.com

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BUSINESS & WEALTH

MUST-DO UPGRADES BEFORE SELLING

Your Condo

BY DONNA BULIKA, BBA, MCNE

W

hy do some condos sell very quickly, just in a few days while others are sitting on the market for 3 months and more? Even in this hot Toronto Real Estate market where the inventory is very low, historically so low, it is only 1.2 months.

HERE ARE SOME STATISTICS: Let’s take for example C1 district, which is the most concentrated district with condos.

• • • • • • •

There are currently 640 units available for sale on MLS (Nov 21 data) 420 units are on the market longer than 16 days (average days on the market) There were 5,785 units sold this year Sold in more than 16 days (average days on the market) – 3,085 condos Sold over asking – 1,206 units 526 units sold a month on average We have 1.2 months inventory at the moment

Many Realtors would hope every condo would sell quickly when the inventory is so low, but you can, as a condo owner, sell it faster and for more money. So what is the secret?

My goal is to create the feeling…warm, cozy and rich at the same time with Wow effect! For that you need to have a good eye and follow current trends closely. And the trends keep changing. A lot of new buyers are looking for move-in ready places; they don’t have time or energy to deal with the contractors. But you as a seller probably would be very happy with an extra $20,000, $50,000 or even $100,000 more.

If yes, then you have to get your hands dirty or hire a professional who can help you to organize all of this. Here is the list of must-have upgrades that are known to everyone in the know that are the best return on your money invested: •

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Upgraded kitchen and bathrooms

• • •

Hardwood floors Granite or marble counters Stainless steel appliances

But today, this is not enough.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS: Get rid of popcorn ceilings. You could change your outdated condo into a contemporary one, with an expensive feel.

Choose colour schemes wisely. Very light neutral colours for walls, very light warm grey, almost white, is the best choice.

Choose a ‘flat’ finish for every room, including the kitchen and bathrooms, walls and ceilings.

Kitchen cupboards – light neutral colours, white or light neutral. Plus up-to-date handles.

Backsplash – either plain, white, perhaps subway tile, glass tile mosaic, one tone or one piece marble or one piece porcelain (new product) backsplash. Or maybe stainless steel. Better to keep it neutral so it will appeal to everyone.

If the size and height allow, add crown moldings, high baseboards and wall paneling.

Pay close attention to details; add some LED lighting, modern light switches, as many high tech features as possible, i.e., a master switch. Hide outlets in the kitchen under the cabinets as opposed to being on top of your beautiful backsplash.

Staging. A must! Use the stager who has current and trendy, transitional furniture, large paintings, etc. The stager will also create the right lighting.

Go on the market only when 100% ready. Live in a hotel for a few days if you wish, because your place has to be spotless 24/7 until it is sold. And trust me with these upgrades; you will not stay on the market longer than a week.

One of my clients followed my advice, made all the upgrades, staging etc and I sold his condo in 2 days for over asking, for 6% more than the highest sold same layout condo in the building.

And in general, units in that particular building are not selling well.

We broke the record. Everyone was happy, especially the Seller.

Last year alone we brought our members Over $15 Million in new business

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BUSINESS & WEALTH

BLOCKCHAIN:

The End Of Banking As We Know It?

BY REBECCA SPOUR

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PHOTO: THE TAPSCOTT GROUP

R

emember the world before the Internet?

Every now and then a truly revolutionary new technology emerges and expands our imaginations beyond the realm of what we thought was possible.

We all know technology has massive potential to change the world. How different would the future be if we could directly exchange value peer-to-peer without using the current institutions we have grown to challenge and distrust? What would the implications be for the entire global economy if transactions were faster? Think about the third world and people sending money back home to loved ones. Do we trust each other more than major financial institutions or governments?

Blockchain technology has exciting possibilities and the potential is far reaching, stirring up some controversy in the business world.

We interviewed the world thought leaders in this area, Don Tapscott and his son Alex, authors of Blockchain Revolution, on a book that has been featured in Newsweek, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and taken the world by storm. Not only has this book done the circuit, but the authors have built up strong reputations in their respective fields, speaking internationally and in really insightful TED talks.

How does all this apply to us and what is the benefit to the world? The authors seem to be convinced that Blockchain represents the second generation of the Internet. Let’s go back 30 years ago when the Internet first came into existence. It was the first time humanity had the capacity to share, collaborate, spread ideas, and innovate in real time across large distances.

The Internet is a publishing platform for the democratization of information. But it wasn’t so great

For example, a passionate musician’s song files can now easily be downloaded without paying the artist a fair share

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for business. Intellectual property was not monetized and a lot of people got left behind. For example, a passionate musician’s song files can now easily be downloaded without paying the artist a fair share.

For anything to truly fly in the markets it has to have massive applications and benefit to society or no one will buy it.

The most fundamental reason we do business is to exchange services or goods. To exchange value. When we’re hungry, we need to eat. If you make Valpolicella, I raise organic free range chicken. We need to figure out a deal and make a trade or we won’t have a decent meal on a Friday night to serve our friends.

Traditionally, the law and third parties like banks have mediated business activities to ensure trust between everybody and to make the trade happen between parties. The magic of this new Blockchain technology is that all of this can be done automatically through a ‘smart contract’. ‘Smart contracts are computer protocols that facilitate, verify, or enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract, or that make a contractual clause unnecessary.’ This is based on software that mimics the logic of a contract but with guaranteed execution, enforcement, payments without relying on traditional intermediaries like lawyers, banks, escrow agents or courts.

The truth is that with mass collaboration, consensus across an information network and clever coding, this direct ‘ex-

change of value’ is looking very possible. We don’t need middle men anymore. This has huge implications across the global monetary system if we decide to adopt it. How we share and aggregate information will change. The applications are far reaching and will touch every industry. Everything can be managed privately on the new network that holds records called ‘blocks.’ Each block is time stamped.

The trick is in something called ‘consensus’. Like consensus in a room full of people, computers use algorithms to reach consensus about the truth. This contrasts with today, where every bank, government department and law firm has their own paper copy of the truth. If we could rely on maths to ‘sync’ the truth between us all, we could cut out a lot of wasted back and forth paper.

Blockchain is the first digital medium for value just as the Internet was the first for information. Runs on every computer.

Open to everybody. A digital value exchange network that runs something kind of like a spreadsheet (aka ‘ledger’) everybody can see. Wow. Even votes and scientific discoveries can be moved, stored and managed privately and securely.

In fact, the technology is so promising that the Canadian Senate put out a statement saying that it’s the most important technology of this generation.

Follow Rebecca Spour: @rebeccaspour

ff! o 0 $1 T ORDtEaRils e S FIR k for d as

FOR THE ENTHUSIASTIC CARNIVORE 88 Fort York Blvd. Toronto www.RoyalMeats.ca

Butcher Grade Steaks!

Choose your fresh cut of gluten and preservatives free meat from our butcher counter, barbecued on our open concept grill !

Plus daily fresh vegetables, and bread baked on site! Come join us for your own Royal Meats experience!

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THE RESTAURANT THAT THINKS IT’S A BUTCHER SHOP

BY MYRA JENKINS

O

ne of the first things I noticed when I walked into the new Fort York restaurant, Royal Meats Bar/Beque was the butcher shop counter, right at the front of the restaurant. Customers were individually picking their choice of meat, as in a butcher shop, and having it grilled for them to their preference, on an open concept grill. I had never seen this in a restaurant before and quite frankly as a marketer, I thought it was a brilliant idea.

A butcher counter in a restaurant! I wanted to know how this happened. The story goes that owner Ma-

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People loved it, and in 2007 Mario opened a restaurant with a butcher counter in it.

rio’s father, Ante, started working at the age of 14 in his uncle’s butcher shop in Croatia while finishing his trade diploma in butchering. He opened his first small location at 19 and by the age of 24 Ante had his own full-scale butcher shop, with a slaughterhouse and stables full of cows, bulls, lambs and pigs. He ran a very successful business and was ready to expand, when in 1991 the Bosnian war began. Ante and his wife Lucija took their two sons and immigrated to Canada.

After a few years of working in the meatpacking district, in 1997 Ante raised enough money to open his first butcher shop, Royal Meats on Cawthra Road in Mississauga. With the help of his two, now teenage sons Goran and Mario, Royal Meats began to prosper.

Over the next few years, Goran continued to work closely with his father while Mario achieved success as a professional soccer player in Europe, until the age of 26 when he returned to Canada to work with the family business.

One day someone had the idea (they still argue over whose idea it actually was) to buy a grill for the butcher shop and grill meat right in the shop so customers could try their fresh product. People loved it, and in 2007 Mario opened a restaurant with a butcher counter in it, which was the first Royal Meats Bar/ Beque restaurant, located on Kipling Avenue in Etobi-

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coke. The restaurant has been very successful, attracting many loyal patrons over the years, including celebrities and weekly visits from Toronto Maple Leaf hockey players.

Earlier this year, Mario opened the second restaurant location in the waterfront area on Fort York Boulevard. As I stood there in the modern, shiny new location, looking at the steaks and other carnivorous selections in the butcher counter, I noticed something familiar. Something I remembered as a child, but had not seen in restaurants...chevaps.

This unique type of European meat staple was very familiar to me growing up, as it was something my Croatian mother often cooked. Mario explained that chevaps were so popular that his brother Goran created a side business to sell pre-packaged chevaps, which are now available in many of the major food chains.

Mario’s father, Ante, still runs the butcher shop on Cawthra Road in Mississauga. Mario shared that it was a great source of family pride that a part of his father’s legacy continues within the restaurants. Mario remembers very clearly what his father said to him when Mario suggested opening up a restaurant, “Put the fresh meat in the butcher cases and let people see what you are cooking on the grill and how fresh it is.”

And as I watched the line-up in the restaurant grow, I couldn’t help but think these guys have something good going on here. I guess all those hockey players can’t be wrong!

Both the Royal Meats Bar/Beque restaurant locations serve butcher grade, hormone-free meats. If you want to pick your own cut and get your carnivore on, you can find out more at www.royalmeats.ca

offE!R 0 1 $ IRST OrRdDetails F k fo as

FOR THE OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC CARNIVORE 88 Fort York Blvd. Toronto www.RoyalMeats.ca

European Chevaps

Choose your fresh cut of gluten and preservatives free meat from our butcher counter, barbecued on our open concept grill !

Plus daily fresh vegetables, and bread baked on site! Come join us for your own Chevap experience!

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BUSINESS & WEALTH

TORONTO’S STARTUP & Tech Revolution

BY LINDA MONTGOMERY

TECHTORONTO FOUNDERS JASON GOLDLIST & ALEX NORMAN, WITH OPENCARE FOUNDER & CEO, NIKOLAI BRATKOFSKI.

I

f you live in the downtown area, you’ve probably noticed more hoodies and jeans overtaking Bay Street suits recently. That’s because Toronto is becoming a global hub for technology innovation and top startup companies.

We hold the title of third largest Tech Hub in North America, second only to New York and Silicon Valley - according to Invest Toronto. The GTA is home to between 2500 and 4100 active startups as per a recent TechToronto and PwC survey, while other surveys report this overall number could be higher than 10,000. About 50 startups opened their doors to the public during two fall Startup Open House events, their locations dotted the downtown area, King Street West and Liberty Village.

Our Startup and Tech Revolution is being fueled by new digital, social media, mobile and cloud technologies creating new business opportunities. Growth of SaaS (Software-as-a-service) business models means it’s easier to start and grow a company. Lean Canvas methodologies provide entrepreneurs with a practical roadmap from idea to viable business plan.

While entrepreneurs still lament a lack of funding, more early stage government and private funding options are available today. Angel investor networks have become more mature and annual funding goes up every year.

Today more venture capital money is flowing from U.S. investors than from Canadian sources, helping to propel VC funding for Canadian companies to a 10-year high.

Usually known for our dominant financial services industry, technology is clearly making inroads; today Toronto is home to 112 new ‘FinTech’ companies according to research firm, Investor Economics. Our large bank and insurance companies are facing disruption from new products that could compete with or displace traditional offerings, and new digital busi-

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Serial EntrepreneursHomegrown & Staying

ness models where technology is the key enabler.

Indications are that growth in tech jobs over the past five years is on the rise. TechToronto reports it to be at 14.6% compared to finance jobs that grew at 7.9%. Further, employment in tech companies as well as tech jobs at non-tech companies comprised 15% of all jobs as tech spreads horizontally; it is no longer just a vertical industry.

Our promising FinTech startups are plentiful and include companies like: Wealthsimple, online investment management robo-advisor; Fundthrough, providing businesses with immediate invoice payments; OverBond, innovating origination of debt products; and League, building a digital alternative to traditional health benefits.

Most people have heard of MaRS, the large innovation hub on College at University Avenue, but this is only one spoke of Toronto’s vibrant Tech ecosystem. Toronto is home to a growing number of startup accelerators such as Ryerson’s DMZ, Creative Disruption Lab at U of T, and One Eleven for data-driven entrepreneurs.

Recently, San Francisco’s well regarded 500 Startups was lured here to set up shop; they are offering boot camps and have established a lab to help spawn new world-leading companies. It seems like every month a new tech co-working space opens joining existing players like Workhaus and BrightLane.

Tech giants like Google, Facebook and LinkedIn have offices in Toronto taking advantage of local talent and adding to our cosmopolitan ecosystem.

And it’s not just Toronto - we are connected to a growing internationally-known cluster in the Toronto-Waterloo Tech Corridor; this is one big area putting our strong tech ecosystem on the map the world over.

Our abundance of grass-roots groups, events and

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TECHTORONTO MEETUP AT RBC WATERPARK PLACE

meetups offers hundreds of opportunities for would-be entrepreneurs to learn tips and best practices to grow a successful tech company. TechToronto has over 13,000 founder and startup company team members - according to its Co-Founder, Alex Norman.

Every month 600 of these millennials gather at RBC’s Waterfront offices, surrounded by a pulsating buzz of excitement and energy, to listen to a series of Startup TEDtalks from their own entrepreneur heroes.

Recently, 30-year-old Nikolai Bratkovski of OpenCare took to the stage speaking on cultivating the right company advisors.

In an orange hoodie with a large slogan “Life is short, do stuff that matters”- Nikolai already successfully founded, scaled and sold two companies. He plans to transform and simplify finding healthcare specialists now as the Founder and CEO of his third company.

Today, we have many more multiple or serial entrepreneurs in Toronto, part of the flywheel of our growing and maturing ecosystem and contributing to driving it forward.

An example is Mark Organ, Founder and CEO of advocate digital marketing platform company Influitive.

He sold his first company, Eloqua to Oracle for $871M in 2012.

Mark and many of his peers opt to stay in Toronto after exiting, usually to a U.S. acquirer, to start and grow their next company, often playing an influential role in mentoring, inspiring or funding the next generation.

The local talent, loyalty of staff, reason-

able cost structure and quality of our ecosystem is making Toronto a preferred place to grow a world-leading tech company.

Linda Montgomery is Business Editor of Toronto Waterfront Magazine, a technology industry marketing executive and a Toronto Waterfront resident.

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HEALTH & WELL BEING

PRESIDENT OF 3T WATERFRONT AGENCY VIETNAM, TINA TRAN, WITH HER ASSOCIATES.

The

waterfront agency Goes Global

BY VIRGINIA MUNROE

W

aterfront Agency President, Karim Mirshahi, has announced the opening of new agency offices in Amsterdam and in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A sister company to Waterfront Magazine, The Waterfront Agency now offers full marketing communications services to its clients in Toronto, Canada and Tokyo, Japan; as well as its two newest locations.

“The addition of these two offices gives The Waterfront Agency a global reach,” Mirshahi said. “While Creative Direction functions reside with our Global Creative Director, Ross Ulysses Munroe, Client Management will be handled by our part-

80

ners - Yohan Byrde in Europe and Tina Tran in Southeast Asia.

The principals in the Waterfront Agency have won awards around the world for their work, in virtually every category of marketing communications, including television, radio, print, outdoor and digital platforms. Their roster of clients has included hundreds of household names, both consumer and business-to-business.

According to Ms. Tran, the possibilities in Vietnam and Southeast Asia are growing exponentially, as the region opens up to increased global trade - especially with the West. “While a good deal of our work will be executed in Vietnamese, the real opportunity lies in developing marketing materials in English, since that is the language the country will need to communicate in, in order to make real advances in its trade relations globally.”

A similar situation exists in the Amsterdam office, where Mr. Byrde is directing marketing communications initiatives in Europe and the Middle East.

“We at The Waterfront Agency are very excited by these new developments, and we look forward to robust growth in our organization in the years ahead,” Mirshahi said.

All event coverage produced by Michelle Levy Productions Photo credit: George Pimentel, Ernesto Distefano, Sandler

WITH MICHELLE LEVY

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1. Stacey and Mark Krembil @ The Discovery Ball 2. Christine and Jonathan Fischer @ Imagine Gala

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3 3. Diane and Michael (Pinball) Clemons @Imagine Gala

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6. Billy Baldwin , Chynna Phillips @ Healthy Minds Silver Galaa 7. Kim Johnston, Arlene Dickinson, Robert Herjavec, Michelle Levy @ Ambi Gala

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4. Pamela Anderson, Andrea Iervolino , Lady Monika Bacardi @ Ambi Gala 5. Sylvia Mantella,James Franco @ Ambi Gala

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8. Karen Kain, Kiki Delaney @ Business for the Arts Gala 9. Nichole Anderson @ Business for the Arts Gala 10. Lisa de Wilde, Deepa Mehta, Kristin Morch @ TVO GALA

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If you have an event you would like to tell us about, please email michellelevy@rogers.com

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