PORTFOLIO.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine | Volume 1 | Issue 2 | 2023

PORTFOLIO.YVR
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURS
VOLUM E 1 | ISSUE 2
CRA IG PA TTERSON
SEA N JORDA N
PA UL VA NDERZEE
JA CQUELINE A DLER
SID K OSHUL
M A NUEL BERNA SCHEK
M A DELEINE CLERIDES
JESSICA LIA NG
JA SON SA RA I
NELSON M EGGITT
BENJA M IN LUM B
A LA N CA LIM BA S

PORTFOLIO.YVR
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURS
VOLUM E 1 | ISSUE 2
0 0 1 PUBLISHER' S M ESSAGE:
HELEN SIWAK
0 0 3 CRAIG PATTERSON :
RETAIL IN SIDER
0 13 SEAN JORDAN
PAUL VAN DERZEE:
SSSI & STRATAPRESS
0 23 JACQUELIN E ADLER
SID KOSHUL:
SID + JACQUELIN E REAL ESTATE GROUP
0 31 M AN UEL BERN ASCHEK:
SHOWCASE PIAN OS
STEFAN O RICCI
0 39 M ADELEIN E CLERIDES
0 47 JESSICA LIAN G:
N OOK
0 57 JASON SARAI:
SARAI BESPOKE
STYLE BY SARAI
0 65 N ELSON M EGGITT:
ZEN M OM EN T
0 75 BEN JAM IN LUM B:
BLAH
0 81 ALAN CALIM BAS:
VAN CITY 4 SALE
0 91 M ASTHEAD & CREDITS

What makes a successful entrepreneur?
Think leadership, integrity, self-motivation,
creativity, risk-taking, determination,
perseverance, adaptability, effective
communication, networking, and a willingness
to experiment. It all comes back to being able
to sell themselves, their products, and/ or
services.
In this issue of PORTFOLIO.YVR Business &
Entrepreneurs are ten stories of people who,
like yourself, get up in the morning ready to
amp it up to 10 and the next day do it all over
again!
Our lead feature is on Craig Patterson,
founder and CEO of Retail Insider. What
started as a hobby blog has become a
resource - reaching over 2.5M readers
annually - for not only those involved in
Canadian retail but also for brands and
businesses looking to expand into Canada.
Craig shares with us his journey from lawyer to
digital entrepreneur.
Vancouver Island is represented with two
stories of two totally different products. Sean
Jordan and Paul Vanderzee are building
StrataPress and disrupting the strata
management industry. At the same time,
N elson M eggitt has created a new beverage
category named 'Wellness-Meets-Luxury? '
that perfectly describes his oak-cultured
Tisane kombucha product, Zen M oment .
Sid + Jacqueline Real Estate Group prides
itself on doing real estate differently. With a
focus on home, community, and giving, the
founders are a mother-son duo who are
making waves in the city with their
compassionate approach in a very
competitive market.
VAN CITY 4 SALE's Alan Calimbas went from
rock star to real estate and actively promotes
animal rescue alongside his properties and
podcast. Bringing awareness to the plight of
abandoned dogs at 'kill shelters' in California,
this rising star is rewriting what success means
at home and in the heart.
From Vancouver's Luxury Zone comes the story
of M anuel Bernaschek. From accountant to
the purveyor of the city's priciest pianos and
ultra-luxury men's wear, Manuel's story begins
with a jar of pennies and continues to Stefano
Ricci and Show case Pianos.
With an Insta account named @ILOVENOOK,
Jessica Liang is building more than a
co-working space to plug-in at. Truly more
than just four walls and a desk, N ook is just the
first step in creating a global mentorship
community. This story will warm your heart as it
literally 'took a village' to make her dream
come true!
Over ten years ago, wealth management
advisor Jason Sarai, stepped out of an office
tower and into the sartorial world of elevated
men's wear. From personal styling to designing
the ever-expanding showroom, hosting swanky
soirees, to jetting off to meet clients where
they live, SARAI Bespoke is moving forward
with finesse.
Tackling everything from event coordination to
social media management, the gregarious
M adeleine Clerides may be best remembered
for bringing the 'Art of Drag' back to the city!
During the pandemic, this new entrepreneur
transformed a West End parking lot into a
performance space, and just like that...there
was something to get excited about in a time
of isolation.
Blink, and you may miss him! Benjamin Lumb is
an artist, entrepreneur, and visionary who not
only thinks big but creates on a massive scale.
Known for his larger-than-life sculptures and
personality, this creative is always on the move,
never letting the 'traditional art world' slow
him down. With four businesses and three
daughters, the hustle is real.
Please enjoy our second issue and share with
those around you who have chosen
entrepreneurship as their vehicle to success.
Each of these stories is unique and inspiring!
001

CRA IG
PA TTERSON:
RETA IL
INSIDER
003
Apart from owning and running a media
company, Craig Patterson is an
experienced writer, researcher, retail
analyst, retail and real estate consultant,
public speaker, subject matter expert,
and, more importantly, the founder, CEO
and publisher of Canada's leading retail
industry news magazine, Retail Insider.
Craig has studied the Canadian retail
landscape for over 25 years, holds a
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of
Law s Degree, and is a former manager at
Access Pro Bono Society in BC.
He is keenly interested in real estate,
shopping centres, urban planning,
demography and Canadian retailing, and
regularly lecture/ speak on related topics.
Craig is also an Advisor at the University
of Alberta School of Cities and
Communities and is a Research and
Special Projects Consultant with the
Retail Council of Canada.
Under his guidance, Retail Insider creates
daily exclusive news articles and retail
insights that reach more than 2.5 million
readers annually, most being
decision-makers in the competitive
Canadian retail industry.
Craig has built a team of experienced
writers, editors and expert analysts from
across Canada who inform on the industry
through the platform's daily newsletters,
which reach over 20 ,0 0 0 unique readers
daily and whose mailing list includes
senior business leaders who control
billions of dollars in spending every year.
Retail Insider has two podcasts, ' The
Interview Series' hosted by Craig, and
' The Weekly' co-hosted with Lee Rivett
(Publication Support & Operations).

005
005
C r a i g P a t t e r s o n & Ia n R o s e n , P r e s i d e n t o f H a r r y R o s e n

The podcasts cover the popular articles
from the week with additional retail insights
and expert commentary. Special edition
podcasts are also recorded for notable
retail events and are part of sponsored
content opportunities featuring a curation
of guests.
Retail Insider is monetized to offer a variety
of sponsorships and advertising channels
that focus on particular sections of its
audience or perform an integrated
campaign to reach a mix of web visitors,
daily newsletter subscribers, podcast
listeners and social media followers.
Retail Insider is building its online presence,
and as it grows, so does the demand for
Craig's insights. In the past year, he has
been a special guest speaker at numerous
industry events for companies like
SalesForce, LVM H, and Tiffany & Co.
IN HIS
WORDS
"I didn't realize I was an entrepreneur until
after I had started a blog that began to
make some money through advertising. I
had a dual life - lawyer by day and retail
blogger at night! Back then, it would be
impossible to know what Retail Insider
would become as it started as a hobby.
"Retail Insider now has over 25,0 0 0
subscribers and hundreds of thousands of
monthly readers.
"We publish thousands of articles yearly
and have connected with the likes of
Richard Baker (Governor of HBC),
designers Jean Paul Gaultier, Virgil Abloh
and others, not to mention well-known
individuals in the retail and related
industries, including some interesting
billionaires.
"I have always had a fascination w ith
retail since childhood. I fondly remember
my Aunt telling me what retail I should visit
in M inneapolis when I played hockey there
at 13. I was impressed with the downtown
stores, such as Dayton' s and Saks Fifth
Avenue, and was blown away by the new
M all of America when it opened in 20 0 2. In
Canada, I became acquainted with Holt
Renfrew and the retail in downtown
Edmonton, which was vibrant at the time.
I had already been familiar with retail.
After hockey practice or a hockey game
in the town of Cold Lake, where I grew up,
I'd sneak to the library and read fashion
magazines. It was definitely not something
encouraged for a young man in small-town
Alberta. I would read about retailers and
brands and imagine designing stores
(which I did out of Lego, when I wasn't
drawing them). I also remember being a
child of about five years old visiting my Aunt
who worked at a massive Woodward's
department store in Edmonton - so it really
has been a life- long passion!
"Now that the world has re-opened, I would
love to explore new locations, including the
department stores in Japan and South
Korea, see the latest on the luxury high
streets in Europe, and maybe even pop into
a mall in Dubai to experience the best
experiential retail.

007
"Interestingly, due to publishing, Retail
Insider invites for events worldwide
began to arrive! The most surprising is
the request to go to Africa to work with
a team on the revitalization of a
national economy. Unfortunately, I had
to pass on that one - too many
obligations right here in Canada.
"Like any business venture, the road has
been, at times, bumpy. Early on, one of
my first advertisers became a friend,
and the relationship started on the
wrong foot as they pitched something
that I felt should have been sponsored,
and this person pushed back. Eventually,
they agreed it should be sponsored, and
we worked together on it and are still
friends today.
"One of my w orst business career
experiences resulted from not
thoroughly vetting a business partner.
"About a decade ago, I was
approached by someone who wanted
to provide editorial content for my blog,
and we eventually agreed to create a
related publication.
"At the time, I was not aware that this
person had been diagnosed with a
severe mental health disorder and had
chosen not to accept medical
treatment. As time went on, the situation
became very frightening to the point
where my business and person were
being threatened.
"A simple court record check would
have been enough to stop the w hole
trainw reck that spilled into all aspects
of my life, but when you are starting out,
everyone seems trustworthy.
"The entire experience taught me to
scrutinize who I associate with and the
importance of protecting my business.
Believe me when I say I have the Court
Services Online link in my bookmarks!
" My entrepreneurial journey really
began when I worked part-time at the
University of Alberta and on various
consulting projects in Canada and the
United States to make ends meet while
I was in the early days of developing
Retail Insider.
"It was slow and steady as I grew the
publication's readership and
advertisers. We've continued to grow as
I've added some valuable employees
who have helped also grow the business.
"When the daily visits to Retail Insider
hit 10 ,0 0 0 , I knew I was onto something.
Retail-Insider was becoming a go-to for
not only retailers but for brokers,
landlords, designers, builders, and
almost anyone doing business with the
Canadian retail industry.
"This was evidenced by the budding
relationships that I had with M artin
M oriarty of Marcus & Millichap
(formerly CBRE), Jay Freedman of
Oberfeld Snowcap, Jeff Berkow itz of
Aurora Realty Consultants, Arlin
M arkow itz of CBRE, and numerous other
big players.
"My first speaking engagement after
starting Retail Insider was in 20 13, and it
was my teaching classes at the
University of Alberta.

C r a i g P a t t e r s o n a t N i c o l a s M e n 's W e a r

009
C r a i g P a t t e r s o n & T i m B r o w n , F o u n d e r A l l b i r d s

"I had been invited after they learned who
was behind Retail Insider ? at the time, the
University had a retail-focused school.
"I was so terrified, I had to sit on a table at
the front of the room to lecture. I've since
become very comfortable speaking to
groups and have spoken at various
conferences (ICSC, Retail Council of
Canada' s STORE Conference, eTail
Canada Conference, DX3, and many
others).
"I've also spoken to smaller groups,
including associations and private
companies, with names such as LVM H,
Tiffany & Co., Cadillac Fairview , and the
Canadian Jew ellers Association.
"Nowadays, I love speaking to groups large
and small, and I plan to expand on this and
turn it into additional opportunities for
growth.
"When we started the Retail Insider
podcast, we aimed to reach other
passionate retail enthusiasts. I am finding
that we are connecting with a variety of
listeners, from decision- makers to the
casual observer. So far, we have
completed over 215 podcasts and in 20 24,
we have plans for even more.
"One of my favourite podcasts was a video
interview with M ark Cohen, Professor at
Columbia University and former head of
Sears Canada. He tore N ordstrom's
business model apart and said he wasn't
surprised it failed in Canada, saying that
the Hudson' s Bay Company had no future
and that most international retailers
entering Canada would fail.
"It was so educational and honest (not to
mention inflammatory) that I had him on for
a second time to discuss what makes a
great department store!
"As Retail Insider grew, I began to enjoy the
freedom of being the boss while also
having to learn how to keep on track
because I was the boss for the first time.
"As my business grew, I met more interesting
people, developed more connections, and
developed something of a " glamorous"
life, at least on social media, where I've
been able to attend exciting events and go
to interesting places.
"I'll admit I neglected romantic
relationships while I built the business, which
was a personal choice more than anything
else.
"Pre- pandemic, my business was much
smaller, though I was not struggling. The
pandemic actually resulted in a boost for
Retail Insider, given that it was already a
digital business.
"We were able to pick up some
high-paying advertisers that otherwise
would have given money to in-person
events, and today, we continue to develop
relationships with new advertisers. Our
pricing is higher, given precedent and
demand.
"I admit that there hasn't been a pivotal
moment when I knew Retail Insider would
work out, but I've had faith in the process
and that success can be had.
"Being an entrepreneur is a leap of faith in
many respects, and having confidence in
yourself and the world is essential for
motivation and the will to keep going.
"To facilitate advertising and growth ? I
hired two advertising managers and two
Editors- in- Chief' s ? one for
Retail-Insider.com (launched 20 12), the new
Retail Insider Magazine (20 23) and the
new video podcast channel.

011
"Canadian retail is a $80 0 million
annual business that attracts global
players. We are not a small fish in a big
pond. The amount of international money
flowing into the cash registers across the
country is staggering, and every one of
those dollars affects the communities it is
spent in."
"For our advertising clients, Retail Insider
is reaching over 50 0 ,0 0 0 people
monthly, and the entities that work with
us include brokerages, landlords, retail
tenants, design firms, construction
companies, security firms, tech
companies, and pretty much any
company that is involved with the
Canadian retail industry.
"Along this journey, so many key people
have believed in what I was building.
Some are long gone, but others, like
Lee Rivett, who still works with Retail
Insider today. Lee was instrumental in
supporting the business and myself
during its growth and I am grateful for
his encouragement of me to be healthier,
more confident, and present.
"Dustin Fuhs helped develop the news
publication to something much bigger
than when I was running it myself, and he
continues to handle editorial decisions.
"Sean Tarry developed and produced
our magazine publication, which is
beautiful and engaging.
"Key team members include Darryl
Julott and Tyler M ercer from our
advertising team, Geetanjali Sharma for
handling social media and our parallel
SEO business, and our team of journalists,
including Senior Editor M ario Toneguzzi,
and back-end support.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving out
two colleagues and long-time friends -
Helen Siw ak, who has been a fashion
and retail inspiration, and Ritchie Po,
who encouraged me to start a blog
because I wouldn't shut up talking about
retail!
"Over the years, I have kept our business
model simple, but with growth always
comes complications. The team and I are
ready to meet any new challenges that
we are presented with.
"We have a news publication funded by
advertisers, a magazine funded through
advertisers, and podcasts, and now
we're looking for in- person events w ith
sponsorship for 20 24.
"To grow, Retail Insider needs more
funding and new ideas for revenue
streams to propel things forward. My
goal is to develop our video channel into
something more compelling, and I'd like
to expand my team to begin strategizing
and creating meaningful in-person
events.
"By the end of 20 24, I see Retail Insider
as a profitable business with a solid
editorial news publication, magazine,
podcast/ video channel and in-person
events.
"While expanding revenue is part of the
goal, we strive to be the best Canadian
retail industry new s publication
possible. That said, I am in talks to
co-found an e-commerce-related
publication, but I'm being careful about
a bigger expansion, potentially into the
US, if the opportunity presents itself."
C R A IG
R E T A IL
P A T T E R S O N
IN S ID E R

C r a i g P a t t e r s o n a t t h e l a u n c h o f IN L A N D M a r k e t p l a c e

SEA N JORDA N &
PA UL
VA NDERZEE:
STRA TA PRESS
013
Simple Strata Solutions Inc. &
Stratapress founders Sean Jordan and
Paul Vanderzee are disrupting the
strata management industry with a
comprehensive solution that every BC
strata owner can use.
Strata owners can own their strata
corporation data and help maintain
the value of their strata property by
having all aspects of their strata in
compliance with the BC Strata
Property Act, regardless of whether
they are professionally managed or
self-managed.
In 20 24, this powerful platform will
launch an AI chatbot assistant for
strata management.
This innovative tool is poised to
transform strata management in BC by
streamlining communication, answering
common inquiries, and enhancing
efficiency.
With its natural language processing
capabilities, the AI-powered strata
assistant can handle a high volume of
inquiries and continuously improve its
responses through learning from past
interactions. This groundbreaking
technology will undoubtedly make
strata management more accessible
and efficient for both strata owners
and managers.
With the current platform continuing to
add new features and the launch of the
AI chatbot, by the end of 20 24, the duo
expects to represent over 2,0 0 0 strata
properties and with a base of Strata
Owners grow ing to 50 ,0 0 0 or more.
"Moving forward, it will take another
$50 K - $10 0 K of investment along
with landing three additional property
management companies (20 0 -30 0
properties/ each), then we should be in
great shape to generate enough
revenue to hire a few more members of
the team," explains Sean.

015

CO-FOUNDERS
Sean Jordan is an award-winning
entrepreneur with over two decades of
experience in business development,
production, and marketing. He has
focused most of his career on
web-centric startups and real estate.
Sean's development teams have
produced award-winning multimedia
projects and marketing campaigns for
over 30 0 companies in 30 countries. With
a primary focus on project development
and management, Sean brings a wealth
of creativity and strategy to every
endeavour he undertakes.
Paul Vanderzee is a programming
specialist, highly experienced in
developing innovative, large-scale online
applications and networks. Primary
industries include real estate and SaaS.
Paul has provided programming and
design expertise for projects developed
by RE/ M AX, Real Estate Webmasters,
Simple Strata Solutions, Inc., and
M arble Financial.
ORIGIN STORY
Sean and Paul co-founded SSSI and
Stratapress. At the time, Sean had been
President of three different strata
councils for over 15 years.
With a background in developing
websites, he understood that a dedicated
strata website could quickly provide
access to information and documents and
give transparent communication options
between strata owners, council and
management, and that is what he built for
each strata.
The website worked so well that Sean
remained strata council president for a
property in Victoria even as he was living
in Las Vegas. The website's efficiency was
evident as he was able to effectively
serve as the strata council president for
a property in Victoria despite living in
another country.
The majority of SSSI operations were
managed online through the dedicated
strata website.
"We did everything online with the strata
website and it worked so well that I could
build a multi-site network of strata
websites and sign up 50 0 to 1,0 0 0 of the
33,0 0 0 strata corporations in BC and
have them pay an annual subscription of
around $40 0 per year. That's a tidy little
business with few employees and little
overhead required. This is the business I
set out to create when I returned to
Canada," shares Sean.
"While developing the platform, I looked
for a local PHP programmer using
Craigslist. The only responses I received
were from people overseas willing to do
the work or people who needed to be
qualified, and I rejected all of those
offers."

017
"Paul Vanderzee responded to my
Craigslist ad and we spent three hours in
a pub and he has been on board ever
since." They built the first version of
StrataPress in 20 15.
At the beginning, Sean set out to get
strata corporations around BC signed
up, thinking it would be an easy, but it
was not.
He says, "You can't pick up the phone
and call a strata corporation, and
property management companies, the
gatekeepers to the decision-makers,
were hesitant to incur additional
expenses for their clients, so they shut
the door."
To address this, they refined the
approach. SSSI was re-tooled to offer a
comprehensive dual solution tailored for
property management companies.
An automation feature for document
requests coupled with an intuitive
document management system,
streamlined the document distribution
process to strata owners.
The revenue would be generated by
charging a small administration fee for
Realtors, Law yers and N otaries to
purchase documents online. They
received immediate access to
documents, usually taking up to 7 days to
receive.
This refining proved to be the win-win
scenario the market sought. Property
Managers can now distribute and sell
strata documents with zero cost and
zero loss of revenue; Realtors, Lawyers
and Notaries can access documents
anytime and download them
immediately after purchase.
Strata Owners can access strata
documents and communicate with their
council and management team.
Since launching, StrataPress.com has
processed over 30 ,0 0 0 document
requests from over 1,50 0 Strata
Corporations. The Strata Owners Portal
currently provides over 25,0 0 0 0
registered Strata Owners in BC easy
access to their own strata documents
online.
In 20 23, SSSI received a CAD $5 M illion
valuation from Kiw iTech' s Investment
Committee, which was significant.
KiwiTech is a growing ecosystem of
entrepreneurs, investors, mentors,
accelerators, incubators, and
corporations headquartered in New
York. They help early and growth-stage
startups build viable products, drive
traction, raise capital, and scale their
businesses. KiwiTech is home to 30 0 0 +
investors and 50 0 + portfolio
companies across 15+ industries
undergoing disruption.
Simple Strata Solutions, Inc. maintains an
A+ rating and accreditation with the
Better Business Bureau in BC and is an
active member of the Condo
Homeowners Association of BC (CHOA)
and the Vancouver Island Strata Owners
Association (VISOA). Furthermore, the
company proudly supports the Victoria
Innovation, Advanced Technology, and
Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC),
contributing to the growth and success
of the tech sector in the Greater
Victoria region.
In 20 23, StrataPress was a finalist for the
' Startup of The Year' award presented
by the Victoria Innovation, Advanced
Technology, and Entrepreneurship
Council (VIATEC).

M EET SEA N
019
"Like every 10 -year-old, I was broke
and trying to get by on a $0 .50 weekly
allowance. So, as a paper boy hustling
for big tips and selling subscriptions, I
bought my first bike and car and paid
for art college. Along the way, I mowed
lawns, babysat, washed trucks for
BC Hydro and refereed youth soccer
games.
"A bug for photography started at 14
years old, and in the junior high school
darkroom, I learned B&W film
development and printing.
"That following summer, my uncle - one
of Toronto's most prominent names in
commercial photography - hired me to
help build a new studio. It was a
summer of intense learning and led to
my first real business ' Phat Cat
Photographix' when I was about 19
years old, which led to selling concert
photos to Sony M usic, Universal M usic,
and N ettwerk Records.
"A deal with a local rock station kept
me in backstage passes for shows in
Victoria, BC, and over two years, I shot
over 90 concerts. Some of these photos
were included in a charity calendar
that sold over 10 ,0 0 0 copies.
"We all have those moments in our
entrepreneurial journey where we veer
off-track with an opportunity that
appears to be solid gold.
"For me, it was in the early 20 0 0 s. I had
an entrepreneurial friend in M elbourne
who had found success selling bulk SMS
credits through an online text
messaging platform he created.
"We could buy 10 SMS credits for a
penny and resell them for $0 .10 - $0 .25
cents each through an online bulk SMS
platform he built. We had access to
60 0 mobile carriers worldwide, and
our text messages could be delivered
to about 1 billion mobile devices.
Remember, this was pre- Tw itter or
other text apps.
"I brought the bulk SMS platform to
Canada and launched it throughout
N orth America. I saw significant sales
come rolling in almost immediately, like
$5K - $15K per day.
"I thought I was less than three months
away from my first million in revenue. I
sent tens of thousands of dollars to
Australia every few days to buy more
SMS credits. (You must own more
credits than you sell or be heavily
penalized, so it was essential to keep
up). Long story short, between credit
card companies, international bank
transfers, and the RCMP, the whole
business turned out to be fraudulent,
and I lost over CAD $10 0 ,0 0 0 on that
venture.
"A move to the Sunshine Coast allowed
me to invest in and manage vacation
property on the west coast of
Vancouver Island.
"I joined a resort management startup,
bought a couple of oceanfront cabins
from a failing resort in Ucluelet and,
using some creative financing,
launched a rebrand that had all of the
strata owners on board."

"I took care of marketing, and my
business partner then took care of the
day-to-day business of running the resort.
We went from zero to $60 0 ,0 0 0 in
booking in the first ten months, and four
years later, I sold my interest and moved
to Victoria.
"There was so much opportunity in new
media technology that I constantly
moved between companies and
industries. From freelance photography
(1990 - 1996) to Stratford Internet
Technologies (grew the company to 10 0
employees and over $10 M in 3.5 years),
and N oise M edia (secured $1M in
funding).
"These overlapped various
SMS/ text-related businesses, and
launched Avocado Canada Productions
in 20 0 0 that focused on marketing and
advertising for the real estate industry.
"20 0 9 spawned Digital Concierge
(digital screen in coffee shops and hotel
lobbies on Vancouver Island), and Order
Technologies (Pizza M onsters,
LoveClients/ Taw k.to), and this led me to
Simple Strata Solutions Inc and realizing
StrataPress.com nine years ago."
M EET PA UL
021
"I got my first computer when I was 15
years old. All I could do was either play
games or learn how to program. The
computer group I belonged to had these
magazines, and inside them were articles
with small games with the programming
code, which I would have to type out and
then play. I taught myself how to program
by changing the code and seeing its
effects on the game.
"Over the next 20 + years, I taught myself
a lot of different programming
languages, obtained a degree in
computer maintenance and support, and
worked at some great jobs.
"One day, the local Re/ M ax office hired
me for part-time computer support for
their realtors. With my programming skills,
I helped the other computer tech who
was struggling with the realtor website
code design and develop much more
complicated and sophisticated sites.
"About three years later, I was
approached to look at a new business
that needed help with its new online
platform, and after a two-hour meeting,
they offered me a position to rebuild the
platform, and 13 years later, the platform
is still running!
"Many years later, I saw an ad in the
paper that Sean had placed for building
a platform for Strata Document
M anagement. It was a great idea
because I had recently bought a
townhouse, which is a Strata, so I had
some understanding of it all. We met for
coffee, and three hours later, I left with a
new business partner."
S T R A T A P R E S S .C O M

023

SID +
JA CQUELINE
REA L
ESTA TE
GROUP
The Sid + Jacqueline Real Estate
Group is a Vancouver-based team of
award-winning real estate agents
serving downtown Vancouver, N orth
Vancouver, West Vancouver, and
other areas throughout Greater
Vancouver.
Founded by the mother-son duo of
Jacqueline Adler and Sid Koshul, this
real estate group is so much more
than buying and selling homes and
properties.
A notable sale for them this year was
representing the purchaser of a
Penthouse at the Fairmont Pacific
Rim with a sale price of $19,30 0 ,0 0 0 .
When not working on behalf of their
clients, the team can be found at
many fundraising initiatives and galas
around the city (Dr. Peter Aids
Foundation, Ballet BC, Vancouver
Symphony Orchestra) and sponsoring
various events in Arts & Culture,
including 'Art Rapture' and 'An
Evening in Damascus' benefiting the
Rainbow Refugee organization.

025

M EET
JA CQUELINE
Jacqueline is an award-winning real
estate agent, Certified Luxury Home
M arketing Specialist, and Guild
M ember of the Institute for Luxury
Home M arketing, serving the
Vancouver, N orth Vancouver, and West
Vancouver markets.
She is passionate about real estate and
enjoys guiding her clients through the
buying and selling process. Clients
regularly describe Jacqueline's
approach and demeanour as caring,
calm, and professional while ensuring
that her clients are informed and
supported.
Jacqueline is a M aster M edallion Club
M ember (having been ranked in the Top
10 % of Realtors® in Greater Vancouver
for the last five years) and a recipient of
the M asters Level & Top Producer Sales
Aw ards from Oakw yn Realty. She is
included in Property Spark's list of the
'Top 10 0 British Columbia Real Estate
Agents on Social M edia.'
Her brokerage also chose her as the
recipient of the Oakw ynite of the Year
Aw ard, given to the agent who best
represents the core values of Oakwyn
Realty, which include putting people first,
creating a community, and leading by
example.
Jacqueline lives vegan and supports
various animal causes, including Paw s for
Hope Animal Foundation, SAIN TS,
M ercy for Animals, Animal Justice, and
Humane Society International. She also
sponsors an annual award honouring her
mother's memory, the Sharon Koshul
M emorial Prize in Animal Law , through
UBC' s School of Law . Jacqueline has
also completed the Alliance Certified
Ally Curriculum Program offered
through the LGBTQ+ Real Estate
Alliance.
Outside of her role as a real estate
agent, Jacqueline is fond of walking the
sea wall with her two dogs, Odele and
Osten, travelling with her son, Sid, and
hiking the N orth Shore trails.

M EET SID
027
As a former Real Estate Law yer,
Sid understands the importance of
protecting his clients' best interests,
keeping them fully informed, and
advocating strongly on their behalf.
After obtaining his Law degree, Sid
articled in West Vancouver's Ambleside
Village before working at various law
firms in Vancouver's Financial District
and Gastow n neighbourhoods, where he
developed a successful practice focused
on residential real estate and
conveyancing matters.
Throughout his time as a 'go-to' Real
Estate Lawyer that many of BC's top
Realtors and Mortgage Broker's relied
on for advice and who trusted Sid to
ensure their clients were taken care of,
Sid handled hundreds of closings of both
residential purchases and sales each
year.
This experience has allowed Sid to bring
a unique perspective to his role as a Real
Estate Agent, along with professionalism,
high attention to detail, exceptional
communication, dispute resolution, and
organizational skills.
Sid's love of real estate stems from years
of working closely with his mother,
Jacqueline, on renovations, staging, and
designing their own homes and several
investment properties.
Giving back and being involved in his
community is very important to Sid, which
motivates him and allows him to build
strong connections with people from all
walks of life.
One of the most rewarding experiences
that Sid has been involved in is his work
leading a 'Circle of Hope' in support of
Rainbow Refugee, which raised over
$30 ,0 0 0 to support bringing a refugee,
originally from Iran and a member of the
LGBTQ+ community, to Vancouver.
Sid is also a member of the Dr. Peter
AIDS Foundation' s Pride Kickoff
Committee, which is responsible for
throwing a highly successful annual
fundraiser in support of the Dr. Peter
Centre and a Committee M ember for
Ballet BC' s M omentum Gala.
While practicing law in Gastow n,
Sid had the opportunity to serve as a
Board M ember for the Gastow n
Business Improvement Society (BIA),
where he was involved in making
decisions to promote the interests of
local businesses within the
neighbourhood.
Sid has also received numerous awards,
including a 20 22 M edallion Club
M ember Aw ard for the Top 10 % of
Realtors, Oakw yn' s Sales Excellence
Aw ard 20 22 and Sales Achievement
Aw ard 20 21.
If you have met Sid, you will know how he
lights up whenever he sees a dog, so do
not be surprised if you find him petting
and taking selfies with dogs he meets on
the streets.

029
029

JA CQUELINE
SHA RES
"I began to train and exhibit Arabian horses
professionally at an early age, allowing me
to care for my horses and other animals.
"Being a competitive equestrian taught me
to be a self-starter, that work ethic and
effort are their own rewards - the
importance of doing the work well even
when no one is watching, the ability to w ork
independently and collaboratively when
needed and to have patience. All those skills
continue to serve me well, but it also helps
that I am doing something I love to do.
"I have always appreciated design and
architecture and started recreating my own
spaces, which eventually led to renovating
and re-selling homes and designing and
having homes built while working in
marketing and communications.
"It was my son Sid who pointed out that
being a Real Estate Agent presented the
perfect opportunity for me to combine my
skills and passion. It also ignited my
competitive nature (I compete with myself),
so early on, I decided to set goals that
seemed unobtainable then but that I have
since learned were within grasp.
"Referrals and repeat business came early
for me due to clients appreciating my
service level. Because of their support, I
achieved Medallion Club membership in my
first full year (my first goal) and have
achieved it every year since.
"Any success we have had or will have is tied
directly to the results we can deliver for our
clients and their trust in us, so that keeps us
focused on improving and learning.
"The first several years of being a solo agent
required very long hours and dedication -
to the point where it was almost the singular
focus of my life. Things changed when I hired
an assistant, and then they really changed
when my son Sid, who was a Real Estate
Lawyer at the time, left his law career to
become a Realtor. The pivotal moment,
however, was when we decided to form a
team and launched the Sid & Jacqueline
Real Estate Group, just after having the
good fortune to be involved in a
record-breaking sale - the highest-priced
condo sale in Vancouver in almost a
decade.
"The business has grown and is expanding
each year, which wouldn't be possible
without the support of our team's
Administrative Lead, Kylen Fox, my son and
partner Sid who takes the lead in marketing
and social media, and our wonderful
brokerage, Oakw yn Realty.
"Together we are strong and passionate
about real estate and enjoy guiding our
clients through the buying and selling
process. We are client- focused, and every
transaction matters to us because it is
important to our clients."
S ID + J A C Q U E L IN E
R E A L E S T A T E G R O U P

031

M A NUEL
BERNA SCHEK :
SHOWCA SE
PIA NOS &
STEFA NO
RICCI
Having the courage to build the
best life for your family is something that
M anuel Bernaschek has experience in.
From humble beginnings, he has been
willing to do what it took to create a
rewarding and purposeful life for his family
(wife Judy and daughter Aria).
Through hard work and perseverance, he
built himself up from a sales associate in a
music store to the well-travelled purveyor
of some of the most desired brands in the
world.
At the music store, his entrepreneurial
instinct was piqued when customers
seeking pianos asked about the
Italian- made Fazioli.
After securing an investor to bring the
brand to Vancouver, Bernaschek travelled
to Italy to meet with the company's
founder, Paolo Fazioli, where his tenacity
paid off and a deal was struck.
He launched Show case Pianos with his
wife Judy, and they sold their first Fazioli
within the month.

033

Not that sales came easily, though; it took
hard work and diligence. Fast forward to
today, with Westbank as a most desired
client with a keen interest in Fazioli,
Showcase Pianos is recognized as one of
the top- selling Fazioli dealers in the
w orld, which also sells its fair share of
excellent European brands like Seiler,
Grotrian, and C. Bechstein.
Some years ago, during a trip to Italy to
visit the Fazioli factory, Manuel happened
across a hotel window display showcasing
neckties made by Stefano Ricci.
He made it a point to repeatedly return to
Stefano Ricci store each time he was in
Italy to discuss the company and their
pricey ties (40 0 euros).
Eventually, he decided to seek out the
Ricci family out to bring the ultra-luxury
brand to its original and current location
in downtown Vancouver' s Luxury Zone on
West Georgia Street, across from the
top-rated Shangri- La Hotel and next to
the (now) Paradox Hotel.
Getting the Ricci's approval took time as
the family made him work for the
opportunity to franchise their eclusive
brand to the city.
Eventually, they offered him the right to
open a store if he agreed to carry the
entire line.
This meant not just ties, but fragrances,
accessories (such as leather goods and
cuff links) and home goods such as
porcelain and crystal dinner services,
silverware and luxury linens with every item
in the store is made by hand in Italy, using
the highest quality of materials, and then
shipped to Canada.
After a handshake deal with an investment
partner went awry, Bernaschek opened his
eagle head-adorned storefront with his
new partners, the Ricci's themselves.
Opening Stefano Ricci was the second
strategic business move by Bernaschek in
the luxury market.
When asked about the reasoning behind
taking such a significant risk on taking on
the responsibility of a second luxury
brand, Bernaschek reflected.
"I thought it would help to have another
equally exclusive and luxurious brand but
at a lower price than a $150 ,0 0 0 piano.
The Stefano Ricci brand is very exclusive
and ultra-high quality. I see a great
amount of crossover between the two
businesses."
"People don't mind paying a higher price
for something that has some identifiable
superiority to other products. In the case
of both Fazioli and Stefano Ricci, it is
immediately apparent that higher quality
materials and w orkmanship were
involved in their production."
In his private office in the Stefano Ricci
boutique, Bernaschek recalls the struggles.
"It isn't easy, you know. People think, look
at him, the high roller. They don't know how
tough it is to make this work. They don't
always understand the life of an
entrepreneur."

IN HIS
WORDS
035
"I don't think I ever saw myself as an
entrepreneur. I alw ays view ed myself
as a salesperson, and I enjoyed that
quite a bit!
"My teen years were awkward (aren't
they for everyone, though!?), but there
was one undertaking, now that I look
back on it, that was embarrassing but I
can definitely see how it foretold my
sales savvy!
"In Junior High School, I started to think
about what small amount of money your
friends would give you without even
thinking about it.
"It began like a social experiment . I
wanted to see if people would give you
their pennies, loose change, just by
asking and how much would you end up
with?
"So, I casually asked friends at school to
give me their pennies, and they did. I
would take them home and soon started
to fill jars!
"People started to know me for that and
would bring me jars of pennies from
home, and others would just give me
them without asking them for them
because I started getting a reputation
for collecting them.
"In the end, all the endless pennies I
collected over the school year only
amounted to around $80 ? so I felt it
was a lot of effort for a very little
return. A good lesson to learn while still
young.
"Growing up, my dad wasn't like other
dads who worked a job. He was a
businessman and entrepreneur.
"He owned a Volvo dealership in
Coquitlam and later an advanced
driving school at the Westwood
Racetrack. During those years, he was
also involved with a company they
called ' The Spirit of Vancouver,' which
raised money to sponsor their chief
driver from the driving school to enter
The M olson Indy race when it was held
in Vancouver.
"Even though the driver held many
records at the Westwood racetrack, he
didn't win the Indy but did very well.
As sponsors, we had stacks of ' Paddock
Passes,' my dad gave my sister and me
a stack each and told us to go out to
the entrance and sell them to people
coming to watch the Indy race.

037

"These passes get you into the area where
all the drivers have their cars displayed to
the public between races, but the pass
itself doesn't get you in the front door of
the race.
"This was a fact that I forgot to disclose
to one spectator. He gave me the money
for the Paddock Pass and walked happily
over to the front gate, where there was a
disagreement with the ticket taker - and
then the guest turned around and pointed
at me. I knew I w as in trouble! This
incident reinforced in my mind that we
must alw ays be transparent and honest
about what we sell.
"After high school, I chose to get into
accounting because the logic of the
numbers always made sense, and I
enjoyed that.
"Once I graduated and got into actually
working in accounting, I found it to be
quite boring! On the hunt for a new job, I
remember being offered two positions
simultaneously.
"I had the opportunity to continue working
as an accountant in a different company
or choose to join a friend and start selling
pianos. My friend Brad Gannon was doing
very well at selling pianos; he had a
natural talent for it, so I joined him.
"Years later, he got into selling real estate
with his wife, and he continues to be a
very good friend and to do very well on
the North Shore.
There is another dream I have that has yet
to be realized - to bring an excellent
Italian chocolate to Vancouver! Although
I am not in the position to take on a new
endeavour, it is always in the back of my
mind.
"After I started selling pianos, I worked as
a salesperson for this chocolate brand
because I liked it so much. The Canadian
importer for this brand was in M ontreal;
he would send me chocolate to sell and
pay my commission in chocolate! LOL!
"Since launching Showcase Pianos and
Stefano Ricci, my family's lives have not
changed very much. We live pretty
simply, but we enjoy travelling as a family
? so as the years have passed, we have
been able to travel to more countries that
we have never been to before.
"I will always remember our first year of
operating Showcase Pianos, I had two
primary goals. One was to get N UVO
M agazine to write about Fazioli pianos,
and the other was to get the Shangri-La
Hotel to put a Fazioli piano in their lobby.
I was able to accomplish both, but it took
a tremendous amount of time and energy.
I estimate that each took over 60 emails,
phone calls, and personal visits.
"I am a firm believer in going for what you
want. If you put in the work and are
patient and diligent, doors w ill open, and
success will come your way. Though,
however you define success, is up to you."
M A N U E L
B E R N A S C H E K
S H O W C A S E
P IA N O S
S T E F A N O
R IC C I

M A DELEINE
CLERIDES:
039
M adeleine Clerides is a publicist, writer
and event coordinator based in
Vancouver, BC. Madeleine started her
career in a corporate agency setting,
where she familiarized herself with the
media landscape and worked with large
companies such as Dyson,
M olson/ Coors, Cirque du Soleil, and
President' s Choice.
In 20 20 , she pivoted to freelance work
and began to build up her personal
portfolio. Madeleine is the public
relations manager and social media
coordinator for the Wedgew ood Hotel &
Spa, Vancouver's only Relaix & Chateaux
property. She also writes lifestyle and
beauty content for Daily Hive and VITA
Daily.
From event coordination to social media
management, Madeleine has built a
multi-faceted business that provides her
with diverse responsibilities, which she
enjoys immensely.
IN HER
WORDS
"In my early teens, I organized a charity
dog show at my school to raise money for
the SPCA in 20 0 7 with business donations
from businesses and sponsors.
"I guess I was event planning and
networking without even realizing it!
"This journey was a bit bumpy at the
beginning, as early on, I undervalued
myself. I was so keen to add specific
clients to my portfolio that I took a pay
cut even though I knew it wasn't right. I
knew I was providing real monetary
value to specific businesses, but I would
lower my worth to accommodate clients
because I wasn't used to the freelance
format.
"My entrepreneurial journey happened
organically and entirely by accident.
Before the pandemic, I worked in PR
agencies and assumed that I would climb
the ladder in this industry for my whole
career.
"When I lost my role, and the pandemic
hit, marketing budgets were cut, and
events were non-existent. If I wanted to
keep pursuing roles in my field, I would
have to rethink my trajectory.
"There was an exciting shift in March
20 20; because of the pandemic, my
father, John Clerides purchased the
historic N umbers Cabaret on Davie
Street, which is next to M arquis Wine
Cellars, the Clerides family business of
30 years. My Papou (Grandpa) had
owned the property since the 1970 s, and
thus, our family had been very well
acquainted with the previous owner and
staff for many years.

041

"Numbers is Vancouver' s first- ever gay bar
and had the same owner from its inception
until John's acquisition. Since liquor stores
were considered essential businesses, sales
were climbing rapidly, and John did not feel
he could oversee a rebranding and
renovation of Numbers. At this point, I
unexpectedly entered the family business for
the first time, despite my considerable
trepidation.
"Despite my reluctance to work under my
dad, his idea made great sense. Numbers
needed an entire overhaul, from
renovations to a social media reboot.
"The club had become less popular in recent
years within the Davie Village community, as
the TLC needed to keep it trendy was never
prioritized.
"We had no idea when clubs would be open
again, but we did have a massive back
parking lot that I knew could be turned into
a functional outdoor patio space. I told my
dad that if he wanted my help with this
project, I was insistent on reintroducing
drag performances back into the bar, as
the previous owner had excluded drag
queens from the space for about 25 years,
which in turn alienated many people in the
Davie Village community.
"My dad told me he completely trusted what
I believed would work and that if people
responded positively to the performances,
we could do whatever I suggested.
"Needless to say, drag became the bread
and butter of our establishment throughout
the entirety of COVID. Performers were
beyond keen to be on stage, and we were
the only venue on Davie Street with an
outdoor space large enough to host shows.
"Besides some private commissions and
internal work, we partnered with the
Vancouver M ural Festival to create
beautiful art on the new patio that reflects
the club's history and vibrance.
"Due to the success of the club's
reinvigoration, I could step back from my
role in 20 22 and focus on other clients. I am
so thankful that my dad trusted me to
spearhead the renovations, create a trendy
drinks list, reintroduce drag, create a patio
from scratch, manage the website creation
and social media, collaborate with artists
and more.
"Now, if you drive by Numbers on a
weekend, you will likely see a line that goes
up the block. Keeping the integrity of
Numbers distinctly queer was at the top of
my priority list, and I am elated that the
community responded so positively to our
efforts in making N umbers a safe, fun and
inclusive space for everyone to enjoy.
"Once clubs formally reopened and PR
events started to open back up, I could
apply the momentum of this experience to
my next clients.
"Luckily, thanks to my extensive networking
pre-pandemic, other businesses began
reaching out to me to support them on
various projects they could not manage due
to the challenges COVID presented them
with. It was here that I began managing a
variety of social media accounts and
helping businesses organize safe events
with the stringent COVID restrictions.
"Due to the success of these endeavours, my
services were further conveyed via word of
mouth, and momentum was built. That is how
I built a portfolio of clients and started my
freelancing career.
"Even though it was a relatively short span
from 20 16- 20 23, my career unexpectedly
changed directions a few times.
"I began my PR journey as an intern at Tow n
Hall Brands and grew to the lead publicist
while sitting on the committee for Variety,
The Children' s Charity Gold Heart Gala.

043

"The first year I was on the committee was
the highest- grossing event in the BC
chapter's history, and this experience
ultimately led me to become more involved
in other charities. In 20 19, I was recruited by
Citizen Relations and began a more senior
role.
"In March 20 20 , I spearheaded the rebrand
of N umbers on Davie Street . This led to
companies contacting me for social media
support and organizing events that obeyed
the COVID restrictions. This mainly involved
food/ beverage events and live outdoor
performances.
"In 20 21, I took the time to complete my
Wine Spirit Education Trust Aw ards in wine
and completed both Levels 1 and 2 with
distinction, began writing for Daily Hive,
and started my social media partnership
with Plain Jane Skinbar.
"In 20 22- 23, I did media relations for the
inaugural Ambleside M usic Festival, began
with the Wedgew ood Hotel & Spa, started
writing beauty content for VITA Daily,
organized the WCT/ BC quarterly mentoring
events, and sat on the committee for
BCWHF' s Glow Gala which raised $1.3
million - I will be returning on the committee
next year.
"Five years ago, I never thought I would be a
freelancer or entrepreneur. Since then, I
have found that my w ork- life balance has
become much more manageable and that
eliminating the politics of office
bureaucracy allowed me to focus on doing
the best work possible.
"I also could focus more on my overall health
now that I wasn't working within the
restrictions of 9-5 life, and for the first time, I
could w ork w hile travelling extensively.
Most importantly, these professional
changes allowed me to say 'yes' to amazing
last-minute opportunities, events and trips
for work that have ultimately enhanced my
career and life.
"I realized this would all work out when I
started working with the Wedgewood.
Before this point, I was contemplating my
next move heavily. However, I knew the hotel
owners would never entrust me with a job
like this without total confidence in my
abilities.
"Furthermore, the Wedgewood is the only
Relais & Chateaux property in Vancouver,
which provides an extra degree of pressure
since the R&C audits all areas of the
business to ensure their standards are being
met. Once I started garnering fantastic
results and my work was widely recognized
within this environment, I knew I was where I
was meant to be.
"Once I had fully established myself, I
started reaching out to people I didn't know
because I w as confident in myself and my
work. Before, I would only ever reach out to
people with whom I had an "in" or a mutual
connection. This new approach opened
endless doors for me, whether it was
unbelievable event invites or fantastic client
offers.
"Along the way, my dad was instrumental in
prepping me to become an entrepreneur.
We have very similar personalities, and as a
businessman himself, he ensured that once I
started freelancing and representing myself,
I would make sound decisions and be taken
seriously because he believed in my talents.
"My current business model is flexible and
multi- faceted. I don't put myself in a box. I
find that if you are a freelancer, you need to
be able to go with the flow and adapt to a
client's needs wherever necessary.
"Since I was born and raised in Vancouver, I
have been able to combine my corporate
agency experience with my network,
industry savvy, and gregarious personality.

"I find that many corporate agencies
don't prioritize face-to-face relationships
outside of the office and truly
meaningful industry connections, but
this is where I excel and can achieve
results.
"It's no secret that the price of everything
has gone up, so in the next two quarters,
this will likely be reflected in my pricing
model and, will ultimately, filter out some
potential clients.
"I'm also getting to the point where I will
need a bookkeeper and more advanced
platform investments to streamline my
w orkload and schedule.
"I look forward to 20 24 and beyond! I am
juggling a few large offers to integrate
into my portfolio, and I am still
determining where these will end up, but
all of them excite me greatly. I have a
feeling that I will be staying in the travel
and lifestyle space and building on the
solid foundation I have already created."
M A D E L E IN E
C L E R ID E S
045

047

JESSICA
LIA NG:
NOOK
When you think of co-working spaces, do
you think about sitting in an office with
strangers? No one wants or needs that in
their life! Jessica Liang of N ook has
launched a business venture that is more
than a co-working space. It is an
ecosystem for creative entrepreneurs
where dreams are transformed into
reality.
With their first space in Richmond, BC,
and a mission to nurture new industry
members, Nook provides the support they
need to flourish. In addition to
professional growth, they offer funding,
training, and a genuine sense of
community. As a bonus, Nook is located
right at the end of 'Food Street ,' where
diverse food options can be found.
Nook is not just about four walls and a
desk; Nook is a blank canvas providing
limitless opportunities to create exciting
projects, each designed to elevate the
entrepreneurial journey.
Jessica has been accompanied through
the early stages of this journey by
resident experts in marketing, finance,
and content creation to guide members,
while resident DJs and magicians host
workshops and podcasts.
Their annual music festival in
collaboration with Interstellar,
collaborative networking, and numerous
other events, add to the vibrant
atmosphere.
Behind the scenes, Nook's private offices
with round- the- clock w orkdays through
secure access control are perfect for
night owls and globetrotting members
who work in different time zones or want
to come in during the day. With an option
to request a dedicated office, these
spaces come complete with a personal
key, a custom phone receptionist, and a
prestigious business address,
safeguarding members' privacy.
Nook will soon launch markets to
spotlight and promote local vendors and
raise funds for charities of their choice.
Vendors already include Bak' d Cookies,
Batiqua, Clara Leung Studio, Invito
Coffee, Tality Kombucha, Top Hat
Kombucha, Gone Again Vintage,
Pupper Supply Co., Doodle Bar Designs,
Pup and Bahay, Yummy Bone Treats,
L&J Patisserie, and many more.
Nook's current and future success can
only be attributed to the incredible
community built along the way, with
individuals who share their vision of
creating a global mentorship community.

049

ETHOS
As a seasoned UX designer with years
under her belt and over seven years of
experience in both sustainable
development and photography, Jessica is
on a mission to empow er entrepreneurs by
addressing their pain points through
technical skills, community building, and
fund-seeking support. But her commitment
to creative empowerment doesn't stop
there!
Partnering with award-winning
filmmaker and Hollywood production
designer Uzair M erchant (Interstellar) to
curate an innovative, creative ecosystem,
they uplift creatives in all artistic mediums
such as film, music, fashion, photography
and writing, enabling them to pursue their
passions while sustaining themselves.
With a background deeply rooted in
non- profit grant w ork, equity in
accessibility, and inclusion, Jessica is not
opening just a co-working space. Nook will
be a premium community builder and
launchpad for local initiatives, businesses,
charities, and primary food producers.
Nook's mission extends to connecting Metro
Vancouver consumers with farms to reduce
emissions, promote sustainability and
contribute to a vibrant and inclusive BC.
One of their key partners is Farm to Plate
M arketplace, a pay-what-you-can
non-profit platform that directly supports
local BC farms and aims to educate the
community on food security.

IN HER
WORDS
051
"My journey started accidently when I
first picked up a camera at the age of 16
and began with street photography. I
was in my second year of university when
I began taking photography more
seriously.
"I joined several school clubs and started
working for events such as galas and
open mics, then started my photography
business a year later to support myself.
"I worked for a local Starbucks and
Sharetea, while shooting engagements
and lifestyle headshots. I had no idea my
hobby would transform into a business - I
was mainly motivated by the positive
energy surrounding me through other
photographers, clients and collaborators!
"I said yes to everything, even in school
every event, favour, or conversation.
Although I was burning out, I put all of
myself into everything I did and
photographed for free as an
independent and second shooter to gain
skills, clarity of style, and overcome my
social anxiety. I realized that when I had
a responsibility to fulfill, I could talk to
anyone at an event!
"Throughout my career, conflict resolution
with an emphasis on supporting children
during transitional stages has been a
huge motivator for me, to help them find
a sense of belonging and security.
"I have since channeled these values into
everything that I do at Nook and in the
community, through initiatives like the
early-stage incubator and grant fund.
"Straight out of school, I was a teller for a
year, which taught me a lot about the
financial industry and the importance of
protecting against rising costs and
inflation. I have seven years of
experience working for non- profits,
having worked freelance and slowly
making my way towards grant work.
"I spent a year volunteering as a
teacher' s assistant for a preschool and
four years volunteering for an elementary
school. I also volunteered as an assistant
art therapist for a senior home for six
years, from elementary to high school,
which gave me insight into aging and
dementia.
"During that time, I studied User
Experience Design, it incorporates
human psychology through user
behaviour, which I loved, to create
intuitive designs that adapt to the user. I
also loved working on a team with others
who cared just as much about iterating
and responding well to feedback. I
started designing M inimum Viable
Prototypes and developing existing
designs for startups seeking Pre- seed
and Series A funding.

053

"I was fortunate to collaborate on several
projects before entering the industry, which
greatly helped me grow.
"When the pandemic hit, it was no longer
sustainable for me to continue in the tech
industry, so I pivoted full-time into nonprofit
work, which developed my desire to help
educate others on grants and access to
resources. N ook is my second business,
which is the vessel as a shared workspace to
empower isolated entrepreneurs to achieve
fulfillment through access to actionable
resources, skills development and a
community that genuinely cares about
everyone's success. I have a way to go
before launching the incubator for
early-stage startups, but that's in the
pipeline!
"There are so many positives, despite the
challenges, I am now determined to help
create a safe space for people to rest and
belong, lower barriers to accessing
resources, and develop programs such as
community recipe development to break
stigmas and sociocultural expectations! I am
passionate about the world of coliving
applied to different sectors (i.e. aging,
creatives, agriculture, entrepreneurs) and
how other members of the community can
come together to create impact on a larger
scale.
"Five years ago, I w orked three jobs after
leaving my teller position: on startup
contracts designing prototypes for funding,
as a part-time nonprofit marketing
coordinator, and as a photographer on
weekends and evenings. My goal was to
maximize my time and save for the future,
aiming to build something like Nook in my
late 40 s. I struggled and was exhausted
since nothing was stable, but I was excited.
"I felt motivated to go to work every day, to
serve such a wide variety of people, and to
develop my mental and creative muscles.
"I continued for two more years until the
pandemic hit, when my jobs evolved into
several new positions such as marketing
consulting for commercial properties.
?In 20 21, a year into developing Nook
(formerly called Pup Social House), I had
just taken on the property contract and was
renovating this space with my friends Frank
(licensed in construction) and M arco
(licensed electrician). Most of the building of
Nook took place after work where it was
cold and dark, yet when I looked around the
room, I saw how dedicated they were to
helping my vision come to life.
"I was picking up secondhand and
liquidated furniture in my car after work,
one piece at a time, and occasionally,
Marco would bring his truck to help me. My
friend Chris from WashBros cleaned the
exterior of the entire building, and I even
got to try it!?
"When my space supervisor and friend Alvin
joined in 20 22, I was blown away by his
dedication to the vision, putting over 40 -50
hours weekly into Nook with me. I can't
explain how much this means to me and kept
me going when I was so close to giving up
due to limited funds.
"I was determined to make it happen and
channelled my energy towards productivity
and learning to optimize a small budget and
reduce personal expenses (Facebook
M arketplace was my friend!)
"I also have a lot of stuff given to me by my
friends, such as the wine fridge and leather
couches!
"After working in several industries, I started
reaching out to contacts for coffee to
discuss confidential project ideas.
"When my first two board members signed
on, I was relieved knowing that my target
audience and investors validated my vision.

"I spent every moment I could at Nook,
thinking of ways to create an ecosystem
and focusing on the community user first.
Thanks to my background in UX, I used
value-centric lean methodologies. I
approached everything with a
user-centric angle and made sure I was
solving and preventing problems from
occurring at every stage of an
entrepreneur's journey, from confusion to
clarity.
"Nook will dig deeper into the holistic
lifestyle of an entrepreneur, helping
them make the first leap to start by
developing skills such as public
speaking, mindfulness and customized
sustainable healthy routines.
"Nook is thriving because of the support
of people like N atalie Yung (Natalie
Yung Photography), Arpi Sylvester
(My Marketing Crew), M J Dew ji (ABC
Digital Marketing), Paul Simmons
(co-owner of Simmons Insurance,
M att Astifan (Internet Masterminds),
Brittany M ichalchuk (YVR Entrepreneurs
Club), M ariat Jibril (MIJ Consulting),
Christabelle Joseph (Hyperformers),
Gloria Zhang (The Inner Child Podcast),
Jean Louis Hardy (ENG2),
Trent Stonehouse (Remote CEOs
Academy), M iguel Bautista (CFS
Recovery), Ali Zaidi (video editor),
B.Earl (Marvel Comics writer),
Shannon K (singer/ actor), How ard Yu,
M aggie Lam, Lily Lou (Lily Lou's Aromas)
and Insta-star N icole Wong (Nicole
Wong Coaching).
"We need more uplifting w orkshops
and event collaborations, with options to
revenue share or customized plans!
"Throughout the next year, we want to
expand our community and fill our spaces
with engaging and meaningful events. To
move forward, we are anticipating more
exposure through collaborations with
those wishing to host events and uplifting
w orkshops."
"By the end of 20 24, I see Nook launching
a Grant Fund and Accelerator Program,
enhancing our program development,
developing a solid youth entrepreneurship
incubator, partnering with more local
charities, developing a strong music and
arts scene in Richmond (and beyond) by
supporting artists, and hopefully being on
track to opening a second location in
Burnaby or Tri- Cities areas.
R E A D Y F O R N O O K ?
055

057

JA SON SA RA I:
STYLE BY
SA RA I &
SA RA I
BESPOK E
Founded by Creative Director and CEO
Jason Sarai in 20 14, SARAI Bespoke is a
boutique lifestyle brand that creates luxury
custom garments, renowned lifestyle
collaborations, and exclusive soirées for a
discerning global clientele.
SARAI Bespoke's sartorial vision effortlessly
combines old world craftsmanship with a
distinct modern sensibility to produce
clothing that stands the test of time.
Its consulting arm, Style by Sarai, is valued
by clients for guidance on various projects,
including personal styling, editorial styling,
and refined hospitality garment design
and production.
While SARAI Bespoke is headquartered in
Vancouver, BC, the company has
expanded to serve clients across Canada
(Toronto, Kelowna, Calgary, etc.) and
internationally throughout the US, and UK.
Prior to founding SARAI Bespoke, Jason
worked as a Wealth M anagement
Advisor for high- net- w orth families and
corporations.
His years in finance inspired the creation
of his clothing line as clients continually
sought quality-made, bespoke garments
but could not find a lifestyle experience
to match the pieces they desired.

059

In addition to his design work, Jason
supports numerous philanthropic
endeavours: he co-founded 1KARM A with
Riaz M egji, veteran television host and
executive coach, to support various
organizations and charitable causes.
He is a member of the Future Leaders
Committee at the St. Paul' s Foundation
and participates each year in the
Covenant House Executive Sleep Out, a
cause that supports disadvantaged and
homeless youth in Vancouver.
Jason is husband to N atasha, who has been
his partner in style the entire time and
father to daughter Siena, born in March
20 20 , and son Javani, born in October
20 22, who are never-ending sources and
inspiration and drive.
IN HIS
WORDS
"Early on in life, I realized I had a passion
for creativity, enjoyed having creative
outlets, and had an entrepreneurial streak.
It would be many years later that I
ultimately jumped into full-time
entrepreneurship. But the drive and passion
have been there all along.
"I worked several labour jobs and played
competitive soccer during that period. I
aspired to play soccer professionally, and I
played on Canadian youth national teams
and went to England to participate in
tryouts to potentially play in the UK.
"When I look back at it, getting into fashion
was not on my radar at all, but a humorous
situation arose that ultimately proved to be
the catalyst for me to begin working in
styling and design.
"In 20 11, my brother sent me a movie trailer
link with a note that read, "You should be
this guy." It was very vague and after
watching the trailer, I did not know what my
brother was referring to and who I should
be.
"I had forgotten about it until a week later
when, a friend and current Style by Sarai
client, Graham Robins, posted on
Facebook saying he wanted a wardrobe
just like Ryan Gosling's in the movie
'Crazy Stupid Love.'
"This was the movie my brother had sent me
the trailer to! It all made sense. He thought I
could be a style consultant and help people
with their wardrobe, just as Ryan Gosling
helped Steve Carrell in the movie. Then, a
former client at Innovative Fitness (actually,
I trained her and her husband) commented
on Graham's reply, saying, "Jason can point
you in the right direction." The universe,
clearly, was trying to tell me something.
"I ended up helping Graham, and he
became my first consulting client , and that
is how it all started. From 20 12 to 20 14, I
focused entirely on men's consulting and
styling and gradually expanded to include
female clients and weddings.
"From the outset, Style by Sarai and SARAI
Bespoke was a consulting business where I
specifically helped with clients' fashion and
style needs. These needs ranged from
styling, wardrobe reviews and
enhancements, personal shopping, and
closet auditing, to name but a few services
that we were providing.

"In 20 14, it was time to launch the
SARAI Bespoke line and begin creating
custom garments for my clients.
"The first pillar of the SARAI Bespoke
experience is the SARAI Bespoke
show room. The spark to build the
showroom came while I was working in
finance. In those days, travelling tailors
would come by the office, but it was a
rushed experience. The tailors only had
so much time to meet with clients (before
they left town), so they had to get
through each person rather quickly.
"The SARAI Bespoke showroom, on the
other hand, is a place for clients to slow
down, and really experience the custom
garment process. They can see and touch
the fabrics, choose which resonates with
them, and be part of the design process.
"Our fabrics are supplied by the world's
finest mills: Scabal, Loro Piana, Fox
Brothers, Zegna to name a few. Our first
showroom opened in 20 15 and was
10 0 -square-feet. Today, SARAI Bespoke
has two showrooms, totalling a little more
than 150 0 -square-feet.
"Of course, clothing and garments are a
pillar of SARAI Bespoke, but all facets of
lifestyle are critically important, and we
want to create a legacy of being a true
and authentic lifestyle brand.
"That's why we regularly throw exclusive
events at elegant hotels, restaurants, and
event spaces, as well as execute lifestyle
partnerships with renowned companies
such as Porsche, M aserati, and Bulgari.
"Additionally, cuisine, hospitality,
horology, mixology, and automotive
excellence are part of building an
elegant lifestyle brand.
"A pivotal moment for me in the growth
of SARAI Bespoke was the rooftop soirée
with 60 guests that we hosted at
Vancouver's Rosew ood Hotel Georgia in
October 20 19. Local guests were joined
by those who flew in from Chicago, San
Diego, Toronto, and Florence.
"The black-tie event featured an art
show at the Hublot showroom where
works by Salvador Dali and Picasso
were on display, a four-course dinner in
the York Room at the award-winning
and Michelin Guide-recommended
Haw ksw orth Restaurant, cigars and
cocktails in the penthouse, and an
overnight stay at the hotel for everyone.
"The event was a true celebration of
lifestyle. Everyone had a wonderful time,
and most guests wore SARAI Bespoke. I
was truly honoured to have created the
garments for the guests.
"Travel is also a significant source of
inspiration for everyone on the team and
the company. Travelling to Florence
twice per year for Pitti Uomo has been
an excellent opportunity to connect with
other sartorial professionals, establish
partnerships with renowned fabric mills,
and learn about upcoming trends and
styles we can incorporate into our
business. Pitti Uomo is, indeed, the gold
standard of sartorial conferences.
061

"We have also travelled for client
weddings in Japan and Italy. Seeing our
garments play a small role in such big
days for our clients is an honour. We've
been so lucky to have this business take
us worldwide.
"Along the way, some of my nearest and
dearest friends and early clients have
been invaluable sounding boards and
supporters. I genuinely believe in the
wisdom of the proverb, "If you want to
go fast, go alone; if you want to go far,
go together."
"We are in grow th mode over the next
two quarters and, frankly, all of 20 24.
That means throwing more soirées,
connecting with our community,
continuing expansion into other cities,
and producing more content.
"We have so many wonderful stories to
tell, both about our company and our
amazing community, and we want to
highlight that.
"As like-minded consulting opportunities
continue to arise, particularly in the
hospitality space, we will take those on
and continue to grow our relationships
with lifestyle partner Rémy M artin and
further collaborations with the luxury
brands like those done with Open Road
Auto Group and Dilaw ri Auto Group.
"For us, it is a clear goal: we are building
SARAI Bespoke to become one of the top
bespoke houses in the country and
continue establishing ourselves as expert
consultants in the lifestyle space."
Clients of note now include Canadian
crooner and international superstar
M ichael Bublé, Zed Studio founder
Zane Erickson, Private Jet Travel CEO
Travis P. Arychuk, Virgin River actor
Benjamin Hollingsw orth, and GrowRev
founder Rohan Sheth, and our partners
include Remy M artin, Stefano Bemer,
and master hatmaker Jaxon How ell.
" Be your ow n style icon."
S A R A I
S T Y L E
B E S P O K E
B Y S A R A I
063

L u c i j a K o r o s e c , S e t h H a g e n , J a s o n S a r a i , a n d S e a n K o l e n k o

NELSON
M EGGITT:
ZEN M OM ENT
065
Zen M oment is a Canadian Controlled
Private Corporation (beverage
startup) pioneering a new category,
which founder N elson M eggitt named
Wellness- M eets- Luxury? .
Zen Moment intends to become a
massive force for good in the world by
inspiring an enlightened way of living
and by bringing a range of highly
nutritious and functional fermented
beverages out of the ' eclectic
health- food' commodity arena and
into the luxury- tier limelight where
formerly only alcoholic beverages have
ventured and dominated.
There is a massive explosion in demand
for non- alcoholic beverages right
now - on a global scale - as more
people embrace productivity and
health as core tenets of their lives. This
global trend has truly revolutionized
consumer behaviour in the last decade.
The real catalyst for this rapid increase
in demand for products such as theirs,
though, is another massive societal
trend - ageing! Demographics are
changing, and just as Gen Z and other
young consumers are choosing not to
drink or significantly reducing their
consumption, older people are quickly
exiting the alcoholic beverage market
as they age and focus more on their
health.
The convergence of these two major
market shifts has created this
incredible opportunity to create the
Wellness-Meets-Luxury? beverage
category, a sentence that wouldn't
have made any sense just a decade
ago. This global trend convergence will
inevitably revolutionize the high-end
drinks market, and Zen Moment is
ready to accelerate this revolution!
The upcoming launch of its flagship
formulation is a 750 ml Oak Cultured
Tisane that received a M asked- Silver
and an Unmasked- Gold in a new
Functional Category at the 20 22
PR%F Aw ards in Las Vegas. The
company will further develop, expand
upon, and selectively license out its
emerging IP Portfolio to leverage
many historical local-market-tested
commodity-level formulations and
Proprietary Oak Brew ing Techniques.
This parallel revenue stream will
mutually support plans to manufacture
a portfolio of luxury products in-house.
By doing so, Zen Moment will further
establish its brand as an innovator and
thought leader in functional beverages.
By analogy - they are building the
Lamborghini of Functional- Wellness
beverage companies.

067

For health-conscious and discerning
consumers, Zen Moment - Oak Cultured
Tisane delivers an exceptional taste
experience and a rich probiotic and
nutrient profile. Unlike the common genre of
shelf-stable non-alcoholic spirits, Zen
Moment has all of these valuable features
and benefits, plus the attraction factors and
aw ard- w inning status of a traditional
luxury alcoholic drink.
Zen Moment is truly a better-for-you
beverage indulgence. Its product meets all
the criteria and touch-points that affluent,
sophisticated, and health- conscious
consumers have been searching for, with
little satisfaction. With three relevant
beverage segments, Zen Moment has an
existing market opportunity approaching 1
trillion USD, and the relevant segment's
projected growth totals 52B.
The company's diverse and growing team is
primarily based at the N anaimo, BC,
Headquarters and Pilot Facility. Other team
members who contribute their expertise and
service virtually are dispersed across
Canada and internationally, including
countries such as the United States,
M ainland China, and Taiw an SAR.
Additionally, there are unofficial Strategic
Partners for outsourced packaging
manufacturing, Marketing & Branding,
Events Coordination and Ad Management.
These collaborative teams are in China, the
United States and the UK.
The company prioritizes ESG and is aligned
with the Japanese way of thinking that was
made famous by Toyota, later coined as
" LEAN " Philosophy. Basically, Zen Moment
sees the gold in every employee and
customer, as well as the potential value in
every resource. The company's ethos values
creativity, team spirit, honesty, patience,
kindness, effort, resourcefulness, solutions
mindset, diligence, and constructive
attitudes.
M EET
NELSON
Nelson is a proud father of three young men,
amateur singer/ songwriter, a true Libra who
enjoys communion with nature, reading, and
meditation, and aims to undertake all things
with excellence and precision.
Having grown up in an agricultural
environment, Nelson is an autodidact
generalist who has discovered, in due
course, a tremendous passion and talent for
producing Oak Cultured Tisane. His mission
is to produce the world's most sought-after
luxury-tier functional-wellness beverages.
In his earlier working years, Nelson gained a
wide range of competencies in various
skilled trades, primarily related to
agriculture and construction. He has
owned and operated three small businesses
before forming the present company that he
feels encompasses his true calling
- Zen Moment.
Nelson continues to earn various certificates
in validation of his self-directed learning
path as it relates to his role in the company.
Among these are HACCP For Processors,
N Gen - Transformation Leadership
Program, ExportEssentials, Successful
N egotiation, Foundations of Finance, as
well as preliminary course work for
becoming a Six Sigma Black Belt.
The legacy that Nelson wishes to leave in
the world is one of transforming hardships
into opportunities that uplift many people
into greater peace and prosperity. Set to
become a key player in the rapidly
changing global beverage landscape, he
would like to be remembered for
spearheading and establishing the
Wellness-Meets-Luxury? beverage
category.

IN HIS WORDS
069
"I must have been only about eight years
old when I displayed signs that I would
become an entrepreneur. As a prime
example, I did not collect insects, coins
or stamps - I collected business cards
from truck stops and diners when I
accompanied my adoptive father on
road trips throughout Central and
Southern Alberta. I also collected old
keys lost or found in buckets of nuts and
bolts from farm equipment auctions.
"Around this same age, I jumped at an
opportunity to make myself useful to truck
drivers coming and going to the test oil
drilling site in a cleared cul-de-sac on
our family dairy farm. There was no
cattle guard at the time, so the drivers
would have to get out of their trucks,
open the swing gate, drive through, and
then get out again to close the gate
behind them. I put a wire handle on an
empty coffee tin, and I would stand by
the gate with a big smile. Without saying
a word to the drivers, they would often
find some coins or small bills for me, and
I would handle the gate, allowing them to
stay in their trucks. While this cannot be
described as a small business, it is an
example of providing value through
solving someone else's pain point.
"Although I was earning a w age as a
weekend and summer-hand on a salmon
farm from the time I was sixteen, I was
also making efforts to establish a residual
income with a couple of direct sales
opportunities that happened to come my
way. The first product I promoted was an
inline fuel- saving device for gasoline
engines. The second product was
intended to reduce scale build- up in
domestic water lines and increase the
lifespan of hot water tanks.
"I never really made money on these
endeavours. Still, the motivation was
certainly reflective of the entrepreneurial
premise that you will never get ahead by
simply trading your time for money with
no residual income or potential to scale.
"I had enrolled in the University of
Victoria with a full course load that
would have taken me down the path to a
PhD in Wildlife Biology.
"Having essentially done adult labour in
a do-or-die environment on the family
dairy farm since I was young, having
barely survived several traumatic events
on the farm, and then having hustled hard
in school and other jobs to buy my
freedom and final escape from the
persecution and multi-form abuse I had
been enduring from my adoptive father
from the age of four; I began to burn out
as I also became disillusioned w ith the
educational & career path I had
planned for myself. By the end of my first
year at UVIC, I abandoned my exams
and found myself busking with my guitar
downtown at the harbour.
"With student loans to pay, I entered the
workforce with ease, and by 20 0 4, I had
a range of valuable experiences upon
which to draw once I felt ready for my
next business idea. This would not come
about, however, until after I injured my
lower back while working in the exteriors
trade and then going back to college to
pursue a Computer Assisted Drafting
Certificate, which led to me working
as a Junior Draftsperson for a
Civil Engineering Firm.

071

"In 20 0 7, I registered my first business -
Haw k- Eye Safety Consultancy - as a Sole
Proprietorship. Having previously spent
many years working in agriculture,
aquaculture, and various construction
trades, I had a clear, hands-on
understanding of various occupational
hazards and commonly practiced mitigation
methods gleaned from my 20 + years of
workforce accumulated knowledge.
"This business catapulted my hourly earnings
from $12 (and change) as a Junior
Draftsperson in 20 0 5/ 6 to $75/ hr. I folded
the business in 20 11 due to the continued low
back injury complications, as there had
never really been an opportunity for me to
recover from my previous back injury
incurred while in the exteriors trade.
"I was denied Workers' Compensation
when I got injured, and since I was the sole
breadwinner in the household of five, there
was no alternative but to remain self-reliant.
My low back pain had been chronic since
1998 when I was employed on a dairy farm,
and at the recommendation of doctors and
nurses, I had long been alternating Advil and
Tylenol for pain management and by 20 11, I
had not only exacerbated the physical pains
of an unrested injury, I had also done severe
damage to my digestive system.
"So there I was, folding my OH&S business
because I was alternating from using
crutches to using a walker and being
justifiably fearful about my ability to support
my family financially. My GP encouraged me
to make a PWD application, and after
many rejections, it was finally approved.
"While I had been caught for a moment in
the safety net of a first-world country, it is
not in my nature to coast along and resign
myself to being a non-contributing member
of society. Aside from doing my best to be a
good father and friend to those who still
cared to have anything to do with me, I was
increasingly losing a sense of purpose.
"There was a turning point when I started to
release the guilt for those I could not save or
protect from the alcoholic adoptive father
that ruled the early part of my family's life
and I sought new sources of counsel and
inspiration.
"Before long, I devoured books on holistic
health, crystals, sound healing,
affirmations, guided meditation, yoga,
Law of Attraction, etc. I began to imagine
and project a future version of myself, closer
to an ideal I desired. With renewed hope,
persistence, and tenacity, I began to see
gains in my posture and energy levels.
"I had learned some restorative yoga
methods, regained a new mindset and
developed a new dietary regime best
described as Buddhist Vegetarian. I
became a Student Aromatherapist , renting
a shared office space from a Holistic Health
Practitioner and selling my Life & Wellness
Coaching services under Optimum
Wellness Factor.
"To heal the damage I had done to my liver,
kidneys and gut microbiome from over ten
years of consistent reliance on NSAIDs for
pain management, I turned to Traditional
Chinese M edicine (TCM), and kombucha,
which I was introduced to by Pei- Fen
Chang, who I met at a TCM clinic. A strong
connection was made, and she became my
best friend, roommate, and co-founder of
Zen Moment.
"I become an obsessed home-brewer with
only one short primer booklet to guide me
aside from Pei-Fen's recollections and
advice. Slowly but surely, as I home-brewed
and consumed successive batches of
kombucha, I began to experience a drastic
improvement in my digestion.
"In 20 16, at the Denman Island Farmer' s
M arket, Pei-Fen and I were selling
vegetarian Taiwanese-fusion eats, her
signature hot sauce, and a small selection of
my latest kombucha flavour inspirations.

073
"The response was immediate and
incredible. Customers repeatedly shared
that the kombucha was far better than
any available at the store. Until then, I
had been oblivious to a surge in the
commercial kombucha market. By the
end of the market season, we were both
highly motivated and decided to make a
business of it. In early 20 18, we opened a
small test facility in Courtenay, BC, and
by mid- 20 18, we had adopted 225L
N eutral White American Oak barrels as
our brewing vessels.
"By 20 20 , we were serving over 25 local
accounts and had customers coming
directly to our facility for purchase and
circular exchange of 1.89L growlers. We
soon garnered strong interest from a
regional grocer in for listing in 10 -12 of its
thirty-plus locations.
"Today, we are arguably the first
'kombucha' brand to have made a
distinct luxury rebrand and simultaneous
pivot from green and black tea
formulations to functional herbal
formulations inspired by TCM. As a result
of moving from a grocery commodity to
being fit for sales channels such as fine
dining, luxury hotels, ski- resort,
beach- resort, spas and cruise lines, we
have gained a new set of competition
among non-alcoholic wines and spirits.
However, we retain a clear distinction
from these products as well.
"We are raising a pre- seed equity
finance round that will allow us to launch
our pilot facility and get the product out
to the multiple buyers eagerly waiting
across North America and beyond.
"Zen Moment is gearing up for the Q2- 24
target launch of our leased
3,660 -square-foot N anaimo Pilot
Facility. We will have a maximum
phase-1 production capacity of 43,20 0
bottles per month, to be sold in branded
six-pack shipper cases.
"To get through the next two quarters, as
we work with our pending investors to
follow through on their signed deals, we
are actively seeking new deals from
other decisive and well-prepared
prospective partners.
"We would also benefit significantly by
having esteemed luxury-hospitality
industry icons, perhaps James Riley,
former Chief Executive of M andarin
Oriental Hotel Group, to join forces with
us as a brand spokesperson and open
new doors in key target accounts in the
luxury hospitality & travel space.
"We welcome requests for information
from proven deal-closers, accredited
investors, VCs, buyers, distributors,
value-added trade partners, and earnest
collaborators. Among the latter of this
group are candidate licensees for our
emerging IP portfolio of commodity-level
formulations in functional beverages.
"By the end of 20 24, our goal is to be in
full swing with Pilot Phase 1 and setting
the stage for Pilot Phase 2. The product
would ideally be available in select
upscale venues in major cities in Canada
and the USA. Additionally, Zen Moment
has established a preliminary outlook
and wireframe plan for overseas JV
Production and Global M arket
Expansion.
"We intend to roll out additional
formulations in due course to complement
our flagship 750 ml Oak Cultured Tisane,
and we are incredibly excited about the
many collaborative marketing initiatives
that will likely spin off our planned
events-based marketing strategy."
N E L S O N
Z E N M O M E N T
M E G G IT T

BENJA M IN
LUM B:
BENJA M IN
LUM B A RT
HOUSE
(BLA H)
Benjamin Lumb is a well-established and
practicing artist and founder of
Benjamin Lumb Art House (BLAH) - an
art gallery working with emerging and
established artists focusing on
photography, installations, and paintings.
Occupying out-of-the-ordinary spaces in
the Lower Mainland that have included a
storefront, an old warehouse, rotating
pop-up locations, and currently two
spaces on East and West Hastings.
His work ' Hyperion,' completed in 20 21,
was recently installed on Granville
Island in a high-traffic area and is sure
to draw much attention and commentary
with its grandiosity.
The 11-ton sculpture is a nest of reclaimed
rebar from a demolished Vancouver
building and includes neon, a ship chain,
and a concrete base. The installation is
temporary and part of Tap & Barrel
Group's ongoing commitment to
supporting local artists.
075

IN HIS
WORDS
077
"Looking back, I remember being in a
conversation at a family dinner and
exclaiming that I was not part of the
general public. Everyone laughed and
made fun of me.
"I think what I meant was that I w as an
entrepreneur and would carve my path
through life, breaking all of the rules
and paying no heed to what others think.
"Growing up, I did garden clean-up,
chopped firewood, and landscaping.
I took on any project I got a 'yes' on.
Whether I was qualified or not. Some
projects worked out, and I made big
money, but others were catastrophic
failures wherein I lost money.
"I learned so much from these early years
and w ouldn' t change a thing if I had to
do it over.
"Over the years, I hustled non- stop for
jobs but refined my niche to custom
stonework and landscape design.
"Starting in my late 20 s and being single,
I began to travel extensively throughout
Europe and Asia.
"The exposure to the different cultures,
people and art opened my eyes and
inspired me to create something
different.
"By the time I hit my early 30 s, I was
starting to become somewhat proficient
in my practice, but I was pining for
something more expressive to pursue,
something more rich with people and
conversation.
"After a trip to London, I began obsessing
over creating a propeller table. I
scoured Vancouver for a beautiful old
vintage propeller and ended up
procuring the old prop of the Hollyburn
Ferry (pre- Lions Gate Bridge).
"I remember thinking to myself during the
process of sourcing and creation, "Oh, my
God, I LOVE this so much. I NEED to do
this." I made three other epic tables over
two years and then rented a small
gallery space at the foot of Lonsdale.
"The practice of showing my work was
humbling and enjoyable, but people
rightly so viewed my work as furniture. In
my mind, it was art. Instead of trying to
change the viewer's mindset, I began to
create sculptural w ork.
"I live every day in a perpetual state of
unsatisfaction even though I have an art
practice, gallery practice, private
underground art club, and stonework
practice. That being said, I know this is
what I was meant to do and will continue
the journey to try to reach my full
potential - leaving no stone unturned.
"In 20 17, I was invited to join the Space
Gallery, a collective of artists including
William Higginson, Olga Rybeko and
other local Vancouver artists. Located in
Yaletow n, next door to Bluew ater Cafe,
it was a lively gallery and a fantastic
spot to develop my practice.

079

"In particular, this was where I created the
installation ' Alcazar' in the gallery's foyer. It
is an ongoing installation consisting of an
assemblage of objects from my past and
journey through life, depicted through a
series of objects (currently 50 0 + ) flying out
of a giant hotel safe exploding through a
steel plate.
"These suspended objects form what is
essentially a self-portrait of my practice
moving through the art world. To date, three
limited-edition photographs have emerged
from this work. Undoubtedly, it is the most
important early w ork of my art career.
"In 20 19, after creating a large sculpture
entitled ' Hercules,' that stood 14 feet tall
and could not be accommodated at the
Space Gallery, I began to reach out to
developers and property owners to find a
host to showcase this latest work.
"Grosvenor generously opened their doors
to me in their new West Vancouver
development. After three months of showing
Hercules, I reached out to the asset
managers and explained my vision of
Benjamin Lumb Art House. I immediately
began to curate shows and search for artists
whom I admired.
"Over the course of three and a half years in
this space, I curated eight group show s and
three solo show s. In the summer of 20 22, I
moved the gallery to an old warehouse in
N orth Burnaby, then to Horseshoe Bay in a
Westbank Development in the summer of
20 23.
"BLAH is currently located in two locations
downtown on East and West Hastings.
BLAH's continued interest is to work with
emerging and mid-career artists, focusing
on photography, installation, and paintings.
"I created this space as a portal to
underground N ew York and Berlin clubs.
The space is a sophisticated, a beautiful but
dark haven for people in the know. To date,
one limited edition photograph has
emerged from this work.
"I know the people around me are going to
push me to the next level. I love people.
Without my friends, none of this would be
possible. I am blessed to have so much
support and opportunities around me. In the
future, the key will be staying true to my
instincts and learning how to say ' N O'
more.
"I have learned from this journey that I must
credit the women in my life, especially my
partner Kate. She inspired me to take my
practice to the next level, and without her,
I'm not sure if I'd be where I am now. My
three daughters, Isla, Clara and Ella, are a
constant inspiration and blast of love, which
help me see the world and its people from a
different perspective.
"My current business model is not for the
faint of heart. Invest every penny of profit
back into the practice. EVERY PEN N Y. I view
money as energy to be used. I have no
interest in stacking dollars.
"Moving forward into 20 24, there are a few
things I am excited about - connecting more
collectors with my artists and my art,
realizing a satellite pop- up in N ew York or
London, and participating in International
Art Fairs."
B E N J A M IN
B L A H
L U M B
"The ' Boiler Room' installation is actually a
private art club located in the basement of
a circa 1932 building on West Hastings. It is
a private, guest list-only club featuring a
series of rotating artwork available for
purchase, DJs, and a cocktail bar.

A LA N
CA LIM BA S:
REA L ESTA TE
& RESCUE
081
Immersed in a culture where
relationships rule all, Alan Calimbas
has always emphasized truly
connecting with everyone who
surrounds him. With many years as a
touring musician and in the customer
service/ hospitality industry, he
realized that working with others
rather than against them leads you
further in life. This true 'team' mentality
has allowed Alan to learn from his
peers and lead them to success!
Born in Toronto, Alan relocated to the
West Coast at a young age. He has
now called Vancouver home for over
17 years and is in love with how the city
and the beauty of nature exist as one.
He is a city boy at heart but has grown
to love the outdoors and everything
Mother Nature provides.
Alan founded VAN CITY 4 SALE, a real
estate business based in Vancouver. He
separates himself in the marketplace
by working closely with his clients to
achieve their goals through carefully
crafted strategies catered to their
specific needs from beginning to end.
Some of Alan's most significant
accomplishments thus far in his career
have been the numerous ongoing
relationships with a wide array of
clientele. In just seven short years in the
business, he has personally sold over
$130 million in real estate
transactions and well over $240
million in team sales, always focusing
on the client's goals and objectives.
A consistent top performer in
Vancouver Real Estate Social M edia
for the past five years, Alan excels in
thinking outside the box. His unique
and scripted social media content
gains hundreds of thousands of views,
cutting through the noise of traditional
marketing. Proudly ranking in the Top
10 in Vancouver and maintaining a
Top 15 position in BC, Alan's innovative
approach stands out.
Alan's expertise extends to luxury
properties, from west-side dream
homes in Vancouver to N orth Shore
mansions with breathtaking views.

083

Specializing in short-term rental properties,
particularly in Dow ntow n Vancouver, Alan
navigates the ever-changing regulations with
finesse.
Notably, his clients have never faced
reprimands or massive fines, a testament to
the guidance and support he provides in
navigating the rules and regulations.
Alan's mission is simple: he wants the client, to
be happy. He exudes positivity, is driven,
motivated, sincere and understanding when it
comes to client's needs and will always make
sure they come first.
In his newest venture, The SUBJECT FREE
Podcast (available on numerous podcast
streaming platforms), Alan and his colleagues
discuss fundamental estate-related topics,
taking a "real" look at what goes on behind
the scenes in Real Estate with four diverse
agents in the field.
He guarantees listeners will laugh (maybe),
cry (probably not), learn (that's the hope),
and you will be left wondering:
" WTF!? Did they just say that!?"
On his off time, you can find Alan with his life's
many joys: his wife, rescue dogs, and cat. He
also donates his time to animal-related
causes, something he is incredibly passionate
about.
He is actively involved in rescuing dogs in
Southern California, where the epidemic of
abandonment has led to overcrow ded
shelters and heartbreaking euthanizations.
Recently, Alan used his social media to locate
an adoptive parent for an abandoned shelter
dog named Pearl on Vancouver Island. She
was on death row in a ' kill shelter' in Los
Angeles.
When the shelter informed Alan they were not
waiting until the pick-up deadline previously
arranged and that they planned to euthanize
her the same day, Alan dropped everything,
jumped on a flight, and safely secured her
release.
He literally arrived minutes before she was set
to be killed. Though his time with Pearl was
short, their hours together were irreplaceable!
Together, Pearl enjoyed her first
cheeseburger, first car ride, first human bed,
and experienced love for the first time,
making their bond unbreakable and their
goodbye? bittersweet. Alan welcomes
anyone wanting to make a difference and
learn how to contribute to this noble cause to
connect with him directly.
IN HIS
WORDS
"I didn't realize that I wanted to be an
entrepreneur when I became one - so you can
say I fell into it when I started to take my
music career seriously.
"Not too long after graduating high school,
around 18 or 19, my band and I quickly
realized that we were not just playing music
but running an entire business. Ensuring that
all aspects of our brand portrayed a
consistent message to the public - we took
complete control of it all. At that point, we
had record label interest growing but
decided that their offers weren't in our best
interest, so we took investor money to grow
our business on our terms.
"As the band was the business and we were
also the product, wearing all hats was
required and soon became tiring and
time- consuming. It was mainly the singer and
I who ran this, so the other guys had a pretty
comfy ride on tour, and man, I was jealous of
the amount of partying they did while we
were running numbers and managing every
aspect of the business.

085
"As a travelling circus, I mean, musicians;
we would constantly play shows and
frequently play in cities where we saw the
best response. To keep it fresh, we
needed a hook for them to return to hear
the same songs that they just heard not
too long ago, so my singer would think of
the craziest merchandise items to sell,
which included vegan
peppermint-flavoured sex lubricant,
vegan soap, hair pomade, etc.
"Another aspect I loved so much stemmed
from each of us having very different
tastes in music preference. We would take
older, popular songs and rewrite them
into our style and brand of music. It kept
things exciting, and the crowds loved it.
"At the same time, it was challenging, to
say the least. Being the talent,
management, marketing company,
booking agent, etc., and all the while still
trying to write new music and
choreograph various on-stage acrobats
(our live shows were one thing we wanted
to make sure people were WOWED by)
and as technology developed, there were
even more things to add to our lists to
learn.
"I saw my creativity drop off, and this
business became less fun, and fun is the
entire reason I started writing and
performing music in the first place!
"Even after signing with a label and
management company, the N apster
debacle turned the music industry on its
head, forcing the old model to change
entirely.
"Most record labels and shops did not
survive, and The 'Big 5' labels (Universal,
Sony, BMG, Warner and EMI) merged to
eventually become The 'Big 3' after parts
were sold off.
"Record giants like Universal Canada
went from huge east and west coast
operations, occupying multi-floor
buildings, to a handful of employees on
the east coast and one employee working
from his apartment on the west coast!
That's how much Napster and file sharing
affected the music industry!
"As this happened, I read the writing on
the wall and decided to return to school
while still touring.
"With my degree in hand, I landed a job
at a boutique music management
company that handled prominent artists. I
eventually worked my way up the ladder
to a tour coordinator for artists like
N orah Jones and M elody Gardot.
"After 13 years, I eventually veered away
from the music industry because I lost my
passion for it. When you have too many
brains trying to move the brand towards
their visions and the alignment is no
longer there, it's time to move
on to something new. The band did a
farewell tour, which was our
highest-grossing one!
"What followed was a tough transition as
I felt a loss of identity. I dabbled in other
careers, working for multiple companies -
sales jobs, managing restaurants, and
being the GM of one of the most popular
nightclubs in Vancouver.
"I was never completely content as I knew
that if I was going to work as hard as I did
on something, it should be for my brand
and business.
"Running a nightclub was the nail in the
coffin for my long-term relationship.
Working 70 ?80 hour w eeks affected our
relationship as my girlfriend would be so
lonely.

087
"I worked almost every night until around
4am and sometimes until 7am. I would also
have to be there in the daytime, so I never
saw her.
"We rescued a dog so she wouldn't feel as
lonely, but that dog had significant past
life trauma and separation anxiety,
leading us to rescue a second dog.
"He had been left to die at a garbage
dumpsite and, ultimately, this second
rescue would end up being our first one's
best friend and therapy dog. He taught
our firstborn how to walk correctly, play
appropriately, and socialize respectfully.
They are still the best of friends and
brothers today! Because of my rescue dogs
(sons), I decided to get into real estate.
"One night after work, I arrived home
around 5:30 am and found my boys
patiently waiting by my apartment door
with all the lights on, which was very
unusual. When I walked further into my
home, I discovered that my girlfriend had
taken all her belongings and left , leaving
our two boys behind.
"At that point, I knew I had to change my
life! Not only was I killing myself (my liver,
to be more exact), but we rescued these
beautiful pups to give them a better life
from what they had known in the past, and
there was no way I was going to abandon
them again!
"I asked myself, what are the things that I
have an interest in? And I kept coming
back to Real Estate. I knew this was the
track to pursue if I was going to run my
own business.
"I don't like the word successful much
because I don't think you are ever as
successful as you want. I was successful in
the sense that I was in my third year in the
business, doing enough deals to live
decently, loved my career, loved the
people I met, and I was still IN the business.
"Most new agents don't survive their first
five years, and around 80 % exit in their first
year! In that sense, you could say I saw
some success, but I wasn't anywhere close
to what success was or is!
"There was a pivotal moment in my career
when COVID hit, and all predictions were
that the sky would fall and properties
would drop in value by 30 % or more. I took
control of my destiny before the market
got hot, and that's when I urged my clients
and preached to my audience to take the
opportunity presented to us.
"Everything happened like the M atrix, and
I saw the value in taking advantage of the
doom and gloom media.
"Social media has always fascinated me,
and I knew that coming very soon, it would
be a vital component to most businesses.
"When Instagram first came out and
Facebook ads had just begun, I took
courses to learn how to do it while still a
touring musician.
"Though all the platforms, messaging, and
strategies have changed immensely since
those courses at UBC, I have continuously
researched how to grow my audience
constantly, which I am still doing today!
"Of late, I have transitioned to a heavy
video- based content strategy as this is
the best way to convey your messaging,
branding, and personality.
"These are all HUGE aspects of why
clients/ consumers decide to use your
services or purchase your products in
today's world.
"Unlike traditional one- w ay marketing ,
you can also get instant feedback and
measure your analytics, whereas before
you could only estimate certain things,
primarily by traffic, density, etc.

089

"My story would not be complete without
giving props to my parents, who have always
believed in me, and they know how hard I
work at the things I'm passionate or obsessed
about. I am always learning how to improve,
and being someone who doesn't necessarily
like change, that was always the most difficult
habit to break. I've improved this aspect of
myself, which has had an enormous impact on
my business.
"My wife has also always believed in me, but
she kind of has to - just kidding! LOL! - and
my clients have always been so faithful to me!
I have retained about 95% of the clients I
w orked w ith since my first days in the
industry and continue dealing with them. As
much as I helped them, they have helped me
even more!
"My business model and niche clientele
have significantly changed, especially in the
last two years.
"I have had some health issues stemming from
hemophilia, a bleeding disorder, which I've
had all my life. I almost died in the summer of
20 22, and I didn't take seriously the severity
of what was happening. I did two deals while
I was in a hospital bed, not knowing that I
could've died until the doctor sat my wife and
me down to give it to us straight.
"At that point, as much as I loved being
extremely busy, I wasn't fully happy with
where my career and business was. After that
realization and a hard look in the mirror, I
changed my model. How I was marketing
myself was not conveying the message or
capturing the type of clientele that I wanted.
"I'm very honest regarding my clients and
the decisions I feel would be best for them
to make. We all know what's happening in
the market with the high-interest rates, the
affordability crisis, and the lack of good
inventory on the market.
"All year, my phone has been ringing off the
hook, but I had honest conversations w ith
my clients and any new potential clients.
The majority of my advice to my sellers was
to wait to list if they can honestly afford to
weather the storm.
"It's not about the quick sale or quick money
in my wallet. It's about how I can put them in
the best position to achieve their goals.
"Whether it be selling for the highest price
possible or choosing the right home(s) to
make the investment(s) worth their while, I
don't shy away from giving it to them
straight, and I genuinely believe that is why I
have instilled trust and they continuously use
my services. I'm also a shitload of fun to be
around, honestly! LOL!
"I have been doing a full- on press on
marketing and content creation to get
through the next two quarters. I want to be
ahead of the market because when it turns,
and we all know it will, there won't be as
much time to invest in these actions, and I
don't want to be in a situation where it falls
off and I'm forced to play catch-up!"
A L A N
V A N C IT Y
C A L IM B A S
4 S A L E
"So, when I left the hospital, I put a plan in
place to pivot the business and focus on
what would get me to where I wanted to go.
It took a little time, but I started to see the
results of the change, and it has been
challenging but rew arding!

091

PORTFOLIO.YVR
VOLUM E 1 / ISSUE 2
Helen Siw ak , EIC & Publisher
EcoLux Luv M ark eting & Communications Inc.
PHOTO CREDITS:
COVER: LELAND PAVLINAC CDLUXX.COM
002: VLADIMIROS XANTHOPOULOS
003-012: COURTESY CRAIG PATTERSON
013-022: HELEN SIWAK
023-028: COURTESY SID KOSHUL
029: EMA PETER PHOTOGRAPHI
031-037: LIA CROWE
039-046: COURTESY MADELEINE CLERIDES
047-049: SILVER MOON PHOTOGRAPHY
050: NATALIE YUNG PHOTOGRAPHY
051: SILVER MOON PHOTOGRAPHY
053: COURTESY JESSICA LIANG
056: (TOP) SILVER MOON PHOTOGRAPHY
056: (BOTTOM) COURTESY JESSICA LIANG
057-063: COURTESY JASON SARAI
065-074: LELAND PAVLINAC CDLUXX.COM
075-076: JIM DIEHL
077-080: BENJAMIN LUMB
081-090: COURTESY ALAN CALIMBAS
091-092: BENJAMIN LUMB
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PORTFOLIO.YVR does not accept unsolicited materials or
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PORTFOLIO.YVR
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURS
VOLUM E 1 | ISSUE 2
CRA IG PA TTERSON
SEA N JORDA N
PA UL VA NDERZEE
JA CQUELINE A DLER
SID K OSHUL
M A NUEL BERNA SCHEK
M A DELEINE CLERIDES
JESSICA LIA NG
JA SON SA RA I
NELSON M EGGITT
BENJA M IN LUM B
A LA N CA LIM BA S