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T I F I CONTENTS C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF VOLUME 24 ISSUE 1 | MAR/APR 2026
COVER STORY
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KAYLA POLLOCK: A Canadian mother’s daunting lawsuit and her battle with paralysis are changing the way we think about government health care protocols
16 28
64 54
44 NEWSWORTHY: Here’s
63 COMMUNITY ACTION
16 CANADIAN JERSEY: Every stitching is a
tribute to hockey, unmistakably Canada’s game
28 PARADISE IN PUGLIA: The Masseria Pezze d’Arena is your next escape!
54 NATALIE WIDEMAN: Olympian and proud
Mississauga native gets candid about her life, family and competitive spirit
64 LAURENTIAN FOREST HOUSE: Discover a home that reflects peace, harmony and history
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DESIGN NEWS: The most trending picks that will help you effortlessly style
what’s going on in the city and close to home!
50 THE THREAT OF SCREEN
TIME: Learn how a new study uncovered a link between screen time and an array of health concerns in children
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GRANTS: United Way Greater Toronto announces $1M+ in grants to cater to community needs
More stories inside …
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. INSPIRED LEADERSHIP. At Maple Children’s Montessori School, we do more than educate. We cultivate discipline, confidence, and intellectual curiosity ~ preparing students not merely for the next grade, but for long-term academic excellence. Casa | Ages 2–6 – The Foundation of Excellence Our Casa program builds the intellectual discipline and character that shape lifelong success. In a carefully prepared Montessori environment, students develop strong early literacy and math foundations, concentration, independence, social confidence, and a genuine love of learning entering Elementary capable and self-assured.
Elementary | Grades 1–4 – Academic Depth. Intellectual Confidence In our mixed-age classrooms, students strengthen advanced literacy, mathematical reasoning, and in-depth cultural studies while developing leadership, critical thinking, and independence. With intentionally small class sizes, each child is known, challenged, and supported to excel.
“We are committed to delivering a comprehensive and individualized academic program that empowers each child to reach their highest potential.” — Mr. Carrera, Principal
ADMISSIONS OPEN Schedule a Private Tour Limited spaces available. “Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.” — Maria Montessori
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C As Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PUBLISHER’S NOTE
“Unleash the power within” — Tony Robbins
Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Fernando Zerillo
Co-Founder/Creative Director
STEP INTO YOUR POWER
we began working on this issue and compiling its articles, we quickly realized the bright common thread that glowed within many of the stories we were developing. The thread was that the people we spoke to were using fear as a catalyst to grow and become the best version of themselves, not waiting for permission or approval to reach for their dreams or fight for their rights. When we reviewed Own it! by Canadian author and litigator Sylvie Rodrigue, we could find lessons in her book that every woman should know, why every struggle is an opportunity to move ahead, and how her journey as an author was therapeutic and liberating. Story on page 20. Sometimes believing that a difficult journey or struggle will be the catalyst for better things ahead is easier said than done, like in the case of Kayla Pollock. Hers is a story of horror, one where a
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healthy young woman went from being an athletic, busy teacher and hands-on mom to one whose life was blown apart, unable to walk, take care of her son or herself. Kayla is certain and is determined to prove that her third shot of a COVID-19 vaccine was the reason why she woke up paralyzed. And although most of the world has moved on from the Covid-19 pandemic, Kayla Pollock has not. She refuses to be dismissed as a small statistical anomaly, one of the 0.056 % of people who experienced catastrophic adverse reactions from the vaccine — and we think rightly so. After all, would you care about statistics if this were one of your family members or yourself ? We delve into her story of courage on page 36. Diane Dupuy, a daydreamer and the founder of Famous People Players, defines A.D.H.D. as “Awesome Dreams with High Drama.” For the past five decades her mission has been to create a theatrical show that is transformative and about possibility. Way before inclusion was part of our vocabulary, she created a place of change not just for the actors in her plays but for the audiences who watch their performances. This is imagination that shouts not to be extinguished. In her own words: “Your existence is to make this world a better place.” As we notice that our mood is lifted on these short late-winter days where we see some sunshine instead of another gray horizon and snowy sky, we must remember the “7% rule,” although it may be hard to put into practice some days. Dr. John La Puma, author of Indoor Epidemic, notes that most of us spend 93% of our lives indoors and just 7% outdoors. He has observed that spending even that 7% outdoors — if done mindfully — can prove to be incredibly beneficial for our health and well-being. Story on page 58. Although, Dr. La Puma is not suggesting that we quit our jobs and move into the woods (as attractive as that may sound), even a brief walk outside or catching sight of the first morning rays of the sun does wonders for both our spiritual and physical health. Of course, you’d enjoy the benefits of both if you were one of the residents of the Laurentian Forest House designed by RobitailleCurtis, a firm that is known for their appreciation for nature and their thoughtful work set in the natural world. Story on page 64. We hope you enjoy this March/April issue of City Life. Remember this is your city, your life — and your City Life Magazine. If there is a topic you’d like us to consider, a story you’d wish we’d write or a person you think we should meet, just drop us a line. Until then stay strong, happy, and step into your power!
Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Fernando Zerillo Co-Founder/Creative Director
@citylifemag / @amorebagstoronto / @fernandozerillo
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca CO-FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca ART DEPARTMENT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christina Ban GRAPHIC DESIGNER Soo Jin Oh SENIOR UI/UX DESIGNER Yena Yoo WEB DEVELOPER Jordan Carter LEAD DIGITAL PRODUCT DESIGNER Mariia Korolenko MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANT Massimo Sosa
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CITY LIFE MAGAZINE • VOLUME 24 • ISSUE 1 • MAR/APR 2026 City Life Magazine is published by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789 • info@mycitylife.ca • www.dolcemedia.ca Subscribe online at www.mycitylife.ca or by calling 905-264-6789. Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publishers.
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T I F DESIGN NEWS I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Thoughtfully designed pieces that combine modern aesthetics with everyday usefulness, offering subtle statements across living, dining and kitchen spaces WRITTEN BY ANGELICA SOSA | CURATED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF EXTRACT THE ESSENCE OF COLOUR AND STYLE
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T I F DESIGN NEWS I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF GROOVED GLASS AND WOOD STORAGE JAR This grooved glass and wood storage jar partners texture with warmth, transforming practical storage into a decorative accent ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and open shelving displays. www.crateandbarrel.ca
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ORCINO GREEN MARBLE FRUIT BOWL Carved from rich green marble, the Orcino fruit bowl doubles as functional décor, adding a luxurious touch to kitchens, dining tables or styled surfaces. www.cb2.ca
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T I F I C L InY E F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E GREAT TTHE T F I CANADIAN JERSEY I C L Y E T I IF Hockey is much more than championships or highlight reels — stitched together, its countless stories have made the game unmistakably Canada’s own WRITTEN BY MARC CASTALDO
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a country where climate has always defined its identity, hockey has long captured the hearts of Canadians. From coast to coast, a driveway, community arena or outdoor rink is more likely to be our “field of dreams” than a patch of grass. With the unveiling of The Great Canadian Jersey, Rogers taps into that collective dream, offering not just a campaign centrepiece, but a cultural artifact that reflects how deeply the game is stitched into Canada’s identity. Handcrafted by Ontario Hockey Leagueplayer-turned-fashion-designer Cameron Lizotte, the jersey is a literal patchwork of the nation’s hockey story. Pieces sourced from every province and territory have been sewn together to form a single garment representing the full spectrum of the sport, from grassroots to greatness. The design’s power lies in its inclusivity: NHL franchises sit alongside minor league teams, women’s and girls’ hockey, beer-league and old-timer squads — each are afforded equal visual weight. That sense of shared ownership is reinforced by the project’s origins. Team Rogers athlete and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid donated his own jersey to launch a national drive that garnered hundreds of contributions from fans across the country. The symbolism is deliberate and effective — Canada’s most recognizable hockey figure helping assemble a jersey created by its people. As Terrie Tweddle, chief brand and communications officer at Rogers, puts it, “The Great Canadian Jersey is an artistic celebration of how hockey connects Canadians. We’re grateful to fans across the country who donated a jersey from their own collection to show their pride in our game.” At a time when Canada faces tumultuous political uncertainty, this sentiment strongly resonates with its assertion of national unity. “Every stitch is intentional, and every patch has meaning. Together, with representation from every province and territory, the jersey is a symbol of unity and a single expression of Canadian identity,” says Lizotte. With five unique versions set to be worn by top Canadian players in the weeks ahead, the jersey moves beyond symbolism into living representation. about.rogers.com
Mar/Apr 2026
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ROGERS
SPORTS
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y In IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF A DV E R TO R I A L
At Pair It With Speech Services, a passionate, collaborative team brings structure, care, and meaningful engagement to every session — creating an environment where children thrive, and families feel truly supported
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SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RANDY LUTCHMINARINE
PAIR IT WITH SPEECH SERVICES IS HERE
PHOTO BY LISMERY LOYOLA
This local speech pathology clinic in Vaughan is helping children find their voice with compassionate speech support
a quiet Vaughan clinic, Pair It With Speech Services is redefining what communitybased care can look like — rooted not in transactions but in trust, urgency and human connection. Founded by Randy Lutchminarine, the clinic was born from personal experience: a father navigating long wait-lists and unanswered questions while trying to access support for his own child. “It wasn’t fair to me when I was going out there trying to get help for my kid and I couldn’t find it,” he explains. “My child needs help right away. I don’t want other parents to experience that.” With a background in early-childhood education and years of operational leadership in child care, Lutchminarine didn’t approach speech therapy as a clinical service alone but also as a relational one. At Pair It With Speech Services, therapy is presented www.mycitylife.ca
as a coaching approach for children, parents and families alike. “We’re not just providing therapy — we’re providing coaching,” he says, emphasizing that confidence, not just progress metrics, is the true outcome. The clinic’s success is measured not only in developmental milestones but also in the quiet assurance parents gain when they finally feel supported, informed and heard. What distinguishes the model is its philosophy of partnership. Parents are not passive participants; they are collaborators. Therapy doesn’t end at the clinic door — it continues at home in daily routines, in conversations and in consistency. “Support doesn’t end at the clinic,” Lutchminarine notes. “It has to be continuous — here, at home and in the community.” But Lutchminarine’s vision extends further. Pair It With Speech Services is not trying to be the largest clinic — it’s aiming
to be the most accessible. In a sector often defined by wait-lists and systems, Pair It With Speech Services stands for something simpler and rarer: immediacy, dignity and belief in potential — pairing the right people at the right time for the right reasons. “We’re here to help the community. We’re here to help out all of our people. That’s all this stands for and nothing more. We’re here to build real confidence in the kids that we have in our community,” says Lutchminarine.
3905 Major MacKenzie Dr. W., Unit 110 Vaughan, ON 905-303-3000 www.pairitwithspeech.com Mar/Apr 2026
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CLIENTFIRST INVESTING AT CALDWELL SECURITIES For more than 30 years, Dora Di Manno has built a career defined not by transactions but by relationships
PHOTO BY LISMERY LOYOLA
At Caldwell Securities, the team’s vision board keeps goals visible and accountability shared, fostering encouragement and collective growth without competition
ince joining Caldwell Securities Ltd. in 1992, the Vice President and Investment Advisor has witnessed seismic shifts across the financial industry, yet her passion has remained rooted in the firm’s deeply human approach. As she puts it, “I am truly part of something unique and special.” That sense of purpose stems from Caldwell’s independent, majority family- and employee-owned structure — one that treats its people as partners rather than numbers. Throughout her career, Di Manno has been encouraged by leaders who challenged her, believed in her and pushed her beyond her comfort zone. What began as a three-year plan evolved into a 33-year journey marked by trust, opportunity and shared growth, including the rare experience of helping take the New York Stock Exchange public. Leadership, for Di Manno, is less about hierarchy and more about care. “Leadership.
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It’s all about nurturing the talent, truly listening to people and believing in the people that I work with, often before they believe in themselves.” Having spent more than 18 years in operations and client services before moving into front-office sales, she carries a holistic understanding of the business — one that informs how she mentors younger advisors and collaborates across teams. That same philosophy extends to client relationships. Caldwell’s defining feature, Di Manno explains, is its commitment to partnership and accessibility. Advisors build portfolios grounded in discipline, risk awareness and life-stage planning while remaining composed through market volatility. “We want our clients to feel heard and understood,” she says — a principle reinforced by the firm’s open-door culture and direct access to leadership and Portfolio Managers.
Looking ahead, Di Manno is energized by Caldwell’s future. Guided by the belief that “investment success is about ideas,” the firm continues to evolve with innovative opportunities while preserving its core values. For Di Manno, it’s this balance of independence, integrity and collaboration that makes the work as meaningful today as it was three decades ago.
150 King Street West, Suite 1710, Toronto, ON 416.862.7755 | 1.800.387.0859 caldwellsecurities.com @caldwellsecuritiesltd
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T I F I C L E Y LESSONS EVERY F T WOMAN SHOULD KNOW I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF AUTHOR
In Own It! Canadian author and litigator Sylvie Rodrigue draws on her own personal struggles to inspire women to embrace their success and passions with confidence
PHOTO BY FELLIPE DITADI
INTERVIEW BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA
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T I F I C L WE Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PHOTO COURTESY OF SYLVIE RODRIGUE
ith a career defined by conviction, courage and an unwavering belief in personal agency, Sylvie Rodrigue is known for her sharp legal mind and deeply reflective voice. Rodrigue speaks candidly in an exclusive interview with City Life about what it means for women to truly own their lives — professionally and personally. Her perspective is rooted not only in success but in her own lived experience: the moments of discomfort, risk and self-doubt that shaped her into the leader she is today. Rodrigue champions intentional decision-making, urging women to define their own goals and actively steer their paths forward rather than waiting for opportunity or permission. She believes that real growth happens outside of comfort zones, where fear becomes a catalyst rather than a constraint. Even after years of practice, Rodrigue acknowledges that doubt still arises — but she reframes it as fuel for growth. Own It!: Lessons Every Woman Should Know offers powerful insights and reminders aimed at the next generation of women. One of those insights is that confidence is not fi xed but can be built, choice by choice, on a foundation of trust in one’s own abilities.
Q: Tell us a bit about your childhood and anything you feel shaped you into the person you are today. A: I was adopted as a baby and have never known my true origins, which has often caused deep insecurities. While my adoptive family didn’t have much, I do have some beautiful childhood memories. At the same time, growing up with limited means often left me feeling like an imposter among my peers. In response, I pushed myself to be first in everything — to get the highest grades and to prove both to myself and to others that I belonged. With each accomplishment, my confidence grew, and that’s how I knew I could one day become a lawyer. Leaving home at 16 was another defining moment in my life. It forced me to become independent and resilient at a very young age. It allowed
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responsibilities I had worked so hard to earn. But with the encouragement of my husband, I realized I had one more lesson to learn — and to share. Writing this book became a way to process that moment, to reflect and to reclaim my voice. It was both therapeutic and liberating. In the end, Own It! became the book I needed during that time, and it’s the one I hope will help other women when they need it most.
WRITING THIS BOOK BECAME A WAY TO PROCESS THAT MOMENT, TO REFLECT AND TO RECLAIM MY VOICE. IT WAS BOTH THERAPEUTIC AND LIBERATING
me to understand the importance of being the master of my own destiny. That said, I don’t see my story as extraordinary. So many women face far tougher challenges and still fi nd ways to persevere, grow and succeed. If anything, my experiences have reinforced my belief in the strength and resilience women carry.
Q: What was the No. 1 reason you wanted to write this book? A: When I was approached to write Own It! I was at one of the lowest points of my life, and I wanted to walk away from everything, including the
Q: Can you share actionable insights and takeaways from the book that our readers can bring into 2026? A: One of the key strategies from Own It! is to overcome self-doubt by shifting your inner dialogue. This won’t happen overnight, but daily practices can help you get there. Start with “gratitude journalling” — it’s simple but powerful. Writing down three things you’re proud of or grateful for each day trains your mind to focus on your strengths instead of your fears. I also encourage women to do at least one uncomfortable thing each week to practice stepping out of their comfort zone. This helps you identify what challenges or triggers you have and develop the confidence and strategies to respond effectively. You can never overestimate the power of planning. I highly recommend writing down your personal and professional short-term, medium-term and long-term goals, and the actions you’ll take to achieve them. After you’ve done this, identify the “white noise” you heard. Classify these thoughts into pessimism/negativity, jealousy or genuine concerns, and for each identify at least one mentor, ally or resource you can lean on for support.
Q: What is the main takeaway from your book? A: I want readers to know that you are capable of more than you think — even in the face of adversity, fear or self-doubt. You can overcome imposter syndrome, confront intimidation and achieve success without waiting for validation or permission. Own It! is about stepping fully into your power, trusting yourself and leading with confidence, no matter your job or profession. @own_it_by_sylvie_rodrigue
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I TIA WOOD I L FINDSE C L POWER IN Y F T I SOFTNESS I L C L Y E T F I I C L YT IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF ARTIST
A glowing new single explores intimacy, identity and emotional awakening WRITTEN BY KATE BRYNN
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Wood’s artistry has always balanced modern R & B polish with something rooted and personal. She was raised in Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory, and her earliest performances took place in community spaces — powwows, schools and family gatherings. That foundation still hums beneath her contemporary production choices. Over the past several years, she has steadily carved out space within Canada’s music landscape. From introducing Indigenous sounds to wider digital audiences to earning back-to-back Juno Award nominations for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year, Wood’s rise has been both cultural and commercial. She recently joined Shawn Mendes onstage in Vancouver and continues to receive
recognition from Women in Music Canada and Amazon Music. What makes “Stimulated” compelling is not its scale but its restraint. The production is smooth. The vocals feel assured. There is a confidence in allowing softness to carry the narrative. In a music industry often driven by volume, Tia Wood proves that subtlety can still be powerful. •2026 JUNO Awards: Nominated, Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year •2026 Women in Music Canada Awards: Nominated, Artist of the Year •2025 JUNO Awards: Nominated, Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year •2025 JUNO Awards: Performed (alongside Snotty Nose Rez Kids) on the broadcast •2025 Women in Music Canada Awards: Nominated, Artist of the Year •2025 Amazon Music Artist to Watch
tiawood.ca
@tiamiscihk
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PHOTO BY MOM
here is something quietly radical about choosing tenderness. In “Stimulated,” Tia Wood moves away from spectacle and into something slower and more deliberate. Her new single, released by Sony Music Canada, leans into the early chemistry of connection. It is not about drama. It is about electricity, that first flicker when someone changes your emotional temperature. “I wrote a love song,” Wood shares. “It’s about loving those early sweet days in a relationship. It’s my ode to feeling lit up in the presence of someone else.” The track carries that brightness throughout. Lyrically, she lingers in small details, singing about switched currents and intentional date nights. The intimacy feels lived-in rather than imagined.
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF www.mycitylife.ca
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF BEAUTY
From skin-renewing treatments to pampering self-care rituals, these standout beauty picks combine thoughtful ingredients with results-driven performance, helping you look and feel your best from head to toe WRITTEN BY ANGELICA SOSA
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PHOTO BY FLEUR KAAN
y t u a e B y a d y r e v E s l a i nt e s s E
T I F 1 3 I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L 2 C L Y E T F I I C L 4 Y I5FE 6 7TY I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF 1. THE DUO This minimalist skin-care set works in unison to hydrate, balance and enhance the skin’s natural glow. Carefully designed and beautifully packaged, it's a polished approach to daily self-care. www.melaandkera.com @melaandkera 2. APHRODITE This luxurious bath bomb transforms bathing into a sensory escape. Rich aromas and skin-softening ingredients create a soothing spa-like experience at home. www.bathorium.com @livebathorium 3. EXFOLIATING BODY SCRUB This exfoliating scrub buffs away dead skin to reveal a fresh, healthy glow. Enriched with shea butter and coconut oil, the creamy formula smooths and softens without stripping moisture or leaving residue. mondayhaircare.com @mondayhaircare 4. PROBIOTIC INFUSED SERUM Crafted to support the skin’s natural microbiome, this lightweight serum restores balance and glow while strengthening the skin's barrier. A daily essential for calmer, healthier-looking skin. aocskincare.ca @aocskincare 5. BODY EXFOLIATING SPRAY This ultimate spray-on exfoliant gently smoothes and cleanses skin without the mess of traditional scrubs. Designed for modern routines, it leaves skin feeling polished, refreshed and visibly revived. Levetem.com @levetemofficial 6. CLINICALLY FORMULATED BIOTIN SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER SET Powered by plant-based ingredients and biotin, this duo is designed to promote stronger, fuller-looking hair. With their clean formula, they gently cleanse and nourish hair, making them ideal for everyday use. purador.com @pura_dor 7. REPAIR HAIR OIL This lightweight treatment smooths, hydrates, and tames frizz for silky, manageable hair. Infused with Squalane and Moroccan Argan oil, it delivers lasting shine without weighing strands down. mondayhaircare.com @mondayhaircare
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y NEW YORK E T CHIC, REINVENTED T F I I C L Y E T I IF FASHION
Michael Kors marks 45 years with a Fall/Winter 2026 lineup at the Metropolitan Opera House that redefines city dressing with softened tailoring, practical glamour and rich urban tones WRITTEN BY ANGELICA SOSA
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL KORS
Models present Fall/Winter 2026 from Michael Kors Collection, showcasing relaxed tailoring, luxe fabrics, and the season’s refined take on New York chic
T I F I C L E Y M F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF ichael Kors unveiled its Fall/Winter 2026 collection at New York City’s iconic Metropolitan Opera House, conveying a clear message that while New York style is evolving, its backbone remains strong. Celebrating 45 years, the Michael Kors Collection used the runway not only to mark an achievement, but to also defi ne the next chapter of modern city dressing. The theme, “New York Chic,” reenvisions wardrobe essentials with dramatic simplicity. Expect tailoring to soften this season — the Kors collection balanced tailored banker coats and sharp blazers with soft knit pieces, flowing draped fabrics and lightweight layers designed to move effortlessly, in traditional textiles like tweed, flannel, and wool melton reworked to feel lighter and more adaptable, the emphasis on refreshing classic pieces rather than replacing them. Evening wear stood out as the defi ning heart of the collection. Trousers featured dramatic trains, cocktail dresses were designed to double as wraps and intricate hand embroidery added richness to clean, minimalist figures. The message was clear: glamour doesn’t have to come at the expense of practicality. These are occasion pieces designed to be worn and lived in, not just admired. The colour palette remained rooted in urban neutrals with Kors’ signature camel reintroduced this season as fawn, with rich injections of ruby, raspberry and wine adding depth and suggesting a shift toward saturated confidence for fall. Accessories with strong architectural shapes were inspired by Manhattan’s skyline, while footwear designed for life on the move focused on luxury, comfort and ease. Sebastien Perrin’s orchestral soundtrack enhanced the grandeur of the venue as models that included closing supermodel icon Christy Turlington reflected the collection’s clear strength and confidence. Uma Thurman and Mary J. Blige were among the guests seated in the front row, a
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Kara Young
Rachel Zegler
Uma Thurman
(From left) Leslie Bibb and Gabrielle Union-Wade attend the Michael Kors Collection Fall/Winter 2026 Runway Show at The Metropolitan Opera
reflection of the brand’s wide appeal across generations. By the time the evening concluded at New York institution P.J. Clarke’s, the takeaway was clear: Michael Kors’ Fall/Winter 2026/2027 Collection champions polished ease, powerful colour and outerwear with presence. In true New York style, it’s all about balancing edge and elegance, creating looks that feel both classic and reinvented. www.michaelkors.com @michaelkors
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T I F I C L E Y PARADISE IN PUGLIA’S F T I I MASSERIA PEZZE D’ A RENA I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF TRAVEL
Whether you’re planning a grand event, seeking an immersive wine experience or looking for a serene retreat to rent, this farmhouse villa offers an authentic Puglia experience WRITTEN BY MARC CASTALDO
PHOTO BY
uga. Boreiuntium ui con rem eumquo xcestion nonsequi cus ni e sequi beaquatibere ped ollaborum remporem ra venda volum udanderum et libust
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y TWe IFE T I C L Y E T I IF Heritage, landscape, and contemporary comfort are woven into a single, deeply atmospheric experience
ELENA DI MARIA MAMMOLITI Co-owner and operator of Masseria Pezze d’Arena
’re always looking for that true vacation — the opportunity to escape! There is no shame in that — we owe it to ourselves to recalibrate, to rest, to reset our sense of time and space. Masseria Pezze d’Arena, a restored 16th-century farmhouse nestled among the award-
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winning vineyards of Carvinea Winery in southern Italy’s Puglia region, is the escape destination that you owe yourself. It is not simply a luxury villa — it is a sanctuary for slow living. Set across an expansive 890-squaremetre estate, the Masseria is surrounded by the rolling vineyards that define Puglia’s beauty. The rustic stone walls glow in the southern light, sun-soaked courtyards make for inviting mornings, and the air itself carries the scent of earth, olive trees, and the salt sea breeze wafting from the nearby Adriatic. The villa’s architecture tells its story quietly. Two of the six suites are housed in the original 16th-century tower whose thick stone walls and vaulted spaces preserve the building’s historical soul. One of these is a self-contained apartment with a private entrance, kitchen, and living area — ideal for guests
seeking a more independent experience within the collective life of the villa. The design language throughout the property is consistent: restrained luxury, natural materials and spaces that privilege light and calmness. Each of the six suites has been conceived as a private retreat rather than just a bedroom. Queen beds, ensuite bathrooms, fireplaces, and separate living areas create a sense of independence and comfort for every guest while allowing large groups to gather without sacrificing privacy. The villa comfortably accommodates up to 16 adults with additional space for children, making it equally suited for extended families, intimate weddings, creative retreats, or milestone celebrations. Yet it is outdoors that the Masseria truly reveals its character. The central courtyard functions as the social Mar/Apr 2026
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF A place that feels both rooted and open — ancient in its bones but generous in its modernity
heart of the estate. A 16-by-8-metre swimming pool framed by sunbeds and stone anchors the space, while the fully equipped outdoor kitchen — complete with pizza oven, barbecue, wine fridge and dining area — transforms meals into cherished rituals rather than routines. Time becomes elastic with long lunches stretching into golden evenings, as conversations soften and deepen lingering over glasses of wine. 30
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Hidden within the garden is a remarkable prehistoric relic: an ancient hypogeum, an underground structure dating back to the Paleolithic era. It is a rare and quietly powerful presence — an invisible thread connecting prehistoric life to contemporary luxury, reminding guests that this land has been lived on, worked, and revered for millennia. Inside, the Masseria is designed for both intimacy and gathering. A hotel-
grade kitchen allows for shared cooking experiences, private chefs and eventlevel catering, while the main living and dining spaces offer generous, elegant areas for communal life. A separate TV room provides a retreat from the midday heat — an understated luxury in a region defined by sun. Service here is seamless and never intrusive. Daily cleaning and morning breakfast preparation are included, with the option to extend culinary service into full-day offerings. The Masseria can arrange private chefs, massages, boat rentals, wine tastings and other curated experiences for guests — each tailored to the pace and personality of their stay. It is hospitality that is personal, not programmed. Wine, naturally, plays a central role. Surrounded by Carvinea’s vineyards, guests have access to a selection of the winery’s bottles, with the opportunity to enjoy exclusive tastings, private lunches, and sommelier-led pairings. It is an immersion not just into wine, but into the www.mycitylife.ca
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Few other places offer such a balance of deep history and modern hospitality
agricultural and cultural identity of the region. What ultimately distinguishes Masseria Pezze d’Arena is not its scale, its amenities, or even its beauty — though the masseria possesses all three in abundance — but its inspiring atmosphere. This is not a place that flaunts luxury. It embodies it quietly, through space, light, service, and restraint. It offers something rarer than www.mycitylife.ca
indulgence: permission to slow down. For weddings, it becomes a cinematic backdrop; for families, a private world; for friends, a shared sanctuary; for travellers, an immersion into authentic Apulian life. In a region rich with masserie and historic estates, Masseria Pezze d’Arena stands apart by achieving a rare balance — where heritage feels alive, not curated, and luxury feels human, not theatrical. In the heart of Puglia, among its
vineyards and stones and sun, it offers more than a destination. It offers a way of being — slower mornings, longer meals, more thoughtful conversations and a deeper appreciation of time. Life often feels like a series of fleeting moments, but here space, silence, history, and the freedom to live well are never taken for granted and are forever cherished.
www.masseriapezzedarena.com @masseriapezzedarena
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L PARISIAN ELEGANCE C L Y E ON DAVENPORT T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I y BC L Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF The Bedford groundbreaking photo, signalling the start of construction on the boutique luxury residence
REAL ESTATE
The Bedford’s 13-storey exterior draws from classic Haussmann-style architecture, introducing a timeless look to the prestigious YorkvilleAnnex streetscape
By Burnac begins construction on The Bedford, a 13-storey boutique residence that will bring timeless design and hotel-level living to Davenport Road
Burnac has officially started construction on The Bedford, a luxury 13-storey boutique condominium located at 287 Davenport Road in Toronto’s historic Yorkville-Annex neighbourhood. The development combines sophisticated architectural design with hotel-quality services and well-proportioned living spaces that cater to urban lifestyles and long-term ownership. The building is inspired by classic Parisian Haussmann-style architecture that emphasizes harmony and light, giving it an ageless aesthetic that will complement the surrounding streetscape and enhance the neighbourhood’s character. The
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BEDFORD
WRITTEN BY ANGELICA SOSA
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF A preview of The Bedford’s polished interiors, with modern finishes, generous space, and bold design
• The Bedford – An exclusive 13-storey boutique luxury residence • Parisian Haussmann-inspired architecture with sophisticated contemporary interiors • Grand lobby with 24-hour concierge, valet & dedicated porter services • Curated lifestyle amenities including private dining lounge, catering kitchen, fitness studio & resident lounges • Spacious suites featuring 10’ ceilings, premium finishes & expansive balconies/ terraces in select homes • Located at Bedford & Davenport in prestigious Yorkville-Annex • Steps to world-class shopping, dining & culture in Toronto
Bedford features architecture by Audax, while interior design is led by Studio Paolo Ferrari, with their focus set on high-quality craftsmanship and considerate planning. The Bedford’s main goal is to deliver exceptional value in a market where buyers increasingly prioritize space, service and long-lasting quality. Residents at The Bedford will benefit from top-quality hotel-inspired services that will include 24-hour valet, concierge and dedicated porter staff, along with wellness and fitness facilities and spaces for entertaining. In partnership with The Forest Hill Group, the service model is intended to offer highly personal, seamless support for daily living. The project is a demonstration of By Burnac’s commitment to distinguished residential real estate, more than meeting the demand for well-crafted luxury homes in one of Toronto’s most desired neighbourhoods.
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I LLIGHTING THE C YL E DARK F WITH T I I FAMOUS PEOPLE C L PLAYERS Y IFE Y T I D L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Diane Dupuy, always a daydreamer, is among the few who have turned those dreams into reality
WRITTEN BY BONNIE POP INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
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ecades ago, long before “social inclusion” was part of everyday language, Diane Dupuy founded Famous PEOPLE Players with the help of an Opportunity for Youth grant launched under Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. More than five decades later, the Toronto-based black-light theatre company remains a force in the arts as well as for social change in Canada. “I was a daydreamer,” she says simply, when asked how it all started. School was a struggle. She recalls failing multiple grades and being told she wouldn’t amount to anything. “And it wasn’t because I was stupid. I always thought I was, [but] I just wasn’t interested. Now, if I was in school today, I would be diagnosed with ADHD. But for me, ADHD really means Awesome Dreams with High Drama, and that’s who I am.” Those awesome dreams sustained her through a difficult childhood, including time spent alone in a dark basement. “And I loved the dark. I loved it because I was with my imagination,” she recalls. That love of darkness and imagination would later translate into the artistic backbone of Famous PEOPLE www.mycitylife.ca
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIANE DUPUY
INSPIRING
Today, Famous PEOPLE Players continues to inspire audiences all over with sensational performances
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Players’ signature black light performances. A pivotal point came when Dupuy volunteered at an institution in Orillia for people with developmental disabilities. She saw a building falling into disrepair and thought there had to be a better way. On a bus ride home during a snowstorm, an idea struck her: a black light theatre where performers would be hidden by the dark, manipulating life-sized characters that seemed to float across the stage, enchanting audiences with these figures before revealing themselves as the people behind them. “And people will be amazed that [the performers] can contribute so many wonderful things.” That dream first became reality on June 1, 1974. Since then, Famous PEOPLE Players has evolved into an internationally acclaimed company, performing everywhere including Radio City Music Hall and Broadway, and sharing stages with icons like Liberace and Paul Newman. Newman himself once mailed Dupuy a US$40,000 cheque to support a Broadway run, urging the company to “Keep up the great work. I am honoured to play a part in this wonderful company.” When asked what success means to her, she says, “When a person transforms here, transforms into and evolves into normalization.” At the Dine & Dream Theatre in Toronto, guests are served lunch or dinner by the Players, people Diane refers to as “individuals with exceptionalities,” before being led into the theatre for a black-light production. The immersive experience is joyful and often surprising. Many audience members, Dupuy says, arrive unaware of the company’s deeper mission. “They love the show. They love the food. A lot of people that come don’t know our history at all,” she says. “You stand on the merits of your performance, not your labels.” That philosophy has had ripple effects far beyond the stage. “We have turned a lot of lives around. We have taken young people who were walking down the wrong path in life and put them on the right one.” Over the years, former performers and audience members have reached out with stories of impact. One man who heard Dupuy speak while he was incarcerated said hearing her speak that day changed his life. He reached out to tell her as much, even introducing his family to her. For Dupuy, such moments reaffirm her purpose, especially during challenging times. Funding pressures are constant. She admits she has often struggled with thoughts of “How will I keep this going?” But then she watches a show from the back of the theatre. “I bawl my eyes out and go: Oh, this has got to continue. This is too beautiful.” At its heart, Famous PEOPLE Players is about possibility — about refusing to let imagination be extinguished. When asked what she hopes future generations will say about the company’s legacy, her answer is immediate: “Never give up. Whatever you dream, it has got to be. Your existence is to make this world a better place.” Then she adds with characteristic clarity, “You’re only a grown-up when you grow up to be thoughtful and kind.” famouspeopleplayers.com
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I THE FREEDOM I L ETO C CHOOSE YL F T IS A TWO-SIDEDICOIN I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y TU IFE T I C L Y E T I IF THE HORROR OF WAKING UP PARALYZED WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT | INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
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nderstandably, the details of what happened — who is at fault, the rollercoaster of emotions, and the sudden life-altering shift from being active to being quadriplegic — are always going to be unclear and controversial. What was said and what was understood, especially in the devastating, rip-your-heart-out situation in which 36-year-old Kayla Pollock found herself after taking her third COVID-19 vaccine, forces us all to examine how we’d handle the same type of news. For many, it would mean clinging to the
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jagged edge of a mental breakdown. As 2022 began, Pollock was a passionate animal lover, a kindergarten teaching assistant at Robert Munsch Public School in Mount Albert, ON, and the dedicated mother to Mason (then 7 years old). Fit, energetic and engaged, Pollock was a hands-on mom. She loved to hike, train service dogs, go skating, shoot baskets and play hockey with Mason. Before she became a teaching assistant, Pollock worked full time at zoos and sanctuaries with rare and exotic animals — bobcats, lions, monkeys and lynxes. “I worked with kids who had special needs, and I also trained service dogs,
one of which I had at home, named Fynn,” Pollock says. It was a time when the tentacles of COVID-19 still had the world in its clutches and when vaccines were mandatory in many institutions and workplaces. To continue working as a teacher’s assistant at her son’s school Pollock was required to get the COVID-19 vaccinations. Pollock, who has a compromised immune system because of her type 1 diabetes, was overwhelmed by the flurry of news reports about the dangers of contracting COVID-19 and the risk of dying from it. “People with diabetes were, according www.mycitylife.ca
PHOTOS BY LISMERY LOYOLA
SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KAYLA POLLOCK
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF On February 22, 2024, a lawsuit seeking $45 million in damages was filed on behalf of Kayla Pollock against Moderna. The claim seeks physical, emotional, and psychological damages, loss of past and future income, future cost of care, pain and suffering, as well as aggravated and punitive damages
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T I F I C L E Y “ F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L ” Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Kayla was fit, healthy and very active. She enjoyed hiking, being outdoors, gardening and going on outings with her son
MY DAD, WHO WAS IN LONG-TERM CARE, WAS DYING AND I NEEDED TO BE VACCINATED TO SEE HIM. I WAS A LITTLE UNEASY ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION BUT REALIZED THAT TAKING THE COVID-19 VACCINATION WAS NOT OPTIONAL — IT WAS MANDATORY
to the government, dropping like flies,” Pollock says. “When the World Health Organization stated that people with diabetes were at a heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with some suffering fatal results, I was worried. In addition, my dad, who was in longterm care, was dying and I needed to be vaccinated to see him. I was a little uneasy about the whole situation but realized that taking the COVID-19 vaccination was not optional — it was mandatory.” Pollock felt overwhelmed by the pressure from so many sources that insisted that everyone, and most 38
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especially those with compromised immune systems, should be vaccinated. And so, in January of 2022, when Statistics Canada had already reported almost 61,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in Canada, she decided to get her third vaccine. Pollock’s first two vaccines had been made by Pfizer, but when she went to get her third vaccination the provider had run out of the Pfizer vaccine and offered her Moderna instead. Even though Pollock was uneasy about taking a different vaccine, she went ahead with it. A short time afterwards she began
to feel physically unwell, a feeling she likens to falling without tripping, and describes as being painless. “I was unable to move my legs or stand for 20 to 40 minutes, a situation that happened on two occasions just days after the vaccine. I did not initially suspect the vaccine at all,” Pollock says. Pollock told her doctor that she thought her condition was neurological and she needed an MRI. But before any tests could be done, on Feb. 22, 2022, Pollock woke up paralyzed from the neck down. “I had to go work that day and my boyfriend was already up and www.mycitylife.ca
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF downstairs. When I tried to get out of bed, I realized that I couldn’t move. I called Fynn and told him to go get his ‘dad.’ Fynn kept running up and down the stairs until my boyfriend came up to see what was going on,” Pollock says. “I told him to call 911 and tell them that I was quadriplegic.” Because it was at the height of COVID-19, neither her boyfriend nor a good friend of Pollock’s who also has type 1 diabetes and could advocate for her at the hospital, were allowed in. “I was all alone in the hospital and screaming in pain,” Pollock remembers. “A doctor came in, moved my legs around and then told me that my symptoms might be psychosomatic. But once I started screaming that my neck was hurting, another young doctor came in, told me he believed me, and ordered high doses of morphine to be administered to relieve my pain. He also told me that he had a friend who was a radiologist who was willing to work late to read my X-ray and ultrasound tests if I agreed to have them.” It was a nightmare that Pollock could not even begin to fathom — she had gotten the impression from one doctor’s reaction that she needed to be admitted to a mental institution. But then, as the days dragged on and the results of her tests came in, she was told that she had transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder that causes inflammation across a section of the spinal cord that creates paralysis in the arms and legs. How could Pollock have known more than the doctors in the hospital did? “I was confident that it was the result of the Moderna COVID-19 shot I had taken,” she says. Feeling betrayed, fearful, and mistrustful, she began to record the opinions of the different doctors who came in to see her. “I was told that I would never walk again but at that point all I really wanted was the use of my arms so I could hug my son,” Pollock says. Not long afterwards, Pollock says a social worker came in to speak to her about assisted dying and the MAID program. “It was something that I’d never heard of before,” Pollock says. “There was no treatment for people like me, and there was no housing. I felt that they — the doctors, medical institutions, www.mycitylife.ca
Kayla devoted much of her early adult life to the behavioural training of exotic animals, before ultimately stepping away from the field after the birth of her son
and politicians — wanted to silence me because of my outspokenness around my condition being brought on by the vaccine.” The biggest fear that Pollock had at that time was not being able to keep what she had, including her son, Mason. She was fearful that she would be moved to a long-term care facility an impossible distance away from her son, knowing that Premier Doug Ford’s More Beds, Better Care Act (Bill 7) stipulated that “certain hospitalized patients can be
moved, without their consent, to longterm care homes not of their choosing, within a stated distance.” While the Canadian government advised that there were risks of serious side effects connected with taking the COVID-19 vaccine, the takeaway message was that the risk was low and that these were rare occurrences. In 2020, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the government would financially support those who had been critically impacted or experienced life-changing effects of the vaccine; the consulting firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton was hired to administer claims and renumeration under the Vaccine Injury Support System (VISP) for all of Canada excepting Quebec. The VISP program would be run by Oxaro Inc., a separate legal entity. As stated on the VISP website, “the purpose of the VISP program is to ensure that all people in Canada who have experienced a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada-authorized vaccine, administered in Canada on or after December 8, 2020, have fair and timely access to financial support.”1 Instead, the program has been and continues to be lambasted by critics and applicants alike for the ridiculously long time applicants must wait to have their cases looked at, never mind assessed and approved for payouts. Jasmine Daya of Jasmine Daya & Company, a civil litigation firm specializing in personal injury law, is no stranger to the challenges of handling appeals to the VISP. One of the program’s vocal critics, Daya expresses utter frustration and empathy for those claimants who have been seriously impacted and what feels like being subsequently kicked to the curb. “I advocated for this program before it even existed,” Daya says, and she felt that protections would be needed because drug manufacturers had immunity. In fact, Daya said that she referred people who originally contacted her about vaccine-related issues to the VISP program. But eventually these same people contacted Daya again, saying that their claim had been denied, which she couldn’t understand. “We are not talking about sore arms Mar/Apr 2026
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Several years ago Michael Oesch walked across Canada
(Left) Dr. David J. Speicher, Michael and filmmaker Dean Rainey photographed in the long-term care facility
WHEN I LOOKED AT SOME OF MY CLIENTS’ CLAIMS THAT HAD BEEN DENIED, THEY CAME FROM A BOARD THAT COMPRISED DOCTORS WHOSE NAMES WERE REDACTED
here; we are talking about debilitating injuries that render you incapable of performing day-to-day activities such as working and caring for your family and yourself,” Daya says. “It is horrific. And when I looked at some of my clients’ claims that had been denied, they came from a board that comprised doctors whose names were redacted. There was no information on their qualifications,
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their training, or whether they are even in Canada. The entire system is atrocious — honestly, based on how the program was awarded and how it has been administered, I think it is a sham.” Indeed, a July 2, 2025, Global News article written by Andrew McIntosh and Carolyn Jarvis in which Pollock is one of the VISP claimants profiled blows the lid off what was going on behind
the scenes of what was supposed to be a client-centric assistance program funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).2 According to the article, the VISP facilitator, Oxaro Inc., received $50.6 million in taxpayer money, of which $33.7 million went to administrative costs. However, in an email exchange, a VISP spokesperson cites different www.mycitylife.ca
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEAN RAINEY
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE“ Y T I L C Y ” E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF numbers. “Oxaro originally received $32.3 million to administer the program for a period of 5 years and to provide financial support to approved claimants. There have been over 250 claims approved and approximately 1,450 in the queue for medical board review,” the spokesperson writes. According to VISP, a total of $18,140,998 in indemnities has been paid out to claimants from the inception of the program on June 1, 2021, until June 1, 2025. 3 What is shocking is how profound the underestimation of VISP claims would be, which soared from what was predicted to be 40 cases per year the currently available number of 3,000 applications filed. “The ‘40 cases per year’ was in the original PHAC’s estimates in the bidding documents based on the historical data from the Quebec program and adapted to Canada’s population,” the VISP spokesperson explains. “In the early days of the program the projections were increased to 400 cases for year 1 and 40 cases for each of the subsequent years, for a total of 560 over five years. As the program was set up to administer 560 claims, the biggest challenge has been to constantly adapt to the significant increase in the volume of applications. Oxaro has worked collaboratively with PHAC to evaluate how the program can remain agile to handle the workload on hand while respecting budget requirements.” While VISP states that they have a feedback line to “handle issues and complaints, and through investigations we have found historically that 97% of escalations and complaints have been deemed to be within service standards,” Pollock states that, along with having a significant number of different people working on her claim and although she’d sent all of her documentation by registered mail, “apparently it was lost or misplaced.” If you are semi-paralyzed, unable to work, with a family to support and escalating medical costs, a wait of three months to get an initial reply on your claim — let alone a payment schedule (VISP’s website states that they aim to contact claimants quarterly) — is inexcusable. Firm in her belief that it was the
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Moderna vaccine that caused her to become an incomplete quadriplegic (she has use of her arms), Pollock had her lawyers file a $45 million lawsuit against Moderna in February of 2024 that seeks compensation for physical, emotional, and psychological damages, along with loss of past and future income, future cost of care, pain and suffering, as well as aggravated and punitive damages. Although thanks to the generosity of donors from around the world $150,000 has been raised for Pollock (now being held in a corporation managed by an accountant and lawyer), allowing her to purchase a specialized service dog and a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, as well as to cover essential medical expenses such as rehabilitation and physio, she says donations are dwindling while other life expenses continue to arise. “I need physiotherapy, which costs $300 a week to keep me going. I am alone most of the day and at night I am constantly awake in pain, which at times makes me feel that the only option I may eventually have will be assisted dying,” Pollock says. To take or not to take the COVID-19 vaccine was a contentious issue from the beginning. The “yes” versus the “no” fractured friendships and caused rifts both at home and in the workplace. Dean Rainey, founder of Rainey Media, a creative agency and production house, was far from being an anti-vaxxer when he met Michael Oesch, a fellow filmmaker, who, along with Rainey, lives in Waterford, a small community of 3,000 people in southwestern Ontario. Although they were not close friends, Rainey kept himself updated on Oesch’s projects through social media. However, Rainey began noticing that the tone of Oesch’s social media posts sounded off, and then one day Oesch reached out to Rainey, sharing his suspicion that he had a vaccine injury, citing the same diagnosis — transverse myelitis — as Pollock’s. “I know Michael was pro-vaccine when they first came out,” Rainey says. “But then he asked if I’d make a documentary that shared his story about becoming paralyzed — his legs aren’t functional and his fingers are barely operational — shortly after receiving a COVID-19 booster shot.”
It is a harrowing, unbearable situation for the 58-year-old Oesch, a man who one year walked all the way from Toronto to the East Coast and another year from Toronto to the West Coast but now languishes in a long-term care facility. Rainey understood the schisms of thinking and the stigma of pushing back against the COVID-19 vaccine, but he nevertheless decided to move forward with the documentary Why Can’t We Talk About This? “My story angle became ‘Why the hell aren’t we talking about the situation?’” Rainey says. “Michael and I wanted to ask questions as to why some things just didn’t make sense. But I was met by a complete double-down pushback — a wall of silence.” The pushback came from all sides. Rainey was accused in Facebook groups of being a grifter, an antivaxxer, a member of the far right, and several movie theatres and rental spaces refused to allow Rainey to show his documentary at their venues. With all the contentious debates around the COVID-19 vaccines, it is critical to know all the facts and the impacts caused by the vaccine. According to Health Canada’s website, 105,016,456 COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Canada up to and including December 3, 2023. A total of 58,712 total adverse events following immunization were reported, which represents .056 per cent of all doses administered.4 But for people like Pollock, whose life was shattered on every conceivable level, facts and statistics mean nothing when they butt up against a life sentence of devastating and debilitating realities that they believe are a result of the vaccine injuries that make them part of that .056 per cent. Former physician Christopher Shoemaker, who says he lost his licence to practice medicine in Ontario because he “dared to speak out about COVID-19 vaccine harms” and because of his statement that “Ivermectin saves lives,” says that he is driven by scientific facts. He also states that he knows that the VAERS statistics (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a surveillance system that detects adverse patterns or Mar/Apr 2026
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF signals) define the number of a very kind heart and one of reported vaccine injuries as her biggest wishes is to help being hundreds of times lower other disabled people in her than stated. same situation. Yet sometimes “Six-month-olds, twelveI think that Kayla’s caregivers year-olds, thirty-year-olds are the only people she sees.” are continuing to die and be For some, choosing to disabled because they are get vaccinated was an easy being given these toxic jabs,” decision. For others who Shoemaker says. It is important agreed, but unwillingly, and to state that Shoemaker is not were tragically impacted, it against all vaccines, rather has been a very tough pill to that he is specifically talking swallow. about the COVID-19 vaccine. And while much of the “It is not a vaccine, it never world has seemingly moved on was. It is the worst immune from the COVID-19 pandemic, repetitive toxin that we have Pollock hasn’t and won’t. ever put in our body. The Period. United States military calls For a young mother still the vaccine an emergency in her 30s who only gets to counter-measure,” Shoemaker see her much-loved son every says. “Your body detects other weekend, it is a crushing anything that is not of you and sometimes hopeless immunologically, and it wants existence, one that came on Generous donors from around the world have allowed Kayla to purchase a specialized service dog and wheelchair-accessible vehicle to fight it as it is genetically both suddenly and completely not the same as you. We unexpectedly. Often alone were told that there was only during the day, requiring mRNA in the vaccines but there is DNA was so active previously. It causes a lot expensive and highly needed medical in them as well, which can last forever of mental anguish for Kayla.” services, Pollock spends a lot of her time in your body, assimilating into multiple Maryam’s two-hour morning visits worrying about how she is going to pay organs and cells. This sets off a firestorm include helping Pollock get out of for it all — pay for the right to both spoil that mercilessly attacks trillions of cells bed, get dressed and transfer to her her son and live the life she’s been dealt, in your body, including those of Kayla’s wheelchair, along with light household pay the cost despite having done her due spinal cord.” diligence at a time when the world was tasks. And while it has not been a pleasant “I use a transfer board to move Kayla compromised. situation financially since he lost his from the bed to her chair as she can’t Moderna has not filed a statement of medical licence two and a half years help with the process at all,” Maryam defense and the allegations in Pollock’s ago, Shoemaker says he has seen so says. “If no one goes in to help her, Kayla lawsuit against Moderna have not been many tragedies like Pollock’s that he felt is stuck in bed all day.” tested in a court of law. compelled to support her and others in To learn how you can donate to support Afternoon visits, which are only one her position. hour, are when Maryam usually cooks Kayla’s legal battle for health care justice It is the day-to-day intricacies of these dinner for Pollock. “You have to work visit www.opkayla.ca/donate challenges that are hard for any of us to fast to get everything done,” she says. imagine. Maryam, a woman who has “And while it is hard for all of our clients, been one of Pollock’s caregivers for the it is especially hard for Kayla because it past two years and is used to working happened to her all of a sudden, and she is REFERENCES 1. Vaccine Injury Support Program, Home with people with disabilities and brain so young.” page, VaccineInjurySupport.ca, Maryam describes Pollock’s https://www.vaccineinjurysupport.ca. injuries, is deeply touched and saddened connection with her son Mason as very 2. Andrew McIntosh and Carolyn Jarvis, by Pollock’s struggles. “When I first began working with strong, and says that when Mason is “COVID-19 vaccine injury program VISP, Oxxaro workplace, PHAC issues,” Global Kayla about two years ago, she was with his mom Pollock takes advantage News, July 2, 2025, https://globalnews. ca/news/11247648/covid-vaccine-injurymore hopeful and she was stronger. of every single second. “Kayla doesn’t complain, she tries to program-visp-oxxaro-workplace-phac-2/. But now she is experiencing more pain, 3. Vaccine Injury Support Program, Program both from a fall that she had a couple of be very strong,” Maryam says. “But I can statistics, VaccineInjurySupport.ca, months ago and also from the spasms see she is in a lot of pain. It is hard on https://vaccineinjurysupport.ca. she has, which interrupt her sleep,” Kayla mentally, too; she is a very social 4. “COVID-19 vaccination: Doses administered,” Canada.ca, https://healthMaryam says. “It is a very hard situation person, but she is alone most of the day. infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/vaccinefor someone so young and someone who It is a depressing situation. Kayla has administration 42
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Your one-stop bakery for all your special occasions
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T I F I C L E Y T F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF NEWSWORTHY he Vicenza-line suit presents a refined vision of contemporary elegance rendered in natural tones and crafted from a sophisticated blend of wool, cotton and silk. Designed with a regular fit, the suit offers optimal comfort and ease of movement, adapting effortlessly to the male silhouette while preserving clean, tailored lines. The fully lined jacket features peak lapels, flap pockets and side slits that add fluidity and modern dynamism. With a 74-cm length, the jacket strikes a careful balance between modern proportions and enduring Italian tailoring tradition. Completing the look, straight-leg trousers with an 18.5-cm hem deliver understated sophistication. The striped twill fabric mirroring the jacket’s composition ensures stylistic cohesion and consistent comfort throughout. Altogether, the Vicenza suit embodies an elegant blend of everyday functionality and formal refinement — ideal for the modern man seeking versatility, polish and the unmistakable character of Made in Italy. @palzileri
PHOTO COURTESY OF PALZILERI
MODERN ITALIAN ELEGANCE REDEFINED
SALONE DEL MOBILE RETURNS TO MILAN
PHOTO BY ©MAISON NUMÉRO 20
he 2026 Salone del Mobile returned as a highlight of the international design calendar, taking place from April 21 to 26 at Milan’s Rho Fiera fairgrounds. Established in 1961, the trade fair showcases a wide range of furnishing products celebrated for their expressive power, functional innovation and cutting-edge materials designed to enhance domestic living. Ingenuity, vision, sustainability and emotional impact define the participating companies and brands, demonstrating the increasingly global and inclusive nature of the event and its dialogue with the entire creative and productive furnishing system. Each year, the Salone acts as a laboratory of experimentation and collaboration, offering a space to meet, exchange ideas and create new business opportunities. Prototypes and innovations in furniture, domestic spaces and lifestyle design are on display, from bedrooms, living and dining areas, entrance corridors and service zones to outdoor furnishings. Tables, chairs and upholstered pieces set the scene for a narrative, exploring how evolving lifestyles continue to shape home living and design.
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T I F I C L E Y F BIT I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF NEWSWORTHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF KING MOORE
KING MOORE INSPIRES GLOBAL YOUTH y age 10, King Moore had already captivated audiences on America’s Got Talent, toured major U.S. cities and impressed crowds with his music, energy and charm. Now he is turning his growing platform into action. Through his registered nonprofit, the Kicks 2 Grow Foundation, Moore has launched the Brand-New World Campaign, a global youth initiative that brings kids in more than 10 countries together to create music, celebrate cultural exchange and support communities in need, delivering shoes, clothing, food and essentials to those who need them the most. Inspired by his song “Brand New,” the campaign is empowering participants to collaborate, share stories and make a difference — all while learning, connecting and having fun. With every song, performance, and project, King Moore is demonstrating that, even at a young age, dreams can be powerful tools for positive change, and that leadership and empathy know no age. @kingmoore___
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Team Revolution has raised over $6 million for Humber River Health Foundation, marked a special Italy year, and continues to grow a passionate, dedicated team committed to community impact and healthier futures.
www.theteamrevolution.ca
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@theteamrevolution
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T I F I C L E D Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L YG IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF NEWSWORTHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF DESIGNTO FESTIVAL
BENEATH ONE SKY
esignTO Festival, Canada’s largest annual celebration of design, transformed Toronto into a city-wide playground of creativity and community. Visitors were invited to not only view imaginationsparking installations, but to step inside them — touching, listening and shaping each experience alongside family and friends. The festival was presented across the city until February 1, 2026, and it demonstrated how design could be immersive, participatory and deeply human. Throughout the festival, several artists and designers explored the concept of experiential design. Among the installations was Beneath One Sky by Asli Alin, featuring suspended cloud-like forms made from colourful translucent mesh. Each form was unique yet interconnected through layering and spatial dialogue, creating an immersive overhead environment. The work evoked a sky that had been shaped by many identities, reflecting the fluid and evolving nature of Canadian identity. Through its openness and overlapping forms, the installation celebrated multiplicity, exchange and shared belonging, proposing that true pride emerges through embracing diversity. @designtofestival
emma is the cropped coat that commands attention while redefining modern luxury. Crafted from existing materials that have been reimagined, it features a striking abstract pattern in plush, cruelty-free fun fur. Its oversized hood and structured shoulders create a dramatic silhouette, while its discreet hook-and-loop closure keeps the look clean and refined. Designed with a zero-waste philosophy, Gemma proves that statement outerwear can be both bold and responsible — even in subzero temperatures. Behind the design is FREED, a luxury outerwear brand founded by Marissa Freed that is committed to animal-free, cruelty-free fashion with sustainability at its core. Each piece blends style and ethics, setting a new benchmark for conscious luxury. As the fourth-generation president, Marissa continues a family legacy that began in 1921 with Freed & Freed, honouring more than a century of craftsmanship while pushing fashion forward. Rooted in Winnipeg, Man., FREED reflects a distinctly Canadian vision — where innovation, heritage and compassion meet.
www.freedandfreed.com @freedandfreed
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PHOTO COURTESY OF FREEDANDFREED
GEMMA: BOLD AND CONSCIOUS
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I F I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I A L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF NEWSWORTHY SPRING CREATIONS BY ROCHE BOBOIS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROCHE BOBOIS
or its Spring-Summer 2026 creations, Roche Bobois has reaffirmed its commitment to know-how, creativity and innovation — values central to its vision of the art of living. The collection introduces new shapes, fresh colour palettes and unexpected material combinations, reflecting a refined yet forward-looking approach to contemporary interiors. Each design embodies a balance of aesthetic experimentation and functional elegance, offering a renewed expression of modern comfort. As a global leader in furniture design and distribution, Roche Bobois continues to collaborate closely with internationally renowned designers and artists including Marcel Wanders, Kenzo Takada, Ora Ito, Sacha Lakic, Christophe Delcourt, Stephen Burks and Joana Vasconcelos, as well as haute couture fashion houses that include Jean Paul Gaultier and Missoni. The brand presents an extensive range of exclusive made-to-order pieces — sofas, armchairs, tables, beds, storage and accessories — each crafted with a high level of customization in small European workshops and showcased across its worldwide network of showrooms. @rochebobois
t Toronto’s Great Hall this past January, a darkly immersive journey was offered into the world of Medusa, where myth, emotion and mystery intertwined. This experience invited guests to step beyond the legend and into the fractured reality of a figure long feared and misunderstood. As participants moved through the space, they uncovered a story shaped by beauty, betrayal and irreversible transformation — one that explored the haunting curse imposed by the gods and the painful loss of a better life once known. Each moment drew the audience deeper into Medusa’s inner world, where forbidden desire, isolation and anguish collided. The line between monster and victim slowly dissolved, challenging everything we thought we knew about her tale. @transcendanceproject
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PHOTO BY SVPHOTOGRAPHY
OPHIS: THE MYTH OF MEDUSA
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N T I F I C L E Y F T A I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L YA IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF NEWSWORTHY t Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), an innovative initiative is working to bridge a specific gap one thoughtful gift at a time. Known as Gifts of Light, the program provides gifts for patients receiving care at Canada’s largest mentalhealth teaching hospital: practical items but also experiences and things that deliver meaning by reminding patients they’re not alone. While the concept may sound simple, its impact is anything but. During November and December of 2025 alone, more than 4,700 gifts were wrapped and distributed thanks to the efforts of 150 volunteers who dedicated their time to ensuring that no patient was overlooked during what, for them, could have been the most isolating time of
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMH
GIFTS OF LIGHT FROM CAMH
the year. Unlike traditional holiday gift drives, Gifts of Light is designed to meet a patient’s needs rather than seasonal novelty. Some patients arrive at CAMH with little more than the clothes they are wearing. Others may be separated from
family, routines and personal belongings for weeks or months at a time. A warm pair of socks, some personal care items or a small activity can offer not just comfort but dignity, too. @camhnews
s the North American school breaks approach, Mont-Tremblant is set to welcome families and groups of friends seeking a winter getaway filled with memorable moments. With exceptional conditions forecast and having already received more than 340 cm of snow this season, the mountain will offer an optimal skiing experience. The ski area will be 100% open across all four sides of the mountain, ensuring outstanding conditions throughout the school-break period. From late February through the third week of March, Tremblant will host a full calendar of free activities and events aligned with U.S., Québec and Ontario school breaks. Daily outdoor games such as boot hockey and snow soccer will animate the village in the afternoons, while Dancing Saturdays will bring evening energy with DJs, dance contests and prizes for all ages. Visitors will encounter street performers, including Marc-Ambulles, along with appearances by Toufou the mascot. The Ice Gardens will be open daily until March 15, offering skating, Bavarian curling and snow play for the entire family.
PHOTO BY ©TREMBLANT
MAGIC AT MONT-TREMBLANT
@monttremblant
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y T IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAZIO FEDERATION OF ONTARIO
NEWSWORTHY NEWS WORTHY
HONOURING LAZIALE LEGACY
he Lazio Federation of Ontario marked a major milestone with its 40th Anniversary Lazio Gala on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Montecassino Woodbridge. The elegant evening celebrated heritage, community and achievement, bringing together distinguished guests from across Ontario and beyond. Prestigious Laziale dell’Anno (Person of the Year) awards were presented to Aldo Carinci and Ernesto Carbonelli, while two Laziale Comune dell’Anno (Lazio Municipality of the Year) awards honoured the towns of Pescosolido and Supino. Finally, Borse di Studio scholarships were awarded to two proud recipients, Nicholas Polidoro and Luca Onorati. The celebration was enriched by international delegations that included Mayor Dr. Enrico Bellisario of Pescosolido and representatives from Supino. Guests enjoyed vibrant entertainment by the Trio Kings, DJ Platinum Entertainment Solutions and DIA alongside the ceremonial presence of two branches of the Italian armed forces, the Carabinieri and Bersaglieri. Authentic Laziale cuisine — freshly prepared crespelle, ciambelle, torrone and castagne — completed an unforgettable evening of tradition, pride and unity.
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L THE THREAT OFCSCREEN TIMEYL E T F I I C L YA IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF WELLNESS
A new study shows that the overwhelming amount of screen time children now experience is linked to a higher risk of depression, anxiety and ADHD WRITTEN BY MARC CASTALDO
sweeping new Nature Portfolio study is reframing the youth mental health crisis as a largely preventable behavioural issue, linking excessive screen time among children and adolescents in the United States to a sharp rise in psychological disorders. Drawing on data from more than 50,000 children aged six to 17, the research found that spending four or more hours a day on screens is associated with significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, ADHD and behavioural disorders. The findings are stark: the likelihood of depression rises by 61 per cent, anxiety by 45 per cent, behavioural or conduct problems by 24 per cent, and ADHD by 21 per cent among heavy screen users. Crucially, the study identifies why this relationship exists. Reduced physical activity and disrupted sleep routines emerge as the dominant mediating factors. Physical activity alone accounts for up to 39 per cent of the link between screen use and mental health outcomes,
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while irregular bedtimes contribute nearly 24 per cent and short sleep duration just over seven per cent. “What’s most important is that we now know the main determinants and protective factors regarding a range of mental health issues in children. The odds can be significantly reduced with adjustments in behaviours such as physical activity and expanding the tools we can use to combat these illnesses,” says Dr. Hannah Nearney, M.D., clinical psychiatrist and U.K. Medical Director at Flow Neuroscience, a European medical technology company that sells an athome, non-invasive brain stimulation treatment for depression that combines a transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) headset with a behavioural therapy app. The problem is that these habits are already becoming increasingly common. Nearly one in three children now exceeds healthy screen-time limits, normalizing behaviour that researchers say is structurally harmful. Only one in
five children meets the recommended guidelines of at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, and just one in four maintains a consistent weekday sleep routine. Clinicians at Flow Neuroscience warn that the crisis extends beyond behavioural risks. Children, they argue, face limited treatment alternatives and are frequently overprescribed antidepressants despite the age restrictions and safety concerns around SSRIs, including a small but measurable increase in suicidality tied to their use. Although non-drug technologies such as tDCS are gaining scientific support and an FDA-approved adult device is expected to launch in the U.S. later this year, pediatric approval remains out of reach. The study’s implications are clear: modifying children’s day-to-day routines and behaviour in relation to screen use, movement, and sleep need to be brought back to dinner-table conversations.
www.flowneuroscience.com @flowneuroscience
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L YP IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF COMMUNITY
SPOTLIGHTING INDIGENOUS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS This year’s annual Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game featured limited-edition Leafs merchandise from Indigenous-owned small businesses INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAWNA MILLER
Celebration Game on January 10th was so high that almost all items sold out during the game night. That level of passion is a true testament to what’s possible when brands like Mastercard and MLSE authentically support Indigenous small businesses — the community and fans rally to support them. Our priority was putting Indigenous small-business voices front and centre to let their creativity and craftsmanship shine. From the products created for the Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace presented by Mastercard to the immersive drum circle performance, the custom flag by Indigenous artist Jennifer Taback as well as content amplified throughout the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mastercard social channels, fans connected with the people behind the work, which helped drive such strong and immediate support.
SHAWNA MILLER IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MASTERCARD CANADA’S MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MASTERCARD CANADA
resented by Mastercard, the Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace celebrated culture, creativity and community — spotlighting makers whose stories craft and impact extended far beyond the rink. Leafs fans were invited to shop for limited-edition merchandise created exclusively by Indigenous-owned small businesses, with all proceeds going directly back to the entrepreneurs. Mastercard Canada Marketing & Communications Senior Vice President Shawna Miller sat down with City Life for an exclusive interview to discuss the impact and success of the initiative.
Q: The response to the Indigenous Celebration Game has exceeded expectations. What do you believe resonated the most with fans and motivated them to respond with such immediate support? A: Small businesses are the fabric of the Canadian economy, and the enthusiasm from fans at the Indigenous www.mycitylife.ca
MINI TIPI created a custom blanket representing Indigenous design in textiles, and Chelsee Pettit, founder of aaniin, created the TML-themed tote bag
Q: What role do moments like live sporting events play in creating emotional connection and momentum for community-driven initiatives like this one? A: Mastercard brings people closer to their passions and this program is just one example of that. Live sporting events create powerful shared moments, making them a natural platform for community-driven initiatives. Through our partnership with MLSE, the Indigenous Celebration Game provided an authentic opportunity to support Indigenous small businesses in a way that resonated with fans while building a stronger digital economy for all. @mastercardca @mapleleafs
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At eleven inches tall, this leopard sculpture can elevate any space with its chic white and gold silhouette, capturing wild elegance while adding modern personality to any room.
shop.primalighting.ca @primalighting
www.diptyqueparis.com @diptyque
www.mejuri.com @mejuri 6. SITTING LEOPARD
La Vallée du Temps is a poetic fragrance journey. Its rich layers truly reflecting a scentful escape that feels like luxury in motion.
www.tomfordbeauty.com @tomfordbeauty 3. LA VALLÉE DU TEMPS
Perfect for daily wear, stacking, or solo impact, this ring is sure to catch the eye with its sculptural design and effortless elegance.
us.christianlouboutin.com @christianlouboutin 5. DÔME FIGURE RING
mackage.ca @mackage 2. SANTAL BLUSH EAU DE PARFUM
Santal Blush presents an exotic spiceenhanced scent releasing an airy and hypnotic mood with ylang-ylang, warm cinnamon and extravagant woods.
Luxurious suede accompanied with signature spikes for a bold and instantly recognizable look, combining 1980s’ streetwear attitude with designer artistry.
4. LOUIS JUNIOR SPIKES SUEDE SNEAKERS
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An ageless wool wrap with a flattering belt, built for cold winter commutes, keeping you warm, cosy and ready for outings in the city.
1. MAI BELTED WOOL WRAP COAT
Statement accessories, specialized appliances, and destination escapes that make everyday routines feel intentional and inspired PRODUCED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA | WRITTEN BY ANGELICA SOSA
EDITOR’S PICKS
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF
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7. SAWYER TIC-TAC-TOE GIFT SET A stylish take on the classic game of tic-tac-toe, this equestrian-themed set comes in an elegant leather case and contains nine brass playing pieces — five riding boots and four horseshoe pieces — adding to your décor when placed on your coffee table. www.ralphlauren.ca @ralphlauren 8. THE HOLIDAY TRIO SET The perfect gift for beauty lovers, three best-selling products bundled for seasonal glow, discovery and indulgence. www.sephora.ca @sephora 9. DANCER 1 These high-performance skis are built for stability and control, leaving you carving the mountains with confidence and style. www.factionskis.com @factionskis 10. 1 HOTEL TORONTO 1 Hotel introduces sustainable, jaw-droppingly luxurious interior designs, with luxury in the heart of the city with nature-inspired interiors, mindful design and rooftop views. www.1hotels.com @1hotels 11. THE TOASTER Just add water: This reinvented toaster uses steam technology to help you create bakery-quality delights in the comfort of your home. us.balmuda.com @balmuda_usa 12. STAGG EKG ELECTRIC KETTLE A minimalist kettle for coffee- and tea-lovers who value form, function and temperature control with precision brewing and sleek design. www.fellowproducts.com @fellowproducts 13. SPEEDMASTER MOONWATCH PROFESSIONAL One of the world’s most iconic timepieces, Omega is known for its legendary design, space-travel history and outstanding engineering for collectors and enthusiasts. www.omegawatches.com @omega 14. TABBY 20 LEATHER SHOULDER BAG Made with soft leather and curved lines, this effortlessly chic compact city bag holds timeless appeal and everyday flexibility. www.holtrenfrew.com @holtrenfrew 15. THE STARTER KIT WITH THE CREAM A limited-edition starter kit powered by Professor Bader’s TFC8 — backed by 35 years of research and clinical study to produce hydrated, healthier skin and visible results. www.augustinusbader.com @augustinusbader
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF LEADERSHIP
PHOTO BY SASHA ANOUFRIEVA
Wideman, a Mississauga native and Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, is currently playing for the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican Softball League. As she prepares to return home this spring, she is shifting into full training mode, gearing up for Team Canada and the upcoming season
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L NATALIE C L WIDEMAN Y E COMPETITIVE, T F I I COMPASSIONATE AND C L Y CANADIAN E Y F T I I L C T Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PHOTO BY LATHANUEL FILLIOL
Wideman firmly credits her older brothers, Jordan and Aaron — both of whom played professional minor league baseball — with sparking her competitive, chip-on-theshoulder spirit
The Mississauga native reflects on her softball career, her experience at the Tokyo Olympics and the importance of embracing one’s unfiltered self WRITTEN BY ISHA SHARMA | INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
here’s nothing truer than the advice Shakespeare has Polonius give in Hamlet: “To thine own self be true.” Those words are fully reflected in the life of Olympic Bronze Medalist Natalie Wideman and of the journey she is on. In addition to her noteworthy achievements as a 14-year Canadian National Softball Team member, including that of being recognized as the NFCA DII Diamond Catcher of the Year in 2014 and the recipient of a CAN Fund #150Women grant, she is also a coach, leader and founder of Unedited Self Co. and a coowner of Body By Chosen Mississauga.
www.mycitylife.ca
Wideman grew up in Mississauga, Ont., in a highly competitive sports family where both her brothers played professional minor-league baseball. She was always around a ball field with the goal of getting better every day. By the time Wideman was about 11 or 12, she was determined to establish a career in softball. She attributes this grit to her parents, who always pushed her to value the little things and set the right example. “All the morals and values they instilled in me have made me the person I am today,” she says. “Without them, I don’t know if I would be this person.” Wideman has assumed many roles,
but their underlying theme has always been to inspire others to be their best selves. She says that when she coaches athletes, she wants them to know how, why and what needs to be done. Similarly, when someone comes to her gym, she motivates them to develop the knowledge and discipline to be their best self. Although her responsibilities are different for each type of client, she finds them aligned and in sync with each other. She describes her business, Unedited Self Co., as a movement to inspire people to be themselves unabashedly, embracing their unique potential. As a motivational speaker, she stresses the importance of Mar/Apr 2026
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PHOTO BY NATALIE WIDEMAN
WHETHER IT’S SPORTS, BUSINESS OR LIFE, IT’S NOT ABOUT WINNING, BUT SHOWING UP CONSISTENTLY
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF PHOTO BY LATHANUEL FILLIOL
Wideman is proud and passionate about her responsibility to give back to the next generation of athletes through her coaching and mentorship
handling circumstances gracefully — to do one’s best and, at least, try to improve something from how it was when one found it. She says, “Whether it’s sports, business or life, it’s not about winning, but showing up consistently.” She describes the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the most exhilarating experience for her. Team Canada had done a huge amount of training before the games, she says, so they had a sense of confidence that made the games a fun time. While they were aiming for gold, winning the bronze medal, Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in softball, was in itself an historic win. The Tokyo Games took place during COVID, so the medals were handed directly to the team. Wideman reminisces about the moment when all teammates put medals on each other, and how it was a symbolic celebration of collaboration and commitment. That moment completely changed her world. She adds how the team may not have been the strongest in terms of skill, but certainly were in terms of competitiveness and culture. She also shares the immense pride www.mycitylife.ca
she takes in representing her country at one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and that she still feels butterflies when wearing her jersey. For her, not only is it an absolutely special feeling to represent Canada but also to train every woman she works with in the gym. By doing so, she says, she is representing something bigger than herself. In the face of violence and war, she sees the Olympics as bringing solidarity as a place where people from all backgrounds come together. There is respect for every story and a chance to celebrate every one of them. At the same time, participating in the Olympics is challenging for all athletes, she says — they have all reached this milestone after facing many adversities, so they are all champions who should be celebrated, and so should the joy and light that such events bring with them. When asked about a lesson she learned the hard way, she mentions that she thought of retiring from softball post-Olympics. Wideman was expected to go on to leadership, but she wasn’t performing the way she was supposed to.
Her head coach had a conversation with her, asking “What are you so afraid of?” For the next few days, the question was constantly in Wideman’s mind, she says, and made her come to the realization that she had a fear of not being good enough. Since then, she has been in touch with all her fears. If she does not feel ready for speaking events, for instance, she makes sure to prepare. Fighting her fears has changed the trajectory of her life. Wideman adds that spring is typically a focused and transitional period. Currently in Tokyo for the Mexican Softball League, she will return home to Canada at the end of March and shift into full training mode as she prepares for Team Canada and the upcoming season. Wideman will also use that time for coaching locally in Ontario, as well as for a few fun trips supporting and coaching teams around Canada. She is also proud of her continuing involvement with organizations including @canfund and @150women, which support athletes on their journey to success. @nataliewideman @uneditedselfco
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L POWER THE POSITIVE C L OF THE Y E T OUTDOORS F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF AUTHOR
Dr. John La Puma’s Indoor Epidemic explores how adding more outdoor time can make a healthy difference in your life INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO EXCERPT BY DR. JOHN LA PUMA
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www.mycitylife.ca
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. JOHN LA PUMA
T I F I C L HE Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF ere’s what is realistic: You’re already spending 93% of your time indoors, anyway. That means the 7% you do venture outside needs to work like medicine. The core truth of this book is that real, measurable health is found in microdoses and micro-practices that work immediately. That’s the heart of the 7% Outdoor Rx, which we often refer to as The 7% Solution. Just five minutes in green space measurably boosts mood, and fifteen minutes of early sun resets your entire biological clock. Every walk to your car becomes a potential nature dose. Every outdoor lunch break becomes an opportunity to enjoy the pleasures and benefits of nature therapy. Every moment of walking the dog becomes a way to connect. I will teach you to turn those scattered outdoor minutes into concentrated healing. You might think this sounds impossible: city life, work, family, and little free time. Maybe you’re caring for someone or stuck indoors all day. This book is written for you. Whether you get outside 7% or 0.7% of your day, it meets you where you are. This isn’t about quitting your job or escaping to the woods. It’s about using the nature around you: street trees, a park bench, even a view of the sky as tools for health. The methods here work anywhere because they’re based on human biology. You already have what you need to start. This is your invitation to reclaim focus, energy, and well-being. You already spend time outdoors: nearly 12 hours a week, in small bits. The goal isn’t to add more hours, but to turn those scattered moments into true Outdoor Rx. Quality matters more than quantity. Every bit counts. A greener path — one lined with trees instead of asphalt — can lower your risk of death by about 4%. A simple choice like walking down a leafy street can improve your health and longevity. Nature exposure works the same way. The line is sharp. Below 120 minutes a week, the body shows no measurable benefit. None. Once you cross that line, the improvements jump. People report a 59%higher chance of feeling in good
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days that never set their body clocks, I realized my patients were fighting their environments. We’d created environments that trigger biological stress signals 93% of the time. I wanted to offer a prescription for the 7% that remains.
DR. JOHN LA PUMA M.D., 2-TIME YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR & FOUNDER, ECOMEDICINE.ORG
Written to help you feel younger, sleep more deeply and think more clearly
health and a 23% boost in well-being. [see previous note re style]
Q: What first pulled you down the path of rethinking how indoor life affects how we sleep, feel and age? A: I started seeing a pattern in my clinic that didn’t match the textbooks. Patients had fragmented sleep, rising blood sugar, inflammatory markers creeping up. But the labs said they were doing everything right. What didn’t show up is where people were spending the most time: inside. With artificial light suppressing melatonin by 80%, stale air cutting cognitive performance by 15% and dim
Q: Why did stepping outdoors become the idea you felt most compelled to share with the world right now? A: It became clear to me that where we spend most of our time is not how our biology evolved at a cellular level. The WHO sets 120 minutes weekly in nature as a global health guideline. That’s where mortality risk drops, glucose control improves and inflammation decreases. From Scotland to Japan, doctors are writing nature prescriptions because the data is clear. And here’s the revelation: You don’t need wilderness. Urban trees lower death risk by 4%. A sky view during lunch protects your body clock. The prescription works with bus stops and pocket parks.
Q: Writing this book, did your own habits change? What’s one small outdoor ritual you now protect fiercely in your own day? A: Morning light became essential to my routine. It’s the anchor that sets every system downstream. I go outside every morning. I aim for 300 minutes weekly outdoors, where you hit peak longevity benefit, and I do it in several different ways: pickleball, dog walking, gardening, farming, hiking. Every transition from indoors to outside is now a microdose opportunity. Walking to the car, lunch breaks, the commute home. Your environment is biological infrastructure, whether you live in a city or on a farm. Q: Complete the sentence: I am ____. This is My City, My Life! A: I am someone who believes you already have everything you need. Your streets, your parks, your balcony basil, your morning sky. I am on a mission to prove that reclaiming your 7% isn’t about privilege or escape. It’s about recognizing that those scattered outdoor minutes are medicine. This is My City, My Life! www.drjohnlapuma.com
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I AI CONNECTING CANADIANS I L TO FAMILY DOCTORS C Y IFE Y T I L W C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF HEALTH CARE
Learn how a second-generation Indo-Canadian Mississauga native is taking on one of Canada’s gargantuan health-care problems
PHOTO BY SHLOMI AMIGA
WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
SANVEER DHANJU Founder of DocMaps
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hile Canada is one of the world’s richest countries, with a population of approximately 42 million, a gross domestic product of $3.07 trillion (US$2.28 trillion) and is the world’s 10thlargest economy, we are still burdened with our own domestic problems — one of them being the massive disconnect in our health care system. For some Canadians, the idea of having a family doctor would almost be laughable if it weren’t so worrying, and the lack of access to primary care continues to be a demoralizing hurdle for many Canadians. In fact, 5.9 million to 6.5 million of us do not have a family doctor or access to consistent care — that is, fully one-fifth
of the adult population. Clearly, there is something wrong. Mississauga native Sanveer Dhanju decided to do something about it — and like so many others seeking solutions these days, he turned to AI to help solve the problem. During the pandemic, both Dhanju and his sister were having difficulty finding a family doctor. They called clinic after clinic with no luck, wasted time calling numbers that were outdated or no longer in service and even took to driving the streets looking for doctors’ signs on storefronts and doors. There had to be a better, faster way. After expressing their frustrations online and hearing back from so many other people experiencing the same challenge, they asked themselves “What if someone could just call all the clinics and post all the information in one place?” And so, behold, using AI, Dhanju created the aptly named “DocMaps.” DocMaps utilizes AI tools that can www.mycitylife.ca
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF Marketplace SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
Celebrating International Women’s Day all month with special offers
B.J.S. MEATS Founded in 1984, B.J.S. Meats has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality cuts of mouth-watering meat and seafood products to top-tier restaurants, banquet halls, hotels and golf courses all across the GTA. Committed to offering premium quality and service, B.J.S. Meats now delivers restaurant- and steakhouse-quality products directly to your doorstep so that you can confidently and conveniently enjoy premium meats and seafood in the comfort of your home. @theboxedbutcher | 416-763-4703 | www.theboxedbutcher.com HOME DELIVERY: please email sales@theboxedbutcher.com
EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS VAUGHAN Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Vaughan location of Edible Arrangements has become a trusted location for fresh, artfully crafted fruit bouquets and gourmet chocolate-dipped treats. Known for quality, creativity and reliable service, the store helps customers mark special moments with thoughtful, beautifully designed gifts. Two decades in, it continues to be a go-to for celebrations, corporate gifting and lastminute surprises. @ediblearrangementsvaughan | 905-738-4100
IRON 24 FITNESS + RECOVERY Iron 24 Fitness + Recovery brings a modern approach to wellness with its 24/7 accessibility and extensive training environment. Designed for performance and convenience, the facility features advanced fitness equipment as well as services focused on recovery and overall health. Rated highly by members, Iron 24 integrates flexibility, technology and expert resources, making it a fitting choice for individuals seeking a wellrounded results-focused approach to fitness. @iron24vaughan | gyms.iron24.com/vaughan-on-ca
PÜR & SIMPLE A favourite destination for breakfast and brunch lovers, offering a fresh and flavourful menu that balances classic comfort dishes with creative twists. Known for its delicious food, generous portions and friendly service, Pür & Simple consistently earns strong reviews from guests. Its inviting atmosphere and quality ingredients make it a trusted spot for weekend brunch, casual gatherings and family outings. @pursimpleca | pursimple.com/restaurant/vaughan
LUMA SALON & SPA Luma Salon & Spa is a top-rated beauty destination located in Vaughan, offering a wide range of hair, skin-care and wellness services in a welcoming and modern setting. Best known for their skilled stylists, personalized treatments and relaxing atmosphere, Luma focuses on enhancing natural beauty while delivering a luxury experience. Its strong reputation and loyal clientele reflect their commitment to quality, design, and exceptional customer care. @lumasalon | salonluma.com www.mycitylife.ca
ECOWAY MOVERS VAUGHAN Ecoway Movers Vaughan is a highly rated moving company that serves both residential and commercial clients with reliable and efficient service. Recognized for professionalism and careful handling, the team offers customized moving solutions designed to reduce stress during transitions. Strong customer feedback and a reputation for punctuality and organization makes Ecoway Movers a reliable choice for individuals and businesses planning local or long-distance relocations. @ecowaymoversincanada | ecowaymovers.com | 1 (888) 807 2040 Mar/Apr 2026
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2.5 million
Ontarians without a family doctor
1 in 4 don’t have a family doctor
52% of family doctors plan to retire in the next 5 years Source: Ontario Medical Association, Dec 2025
The Solution
PHOTO COURTESY OF SANVEER DHANJU
call doctors’ offices and clinics across the city, ask the right questions and collect information in real time, such as whether a clinic is accepting new patients, how long the wait is, what languages are spoken to communicate with patients, whether the clinic’s doctors are male or female (to align with patient preference) and what range of care is offered. Dhanju, understanding that having a family doctor was the front door to consistent care, has made this information available to everyone. DocMaps is focused on Ontario right now, but has been built to expand nationally. “Finding a family doctor is the first point of care you experience in your entire patient journey,” says Dhanju in a recent interview with City Life. “My sister, who unfortunately was experiencing back pain, had to go through a family doctor to get a referral to a specialist — this is the doorway into our health care system, “ he explains. “If you don’t have this, you don’t have access to our great universal health care.” Dhanju graduated from Western University in London, Ont., with degrees in both Medical Science and Biophysics. While interning at a Toronto hospital, he was exposed to a variety of data projects and technologies, some of which he brought to his DocMaps solution. The website he designed not only tracks visitors, but through back-end technology can determine which visitors are actually contacting clinics to ensure it is as effective as it can be — all to the benefit of the user. The response so far has been very encouraging, especially among health-care professionals. “It’s been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone loves that it is a unique way to approach the problem of finding a family doctor — and is amazed that it hadn’t been done before,” he says. “The trick lies in how simple the system is, while at the same time, we have a boundless ability to have conversations with the clinic staff. Our health care system is quite old and was not designed to quickly take advantage of the rapid advancements in technology. DocMaps is changing our health care infrastructure.” Dhanju proudly acknowledges that the support of his parents and their
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Since the launch in Ontario, over 1,000 people have reached out requesting expansion into their region. The strongest demand has come from Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough), followed by Southwestern Ontario (London, Guelph, Waterloo, Kitchener, Windsor) and Central Ontario (Barrie, Owen Sound, Collingwood, Muskoka)
experience of building a life in Canada after immigrating from India had an enormous impact on him and played a role in his development of DocMaps. “A lot of this comes from being the son of immigrant parents who are getting older and whose own health care needs are evolving. In a way, this is my way of paying back,” says Dhanju. “They’ve lived the journey of that really tough struggle of moving to another country, and they had to fit themselves into a new system and a new mould. They sacrificed a lot to give us the opportunities we’ve had growing up. A lot of the values and hard work they showed me, growing up, I try to embody in my business —
of staying determined and sticking to your beliefs, knowing your strengths and sticking to your core set of values. DocMaps feels like a very Canadian thing to do in helping people access care. I feel like I needed to do something with the opportunities given to me, and this is my way of paying it forward.” DocMaps is currently in collaboration with Ontario Health Teams and is aiming to work with Ontario Health. The platform is gaining strong momentum as it prepares for a national expansion, with overwhelming demand already emerging from Alberta, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. www.docmaps.ca
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y W IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF COMMUNITY STRENGTH
The vibrancy of the Jane/Finch Centre will grow with the the upcoming revitalization projects
PROSPERITY WITH COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS
United Way Greater Toronto announces $1M+ in grants to tackle local needs in Toronto, Peel and York Region
PHOTOS COURTESY CNW GROUP/UNITED WAY GREATER TORONTO
WRITTEN BY ISHA SHARMA
ith the extension of the Community Action Grants (CAG) program, United Way Greater Toronto advances its efforts to ensure more equitable opportunities in Toronto, Peel and York regions. This step has been taken in response to the significant challenges that neighbourhoods in Cooksville, South Markham, and Jane and Finch are experiencing as a result of increased development and impending regeneration initiatives. The Community Action Grants will support 28 resident-led initiatives aiming at enhancing mental health and wellbeing, anti-displacement, food security, economic opportunity, intergenerational connection, housing stability, and artsbased and youth engagement, with a
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$1.13 million investment. Says Heather McDonald, president and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto, “The Community Action Grants help support local initiatives that are led by residents and local organizations, reflecting the community’s priorities. By ensuring the community’s voice is directly shaping neighbourhoods, we are building a future with people who know their neighbourhoods best.” The Community Action Grants process was initiated by the United Way in 2024. The first round of funds was distributed to resident projects in Jane and Finch that have all successfully concluded, and to seven local agencies whose projects will be finished in May 2026. This second round of funding will begin in late spring of 2026. For the latest initiative, seven
Cooksville projects, six South Markham projects and 15 more Jane and Finch projects will receive funding in the final round. All 28 projects have been chosen for their community-building potential. Among the many resident-led projects is South Markham’s Mental Wellness: From Stigma to Strength, a project run by A Rose for Grandma Wellness Hub to offer support groups and bimonthly workshops on mental health for Black and South Asian dementia sufferers and their caregivers in the South Markham region. Cooksville’s Digital Employment Bridge project is designed to close the digital divide and strengthen digital equity in this community by increasing work prospects for low-income and structurally disadvantaged newcomers. The initiative will help participants obtain industry-recognized qualifications, boost their digital confidence and improve their access to fulfilling jobs. To increase its long-term impact, the project will also create a multilingual digital inclusion toolbox for community partners. “Community-led initiatives play a vital role in building stronger, more inclusive neighbourhoods,” says Hema Tingare, executive director, Newcomer Centre of Peel. “The Community Action Grants support grassroots partners who are deeply connected to their communities and best positioned to create meaningful local impact.” United Way Greater Toronto’s Community Action Grants are an incredible step toward bridging differences and ensuring equitable distribution of opportunities throughout these neighbourhoods. www.unitedwaygt.org @uwgreaterTO
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T I F I C L E Y F PEACE,IT I AND I L EHARMONY C L SERENITY IN THE Y LAURENTIANS F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y T E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF DESIGN
Quebec’s Laurentian Forest House perfectly reflects its natural environment while honouring a family’s traditions and history
WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER
SOPHIE ROBITAILLE PARTNER, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
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he rolling hills and pristine lakes of Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains are some of Canada’s most treasured natural resources and the Laurentians are a place that generations of families are delighted to call home. For their primary homes or recreational properties, many would never consider anywhere else. Here, on an 8.5-acre property in Wentworth-North overlooking Lake Notre-Dame proudly sits Laurentian Forest House, a stunning family home designed by architects RobitailleCurtis www.mycitylife.ca
PHOTOS BY ADRIEN WILLIAMS
Set into the mature forest of a Laurentian hillside with views of Lac Notre-Dame beyond the trees, this L-shaped residence Is a quiet, contemplative retreat rooted in its landscape
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF A winding forest approach reveals a cedar- and walnut-clad home where architecture, material restraint, and expansive glazing dissolve the boundary between interior living and the surrounding wilderness
ANDREW CURTIS PARTNER, ARCHITECT
to not only fit seamlessly into the landscape but also pay homage to the owners’ family’s long history in the area. Over many summers the owners’ children camped at the summit, establishing deep personal connections to the land. But rather than building there, at the property’s highest point, they chose to preserve that particular site as honoured family ground and instead have nestled the home elegantly and unobtrusively into the terrain below, around the summit. www.mycitylife.ca
Laurentian Forest House perfectly demonstrates the artistry of landscape architecture and architectural studio RobitailleCurtis, known for its thoughtful and authentic work in creating indoor and outdoor spaces that fundamentally relate to one another and for its deep appreciation for durably built environments and the natural world. Set within a dense forest of maple, spruce, birch, hemlock and beech typical of the Laurentides, the L-shaped home has been built gently into the hillside and offers expansive views of both Lake Notre-Dame and the surrounding hills, with each room’s windows revealing a beautiful forest landscape, creating a quiet, peaceful and contemplative living environment. A winding driveway gradually rises through the woods to the home, where a stone stairway integrated into the
site’s exposed weathered-rock outcrop leads to an entry walk lined with birch trees and native ferns. Inside the building is a single-storey living area to the south and a two-storey sleeping area extending west and north. The open-plan living area accommodates a kitchen, living and dining area, with an expansive cedar deck that extends the living spaces out among the trees, as well as a screened dining porch for secluded summer dining in the forest. The sleeping area contains three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private study and a lowerlevel living area with an entry and a mudroom. RobitailleCurtis chose to use materials that are intentionally restrained, including a continuous cedar ceiling and customized walnut built-ins that bring warmth to the interior and polished concrete floors to provide durability for the long term. Mar/Apr 2026
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF While its location, design and materials all combine to make Laurentian Forest House stunningly beautiful, it is also practical in terms of high performance and longevity; details such as continuous insulation that avoids thermal bridging, tripleglazed windows that enhance thermal efficiency and occupant comfort and radiant concrete floor heating providing low-carbon comfort have all been carefully considered. All mechanical systems are fully electric, allowing for a future transition to on-site renewable energy. It’s often said that home is where the heart is. At Laurentian Forest House, home is also where design meets inspiration in an environment of beauty, nature and, above all, a family’s traditions and heritage. www.robitaillecurtis.com @robitaillecurtis
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Embedded in the terrain and engineered for longevity, this high-performance residence unites refined design with a resilient building envelope to deliver a contemporary expression of sustainable living in nature
www.mycitylife.ca
T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L H HE E I IS S R RISEN! I S E N ! Y E V I C T O R Y O V E R D E A T H . T I IF VESCIO GROUP GROU OF COMPANIES COMPA PA P NIES
VICTORY OVER DEATH.
www.mycitylife.ca
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T I F I C L E Y F T I I I L EC L Y F T I I L C L Y E T F I I C L Y IFE Y T I L C Y E T T F I I C L Y E T I IF REDEFINING LUXURY. OPENING YOUR VIEW TO ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES At Trimark Windows, aluminum becomes art. With a legacy of precision engineering and more than 30 years of experience serving architects, builders and homeowners, we design custom windows, doors and curtain wall systems that blend refined aesthetics, structural strength and energy efficiency. Every project is tailored to your vision, elevating residential and commercial spaces with timeless design, lasting performance and sustainable innovation.
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