Women With Vision! ™ - Winter, 2013 by Women With Vision

Women with

WE ARE CANADIAN

VISION! ™

Showcasing Business & Lifestyle in South Georgian Bay

Living Inside OUT

COMFORT WITH LOVE

Winter Issue 2012/2013

Holiday

Style Food &

Emotions Don’t Rule Out

Cheryl Hickey Comfortable in the Fast Lane

Anything

Elegant & Comfy

Winter Fashion

Business • Health • Gourmet • Fashion • Entertainment • Art • Design • Motivation • Destinations

Women with...

GEORGIAN BAY LIFE

& PICTORIAL

VISION! ™

BECOME

Women with Vision was founded in 1998 to offer business women a networking venue in which they can provide support for one another and develop new business connections. Through this dynamic networking opportunity attendees will receive motivation, inspiration, advice and mutual support to help them take their business & lives in general to the highest possible level.

Guests & New Members are always welcome. Luncheons/Dinners: Luncheons meet at 11:30 a.m. / Dinners at 6:00 p.m. and last for two and a half hours. Each district has its own networking day and location.

Cost: Each district has its own fee structure ranging from $25 to $30. Reserved seating only. Contact the District Coordinator no later than 48 hours prior to the Women with Vision!™ Networking Luncheon/Dinner at the location of your choice.

MEMBER...

Usual Agenda: 11:30 Registration & Networking 12:00 Lunch 12:30 Announcements & Introductions

12:50 Guest Speaker 1:15 Q & A 1:30 Back to work…

Membership: Annual Fee: $75.00 + $9.75 HST = $84.75

Members benefits: • WWV Membership REFERRAL BONUSES* • Direct mailing of Women with Vision Magazine • $5 off on your luncheon or dinner – all regions • Member bio and picture on the Women with Vision website with a link to your website • 10% off magazine advertising* • 1/2 hour telephone session with Award Winning Coach Lorraine Leslie • WWV Membership tax receipt

• Advance notification of networking events, conferences and trade shows • Annual Membership Card • Franchise opportunities

To enquire about Networking Luncheon/ Dinner locations across Ontario contact Head Office 156 Brophy’s Lane, Blue Mountains ON L9Y 0K3 Phone: 1-866-306-6021 womenwithvision@rogers.com www.womenwithvision.ca

New Regions Opening all the time Call us to become a District Coordinator in your community.

Start a Women with Vision! Networking Association in YOUR community today! We are seeking businesswomen who are committed to excellence, leadership, mentorship and supporting like-minded women in business! The right person will understand business development, marketing and building the Women with Vision mission: to educate, motivate, inspire and promote women in business and daily living. If you are a leader that likes to change lives and you believe in working with a dynamic visionary team…Women with Vision is for YOU!

Give us a call today! 1.866.306.6021 or email your resume to:

womenwithvision@rogers.com – Application Go to our website at www.womenwithvision.ca to see how we’ve grown from a one page newsletter to a full glossy magazine and 6 Women with Vision Networking Chapters. Send us your resume, request and application form, meet with us in person, and you could become part of the Women with Vision Networking Association in your community.

CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

www.womenwithvision.ca

CONTENTS

Women with

VISION!

Women with

VISION!

networking

™

To advertise call:

1-866-306-6021 or e-mail:

womenwithvision@rogers.com www.womenwithvision.ca

™

“Your vision is our mission… our mission is your vision” Lorraine Leslie

Winter 68

On the Cover

Regular Features

7 8

79 82 83

Visions Views & Insights Editor’s Desk ~ Comfort Zone By Lorraine Leslie As The Mountain Turns Last Word By Lorraine Leslie Life Numbers By Paola Gucciardi

Business, Finance & Communication 10 11 12 13 Cheryl Hickey ~ Comfortable in the Fast Lane

By Lorraine Leslie

22 24

Student Debt: A Real Crisis? By Rick Ziemski

Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone By Donna Messer

Are You Comfortable Taking A Risk? By Mary Ann Matthews

Founder/Publisher, C.E.O. Lorraine Leslie Feature Editor: Lynda Pogue, Melanie Vollick Sales/Marketing: Lorraine Leslie Feature Writers: Susan Baka, Meredith Deasley, Monika Gibson, Paola Gucciardi, Dean Hollin, Annette Lavigne, Janet Kurasz, Lorraine Leslie, Mary Ann Matthews, Donna Messer, Beth Nigh, Angie Vancise Robinson, Rose Peller, Marj Sawers, Karen Sencich, Karen Sweet, Marilyn Wetston, Rick Ziemski Design/Layout: Candice Lewis~Vivid Designs Special feature design: Lorraine Leslie Photography: Dreamstime.com Lorraine Leslie/L’original Productions/Women with Vision Inc. Ad photos for Grill & Greens: Julie Card

Comfort with Love By Annette Lavigne Mariane MacLeod: On Air Is My Comfort Zone By Lorraine Leslie Home Comfort & Peace of Mind By Angie Vancise Robinson

Health & Wellness

Content Marketing It’s Not All About You Anymore By Susan Baka

The Perils, Pitfalls & Pleasures of Re-Marriage By Rose Pellar

Wo m e n w i t h V i s i o n ! ™ m a g a z i n e i s p u b l i s h e d b y Wo m e n w i t h V i s i o n I n c .

Food & Emotions By Meredith Deasley Endometriosis: An Unknown Illness By Lesley Paul Skin Tag Removal By Betty Donaher

Fashion feature & Home Garden Design features: Lorraine Leslie All Christmas and décor pictures: Lorraine Leslie Cover and Feature Cover Photography: courtesy of Global Television/Cheryl Hickey Proof reader: Wendy Senten

At this time we are pleased to announce our NEW WOMEN WITH VISION REFERRAL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM.

Vision!™magazine aims to provide editorials that educate, motivate and inspire people of all ages and from all walks of life, and to promote success in business and daily living.

Mailing Address: 156 Brophy’s Lane Blue Mountains ON L9Y 0K3 Bus: 1-86 6-30 6-60 21 Fax : ( 70 5) 445 -715 3 Email: womenwithvision@rogers.com www.womenwithvision.ca Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. Copyright 2012 Women with Vision! Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. The views, opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of this publication and/or publisher who hereby disclaims any liability whatsoever arising from the advice, information or offers presented in articles or advertisements herein. Women with Vision! welcomes submissions, but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All manuscripts, illustrations and photographs submitted must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned or acknowledged. Readers who require legal, accounting or other expert advice should obtain the services of a qualified professional.Women with Vision! is a Member of the Canadian Copyright Association.

Created in Canada

Brace Yourself By Karen Sencich Are You At Risk By Dr. Ben Pezik

As any Women with Vision Member can tell you attending a luncheon or dinner networking event is a great privilege as a member. Each month, we feature a guest speaker that provides relevant information on issues that can directly affect your business and/or personal development that has and will increase the potential for success. Members are also encouraged to bring their flyers, brochures, business cards, and other promotional material to share. Each attendee is given the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business. At Women with Vision we are here to help you grow through education, promotion, motivation, and inspiration...

Agreement number: 41557518

Membership benefits include: • • • •

WWV Membership REFERRAL BONUSES* Direct mailing of Women with Vision Magazine $5 off on your luncheon or dinner – all regions Member bio and picture on the Women with Vision website with a link to your website • 10% off magazine advertising* • 1/2 hour telephone session with Award Winning Coach Lorraine Leslie • WWV Membership tax receipt • Advance notification of networking events, conferences and trade shows • Annual Membership Card • Franchise opportunities

If you want to find out how Women with Vision can impact your business success, please give Lorraine Leslie a call today at 1.866.306.6021 to learn how you can join the fastest growing women’s networking association in Canada.

*www.womenwithvision.ca

Customer number: 9067964 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN TO 156 Brophy's Lane, Blue Mountains ON L9Y 0K3

continued on pg.6

www.womenwithvision.ca 5

CONTENTS

Feedback...

Continued

Fashion & Beauty

Home Garden & Design

33 34 36

Elegant & Comfy Winter Fashion Frosty By Beth Nigh If Only Fashion By Marilyn Wetston Fascinating Facinators By Lorraine Leslie

54 55 56 58

Georgian Gourmet 48

Philip Tarlo: My Love Of Food By Lorraine Leslie

Holiday Decor By Lorraine Leslie Your Holiday Style By Karen Sweet House RIch, House Poor By Monika Gibson Living Inside Out By Janet Kurasz Don’t Rule Out Anything By Lorraine Leslie

Jessica Pedersen Up Front & Personal with the RCMP By Lorraine Leslie

Gayle Ann Pryer: Back in Her Comfort Zone By Dean Hollin

Motivational & Inspirational 68

Arts & Entertainment 62

73 74

Cheryl Hickey ... Comfortable in the Fast Lane By Lorraine Leslie Harvesting My Comfort Zone By Marj Sawers Heaven On Earth Intimate Thankfulness By Deborah Johnson

Destinations 76

Soft Adventure Dog Sledding Family Fun By Lorraine Leslie

Hello Lorraine, How are you? I've just finished going through your latest edition of Women with Vision and you've done an amazing job, you should be extremely proud of yourself.....14 years, wow!! The quality of the magazine is excellent, the articles well done, the ads are good, all round terrific! Kind regards,

Hi Lorraine, Over the many years we have been associated, you have been an inspiration and driving force for women and men alike.Your magazine is widely received, recognized, respected and growing with each edition. Thank you once again for allowing me to be part of such wonderful growth and thank you for being so significant in my growth. The feedback I have received about Women with Vision as a whole has been outstanding. Since the Feature Article in the Fall edition, many are now more fully aware of my background, who I am and what I offer. It has certainly been a great asset to my business.

VISIONS VIEWS INSIGHTS

Patti Norberg Chair, Front Line Breast Cancer Foundation

At the Global Studios...

c Lorraine, it was a pleasure to spend the evening with you last night at the Women with Vision Networking Dinner in Collingwood! It was rich and friendly and generous in conversation and sharing! Thanks!

Lorraine, your abilities, in so many ways, to support others in fulfilling their goals and dreams, is unsurpassed. Thank you for sharing your gift!

Deborah Johnson Shelly Hannah Life Coach CPCC

Clairvoyant, Medium, Author, Keynote Speaker

Have Your Say...we’d love to hear from you Email: womenwithvision@rogers.com Mail: 156 Brophy’s Lane, Blue Mountains ON L9Y 0K3 Phone: 1-866-306-6021 Web: www.womenwithvision.ca

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www.womenwithvision.ca 7

The

EDITOR’S desk

Comfort Zone

For some the words comfort zone during the winter months can mean warm and cozy. I ask you: is your comfort zone knowing you can seek shelter from the bone-chilling blustery winds of winter, curl up beside a cozy fire or crawl between snuggly warm flannel sheets for a good night’s sleep? The term ‘comfort zone’ can mean so many different things to each person.

So, how did I answer my own question? My comfort zone is really quite simple. Having lived a life full of many twists and turns, both in business and personally, I can truly say my comfort zone is, knowing who I am; what I have learned thus far and how I’ve used my lessons learned to live a fulfilling life. I’m in a place of acceptance knowing I’m in a comfortable place with mind, body, and soul. In this issue of Women with Vision our team of writers addresses the topic of comfort zone from their own life experiences and field of expertise. Read each article with an open mind and reflect and share with family and friends your comfort zone. You’ll be amazed at the responses.

Our feature article of celebrity and host of ET Canada, Cheryl Hickey, will give you a glimpse into how a young hometown girl from Owen Sound found her comfort zone in the world of international stars and starlets.

In this winter issue we introduce a new section called “Destination – seasonal fun for family and friends”. I’ll be stepping out of my flannel pajamas and my comfort zone again this winter as I experience a new adventure for me: dog sledding! Mush! What will you do to challenge your personal comfort zone this winter?

Nominated for

Lorraine Leslie Founder/Publisher

2005, 2006, 2009 & 2010

The feature people about whom I write, have traveled a long, winding road to success – each one on their own journey; a journey that sometimes hasn't been smooth. These people open their hearts to inspire and motivate others, of all ages, to follow their dreams and passions, creating their ultimate VISION!™ 8 www.womenwithvision.ca

…connecting through educational & networking updates

An RCMP officer shares her comfort zone with the everchanging career in policing, and, two local media friends give us a behind-the-scene peek on how they both chose their careers which created their own personal comfort zones.

In asking some of my friends and business colleagues what they thought their comfort zone was, they looked at me with a puzzled look. Most of them commented they hadn’t thought about it; but were inspired to give it some thought. We all agreed that most people these days are on autopilot with work, family and trying to just keep it all together…so now they are considering what their comfort zone might be.

BUSINESS, FINANCE COMMUNICATION

BUSINESS, FINANCE

COMMUNICATION

It’s not all about you anymore

A Real Crisis? By Rick Ziemski

“Dear parents, I am fully aware that money doesn’t grow on trees. Sincerely, that is why I’m asking you for it.” ~ Anonymous

By Susan Baka

With regularity our media rings alarm bells about student debt. The lament, often sensationalizing in nature, leaves us with discomfort and guilt over these graduates who apparently struggle hopelessly under the burden. Phrases like “spiraling costs” and “mountainous debts” create visions of a generation of Canadian students in unprecedented financial hardship. Add to this the pictures of protesting Quebec students, and we are surely in a crisis. Or are we?

Traditional marketing techniques put product promotion first. Nowadays, it’s about helping your customers fulfil their needs and desires

• The customer is the centre of the universe. All content you deliver to your customers and prospects should be helpful, concise and answer their questions. It should fulfil what they want and need, not be about you and your products. If someone has searched for “selecting paint colours” for example, an interior designer might want to have an article with advice and tips posted on her website.Your content should also be available in the format people want – through their smartphone, for instance. • Build trust. Save the hard sell for later. If you are truly helpful when prospects first find you and become a trusted source of information to them, they will be more compelled to take the next step down the path to exploring your solutions.

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• Experiment and measure. Review your web metrics to find out what search terms are driving traffic. Are they “early stage” search terms? If so, are visitors staying on your site and exploring other areas? Look at your percentage of leads generated via search engines and social networking sites. These measurements will help you determine what content works, and what doesn’t, so that you can tweak, enhance, and test again.

Recent reporting with a more contrarian view has addressed the issue of misleading media references to student debt. Analysis of government and other studies serves to dispel the myth that most students are in debt, showing that nearly half of graduates had no debt at all. As well, approximately one quarter of those graduating with debt hold most of the debt; on average $27,000. It seems that the perceived crisis may be narrower than often presented and also might be the result of factors other than the alleged unprecedented “spiraling costs”.

The social and mobile explosion has opened a new world of opportunity for businesses of all sizes to connect with customers, but that doesn’t mean it is any easier to succeed. Changes in the online world mean changes to the marketing techniques used to penetrate it. The smart, savvy company that keeps abreast of the ever-evolving marketplace will come out ahead. This means creating a strategy that includes research, planning, budgeting, execution and testing – and a willingness to continually revisit the strategy depending on the results. It also means producing great content that will deliver results. If writing content is not something at which you excel, you may want to consider hiring an expert. It is worth the expense in the long run because the amount of information being delivered to your potential customers is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s important to ensure that your content is compelling enough to stand out and to capture and sustain their attention.

■ Susan Baka, President Bay Communications & Marketing Inc. sbaka@baycomm.ca www.baycomm.ca

It is 1969 and a young man (unnamed to not embarrass the writer) graduates from McMaster University with a $4,500 student loan. Other than free room and board at home in the summers, he has paid for his education with summer and part time work. An average annual starting salary after graduation at the time is $7,000. His debt amounts to 64 percent of gross wage. This ratio taken today assuming a debt of $27,000 and average starting wage of $40,000 is 67 percent and is relatively comparable.

Human nature is often not unique and I would venture a bet that dissection of today’s student loans in that “one quarter group” would reveal many cases of self inflicted excessive borrowing related to our two culprits: poor money management and a sense of entitlement. Good parenting means preparing our kids to stickhandle their own way in life.To ensure university is the right direction, a parent needs to ask some hard questions: • How badly do you really want a university/college education? • Are you sure you’re not just in need of leaving home? • Are you ready to make the sacrifices necessary for this investment in yourself? • Are you willing to learn money management and to stay within budgets? • Are you ready to put “some skin in the game” by paying your own tuition? • If necessary can you accept a lower living standard than at home? (No iPhone 5?) • Does cheap beer make you throw up? ■ Richard Ziemski C.A. Management Consultant rickziemski@cogeco.ca

Years later, a postmortem of the circumstances and factors behind this debt revealed no unprecedented “spiraling costs” even though media alarms were common then just like today. There were however a couple of uncomfortable personal truths behind the creation of this debt; namely a failure to budget/manage money properly plus a sense of entitlement:

Photo: Yanka Van der Kolk

Traditional “outbound” marketing (where you go fishing for customers and pitch to them) is not effective in the new interconnected online world. Before you publish anything online, you need to examine it from a strategic perspective. Don’t think of publishing content just because you can, but ask yourself what you want to publish, the tools you want to use, and why you want to publish it in the first place. Here are some new ways to think about marketing:

COMMUNICATION

Student Debt:

CONTENT MARKETING

There are so many online channels available now to market your products and services – your website, Facebook,YouTube and other social media sites, mobile devices, email – that have created new, exciting opportunities to gain customers. And because these methods are relatively inexpensive, the temptation for small business owners is to throw as much content out there as possible, hoping that something will stick. Lacking a strategy, however, can actually be counterproductive, causing potential customers to go elsewhere.

• Purchase of an used red MGB sports car $1,400 • Speculative stock buy on advice of a professor (an asbestos mine!) $1,000 • Ski trip to Mt. St. Anne, Quebec $500 • Steady girlfriends and pubs (guys paid in those days) $1,600

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BUSINESS, FINANCE

COMMUNICATION

GETTING OUT OF YOUR

COMMUNICATION

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE TAKING A RISK?

Comfort Zone

…getting out of that comfort zone

By Donna Messer

By Mary Ann Matthews

You’re going to attend a networking event; it’s not one you’ve been to before. How do you maximize the time you spend there? Believe it or not, there is a systematic process that can guarantee the ROI you want! Networking Outside Your Comfort Zone

Opportunity

– recognize this is a chance to meet someone new. Do your homework. Find out as much as you can about the organization and the people who attend. Be prepared. Have plenty of business cards.

Understand that most of the people you meet don’t feel all that comfortable either. Networking can be stressful. Chances are you will meet someone who is just as uncomfortable as you. Start your conversation with something simple. Take time to develop a strategy. Do you want to meet a specific industry sector? Are you in transition? Looking for that next career opportunity? What can make you a valuable connection for those you meet? You have to give before you get!

Strategize

– make full use of the new contacts you meet. Follow up is critical to success. Give them something memorable when you follow up. Share a relevant article, a website, or a resource that could be useful.

Integrity is a very important part of networking.

Make sure that you do what you say you will. Establish your needs and recognize the needs of others.

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Develop a systematic process for networking. I use a simple system that gives me the results I need. I attend networking events after doing my homework. I have plenty of business cards that I hand out when asked. I follow up within a couple of days with the people I’ve met that I would like to keep in touch with. I always give them a gift of someone or something that will be useful to them.

Ethics play a huge part in networking outside your comfort zone. You need to know that the people you meet understand who you are, what is important to you and how you will respond to their next contact. Refer only when there is a comfort level. Take the time to get to know them. Ethical, effective networking starts by building rapport, it progresses to exchanging relevant information, it moves on to finding profitable solutions where both you and those you meet benefit, and you must always maintain a high level of integrity – making ethics a top priority. Networking outside your comfort zone, works if you use this system. ■ Donna Messer Networking Expert, International Speaker www.connectuscanada.com

Having a comfort zone means that we are using a limited set of behaviours to deliver a steady level of performance. Usually there is no risk involved. Our comfort zone is really something that we mentally condition ourselves to believe. This conditioning gives us a sense of security. So staying inside that zone may be considered comfortable and safe. To step outside our comfort zone implies taking a risk; experimenting; trying something new and different. This means bringing new behaviours in to play in order to experience something new. Highly-successful people may routinely step outside their comfort zones in order to accomplish an objective. It’s all about how we see ourselves and what we really feel we can accomplish. Who are the risk-takers and who are the ones reluctant to take a risk? Society seems to favour the person who is a risk-taker. The risk-taker gets more respect. They are often considered ‘highly successful’. Those who do not take a risk are considered timid. Because we are so complex as human beings, there is much more going on in the personality. The reasons behind taking a risk or not doing so, are many. When we look for the ability to achieve goals, we look at the t-bars. How high are they in relation to the size of the writing? The higher the t-bars, the great the propensity for taking a risk. If they are below the height of the writing,* these people may not be very confident, even though they may appear to others to have lots of confidence. They are under-estimating themselves and their abilities.

* height of writing is measured by the height of the middle-zone letters. In the example, middle-zone letters are e’s, i’s, n’s, o’s, a’s.

For balance, we like to see a mixture of t-bars – some high, some practical. Low t-bars tell us another story which is one of underestimating the self. The practical person knows what she can do and sets goals that can be reached (ref: t’s in ‘getting’ and ‘comfort’). She accomplishes the possible and is not likely to go beyond that limit. The person who likes a challenge and has high performance standards is seen in the t-bar of the word, ‘out’. She is willing to take a chance and will likely work hard for what she wants. Yes, that trail of ink that we leave as our pen travels across the page really does tell our story.

■ Mary Ann Matthews CGA - Certified Graphoanalyst maryann@handwriting.ca www.handwriting.ca

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BUSINESS, FINANCE

COMMUNICATION

BUSINESS, FINANCE

Before the ink is dry on the Divorce Order, many individuals are already in a new relationship and even marriage. One reason for this is that many have become so accustomed to being part of a couple, that they rush to fill the void without first having dealt with full recovery from divorce. Not having a significant other is outside of their comfort zone.

Some may be lucky enough to find the right partner but because of the haste it is really only by sheer luck that they do. I submit that haste and lack of research is the number one reason for the break-up of second or third marriages. Complications may arise because of step children. Yes, problems can and do often arise, from young children who will live with the new couple full time or part time. Decisions will have to be made relating to how the step-parent will interact with the other’s children, how to deal with the stepchildren’s other parent, etc. Just because there are no young children doesn’t mean that the existence of older children presents no difficulty. Older children who may oppose the new relationship may exert pressure on their parent by only coming to visit if their parent’s spouse is away from the home or insist that their parent visit them alone. There may even be veiled or blatant rudeness towards the new spouse. This calls for the new couple to take a united stand but obviously, this is not the ideal situation. It is far better to make sure prior to making a

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commitment that both sets of children are okay with the relationship and that both sets of children get along well together, no matter what their ages are. Children, however, are only one part of the equation. The other spouse comes with “baggage” so to speak – the exspouse, their families - what do his parents or siblings think of you? Will you be expected to care for aging parents? Are you on the same page respecting finance? Do you share common interests? These are just a few of the questions which must be addressed before remarriage in order to avoid the perils and pitfalls of re-marriage and to ensure that your new marriage is a pleasure.

■ Rose Pellar, B.A.S., LL.B.,Barrister & Solicitor Pellar Family Law Professional Corporation rosepellar@pellarfamilylaw.com

By Annette Lavigne

By Rose Pellar, B.A.S., LL.B.

COMMUNICATION

Comfort with Love

The Perils, Pitfalls and Pleasures of

RE-MARRIAGE

When you think about stepping out of your comfort zone, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Jumping out of a plane? Walking along a topless beach? It doesn’t always have to be that extreme. Kudos to those who take the leap of faith, in either of these examples, I on the other hand prefer to throw myself into large audiences and that causes my nerves to flutter enough, even with all my clothes on. Stepping out the comfort zone in the realm of communications world is different. Albeit, some would rather die or jump out of a plane than do a 5 minute speech at a family member’s wedding. So for the quiet and shy, speaking in public and jumping out of a plane are not so different. Some would rather die than do either. Let me re-introduce you to an old concept. One used by many but never enough by Mom’s, Dad’s, daughters, sons or their children...Saying the words “I love you.” You’re perhaps dealing with a parent who is getting on in age and is showing signs of dementia and is challenging you daily. How easy is it for you to say “I love you Mom” just prior to leaving her side after a brief altercation? Easy? I think not. Might I suggest a small modification is the wording that has the same meaning but runs easier off the tongue. Try “Love ya”! With only two words, they flow quickly and with grace. I’m not sure that I could give you a plausible answer. You might give it a chance.

Nearer to the end of my Mom’s life I had to make a decision. It was never comfortable or common for Mom to say I love you and so it was almost foreign to me. Prior to her death I had decided it was going to be something I said to her more often; just before leaving her either at home and eventually the nursing home. I found the act of saying I love you so awkward. I kept asking myself, how I could do this and make it easier for both of us. I could see Mom struggling with the words too. One night I just casually said “Love you Ma” as I was heading out the door, her response was “love you too!” without even thinking twice. It was so much easier, it flowed. I smiled and was relieved that I found a way, slightly modified version but at the same time the feeling I was looking to convey in words. We may be choosing not to say the words I love you to two reasons: #1- We’re not feeling it (we’ll just keep that one under our hats) #2 - It’s just plain awkward! If saying I love you is comfortable for you and has always been easy, good on you! Keep it up! Your family and friends will always love ya for it!

■ Annette M. Lavigne The "Shy Buster!" www.speakwitheasenow.com www.womenwithvision.ca 15

BUSINESS, FINANCE

COMMUNICATION

Mariane McLeod

On Air

is my Comfort Zone By Lorraine Leslie Mariane McLeod is about as local as it gets, and she spends her mornings focusing on local news and information. Born at Collingwood’s hospital, Mariane was raised on a 100-acre farm in what was Nottawasaga Township, now Clearview. Her mother supported the farm income as a nurse, ensuring Mariane and her two brothers could take part in a myriad of sports and extra curricular activities.

“We weren’t allowed to watch television in our house, except the news. Often, though, we would end up hearing only a few stories before we would get into a big discussion of events and possibilities and implications. I suspect those talks about current events and my parents’ encouragement of me having and defending an opinion of my own made a lasting impression.” “I think the first women that one meets, other than your Mother, is a pretty big deal. You never really

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Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Mariane recalls, “It was six minutes to school from my house but because we were the first ones on the bus each day and the last ones to be dropped off, we had a fortyfive minute ride home. I learned to play Euchre on that bus in Grade Four. Sadly, I still trump people’s aces. Oh well!”

forget them. My first teacher was Miss Bambrick - very kind, sweet and funny. There were two boys who hadn’t spent a lot of time away off their farms before school started, and they refused to come into the Kindergarten room for about two weeks. They just hung out in the hallway, shy and afraid. I admired how she waited patiently for them to show up and how she didn’t make a big deal of it.” “I started figure skating at the age of four before I started school. My coaches had a huge impact on my life. When you spend time learning from someone, you don’t just learn the things they are there to teach you, you pick up their ideas and attitudes and so on….these ladies were so different from my parents and opened me to an alternate way of thinking. Sometimes that would frustrate my parents. My Dad used to say, ‘You should have an open mind but not so open your brains fall out.’ “ “In grade five I had a great teacher named Linda Grieve, who is now Linda Collins and the Mayor of Springwater Township. She was elegant and kind but her very presence gave girls in her

class permission to be smart. Sometimes, especially for girls back in the ‘80s, it wasn’t cool to be smart; it was cool to be pretty but it wasn’t cool to be smart; Ms. Grieves made it okay to be smart. That was a freeing situation for me.” “At Collingwood Collegiate Institute, I was a decent student with A’s and B’s, a prefect and also in the cast of two school musicals. In grade 10, I won a speaking contest through Young Speakers for Agriculture. The competition was held at the Royal Winter Fair and as a result I was interviewed on CBC Radio. I was so excited! The guy I beat was a third year university student and I was in my second year of high school. I quickly realized I was pretty good at speech making and public speaking plus I’m a curious person by nature. I recall at the time a reporter quoted me saying ‘I was going to be a psychologist or journalist because I’m all about asking questions’.” “Attending university wasn’t an option in my family. I was in third year before I realized some people had to fight to get a higher education. I am grateful every day to my mother for that. I was accepted into the journalism program at Carlton University but wasn’t 120% sure it was what I wanted to do, so instead I took a BA at the University of Guelph. Looking back, I sometimes wonder how things would have turned out had I had gone to Carlton. But, you know, I might just have found my way to exactly where I am now.” “The summer of first year, I worked Saturday mornings at the local radio station in Collingwood, CKCB. I had a friend who worked there and knew I was interested in journalism. They let me on air and that was it; I fell in love with radio. I still have the first newscast I ever delivered, somewhere at home on a cassette tape. It’s odd to think I now work in the same building. Way back then, the News Director offered me a job, wanting me to quit university and come work for her.” “I asked a lot of people that summer who I worked with for advice. They told me. “If you want to work on air, go to Fanshawe. If you want to be behind the scenes, go to Ryerson. I finished my BA from Guelph in English Literature and Women’s Studies and started at Fanshawe College in the fall of 1991.” “During the summer of 1991, though, I stayed in school, and summer at university was very different from fall and winter. So casual. I had a full complement of courses, but they mostly consisted of popping by the professor’s office for a chat. I read about fifty two novels in four months and wrote papers on them all.” “Fanshawe was very practical, hands-on learning. I only had a few television courses but quickly found I didn’t like being on camera. TV focuses so much on looks, and I want to hear what

my interview subjects have to say, not just wonder where they got their hair done.” “Right after school, I got a paid internship at CKSL in London, then a position at DC103.5 in Orangeville. I lived with my parents and made the 40 minute commute each way daily from August 1993 to November 1994. That’s where I learned I didn’t like to commute and I’ve tried ever since to live close to where I work. In the summer of 1994, the station was sold and while I was one of the few people asked to stay, I started looking for work elsewhere. I was offered a spot at Q107 and 680 News and started in the big Rogers newsroom in downtown Toronto that fall.” “I was the station’s first overnight anchor and moved into several different positions over the next eight and a half years, including as a reporter and writer for the morning show. Ironically, that woman who offered me the full time job back in 1988, I ended up training her at 680 News, ten years later.” “What led me back to Collingwood was my high school sweetheart. We had split up when I was in university, but were never out of touch for more than six months at a time over the next 12 years.” “In the spring of 2001, I drove my little VW Beetle to PEI and Charlie basically came along for the ride. We talked on my cellphone through Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and all the way home. A few months later, also on the phone, after a second glass of red wine, I asked why we didn’t just get back together. We were married in 2003, and I still have that wine glass.” “After I got a job locally, I moved home to live with my parents until the wedding. I am a bit of a traditionalist that way. Our first year of marriage, we lived in a neighbourhood we jokingly referred to as "Rentnerville". Charlie's mother lived next door, his brother across the lane, his sister on the next lot over and several cousins and an aunt across the road. We bought our century home in town in 2004, and I have been fixing it up ever since, learning to lay tile, strip wallpaper and refinish our hardwood floors and wainscoting, along with painting, painting and more painting.” It was the summer of 2005 when I got a call from a former fellow Fanshawe student, asking if I would be interested in a position at the new station Bayshore Broadcasting which was starting up in Wasaga Beach. We went on air on the May 2-4 continued on pg. 18

www.womenwithvision.ca 17

BUSINESS, FINANCE

COMMUNICATION

weekend.Those first few months were very hectic: 16 hour days for much of the summer. I was getting up at 3:23 a.m., but as I got more efficient at my job, I moved the alarm time. Now I can wake up at 4:03 a.m. and I’m at my desk in fifteen minutes.”

& Peace of Mind By Angie Vancise Robinson

Angie Vancise W.D. Redick & Associates Inc 47 Saint Marie St. Collingwood, ON L9Y 3J9 angievancise@rogers.com

COMMUNICATION

Home Comfort

Mariane McLeod..continued from pg. 17

“I’ve worked with some great co-hosts. It was Joe Cahill for the first two years; Jeremy John (who did traffic reports with me at 680 News) replaced him for a year before he took a position in Winnipeg. Kevin MacDonald was with us for more than a year before he took a job at a station in Yellowknife. My co-host now is Rod West. We are a great team and it is fun working together as the sun rises Monday to Friday mornings.”

As a homeowner, I do everything I can to make sure my home is safe and sound. With mortgage protection from an Insurance Agency, I have total freedom. There is a difference between mortgage insurance purchased through a financial institution and that of an insurance agency. This finding allows me to pay off my mortgage and focus on any recovery in the event of an unexpected illness. Plus an insurance agency ensures that my beneficiary receives the full amount of the benefit, which they can use however they need to.

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Mariane McLeod with co-host Rod West in the 97.7 The Beach studio

“Broadcasting has changed so much since I started. I was cutting actual pieces of magnetic tape in my first job, and now, after learning several different computer programs at various stations, everything is digital. I’ve gone from using a razor blade to cutting sound with a mouse!”

“If I were to offer advice, I’d say listen to your gut. I can’t tell you how many times I have failed to listen to my inner self, only to end up in trouble later!”

Visit us at

www.womenwithvision.ca

Mariane is a curious, open minded woman who claims she is sometimes tactless. Her desire for perfection certainly shows up when you listen to her on air. Her comfort zone is behind the microphone, having dialogue with people she finds informative and interesting. “I live by – don’t talk about it until you know about it. Find out. “ Thanks Mariane for sharing your journey with other like-minded women with vision.

In doing my research, banks typically sell reducing term insurance, which means the amount of coverage is reduced as I pay off my mortgage and any life insurance payable goes to the lender: for example, if I paid $80000 of a $100000 mortgage, the bank would receive the remaining $20000 not the original $100000. In addition, each time I renew my mortgage, I have to renew my insurance at the age I am at that time making it much more expensive!! With mortgage protection from an Insurance Agency I am in total control of my policy, I own it; therefore I choose my beneficiary who will receive the full amount of the policy, regardless of mortgage balance, to use as they choose. It’s nice to know that my policy stays in effect even if I change mortgage lenders, refinance my mortgage or pay it off, regardless of my medical condition as it is underwritten at the time of issue. While a bank’s mortgage insurance may only pay off my mortgage for my family in the event of my untimely death, mortgage insurance with an insurance agency offers term life coverage, critical illness protection and disability income benefits all in one flexible, convenient plan. I only need to

apply once for the coverage’s at time of issue so there is no need to re-qualify as I change lenders and risk the chance that I may not qualify in the future from an illness that has risen. I was delighted to find that Critical Illness Protection provides a lump-sum payment if I am diagnosed with a covered illness and survive the waiting period. If I die without ever making a claim, my base premium is refunded. Disability Income Benefits provides me with a monthly income benefit to help me maintain my family’s lifestyle, which can be as much as 25 percent greater than my monthly mortgage and property tax payments. Because the likelihood of becoming critically ill far outweighs the chances of dying prematurely, this type of coverage is crucial. Knowing that my family is totally protected is the only comfort I need.

■ Angie Vancise Robinson Associate Financial Advisor Co-operators, Collingwood www.cooperators.ca

www.womenwithvision.ca 19

BUSINESS, FINANCE

COMMUNICATION

HEALTH Organize for success. Your time is valuable. As your business grows, so does its administrative demands. Office Gem can take care of your paperwork and stay on top of your administrative needs. Financial Services By working together, we can help keep a handle on how your business is doing with a full range of services including: • Bank deposits • Compliance with CRA requirements and filing HST

• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board compliance

knows the value of your time! Serving Collingwood and the surrounding area 705.888.3631 • info@officegem.ca www.officegem.ca

20 www.womenwithvision.ca

Professional Corporation

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Services to the Trades With years of experience in the construction industry, we understand the unique needs of the trades. Office Gem can help make sense of it all by managing: • Scheduling • Customer relationships • Estimating

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...living life at its best

& WELLNESS

HEALTH

WELLNESS

HEALTH

WELLNESS

Lets LetsTalk... Talk

Food & Emotions By Meredith Deasley

What fogs our vision, blocks our taste buds, ruins our sight, dulls our minds and breaks our connection to the way it’s supposed to be? Food and emotions. Food that is not natural, alive or good quality, blocks our channels. You don’t believe me? Look at the man that doesn’t seem to ever fully close his mouth because it’s too hard to breathe or who snores at night. Try eliminating the mucus-forming foods, particularly dairy and wheat, and watch him transform. Look at the woman who has attention deficit disorder and such bad nightmares that she goes into work each day exhausted. How much better able to concentrate and enjoy life would she be, if she eliminated chemicals from her diet? Look at the 6-year-old child under such stress that they experience irritable bowel syndrome. I could share countless examples with you but I know you understand. It is no longer possible for most of us to have the quality of life we deserve unless we get out of our comfort zone and start going about things differently when it comes to feeding ourselves. Over the decade that I’ve been feeding my family differently, I’ve been faced with many disbelievers but continued to do my own thing. My family’s health is by no means perfect but it is different. We catch fewer colds, recover from them faster, have not been prescribed antibiotics, only have the

22 www.womenwithvision.ca

EST 1981 by Joanne Davison-Shaw

Stuart Ellis Pharmacy 169 Hurontario Hurontario St. St. Collingwood Collingwood 169

STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH Do you ever notice that certain people around you seem to have boundless energy, appear healthier than most, laugh more often and are aging with vitality? They are small in number, but they do exist. These are the adults that have not lost their connection to the way life is supposed to be.

Becacuse sometimes the best medicine is a good dose of knowledge.

occasional nightmare, are slim and muscular and have incredible academic prowess...Oh now, here she goes, you’re thinking. All right, I won’t carry on any longer. The choices you make concerning what you feed yourself will affect every single area of your life. It will affect how you feel, how much energy, strength and brain power you have, how you look and whether you will age with vitality or not. Here are just three ideas for embarking on a healthier lifestyle: • Start eating more natural, good quality foods from the health aisle at your local grocery store • Start eating a protein source every 2-3 hours and watch your blood sugar regulate and your moods and energy levels stabilize • Try removing dairy from your diet for 2 weeks and then reintroduce it, observing how you do with it I believe in you. I encourage you to believe in yourself. I’ve seen the incredible healing power of the human body. I’ve seen the amazing changes families have made to create a healthy, balanced life. It’s yours for the taking. Have courage, have patience, and have faith. There is no greater accomplishment than becoming a happy and healthy human being. ■ Meredith Deasley, Author: The Resourceful Mother Secrets to Healthy Kids www.theresourcefulmother.com

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www.hairprosthesis.com www.womenwithvision.ca 23

HEALTH

WELLNESS

You may not realize it, but you are involved, perhaps deeply, with Joe (Joseph A. Lewis II), even though you may have never met him! Just have a look in your bathroom vanity cabinet or handbag. If it contains a product with alpha-hydroxyl acid (AHA), idebenone, or Coffee Berry® you’re likely relying on Lewis to put your best face forward.

An Unknown Illness

diSCOver THe SCienCe OF Skin TranSFOrMaTiOn PRIORI®. The Anti-Aging Authority, is the most innovative source of anti-aging Science and proprietary patented technologies for the professional skin care market worldwide that are simply not available through any other professional skincare brands. Providing beauty professionals with unparalleled treatments and anti-aging regimens, to experience a whole new level of skin rejuvenation beyond traditional cosmeceuticals. PRIORI® comes from the Latin phrase “a priori” meaning from cause to effect. The name superbly describes our theory on the proper treatment of skin aging - from its source, thereby delivering the Best effect. This is why PRIORI® should be your PRIORITY when it comes to skin care therapy.

By Lesley Paul, B.Sc. Phm

The cause of endometriosis is unknown.Theories point to problems with hormone function or the immune system, since it is our immune system that prevents tissues from growing in other parts of the body. The most common symptom of endometriosis is painful periods. However, because period pain is so frequently experienced by many women, endometriosis often is not diagnosed until later in life when they are finding it difficult to become pregnant. Women can also experience painful intercourse and may even have pain of varying intensity in other parts of the lower abdomen between periods or during bowel movements. Symptoms usually subside when women stop having periods (menopause). A pelvic exam followed by an ultrasound and a trans-vaginal ultrasound are used to diagnose endometriosis. If the symptoms are extremely bad, laparoscopic surgery may be used to determine the extent of the condition and possibly remove some of the endometriotic tissue for a biopsy to confirm diagnosis. Endometriosis also has a profound effect on a woman’s quality of life. The chronic pain can be debilitating and lead to tiredness, irritability and even depression.Their lives are often disrupted by the pain and it can be challenging to go about their daily activities. Many feel less womanly and find it difficult to develop a positive relationship with their own body. Painful sex can make it difficult to have an enjoyable sex life and of course not being able to conceive children can be a burden on relationships. Having a supportive partner, family and friends is invaluable for the woman with endometriosis. 24 www.womenwithvision.ca

There is no cure for endometriosis. Anti-inflammatory or other pain relievers can be helpful in relieving the cramping. Birth control or other hormone treatments are often used to stop monthly periods and keep hormone levels consistent. Unfortunately the pain usually returns when treatment is stopped. In some cases laparoscopic surgery may be used to remove some of the tissue, but the tissue often grows back over time. If the pain is unbearable, hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and ovaries) may be performed. Complementary approaches are often useful in treating the pain as well. Acupuncture, TENS treatment, applying heat or doing yoga or Tai Chi have been shown to be helpful for some. Certainly lifestyle changes such as staying active, stress reduction and relaxation techniques are essential for those living with endometriosis. Be sure to find a physician who is experienced in endometriosis and understands the physical and mental burden of the illness. ■ Lesley Paul, Pharmacist dlpaul@sympatico.ca

WELLNESS

GuaranTeed TO wOrk Or GeT yOur lineS and wrinkleS baCk

ENDOMETRIOSIS:

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological problems, yet is still a fairly “unknown” illness. It is estimated that it affects forty to sixty percent of women who experience painful periods. During the reproductive years, endometrial tissue (found in the lining of the uterus) thickens every month and then is shed during menstruation. In endometriosis this tissue grows in other parts of the body, specifically in the abdominal area. Unfortunately, these growths in other areas can’t be expelled through the vagina each month and stay in the body creating scar tissue, inflammation or cysts. These can be very painful and lead to infertility if the tissue grows in the fallopian tubes.

...he’s not just a chemist, he’s a pioneer of cosmeceuticals.

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308 Hurontario Street ritualsdayspa.ca 705.444.4558 ADVERTORIAL

SKIN TAG REMOVAL By Betty Donaher

Skin tags are those unsightly little flaps of skin found around the neck, armpits, groin and breast area. They are usually caused by continuous friction from pieces jewellery or clothing rubbing the skin’s surface. A variety of methods to remove the tags include cauterization, herbal remedies, or scissors. Ten years ago I had two tags on my neck that were driving me crazy. They would catch on my shirt collar and catch on necklace chains all the time. They bothered me so much physically I finally decided to see my doctor to have them removed. He used what appeared to look like a wood burning tool, the kind that came in the kit that you use to get for Christmas. After he cauterized the tags I was instructed to use an antibiotic cream and keep band aids on the area. I called the removed tags my “Frankenstein Bolts” since they were directly across from each other on each side of my neck. After the band aids came off and the scabs finally

healed but I had two wonderful scars that were larger than the removed tags themselves. Thanks to scientific improvements I now remove skin tags as a certified aesthetician. A Silhouet-Tones Vasculyse machine is used. The skin tag is gently grasped with sterilized tweezers and a fine, blunt needle is applied to the circumference of the stem of the tag. Once the blood and the nerve endings are gently electro coagulated I continue to work on the head of the tag until all the blood flow is terminated. Within days the dead tag drops off and since the cauterization is only on the epidermis and not the dermis of the skin there is no scarring. The Vasculyse Electro Coagulation machine also can rid you of unsightly spider angiomas and ruby points. Contra indications include pacemakers, metallic implants, diabetes, blood thinners or any medical condition that delays the healing process. www.womenwithvision.ca 25

HEALTH

WELLNESS

Here are several tips and ways to simplify the daily routine required for braces:

Brace YOURSELF! By Karen Sencich

Several years ago I decided to take a major step out of my personal comfort zone when I wore full braces on my upper and lower teeth for over a year. As a teenager I had originally worn two different versions of braces (complete with the nerdy headgear) off and then back on again for almost 10 years. When my wisdom teeth grew in my teeth shifted and my bite was once again out of whack. The improved dental technology was what convinced me to try another round with braces. Also, our family financial advisor gave us a terrific tax tip. Having my braces coincide with orthodontic treatment for our two teenage sons allowed the maximum medical deduction on our income tax that year. Scheduling our orthodontist appointments together also entitled us to a small family discount. My sister also wore braces; opting for Invisalign removable, plastic braces provided by a qualified dentist that she reported were less expensive than full wire braces from an orthodontist.

26 www.womenwithvision.ca

The bonus for her is that the retainer prevented grinding her teeth during the night. Before my treatment began I had researched all of the current orthodontic alternatives hoping that I too would be a candidate for the modern option of wire-free invisible aligner trays, but my misaligned bite ruled that option out for me. Overall, the entire process was easier, less painful and more popular than I anticipated. While wearing braces, I suddenly noticed many other adults in braces, including three colleagues from the Professional Organizing industry.

• Getting a good night’s sleep was initially a challenge until I learned to press dental wax onto the wires to prevent irritating the inside of my cheeks. • Foods I avoided included corn on the cob, popcorn, sticky foods and fruits that stain teeth i.e. blueberries. • Flossing was difficult, so I used waxed floss with a threader tip to weave around the wires. • I brushed with an electric toothbrush fitted with an attachment for braces and also an electric dental flosser. • I used only regular toothpaste and mouthwash since whitening brands may cause two toned teeth once the braces were removed. • My purse always carried a mini hygiene kit including: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, soft picks, a proxabrush and a small mirror. • The key to any orthodontic process is to wear the removable retainer each night or have permanent wires installed behind the front upper and lower teeth to prevent them from shifting after treatment is completed. My best advice is to keep on smiling in spite of the braces! I am happy to report that both my sister and I were delighted with the results from the two different brace alternatives. I celebrated my 25th anniversary just before my clear ceramic braces were removed and I was grinning from ear to ear in every photo.

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WELLNESS CENTRE

HEALTH

“Your Health is Our Concern” Georgian Health Foods is your store for all your health food and nutritional supplement needs. Located in the heart of Wasaga Beach and serving all areas of the Georgian Triangle.

• Wide selection of quality supplements • Professional Brand Names available

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Fill Your Nutritional Gap!

New Chapter Organics targeted nutrients are combined with organic super foods, spices and herbal extracts to compliment the health benefits of each targeted nutrient. Whole food complex vitamins and minerals the body easily recognizes and absorbs for both men and women.

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www.georgianhealthfoods.com www.womenwithvision.ca 27

HEALTH

WELLNESS

FASHION BEAUTY

ADVERTORIAL

ARE YOU AT RISK? By Beach Eye Care's Dr. Ben Pezik Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative eye disease that affects an estimated 2 million Canadians. It occurs in the macula, which gives us the sharp, high-definition vision we need to read, drive and recognize faces. 1 Are you age 50 or older? If yes, your risk increases. By age 75 AMD will affect more than a third of your peers. 2 Does a parent or sibling have AMD? If yes, your risk increases 3 times. 3 Are you female? If yes, women develop AMD more often than men.

We offer all of our patients the most advanced technology by using the Optomap Retinal Scan as well as providing a High Definition Digital Eye Exam. Dr. Pezik provides comprehensive examinations for your entire family.

4 Do you eat a diet that's rich in fruits, leafy green vegetables and fish? If no, inadequate intake of antioxidants and overconsumption of saturated fat can create freeradical damage to the macula, the part of the eye used for central vision. 5 Do you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol? If yes, these conditions strain the body and increase your risk of AMD. 6 Do you wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection? If no, wearing full UV protective quality sunglasses is the easiest way to preserve your eye health and reduce your risk of AMD. 7 Are you farsighted? If yes, it is found those who wear reading glasses are at greater risk.

Stonebridge Town Centre Wasaga Beach www.beacheyecare.ca Tel: (705) 429-EYES (3937) 28 www.womenwithvision.ca

Remember, taking preventive steps today is the best way to reduce your future risk. Yearly eye exams are important to know your current risk and what you need for protection.

....winter fashions ÂŠ Subbotina | Dreamstime.com

Dr. Ben Pezik

8 Do you have light coloured skin or eyes? If yes, some researchers believe AMD occurs more often because of the lack of pigment protection from the sun.

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Elegant and Comfy WINTER FASHION

Frosty

FASHION

BEAUTY

Frost bite occurs when skin or body parts such as noses, hands, ears and feet are exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time. With our climate, blowing winds, along with low wind factors can leach a person's body of heat causing water in our skin tissue to freeze.

There are three different types of frostbite:

As winter quickly approaches with the excitement of donning our ski gear, skates and snow shoes, we must be aware of old Jack Frost nipping our noses, fingers and toes.

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By Beth Nigh

Frostnip feels like a "pins and needles" sensation along with numbing because of the cold.

If you are treating someone with frostbite, keep in mind that the person will be extremely uncomfortable. I think that we have all experienced Frostnip and can recall the sensation when the circulation started to return!

We have a long, yet wonderful season ahead of us... Let's enjoy! See you on the hill! Beth

■ Beth Nigh, Certified Esthetician

Superficial Frostbite occurs when the skin feels stiff and frozen, but the layers underneath have not been largely affected. Deep Frostbite can lead to white, numb skin with blisters or skin that has turned black, which indicates that the tissue has died due to lack of oxygen.

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Treatment

Walk-ins always welcome

Seek medical care promptly Remove clothing from frostbitten areas. Drink plenty of warm fluids with a high sugar content Restore warmth by gently immersing exposed skin into warm water (100 degrees fahrenheit) • Do not rub or massage the skin or break blisters • If possible, loosely apply sterile dressings • Put gauze or clean cotton balls between fingers or toes to keep separated • • • •

Prevention is extremely important. If you are planning outdoor activities, check the weather forecast and take heed to the weather warnings. Dress properly. If you have just arrived in a cold climate from a warmer one, give your body time to adjust before spending extended periods outside. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during exposure. Avoid smoking cigarettes. Smoking reduces circulation which can increase you risk of frostbite. Go inside and warm up often. www.womenwithvision.ca 33

FASHION

BEAUTY

Pants can skim your body like paint or flow and drape or anything in between. Each look offers an opportunity for selfexpression. Wear what suits you best. Comfort is always a main element. Accept a fashion challenge to enter your best zone. Leave your comfort Zone. Emerge from your cocoon and spread your wings to show off the best possible you. When you control all that you wear you complete each outfit so that you shine and there are no “if onlys”. You can be in your World and life can be more enjoyable because you are celebrating every day not waiting for better days, slimmer days, or other days. Dressing well is its own reward.

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If age is your block, forget it. Age is just a number.You can be a role model, an ambassador for your contemporaries when you look wonderful at every age.

IF ONLY

Fashion

By Marilyn Wetston

The Wardrobe Doctor

For some the mantra “It’s comfortable” becomes a blanket excuse for dressing in clothes that have an “if only” factor. If only it was not too tight. If only it was not worn out. If only it was not soiled. If only it was stylish. Regardless of what the draw back the person finds all is excused so long as they feel comfortable. Often people make the assumption that if something is stylish and looks wonderful, it is going to be less comfortable than their comfy “if only” clothing. Ultimate comfort results from dressing well on every level without forfeiting comfort. The penultimate is when your clothes and accessories come together for more than just an outfit pleasing to the eye. It is your individual statement and so perfect in every aspect that it feels like a second skin and shelters your spirit, as well as envelopes your body. If you find yourself making concessions to look less than your best because you are defaulting to the excuse of sheer comfort then set a goal to release your clothing when it has only comfort to offer. 34 www.womenwithvision.ca

Plan a strategy to build a wardrobe of items based on high standards. Clothes that fit every aspect of you, your lifestyle and your best look. Resolve to keep your standards high and do not lower the bar to achieve only comfort.

You will be amazed how comfortable you can be wearing stylish clothes that flatter you as well as speak a message that endorses who you are. I hope that when you start dressing to fulfill all the parameters of dressing well you will discover that if only, justified by being comfortable is a myth that is in your power to dispel. Polish your look with a good hair style and a touch of make up if you wish. It only can improve perfection. You are the star of your life, all clothes can be comfy when they fit your parameters and you build the perfect wardrobe. It is magical when your clothes wrap you in a package that give you confidence as well as compliments. It is up to you to do the work of seeking and finding the ideal pieces that do all you require to stay comfortable and look your best.

Footwear can be architectural or not. Flats to six inch heels are available. One need not be more comfortable than the other. In fact some feet cannot feel good in flats!

over over 600 600 in in stock... stock... largest largest selection selection in in the the area! area!

■ Marilyn Wetston marilynsthestore@rogers.com www.marilyns.ca

Fill your closet with clothes that flatter your shape, that highlight your best features, in colour and style. Invest in items that feel glorious and look wonderful. Today’s fashions offer every woman limitless opportunities to enjoy clothing that suit their every need.

Dresses Dresses for for all all occasions... occasions...

aliCe JenSen 92 Sykes Street N. Meaford, ON N4L 1N8 Hours of Operation Tuesday to Thursday: 9am - 6pm Friday: 9am - 7pm Saturday: 9am - 4pm Sunday and Monday Closed

519.538.3509 info@ajshairworks.com www.ajshairworks.com

Ideal Ladies Wear For The Latest in Fashions

519-323-1970 Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L0 www.womenwithvision.ca 35

Fascinating Fascinators

Change starts with choice.

By Lorraine Leslie

Tarran Gilchrist started making fascinators in 2009 for a girlfriends wedding. She also made an extra half dozen and showcased them in Gaia boutique in Thornbury. Quickly the word spread and Tarran went on to create fascinators for ten weddings in 2010. “I like to go to flea markets and antique shows to find the unique materials such as costume jewelry and broaches to incorporate into the pieces.”

28 Bruce Street, Thornbury 519.599.3040 info@gaiaboutique.ca

Tarren said, “It takes me about an hour to a couple of days depending on how many feathers I use to create a one of a kind fascinator.”

My long term goal is to take a milliners course and make exquisite hats of all shapes and sizes. I’d like to see a hat back as part of our every day fashion.

Joy ad Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

A fascinator can be created on a hair clip or hair comb; but I also like to use grass paper or small felt top hats. I sometimes use cold tea to antique colour the feathers. I’ve learned how to bend and curl the feathers to create some glamorous fascinators.

• • • • •

Eco Conscious Style

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Most of the feathers Tarran uses are imported from Europe plus what she collects multi coloured feathers from her own four laying hens. “My roster called Chocolate Cake drops some amazing coloured feathers daily…”

Unique and One of a Kind: Jewellery Clothing Accessories Gift ware Stocking Stuffers

Gift Certificates are always available and for your shopping pleasure we have extended Holiday Hours

joy boutique 143 Hurontario St. Collingwood 705-293-1008

shop online:

www.awearecoboutique.ca

274 Main Street E, Stayner joyinstayner@gmail.com 705.517.2000

www.womenwithvision.ca 37

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Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Gourmet

Grandma Lambe’s APPLES & APPLE PRODUCTS

• Country fresh baking every day • Jams & pies made in our own bakery • Frozen fruit available all year • All occasion giftware & baskets • No preservatives used in any of our products

Four generations of serving you 7 days a week, year round

Highway 26, East of Meaford, N4L 1W7 • Phone & Fax 519.538.2757

Apples are our Business

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

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The Iron Skillet

Quality dining at hometown prices Specials are our specialty... • Schnitzels, Chicken Parmesan • Beef Ribs, Rib Steaks & New York Steaks • NEW In-house Smoked Meat Specials • Spicy Lemon Thai Stir Fry • Chicken Broccoli Bake • Mexican Enchiladas...and more

20 Balsam Street, Collingwood 705.444.5804

46 www.womenwithvision.ca

Geor gian

Gourmet Oliver went to. I passed my City and Guilds exams (Guilds represented the trades and were the unions of the old days in London) at the end of my course.”

By Lorraine Leslie

“Up until my move to Canada in 1983 I worked throughout London in hotels, restaurants and private dining rooms for the Chairman of the Board, the Directors and their guests, at shows and also private house catering at the Royal Boxes at Wembley for Queen Elizabeth and the Duke Edinburgh. I’ve always worked in high end establishments,” Philip exclaims.

Born in Stanmore England near the Bakerloo underground Line, on September 8th, 1950, Chef Philip Tarlo recalls his life as always being surrounded by food and beverages.

“Both my parents were good cooks; some of my early memories were of helping my mother make marmalade and other preserves from fruits we grew in our garden. As children we looked after our own garden patch,” says Philip.” “In 1961 I attended Blackwell Public School which was a new comprehensive progressive school. Students attended classes five days a week but working on a six day calendar we had different classes each week.We were encouraged to take extra classes after school, taught by the teachers, in subjects they were interested in. Along with learning to play the clarinet, I attended cooking classes, this way I was able to eat the food we prepared as well as hang out with all of the girls which made up the majority of the class.” “Fresh food was prepared daily in the cafeteria, we ate at tables of eight in mixed grades. Eating together was an important part of the public education system. Today, Jamie Oliver has been instrumental in bringing back the old system of cooking fresh food in the English public school system - education is the key component to eating well. I feel food is second to any activity we do during the day,” states Philip.”

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Philip completed high school at age fifteen but stayed on an extra year before applying for a job at the Savoy Hotel London as an apprentice chef.

48 www.womenwithvision.ca

The Savoy dates back to 1246. It was originally a Palace on the land by the side of the river, Thames. From 1875 to 1881 the Savoy theatre became renowned for Gilbert and Sullivan operas and live theatre. By 1904, the impresario Richard D`Oyly Carte had built the Savoy Hotel with elevators, its own self-contained electrical system, and water wells. Over one hundred and twenty seven years, the Savoy Hotels transformation has been an intricate part of training and graduating of many fine chefs from around the world. The Savoy 250 M₤ renovation to date is now managed by Fairmont Hotels. The Savoy Hotel kitchens are historically unique as Escoffier organized kitchens. He was the Savoy Hotels inaugural Chef de Cuisine. Georges Auguste Escoffier is considered the father of modern day cuisine. His career began at the age of 13 and ended when he retired 61 years later. Escoffier made French Cuisine world famous and documented its methods and techniques. He created menus, cooking techniques and the organization of the professional kitchen into what executive chefs are familiar with today.

“My twin brother Maurice married a Canadian and was living in Toronto working at the newly built CN Tower as the deputy Maitre d’Hotel. He wrote to me and suggested that I come to Canada and join him in taking over a restaurant that was for sale on Church Street in downtown Toronto. I would run the kitchen and he would manage the front of the restaurant. I raised the necessary cash and sent it to him and started to organize my move to a new life in Canada. The name of the restaurant was The Church Street Café, which was uniquely positioned for its customer base, close to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Red Cross and the National Ballet Company and the center of the largest gay community in Toronto. The clientele changed constantly all day long. It was a forty eight seat restaurant open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to close. We served a hundred and twenty people at both lunch and dinner.We catered office lunches, birthday parties, business meetings, and of course New Years Eve. We were very successful for five years and only sold the cafe because both of us were starting to raise our own families.” The time had come for Philip to move on to new experiences. After selling the restaurant, Philip was looking for a change from working and living in the city and after visiting Collingwood and driving through the Beaver River valley one summer, he decided this area was a good place to make the change. He found a job opportunity with Osler Bluff Ski Club as their contract caterer and stayed with them for 22 years. This is also where he met Leanne Calvert who became his life partner of twenty five years. During this time Philip partnered with Kevin Bennington (from Georgian Peaks) and created Collingwood Caterers.

1984 Philip (RT) shows of some of his menu at the Church Street Cafe in Toronto

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

My Love of Food

Between 1971 and 1972 at the age of twenty two Philip ran his first one hundred and fifty seat restaurant where he really gained his culinary management experience after making a lot of mistakes and learning from them.

Philip and Leanne having brunch in their dining room

For a number of years they were the largest caterers in the Collingwood area for the Toronto Ski Club, Mountain Springs Lodge, and numerous wedding events, before they went their separate ways. In 2004, Philip had the opportunity to work with Osler Brook Golf and Country Club to help design and develop their food and beverage operation in the club house they were building. After the opening in 2005, Philip stayed on for the following two years as their caterer. In 1989, while Philip was at Osler Bluff, he opened The Pine Street Café in the downtown Collingwood which offered European café continued on pg. 50

In Escoffier time, he managed over eighty cooks including apprentices, trainee managers and commie chefs. He’d name all the dishes, organize menus and created what is referred to as a Brigade – head chef (general),Sous Chef (Colonel), Chef de Partie (Sergeant) and Commis Chefs (Soldiers) – it was based on a military system.This is the standard for major hotel kitchen design worldwide today.The women worked in the store room, making coffee and in the pastry department doing less demanding tasks under the direction of male chefs. Philip shared, “I was at the Savoy for four years and attended Westminster Technical (Kingsway) College, founded one hundred years ago; it’s the oldest cooking school in the world and is the same school Jamie www.womenwithvision.ca 49

Ge or gian

Gourmet

Philip Tarlo...continued from pg. 49

HOME, GARDEN DESIGN

cuisine and featured local musicians in the bar area. After four years, Philip sold the business and it was renovated into a British Pub. “The new owners approached us to buy it from them after 18 months of operation. Leanne ran the Admiral’s Post for 13years with my assistance in recipes, menus and training in the kitchen. We also purchased Terracotta (Mediterranean restaurant) and ran that for two years, but with everything that we were doing, it became too much and we sold it and it is now called Azzura’s,” explains Philip. “Leanne and I bought our Collingwood property of fifteen acres in 1999. We designed and built the house as a family home and it was only after our two older children moved out that we decided to open Willow Trace Bed and Breakfast. We have five bedrooms, three used for the accommodation with each room having its own bathroom. Our acreage has wonderful views of the escarpment, some wetlands and walking trails around the five ponds, which were built as a nature reserve. We have our own chickens for eggs, bees for honey and make our own preserves from the fresh fruit grown on our property. I’m very proud of the eight kilowatt solar panel system that supplies energy back to the grid. Guest’s bike ride, swim in our outdoor pool and in the winter, snow shoe or cross country ski on our trails. Another thing that makes us unique is our a la carte breakfast menu of homemade sausages and our apple smoked bacon,” says Philip.

...creative and helpful tips

In 2008, Philip started teaching Diploma and recreational classes part time for Liason College in Barrie. After a year he decided to open the Collingwood Cooking Academy and convert the garage into a teaching and catering kitchen. The kitchen is set up for approximately twelve students with four gas stove/ovens and stainless steel prep tables. He also has a stone Barbeque, rotisserie and an outdoor pizza oven used for BBQ’s and Garden parties.

Philip is a self driven man who’s a perfectionist when it comes to food detailing. He loves meeting new people and to learn from their life experiences. A creative and passionate foodie he also really cares about pleasing other gourmet cooks. Philip shares, “We need our children to learn more about food and encourage the school boards to bring back health and nutritious food and education into the school system. Children need to learn the basics of cooking and how to prepare some simple meals.” Philip and Leanne’s five year plan is to operate the Bed and Breakfast during the summer months and rent their house during the winter while they travel the world. “We’ll eat, sleep, and learn about different foods from around the world and come home to create some amazing meals for our spring, summer and fall guests and friends, says Philip. To quote Philip: “An experience is not always about the food - it’s who you’re sharing it with.”

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

“I emphasize cooking techniques that professional chefs use, that can be applied to different recipes that will help you to “Cook like a Chef.” We have a wide variety of courses and experiences to choose from, example - Date night and Celebration dinners, team building, Bachelorette parties and costume courses,” says Philip.

All Photography on this page © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

HOME, GARDEN DESIGN

HOME, GARDEN

HOME, GARDEN DESIGN HOME, GARDEN DESIGN

House Poor

Photography © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Whatever your holiday style, make sure you take the time to enjoy decorating your home. When it’s done you can feel great about the new look and celebrate your holiday design in style, just don’t forget the mistletoe! ■ Karen Sweet International Decorating and Design Professional ™ www.altaireinteriordesign.com 54 www.womenwithvision.ca

By Karen Sweet

There are no rules for seasonal decorating. Maybe you lean towards a colour themed decor. In the past our family has taken pleasure in Christmas trees with a white and gold theme as well as blue and silver. You may also choose to harmonize your holiday style with your home’s design style. After all, your home’s style makes you, your family and friends comfortable so consider extending it to your holiday style. If you decide not to, then aim for an eclectic look which is unpredictable and fun. To avoid the appearance of chaos take care to balance colour and form.

DESIGN

HOUSE RICH

YOUR HOLIDAY STYLE! Are you a traditionalist when it comes to the holidays? If so, then you likely find comfort in holiday decorations that are meaningful to you in some way. I have Christmas ornaments and decorative birds that came from Germany when my father was stationed there in the 1950’s. Over the years I have added to my box of holiday decorations. Since my father was in the Canadian Armed Forces we had the opportunity to travel and new treasures were acquired in Washington D.C. and Ottawa. When I had children, I bought a new decoration for them each year. Taking pictures each year and saving them to hang on the tree in later years brings back lot of fond memories and a lot of laughter. They have asked me to hold on to them for the time being; so, for now, my husband and I take joy in unpacking each one and hanging it from the family tree. Our tree is always a real tree which we cut ourselves. We are fond of the locally grown Fraser Firs – they last forever with minimal shedding. When we start decorating I am always surprised and pleased by the transformation in our living and dining room. Think of the holidays as a time to dress up your home with sights and scents; feel free to layer the lighting and enjoy candle light as well as the soft, diffused lighting that sparkles from a fully lit Christmas tree. Your room can take on a whole new personality – one that invites you to entertain and take pleasure in spending time with friends and family. Make sure your entry way has a little shine and reflects the season – pots of fresh winter foliage with the accent colour of your choice or a holiday wreath on the door say welcome to my home. A fireplace mantle is an invitation to add garlands, candles and stockings for stuffing.

By Monika Gibson Your home is your castle. Many of us have a dream tucked into the recesses of our mind of the perfect home. But your dream home can become your nightmare if most of your money is directed towards the mortgage and there is little left over for anything else.

• Understand interest rates. The size of the mortgage you can

Smart home buying means knowing what you can afford well in advance of visiting prospective homes and making a purchase. Even experienced home buyers can succumb to the heat of the moment and pay more than planned for the home of their dreams. Some considerations:

• Know what amortization period will work best for you. The

• Be prepared. Know how much you can afford. A general rule of thumb states that your monthly housing costs, including mortgage payments, for a condo include common element fees, property taxes and heating bills should not exceed 32 per cent of your gross monthly household income. Your entire monthly debt, including credit cards and car payments, should not exceed 40 per cent of gross monthly income. There are numerous sites on the internet which can help calculate and navigate the numbers. My preference is the calculator on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website, www.cmhc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_005.cfm.

• Put down as much as you can. A healthy down payment means that it will be easier to manage other expenses. Typically 1.5 - 4 per cent related to the home purchase for land transfer tax, legal fees, and moving expenses. Any mortgage with less than 20 per cent down payment is known as a high-ratio mortgage and requires you to purchase mortgage default insurance, commonly referred to as CMHC insurance.

arrange, based on the payments you can afford, depends on interest rates. The lower the rates, the larger the possible mortgage, but leave a cushion for possible increases in interest rates in future.

lending industry benchmark is 25 years, this is the standard used by lenders when discussing mortgage options. Shorter amortization periods are available and will allow you to pay off your mortgage faster, the interest you pay over the life of the mortgage will be reduced and you will build greater equity in your home.

• Finally, remember to consider the basic costs of home ownership. Annual maintenance and repairs typically cost 1-2 per cent of the home’s purchase price depending on the age of the home. Build in wiggle room for unexpected emergencies, and consider the future and potential life changes such as starting a family, employment situations, children attending university, etc. Home ownership starts with today and builds into your future. But we are creatures of comfort and you should not give up activities and pleasures that you cherish to afford your home. Assess your spending habits and what is important in your life and build a home ownership plan around these factors. Define your comfort and your castle! ■ Monika Gibson Sales Representative Century 21 Millennium/Collingwood

Correction: We apologize for the misprint in the Fall issue, 2012 of Women with Vision! magazine with regards to Patrick B. Coulter as an ‘Architect’. Mr. Coulter is a Registered Designer. www.womenwithvision.ca 55

HOME, GARDEN

DESIGN

HOME, GARDEN

DESIGN

Barbecues sure aren’t what they used to be! Outdoor spaces are outfitted with chef’s kitchens. And why not? Gone are the days of only burgers and hotdogs on the barbie. Multiple course gourmet meals can be prepared outdoors so the chef doesn’t have to be “stuck” in the kitchen, away from all the fun. In fact, the chef’s kitchen can become part of the activities, with guests joining in – just keep the wine flowing.

Lots of winter activities can be held in your outdoor space; like watching a snowman being made right outside your comfy sunroom. You can still cook up a pot of chilly and keep it warm on the barbeque complimented by jugs of hot apple cider. What kid wouldn’t like to eat a hot dog outside in the snow on a bright sunny day?

LIVING

inside out! By Janet Kurasz, Hort, AMCT(A)

Sunrooms and patios are for winter too! So, I’m going to stray away a little from my “comfort zone” and not discuss plants or horticulture, but the other essential component of our outdoor space, known as hardscapes. Hardscapes are the inanimate elements of the landscape and primarily thought of as the masonry and wood work; however, should also include rockery, statuary and other manmade and natural features of the landscape such as dry river beds, streams, ponds, swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, etc. Now you get the picture! A landscape is much more than gardens filled with plants. More and more our outdoor space is becoming a predominant feature of our homes which by the way can be used year round; and not just to create a pretty picture or frame the front entrance; it is a total extension of our homes and really should be an extension of our lifestyle. The landscape that is designed, or at the very least, has elements incorporating the interior design of our homes, is a landscape that we will be drawn to and ultimately spend more time in. If you love to entertain and your style is informal and casual, incorporating a large space in the home, then throw open the doors and allow the party to spill into the indoor-outdoor space.

Collingwood Unit 17, Harbour Centre 20 Balsam Street 705-445-6165 Owen Sound RR5 519-372-9411 1-800-513-3025

www.clarkpools.com clarkpoolscollingwood@bellnet.ca

56 www.womenwithvision.ca

A patio should be large and open with casual outdoor, practical furniture, light enough to easily move around. Planters, water features, light fixtures and other accessories should be placed to allow for unobstructed movement and large groups to gather. A tall pergola with lights, a climbing vine which even in winter can give an ornamental and artistic look as the snow is captured by the twist and turns of the vine. Just as in interior design, making use of vertical space can add another dimension, expanding its use and creating the illusion of a much larger room.

Serving South Georgian Bay

Professional Interior Design for your Entire Home

Whatever your style, be it informal, formal, a bit of both, or somewhere in between, why not bring some of your personality to the indoor-outdoor space? The benefits will go well beyond what you imagined!

■ Janet Kurasz, Horticulturist www.kurasz.ca

Call for your FREE one hour consultation Karen Sweet LL.B., IDDP® 519.599.3779 www.altaireinteriodesign.com

Monika Gibson Sales Representative

My passion and dedication in Real Estate and our community leads to

YOUR GOOD FORTUNE!

72 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, ON L9Y 0E4 Direct Line: 705-607-0445 Office: 705-445-5640 monika.gibson@century21.ca

www.womenwithvision.ca 57

HOME, GARDEN

Don’t Rule

Out Anything

DESIGN

“I jumped at the chance. It wasn’t long before I was in love with the country and the hospitality industry.” Belize is a small country bordered by Mexico in the north and Guatemala in the west. There are coral coloured beaches and mangrove islands rising off the ocean floor.” “I spent a lot of time windsurfing, but I was only a teenager at the time and my attitude toward life and people changed while living there. I saw things differently. I could smell the poverty. It was a reality check for me. The experience served me well,” says Roger. Roger returned to Canada to finish school and moved to Collingwood shortly after in 1984. “I worked in ski shops as a ski mechanic, and in the restaurants as a chef…you know, the ‘classic Collingwood jobs’. Working in the local restaurants with flexible hours gave me lots of time to pursue windsurfing more and more.”

By Lorraine Leslie I’ve always admired the talents of Roger Klein, videotaping snowboarders swishing down the slopes right toward his camera, roaming around downtown Collingwood, conducting impromptu interviews or researching environmental stories to report for CTV News. Whenever Roger and I have chatted I have found him receptive and interested in what is going on around him at that present moment in time.

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Roger enjoyed being outdoors as a little boy. “I was always doing something outdoors either with friends or by myself. I lived in a rural area so I was comfortable, pretty much anywhere,” says Roger. Roger’s father was also a Broadcaster who would often take him on “cross country” trips over northern Ontario in his 4-seater, Cessna 170. “My father thought it was important that I was trained in some basic survival skills since we were flying over large areas of bush north of Lake Superior,” says Roger. A handbook called ‘Down but Not Out’ (bush pilots manual/self-help book) was their reference, which later in life led Roger to work in his chosen field of expertise, the environment. “Life was pretty normal until I moved to Belize,” he says. Roger’s mother moved to the small Central American country to work in a new hotel being built and she invited him to live with her for a while and explore.

“I was lucky; a local windsurfing guru named Lee Brittain saw my passion and gave me a job in his shop.” Roger spent several years building his name as an airbrush artist and learning the trade, then launched his own surfboard company “Fathom” which is still running today. With the support of his partners and the community of windsurfers in Collingwood, the “Fathom” brand grew. “My specialty became high performance boards which I started to ship all over the world; the Canadian dollar was fluctuating in our favour. At the time my clients came from California, Oregon, the Caribbean and Bermuda. I’m still riding the same boards, today twenty years later.” “We hosted the Canadian Windsurfing Championships in Collingwood, which was my first break into media. We had great sponsors and it brought big names and celebrities to the event.” “At the time CKVR was being rebranded as THE NEW VR. The news crews covered the championships, every day. The news stories were made into a half hour show that went on to win a Can Pro award. Over the next several months I got to know some people in the television industry. As I was very familiar with the changing weather patterns around Georgian Bay, I was approached to do the weekend weather for VR Land News. I actually auditioned and got the job. It was a great place to cut my teeth. It was hands on and with all the tools of the trade available to me, I trained myself to run a video camera and edit. Of course, there were a lot of bumps along the way,” says Roger. VR was owned and operated by CHUM at the time and they had to fill seven minutes per half hour within children’s programming. That was Roger’s next big opportunity. His job was to come up with twenty-one minutes daily of adlib and interactive material. It turned into a full time gig being on the air, live, five days a week,

plus continuing to be the weekend weatherman. That’s when Roger was hired full time, even though in reality he was already working seven days a week. He then started taping segments on location to fill the twenty-one minutes. This spawned another half hour show called ‘Rogers New Reality’. “I was travelling all over Canada with a small crew; we produced 180 episodes that were broadcast across the country,” says Roger. For Roger, it was certainly an educational experience. “I’ve done thousands of interviews with a broad spectrum of people, from political leaders and scientists to business leaders and Aboriginal representatives. I loved that I could ask them any question about complex issues and have them all answer in layman’s terms,” he says. Some of the assignments Roger had were international news like the Walkerton crisis. “My research and knowledge of the environment has served me well on assignment. Having empathy continued on pg. 60

www.womenwithvision.ca 59

HOME, GARDEN

DESIGN

ARTS ENTERTAINMENT

...experiencing classical & creative masterpieces

Roger Klein...continued from pg. 59

for the people I speak with is also critical. I don’t judge people or their circumstance,” says Roger. For Roger working on the street can be a stressful job with its daily deadlines. “I’m out in the elements every day; in the sun, snow, rain…its all about living large…working all day to capture two minutes,” explains Roger.

“I’ve been doing my job for sixteen years now. One question we’ll have to face is how local news will be funded in the future as technology changes. I plan to go with the flow, recognize where and how I can fit in and work with it. I won’t rule anything out.” Talking and watching Roger conduct interviews shows me a hardworking man whose honest and open nature relaxes everyone he is in conversation with. Thanks Roger…your insightfulness and endless energy keeps us all informed 24-7 in and around the Georgian Triangle.

Rogers’s motto: ‘go to the scene and be conspicuous and the story will come…’

“Working in a small community one has to be sensitive and do no harm while trying to find the silver lining inside a story” shared Roger.

Women with Vision Making a Difference

Jessica Pedersen

Up Close & Personal with the RCMP By Lorraine Leslie When I heard that the RCMP Musical Ride was coming to Thornbury it reminded me of when I was a young girl and the first time I saw this amazing display of musical artistry with horses. I was awestruck by the brilliant, bright red jackets the riders wore and the chemistry between beast and the human atop the glistening black horses trotting around the arena to the tempo of upbeat music. I arrived at Cedar Run Horse Park shortly before noon on a hot, high, eighty degree, August afternoon to see the RCMP officers preparing their mounts for the first ride of the day. Both men and women were brushing, feeding and watering their geldings. As I walked over to one of the stalls a young, blonde woman turned around with a bright, white smile. We started to chat and this is what transpired. “I wanted to be a police office with the RCMP from a very young age, especially with the musical ride. I’ve always been impressed by police officers and the job they do; especially how they represent Canada.” Jessica Pedersen grew up on a dairy farm in Amherst, Nova Scotia, in a small community called Nappan. “When I started to show an interest in horses, my parents, Larry and Janet, were heavily involved in family activities, so it was decided they would get me a pony which I called Casper; he was a beautiful Appaloosa, all white with a couple of black spots on his bum. In the beginning, I rode Casper English style, but also tried other riding styles as I got older. This inspired my parents to start horseback riding as well. As the years went by I entered some competitions and got lots of participation ribbons. Riding then is nothing compared to what I ride now.” “Even through high school I wanted to join the RCMP. After doing some research and learning the criteria for applying to be an officer; one has to meet all the requirements and pass all their tests whether its fitness or academic I knew this was the job for me. I purposely stayed active and out of trouble so I could get into policing as soon as I finished high school.I applied to RCMP at the age of nineteen and was accepted in 2008. Before I knew it, I was inducted into my training right away as a cadet, and at the age of twenty one, I became Constable Jessica Pedersen.”

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“Every new recruit goes to Regina, Saskatchewan for six months of basic training which includes firearms, APS (Applied Police Sciences), PDT (Police Defensive Tactics), physical training, learning thoroughly the Criminal Code of Canada and, of course, how to drive police cars and be proficient at testifying in court. Those six months were the most intensive training I’ve ever experienced.”

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After graduation from the RCMP training, Jessica was posted to Coquitlam with a population of 12,000, a city just outside of Vancouver, BC. “I was in Coquitlam for two and a half years. I loved the city; it is so diverse from what I was used to in the Maritimes. “Having a great trainer to walk me through everything really made a difference. She got me used to the detachment and the people quite effortlessly, but being in the city, it was go, go, go from the start. You arrive that first day, only knowing text book theory, and before you know what’s hit you, you’re going off to your first call; I found it very exciting.” “My first day on the job was extremely overwhelming. I attended to a call of a man walking down the side of the highway who was quite intoxicated and needed police assistance…so they sent a woman to handle it.” Listening to Jessica talk reminded me of my first day as a police officer on the Metropolitan Police Department back in 1966. I remember this well…when I was on the job this was normal as intoxicated males feel less threatened by a female officer. “Since my career started, I was applying to be in the RCMP Musical Ride (http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/mr-ce/ask-dem-rider-cavalier-eng.htm) and in 2011 I was accepted and moved to Ottawa which first entailed a five-week, basic course. There are usually sixteen people on the course of which they select half. They run two of the courses twice a year. It was my lucky day when I was selected to come back and be part of the ride team. After one year of training on the intermediate course, I finally got to go public with the musical ride.”

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“The training starts with the very basics. This is a horse; this is a hoof; this is a saddle to how to take care of the horse, what to feed the horses, how to take care of our tack and the signs and symptoms of common horse illnesses. We then move onto how to ride our horse using the walk, trot and cantor. In the musical ride it’s all about the drill movements and maneuvers on horseback. We go from riding with a group of fifteen people up to a group of thirty people. We then train to ride with two people, side by side, and then four people, side by side…it’s all about keeping every move in unison. It’s constantly building on the foundation of the ride and the patterns of the different formations we ride the horses into. Timing is everything! It’s interesting how hard the riders work at becoming proficient as over 80% of the riders have no equestrian background. Most of the riders are fairly new members to the RCMP with training in general duties in the field before they come to the ride.” continued on pg. 64

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Jessica Pedersen...continued from pg. 63

“Lenny is the name of my horse. He is a nineteen-year-old gelding and has been part of the ride for twelve years. He measures 16.3 hands and all the horses are black in colour. I ride Lenny as a lead file in two rides. Together, we lead a team of other riders/horses behind us into and through various figurations all in a one hour presentation. One ride is with two horses side by side and the other one is with horses with riders, four abreast. Lenny is used to being in the lead file position and has been doing so for a couple of years. It’s hard to say goodbye to our horses as they become a major part of our lives for two years. Lenny is very friendly, loves people, and does a couple of tricks and even gives kisses when asked.” Jessica taught me how to ask Lenny for a kiss - he kissed me twice. “There are 29,235 Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada including all staff members. We are scattered from coast to coast working in metropolitan communities to small Northern towns. When I was posted in Coquitlam which is a subdivision built into the side of a mountain, bear sightings were common. I’d gone on calls about bears breaking into houses or attacking a human which is not something one would expect. Calls came in from people seeing all kinds of wild animals including bears

in backyards or walking across parking lots …and we don’t get bear training…so figure it out – we use a lot of common sense.” “During the summer of 2012, the RCMP Musical Ride preformed sixty times. Our travels started in Germany before going to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in the United Kingdom. I was selected as one of three women (nine men) who participated in the Queens Life Guard Change Over. Another female officer and I were on horse back standing in front of Buckingham Palace from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. over a 24 hour period. This was the first time in history that the Queen’s Life Guard has ever been replaced by another honour guard. I was so thrilled to be part of this historical event.” Most of the musical ride tour this year was throughout Ontario, with stops in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, plus two days at the Wyoming State Fair.” “In the fall of 2012 my time with the RCMP Musical Ride detail will be over and I will be relocating from Ottawa to Kelowna, BC.” “I’d like to spend at least five years in Kelowna and hopefully further my policing experience in IU (Identification Unit). Much like the ride, the officers have to pass certain tests to be considered to work in the Identification Unit before they begin

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the training. This part of policing involves going to serious crime scenes to take the photos, finger print lifting and measurement taking…everything is so detailed at a crime scene. All of it must be documented as evidence which later is used in court.” “As an RCMP officer one gets to see so much of Canada. I’ve meet some amazing people. So far I’ve experienced so many different things, good and bad; I see the world from a totally different perspective, and it certainly has given me a greater appreciation for the culture of our great country from all walks of life. It’s a never ending adventure to be an RCMP officer, moving around Canada from its east to west coast to the great white north to its southern border that neighbours with the United States”. Chatting and spending time with Jessica in Thornbury brought back a lot of memories of my days as a police officer on the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department. Time has surely changed how technology and sciences has enhanced the job. One thing I am proud to share; back in 1968, I was instrumental in getting an outdated rule from the 1930’s changed so police officers across Canada could marry. Jessica looks forward to marrying her RCMP partner and having a family one day and staying on the job - another rule that was changed shortly afterward. Thanks Jessica for sharing your career with our readers… Like Jessica, I agree, policing is a great career. It is a life choice. Oh, by the way, did I mention, Jessica is my cousin…how cool is that!

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Gayle Ann Pryer

Back in Her

Comfort Zone By Dean Hollin

There once was a girl named Gayle Ann Pryer – a rather shy, unassuming sort of girl. Being a natural red-head, however, (complete with freckles) she innately possessed qualities of determination and stubbornness, which would prove helpful. She grew up in an extremely sports-oriented family, with Dad and two older brothers leading the way. Of athletic stock herself, Gayle’s Nana, Hilda, saw tremendous value in introducing her young granddaughter to the art of needle and thread. This would prove to captivate. Whilst attending high school in Ancaster, Ontario, Gayle was introduced and became involved in the world of theatre – she preferred ‘backstage’. At this point – like peanut butter bumping into chocolate at a street corner – a somewhat unexpected marriage of disciplines occurred and a wardrobe girl began to take form. Her college education of Fashion Design culminated in a co-op placement at Hamilton’s professional theatre, “Theatre Aquarius” which cemented the deal! Never wanting to be anywhere close to “on-stage”, every bit a thesbian Gayle certainly was. For eight seasons at Aquarius she was officially “Gayle Pryer, Wardrobe Buyer”. (I mucked that title up a bit when she took my name in ’99) You heard me right – she got paid to shop. Throughout the Niagara, Hamilton, and Toronto areas, Gayle knew where to go for just about anything wardrobe-related – and everyone knew her. The fabric people, the shoe repair, the Stratford warehouse staff, the rental houses, the formal wear guy – professional relationships and connections throughout the province. Her days might be spent travelling with guest designers, skulking out rare wardrobe needs, or getting back to her sewing roots when a show was close at range and extra skilled hands were needed.

It’s nice to have a space one feels comfortable in – a place or capacity in which one can relax and feel secure…where things are familiar and, well…comforting. One of the downsides to that comfort zone, however, is that one often fails to stop and consider the great things in one’s midst. Guilty as charged! Sooo…I’m gonna tell you ‘bout the talent right under my nose…

For three years, (2003 to 2006) with the added challenge of two wee-ones, she supervised all the costumes for each of the shows produced by yours truly, whilst I ran Gayety Entertainment and Theatrex. Remaining in Collingwood and raising a family (four children now) is not easy on the career. Recently, however, with the wee-ones being not quite as wee as they once were, Gayle has stepped a bit out of her own comfort zone and started dabbling in film. Local company Mountain Goat Films ■ Dean Hollin has been employing her of late, and she’s mighty pleased to be Singer, Play Write and Live Stage Performer back in the game! www.deanhollin.com 66 www.womenwithvision.ca

Additional credits included summers at Niagara’s Shaw Festival as Buyer and/or seamstress. In the months leading up to the birth of her first child – a daughter – she worked with needle and thread once again for a company called Paragon Productions. There she worked on building various large-scale jungle animals for productions of “The Lion King” destined for Europe. Then came Collingwood.

...gentle insights of awareness and change

Cheryl

Hickey

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...Comfortable in the Fast Lane By Lorraine Leslie On the day of our scheduled interview, I arrived at the Global Television Studio, which is located about 20 minutes north of Toronto’s downtown core. I walked into the very brightly lit lobby, introduced myself to the receptionist and waited quietly to meet Cheryl again. My two-hour drive was filled with all kinds of questions running through my head, as I was mentally preparing for our interview when I was advised that Cheryl had been called away to the hospital. Her son was not feeling well. Being the mother of three sons myself, nothing more had to be said, and I rescheduled our interview. When I returned three weeks later, I had the same excitement brewing in anticipation of re-connecting with one of the Canada’s most popular television entertainment hosts.

Every second year since 2000, the fundraising event Titz ‘n Glitz comes together to raise money for Front Line Breast Cancer Foundation (FLBCF). All the proceeds from this “ladies only” event are kept in the Georgian Triangle area to provide assistance to people in need of funding if they are facing financial challenges while dealing with cancer. I enjoyed being the event’s facilitator since 2002, working off stage with our amazing hosts. I was delighted when ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey confirmed to be the host for the October 2011 event. It was such a great event and we had so much fun working together by night’s end, I seized the opportunity to ask Cheryl to participate in an upcoming feature for Women with Vision Magazine… and the rest was to be history in the making.

Upon my arrival Cheryl was gracious and apologetic that I had to make a second trip, but I reassured her that life doesn’t run on our schedule…it runs on its own. In the privacy of Cheryl’s office we started our one-on-one chat. Cheryl as a young girl

“I was born in Owen Sound on January 8th 1976. When I was around five years old my mom and I loved to watch The Carol Burnett Show,” she recalls. “I’d also play my walkman and sing to her and also telling her I was going to be the next Whitney Houston! She’d gently and oh so lovingly let me know that maybe that’s not going to work out.” Close to her family and siblings, Cheryl always looked up to her older sister, adding that, “I wanted to do what she was doing all the time. We used to listen to music together, tape record the songs and write the entire song out so we’d learn all the words.” Cheryl’s dad is now a retired math and history teacher. His own three children were students when they each attended junior high where he taught: “When I was in grade seven and eight, my dad wrote a play for me and my friends. I auditioned and landed one of the roles along with the other students in the school. There were up to 50 performers in the cast. One of these days I hope his play ‘Remember When’ will be performed again; I’d love to get the original cast together someday and perform it one more time.”

Cheryl’s sister with her Dad

Like many teenagers, Cheryl confides, she tested the boundaries growing up, but fondly remembers her dad matching any challenge she confronted him with. He would say, “You’re not sorry. You’re just sorry you got caught. We are going to sit down at the kitchen table and talk this out.” Cheryl admits, “That would make me sweat bullets more than anything else.” Without hesitation Cheryl attributes her career direction to her parents, sharing, “Summers were really special as I could spend them with my dad. We’d talk about all kinds of things including what I wanted to do during summer holidays. One day we were watching television and a scroll came across the bottom of the screen saying the local cable television station was looking for volunteers. My dad suggested we go check it out.” At just 17 years old Cheryl started a volunteer position with McLean Hunter Cable, working part time doing absolutely anything and everything possible…from minor reporting to pulling cables, Cheryl fondly remembers it was her foundation for continued on pg. 70

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Cheryl Hickey...continued from pg. 69

learning the industry basics. Cheryl noted: “I grew up a lot during those early years; having all kinds of exposure to how media works and learning from life experiences helped me to get me where I am today.” After graduating from high school, Cheryl enrolled in Fanshawe College where she credits the program for teaching her the benefits of solid time management and a fierce work ethic. “It’s a really good set up for anyone who is focused on working in media. You have to breathe, eat, and sleep it. I’ve actually lost relationships over this industry.” After completing her studies at Fanshawe, Cheryl landed a position at an Owen Sound radio station where she started out as the summer events reporter and then moved onto news. Following this, Cheryl made the transition to the New VR in Barrie, writing for the six o’clock news. Her dedication to her craft was not unnoticed. “At night I would go out with the cameramen after I finished my day shift. I wanted to learn as much as I could and they taught me everything I needed to know about operating the camera. They took me seriously. When another position came up for a camera operator, I got the job. I’ll always remember how supportive the cameramen were of my enthusiasm to learn the business.”

“One of the girls suggested the name, simply because it was in the middle of two soap operas. I thought my dad would kill me, but they all thought it was so catchy and funny! So here I was for five minutes a day adlibbing about soap operas.” As fate would have it, someone got in touch with Paul Rogers, the news director at Global TV. “With my limited budget I rushed out to LeChateau and bought myself a burgundy pin striped suit. I’ll never forget it! We arranged to meet at a coffee shop in downtown Barrie. I still remember sitting in my car saying to myself, ‘Don’t blow this!’ We had a great meeting! He was very professional and interesting. Paul asked me about what I wanted to be and what I wanted to do with my career; where did I see myself in the future and where did I see myself fitting in at different places.” “Shortly after that meeting I got an offer to come to Toronto and be a videographer. The job was to fly and shoot video from the copter. At the time, I was so excited (despite my fear of heights), but I still wanted to get my feet wet in Barrie. Ultimately I decided it was time to move on, so I took the job, which turned out to be the right choice and the best thing I have ever done.” Remembering her first assignment like it was yesterday Cheryl was asked to cover a man’s reunion with his wife at Pearson Airport, but was caught off guard when she realized she had to drive herself in the company car through Toronto…the first time ever for the girl from Owen Sound. “Every time I had gone to the city, someone else drove. So the satellite truck met me, and the guys helped get the story finished and edited. They held my hand all the way through. When I was finished I was jumping up and down and hugged everyone on the crew,”

Cheryl working behind the camera

One day it just so happened that a five minute time slot needed to be filled during a soap opera broadcast, and Doug Slack, one of Cheryl’s bosses, wanted to share the opportunity with her. Cheryl staked out an old make up room in the station’s garage, freshened it up with a coat of leftover paint, and like magic the set for “Lather Up with Cheryl Hickey” was born! 70 www.womenwithvision.ca

Cheryl’s resume and experience continued to flourish from there, and she branched out to cover court cases, crime and general reporting for the news. “My hat goes off to those reporters that can do the tragic and heartfelt stories and at the end of the day separate themselves from their job and move on with their personal lives. The crime reporters are so skilled at what they do.” By 2003, Cheryl hit the Festival circuit and by 2004, she covered Canada’s first live Grammy Awards show. Then it all came together when Cheryl heard that Global was looking to bring a brand new primetime entertainment news show to their roster and she put her hat in the ring: continued on pg. 72

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Harvesting My

Cheryl Hickey ...continued from pg. 70

“I applied for the job and later heard they were looking for someone nobody knew. I saw every beautiful and talented woman walk through Global’s doors and audition, and I thought I didn’t stand a chance.” It was time for Cheryl to step away and assess where her career path was going nextshe actually took a break in Australia. She even went as far as envisioning how to graciously react when she didn’t get the job. But the universe had a different plan in mind for Cheryl.When she returned home, the meeting with the network executives was nothing like she had expected.

By Marj Sawers Is there anything finer then to be laughing and sharing memories, or a good joke with family or a friend? Most of us are happiest when we are sharing memories because we know the punch line. That is your comfort zone. Just like a comfy pair or slippers, you feel warm and relaxed.

Cheryl with Rick Campanelli rehearsing for New Years Eve 2011-12

According to Cheryl, it took her about a year to find her own comfort zone in hosting ET Canada, “The crew is so goofy. I cry from laughing all the time. What goes on behind the scenes keeps us on our toes.” Over the past seven years, ET Canada has hosted a slew of A-list stars including Tom Cruise, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Oprah, just to name a few. Cheryl makes special note to mention how much the ET Canada team genuinely care for one another. Celebrities feel a high level of comfort when they visit the show. In fact, Cheryl shares another fun story of Hollywood’s elite with me. “Tom Cruise came in and made everyone feel comfortable instantly. He actually commented on how much it felt like a family atmosphere in the studio.”

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Cheryl with Roz Weston

“I’m in this large boardroom with Barb Williams, the Senior Vice President, Content (who is a superwoman in my eyes) who is sitting next to Zev Shalev, the Executive Producer. I was asked how I felt about being the host of the new entertainment show called ET Canada. I kind of blacked out for a second. Barb turned to me and asked if I was going to say anything. They then told me I would be working with a killer cast including Rick Campanelli, Roz Weston, Kim D’Eon and Rosey Edeh.” Then the whirlwind began! Cheryl and the team were meeting with the US executives, the sets were being built in studio and the show was gearing for launch in the fall of 2005, right in the midst of the Toronto International Film Festival. Cheryl could barely contain her excitement: “We were having so much fun! The first show looked like I was coming out of my socks. I was trying to find a happy medium rather than looking like I had swallowed sixty plus cans of Red Bull! I loved everybody.”

This past summer I took on a project that provided me with a lot of challenges (not always comfortable). The many perks that I discovered came as quite a surprise. My undertaking was to have a vegetable garden in our community garden. Although I have always had flowers, I have not worked on a vegetable garden for many years. Lesson number one reminded me that gardens are much like any project; if neglected it takes a lot of work to get it back on track. I weeded, cleaned up and went home feeling great only to face the next morning…more weeds. You’d think I was supporting a large family to see the gusto I attacked this project with. It started with seed catalogues, then a trip to several green houses. I was in heaven. I was working hard, eating well and had a challenge. That trait sounds familiar....

Cheryl with her son Jaxon

Cheryl is especially proud of her family. Married to Kevin Foley since 2008, the couple has a young son and new baby on the way!

I met a lot of fellow gardeners. There was gentle competition, lots of joking, tip sharing, and best of all crop sharing. I was given many suggestions and starter plants when the Master Gardeners were thinning their crops. My simple garden now had beets, turnips and healthy cucumber plants, thanks to my neighbours. There isn’t enough space in this article to tell you all the amazing things I learned about fertilizer and there were many heavy discussions on that subject. I was feeling a lot more confident as summer passes

about the project and no longer “had to go to the garden” daily. When it was time to tend to the garden I looked forward to it. I was sleeping better, I was breathing easier and able to walk the dog a lot further, and I even developed some muscles. I changed my eating habits, less meat and a lot more raw vegetables. The best result that came out of my garden was “my new comfort zone” As the season progressed, the harvest began. There was such an abundance of everything green, red, yellow and orange. If I wasn’t weeding, I was harvesting and visiting people I knew with my “vegetable of the day” basket. It has been a wonderful experience and I am sure going to miss it tremendously over the winter. The neat thing about a garden is that there is always next year. I have my winter reading lined up on how to improve my garden; it is right next to my old cook book on how to preserve my harvest. Last week we had a barbeque get together where we shared some of our harvest with our garden friends and got to meet their families. Good food, friends with common goals and their families was truly a great harvest. One side product I received from the project is…reaffirming my comfort zone…getting to know myself better and yes I am still too stubborn to quit! Oh yes, tomatoes anyone? ■ Marj Sawers, Retired Philanthropist

“Motherhood, being a wife and having a busy career is what my life is all about. Our weekends are full with grandparents, events and spending special time together.” As I wrapped up my interview with Cheryl, it was apparent to me how much she cares about the people she works with and that she thoroughly enjoys taking the time to get to know her interview subjects.With the tables turned, Cheryl definitely made me feel comfortable with every question I asked.

Kevin and Cheryl on their Wedding Day

Cheryl and Kevin

Thank you Cheryl for your heartwarming responses and best of luck with your career with ET Canada.

Rick Campanelli, Lorraine and Cheryl at the studio

Cheryl is a professional, engaging and authentic woman with vision; and I hope we get a chance to work together again in the near future.

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Heaven On Earth Intimate Thankfulness By Deborah Johnson

MOTIVATIONAL

Being a Clairvoyant and Medium allows me to be privy to some of the most touching and intimate moments we humans have. I would like to share one of the most profound times of awareness I have had as a Medium. Five years ago my father-in-law John passed away. My husband called me minutes afterward and asked if I could ‘check in on him to make sure he was alright’. Funny, how you can be in someone’s life for years, but never know the details of their siblings, their childhood and their innermost feelings and passions. Some of this knowledge I was now party to as I connected to John’s soul immediately following his demise. I watched my father-in-laws’ three deceased brothers and one sister greet him, but noticed his sister standing off to one side, slightly distanced from him. I observed one brother in particular seemed elated to see John again. Most interestingly though I noted that this reconnecting and ‘soul interaction’ was taking place on an ocean side beach. There was an amazing sense of warmth and sunshine around them as they hugged, laughed and joked together on the sand. My father-in-law originated from British Guyana however his upbringing was in Barbados and his love of this tropical Island had never diminished over the years. It was on a Bajan beach his spirit now stood. What I ‘saw’ next was profoundly enlightening for me. I ‘watched’ as my father-in-laws’ siblings stepped quietly to one side as my father-in-law rolled his pant legs up slightly, just as he would have done in life, and placed his now naked feet into the gentle waves It was daybreak in Barbados as my father stood serenely watching the sun crest over the horizon. He stood there for 74 www.womenwithvision.ca

fifteen minutes before stepping out of the gentle surf to rejoin his family who were still quietly yet patiently waiting. During this fifteen minutes there was no conversation, just a period of tranquil solitude allowing my father-in-law to soak in for the last time, his most cherished memory of earth and the physical plane. It was during this fifteen minutes I came to understand that our existence here isn’t all about the people we have shared our lives with; it is also about our love of the earth itself and the locale we most cherished – our piece of Heaven on Earth. I have witnessed a number of passings since my father-inlaws and in each instance, we are given that final time to mentally, emotionally and spiritually place ourselves in our most loved physical location to savour it one last time before we depart for good. As a footnote, I checked with my husband regarding the family who greeted my father-in-law; and that one sister standing off to the side – they never saw eye to eye on the physical plane, and although she was there to welcome him, still stood off slightly, just as she did when alive.

■ Deborah Johnson Clairvoyant, Medium, Author, Speaker www.deborah-johnson.net

...Four season fun for families and friends

DESTINATIONS

Soft Adventure Dog Sledding…

family fun! By Lorraine Leslie In 1997 Doug Nixon was in search of a business. He wanted to live in the country and realized he had to create a business that was unique and one that no-one else was doing in the Georgian Triangle area. Doug and his partner at the time started a petting zoo and organized corporate picnics. He heard about some husky dogs for sale over near Talisman and went to investigate… could this be a business. “We had no ideas on how to run a business, work with dogs or how to run a sled, let alone hook up a team of dogs. This was not something I had planned on doing.”

getting three cups of kibble, morning and night, along with their own large bowl of fresh water. The dogs sleep in individual Aframed shelters with a run path around each one. They have their own space yet they are facilitated in a group location in separate fields on the farm. Huskies can stay outside in the dead of winter, down to a chilling 100 degrees below zero.

“At first we had eight dogs, which was a real challenge…they fought with each other simply because we didn’t know not to mix the dogs (female beside female and male beside male) up on a sled. Now I like to refer to a hook up as a Romantic Experience - I now run the dogs in pairs; male and female dogs beside each other when they are pulling the sled.”

They have a double coat…the inner coat insulates and keeps them warm while the outer coat repels the water and snow. During the summer the dogs are groomed to loosen their winter hair which keeps them comfortable during the warmth of summer but also ensures the new winter coat comes in unmatted.”

Huskies are quiet dogs naturally; it is only the excitement of bonding (pack mentality) that will start them barking. “We have thirty-one dogs which are fed twice a day, each of them

“Originally we started out with two kinds of huskies; Siberian and mixed Alaskan. They were pure bred but later were cross bred. We are not into ‘show dogs’; we look for their natural soft temperament and muscular strength to pull the sleds. Today all the dogs we use are born and raised on the farm. With up to sixty children coming to dogsled at one time the dogs must be gentle.” “Families and their children are full of anticipation, not really knowing what to expect when they arrive for the first time. All they can see when they enter the courtyard are sleds and barking dogs.With a little patience and explanation, before they know it, they are taking turns leading their team of dogs down the trail and onto the running track.” “We have a lot of open acreage on the farm behind the main house where we have built a trail about a quarter of kilometer in length shaped like a high school running track”.

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It takes about ten minutes to hook up a sled team of dogs. If the area gets a huge dump of snow Doug takes a snowmobile and packs down the outer trails and track so the dogs can pull the sleds a little easier. “Dog sledding is a team effort. It’s all about the rider encouraging the dogs to pull the sled. With a little assistance from the rider by peddling along side the sled runner blades the sled moves along quickly.” “A very rewarding experience is working and watching physically and mentally challenged people come to ride the dog sleds. One girl with autism loved the dogs and the sleds…her parents were so happy to see their daughter relate to the experience so naturally.” The farm can accommodate sixty-five adults and forty-five children at any given time. The dog sledding experience lasts approximately two hours, which includes petting the other farm animals, building an ice igloo and drinking hot chocolate. ’Farmer Doug’ and his staff love what they do and hope for lots of snow so the dogs can do what they do best…creating a soft adventure with family fun, pulling the sleds and run, run, run! I can hardly wait until my January dog sledding experience.

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DESTINATIONS

Georgian Bowl has been a family-run business since 1963. Purchased by Ray Hanley in 1982 the bowling centre has been run by his two sons Aaron and Trevor, and Trevor’s wife Lee. Bowling is a sport everyone can play. Both young and old can play whether they are a natural athlete or not. Bowling is a great activity for Grandparents to take their grandkids. Georgian Bowl has twelve lanes of 5-pin bowling with computerized scoring, plus bumpers to help the little ones keep the ball on the lane. They offer glow-in-the-dark bowling at certain times which is very popular but there can also be a challenging environment for family and friends who are a little bit more competitive. Bowling is a mind-over-matter game. To be a good bowler one needs to be focused and concentrate and that comes with practice. Georgian Bowl has leagues for every age and ability. Both Trevor and Aaron are certified coaches and enjoy offering bowling tips to the novice who would like to improve their game. They had twenty two youth bowlers represent Collingwood at the Provincial Championships last season. Georgian Bowl is always looking to improve their business. They have just installed a new cash-back rewards program. Bowling is a great activity to increase ones muscle tone and strength….come give us a try! www.georgianbowl.com

78 www.womenwithvision.ca

As the

Mountain Turns...

80 www.womenwithvision.ca All Photography this page © Lorraine Leslie | L’original Productions | Women with Vision! Magazine™

Spe cial Even ts S howc as ing th e Co m m un ity. .. GEORGIAN BAY LIFE

& PICTORIAL ©

GEORGIAN BAY LIFE

& PICTORIAL

www.womenwithvision.ca 81

Life Numbers PERSONALITY NUMBER REVEALS ASPECTS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE SHARING By Paola Gucciardi Your Personality number reveals aspects of your personality that you feel comfortable sharing with others upon meeting them for the first time. Only when you are truly comfortable with and have gained the trust of others, do you allow the deeper aspects of your nature to be revealed. The Personality number offers clues about how others perceive you.

To Calculate... Add

the numerical values of the consonants in your full name Note: Consider “Y” a consonant if syllable has another vowel (ex. Joyce)

Example:

1 M A R Y J O Y C E B A K 2 4 9 2 1 7 3 2 2 3 13 = 1 + 3 = 4 11 13 = 1 + 3 = 4 4 4 + 11 + 4 = 19; 1 + 9 = 10; 1 + 0 = 1 Personality

1. Write your full name as it appears on your birth certificate 2. Using the chart, record the numerical value of each consonant 3. Subtotal the value of your first, middle and last name until sum is reduced to a single digit (Except for 11 and 22) 4. Add the subtotals until the sum is reduced to a single digit

By Lorraine Leslie

Personality 1 People sense

you are a dynamic, innovative and determined individual who enjoys adventure. As a leader you can project an intimidating and aggressive persona. Others sense you will not be pushed around.

Personality 2 Immediately upon

meeting you, individuals are attracted to your gentle, friendly and unthreatening nature. They sense your perceptive and open personality as well as your desire for harmony.

Personality 3 Individuals are immediately attracted to your charming, inspiring and cheerful personality. Your extroverted, spontaneous and witty nature makes you the life of the party. However, your popularity may cause you to scatter your attention. Personality 4 Others sense

your conservative, conventional and practical persona. Your concern with your 83 www.womenwithvision.ca

1 A J S

2 B K T

3 C L U

future, security and your loved ones is apparent. Individuals admire your strong work ethics and trust your judgment. Personality 5 Your upbeat, optimistic and charismatic personality attracts others like a magnet. People sense your love of freedom and adventure, and expect the unexpected from you. They are drawn to the confidence you radiate.

Personality 6 Immediately people sense your understanding, compassion and generosity. Seen as a maternal or paternal figure they often unload their burdens. To your own detriment, you tend to sacrifice your own desires for the good of others. Personality 7 Since you project a serious, mysterious and often aloof demeanour people find it difficult to get to know you. They are attracted to and respect your exceptional wisdom and intelligence.

4 D M V

5 E N W

6 F O X

7 G P Y

R 9

8 H Q Z

9 I R

Personality 8 Your powerful

presence is immediately noticed. People recognize your natural ability to lead and to accomplish goals. In fact, your confidence and enthusiasm often attract people with resources.

Personality 9

Many admire and are attracted to your calm, sensitive and charismatic nature. They sense your compassion for humanity and your commitment to positively address the needs of the world.

■ Paola Gucciardi, Numerologist www.lifenumbers.ca

Celebrating 14 Years in Business

What’s Your

VISION!

™

If your goal is to build a rewarding and exciting career in publishing, then look no further than the best woman-owned company & professional networking team ~ Women with Vision! Inc.We can provide you with the opportunity to create a great career. Women with Vision! Inc. is an award-winning publishing company that educates, promotes, inspires and motivates its readership, locally, provincially and across Canada. If you’re a positive outgoing person who likes to:

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Meet new people daily Showcase your community Educate, motivate and inspire others Work with a dedicated team of professionals Make a great income while having fun… ...then Women with Vision! Magazine is for you! Women with...

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VISION! VISION! VISION! ™

WE ARE CANADIAN

Spring 2011

A Love Affair

Open All Your Senses

with Plants

to Spring

GROW

The Menopause

YOUR OWN FOOD WITH

TIRE

NO-TILL

Meredith Deasley The Resourceful Mother

™

Summer 2011

USING ROCK

Oh Baby

in your landscape

It’s Hot Outside

Showcasing Business & Lifestyle in Collingwood, Meaford, Thornbury, Wasaga Beach & Owen Sound

Select the Right

NUTRITIONAL CHALLENGES

Shawne Duperon My ‘Aha’ Moment!

Create a Positive Personal Statement

WINDOW COVERING

with

Fashion

Back to School

Kids

GARDENING

FIT-IN

™

WE ARE CANADIAN

Snack’ibles

SEXY SUMMER FASHIONS

FALL Gardening GUIDE

Tracy Moore

Lynda Pogue

Local Artists:

Life is a Marathon

MICHAEL POCOCK & SUSAN CONNOLLY

Dances with Colours

Fall 2011 B

We provide training, additional income streams, a vested interest in building the company, retirement security for you and your family while owning your own business within a business. Now that’s a VISION!™ Women with Vision! Inc. offers the opportunity of a lifetime for women looking to own their own business in publishing. Women with

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