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.

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.

Carol Moen, President and CEO of Women Building Futures (WBF), leads with a unique blend of engineering acumen and a heartfelt commitment to empowering women. During her tenure at its helm, WBF has not just been a job, but has also become a core part of her identity. “In the four-plus years that I have been in this role, the work that Women Building Futures does has now really become part of who I am,” Moen reflects, underscoring her personal connection to the organization’s mission.

Moen’s journey is one marked by a deep-rooted passion for engineering and an unwavering dedication to women’s advancement in fields where they remain underrepresented. Her career began at Dow Chemical, where she ascended through various roles over 26 years, from engineering to global leadership positions. Following her tenure at Dow, Moen served as the first female registrar for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), where she implemented critical governance and operational frameworks.

Moen retired in 2017, but soon found that it had been premature and had left her feeling somewhat adrift and without purpose. So when WBF came knocking, she saw it as the perfect opportunity, one that not only aligned with her professional values but also resonated personally. “This opportunity with Women Building Futures … really called to me,” Moen shared in a recent interview.

Under Moen’s leadership, WBF has embarked on impressive and impactful expansions, most recently into Ontario and Saskatchewan, bolstered by a recent $2.6 million grant from the Canadian government. The funding is part of a strategic initiative to enhance the economic security of women, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed — a cause Moen and the organization champions vigorously.

This expansion also serves as the foundation for building sustainable local partnerships in both regions. “The reality of federal funding is that it’s on a time frame, with this grant being for two years,” explains Moen. “While we can use the grant money to enter new provinces, we’re also doing incredible work to begin building industrial and employment partnerships as well as build private-sector funding through donor partnerships. It’s how we set a strong foundation, because of course in order to stay in a region the province has to want us there. We’ve nurtured a wonderful partnership with the government of Alberta over the years, for example, and now they help to provide us with sustainable funding so we can maintain our programs after grant money time is up.”

Moen’s journey to WBF was influenced by her prior experiences as a woman in engineering, a field where women are significantly underrepresented. “I’ve really come to understand that my story as it relates to being a woman [engineer] isn’t the normal story,” she acknowledges, referencing her privilege as a white well- educated woman with a stable home life. This awareness fuels her dedication to making WBF a transformative space for all women, particularly those facing systemic barriers.

The programs at WBF do more than teach skills; they build confidence and community. They also involve preparing industries to integrate and support women effectively. The organization fosters partnerships with employers to cultivate inclusive work environments and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion across the trades. “We recognize the need to eliminate barriers for women, enabling them to safely access effective pathways to economic security,” Moen states. “We often say ‘We spent the last 25 years getting women ready for the trades, and now we’re spending just as much time and effort getting the trades ready for women,’ and that statement is all about workforce inclusion.”

Moen captures the emotional payoff of this work, saying, “The confidence and pride on the faces of the women when they graduate through our programming just refuels me, it’s an amazing thing.” She adds, “In such a short amount of time we’re able to help someone who was often struggling and have them take control of their life and probably never need to be on social supports again. I think that impact is what brings incredible satisfaction to me and for everyone across our organization.”

Carol Moen’s vision for WBF is expansive and deeply integrated into the fabric of the communities it serves. Her leadership not only advances WBF’s mission but also catalyzes a broader movement towards equality and empowerment in the skilled trades, making a profound impact on the lives of countless women. As WBF continues to evolve, Moen’s influence remains a beacon of progressive change, proving that with the right support women can thrive in any field they choose. Moen’s vision for a balanced and equitable workforce is gradually becoming a tangible reality for many women across Canada.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post Women Building Futures: Connecting Women to Economic Opportunities appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Jordan Morello is a shining example of kindness and the embodiment of positivity for the modern generation. At just 29 years old, the influencer-turned-chef is a man of many hats, and has captured the online attention of thousands with his charismatic attitude and inspiring fitness-lifestyle content.

Morello emerged as a breath of fresh air in an unprecedented time, accomplishing what many strived to do during the pandemic. His online presence became an outlet for positive storytelling, and his following on social media grew daily thanks to his love- filled content and cheery recipes. “I saw how much happiness you could bring to someone’s life through your content ―the main thing was to do it in a fun way,” said the charismatic Florida native, sharing the driving force behind his goofy, lighthearted Internet persona. “I love to bring humour and a smile to someone’s life.”

Visiting family daily, Morello enjoyed quality time spent with his mom, and together they ventured on a kitchen “world tour.” The fitness guru and his “best friend,” as he likes to call her, began whipping up recipes as a pastime and fun bonding experience which ultimately led to the idea for his debut cookbook, Buon Appetito, a curated collection of 100 wholesome, easy and fast recipes that put nutrition and delicious ingredients front and centre, for meals that the whole family will enjoy.

His charming wit and infectious persona leave everyone who crosses paths with him a little bit happier. He tells City Life that he is “on a continuous journey toward connection and personal growth.” Gaining traction online, he became affluent by sharing healthy and sweet recipes on social media while enjoying the in-real-life work/lifestyle as a personal trainer and online life coach for his class of students. Morello brings his “A-game” to every project, researching local markets to find products that would complement and enhance his many businesses most personally and authentically. In March of 2022 he founded Shortys Apparel, a modern menswear brand designed for everyday essentials, featuring quality materials and his own aesthetic choices incorporated into the designs.

When Morello travels abroad, he partakes of many cultures and culinary traditions, sharing content that followers enjoy, cheerful moments that may include a variety of recipes, goofy dances, workouts, nutrition, fashion and so much more. Morello brought up the topic of mental health awareness during our interview, explaining the importance for him of nurturing personal solitude and the benefits of being able to grow through uncomfortable situations. He is right. After all, we are in an era fixated on constant consumption. He hopes, through sharing personal experiences and love-filled content, to cultivate conversations that focus on positive growth in all aspects of our lives.

The post A Positive Influence(r): Jordan Morello appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Amanda Aerin is definitely not your stereotypical designer. She grew up in Georgetown, Ont., in a heritage house that many people thought was haunted. Her parents renovated that house and another one up the street, and they recall her as a baby picking up old wallpaper they were stripping and eating it, leading her mother to say that Amanda literally has design in her blood.

It’s a long way from a haunted house in Georgetown to becoming one of Canada’s most best-known and sought- after interior designers, launching a lifestyle brand as a social media influencer and becoming the host this year of Country House Hunters Canada, airing in prime time on the CTV Life Channel. While she doesn’t recall her taste for wallpaper, she does remember the moment when design entered her life.

“There was a moment in my life when I felt that my creativity started to shine through,” Aerin said in a recent interview with City Life. “When I was about 11 years of age, my mom gifted me, I think, $100 to go ahead and decorate my bedroom any way I chose, any paint, any linens. I actually chose a purple and turquoise theme, which I’m not sure I would choose today ― but that moment really sticks in my mind.”

Aerin calls her personal design style “traditional with a twist,” a distinctive and increasingly popular design style, which has enabled her to grow a leading Toronto-based design firm and create a full-scale lifestyle brand. These lofty heights had a modest beginning.

In 2012, Aerin participated in a TV design contest, which led to her being awarded design-expert status on CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show. She leveraged that newfound acclaim by expanding not just her creative experiences but also building up her status in the design field. She began to work on product development and expand into luxury design. She even began marketing collaborations and partnerships with such major brands as Canadian Tire, Kim Crawford, the NBA, Sunwing Vacations Group, RE/MAX and Indigo. Aerin has exhibited her design work at such leading industry events as the national Interior Design Show, The International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas and the National Home Show.

Aerin explains that her design style of “traditional with a twist” is built on three key foundations. “The easiest way to explain it is to have something that is classic, such as a classic fireplace or classic moulding or classic wood floor,” she says. “Then have something that is the complete opposite ― highly modern and colourful, really bold ― then have something shiny for a little glitz and glam. With those three elements, you’re guaranteed to have an ‘Amanda Aerin’ room.”

That room may also reflect Aerin’s influences that include European architecture, as she is passionate about the drama of classic mouldings, daring wallpapers, geometric patterns and rich textures. Her designs offer homeowners an opportunity to turn their home into a welcoming and organized oasis, while at the same time ensuring it truly functions for the family.

Aerin knows a little bit about family and functionality. She is now the mother of five children, which include the four that her husband brought to their marriage. While most would think that would have been a recipe for complete mayhem, Aerin somehow makes it work, having developed skills that also assist her in her professional life to the benefit of her clients.

“Any given time, we get together, it’s definitely busy,” she says. “But Her Toronto-based design firm and creative agency, Amanda Aerin Design, is redefining modern luxury, creating curated moments of comfort and family connection motherhood has taught me a lot of patience, and my ability to compartmentalize problems has really developed as a result of having so many diverse personalities in our children. And I have become an absolute master when it comes to budgeting as I also prioritize things very efficiently; that’s one of my strong suits.”

Designer, mother, master family planner, television host and lifestyle influencer ― Amanda Aerin’s new twist on design is just getting started.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post Amanda Aerin: A new twist on Design appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Toronto is one of the wealthiest cities in the developed world, accounting for 20 per cent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product and fully 50 per cent of Ontario’s GDP. Yet, beyond the gleaming metropolis and its soaring condominium towers, the glitz, glam and wealth of Bloor Street and the shops and boutiques of Yorkville, people visit food banks two million times every year in the city.

Let’s repeat that.

Two MILLION visits to a Toronto food bank every year — roughly the population of Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia combined. Food insecurity has become one of our society’s biggest challenges.

“When you think about the Daily Bread Food Bank, you have to think about two things,” says Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Toronto charity in a recent interview with City Life. ”First, that every day we have to ensure the city gets fed. Every day there are literally tens of thousands of pounds of food going out to the community because of the growing need we have due to food insecurity. The second thing is how we are amplifying the need in the city, so that policymakers are changing the policies so that hopefully, one day, means there are fewer people in lines for food banks. So we are advocating very hard.”

The statistics testify to the need for that urgent advocacy at the city, provincial and federal levels. In 2022, Statistics Canada released data that showed that one in five Canadians expected to use a community food program in the next six months if food prices kept rising. The same year, Food Banks Canada released a startling statistic showing that 23 per cent of Canadians reported “eating less than they should” due to rising inflation.

The supply-chain shortages exposed by the pandemic and global conflicts all play a role in the growing food insecurity. When Russia blockades Black Sea ports, stopping grain shipments from the world’s breadbasket, Ukraine, that’s not some distant problem “somewhere over there” — it impacts the supply and cost of bread at a local Canadian grocery store.

The Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank has an unfortunate front-row seat to the alarming rise in food insecurity. Pre-pandemic, it accommodated approximately 60,000 client visits per month. Today, that number is more than 275,000. Its volunteers and staff across the city have become heroes by rising to the challenge, now sending out more that 165,000 pounds of food than 165,000 pounds of food each day in contrast to 35,000 pounds of food per day pre-pandemic, and they ensure that every client who visits a food bank is supplied with three days of food every week.

Hetherington points to poverty as the root cause of hunger. He identifies the three main drivers of poverty as the lack of affordable housing, disability- income irregularities and precarious employment. “People who work in the gig economy are balancing many things, perhaps multiple jobs, and they may have to choose between food and prescription medication for their children. It’s been said that food insecurity is not a food issue, it’s an income issue,” he says. “The demographics of people coming to food banks are changing. These are people with jobs. They went to school, they did everything they were supposed to do – they worked hard, yet they still can’t make ends meet. There is something fundamentally wrong with that.”

“The Daily Bread Food Bank is going to be here for you. We’re going to walk alongside you in that journey, and together we are going to change the systems that are causing this to happen.”

There are also millions of tons of food being wasted every year across the country, so efforts are underway to recover as much of that as possible. Each year Canadians waste an astonishing 2.2 million tons of food — simply throw it out. Of that enormous amount, 13 per cent of that waste results from leftovers. A new initiative that partners the Circular Innovation Council, SkipTheDishes and three of Canada’s top chefs is trying to help Canadians reimagine their takeout leftovers.

The chefs, Victor Barry from Toronto’s Piano Piano, Amit Bangar from Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary and Jamie Cholack from Tacofino in Vancouver, were enlisted to create innovative and delicious recipes that Canadians can make from home, using leftovers from their restaurants’ most popular dishes, to easily combat food waste. Throw in a few fresh ingredients to those leftovers and voilà — a new dish is born!

For example, Jamie Cholack took Tacofino’s beloved salsa verde and reimagined it as delectable chilaquiles. “Throwing out that avocado or throwing out that chicken is not sustainable,” Cholack recently told City Life. “It’s all about building routines for yourself in how you can help and being more aware about what you are doing.”

“Toronto is an extraordinary city but it is also a tale of two cities, the haves and the have nots,” says Hetherington. “What we say to those most vulnerable, ‘The Daily Bread Food Bank is going to be here for you. We’re going to walk alongside you in that journey, and together we are going to change the systems that are causing this to happen.’”

“Give us this day our daily bread” has never been more important than right now.

INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO

The post Neil Hetherington – Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank: Food Security appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Reetu Gupta, Ambassadress of The Gupta Group and one of Canada’s most successful and admired business executives, is sharing her decades of experience, affirmational habits and messages of gratitude in her first published book, Auspicious: Embracing the Path Toward Courage, Conviction and Confidence.

Gupta’s long-standing reputation in the hospitality and real estate industry is one of inspiring leadership — so much so that her work as a life coach and mentor has motivated audiences all over the world to not just dream their dreams but to manifest them with joy and faith. Her new book, Auspicious, was written as a guide for the many who seek inspirational, professional and spiritual direction. The book’s title was carefully selected to reflect the messaging and life lessons contained within its pages: when something is auspicious, it is conducive to success, either in the present or future.

Deeply embedded connections with the Divine Feminine, the state of constant gratitude and embracing the walk along one’s spiritual path show readers the importance of taking time for silent meditation and conversation with the Divine Universe to enjoy the gifts of empowered and grateful living. “We were all born in a specific place at a specific moment in time; you are here for a purpose that only you can fulfill,” says Gupta. “My intentions are to create a love-filled space where together we can share positive experiences and joyful adventures … so that we can all move forward with a playful and loving spirit. As such, I have included many of the ways in which I greet each day with a positive and grateful attitude. I have also shared some of the ways that I have learned to listen to my intuition — that soft, supportive voice that comes from the heart and shows us how we can best handle life’s challenges and ultimately bless these struggles — ‘I am strength; I am virtue; I am victory.’”

Gupta is a speaker, advocate, philanthropist and an award-winning entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Rogue Insight Capital Ltd, the private venture capital Auspicious is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and shopdolce.ca arm of the Gupta Group, focusing on investing in Canadian start-ups with female and/or minority leadership. She relaunched the Gupta Family Foundation in 2020, where she serves as president and co-chair, committed to providing long-term solutions to global issues. She is the founder and president of The Shakti Society, which provides complimentary meditation classes to empower individuals with courage and confidence. In addition to sitting on several local and international boards and committees, she has been honoured twice with the distinction of WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, the ICCC’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.

“I have learned to listen to my intuition – that soft, supportive voice that comes from the heart and shows us how we can best handle life’s challenges.”

She has spoken at such events as Forbes Women’s Summit and the UN’s NEXUS Global Summit. Reetu has been interviewed in publications including Hotelier Magazine and The Edge, and is a HuffPost contributor.

But above all else, Reetu Gupta’s beauty shines from within her soul as she spreads love and teaches others to explore the boundless depths of our consciousness. This book is a must-read for those who seek to honour their life’s purpose with spiritual intention.

Auspicious: Embracing the Path Toward Courage, Conviction and Confidence, published by Toronto-based Dolce Media Group, will be available in print and digital versions on Sept. 21, 2023, and can be ordered through , , Barnes & Noble and . A portion of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Gupta Family Foundation, which has a philanthropic mission of spreading hope, compassion and love through its projects. The Foundation has been aiding underserved communities around the world for four decades through empowerment and education.

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