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Folio.YVR ☆ Issue 6 ☆ Luxury Lifestyle Magazine ☆ Vancouver, BC ☆ September 2019

In this issue, we present Manuel Bernaschek - purveyor of Stefano Ricci & Showcase Pianos, take luxury getaway Villa Eyrie Resort on Vancouver Island, attend the astounding Diner en Blanc, interview luxury slow-fashion visionary Geoffrey B Small and shop at KAPADE, dine with Juno Kim, take a walk through West Van $10M property, chill in the 13C Wine Storage ☆ Join us each month for stories of personalities, places, and things that make Vancouver amazing ☆ VIP, Private, and Charity Events ☆ Plantbased Culinary ☆ Luxury, Super, and Hypercar thrills ☆ Luxury Designs in Fashion and Furnishings ☆ Adventure Travel in Planes & Trains ☆ Cruelty-free Beauty and Spa Experiences ☆ Published Monthly by EcoLuxLuv Communications ☆ Inquire about Sponsorship Opportunities! [ORDER HARD COPY HERE! https://folioyvr.com/order-print-copies-folioyvr-portfolioyvr-here]

In this issue, we present Manuel Bernaschek - purveyor of Stefano Ricci & Showcase Pianos, take luxury getaway Villa Eyrie Resort on Vancouver Island, attend the astounding Diner en Blanc, interview luxury slow-fashion visionary Geoffrey B Small and shop at KAPADE, dine with Juno Kim, take a walk through West Van $10M property, chill in the 13C Wine Storage ☆ Join us each month for stories of personalities, places, and things that make Vancouver amazing ☆ VIP, Private, and Charity Events ☆ Plantbased Culinary ☆ Luxury, Super, and Hypercar thrills ☆ Luxury Designs in Fashion and Furnishings ☆ Adventure Travel in Planes & Trains ☆ Cruelty-free Beauty and Spa Experiences ☆ Published Monthly by EcoLuxLuv Communications ☆ Inquire about Sponsorship Opportunities!

[ORDER HARD COPY HERE! https://folioyvr.com/order-print-copies-folioyvr-portfolioyvr-here]

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folio.yvr

SEPT 2019

I SSUE 6


PERSONALITIES

MANUEL BERNASCHEK 6

VANEESHA ADVANI 14

LUXURY LIVING

1036 MILLSTREAM ROAD 22

HOSPITALITY

VILLA EYRIE RESORT 32

CULINARY

THE CHEFS OF ALPINA 44

ALPINA COCKTAILS 56

JUNO KIM 60

13C WINE CELLAR 62

LUXURY RETAIL

GEOFFREY B SMALL 70

EVENTS

CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE 78

DINER EN BLANC 82

RUBEN'S OPEN 90

THE MAID 98

PHILANTHROPY

CHARLIE'S FOUNDATION 106

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All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or

utilized in any form or by any means, w ithout w ritten permission from EcoLuxLuv Com m unicat ions.

FOLIO.YVR does not accept any responsibilities for incorrect information as all information is deemed to

be accurate as of date of publishing. FOLIO.YVR does not accept unsolicited materials.


FOLIO.YVR is published monthly by EcoLuxLuv Com m unicat ions and is a sponsored supplement to luxury

lifestyle blog EcoLuxLuv .com , and as part of services 2 provided to clients. Queries regarding collaboration,

sponsorship, marketing, consulting, inclusion in FOLIO.YVR, and all inquiries should be directed to the

2

publisher via hyperlink or text to 778.847.3011.

Mailing address is c/ o Helen Siw ak, Suite A, 489 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1L3


Personalities

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Art ist : Bunnie Reiss

201 East 7th Avenue

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Mural Fest 2018


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Manuel Bernas

Of Lessons Learned & Living Life Well

Poggio Ai Segugi / Stefano Ricci Estate

Via Contessalina, 593C, 50033

Firenzuola FI, Italy

July 14, 2019

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chek

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Having the courage to

build the best life for

your family is something that

Manuel Bernaschek holds in his

heart.

From humble beginnings, he is a

man who has been willing to do

what it took to create a rewarding

and purposeful life for his family.

It was through hard work and

perseverance, he built himself up

from a sales associate in a music

store to the well-traveled purveyor

of some of the most desired brands

in the world.

His entrepreneurial instinct was

piqued when customers seeking

pianos began asking about the

Italian-made Fazioli. After securing

an investor to bring the brand to

Vancouver, Bernaschek traveled to

Italy to meet with the company's

founder Paolo Fazioli, where

his tenacity paid off and a deal

was struck.

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SHOWCASE PIANOS IS BORN

Together with his wife Judy, he

launched Showcase Pianos. Within

the month they had sold their first

Fazioli. Not that sales came easily,

though; it took hard work and

diligence. Remarking on a story

about the Shangri- La Hotel, he

says, ?I wanted a Fazioli in that

hotel, so I set about contacting the

management, but they wouldn?t take

my calls.? After what he claims was

over 80 unreturned calls, emails and

personal visits (often with

chocolates in hand), he finally got

through to the owner of the hotel.

Since then, the hotel group has

purchased many Fazioli?s, and

Showcase Pianos is recognized as

the top-selling Fazioli dealers in the

world, which also sells its fair share

of excellent European brands like

Seiler, Grotrian, and C. Bechstein.

Bernaschek explains his success

with a modest grin: ?Since we

founded Showcase Pianos in 2007,

we have sold well over 100 Fazioli

pianos ? which is the most costly

line of pianos in the world. Through

it, we have met some of the most

amazing people in town, many of

which would continue to do more

business with me if they had the

need, but most don?t need more

than one or two pianos.?

DISCOVERING STEFANO RICCI

Some years ago, during a trip to

Italy to visit the Fazioli factory,

Bernaschek happened across a hotel

window display showcasing neckties

made by Stefano Ricci. ?I saw this

hand-pleated tie and fell in love

with it. So, with my wife, I walked in

and bought one. It was about 400

euros at the time.? He made it a

point to return to Stefano Ricci

stores each time he was in Italy, and

eventually, he elected to seek the

Ricci family out.

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Bernaschek planned to adopt a similar

strategy to Fazioli, eager to be the first to

bring a quality Italian brand to the

Vancouver market. The Ricci?s made him

work for it, however, offering him the right

to open a store if he agreed to carry the

entire line. 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.

?Stefano Ricci has the strictest standards

for every aspect of the operation, which I

find very impressive. I got to appreciate

this more through a few experiences before

we opened the store.

For example, the head office sent out their

top visual merchandizing expert from Italy

to come to our store to place all the items

in their perfect position.

But, the gentleman would not leave the

store until he had first sent the photos to

Mr. Ricci himself, who was waiting to

examine them before giving his approval.

Mr. Ricci wrote back saying that he could

see a wrinkle in one of the shirts displayed

in one of the main windows!?

Opening Stefano Ricci was a strategic

business move by Bernaschek. 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 that it would help to have

another brand that was equally exclusive

and luxurious but was at a lower price point

than a $150,000 piano. The Stefano Ricci

brand is very exclusive and ultra-high

quality. I see a great amount of cross over

between the two businesses.?

He further explains, ?? that people don?t

mind paying a higher price for something

that has some clearly identifiable

superiority to other products. In the case of

both Fazioli and Stefano Ricci, it is

immediately apparent that higher quality

materials and workmanship 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.?

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UL: Manuel with BIG Architect Lorenz Krisai at the Fazioli Pianoforti factory

discussing a new Westbank custom piano | The Butterfly Piano at the

Westbank Fight for Beauty Installation | Kengo Kuma designed piano at

Oakridge Mall's Unwritten Exhibition | Paolo Fazioli signing a newly completed

piano.

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aneesha Advani

Designs by Sonia / KAPADE

440 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC, V6B 1L1

August 24, 2019

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When you step

away from the busyness

of West Hastings into KAPADE, you

enter into an atmosphere devoid of the

mood-setting music and chatter typical

of most retail spaces. Instead, you find

yourself enveloped by calm and

carefulness; all crafted by owner

Vaneesha Advani. The displayed

clothing and accessories play into this

theme. Each chosen with care and

diligence that reflects the attention to

detail that Advani brings to all aspects

of her professional career.

As a professional woman, Advani has

amassed a wealth of experience from

working in the fashion industry.

Since studying fashion design at the

prestigious Parsons School of Design

in New York, she has spent time

working in Vancouver, Montreal, and

Eindhoven, the Netherlands, while

consistently showing at international

fashion weeks.

Her family has kept her motivated

along the way, especially her brother

Ramesh Jai Gulabrai, who was

recently awarded the best feature film

at the Cannes International Pan

African Film Festival.

He acts as a source of creative

inspiration and shares her commitment

to constant self-improvement. "We

both inspire one another?we both are

in creative fields. The reason I am able

to go on, despite some bumps on the

road, is because of my brother

Ramesh, and my father. They have

always believed in me. I would say we

are relentless; we don't stop."

Advani's collection, Designs by Sonia

was inspired by her travels throughout

West Africa, specifically her birthplace

of Ghana. She sourced large glass

beads from this region and crafted her

creations in her workshop in

Eindhoven. Her line currently features

other eclectic materials, like burnt

wood, linen ribbons, and Japanese

yarns.

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"These accessories are statement pie

"meant to be worn by a woman seek

her contemporaries." It is her commit

boldness that creates a consistent m

Designs by Sonia stockists in Europ

devoted fans like legendary fashion i

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ces," Advani shares,

ing to stand-out amongst

ment to uniqueness and

essage that has garnered

e and Japan and

con Iris Apfel.

In November 2018, Advani

opened KAPADE on a whim.

"I was browsing through the

internet and came across the

website which had local retail

spaces for rent. I just got

curious and started to look at

them. Not knowing I would get

into retail, and to make a long

story short, before I knew it I

had a space, and once I had a

space, I made a commitment,"

she remarks with a shy smile.

The usually daunting process of

acquiring labels for a new

venture did not materialize for

Advani. Her vast connections

throughout the industry made

the choice of designers for the

store simple because, with

many, she has developed trust

through personal relationships.

This knowledge allowed her to

ensure quality in workmanship

and materials in her collections.

Her mindset towards buying

echoes this. "I believe in buying

clothes which are timeless; I

focus on fabrics, shapes, and

colours?I am not wild on prints,"

she remarks, then laughs. "In

the end, it is about my clients; I

want them to feel good in

them."

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Labels currently stocked at

KAPADE include the

traditionally adventurous

Ablesia, handcrafted bags by

Mutsaers, multi-functional

dresses by Elementum, unique

screen-printed jewelry by Uli

Rapp, USA-based Nrk Style,

and footwear by Spain's

Petrucha Studio. This diverse

selection attracts a particular

type of customer, according to

Advani. She finds worldly and

progressive women wearing

these clothes, and sees that

they take inspiration from

theatre, the arts and politics

much like herself.

Advani takes care not to define

her patrons by age but

emphasizes the timeless looks

that well-dressed women can

style and own. The result of this

is boutique meant for women to

create enduring and versatile

head-to-toe looks all from one

place.

To see the Kapade collections on

the runway and support the VSO

100 Symphony of Style fundraiser

"EAST MEETS WEST: "A Symphony

of Style" at the Royal Vancouver

Yacht Club on Nov. 8th.

Buy Tickets: 604.876.3434


Luxury Living

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Ciara Havishya, Art ist

Vintage Ink Wine Launch

Celebrities Underground

1022 Davie Street

Vancouver, BC

August 22, 2019

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1036 Millstre

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Navid Behroyan PREC

Behroyan & Assoc. Real Estate Services Ltd.

1495 Clyde Avenue

West Vancouver, BC


am Road

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9 B

6 Bedro

7 Firepla

5 Applian

Security Sys

Built- in Central

Swirlpool/ Hot

Listing: $10.


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A/ C

tub

58M

In 1931, West Vancouver agreed to sell 4,000-acres

of its mountainside to a syndicate owned by the

Guinness Brewing Company. This fortuitous decision has led to nearly

90-years of the most extraordinary development seeing some of Canada's

most lavish homes being built on the North Shore Mountains.

This stunning 8,000-square-foot 3-storey mansion, designed by the

renowned David Christopher, is on a lot of 14,966-square-feet, with

ocean, city, and mountain views.

Navid Behroyan of Behroyan & Associates Real Estate Services is the

Primary Agent for this property.

Click to 24Connect

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- Infinity Edge Hot Tub

- Double Infinity Edge Pool

- NEST Control

- Miele Appliances

- Smart Home Activation

- Modern Theatre

- Wine Cellar

- Cigar/ Cognac Room

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Adventure

Adopt Don't Shop

Tux & Ot hers Are Wait ing

VOKRA: Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue

Registered Non-Profit Animal Rescue Org.

604.731.2913 Leave Message

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Villa E

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yrie Resort

Five-St ar Rest & Relaxat ion

600 Ebadora Lane

Malahat, BC

July 19, 2019

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When your true home is in the sky, it is

difficult to imagine life without the vast

horizon as your backdrop. With a steaming Nespresso in

hand, I lean back on the deck of the Tuscan-inspired

villa, my experience heightened by a pair of swallows

swooping against a cloudless sky. This weekend is

defined by solitude and my ?home away from home?is

the Villa Eyrie Resort.

Situated atop the Malahat Range, Villa Eyrie is a

leisurely thirty-minute drive from Victoria. This 40-room

resort overlooks Finlayson Arm on the southern end of

the Saanich Inlet with spectacular unobstructed views

of the entire lower half of the island and the Olympic

Mountains beyond. On this morning, my idyllic view

changes occasionally as pleasure boats leave behind

frothy trails of white foam.

ALL PATHS LEAD TO VILLA EYRIE

At an altitude of 1,156-feet, Villa Eyrie features a

heart-achingly beautiful view which is visible from every

aspect of the property where it sits, staggered along a

sloping mountainside. The focal point is Villa Principale

which houses the Alpina Restaurant, a languid mineral

pool, and luxury suites. Minutes away by foot or driver,

are three luxury villas (Cielo, Aquila, and Vista), the

Tuscan Spa, a tented ampitheatre for special events,

a helicopter pad, and convenient additional parking.

Guests will notice that the resort property is very

natural in appearance. The take-away from my arrival

?walk and talk,?with Alexander Fischer- Jean, the

property?s Hotel General Manager, is that the resort

philosophy is to employ a gentler approach to

groundskeeping. They eschew the traditional desire to

tame and groom nature, and in its place, allow native

flora to thrive with appropriate grooming as needed.

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A peaceful early morning walk around the

property is filled with only the sounds of

nature. As I stroll along the curb-less

paved roads, there are long plumes of wild

grass on both sides. All around are an

abundance of white and yellow

wildflowers blanketing the rocky terrain,

bunches of blooming prickly thistle, and

broad-trunked Arbutus standing stoic

amidst their cast-off bark. The scene is

serene.

Moving away from the main buildings and

onto hiking trails, the forest thickens with

towering pine and spruce. The rocky

ground is thick with shrubbery, from

which small birds chirp. In the distance, a

pair of deer graze calmly, and on a nearby

rocky outcropping, a garter snake slows

to glance my way before slinking off. It is

the beginning of a brilliant day.

AERIE REBORN AS VILLA EYRIE

After a 9-year closure and $2M+ in

renovations, the Aerie Resort became Villa

Eyrie. The new name is a nod to the

nesting grounds of the majestic eagles

which soar overhead as they hunt

between the water and the mountain

summit.

Villa Eyrie Resort is the first hotel in

British Columbia and Canada?s second, to

be accepted into the elite Small Luxury

Hotels of the World collection of

independently operated hotels. The resort

joins 520+ four-star and five-star

properties which are held to the highest

possible quality standards. According to

Fischer-Jean, the resort is a perfect fit

for the prestigious collection. ?Our guests

appreciate staying in a breathtaking

setting in the heart of Lower Vancouver

Island.?

On the patio of the award-winning

Alpina Restaurant, Ryan Bissell

(Araxi, Uli?s, Beast and Brine) joins

me as I pop the top of a Ruby Rose

Sea Cider from Mount Vernon. This

semi-sweet cider is named for the

merciless Rosa Rugosa?an invasive

plant that threatens many coastal

regions. Proceeds from the ?Canadian

Invasion?cider line are used to combat

this plant in sensitive ecological areas.

As the Director of Food & Beverage

at Villa Eyrie, Bissell is responsible for

making the decisions that have led the

resort in creating a foundation in

sustainability and the sourcing of

locally produced ingredients. He

proudly shares with me the 'family'

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relationship that the resort has with

the farms and vineyards within the

Cowichan Valley and throughout the

island.

Mere steps from the kitchen, a herb

garden flourishes with rows of edible

blooms that inspire inventive dishes

with the freshest of flavours and the

most beautiful presentations.

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Explore Culinary


CULINARY EXCELLENCE

The Alpina Restaurant is helmed

by a trio of culinary leaders

including the Michelin- trained

Executive Chef Mario Gross,

Pastry Chef Matthias Conradi,

and Executive Sous Chef

Andreas Wechselberger. These

three share a Germanic heritage

and given the spectacular

mountaintop location, it was

only natural for the menu to

reflect this.

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The ?Alpine Cuisine?reaps

accolades, and online reviews are

flush with diners voicing the

excellence of their experiences.

Reflecting upon the alpine cuisine

theme, Sommelier Sonja Todd has

curated a 2,000-bottle cellar which

was shaped over three months.

Todd chose to develop the most

extensive selection from British

Columbia?s best wineries, with

representation from every growing

region.

Explore Cocktails

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Included are Unsworth and Averill Creek from

the burgeoning Cowichan Valley, the

Okanagan Valley (Summerhill, Cedar Creek,

Mission Hill), and Similkameen Valley (Hester

Creek, Burrowing Owl, Le Vieux Pin).

The wines were chosen, not only for taste but

also for exclusivity. Two strict criteria ensured

that each was to be among the best depiction of

its respective winery and that no bottle was

easily found in traditional retail outlet. The

selection includes a limited assortment of wines

from the sub-alpine regions of Austria, France,

Italy, and Germany encourages guests to

compare the local New World wines with those

of the Old.

RELAX IN THE TREETOPS

Taking inspiration from a dream of living

La Dolce Vita, the Lake Como styling of the

villas merges Italian architecture with

contemporary interiors. Whether staying at the

Villa Principale or in the six-suite private

penthouse at Villa Cielo higher up the mountain,

guests can be assured of all the luxuries

associated with an opulent resort stay.

With sustainability at the forefront of the

luxury accommodation industry, Villa Eyrie

is continuously working to reduce their

carbon footprint. The recognition and

eco-centric nature of the west coast, led the

resort to launch with dramatically reduced waste

generation (energy, water, food, plastics),

including the recent conversion from miniature

amenities bottles to a dispenser system with a

scent-neutral vegan and cruelty-free product

from LATHER.

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The choice of this certified vegan and

cruelty-free brand, along with the option of

non-down bed linens, provides comfort to those

seeking refuge at a resort that is inclusive in its

offerings.

Private balconies, soaker tubs, fireplaces, and

the plushest pillow-top mattresses, reward those

who venture up the mountain to this gem of a

resort.

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The Vancouver Island Motorcar Circuit gives

guests the chance to test out high-performance

vehicles on professional track only 30-minutes from

the resort. The Circuit provides a portfolio of driving

experience packages including the 'Tour d?Italia?

(FIAT, Alfa Romeo, Maserati) and 'A Taste of

Germany?(Porsche, Mercedes- Benz, Audi, BMW)

which offer guests a choice of fleet vehicles for an

exhilarating island adventure.

a check-in time of 4 pm, guests are

ouraged to drop their bags with the

cierge, explore the property, and if peckish,

y a light lunch at Alpina or hand-crafted

ktails alongside the mineral pool

haps the most alluring way to pass the time

visit to the Tuscan Spa. With three

xation treatment rooms, a manicure and

icure lounge, and a 180-degree view of the

nich Inlet, the spa provides a truly unique

erience.

g only the finest organic ingredients,

bined with local herbs sourced from the

nd, spa treatments can be tailored to suit

r particular desires.

E INSPIRING EXPERIENCES

le I visited Village Eyrie Resort with the goal

atching up on my writing and spending time

lugged, others enjoy the property as a home

e for island exploration.

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In addition to Circuit access, guests can arrange a

visit an otherwise private facility, Coachwerks

Restoration, for an exclusive tour of the

30,000- square- foot facility featuring a vast

collection of classic European sports cars. An elite

group of some of the world?s finest technicians and

restoration specialists with full access to the

highest levels of training, equipment, and parts,

restore and display marquee brands such as

Packard, Jaguar, Ferrari, Bugatti, Avoins Voisin,

and Alfa Romeo.

The Raptors is a conservation area for birds of

prey that is 10-minutes outside of Duncan. The

knowledgeable Raptors team provides a connection

with these powerful albeit vulnerable birds and

offers visitors up-close and personal experiences

with a variety of eagles, hawks, falcons, owls,

and more.

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Villa Eyrie is also within minutes

of top activities: whale watching

trips originating from the

picturesque fishing village of

Cowichan Bay, sea kayaking the

quiet waters of Mill Bay,

mountain biking and ziplining

through the lush forests, and

exploring the abundant lakes,

waterfalls, and caves.

As the sun set on the last day of

my visit, I stepped into one final

bubble bath, slid deep into the

soaker tub, and disappeared into a

blanket of lavender scented

bubbles. A chilled glass of

Fitzpatrick?s Gewurztraminer

and a trio of house-made sorbet

is within reach.

Over my left shoulder is an

unbelievable 270-degree view of

the majestic mountainside, and

over my right is a big-screen

television catching me up on the

latest entertainment news.

It is my last night in paradise, and

after three days of self-care at

Villa Eyrie Resort, my computer

has yet to be booted, but my

spirit has been replenished.

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Culinary

Alpina Rest aurant

600 Ebadora Lane

Malahat, BC

July 19, 2019

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THE C

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HEF'S OF ALPI NA

Alpina Restaurant at the Villa Eyrie Resort

has garnered its share of acclaim from visitors

thanks to its exquisite culinary fare and

picturesque mountain top location.

Drawing from the bountiful fare of the

Saanich Inlet region, the inspiration from its

menu comes from a different source via two

Chefs from across the Atlantic. Executive

Chef Mario Gross and Executive Pastry Chef

Matthias Conradi bring their Germanic

heritage to the table in their unique west coast

alpine cuisine.

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EXECUTIVE CHEF MARIO GROSS

Chef Gross brought a wealth of experience to Alpina

when he accepted the role to lead the restaurant. As

an apprentice, he built his skill set at the

Michelin-starred Relais & Chateaux and Der

Alpenholf in the Black Forest and Munich

respectively. A three-year stint at the one-star Wine &

Tafelhous in the Mosel region saw him earn his first

Head Chef position, a testament to his work ethic

and talent. ?My experience from Europe is that you

have to go slow, step by step,? he says, remembering

his days learning in a competitive environment where

other head chef hopefuls were eager to rise straight

to the top.

With an employment offer that would

require leaving Germany and his beloved

horse, Chef Gross moved with his then

wife-to-be to a new and frigid environment:

Edmonton, Alberta. Adjusting 46 to his new

home meant new challenges, like learning

English, but also presented the opportunity

to continue his development at the

renowned Hardware Grill under owner

Chef Larry Stewart. It was a referral from

a colleague that led to him to consider and

accept his first Executive Chef role at

luxury BC resort Villa Eyrie.


Executive Chef Mario Gross

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The stalwart chef has since become

acclimatized to his surroundings and his

dynamic loyal new team. ?They are following

me into the fire,? he remarks, thankful for

their willingness to bring a cuisine

uncommon to the region and adapt it to the

landscape of the resort.

My first evening at Villa Eyrie, I joined

general manager Alexander Fischer- Jean

for dinner. Together we enjoyed an amuse

bouche with walnut meat, house-basked

crisp breads, and the lead dish from the

newly launched Fall/Winter menu?a

Zucchini Spaghetti?inspired by a personal

recipe of Fischer-Jean?s wife, artfully

recreated by Chef Gross.

The dish is prepared with a grillato sauce,

baby gem tomatoes, Italian chickpea fries,

and a stimulating level of fresh garlic.

Lovers of the heady bulb will not be

disappointed with this fresh gluten-free take

on such a time-honoured pasta. With herbs

plucked from a greenhouse, mere steps from

the kitchen, the aroma of the dish was

intoxicating.

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EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF MATTHIAS CONRADI

Conradi brings a well-honed skill set from training

around the world. After working in Germany,

Abu Dhabi, and Switzerland he flourished at

several reputable restaurants on Vancouver Island.

He developed his craft in Tofino at the

Wikaninnish Inn under Chef Rodney Butters before

launching and operating the Patissier Conradi for

three years.

Most recently he was a member of the culinary team

at the Sooke Harbour House, renowned for their

farm-to-table food service.

Throughout this journey, Chef Conradi worked to

perfect the baking of fresh buns and bread like his

signature sourdough rye bread, a staple of Alpina?s

German-inspired cuisine. His philosophy towards

baking often challenges shape and form, and he is

known to deconstruct and re- assemble dishes

using unorthodox methods.

An avid sketcher, he regularly develops elegant

drawings of his recipes before making them and

often looks to the natural bounty around him as

inspiration. His ample, yet judicious, application of

edible flowers and herb blooms, creates visually

stunning dishes.

Executive Pastry Chef Mattias Conradi

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After an early morning wake-up,

I challenged the in-room

Nespresso machine to brew a

cup of coffee strong enough to

wake me?a solid two hours

before my usual. On the balcony

of my suite above the Tuscan

Spa, I watched a pair of swallows

swoop as they caught breakfast

for the chicks that were

discreetly tucked under the

eaves. I sipped in solitude, slowly

shaking off the fresh-air

sleepiness, and anticipating the

first meal of the day.

Sufficiently caffeinated and

appropriately dressed, the driver

delivered me and my appetite to

Villa Principale. After a

refreshing mimosa, an array of

warm plates appeared

accompanied by Chef Conradi,

who took great delight in

presenting a morning repast that

pushed physical boundaries with

a bounty of plantbased

ingredients?a majority sourced

locally from the Cowichan Valley.

The cornmeal waffles were

crunchy on the outside,

wonderfully chewy in the centre

and were accompanied by a spicy

maple syrup and a trio of

toppings: housemade agave

granola, dark chocolate ganache,

and field berry compote. À la

carte sides of delicately sliced

fruit, grilled red peppers, and

crispy herbed potatoes brought a

desired savoury element to the

table.

The following morning Chef

Conradi presented plantbased

granola pancakes topped by a

slice of coconut milk and vanilla

bean panna cotta; creatively

repurposed from my previous

evening?s dinner. As we spoke,

he shared his pleasure to have

created a dish that would be

enjoyed a second time?a

sustainable dessert!

The hearty pancakes were

sweetened with maple syrup, and

the toppings were again stellar:

chili-glazed cherries, a tart berry

puree, sugar-coated blueberries,

and another which was devoured

before making it to the

pancakes?possibly sweet-pickled

shredded apple and radish.

The new menu?s alpine identity is

so wonderfully intertwined with

the essence of the Island and its

abundance that it creates a

genuinely unique dining

experience.

This fall, Villa Eyrie Resort is

indeed bringing a new

perspective to west coast dining,

not on in the award-winning

Alpina Restaurant with a

non-alcoholic menu of

hand-crafted cocktails, but as the

Island's preferred venue for

weddings, special events, and

corporate retreats.

Director of Food & Beverage R

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yan Bissell

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Cocktails

Alpina Rest aurant

600 Ebadora Lane

Malahat, BC

July 19, 2019

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New Twist on

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There is a societal movement afoot

which has cocktail lovers leaning

away from their usual thirst-quenching

favourites and towards a kinder, gentler

approach to imbibing. As odd as it sounds, they

are drinking without 'drinking.'

As the resort prepares to launch the Senna

Lounge, Villa Eyrie Resort has already

factored in this shift. General Manager of Food

and Beverage Ryan Bissell tapped into his

personal and years experience in the industry to

develop a non- alcoholic menu suitable for a

resort on the top of the mountain.

Ensuring that the beverages they developed

would be just as good or better than those with

alcohol was essential for Bissell, "we have many

guests that are expecting little packages of joy,"

he says, citing the expectations that the

beautiful location brings.

Villa Eyrie provides non-alcoholic options for an

audience that may not desire an alcoholic drink,

whether for health, pregnancy, religion, or

any other reason. "There are a lot of people,

like me, that are choosing not to drink

anymore," remarks Bissell.

Toasting

Alpina Rest aurant

Villa Eyrie Resort

600 Ebadora Lane

Malahat, BC

July 29, 2019

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Alpina's bartender Kyle utilizes the

Seedlip Drinks line to devise non-alcoholic

versions of familiar cocktails and to create

new ones that do not exist purely for

mimicry.

Known as one of the world?s first

non-alcoholic spirits brands, the UK's Seedlip

company distills bases that are free of sugar

and artificial ingredients. Instead, the drinks

created lean on quality botanically sourced

flavours. Its newest offering, the Seedlip

Grove 42 blends accents of lemongrass,

ginger, and Japanese Sansho peppercorns

with citrus-forward notes of orange and

mandarin, to create a fresh and delicious

base for many creative cocktails.

For those who wish a right proper drink,

beyond pulls from several taps of

Vancouver Island's Hoyne Brewery, Kyle

crafts delicious gin cocktails from the

award-winning Sheringham Distillery,

offers up frosty vodka drinks from

Ampersand Distilling Co, and pops the tops

on the intriguing flavours of Sea Cider Farm

& Ciderhouse from Mount Vernon.

Also, on the new menu is Grand Basil, which

Kyle has reinterpreted quite cleverly.

Originally this cocktail is a very interesting

Neo- Martini created in 2001 somewhere in

the world by someone unknown ? according

to online lore. Using ingredients plucked from

the fresh herb garden outside of the kitchen

door plus muddled strawberries; Kyle

shakes up a creative combination of

Green Chartreuse, Grand Marnier, pours it

into a Nick & Nora glass après an Absinthe

rinse, and tops it with a floating basil leaf

adorned with spheres of strawberry, basil,

and a crank of black pepper.

After sampling six hand-crafted cocktails by

Kyle, three with and three without alcohol, I

came to the conclusion that pairing the

peppery Grand Basil above with a fresh fruit

and sorbet plate from the talent of

Chef Mattias Conradi. Cheers!

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Haku Vodka Umami Noodles

with kelp, snow pea tips, and

furikake seasoning

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Juno

Kim

X HAKU VODKA

The House of Suntory and Vancouver

chef, caterer, and food stylist Juno Kim

teamed up to create a vegan recipe using

their newly released Japanese craft

Haku Vodka.

Kim added his personal touch to the vodka

pasta sauce to give it East Asian flavours

with tons of umami and flavour coming

from the miso, tamari, gochujang, and

nutritional yeast.

Suntory is a Japanese craft vodka from

the founding House of Suntory Whisky,

created with 100% Japanese white rice and

bamboo followed by charcoal filtration.

The bottle is adorned with a kanji for Haku

means means white but the subtlety of the

Japanese language often gives kanji

several readings. This particular kanji also

can read as shiro which means 'white.'

If it is read as haku, it is intentionally

rooted and elevated, like this dish.

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? ? Click for Recipe

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13C Win

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e Storage

15 East 6th Avenue

Vancouver, BC, V5T 1J3

August 1, 2019

By Appointment Only

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The heavy entry door is surrounded

by a smooth grey stone facade,

bare except for the unit number, an

intercom box, and an intimidating

fingerprint scanner. Welcome to 13C, an

exclusive, state-of-the-art wine storage

facility.

The unmarked location is a stone?s throw

from Vancouver?s busy Main Street, but

once you step inside, the noises, smells,

and distractions of the city evaporate.

Closed-circuit television cameras record all

activity inside and outside. The

sophisticated security and scientifically

controlled environment safeguard

members?reserve collections while offering

unparalleled private access any day of the

year, at any time of the day or night.

13C?s founder and owner Drew Malcolm,

does not have a background in the wine

industry. In fact, his primary business

interests lie in sales and marketing,

e-commerce, and real estate investment.

His path to 13C was indirect, the result of

every wine collectors nightmare.

When an electrical failure destroyed his

wine collection in 2010, Malcolm began

searching for off-site storage that would

be accessible 24-hours a day and found

such a facility did not exist in Vancouver.

Sensing a new business opportunity,

Malcolm began to tour various facilities

around North America, noting the best

features of each, and working with

mechanical engineers to design a

climate?control system.

In 2010, he invested in a 2-storey building,

gutted it, and over the next two years

insulated the walls and ceilings to create

?a very large refrigerated box,? which he

would transform into 13C.

The facility has an industrial-chic aesthetic.

It is situated below ground level and

houses a series of 500-square-foot zones

? each with a digitally controlled

thermostat and cooling unit which holds at

a constant temperature of 13°C. There is

no natural light and the humidity level,

maintained between 65-75 percent, is

delivered via an ultrasonic mist which

auto-dispenses as conditions require.

While wine storage is the main service

13C offers, collectors who store wine 64

there benefit from an added perk. Before

reaching the lockers through the front

entrance, there is a tasting room, set at

standard room temperature.

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It is comfortably furnished with an extensive

library of wine books, and a beautiful wooden

table made from reclaimed Douglas fir. Members

may enjoy the room at no extra cost by merely

booking it ahead of time.

With each locker individually bolted and alarmed,

members hold the only keys to their treasures.

Lockers are constructed of rough- hewn

tongue- and- groove pine and birch with a highly

lacquered finish. Black metal deadbolts are the

single contrasting colour, and the overall effect

is one of a striking geometric art installation.

The lockers include custom racking, from the

eight- case starter up to a 275- case room

equivalent to a generous walk- in closet. The

mid- range sizes hold 16, 24, 32, 48, and 96

cases.

For those who prefer to remain anonymous, the

option of pulling into sub- ground private parking

behind the building gives them the freedom to

enter and leave?with those at street level none

the wiser.

As we roll into fall, Malcolm is at a bit of a

crossroads with 13C. The facility has long been

operating at capacity and as the waiting list

continues to grow, he ponders the possibility of

expansion and what investment would look like.

Until then, we are quite sure Drew Malcolm will

ponder the next phase of 13C with a glass of his

favourite vintage in hand.

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Luxury Reta

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Vancouver St udio (A

Artist: Andy Dixon

East 4th between Quebec and

Vancouver Mural Fest 2017

July 13, 2019


il

ft er Mat isse)

Main

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Geoffrey B

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Sm

Leisure Cent er

950 Home Street

Vancouver, BC

August 6, 2019


all

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Inside Leisure Center

Vancouver?s slick and

intricately decorated showroom, a

lively crowd gathered for the

introduction of a line from one of

the world?s most imitated but

often least recognized fashion

designers.

Geoffrey B Small may not be a

household name on the West

Coast, but his international

reputation for creating what he

calls the ?best in the world when it

comes to advanced high-end

clothing? precedes him.

Small is known for showing more

collections in Paris than any other

American designer. His journey

has led him across the world from

producing a massively successful

shirt design in his home of

Newton, Mass., to moving his

company to Cavarzere, Italy to

be closer to the world?s greatest

producers of clothing. However,

one thing has remained constant

throughout this journey: his

commitment to quality.

Small is in Vancouver to introduce

his 2020 collection, which

includes the Super 210 Arcadia,

a suit fabric made of almost

unbelievably fine yarns (210 per

every millimetre to be exact),

which are rare to find in the

industry.

?It is an extraordinary, different

category,? says Small, who has

visited Vancouver twice from Italy

to introduce his collections.

The fabric is sourced from the

oldest woolen mill still in operation

worldwide, in Piacenza, Italy.

Leisure Center will be the first

North American retailer to carry it.

This is a notable distinction for

the store, even more so when

considering that Small?s brand

only works with 20 retailers

worldwide.

?We like to think that we work

with the best retailers in the world

when it comes to advanced and

high-end clothing,? he says.

?Mason and MuYun are

spearheading a very important

movement in the North American

market.?

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Body

The Super 210 Arcadia complements Leisure

Center?s other offerings for the brand, which

include eclectic pieces like intricately printed

silk shirts, a tailored French- style work jacket

and a three-piece leisure set that drapes over

the body with a waist-cinching belt.

These offerings show Small?s influences and

history as a designer, a career that began after

a massively successful design for a white shirt

led him to take his first collection to Paris in

1992. After developing his brand by creating

handmade recycled clothing in Boston, he

moved to the Veneto region of Italy to

produce his designs. He continued to

experiment with Napoleonic, Medieval, and

other avant- garde designs, all handmade, and

giving respect to the principles of ecologically

sustainable design.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Small?s

design is his commitment to fabrics that are as

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handmade as possible. He refers to his

collection recently shown at Paris Fashion

Week as ?Technically the highest handmade

component percentage in the industry.? He

eschews the use of autonomous machines, and

has voiced his ambition to develop a

stand-alone, 100% handmade collection. The

skilled workers who are able to provide these

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text

materials are especially important to his vision,

and he is working to distance the brand from

the image of low-cost labour that is so typical

of global fashion brands. ?These are serious

jobs in a serious economy,? he says, ?there is a

customer that is able and willing to pay the

necessary price to support that kind of skilled

work.?

This commitment to quality places certain

limitations on Small?s brand. Demand often

outpaces supply as certain pieces are released

in runs of only dozens of pieces and the

number of skilled craftspeople able to produce

at a high quality is decreasing year over year.

However, as he continues to promote the

rejuvenation of these skills, he admits that his

brand will remain relatively small, as he has no

ambition to be like the juggernauts of global

high fashion. He defines their ?brand? of luxury

as a sort of old-fashioned variety, representing

?the creation and service at a high level of

human excellence.?

?There are very few retailers pursuing the

pathway,? he concludes. Small promises a

different way of viewing where luxury clothes

come from, and surely this earns him the

recognition of being a true pioneer of

sustainable, quality design.

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FAULKNER & CO VINTAGE

136 East Hastings

Vancouver, BC

August 5, 2019

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Events

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Concours d'

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Elegance

& Mot orcar Weekend

Presented by the GAIN Group

Shawnigan Lake School

1975 Renfrew Road, Shawnigan Lake

August 25, 2019

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The inaugural Vancouver

Island Concours

d?Elegance by the

GAIN Group, was held on a

splendidly sunny day at the

Shawnigan Lake School. 250

vehicles, many of them rare,

antique, and in mint condition, were

on display on two playing fields at

the School. It was an amazing sight,

chrome and impeccable paint

burnished by the sun.

The centre of attention was the

judging of the Concours entries. An

international calibre panel of judges,

some from such far away places as

Florida and California, and

several of whom had judged at the

Pebble Beach Concours the

previous weekend, were on hand.

Judge Jim Thomas of Florida said

the competition was extremely

impressive, especially given this was

the inaugural year.

Cindy Mui and the GAIN team

ensured a well-organized, full

attention to detail affair. Sponsor

tents lined the upper level field,

including The Agency, David

Foster Foundation, and the

Cowichan Valley Hospital

Foundation. Both Foundations

received some of the over

$185,000 raised over the day.

Other sponsors included Aurange

Jewellery, Stefano Ricci, among

many, many others who displayed a

truly generous sense of community.

The winning car was a magnificent

1954 Bentley Continental R. It is

one of one ever built, and owned by

David Cohen. The judges were

nearly unanimous, although the field

was studded with fabulous entries.

Judge Thomas said, at a dinner at

Villa Eyrie's Alpina restaurant held

that evening, that the future is

bright for the Vancouver Island

Concours d?Elegance.

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Jim Tobler is a Vancouver-based

editor, author, and consultant with

a robust portfolio of lifestyle and

luxury lifestyle writing. A snapshot

of which can be enjoyed on the

MONTECRISTO and NUVO

magazine websites.

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Dîner en Bla

George Wain

450 Beach Crescent

Vancouver, BC

August 8, 2019

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nc

born Park

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For many in Vancouver, the day that July turns

into August signals a pursuit for the perfect

all-white outfit. Even if it is only worn once in the

year, it is well worth the effort for The Social Concierge?s

Dîner en Blanc celebration.

The 2019 edition was held in the gorgeous sun on

the 8th day of the 8th month in False Creek?s

George Wainburn Park, on 2.5 hectares of greenery

ituated between a tranquil harbour and the glass cityscape.

Over 3,500 revelers arrived just before 6 pm via the

seawall and on shuttle buses from all over the Lower

Mainland.

Part of the appeal of the event comes from its secret

location, only revealed to its guests an hour beforehand.

Residents of the leafy and vibrant West End had no idea

that their colourful neighbourhood was about to be

invaded, and pedestrians and tourists alike looked

surprised as crowds clad in white ambled by with carts and

picnic baskets.

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The impressive scale of the event makes it hard to believe

that it started in Paris nearly 30 years ago with Le Dîner

en Blanc de Paris welcoming over 10,000 guests yearly.

In 2013 a record number of 15,000 people attended the

25th-anniversary celebration.

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THE ORIGIN OF DINER EN BLANC

In 1988, on a warm summer night

half-way around the world, a group

of friends decided to meet

underneath the Eiffel Tower for a

reunion picnic. It was decided that

the chicest way to distinguish

themselves from throngs of tourists

and native Parisians, was to wear

all-white, leading to a memorable

evening that has become an annual

epicurean gathering.

Though it started small, it has grown

internationally with over 70 cities

participating in such far-flung

locations as Auckland,

Copenhagen, Dakar, Haiti, Puerto

Rico, and Sao Paolo. It arrived in

Vancouver in 2012, and in 2018,

founder François Pasquier and his

wife, and members of the Dîner en

Blanc organization attended the

event at the incredible VanDusen

Botanical Gardens. Canada is home

to over a dozen events nationwide,

and you can also dine in white in

Whistler and Victoria every year.

THE NAPKINS ARE WAVED

Once all guests were settled in and

had captured memories at various

photo activation sites furnished by

corporate sponsors De Beers

Jewellery, National Bank, Concord

Pacific, and Mile's End Motors,

host Tyson Villeneuve graciously

welcomed all and prompted the

ceremonial napkin wave to signal the

official beginning of the evening.

As the sun meandere

meals were devoured

topped up, and the p

distributed large spar

to all the guests. Soo

with a sea of glitterin

starry night sky. At 1

to a close and guests

clearing and packing

86 for departure.

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Followus on

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As another Dî ner en Blanc fades

into memory, enjoy these

extraordinary images by Kuna Lu

Photography, and know that the

spirit of this Parisian-style picnic will

live on through social media posts,

and will return in 2020 with a new

location and the opportunity to

create new friendships and unique

moments

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For those who have not experienced

Dîner en Blanc Vancouver, visit

The Social Concierge website and

subscribe for email notifications and

invitations to upcoming events.

Join TSC Mailing List

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Ruben's Open

Ruben's Shoes Charit y Golf Event

Morgan Creek Golf Course

3500 Morgan Creek Way

Surrey, BC

July 18, 2019

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azz music and gorgeously restored vintage cars

greeted the attendees of the first annual

Ruben?s Open at the Morgan Creek Golf Course

on July 18th. Guests had been invited to step back in time

to the 1930s and came out swinging in their

Bagger Vance-inspired best. The manicured greens were

awash in bright plaid trousers, checkerboard knee socks,

flapper dresses, feathered fascinators, and long strings

of creamy pearls.

Although the previous day?s downpour had revelers

concerned, the morning of Ruben?s Open saw azure blue

skies with a shining sun and a cool breeze, making for

near-perfect conditions on the greens.

Throughout the day, golfers played and grazed

hole-to-hole while sampling delicious eats from

Cactus Club and The Wooden Spoon. Rocco?s Deli

generously provided all with a takeaway gift of their

organic tomato pasta sauce. As a Tee gift, golfers

received a custom-tailored dress shirt from Indochino

and a copy of BC Business Magazine?s Top 100 Edition.

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Spirits were elevated with a tasting of

Monkey Shoulder Whiskey

(Convergent Planning Group) and a

unique ritualistic cocktail created with

Cocalero Clasico Herbal Liqueur

(Chad & Co Mortgages).

With TD Canada Candy Bags in hand,

players enjoyed a respite in the Cutler

1920?s-themed lounge, where they

captured the moment in memorable

vintage-themed photographs by

Magik Moments.

At a hole dedicated to Ruben?s Shoes

and its mission, everyone was

encouraged to shuck their shoes and

shoot barefoot with vintage golf clubs.

The hole was a 3-part challenge:

Closest to the Pin (KP), Best Shot for

the Longest Drive, and the $25,000

Hole-in-One prize. Although everyone

gave it their best in the friendly

competition, there was no victor, and

those that tried can seek consolation in

knowing that there is always next year.

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With a full round of golf under their

belts, participants made their way to

the clubhouse patio to enjoy the

evening with cocktails, jazz with the

Jennifer Hershman Trio, and a gala

dinner presented by ONNI Group.

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Ruben?s Shoes' founder

Kelly Strongitharm then

delivered a powerful speech

ending in a standing ovation, and

the rest of the evening was

energetic as guests bid on live

auction items including a private

dinner with Michael Varga

(Chopped Canada Winner,

MasterChef finalist), a luxurious

weekend stay The Big White

House Retreat on Galiano

Island and more.

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Ruben?s Shoes Society believes

that all children worldwide deserve

access to education and are

currently building a secondary

school for 200 students in the

Dominican Republic, which is

expected to open in August 2020.

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Support Ruben's Shoes


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The M

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aiden Factor

Coal Harbour Marina

Slip C, 1525 Coal Harbour Quay

Vancouver, BC

July 27, 2019

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In late July 2019, the 58-foot

restored racing yacht christened as

Maiden sailed into Coal Harbour before being

docked in North Vancouver. The last time that

this vessel was so far from its home docks of

Hamble, United Kingdom was thirty years ago,

when it gained widespread acclaim for being

the first yacht to be sailed around the world by

an all female-crew. Skipper Terry Edwards and

her glass ceiling-shattering team competed in

the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World

Yacht Race (Now called the Ocean Race),

finishing second in their class and silencing

their harshest critics.

This inspiring story of courage and

perseverance has been captured in a

documentary film MAIDEN which tells the story

of Edwards, a 24-year-old former cook on

charter boats, who became skipper of the crew

in 1989 after remortgaging her home and

purchasing Maiden secondhand and restoring it.

Edwards dream was opposed on all sides: her

male competitors thought the crew would never

make it, the chauvinistic yachting press took

bets on her failure, and potential sponsors

rejected her, fearing that the women would die

at sea and generate bad publicity.

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In November 2018, after being sold,

then discovered abandoned in the

Seychelles, and refurbished a second

time, Maiden left Hamble docks again.

This time, it was on a new mission to

raise awareness and funds for girls?

education around the globe through the

Maiden Factor Foundation.

Edwards and a rotating crew of

international female sailors are

passionate about their empowering

message, supporting charities including

I am A Girl, The Girls?Network,

Orchid Project, and Room to Read.

After sailing along the Western

Australian coast, and stopping in

Fremantle the following March, Maiden

continued to Sydney, Auckland and

then to Honolulu, where Vancouverite

Theresa Reidl joined the crew.

While in Vancouver the crew had many

opportunities to spread their message

including an evening at the West

Vancouver Yacht Club, meeting the

Young Women of Sailing, and hosting

an Official Welcome Ceremony and

Maiden Open Day where the public was

invited onboard to meet and interact

with the crew.

The Maiden Factor World Tour will

continue until May 2021. As their

journey across the high seas continues,

Edwards and the crew will use their

story to help to spread the powerful

message that every girl has not only the

right to an education, but the ability to

accomplish what seems impossible.

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Philanthrop

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Charlie's Fou

Creat ing Cha

Tropical Goleta # 1

La Cienaga

Cabarete, Dominica

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ndation

nge Through Educat ion & Tennis

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n Republic

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The Dominican Republic

makes up half of the island of

Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It is a

vibrant and diverse country; the second

largest in the region (after Cuba), and it

is a place that a young woman named

Ali Le Pierrès fell in love with during

the summer of 2008. Volunteering for

the DREAM Project, this young

French-Canadian woman was embraced

by a welcoming, warm-hearted

community whose laughter, smiles, and

dancing taught her a valuable lesson in

happiness.

Her fond memories of that summer

inspired Ali to frequently return to the

Dominican Republic to visit, volunteer,

and eventually to teach at the

International School of Sosua.

Returning to Canada, she shared her

experiences with her father Charles

(president and co-founder of Canadian

clothing line Judith & Charles). Charles

had grown up a world away in France,

but the more he learned about the

Dominican, the more he recognized the

struggles of the Dominican children were

the same he had faced in his childhood,

particularly the crushing weight of

poverty.

Charles knew firsthand that poverty was

not only a physical condition but one

that breeds low self-esteem, robs

children of potential, and darkens any

hope for a successful future.

When Charles learned to play sports, it

did not solve these problems outright,

but it gave him the tools -

self- confidence, discipline, and a

sense of his potential - to seize on the

few opportunities given to him.

Together, the Le Pierrès interest in

helping grew from mutual experiences in

the Dominican Republic and the respect

they held for its peoples and cultures.

In 2015, the father-daughter duo

undertook the creation of Charlie's

Foundation. A non-profit organization

dedicated to expanding the educational

and vocational opportunities of the

Dominican youth. Together, Ali and

Charles developed the program that 108

provides lessons in English and tennis

and through this Foundation offered the

opportunity and life skills these children

so desperately needed.

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The Foundation uses tennis

as a method to achieve its

goals, which is about more

than just making the students

have fun. It is the belief that

the skills learned on the court

- the discipline and

commitment to improvement -

that truly translate into the

classroom. Tennis instruction

helps reinforce the day's

language lessons in a fun and

engaging environment that

encourages youth to use

conversational English.

In October 2018, the Le

Pierrès joined forces with

Perry Shak of RBC Wealth

Management to host the

Redefine Success Gala

where Arlene Dickinson

(Dragon's Den, CEO of

Venture Communications) was

the guest speaker. The gala

event, sponsored by Air

Canada, Judith & Charles,

and The Beat 92.5, saw over

350 attendees bring in more

than $160,000 for Charlie's

Foundation.

The additional attention to

their cause has allowed the

foundation to work towards

their goals for the children of

the Dominican Republic.

"We are proud to know that

proceeds will make a

difference and empower the

nation's youth by providing

new opportunities and lift

barriers to a brighter future,"

says Charles Le Pierrès.

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Support Charlie's Foundation

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ISSUE #6 SEPTEMBER CONTRIBUTORS:

COPYWRITER: COLEMAN PETE

IMAGE CREDITS:

COVER: HELEN SIWAK

TOC: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 4-5: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 6-13: MANUEL BERNASCHEK

PAGES 14-19: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 20-21: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 22-29: BEHROYAN & ASSOCIATES

PAGES 30-31: VOKRA

PAGES 32-33: VILLA EYRIE

PAGES 34-37: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 38-39: VILLA EYRIE

PAGES 40-45: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 46-47U: VILLA EYRIE

PAGES 47-51: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 52-53U: VILLA EYRIE

PAGE 53: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 54-59: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 60-61: JUNO KIM

PAGES 62-69: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 70-75: LEISURE CENTER

PAGES 76-77: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 78-81: GAIN GROUP

PAGES 82-89: KUNA LU PHOTOGRAPHY

PAGES 90-97: DESIREE DUPUIS

PAGES 98-103: THE MAID

PAGES 104-105: HELEN SIWAK

PAGES 106-111: CHARLIE'S FOUNDATION

PAGES 112-113: HELEN SIWAK

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