Have you ever fought through what sometimes felt like insurmountable obstacles, steadfastly trudging the path because you were fuelled by the courage of your convictions? An internal monologue that asserts the need to pursue the thing that illuminates one’s very being — in truth, one’s life purpose — is the very essence of this courage, and the conviction comes from the confidence that we are doing what we believe is right, even when the majority of our peers do not agree.

That is the state of being that 37-year-old Joseph Tito, the extremely successful producer and director of the kind of high-profile shows that run on Netflix and the Food Network, was struggling to achieve as he stared out the 58th floor window of his Dubai hotel one lonely and scorchingly hot night.

“I had a great life; I was a jet-setter and I travelled anywhere I wanted to go. I had everything and my earnings, which were tax-free, allowed me to buy whatever I wanted. But I wasn’t happy — something was missing.”

Tito was, he says, in a dance between tradition and authenticity.

Born in Italy and immigrating to Canada with his parents when he was 5 years old, Tito grew up in a traditional household where family was everything, a nuclear unit gathered around the dining-room table, where each person bonded under the auspices of Nonna’s beguilingly delicious from-scratch meals.

It is no secret that one of the fundamental expectations in Italian families, certainly something that was instilled from a young age, is the mandate to find a suitable partner, get married and have kids.

And although having children as a gay man would add a certain layer of complexity to this scenario, Tito’s mom was always there for him, completely supportive, and she told him that together they would find a way.

“I HAD A GREAT LIFE: I WAS A JET–SETTER AND TRAVELLED ANYWHERE I WANTED TO GO.”

Tito reflects on a defining moment in his journey towards parenthood. In his 20s, he was with a partner who had two children, ages 4 and 6. They were together for a decade and Tito cherished the experience of being a step-parent. However, marriage was always something he desired and during that time same-sex marriages were not legally recognized.

Fast-forward to that night in Dubai when Tito looked around his hotel room, of high-end brand-name possessions surrounded by a luxurious collection — and felt, rather than a deep sense of accomplishment and purpose, an emptiness and loneliness that soon led to a life-changing epiphany.

“I was 37 years old and I thought it has got to be now or never,” Tito says.“I didn’t want to be 60 years old with a toddler in tow.”

Tito’s partner at the time expressed an interest in embarking on the surrogacy journey with him, but as time went on, Tito realized that his partner was nowhere near as committed to fatherhood as he was.

“I looked at the advantages and processes of adoption versus surrogacy but ultimately I realized, by watching a cousin go through the adoption process, that it was a very difficult procedure. Especially for a gay man.”

The fact that Tito was a single gay man who was travelling all over the world and not staying at one particular address for any length of time was another factor that he had to consider.

After researching the possibility of surrogacy in several countries, “I eventually found an agency in India that just opened up in Kenya, and they were advertising that same-sex couples and single males could go through the process,” Tito says.

A surrogate was found to carry the pregnancy in Kenya, and the process of implanting the embryos — eggs from the Indian clinic fertilized with Tito’s sperm — began.

Tito shares, “The embryo must develop for 21 days before it can be confirmed as successful. As someone who loves being in control, this process was especially difficult for me since I had no control over the outcome. With every failed attempt, I felt like a part of me died. It got to a point where even my mother told me not to update her until the surrogate pregnancy proved successful. There were four unsuccessful embryo transfers in total, and it weighed heavily on me. I started to question if maybe God did want me to be a dad — that maybe this wasn’t meant to be.”

“IT’S IMPORTANT TO INSTIL IN MY DAUGHTERS AND OTHER CHILDREN, THAT EVERY FAMILY IS UNIQUE AND SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN WAY.”

And then, in what can only be described as an earth-shaking surprise, Tito was informed that his surrogate mother was having twin girls.

As the time approached for the girls to be born in late November of 2018, Tito and his mom, whom he calls both a blessing and a light, travelled to Kenya to meet the girls and bring them home.

In a video posted to YouTube at that time, Tito and his mom can be seen entering the hospital in Mombasa, Kenya, their over-the-moon excitement and joy illuminating their faces. As he wipes his leaking-with-emotion eyes, it is evident that Tito is a father who wants nothing more in that moment than to see and to envelop his twin baby girls, Stella and Mia, with a jubilant, grateful heart. There is absolutely no question that these girls are wanted, that they are cherished new members of his family.

However, when it was time to bring the girls home to Canada in January of 2019, the unforeseen bureaucratic complications of doing so created so much emotional upheaval and financial stress that the process could only be described as devastating.

Even though Tito had done his due diligence ahead of time, he was blindsided by the news from the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, which informed him that he could not get Canadian passports for his girls. Because he was a second- generation Canadian, his daughters had not automatically become Canadian citizens at birth. Instead, they’d need to be sponsored. And even though Tito had lived in Canada since he was 5 years old and his mom had been born in Canada, his situation was made even more complex because the surrogate mother was Kenyan and the egg donor was from India.

It was a devastating and emotional-roller-coaster nightmare that might need 6 to 12 months to sort out — which meant that Tito and the girls would have to stay in Kenya for that length of time — and Tito’s mom’s pills were running out. So were his finances, with his costs soaring well above $70,000.

“In true Italian fashion, my mother refused to go home. Even though there wasn’t much she could do, she put her needs aside for the greater good of the family,” Tito says.“At the end of the day, family and love transcend everything.”

Using his social platform to champion his cause, Tito reached out to his followers as a way to powerfully spread awareness of his situation.

“After I got stuck in Kenya, my community of followers went above and beyond to help me. Not only did they email and call people, they reached out to their Members of Parliament to bring awareness to my plight. As a result, my situation went viral. I even got an email from the office of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. If it wasn’t for my community I would have been stuck in Kenya for a year,” Tito says.

Tito’s social profile and overall influencer status prompted TLN Media Productions to follow him over his journey’s three-year time frame, ultimately creating a documentary about him called A Happy Life — Una Vita Felice.

Although Tito says his purpose is not to tell people what to do, he does have a few salient pieces of advice concerning both surrogacy and parenthood.

“If you are financially stable, try to arrange for a surrogate who is as close to home as possible. And while you are going through the process, be willing to accept the fact that you have to give up control, trust in God, have faith and be patient,” he says.

Tito’s memoir, From Jet-Setter to Fatherhood, which he hopes to have published by May of 2024, details his surrogacy journey and the tough challenges and obstacles he faced and overcame. It is a period that at times Tito found extremely emotional to recount, and when he did he relived what were some of the most difficult times of his life. The book’s title is a fitting description of Tito’s life- changing decisions as he evolved from being a jet-setter to an “at-home Joe.”

“Basically, I am educating people on the fact that we all go through the same things in life — the same joys and the same challenges. We are all human,” he says.

His first book, The Twin Diaries: Stella and Mia Meet Papa (2023), is a children’s book that provides an overview of the realities of diverse family structures, offering valuable lessons about the meaning of family and what it means to be part of an unconventional one.

These days, Tito’s advocacy for surrogacy has positioned him front and centre on the issue with his 100,000- plus like-minded supporters on various social platforms as well as through his blog, The Dad Diaries, a space that allows him to shed light on the fact that not all families are alike. It is also a forum that allows Tito to help, lend an ear, and support others who are going through the surrogacy process.

“BASICALLY, I AM EDUCATING PEOPLE ON THE FACT THAT WE ALL GO THROUGH THE SAME THINGS IN LIFE — THE SAME JOYS AND THE SAME CHALLENGES. WE ARE ALL HUMAN.”

“The other day Mia asked me why she didn’t have a mom. It killed me. I felt so guilty — whether or not that was Italian Catholic guilt, I don’t know,” Tito says, laughing. “It’s important to instil in my daughters and other children that every family is unique and special in their own way. The most crucial lesson I want them to understand is that they are loved, and nothing else matters.”

The values instilled in Tito from a young age, the values that are the foundation of most Italian families, are the same ones that propel and inspire him as a father to his girls and husband to his partner, Frank, who Tito met when Stella and Mia were two years old.

At no point does Tito want Stella or Mia to feel guilty that they don’t have a mom. Instead, he makes sure that they understand just how blessed they are to have two nonnas, two grandfathers and two parents. The most impactful takeaways from Tito’s surrogacy experience and the best piece of advice he can give, he says, is not to care about what people think, because most of the time they’re really not thinking.

“I encourage people, no matter how they identify, to explore the joy of parenthood, the divine sense of love that demands nothing in return,” Tito says, with a lilt in his voice that is infused with gratitude and delight. Indeed, it is not hard to see that Stella and Mia are the centre of Tito’s universe, and the inspiration behind everything that he does.

“Stella and Mia have opened my eyes to the beauty in the world, prompting me to re-evaluate and cherish things I used to take for granted,”Tito shares.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
PHOTOS BY EMAD MOHAMMADI
WARDROBE BY PER LUI
PHOTO SHOOT LOCATION AT CHÂTEAU LE JARDIN

The post Joseph Tito: The Dance Between Tradition And Authenticity appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

The world has seen many artists and athletes but there are only a handful that leave an imprint on other people’s lives. What is that unique factor that sets them apart from the rest? The ability to find one’s self amidst the net of expectations and judgment is what allows these individuals to make a significant mark not just professionally but also by touching their audiences emotionally.

A poignant example of a person with this ability is Elladj Baldé, a Canadian former competitive figure skater and co-founder of The Art of Performance, a unique training camp for figure skaters. Born in Russia, Elladj immigrated to Canada with his family in 1992. He remembers how his parents made huge sacrifices to give him and his sisters a comfortable life. His parents’ work ethic made an impact on him both personally and professionally. Recalling one of the lessons he learned from his father’s journey, he added, “My dad wasn’t the most naturally intelligent but he was certainly the most hardworking and that allowed him to excel.”

Elladj’s own skating journey began because of his mother. When he was 6, his mother took him to a local outdoor rink in Montreal. Initially, his relationship with the sport was skewed because of the pressure and expectations that he felt constantly under. It was only at around the age of ten that he started enjoying skating as the sport’s technical aspects started to interest him.

He also mentioned the toll that performance can take on an athlete in terms of mental health since self-worth being wrapped up with the idea of is so a champion, and track of one’s identity in the process.

“AS A MAN, DANCING TO SLOW MUSIC IS CONCEIVED AS YOU BEING ‘SOFT.’ HOWEVER, IT REINFORCES MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MASCULINITY AND HELPS ME FIND FREEDOM WITHIN MYSELF.”

It was his trip to Africa in 2015 that helped him on road to self-discovery As he saw people deeply connected to each other and nature, his perspective began to change. He realized how important it was for him to touch on his artistic abilities and tell his story.

Following this passion, Elladj Baldé founded The Art of Performance with Michelle Dawley, training where figure skaters could connect with their own distinctiveness and use it to harness their creativity.

One of the beauties of figure skating as a sport is the fact that it is probably the only sport with an artistic and athletic balance, where each skater possesses an individual style.

However, the sport has its limitations as well, often forcing to fit into a mold rather than present their true authentic self. For example, Elladj said, he has always been into hip-hop and rap music but during figure-skating competitions he felt obliged to skate to classical music. Today he skates to hip-hop music that allows him to express himself in profound ways. “A man dancing to slow music is perceived as being ‘soft,’” he added. “However, it reinforces my relationship with my masculinity and helps me find freedom within myself.”

Reminiscing about the closing chapter of his competitive journey, he adds how he was recovering from an injury before the national championship in 2018. Amid the competitive pressure, a friend advising him to set himself free helped him.

“I realized that I didn’t need to go to the Olympics to feel that I have done enough or I have been enough.” Talking about his current relationship with the sport, he said that making videos for social media and skating in the mountains provide him with an incredible sense of freedom.

Asked what he thinks defines a champion, he shared, “The ability to move through failures and mould them into growth is for me the definition of a champion.” Top athletes do that, which makes them not just better skaters or athletes but better human beings. It is this ability to grow as a human that inspires him to get up every day and do what he loves with all his heart.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post Elladj Baldé: Finding Yourself Through Athleticism & Artistry appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

At Glass Kitchen, they go beyond dining: they prepare you for a gastronomic journey, a symphony of flavours that transcend the ordinary, crafted by a culinary champion who has tasted victory and savoured success. Chef Keith Pears, born and raised in Vancouver, dreamed as a teenager of culinary artistry at the highest level and has now achieved that dream. He has competed in several food competitions including Best of the West; City TV’s MasterChef, B.C. Chef of the Year and Garland Canada International Shellfish Chef Challenge, and he has won Chopped Canada, the National Selection for the “Bocuse d’Or,” and won gold at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party in Toronto.

Q: How would you describe your childhood? And how did cooking play a role in it?
A: It was a culinary adventure right from the start. I grew up in Vancouver. Both my parents are chefs, and my grandparents had their Chinese Western café. I practically grew up in the kitchen. Large family gatherings were always a thing, surrounded by the hustle and bustle as we whipped up delicious dishes.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to aspiring young chefs today?
A: I would surround myself with food. Be around like-minded people. You must love food and the industry. Cook and try new things as much as you can fit into your schedule. Don’t be afraid of failure.

Q: From your perspective, is there a rite of passage that a person must go through to truly become a chef?
A: It depends on what kind of chef you want to be. Nowadays, you can have many kinds of chefs; it’s not just being a chef of a restaurant or a hotel now. If you were to ask me about that, then I would say yes. I feel it’s important to start at the bottom by washing dishes and doing simple prep work. Go to culinary school and move up the ranks over the years, being sure not to rush it. Many different elements of food and cooking take years to master. Each role in the kitchen is important, and being a chef means you must orchestrate your team to success.

Q: Can you describe the defining moment that made you devote your life to the culinary arts?
A: I was in my early 20s. My mom recently got back from a trip to France and brought home a book and DVD by a chef named Michel Bras. I saw what he was doing with food, and no one else was doing anything like it. I saw that food was art. After being in the industry since I was 14, I thought to myself, “OK, this is it.” I will take this more seriously and devote my life to it.

Q: What are some of the most common traits shared among chefs that many people do not know about?
A: We work all the holidays and are away from our friends and families, cooking for our guests.

Q: How would you describe your style?
A: It’s a mix of contemporary flair with a nod to tradition. I love taking classic dishes and putting my spin on them, infusing them with fresh, unexpected flavours. It’s all about balance for me – balancing boldness with subtlety, complexity with simplicity. At the end of the day, I aim to create dishes that are not only visually stunning but also delight the palate and leave a lasting impression.

Q: What inspires you every day?
A: I try to be better than yesterday. I wake up each morning with a purpose to attack my day.

Q: Tell me about Glass Kitchen’s philosophy.
A: To pioneer a culinary journey where traditional brunch and dinner experiences intertwine with innovative fusion cuisine, crafting unforgettable dining moments that captivate the senses and redefine gastronomic exploration.

Q: Describe what went into creating the menu. Was the process difficult?
A: Creating the menu involved drawing inspiration from seasonal ingredients, culinary trends and dishes that my parents and grandma taught along with my personal experiences. Though challenging, balancing flavours and ensuring cohesion made it a rewarding process thanks to the collaborative effort of the team.

The post Keith Pears: A Chef’s Journey to Achieving His Dreams appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Many people donate money to worthwhile causes, which is a good thing indeed. It is the right thing to give back and help effect positive change, whatever the cause. It also makes us feel good and provides satisfaction if we are in a position to write that cheque. But some people go a little further in their support for a chosen cause and as a result of their efforts get a little more in return for their support. In short, they just don’t donate — they participate.

Team Revolution is just such a group. It is a team of dedicated cyclists with a passion for staying active and healthy while raising awareness and funds for Humber River Hospital, supporting the hospital’s vision to create a dramatically different health-care centre. This dream to revolutionize health care through Team Revolution came to Frank Ciccolini Jr. over a decade ago during his father’s stay at Humber River Hospital. Ciccolini Jr. was inspired by the dedicated patient care shown by the incredible staff but he also realized the need for a modernized health care facility.

Looking back, having a team of cyclists attempting to raise a generous sum of money seemed far- fetched. Little did they know that they would be a major contributor to North America’s first fully digital hospital.

Since its inception in 2011, Team Revolution has raised more than $3 million in support of Humber River.

We wanted to do something different. Instead of hosting a golf event or a dinner, we wanted to do something we’re passionate about. So, from that little idea to twelve years later, we have raised well over three million dollars, our team has doubled in size, and we’ve inspired and promoted a healthy and active lifestyle,” says Team Revolution co-chair Robert Colelli.

“SO, FROM THAT LITTLE IDEA TO TWELVE YEARS LATER, WE HAVE RAISED WELL OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS.” — Robert Colelli

They call themselves Team Revolution because they have shown that any goal, no matter how seemingly unattainable, can be reached. What is cemented in their life is that the power of believing in yourself and working together can lead to extraordinary accomplishments that can change lives for the better.

When the original 60 riders formed Team Revolution in 2011, they had ambitious goals: to conquer some of Italy’s most challenging hills in a Gran Fondo (translation: Big Ride), the celebrated cycling race that tests the strength, stamina and determination of some of the world’s best cyclists in a country known for them. Cycling in Italy is as legendary as its football — each cyclist is world-class and recognized as the best of the best. From Francesco Moser to Gino Bartali, Maurice Garin to the legendary Fausto Coppi, Italian cyclists are among the best the world has ever seen.

Cycling in a Gran Fondo was a lofty goal with a modest start. Based in Ontario, the team chose The Blue Mountains outside of Collingwood to train. Part of the Niagara Escarpment and featuring the tallest hills in the central portion of the province, this was the closest terrain they could find that came close to replicating the mountains of Italy and the test that a Gran Fondo would present to them all.

“We all did a training ride at Blue Mountain, and it was probably the first race a lot of us did,” recalls co-chair Steve Gobbatto. “And to have to do a ride that is probably 100 kilometres and involves a lot of climbing scared the daylights out of everybody. But when you complete that and succeed, you know in your mind you are ready for the first Gran Fondo. That sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line is like nothing I’ve ever achieved before.”

In 2012, after months of intense training, Team Revolution realized its goal by participating in a Gran Fondo in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, which raised $425,000 for Humber River Hospital. All saw the opportunity to not only donate but also participate by doing two things they are passionate about — cycling and raising funds to help Humber River Hospital continue to innovate by using technology to reinvent patient care.

“TEAM REVOLUTION ALSO PARTICIPATES IN OTHER CHARITY EVENTS TO HELP BRING MUCH-NEEDED FUNDRAISING DOLLARS, AWARENESS AND EXPOSURE.” — Steve Gobbatto

Among the cycling community the word began to spread about Team Revolution. The team’s size has more than doubled since its beginnings in 2011. The number of active cyclists grew to 143 last year, with 60 going to Italy, and this year the goal is 150 cyclists — all raising funds for a worthwhile cause.

“One of the reasons we go to Italy every two years is to not only race in a Gran Fondo, but to challenge ourselves,” says Colelli. “When you look at what people who are in a hospital are going through, our challenges are nothing compared to them. We are blessed to be able to do something we enjoy and stay healthy and active. But when you get to the top of a mountain in Italy you are shaking, you are so excited and so humbled to be surrounded by snow peaks. We are a team. We’re more than just a cycling club, we are friends.”

Team Revolution has participated in five Italian Gran Fondos to date, conquering the Gran Fondo Scott Piacenza in the mountains of Piacenza, overcoming treacherous weather and bumpy roads in 2016 in Terracina and, in 2018, setting its sights on the Verona area in the Gran Fondo Peschiera Del Garda, which was a true test of strength and determination to complete.

The 2020 Gran Fondo was rescheduled to 2022 due to COVID, and the team wanted to make a special effort to mark its 10th anniversary but also to make up for the shortfall in fundraising since 2018. The team travelled to Provincia Siena, Tuscany, participated in the Gran Fondo del Gallo Nero and raised more than $650,000. That is the power of determination. This year’s Gran Fondo will be in the Milan region, with a brief ride over into France.

But perhaps the biggest impact Team Revolution has made goes even beyond the more than $3 million it has raised for Humber River Hospital.

“Our fundraising reach has gone beyond Team Revolution,” says Gobbatto. “I think the foundation of Team Revolution has also brought other fundraising dollars to Humber and greater awareness to Humber and also other events. So now Team Revolution also participates in other charity events to help bring much-needed fundraising dollars, awareness and exposure. Its goal has gone past the initial reach of just forming Team Revolution to support Humber only. It’s grown beyond that, and I think the lifestyle we’ve promoted within the group is also one of our biggest accomplishments.”

Beyond just another regular charity dinner or golf tournament, Team Revolution is an innovative approach to fundraising: good people doing something they are passionate about with ambitious plans to impact our world in a positive way. Not just donating, but participating for the greater good of their community, and enjoying the ride along the way.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post The Wheels Of Life: Robert Colelli and Steve Gobbatto of Team Revolution appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Canada and Italy may be thousands of kilometres apart, but no one did more in his life to bridge that distance and bring those two countries together than Corrado Paina, long- longtime executive director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario Canada (ICCO Canada), who passed away in April 2024.

If he had been a world-class footballer, Paina would most definitely have been a striker, as he was tenacious in forcing the play and doing everything in his power to strengthen relations between Italy and Canada for the benefit of businesses and people on both sides of the Atlantic. His passing leaves a great void in the Italian-Canadian community as his visionary leadership, kindness and generosity made him beloved by that community and everyone he touched.

“Corrado was a larger-than-life figure, the heart and soul of the ICCO Canada, has left an indelible mark on every person he met throughout his extensive career,” read ICCO Canada’s statement released upon his passing. “He dedicated his life to connecting the two countries he called home, Italy and Canada, and has built lasting connections and great friendships in both countries. All his work and career have been focusing on the expansion and the enhancement of cultural and business relationships between Canada and Italy, and his passing will be a major loss to ICCO Canada and the Italian Canadian business community.”

In 2022, two-way trade between Canada and Italy totalled $11.8 billion, making Italy Canada’s ninth-largest global merchandise trading partner and third-most important in the European Union. Much of the credit for that increased and continued strength goes to Paina, and, as a testament to his dedication and effort, he received the most prestigious award from the city of Milan, “Menzione Civica – Ambrogino d’Oro,” for his activity in favour of the twinning of Toronto and Milan.

This man of all seasons was also an accomplished writer, poet and artist. He authored several publications in both Italy and Canada, and his publications and exhibitions have touched the Italian- Canadian community throughout the years and reached great heights in Italy. He was editor-in-chief of Partners Magazine for several years and produced many books and one documentary during his illustrious career. In 2016, Paina was appointed Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, and, in 2023, he was nominated for Commander of the same Order, particularly for his work in promoting the business and trade relationships between Italy and Canada.

Paina was a tireless champion of the relationship between Italy and Canada and was a part of numerous boards and organizations for which he served as board member, vice president and chairman. Particularly close to his generous heart was The Italy Earthquake Relief Fund (TIERF), founded in 2006 following the earthquake that devastated L’Aquila in Italy, for which he served as vice president. Paina was also deeply respected in political circles, where he enjoyed rare bipartisan admiration at the very top of government influence. He organized many delegations and trade missions both ways between Canada and Italy during his roles as a communications assistant of an Ontario minister in several portfolios, as a journalist in the cutthroat world of the Queen’s Park press gallery, as an official of the Italian Trade Commission and as an executive director of the ICCO, such as in 2017 when he worked with the Government of Canada on an important trade delegation accompanying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Italy. There, his accomplished diplomatic skills coupled with his deep business acumen helped deepen relations between the two countries.

True champions in life leave their mark. Corrado Paina was a true champion of Italian-Canadian relations, and he will be celebrated far and wide for a life very well lived.

The post Viva Corrado Paina appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

For most families, taking care of its elderly members is not merely one of its most important responsibilities, it is also a moral obligation, one that has been incurred over a lifetime. Your elders took care of you in your early years, so you should take care of them at the other end of the age spectrum, ensuring that their remaining years are spent comfortably in a friendly environment where their needs are attended to — most importantly, with a sense of dignity.

That environment can be found at Sorrento Retirement Residence at 10 Station Road near downtown Bolton, Ont. Inspired by the picturesque town of Sorrento, Italy, this warm and welcoming environment brings a distinctively Italian zest for life to a luxury retirement residence. Here, life is lived with passion and purpose, close friendships and, above all, great food and conversation. This is what President Raymond Nicolini envisioned when he entered the retirement residence business: to create an environment based on dignity.

“A number of years ago I saw the writing on the wall. My parents were getting older and, having a bit of experience with properties, I didn’t like what was out there in the market,” says Nicolini in a recent interview with City Life. “I thought we needed something that gave our parents, our uncles, our aunts, our grandparents — or whoever the family member is — we needed to give them dignity when they decide to move into a retirement residence. Sorrento is the result of trying to give our loved ones as much dignity as possible. So we built it and I think it reflects that — at least, I hope it does.”

The atmosphere at Sorrento Retirement Residence is family-friendly and family-first perhaps because it is a family-owned and -operated business. One of Raymond’s daughters, Desirée, is director of sales and marketing, and the other, Simone, is building operations manager. That warm and familial atmosphere is a key advantage for residents at Sorrento.

“I think the feeling here is excitement, for different reasons that are personal to the individual,” says Desirée Nicolini. “I think our residents see themselves doing things they used to love to do because as soon as you walk in you feel that atmosphere, that care and that support. They see that the opportunities are here, and we provide for them. I think there is a feeling of excitement and hope.” There is a distinctive feeling of comfort at Sorrento that is almost tangible that separates it from other retirement residences, and which is felt by both the residents and their families, according to Raymond Nicolini.

“We always see a look of surprise as they enter as they don’t expect this, this level of luxury and beauty,” he says. “They expect something that is more institutional, more clinical, and that’s what we try very hard to avoid. This has to be home because that’s what it is — it’s home. There is always the guilt from kids when they feel their parents need a retirement residence, but when they walk into Sorrento, that guilt is relieved, and they feel it’s a better place for Mom and Dad.”

Residents can choose from a wide variety of beautifully decorated suite plans and floor sizes, and the emphasis is on providing abundant natural light, spectacular views and fresh air from Juliet-style balconies.

All suites feature independently controlled heating and air conditioning, built-in kitchenettes, large wheelchair- accessible bathrooms, safety bars and an in-suite nurse call system. Sorrento also provides full housekeeping and laundry services as well as in-suite room service.

Caring, committed and compassionate staff are on call 24/7 to attend to any need, and health-care professionals are on-site, plus concierge services are offered. The Sorrento Wellness Program, personalized to empower each resident, holistically encompasses personal fitness, ongoing activity, healthy eating and community involvement. For residents who require assisted living services, state-of-the- art care is offered in private suites on a dedicated floor.

Sorrento also provides community amenities including a gym and fitness area, bistro, pub and games room, movie theatre, fireplace and grand piano in the lounge, as well as a swimming pool, outdoor patio and BBQ area where residents can host family and friends.

“OUR RESIDENTS SEE THEMSELVES DOING THINGS THEY USED TO LOVE TO DO – AS SOON AS YOU WALK IN YOU FEEL THAT ATMOSPHERE, THAT CARE AND THAT SUPPORT.” – Desirée Nicolini

They can also enjoy group outings or day trips. Massage services and beauty treatments are offered, and there is an on-site salon to help residents look and feel their best. Beloved furry companions are welcome at pet-friendly Sorrento, which offers full pet services, including dog-walking.

According to Raymond Nicolini, the amenities have been specifically designed to encourage a socially engaged and active lifestyle.

“As beautiful as Sorrento is, the most valuable feature that we offer is the availability of social interaction, which is just so very critical,” he says. “And our residence lends itself to that because every day that we can achieve that social interaction our residents will thrive — because we all do it every day. That’s how we all live. We look for social interaction; it’s how we’re made. If we can provide that here every day, that’s a success and another badge on our lapel. We offer shared experiences: residents can laugh together, cry together, tell stories together, and share good and bad news together. That’s what we are offering, and that’s something money just cannot buy.”

What comes through so clearly when talking to Raymond, Desirée and Simone Nicolini is their strong sense of family values, traditional old-school Italian family values instilled by their beloved Papa, Vittorio Nicolini. Vittorio was a man with a zest for life who loved nothing better than spending time with friends and family over a great meal — so much so that Sorrento’s restaurant is named Ristorante Vittorio in his honour. Vittorio’s values are alive today throughout Sorrento Retirement Residence. According to Desirée, these family values are the guiding light at Sorrento for its staff every day.

“One of our values is that each person is an individual with their own needs, be that care or a sense of independence or different levels of socialization,” says Desirée. “It’s a coming-together of assistance for those who need it and a sense of independence at the same time, while giving them all a strong sense of dignity. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to care. We always remember that this has become their home, and we are just so thankful to be a part of that.”

Desirée adds that the attention to care and compassion at Sorrento is often a huge relief for families. “It’s because families feel good leaving, and when they come and visit it’s a true visit without worrying about whether Mom took her medication today, because that’s our job,” she says. “When families come and visit, it’s true quality time.”

There is a time of transition in every life, and as loved ones age they often need more care, a reality that every family eventually faces. A decision to bring Sorrento into that transition time can make those golden years among the best and most rewarding years.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post Sorrento Retirement Residence: Golden Years appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Karmen LaMer, co-founder of The Collective and founder of Tight Clinic Toronto, is also a courageous cancer survivor and entrepreneur who has devoted her life to making The Collective accessible to as many women as possible so they can learn that they can do what they never thought possible.

Sarah Vander Meer, president of Charlie & Sprocket Inc., is also a Collective co-founder. It was her experience as the co-producer of the NFL Women’s Summit many years ago that planted the seed by getting her wondering: why didn’t women-centred programming like this exist in Canada?

LaMer and Vander Meer sat down with City Life for an exclusive interview to share their extraordinary journey.

Q: What inspired the creation of this organization?
Sarah: I’ve always been inspired by women or events in my life. Just watching my mother as a very strong working woman who raised three children — she is the perfect example of somebody who could have used a community around her to lift her, push her forward and give her more opportunities. But when I met Karmen at her clinic and listened to her talk about hearing stories from other women who are in need and how she would jump at the opportunity to reach out to them, the stars aligned themselves at that moment.
Karmen: I was hearing from so many amazing women, and just hearing these stories was inspirational. No one told me anything along my journey and I said, “Wouldn’t it be nice for people to have a little bit of a road map and to hear some of these things and what others are doing?” So, when Sarah and I started talking about this, she said, “Well, I produce events for a living,” so that’s how it organically grew from there.

Q: Can you recall the impression you felt when you first met each other?
Sarah: I had just had my second child and I wanted to do something for myself. So I went to Karmen’s clinic, and you think you’re coming in for treatment on the face, but the way she communicates with people, you can just tell she’s authentic and genuinely cares about helping others. Energy is projected, and I remember always leaving feeling so amazing.
Karmen: I remember Sarah being in my clinic and talking to this incredible woman. We had an hour together every week for six weeks, and just having that connection and those bonding moments still makes me smile every day.

Q: If you could send one message to every woman in the world, what would it be?
Sarah: Embrace your power! Seek to uplift yourself and others through connection, education and action, creating a world where every woman and girl can flourish with authenticity and strength.
Karmen: No. 1, having a mid-life crisis at 35 years old, leaving a corporate career and starting my clinic — you can do whatever you want to do, you just need to commit to it. No. 2, life is very short and finite. I am a cancer survivor, and after going through chemo and surgeries a lot of people would have left that feeling like a victim, and I chose to leave that feeling inspired and wanting to inspire others.

Q: What makes you smile the most?
Sarah: My kids – they are magic and light up my life!
Karmen: My team and my dog!

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Sarah: There’s a solution to every problem.
Karmen: Don’t think there’s anything that you can’t do.

The post The Collective: Leading the Next Generation of Women appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Q: What was your childhood like?
A: I am a first-generation Canadian and it was hard at times to have cultural expectations at home and want to fit in at school and with friends. There was a lot of conflict within that, which I know is a story many people can relate to. I was never truly me; I was whatever I thought the circumstances required me to be. That would be a theme in my early life.

Q: What is one thing you learned about yourself since you embarked on this journey?
A: I have learned that I am truly gifted at helping people transform into the grandest version of themselves and helping them create a life they love through ease, joy and fun. In every fibre of my being, I know this is my purpose and what I came to earth to do and to be. I help people remember their divinity so they can claim their destiny.

Q: Where were you the moment you found your calling and what prompted this revelation?
A: I always knew that I wanted to help people. I love people, I love getting to know them, and I love getting all up in their business! And this desire has been expressed through various forms. From my work as a psychotherapist sitting with individuals and couples to sharing my knowledge on TV as a guest expert on various shows to coaching truly in awe. individuals, groups and teams to my podcast, Possibilities with Hina Khan. The common thread in everything I do is to love? help people transform. My coaching is unique as it is a co-creating [in the] now. Each session, each call is unique.

Q: Who inspires you and why?
A: My clients truly inspire me. I do daily morning calls and I get to see them take risks, make decisions, and move on things in real time. I see them override their fears and limiting beliefs and I am truly in awe.

Q: How can people create the life they love?
A: The first step is to decide that you want to create a life you love. The second step is to accept that you are worthy of having a life you love. The third step is getting clear on what that looks like for you. The fourth step is taking action from the goal.

The post Hina Khan: Nothing is Holding You Back appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

In life, whether falling in love or beginning an unexpected friendship, grieving over the death of a loved one or feeling the pain of a broken heart — moments that make life both exciting and scary may be just around the corner for us, and often happen when we least expect them.

Throughout my life, just like most people, I have navigated moments like these. And while they may leave our souls intact, they still alter us. We might become less naïve or susceptible, or battle-hardened, or utterly demoralized.

Our resilience is tested daily as we struggle to be optimistic or to resist clinging to the past. As moments of happiness and sadness come and go, how do we arm ourselves for this daily battle?

The best way is to understand that we are not alone and that others have been through the same battles. We have Hunter Prosper to thank for showing the world that the power of solidarity and hope can conquer all.

Prosper is the man behind the camera who has shown that we are more alike than different. His video series Notes from a Stranger and Notes to a Stranger and his interview series, Stories from a Stranger, capture the emotionally raw unheard stories of common people.

As people walk the streets of their communities they are either approached by Prosper or encounter a table with a glass bowl filled with anonymously written notes and a hanging sign that reads, “What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve been told?,” “What’s something you wish you had said?” or “What things make you happy in your relationship?”

Those who have come across his videos can’t help but reflect on the nature of love, death, spirituality and relationships in their own lives.

We begin to realize that at their core, our characters and our relationships can both be defined by a single moment concerning any of these questions. Prosperʼs videos have struck such an emotional chord with his millions of adoring followers and have become so popular that he was recently granted a one-on-one interview with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Prosper’s content will make you cry tears of joy and sadness, smile and practice the art of humility.

But who is Hunter Prosper? What has the journey been like for him — the man behind the camera?

He was named in tribute to Hunter S. Thompson by his loving mother, who was a big fan of the American journalist and author, and he was raised by her alone after his father left them when he was very young.

Although Prosper was raised in a home with few material resources or privileges, he experienced an abundance of richness as he grew up: the conversations he shared with his mother.

“Conversation is what bonded my mom and me together. We didn’t have things to distract us like video games, bikes or whatever. We couldn’t do a lot of things other than just be with each other,” says Prosper. “In a deep way, every time I listen to someone I know or a stranger, I sort of associate it with what gave me my first happiness — which was talking to my mom.”

Even though the power of listening and of being present was ingrained in his being, what served as the main impetus for the inspiring social media content the world knows today was his passion for health care. He eventually became a resource nurse, working 13-hour shifts, recalling that his favourite thing to do as a nurse was just to talk to patients.

After he transitioned to the intensive care unit, however, the moments he spent talking to his patients went from being his most cherished to his darkest.

“The problem with the ICU is you get to know someone, and then you’re doing CPR on them in the next hour or so. You’re getting to know all these people and then you’re losing them,” he says. “Because of that, I became closed off.”

But unexpected friendships are just around the corner, and Prosper became close to a patient after he promised himself that he wouldn’t. Unfortunately, she died.

“Before she passed, and she knew she was going to pass, I asked her a question — the same question I ask strangers on the street. She looked at me and began to cry tears of joy on her deathbed,” says Prosper.

It was at that moment Prosper realized that although the experiences we go through are unique to each of us, the emotions attached to pain, love, sadness or heartbreak are all things that make us human.

“We all feel, and that connectedness makes me feel a lot more comfortable in knowing that the person sitting at the bus stop has a beautiful, amazing story, and they’re just as much of a main character as I am in this world,” says Prosper. It was this realization that gave birth to Stories from a Stranger.

When Prosper approaches these strangers unexpectedly in the moment, the wall that is ordinarily up when strangers speak slowly falls, and as it falls you can see it in their eyes as they begin to tell a chapter in their book of life, making it a beautifully therapeutic moment for the stranger and the viewers — but most of all for Prosper himself, as he looks back on his early years as a nurse feeling burned out, sad and lost from humanity.

“I wasn’t expecting a response, but the response is the cherry on top. If it wasn’t getting millions of views, I would still be doing it because I need it. It helps me know that I’m not weird for feeling this emotion,” says Prosper.

As I sat across from Prosper, I couldn’t stop myself from asking him, “Do you have any message or any words you would like to say to conclude this interview?” His response: “Yeah, because she is the most important person in my life … I love you, Mom.”

The post Hunter Prosper: Listener, Nurturer & Friend appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

When talking with Amy Golumbia, founder of Goodphyte, I understood two things clearly. First, she founded her business out of hard work and passion. Second, it’s a business that is making a profound impact on people’s lives.

With a vision to be a catalyst for improved global nutrition and immune health and a mission to “unlock the benefits of nutrient absorption and strengthen human potential,” Goodphyte offers a range of supplements that help your body gain access to micronutrients it needs by helping to break down something called phytate.

To understand exactly what phytate is and the science behind Goodphyte, it’s best to hear from Golumbia herself.

“Phytate is the anti-nutrient in beans, grains, nuts and seeds, and any foods made from those, like cereal, pasta and pizza. It’s an anti-nutrient that binds to zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium in your gut and prevents you from being able to absorb them. It also affects the way you use protein,” she says. “Our product is an enzyme that breaks down that anti-nutrient and makes all those other nutrients available. So rather than just eating food, this helps you absorb it.”

“THE END GOAL IS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE A DENT IN MALNUTRITION AND HIDDEN HUNGER AND REALLY IMPACT THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.”

As someone who studied nursing at the University of Alberta, has worked as a holistic nutritionist and was the CEO and national race director of 5Peaks, which promotes Canada’s trail-running community, Golumbia has always been surrounded by health and wellness. In 2008, when she was researching phytate, the “aha!” moment struck, and the wheels for Goodphyte started turning.

After diving into more research, specifically about how phytase, which helps to break down phytate, could help with HIV, and speaking with as many doctors, immunologists and professionals as she could, she built a case but became discouraged, not knowing what to do with it or how to keep it funded. In 2019, a year after her son was born, she felt her idea was something she needed to act on.

“I couldn’t know this information and how many people it could help and not bring it forward,” she says. “There are two and a half to three billion people worldwide suffering from hidden hunger and malnutrition.”

In 2021, she sold 5Peaks to fully dedicate herself to Goodphyte. It started to take off, and began attracting scientific advisors and, as soon as they brought it to market, she started receiving letters from people with autoimmune diseases saying their symptoms had gone away.

“That wasn’t our intention at the beginning,” Golumbia says. “It was knowing there was something big here, but not knowing how it could impact autoimmune disease. That was a complete surprise. There were people with inflammatory bowel disease whose flare-ups just stopped. Some have gone into remission, and some have no disease left in their body.”

One person whose life has been changed by Goodphyte is Mathew Embry, a filmmaker and founder of MS Hope, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995 and today is symptom- free. After Golumbia was told about Embry and his work she reached out, and they met. Today, Embry doesn’t just talk about Goodphyte on social media but has also included it to his daily supplement regimen.

“We did a mini-interview and after that he said, ‘This is something I have to try,’” Golumbia says. “He tried it, and results hit him on day two. He had incredible results. He’s very strict with his diet but had a huge boost in energy and strength. No more brain fog. He was sleeping better and had this sense of elation and hope.”

Looking to the future, Golumbia tells us other product ideas in their pipeline would be beneficial to people’s health and that she’s constantly driven by curiosity.

While we’ll have to wait to see what exactly those are, it seems like the best is yet to come. accomplishment, she says. “But it’s in progress. The end goal is that we want to make a dent in malnutrition and hidden hunger and really impact that, especially for women and children. There are so many children under the age of five who die every year because of malnutrition. I hope that I can have a big impact in that area, look back and say, ‘That was my biggest accomplishment.’”

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post Amy Golumbia: Keep up the GOODPHYTE appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.