city life magazine vaughan toronto feb/mar 2013

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STEFAN SAGMEISTERASKS: ASKS: HOW HAPPY ARE YOU?

PLUSSPRING INTO HOT HUES FOR YOUR HOME FOOD, DRINKS AND OTHER “LIKES”

WHAT TO WEAR AND HOW MUCH TO GIVE AT A WEDDING

EVANKA OSMAK’S RISE TO THE BROADCASTING BIG LEAGUES

p. 28

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www.citylifemagazine.ca City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2013 5 Vaughan Mills 905-660-9993 – Markville Mall 905-477-1273 Vaughan Mills 905-660-9993 – Markville Mall 905-477-1273 | www.loro.ca

CONTENTS

Sky Cranes and Electric Brains

Improve Canada50

52

ON THE COVER28 The Happy Show: Graphic artist

Stefan Sagmeister draws a roadmap to life’s ultimate purpose

FEATURES24 Courting Success: How Sportsnet

Connected anchor Evanka Osmak hit a career home run

54 Undying Love: With The Walking Dead’s success, we explore audiences’ obsession with zombies

60 A Not-So Sobering Prospect: Will Ontarians soon see alcohol pop up in their local grocery and convenience stores?

BUSINESS32 Passionately Curious: Journalist Amanda

Lang on The Power of Why 44 Entrepreneurial Confessions: Ontario’s

top entrepreneurs share their Ernst & Young award-winning advice

48 The 50 Business + Life Lessons 2012 Taught Me: A Robin Sharma shortlist on life-changing goals

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 20 Drawing Hope: Artist and photographer

Shawn Van Daele creates storybook outlooks for children in need

64 Elisapie in the Sky: How a Montreal pop singer is making sound waves

65 In the Library: From Taschen’s Her Majesty to reporter Susannah Cahalan’s Brain on Fire, there’s a book for everyone

25Jill of all Trades

36Home Décor

Feb/Mar 2013 Volume 11 Issue 1

50Pantone State of Mind

Evanka Osmak

Stefan Sagmeister

O k24

i t28

36Home Décor

Cadillac ATS

WINE AND DINE56 Food, Drink and Other “Likes”: Taste your

way to a great night

HOME DECOR & FASHION 36 Home is Where the Art Is: Interior design

gets an edge with these glam, golden picks50 Pantone State of Mind: Freshen your space

and wardrobe with approved hues from the authority on colour

PHILANTHROPY62 The Privilege of Choice: Guest editor

Rumeet Billan sheds light on basic human rights

63 Anthony’s Hero: Be the one to save a life

BEAUTY 18 Makeup Your Mind: Say pretty please to

these bang-on spring looks

WEDDING 58 Wediquette: The dos and don’ts of wedding

guest etiquette

REAL ESTATE 34 Moving On Up: Get your key to the reshaped

suburban landscape

TECHNOLOGY66 Better Life Apps: Get through the year with

fi nancial, spiritual and nutritional apptitude

AUTOMOTIVE52 Cadillac ATS: Is this compact Cadillac

superior to the BMW 3-Series?

IN EVERY ISSUE8 Publisher’s Note10 Editor’s Note14 People & Places 49 Readers’ Survey:

Take home these great prizes18 Makeup

Your Mind


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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Tosay that time fl ies when you’re having fun is a huge

understatement. Th is year we celebrate the 10th anniversary

of City Life Magazine. Launched in 2003, our initial issues of

City Life were very diff erent from the copy you currently hold

in your hands. In fact, some of you might recall that it was

merely a digest — and barely 16 pages. Its purpose was to fi ll the void that Dolce Vita Magazine had left behind when we moved our distribution from

Vaughan to Toronto neighbourhoods and to newsstands across Canada. Little

did we know that it would grow into the well-received and much-anticipated

bimonthly it is today.

As Vaughan grew, so did City Life, blossoming into the go-to publication

covering the city’s and your life’s most relevant stories. Over the years, and still

today, our mandate is to highlight topics that are pertinent to the community,

even when they occasionally stretch from across the globe. Stories of success,

courage, sorrow, hilarity, sentiment, but always quality stories meant to inspire,

empower and exude passion for life. We love bringing you these tales, and from

your support and emails we know you love them, too. And for this I would like

to thank you.

It is an incredibly happy moment when we hold a new copy of City Life in

our hands. All the challenges, long hours and hard work suddenly vanish. As

the ink dries, a smile and a feeling of pride swells the heart, spreading from the

printer foreman to our editorial team, to our designers and sales department, to

the newsstands manager and our advertisers, to you, our readers.

If we had to measure how happy your support makes us feel, we would turn

to our cover man, Stefan Sagmeister (see story on page 28). According to this

eclectic graphic designer, we should be able to measure this emotion on a scale

of one to 10. Taking in everything that has happened over the last decade, we

are happy to report a top score and 10 blissful years.

We hope you enjoy this issue of City Life Magazine and the many more

to come.

PS: Send us photos of your old issues of City Life Magazine by emailing me

at [email protected]. Th e oldest issue located will be entered to win a prize.

Michelle Zerillo-SosaPublisher/Editor-In-Chief

@dolcetweets

APPY 10TH BIRTHDAYCITY LIFE MAGAZINEH

Follow us @citylifetoronto

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR Simona Panetta • [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • [email protected]

A R T D E P A R T M E N T

CO-FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fernando Zerillo • [email protected]

SENIOR DESIGNER Christina Ban

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Marianna Osko, April Ware

WEB PROJECT MANAGER Steve Bruno

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jesse Milns, Christoph Strube

VIDEOGRAPHER & VIDEO EDITOR William Lem

REPORTER Amanda Storey

E D I T O R I A L

BEAUTY & TRAVEL EDITOR Angela Palmieri-Zerillo

FASHION & HOME DECOR EDITOR Michelle Zerillo-Sosa

COPY EDITOR Simona Panetta

PROOFREADERS The Editing Company, Toronto; Simona Panetta

SENIOR WRITERS Michael Hill, Simona Panetta, Madeline Stephenson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rumeet Billan, Robin Sharma

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Amanda Storey

P U B L I S H E R

A D V E R T I S I N G

T: (905) 264-6789 • Toll-Free: (1-888) 68-DOLCE [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Susan Bhatia

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Dina Mastrantoni

FRONT COVERStefan Sagmeister

Photo By Jesse Milns

City Life Magazine • Volume 11 • Issue 1 • Feb/Mar 2013 City Life Magazine is published bimonthly by

Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Unit 30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9 T: (905) 264-6789 • (1-888) 68-DOLCE F: (905) 264-3787

[email protected] • www.citylifemagazine.caSubscribe online at www.citylifemagazine.ca or by calling (905) 264-6789, TOLL-FREE (1-888) 68-DOLCE. City Life’s yearly subscription fee is $13.80. We accept Visa, MC & AMEX. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd. #30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9

Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Dolce Publishing Inc., 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publishers.

DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATIONCity Life Magazine reaches 251,200+ readers per issue through household distribution, newsstand sales and event partnerships across Canada. Inquiries about where City Life Magazine is available for sale should be directed to Disticor Magazine Distribution Services: (905) 619-6565

ISSN 1206-1778 Next Issue: Apr/May 2013The opinions expressed in City Life Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Dolce Publishing Inc. does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is in no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 17 years without any government funding or fi nancial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers.

©2013 Dolce Publishing Inc. • Printed in Canada


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Simona PanettaManaging Editor

Si P

ack in December, during the mid-season fi nale

of Th e Walking Dead, 10.5 million people tuned

in, and I was one of them. Why are we drawn

to media starring these wretched, shambling

beings? It seems so bizarre. But as you’ll fi nd out on

page 54, these rotting hosts of infection are actually quite

relatable. Th e repetitive nature and monotony of the

9-5 grind can often make us feel like zombies, shuffl ing

through routine tasks, staring mindlessly at computers,

idling in traffi c and lumbering from work to home before

we do it again tomorrow.

Not Stefan Sagmeister. Th e graphic designer,

who takes year-long sabbaticals to recharge his

happy-o-meter, shows us how to break free from the

chains and grasp happiness by the horns in our cover

story on page 28. Journalist Amanda Lang paints a

similar sentiment, probing Canada’s stagnant productivity

industry and reminding us how much more content we’d

be if we simply questioned the status quo (page 32).

Childlike curiosity, she says, can lead us off the beaten

path of innovation, big and small.

We all hope to reinvent ourselves at some point in

our lives — big changes, small changes, any changes. We

want to look and feel better, we hope to be better friends

and gain as many followers on Twitter as we can. But

what does deep-down happiness mean and how do you

go about fi nding it? Making magazines is what makes us

happy. We hope you fi nd it here, within the pages of our

10th anniversary kick-off issue.

B

TAKE THAT MOMENT TO SAY,

‘WHY AM I LIVING HERE, WHY AM

I IN THIS JOB, WHY AM I IN THIS RELATIONSHIP?’

‘‘

‘‘

— Amanda Lang

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Th e rights and freedoms we enjoy in

Canada are a great privilege, a lesson

Rumeet Billan learned during a journey

to Africa in 2007. What she saw

changed her perspective on life forever.

In “Th e Privilege of Choice” (page 62),

Billan tells her tale of revelation,

and her ongoing endeavour to

bring education and opportunity to

developing countries around the world.

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PEOPLE & PLACES1. CANADA’S BRIDAL SHOWBrides-to-be gathered at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on January 4, 5 and 6 at Canada’s Bridal Show. From the latest in wedding wear to fresh décor themes and gush-worthy venues, exhibitors unveiled those perfect touches that make wedding days special. Celebrating all things bridal, the innovative show introduced a Bride Rewards Program, allowing ladies-in-love to receive points on purchases made at the exhibits. One lucky guest won a $5,000 wedding cake designed by special guest Cake BossBuddy Valastro. Mark your calendars for the next Canada’s Bridal Show this upcoming September. www.canadasbridalshow.com

4. LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTRE AT VAUGHAN MILLSImagine your favourite childhood pastime come to life. Opening March 1, Merlin Entertainments, the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operation, invites Lego lovers to Vaughan Mills’ Legoland Discovery Centre, the company’s fi rst-ever project in Canada. Complete with a 4D cinema, brick pools, Lego rides and more, the approximate 34,000 sq.ft. indoor playground will build the perfect day of fun for families. www.legolanddiscoverycentre.ca

WEB For more events, please visit www.citylifemagazine.ca/people_placesFor sponsorship inquiries, please email [email protected]

1b. Cakes and dresses and jewels, oh my! Canada’s Bridal Show brims with all things bridal

2. Ari Nessel founded The Pollination Project in hopes of sparking change through individual action

1a. A stunning selection of wedding gowns at Canada’s Bridal Show

3. FORGET NOTMary Morganelli often turns to art to express her emotions. Her recent painting, Forget Not, is a conceptualization of a mind-blowing disease — visual and spatial confusion, a struggle with memory and time, the remnants of one’s identity, a fragility of mind — that is both debilitating and permanent. The man represents her father who, along with a tidal wave of individuals diagnosed annually, has grappled with Alzheimer’s disease over the last fi ve years. “My father was always the type to always be smiling; he loved life no matter how bad it was. Now he doesn’t know anyone anymore. It’s awful,” says Morganelli. The King City resident hopes to shed light on the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on the individual and his or her family, as well as raise support for the Alzheimer Society of York Region, which helped to arrange care for her father at Maple Health Centre. Dubbed the “Silver Tsunami,” Alzheimer’s is an impending crisis that is a cause of concern for leading global experts. The Alzheimer Society predicts that 1.1 million Canadians will live with dementia by 2038 — that’s one person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or related dementia every two minutes. “My father’s condition has made us more aware of how devastating it is for other families that struggle with Alzheimer’s.” www.mariellart.com

2. THE POLLINATION PROJECTWhat would you do with $1,000? Supporting individuals eager to put their social conscience in motion, The Pollination Project doles out a grand to today’s change-makers — individuals with ideas that will touch the lives of others — each day of the year. Whether your idea will benefi t your neighbour, the environment, animals, social justice or community health and wellness, the non-profi t organization aspires to nourish your intended good deed with fi nancial support. Calling on individuals in our community to manifest goodness in the world through individual action, founder Ari Nessel, a Dallas-based entrepreneur, explains that almost everyone has the capability of spreading hope and change, no matter the size. “The Pollination Project believes not that we need more Mahatma Gandhi’s or Martin Luther King Jr.’s in the world, what we need is individuals — large amounts of people — who are making small changes in and around their community.” To kick-start change in your community, apply for a grant at ThePollinationProject.org.

4. At Vaughan Mills Legoland Discovery Centre, kids build happiness, brick by brick

3. Artist Mary Morganelli hopes to inspire Alzheimer’s awareness through her art

Tweet us your event at @CityLifeToronto


PEOPLE & PLACES5. IDS13From January 24-27, designers from across the globe gathered at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the renowned Interior Design Show. A hub of experimentation, creativity and design synergy, IDS brings the Canadian and international design community together for a gathering of global proportions. Inspirational exhibits featured emerging and established designers, and highlighted international interior, architectural and product design trends. Canadian-made design stars, including Vancouver’s Douglas Coupland and founder of Dwell Studio Christiane Lemieux, were on hand, while Toronto’s Andrew Richard Designs unveiled a stunning new collection. www.interiordesignshow.com

9. A RENAISSANCE BEGINS At a signing ceremony on Dec. 19, 2012, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and Villa Charities Inc. announced a joint development project that will function as a hub for Toronto’s burgeoning performing and fi ne arts community. Serving the educational, cultural and recreational needs of the Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue West neighbourhood, the $50 million redevelopment project will house a variety of services, including a reinvisioned Columbus Centre, Carrier Art Gallery, Day Care and a new Dante Alighieri Academy that will boast space for 1,300 pupils, extended fi tness and music facilities, dance studios and a shared theatre. The fi rst phase of the project is anticipated for completion in 2016. www.tcdsb.org

6. BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT VAUGHAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES Vaughan Public Libraries is kicking off this year’s Black History Month with a series of art exhibits featuring the works of Black

History artists Celia Wilson and Samar Smith. The educational experience will continue with a visit from author Sandra Whiting, who shares legends and folktales from West Africa and the Caribbean in celebration and promotion of ethnic diversity. www.vaughanpl.info

7. L’ALTRA ITALIA Culture-infused fi lms straight from the boot is what L’Altra Italia — the non-profi t organization highlighting Italian arts — has been bringing to Toronto since 2002. Partnered with TIFF, L’Altra Italia screens the fi nest Italian projects at one of the country’s most renowned locations. For a kick of culture, movie-lover members can catch the screening of Il Giorno In Più at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on February 8 or at the Colossus Vaughan Cinemas March 21. La Moglie Del Sarto screens at the Lightbox on March 1 and at Colossus on February 28. www.laltraitalia.org

8. ANGEL HAIR FOR KIDSFive-year-old Giada Zingone made the decision to change a child’s life. Following in her older sister Noemi’s footsteps, Giada cut her hair and donated it to Angel Hair for Kids, a division of A Child’s Voice Foundation. Angel Hair for Kids is dedicated to providing wigs and hair loss solutions to children suffering from medical conditions or treatments that cause hair loss. www.acvf.ca

WEB For more events, please visit www.citylifemagazine.ca/people_placesFor sponsorship inquiries, please email [email protected]

9. Pal Di Iulio, Karen Manarin, Nina Perfetto, Ann Andrachuk, Bruce Rodrigues, Maria Rizzo and various members of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Columbus Centre Board, Villa Charities Inc., along with local politicians

5. This mod design by Bo Concept brings a minimalist touch to the Interior Design Show www.interitthethet Inteteterteert ioriori De DeeDeeesigsigsigsigsigsign Sn Sn Sn Sn Snn Snnn howhowhowhowhowhohohowhowho

6a. Vaughan Public Libraries hosts annual Black History Month activities that educate and inspire

8a. Giada Zingone, 5, donated her long locks to Angel Hair for Kids last winter

8b. Angel Hair for Kids aims to provide ill and underprivileged children with hair loss solutions

7b. L'Altra Italia brings the fi nest Italian directors and fi lms to Toronto and Vaughan

7a. L'Altra Italia will screen the Italian fi lm Il Giorno In Più this spring

6b. Artist Celia Wilson shares her work as part of this year's Black History Month celebrations

Tweet us your event at @CityLifeToronto


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makeup your mind PrettyPLEASE

These spring beauty picks get the green light Written By Simona Panetta

7

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Itbegan with a child’s doodle.

Shawn Van Daele’s parents

were rummaging through

their belongings at home

when they unearthed an old

hand-drawn picture created by their son.

Th ey passed it on to Van Daele to take

a peek at his childhood talents, but the

time-worn image sparked much more

than reminiscing for the 35-year-old

photographer. On that day in April

of 2012, the Drawing Hope Project

was born.

Van Daele, an artist both behind the

camera and in front of the computer

screen, decided to recreate his seven-

year-old self ’s masterpiece using his

skills in photography and Photoshop.

The end result was a fantastical,

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original, and it inspired him to off er

that same magic to children struggling

with life-threatening illnesses.

“Th e idea behind it is to help kids

realize that anything is possible,” says

Van Daele of the Drawing Hope

Project, which has made a colourful

splash in the lives of families across

North America. “Th ey get to see their

imaginations come to life.”

Sick children from across the

continent are conjuring up their own

doodles for Van Daele. Once the

art is in his hands, the magic begins

Ryley, “The Queen of Hearts”

Shawn Van Daele was inspired to use his talents to spark some hope in the world

Artist, photographer and philanthropist Shawn Van Daele proves that hope comes in many coloursWritten By Amanda Storey


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with a photoshoot with Van Daele

himself, followed by long hours at the

computer. Th e end result: a recreation

of their drawing that not only captures

the whimsy and wildness of a child’s

imagination, but shares their story of

struggle and hope with the world.

“It started out as a storybook,”

Van Daele says of his initial plan. “I was

going to take all the drawings and put

them together, all the kids becoming

a specifi c character in the book. It’s

turned into something a lot bigger than

that, though. It’s something that the

families are fi nding hope in.”

Seven-year-old Ryley Mitchell

was one of the fi rst to get involved

in Drawing Hope. Th e recipient of

a heart transplant at seven months

old, Ryley and her family have been

tugged through the ups and downs of

childhood illness.

“Her life is so — I don’t know,

reality-based, I guess you could say,”

says her mother, Johanna Mitchell. “She

has tests and blood work all the time, so

for her to be able to draw a picture and

then have somebody make that picture

magical, it’s sort of a little break from

that reality.”

Ryley makes her debut as “Th e Queen

of Hearts” this February with the release

of Th e Drawing Hope Project: Th e Hunt for the Hope Stone. Sailing, fl ying

and casting spells alongside her are the

likes of Kayla, “Th e Forest Keeper,” who

was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at

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only in North America, but worldwide.

“Th at’s kind of the route I took, and

I took that as an inspiration, as well.”

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Courting SUCCESS

Evanka Osmak was standing

at the centre of the Sky

Dome in the spring of

2006 when she saw an

opportunity. Th e budding

Oakville-raised news reporter, who

was working for an NBC station in

Yuma, Arizona, had fl own to Toronto

to interview Blue Jays’ catcher Bengie

Molina. “I thought, ‘OK this is my

chance. I’ve got to say something, I’ve

got to act,’” says Osmak, who aspired to

return home and cover Canadian sports

once her contract was up. Surrounded

by veteran journalists, she stepped up to

the plate and marched over to Sportsnet

anchor Jamie Campbell. “I’m Evanka

Osmak, I’m from Oakville but I’m

working down in Arizona. Is there any

chance I could send you my tape and you

could critique it?” she said. Impressed by

her confi dence and charisma, he handed

over all of his contact information and

agreed to review her demo.

He never heard from her. Six

months later, Campbell was hosting

a holiday dinner at his family home

when the phone rang. It was Sportsnet

news director Mike English. He was

combing the country for a female sports

anchor and wanted to see if Campbell,

who’s regularly approached by aspiring

broadcasters, had any qualifi ed leads.

Campbell immediately recalled his

conversation with Osmak, but her

name escaped him and he had no

Everyone talks about “the moment.” Seizing it, grabbing it, going for it. But how many actually do it? Sportsnet Connected anchor Evanka Osmak is a case study for carpe diem Written By Madeline Stephenson / Photography By Jesse Milns


contact information. Th e only thing he

could remember was that she was raised

in Oakville and working in Arizona.

“I said, ‘Look, here’s what I’m going to

do. I’m going to spend no more than 10

minutes on the Internet and I will see if

I can fi nd her.’”

Realizing his chances were slim,

he monotonously typed the words

“Arizona Television Stations” into

Google. His search rang up 40 or 50

news stations, but when he saw the

word Yuma, something struck him. He

clicked the on-air talent link

and “up comes this picture of

Evanka from Oakville, Ontario.

I remember sitting there going,

‘I cannot believe how lucky I

was to fi nd her so quickly and

so randomly.’”

English emailed Osmak to

see if she was still interested

in returning to Toronto. “I

thought, ‘Is this a joke?’” She

sent her demo tape and was

swiftly fl own to Toronto to

read highlights during an on-

air interview. “It was so big-

time compared to what I was

doing in Arizona, it was intimidating,”

she says. “Th ey liked me and I liked

them and a couple of months later I

was here working. If it weren’t for Jamie

Campbell, I wouldn’t be here,” says the

host of Sportsnet Connected. At the studio in downtown Toronto,

Osmak looks right at home. Cinched

in a sleeveless red and black dress,

the buttery-blond broadcaster can’t

be missed. “Osmak! You’re here early

for your six-forty-fi ve meeting,” a co-

worker yells. He’s right, she admits. It’s

2 p.m. and, considering she works the

night shift, Osmak would normally

be napping right now. Instead, she

settles into a leather chair in a deserted

lounge that’s usually abuzz with hockey

banter. Eight-or-so TVs stare blankly

at her. “It’s so upsetting that they

can’t work something out,” she says,

prior to the CBA ratifi cation. “I love

watching hockey, I love reading hockey

highlights, but I don’t like talking about

negotiations. It’s such a bore, so I hope

they get something done.”

Osmak has never been the type to

hold back. Th e civil engineering graduate

had been working in the fi eld for two

years when she began questioning her

career choice. “I was 24-years-old and I

was lost,” she says. Inspired by a friend

who was chasing his dream of coaching

basketball in the States, Osmak began

paying attention to her own passions.

“I loved how he was so driven and I

thought, ‘I’ve got to fi nd something

that drives me because engineering

isn’t what I want to wake up for in the

morning.’” Intrigued by the world of

broadcasting, Osmak enrolled in a four-

month radio and television program at

Seneca College. ”I knew coming to the

end that sports was what I wanted to do

just because I’d grown up involved and

surrounded by it and I thought, ‘Th at’s

the avenue I want to take.’”

“It didn’t work out that way at

all.” Osmak hit a brick wall when she

started applying for jobs after college.

After being told numerous times that

she needed more experience, she put

her dream job on hold and took a

news gig at a radio station in Orillia.

“I was making absolutely nothing and I

was living in a hotel room, driving

home every weekend.” She remembers

her dad’s displeasure of telling friends

his daughter left her great engineering

job to live in a hotel and work as an

announcer. “He’s defi nitely come

around now. He’s one of my biggest

fans,” she says with a smile.

Persistent Osmak, who was born in

Ridgewood, New Jersey, relentlessly sent

her demo tape to stations across North

America. In February 2005 she got a

call from an NBC affi liate in

Arizona. Th e news director for

KYMA got straight down to

business: “I got your tape. It

looks good. If you’re willing to

work for no money, come on

down.” Her dual citizenship was

a perk that paid off . “I said, ‘Th is

is something I have to do.’” She

went home, packed up the car

and drove three days straight to

Yuma with her dad.

Whether it was covering

high school football games,

investigating illegal immigration

or skydiving with the U.S.

Army, her two-year contract gave her the

experience she needed. “I was making

peanuts in Arizona, getting up at two in

the morning and then going out with the

camera to the middle of the desert and

being like, ‘What are we doing? Where

am I?’ But I look back on it and that’s

what’s made this even better,” she says,

scanning her eyes across the studio.

Since that game-changing chat at the

Dome, the gutsy tennis enthusiast has

become a powerful force in Canadian

‘‘‘‘I WAS MAKING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

AND I WAS LIVING IN A HOTEL ROOM

— Evanka Osmak

FAST FACTS

1 In high school Osmak was a ball girl for a Canadian tennis tournament called Sunlife Nationals.

2Osmak played ultimate Frisbee with her brothers for seven years. “Everyone thinks it’s granola-eating

hippies out there on the fi eld just tossing a disc around — no, no, no! It got pretty aggressive and I‘ve had some injuries. It’s a pretty intense sport.”

3One of Osmak’s fi rst reporting assignments was covering a Prince concert at the ACC while studying

broadcasting at Seneca College. “We just stood outside his bus and we were like, ‘He’s in there somewhere!’”

4While she has a defi nite sweet tooth, Osmak’s favourite food is quinoa. “I just found out that Fresh

is coming to Eglinton. More green goji salads, yes! I’m a bit of a loser like that.”


Building on your own success, what advice do you offer aspiring sportscasters?I think for me it’s that experience I

had in Yuma of doing everything. And

volunteering, also, volunteering at Rogers

TV. Th at’s what I always tell people

who ask “How do I get into the biz?”

or “What route should I take?” I think

volunteering is so important because

you have to know what everyone’s job is.

Everyone’s job is so important to putting

the show on the air at the end of the day.

Without the guys cutting the highlights,

my producer putting the show together,

without the camera guy, without the

director, I wouldn’t be able to do my job.

Th ere are so many people behind the

scenes that you might not see at home,

so having the experience of putting

yourself in their position or doing their

job for a day, for an hour, for whatever it

is, is invaluable.

Which event from the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games of 2010 will you never forget? It will always be the gold medal hockey

game. Th ere wasn’t going to be enough

time to go to a bar, we fi gured they’d

all be packed, so about 25 to 30 of us

crammed into the studio and we just

watched the gold medal game together.

And that was really fun, I enjoyed that.

Who’s your favourite athlete to interview?I think I’ll always remember my very fi rst

interview while working at Sportsnet.

It was on opening day at the Dome for

the Blue Jays home opener and I talked

to Aaron Hill. He was just such a nice,

sports broadcasting. “Some people are too

afraid to say anything at all and maybe

in that case, they’re not necessarily cut

out to be on camera,” says Campbell.

Reporting on events such as Rogers Cup

and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic

Games, her distinctive voice resonates

with viewers.

“Th is is something I never imagined

I’d be doing 10 years ago,” says Osmak,

32. But what if she never had the courage

to approach Campbell? What if she

decided, after a gruelling four years

studying engineering that she should just

stick to the original plan? Campbell still

shakes his head at the chance of it all. “I

just think, ‘I wonder if they would have

found her anyway?’”

Two hours have passed and Osmak

has just enough time to squeeze in a

wine tasting for her upcoming February

wedding at Th e Royal Conservatory. In

another twist of fate, she met her fi ancé in

Vancouver while covering the Olympics.

Based on her serendipitous past, one must

wonder what Osmak’s life will look like

10 years from now. “I hope to be right

here,” she says.

www.sportsnet.ca

EVANKA OSMAK HIGHLIGHTS

Evanka Osmak sits behind the desk of Sportsnet Connected. The 32-year-old anchor joined the Sportsnet team in 2007, after working as a reporter at an NBC affi liate in Yuma, Arizona

friendly guy and he always remembered

my name after that. He made it really

easy and he was personable, I think that’s

what I’ll remember.

Is there a Toronto sports bar you frequent?I’m still trying to fi nd a good one in

my new neck of the woods. I guess I

would say Real Sports but it’s a little

overwhelming for me. I think my ideal

sports day would be inviting people

over and having food at home and then

turning on a couple of televisions and

going to diff erent games. And then

having my PVR and being able to

rewind and record everything.

Renowned graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister visits Toronto to debut his riveting installation, “The Happy Show” Ph

oto

by J

esse

Miln

s

What makes you happy? Tweet us at @CityLifeToronto


Copies of Stefan Sagmeister’s

Th ings I Have Learned in My Life So Far are carefully

culled from a cardboard

box and arranged like the

Great Pyramid of Giza in the gift shop

at Toronto’s Design Exchange. Handled

like bone China, this inanimate book

with content so far from idle has the

razor-edged expression of irony. Its

author, a wonder of the design world, is

upstairs readying his highly anticipated

exhibition for tomorrow’s big reveal.

True to stereotypes, the New Yorker is

running half-an-hour behind schedule.

It’s 12 p.m. and beside the shop, two

men have just begun adhering life-

size letters to a freshly painted taxicab

yellow wall in an artery of the original

Toronto Stock Exchange building. By

the time Sagmeister is ready, the fi rst six

characters of his forthcoming exhibit’s

title, “Th e Happy Show,” are revealed. A

cheeky caricature of a copulating couple

covers the face of an elevator, off ering

a taste of what awaits as its doors

provocatively slide open to let us in. On

the second fl oor, the man of the hour is

heard though not seen, wrapping up his

third consecutive interview. Visitors are

cautiously welcomed by Sagmeister’s

handwritten advisory: “Th is exhibition

will not make you happier.”

Th e show is a sensorial glimpse of

the designer’s decade-long exploration

of that very emotion. Th is multimedia

endeavour metamorphosed from

maxims in his personal diary to a poetic

book to a public portrayal of fi nding life’s

ultimate purpose that will unravel in a

feature-length documentary scheduled

to debut in the fall of 2013. Sagmeister

makes his mission clear through the

words of French mathematician and

philosopher Blaise Pascal lacquered on

one of the walls: “All men seek happiness.

Th is is without exception. Whatever

diff erent means they employ, they all

tend to this end. Th e cause of some

going to war, and of others avoiding it,

is the same desire in both, attended with

diff erent views.”

Th ose polychromatic views are

ubiquitous in this above-ground,

underground-like space. A happiness

scale designed out of 10 vertical gumball

machines poses a stimulating question:

How Happy Are You? Research

on marital satisfaction, statistics on

country-to-country happiness, evidence

that money doesn’t mean much, video

installations and typographic quotes

from his coveted monograph, such as

“Trying to look good limits my life”

and “Keeping a diary supports personal

development,” are especially striking.

When Sagmeister emerges from a

pop-up wall in the centre of the room,

he instantly quells any preconceived

notions one might have of a crowed-

about graphic designer with a self-titled

studio in the Manhattan neighbourhood

of Chelsea and a self-cultivated esthetic

that’s gone global. “Hi, hi, hi,” he says in

his rich Austrian accent and auspicious

smile. Dressed in a wooly, charcoal

blazer, dark jeans and butterscotch

Oxford shoes, the towering 50-year-old,

known for his Rolling Stones album

New York City’s glorifi ed graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister showcases his acclaimed exhibition in Toronto Written By Madeline Stephenson

HAPPY SHOWTH

E


covers, edgy HBO ad campaigns and

well-watched TED Talks, looks more

like the rock star he once aspired to be

than the A-list innovator he’s become.

“Look,” he says with excitement,

fl ashing a teensy, yellow-faced catalogue

from behind his back. His oversized

hands fl ounder as they fan through

the pocket-sized paperback, titled

Th e Happy Film, which will double as

pitch material for the movie. Just like the

revenue from his speaking engagements,

all of its profi ts will be funnelled into

fi nishing the fi lm. “Th is is my fi rst time

seeing it,” adds Sagmeister, who moved

from Vienna to New York City on a

Fulbright Scholarship in ’87.

A press coordinator asks if he’d like

another coff ee. His swelling smile says

yes, but he hesitates as if we live in a

world where lips could be read. “I always

want another coff ee,” he surrenders

with a grin. We move to a leather

bench where privacy pervades. It’s there

that he explains his typical caff eine

routine actually consists of seven to

eight espressos a day, adding fuel to

his organic alertness, his delightful

repetition of words (ya, ya, ya, ya, ya), his

need to cross and re-cross his legs every

other minute, and his overall cheerful

disposition despite having spent the last

few days handwriting comments all over

the exhibition. “I’m very happy with the

progress, I think we’re going to be ready

for the opening, ya.”

Challenging the profi t-prophets of

overcrowded ad agencies that mass-

produce commerciality over creativity,

Sagmeister has successfully branded

himself an outcast. “Most design offi ces

work to promote or to sell something,

which is totally fi ne, and I admire the

people that can do this in a fashion that

is delightful, but I had always, since a

long time, had the suspicion that it

could also be used for other things —

that if it can communicate ‘please buy

this,’ it could also communicate many

other things. So this is another attempt

to see if that’s possible.”

His philosophy of keeping his

studio small and principled has gone

beyond attracting a like-minded client

bracket. In 2010 it inspired 23-year-old

multidisciplinary design prodigy Jessica

Walsh (who turned down a lucrative job

at Apple) to seek a position that would

enrich her imagination. “Stefan’s work

always struck a chord with me. I love

that much of his work evokes emotion;

whether it’s awe, shock, delight, disgust

or humour,” says Walsh, who reached out

via email. “He’s not only an extremely

talented creative, but also very smart in

business and a genuinely nice person.

Th ese are all things I strive for.”

Sagmeister, who has a reputation

for hiring as infrequently as Microsoft

modifi es its logo, responded immediately

and invited her to visit his eponymous

studio on 23rd Street to chat. “Our

meeting was very brief. After 10

minutes of fl ipping through my book

he asked me if I would be interested

in working with him,” she remembers.

Last spring, he went a step further

and elected to make Walsh a partner.

News of the new alliance was exposed

in a risqué mailer that featured both of

them in the buff with the explanation,

“Nineteen years after the founding of

Sagmeister Inc., we are renaming the

company to Sagmeister & Walsh.”

Just like the mailer, the selling point of

"The Happy Show" is in the transparency

of its message. It lacks the overly crafted,

abstract distractions that can make

highbrow art utterly incomprehensible.

It’s meant to be understood, discussed and

interpreted while giving you some saucy,

visual condiments along the way. “I have

no claim to know what makes Canadians

happy,” says Sagmeister. “I can only talk

about what makes me happy. But I have

also realized as I get older that I’m much

less special than I thought when I was

younger, and that whatever is true to me,

a whole bunch of other people can relate

to, too.”

In the fi lm, Sagmeister is seen as a

social guinea pig for various happiness

experiments that span from meditation

to cognitive therapy and even

pharmaceuticals. What has he learned

so far? “Well, a good number of things.

One would be that exercise works better

than meditation, which was a big surprise

to me because I had meditated before

and found it helpful,” says Sagmeister.

Th roughout the process he’s read more

than three dozen psychology books

and consulted several leading experts.

“Th e whole show made a big diff erence

in my life. I am engaged now which I

wasn’t before, so defi nitely my life was

clearly aff ected.”

Sagmeister has also become famous

for his 365-day sabbaticals, which he

takes every seven years to recharge his

creative batteries. As he explains in a

TED Talk called Th e Power of Time Off that has nearly 900,000 hits, taking

fi ve retirement years and interspersing

them throughout your career can prove

to be highly stimulating. After his fi rst

sabbatical in 2001, Sagmeister says his

job became a calling again, his fi rm was

fi nancially rewarded and everything that

followed was a product of time off .

He’s not alone. Both Google and

3M Co. have been lauded for their

corporate innovation programs that

off er employees a fair percentage of

personal time to pursue work-related

passions. Th ese breaks supposedly bred

the inventions of Gmail, Scotch tape

and Post-it notes. “Th e work that comes

out of that year fl ows back into the

company and into society at large,” says

Sagmeister. After informing his clients

that he’d be conducting another full-

year of experiments in 2008, he jetted

to Bali where he awoke to roosters at

5 a.m., meditated, created furniture and

continued fi lming his documentary.

As for the next one, “I put things on

a list but I don’t know yet where it’s

going to be or how we’re going to go

about it.”

HE DIPS BACK INTO HIS MIND’S INK, REDRAWING THE SCENE AT MICK JAGGER’S FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SUITE

Just as his working years are peppered

with pauses, his words are punctuated

by spaces of thought. In fact, the only

story he seems to tell with the fl uid

recollection that leaves no room for

hesitation is what Sagmeister deems

one of his ultimate moments of

happiness. It occurred in 1997, after he

had just received the green light from

Th e Rolling Stones to design their

Bridges to Babylon album cover. “Keith

Richards’s limo driver had picked me

up at the studio and I think on that trip

the sun was just going down and I was

basically going to Newark Airport to

fl y to L.A. to meet them. Th at was the

happy moment,” he says. “Th e meeting

itself was more hilarious than happy.”

He dips back into his mind’s ink,

redrawing the scene at Mick Jagger’s

Four Seasons Hotel suite. “It was so

movie-set like. I had seen very gigantic

suites, but it was just enormous.” Jagger

and Sagmeister began discussing their

favourite Stones album covers, both

agreeing, in reverse order, that Exile on Main St., Some Girls and Sticky Fingers were at the top of their lists. Cuing

the comedy, drummer Charlie Watts,

who was listening in, leaned over and

quietly asked Jagger what the cover

of Sticky Fingers looks like. “For many

Stones fans, that’s their favourite

album,” says Sagmesiter, of late pop

artist Andy Warhol’s iconic jean cover

featuring a working zipper. “Th e fact

that the drummer didn’t know what

most people consider to be the best

album they’ve ever done was just

hilarious to me,” he says, curling into

a laugh.

Walsh off ers another illustration.

“Th e happiest I’ve ever seen Stefan was

when he fi rst fell in love — and when

he was handwriting all over the walls

at the fi rst Happy Show installation,”

she says. After an aff able farewell,

Sagmeister reunites with his bona fi de

business partner to present the freshly

minted catalogue. Walsh teases that “it

might be just a hair too small,” and they

eventually segue into a storm of laughter.

Th e advisory Sagmeister scrawled at the

entrance is apparently a lie.

www.sagmeisterwalsh.com“The Happy Show” will be running at Toronto’s Design Exchange until March 3, 2012.

Stefan Sagmeister’s travelling exhibit, "The Happy Show," pictured at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania



Complacency and mediocrity

are given a swift kick in

the pants in the thought-

provoking, empowering

life book Th e Power of Why.

In it, Amanda Lang sharply explains

how curiosity, inquisitiveness and the

ability to connect to ideas can unleash

our predisposed ability to think like

innovators, both at home and in

the workplace. Lang, co-host of the

Th e Lang & O’Leary Exchange and

senior business correspondent for CBC

News, discusses her debut book.

What are some of the qualities you need to be an innovator? I think you need to allow for your natural

curiosity, which I’ve come to believe

quite passionately is a universal trait

— it’s something we’re all born with

— and we know that because little kids

are naturally curious. Real innovation

is just about seeing possibility and

connecting ideas. Th at’s it. My favourite

defi nition of innovation is, “an old idea

meets a new idea, and then something

changes.”

Einstein once said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Why is curiosity necessary for innovation, especially in today’s world? Th e key thing about curiosity is that it

completely undermines the status quo.

So, curiosity says, it doesn’t matter that

we know that this works and we’ve done

it this way before, we’re going to ask

ourselves, “What could be diff erent?”And

that right away changes the way you’re

seeing things and leaves you open, and

it could be very incremental, it could be

a very small change, but it could also get

you to a much more creative part of your

brain where you do get some of those

real breakthrough insights. Curiosity is

the key because it never allows you to

get complacent and do what happens

yesterday just because it works, which is

a very status quo bias. It’s a very seductive

kind of a proposition that this is working

already, why would we mess with it, but

that is also the root to mediocrity and

unhappiness.

Why is it that the majority of us take the road more travelled in that we don’t act on our ideas? I think we’re not trained to think of them

or spot them when they come up, fi rst

of all, and then I think that even when

we see them or identify that we’ve had a

great idea, we don’t want to take the risk

and sometimes that’s totally reasonable.

If you’re a doctor, you don’t want to go

off all the time inventing new things just

because you’ve had a great idea. So maybe

it’s just a reasonable thing that you don’t

pursue every single innovative idea you

have. But I do think we would do a lot

more of it in our own lives, in our own

jobs, if we didn’t fear failure, if we were

willing to take risks — that’s the biggest

impediment to why we don’t innovate.

We are afraid to get the wrong answer,

we are afraid to take the wrong step.

And that’s also something we learned at

school and from our parents: that to fail

feels bad. And so I think that is one of

the things that holds us back the most.

Do you often question whether or not the standard classroom teaching method will prepare children for what the future will bring?I do, 100 per cent. And educators do as

PASSIONATELY CURIOUS

Amanda Lang found the key to unlock a happy life. How the “why” factor can push the rest of us to challenge our fears and overcome mediocrity

Amanda Lang’s new book bares her passion for Canada and how curiosity can breed innovation


well. We all know it’s not new. Th e current school system was

perfectly designed for the industrial era and it’s not perfect for

the post-industrial era. And if you just think about the way

kids consume information — something like social media has

transformed the way they think about their peers and what’s

happening in the world and how they’re going to get information.

If we don’t respond to that in school, if we say, “well now we’re

going to use a textbook and a pencil,” even though in your own

lives everything you use is diff erent, it’s electronic and it’s very

horizontal — we’re not going to get through to kids. So I think

we’re going to have to adjust and we’re going to have to adjust

fairly quickly, because otherwise we’re going to have this whole

generation that just isn’t really relating to learning. And we can’t

aff ord that, we really can’t. Kids need to love to learn and leave

school as lifelong learners.

me, it’s actually any mid-sized company that somewhere in

its corporate culture says, “good enough is good enough” that

needs to give themselves a kick in the pants, because that’s

where the danger lies. Th e danger is: “Well, it’s working, we’re

all doing fi ne, why do we have to worry, why do we have to get

our exports to China, why do we have to buy that expensive

piece of equipment that we don’t really need today but we might

need tomorrow?” It’s all the cutting-edge stuff that we stop

doing when we get any slight bit of success, and that’s actually

where, I think for Canada, the biggest danger lies.

How does missing out on opportunities to innovate affect our happiness?I think we want to improve things and so, if you think of

innovation really as connection or engagement and then

curiosity — you can think in your own life, if you don’t actually

think about what you’re doing, take that moment to say, “Why

am I living here, why am I in this job, why am I in this

relationship?” and then take the next step and say, “What are

the questions I need to be asking here?” Th ose two things are

very powerful change agents, and so when you talk about what

innovation is, it’s really problem-solving is one way to put it,

incremental change is another way to put it, but the key is, you

can’t get it if you’re not engaged, if you’re not connected, and then

if you’re not actually being a little curious. And so personally,

those two things actually lend themselves to happiness.

For the full interview with Amanda Lang, visit www.CityLifeMagazine.ca

‘‘‘‘WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING THAT

WE HAVEN’T THOUGHT OF YET?

— Amanda Lang

Why is it so important for businesses to question their own existence? It’s both important and very diffi cult for a business to say,

“We know that this is working — this thing that’s making us

money and we’re selling — but what should we be doing that

we haven’t thought of yet?” Th at is the innovator’s dilemma —

how do you keep doing what you’re doing on that market but

also think about the markets you haven’t thought of yet but that

some competitor’s going to come along and steal. Some really

good businesses do use that in the fabric of their DNA: they

really force the idea of change and renewal; they create a whole

culture around it, systems around it. Companies like Procter

& Gamble would be a good example. Th ey know that if they

don’t keep innovating, they’re out of business, and so they don’t

just accept that they have a bunch of good products and stick at

that — they keep trying to come out with new things.

What industry sectors in Canada would improve if they just asked more questions? You can point to our manufacturing industry as one that is

in desperate need of innovation that would result in higher

productivity. But, there’s some really good research done

that shows that at the small-company level — companies

that are young, fi ve years or fewer in business — we’re pretty

productive, that Canadians actually are entrepreneurial: we

start things up, we invest. But as our companies get bigger and

older, we get into some weird complacency that sets in. So for

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How a mother of eight gave birth to a multimillion-dollar business, why two co-workers kicked their cushy jobs to the curb and what happens when a speed skater switches arenas. Ontario’s top entrepreneurs and Ernst & Young award winners give us a wake-up call with their wonderstruck callings

You’ve found success in many arenas, fi rst as an Olympic speed skater and now as the CEO of a renowned humanitarian organization. What is your attitude towards achieving your goals, regardless of the realm? Koss: I believe that in order to achieve

your goals you must be willing to work

incredibly hard, stick to your vision and

be able to see solutions where others see

problems. Th ese are the three key areas

that helped me to succeed when I was an

athlete and have helped me now in my

current role at Right To Play.

What is one factor most entrepreneurs overlook but you view as essential?Koss: I believe that it is important to

fail — to occasionally not experience

success. Th ese are the opportunities

we have in life to learn and to grow as

people. I believe that everything you do

in life is for a reason and gives you the

experience and the knowledge to tackle

future problems. Everything that has

happened in the past makes you the

person you are today. I have learned more

from my failures than my successes.

What advice do you give aspiring entrepreneurs?Koss: Be willing to work incredibly hard

and be passionate about what you’re

doing. Starting an organization and

getting other people to believe in what

you’re doing and support you is a lot of

hard work, but if you really care about

what you’re doing and are willing to

persevere, you will be successful. You

don’t need a fully fi nished plan before

you start — it is impossible to know

everything you need to do anyway. Th e

most important thing is to start living

your entrepreneurial dream.

What book has given you the biggest bang for your entrepreneurial buck?Koss: Th e book that has had the

biggest impact on me is the biography

of Fridtjof Nansen. He was an

amazing Norwegian.

‘‘ I HAVE LEARNED MORE FROM MY FAILURES THAN MY SUCCESSES

JOHANN OLAV KOSSRight To Play International founder and CEO 2012 Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recipient for Social Entrepreneurship

Johann Olav Koss created a global humanitarian organization that puts the ball in the court of marginalized, disadvantaged children in more than 20 countries by making sport and play a right, not a privilege. Right To Play’s pragmatic founder was deemed “One of 100 Future Leaders of Tomorrow” by TIME magazine. www.righttoplay.com

— Johann Olav Koss

ENTREPRENEURIAL CONFESSIONSwinners give us a wak

‘‘


‘‘ GOOGLE, MICROSOFT, APPLE — THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN TWO PEOPLE. PARTNERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN GROWING A BUSINESS

SHAUN RICCI AND SOMEN MONDALField ID founders2012 Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recipients for Social Entrepreneurship

Independence-craving co-workers Somen Mondal and Shaun Ricci left their consulting company careers to plant their entrepreneurial seed in Field ID, a paperless approach to safety that combines software, hand-held devices and the Internet to automate safety compliance inspection. www.fi eldid.com

How important is it to choose the right partner? Ricci: I think that fi nding the right partner is integral. You

need somebody that you can completely trust to do things

when you can’t or you’re not around. So how did we know?

Well, I guess we didn’t!

Mondal: I think it’s important that partners have complementary

skills, so I might be good at certain things and Shaun might

be better at certain things and combined we do a lot better.

You’ll notice as well that we’re a software company, and a

lot of the larger software companies have always had two

people, like Google, Microsoft, Apple — there’s always been

two people. So we really, defi nitely feel that partners are very

important in growing a business.

What’s one of the most unconventional things you did to succeed?Mondal: We focused heavily on sales to the point where we

would fl y to Texas and literally do door-to-door sales, going

to companies, knocking on people’s doors — we weren’t

invited — and stay in gross places, sharing rooms. For us

it’s not conventional because I used to work at RBC Capital

Markets and Shaun had really good positions at software

companies, so to go from having those cushier jobs to not

— Somen Mondal

‘‘

* 11th annual TD Waterhouse Women Investor Poll, 2011MK Total Wealth Management is a part of TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice. MK Total Wealth Management consists of Jeff MacDonald, Investment Advisor and Peter Konidis, Investment Advisor. TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice is a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., a subsidiary of The Toronto - Dominion Bank. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. – Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ®/The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto - Dominion Bank or a wholly owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.

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call this being innovatively disruptive.

We’ve disrupted what’s normally been

happening because we’ve changed up

[the market] and said, “we’ll guarantee

you a child-care space and we’ll let you

come when you want and we’ll try to

accommodate all of your needs.”

How do you achieve work-life balance as an entrepreneur and mother (of eight)?Sopik: I work and play all the time. With

eight children you can imagine I spend

lots of time with my children, but at the

same point, I always have my BlackBerry.

Sometimes people say, “well, why do

you want to be on your BlackBerry at

your children’s hockey games?” and I

say, “well, at least I get to go to all their

hockey games.” So for me I’d rather be

there looking at my BlackBerry every

so often and watching when they play.

I don’t send emails when they’re on the

ice, so when they’re off I don’t need to

watch the other children and I can send

them, that way it sort of allows me to

combine both.

What wise words do you have for aspiring movers and shakers?Sopik: Don’t overthink, because sometimes

you’ll be thinking so long that somebody

else is doing the business. It’s often best,

if you have a great thing, to put your feet

in the water and start to work and see

how it goes.

What aspect of your business model has been most fundamental to your success?Sopik: We’re very customer service

focused. We never want to say no to a

parent, we want to do whatever we can

to accommodate them and we send

that same message to our team. We try

to be as fl exible as we can and we off er

great career opportunities, so our hope

is that teachers that work for us know

how valuable they are to us because, as

you can imagine, if we don’t have great

teachers then we don’t have great child

care. Th ere are lots of opportunities for

them to be promoted or for them to

further their careers and what we know

is if you have happy employees, you have

happy customers.

How have you gone against the grain to get what you want?Sopik: I’ll give you a good example. Most

child-care centres in Canada will charge

a late fee for a parent, so if a parent comes

in late to pick up their child they’ll pay a

dollar per minute. We don’t charge late

fees because our feeling is that parents

aren’t intentionally late — they’re late

because they’re stuck in traffi c or stuck

at work. So what we do is, we schedule

our teachers to stay for half an hour

after the centre closes, so they don’t

feel like they’re late and the parent has

a bit of a grace period and doesn’t have

to panic and rush to get their child. We

VICTORIA SOPIK Kids & Company Ltd. president, CEO and mother of eight 2012 Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year recipient for Social Entrepreneurship

Named Canada’s Fastest-Growing Company in 2008 by PROFIT magazine, Richmond Hill-based Kids & Company was founded by Victoria Sopik (pictured) and Jennifer Nashmi. With dozens of locations across Canada, Kids & Company caters its child-care services to corporate employees seeking reliable, fl exible and superior solutions for a thriving work-life balance. www.kidsandcompany.ca

having any sales experience and having

to learn all that, that’s one of the more

unconventional things we did; hitting

the road and selling, selling, selling,

selling.

Ricci: At the end of the day it doesn’t matter

how cool your technology is or what it

does; if no one buys it, you’re not going

to be in the business very long. I think

that especially younger entrepreneurs,

they read about Twitter and Facebook,

and most of the world isn’t built up of

companies that make things for free and

give it away and hope to have a hundred

million users. Most businesses are built

the old-fashioned way.

If you could encapsulate your experience in one piece of advice, what would it be?Ricci: Don’t give up. Every now and then

you can win the lottery but most real

businesses take fi ve to eight years to

build and I think a lot of entrepreneurs

that get started don’t think about that.

Th ey think very short-term.

Have any unexpected challenges popped up along the way?Mondal: In the early stages it was all

about getting investors — how do you

convince people to give you money early

on in the beginning? But now one of the

bigger problems we face is hiring people.

Hiring those A-players that really do

make a diff erence in the company has

been a surprise challenge. You’d think

it’d be easy, but it’s actually very hard. So

that’s something that we did not expect

when we were modelling our business

and trying to fi gure out how to grow.

What does success feel like, knowing this all spawned from an idea, a conversation, a click?Ricci: Tough question because I guess

I’m not sure I’d consider us extremely

successful yet. I mean we’re doing well

and I’m pleased with the progress but

we have some pretty ambitious goals.

So to be where we’re at feels great

but I wouldn’t necessarily defi ne it as

super successful.

Mondal: I would feel I’m never at the fi nish

line, I always want more, I always want

the next thing.

Ricci: If we do $1 million in sales all that

makes us want to do is $2 million — if

you do $2 million you want $4 million.

You never feel satisfi ed.

‘‘ IF YOU HAVE HAPPY EMPLOYEES, YOU HAVE HAPPY CUSTOMERS

‘‘

— Victoria Sopik


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1. Hard work is a force multiplier.

2. Don’t participate in recessions.

3. Exercising for 20 minutes fi rst

thing in the morning is

a game-changer.

4. If you’re not innovating daily,

you’re on the path to obsolescence.

5. If you want an A-level company,

you can’t aff ord to hire

B-Level players.

6. Procrastination is an escape

mechanism for people scared to

do their best work.

7. Give your customers 10 times the

value they expect and they’ll tell

everyone they know about you.

8. Don’t do it if you’re not

having fun.

9. If you’re not scared a lot you’re not

growing very much.

10. Invest the time to create great

social media content and your

base will go global + viral.

11. Th ere’s never been a better time to

be a social entrepreneur.

12. It’s never been easier to be of

service to a large amount of

people (and few things are

as rewarding).

13. When no one else believes in your

vision, you absolutely must stay

true to your vision. (Have the guts

to stay in the game far longer than

makes any sense).

14. Th e quickest way to build a superb

business is to quickly develop the

leadership potential of every

teammate.

15. A job is only a job if you choose to

see your work as a job. All work

is a noble sport. (Th e reality is all

work is a chance to express your

genius — and to inspire the world).

16. People are craving transparency +

authenticity and community. Give

it to them.

17. Creativity comes in seasons. Th ere’s

a time to harvest your ideas. And

there’s a time to let the fi eld sit

fallow. (I’ve been working on

integrating this lesson for years).

18. Sometimes the most productive

thing you can do is relax.

(When you relax, your brain

shifts into alpha state — the

time when million-dollar ideas

present themselves).

19. Change is hard at the beginning,

messy in the middle and gorgeous

at the end. (And without change,

there is no progress).

20. Someone’s going to win in your

space. Why not you?

21. Ten times the size of your dreams

because if you don’t, you’ll wish

you did.

22. Pursue excellence versus

chasing perfection.

23. Celebrate small wins and you’ll

unleash a huge amount of

momentum and positive energy.

24. Learn for an hour a day, no matter

what. Th at’s not a waste of work

time. It’s a brilliant use of your

work time because you’re paid to

know more than anyone who has

ever done your job.

25. Why go for good at what you do

when you can stand for iconic?

26. Transform your fi tness and you’ll

transform your business.

27. Delete victimspeak from your

language. No more “I can’t” and

“It’s not possible” and “It’s so

hard.” More “I will” and “Th is

is awesome” and “What’s the

opportunity here?”

28. If you inspire one person each day,

your day hasn’t been a waste. It’s

been a blessing.

29. Living in the past is disrespecting

your future.

30. Build an amazing career but

enjoy your lifestyle along the way.

What’s the point of becoming

a business legend but a failed

human being.

31. Look people in the eyes when

you talk to them. Smile at people

when you see them. Say “please” to

respect them. And “thank you” to

appreciate them.

50Author and founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc. knows a thing or 50 on how to improve one’s self. A Robin Sharma shortlist on life-changing goals and plans for a fresh start to 2013

2012Taught Me

THE

BUSINESS + LIFE LESSONS

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32. Don’t be on time — be early.

33. Th e person who tries to do

everything achieves nothing.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

34. Spend the fi rst 90 minutes of your

work day on real work versus fake

work. (Another game-changing

tactic that served me so very well

in 2012).

35. Spend time in silence each day.

You’ll never do Jay-Z level work

if you’re overstimulated

by technology.

36. Goal-setting is mission-critical.

(Review your Big 5, quarterly

goals and daily goals constantly).

37. Your daily behaviour broadcasts

your truest beliefs.

38. To have the results only 5% of

businesspeople have, have the

guts to do what only 5% of

businesspeople are willing to do.

39. World-class begins when you

think you’ve done a great job but

know you can do a better job.

40. Remember that your greatest

gift is so much stronger than your

deepest fear.

41. Everyone’s in Human Resources.

And we are all paid to develop

the talents of the people we

work with.

42. Mediocrity is a mindset. Avoid the

mental viruses of negative people.

43. Be the most honest person you

know. It generally takes 30 years

to build a fantastic reputation.

And 30 seconds to lose it by

a single silly move.

44. Become a lion — not a sheep.

45. People are always willing to pay

for the best.

46.Th e more devoted you become

to serving others, the more your

career begins to build itself.

47. Problems come to test your

commitment to your goals, hopes

and dreams.

48. As you become more successful,

get more hungry.

49. Join Traffi c University. Use every

possible moment in the car to

upgrade your skills, polish your

gifts and elevate your mindset.

50. Use your life to make the world

a better place.

www.robinsharma.com



1. TAKES THE CAKE Planning a spring wedding? Treat your guests to a lip-smacking creation from I Do! Wedding Cakes. Cake designer Olivia Nguyen knows how to craft a delicacy that’s unique to you, making your fete a deliciously memorable one. www.idoweddingcakes.ca

2. WORDS OF WISDOM Start your day with a positive kick by cracking open this charming weekly calendar. Stay organized and inspired while planning your 2013 adventures. www.chapters.indigo.ca

3. HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Bright and cosy, the Rosette Euro Sham from Anthropologie will infuse your home with energy and bring some warmth to your down time. www.anthropologie.com

4. BRING THE BLING Australia’s trendiest accessories boutique has pieced together this coral-toned beauty. Reminiscent of the beaches, cocktails and sunsets of summer, it’s a piece that’ll give you a tropical boost.www.elkaccessories.com.au

5. NATURAL BEAUTY This Earth & Ore Cocktail Ring will bring a glamorous shimmer to your jewelry box. Slip it on to add the whimsy of nature to any ensemble. www.anthropologie.com

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Spring is in the air, and Pantone’s Fashion Colour Report has you in the know for all the season’s hottest new shades. Hopscotch your way through a spectrum of lights and brights

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Written By Amanda Storey

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8. IT’S IN THE BAG On the go? This light and elegant leather satchel from Danier will keep up with you and get along easily with any fashion you might try on today. www.danier.com

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14. HAPPY FEET You’ll get noticed in these eye-popping sneakers from H&M. Classically designed and blended with a shout of colour, it’s a fashion dare you won’t regret. www.hm.com

15. MONEY MATTERS The Money Receptacles folder from Knock Knock will help you get a grip on your fi nances. With its colourful, minimalist design, it’ll keep the cute and cut the clutter. www.chapters.indigo.ca

16. PRINTS CHARMINGIf the sunny wrapping isn’t enough to clean off your frown, the goat’s milk soap inside is sure to put a smile on your face. Coconut oil and shea butter blend to create a rich and organic lather. www.anthropologie.com

17. FOR THE LOVE OF LEMONS Craving something sweet? Dig your spoon into a scoop of lemon gelato from the President’s Choice Blue Menu. With zero per cent fat and 100 per cent fl avour, it’s the ultimate guilt-free dessert. www.presidentschoice.ca

18. LEATHER WEATHER Cool spring temperatures call for the coolest seasonal colours: this leather jacket from Danier will electrify your look while keeping you warm. www.danier.com

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General Motors hasn’t been

coy about its intentions

for the Cadillac ATS. It’s

targeting the top of the

compact luxury segment

— and when you aim for the title, you go

after the champ: the BMW 3-Series.

A tall order, indeed. In most cases,

such crowing would be passed off

as typical marketing hype. But GM

isn’t just beating its chest. It has

poured serious dollars into the ATS’s

development, building this brand-new

Caddie from the ground up — new

platform and all.

Th e fi nal product is not to be ignored. Visually, the ATS retains the sharp-edge

design of its big brother, the Cadillac

CTS. Th e ATS, however, benefi ts from

some dramatic evolutionary details. Th ose

square angles have been softened for a

sleeker esthetic, and the headlights are

more aggressive as they slice over the top

of the fenders. It’s familiar, but distinct

— a design that defi nitely works.

The interior, covered in wood,

aluminum and leather, is equivalent

to competitors. Th e dash has distinct

personality, and mounted in its centre

is the new CUE (Cadillac User

Experience) interface. It’s clean and

novel, using a touchscreen much like

a tablet, but could, however, become

cumbersome to operate while driving.

Beside rivals like the BMW 3-Series,

Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4,

one of the major drawbacks to the CTS

has always been its weight: it’s notoriously

heavy for this segment. Th anks to a

lightweight yet sturdy chassis, the ATS,

on the other hand, comes in as one of the

lightest in the class.

With lightness comes agility, and the

ATS is certainly nimble. A balanced

50/50 weight distribution and a multi-

link suspension system keep it fi rm and

poised in the corners. Th is Cadillac has

no problem going blow for blow with

the Bimmer when the roads get windy.

There are three engine options,

including a standard 2.5-Litre and

3.6-Litre direct-injected V-6. But the

real winner is the 2-L turbocharged,

direct-injected four-cylinder. With

272-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque,

it’s quick and responsive, but also great

on fuel: 9.9 L/100 kilometres in the city

and 6.3 L/100 km on the highway. It’s

also the only engine with an optional

6-speed manual. It’s solid performance

without sacrifi cing effi ciency.

It’s clear the ATS is a driver’s car,

an enthusiast’s delight. And that’s

its biggest problem. Th e trunk is the

shallowest in its class, and passengers

taller than a toddler will not be fans of

the tight backseat. Enthusiasts may look

past this, but families, perhaps not.

Overall, is the ATS better than the

3-Series? If not yes, it’s quite close. Th is

is one of the best cars Cadillac has built

in years, and the accolades acknowledge

it. Th e AJAC recently named it the

luxury car of the year, and Esquire

magazine dubbed it as its car of the

year. Take note BMW and Mercedes:

Cadillac is back in the ring, and with

the ATS, it’s coming out swinging.

www.cadillac.ca

CADILLAC

Leather and wood line the interior of the Cadillac ATS, accenting its sharp dash

The ATS was built on an all-new platform for added performance and safety

SPECIFICATIONS, CADILLAC ATSEngine: 2-Litre Turbo (272-HP, 260 lb-ft)Transmission: 6-speed automatic, available 6-speed manual0-100 km/h: 5.9 secondsFuel Economy L/100km: City 9.9 / Highway 6.3 Base MSRP: $36,985

Cadillac’s new kid on the block takes aim at the top of the compact luxury segment

Tweet us your thoughts of the Cadillac ATS at @CityLifeToronto


UNDYING LOVEEXPLORING OUR FASCINATION, AND OBSESSION, WITH ZOMBIES

Zombies — the lumbering,

reanimated remains of the

infected. Rotting, mindless,

driven by voracious

greed and a penchant for

braaaiiinnnsss — they’re putrid beings,

and yet television audiences fancy them

over the most carrot-coloured New

Jerseyan, the most vapid, superfi cial

socialites and, yes, even Charlie Sheen.

Case in point: Th e Walking Dead.

With its decaying swarms and

weapon-strapped protagonists, Walkinghas been crowned the king of basic cable.

In December, this television adaptation

of the eponymous graphic novel drew

10.5 million viewers for its mid-season

fi nale, easily dominating its peers. Back

in October, during its third season’s

premiere, more than 10.9 million

viewers tuned in, making Walkingthe most watched television drama in

basic cable history. You heard right:

the most watched basic cable drama

ever — ever — is about zombies.

But television isn’t the lone medium

plagued by this zombie resurgence.

Zombie fi lms, for one, regularly drag in

A-listers and profi ts alike. With Will

Smith as the lead, I Am Legend scored

big in 2007 when it made $585 million

worldwide. Th is summer, Brad Pitt

and his fl owing locks are set to battle

Zombies, it seems, are more alive

today than they’ve ever been (pun

intended). But how did this happen?

Why are groaning corpses luring

audiences like, well, peckish zombies to

an all-you-can-eat human buff et?

“Th at’s sort of the million-dollar

question,” says Matt Mogk, founder

of the Zombie Research Society and

author of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies. For Mogk,

there are three key factors to zombies’

sustained popularity, with believability

taking centre stage. “We don’t believe

in fairies or magic anymore in our

postmodern society,” he says. “Zombies

fi t into that.” While a reanimated corpse

certainly stretches plausibility, zombies

are inherently biological, free from the

elaborate mysticism surrounding other

fi ctional creatures. Th eir origin is based

in science, often the result of a viral

outbreak, and unlike vampires, ghosts

or werewolves, zombies have no special

powers. Th ey can’t fl y, walk through

walls or live forever — they’re just

rotting corpses. “Th ere’s no ‘I have to

bite you three times’ and ‘don’t go out in

the daylight’ and all these rules. No, you

have a disease, a really bad one,” Mogk

says. Th e simplicity of zombiism — its

biological roots — fi ts easily into our

rational paradigms, allowing audiences

the hordes of undead in World War Z, and you can bet strong ticket sales

will follow. For some digital zombie

action, rifl e through your kid’s video

game library for titles like Dead Rising,

Left 4 Dead and Plants vs. Zombies. Try

cracking open a copy of Seth Grahame-

Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a New York Times bestselling novel, for a

gruesome twist on a classic, as well.

‘‘

‘‘

WE DON’T BELIEVE

IN FAIRIES OR MAGIC ANYMORE

IN OUR POSTMODERN

SOCIETY. ZOMBIES FIT INTO THAT

— Matt Mogk

Tweet us your favourite zombie fi lm @CityLifeToronto


to feel that, yes, a zombie outbreak

could happen. So much so that Mogk

labels it “an unrealized threat,” meaning

while it hasn’t happened yet, it could.

Chilling.

Secondly, for Mogk, zombies go

hand in hand with the end of the

world. Armageddon is, after all, one of

humanity’s oldest loves. Doomsayers

from every epoch of civilization have

trumpeted oblivion’s imminent arrival,

and those pessimistic prophecies are

still beaten into our skulls today. Ice

caps melting, global economic collapse,

lurking terrorists, nuclear catastrophes,

Apocalypse 2012 (although we dodged

a bullet on that one, phew!) — the

End of Days is forever dancing on our

front lawn. Th is gloomy outlook is the

“zombie sweet spot.” Zombies are very

much in sync with our fears of societal

collapse, at the heart of panic and mass

hysteria. “You never see one zombie,”

Mogk explains. “One zombie equals

10 zombies equals a million zombies,

which a) fi ts in with that notion of an

infectious disease, but b) really fi ts in

with our contemporary concern about

large, global problems.”

Steven C. Schlozman, assistant

professor of psychiatry at Harvard

Medical School and author of Th e Zombie Autopsies, builds on this notion

of supposed forthcoming catastrophe,

but adds a philosophical twist.

Zombie texts, he explains, allow us to

contemplate grim existential dilemmas.

“If there were truly a horrifi c pandemic,”

he proposes, “where you had to make

diffi cult decisions about quarantining

people whom you knew would die, how

would you make those decisions? Would

everybody be considered equal? Would

certain members who can contribute

quote-unquote more be considered

more equal?”

Schlozman feels that in all likelihood

us Westerners will never have to

contend with such grandiose moral

dilemmas, and that our pessimistic

concerns towards the future are often

infl ated — by the media, a growing

distrust towards government and so

on — but perceptions of uncertainty can

still lead to feelings of being less than

human. Combined with an increasingly

depersonalized culture of automated

customer service hotlines, conversing

via text, email and social networks, and

the eternal queues at shopping malls

or government service centres, it’s not

hard to see why people start to feel like

zombies. “It’s sort of the zombifi cation

of all of us,” says Schlozman. “And

people resonate with that.”

Which adds to Mogk’s last point:

zombies have a grassroots appeal.

Zombies are undiscriminating and

indiscriminate. Th e horde isn’t exclusive

or selective, neither elitist nor rejecting.

Left: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies by Matt Mogk. Right: The Zombie Autopsies, by Steven C. Schlozman, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

25,000 last October. Echoing Mogk’s

grassroots ideology, Munster describes

the communal nature of zombie walks,

where boundaries are torn asunder

and diff erent communities commingle

eff ortlessly. “In death we’re all the

same,” she adds.

Th e Walking Dead’s third season

returns February 10, and there’s no

question fans will be out in droves.

While you may scoff at the violent

nature of horror-survival drama, or

perhaps snicker at the peculiarity of

pretend zombies shambling along

streets, these revelries of death are not

so uncommon. For many, they’re part

of life. “Th ere are lots of other cultures

that have a celebration of death,”

says Munster. “I think that we need

that, because without death you can’t

appreciate life.”

“It’s the only club that wants the CEO

just as much as they want the guy in the

mailroom,” says Mogk. “Zombies want

everybody.” Unlike snobbish vampires

who treat immortality like a yacht club

for billionaires, zombies have no regard

for race, sex, age or social standing. If

they get their hands on you, you’re in.

And it’s always nice to be included.

Th is acceptance is exemplifi ed by, and

imbued in, the very essence of the now

extremely popular zombie walks. “If you

go to the zombie walk you’ll see kids that

are two years old and people that are in

their 70s,” says Th ea Munster, founder

of the Toronto Zombie Walk. Th e fi rst

offi cial zombie walk started in Toronto

in 2003, with Munster and six friends as

the only participants. Since then, these

gruesome gatherings have exploded

into a global phenomenon, drawing

thousands of shambling, groaning

participants all dressed like the undead.

Last year, in fact, over 7,000 zombie-

clad people gathered for the Toronto

Zombie Walk, explains Munster.

According to Guinness World Records, the largest gathering of zombies was at

the Zombie Pub Crawl in Minneapolis,

Minn., when over 8,000 people donned

fake blood and tattered clothes. Online,

however, there are reports of hordes

growing to over 10,000, with one

in Buenos Aires, reportedly reaching

With its eclectic blend of culture, fl avour and activity, your local

culinary scene is packed with edible adventures. From classic to

modern, from bubbly bar scenes to rustic atmospheres, here’s a

hand-picked hot list of mouth-watering mealtime destinations

for you to sink your teeth into.

food,TOOLS REQUIREDLarge and small mixing bowlWhisk, rubber spatulaBaking sheet and a loaf panParchment paperNonstick spray

INGREDIENTS280 grams all-purpose fl our 454 grams of white sugar90 grams of cocoa powder1 tsp of baking powder 1 tsp of baking sodaA pinch of salt2 eggs1 cup of coffee1 cup of canola oil1 cup of buttermilk1 tsp of vanilla extract

METHODPreheat oven to 148 C (300 F). In a large mixing bowl, whisk fl our, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt by hand until completely combined. Crack the eggs and have the coffee at room temperature. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk eggs, coffee, oil, buttermilk and vanilla together. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together with a rubber spatula until completely combined. Pour onto a greased and parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool.paeseristorante.com

CHOCOLATE CAKE

Christopher Palik, executive chefL-Eat Group/Paese Ristorantes

Tweet us the recipes you’d like to see in City Life at @CityLifeToronto

,DRINK AND OTHER “LIKES”

A TOAST TO GOOD FARE AND FUN

L-Eat Group/Paese Ristorante’s executive chef Christopher Palik

shares his recipe for a deep, rich and delicious dessert


1. FAMOSO NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA When co-owner Justin Lussier toured Italy in 2005, he fell head over heels for the fi re-roasted pizzas he tasted in Naples. It was this delicious experience that inspired him and his two partners to bring Italy’s famous Neapolitan pizzas to Canada. Taste the phenomenon yourself at the highly acclaimed Famoso! www.famoso.ca

2. MILL STREET BREWERYThirsty? Surround yourself with rustic charm, talkative friends and world-class beer at Mill Street Brewery in Toronto’s historic Distillery District. The deliciously unpolished style of Mill Street Brewery will add a kick of interest to your downtown dining experience. www.millstreetbrewery.com

3. VINSANTOWith a menu stocked with fresh, classic dishes complemented by a charming Florentine design, Vinsanto Restaurant is as much a work of art as it is a place to dine and chat with loved ones. For a meal to remember, dive into Vinsanto’s extensive wine list, savour the buzz of energy in the air and fall in love with its authentic fi rst-generation Italian recipes. www.vinsanto.ca

4. MARCELLO’S PIZZERIAHeartwarming comfort foods soaked in Italian authenticity are waiting for you at Marcello’s Pizzeria, where the classic atmosphere is just as famous as the dishes. Slip into a Roman getaway by munching on the much-loved pizza alla compagniola or the delectable fettuccine con bocconcini. www.marcellospizzeria.com

5. THE GLENLIVETWhile it may not be a locally brewed masterpiece, a bottle of Glenlivet whisky houses a taste that hits home. Crafted in northeast Scotland, where distilling is a passion, Glenlivet’s world-renowned taste and quality will leave you buzzing. www.theglenlivet.com

What are your local “Likes”? Tweet us @CityLifeToronto to let us know your favourite hot spots!

12

34 5



THE PRESENT MOMENT

While the rule of thumb used to

be that you pay for your plate,

Toronto wedding planner

Karina Lemke believes people have

long been smashing that sacred proverb

(often without even realizing it). With

a nuptial landscape that’s greener than

ever, covering your palatable plate

of rosemary organic chicken, truffl e

risotto and the cavalcade of buttercream

desserts that follow can mean dishing out

$600–$1,000 per couple, if you consider

the countless rounds of Cabernet that

coincide. Instead, Lemke estimates

that the average couple gives closer to

$250–$400, regardless of how posh the

property is. While you should consider

boosting your busta to cushion the blow,

“most etiquette experts would back up

the philosophy that if you’re throwing

or hosting a party, you’re doing so with

the expectation of nothing in return.

You’re doing it because you’re a host.”

Th e rise of destination weddings has

also ushered a new wave of gifting,

which Lemke personally experienced

while exchanging vows with Yuk Yuk’s

WEDDIQUETTE

founder Mark Breslin in an intimate

Laguna Beach ceremony in 2010. “If

you’re getting married away you have to

assume that you’re not going to get very

much because their contribution is the

fact that they’re going — and they’ve

probably spent anywhere from $3,000

to $6,000 a couple to join you for the

week.” Th e Emily Post Institute Inc.’s

etiquette blog also dispels the

pay-your-plate myth, suggesting that

“the amount you spend is strictly a

matter of your budget, how close you

are to the bride and groom and what

you think is an appropriate gift.”

WHITE WEDDING

Th e white-dress dilemma has become

somewhat of a grey area in recent years.

For more traditional brides, fi nding out

you’re not the only blanched belle of the

ball can be catastrophic, while others are

as cool as the liquor luge ice sculpture.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal anymore. I

actually love to see bridesmaids all in

white, I love to see everybody in white

or crème, I think it looks lovely,” says

Lemke. Make a decision that leaves

you some room to dance in — and if

you fi nd out the bride’s following the

coloured gown trend, à la Jessica Biel

and Reese Witherspoon, then white

may end up being a wise hue after all. “I

think as a guest you have an obligation

to look lovely or to put an eff ort into

your appearance, but I don’t think it is

ever right to deliberately try to outshine

the bride. If you’re putting on something

that looks bridal or you think will draw

a lot of attention to you, it’s probably

not the best plan,” she adds. If you sense

an impending train wreck, then don’t

lose a friend over fashion. Oxblood and

emerald will bring out your eyes.

SAVE THE DATE

You swipe the seal of a glittery,

script-inscribed envelope, shake out the

contents, fl ip the wedding invitation

upside down, and fi nally grab a nickel

out of your purse to scratch any metallic

areas that might crack a “plus-one”

cryptogram. Guess what, it looks like

the hosts aren’t giving you the option

of bringing a date. “No one wants to

meet anyone new on their wedding

Written By Madeline Stephenson

Who to bring, what to wear, when to leave, how much to give and why it all matters. The evolution of wedding guest etiquette

Phot

o By

Dou

glas

Fou

lds

/ Pea

r Stu

dios

Share your memorable wedding moments at @CityLifeToronto

ADVERTORIAL

RISOTTO ALLA GORGONZOLA

Compliments of A1 Autostrada’s seasoned chef and risotto master Roberto Del Papa, this easy-to-prepare, traditional Italian

favourite is the perfect addition to any dinner table as a side dish or as a comforting, feel-good treat on its own

Sauté the minced onion in olive oil and half of the butter over

a low fl ame until golden brown. Add the rice and stir until

golden in colour. Add the white wine. Continue stirring and

add a quarter of the broth, slowly. Simmer 10 minutes. Add

salt and pepper to taste. Repeat with broth until fi nished.

Add mascarpone, Gorgonzola, remaining butter and

asparagus. Continue stirring until texture is creamy. Garnish

risotto with prosciutto and asparagus.

600 ml (2 ½ cups) Carnaroli Nano rice100 ml unsalted butter100 ml extra-virgin olive oil 100 ml mascarpone½ medium-sized onion, minced200 ml dry Prosecco 2 l vegetable broth 100 ml Gorgonzola475 ml green asparagus, peeled, lightly blanched and diced10 thin slices prosciutto (for garnish)

INGREDIENTS

Serves 6

Chef’s recommendation: Choose Galbani or Igor Gorgonzola.

Both offer a sweet and creamy fi nish to this dish.

PRE PARATI ON


day,” says Lemke. If

you’re not married or in

a committed relationship

then you’d be wise to

go solo, even if there is

a courtesy “plus-one”

stated. “I generally don’t

think it’s a good idea to

take someone just for the

sake of taking someone.

You’re there to support

the people that you care

about and that care about

you enough to invite you. I don’t think

it’s the time to introduce people to

anyone.” Also, if the invitation doesn’t

say “children welcome” or indicate the

number of attendees, then you’re safe

to assume it’s an adult-only aff air. “You

can call to make sure, but you should

probably arrange for a sitter.”

THE ENGAGEMENT

Guests of the digital era need to

be cognizant of tech-culture wedding

conduct. Where there are 200 suits and

gowns, there are 200 cellphones that

ring, roam, buzz, snap and

fl ash, carrying the potential

to socially spoil an aff air

with intimate intentions. “I

don’t think you should be

having dinner with anyone

and be texting, whether

you’re at home, at a

restaurant or at a wedding,”

says Lemke. “If you’re

there, you should be there.”

Th at means engaging in

face-to-face conversations,

introducing yourself to fellow guests

at your table and never making an exit

before the main speeches. “Part of your

obligation as a guest is to be present.”

SPIN THE BOTTLE

Late etiquette icon Emily Post

once said, “Th e good guest is almost

invisible, enjoying him- or herself,

communicating with fellow guests,

and, most of all, enjoying the generous

hospitality of hosts.” Being invisible is

a pleasant euphemism for not getting

inebriated and embarrassing the hosts.

Lemke recalls the horror that washed

over a recent wedding when two cousins

were caught in an awkward embrace on

the dance fl oor as a result of overdoing

the booze. “I don’t think it’s good to get

potted at any social event,” she reiterates.

In addition to drinking responsibly, you

should also never be the last person

left. “If the lights are on and you’re still

there, leave. Quickly.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

According to Lemke, all allergies,

whether to nuts, strawberries, gluten,

lactose or shellfi sh, should be brought

to the attention of the hosts at once,

as the implications of not doing so are

far greater. Keep in mind that there is

a big diff erence between allergies and

aversions. “You should be careful not to

be too picky; just remember the couple

has one to 200 people to accommodate

and if everybody wanted special

treatment, it would be impossible.” As

long as ample notice is given, the venue

will easily accommodate you.

www.karinalemke.com

Wedding planner Karina Lemke of Rich Bride Poor Bride fame gives us the dos and don’ts of being a modern-day wedding guest

Phot

o By

Jen

na M

uirh

ead

Phot

ogra

phy


COULD ALCOHOL BE A REGULAR SIGHT IN ONTARIO CORNER STORES?

MMilk, eggs, bread … beer?

Under an Ontario

Progressive Conservative

government, six-packs,

26ers and bottles of

red could be lining shelves next to the

essentials provincewide. Ontario PC

leader Tim Hudak has made it clear, if

elected, he has no plans to be involved

in the booze business. “Let’s let the

private sector into the alcohol business,

let’s have some more competition,” he

said to reporters back in December.

“It’s time to end the LCBO and Beer

Store monopolies.”

Easier access to alcohol is certainly

enticing for consumers who enjoy the

odd drink. But what would having

alcohol in grocery and convenience

stores mean for the province?

Furthermore, will it even happen?

For Dave Bryans, CEO of the Ontario

Convenience Stores Association

(OCSA), such reform would meet

consumer demand for convenience. “Th is

is an archaic alcohol control system,” he

says of the LCBO and Beer Store, both

established in 1927. “We live in a more

mature, quicker moving society that

expects convenience.” According to

Bryans, Ontario is dragging its feet and

needs to keep pace with other provinces,

like British Columbia, Alberta and

Quebec, which all have partially or

fully privatized systems. Th is past July, a

petition containing more than 112,000

signatures calling for alcohol to be sold

in convenience stores was presented by

the OCSA to the Ontario government,

bolstering Bryans’ position. “Th ese

are voters,” he says, “Liberals, NDPs

and Conservatives standing in line at

convenience stores saying we want you

to carry our voice to Queen’s Park and

help us.”

“We know that Ontarians are seeking

more convenience in where they

purchase their wine, beer and spirits,”

says Scott Blodgett, spokesperson

for the Ministry of Finance, which

oversees the LCBO. In response to

consumer demand, the LCBO plans

to implement two new store formats:

LCBO VQA Destination Boutiques,

which will off er a larger selection of

Ontario’s VQA wines in select LCBO

stores, and LCBO Express, which will

A NOT-SO

PROSPECT Written By Michael Hill

Should alcohol sales be privatized in Ontario? Tweet us at @CityLifeToronto


sell alcohol in larger grocery stores.

“Alcohol will not be available in the

aisles of grocery stores. Convenience

will be achieved in a socially responsible

way by having LCBO stores, operated

by LCBO staff , located in large grocery

stores,” Blodgett says, adding this also

ensures that government revenues

remain protected.

Revenue has been a key factor

stopping privatization in the past. In

1985, Liberal premier David Peterson

took a swing at privatizing alcohol sales,

but the movement didn’t make it through

legislature. Former Conservative premier

Mike Harris stepped up to the plate in

’95, vowing to sell off the LCBO, but

backed off due to the substantial dollars

the organization brought Ontario. Th e

LCBO remains a revenue-generating

powerhouse today: last year alone it

brought in $1.6 billion for Ontario.

Could the Ontario government walk

away from such guaranteed income?

According to Michael Smart,

professor of economics at the University

of Toronto, Ontario need not worry

about lost income. “Privatization would

not reduce government revenues,” he

says. “Ontario could still tax alcohol

any way it liked, at both the wholesale

and retail level.” Although opponents of

alcohol privatization point to the higher

prices in Alberta, where alcohol is fully

privatized, Smart explains those prices

are due to higher taxes. Privatization,

he adds, would increase transparency,

as the government would generate tax

revenue instead of “dividends” from

the LCBO.

It is those taxes driving higher prices,

says Jeff Newton, spokesman for the

Beer Store. “Th e big perception out

there is that privatization means corner

stores, and corner stores mean cheaper

prices,” he says. However, considering

the Ontario commodity tax alone, tax

on a 24-case of cans is $9.81, he adds.

In Quebec, on the other hand, taxes are

roughly half that; in the United States,

taxes are negligible by comparison.

“Without corresponding tax cuts to

levels that exist in corner-store markets,

like in Quebec or New York, you’re

going to get higher prices.”

Even if Ontarians accept higher

prices for privatization, is dreaming of

easier access simply that: dreaming? Th e

Beer Store employs more than 6,500

people, and over 7,000 Ontario Public

Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

members work for the LCBO. Th at’s

a lot of lost jobs. Jobs that likely won’t

be lost without an uproar. Peruse the

Public Sector Salary Disclosure list

(or “Sunshine List”) for the roughly

250 LCBO execs making over

$100,000 per year, as well. With that

much power — and income — at stake,

you can bet they’ll have their say before

any reform is enacted.

With both the Beer Store and

LCBO so deeply entrenched, it’s yet

to been seen if a politician is ready to

step on that many toes in the name

of convenience. Th e current Liberal

government seems content with the

system, so unless Hudak takes offi ce

and follows through, it looks like we’ll

be making two stops for the essentials:

grocery and liquor stores.

DRINK IT INBOTH THE LCBO AND BEER STORE were established in 1927 as a means of controlling alcohol distribution in a socially responsible way after Prohibition.

LAST YEAR the LCBO brought in $1.6 billion for Ontario.

ACCORDING TO THE LCBO ANNUAL REPORT, 2010-11, the Beer Store accounts for roughly 78 per cent of total beer sales in the province, while the LCBO accounts for 84 per cent of wine sales.

ACCORDING TO THE BEER STORE, commodity tax on a 24-case of cans is $9.81. In Quebec, it’s $4.26; in New York State, it’s $0.32.

WHILE THE LCBO is state-run, the Beer Store is owned by Labatt Brewing Company Ltd., Molson Coors Brewing Company Ltd. and Sleeman Breweries Ltd., all owned by multinational conglomerates, none of which are Canadian.

THE BEER STORE currently has over 440 locations and employs more than 6,500 workers. The LCBO has over 630 locations and employs over 7,000 full- and part-time OPSEU workers.


In2007, my perception of

our world was altered

in a meaningful way.

I was 24, and I had just

applied to graduate

school before getting on a plane to spend

time in Africa where I had contributed

to building a primary school. It was

this trip, six years ago, which set the

stage for what would turn out to shape

not only my perspective, but also

my purpose: enabling opportunities

in education.

With an early start to the day, I was

ready to change the world, although

I did not yet appreciate that fi rst I

needed to understand it. Th ere I was.

So far from what I knew as my reality;

so far from those I loved. As we headed

towards the site, the roads were unpaved

and the air was dry. We drove past more

than one slum, looking down each time

out of fear of making eye contact and

perhaps off ending the wrong person.

Cameras weren’t used here to capture

what we saw, but emotions of disbelief

and sadness imprinted in my memory.

Th is wasn’t my reality, but it was the

reality of many.

Hours later we had arrived, and

there was the fi rst school that I had

helped to build for children I

had never met before. Although the bell

had rung and the school day was over,

they stayed to meet the visitor from

Canada. As I got out of the car, the

children grabbed my hands, touched

my hair and said jambo to greet me.

Th e excitement was overwhelming

and their impatience with me to

learn their names and pose for

pictures with them was amusing.

They wanted to be remembered

beyond that day.

Later that afternoon, I saw two

mothers leaving the site with their

children. Both had infants strapped to

them using long pieces of fabric while

carrying pails with what I assumed was

Juliana, a fashion writer in Brazil

Prashant, a computer consultant in India

RUMEET BILLAN IS ON A MISSION TO TRANSFORMTHE FIELD OF EDUCATION IN A MEANINGFUL WAY

THE PRIVILEGE

Billan with children

from rural Kenya

School children play and greet Rumeet Billan, a visitor from Canada

The construction of Billan’s school-building initiative in Kenya

An existing pre-school for children in rural Kenya without

supplies, games, tables or a chalkboard

choiceOF


RUMEET BILLANGUEST SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDITOR Rumeet Billan is a social entrepreneur, educator and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. She is the president and CEO of Jobs in Education

and over the past seven years has contributed to school-building initiatives in Africa and South America. She teaches, writes and speaks on leadership, social entrepreneurship and youth wellness. At the age of 25 and again at 28, Billan received the honour of being named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women. She continues to integrate her business and doctoral studies with her passion for creating change through education. www.rumeetbillan.com

water from a well nearby. Th eir children

were running ahead, anxious to go

back home.

Th ese children didn’t choose to not

have access to electricity, clean running

water or basic primary education. Th ey

were just children. Th ey were born into

this circumstance, a circumstance that

any one of us could have been subjected

to without choice.

It was in that moment that I realized:

this could have been me.

During my short stay, I was given a

glimpse into the limitations and realities

that children in rural communities

faced. While I was choosing what

graduate school I would apply to,

these children were choosing whose

turn it was to walk half a day, barefoot,

for water. I questioned what I was

taught to believe were my basic human

rights and why they were practised as

privileges in diff erent parts of our world.

I questioned whether I recognized and

appreciated the access to opportunities

that I had.

Six years later, contributions were

made to three primary schools in Africa

and South America, and to an initiative

to support uniforms and textbooks for

orphans. After conducting research in

Ecuador, a teacher-training centre was

conceived of and built in rural Kenya to

guide early childhood educators in the

community. Each contribution has come

with its lessons and has inspired and

led to the next project. Each one has

shown me that we have the privilege

of choice to help those who are in

circumstances that they themselves

did not choose — and where there is

choice, there is possibility.

OnJan. 26, 2013, an

emergency fundraiser

is being held for

Anthony Socci, 28,

who is in desperate need of a kidney

transplant. Hosted by the Step by Step

Organ Transplant Association, which

was founded by George Marcello, a

two-time organ recipient, the fundraiser

will be held at Riviera Parque Banquet

ANTHONY’S

HERO

Centre in Vaughan. Th e event will be

a night of dinner and dancing, with

an open bar, door prizes and poker

tournament. Tickets are $100. From

February 5-22, 2013, Step by Step’s

offi cial torchbearer Khaled Khatib will

embark on a 500-kilometre search for

Anthony’s hero as he carries the Torch

of Life from Ottawa to Toronto.

www.torchoflife.com

Anthony Socci is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Find out how you can help.


Asa child, Elisapie

Isaac was known as

“that little singing

girl.” Her mother

recognized her

natural ability right away, encouraging

her to voice her talent to the community.

But growing up in the most northern

village in the Nunavik region of Quebec

was a rather unlikely springboard for

a singing career. Releasing an album,

performing nationwide — these were

but pie in the sky ideas to Elisapie.

Until the day that the little singing

girl realized that life is what you make

it. “When you’re from the North, you

don’t necessarily have those kind of

dreams,” says Elisapie, who has since

received a Juno Award for Aboriginal

Recording of the Year, industry buzz

for her solo albums Th ere Will Be Stars and Travelling Love and the Claude

Jutra Award for best new director for

her documentary If the Weather Permits. “We’re all dreamers when we’re young,

but you know, to actually do it as a career,

it was just not possible. We didn’t have a

lot of references or examples of people

Travelling Love is the sophomore album for pop artist and documentary fi lmmaker Elisapie Isaac

making it. It took a while, but it grew on

me, and I realized, gosh, I just hope to

give it a try.”

For Elisapie, making her mark in

an industry fraught with challenges

encompasses more than just recognition

or applause. It means going back to the

drawing board, fuelling up on inventive

approaches and undergoing a process

of renewal that will hopefully continue

to keep her growing fan base enthused.

Th e result is an ethereal experience,

with string instruments dotted by synth

elements and moving lyrics in multiple

languages. “I go to a place when I write

songs, a place where it’s so personal.

Th ere’s a lot of refl ecting on the life

we choose to live,” says the folk-pop

artist, whose distinctively sensual song

“Navvaatara” is featured in the soundtrack

of Jean-Marc Vallée’s moving drama fi lm

Café de Flore. A self-described city girl

living in Montreal with her daughter,

Elisapie has recently scored a song and

the role of Sedna in the 3D animated

children’s fi lm Th e Legend of Sarila,

featuring Christopher Plummer. Her

2013 tour for Travelling Love has begun

to pick up cross-province momentum.

Revealing raw, intense emotions on

love, understanding and the doubts we

encounter as humans, songs such as

the catchy “Life Is What You Make It”

and the dreamlike “It’s All Your Fault”

are resonating with her fans, leaving

Elisapie overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Th ey’re totally getting it. Th ere’s a

connection that’s there and it’s fun for

me to continue in that direction.”

www.elisapie.com

Canadian talent Elisapie explores love, life and womanhood with folk-pop melodies

ELISAPIE IN THE SKY

Written By Simona Panetta


THE STACKS AND ROWS ARE CALLING YOUR NAME — DIVE INTO THESE MUST-READS

LIBRARY

BRAIN ON FIRE: MY MONTH OF MADNESS BY SUSANNAH CAHALAN Susannah Cahalan is six months into her job as a reporter for the New York Post

when strange things begin to happen to her — paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, memory loss. In this moving memoir, Cahalan chronicles the rapid spread and the debilitating effects of her undiagnosed illness, and the doctor who saved her life.

THE MILF DIET BY JESSICA PORTERTap into the fountain of youth and get your pre-baby body back with

Jessica Porter, the whole foods guru who knows how to sculpt muscles and shred pounds using the power of eating well. The MILF Diet carves a delicious and easy path for moms to make their way back to health and confi dence.

STRAY LOVE BY KYO MACLEAR Colourful, intoxicating 1960s London is the backdrop for this eclectic

story centred on the life of Marcel, the abandoned child of a bohemian mother. Readers will be electrifi ed as Marcel weaves his way through the churning era in hopes of fi nding where he belongs. A wonderful second novel from Kyo Maclear.

HER MAJESTY After 60 years on the throne, the Queen has a story to tell. From palace-worthy couture to meeting The Beatles, from the Second World War to the 21st century, that story is being captured in 366 pages of stunning photography.

PERDITA BY HILARY SCHARPERIn Hilary Scharper’s ghostly Perdita, readers follow character Garth Hellyer as he nurses the aftermath of

his tragic love affair using the most unusual of remedies: conversing with the world’s oldest people. A tale woven with love, loss and mystery, Perdita blends youth with age, old with new, to create an alluring masterpiece that will captivate readers.

SWEET JESUS BY CHRISTINE POUNTNEY Three strikingly different siblings and one life-

changing journey are what readers will discover in this witty and deeply moving novel from Christine Pountney. In her very real refl ection of family bonds and human emotion, Pountney solidifi es her place as one of Canada’s freshest authors.

MIDNIGHT AT THE DRAGON CAFÉ BY JUDY FONG BATES It’s 1960s small-town

Ontario; a Chinese-Canadian family is being twisted and tested by vicious secrets and the clashing of cultures. A challenging story bursting with character, Midnight at the Dragon Café is the enticing debut novel from Judy Fong Bates.

ON LOOKING BY ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ Following up her wildly acclaimed novel Inside of a Dog, author Alexandra Horowitz emerges with

On Looking, an eye-opening commentary that will fl ip readers’ minds and keep them on their toes. Through eleven explorations, Horowitz demonstrates how to squeeze life out of the everyday through simple, open-minded observation.

SLEEPING FUNNY BY MIRANDA HILL A blush-worthy sex-ed class, a 19th century country village and a

post–Second World War victory garden; author Miranda Hill transports readers to these places and more in Sleeping Funny, her fresh and unexpected collection of short stories that will trigger an explosion of thought, emotion and laughter.

Written By Amanda Storey

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Which books are you excited to read? Tweet us at @CityLifeToronto


MINT.COM PERSONAL FINANCEMoney comes and money goes, so stay on top of your

expenses with the Mint.com Personal Finance app. Set budgets, track cash fl ow and manage investments with its clean, comprehensive interface. Safe and secure, this handy, hand-held fi nancial planner works with all major Canadian banks and is a great way to keep your money in check.

RUNKEEPEROne of the fi rst apps to utilize the iPhone’s GPS feature, RunKeeper is a tried and

tested, pocket-sized personal trainer for runners, hikers and bikers alike. It’s received a facelift for 2013 that strips away the fat,

leaving only essential features. Review stats, such as distance, time, pace and heart rate; track your progress; take pre- and post-workout images and share it all with your friends via social networks.

FOODSCANNERCalorie counting is tedious, so leave it in the capable digital hands of FoodScanner. It

tracks the food you eat, much like other daily food logs, but thanks to its nifty bar-code scanner this nutritional app makes monitoring eating habits a breeze. Just scan the bar code and FoodScanner separates and catalogues meals. An in-depth database also lets you search and store bar-code-less items, like meat and veggies.

MEDITATION HELPERFor Android users looking to steady the soul and calm the mind, Meditation Helper

offers everything you need — nothing more, nothing less. Set a meditation schedule, time daily sessions and customize bell sounds. It also tracks the number of consecutive days you meditate for further motivation. The perfect companion for technophiles strolling down the path to self-realization.

MENSA BRAIN TESTMensa members are pretty smart — like, “in the top two per cent of the population”

kind of smart. So when it comes to exercising the ol’ grey matter, they know a thing or two. The Mensa Brain Test app allows us everyday folks have a crack at the questions this prestigious institution uses to assess prospective members. Prep in the training mode before tackling tests of 20, 40 or 60 questions. Break a mental sweat and post your score on its global leaderboard.

GRATITUDE JOURNAL 365Studies show that the regular practice of gratitude leads to

a happier life. If you’re struggling to fi nd those silver linings, give Gratitude Journal 365 a go. This digital journal allows users to make daily notes for everything they’re grateful for. Nice weather? Good health? Seeing old friends? Add it to the list. Take photos to commemorate each day and share them via social networks. It also tracks and stores the total number of your gratitudes to remind you that life ain’t all that bad.

CLEARWe all lead busy lives with an average of 8.639 million things to do. And that’s just before

lunch. Simplify your day with the cleanest to-do list app out there: Clear. Taking a bare bones approach to organization, Clear allows you to personalize lists of all shapes and sizes. Make lists for shopping, everyday chores, books to read, exotic tea fl avours to sample, whatever. When they’re complete, just swipe to erase. It’s that easy.

2013

NEW YEAR, NEW APPS

A new year means a fresh start — a clean slate, as they say. It’s time to commit to change and fulfi l those pesky resolutions. To help with your self-improvement journey, these handy apps are ideal tools for targeting body, mind and, yes, even soul


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Drop a HintTHIS VALENTINE’S DAY,

Bayview VillageVaughn Mills

Sterling silver charms from $30

“Love of My Life” Gift SetAvailable Starting January 15Available

Purchase a PANDORA “Love of My Life” gift set,featuring one Iconic Bracelet, two “Love of My Life”

clips, and one “Language of Love” charm in a special porcelain box for $225 (a retail value of $255).*

city life magazine vaughan toronto feb/mar 2013

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