New Beginnings - OpenRoad Driver

FALL/WINTER 2007 · www.OpenRoadDriver.combetter driving living and youNew BeginningsIntriguing Istanbul · Executive Chef Diva · 5 Newest ModelsThe Sky High Perfect Penthouse · How Not to DecorateGetting to Know H2O · Eye on Fall Fashions · Tech-e GizmosPM 40599157

i n c o m p a r a b l eR E S I D E N C E S F R O M $ 2 . 2 5 – $ 1 0 M I L L I O NTHREE SPECTACULAR PENTHOUSES – PRICING AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST123 RESIDENCESULTIMATE VIEWSLUXURY LIVINGFLOORS 27– 60RITZ-CARLTON HOTELLEGENDARY SPAEXQUISITE DININGSUPERIOR SERVICEFLOORS 1– 26B Y A P P O I N T M E N T6 0 4 . 6 8 9 . 8 8 81VA N C O U V E R S T U R N . C O M115 1 W E S T G E O R G I A S T R E E TARTHUR ERICKSONThe Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Vancouver are not owned, developed or sold by The Ritz-CarltonHotel Company, L.L.C. Holborn Developments (West Georgia) Ltd. uses The Ritz-Carlton marks underlicense from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. This is not an offering for sale. E. & O.E.

In this issueA Features6 People Customer SpotlightSeeing is Believing - Dr. David Lin8 Travel Where Our Road Takes YouIstanbul - A City of Intrigue12 Food PlatesSuch a Diva - An Aria in the Life16 Entertainment The StreetGeorgia’s on My Mind – O’Keeffe18 Autos RevOur Newest Models30 Real Estate Curb AppealHigh in the Sky - The Perfect Penthouse36 Design InteriorsHow Not to Decorate – Dos and Don’ts38 Health Trim LinesGetting to Know H 2 O44 Money Trade InThe Changing Face of Retirement50 Fashion Make & ModelFall & Winter Eye on Fashion59 Gadgets Tech-eLatest Gizmos and Gadgets....................................................................................................................................................................................A Extras8181227 OpenRoad TV41 OpenRoad Survey SaysPoll the Pollster - Barb JustasonYou Spoke, We’re Listening47 Purrfectly LuxuriousCat Paws Inn57 Winter Wonderland Choo Choo!The Rocky Mountaineer....................................................................................................................................................................................A Regulars2 Publisher’s Note3 The Customers Always Write4 OpenRoad ExperienceDealership News24 Ask The ExpertsTop 8 Service Tips for Safe Winter Driving62 High BeamsOpenRoad Events5030 Cover Image: 2008 Audi R8OpenRoad driver |

Publisher’s NoteWelcome to the fall/winter edition ofOpenRoad Driver! We have added some exciting newsections to this issue including entertainment, realestate and gadgets among others. To do this with theutmost quality, we have partnered with experts in thefield, including Chef Dino Renaerts, executive chef ofDiva, Al Nagy, the former hockey broadcaster and certifiedfinancial planner with Investors Group, and KarimVirani, real estate marketing agent to the stars.Of course, we never forget our origins and in this issueyou will find stunning photographs and great informationon the exhilarating Audi R8, the luxurious and powerful new hybrid from Lexus,the LS 600h, as well as an all-new Honda Accord and Toyota Highlander.Recently I shed the glasses that have adorned my head for the past twenty years after undergoinglaser eye surgery. I was so amazed with the results I asked my surgeon and world pioneerin corrective eye surgery, Dr. David Lin, to be featured in our customer profile this issue.Finally, don’t miss our winter driving tips to keep you and your family safe onour roadways during the coming months.Enjoy our New Beginnings issue and write to us with your suggestions.Christian Chia President, OpenRoad Auto GroupLocationsMiddlegate Honda | Burnaby6984 KingswayBurnaby, BC, V5E 1E6T 604.525.4667 F 604.525.8692MiddlegateHonda.comNorth Shore Acura | Northshore Auto Mall828 Automall DriveNorth Vancouver, BC, V7P 3R8T 604.929.6736 F 604.990.7623NorthShoreAcura.comOpenRoad Audi | Vancouver2395 Boundary RoadVancouver, BC, V5M 4W5T 604.293.AUDI (2834) F 604.298.1329OpenRoadAudi.comOpenRoad Hyundai | Richmond Auto Mall5571 Parkwood WayRichmond, BC, V6V 2M7T 604.606.9033 F 604.606.9003OpenRoadHyundai.comOpenRoad driver |OpenRoad Lexus | Port Moody3150 St. Johns StreetPort Moody, BC, V3H 2C7T 604.461.7623 F 604.949.7623OpenRoadLexus.caOpenRoad Toyota | Port Moody3166 St. Johns StreetPort Moody, BC, V3H 2C7T 604.461.3656 F 604.461.9140OpenRoadToyota.caOpenRoad Toyota | Richmond Auto Mall13251 Smallwood PlaceRichmond, BC, V6V 1W8T 604.273.3766 F 604.273.2892OpenRoadToyota.comRichmond Auto Body | Richmond2691 No.5 RoadRichmond, BC, V6X 2S8T 604.278.9158 F 604.270.9105RichmondAutoBody.caRichmond Lexus | Richmond Auto Mall5631 Parkwood WayRichmond, BC, V6V 2M6T 604.273.5533 F 604.270.9028RichmondLexus.comFall / Winter 2007 www.OpenRoadDriver.comOpenRoad Driverc/o OpenRoad Auto Group Ltd.13251 Smallwood PlaceRichmond, BC, Canada V6V 1W8Tel: (604) 232-5347 Fax: (604) 232-5323E-mail: inquiries@openroaddriver.comPublisher: Christian Chiapublisher@openroaddriver.comEditor: Will Fongeditor@openroaddriver.comArt Direction, Design: AtmosphereDesign, atmos@telus.netContributing Writers: Greg Dowswell,Will Fong, Bruce Forster, Gerry Frechette,Marcie Good, Vreni Gurd, Ben Hudson,Caroline M. Jackson, Jonathan Jaehrlich,Cameron Ma, Eileen Melnick McCarthy,Al Nagy, Kimiko Nomura, Dino Renaerts,Sharon TimmonsContributing Photographers:Alistair Eagle, Gerry Frechette, Hamish JacksonAdvertising, Sales: Will Fongsales@openroaddriver.comCirculation: Kirk Integrated MarketingServices, Canada Post, OpenRoadAuto GroupChange of Address Notices: Return coversof undeliverable copies to OpenRoadDriver, 13251 Smallwood Place, Richmond,BC, V6V 1W8 or send e-mail requests toinquiries @openroaddriver.com.Postmaster: Send Canadian addresschange forms to OpenRoad Driver, 13251Smallwood Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 1W8Publications Mail Agreement No.40599157OpenRoad Driver is published twice ayear by OpenRoad Auto Group Ltd.All rights reserved. No part of this magazinemay be reproduced without priorwritten permission from the publisher.OpenRoad Driver is not responsible forunsolicited manuscripts, images andphotographs.All views expressed in articles publishedin this magazine are those of the authorsand not necessarily those of OpenRoadDriver. All letters sent to OpenRoadDriver become the sole property ofOpenRoad Driver and may be used andpublished in any manner without obligationand without liability.Advertising in OpenRoad Driver does notindicate an endorsement by the publisheror OpenRoad Auto Group. The publisheraccepts no responsibility for advertisers’claims. The publisher does not recommend,guarantee or endorse the qualityof services or products within advertisements,advertorials and editorials.Printed in Canada by Teldon Print Media

Share your thoughts...TheCustomersAlwaysWriteHOW IMPRESSEDLast week my driver-side wiper armcame loose during a rainstorm. Ipulled into your dealership at noonand the guy at the service counterpromptly found a mechanic whocame out and quickly fixed myproblem. I was back on the roadseeing my computer clients in minutes.I’d like to say how impressedby the service I am.Eric I. on OpenRoad ToyotaRichmond’s technician, Greg Neuman,and assistant service manager, Brian VothEveryone on your staff should becommended for the assistance theyprovided us. Given such a positiveexperience I am sure my family willbe contacting OpenRoad for futurecar purchases.Alice T. on OpenRoad ToyotaRichmond’s general sales manager,Patrick Lau, business manager, DebbieLew, and product advisor, Alfred LamThanks for taking care of things soefficiently yesterday and for all yourhelpful information. I’m loving thecar. Charles did a good sales job. Ialso have to give Rich a lot of credittoo. He left me with a really goodimpression. I am quite happy todeal strictly with OpenRoad Audi.Harvey Q. on OpenRoad Audi’s businessmanager, Angela Wu, productadvisor, Charles Tomozar, and lotassociate, Richard MerrickI really appreciate your efforts andsavings in organizing my parts.I plan to use OpenRoad Audi formy servicing and look forward tohaving your service departmenttake good care of my new car.Edwin and Marsha L. on OpenRoadAudi’s assistant parts manager, ChrisEdwardsVERY EXCEPTIONALJaqueline’s performance is veryexceptional and exceeds what Iknow of the word “service.” Herhonesty, efficiency and professionalismshow that she is dedicated andvery hard working. She deserves acommendation and I salute her!Arnel O. on Middlegate Honda’s serviceadvisor, Jacqueline SchellenbergJust bought a pre-owned Honda CR-Vat Middlegate Honda. I am mosthappy with the professional andclient-oriented friendly services providedby Xin (Simon) Zhang. It wasa very pleasant business experience.I will not hesitate to recommend myfriends and business associates togo to Simon first for their next car atMiddlegate Honda.Eddie T. on Middlegate Honda’s productspecialist, Xin Simon ZhangI brought my vehicle in for servicingand received excellent servicefrom your staff, in particular DannyLeung. Thank you for the greatservice I always receive at yourdealership.Gerry S. on OpenRoad Toyota PortMoody’s parts and service associate,Danny LeungBEST SERVICEIt was our first time buying a car inCanada. We were given the bestservice by the team led by RichardKim, including Allan and Connie.Even though we were missingsupporting documents, the teamsupported us through the wholeprocess. We would like to thankeverybody at North Shore Acurafor being so nice, helpful andprofessional.Steve and Albert G. on North ShoreAcura’s sales managers, Richard Kimand Allan Sum, and business director,Connie ChanThank you to all for your excellentservice and to Anke for givingme emergency status and gettingmy car looked after on such shortnotice. Looking forward to havingmy car serviced at your dealership.Paul S. on Richmond Lexus’ servicedirector, Anke Minty, and all associatesBEST OF THE BESTWith all my service experiences heis the best of the best. I came outwith a smile! Have more people likeGreg Dowswell and I will be yourloyal customer.A. Lee on OpenRoad Hyundai’sservice manager, Greg DowswellWe like mail...Send feedback on OpenRoad Driverto: comments@openroaddriver.comOpenRoad driver |

News from our Dealerships...OpenRoadExperienceTOP LEXUS SALESEdward Sie of Richmond Lexushas been awarded the title of topsalesperson among all BC Lexusproduct advisors by the New CarDealers Association of BritishColumbia and the Vancouver Sun.Pictured (l-r): Christian Chia, presidentof OpenRoad Auto Group,Edward Sie, assistant sales managerof Richmond Lexus, and RobSteele, chief operating officer ofOpenRoad Auto Group.OPENROAD GRINDSFOR CHARITYStaff associates from OpenRoadAuto Group took the GrouseGrind Charity Challenge toraise funds in support of cancerresearch. During the challengeJim Simmons from North ShoreAcura scored the fastest time,completing the grind in less than43 minutes. Nathan Johnston fromMiddlegate Honda raised themost funds at $670.00 and SharonTimmons from North Shore Acuraachieved the best self-challengeamong the OpenRoad team. IanQuinn awarded a cheque for$3,204.50 in participant pledgesto the BC Cancer Foundation onbehalf of OpenRoad.OpenRoad driver |

News from our Dealerships...OpenRoadExperienceALL ABOARDThe winner of the OpenRoadDriver / Whistler MountaineerLifestyle Contest is restaurateurEric Ferris, owner of restaurant 62in Abbotsford. The prize packageincludes a trip for two on theWhistler Mountaineer train inGlacier Dome and a three-nightstay in Whistler. The results of ouronline “My Favourites” survey willbe announced in the next issueof OpenRoad Driver. Pictured(l-r): Eric Ferris, Heidi Ferris, DougRogers from Whistler Mountaineerand Will Fong from OpenRoad.TUNDRA CHAMPIONSay Phin Lim, product advisorwith OpenRoad Toyota PortMoody, is the Lower MainlandTundra Champion. “Aftercompleting the Toyota Tundrawalk-around competition in thelower mainland Say Phin Lim isour clear winner,” said JeremySchaab of Toyota Canada’s PacificZone. “Say Phin demonstratedexcellent knowledge of bothTundra and competitor productinformation and presented thetruck in a manner that addressedall of the important needs of theprospective buyer.”CIRCLE OF HONOURThe OpenRoad Auto Group’s 2007 Circle of HonourChampion is Middlegate Honda’s Alrick Celestine,who receives the coveted award and a trip for two toLas Vegas. The Circle of Honour is OpenRoad’s annualcompetition to name the group’s most outstandingproduct demonstration and walk-around based oninteractive scenarios, vehicle presentation, productknowledge and understanding of customer needs.Pictured (l-r): finalist Bob Mulligan from OpenRoadToyota Port Moody, champion Alrick Celestine fromMiddlegate Honda and finalist Ariel Bantog fromNorth Shore Acura.OpenRoad driver |

CustomerSpotlightDR. David LinSeeing is BelievingDr.David Lin isone of the mostsuccessful and accomplishedeye surgeons inthe country. Togetherwith his partner Dr.Simon Holland, Dr. Linhas performed over60,000 proceduresat his independentlyowned clinic, the PacificLaser Eye Centre inVancouver, BC. As youcan imagine, Dr. Linis an extremely busyman, but he was morethan willing to take afew minutes to talk withus about his career, hiscars, and the rapidlyadvancing field of correctivelaser eye surgery.Interview by Ben HudsonOpenRoad driver |

How did you first become interested inpursuing laser eye surgery?At medical school my goal was to becomean eye surgeon. Specifically, I wanted todo corneal transplant surgery. Duringmy postgraduate work at LouisianaState University I was introduced to theexcimer laser and I participated in thefirst laser eye surgeries ever performedin the world.So you were the first student to betrained in laser eye surgery?Well, I was one of five students involvedin the studies. But yes, I was definitelyone of the first.What did that first machine look like?It was gigantic. It took up half the room.I am just trying to imagine being thefirst patient to sit in front of that thing.The first patients we had were great.They knew it was really experimentaland most of them were going to requiretransplants anyway. But the first testsworked beyond our expectations.Do you remember the look on the firstperson’s face when they realized theycould see?Well, it didn’t really work quite like that.Back then it took two days to treat eacheye and almost a week before we coulddetermine the final results. But thepatients came back with 20/20 visionand we were all totally amazed.What do you think are the most significantdevelopments in the field of correctivelaser eye surgery?The first LASIK treatment performedin 1994 was a significant development.But, the technology and techniques arealways being refined. We recently introducedCustom Surgery, which is a technologythat allows us to map out eachcornea with fourteen or fifteen thousandpoints. These points represent thebumps and valleys that exist on the cornea.Mapping out these features enablesus to use the laser to create a verysmooth contour on the cornea. That’s thegoal of custom laser surgery – to create aperfect contour on the cornea.How long does it take before thesedevelopments are available to yourpatients?Usually about three or four years. I aminvolved in a lot of the research. Theplanning begins at the mathematicallevel, then at the software level, and thenthe safety level. Then we go through trials,start compiling the results, and thenthose results need to be verified beforethe technology is made available.So you still adhere to the old fashionedfundamentals of good scientific researcheven though the technology seems tohave gone far beyond imagination?Absolutely. You have to have good, verifiabledata. All our work is based on thedata we’ve collected during the 60,000surgeries we’ve completed. Each datapoint helps us improve our techniques.It seems like you are a cross between asurgeon, a scientist, a computer engineerand a math wizard.Yeah (laughs), in my field a good surgeonhas to be all those things. But most importantlyyou have to be a critical thinker witha very strong background in math. And Ilove math.Do you think that laser technology hasthe potential to replace the scalpel?For eye surgery, absolutely. But surgeonswill always have a need for a scalpel.Lasers are the cornerstone of cheesyscience fiction.I am sure that has led to some prettycommon misconceptions about laser eyesurgery. People have very high expectationsabout how the laser actuallyworks. There is this notion that becausethere’s no scalpel the procedure is totallysafe. But the laser does not work alone.Ultimately the patient’s safety is highlydependent on the caregiver.Do people assume that their vision isgoing to be fixed immediately?Most people certainly expect instantaneousresults. And with LASIK we wereable to produce nearly instantaneousresults. Usually, by the morning after theprocedure, the patient’s vision is 20/20.With 60,000 surgeries under yourbelt, are any of them particularlymemorable?There are so many. I think the biggestimpact is on people who are reallynearsighted, people who basically cannotfunction without glasses. For thosepeople, simply waking up in the morningand being able to see the alarm clock isa huge change for them. It seems like asmall thing, but it represents a dramaticimprovement in their quality of life.Is that what keeps you going?Seeing people happy and smiling the dayafter the procedure. That’s what keepsme coming back.Do you ever get away from the office?Oh, yeah. I play a lot of golf and I love toski. The centre is open five days a weekbut I think it is really important to taketime off. Surgery is high-pressure, highstresswork. You need to pace yourselfand stay balanced.Where is your favourite place to ski?I love skiing at Whistler, especially withmy kids. I have skied all my life and Ireally enjoy sharing that experience withmy children.How many children do you have?I have two girls.So when you get the family all togetherand go skiing, what do you drive?I drive a Lexus RX 400 hybrid. My wifeis quite environmentally conscious andshe drives a Toyota Prius, which is alsoa hybrid. The Lexus RX 400 is a prettybig SUV and I am amazed at how muchfuel the hybrid technology saves. But Ilike it for more reasons than that. It isso quiet. Not to mention, I pull into mygarage and there is virtually no exhaust,no smell. It’s great.And if you could drive the car of yourdreams, what would it be?Well, I have been fortunate enough inmy professional life that I have beenable to buy one of my dream cars. It’s apretty nice car, but I’m not going to tellyou what it is (laughing). I drive it justfor fun.I bet it doesn’t have a hybrid engine in it.No, no it doesn’t.OpenRoad driver |

Where Our Road Takes YouA City ofIntrigueIstanbul“Beautiful lady. I like your hat. Can I buy your hat for my mother?” With armsextended, my charming Turkish protagonist made a vain attempt to beckon meinto his shop, which cascaded with curtains of soft leather purses and jackets.by Caroline M. JacksonOpenRoad driver |

Tipping the wide brim ofmy sunhat down a little furtheron my brow, I chuckled ashis words followed me up thestreet, “Why you walk so fastlady? Come back. Come back.”Earlier that morning I had stoodalone on the bow of our cruise ship andwatched the sun rise like a blood redorange from the Sea of Marmara. In myatlas, this inland sea looked insignificantyet it is the link between two mightyoceans, the Aegean Sea to the west andthe Black Sea to the east.As we approached the busy port ofIstanbul, our vessel was surrounded bya pandemonium of watercraft. Packedpassenger ferries zigzagged across theharbour, fishing boats seemed obliviousto danger while massive oil tankers andheavily laden freighters were bound forRomania, Russia and Bulgaria.Our ship’s horn blared sotto vocecompeting with other vociferous vessels.Fellow passengers lined the railings andtook in the scene through binoculars.Meanwhile our shipboard commentatorcalmly informed us that accidents werecommonplace because many ships donot take a pilot on board. The watersare international and therefore do notcome under the jurisdiction of Turkishauthorities.I fleetingly pondered the details ofour lifeboat drill that had taken placea week earlier in Civitavecchia, Italy.However, I took solace in the fact thatmost nearby water traffic was smallerthan our Galaxy cruise ship.I was so engrossed in the scenariounfolding before me that I had almostforgotten to look upon Istanbul, the onlycity in the world built on two continents.Despite being swathed in an etherealblue haze that covered its face like a veil,I could spot the Blue Mosque with its sixminarets and the dome of the famousAgia Sofia.Later that afternoon my husband andI enjoyed a fascinating visit to both thesearchitectural wonders, which are welldescribed in many travel books.In the early evening our tour buspulled into one of the entrances to thelabyrinthine Grand Bazaar. Before disembarking,our local guide, Tomay, gaveus a pep talk about pick pockets, bargainingand how to avoid getting lost in thisrabbit warren of alleys and thousands ofcovered shops.Despite imaginings that I might beheld up by a scimitar-wielding mugger,I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to thisAladdin’s Cave. No one tried to rob meand the merchants were polite and entertaining.Sometimes we were offered teapoured into tulip-shaped glasses suspendedon silver trays.This is a common gesture of hospitality.After sauntering past kiosks ofleather purses, gold jewelry, colourfultiles and exotic belly-dancing costumes,my constraint sagged and I chose twobeautiful Pashmir scarves.The real fun came when I tried toextricate my liras for the purchase. Thenotes were so tightly encased inside mymoney belt that my husband finishedup paying for the purchase rather thancause further embarrassment.Our arrival in Istanbul coincidedwith the first day of the holy month ofRamazan, a time when Muslims do notallow anything to pass their lips betweendawn and dusk. This includes food,drink, smoking and even chewing gum.No wonder many merchants wereyawning in the early evening and our tourguide admitted to being very thirsty. Bythe time we exited the Grand Bazaar, darknesshad enfolded the city and fairy lightsencircling the minarets were lit announcingthe end of the day’s fast. Hundreds ofpeople stood in line for a free meal fromthe Mosque. According to Tomay, it wouldbe close to a three-hour wait. Photo: Hamish JacksonOpenRoad driver |

ISTANBULCity of IntrigueI goggled at the famous Topkapi dagger withthree enormous emeralds and the teardropshaped84-carat Spoonmaker diamond which,according to legend, was found by a pauperwho traded it for three wooden spoons.The tortoise-paced bus trip back to the ship gave us aglimpse into the life of Istanbullus. Modern trams whiskedalong the streets, jam-packed with commuters who were nowfree to drink bottled water. Traffic snarled along and policecontrolled busy intersections with whistles and hand signals.At 7 pm shopkeepers snapped their gates closed and bakeriesand street vendors opened up to sell all kinds of pastriesmade with honey and nuts. Women wearing colourful scarvesand several dressed in black chadors waited patiently while avendor juiced dozens of pomegranates.Street-side restaurants were packed to overflowing with tinystools and tables abutting the curb. At this time of night it cantake over two hours to drive across the Galata Bridge. With acity of nearly 20 million residents, it is perhaps not surprising.Everyone within sight was eating and I spotted a bus driverusing his steering wheel on which to balance his dinner plate.The following day we visited Topkapi Palace, once the residenceof the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries.This huge place is a series of pavilions and courtyards featuringthe Harem, Library, Throne Room and the Exhibition ofImperial Costumes.One glance into the Weaponry Pavilion exhibiting the brutallooking swords of Selim the Grim was enough to have me scurryingonto the Treasury. Here I goggled at the famous Topkapidagger with three enormous emeralds and the teardrop-shaped84-carat Spoonmaker diamond which, according to legend, wasfound by a pauper who traded it for three wooden spoons.Our shore excursion ended with lunch on the rooftop ofthe World Park Hotel. Here out of sight from most fastingMuslims, we were introduced to a variety of mezes, delicioushors d’oeuvres made of stuffed peppers, cucumber with yogurt,eggplant and humus.Even though I had only experienced a taste of Istanbul, I wasintrigued by this city and hoped that one day I would return.Istanbul: In the KnowUnique Claim: The only city situated ontwo continentsUNESCO World Heritage siteNickname: The City on Seven HillsClimate: Hot humid June toSeptember 28° C Cold and rainy withsnow November to February 9° CAreas: Historic peninsula, north of theGolden Horn and Asian sidePopulation: 11.5 million metro areaAirports: Atatürk International AirportSabiha Gökçen International AirportTop Attractions:Aqueduct of ValensArkeoloji Müzesi Archeological MuseumBlue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque)Dolmabahçe Palace / Marine MuseumFountain of Ahmet III Sultan’s GateGalata Tower PanoramaGolden Horn HarbourGreat BazaarHagia Eirene Porcelain CollectionHagia Sophia (Ayasofya) MuseumKariye Camii MosaicsKizil Adalar Princes’ IslandsSehzade Mosque Prince’s MosqueSüleiman MosqueTopkapi Sarayi Cannon Gate PalaceÜsküdar CemeteryYedikule FortressYeni Cami Mosque Caroline Jackson is a freelancetravel writer who lives in NorthVancouver on Canada’s West Coast.View her website at www.crestlynn.com Travel the world atwww.travelingtales.comVic Foster is a syndicated newspapertravel editor and a director of the BCAssociation of Travel Writers.OpenRoad driver |10

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PlatesSuch a DivaAn aria in the life of Diva’sExecutive Chef/Sommelierby Dino RenaertsOpenRoad driver |12

My job is reallyan extension of my life.The hours at Diva at theMet can be grueling, managingtwo shifts of twelve hours a dayor spending 140 hours over a two-weekperiod, when I have public relationsevents or my sous chef is away on vacation.I constantly juggle my executiveduties. On any given day of the week mylist of things to do includes:• Order the proper amount of food (45 kilosof Queen Charlotte smoked black cod )• Meet with suppliers (I need two casesof artichokes to prepare 140 ravioli bythe next day)• Oversee food and labour cost• Schedule staff (our saucier is away foranother week and one of our apprenticesis in school for second year training)• Write menus for the restaurant, banquets,special clients and events (my latestrecommendation is Poached AlbacoreTuna with wasabi pearls, lemongrasssoda and a cucumber daikon salad butjudging by the look on my banquet souschef’s face I may have pushed too farthis time).Photos: Diva at the MetAll par for the course. I also meetwith the executive committee severaltimes a week to discuss daily business inthe pursuit of perfection.The fun part is getting creativewith food. I love the process it takesto make great food really sing. I getinspired when I shop at Oyama Meats onGranville Island, Les Amis du Fromageor Trout Lake farmers market wherethe freshest ingredients have been lovinglynurtured and picked at their optimumripeness.I love it when a farmer like Milanfrom Stoney Paradise Farms stops bythe back door of the restaurant. Nevermind that he prattles on about the poorweather this season and being in thebustling confines of Vancouver’s notoriousrush hour traffic. I have scoredsomething truly special for tonight’sfeature menu item – precious heirloomtomatoes and the season’s firstcoronation grapes! They will be divinelypresented in two courses of our tastingmenu: perhaps a study of tomatoespresented three ways, and a simple grapeand maple infused hazelnut tart with agrape sorbet vanilla infused grape reductionsauce.It is like being a kid in a candy storeand the only boundaries are our imagination.Bringing all the ingredients backinto the kitchen and having a team whois as enthusiastic and meticulously passionateas I have ever had, is thrilling!Probably the best part of my daycomes during lunch and dinner service.I love working the pass. Here it is likebeing a conductor. Today the ordersarrive in a continuous stream: orderingsecond course - one halibut and one beefmedium rare; ordering to start - one duofoie gras and one hot lobster; how long?This is when my adrenaline kicksin. Now it is like being a performanceartist. Pull four to eight screaming hotplates at a time, each one displayingat least six movements to complete, allwhile artfully presenting the food in avisual and sensory array of textures andshapes. The Duo of Lamb has to balancea purée of spiced eggplant with a crispcannelloni of potato filled with a braisedlamb brandade, crisp haricots verts andal dente Thumbelina carrots. To be justright, the Truffle Lobster Gnocchi mustcombine sautéed tender potato gnocchi,truffle oil and a sauté of fine dicedtomato concasse and butter poached lobstergarnished with a parmesan crisp.All the hard earned time in the kitchenMy latest recommendationis PoachedAlbacore Tuna withwasabi pearls,lemongrass soda anda cucumber daikonsalad but judging bythe look on mybanquet sous chef’sface I may have pushedtoo far this time.is rewarded with many benefits. Perhapsit is an invitation to fly to Scottsdale,Arizona as the guest chef being honoured.Perhaps tonight it is being treated to adinner with members of the media, ourhosts, and special dignitaries. TomorrowI am cooking for them and some threehundred guests!Being a sommelier also has its perks.This month I receive invitations to tourand taste wineries like Opus One, Jordan,Cliff Lede, Joseph Phelps, Dry Creek,Beringer, Silver Oak and Chappelletin Napa and Sonoma, California. Nextmonth I can tour the Okanagan to sourcethis season’s best picks from BurrowingOwl, Cedar Creek, Quails’ Gate, Tantalus,Lake Breeze, Township 7, Thornhaven,Mission Hill and many other top picksfrom British Columbia’s best wines.This gives me a unique opportunityto view my food in a different light.Perhaps the sous vide salmon dish willbe adjusted to suit our guest’s winechoice of grand cru burgundy, to takeinto account the weight of body andtannin structure. I also like being ableto converse with a guest who may havean extensive knowledge of vintages.She adores the ’96 Pol Roger WinstonChurchill Cuvée while my palate prefersthe ’02 Charton et Trébuchet Meursaultfor the Seared Diver Scallops with charredromaine lettuce risotto and parmesan froth.Next to being married to a sommelier,it is a passion in my life to enjoy greatfood and wine with family and friends.Having the time to relax and enjoy theircompany, this is truly why I got intocooking in the first place. No room fordivas here! Dino Renaerts is executive chefof Diva at the Met Restaurant and presidentof the BC Chefs’ Association. Agraduate of the Dubrulle InternationalCulinary Institute, Renaerts was namedVancouver’s rising star by VancouverMagazine, the Province newspaper andCityFood Magazine (2000). He holdsthe unique distinction of being recognizedas the first Western Canadianchef to receive a sommelier certificate.OpenRoad driver |13

SUCH A DIVAAn aria in the life of Diva’sExecutive Chef/SommelierGoldFish Pacific Kitchen Rating 7.5/101118 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC604.689.8318 goldfishkitchen.comThe Last BiteBon vivant Dino doessome serious dining andwe take you along for theculinary ride. Hold on tight!• fantastic looking room with a modern edge andvibrant feel, ‘below the surface a shimmering fish hints atdeeper possibilities’• Bud Kanke has added a fun new sophistication toYaletown with this room and his team is well polished• Inventive fun and tasty cocktail list, hits the mark andshows the talent depth of Joe Fortes alumni – try the kaffirlime mojito or the hello kitty $9-$17 range• Inventive food combinations prevail overall, andshould continue to develop depth• Inspired by nuances from the Pacific Rim – try the Asianbacon fried rice or the sugar cane marinated tuna $8-$26 rangeThe sublime sugar cane marinated tuna atGoldfish Pacific Kitchen.Boneta Rating 7/101 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC604.684.1844 boneta.ca• New York hip style room, with open airy feeling, localartist adorned walls• Chic little bar pours some intelligently inspired cocktails• Busy cocktail lounge, with stellar takes on big city classics- try their line of unique bitters, in an old fashioned, or achampagne cocktail $7-$15 range• Trio of owners Mark Brand, Neil Ingram and AndreMcGillivray bring their influential wares from Lumière,Chambar and Le Crocodile• Chef Jeremie Bastien, most recently of Lumière, hailsfrom a family of successful restaurateurs in Quebec andhas instituted modern west coast, French style menuofferings, changing on a regular basis• Sardines were sensational $7-$32 range• Make sure to valet, as neighborhood location not as appealingFavourite Whites:Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2006• Crisp acidity, citrus notes, great with fresh salmonThornhaven Gewürztraminer 2006• Lychee, orange blossom and mineral with slight residualsweetness, great with aged cheeses or Thai foodBlack Hills Alibi SauvignonBlanc / Semillon 2006• Vibrant mouth feel with gooseberry, apple nuancesand good weight, great with a warm chevre tart or freshoysters on the half shellSee Ya Later Ranch Brut NV• Toasted hazelnut richness, with a yeasty rich weight onthe palate – predominantly chardonnay, with a Rieslingdosage, great with just about anything, especially richseafood like scallopsFavourite Reds:Black Hills Nota Bene 2005• Silky chocolate dipped cherry notes, with mocha and along lasting finish, wicked with a grilled rib eye steakBurrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2005• Rich mint, cherry cola nose with an intense balancedweighty mouth feel, awesome with a butterflied leg oflamb or venison loinCedar Creek Platinum ReserveMerlot “Block 4” 2005• Only 225 cases made and only available throughspecialty stores or winery, intense ripe bold silky cherrynuances with sweet vanilla and cedar, this will ageexceptionally wellTownship 7 Syrah 2005• Blackberry cassis fruits with white pepper notes, goodfinishMission Hill Oculus 2005The Last SipFrom deep in the heartof British Columbia’sOkanagan wine country, weemerge with the favouritepicks from Dino’s latest tour.• Heady notes of cedar, leather, bold tannins, blackberryfruits, vanilla tobacco sweetness, will need to be putdown for five to ten yearsOpenRoad driver |14

The most beautiful car in the world.The Audi S5.Vorsprung durch TechnikBeauty is in the eye of the beholder, so behold the Audi S5 performance coupe. We think it’sthe most beautiful car in the world. A 350hp V8 FSI engine. Sport-tuned suspension, legendaryquattro all-wheel drive and 19” sport wheels. Harmonious proportions and coupe 2+2seating. A beauty. The all-new Audi S5 this fall at OpenRoad Audi.Grand opening soonAudiVancouverA Member of the OpenRoad Auto Group Family2395 Boundary Road(south of Lougheed Hwy)T 604-293-AUDI (2834)openroadaudi.comChristian ChiaPresident, OpenRoad Auto Group“Audi,” “Vorsprung durch Technik,” “S5,” “quattro” and the four rings emblem are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. ©2007 Audi Canada. Visit OpenRoad Audi for full details.LOUGHEED HWYCOMETT ROADOPENROAD AUDIVANCOUVERTRANS CANADA HWYE 11TH AVEOpenRoad driver |15BOUNDARY ROADMYRTLE STHENNING DR

The StreetGeorgia’son My MindO’Keeffe at the Vancouver Art GalleryIt’s as if GeorgiaO’Keeffe were speakingdirectly to us today. Herwords echo with relevance,“When you take aflower in your hand andreally look at it, it’s yourworld for the moment. Iwant to give that worldto someone else. Mostpeople in the city rusharound so, they have notime to look at a flower.I want them to see itwhether they want to ornot.” We would all bebetter if we took the timeto see O’Keeffe’s grandflowers and otherwise.by Will FongGeorgia O’Keeffe, Abstraction Blue,1927 oil on canvas 102.1 x 76 cmAcquired through the Helen AchesonBequest The Museum of ModernArt, New York, NY, U.S.A. © GeorgiaO’Keeffe Museum/SODRAC (2007)Digital Image © The Museum of ModernArt/Licensed by SCALA/Art Resource.OpenRoad driver |16

In a sweeping retrospective of her career,the Vancouver Art Gallery transports us into GeorgiaO’Keeffe’s world in an exhibition that runs for three monthsuntil January 13, 2008. It is a rare opportunity to experiencethe renowned Modernist and the legacy of her work in person.Georgia O’Keeffe: Nature and Abstraction is the first solo exhibitionof O’Keeffe’s work to be presented in Canada in fifty years.The exhibition is co-organized by the Irish Museum of ModernArt and the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is curated by Richard D.Marshall, former curator at the Whitney Museum of Art.The legendary O’Keeffe (1887-1986) had a remarkable andenduring career. She is known foremost for her large views offlowers, abstractions, symbolic paintings, and landscapes ofNew Mexico. In this exhibition we see the overarching themesthat weave through O’Keeffe’s paintings, transforming natureinto abstraction. The exhibition reveals the artist’s entire career,displaying major works from collections throughout the UnitedStates and Europe.From abstracts created at the beginning of her career inupstate New York, to a larger selection of later works from herlong period in New Mexico, the exhibition includes Series 1, No.4 (1918), Abstraction Blue (1927), Yellow Leaves (1928), Pelvis withDistance (1943) and Canyon Country (1965). Among the twentyeightmajor canvases, the exhibition also includes Black Door withRed (1954), O’Keeffe’s largest canvas at two metres in length.Georgia O’Keeffe, Yellow Leaves, 1928 oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum of Art,Bequest of Georgia O’Keeffe © Estate of Georgia O’Keeffe/SODRAC (2007)Georgia O’Keeffe, Canyon Country, c.1965 oil on canvas.Collection of the Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of the Georgia O’KeeffeFoundation © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / SODRAC (2007)The exhibition also offers an intimateportrait of the artist through an importantselection of photographs depictingO’Keeffe. Particularly inspiring are thephotographs taken by husband and fellowartist, Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946). Aftermeeting O’Keeffe in New York very earlyin her career in 1916, Stieglitz wouldquickly become O’Keeffe’s art dealer andadvocate through his Gallery 291. Theirprofessional relationship turned personaland they married in 1924.Alfred Stieglitz was prolific, perhapseven obsessive. Early in their relationshipStieglitz captured three hundredphotographs of O’Keeffe between 1918and 1937 alone. Stieglitz’s images reflecta deep intensity between the photographerand his muse, especially in theirearlier years. Many of the photographsportray O’Keeffe theatrically and heroicallyagainst dramatic and texturedbackgrounds. Other photographs offervery close views of O’Keeffe’s body parts,further enhancing the intimacy betweenphotographer, viewer and subject. Thefascination that emanates throughStieglitz’s camera is palpable.Whether it is the contoured forms ofher creations or O’Keeffe as the subject ofphotographic obsession, Georgia O’Keeffe:Nature and Abstraction is a revelation. Thevisual experience of this Georgia will surelystay on my mind for a long time to come.Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O’Keeffe, 1933[Hands Folded, Leaning on Car Wheel Fender]gelatin silver print. Collection of the MetropolitanMuseum of Art, Gift of Georgia O’Keeffe through thegenerosity of the Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation andJennifer and Joseph Duke, 1997 Georgia O’Keeffe:Nature and AbstractionOctober 6, 2007 to January 13, 2008The Vancouver Art Gallery750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC604.662.4719 for hours andadmission informationOpenRoad driver |17

Car Profiles by Gerry FrechetteAuto FeaturesHonda Accord 2008There is a reason the Honda Accord is one of thetop selling cars in North America year after year. Many reasons,actually, such as value, economy, practicality and reliability. Forthe latest eighth-generation version of the Accord, available in sedanor coupe, Honda has added to those attributes with a larger interior,better performance, more technology and more assertive style.The sedan is longer, wider and taller, resulting in passenger volumesome three percent larger than before and a bigger trunk. Thestyling of both models is more expressive and sporty, something theprevious generation could not claim to be.The sedan and coupe are each available with two versions of thefour- and six-cylinder engines, depending on model. The basic LXsedan gets a 177-hp four, while the EX and EX-L models of bothbody styles have a new 190-hp, 2.4-litre version. The V6 engine is anew 3.5-litre unit with 268 hp, and Variable Cylinder Managementthat enables it to run on three, four, or all six cylinders dependingon the demands placed on it. Power is up across the board, but fuelconsumption isn’t. Again available is a Coupe with six-speed manualtransmission and performance upgrades.All models are very well-equipped, especially on the safety side.Standard are four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, side-curtain airbags,active head restraints, vehicle stability control and traction control.Driving the Accord shows that Honda has certainly paid attentionto its dynamic performance, as it is agile and lively feeling. Add thatto its practical attributes, and you have the new benchmark in affordablemid-size sedans.Specs ACCORD...............................................................• Base price: $25,090 (coupe);$27,990 (sedan)• Body type: 2-door, coupe or4-door, sedan• Layout: front-engine, FWD• Engine: 2.4-litre, DOHC 16-valve4-cylinder; 3.5-litre, SOHC 24-valve V6• Horsepower: 268 @ 6,200• Transmission: 5-spd automaticor manual• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: (based on sedan EX-L V6)4,935 mm (190.6 in)• Width: 1,846 mm (76.6 in)• Height: 1,476 mm (71.1 in)• Wheelbase: 2,804 mm (110.4 in)• Weight: 1,637 kg (4,431.3 lbs)• Fuel Economy: (city/hwy) 11.0/6.7L/100 kms• Warranty: (mo/kms) 36/60,000comprehensive 60/100,000 powertrainOpenRoad driver |18Price is MSRP before freight and PDI and applicable taxes. Please consult Middlegate Honda for complete details.

Audi R8 2008Audi has come up with somevery potent and sporting cars overthe years, but never a mid-enginedtwo-seat grand touring car that can rival thebest from Italy – until now. Enter the R8.Named to commemorate the race carthat won Le Mans five times, it certainlyhas the credentials to be considered inthe upper echelon of such cars. Start withits aluminum space frame for lightnessand strength, into which is dropped the4.2-litre, 420-horsepower direct-injectedV8 that has been so sensational in the RS4sedan. Back up this powerhouse with asix-speed manual transmission or a paddleshiftedsequential six-speed, and put allthat power to the ground through Audi’srenowned quattro all-wheel drive system.Wrap it all in a sensuously unique body,and you have a car to lust over.The R8 won’t be mistaken for any otherhigh-end GT car, what with its chiseledstyling, and that distinctive side bladebetween the door and rear wheel, that canbe ordered in body colour, in a contrastingcolour, in aluminum, or in carbon fibre,allowing a degree of personalization andcreativity not usually seen in a premium car.The R8’s long wheelbase adds to boththe interior comfort and to the smooth ride,but make no mistake, it is a driver’s carfirst and foremost, with quick reflexes andabundant power, along with reasonablefuel economy and every-day refinement.This is the Audi for the driving enthusiastwho wants high style and ultimate performance,with no compromise.Specs R8...............................................................• Base price: $139,000• Body type: 4-door, coupe• Layout: mid-mounted engine, AWD• Engine: 4.2-litre, DOHC 32-valveFSI V8• Horsepower: 420 @ 7,800• Transmission: 6-spd manual; 6-spdSemi-automatic• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 4,431 mm (174.4 in)• Width: 1,904 mm (74.8 in)• Height: 1,252 mm (49.2 in)• Wheelbase: 2,650 mm (104.3 in)• Weight: 1,560 kg (3,440 lbs)• Fuel Economy: (city/hwy) tbd• Warranty: (mo/kms) 48/80,000comprehensive and powertrainPrice is MSRP before freight and PDI and applicable taxes. Please consult OpenRoad Audi for complete details.OpenRoad driver |19

Auto FeaturesHyundai Veracruz 2007The latest market segment tackled by Hyundai litres of cargo volume behind the front seats. The third-row seat foldsis the large crossover utility vehicle, and the Veracruz takes flat into the floor in 50/50 fashion, making for easy luggage loading.the currently accepted approach of three rows of seating for Veracruz comes in two models, GLS and Limited. In addition to a fullseven passengers, and adds to it what we are coming to expect from range of active and passive safety equipment, the GLS offers automaticHyundai – quality and a lot of standard equipment for the price. temperature control, power windows, mirrors, driver’s seat, locks andThe 3.8-litre V6 from the Azera sedan resides under the hood, and sunroof, leather seats and trim, and XM satellite radio, all for $39,995.its 260 horses drive through Hyundai’s first six-speed automatic and The Limited adds premium leather, upgraded Infinity surround-soundstandard “Torque-on-Demand” all-wheel drive that proactively deliversaudio with ten speakers, rear-seat DVD entertainment, power tailgate,torque to all four wheels under acceleration.steering column and pedals, 115-volt power outlet, and much more, allThe interior of the Veracruz was obviously the main priority in the for $45,995.overall package, as it is nicely designed, well-equipped and very The Veracruz represents great value in a large CUV, with lots of equipmentroomy. Indeed, it is the most capacious in its class, with some 2,458and room for the money.Specs VERACRUZ...............................................................Price is MSRP before freight and PDI and applicable taxes. Please consult OpenRoad Hyundai for complete details.• Base price: $39,995• Body type: 4-door, 7-passenger SUV• Layout: front-engine, AWD• Engine: 3.8-litre, DOHC 24-valve V6• Horsepower: 260 @ 6,500• Transmission: 6-spd automaticwith shiftronic• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 4,840 mm (190.6 in)• Width: 1,945 mm (76.6 in)• Height: 1,806 mm (71.1 in)• Wheelbase: 2,804 mm (110.4 in)• Weight: 2,010 kg (4,431 lbs)• Fuel Economy: (city/hwy) 13.9/9L/100 kms• Warranty: (mo/kms) 60/100,000limited comprehensive and powertrainOpenRoad driver |20

LEXUS LS 600h L 2008Is it possible to indulge in limousine-like luxury while it detects one, and the Driver Monitor, which, using infrared beams,still displaying a sense of environmental consciousness? Lexus said can tell if the driver is looking away from the road and will sound ayes, and the LS 600h L is the result.signal and apply the brakes if a collision is likely.Unlike any other prestige sedan in the world, the LS 600h L combinesa 5.0-litre V8 with a hybrid-electric powertrain, to produce V12 a luxurious rear cabin into which are fitted reclining ottoman seatsThe “L” in the name means “long” wheelbase, which enableslevels of power with V6 levels of fuel economy and emissions. The with built-in massager. There is also a tray table, DVD entertainmentnumbers illustrate that with both 438 horsepower and 10.6L/100 km system, and 450-watt Mark Levinson audio system. This is trulyfuel consumption in the city. On top of that seductive combination, it limousine-level luxury, and the LS 600h L owner would be temptedalso has all-wheel drive, for all-weather performance.to just sit in the back seat in the driveway enjoying all the comfort!However, the LS 600h L is so much more than that, and it might But of course, the highest expression of Lexus luxury andbe the most technologically advanced car in the world. Two examplesof its safety features are the Advanced Pre-Collision System tion of comfort, performance and frugality. The LS 600h L is atechnology begs to be driven, to show off its unique combina-that scans the road ahead for obstacles and will apply the brakes if special car indeed.Specs ls 600h...............................................................• Base price: $132,000• Body type: 4-door, 5-passenger sedan• Layout: front gas engine plus frontand rear electric motors, AWD• Engine: 5.0-litre, DOHC, 32-valve V8with two hybrid electric motors• Horsepower: 438 @ 6400• Transmission: automatic, dual modeelectronically controlled continuouslyvariable transmission (ECVT),sequential multi-mode shifter• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ECB, ABS, EBD, BA• Length: 5,150 mm (202.8 in)• Width: 1,875 mm (73.8 in)• Height: 1,480 mm (58.3 in)• Wheelbase: 3,090 mm (121.7 in)• Weight: 2,290 kg (5,049 lbs)• Fuel Economy: (city/hwy) 10.6/9.1L/100 kms• Warranty: (mo/km) 48/80,000comprehensive; 72/110,000 powertrain;96/160,000 hybrid-related componentsPrice is MSRP before freight and PDI and applicable taxes. Please consult OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody and Richmond Lexus for complete details.OpenRoad driver |21

Auto FeaturesToyota Highlander 2008The Highlander is all-new for2008, and Toyota has made manychanges to keep it current with themarket for crossover utility vehicles.Like so many new vehicles these days, itis bigger inside and out, and more powerfultoo. That makes it more useful as a familyhauler, but it offers better fuel economythan before, reflecting the attention paid toaerodynamics and engine efficiency.There are several changes to theHighlander models offered, and theirspecifications. The only engine availablenow is a new 3.5-litre V6 with 270 hp, a bigjump over the previous 208-hp V6. A fourcylinderis no longer offered, and neither isfront-wheel drive; all models now have fulltimefour-wheel drive. Three-row seating forseven people is now standard; a two-rowfive-seater is no longer offered.The interesting new features availableinclude a removable centre seat for the secondrow that can be stored under the frontconsole and replaced by a storage tray withcupholders. In all but the base model, thesecond and third row seats can be foldedflat from the rear cargo area. The rear glassnow lifts separately from the larger hatchback,and there is a back-up camera thatdisplays on the dashboard separately fromthe optional navigation system.Highlander is available in four wellequippedmodels, including the baseversion starting at $39,650, and goingup through the SR5 and Sport modelsto the truly luxurious Limited. The newHighlander is improved in so many ways,and it makes a lot of sense for growingand active families.Specs HIGHLANDER...............................................................• Base price: $39,650• Body type: 4-door, 7-passenger SUV• Layout: front-engine, 4WD• Engine: 3.5L, DOHC 24-valve V6• Horsepower: 270 @ 6,200• Transmission: 5-spd automatic• Brakes: 4-wheel disc, ABS, EBD• Length: 4,785 mm (188.4 in)• Width: 1,910 mm (75.2 in)• Height: 1,760 mm (69.3 in)• Wheelbase: 2,790 mm (110.0 in)• Weight: 2,721 kg (6,000 lbs)• Fuel Economy: (city/hwy) 12.3/8.8L/100 kms• Warranty: (mo/kms) 36/60,000 comprehensive; 60/100,000 powertrain Gerry Frechette is a full-time automotive journalistbased in Vancouver. His parents say that he stood inhis playpen and named cars going down the street, andsome 16 years ago, he took this life-long love of cars andapplied it to a career writing about them. At that time, hejoined the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada,where he remains a member today.Price is MSRP before freight and PDI and applicable taxes. Please consultOpenRoad Toyota Port Moody and Richmond for complete details.OpenRoad driver |22

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Ask the ExpertsOur Panel of Service AdvisorsAnswers Your Questions.The Panel [from left]: Jonathan Jaehrlich, Greg Dowswell,Cameron Ma, Sharon TimmonsOur Top 8 Service Tipsfor Safe Winter Drivingby Cameron MaWith the fall/winter season uponus, there are many things wecan do to help ensure a saferdrive. We would always recommendthat you be up to dateon your factory-recommendedmaintenance services, but tosupplement that, here are sometips that our service departmentswould like to share withour guests.1] Make sure your coolant (antifreeze)is in good condition andcheck the drive belts. Look for anycracking and listen for squealing, especiallyheard in the morning. All rubberhoses should be firm the entire length,but pay special attention to the ends. Ifthey feel soft or appear swollen, thiscould indicate a future failure.2] Inspect your battery. Most newerbatteries are “maintenance free” whichmeans you cannot add distilled water tothem, but if you have one where you can,do so if the level is below the indicatedline. Check all terminals for corrosion(fluffy deposits all over the terminal). Acost effective and easy way to remove thisbuildup is to simply get some hot (almostboiling) water and pour it directly overthe terminal. This will remove thebuildup and clean off the terminal inone step! Make sure the cables are notbroken and are tight and secure.3] Keep checking your tire pressures.All newer cars have a tire pressure monitoringsystem, but you should still checkyour tires regularly in the winter. Thecolder temperatures will reduce yourpsi by a bit, and it may be just enoughto trigger a false low pressure warning.Read your owner’s manual to learn howto reset the light if it comes on or if youadjusted the pressure. Check the tiresfor adequate tread depth. If you plan ondriving in heavy snow areas, make sureyou have four matching snow tires soyou won’t confuse the ABS and tractioncontrol systems on your vehicle.4] Test your heating system beforethe cold snap. You don’t want to waituntil it’s below zero to find out the heaterisn’t hot enough. Also, clear any leavesor debris from the base of the windshieldarea, called the “cowl.” The leaves anddebris can be sucked into your heater fanand hinder its efficiency, or worse, ruinthe fan motor itself.5] Pack an emergency kit, just in case.Your kit should include a flashlight,radio, first aid kit, blanket, booster cables,shovel, boots and gloves.6] Do not wash your car when thetemperature will fall below zero.This is the main cause of frozen doorlocks and doors. Make sure you have alock de-icer in your purse, briefcase orgarage. It’s no use to you if it’s in the car,and the car is frozen solid!7] Check your lights and wipers.Make sure all your lights are working properlyand the wipers are clearing as they should.Nothing worse than poor visibility when it’spitch dark and raining cats and dogs.8] Know the phone number of yourvehicle manufacturer’s roadside assistanceprogram. Most new vehicles havesome sort of complimentary program.Use it! It’s a great benefit and, unlike thelocal automobile association programs,some have no limits.These tips and the maintenance at your servicedepartment will help you motor throughthe season worry free. Safe driving! Cameron Ma is the service director atOpenRoad Lexus Port Moody.QUIZ OUR PANEL...direct your questions to: inquiries@openroaddriver.cominclude “Ask the Experts” in the subject line.OpenRoad driver |24

Ask the ExpertsQ The top tank on my radiatoris leaking slightly. My neighboursays to just top up the radiatorevery now and then and it shouldbe fine. My dealer says I shouldreplace the radiator. What shouldI do?A Sharon Timmons:The radiator in your car holds pressureand more likely sooner than later, theradiator will start to leak excessively.When this happens, the engine will overheatdue to lack of coolant. If the engineoverheats to a certain point, this cancause the head gasket to warp. The repairon a blown head gasket is very costly andtime consuming. My advice: protect yourinvestment and your time and replace theradiator. Much better to have peace of mindand at the fraction of the cost of repairinga blown head gasket in the future, prolongthe life of your brake pads and avoid costlyrepairs down the road. Remember to consultyour owner’s manual.Q What are devices like the“Tornado” that claim to help mesave on gas mileage, and dothey work?A Greg Dowswell:Gas-saving gadgets have been around along time. In over 25 years as an automotivetechnician, I have seen no less thanfifteen of these little wonders. Typicallyan owner will be convinced, through slickadvertising, that the device will not onlyreduce harmful emissions, but increaseperformance and fuel mileage. Withoutexception, I have never seen a consistent,substantial reduction in fuel consumptionby simply installing one of these gizmos.Let’s look at the design of thesedevices. Turbulence increasers such as the“Tornado Fuel Saver” are nothing morethan fancy pieces of metalwork designedto fit into the air stream of your vehicle’sintake system. The manufacturer claimsthat by increasing turbulence in the airintake system, the burning of the fuel inthe combustion chamber will be enhanced,thereby increasing power and economy.The problem with this theory is that thedevice is fitted before the throttle, whereany effect that may have been created, isnow removed by the design of the intakesystem. In short, the effect of added turbulenceto the air intake flow never reaches thecombustion chamber.Editor’s Note: see additional third party assessmentsby typing “gas-saving devices” in thesearch field of ConsumerReports.org.Q I have a lot of difficultyclearing the foggy haze from theinside of my windshield usingmy defroster. Is there somethingwrong with my car’s defroster?A Jonathan Jaehrlich:As long as the film is not wet (i.e.water vapour) the film is most likely“outgassing.” Outgassing is a byproductof your vehicle’s vinyl and plasticcomponents. The components releasea vapour when they are exposed to heatand ultraviolet light from the sun. Evenon a sunny day this film can seriouslyinhibit your ability to see clearly. It isadvisable to clean off this film periodically,as it will cause windows to fog upmuch faster. Use a good quality glasscleaner to make the job much easier,but remember not to use an ammoniabasedcleaner that could damage thefactory window tinting.“Ask the Experts” is not a substitute for your owner’s manual or the professionaladvice of your dealership. Please consult your service department.OpenRoad driver |25

SOMETIMES AWARDS REALLY DO MATTER.Acura MDXBest Buy, ConsumerGuide 2006Best Bet, cars.com 2005Acura RDXBest New SUV/CUV $35,000-$60,000, AJAC 2007Top Safety Pick, IIHS 20075 Star Crash Safety Rating, NHTSA 2007These award-winning SUVs arebrought to you by North Shore Acura.How’s your acceptance speech?OpenRoad driver |26Northshore Auto Mall828 Automall Drive, North Vancouver, BCP 604-929-6736openroadautogroup.comA Member of the OpenRoad Auto Group Family

Lights, Camera…It’s worth a look, Saturdays at9:30 a.m. on Citytv VancouverChannel 13.onby Will FongSqueals of nervouslaughter erupted inOpenRoad Auto Group’scorporate offices. I hadjust announced thatCitytv Vancouver wouldbring a “dealer cam” intothe office to film a newtelevision program calledOpenRoad TV.The women in accountingheld nothing back in their reactions.“Only if we get full hair andmake up,” Kelli said demurely with a halfpout. “No!” exclaimed Ling, Janet andMaria in perfect unison. Liana sputteredin protest while Heather, normally sooutspoken, said nothing – only her eyesbetrayed her as they sent half-seriousdaggers my way. Cindy, Tania and Graceseemed quite nonchalant but there wasnothing but laughter and enthusiasm fromJudy, Valerie and Jugdeep. This was afamiliar scene that would repeat itself inall the dealerships where OpenRoad TVwould be filming.A month later, writer producer BillNevison had just screened the first footagefrom OpenRoad TV’s newly-installedSpeakers Corner video booth. The resultswere amazing. We had a beatboxing lotassociate, a client who introduced herproduct advisor as “her new best friend”and an audition submitted for the newweekly show worthy of a professionalhost. Clearly staff associates and clientswere warming to the idea and starting toembrace the cameras. OpenRoad TV waswell on its way.After months of preparation OpenRoadTV makes it debut on Channel 13 inlate November. It airs Saturday morningsat 9:30 a.m. every week as partof Citytv Vancouver’s regular programschedule reaching viewers across GreaterVancouver, Vancouver Island and into theinterior of British Columbia.The half-hour program is equal parts infomercial,consumer show and entertainment. Photos: Citytv VancouverOpenRoad driver |27

Lights, Camera...OPENROAD TVEvery week the OpenRoad AutoGroup’s eight dealerships feature 32 newand used vehicles for sale on OpenRoadTV, including the “hottest deals” of theweek. There are new, certified pre-ownedand used vehicle specials. “It’s a revolutionaryway to promote vehicles andour company. No one has ever tried thisformat in the local market before,” sayspresident and owner Christian Chia, “andwe really like the innovative approachCitytv and OpenRoad TV are taking.”Think Home Shopping Network for cars.Viewers can dial a toll free number 24hours a day and speak to customer serviceagents to acquire more informationor book test drives on vehicle specialsthey see on television.The program also introduces practicalinformation to help demystify the car buyingand car servicing experience. Thereare buying and safety tips featuring theinside knowledge of experienced productadvisors. There is also a weekly service tipcalled “Cam’s Corner” featuring CameronMa, the service director at OpenRoadLexus Port Moody. Ma is the reigningnational skills champion among all Toyotaand Lexus service technicians acrossCanada, so he was an easy choice to hostthe service tips segment.OpenRoad TV Includes: 32 new and used vehicles on sale and the “hottest deals” everyweek, buying and safety tips to demystify the car buying experience, weekly service tipson “Cam’s Corner,” OpenRoad Speakers Corner and the hilarious “talking pop ups.”On the fun side there are reality televisionclips from the OpenRoad SpeakersCorner and a series of hilarious andmemorable “talking pop up heads” – younever know what the surprising characterswill say.“I’m so excited to be hosting a newshow like OpenRoad TV,” says host AmyBeeman in between filming segmentsfor the fast-paced format. Viewers willrecognize Beeman from her work on TheKid Carson Show with Nira and Amy onThe Beat 94.5 FM, or on Shaw TV’s TheExpress where she tours new homes andeats at great restaurants. On air Beemanappears to be the perfect balancebetween personality and professional hoston OpenRoad TV.Today Beeman is interviewing chiefoperating officer, Rob Steele, whose boisterousenthusiasm about the company islarger than life and decidedly contagious.Steele is the kind of personality thatconvinces me OpenRoad TV is a greatway to show viewers the true natureof OpenRoad Auto Group. He inspiresnothing but smiles all around. “I just wishhe’d come out of his shell a little,” I jokelater with the producers as Steele’s voicebooms through the showroom, arms wavingin larger and larger circles.Between the car deals, the consumerinformation and the memorable personalities,a few stars may be born after all inOpenRoad TV. It’s worth a look, Saturdaysat 9:30 a.m. on Citytv Vancouver. OpenRoad TVFirst air date November 24thSaturday mornings at 9:30 a.m.Citytv Vancouver – Channel 13About Amy...OpenRoad TV’s AmyBeeman is far from shy.And she’s also extremely adventurous.While not tempting life by flying, skydiving,paragliding or scuba diving, Amy Beemanis back on solid ground producing andco-hosting The Beat 94.5’s Kid CarsonShow with Nira and Amy in the mornings,or hosting two TV segments for Shaw TV– Open House and Lunch is On Us. Afterteetering between careers as a pilot, actressand journalist (all within a few years), shesettled on a path that allows her to experiencenew adventures every day.How would your best friend describe you?I would say passionate, loyal, adventurousand organized – bordering onanal-retentive.What is a typical day like for you?Well, the alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. andI’m usually busy at work until noon. I’m verysocial so I have a lot of lunch and coffeedates planned. In the evening, I go to aclass called Max Fit, which is like a bootcamp cardio sort of thing. And my husbandgoes, too, so we get to hang out a bit. Andthen it’s home and almost time for bed!First car?It was a 1985 white Topaz, four-door automatic.It was classic. And it didn’t beepwhen you forgot to turn the lights off, so Iwas constantly draining the battery.Tell me about your fear of putting yourface underwater. Have you overcomethat yet?[Laughing] Well, it’s a per-dive struggle.The fear is actually not being able to seewhat is in front of me. I’ve actually gone tothe point where I’ve driven to the ocean,put all my equipment on, walked into thewater and said, “Umm, nope! Not going todo it today.” And I’ve walked back out. SoI’ve been going to a hypnotist.–Vignette by Kimiko NomuraOpenRoad driver |28

The all-new 2008 Accord.A new level of exhilaration. A new level of Accord.At Middlegate Honda we’ve been reaching new levels and turning heads byoffering an extraordinary experience to our Honda customers. Now the all-new2008 Accord Coupe and Sedan give you even more reasons to reach newlevels with us. Get exhilarated at Middlegate Honda.6984 Kingsway, BurnabyFive minutes east of Metrotown.604-525-4667openroadautogroup.comA Member of the OpenRoad Auto Group FamilyCar and Driver’s“10 Best”for 2007.*OpenRoad driver |29

Curb AppealHigh in the SkyThe Perfect Penthouseby Marcie GoodThe distinctive penthouse at The Regent in West Vancouver carries many ofthe hallmarks of contemporary European design. The clean straight lines of itsarchitecture, cabinetry and light fixtures, and the exquisite hand-made carpentrygive this two-level suite unique sophistication.OpenRoad driver |30

And yet, nothing detractsfrom the 360-degree mountain,ocean and skyline views that feelas much a part of this Ambleside homeas the imported granite counters andItalian custom-designed closet doors.“That was the goal,” says Erez Avramov,whose company Solengo gutted, redesignedand rebuilt this penthouse. Whilehe and his partner, Eli Shoshani, havegained a reputation for high-quality residentialand commercial developments inEurope and the United States, this wastheir first project in Canada. Along withtheir usual attention to high standardsof construction and aesthetic excellence,Avramov says they wanted the home toreflect the West Coast character.“We decided to do a test pilot of thetype of construction that we know howto do,” he said, explaining that a team ofarchitects from Europe was brought infor the project. “We wanted to introducethe more contemporary modern designof Europe but still have some connectionswith the West Coast lifestyle. Thecombination of the two worked very nicely.”That meant that special considerationwas given to the relationship betweeninterior and exterior. Outdoor terracesseamlessly blend with indoor space, andfloor-to-ceiling windows infuse the inte-rior with natural light. Details, such asthe unobtrusive automatic window coverings,show attention to every possibleconvenience. Each aspect of the home,such as a computerized light control systemfor the common areas, was meticulouslydesigned to provide the highestlevel of luxury.It was indeed a winning formula: thehome was sold by VIRANI Real EstateAdvisors in one day. By the time Solengofinished the residence, it was unrecognizablefrom its original condition.The low-rise building was constructedin the early 1980s by developer BillLougheed, who chose the site for its Photos: Solengo and Virani Real Estate AdvisorsOpenRoad driver |31

HIGH IN THE SKYThe Perfect Penthouseunbeatable views. Each condominiumoccupies an entire floor to take fulladvantage of the surroundings, with thepenthouse on the upper two storeys.When Solengo bought the ultimatesuite, however, it had not been updatedin more than twenty years. Besidesits unfortunate green and pink colourscheme, the layout was not functional.“When we first saw the penthouse,”recalls Avramov, “the only description forit was ‘horrifying’.”The company entirely gutted the unitand upgraded the plumbing and electricalsystems. The 3,100-square-foot threebedroomhome was made over with thefinest hardware and fixtures availableanywhere in the world. These includecustom-made European cabinetry andunique Hansgrohe bath and kitchen fixturesdesigned by Philippe Starck. Thekitchen, built to commercial standards,features top-of-the-line appliances byMiele and Sub-Zero and exhibits thesame luxurious and clean design of therest of the home. The imported granitecounters were hand-picked especially forthis space, and all carpentry and woodworkinstallation was completed by aEuropean master carpenter.Custom-designed Italian closet doorsfeature BLUMOTION hardware, demonstratingthe exquisite touches that putthis residence in a class of its own.The dark and elegant hardwoodfloors are imported walnut, and Italianlimestone tiles grace the bathrooms andopen spaces. Even the doors, with theirSOSS® invisible hinges, provide thesense of everyday luxury each time theyare opened. Anything created with suchfine craftsmanship verges on art, as isevident in the custom-made Bocci chandeliersthat were designed by a renownedCanadian artist.The terraces stretch over 1,500 squarefeet, providing an additional sense ofspace. As stunning as the interior designproves, its overall understated sophisticationstands back from the spectacle ofthe sun setting behind the ocean andcityscape. Here, the new residents havean enviable opportunity to enjoy WestVancouver’s renowned natural beauty.Editor’s Note: The Regent is located at 1717Duchess Avenue in West Vancouver, BC.OpenRoad driver |32

The 3,100-square-foot home wasmade over with custom-madeEuropean cabinetry and uniqueHansgrohe bath and kitchenfixtures designed by PhilippeStarck. The kitchen, built tocommercial standards, featurestop-of-the-line appliances byMiele and Sub-Zero.OpenRoad driver |33

HIGH IN THE SKYThe Perfect PenthouseThe custom-made Bocchichandeliers were designed bya renowned Canadian artist.Nothing detracts from the360-degree mountain, oceanand skyline views.The dark and elegant floorsare imported walnut.The terraces stretch over1,500 square feet.The RealtorKarim Virani is president of ViraniReal Estate Advisors and one of theNorth Shore’s most accomplished realestate professionals. A licensed realtorsince 1988, Virani has consistently beenone of Vancouver’s top producers.Virani has garnered many awards. He hascontinually ranked in the top 1% of realtorsin Greater Vancouver and top 100 realtors inCanada. “Always give your best effort, honouryour word and treat people with respect.Those are the principles I learned at an earlyage and they’re the same ones I bring toeach of my clients,” says Virani.Virani holds the Institute for LuxuryHome Marketing’s prestigious CLHMSdesignation (Certified Luxury HomeMarketing Specialist) and is a member ofthe Million Dollar Guild.Virani Real Estate Advisors recentlycreated The V List, an exclusive publicationthat showcases lifestyle, luxuryand style. The V List Homes features alltheir real estate listings. It is no wonderVancouverites are often heard askingto “get on the V List.”Whether living in Africa, London orthe North Shore, Virani exudes a passionfor life and for his career. He points outthat his team members are “expectationexceeders.” You may contact Karim Viraniat 604.913.1000 and www.thevlist.com.Karim ViraniOpenRoad driver |34

The Hyundai Santa Fe.The best cure for the winter blues.All trademarks owned by Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.**If you don’t want the blues (deepwater blue, that is), theHyundai Santa Fe comes in dark red, bright silver, ebony blackor your choice of any eight exterior colours. You’ll love the3.3L engine and third row of seating in this ruggedly refinedSUV. Visit OpenRoad Hyundai for a great selection on allremaining Santa Fes and other Hyundai models.HyundaiRichmondA Member of theOpenRoad Auto Group Family5571 Parkwood Way(Richmond Auto Mall)P 604-606-9033openroadautogroup.comChristian ChiaPresident, OpenRoad Auto GroupOpenRoad driver |35

InteriorsHow NOTto Decorateby Bruce M. ForsterWe all think thatit’s so simpleto decorateour homes. Don’t youjust go to the store,pick out things thatyou like and can afford,bring them home, andvoilà? You’re all done.Sometimes it’s not thatsimple.Melissa, a very good doctor friend ofmine, has lots of taste and lots of creditcards to match. She called me the otherday, almost in tears. She had just arrangedto have the third sofa picked up fromher house to be returned to the store. “Ican’t take this any more. There must bea simpler way,” she cried into the phone.“Indeed, there is,” I replied. “Don’t worry.Help is on the way.”After an hour and a half of walkingMelissa around one of the better furniturestores, we had found the perfect sofa:the right colour, the right size, the rightfabric for her room and the right price.She ordered a special order sofa, normallysomething that she wouldn’t do. Therewas a promotion, so Melissa actually savedmoney even after paying for my services.Sometimes all you need is a dispassionateand educated eye. Plus the ability tolisten to the key issues of the problem andoffer creative solutions. Melissa talked, Ilooked and listened, and now she is a veryhappy girl.The Top 6 Don’ts ofHow Not to Decorate:1. Don’t assume that the furniture thatlooks good in the store will always lookgood in your house.2. Don’t go shopping before you doyour homework. Measure the space foryour furniture to make sure you don’tget something too big, or worse, too little.Put together a purse/pocket-sized colourlibrary with all of the key colours. Thiswill make colour matching and coordinatingmuch easier.3. Don’t attempt to duplicate thelook of magazine photographs.These pictures are meant to look beautifuland seductive. However, they haveOpenRoad driver |36always been styled and very often evenrearranged for the camera’s eye. Never tryto duplicate the exact colour on the wallseither because, more often than not, it hasbeen fiddled in the printing process.4. Don’t always buy the cheapestthing you can find. It is very temptingto buy what seems to be a bargain.However, most furniture bargains areof inferior quality and won’t stand up todaily wear and tear. Always buy the bestthat you can afford even if it means doingwithout something else for a little longer.Quality will always pay for itself over time.5. Don’t be afraid of colour. Paintis one of the most reasonable decoratingtools and one of the easiest ways tochange the look of your room. A roomcan be transformed in one day from draband dreary to exciting and invigorating.There is no such thing as a wrongcolour, only the wrong use of a colour.For colours with lots of intensity, usemore muted shades to gain a softer effectin your space. Here is one place thatlooking at magazines can really pay off.It is so much easier to visualize a colourif you can see it already used. Do keepin mind what I have already said aboutmagazines above.6. Don’t be intimidated by the decoratingprocess. Making a house a homeis one of the most rewarding experiencesyou can have and, it should be a pleasurableone. So, do your homework, prepare for it totake time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

8 Questions toAsk a Designer...1. How much will this cost? Mostdesigners work for an hourly fee as partof their fee system. Costs vary dependingon experience, education and locale.2. Can I put a limit on the amountI’m spending? Absolutely. With nolimits, there is no real way to know whatwill be suitable for the budget. Believeme. There is always a point at whichsomething will be too expensive. Oneof the first things that I like to do witha new client is establish a budget. Thisoften involves letting a client know whatthe range of costs are for something likea good sofa.3. Are you going to make my livingroom pink? Only if you want to.A good designer doesn’t work in avacuum, which means that dialogue isextremely important. While it is nice tohave your design needs met in a comfortableway, one also needs to be stretcheda bit, and introduced to new and excitingpossibilities.4. Can I use things that I already have?Yes, assuming that they will work in thenew scheme.5. Can I make my home look like thismagazine picture? Yes, but know thatmagazine pictures are heavily staged, andeven further doctored in the printing process.6. Do you do anything else besidesdecorating? More often than not thedecorating comes at the end of a project.First comes the remodeling, then thefurnishing, and then the decorating,which I really enjoy. This is the pointwhen everything comes together, andyou see the results of all your hard work.7. Can I say no to something that Idon’t like? Good design requires dialogue.The client always has an opportunityto approve or reject suggestions andproposals. Interior design is not an exactscience, but there are many ways to utilizethe expertise, talent and experienceof a professional designer.8. What kind of education and experiencedo you have? Qualified educationand experience are really a must, justlike any other profession. Any gooddesigner will be more than happy to havea preliminary conversation with you, atno obligation. Don’t expect solutions toyour decorating needs at the first meeting.The most important thing at thispoint in time is to get the feeling that youcan work with the designer.This often involves letting a clientknow what the range of costs are forsomething like a good sofa. Bruce M. Forster is theowner of Preston’s Interiors Limited,specializing in upper-end residentialdesign. He is a member of the InteriorDesigners Institute of BC and theInterior Designers of Canada, NCIDQ.He has designed for internationalsummits such as the G8, APEC andCommonwealth Heads of Government,and created numerous designer showhomes, special events and exhibitions.OpenRoad driver |37

Trim LinesGettingto KnowH 2 0The medical communitytends to examine the solutesof the body for imbalances,which is important,but it is critical to alsoconsider the solvent. Afterall, it is the fluids of thebody that transport prettymuch everything via theblood, lymph, cerebrospinalfluid, saliva, urine,synovial fluid, extracellularfluid, tears andmilk in lactating females.Nothing would happen ifeverything were dry.by Vreni GurdOpenRoad driver |38

Fluids are needed withineach cell to keep them juicyand round so they can functionproperly. Our organs can be consideredwater balloons sloshing aroundin the sea of water that is our abdominalcavity. Water is the major ingredient inALL the fluids necessary for our survival.Water also conducts electricity, whichis important in many functions of thebody, most famously, that of the heart.Remember that 75% of our bodies aremade up of water, and 85% of our brainsare made up of water. Basically, as we agewe tend to dry out.Because water is so critical to the functionof EVERYTHING, and we get ridof water daily through urine, sweat andbreathing, our bodies have very elaboratemethods of preserving and prioritizingwater when not enough is consumed.One top priority is the blood, and thebody does what it can to maintain aproper viscosity and composition of bloodelements. So, if a person is dehydrated,water will be selectively taken from areasthat are less important for survival, suchas the joints (ouch!) and the lumbar disks,particularly L5, the bottom-most disk(double ouch!). The disks use their watervolume as hydraulic support for weight ofthe upper body. Less hydrated disks aremore prone to flatten or degenerate, causingthe ligaments that interconnect thevertebrae to slacken, possibly resulting ininstability and low-back pain. But at leastthe blood is in good shape.If there is not enough water foradequate blood volume, some capillarybeds (tiniest blood vessels) may close sothat the blood has less distance to travel.Closed capillaries cause resistance inthe arterial system, so more pressure isneeded to pump the blood throughout thebody. Exercise helps reduce blood pressurebecause it keeps capillary beds open. Onecan ask if diuretics (water pills) are reallya good idea for treating high blood pressure!Getting rid of more water may makethe problem worse over time as the bodyadjusts to a further dehydration. Usuallyinitially one’s blood pressure is reducedon diuretics, but eventually most windup on a different form of blood pressuremedication such as beta blockers or aceinhibitors when the diuretics “stop working,”due to further constriction of thearterial system to cope with chronic worseningdehydration.Perhaps it is worth trying to drinkadequate water daily so that the capillarybeds can re-open and blood pressurecan return to normal. According to Dr.Fereydoon Batmanghelidj in his bookDrink half yourbody weight inpounds, in ouncesof pure watereach day.Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, if thereare heart failure issues, water intakeshould be increased gradually over time toallow the body to slowly reduce its drive forsodium retention, and increase its abilityto produce urine. Caution should also beexercised if suffering from edema.Most of us can increase the amount ofwater we drink more quickly. Drink halfyour body weight in pounds, in ouncesof pure water each day (0.033 kg in litres).Measure it so you know you are gettingenough. Soda pop, caffeinated beveragesand alcohol do not count as they are diureticsand will cause you to lose water, sodrink an extra cup of water for each cupof those beverages you consume. Qualitymilk, bone broths and fresh-squeezedjuice may be healthy, but they do nothydrate you either, so only count water inyour hydration efforts!For water to be optimally healthy forus, it should have a hardness factor of 170mg/L and a total dissolved solids (TDS)factor of 300 or greater, according to Dr.Martin Fox on his website www.healthywater.com.According to Fox’s review ofthe research, softer waters are correlatedto greater incidences of heart disease andcancer. Adequate minerals in the waterwill prevent the over-diluting of electrolytes,which creates serious problemsand even death (hyponatremia) when toomuch soft water is consumed. Drinkingwater throughout the day rather than largequantities all at one time will also preventover-dilution of electrolytes.Most bottled waters have far less than300 TDS, and some even advertise thattheir water is demineralized. Brands thatdo have adequate total dissolved solidsinclude Evian, Vittel, Volvic, Fiji andTrinity. Look for the TDS on the label.If the water is too soft (Vancouver’smunicipal water supply is known to bequite soft), add a pinch of organic CelticSea Salt (the gray, moist stuff that sticksto the sides of the container - absolutelydo NOT use white, refined table salt as itis terrible for you) or a pinch of Pascaliteclay to each litre of water you drink. Thiswill not change the taste, but will increasethe hardness and the total dissolved solidsadequately, and will for most of us reducethe need to use the bathroom as we willactually be absorbing the water into ourcells. Water that is hard enough is anexcellent source of minerals that is in aform that is readily usable by our bodies.If you use a lot of salt on your food, usePascalite clay instead. Check your localhealth food store, or order it from PascaliteInc. at 1-800-909-7284.Store water in glass or brass if possible,and out of direct sunlight. Vreni Gurdwas the topgraduating studentin PHE from theUniversity ofToronto in 1992,and is continuallyfurthering her education in exercise,nutrition and health. As a C.H.E.K. 3practitioner and holistic lifestyleconsultant, Vreni’s current Vancouverpractice involves helping clients feelbetter through posture correction,corrective exercise, metabolic typing,and nutrition and lifestyle counseling.Vreni@wellnessworks.wswww.wellnesstips.caThis article provides general information andis not to be construed as medical advice or anendorsement. Educational information providedis not a substitute for regular professionalhealth care advice. Always consult your qualifiedhealth care professional for questions regardingyour well being. OpenRoad Driver does not warrantthe accuracy of statements. We rely on theauthor to present factual material and cannotaccept responsibility for the accuracy, utility orsafety of the material published.OpenRoad driver |39

Since 1882Insurance Services Ltd.101 2323 Boundary RoadOpenRoad driver |40

Customer Satisfaction...OpenRoadSurvey SaysPollthe Pollster(not the upholsterer)It is Barb Justason’s business to identifyopinions, attitudes and awareness.She is the principal of Justason MarketIntelligence, the firm that OpenRoadAuto Group selected to completethe research featured in this issue ofOpenRoad Driver.We thought it would be fun to turn thetables and survey Barb on your behalf.Barb graciously agreed to answer our“Poll the Pollster” questions. We hopeyou enjoy the results – up close andpersonal with Barb Justason.Best part of your job?I love mentoring and training staff. I lovewatching them learn and develop.Funniest anecdote?Several of my acquaintances believe thatI am an upholsterer (confused with “pollster”).I don’t have the heart to explainwhat I really do.Moment you knew you hadfound your career?I had one of those “ah-ha” momentsshortly after taking a support job with aToronto-based marketing research firm inthe late 1980s. I suddenly recognized thatthis was an industry that is incredibly powerfulto marketers and communicators.Market researchers and pollsters alwayshave the information before everyoneelse. It’s empowering.Most recent business success?We have expanded and grown our businessquite substantially over the past year,to the point that we are already outgrowingour new premises. It’s actually a difficulttime for us, brought about becausewe’ve been successful.Secret to balancing familyand business?I have no idea. I’m a failure at work-life balance.Everyone who knows me will agree.What do you drive?On nice days, my Norco Bigfoot bicycle.On rainy days, my Toyota Yaris in copperorange mica.Barb JustasonLast movie rented?I’m working my way through 24. I’m inseason two about to watch the third disc.I avoided 24 for years because I knew thatit would become an obsession. Currently,24 is my most significant indulgence.Exercise?I’m pretty committed to being in somekind of motion for at least an hour eachday. I cycle to work on nice days – it’sabout 40 minutes each way includingsome challenging hills.Best night out activity?Walk to a local pub with my husband forsome dinner, a pint and a nice long visit.We thoroughly enjoy each other’s companyand can talk long into the night.Coffee?French roast each morning. Two mugs.Tall latte in the early afternoon. I drink toomuch coffee.Favourite Meal?Anything Salmon. Anything Thai.Secret to a happy marriage?Our babysitter, Lucy.Words you overuse?Jeepers. Judicious. Fabulous. Delish(short for delicious). Incredible. Everypollster overuses “significant.”Best gadget?The jar opener I bought last year from LeeValley Hardware.Best advice you’ve everbeen given?My husband said one day about fiveyears ago, “You can’t buy back yourlife.” The advice was persuasive and ledto some significant decisions about howI would live the rest of my life. It led meto where I am today with my businessand family.Worst advice you’ve everbeen given?“Go on a diet.”Personal style?No. Barb Justason is the principalof Justason Market Intelligence,recognized by Business in Vancouveras one of BC’s top five marketingresearch firms. She and her husband,Hughie Rudd, are the parents of sonDevon and daughter Lana.OpenRoad driver |41

Customer Satisfaction...OpenRoadSurvey SaysOpenRoad Auto Group recently askedJustason Market Intelligence, an independentthird party research firm, to survey clients ofMiddlegate Honda, North Shore Acura, OpenRoadAudi, OpenRoad Hyundai, OpenRoad Lexus PortMoody, OpenRoad Toyota Port Moody, OpenRoadYou Spoke,We’re Listeningby Will FongToyota Richmond and Richmond Lexus.You spoke, and now we’re listening.To our clients and magazine readers, we arepleased to share the results with you. We areproud of your positive assessment and we nowknow where to work even harder.Thank you for participating in the research!Q: Based on your experience this past year purchasinga vehicle, and using the scale “strongly agree, somewhatagree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree,strongly disagree,” did your product advisor / sales personwith the dealership have a high degree of knowledge concerningtheir products and services?AGREEDISAGREE4%65% 31% 96%96% of customers agree the sales people at OpenRoadAuto Group are knowledgeable about their productsand services.Base: Total vehicle customers, n=775Q: The dealership is a valuable member of my community.According to 61% of customers OpenRoad Auto Groupdealerships are valuable members of the community.AGREEDISAGREENEITHER AGREENOR DISAGREEDON’T KNOW/REFUSED28% 33% 61%24%6%9%Base: Total vehicle customers, n=775Q: The dealership operates with honesty and integrity.82% of customers agree that OpenRoad Auto Group dealershipsoperate with honesty and integrity, three timesthe recent industry findings.AGREENEITHER AGREENOR DISAGREEDISAGREEDON’T KNOW/REFUSED46% 36% 82%11%5%3%Base: Total vehicle customers, n=775OpenRoad driver |42

Clients aren’t the only ones who have made positive findings. AcuraCanada bestows the 2007 EXCELL excellence award in customer clienttreatment upon the team at North Shore Acura.Q: What was your impression of the licensing/insurance,financing and maintenance servicing you received fromyour OpenRoad Auto Group dealership?The impressions on specific services range from 75% to82% positive at OpenRoad Auto Group stores.LICENSING/INSURANCEMAINTENANCE48% 27% 75%FINANCING 48% 27% 75%55% 27% 82%Base: Total vehicle customers, n=775Q: Based on your knowledge of its dealerships andanything else you may have seen or heard, how wouldyou rate your overall impression toward OpenRoadAuto Group?89% of all clientele have a positive impression ofOpenRoad Auto Group.FAVOURABLENEITHERUNFAVOURABLEDON’T KNOW/REFUSED48% 41% 89%5%4%2%Base: Total vehicle customers, n=775Q: Would you recommend the dealership to a friend?91% of all customers would recommend anOpenRoad Auto Group dealership to a friend.YES 91%NO 7%DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 2%Base: Total vehicle customers, n=775Justason Market Intelligence, June 2007. 775 OpenRoad Auto Group customers surveyed. Results are accurate +/- 3.5 percentage points 95% of the time.OpenRoad driver |43

Trade InThe changing faceof retirementby Al Nagy, CFPMyvery first car was a real fixer-upper.I spent countless hours as a teenager fine-tuningmy ten-year-old 1967 Chevrolet Biscayne. It was anon-going project, but I had the spare time, the passion, and with apart-time job I could afford the repair costs.Fast forward thirty years when I noticed a similar rusty oldBiscayne parked one day in a neighbourhood driveway. Gosh, iteven had the same old black fake vinyl roof! Shocked to see thatcar still in one piece, I stopped to talk with the owner, a man inhis late fifties/early sixties who was underneath the vehicle crankinga ratchet. Although he didn’t let my curiosity interrupt hiswork, he did poke his head out occasionally, asking me to handhim a wrench from his toolbox. We ended up having quite a conversation.Not so much about cars, but about retirement.It turns out he is a retired school teacher, who in his thirdyear of the so-called good life turned his passion for fixing oldcars into a lucrative hobby. While starting a new career at thislife stage may seem daunting, he’s not unlike many baby-boomerCanadians, who over the next dozen or so years will be faced withone of life’s most significant events - the “new retirement.” Whilethe adjustment wasn’t problematic for him, it can be a majortraumatic event for others. With so many boomers entering intolong and more active retirements than any previous generation, itis even more important and complex to prepare for those years.Most people would agree that retirement should be all abouthaving choices - being free of financial worries, free from workingresponsibility and choosing what to do with your extra timeand where to do it. While Canadians are doing increasingly wellat the dollars and cents of retirement, planning a successfuland happy retirement reaches well beyond financial matters.Apparently, many of us haven’t factored that emotional equationinto our financial plans. A recent national survey showed that74 per cent of Canadians who are five years from retirementare well prepared for the financial aspects of retirement, whilejust four per cent are well prepared for the transition to aretirement lifestyle.OpenRoad driver |44

The survey revealed these weaknesses inpersonal retirement readiness:• Only 20 per cent of working Canadians45 years and older have a strong commitmentto activities outside of work.• 30 per cent are not involved in activitiesoutside work that give them an opportunityto make new friendships.• 35 per cent spend less than three hoursper week immersed in activities outsideof work or passive entertainment such asreading or watching TV.Canadians still tend to associate theterm financial planning with retirementplanning and savings/investing – bothimportant elements of a financial plan,but not reflective of the whole picture.According to the latest survey for theFinancial Planning Standards Council,only 7% of 750 Canadian respondentscited lifestyle planning as part of theFinancial Planning Process.So my question is, “What are theother 93% thinking?” When retirementarrives, they may be selling themselvesshort and could be in for a big surprise.Many boomers are so heavily engaged inwork they’ve neglected other aspects oftheir lives. Are you in that demographic?Think about what would happen whenthat huge chunk of your life that is workis suddenly taken away. In many cases,we are what we do. Our work becomespart of our identity. During the course ofour busy lives, it’s easy to focus on whatneeds to be done today and to worryabout tomorrow when it comes.If you’ve let your social network languishand lost your sense of connectionwith your community, you’ll have a hugevoid to fill when you retire - unless youstart renewing those connections now.Take the time to become retirement readyby establishing and nurturing the nonfinancialelements of your life includingfriends, family and activities that willyield substantial quality-of-life dividendsthrough all your retirement years.Yes, you need to build up your retirementsavings but you also need to developsocial networks and personal intereststhat will support a fulfilling retirement.Obviously the financial aspect is of primeconcern. Take the time to create a financialplan to ensure your hard-earnedinvestments and other income will last forall your retirement years.As my neighbour will tell you, thenew retirement includes a transitionalperiod - a time when an individual maystill have income from part time work, orself-employed activities. But just becausethere’s a good chance you’ll be earningpart time income in your early retirementyears, doesn’t mean you’ll needless retirement savings than you think.That’s because we’re living longer. Thecombination of modern medicine andhealthier lifestyles means our retirementsavings may have to last twenty, thirtyor even forty years! So, it’s important todefine this need by consulting with anexpert. A certified financial planner willhelp you define your goals, determineyour needs and your available resources.Like the retired teacher in my neighbourhood,whose motivation for fixingcars became his retirement vocation,take time to discover your passion, andfactor that aspect into your financialplan so you can be prepared emotionallyas well as financially for the day youbegin to live the good life.FPSC offers theseand other resourceswww.fpsccanada.orgFPSC Learning Centre:http://www.cfp-ca.org/learningcentre/public_index.asp10 tips to help you choose aPlanner: http://www.cfp-ca.org/public/public_choosingaplanner.aspFind a Planner in your area (searchfunction): http://www.cfp-ca.org/public/public_findaplanner.aspGot a Question - Ask an Expert:http://www.cfp-ca.org/aae.aspNeed help with Financial Planning?Take this self test: http://www.cfpca.org/public/public_fp_selftest.aspABOUT FPSC:Financial Planners Standards Council(FPSC) is a not-for-profit organizationestablished in 1995 to lead thedevelopment of the financial planningprofession. FPSC develops andenforces the highest standards infinancial planning competency andethics for individuals who hold CFP®(CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®)certification in Canada. There arecurrently more than 17,000 CFP professionalsin Canada and more than100,000 individuals who have earnedCFP certification in 20 countriesaround the world.See www.fpsccanada.org for more. Al Nagy,CFP®, is a formerhockey broadcasterwho traded in hismicrophone for afinancial calculatortwelve years ago. Aprofessional financial consultant withInvestors Group, who has earned theCertified Financial Planner® designation,Al is a skilled public speakerwho helps people who are preparingfor retirement. He can be reached atal.nagy@investorsgroup.com.OpenRoad driver |45

“I love what I do. I’m passionate about my career with OpenRoad.”Passion moves people, and drives success at OpenRoad Auto Group. Our employeesare dedicated to giving our customers a unique automotive shopping and serviceexperience. We are similarly moved by meeting individuals who are equally passionateabout providing customers with the best service possible and look forward to seeing howyou can impact our team.In return for your talent and dedication, we’ll give you the tools you need to succeed andan environment where you are encouraged to develop.Experience the OpenRoad today at:OpenRoad driver |46www.openroadautogroup.com/careerswww.openroadautogroup.com/careers

Cat owners who wantthe best are discoveringthat the Lower Mainlandis home to one of themost luxurious cat hotelsaround. The Cat PawsInn is nestled in a quietSouth Surrey neighbourhoodamong nature,offering a peacefulatmosphere for its guestsnear the Sunnyside AcresUrban Forest park.Purrfectly Luxuriousat the Cat Paws Innby Kimiko Nomura & Will FongThe inn opened its doorsin 2005 and was custom builtwith felines in mind. Looking atthe two-storey facility from the outside,pairs of tiny eyes peer back through theinn’s many windows. In fact, there are 35windows that illuminate the guest rooms.There is an outside window in every suiteand every guest at this inn receives aprivate, individual cat-sized suite. Onceinside, the inn continues to reflect anopen and airy feel as daylight streamsthrough the atrium’s giant t-bar skylight.There is also a fireside lounge whereguests have been known to catch theodd catnap next to the cozy warmth ofthe fireplace. This is unlike any kennel wehave ever experienced.The inn welcomes guests who may befinicky, well into old age or who are lovedso dearly by their owners that they arenever left alone at home. This week theinn is almost at full capacity. A quick reviewof the guest list shows Samantha, Harley,Oliver, Teeka, Jesse, Charlie, Babu, Anna,Louie, Muffy and many other pamperedand lucky cats. Most pampered of all arethe brother and sister duo that are regularsat the inn. The two are a pair of matureSiamese siblings named Beau and Button.This week they are receiving the fullroyal treatment in the Emperor Suite: anexclusive corner suite with two windows,five-foot climbing centre and its very ownprivate run.All cats cherish other perks as well, suchas air conditioning in the summer andradiant heating from the floor tiles in thewinter. “The cats really enjoy the warmthof the floors, so if I turn the heat up, alot of them sprawl out on the tiles,” saysinnkeeper Sandy Blackwell. Owners cansee it all for themselves from afar. They canPhotos: Sandy Blackwelllog onto a webcam to check on their lovedones every now and then, 24 hours a day.Guests can choose from the inn’samenities. They can roam the enclosedoutdoor play area; cuddle up in front ofthe television to watch cat-specific movies;or enjoy one of the complimentary“spa” treatments. Each day, guests receivetheir own private time to play in the mainroom of the facility, and have access tothe 1,000 square-foot enclosed outdoorarea. “In the enclosed outdoor area, thecats can enjoy the wildlife because it backsonto a greenbelt,” says Blackwell. To eliminateany chance of catfights, each guest’splaytime is separate from the other unlesscats are from the same family.The inn makes guests feel more at homeby replicating a typical home setting. Allguests receive kennel cards to ensure thatinn staff will call all guests by their names.Each guest also has a personalized care OpenRoad driver |47

Purrfectly Luxuriousat the Cat Paws Innplan outlining medication requirementsand feeding schedules to match schedulesat home.On a daily basis, volunteer cat cuddlersprovide individual attention and massagesto the guests even at the inn’s busiesttimes. Today, Raymond Reitsma accompaniesBraden from Gateway Society’sCrossroads Day Program to cuddle theguests. “It’s exceptional. I wish all catscould be treated as nicely as they arehere,” says Reitsma. He adds, “I’ve neverseen this kind of luxurious treatment forcats anywhere outside their own homes.The two are a pair ofmature Siamese siblingsnamed Beau andButton. This week theyare receiving the fullroyal treatment in theEmperor Suite.Our clients love coming here.”Blackwell and her family were originallyinspired to build the elaborate facility dueto the lack of good-quality boarding placesfor cats. “When we looked around, therereally wasn’t much out there. There werevery few cat-specific kennels and, in myopinion, it’s not a good environment tohave cats and dogs mixed regardless ofwhether the cat is used to having a dogaround at home,” says Blackwell.Blackwell stresses that the inn appliesthe highest standards to cleanliness andsafety as well. “Everything is very easilysanitized and all the rooms have negativepressure, which is like an isolation roomin the hospital,” she says. “In case of aninfection or virus, it can easily be isolatedand prevented from spreading.” And, safetyfeatures have also been installed. To curban adventurous cat from leaving the facility,there is only one door to the outside areaand it is guarded with a double-door systemthat is managed by magnetic locks.But, we wonder what cat would everwant to leave?Blackwell is proud to call her CatPaws Inn “luxury accommodation for thefinicky feline” and she says the servicesare designed for owners “who really wantto spoil their kitties.” Purrfectly luxurious,indeed. We give this inn a five-paw rating. The InnkeeperSandy Blackwell lives next to theCat Paws Inn in a separate homealong with her husband and threechildren. She grew up on a hobbyfarm, volunteered as a foster parentfor the SPCA, and especially enjoyedworking with cats. Sandy achieved aBachelor of Science degree in nursingfrom UBC and spent eighteenyears as a nurse. Leaving her careerin nursing to pursue the cat inn,Sandy feels as if she hasn’t left thenursing profession altogether. “Beinga caregiver to cats is a very similarjob and it feels like it’s simply anotherbranch of nursing, with a new typeof clientele.” Sandy was able to useher experience in nursing and backgroundin cat fostering to design theCat Paws Inn. Cat Paws Inn17174 27A Avenue, Surrey, BC604.535.6250 or 604.614.7571www.catpawsinn.caOpenRoad driver |48

Scotiabank isproud to supportUnited Way of theLower MainlandOpenRoad driver |49

Make & ModelFall & WinterEye onFashionby Eileen MelnickMcCarthy,Canadian ApparelFederation (CAF)and Wear CanadaWe’re into thosecrisp cold dayswhen coloursdance from thecanopies of treesand in someparts of our countrya snowflake ortwo has alreadybeen sighted.She’s wearing a Tribalshrug cardigan withmatching camisole in olivewith fur trim and ornamentembellishment.www.tribal-inc.comOpenRoad driver |50

For anyone involved in fashion, fall and winterare important seasons for Canadian apparel. Our longwinters generally mean the average consumer will need toprepare their wardrobes accordingly, and that’s good newsfor Canadian apparel manufacturers and designers. And, becauseCanadians know weather, our fashion industry has become expertin how to look stylish while always managing to stay warm, despitethe below zero conditions!Each season generally heralds a variation on textiles, colours andsilhouettes. Will animal prints be in or out? Should you relegatethat herringbone jacket to the back of the closet? And what aboutthat big silver belt? Well, while some accessories and colours fromprior seasons can be safely tucked away, there are enough looks outthere to inspire even the most sheepish among us.Designers create their collections based on trend and colourforecasters’ projections. This season’s colour palette shows brighthues mixed with pale tones, matching colours and opposites. Thetraditional neutral shades expected for autumn have been replacedfor fall/winter with rich, nuanced hues, offering more opportunityfor creativity with interesting and unexpected colour combinations.What follows are the top colours for fall according to the PantoneColor Institute (Pantone is the world-renowned authority on colour,so what they say goes). Colours range from browns all the waydown to purples and seem to have been inspired from the culinaryworld. Starting at the top:• Carafe, a deep espresso brown• Burnt Ochre, a nice earthy autumn orange• Chili Pepper, puts a little fire in your wardrobe• Stargazer, takes the turquoise from the summer and intensifies it• Shale Green, is a green that pretty much anyone can wear byinfusing a touch of blue/green in it• Dusk, is a dusty shade of gray that is kicked up with a touch of blue• Green Moss, looks just how it sounds• Lemon Curry, takes summer’s favourite shade of yellow intonew territories• Cashmere Rose, and Purple Wine, much softer and easier to wearthan a harsh red wine colour.Big looks this season: lots of refined clothing and beautifulfabrics. Tweeds, oversized sweaters and chunky knits are popularwith many designers, and you’ll see feathers and zippers adorningmany collections. Also, while most Canadians don a hat in thewinter for warmth, the hat has made a comeback on the runway, soyou’ll be right on trend with your favourite style, whether it be widebrimmed, pulled down toque, or trapper cap. Other trends: you’rebound to see layering in every conceivable way, metallics, preppyplaid and skinny jeans. Speaking of leg wear, pants are extremelypopular for women’s collections.To ensure commercial appeal for their target customer, mostmanufacturers and designers create enough choice within theircollections so no one is left out in the cold. As always, consumerscan look forward to smart, sophisticated fashion from Canada.Canadian designed women’s and men’s apparel is still verymuch in demand by buyers in Canada and throughout the world– and it’s clear to see why. Uncompromising quality, innovativeproducts and on-trend designs have made Canadian apparel aninspired choice for both retailers and consumers.Here’s a snapshot of some of the fashion that will make youproud to wear Canadian! To find retailers near you, please visittheir websites.He’s wearing a Utex bluejeansfriendly sport jacketfrom Utex Fashion Group,Report Collection denim,long sleeved cotton/silkblend V neck, and Landesleather belt with light stitching.www.utexfashiongroup.comwww.reportcollection.comwww.landes.comPhotos: Canadian Apparel FederationOpenRoad driver |51

Fall & WinterEye on FashionFDJ channels Annie Hall – She wearsan FDJ French Dressing belted vestin mélange yarn with white button updobby shirt, Philippe Dubuc black andgold tie and Ophelie Hat.www.fdj.comwww.dubucstyle.comwww.opheliehats.comOpenRoad driver |52

Cold weather gear thatdefies the elements andmakes a fashion statement.Canada Goose ComoFusion white jacket withRiviera grey flannel pant.www.canada-goose.comwww.riviera.caOpenRoad driver |53

Fall & WinterEye on FashionThis black bouclé feather wrap from LeahBazian is made of a light, yet warm woolboucle. Fully lined and trimmed withembroidered ribbon and ostrich feathers.www.leahbazian.comShe’s set in Sympli gaucho pants,camisole and matching wrap sweater.Couture Leopard booties from Brown’s.www.symplithebest.comOpenRoad driver |54

From her Fall 2007 Bavaria Collection,Linda Lundstrom knows how to makethe most out of the season’s favouritecolours. She’s wearing a fur trimmedromantic wrap that doubles as a stole;side step skirt in Castinettes Jacquard.Colour Loden Dijon Amethyst.www.lindalundstrom.com Eileen MelnickMcCarthyis Director,Communicationsand Marketingwith the CanadianApparel Federation,the national association for Canada’sapparel industry. In 2004, CAF introducedWear Canada, a marketinginitiative aimed at promoting the bestof Canadian fashion to the US andabroad. For more information, pleasevisit www.apparel.ca orwww.wearcanada.ca.OpenRoad driver |55

The RX SeriesBy LexusThe RX 350 offers a smooth 3.5-litre, 270-horsepower V6 and a celebrated quiet ride. The RX 400h isthe world’s first and only luxury hybrid SUV. Either way, you can find the widest selection of luxury SUVs atour two Lexus dealerships, including the RX Sport Luxury SUV. Visit OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody in theTri-City area and Richmond Lexus in the Richmond Auto Mall.5631 Parkwood Way Richmond Auto MallP 604-273-5533Port Moody3150 St. Johns StreetP 604-461-7623A Member of theOpenRoad Auto Group Familyopenroadlexus.comChristian ChiaPresidentOpenRoad Auto GroupOpenRoad driver |56

Promotional FeatureWinter Wonderland Choo Choo!The Rocky MountaineerThere is nothing more exciting than experiencing a realCanadian winter, especially when it’s on a magnificenttrain ride with you and your family.People today relish the ideaof going on a trip without thedistractions of traffic, limited vehiclespace and the necessity of bringing electronicsalong to keep the kids occupied.You don’t need any of these gadgetswhen taking a Rocky Mountaineer wintertrain journey. Last year, I took the wintertrain and experienced a holiday like noneother. On this trip, I had the unique privilegeof viewing Canada’s West dressedin white in addition to spending qualitytime with my loved ones. And…if I takethe kids again this year, they get to ridefor free! This December, the companyis providing an opportunity to save withtheir new winter special, offering a freeride to one child when traveling with twoadults in GoldLeaf Service on a qualifyingwinter rail vacation.A Rocky Mountaineer winter trainvacation is the perfect way to get into theholiday spirit and this trip has somethingfor everyone. The train travels through forestsof snowy Christmas trees and glaciercappedmountain peaks. Onboard there isa multitude of festivities taking place. Kidsget to visit a specialty coach featuringan amusing entertainer who leads themin traditional holiday songs, decorationmaking, and games throughout the trip.While the children are being entertained,the adults are at play in a separate coach,dancing to live jazz and bellying up tothe bar for old holiday favourites such asmulled wine or rum and eggnog.When I traveled in Rocky Mountaineer’sGoldLeaf Service I immediately had imagesof romantic movies from decades agodancing in my head. Train travel was onceconsidered truly luxurious and the only wayto travel – and in my opinion it still is! OpenRoad driver |57

From beginning to end we werepampered by our onboard attendants whocatered to our every need, making our trainjourney truly luxurious.For breakfast and lunch, we all dinedtogether in a private dining room onthe lower level of the dome coach. Itwas a feast for the eyes and palate! Wewere served freshly prepared WesternCanadian bi-regional cuisine and eventraditional holiday turkey with all thetrimmings. The kids devoured the warmhomemade bread pudding for dessertand were even treated to a miniature milkchocolate train, delicately crafted by thekitchen staff. My compliments to the chef!Off the train, we experienced magicalplaces like Lake Louise and Banff, Albertaas well as a small little town calledCanmore, which is renowned for winterfun and stunning Canadian Rockiesscenery. In Canmore, you can enjoytwo days of the finest winter activitiesincluding dogsledding, ice-skating andNative American winter crafts. All of theseauthentic winter activities are includedin the “Sleds & Snowshoes” packageoffered by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.The warm Canadian hospitality, funwinter activities and the festive entertainmentonboard made this an unforgettableCanadian vacation.Book yours...visit www.winterrailvacations.comor call Rocky Mountaineer Vacationstoll free at 1-800-665-7245.For breakfast and lunch, we all dined together in aprivate dining room on the lower level of the domecoach. It was a feast for the eyes and palate!OpenRoad driver |58

Tech-eGizmos? Gadgets?We love ’em all!OpenRoad Driver goes surfing for some of the mostinteresting and innovative stuff around. In this issuewe thought we’d show you some useful gadgets andsome head-scratching gizmos brought to you by ourfriends at ThinkGeek.com.Bluetooth Laser Virtual KeyboardThe Future Has ArrivedRemember when you were promised all thoseamazing future tech innovations? Just around the corner wassupposed to be a shining technology utopia with flying cars,personal space travel to distant galaxies, and bio-implantablecell phones. It’s almost disappointing enough to make you sit athome and watch old episodes of “Space 1999.”Don’t lose hope! An amazing glimpse of this promisedfuture has just arrived in the form of the Bluetooth Laser VirtualKeyboard. This tiny device laser-projects a keyboard on any flatsurface... you can then type away accompanied by simulatedkey click sounds. It really is true future magic at its best. You’ll beturning heads the moment you pull this baby from your pocketand use it to compose an e-mail on your bluetooth enabled PDAor cell phone. With 63 keys and and full size QWERTY layoutthe Laser Virtual Keyboard can approach typing speeds of astandard keyboard...in a size a little larger than a matchbook.Staple Free StaplerSome kinda paper voodoo!Staples have become a scourge to the officeenvironment. Those shiny metal wires have jammed in thumbs,caught on sweaters, and torn papers. The horrors are just toonumerous to mention. Recently, at our world domination headquarters,an entire afternoon was spent watching a governmentmandated corporate safety video that showed, in excruciatingslow-motion Tarantinoesque detail, just how terrible accidents withstaples can be.Employees, however, rolled their eyes... for they had convertedto an entirely staple free environment. We found a devicethat staples papers together - without staples! Oh, we’re notcrazy, this thing is real. This handy (and might we add – environmentallyfriendly) device cuts a tiny flap in the corner of yourpaper, and folds it in on itself, tucked in a tiny paper pocket.Sleek, small, and coming in chaotic-evil black, deep blue, andsmokey “clear,” the Staple Free Stapler can clip together up tofive sheets with ease.OpenRoad driver |59

GIZMOS & GADGETSPalmsize R/C HelicopterTiny Copter Attack!We just can’t seem to get enough of tiny R/Chelicopters. They’re taking the office by storm... swarmingand amusing the office dogs. Buzzing delightfully as we procrastinateon our TPS reports. Even the robotic monkeys are impressedat the tiny size and amazing technology. These mini-copters cantake off from your hand and circle your desk as your co-workersgape in amazement. Full control allows you to hover and turn leftor right as your copter moves slowly forward. Two different channelslet you to fly with a friend. But practice-up on your aviationskills if you hope to challenge the expert pilots at our office!Keep the following in mind: You can adjust the forward speedof the copter by twisting the tail slightly right or left before flight.Right turns are wider than left turns due to the dynamics of the rotor.Luckily for you the Palmsize R/C Helicopter is forgiving on crashes.• Colour Cycling Multi-Colour LED for Night Flying• Intended for indoor use. Outdoor flying only under ZEROwind conditions.• Full Flight control with up/down and turn right/left• Helicopter is always moving forward slowly• Body is constructed from durable EPP foam• Internal helicopter battery charges from remote control unit• 15 minute charge time, 5-7 minute flight time• Uses 6AA Batteries (Not Included)Gorillapod. Don’t move.Get the perfect picture!The Gorillapod firmly secures your compactdigital camera to just about anything – anywhere and everywhere.Unlike traditional tripods the Gorillapod doesn’t requirean elevated flat surface for you to take the perfect picture. Theflexible joints allow you to rotate and bend 360º to form the perfectshape. This opens up a lot of new poses and angles for yourphotos and it’s also safer for your equipment – no more crazyacrobatics and precarious positions for your valuable digital camera.Gorillapod is lightweight, compact, bendable, wrappableand easy to carry. It’s the perfect accessory for getting great photosin any location. Please note, camera not included (duh!).OpenRoad driver |60

Flying Alarm ClockMy, how time flies...ugh. I can’t believe I just said that...It’s not that we’ve gotten lazy as a species, far from it! We’remore productive now than we’ve ever been, but with more andmore work to do, we have to create time by cutting down onlate night raids on Molten Core, ordering fast-food, talking onthe phone while driving… The only time we have left is spentsleeping. Now you have to stay up late and get up early in aneffort to get more done.Waking up after a pitiful five hours of sleep has its own challenges,though. We’re always looking for new ways to haul yourlazy butt out of bed. Normal alarm clocks wake you up with loudnoises to jar you into wakefulness, however we’ve become accustomedto the snooze-bar… Now, it’s become muscular instinct toflail your hands roughly in the direction of the noise, and smack!Nine more minutes of blissful unconsciousness. No more.The Flying Alarm Clock wakes you up with a loud shriekingalarm coupled with a little propeller-driven key that leaps off yournightstand. To turn off the horrible racket, you have to get out ofbed and retrieve the key. The propeller flies the key high into theair and off into some dusty corner. You have to force your sleepaddledbrain into wakefulness, move your stiff legs and retrievethe key before the alarm goes off. By the time you’ve done so,you’re awake enough at least to go make a pot of coffee.Helmet Action CamLife is action. Never miss a moment. Never.Not ever. Seriously.How many times has this happened to you? You’re riding yourbike through a path in the woods. It’s a lovely day and the sun isshining as you pedal your way through your day. Suddenly, youcome across a clearing, and in its centre sits a fantastic sight.Around a card table, quietly playing Texas Hold ’Em, sitsAmelia Earhart, D.B. Cooper, a chupacabra, and Bigfoot.Odin’s Beard, you think, nobody’s going to believe this!You’re right – you have no means to document that this actuallyhappened. You might as well claim you saw Mars the size of thefull moon because nobody’s going to believe you.You never know when that moment will happen. That definingevent that you wish you had your camera for – who knows what it willbe, or when it will occur, but Fate’s tangled skein has you destined forsomething interesting, so you had better be prepared to documentit. Otherwise, you might look the fool.Mounted to your helmet (you are wearing a helmet, right?) is theHelmet Action Cam! Your camera, coupled with a big fat SD card thatyou supply yourself, can record more than 13 hours of video! That’salmost your whole waking day! Certainly something will happen duringthe day that you can capture and document. ThinkGeek - A well-known destination for the latest gadgets and cool toys caters to technology enthusiasts, tinkerers, earlyadopters and those looking for new and unusual products. See their full catalogue online at www.thinkgeek.com.OpenRoad driver |61

4OpenRoadEvents!1237OpenRoad driver |62

811125961013141. The staff at Middlegate Honda celebrate their 2007 Q Awarddesignation from Honda Canada.2. The Twister is a deliriously delicious mix of peach, mangoand grenadine at OpenRoad Audi.3. Siblings Paul and Mini Oei admire the LS 600h atOpenRoad Lexus Port Moody.4. OpenRoad Audi showcases its full lineup at Science World, witha private screening of Mario Andretti’s racing film, Pure Speed.5. OpenRoad’s COO Rob Steele and CEO Christian Chia flank BradBeckett, Area General Manager, Audi Canada.6. The 2008 Audi TT is a hit at OpenRoad Audi’s private evening,A Pure Experience.7. The cuisine is divine at OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody’sLuxury Green hybrid event.8. Christian Chia points out the beauty of the Audi TT’s interior toWinnie Siu.9. The LS 600h is launched during An Evening of Spirit and Bliss,a Richmond Lexus VIP Event.10. Lester J. Soo makes OpenRoad memories with a Steinway Dconcert grand piano from Tom Lee Music.11. Guests enjoy the three Lexus hybrid models inside the RichmondLexus service area where technicians take care of service needs.12. Ken and Viegi Der are congratulated by General Sales ManagerMark Worbeck from Richmond Lexus and Jane Ince from theWickaninnish Inn on winning the Total Bliss Getaway for Two grand prize.13. Service Director Anke Minty and detailer David Mao show the innerworkings of a Lexus hybrid at Richmond Lexus.14. The all-new 2008 Audi R8 makes a spectacular debut at OpenRoadAudi’s R8 Special Preview and Hot Sales Event. Photography by Alistair Eagle (photos 2-6 and 8-13)OpenRoad driver |63

The 2008 Toyota Highlander.W e l c o m e t o t h e s w e e t s p o t . W e l c o m e t o O p e n R o a d T o y o t a .It's that stage in life's journey when everything is in perfect balance. Work and play. Familyand friends. Time for yourself. Now there's the perfect vehicle to help bring it all together -the 2008 Highlander or Highlander Hybrid. At OpenRoad Toyota Port Moody and OpenRoadToyota Richmond. It's good to be here.www.openroadautogroup.comJACOMBS RD. SIDEWAY RD.SIDEWAY RD.PARKWOOD WAYOPENROAD TOYOTARICHMONDSMALLWOODPLACEKNIGHT ST.OpenRoad driver |64Richmond#1 Toyota dealership in CanadaWESTMINISTER HWYRichmond Auto MallP 604-273-3766Christian ChiaPresident, OpenRoad Auto GroupOPENROADTOYOTAPort Moody3166 St. Johns StreetP 604-461-3656Members of theOpenRoad Au to Gr oup Family

Go Greenwith Richmond Auto Body.Giving you the green light since 1960.Richmond Auto Body has been the Lower Mainland's most trusted source inautomotive repairs for over forty years. Now part of the OpenRoad Auto Group,Richmond Auto Body has kept the same family traditions and merged them withOpenRoad's state-of-the-art technology and facilities.We offer fully accredited ICBC collision repair and valet service and BCAA approvedauto repair services. We give you the best quality parts and the highest standards ofcustomer service in the business, with 24 body stalls, 5 prep stations and a full detailarea. Every one of our technicians is fully certified to meet your needs. Quality aboveall else.2691 No. 5 Road (off Bridgeport Road)Richmond, BC V6X 2S8Tel: 604.278.9158Fax: 604.270.9105richmondautobody.ca