Boulevard Vancouver English, Jun/Jul 2022

JUNE | JULY 2022

VANCOUVER LIFE AT ITS FINEST

THE INFLUENCERS

WILD FLOWER Puffy sleeves, full skirts and wild west fashion

GET YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR The growing interest in brain health

BELLA VITA Relaxation and recreation in High Point Estates

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CONTENTS 54

30 FEATURES

ON THE COVER

46

Farrah Sanei, mobile mortgage advisor, CIBC, photographed

56

66

By Ellie Shortt

96

Fashion from the wild west

Styling by Sarah D’Arcey

THE INFLUENCERS

WILD FLOWER

62

NOURISH YOUR NOGGIN Creating food for the brain

By Lisa Manfield

on location at the Queen Elizabeth Park.

90

Relaxation and recreation at High Point Estates

Photo by Lia Crowe

Bloedel Conservatory at

BELLA VITA

WALKS AND WINE IN MADEIRA

By Sarah D’Arcey

A visit to the world’s top island destination

GET YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR

By Suzanne Morphet

The growing interest in brain health

By Jane Zatylny

66

SPECIAL SECTION The Influencers

By Lia Crowe & Angela Cowan

12

B O U L E VA R D

56

66

42

DEPARTMENTS

18

CONTRIBUTORS

20

EDITOR’S LETTER The best way to give a speech (in writing)

By Susan Lundy

22

36

LIFE. STYLE. ETC. Graham Blank

By Lia Crowe

24

30

40

54

BUSINESS CLASS

Destination: Riley’s Fish & Steak

Down to a fine art: Jennifer Kostiuk

By Joanne Peters

By Lauren Kramer

WEEKENDER

100

SECRETS AND LIVES

Go west coast

Tara Armstrong

By Susan Lundy

By Angela Cowan

IN STUDIO

104

NARRATIVE

March of the critters

By Susan Lundy

106

BEHIND THE STORY

By Darren Hull

Among the stars: Tamara Stanners

WELL AND GOOD

By Lin Stranburg

On the move

By Kaisha Scofield

GOOD TASTE

42

HAVAN AWARDS Building dreams

By Dawn Sondergaard

B O U L E VA R D

13

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contributors “For this issue I went back

SARAH D’ARCEY

to my roots, having grown up in the interior of British Columbia on a farm. We packed up our fashion trunks and headed west to The Hatching Post in West Kelowna, offering the optimal saloon backdrop for our fashion story, with femininity and flair shining through.” Sarah is a celebrity fashion stylist and is known for her exceptional creativity and attention to detail.

STYLIST WILD FLOWER

JUNE | JULY 2022

BOULEVARD GROUP PUBLISHER Mario Gedicke PUBLISHER Harry van Hemmen harryvh@blackpress.ca 604-649-1707 MANAGING EDITOR Susan Lundy

PAGE 56

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe

“I loved having the opportunity to explore behind the

LAUREN KRAMER

scenes in the Vancouver world of art, and learning about the pivotal and deeply personal role of relationships between artist and gallery owner.” An award-winning Richmond-based writer, Lauren about features about travel, food, business and more. She cherishes the opportunity to interview and write stories about community members and their work.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Angela Cowan, Lia Crowe, Sarah D’Arcey, Lauren Kramer, Susan Lundy, Lisa Manfield, Suzanne Morphet, Joanne Peters, Kaisha Scofield, Ellie Shortt, Lin Stranberg, Dawn Sondergaard, Jane Zatylny DESIGNERS Lily Chan, Michelle Gjerde, Tammy Robinson, Kelsey Boorman ADVERTISING SALES Vicki Clark Eleanor Ajram

WRITER DOWN TO A FINE ART

PAGE 54

PHOTOGRAPHERS Lia Crowe, Don Denton, Darren Hull, Julian Plimley

“Madeira surprised me in the

SUZANNE MORPHET

WRITER WALKS AND WINE IN MADEIRA

PAGE 96 18

B O U L E VA R D

best of ways. For an island less than half the size of Maui, it offers a fascinating variety of experiences, along with a culture all its own. This unique sense of place and fierce independence comes from being cut off from the European mainland for centuries, yet being on the trade route of the early explorers. Its gentle subtropical climate is a bonanza.”

Suzanne is a journalist who focuses on travel writing. She loves to discover places that are off the beaten path, but deserve to be better known.

ILLUSTRATION Sierra Lundy DISTRIBUTION Marilou Pasion Marilou@blackpress.ca 604-542-7411

VANCOUVERBOULEVARD.COM Boulevard Magazine is published 6 times per year by Black Press Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs.

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

the best way to give a speech (in writing)

It was a grand, glitzy night at the annual Ma Murray newspaper awards gala in May, especially when Boulevard took gold in the best magazine category. However, although editor of the magazine, I was okay to not be there.

I’ve been to many awards galas over the years and I know well the dread I feel watching winners traipse up to the stage—often in challenging high heels— pluck the award from the presenter and, worst of all, lean into the microphone and give a little thank-you speech. During that lead-up time, which often occurs over dinner—to drink or not to drink?—I’m at about 40/60: 40 per cent it would be cool to win and 60 per cent I don’t want to go up onto that stage and give that speech.

It’s not that I’m a coward exactly: I’ve white-water rafted; I’ve flown in a plane with the door off (to get better photos); I’ve even signed up for sky-diving at least twice in my life before finding my brain and un-signing myself; I’ve flown in an ultralight contraption. I like wild-sailing seas and fast motor boats.

But public speaking and I aren’t on good terms. I think my abhorrence of it reaches back to childhood when I blushed so easily, even the thought of blushing made me blush. I grew my hair long so I could tilt my head forward and cover my flaming cheeks. I wore a red sweater, hoping people would think my scarlet face was merely a reflection of the wool.

All through school and university I sat at the back of the class, avoiding teachers’ eyes. In a high school course that required an oral presentation, I created a slide show and spoke in the dark. I don’t know how many university courses I dropped to due to their oral component. Ironically, in my final semester of university, I was stuck in a class that required a presentation. I decided to skip the oral presentation and forfeit the marks by merely neglecting to sign up for a time slot. Unfortunately, the professor discovered me on the second to last day of my undergrad experience. He squinted at me, looked slightly perplexed and asked when I would be honouring the class with my oratory presentation.

“But I’ve gone four years without having to do this,” I told him.

“Too bad,” he said.

I believe I became a writer so I would never have to give another speech.

At first, newspaper-award winning was fun. In the early days, winners walked up to the stage, retrieved a trophy and walked back to their seats while people applauded. Scary, but not terrifying. This all went downhill in the mid’90s at my first Jack Webster awards gala—an exclusive, high-stakes event, featuring all sorts of famous-faced media people. I watched with mounting alarm as winners accepted their awards, pulled little bits of notepaper from pockets and gave Oscar-style speeches, thanking everyone from their moms to their pet parrots.

I suddenly, adamantly, did not want to win. But—god help me—my name was called and up I went, any coherent thank-you speech turning to mush in my mind. I accepted my trophy, leaned into the microphone, choked out a simple, “Thank you very much,” and headed off the stage. (Later—once the drinks were flowing—people said my speech was the very best of the night.)

Over the years, I’ve had to give other speeches. There have been book launches, a wedding toast, another Webster gala. It turns out I’m actually not bad at it. But I’m quite happy to see photos of my Ma Murray-awardwinning colleagues, standing on the stage with publisher Mario Gedicke at the microphone. (Congrats to all the winners, especially those with whom I work daily on Boulevard: Lia Crowe, Don Denton, Lily Chan, Michelle Gjerde and Tammy Robinson.)

Susan Lundy Editor Susan Lundy is a former journalist who now works as an editor, author and freelance writer. Her latest book, Home on the Strange, was released earlier this year via Heritage House Publishing.

20

B O U L E VA R D

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GRAHAM BLANK, VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR FOR TOM LEE MUSIC CANADA AND STEINWAY PIANO GALLERIES OF CANADA

“AQ (adaptability quotient) is as important as IQ and EQ.” “Low maintenance,” Graham says, when asked to describe his personal style. “I have a closet full of Calvin Klein dark suits, sport coats and white dress shirts for business, and black shirts and dark stretch knit pants for casual, so I don’t waste time deciding what to wear.”

From an early age, Graham studied classical and jazz piano; he played professionally and taught piano before joining Tom Lee Music in a sales role in 1989.

“I studied sales and marketing at UBC and business at SFU, which helped me to progress through the company in many different roles, including store manager, product manager, buyer, sales and marketing manager and now vice president.”

During our photo shoot, Graham sits down at the piano and effortlessly fills the room with beautiful notes, so it’s no surprise when he says that music is one of the things that continues to fire him up.

“Music and people: I am blessed to work with a talented and passionate team of colleagues and a creative group of customers, who continue to inspire me every day.”

Asked what is the best life lesson he’s recently learned, Graham says, “AQ (adaptability quotient) is as important as IQ and EQ.” And what quality does he possess that has led to his success? “PMA. My positive mental attitude and cando spirit continue to serve me well.”

CLOTHES/GROOMING Favourite Denim, brand and cut: Black-bull stretch knit pants.

Current go-to clothing Item: Calvin Klein blue sport coat.

Currently coveting: Fluevog shoes.

Favourite pair of shoes: Rockport/Blundstones.

Best new purchase: Apple Airpod Pros.

Favourite day-bag: SWISSGEAR backpack.

Accessory you spend the most money on: Shoes.

Favourite work tool: iPhone 13 Pro Max / Apple Watch.

Necessary indulgence: Pocket squares.

Favourite skincare product: Proraso shaving products.

Favourite hair product: got2b Phenomenal.

READING MATERIAL What you read online for style: GQ. Fave print magazine: Fast Company.

Fave style blog: Gentlemen’s Gazette.

Last great read: Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner.

Book currently reading: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahnemen.

Favourite book of all time: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.

STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE Favourite fashion designer or brand: Calvin Klein.

Favourite musician: Too many to list!

Favourite instrument: My 1959 Hammond B3 Organ and Taylor acoustic guitar.

Era of time that inspires your style: '80s.

Favourite local restaurant: Sula Indian Restaurant.

Favourite cocktail or wine: Hendricks Smoky Gin martini with olives.

Album on current rotation: Jon Batiste, We Are. Favourite city to visit: New York.

Favourite hotel: Le Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakech.

Favourite app: Flipboard.

Favourite place in the whole world: Vancouver!

B O U L E VA R D

23

well and good

on the move 24

B O U L E VA R D

Stay healthy this summer with a movement-based holiday WORDS KAISHA SCOFIELD X PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE GJERDE

We are lucky enough to live in a province that is packed full of world-class activities that will keep you entertained while keeping you active and supporting wellness.

A

h, summer: long lazy days at the beach, slow evenings around the campfire, carefree floats on the lake and idle hours in the hammock.

The ease of summer can be wonderful, but it can also be a time when positive movement and nutritional habits are tossed out the window. It’s easy to understand why. Summer schedules are more relaxed, days are longer, and there are opportunities for physical and nutritional compromise around every corner—cowboy coffee by the beach, weekends of day drinking and s’mores-infused camping trips.

It is, however, possible to achieve summer bliss without completely losing track of your health. We are lucky enough to live in a province that is packed full of world-class activities that will keep you entertained while keeping you active and supporting wellness. Here are a few summer vacation ideas that offer adventure, movement, relaxation and fun.

OCEAN:

We are rich with stunning ocean vistas and wild beaches here in BC, but too often we are unfamiliar with the vast and mysterious waters that surround us. A great way to become one with the ocean is to take a kayaking trip alongside Pacific Rim National Park, in Northern Barkley Sound and Clayoquot Sound.

Whether you are a seasoned paddler or still getting your sea legs (or arms, in this case), this adventure has it all. Paddle through the shores surrounding Tofino or Ucluelet, exploring the Broken Group Islands, ancient First Nations villages and old-growth forests. Many tour companies offer a variety of outings from quick day trips to epic five-day adventures.

These are the gains: kayaking works your arms and shoulders but is also an incredible way to build core and back strength. Spending time on the water is one of the best ways to boost mental health and wellness; the sound of the waves, coupled with the salty air and motion of the water can provide mental clarity and peace of mind.

MOUNTAIN:

We are spoiled with incredible skiing opportunities in BC, and when the snow melts those hills turn into topnotch hiking destinations. Spend a weekend in Whistler and Blackcomb, ex-

ploring the stunning glacier-fed lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park that boast water so blue it has to be seen to believed.

Or head to the beautiful Taylor alpine meadows with awesome mountain formations like The Chimney, found on Black Tusk hike. This area offers everything from challenging multiday hiking trips and mountaineering to smaller day hikes with stunning waterfalls.

These are the gains: any walking activity is beneficial to your legs, hips, glutes and core, but alpine hiking takes things to the next level. Working under strain, with a backpack and/ or at higher altitudes challenges your body (muscles and cardiovascular system) in a way that you won’t experience in the gym. Alpine hiking is a great way to combine adventure with physical activity.

SELF:

Yoga retreats abound in BC but there is something extra special about Savasana on the Gulf Islands. The Salt Spring Centre of Yoga is a non-profit facility that is one of the longest running retreat centres in the province. Its annual Community Yoga Retreat is a popular multi-day, family-centred event that includes activities for kids, evening events, food and, of course, plenty of yoga. Yogis can choose to camp on the vast property or rent a private or shared room in the main centre. There are yoga retreat centres all through the Gulf Islands that offer single- or multi-day retreats.

These are the gains: yoga is full-body training for every level. The various styles and poses allow for excellent movement and stretching of the big and small muscles of the body.

Because of the extensive breathing and mindfulness practised during yoga training, physical and mental strength are perfectly combined. A yoga retreat is an ideal holiday for someone who is looking to boost their physical and mental health while also engaging in some deep self care.

SKY:

If you are looking for something extreme, there’s nothing better than skydiving over the Pacific Ocean. Skydive Vancouver Island, located just outside of Nanaimo in Nanoose Bay, will take you 10,000 feet into the sky where you will tandem jump and enjoy a 200-kilometre/hour free-fall for 45 seconds, before your guide pulls the chute that will sail you back to earth.

B O U L E VA R D

25

If the thrill of jumping out of a plane isn’t enough, the views from the sky of Comox and Cowichan Valley, Mount Baker, Mount Arrowsmith and Barkley Sound will blow your mind. This adventure is one for the bucket list.

These are the gains: the majority of growth in this experience is mental, the importance of which can not be understated. Bravery and self-reliance are huge parts of training, for sport and life. It is safe to say that jumping out of a plane, while several thousand feet in the air, can provide a new perspective.

LAND:

The Okanagan is famous for its wine, and for good reason: it has more award-winning wineries than anywhere else in BC. What do you do when there are so many amazing wineries in one place? You go on a tour, but not just any tour. These tours are by bicycle.

Throughout the Okanagan there are companies offering wine tours via manual and electric bicycle. These tours often include delicious picnics, extra activities like hiking and, of course, wine.

These are the gains: cycling is one of the most efficient forms of movement. Your leg and glute muscles are definitely doing the bulk of the work, but cycling involves participation from the entire body, including the mind. Road cycling is an excellent way to combine motor and cognitive training because of the necessity for the collaboration of physical and mental movement, navigation and coordination.

The best way to experience the beauty of British Columbia is by getting into the wilderness through nature and movement-based holidays. There are endless possibilities and incredible companies and guides ready to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. So strap on your hiking boots, fill up your water bottle (don’t forget your electrolytes, and get your body and mind into nature.

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good taste

Destination Riley’s Fish & Steak

New restaurant is the “jewel in the crown” of the Glowbal group WORDS JOANNE PETERS

30

B O U L E VA R D

X

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

A

menu that travels from ocean depths to open pastures, natural light pouring through floor-to-high-ceiling windows, glam forest-green and mattegold accents, and all kinds of plants—tall, hanging, climbing, and lush. Across from Canada Place is one of the most exciting restaurants to open in Vancouver this year.

Even if you don’t know the Glowbal Restaurant Group by name, chances are you’ve dined at one of its hot spots: Glowbal, Trattoria, Coast, Black+Blue, or Italian Kitchen, to name a few. Now, the group founded by Egyptian-born restaurateur Emad Yacoub is adding Riley’s Fish & Steak to its portfolio, and it’s the jewel in the crown.

The restaurant takes its name from Sean Riley, Emad’s very first employee and executive chef, who used to work for him in Toronto and who rode his motorcycle across the country to help him open Glowbal over two decades ago. He remains an integral part of the company, where Top Chef Canada Season 7 competitor Dennis Peckham is GRG corporate chef.

Occupying and expanding the former home of Tourism Vancouver right near the cruise ship terminal, the 240seat room, with a wine wall and bar facing the water, marries Coast’s focus on fresh fish and seafood from eastern and western waters (think everything from PEI pink moon oysters and Atlantic lobster to Haida Gwaii halibut and Qualicum Bay scallops) with Black+Blue’s expertise in Canadian and US prime beef.

Heading the kitchen is executive chef Jérôme Soubeyrand.

Born and raised in Lyon, France, he brings years of experience in some of Europe’s best restaurants, eight of them Michelinstarred, to Vancouver, having previously held roles here at both Coast and Black & Blue.

He has worked alongside culinary authorities such as Paul Bocuse (who founded one of the world’s most rigorous international cooking competitions) and Daniel Boulud (a fellow Lyonnais native who has dining establishments in New York City, Dubai and beyond). Also among his colleagues is another Michelin-ranked chef, Joël Robuchon, who is credited for creating the best mashed potatoes in the world—and at Riley’s you can taste Jérôme’s take on the famous dish. Ask him how much butter is in it. Or better yet, don’t.

While Riley’s isn’t a French restaurant, there’s evidence of Jérôme’s classical training and technique all across the menu.

Consider the shaved foie gras and red-wine jus that accompany steak and frites, the pillowy-soft indulgence of housebaked brioche (with garlic, Gruyère, whipped butter, smoked Maldon salt and lobster oil), the velvety tarragon-infused

Béarnaise sauce as an option to go with char-grilled prime cuts; and lobster Thermidor, the toothsome meat cooked in a decadent wine sauce before being stuffed back into the shell and browned. Then there is Jérôme’s coq au vin. The elevated comfort dish of red-wine-braised chicken pieces with glistening pearl onions, densely flavourful forest mushrooms and thick strips of cured pork belly is especially close to the chef ’s heart.

“I started cooking with my mother every Sunday for the family at a young age, which kickstarted my love for food,” Jérôme says. “The coq au vin reminds me of home and the meals that my mom would cook for my father. Where I grew up near Lyon there were a number of wineries, so coq au vin was a staple in our household.”

Other menu items that Jérôme is especially excited about are oysters Rockefeller (the mollusks baked with buttered spinach and topped with a rock-crab Béarnaise sauce) and Riley’s succulent, chilled seafood towers. The latter come in three variations (grand, deluxe and king), with delicacies like halibut ceviche, marinated mussels and clams, freshly shucked oysters and snow-crab legs.

B O U L E VA R D

31

Executive chef Jérôme Soubeyrand.

“My overall vision for Riley’s has everything to do with exceeding our guests’ exceptions from the time they walk in the door to the time they leave,” Jérôme says. “I want them to think of Riley’s every time they travel to our city. I want them to feel they need to see us if they have a milestone to celebrate in their lives or if they’re trying to impress their friends or coworkers. My goal is to have our customers planning their next visit before they’ve even had dessert.”

While the chef sources local and seasonal ingredients as much as possible, he concedes that there are exceptions: “How can you turn down an incredible piece of Wagyu beef ?” (Try the Wagyu carpaccio bedecked with smoked tomato jam, onion rings, Parmigiano Reggiano and served with chimichurri toast.)

There’s another part of Riley’s story that makes it unlike anything else in the city, and that is its wine program. Featuring one of the city’s largest selections of wines available by the glass, the restaurant has also introduced a new concept here: every single bottle (whether it’s Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris or Château Lafite Rothschild 2010 Pauillac) is listed at wine-store cost plus a $40 to $50 corkage fee, giving people access to some of the world’s best vintages at prices 32

B O U L E VA R D

“I want them to think of Riley’s every time they travel to our city.

I want them to feel they need to see us if they have a milestone to celebrate in their lives or if they’re trying to impress their friends or coworkers. My goal is to have our customers planning their next visit before they’ve even had dessert.”

unheard of in the city’s dining scene.

“It will make it the most aggressive wine pricing for whitetablecloth service that Vancouver has ever seen,” Jérôme says.

Cocktails are another draw. Riley & The Beast is a signature concoction: floral and foamy with Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla gin, St. Germain, rose water and honey lemon, it’s garnished with a ruby-red wafer of dehydrated raspberry and a diminutive Persian rosebud. Cucumber Pivot, a refreshing if potent mix of Ketel One Cucumber Mint vodka, Aperol honey, sparkling wine and lemon, is Instagrammable with a sprig of thyme hugging the tall glass and attached with the world’s teeniest clothing pin.

At press time, Riley’s had just launched, offering dinner service (and live music nightly) and happy hour, with lunch and brunch on the horizon. As for what the future holds, who knows? Only the sea, forests, farms and imaginations are the limit.

“We’re going to keep pushing forward and evolving,” Jérôme says. “What I love most about my work is the adrenaline of service, the anticipation of a busy night, and seeing happy customers enjoying my team’s hard work.”

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weekender

Go west coast Adventures on Vancouver Island’s Spirit Loop WORDS SUSAN LUNDY PHOTOGRAPHY LANDON COPPLESTONE COURTESY TOURISM LANGFORD

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But as we undertook our journey in late April—amid typical west coast sun-rainsun weather—we were astonished by the array of new-to-us sights and experiences.

T

ake the Pacific Marine Circle Route, add in a passion for nature, a need for relaxation and a palate that’s craving divine flavours, and you’re ready for the Spirit Loop—a driving tour that explores the Vancouver Island communities of Langford, Sooke, Port Renfrew and Malahat.

This is a well-loved route that my husband and I have traversed many times. But as we undertook our journey in late April—amid typical west coast sun-rain-sun weather— we were astonished by the array of new-to-us sights and experiences, and elated by the Spirit Loop’s celebration of everything west coast.

It’s tough to decide what stood out the most.

Was it the views? Because they were spectacular. On our first evening we dined in the newly renovated Masters Lounge at Westin Bear Mountain Resort, gaping at the expansive edge-of-the-mountain view as seen through the retractable glass roof and walls above and beside our table.

Then there was the inky ocean vista from the rocks at Sheringham Point Lighthouse in Sooke, and the mesmerizing, top-of-the-world scene from the Malahat SkyWalk. And almost capping it all was the view from the window-encased bathtub at the Malahat’s Moon Water Lodge, where the sight line extended up and down Finlayson Arm. In the distance, we could see the hive-like structure of the Malahat SkyWalk jutting out from the trees; and it was here in the morning that the sunrise stretched pink fingers from the horizon straight into the room.

So the views stood out, definitely. But the hikes were great too. At Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail in Langford we followed an easy-to-navigate path through a dense thicket, where the sun shone on lichen-draped trees and it felt like an enchanted forest. The trail led us to a waterfall-viewing platform and a suspension bridge. Later, we strolled the windy-sunny-rainy Whiffin Spit in Sooke, then scrambled down a hillside path to the Sheringham Point Lighthouse, wandered the rocky beach in front of our dockside cabin at Wild Renfrew, and explored the beautiful blossoming trees in the orchards at Merridale Cidery & Distillery in Cobble Hill.

But perhaps most surprising was our hike along Sombrio Beach—a surfers’ paradise near Port Renfrew—where we followed directions just off the beach to an absolutely spectacular waterfall and water-carved canyon.

Food and drink options on the Spirit Loop also stand out as highlights, starting with our impeccable dinner at Masters Lounge, where a three-course meal paired with wine by master sommelier Bipin Bhatt had us swooning over both the flavours and the artistry of the presentation. Elevated even higher by the view, it was a royal feast.

Bridgemans Bistro, nestled along the Mill Bay shoreline at the foot of a marina, was also a revelation. Views from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the chill atmosphere and excellent food will, going forward, forever command a Mill Bay detour from Highway 1. It claims to pay homage to the blue-collar sensibility of the hardworking, adventurous bridge worker, offering “dishes that are imaginative yet grounded in the unique hard-working communities we serve.”

At House of Boateng in Langford we met chef-owner Castro Boateng and got the story behind his restaurant’s menu, which merges flavours of West Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific Northwest cuisine. (More info below.) Not only did we relish our breakfast here, we walked up the road to Castro’s store and purchased a bottle of HOB hot sauce. Recommended!

We also found spirits on the Spirit Loop, first at Sheringham Distillery in Sooke, where we sampled the distillery’s unique west-coast take on gin, liqueur and aquavit. Divine.

At Merridale, we discovered that in addition to producing a full line of ciders, Merridale was one of the very first craft distilleries in BC. We ended up tasting a flight of spirits and a flight of ciders, and headed home with a bottle of Rumb—a very tasty rum-style spirit made with honey instead of cane sugar. Our tasting took place in a beautiful indoor setting but (had the sun been shining) we could have sat outside in the picturesque orchard picnic area.

Accommodations? Options are plentiful, and all our overnight spots were pet-friendly. Our experience included a spacious, upscale room at the Westin Bear Mountain. (While the rooms are lovely now, they are all scheduled for renovation.

New owners at the Westin are renovating much of the hotel, and if the new Masters Lounge is any indication, the results will be spectacular.)

In Port Renfrew, we stayed at Wild Renfrew in a sweet tworoom cabin accessed off a dock and in close proximity to great food at the Renfrew Pub. We spent our final night at Moon B O U L E VA R D

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Highway near Port Renfrew.

Food and drink options on the Spirit Loop also stand out as highlights.

Castro Boateng.

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Water Lodge, and while the location just off the highway on the Malahat might not be optimum, you can solve the problem by hopping in the bathtub, drinking in the views (and perhaps a glass of something bubbly) and forgetting all about everything else.

The final stop for me on the Spirit Loop left me in excellent spirits. Back at the Westin Bear Mountain, I stepped into Amatista Spa and slipped into the velvety world that is their signature West Coast Body Wrap, using award-winning BC-made Beauty Through Balance products. This luxurious, detoxifying body treatment features Pacific seaweed, sea salts and pure green tea, as well as a Canadian glacial mask, with ingredients harvested from the mountains on Vancouver Island. The experience was so deeply relaxing, I drifted into a light sleep, dreaming I was wrapped in a cocoon, while my face was gently rubbed and my scalp massaged.

A true west coast experience and a perfect conclusion to the Spirit Loop journey.

(To learn more or watch a mini documentary on the Spirit Loop, visit spiritloop.ca.)

AFRICAN BOWL AT HOUSE OF BOATENG.

RENFREW PUB, PORT RENFREW.

eat.

sleep.

We had so many amazing feasts on the Spirit Loop, but a meal at House of Boateng is really something special. There is a lot of love and creativity here, with West Coast flavours enhanced by an African influence. Take the highly-popular Hippie Bennie, which has an African-style chickpea base with a hollandaise sauce featuring wild BC mushrooms and nettle. I’m not generally a big breakfast person, but my gluten-free, dairy-free vegetarian African Bowl (jollof rice with Senegal flavours, pickled vegetables, scrambled eggs and smoked eggplant puree) was so good, I may have to change my morning ways.

Our pet-friendly, two-bedroom cottage at Wild Renfrew gave us lots of space to spread out.

It was comfortable with a seaside, west-coast vibe, a full kitchen and space outside on the deck to curl up, drink a morning coffee and watch the play of the ocean. The Renfrew Pub, located on the same property, is a waterfront restaurant and homey gathering place, obviously popular with locals. The menu has many good options, and our selections were delicious.

MALAHAT SKYWALK.

do.

Malahat SkyWalk starts with an easily-accessed 600-metre “TreeWalk” through a beautiful arbutus forest. It leads to a gentle-elevation spiral ramp that winds upwards 32 metres to a sightseeing lookout. The views are spectacular, extending over Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and distant coastal mountains.

There’s also a cool slide to zip back down on, and construction is underway for a nearby food and picnic area. This is a world-class attraction, and definitely worth a visit.

MERRIDALE CIDERY & DISTILLERY.

see.

Merridale Cidery & Distillery creates delicious and intriguing ciders and spirits that are handcrafted sustainably with integrity, curiosity and care at a beautiful family farm.

Here, you’ll find a cidery, distillery, eatery and tasting bar, all located amid grassy knolls and a gorgeous wooden building. The landscape—with its apple orchards and lush picnic area—produces an immediate exhale. This is a place to relax, linger and savour the flavours of cider, spirits and excellent food options. We can’t wait to go back.

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in studio …

WITH TAMARA STANNERS

Among the stars Painting, producing and performing all part of Constellation Festival co-organizer’s artist pursuits WORDS LIN STRANBERG

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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oiceover artist Tamara Stanners, who was born and raised in the town of St. Albert, Alberta, frequently travelled to nearby Edmonton to go to pop and rock music concerts. Her mother took her to her first one.

“I went to as many concerts as I could,” she says enthusiastically. “I loved the energy I would get from watching artists that I loved—I was empowered by it.”

Her passion for popular music fed her long-time ambition to be in radio, the biggest music medium of the baby boomer era. Her drive and dynamism, paired with the clarity and strength of her speaking voice, led her into a successful career as a radio announcer.

“Radio is an incredible way to share music and community,” she says.

She hit a career highlight in 2008 while working in radio with the Pattison Broadcast Group, Canada’s largest westernbased broadcast company. With Pattison’s support, she was hired to help launch 102.7 THE PEAK, a Vancouver alternative music station with a focus on the development of Canadian talent, a particular passion of hers that she has continued to nurture over the years.

Back in the ‘90s, Tamara worked as an actress in a number of television series.

“I love arts of all kinds,” she says. “I’m a terrible actress, but I appeared in several TV shows and movies. I was a busy actress!”

Twenty-two years ago, she and her businessman husband, Lorne Badger, moved from West Vancouver to the Judd farm, a beautiful, century-old farmhouse in the Brackendale neighbourhood of Squamish. (“It’s like the wild west!” she says gleefully of Squamish.) She loves her home, loves Squamish, loves her life there. It’s a good life, with her voiceover studio, her family, her painting and her summer music festival, the Squamish Constellation Festival.

She began the Constellation Festival in 2019. The following year was 2020, and the festival lineup was ready to go when the pandemic suddenly hit. The event was put on hold for two years. Tamara, former Squamish mayor Patricia Heintzman and former journalist and music industry PR professional Kirsten Andrews (festival co-producer) “spent two years writing, watching and creating.”

“We feel stronger than ever before to put on something beautiful,” Tamara said.

They were ready to try again.

Collectively, they chose the artists who will perform during the three-day festival this year. There are great musicians like local superstar Sarah McLachlan; the Black Pumas from Austin, Texas; July Talk, a Canadian alternative rock band based in Toronto; and well-known British singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson. The many Indigenous musicians include William

Prince, a singer/songwriter from Winnipeg; iskwē, a Cree/ Dené/Irish songstress originally from Winnipeg; and PIQSIQ , two Inuit throat singing sisters.

It’s a varied and powerful lineup of more than 30 genres, curated with care. There’s an abundance of Canadian talent and that means a lot to Tamara.

“Music has been a motivator to me my whole life, and to be able to share this music with people who wouldn’t ordinarily see it is a joy,” she says.

From July 22 through 24, the musicians are scheduled to perform on two alternating stages with no overlap, providing a continuous live sound track to the Constellation Festival, a daytime community event “welcoming and celebrating all ages, cultures and genders.”

It happens at Hendrickson Field on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, just north of the Stawamus Chief. People can camp onsite, park their cars, or grab a shuttle from Whistler or Vancouver.

There are free bike valets onsite and free shuttles throughout Squamish.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get here,” she says.

There will be food trucks, live art creation and animated LED creatures roaming the grounds, as well as local crafts and artisan vendors, all in keeping with the Provincial Heath Office’s guidance at that time.

The amount of planning involved is stupendous, Tamara says in a way that made it seem like fun, like a labour of love: “It’s like creating a little city. It’s radio-like but it’s a step up from radio. It’s an incredible way to share music and community in person and face to face.”

When she launched 102.7 THE PEAK, it was supported by the powerhouse of Jim Pattison Media.

“This time, we had to obtain funding. We are supported by the Government of Canada and the Province of BC, FACTOR and, hopefully, the Music Festival Reopening Fund,” she said. “I am so grateful to live in this country!”

In any case, it’s an impressive accomplishment for three women to pull off on their own—especially in the midst of a pandemic.

Tamara continues to actively work as a voiceover artist, usually recording from her home studio, and now, thanks to technology, “from anywhere.” All her kids are artists, she said, so she started painting too. “I would do a lot more if I had the time. I love the ability to create—to let the paintings just emerge on canvas.”

Painting, producing and performing are all parts of who she is as a person and an artist. Tamara Stanners is someone who creates her own path.

“I feel like a fairly free spirit who is working toward my passion and goals.”

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Building Dreams 2022 HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence Winners Announced

PROJECT: White Rock Net Zero AWARD: Best Energy Labelled Home: Custom and Grand HAVAN - Custom Home Builder of the Year BUILDER: Naikoon Contracting Ltd. with Capital Home Energy Inc.

This bespoke luxury custom home, perched on a high-bank waterfront lot, achieves the highest environmental and energy standards without compromising architectural design. Energy labels include Net Zero, Energy Star, Built Green Platinum, Step Code 5.

PROJECT: Squamish Deep Energy Retrofit AWARD: Best Energy Labelled Home: Whole Home Renovation BUILDER: Coast Essential Construction

Existing rough beams wrapped in whitewashed vertical-grain fir are matched to doors for seamless interior. White palette enhances gallery ambience, allowing client to highlight extensive art-collection. Certified Built Green Platinum, this is the first renovation project completed under Vancouver’s stringent ZEBx (Zero Emissions Building Plan for new construction) program.

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Highlighting the best in Vancouver’s residential home-building industry, the 13th annual HAVAN Awards recognized 33 builders and designers with 61 prestigious awards.

Presenting sponsor FortisBC and special guests Honourable David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, and Michelle Hayes, executive director and registrar, BC Housing, attended the exclusive sold-out industry gala event.

As HAVAN CEO Ron Rapp noted, “The awards showcase homes built above code providing increased durability and protection for families.

A wide variety of archetypes can be seen across the renovation, custom-home building and design projects, showcasing high-performance homes are possible across the spectrum of housing.”

2022 WINNERS

To connect with builders and designers for your home project, visit havan.ca/awards to view the winning 2022 projects.

PROJECT: Crest AWARD: Excellence in Building Products and Technology BUILDER: Adera Development Corporation

This innovative collection of 179 one-, twoand three-bedroom mass timber flats and twobedroom concrete townhomes is one of the largest mass timber residential communities completed in North America. Set in the heart of Vancouver’s North Shore, Crest combines stylish architecture, Euro-style courtyards, intelligent home designs, impressive private rooftops and shared outdoor spaces.

PROJECT: Modern Farmhouse AWARD: FortisBC Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency in New Residential Construction BUILDER: Novak Contracting & Construction Ltd. (Surrey)

This features a two-storey fireplace with custom mantle and concrete hearth tie-in wood accents from the kitchen and stairwell.

Two massive accordion doors open to the great room and kitchen, and composite decking, backyard pool and entertainment area. Built to Step 4 of the BC Energy Step Code.

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Building Dreams 2022 WINNERS

2022 HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence Winners Announced To connect with builders and designers for your home project, visit havan.ca/awards to view the winning 2022 projects.

PROJECT: Still Life AWARD: Grand HAVAN - Interior Designer of the Year, Grand HAVAN - Residential Renovator of the Year DESIGNER: Sarah Gallop Design Inc. (Delta) BUILDER: Best Builders Ltd. (Delta)

Renovated contemporary upper floor entertaining space is united by light concrete floors, creating a contemporary-yet-casual feel.

Over 20 feet of bi-fold doors create indooroutdoor connection. Simplicity in flat-panel millwork and the elegant fixtures are timeless.

Playful pop of colour light feature draws eyes upwards to central atrium.

PHOTO: EMA PETER PHOTOGRAPHY

PROJECT: The Wraith at Phantom AWARDS: Grand HAVAN - MultiFamily Home Builder of the Year BUILDER: Forge Properties Inc. (White Rock)

Relishing panoramic southern exposures, The Wraith, Fantom’s prestigious penthouse residence, entices those who crave the pinnacle of luxury seaside living. This unrivaled residence finished in the elegant and daring “smoke” colour scheme is the epitome of refined luxury with no need or want spared. Designed to bask in stunning sunrises and sunsets, clerestory windows launch ceilings to dramatic 14-foot heights.

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WATERSTONE RE-INVENTS THE WHEEL!

NOW AVAILABLE AT THE ENSUITE LANGLEY

111 – 20551 LANGLEY BYPASS, LANGLEY 604-534-0352 www.theensuitelangley.com

hot properties

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Bella Vita Relaxation and recreation are beautifully balanced at Villa Bella Vita in High Point Estates WORDS LISA MANFIELD

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PHOTOGRAPHY JULIAN PLIMLEY

t’s every equestrian’s dream: to live alongside their prized ponies in a home with built-in boarding, and designed for easy access to equestrian activities in a community where the horse life is held in high esteem. Villa Bella Vita, a stunning 13,289-square-foot home in South Langley’s High Point Estates, offers just that, but its appeal goes far beyond the pasture.

With resort-style aesthetics and amenities, attention to comfort and style, and purpose-built entertainment and recreational spaces, this eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom villa is truly built for the good life. With all the makings of a luxury hotel—a mixture of open spaces and cosy enclaves, opulent design details and all-season amenities—it makes the most of the two-acre expanse of rolling pastures and trails that extend throughout the property.

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Built in 2009 and designed by its original owners in collaboration with the homebuilder, Villa Bella Vita’s French country facade and spa-inspired interior bring a distinct hospitality feel to a home that is at once large and remarkably livable.

Its grand double-door entrance and groin-vaulted ceilings lead to a main entryway with candle-laid walls that imbue an immediate sense of relaxation.

Designed for entertaining and hosting family and friends, the home offers numerous private suites, a chef ’s kitchen, wine room and bar, a media room, and extensive recreational facilities, including a covered outdoor sports court and more than 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space. Nearly every room is designed for entertaining—even the barn, which has been converted into a dining room for elegant country-style parties.

Priced at $7.2 million, this property is a rare gem for someone in search of a space that facilitates a multitude of experiences at once—and all that country living has to offer.

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S TAYC ATI O N

Adv ent u r e

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With resortstyle aesthetics and amenities, attention to comfort and style, and purpose-built entertainment and recreational spaces, this eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom villa is truly built for the good life.

OPEN HOUSE, PRIVATE VIEWS Set well beyond street view, the home’s driveway leads to a magnificent entranceway. To the left, an architectural portico opens onto an inner courtyard; to the right, the road continues on to a service area and the barn.

The cobblestoned courtyard, designed like a European hotel entrance, is encircled with sculpted landscaping. Twinkling white lights illuminate this area at night, while gentle music guides visitors toward the main entrance.

Opposite the portico sits a quaint and tidy barn with three stalls, keeping trusty steeds within easy access of the main residence for quick visits, easy feeds and anytime trots.

The home’s arched entranceway, created more for lingering than quickly passing through, feels cathedral-like. Customdesigned benches on either side allow the breezy space to be turned into a reception area or a Moroccan tea room for tea parties or cocktails.

On the main floor, a cosy library draped in dark walnut wood cabinets and wire brushed, six-inch plank wood flooring (which extends throughout the entire house) offers a cosy place to read or work, with a custom-built concrete fireplace for cooler days, and a view of the private pasture beyond. An inset ceiling adds visual interest.

The big, bright kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with its nine-foot-plus marble island, double dishwashers, oversized 50

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stainless steel fridge, inset coffee machine and eye-catching chandelier by Moooi.

Just off the kitchen, a large living room is anchored at one end with a classic fireplace, and at the other end, with a large feature wall perfect for displaying art or family photos. Bright white walls play in contrast with the dark wood cabinetry and window casings.

At the far end of the living room, three large arched glass doors open onto the outdoor living space. A fireplace, sunken fire pit and hot tub offer multiple warming options, with another seating area and fireplace beyond providing ample space to enjoy the view while relaxing with guests. Bursting with wisteria and beautifully landscaped spaces, you can almost imagine you’re in Tuscany.

Back inside, dark panelled walls bring an air of gravity to the dining room, while ample storage and display space make formal entertaining a breeze.

A spiral staircase, vibrantly lit with dew-drop chandelier lighting, leads up to a large master bedroom with vaulted 22foot ceilings, lots of natural light and a view of the pasture. A wall-inset fireplace functions as fiery art and an easily accessible walk-in closet is tucked around behind the bed.

All four bedrooms on the upper floor feature adjoining bathrooms, with a stunning master ensuite that is bright, beautiful, and enticingly tough to leave with its built-in TV and coffee machine. Steam showers and his and hers sinks round out the experience.

An entire wing of the upper floor is dedicated to kids’ rooms, with its own shared living room perfect for playtime, quiet reading or watching TV. A multifunctional media room can do double duty for movie nights or casual long-table dinners. A bar set up with fridge and freezer, dishwasher and microwave make anytime snacks and drinks a snap.

And downstairs, a large indoor fitness room connects to the covered outdoor sport court, perfect for hockey, basketball or impromptu play, and it’s also fully piped for a future swimming pool.

Skylights on the decks and sports courts bring in maximum natural light to help stabilize circadian rhythms, while geothermal heating and a UVA water filtration system cater to environmental sensibilities, and round out the timeless design.

A “NEIGH’-BOURHOOD” LIKE NO OTHER There’s something to be said for the sense of balance that comes from fostering a strong connection to the community and to nature, and Villa Bella Vita achieves both.

As High Point quickly becomes the Southlands of the Fraser Valley, its close-knit community of horse enthusiasts, community equestrian facilities and numerous trails and parklands have come together to facilitate an active way of life that is enabling more and more families to enjoy time together in nature and in homes that reflect a closer connection to the earth.

It’s a good life, indeed.

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THE MINIMALIST COLLECTION Superior materials and uncompromising design, along with the finest attention to detail is what attracts luxury real-estate expert Tina Mak to Monogram’s suite of appliances.

Learn more by visiting monogram.ca

AVA I L A B L E A T

VA N C O U V E R

business class

Down to a fine art

Gallerist Jennifer Kostuik reflects on 25 years WORDS LAUREN KRAMER

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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t’s a thundering, rain-filled day in April, but there’s a peace and calm that hovers over Kostuik Gallery on Vancouver’s Homer Street. In a 3,000-sqaure-foot space filled with stunning pieces of contemporary art, Jennifer Kostuik reflects on art and why people buy it.

“Some buy it because they like the colours or texture— very surface things,” she says. “They like how a piece of art makes them feel. For others it’s because they have a connection to a particular work and can’t get it out of their mind; they don’t know why they love it, they just do. And some people like to meet the artist and hear the story behind the work. The art represents a change they’re going through in their own life.”

As the owner of the gallery, which is celebrating 25 years in business this year, Jennifer sees herself as a broker, easing a customer’s way through an art purchase. “It’s almost like being a psychologist,” she says. “I know what my artist is saying and I’m figuring out what my customer is looking for, even though they may not know it.”

A Canadian raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Jennifer studied art history at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, initially intending to be an artist herself. Early on she realized she didn’t have the vocational drive to produce art full time, and felt she could better fulfill her creative process by promoting living artists. Post-college she worked in Toronto, learning about contemporary Canadian art before moving to Vancouver in 1996 to open her own gallery.

In 1997, her gallery opened with a collection of work by artists who had previously been represented in a gallery that had just closed. Those first years included a steep learning curve, Jennifer admits.

“I didn’t have a formed relationship with those artists, and because I didn’t know them and wasn’t behind the ideas that inspired their work, I found it difficult to sell some of their art.”

As she began to understand the significance of choosing her own aesthetic and having meaningful relationships with her artists, Jennifer began actively pursuing artists she wanted to represent. She flew around Canada to meet them and perused artists worldwide. She was looking for art that spoke to her and that would resonate with her clients in British Columbia, as well as with new clients made through exhibiting in international art fairs in Miami, San Francisco and New York City.

“As a gallery owner, I believe you need a good working relationship with an artist, like any business relationship, because art is very personal,” she says. “Art is an expression of someone’s soul, the spirit inside of them. And you’re representing someone else’s career as much as you’re furthering your own career. So, I worked hard at going after artists whose art I related to, who I wanted to represent, and who I felt I could work with.”

Today she represents 27 artists, ranging in age from 32 (Whitney Lewis-Smith) up to 72 (Stu Oxley). Just over half the artists are Canadian, while the remainder are from the United States, Europe, Mexico and Argentina. Just five of

the artists are local to BC: photography artists David Burdeny, Judy D. Shane, Philip Jarmain, Whitney Lewis-Smith and painter Ghislain Brown-Kossi.

The price tags of art in Kostuik Gallery vary significantly, ranging from $650 up to $50,000 for the most expensive pieces. Jennifer’s advice to buyers is that if you’re buying anything over $20,000, “ask who the artist is and why their work is in that price range.” Anything below that number is within the average range, she adds.

“Art is an investment, and I believe it’s the best investment in any volatile market,” she says unequivocally. “It’s a better investment than gold because it never depreciates, it always goes up.”

She cites the work of local artist David Burdeny as an example. “His photography is collected internationally and his market value has gone up more than 50 per cent since 2001.”

Jennifer has developed a knack for knowing what her local customers are looking for. So, when American artist William Betts recently offered to send her a selection of line paintings from the series he had first exhibited and sold successfully with her in 2007, she gladly accepted them.

“My newer clients had never seen this series before and I had a collector of Betts’ work itching for more, so I had a feeling it would fly,” she recalls. “It did. I sold six of his pieces in one week!”

Some gallery clients are personal art collectors, while others are corporate clients including CBRE Ltd, Concert Properties and Hollyburn Properties. Liquidity Wines in the Okanagan featured a collection of work by David Burdeny and Philip Jarmain.

Jennifer relishes her connections to her artists and watching their work develop.

“I love forging new relationships with artists, and I really believe in what I do and in what they do. I believe having art in one’s life is a need, a necessity, and that’s why I do it,” she says.

The bonds with her artists are deeply personal, and many artists have become close friends. Often, the relationship is collaborative. The artists understand what Jennifer sees in their work, and sometimes even request her feedback on their new creations.

A collector herself, it can be hard for Jennifer to resist adding to her personal art collection.

“I know what the best artwork is and it’s hard not to buy the best of the best that you know your artists have made!” she admits.

As she reflects on 25 years in Vancouver’s art world, it’s gratitude that Jennifer feels first and foremost.

“It’s been a tough journey running a gallery in this city, but I’m very grateful for being able to do what I do here,” she says, adding, “The past two years were the best I’ve had in a long time, perhaps because of the pandemic. People weren’t traveling and weren’t distracted by life, so they could focus on themselves, their homes and their office spaces. I had the opportunity to reconnect with clients I hadn’t seen in years, and met new clients that finally had time to enter the doors of my gallery.”

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fashion

WILD

WILD Head west this season along the covered-wagon trail as fashion gives a nod to “Little House on the Prairie,” with puffed sleeves and full skirts. Hop on the stagecoach as we head back in time to The Hatching Post’s old-time saloon on Kelowna’s wild west side.

PHOTOGRAPHY: DARREN HULL STYLING: SARAH D’ARCEY CREATIVE DIRECTION: LIA CROWE

Ulla Johnson Nerida Embroidered Ruffle Cotton Dress, $774, and Sea Vienne Long Sleeve Eyelet Lace Cotton Blouse, $384, both from Nordstrom Canada; Ariat Women’s Heritage Lacer Boots, $209; vintage gloves and hat, stylist’s own.

Sea Ida Flora Cotton Dress, $585, from Nordstrom Canada; Ariat Round Toe Western Boots, $335.

Costarellos White Maxi Dress, $789, from Turnabout Luxury Resale.

Brixton Joanna Felted Wool Fedora, $80, Simone Rocha Long Sleeve Cotton Shirtdress, $2,410, and Simone Rocha Broderie Anglaise Cotton Shorts, $1,295, all from Nordstrom Canada; Ariat Women’s Heritage Lacer Boots, $209.

Brixton Joanna Felted Wool Fedora, $80, and MUGLER Cutout Gabardine Trench Coat, $3270, both from Nordstrom Canada; Costarellos White Maxi Dress, $789, from Turnabout Luxury Resale.

Simone Rocha Floral Tiered Egg Dress, $2,885, from Nordstrom Canada; Ariat Women’s Heritage Lacer Boots, $209.

Makeup: Jenny McKinney.

Model: Nadia de Vos, represented

by Déjà Vu Model Management.

Photographed on location at The Hatching Post Saloon and Smokery.

Get your brain in gear Brain clinics, qEEG brain mapping and TMS are catchwords of a new focus on brain health WORDS JANE ZATYLNY

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Brain health relies on three pillars: healthy biology through positive sleep and nutritional habits, a positive social environment, and a sense of purpose.

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he human brain is the original information superhighway. And like the electronic networks that control so much of our lives, it is unimaginably complex, with overpasses and off ramps, service roads and four-lane freeways, country laneways and congested city streets. Without a road map, we can easily lose our way.

Many of us know only too well what a loss of cognitive function can mean. I watched my own mother struggle with dementia following her stroke at age 72. If possible, I hope to avoid the same condition. Given the number of apps, cookbooks and supplements that promise to improve our memory and attention span, I know I’m not alone.

According to Psych Central, an independent mental health information and news website, mental health will continue to be a top health trend in 2022 as we move through the third year of the pandemic.

“A recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association showed that one-quarter of Americans made a new year’s resolution to improve their mental health in 2022,” they note.

The trend, which has been fuelled by the athletes, celebrities, and various public figures who discussed their challenges with mental health over the last year, is leading to a growing interest around brain health. Techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and qEEG brain mapping are gaining momentum, along with the private brain clinics that offer them.

What exactly is brain health? A report published last year in The Lancet Neurology proposed a definition of brain health in adults as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing through the continuous development and exercise of the brain.”

“People are realizing that mind and body are very much connected,” explains Dr. Kourosh Edalati, psychiatrist and medical director of Elumind Centres for Brain Excellence, a private outpatient brain health centre in North Vancouver. “We are outgrowing the stigma surrounding mental health…Look at tennis star Naomi Osaka. She courageously talked about her

mental health struggles and everyone applauded her.”

He adds: “This realization allows us to bring mental health, which was in the background before, to the forefront, without feeling judged.”

Brain health relies on three pillars: healthy biology through positive sleep and nutritional habits, a positive social environment, and a sense of purpose. Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our need for physical, psychological and social well-being, intensifying the interest in brain health.

“The pandemic slowed everything down,” explains Kourosh. “It forced us to be much more reflective. Everyone really looked at their priorities and their real purpose of life while they were isolating.”

THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION Kourosh, a long-time practitioner of meditation, was first exposed to benefits of the mind-body connection when he was a young immunology student at McGill University. He noticed that certain foods had a major impact on his immune system, not only helping him fend off illness but also calming his mind.

“People around me nicknamed me the ‘Zen dude,’” he says.

After observing the connection between the domains of biology, psychology, spiritual beliefs and social networks, the psychiatry graduate from the University of British Columbia decided that a more comprehensive approach to healing the brain and the body was needed. In 2019, he opened his clinic, where he offers an integrated approach to brain health.

QEEG BRAIN MAPPING “When I discovered qEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram) brain mapping a few years ago, I saw the connection between biology and psychology beautifully displayed,” says Kourosh. qEEG brain mapping adds a quantitative dimension to an electroencephalogram (EEG) test. It painlessly captures B O U L E VA R D

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TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

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electrical activity in the brain using small, metal discs (sensors) attached to a cap worn by the patient, then clinicians measure brainwaves and compare them against a database of conventionally functioning or “neurotypical” brains.

“When we do a qEEG map, we can relate biological processes to the brain’s electrical activity and display the relationship between the psychology and the biology, or lack thereof,” explains Kourosh. “qEEG brain mapping is a very objective process of showing areas of strength and deficiency.” qEEG brain mapping is just one of the services offered at Elumind clinic, where visits begin with a complete therapeutic assessment.

“We take an integrated approach with the assessment,” says Kourosh. “We look at every aspect of mental health including the spiritual aspect, make recommendations and then go with our patients’ preferences for treatment.”

of neurotransmitter chemicals in that region through neuroplasticity and really alleviates the symptoms the patient may be experiencing.”

While the clinic treats patients of all ages except the very young, Kourosh says that the baby-boomer generation has been the most impacted by the lifting of the stigma surrounding mental health.

“I now see baby boomer parents supporting young clients to come get help. It’s very refreshing.”

He congratulates those who search for ways to improve their mental and brain health, noting, “It’s a courageous journey, but a journey that has absolute wonders embedded in it.”

Wherever you may be on your own journey, brain mapping, TMS and other mental health-related services may help you better navigate your neural superhighway.

TMS (TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION)

CHOOSING A BRAIN HEALTH CLINIC

During this Health Canada-approved procedure, an electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp in the forehead region, where it painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse. This pulse is believed to stimulate or inhibit nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood, pain and cognitive control. TMS treatments for depression, for example, are typically administered over a six-week period, in five 10- to 40-minute weekday sessions. The cost, which is not yet covered by BC’s Medical Services Plan, is $220 per session for 30 sessions and includes the qEEG brain mapping.

“TMS is a targeted non-invasive treatment with very few adverse effects that allows us to get to the areas that need better blood flow,” says Kourosh. “This allows better regulation

A reputable clinic should have a psychiatrist or clinical neuropsychologist on staff to interpret the results of patient assessments and testing.

“Many diagnoses share the same symptoms, so interpretation requires a trained eye,” says Kourosh. “For example, anxiety can look like depression, trauma can look like insomnia, and side effects of medication can present as ADHD or other mental focus issues.”

A psychiatrist can also clarify what (if any) medications could be useful for treatment, or in some cases eliminate the need for medication altogether by identifying possible therapeutic interventions that will specifically address the presenting issue successfully, he adds.

B O U L E VA R D

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The

Influencers PHOTOGRAPHY Lia Crowe WORDS Angela Cowan Shot on location at Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park

Meet some of Vancouver's top entrepreneurs as they describe the colour of their world and their dreams for the future.

Boulevard presents: The Influencers There was no better place to express the bright and colourful vibrancy of Vancouver’s business leaders than amid the lush paradise of Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park, where more than 100 exotic birds and 500 exotic plants and flowers bloom in a temperature-controlled environment. Bloedel Conservatory offers a taste of tropical and subtropical rainforest habitats and a healing garden created to engage all the senses.

Constructed through a generous donation from Prentice Bloedel, the conservancy was dedicated at its opening in 1969 “to a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants.” Now a designated heritage building, it is jointly operated by the Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association. The splendour of nature at the gardens provided a perfect backdrop for the dynamic business leaders of this city as we asked them to dwell on colour and dreams.

Makeup by Farrah Sanei | Styling by Sarah D’Arcey Sculpture: ”Knife Edge”w by Henry Moore

My world is indigo.

Aly Jiwani Blue is the colour of the sky and sea, which represents my love of travel. It also represents depth, trust, loyalty, faith and confidence, all of which are extremely important to me, professionally and personally. I dream that people reinvigorate themselves with whatever drives their passion in life. For me, it’s cars and the business of cars itself.

Vice President, Regional Operations, OpenRoad Auto Group Ltd. / openroadautogroup.com

My world is earth tones and dusty rose.

Yael Segal Desert hues evoke imagery of my birthplace in Israel’s Negev desert, and they’re colours that represent my general “happy place” of hot and arid climates. My dream for next year is to continue growing my private training roster of celebrity clients, expanding my wellness offerings into the realm of plant-based nutrition, and growing my presence within Vancouver’s corporate head office space as a wellness specialist.

Founder & Principal, Yael Segal Wellness / yaelsegalwellness.com Makeup by Farrah Sanei | Styling by Sarah D’Arcey

My world is blue.

Dr. Kourosh Edalati Sky blue evokes a state of mind that is calm, creative and optimistic.

My dream for the next year is that we come out of this time as a far more connected, resilient and compassionate society. For me, that means fostering mental and brain wellness with equal parts heart and science.

MD, FRCPC & Medical Director, Elumind Centres for Brain Excellence / elumind.com

Our world is yellow.

Bobby Sohi and Jeevan Sohi Yellow is the colour of the sun, which rises every morning to start a new, exciting day.

They say the phoenix rises from its own ashes, reborn into a new and beautiful bird and, as such, we rise from the ashes of the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moving into 2022 we can focus on amazing new opportunities. This year we’re excited as we launch our luxurious new products under our new brand, Aquavit.

Owners, Koncept Bath and Lighting Ltd / 250.588.7156 or 604.621.0030

My world is full of colour.

Mitch Drew My dream is that as the world opens up, we are all going to stop and smell the roses, enjoy the colours and really take the time to enjoy this wonderful life.

Realtor, RE/MAX Progroup / mitchdrew.ca

My world is white.

Farrah Sanei To me, white represents a new chapter in your life, confidence in yourself, your openness, and fearlessness in striving for perfection. My dream is to be able to make a stand and create my own identity in society as a strong, independent woman. As a mortgage specialist, I will be able to achieve not only my dreams, but those of my clients as well.

Mobile Mortgage Advisor, CIBC / farrah.sanei@cibc.com Makeup by Farrah Sanei | Styling by Sarah D’Arcey

Our world is blue, green and orange.

Carolyn Glazier (right) and Sabrina Glazier Our world is full of vibrant blue skies, lush green grass and stunning orange sunsets. Our goal for 2022 is to continue to grow our business, to create exceptional real estate experiences for our valued clientele and to be active members of our community. Our motto is: There’s always a good reason to pop, sip and share bubbles…Cheers!

Luxury Realtors,

Capulet Properties at Angell Hasman & Associates capuletproperties.com

My world is gold.

Bryan Pang Gold is often associated with success, achievement, luxury and quality. My drive for success and achievement aligns with Solution Financial’s core values to provide quality and luxury automotive leasing solutions. My business aspirations for the next year focus on providing golden value to my customers, business partners and shareholders.

CEO, Solution Financial / solution.financial

My world is crystal spring blue.

Shima Javan As an interior designer, I strongly believe that living without colour is like living without love. Crystal spring blue has always been my most favourite colour and it became my signature because it has always brought so much joy and love to my life.

I dream to help each of my clients to find their most favourite colour palette and with that, fill their lives with all the love they deserve.

Interior Designer, Shima Javan Design / shimajavan.com Makeup by Farrah Sanei

My world is blue.

Calvin Lam Blue skies and blue waters make me feel peace and calm on stressful days and they remind me how grateful I am for everything in my life: my lovely wife, our baby boy due in August, my sweet daughter who just turned 16, and my career taking off to a whole new level. My dream for the next year is to focus on health and to spend more precious time with my family.

Director of Sales, Brian Jessel BMW / brianjesselbmw.com

Our world is blue.

Kit Matkaluk and Hugh Cooper Our world is blue because Vancouver has some of the best blue skies and blue waters in the world, both of which make Vancouver summers breathtaking! Next year we want to continue to grow The Agency in Vancouver and the North Shore with three fully operating offices.

Managing Directors & Realtors, Kit + Coop | The Agency / kitandcoop.com

My world is green and orange.

Emma Doody Green is such a calming colour, being so prevalent in nature. A soft burnt orange reminds me of golden hour light at sunset. In the last few years of pandemic times, those colours have been a source of serenity. My dream is to travel again and see more of the world. As a creative person, I need to feed my curiosity as it comes out in my work.

Senior Furniture Designer

My world is a combination of colours.

Maura Dineen Having grown up by the wild Atlantic shore, I’ve always been inspired by the combinations of the ocean and sand and how the tones shift through the seasons. On a blustery winter day, the ocean could be green onyx and the sand could appear more khaki. Being presented with ever-changing palettes lets the eye be more open. My dream is to be back on that shoreline this summer. Who knows what tones will present themselves?

Product Development Manager

My world is Klein Blue.

Audrey Xu This blue tone was invented by French artist Yves Klein. I feel inspired whenever I read the story behind it. It’ll be the leading colour tone for my future home. I want to visit Phuket Island in Thailand for the year to come!

Junior Product Developer

My world is green.

Alison Miller My world is a rich ’70s green. It’s energetic, warm and grounding all at the same time. For the next year I hope to spend more time travelling and learning. I’d love to visit Mexico City—it’s such a hub for art and architecture.

Product Developer

Moe’s Home Collection moeshomecollection.com Makeup by Farrah Sanei

My world is sapphire and green.

Steve Chandra Growing up in Fiji, my childhood was filled with sapphire oceans and the lush greens of tropical vegetation. Today, I’m working to preserve our planet’s natural beauty for future generations by building sustainable housing in Vancouver and the surrounding areas. My hope is that by building green, other childhoods will be filled with all of nature’s colours.

Principal, Alleylane Homes / alleylanehomes.com

My world is navy blue.

Remigio Amieva As I am originally from Mexico, bursting, vivid colours have always been part of my life.

My world always seems like a tranquil navy blue. My dream for the next year is to change the way designs and architectural tendencies impact the West Coast culture. As a designer, my goal is to transform our white rooms into richer spaces that reflect my clients’ true natures, with meaningful colours that change the way they experience life.

Design Consultant, California Closets / californiaclosets.ca

My world is red.

Justin Genest Red represents strength, fortune, truth and love, and when you put these ingredients into your business and personal life, the outcome is always positive and rewarding, making each year more prosperous and fruitful than the last. My dream for next year is to add 52 new clients—one for each week of the year—and provide them with a unique, fulfilling and extremely profitable experience.

CEO & Founder, Genest Capital / genestcapital.com

My world is blue.

Abdel Awwad My world is blue because it always reminds me of the sky and the ocean. They’re unlimited, like my dreams, and that’s what motivates me. My dream for the next year is to achieve my personal and career goals and to win more friends and customers.

Director of Marketing and Communication, Brian Jessel BMW / 236.818.1605

My world is a rainbow.

Josef Reschreiter Life is like a rainbow. You need both sun and rain to make its colours appear.

The colours of my world directly influence my soul and reflect my mood, from all black on a rainy day to white, orange and blue on sunny, warm days. A few months ago, my dreams included my new helicopter, yachting and new travel destinations, but now I hope and dream that good prevails over evil in this world.

President & CEO, JR Group / jrgroup.com

My world is very much a glittery, rose hue.

Natasha Raey I try to wake up every day with love in my heart and energy in my bones.

Ambition is my modus operandi and I’m excited to see what opportunities, relationships and lessons the next year brings me. My dream is a collective one for the world: I hope that everyone feels loved and has peace in their hearts.

Executive Chairwoman, Arma Therapeutics / Instagram: @nraey Makeup by Farrah Sanei | Styling by Sarah D’Arcey

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food and feast

Miso Glazed Salmon Brain Bowls.

i Nourish your noggin Ingenious ingredients to create food for the brain WORDS ELLIE SHORTT

X

t’s 10 am. You’re staring at a computer screen seemingly floating in and out of consciousness as you struggle to type out another report and send off another email. Why won’t the words come to you? Why does your mind keep going blank? Why is your memory failing and your thoughts escaping?

You think back to your breakfast of an unremarkable pastry and sour coffee from the anonymous café in the lobby of your office building and wonder, “Could that be contributing to this baffling brain fog?” Endless research, thousands of scientific papers and a seeming consensus across wellness approaches, cultural perspectives and ancestral practices say a resounding yes!

Long have traditional communities recognized the power of food for body, mind and spirit, and now western scientific approaches are beginning to catch up with some impressive studies that would humble even the most skeptical naysayers. Specifically, researchers are finding that foods rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, as well as certain vitamins and minerals (vitamin K, folate, and iron, to name a few), provide your brain with energy and aid in protecting brain cells, which may ward off the potential development of certain brain diseases.

Equally as important, a well-functioning digestive system is seemingly essential for cognitive health, whereby a number of hormones and neurotransmitters are created in the gut and are then able to enter the brain, which influences things like memory and concentration. With research in areas of chronic and systemic inflammation growing, scientists keep finding evidence to prove that highly processed diets rich in proinflammatory omega-6 fatty acids release inflammatory cytokines, which can ultimately damage the brain when in excess, and have been linked to a number of mental and cognitive conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

And now you might be wondering, “That’s great and all, but what does all that mean for my day-to-day dietary choices?” Well, if you’re wanting to translate all this biology classroom jargon into a grocery list, I’ve provided a list of some (of many) cognitively friendly foods. I’ve also included three of my personal go-tos for meal time, snack time and drink time, when it comes to brain-boosting deliciousness.

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But before I get into the details, I should take this opportunity to once again remind readers that I am a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and have worked with dozens of clients in clinical practice. I remind anyone needing to hear this that when talking about nourishing foods, it’s imperative to avoid a discourse of guilt, judgment or shame regarding food choices. Similarly, it’s arguably unwise to think of certain ingredients as magical cure-alls for an illness or disease. If you’re wanting to work on something specific when it comes to your diet and wellness, I encourage you to reach out to a certified or licensed professional, understanding that every body is different and will require different approaches and paces.

With that said, incorporating some of the following foods and recipes rotationally into your routine is certainly not a bad place to start if you’re looking for a happier body and healthier brain. And even if you’re not, at the very least they’ll please your taste buds, as all edible delights should in my humble (and professional) opinion.

So with that said, have a look at the following, maybe even try your hand at the recipes on offer, and as you do, take a moment to consider how remarkable these gifts from nature are in all their delicious complexity and yummy nourishment.

and help improve brain functions related to memory and concentration. The healthy fats contained within avocado are also some of the brain’s most favoured forms of fuel.

BRAIN-FRIENDLY FOODS TO TRY TODAY:

WALNUTS:

SALMON:

Not only does salmon offer a major hit of protein, which is essential for optimal cognitive function, omega-3-rich foods like salmon have also been shown to increase the efficiency of various brain operations, including improved memory, while also reducing systemic inflammation. In fact, some preliminary studies even suggest that long-term omega-3 supplementation can help prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s symptoms, both of which have been linked to chronic inflammatory damage.

Beets are some of the most nutritious foods for the brain that you can eat; they help reduce inflammation, are high in cancer-protecting antioxidants, and help rid your blood of toxins (which can collect in the brain). The natural nitrates in beets actually boost blood flow to the brain, helping with mental performance.

BROCCOLI:

Along with other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts, broccoli is one of the best brain-healthy foods out there, thanks to its high levels of vitamin K and choline, which can help keep your memory sharp.

RAW COCOA:

Raw high-quality cocoa is full of flavanols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show cocoa can increase cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood oxygenation, plus it can help lower blood pressure and oxidative stress in the brain and heart.

With their substantial omega-3 levels and decent protein content, walnut benefits for the brain include supporting memory and thought processing, with recent studies suggesting prevention and treatment of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

SPIRULINA:

Preliminary studies of this blue-green algae hold promising results for conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia, with one study even finding that a spirulina-enhanced diet given to rats provided neuroprotection with regards to Parkinson’s disease.

Spirulina is being explored for heavy metal toxicity, which is a potential cause of cognitive decline, memory loss, and mood and personality disturbances.

CHIA SEEDS:

EGGS:

Eggs, in particular the yolks, not only provide your proteinhungry brain with high-quality, easily assimilated protein, they also contain almost unparalleled levels of carotenoids, a type of antioxidant compound that can help protect against oxidative damage to brain cells.

Rich in omega-3s, packed with protein and full of fibre, chia seeds are great for the brain, the gut and everything in between. Chia seeds may also help in blood sugar management, which is good news for your brain, as blood sugar spikes have been shown to diminish cognitive function, decrease memory and lead to systemic inflammation in the body.

BUCKWHEAT:

BLUEBERRIES (AND OTHER BERRIES):

This nutrient-dense ancient grain is packed with polyphenols, which are disease-fighting antioxidants. Rutin, one antioxidant found within buckwheat, in particular has proven promising in recent studies regarding Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment. Buckwheat is also an easily digestible complex carbohydrate that is also gluten free. With increasing correlations between brain fog and gluten, many folks seeking a healthier brain often benefit from avoiding or reducing gluten in their diet.

AVOCADOS:

Containing both vitamin K and folate, avocados may help prevent blood clots in the brain (protecting against stroke),

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BEETS:

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Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all known foods, and also contain substantial levels of vitamin C and vitamin K. Blueberries are especially good at protecting our brains from degeneration, cognitive decline and stress due to their high levels of gallic acid.

GREEN TEA:

Research shows that regular green tea consumption helps limit the breakdown of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter strongly linked with memory, and drinking green tea also inhibits enzymes known as BuChE and beta-secretase, which are found in protein deposits found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Miso Glazed Salmon Brain Bowls Prep time: 30 minutes Makes about 2 servings Ingredients 1 package 100% whole buckwheat soba noodles (about 220 grams) 2 medium-large fillets of wild salmon (I used sockeye here) 3 tbsp Shiro miso 3 tbsp pure maple syrup 1 tbsp plum vinegar 1 tsp tamari sauce 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1 large chunk of ginger, peeled (about 1-2 inches’ worth) 2 small-medium beets, peeled and cut into wedges 4 stalks broccolini 1 large bunch spinach, thoroughly rinsed and dried 2 medium boiled (or “6-minute”) eggs ½ cup edamame, peeled (you can purchase frozen and defrost before using) 1 large avocado, peeled and sliced 2 small-medium radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced Extra virgin olive oil (you’ll need about 1 cup, divided throughout) Optional garnish of sesame seeds Directions Preheat your oven to 400 F and line three baking sheets with parchment paper (one for the salmon, one for the beets and one for the broccolini). Cook the buckwheat soba as per the instructions on the package and set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the Shiro miso, maple syrup, plum vinegar and tamari sauce until smooth, and set aside one quarter to be used for the dressing. Place the salmon in a medium baking dish and coat evenly with the remaining miso sauce. Cover the baking dish and place the salmon in the fridge while it marinades. *Note: this can be done overnight.

Take the remaining miso sauce and combine it in a small blender with the lemon juice, garlic, ginger and 6 tbsp olive oil.

Blend until smooth and set aside.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, toss the beets with 1 tbsp olive oil and a light sprinkling of salt and pepper. Place them on one of your pre-prepared baking sheets and bake for 30 minutes until soft and tender, turning once or twice as they roast. Once cooked to your liking, set aside.

Meanwhile, place the broccolini on another pre-prepared baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tbsp of olive oil, sprinkling with a pinch of salt and pepper, and bake for 15 minutes until cooked through and slightly crispy, turning once as they roast.

Once cooked to your liking, set aside.

Once the salmon has been marinating for at least 30 minutes, place the fillets on the third prepared baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes until the salmon is tender and flaky when pulled apart with a fork (but not over-cooked and dry).

Miso Glazed Salmon Brain Bowl.

Once cooked to your liking, set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the spinach with about 1 tbsp olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper until soft.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

When ready to plate, place a large handful of soba noodles into the centre of two medium-sized bowls. On top of the soba, arrange your broccolini (about 2 stalks per bowl), beets (about 4 wedges per bowl), spinach (a small handful per bowl), a few slices of cucumber, a few slices of radish, one egg cut in half, about a quarter cup of edamame, and a salmon fillet.

Drizzle with a generous serving of the miso-ginger dressing and garnish with a sprinkling of sesame seeds (serve at room temperature or cold).

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Coco Spirulina Brain Bars Cook time: about 10 minutes, plus overnight setting time Makes about 16 bars Ingredients 2 loose cups soft, pitted dates ½ cup unsweetened plant-based milk ½ cup almond butter ½ cup coconut oil, melted 2 tsp pure vanilla extract ¼ cup collagen powder 1 ⁄3 cup raw cocoa powder 3 tbsp spirulina powder 2 tbsp chia seeds 1 tbsp cinnamon ¼ tsp sea salt 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats ½ raw walnut pieces ½ cup dried goji berries Directions Grease a 9-inch square pan with a small amount of coconut oil and line with an overhanging strip of parchment paper for easy removal. In a high-powered food processor, blend the dates, milk, almond butter, coconut oil and vanilla until smooth.

Add the collagen, spirulina, cocoa, salt and cinnamon and blend until fully integrated. Blend in the chia seeds and oats until well combined. Pulse in the walnuts and

Coco Spirulina Brain Bars.

gojis until well integrated.

Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan, and flatten and smooth down the top with your palm.

Allow it to set in the fridge overnight, then carefully remove from the pan (I like to loosen the sides with a dull knife, and then flip it upside down onto a cutting board), peel back the parchment paper and cut into squares.

Store in fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

Blueberry Ginger Brain-Aid Cook time: About 30 minutes Makes about 3 ½ cups of mixture that can be diluted with still or sparkling water to your flavour preference Ingredients 1 ⁄3 cup raw honey ¼ cup high-quality green tea leaves Large piece ginger (about 2 inches), peeled and sliced 1 cup fresh blueberries ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice Water (both boiling and cold)

Blueberry Ginger Brain-Aid.

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Directions In a small saucepan, combine the honey, 1 cup water and ginger slices. Bring to a boil and then turn immediately down to a simmer, letting it steep for about 20 minutes. Place the blueberries and one half cup of water in a blender. Blend on medium-high speed for about 1 minute, until the blueberries are completely pureed (it might be a bit jelly-like—don’t worry, this is normal).

Steep the green tea in 1 cup of boiling water for 3 minutes (*do not over-steep!).

Combine the steeped green tea, honey ginger water and blended blueberries in a large jug or container. Add in the lemon juice and then strain the entire mixture through a fine mesh sieve into another jug or container. Store the mixture in the fridge, pour over ice, and top up with still or sparkling water to your liking.

HURUN Canada Summit

A

s the grand Hurun Canada Summit got underway in Vancouver on April 29, Hurun and Baron Capital jointly released the listings of “2022 Enoch Wealth · Hurun Canada Under 30s To Watch” and “2022 Luxury Listings · Hurun Outstanding Canada Real Estate Top 10.”

The thousand-person Wealth Forum and Awards Banquet brought together many Canadian-based entrepreneurs and investment firms, including well-known “unicorns” and “gazelles,” as well as entrepreneurs on the Hurun Global Rich List, plus businesses, cultural and philanthropic figures from the local mainstream and Chinese communities in North America. This is the first time that Hurun hosted such a grand event in Canada since the pandemic began.

Hurun tracks the global consumption trends of high-end consumers. North America is leading in economic recovery and the consumption power here will continue to rise.

Guests from various sectorsand forum hosts discussed and shared their opinions on how to lead the world economy to a deep transformation. Diversified growth engines, innovationdriven and win-win cooperation models are driving the formation of a new global economic order and pattern. hurunnorthamerica.com limitlessglobalmedia.com/hurun-awards

2022

2022 LUXURY LISTINGS HURUN OUTSTANDING CANADA REAL ESTATE TOP 10 Company

Year of Number of Headquarter Est. employees

BOSA

1980

302

Vancouver

Brivia Group

2000

59

Montreal

Concord Pacific Group

1987

233

Vancouver

Daniels Corporation

1986

302

Birmingham

Great Gulf

1975

1,500

Toronto

Menkes

1954

317

Toronto

Onni Group

1965

545

Vancouver

Pinnacle

1994

128

Toronto

Tridle

1934

413

Toronto

West Bank

1992

135

Vancouver

B O U L E VA R D

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travel

Walks and wine in Madeira A visit to the world’s top island destination

BY SUZANNE MORPHET

Madeira coastline.

PHOTO BY B O U L E VA R D 96 SERUCA, HENRIQUE COURTESY VISIT MADEIRA

For seven years running, it has beat out higher-profile islands like Hawaii, Fiji and Seychelles in the World Travel Awards, considered the “Oscars of tourism” by the travel industry.

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f all the islands in the world, who would have guessed that tiny Madeira, best known for its fortified sweet wine, would become the world’s leading island destination?

Yet for seven years running, it has beat out higher-profile islands like Hawaii, Fiji and Seychelles in the World Travel Awards, considered the “Oscars of tourism” by the travel industry.

About two hours by plane from Lisbon (Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal), this volcanic island in the Atlantic doesn’t even have natural sand beaches.

So what’s the draw?

Partly, it’s the other natural assets—mountains, forests and sea. And partly, it’s because Madeirans have (to borrow from the French) the savoir faire to look after their guests.

As they should; they’ve been welcoming tourists for almost 300 years.

European visitors first came in the mid-18th century to be cured of tuberculosis while convalescing in the island’s sub-tropical climate. Soon, writers and aristocrats, poets and politicians followed, relaxing in stylish hotels such as Reid’s Palace, where Winston Churchill wrote his memoirs and George Bernard Shaw learned to tango.

Even during the pandemic, tourism has continued to evolve, with younger, more active visitors arriving, attracted by outdoor adventures from canyoning (exploring canyons by rappelling and jumping) and coasteering (traversing a rocky coastline by swimming and jumping), to mountain biking and surfing.

What grabbed my attention when I visited were the almost unparalleled opportunities for walking.

First, there are the levadas. These are stone channels built by hand beginning in the 15th century to transfer water from the wet side of the island to the dry side. This vast network is still used today and running alongside each of them are footpaths open to anyone.

Then there are other trails that locals created to get around on foot long before roads were built, including shepherd’s trails.

Traditional drink of Madeira, Poncha.

PHOTO BY JOSE MENDES, COURTESY VISIT MADEIRA

“Imagine a big grid over the island,” says Fabio Castro, who traded his desk job to become a certified mountain guide, as we follow a well-trod trail one misty morning. “Trails crisscross it.”

Some trails lead hikers to the highest point on the island, Pico Ruivo, at 1,862 metres. Other trails and levadas cut through the Laurisilva—a laurel forest so rare it’s been given UNESCO World Heritage status. The mature, ecologically rich forest is the largest surviving laurel forest in the world.

Fabio says there are 5,000 kilometres of trails altogether on Madeira, including 3,400 kilometres along levadas.

“You could do 10 days of hiking, staying at different hotels and mountain huts each night,” he adds.

My half-day hike with Fabio began along a levada high above a valley dotted with red-tiled houses and terraced farm crops, including sugarcane, once the economic engine of Madeira.

Turning off, we follow another trail to a ridge with dizzying drop-offs. The green coastline spreads out before us.

Mist swirls and dark clouds gather on the horizon. Far below, waves break against the rocky shoreline.

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Wine tasting at Quinta Do Barbusano.

PHOTO BY SUZANNE MORPHET

“Smell this,” says Fabio, breaking my nature-induced reverie. “Does this smell like mojitos?”

It’s mint, of course, and it thrives in the island’s rich soil, along with a Noah’s ark of plants that sailors brought from every corner of the planet during the Age of Discovery.

“We have dandelions that look like palm trees,” Fabio laughs after I exclaim over the size of the heathers.

Something else that flourishes are grapes, the basis of that famous Madeira wine. A decanter sits on my bedside table at Reid’s Palace, but I didn’t know the story behind it until I went on a walking food and wine tour with Sofia Maul in Funchal, Madeira’s capital.

Sofia tells us that winemakers in the late 15th century couldn’t understand why their wine tasted better after it had spent months on ships at sea, often crossing the equator.

“At first they thought it was the motion,” and they wanted to duplicate the conditions so they could make it faster and cheaper.

“So,” she grins, “you’d have 12 men rocking these barrels backwards and forwards.”

When that didn’t work, they tried subjecting the wine to heat and oxygen. Bingo!

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“And this is why you will never find Madeira wine aging in a cellar,” Sofia smiles as we sip three-year-old medium-dry and sweet wine at Blandy’s Wine Lodge, which is housed in a former Franciscan monastery from the 16th century. “It’s always kept in the warmest rooms in the house.”

In the same way tour operators are finding new adventures to keep active guests amused, winemakers are creating new wines.

One day we drive to the north coast to Quinta do Barbusano, a winery named for one of the island’s species of laurel trees. Stone walls divide the steep slope into small terraces, where vines grow on overhead trellises. Sheep graze beneath the still-bare branches, eating weeds and fertilizing the vines with their manure. The grapes are laboriously picked by hand here, just like everywhere else on the island.

Inside the glass-walled tasting room, we sample whites, reds and rosé.

“Our soil is volcanic so it’s normal that this composition is transmitted to our wine,” explains our hostess, noting the acidic tones along with the fragrance of apple, pineapple and passion fruit. Later, she suggests a crisp

Climbing to one of Madeira’s highest peaks at sunrise is a popular experience.

PHOTO COURTESY VISIT MADEIRA.

white to wash down our lunch of salty, smoky espetada—beef skewered on laurel branches, then barbecued.

After lunch I bask in the sun and admire the extraordinary view. A chapel with a clock tower stands out on a distant hilltop, framed by mountains.

It’s a chapel Sofia Maul told us about earlier.

“It was built entirely by women,” she had said. “The women promised that if the men came back safe from the First World War, they would build a chapel that could be seen and heard from the whole valley.”

Now that I think of it, it’s not so surprising that Madeira has been repeatedly chosen as the world’s leading island. Madeirans, it seems, can do anything they put their minds to.

For more information, see visitmadeira.com Belmonds Reids Palace.

PHOTO COURTESY BELMONDS REIDS PALACE AND VISIT MADEIRA

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secrets and lives —

AND THE 7 SINS with TARA ARMSTRONG

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pend five minutes chatting with Tara Armstrong and you’ll not only find yourself instantly at ease, but also likely in awe of her energy and enthusiasm, both of which serve her well in her role as coowner of Vancouver public relations and marketing firm Armstrong + Lan. She began her career in 2011 as marketing director for Vancouver’s award-winning Glowbal Restaurant Group, after completing an internship with a PR company in the UK. “I wanted a job that was cool and interesting, where you got to do lots of different interesting things,” she says. “I got in touch with Glowbal and they hired me pretty much off the street.”

Prior to the internship, Tara had spent her working life in restaurants— from dishwasher up to managing the whole show—and definitely credits her frontline knowledge with how quickly and successfully she moved up the ranks with Glowbal.

When she decided to go out on her own, fate intervened, offering up a business partner.

“I was introduced to Michelle Lan. We met at the Flying Pig for a glass of wine and never looked back from there,” says Tara.

Both her partner and her clients have been amazing, she adds.

“It’s been really great to pick people that you want to work with. I’ve been fortunate to work with the most talented people in the industry who are doing great things. When you’re working with people who are pushing boundaries, it forces you to push your own boundaries.”

WORDS ANGELA COWAN

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

“I wanted a job that was cool and interesting, where you got to do lots of different interesting things.”

When the first waves of COVID-19 hit, it turned the restaurant industry upside down, and demanded a new way of thinking about the business.

“All of them had to shift what a restaurant is and what it represented at the time. They had to push out of their comfort zones and boundaries, and so we did too, to support them in their efforts.”

New business angles like delivering food to vulnerable populations, expanding takeout options, and fundraising became the norm.

“Even in times of crisis, the creativity that came out of it was really inspiring,” says Tara. “I love the people that I work with. My clients are amazing. And seeing how they’ve come out of all this...they are so brilliant in what they do. Truly.”

GREED:

You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

I have a hit list of restaurants around the world that I must try before I die. Michelin starred, food trucks, dives and everything in between. I would do a world food tour, stopping at every spot on my list until it’s complete.

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

Chewed gum under tables. Why?! Why do people do this!?

SLOTH:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

The 7 Sins ENVY:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

I’ve become a bit obsessed lately with reading about women industry leaders who also happen to be moms.

There are aspects of each of them I’d love to experience! Joanna Griffiths of Knix, Elizabeth Blau of Blau & Associates, Natasha Koifman of NKPR, and Italian politician Licia Ronzulli are all at the top of my list.

GLUTTONY:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

This is a hard one! But I think my answer would have to be spaghetti Bolognese. It’s the perfect meal no matter the occasion—happy, sad, sick, stressed, celebratory.

And is there anything better than homemade noodles?

I’m not very good at doing nothing. But when we were in Costa Rica, we came across this beach, miles long in either direction as far as the eye could see. The only people on the beach were us and the owners of a converted shipping container plopped right in the middle of the beach serving ceviche and beer. I could spend an awful long time sitting on that beach, doing nothing (except eating ceviche and drinking beer).

PRIDE:

What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of ?

My master’s thesis title, Managing Tiger Out of the Woods. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when my paper landed on my professor’s desk and he read that.

LUST:

What makes your heart beat faster?

I have a seven-month-old daughter, Frankie.

The excitement she has when I or her dad walk into a room and sees us presents the ultimate heart flutter feeling.

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narrative

WORDS SUSAN LUNDY

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ILLUSTRATION SIERRA LUNDY

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et me warn you about the term rustic. A “rustic” home may conjure winter scenes of soft-alpaca-sweater-clad couples sipping mulled wine in front of a crackling fireplace, or summertime visions of lazy days spent lounging outdoors on a backyard deck—perhaps the deck is waterworn and slightly haphazard, but still worthy of a photo shoot for Country Cottage.

These images are not entirely false, but let’s do a reality check: hours of back-breaking wood splitting and wood stacking will quickly temper a wood-heat love affair; that deck likely needs a visit from a gazillion-dollar-an-hour carpenter, and be damned if all that cosy ambiance doesn’t just make every little creature want to live in that house too.

My first house on Salt Spring Island was an early-century log cabin, and it embodied the term rustic. Belying its picturesque exterior were the various creatures that marched in and out of it, depending on the season. These included ants in the spring, hornets in the summer, mice in the winter and periodic bats year-round.

We received much advice on ways to evict the hornet tenants. Calling pest control might have been the optimal choice, but we were young and broke and willing to try any suggestion, including dangling a fish head over a jar of water. The the only casualty here was the sweet scent of the room.

But one night, when some 20 hornets clustered together for a snooze in the crease between the wall and ceiling, Derrick, my husband of the time, said, “Here’s our chance. We’ll vacuum them up.”

The “we’ll” actually meant “he’ll” because I watched the entire exercise from a small crack between the comforter and pillow. As soon as the nozzle hit the cluster, the hornets spewed outwards and voiced their anger by loudly buzzing around the room.

The next scene (observed from my pillow fortress) involved Derrick jumping about, Electrolux nozzle extended. It seemed to work! And while we didn’t usually vacuum the house at midnight, living in a rustic home sometimes called for the unorthodox. (And, honestly, now that I knew the vacuum was a weapon of mass destruction, I couldn’t wait for the flying ants in the spring.)

The attic-residing bats in the log cabin only dropped by once in a while, making a distinct soft flapping sound as they fluttered into the bedroom through an open French door, and sending us diving for cover under the duvet. Derrick, who as a youth in the late ‘60s had long curly hair, once had a bat get caught in his thick locks. He was quite terrified of them and he instilled the same fear in me. Hence the ensuing scenes

of us hiding under blankets, running about the house opening doors and windows, trying to shoo out the unwelcome bats.

(It wasn’t until years later, when a bat became trapped in our second home and my younger daughter began cooing at it that I realized these little guys are actually adorable—kind of like hamsters with wings.)

In selecting our second house, we carefully avoided the word rustic. However, on an island of misfit homes—many constructed over several years, with addition built upon addition and where the level of completion depended on how quickly the money ran out—there was bound to be issues.

Salt Spring homes that aren’t rustic are likely quirky. This means you might have to walk through one room to get to another; curtains might replace doors on bathrooms; and potholed driveways often rival BMX racing tracks for negotiability.

And either way, as homeowners of either rustic or quirky, everyone dreads the arrival of city-dwelling visitors.

Once, I was preparing for two visitors from Calgary. Things were going quite well on the clean-up end of things (a bout of insomnia the night before had produced a clean fridge by 4 am), and I even got the sliding bathroom door working. But drama was inevitable. Two days before the two sets of fancy city shoes were set to cross the quirky-country threshold…the bird arrived.

Although by this time I’d lived in the house for decades, it was somehow still a surprise every spring when I heard the early-morning thunk on the guest bedroom window. Reflective glass drew at least one randy bird each year, and upon seeing its reflection, it struck the window with force and then happily bounced up and down the length of it for a loud half hour or more. This early bird rose with the sun—arriving about 10 minutes earlier each morning—until its cheery crash hit at 5 am and resonated throughout the house. It was preferable, I guess, to the woodpecker, which for several mornings one year, mistook the gutter outside our bedroom for a tree trunk.

But my current husband Bruce’s favourite time of the year was the annual march of the ants, which started in the early spring with a regiment of tiny sugar ants and moved into an army of larger black ants. As explained by one of my friends, who lived in a rustic and quirky home and knew about such things, the ants merely come and then they go; they are on the move and the house just happens to be in the way. The march of the ants took place for just a few days, but Bruce’s aversion to anything that crawls is strong enough to be amusing, so at least there was that.

And, of course, when all else failed, there was always the vacuum cleaner.

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behind the story

Zimmermann Dancer Glitter Tulle Peplum Blouse, $2,060, and Zimmerman Dancer Ombré Check Wide Leg Silk Pants, $925, both from Nordstrom Canada; vintage belt, stylist’s own.

Welcome to the wild west! The fashion story in this edition of Boulevard takes a step back in time, courtesy of The Hatching Post, located in West Kelowna. Dubbed “The only brewery and smokery parlor on the west!” the authentic saloonstyle ambiance at The Hatching Post provided the perfect backdrop to stage our shoot.

PHOTO BY DARREN HULL

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