All law firms need an impactful presence that shows confidence, leadership and professionalism; dNOVO Group can make that happen.

For many years, the legal terrain had gone unchanged, concerning client acquisition and how legal matters proceeded. But the COVID-19 pandemic completely shook the terrain of the legal field, and, since then, it has evolved to become more adaptable.

How so? Courts have closed, and lawyers are now more than willing to be available virtually for client consultations and meetings with opposing legal counsel, as well as for attending hearings. Furthermore, law firms have made their services more accessible online, in general, than ever before. Whether it is the ability to make a virtual appointment, pay your invoice, or get useful information and tips via webinars, the legal industry underwent a rapid push towards accessibility via the internet. The years of minimalistic, conservative law firm websites are gone.

Those involved in a legal matter are anxious and stressed due to what their future or their loved one’s future will hold. In dire need of help, they will rely on two things: a personal word-of- mouth referral and a law firm’s online presence. A law firm’s website is crucial to client volume, longevity and reputation. No one knows that better than dNOVO Group.

Founded in 2011, the dNOVO Group has helped the online presence of some of the most prominent law firms and professional offices in varying industries. The agency’s expertise in legal marketing strategies has become an indispensable tool for professionals to personalize their firm’s niche, style and perception by leveraging the power of the internet, using:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): This will help its clients rank No. 1 in Google searches, increase their traffic and get more leads.
• Google Ads, with Pay-Per-Click (PPC): dNOVO’s campaigns are created to capitalize on searches with the highest intent.
• Local Service Ads: These should run with PPC ads and drive 33% of all clicks from Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs). Also, with these ads, you only ever pay for legitimate leads.
• Web Design Services: The agency will work with the client to design a site that will convert visitors to clients.

For years, firms have relied on dNOVO because the company can effectively connect lawyers to their firm’s target demographic within neighbouring communities. If a firm specializes in white- collar criminal defence, it can use its website to project a professional image that inspires trust and confidence in potential clients. Similarly, if a lawyer specializes in family law, they can use their website to convey a feeling of compassion and empathy toward their clients.

From the written tone on the website to the colour palette used for the video production and imagery presented, dNOVO knows how to relate to the client.

No matter which branch of law they specialize in, dNOVO will work to establish your firm’s legal team as trustworthy, reliable and professional community members who will be held in the highest regard.

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The post dNOVO Group: Branding With The Evolving Legal Terrain appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

There is perhaps no worse nightmare scenario in life than a child who is born or diagnosed with a serious illness. It is the greatest fear of every parent and nothing, absolutely nothing matters more than securing the care needed to overcome the illness and reaching out to organizations who may be able to help.

Organizations such at Chai Lifeline Canada, who for the past 18 years have been stepping up to provide the much needed and sometimes overlooked programs and services a family in crisis may need. Services such as the mundane, like help getting to doctor appointments and providing hot meals when children are hospitalized, to the extraordinary like medically supervised overnight camps that give children confidence, courage, a sense of normalcy and the life skills they need to fight dreaded illnesses. Chai Lifeline Canada knows that any child’s illness impacts not just the child who is sick, but their entire family and they provide these programs and services free of charge.

Which means fundraising is needed to allow Chair Lifeline Canada to continue to provide these essential services which families rely upon as a beacon of hope, which is why its annual Harmony and Hope Gala held April 9th in Vaughan, Ontario plays such a key role in the community. A lifeline for care all begins with committed volunteers, corporate sponsors and donors making a real difference.

More than 1200 guests attended the 18th Anniversary Harmony and Hope Gala, which honoured Shelly Avital, Silvio De Gasperis and Jack Eisenberger this year as Community Builders. The evening’s Impact Speaker was Sisi Kleiner-Fisman, who represented all Chai families and captivated the room with her own Chai story. In a full circle moment, the Gala welcomed back to the stage performer Cantor Helfgot, who had performed at the very first Gala in 2008.

The evening’s Humanitarian Award honourees were famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and his wife Veronica. After a stirring musical performance, Bocelli ended the evening by prodding the audience to bid on his guitar he would be willing to donate, with the bidding reaching an astounding $150,000.

The Harmony and Hope Event Committee was chaired by Shoshana and Yummy Schachter and comprised passionate volunteers Alana De Gasperis, Alexandra De Gasperis, Toby Feldberg, Samantha and Jeff Gottesman, Goldie Hauer, Julie and Yaakov Kaplan, Francesca and Eugene Profis, Jeff Rubenstein, Elli Schochet, Yonatan Wisebrod, and Michelle Goldstein Zaldin, all of whom share the vision of providing care and compassion to families during dark times.

During turbulent times good people doing good things from the goodness of their hearts can often get lost amongst the clutter of daily noise. But that is never lost on families dealing with a childhood illness, and organizations such as Chai Lifeline Canada, and the staff and volunteers who support the programs and services it provides, are lifelines for care at a most critical time.

The post Andrea Bocelli highlighted the Harmony and Hope Gala appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Whether you live in a house, apartment or condo, making it that special place called “the home of your dreams” can be challenging!

Having to shop for reliable contractors, reasonable quotes and quality materials all while trying to complete your reno project within your desired timeline can be stressful and overwhelming and can, ultimately, discourage you from achieving your dream home — the home you deserve.

Easy Renovation, based in the Greater Toronto Area, has found a way to make your renovations stress-free convenient, affordable and professionally done.

Their approach is innovative and user-friendly as it offers customers a way to remodel their bathroom, kitchen, entire condo unit or house right from their computer or mobile device.

“I understand why they’re called ‘Easy Renovation’ because everything from start to finish was so easy,” says Megan, a Torontonian wife and mother who relied on Easy Renovation when they decided to grow their family and desired that extra space and refresh. “From the very start, the communication was on point we never had to wait more than 1 or 2 hours to get a response. I couldn’t be happier with the work. I wouldn’t hire anyone else to do a renovation.”

Rather than having to travel to a showroom and listen to the same “sales pitch,” Easy Renovation lets you browse through 100 pages of high-end brand-name fixtures and accessories online, which they can then virtually “try on” in their space through photorealistic 3D renderings.

It’s a great way to see what various tiles, faucets, lighting solutions, paint and more will look like together in your living spaces before you buy the materials and start the work.
 

 
This is the process:

• • ESTIMATE – Get personalized attention from a project consultant in a one-on-one meeting to discuss your project goals, ideal completion time and receive a total estimate.
• • PLAN – Start planning your construction project and selecting the materials you need with the help of your personal project consultant. Choose from the predesigned packages or customize your design by selecting fixtures and finishes from the catalogue. Once you have made your selections, a member of their team will visit your space to take detailed measurements, finalize your construction scope and create a list of materials needed for the project. They also ensure that the project stays within your desired budget.
• • DESIGN – Finalize your design with the design team with lifelike 3D renderings, allowing you to visualize how your future space will look based on the materials and finishes you selected and the measurements taken.
• • PROCUREMENT – The procurement team will order your materials from trusted suppliers and pass the savings on to you. A thorough quality assurance inspection of the fixtures and finishes is conducted before receiving delivery.
• • BUILD – The moment you’ve been waiting for! With a project manager by your side, never worry about any delays, hiccups or cutting corners in construction. Quality is central to the construction process. Their team of trusted professionals will work with you to inspect and check the quality of your new space, ensuring your satisfaction.

They maintain the highest standards and comply with all necessary licenses, such as plumbing and master electrician, as well as the City of Toronto permits required to operate.

They are proud to serve the Greater Toronto Horseshoe Area for all your bathroom, kitchen, entire condo unit or house renovation needs. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the outpouring of positive customer testimonials they continue to receive. They aim to set a new benchmark for home renovations, exceeding expectations for generations to come.

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The post Renovating Just Got A Whole Lot Easier appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Is wolfing down a favourite chocolate bar or running to the local barista for a hit of caffeine part of your late-afternoon itinerary?

If so, you are not alone.

So many of us either skip lunch or eat at our desks from containers of takeout food that has more bulk than nutrition and gives us a blood-sugar spike and then energy crash that deplete us well before our day is done.

“It is well known that “you are what you eat,” and good food can improve mental health and stabilize moods as well as support physical health.”

So the question we need to ask ourselves is, can the types of food we eat affect and improve our moods?

“Our gut is our second brain,” says Sarah Grossman, who, along with co-author Tamara Green, has penned a new book, Good Food Good Mood: 100 Nourishing Recipes to Support Mind & Body Wellness (published by Appetite by Random House), which is being released in March of 2024. It is a book that the two initiated shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; as it wore on, they became even more aware of food-mood correlations, and especially attuned to the benefits of eating “supportive foods” and the effect they could have on our moods and mental health.

“Blood sugar levels are highly important to be aware of, something that we talk a lot about in the book,” Grossman says. “The stability of our moods is related to either our balanced or elevated blood sugar levels, which can affect the mood equation, making us feel tired, anxious, stressed or irritated.”

Both graduating from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition in Toronto in 2010, Green and Grossman founded their company, The Living Kitchen, that same year. One of the partners’ first jobs was conducting classes for outpatients at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), to provide them with an overview of how healthy food can make a significant difference to one’s mental health.

From there, the entrepreneurs branched out to meal-delivery services in the Toronto area and a private-chef service. Their international clients range from celebrities to couples looking to make easy dinners, from families with picky eaters to women experiencing anxiety as a result of infertility or giving birth, and from those struggling with depression, dementia or debilitating gut issues to cancer patients and their caregivers. In fact, the authors’ first book, The Living Kitchen: Nourishing Whole-Food Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery (Appetite by Random House, 2019), provides achievable eating solutions to be used in conjunction with cancer treatments and protocols.

The authors’ mission in writing Good Food, Good Mood was to provide nutritious food solutions for readers that are accessible, affordable and delicious, as well as provide practical, adaptable tools for living according to their “Good Food, Good Mood” mantra.

“We wanted to ensure that readers understand the link between food, moods and mental health. Our hope is that readers, by following the suggestions in this book, which include adding protein to every meal as well as including an array of colourful vegetables and plants, can make a difference in their lives both physically as well as mood-wise,” says Grossman. “It is important to eat in a way that supports our brain and gut health.”

But don’t worry, bons vivants, foodies, epicureans, hedonists, foodaholics, connoisseurs, gastronomists, gourmands and gourmets, your palates will still be happily intrigued and bellies satiated by the diverse and colourful menu choices offered within the pages of Grossman and Green’s book.

“The more variety of plants we eat feeds the microbes in our guts and helps form our neurotransmitters,” Grossman says. “In fact, microbes help support our brain function. Neurotransmitters also have an impact on our mood — they can make us feel happy, motivated, focused and alert. And while eating good food isn’t the only component to positive mental health, protein-rich foods can be building blocks to create neurotransmitters.”

“THE MORE COLOUR VARIETY WE INCLUDE IN OUR VEGETABLES, THE BETTER OUR GUT MICROBES ARE SUPPORTED AND FED, WHICH, IN TURN, POSITIVELY AFFECTS OUR MOOD”

The bountiful microbiota in our guts are believed to be engaged in an ongoing two-way communication with our brains in a conversation that flows upwards. As such, the state of our gut health can be a positive or negative influence on our mood and memory.

“Challenges inside the gut affect communication within the brain,” Grossman says. “If there is an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut this may cause inflammation, depression, anxiety and stress, and in turn impacts our appetite and our moods.”

Importantly, good gut health helps free nutrients from the food we eat, facilitates digestion, produces vitamin K, promotes healthy immune systems and acts as a detoxifier. And just as important, the nerves that connect our guts and our brains send signals to our brains that can affect our moods — the practice of eating good food will manifest itself in a good mood — and conversely, when we experience those late afternoon energy crashes, more often than not it is the result of low blood sugar because we haven’t eaten the kinds of foods that fuel our systems in a replenishing way.

There are three main food components that Grossman emphasizes need to be included in our daily meals. The first is protein, which ideally should be eaten at every meal. Secondly is a colourful array of vegetables and other plants, including lentils, nuts and seeds, which contain important nutrients for our body. The third component important to add to our daily food choices is fermented foods, which support the microbes in our gut.

“Protein acts as a building block to help develop our neurotransmitters and foster feelings of happiness and focus; it also helps to stabilize our blood sugar,” Grossman says. “And, as far as plants and vegetables, the more colour variety we include in our vegetables, the better our gut microbes are supported and fed, which, in turn, positively affects our mood.”

Grossman says vegetables make a positive impact on our health, and recommends that people eat 30 or more servings of plant-based foods in a week. “It is easier than you think, when you add in chickpeas, a variety of nuts and grains,” she says. “And vegetables also help build micro-diversity in the gut and neurotransmitters in the brain.”

Cognizant of the sometimes prohibitive cost of produce, Grossman suggests buying produce that is in season and plan meals to include what is available at any particular time of the year. If recipe items such as kale or spinach are too expensive, she recommends swapping in other leafy vegetables. Root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and beets are good fill-in ingredients, as is cabbage, which is usually more affordable and available.

Fermented food such as yogurt can be added as a dip or sauce to so many recipes, and for those who are dairy-intolerant there are non-dairy yogurt options available. Fermented pickles and other vegetables are also good options.

“We encourage our clients to do a plate check, to look at their plate and assess whether there is enough protein, healthy fat – one to two tablespoons per meal is all that is needed — and that a large part of the plate has vegetables,” Grossman says. “It is important to make sure that, ideally, all of these food components are a part of every meal.”

As we all know, resolutions are easy to make and even easier to break, so the authors have included several tips and advice on how to start on the path to eating “good food” and how to maintain that resolve on an ongoing basis.

“Tamara and I definitely understand the challenge of planning meals, so we included recipes that are easy to make and don’t require a long list of ingredients — most of which readers have in their home,” Grossman says. “We also wanted to make sure that none of the recipes would take a long time to prepare. For instance, some of the quicker recipes take as little as 5 to 10 minutes, but most take about 30 minutes, with some being a bit longer.”

“START WITH THE SMALLEST POSSIBLE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR EATING HABITS.”

Grossman advises that, in order to develop good habits that are sustainable, choose recipes that don’t feel overwhelming, and start with what feels like the easiest and friendliest to make.

“It is OK to start with one, two or three recipes — it doesn’t have to be a lot. And for leftovers the next day, you can double the recipes that you like.

“Tamara and I always tell our clients that if they need to buy some prepared food throughout the week, it is quite all right. You don’t have to make everything from scratch. It is more important to have nutritious food than to skip a meal.

“Basically, we recommend following the 80-20 rule, which is to eat well at least 80 per cent of the time and it’s OK if 20 per cent of the time you allow yourself some flexibility.”

The recipes listed in the index are cross-referenced with various tags, making it easy for readers to find any of the diverse benefits they might be looking for.

“For instance, a reader might be looking for some help around feeling more energized or focused, and so Tamara and I flagged higher protein and fibre-based recipes so readers can access and prepare the foods that fulfil those needs,” Grossman says. “We also suggest adding a variety of nuts and seeds, such as walnuts and hemp seeds, which contain healthy plant-based omega-3.”

If you are a grazer and love little treats between meals, you will find some delightful recipes to satisfy your cravings, such as roasted-red-pepper- and-walnut relish, zucchini-mint turkey burgers with cucumber-sumac yogurt sauce, and chicken satay with quickie rainbow slaw. Dessert lovers don’t have to worry either about their favourite part of a meal with recipes that include almond-butter blondies, dark-cherry- walnut muffins, berry-apple gummies, chocolate-chunk-miso-oat cookies and coconut-fired green bananas, to name just a few.

The authors’ favourite taste profiles are guided by Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian influences, and they have developed their recipes for a variety of tastes including for those with a sensitive palate.

Some of Grossman’s favourite recipe choices (two of which are shared in this City Life article) include, for breakfast, the miso-savoury oats with soft-boiled eggs option and the shredded veggie fritters with probiotic yogurt. For her mains, Grossman loves the one-pan miso braised cod and leeks and the crispy chickpeas and cauliflower over lemony tahini yogurt. Some of the snacks she recommends sound downright yummy, including the miso-maple sticky nuts and the easy seedy flax crackers, which contain healthy fat and protein and are high in fibre.

Important questions to ask ourselves as we begin this new journey of integrating good food into our daily regime include: “Am I eating every meal every day?” and “Am I set up to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner?”

Once we have answered those questions, we can start assessing our food choices by asking ourselves questions like “Am I including protein at every meal?”

“Start with the smallest possible things that will make a difference in your eating habits,” Grossman recommends.

“Tamara and I hope that when people read our book and make our recipes they feel empowered to make choices that support their moods in a way that feels doable, and that makes a difference in their lives.”

Excerpted from Good Food, Good Mood by Tamara Green and Sarah Grossman. Copyright © 2023 Tamara Green and Sarah Grossman. Photographs by Daniel Alexander Skwarna. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

The post Tamara Green & Sarah Grossman: The Good Food, Good Mood Mantra appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

The origins of your local barbershop are rich with history, and barbershops as social institutions have been around for centuries — going as far back as ancient Rome, when Emperor Nero was served by his personal barber.

Today, barbers with flair keep up with and deliver ever-changing styles for clients of all ages and walks of life and even inspire male grooming rituals.

The barbershop has traditionally been recognized as a haven for men, a place to gather and socialize. It’s a judgment-free zone where men can vent, curse and express commentary that may otherwise be considered politically incorrect.

Barbers offer more than just a fresh style and steady razor- wielding hand. They are modern-day Renaissance men, knowledgeable about various topics because of their years of developing relationships with the people who sit in their chairs.

Whether the topic of discussion is sports, politics or societal issues, barbers are listeners, advisers and members of the community who reserve judgment wholeheartedly because they know that will encourage expression.

Above all, their greatest satisfaction is to serve the communities that have been so loyal to them.

If you’d like to see your go-to barbershop featured in future editions of City Life, email us at info@mycitylife.ca

Anthony “Ando” Del Maestro and his crew at I Barbieri do more than trim, fade and style … they inspire.

Walking into I Barbieri is no different than walking into your living room … the ambience feels like home. The only difference is razors are gliding, hair trimmings are falling, and the smiles of community members are glowing in and out the door. I am welcomed by the owner Anthony Del Maestro- known to many in the North York community as “Ando”, as he meticulously prefects his client’s mid-fade.

Born into a hardworking Italian family in London, England, that fostered honesty and creative expression. Ando’s roots in barbering are well-established: His father was also a barber. Although Ando initially aspired to follow his passion for music and embrace the rock ‘n’ roll life, he was encouraged to give it a try.

“Why not?” Ando recalls telling himself.

I Barbieri was formed to recreate a welcoming, unrushed atmosphere in a modern setting. Knowing that you can walk in, take a seat, relax and then step back out into the world more confident than ever is to anticipate a pleasure that will always be fulfilled. Today, Ando leads his fellow barbieri, or barbers, with respect and passion.

“The camaraderie here is based on friendship and respect. We’ve known each other a long time, and I trust them implicitly. I don’t like to call this ‘my place’ because it took all of us to make it right. This is ours and, especially, the community’s place,” says Ando.

What separates Ando and his fellow barbieri — Mauro, Akram and Simo from others is that their process is more detail-oriented than at other quick-cut places. Their services do not follow the one-cut-fits-all 10-minute affair, and their perfectionism is reflected in the quality of their shaves. Secondly, they are dressed to impress with ties and tailored suit vests because they understand and preach that how you present yourself is an indication of your self-respect and the respect you wish to receive from others. Most of all, what has clients coming back week after week is I Barbieri’s defining energy, which lets clients be themselves and learn more about themselves and the world solely through the power of meaningful conversation.

“This is not about cutting hair; this is more about building relationships than anything else. We need to be expressing ourselves in one way or another, right? I find that when you can find your true expression, that’s when you’re going to be closer to happiness than if you don’t. That’s why I love what I do, and I hope to inspire others,” says Ando.

After my first experience as a client, I can confidently say that the gentlemen of I Barbieri remind us that life is beautiful with their modesty, honesty and distinguished charm.

3524 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ont. M6A 2C6

The post I Barbieri: Life Is Shorter Than A Fade appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

In November 2015 Shine Talent Group was born. With a boutique touch, Shine gives social talent and potential influencers the resources they need to work with a global network of PR agencies, one-on-one talent management and campaign strategy consulting while taking the time to understand their clients’ individual needs. Today, Shine has successfully expanded to represent social talent globally and has offices in Los Angeles, Toronto and London.

Co-founders Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward took time to sit down with share their journey with City Life and the lessons they have learned that make them shine today.

Q: What advice would you give to those wishing to embark on a career related to social media and influencers?

EMILY: For creators, look first into what you are doing in your life that people naturally come to you for advice on. Then look at the things you are most often searching for answers to online that you aren’t finding solutions for. These are both great ways to start defining your brand pillars and figuring out what you can offer to your followers.

JESS: For people looking for a career in social media, immerse yourself in the space and network. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a company or person for a coffee date to learn more about what they do, regardless of if there is an opportunity on the table. People love to share their journey, and you can learn so much from them through their experience.

Q: What are the biggest lessons you have learned over the years about feeling fulfilled in your work or at home?

EMILY: I am lucky to have embraced early that you can’t hold onto anything too tightly. Success comes with growth, and growth requires change. If we still tried to operate the business the same way we did in 2015, we wouldn’t be able to operate in today’s landscape. We learn something new every day and need to give ourselves, and our team, the grace to change our minds and move into a different direction, if necessary, to reach an overall goal.

JESS: As cliché as it sounds, love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life. We work extremely hard at Shine, but there is an ease that comes along with it for the people who are fit for the role. I am extremely grateful that I was able to find a career that leans into my strengths – so hard work is fulfilling, regardless of the outcome.

Q: How important is it to give back to the community?

EMILY: It’s vital, and not just in the philanthropic sense. We need to give back with our time and mentorship to those who need it.
JESS: Agreed. I mentor several people and speak often to the next generation of people coming into this industry. Holding back knowledge and experience is not how we get ahead. We have tried to lead by example by sharing and giving opportunities for others to rise.

Q: What is your secret to happiness?

EMILY: Jess gave me the Five-Minute Journal in our first year of business. I love the principles of what it stands for and have raised my children by asking them similar questions in the morning and at night to help guide conversations and focus our perspectives. It’s easy to stay with the lens that everything is hard and happening to you, but it’s much more fulfilling to train your brain to look at all the amazing things that happen in a day that can so often go overlooked if we don’t take a moment to see them.

JESS: Surround yourself with the best people. We are a product of the seven people we spend the most time with in our lives. I am constantly inspired and motivated by mine.

Q: What is your favourite thing to do on your days off?

EMILY: These days, I’ve been spending as much time as possible at Blue Mountain with my family. We are a blended family of seven with kids ranging from 10 to 23 years old. Skiing/snowboarding is something we all enjoy and can do together.

JESS: I love exploring new hikes and trails whenever I go with my husband and dog, Toast. When we’re in Toronto you’ll often find us at High Park. When we are in L.A. we’re typically hiking at Griffith Park or climbing the Beachwood Canyon stairs.

Q: If you could change anything about society, what would it be?

EMILY: More awareness of how connected we all are. I think there would be greater accountability for actions and decisions made if we truly understood this.
JESS: There is a huge disparity in the opportunities people are afforded by the way they grew up. I would like to see more equality in what people have access to.

Q: Definition of success?

EMILY: Success to me, personally, is to feel like I’m always evolving and am surrounded by people and opportunities that enable this to happen. In business, success to me is the ability to take what is presented to you and find the opportunity to keep moving forward.

JESS: Success to me is flexibility and fun. Being from Australia, having flexibility in how, when and where I work was always a priority, so I would be able to go back home and see my family. And, of course, fun. Enjoying what you do is everything.

INTERVIEW BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA

The post Jess Hunichen & Emily Ward: The Founders That Shine appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

The 25th edition of the Interior Design Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was nothing short of spectacular. Design lovers were treated to a truly immersive experience, with the “wow” factor in play throughout, from the emerging designers’ booths to those of the legacy brands.

Since 1999, IDS has become a catalyst for Canadian design, and, during the past two decades, innovation and inspiration have been at its heart and soul. Solving the problems of tomorrow and crafting seamless functionality fused with comfort have always been its guiding pillars.

But as society is changing, so are the issues of the world! And, Canadian designers feel a deep responsibility to create products that are also transformative.

Companies like Roche Bobois, whose boldly colourful and simplistic Bombom outdoor furniture caught the eyes of all who walked by, evoking sense of happiness and wonder. Montauk Sofa’s jungle-style collection wrapped guests with a unique feeling of Amazonian warmth. Signature Kitchen Suite appliances that combine purposeful design, precision and luxury were put to the test with a live cooking demonstration courtesy of celebrity chef Mark McEwan.

Among the many prominent attendees at the show, Alison Brooks, the founder and creative director of Alison Brooks Architects in London, U.K., honoured City Life with an exclusive interview. She delved into her roots and shared her thoughts on how the design world has done a better job of being more sustainability-conscious.

“It’s great to see the sort of homegrown talent and the manufacturing and design happening in Canada. We’re headed in a direction, which focuses much more on the process, in terms of sustainability. We have begun to change the way we extract materials and how we process them,” says Brooks. “This is an optimistic time for designers as their work is a response to our time’s social and environmental issues.”

When Brooks was growing up in southern Ontario, her mother always pointed out beautiful historic buildings and farmhouses in the countryside. Little did she know that those shared moments of appreciation would deeply resonate.

At 16 years old, when Brooks put pencil to paper in her architectural design and drafting course, she knew design was the work she could happily do for the rest of her life. She had found her true calling.

With her keen eye for space and form, she soon learned that design goes beyond appreciation for the aesthetic. Rather, it has the power to move people emotionally and psychologically.

“Making life beautiful through design is the quest every architect and designer is trying to achieve,” says Brooks. “Design is like art. It’s possible for a chair or a rug or a lamp or a building to open people up to new experiences and see the world differently.”

Because of that, history and memory are a critical part of the creative design process. For people to respond and believe in something, the creation is dependent on the cultural memories of the time or location it embodies.

Brooks adds, “Cultures sort of spring from a certain place. I always start with a lot of research and use that as a source for reimagining what a place could be, how it operates and how it connects with that unique collective memory.”

That is what the Interior Design Show is all about. It is an invitation to see how design history has influenced what the future will hold and how it will change our lives.

The post The Interior Design Show 2024: Honouring Design History And Its Future appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Whether we admit it or not or even realize it, we have all incorporated calming strategies into our daily lives to deal with the sometimes-frenetic pace of our obligations, activities or life patterns. Some of us curl up with a good book or listen to classical music or white noise apps on our phones. Others cook or find that a rigorous physical workout does the trick, and walking the dog or even shamelessly binge-watching an admittedly silly television series can calm the nerves and centre us for the challenges ahead – all are strategies that might personally work for us and our mental health. As John Lennon once sang, “Whatever gets you through the night, it’s all right, it’s all right.”

You may notice that none of these strategies involve medications or pharmaceuticals. That’s the idea behind the Mississauga Arts Council’s new two- year Pilot ArtsCare Social Prescription program, designed to let participants enjoy creative experiences and to unleash the power of the arts to improve our mental health.

In late November last year, the Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) presented the proposal for a Pilot ArtsCare Social Prescription Program written by art psychotherapist Haley Toll to the Honourable Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. This pilot program is the next step in furthering MAC’s ArtsCare initiatives that make creative experiences and activities available to residents as a non-pharmacological way to improve mental health. The goal is to enhance individual and community health and well-being and foster resilient, sustainable, creative community support and health services for diverse populations. ArtsCare aims to reduce public health costs by implementing preventive measures and innovative services that will have long-term impacts, improving access to care and focusing on a patient’s natural strengths, at a time when many in our society are struggling with mental health challenges.

“There has never been a time when new mental health services were needed more,” according to the Ontario Provincial Mental Health Support Report released in February 2021. Extensive research has shown the power of the arts and other creative experiences to enhance mental health strategies. In his New York Times article of February 3, 2024, titled “Art Can Make Us All Better People”, David Brooks wrote, “Paintings, poems, novels and music help multiply and refine the models we use to perceive and construct reality. By attending to great perceivers,” that is, artists, “we can more subtly understand what is going on around us and be better at expressing what we see and feel.”

“In Mississauga, a strained public health system has left many children, youth and adults dealing with mental health crises without adequate support,” says Toll, former president of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. “Recognizing the need for innovative solutions, The Mississauga Arts Council and Mass Culture initiated a collaborative project to design an arts prescription model,” she explains, finding research through a datathon and connecting leading professionals in the field of arts in health through focus groups and a conference. Called “ArtsCare,” MAC’s new model is a social prescription program for creative therapies designed to provide a spectrum of care to meet the diverse needs of people experiencing isolation, mental health challenges and various forms of distress. The two-year comprehensive program, introduced initially in Mississauga, has the potential to expand across Ontario. ArtsCare is simple in its approach yet may be groundbreaking in improving mental health and well-being through the power of arts and creative experiences. We’re all aware of the various concerts, community events and festivals, painting exhibitions and other cultural activities that may be held in our neighbourhoods throughout the year. The ArtsCare prescription is to incorporate these into your daily life and experience creative events in addition to your daily jog or other strategies that work for you. The message is clear: don’t stop what you’re already doing – simply add the arts to the equation and reap the powerful added benefits.

“If you knew of a low-cost, proven effective therapy for a multitude of mental health obstacles, a solution without side effects that was guaranteed to make participants feel better, wouldn’t you seek to make it widely accessible?” says Mike Douglas, executive director of MAC. “The ArtsCare Program will help make people feel better while delivering health-care savings.”

“In a study based on a 2016 Statistics Canada General Social Survey, the Canada Council for the Arts found that 52 per cent of Canadians who participated in 15 arts, cultural and heritage activities were more likely to report very good or excellent mental health than non- attendees and participants,” says Associate Minister Tibollo. “This study looked at activities such as live music, art galleries, reading books, art and culture festivals, theatre and comedy shows.”

As the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe observed in a September 2019 report, “arts interventions are often low-risk, highly cost-effective, integrated and holistic treatment options for complex health challenges to which there are no current solutions.”

Whether it’s yoga or tai chi, boxing, biking, long-distance swimming or cross- country skiing, all are healthy endeavours for the body, mind and soul. You should consider adding the calm of painting, music, reading or even attending art and music festivals, live theatre or comedy shows – all are proven to be effective strategies to add to your personal tool boxes, strategies to enhance your personal health and well-being. The MAC ArtsCare Social Prescription Program is a worthy initiative for improving your mental health while enjoying yourself at the same time.

The post Mississauga Arts Council: Health Through The Arts appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Leading that ascension will be Olivia Ansell, recently named as Luminato’s new artistic director after an extensive global search. Ansell, the current festival director of Sydney Festival and former head of contemporary performance for the acclaimed Sydney Opera House, was enticed to the Northern Hemisphere to spread her creative and curatorial talents.

“I work in the arts because creativity has the power to challenge and inspire people,” says Ansell. “I am honoured to join Luminato and curate for a renowned multidisciplinary festival at an international scale. Toronto is a remarkable city, and I look forward to fostering creative exchange among artists, organizations and communities, locally and worldwide, to amplify the vibrancy of this city’s identity through cultural storytelling and ambitious public play.”

“Public play” is an apt description of Luminato. Creatively speaking, almost anything goes for the festival, which is a convenor and catalyst for big, bold contemporary works of art displayed each June. In welcoming the world to Toronto, Luminato commissions, produces and presents exceptional Canadian and international artists in a collective display of imagination and artistry, perhaps needed now more than ever.

“She has a natural talent for understanding the pulse of a city and presenting it in an authentic manner.”

It is supported in this quest by its founding government partner, the Province of Ontario, its major partners the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto, along with its government partners the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Throughout the year, Luminato works with artists from diverse cultures and communities in the Toronto region, supporting creative development and bringing their art to the world stage. Toronto is often called the world’s most diverse city, and perhaps no other time is that diversity on better display than at Luminato. The festival connects local voices with global conversations and grounds its work in equity, inclusion, accessibility and sustainability. Luminato’s guiding light, its driving force, is its belief in the power of art to start conversations and inspire audiences. With that mandate, a global leader in creativity would be the perfect fit for it to achieve greater heights.

“I am filled with immense excitement and enthusiasm to welcome Olivia as our artistic director,” says Celia Smith, CEO of Luminato Festival Toronto and noted city-builder. “Ansell’s dedication to cultural storytelling, audience engagement and animating place will help deepen Luminato’s impact as a cultural city-building organization. She has a natural talent for understanding the pulse of a city and presenting it in an authentic manner.”

Ansell is a highly accomplished arts curator and executive, with experience ranging from performer, choreographer and director to executive producer and curator across non-profit and commercial art ventures. “I think that arts festivals play a really important role in making sure they ignite culture and collaborate deeply with artists so we can retain that sense of cool in places that we live and work,” says Ansell.

She certainly did that by leaving her mark on Sydney, where she was voted one of Vivid Sydney’s Top 100 Creative Catalysts, helping to elevate the cultural landscape of that city while providing rich opportunities for people to rediscover and re-experience the city in new and unexpected ways.

In the midst of the global pandemic she fearlessly guided the Sydney Festival through a period of uncertainty, recovery and rejuvenation as its festival director. After a remarkable year in 2023, Sydney Festival surpassed its box office goals while significantly growing new audiences. In recognizing her exceptional leadership, Sydney Festival extended Ansell’s tenure through to 2025, when she will move to Canada. Ansell will be curating her inaugural program for Luminato Festival Toronto next year, which will be the festival’s 19th year.

The extensive local and international talent search to identify and then secure Ansell’s services was led by Caldwell Partners, a globally recognized executive talent provider that considered world- class local, national and international candidates. “In the next few years, Luminato Festival Toronto will celebrate 20 years of animating and delighting this great city,” says Douglas Knight, C.M., chair of the board. “Adding Olivia’s innovative artistic vision to Celia Smith’s exceptional organizational leadership establishes a new era for our festival to keep growing our impact and enhancing the experiences of people living in and visiting Toronto.”

Ansell’s vision for Luminato is bold and confident, reflective of her own personality. “What I envision over the next few years for Luminato is to be known as that experiential intellectual arts festival with a bold personality and an appetite for taking risks,” she says.

Given Olivia Ansell’s accomplishments and considerable talents, from her roots Down Under to her new heights at the very top of Luminato Festival Toronto beginning in 2025, creativity in Toronto should strap in and enjoy the ride.

The post Olivia Ansell: Everlasting Success At Luminato appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

A comfortable future begins with financial security. Sugi Kumaresan and his team at CIBC Wood Gundy possess several decades of financial experience and are changing the narrative of how to effectively grow your wealth.

Sugi and his team use a comprehensive approach to help manage, build, and protect their clients’ wealth.

Along with Sugi, Associate Wealth Advisor Michelle Rowe, Wealth Advisor Paul Mannu, and Client Associate Angela Diamanti pride themselves on their affluent client base, team chemistry, bespoke investment advice and portfolio construction.

“We have always lived by pride, leadership, and joy. We are proud of the work we do – everyone on the team is a leader and we have fun doing it,” says Sugi.

Paul adds, “As a team, we are very cohesive because there is no overlap with what we do. We all stick to our strengths and each of us brings out our best.”

Their clients continue to rely on them because of their unwavering commitment to their three-pillar investment philosophy of helping to grow assets: strategic asset allocation, a disciplined investment approach and conservative, tax-efficient income strategies.

They stress that building a well-rounded and diversified portfolio with patience is key. By combining equities, fixed income and alternatives in different ways, each portfolio strategy they offer is unique.

Tactical asset allocation, active versus passive investing and portfolio rebalancing are other strategies in their arsenal that consistently show their clients that their portfolios are adaptable to market conditions.

Investing is not a race, and their patience has been proven to optimize their clients’ portfolio performance over time. How so? Because a client’s long-term goals are aligned with meaningful investments to achieve results.

You can strive to meet your financial goals with their innovative solutions because they are designed to meet your specific needs. But they offer more than just investment advice: by leveraging the expertise of their partners across CIBC Private Wealth, they can connect you to a full range of products and services, including:
• Estate preservation
• Insurance counsel
• Corporate and personal tax integration and advice
• Business succession and transition planning
• Multigenerational family wealth consultation
• Strategic philanthropy, foundations and legacy advice
• Financial fluency for younger generations
• Private banking services, i.e., bespoke lending
• Commercial banking services

To truly understand what growing wealth is, you’ll need to meet Sugi Kumaresan and his team at CIBC Wood Gundy; maximizing cash flow, minimizing tax leakage and drawdowns and maintaining your purchasing power are what they can help you with.

Your money deserves to make money.

For more information on this topic, please contact Sugithan Kumaresan, CFP, CIM, Senior Wealth Advisor, CIBC Private Wealth, Wood Gundy
4110 Yonge Street Suite 600 Toronto Ont.
416-229-5866

“CIBC Private Wealth” consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries through CIBC Private Banking; CIBC Private Investment Counsel, a division of CIBC Asset Management Inc. (“CAM”); CIBC Trust Corporation; and CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc. (“WMI”). CIBC Private Banking provides solutions from CIBC Investor Services Inc. (“ISI”), CAM and credit products. CIBC Private Wealth services are available to qualified individuals. Insurance services are only available through CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services Inc. In Quebec, insurance services are only available through CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services (Quebec) Inc. The CIBC logo and “CIBC Private Wealth” are trademarks of CIBC, used under license. “Wood Gundy” is a registered trademark of CIBC World Markets Inc. This information, including any opinion, is based on various sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change. CIBC and CIBC World Markets Inc., their affiliates, directors, officers and employees may buy, sell, or hold a position in securities of a company mentioned herein, its affiliates or subsidiaries, and may also perform financial advisory services, investment banking or other services for, or have lending or other credit relationships with the same. CIBC World Markets Inc. and its representatives will receive sales commissions and/or a spread between bid and ask prices if you purchase, sell or hold the securities referred to above. © CIBC World Markets Inc. 2024.
Clients are advised to seek advice regarding their particular circumstances from their personal tax and legal advisors.
Sugi Kumaresan is an Investment Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy in Toronto. The views of Sugi Kumaresan do not necessarily reflect those of CIBC World Markets Inc. If you are currently a CIBC Wood Gundy client, please contact your Investment Advisor.

The post CIBC Wood Gundy: The Team That Supports Your Financial Success appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.