T8N_Vol13_Issue1_Issuu

FUNERAL FINANCES

THE PRICE OF PAYING YOUR LAST RESPECTS

ROBERT MURRAY PAINTING THE PROVINCE

HEARTY & HEALTHY 6 UNIQUE BALSAMIC VINEGAR DISHES

CHANTAL DUNN RIDING RADIO'S AIRWAVES

GOING SOMEWHERE? ACCESSORIZE YOUR SPRING BREAK GETAWAY

5 tips for choosing your life insurance

Most people could benefit from life insurance. That’s why I’ve put together some tips to make it easier to protect your loved ones.

1. Choose the right type of insurance

Term life

Term life can be a good choice for families with children who want to maintain their income and standard of living if a parent dies. It’s available for predetermined terms with a fixed premium for the first coverage period. It’s renewable to age 85 with adjusted premiums. If the insured person dies during the term, a lump sum is paid. If not, the coverage ends. Term life could help your family meet their financial commitments until your children become adults or finish school.

Permanent life

Permanent life insurance can be a good choice to ensure that there will be money available to meet long-term planning needs, whether for personal or business purposes. That way, your estate won’t be on the hook for taxes and other liabilities after your passing. This lifetime coverage can be maintained even if your health changes, which can make it an appealing product for many individuals. And in the long term, it’s more cost-effective than term insurance.

Participating and universal life

These products may include a savings component that can give your loved ones a financial foundation, finance business growth or increase your retirement income.

2. Determine how much you need

It’s a good idea to periodically review your insurance amount to ensure your family will be able to maintain their standard of living in the event of your passing. And remember, your life insurance amount can also help cover a funeral or tax bill or pay off debt.

3. Think about how long you want your coverage to last

How long do you want coverage for? There are several things to consider before you can answer that question.

First, think about how long you’ll need coverage to make sure your financial commitments are covered. Then evaluate until when your family needs financial support if you were to pass.

4. Take out insurance early!

Your premium is, in part, based on your age when you apply. Generally, the older you get, the more it costs. Another factor that can affect your insurability is your health status. The younger and healthier you are, the more affordable your insurance coverage can be.

5. Contact an insurance agent for assistance

In a complex world, your insurance needs are as unique as you are. An insurance agent can help make sure you get the type of coverage and insurance amount you need.

Have questions about life insurance? Give me a call. For more helpful tips, visit desjardins.com/en/tips.html

Jennifer Miles, Agent 125-15 Circle Dr St. Albert 780-460-2279

jen@jmilesinsurance.com jmilesinsurance.com

MBroadbent Insurance Agency Inc.

Michelle Broadbent, Agent 3523 Tudor Glen Market St. Albert 780-470-3276

michelle@michellebroadbent.com michellebroadbent.com

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 1 March 2026

PUBLISHER EDITOR

Rob Lightfoot Gene Kosowan

DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Isaac White

PHOTOGRAPHY

Robert Murray, Gloria Ge-Weald, Stephanie Cragg, Adobe Stock images: Paolo Gualdi, anandamrita, Iryna, art, and tania_wild

CONTRIBUTORS

Stephanie Cragg, Gloria Ge-Weald, Gene Kosowan, Tom Murray

OFFICE MANAGER

Janice Lightfoot

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES

Adobe Stock

ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT)

ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)

For editorial inquiries or information, contact T8N magazine at info@t8nmagazine.com. Have something to say? Letters, suggestions or ideas can be sent to letters@t8nmagazine.com

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com

T8N magazine is published 5 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2026 T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Content marked by the Sponsored Content icon was produced in partnership between content producers and T8N magazine.

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Contents

Conversations

7 THE HIGH COST OF DYING

Sending off a loved one is more expensive than ever

Culture

12 MURAL MARVEL

Painter Robert Murray worked fast to create nearly 2,000 masterpieces

Living

16 BRIGHT BALSAMIC

Treat your taste buds to this tantalizing tonic

20 THE 8S GETAWAY GEAR

Make your spring break vacation more convenient than ever

City

22 MEET YOU THERE MAAS APPEAL

How Bella Maas has shaped the women’s apparel shopping experience

24 THEN & NOW 20 QUESTIONS ABOUT ST. ALBERT How familiar are you with Canada’s botanical arts city?

Spotlight

27 MODERN ROCKER

Chantal Dunn is living the dream as a daytime DJ

Downtime

30 EGG-ZACTLY! This Easter-themed contest isn’t one that’s served over easy

THIS TIME OF year, T8N normally dedicates space to the surrounding landscape as it morphs from brown to green, a sure sign of the perennial birth of spring. But in this edition, we opted to examine an issue concerning the other end of the life cycle.

Unlike the seasons, death doesn’t have a designated period and happens only once to everyone. Grief over the passing of a loved one can be brutal, but all that anguish stands to skyrocket once the family receives the funeral bill. In Canada, an average funeral costs nearly $8,000, yet another liability to families already dealing with high food costs and other escalating expenses. We dig into the subject on page 5.

Fortunately, the rest of the edition sports much brighter content, such as visual artist Robert Murray’s relentless drive to paint 2,000 murals (page 10), clothing venue Bella Maas’s pledge to deliver a positive shopping experience (page 22), and DJ Chantal Dunn’s realization of a dream to prosper in the music biz (page 25).

T8N also continues to dole out some nifty lifestyle ideas, including how to create unique dishes with balsamic vinegar (page 15), and a rundown of consumer accessories designed to keep your spring break vacation zooming in high gear (page 20). Those hankering for something a bit more cerebral might want to challenge themselves with our quiz covering St. Albert’s colourful history (page 27).

It all adds up to an eclectic lineup as we bid farewell to Old Man Winter. Happy spring, everyone! t8n

On the Cover

Losing a loved one is tragic enough, but when funeral costs are factored in, the anguish could be brutal. Unsurprisingly, inflation has been a culprit, although it’s been well-documented that some predatory funeral homes take advantage of the grief-stricken. We dig into the details on page 7.

The high cost of dying

Sending off a loved one is more expensive than ever

BY: TOM MURRAY

WHEN MY MOM died in the spring of 2009 it was a bit of a jolt.

The suddenness left me stunned. Soon after I was sitting in the office of a solicitous funeral director in Edmonton discussing next steps. My mom, like my dad, had been very blunt about this matter. They both wanted to be cremated; no expensive funeral, no casket, no service.

The director brought out several types of receptacles for my mom’s remains. Beautifully designed urns, gold embossed boxes. All at alarmingly expensive prices for someone on a freelancer’s salary. The director politely pressed; I just as politely refused until finally he relented and noted that my mom’s ashes would be kept in a very modest receptacle, in this case a black plastic box.

Absent direct instructions from my parents I would have been unsure how to proceed, and torn on how much I was supposed to spend. Enough for a dignified send off, or a lavish celebration of life? When looking at the various options I was shocked at just how expensive it was to die.

“The shock really comes from not knowing as opposed to any specific dollar amount,” notes Eden Tourangeau, funeral director at Arbor Memorial on Edmonton’s south side. “It’s just the fact that this isn’t something you do every day, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that people are making the correct choices and showing the value of it.”

Check around the internet and you’ll see varying estimates on the costs associated with death. Senior’s Choice estimates that the average funeral will cost $7,793, with larger funerals reaching as high as $17,000 and $14,000 for a cremation. The more you add the more it goes up. It starts from something as small as a death certificate, which costs around $20 a copy, to the casket itself, which can cost upwards of $5,000 or more.

When I requested cremation for my mom in 2009 the cost came to somewhere around $1,200. Now, according to Canadian Funerals Online you’re looking at $1,500 to $3,500 for just the cremation, and that doesn’t include the cremation fee, which now runs somewhere between $400 and $600. If you want a memorial service included you’ll have to dig a little deeper for $3,000 to $6,000. The urns that I turned down one by one as they were presented to me? I’ve mercifully forgotten the costs back then, but now you’ll find a range between $100 and over $500.

It all adds up, including the option for an urn niche in a mausoleum if you’re not scattering them. Both of my parents have gotten to see a large portion of Europe in ash form and have even been forever mingled with noted French pop singer Serge Gainsbourg at the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris. It’s cheaper, and makes for more fun overseas visits where I can stop by and pay my respects to all three as I sweep away the butts of Gitanes cigarettes from the grave.

Tourangeau notes that while that kind of thing may work for some, for others there’s the need for closure in a more formal sense.

“It’s important to get together and grieve and acknowledge that this person mattered, however that may look,” he says.

“Whether it’s something the family does on their own in a very private and small manner, or whether it’s something where families have the faith-based church service with the casket, pallbearers, cemetery and things like that. What we do is really for the living.”

So, let’s get back into the nitty gritty of it and see what the cost is for the living.

A breakdown of funeral costs involves a number of different elements. If we’re going with the all out, a headstone of plaque

at $3,157, coffin around $2,869, venue $1,686. Flowers? $1,685. Catering averages out to $1,320. These are all taken from the Senior’s Choice report of 2024, and they’re simply average costs.

Other potential costs include an officiant, embalming, invitations and death notices. There are burial fees, fees for the plot itself, and fees for the funeral director. You can see how funeral costs can spiral from a few thousand to the equivalent of a down payment on a small house. Insurance can help with this, of course, and there’s also the Canadian Pension Plan death benefit, which pays out a lump sum of $2,500.

Still, even with financial assistance, the figures can be daunting, especially with rising costs. The same hit that we take at the grocery store, in rent and mortgage and so much else, can also be seen in funeral expenses. This has caused a number of people to look into prepaid funerals, where current prices can be locked in for a future service. Tourangeau acknowledges that expense is an issue for those already feeling the pinch, with inflation being a prime driver affecting every single cost in a funeral service. There has been pushback from the industry; the Funeral Service Association of Canada are agitating for an increase to the CPP death benefit, calling it “woefully inadequate.”

There’s also the question of unethical practices, especially funeral homes exploiting personal grief to upsell. Former Edmontonian and now Calgarian Tamara Roberts remembers her mother being roped into a funeral payment plan of $100 a month for 10 years, with a $4,000 casket on a different payment plan. This was in B.C. It was an over-the-top service that would have better suited a small folk concert.

“Our family is tiny, so [the size of the room] was insane and a little hilarious,” she recalls. “There was a limo pickup and

drop-off, room for 200, a reception room and slide show. For nine of us.”

Edmontonian Jason Colvin remembers discussing next steps when his father passed in a public place. One of the professionals in an adjacent industry took Colvin aside to dispense a few quick words of advice.

“I was told to not take the first offer that comes over the phone,” he says. “They will try to gouge you. Get at least three quotes, because these people are trained to sound sympathetic, but they are not your friends. Boy, was she ever right. There was a $5,000 difference. I called three places and when I told them that I was gathering quotes the prices immediately went down.”

Sounds like the Wild West out there, but there is a board that oversees the industry. The Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board sets licensing standards and also involves itself in industry education requirements. A little wary of the company you’re dealing with? They’re the ones that deal with complaints and disciplinary hearings.

In The Big Lebowski, when Walter (John Goodman) and the Dude (Jeff Bridges) walk away from a funeral home with the ashes of their pal Donnie (Steve Buscemi) it was in a fast food container. That’s not an actual option in the real world, but as Tourangeau points out, it does mirror certain current vogues.

“The biggest trend has been the increase in cremation,” he says. “People find that much more convenient so they’ve been doing that a lot. We’re also seeing a lot of families kind of go away from the traditional type of services, having life celebrations or what we would call an afternoon or an evening to remember. Some people will opt for having pizza and watching the deceased’s favourite movie. So, something a little less formal, but still within that realm of celebrating and honoring and remembering a life.”

That’s the crux of it. A funeral can cost as much as you like, or as little as you like. The Senior’s Choice Funeral Report opines that the average cost of a basic funeral involving burial or cremation, with officiant and funeral director, is $4,037. That’s without all of the extras, including extravagant flower arrangements, hospitality for the attendees, a headstone or plaque. It all depends on what you consider to be important.

Will it be a private matter involving only a few people, or a friend and family gathering that needs the use of the chapel? Will you need an ornate headstone, or to rent a spot in the cemetery for your loved one’s ashes? Tourangeau notes that for many people these are questions that only really come up in the moment, and funeral directors are there to shepherd their clients through the grief to find what would be the best option for them.

“We’re here to help in a professional rather than an emotional manner for the families,” he says,” so we just make sure that we go along at a pace that they’re comfortable with. We don’t judge. We just make sure that we give the family every option and allow them the time and the space to make decisions that are best suited to their needs.” t8n

Smart Renovations Start Early

After years working in residential renovation, one pattern comes up again and again: the most stressful projects are the ones homeowners didn’t plan for. A pipe bursts behind an aging bathroom wall. Kitchen cabinets finally give out. Flooring that’s been “fine for now” suddenly isn’t. Renovations done under pressure often cost more, take longer, and leave homeowners feeling rushed into decisions they’ll live with for decades.

Most homes are built with an expected lifespan of 15–20 years for finishes and fixtures. That includes kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, windows, roofing materials, and mechanical components. With proper care and higher quality, many

of these elements can last longer— but high-use spaces like kitchens and bathrooms tend to reach their limit right on schedule. When homeowners plan ahead, these replacements become thoughtful upgrades instead of urgent repairs. The biggest advantage of early planning is financial control. Renovations are a significant investment, and spreading planning over time allows homeowners to budget realistically. You can prioritize projects, explore financing options, and avoid the premium costs that often come with emergency work. When a renovation becomes a “must-do,” choices are limited and timelines are compressed. Planning early puts you back in control.

Timing is another often-overlooked benefit. Every renovation comes with some level of inconvenience, but thoughtful scheduling can minimize disruption. For example, a kitchen renovation during winter can be particularly challenging if you’re used to grilling or cooking outdoors in warmer months. Planning ahead allows you to choose the season that best suits your lifestyle, arrange temporary solutions, or even plan time away from home during the most disruptive phases.

Just as important is decision-making. Design choices—layouts, materials, finishes—shouldn’t be rushed. When homeowners are forced into quick decisions, they often default to what’s available rather than what

truly suits their home and lifestyle. Early planning gives you time to research, visit showrooms, compare options, and make confident choices that you’ll be happy with long-term. Working with the right contractor early in the process makes all the difference. A company like Caruana Interiors and Contracting brings years of experience and a detailed, methodical approach to renovation planning. Rather than reacting to problems, they help homeowners anticipate them. From realistic timelines and clear budgeting to thoughtful design coordination, their process is built to reduce stress and eliminate surprises.

A well-planned renovation isn’t just about aesthetics— it’s about protecting your home’s value and functionality. By planning before something fails, you can align upgrades with your long-term goals, maintain your home proactively, and enjoy the process instead of enduring it.

Renovations don’t have to start with a crisis. With foresight, the right guidance, and a trusted professional team, they can start with a plan—and end with a home

Mural Marvel

2,000 eye-catching masterpieces

I really focus strongly on Alberta landscapes and wildlife, and also colour and shadow. If you have the right composition with lights and colour and the shadow together, you can produce a beautiful piece of work in a really short time.

Leonardo Da Vinci completed the Mona Lisa in 10 years. Michelangelo spent four years painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But St. Albert artist Robert Murray has both of them beat by a country mile, having completed 1,800 murals in the space of five years.

By this fall, that tally could very well reach the 2,000 mark, if Murray has a good summer. He’s already made a name for himself across the province with his murals gracing everything from private residences to office buildings and retailers. He’s also literally made his mark in St. Albert, applying his brush to such projects as the Medieval Castle exterior of speciality game shop Mission: Fun & Games and a family’s graffiti-covered fence on Sturgeon Road.

It would normally take the artist part of an afternoon to complete an average-sized project that’s roughly 120 square

feet, whether it’s a fence or a wall. Recently, it took him two hours to create from scratch a slightly smaller mural, with his brush clocking in at nearly 50 square feet an hour.

The speed is impressive enough, even to capture the detail some of those works require, although Murray places a lot of faith in his artistic instincts. “The hand tends to know where it’s going, and you trust the hand,” he said.

“It’s not out-of-body, but you forget where you are. Once you are engulfed in that particular setting, you tend to forget the surroundings about you and just focus on that particular subject matter, and you just get lost in the work.”

Sometimes Murray gets so focused on his work, he simply can’t stop painting. Customers watching the artist go full throttle often ask him to take a break or grab a bite to eat, but he’s more inclined to politely decline their requests.

While the experience of creating a mural might seem surreal, what makes it onto the proverbial canvas is far more authentic, an homage to the natural provincial surroundings that continuously inspire Murray.

“I really focus strongly on Alberta landscapes and wildlife, and also colour and shadow,” he said. “If you have the right composition with lights and colour and the shadow together, you can produce a beautiful piece of work in a really short time.”

That work has certainly put bread on the table of the commercial artist, who generally takes a client’s idea and plays around with the concept using artificial intelligence software. “I had a lady who has a store, and she wanted to create an image of the 1920s in Prohibition, with the dark warehouse and the kegs of whiskey and things of that nature,” recalled Murray.

“So, my friend A.I. helps me along, and I’ll set the parameters for A.I. to create something for me. And I’ll send it to the customer.

Nine times out of 10, they’ll like the idea, so we’ll use that as a template, and we work from there.”

On a few occasions, he’ll create a work on a whim, such as the time he came upon that graffiti-tainted face last October, which landed him scores of positive headlines.

“It was more of an opportunity,” said Murray. “When I saw that, I looked around the surrounding neighbourhood, and thought that a fall setting would look really cool here. An hour later, we had the result on the fence, and the neighbours around, they seemed really happy with it.”

Thumbs-up responses from locals aside, Murray still has his favourites, namely a two-storey bungalow in Lacombe, which

he coated with cobblestones. Initially, Murray chided himself for being crazy enough to take on such a project. “I went back with my paint and brushes, and one rock at a time it came together,” recalled Murray. “It’s really become the focal point for the town of Lacombe.”

By far, his largest work is still a hockey arena in Lamont, which took Murray—who had a day job at the time—two summers to complete. “It was like endless gallons of paint, but it’s really a gorgeous depiction of landmarks in Lamont,” he added.

Murray, who calls himself an immigrant from Nova Scotia, studied fine arts at Red Deer College, but developed his taste for more impressionist works when he spent time in England

as a Latter Day Saints missionary. He’s also written three books, designed sportswear, and even inked a weekly comic strip. By 1990, Murray started to devote more time towards painting, which led to a gradual shift towards murals. It’s the aesthetics of such works that he and other artists create, which continue to inspire and fascinate him.

“I think that looking at all the murals done all over Alberta, it’s a tapestry of our province,” said Murray. “It shows us who we are, our culture, the people and the landscape in general. It really is incredible.” t8n

Bright Balsamic

Treat your taste buds to this tantalizing tonic

BY: GLORIA GE-WEALD | PHOTOGRAPHY: GLORIA GE-WEALD

ACIDIC, BOLD AND coveted for centuries, balsamic vinegar is presently known as an Italian-originated condiment, but for thousands of years, it was considered a tonic, a “balsam”, or balm, used to treat a variety of ailments, from wounds to sore throats. Balsamic vinegar was prescribed for all sorts of medical conditions and is known to be one of Hippocrates’s treatments of choice. As he would say, let food be thy medicine!

HONEY BALSAMIC GLAZE

Over eggs, on avocado toast, with Brussels sprouts, salmon, strawberries, chocolate, ice cream, fries… it goes on and on! Balsamic glaze is wonderfully capable of heightening a variety of dishes with its sweet, tangy charm. It’s also very easy and cheap to make!

1.5 c. balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. honey

Combine the vinegar and honey in a small pot. Bring to a gentle boil then reduce to simmer for 18-25 minutes, or until the mixture is reduced by more than half. When the glaze lightly coats the back of a spoon, it is done. It will also stick to the bottom of the pot a bit while you stir. Set aside once done; as it cools the glaze will continue to thicken. Once it cools, transfer to an airtight glass jar and soak the pot. It would be a doozy to wash otherwise! Keeps well in the fridge for at least a month.

BALSAMIC GLAZED CHICKEN CAPRESE SALAD

In familial Italian style, this is a simple yet fanciful platter, meant to be shared! The quality of this salad comes down to juiciness of the chicken and the quality of the ingredients. This is often what separates cuisine in Italy apart from a lot of food in North America — freshly picked from nutrient-rich soil! And cold-pressed, singleorigin olive oil, stored in dark glass to preserve its freshness.

1/3 c. balsamic glaze

1 tsp freshly minced thyme

2 chicken breasts

2 fresh mozzarella balls

3 tomatoes

bunch of basil

olive oil

sea salt

Preheat oven to 400°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts, then lay bottom side up. Sprinkle some of the thyme and then spread balsamic glaze on them. Flip the chicken over to breast side up, sprinkle with the rest of the thyme and coat the top side with more balsamic glaze, saving a bit for drizzling over the salad platter. Bake for 20 minutes. While the chicken is baking, slice the mozzarella and tomatoes.

Once the chicken has baked and rested afterward for 5-10minutes, slice it up and start layering it on the serving tray with the mozzarella, tomato slices and basil. Once everything is arranged beautifully on the plate, drizzle with the remaining balsamic glaze, olive oil and then lightly sprinkle with sea salt.

BALSAMIC INSIDE ROUND ROAST

To some, cooking a roast may seem like a daunting task. This recipe, though, makes it very streamlined and nearly fool-proof! There is no pan searing, no braising as it cooks, and you don’t even really need a meat thermometer. By cooking it for the first 15 minutes at 450°F, you take away the need to pan fry first, to help the roast get that tender bite. By pouring on the broth and having some of it bathe the roast in the tray, you minimize the risk of the beef drying out. And by covering it to let it rest properly after it’s roasted, you help lock in that tenderness.

3 lb. inside round roast

1 onion

2 tbsp. freshly chopped rosemary

2 tbsp. freshly chopped thyme

3 cloves garlic

1.5 c. beef broth

1/3 c. balsamic vinegar

1.5 tsp. sea salt

Preheat oven to 450°F. Rinse the roast, pat dry and if it isn’t already, tie it with twine. Freshly chop the herbs, mince the onion and slice the onion circles to roughly a half-inch thick. Combine the broth, garlic, herbs and balsamic vinegar and set aside. Spread the onions across the bottom of the ceramic roasting tray. Pour about half the liquid mixture on top of the onions, until they’re covered. They act as a sort of rack.

Rub the roast with half the sea salt, focusing mostly on the sides and bottom, then place the roast on top of the onions and pour the liquid mixture over the roast. Rub the rest of the sea salt on the top and sides of the roast. Place in the oven, uncovered, for 15 minutes at 450°F then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees. A three-lb. roast will take an hour and 15 minutes, as it is 25 minutes per pound.

After you pull the ceramic tray out of the oven, cover it with 4-5 layers of tinfoil for 20-30 minutes, to let the roast rest. Set the roast aside on a cutting board. Purée the onions and balsamic beef broth liquid remaining in the tray. Cut the roast and serve with the beef balsamic broth.

RUTABAGA FRIES WITH BALSAMIC AIOLI

Rutabagas are a great alternative for those looking for a lowcarb-friendly fry, or who are following a nightshade free diet, which has loads of benefits for certain autoimmune diseases. They are similar to the flavour profile of a potato, but with a more complex and slightly sweeter taste. As for the balsamic aioli, it packs a punch! For a slightly milder alternative, swap the mayo for sour cream.

2-3 large rutabagas

1 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/3 c. mayo

1.5 tsp. balsamic glaze

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1.5 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. maple syrup

olive oil to coat fries

Preheat oven to 415°F and line a cookie tray with parchment paper. Skin the rutabagas then slice them into half-inch wide fries. Coat the fries in olive oil, then add the sea salt, a tsp. of the garlic powder and most of the black paper, saving a pinch for the aioli. Once the spices are evenly coated and fully oiled, spread the rutabagas out on the baking sheet so that all of them are flat on the tray. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, flipping them every 20 minutes.

While the fries are baking, prepare the aioli by mixing the mayo, balsamic glaze, vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup and the remainder of garlic powder and black pepper in a small bowl. The aioli is enough for at least two servings and keeps well in the fridge.

BALSAMIC MARINATED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM BURGERS

Carnivore or not, there is a meaty satisfaction in a bite of this burger! Mushrooms are very absorbent, so all the flavours added to these portobellos soak right in, serving it right to your taste buds. Fun-gus facts! Mushrooms are more closely related to animals than plants! And the largest living organism on the planet is a fungus covering more than 2,000 acres!

4 portobello mushrooms

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. soy sauce

3/4 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. freshly minced thyme

1 tsp. freshly minced rosemary

3 tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/4 tsp. black pepper

4 burger buns

sliced pickles

sliced tomatoes

sliced red onions

greens

mayo mustard

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, sea salt, minced thyme and rosemary, olive oil, garlic, sea salt and black pepper in a bowl, then set aside. Rinse and dry the portobello mushrooms and chop enough off the stem off so that they can lay fully flat top side up. Find a dish just wide enough to allow all four mushrooms to lay fully flat. Lay them top side up on this dish and then slowly pour all the liquid on the caps, rubbing it in. Everything that falls into the dish will soak in, too.

Marinate for 30 minutes then transfer the portobellos gills side up to a parchment-lined baking dish. Divvy the remaining liquid from the dish into the gills of the portobellos. Bake for 15 minutes then flip to top side up and bake for five more minutes. While they’re in the oven, prepare the burger toppings. The portobello patties are ready to go straight to the burger buns once they’re out of the oven!

CHERRY BALSAMIC ALMOND BUTTER BROWNIES

Here the cherry balsamic reduction is being paired with these extremely decadent, best-ever brownies, balancing their richness with the tart, tangy reduction. But this sauce is wholly versatile and splendidly accompanies many dishes—savoury or sweet—such as roasted Brussels sprouts, as an alternative to cranberry sauce, as a burger topping or with duck.

Cherry Balsamic Reduction

3/4 c. balsamic vinegar

3/4 c. chopped cherries, frozen or fresh

1 tbsp. coconut sugar

big pinch of sea salt

1 tbsp water- use from the thawed cherries if using frozen cherries

Almond Butter Brownies

1 c. crunchy almond butter

3/4 c. cocoa powder

3/4 c. coconut sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 heaping tsp. sea salt

2 tbsp. mini chocolate chips

Mix all cherry balsamic reduction ingredients in a small pot, bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a low simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the reduction is simmering, pre-heat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8” baking dish with parchment, adding a bit of oil to the bottom, so the paper will stick. Then, combine all ingredients well in a mixing bowl. The batter will be very thick.

Press it evenly into the baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes and then let them cool completely before slicing. Once the reduction is complete, purée it. Keep the sauce and brownies separate while storing and just add a dollop of sauce to each brownie when served. The brownies will keep well in the fridge for five days while the reduction will last up to a week.

Getaway Gear

Make your spring break vacation more convenient than ever with these nifty accessories

“Take better selfies and group shots with the tool that can support, clamp and angle your phone anywhere!”

Joby Gorillapod Griplight 2-phone mount McBain Camera, 375 St. Albert Tr.

BY: STEPHANIE CRAGG | PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE CRAGG

FOLKS WHO REGULARLY leave town for spring break are wily veterans of planning for the occasion. That doesn’t stop at merely packing the essentials, however. Those who painstakingly prepare for a trip make sure to include items that less experienced travelers often overlook. Here’s a rundown of some products that can help fill those gaps.

“No more leaving the beach, or walking into

“Road trip through the mountains? The kids get to colour what they actually see!”

Snow Alligator Rocky Mountain colouring book ($14), The Makers Keep, 128-375 St. Albert Tr.

“In humid areas of the world, you may be greeted with a hotel room that initially smells damp. Counter that with your preferred scent!”

Heslip Home Room & Linen spray ($20), Cloud Nine Pajamas, 44 St. Thomas St.

“Chewing gum on airplanes is said to help relieve ear pressure during ascent and descent by encouraging swallowing. Why not have more fun with your gum of choice?”

Sport Balls gum

Candy Bouquet, 12 Perron St.

“Finally, we’ve found the neck pillow that is ergonomic and sturdy, to keep your head and neck comfortably straight!”

“When you want lower key activities than what the resort or the cruise ship offer, travel size games fit the bill for the whole family, or even for playing solo!”

Flip ($9.95), Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs ($24.95), Mission: Fun & Games, 560 St. Albert Tr.

“Know that you’ve done a thorough job of showering off salt water and beach sand by using a body scrub!”

Lalicious whipped sugar scrub ($75), Who Cares? Wear, 130 Bellerose Dr.

MAAS APPEAL

How Bella Maas has shaped the shopping experience to suit their business

BY: GENE KOSOWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE CRAGG

Economic uncertainty and consumer fickleness have always posed serious challenges to retailers, especially in the competitive women’s fashion market. Some retailers opt to declare that a visit to their outlets is a shopping experience— a rather convenient marketing buzzphrase—and hope for the best. But Bella Maas boutique owner Lindsay Hedstrom has taken that whole shopping experience notion much more seriously, making it an essential part of her operations.

“Customers come to Bella Maas for an experience and they need to feel valued and cared for,” says Hedstrom who owns Bella Maas outlets in St. Albert and Sherwood Park.

“We believe everyone should be greeted by a friendly face and someone genuinely interested in their interests, whether it’s buying a new pair of jeans or a sweater. With so many options available, we’re truly grateful when they step inside or decide to purchase something online.”

Making patrons more comfortable in a shop that specializes in women’s apparel is only part of the vision Hedstrom has created and developed to garner a toehold in the market. She’s also incorporated a set of key values near and dear to heart that she emphasizes to her staff and customers, from a focus on family and community to a dedication to empowerment and fashion.

It’s her way of stressing how her company should treat others, having had her own unpleasant series of interactions in the past as a customer and business owner.

“I just find customer service is lacking in general,” notes Hedstrom. “I am constantly disappointed in not being able to reach anybody by telephone. It’s really hard to get people on the phone these days, which I think is an important interaction, actually speaking to people rather than digitally speaking to people.”

It’s no surprise that Hedstrom is big on providing a personal touch to running Bella Maas, which extends to the wide array of inventory that populates the shelves. She personally handpicks all the items—from sweaters and t-shirts to skirts and jackets— and tests them for quality and sustainability.

Hedstrom also relies on feedback from customers and her own staff—all of them well-versed in the products they sell. She believes it’s also critical to keep in touch with fashion colleagues to find out what’s coming down the pike that would earn a spot in both her stores.

“Quality, price point, and my relationships with my vendors are all important to me,” Hedstrom adds. “I value mutually beneficial relationships with my vendors.”

Bella Maas relationships extended into the virtual route when the company went online in 2012. The website not only enables Bella Maas to display its wares that can also be purchased electronically, it also alerts folks to new arrivals hitting the shops and offers customers such incentives that include upcoming sales and suggestions on how to create a shopping party.

BELLA MAAS BOUTIQUES

370- 5 Giroux Rd., St. Albert (780) 470-7467

168-11 Athabascan Ave., Sherwood Park (780) 417-3562

bellamaas.com

hello@bellamaas.com

instagram.com/bellamaasboutique facebook.com/bellaamaasboutique

MAAS FOR

Bella Maas also has accounts on social media, where they also announce upcoming sales, offer fashion suggestions for special occasions, and display short videos highlighting popular outfits daily. So far the company is enjoying more than 80,000 followers on Facebook and more than 25,000 followers on Instagram.

Hedstrom recognizes that the online component is an important part of the company’s business. “But I do believe in personal interaction and in-store is really important and we try to share that on our online platform as well,” she says. “You can actually reach somebody at a store and speak to a real person about our products before you purchase them online.”

While Bella Maas stocks roughly 60 clothing lines, Hedstrom has no problem listing products that are particularly popular with her clientele. Big among customers are clothes by classic sporty denim creators AG Jeans, urban lifestyle apparel designers Gentle Fawn, vintage-style denim manufacturers MOTHER, and casual loungewear makers Z-Supply.

“They have strong brand development,” says Hedstrom about the wardrobes of choice. “Having worked on these brands for a long time, they understand their customers and are invested in the quality of their products.”

Bella Maas opened its first store in Sherwood Park in 2003, adding a St. Albert location two years later. Hedstrom, a former dairy farmer with some entrepreneurial experience, bought the operation in 2010 after hearing good things about the retailer. More than 15 years later, Hedstrom has managed to navigate the fashion industry and stake her place in it, but recalls the steep learning curve she needed to scale.

“I took a leap, not knowing what to expect,” she says. “We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.” t8n

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Questions about St. Albert

How familiar

are you

with Canada’s botanical arts city?

BY: GENE KOSOWAN

ST. ALBERT RESIDENTS recognize that the city is one of the best communities in the country. However, beyond that, most residents are likely unfamiliar with its history. Here’s where we come in, courtesy of a quiz to further familiarize yourself with a municipality that has such an enlightening past. Need some help to complete this? All the answers are in the Then & Now archives in t8nmagazine.com, more specifically by clicking on the Arts & Culture nav bar. Or you could sneak a peek at the answers at the end of this quiz.

A One cent

B Two cents

C Five cents

D Ten cents

2

What was the name of the first rail line to serve St. Albert?

A Canadian Northern Railway

B Alberta & Great Waterways Railway

C Canadian Pacific Railway

D Edmonton & Slave Lake Railway

3

Roughly how many students first graduated

When St. Albert officially became a city, roughly how many people lived in the community?

A 10,000

B 20,000

C 30,000

D 40,000

6

What currently occupies the building that once housed the original Paul Kane High School?

A Lorne Akins Junior High School

B Kinosayo Elementary School

C Elmer S. Gish School

D Holy Family Catholic School

7

Which park currently boasts an 18-hole disc golf

9

Who was credited with giving St. Albert its name?

A Bishop AlexandreAntonin Tache

B Father Albert Lacombe

C Bishop Vital Grandin

D Father Baptiste Morin

10

In what year did the Rainmaker Rodeo debut?

A 1945

B 1955

C 1965

D 1975

11

What was the name of the railroad established in 1913 to serve St. Albert and Edmonton?

A Twin City Transfer Company

B Interurban Rail Line

13

What is Étoile Crescent North, in the city’s northwest section, named after?

A A hotel

B A drugstore

C A tavern

D A newspaper

14

Thelma Chalifoux became the first Metis woman in Canada to occupy what position?

A Senator

B Member of Parliament

C Governor General

D Speaker of the House

15

How many St. Albertans died from COVID during the 2020-2022 outbreak?

A 22

Which historic mover and shaker was dubbed “The Little Napoleon”?

Octave Bellerose

Lucien Boudreau

Cheri Hebert

17

Gardening entrepreneur and Alberta Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole had previously played organ at which church?

A St. Albert Alliance Church

B St. Albert Catholic Parish

C St. Albert Evangelical Lutheran Church

D St. Albert United Church

18

How long did it take to build the first chapel in St. Albert?

A 10 days

B 20 days

C 30 days

D 40 days

19

Mary Cross Dover was a co-founder of which rodeo?

A Calgary Stampede

B Cochrane Rodeo

C North Peace Stampede

D Rainmaker Rodeo

20

What force was mobilized in 1885 to protect St. Albert from the Riel Rebellion?

A North West Mounted Police

B Royal Canadian Mounted Police

C St. Albert Mounted Riflemen

D St. Albert Police Force

Modern Rocker

Chantal Dunn is living the dream at Sonic 102.9

BY: GENE KOSOWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE CRAGG

For as long as she could remember, Chantal Dunn was always a music fan, predominantly weaned on grunge acts like Audioslave and Pearl Jam, thanks to her parents’ taste in alternative rock. But any aspirations of a career path in the industry eluded Dunn until she saw Almost Famous, a celluloid dramedy about a teen scribe who finagles a Rolling Stone gig to cover a touring upstart band.

“I watched that movie a billion times as a kid; I was just in love with rock n roll and bands and rock journalism,” said Dunn. “One day, it kind of clicked and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, you can work in this industry for a living!’”

At 25, Dunn is living the dream, helming a two-hour, latemorning weekday slot on modern rock FM station Sonic 102.9.

Away from the mic, she performs a multitude of tasks from conducting band interviews to posting all the station’s activities on platforms that include Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

“I like it all,” said Dunn, whose efforts earned her runner-up status in the 2025 Canadian Radio Awards’ Young Broadcaster of the Year category. “I think the sweet part of my job is that I can get to do a little bit of everything.”

Dunn’s emergence in the radio trade is taking place during a precarious period that sees legacy media struggling to keep pace with its digital competition. While print and television are gradually being eclipsed by electronic counterparts from social media to podcasts, radio continues to be a more formidable beast to bring down.

I busted my butt. I remember waking up in the morning and not remembering what shirt to put on.

That’s no surprise to Dunn, who argues that her favourite medium has also kept pace with the times by incorporating those online tools into its business model. “You can get Sonic right now, for example, not just through our dial, but we have an app, we have our social media, and we have the podcast on multiple platforms,” she said. “Radio, I think, is just so accessible, and I also don’t think there’s ever been a time when people don’t value human connection, especially since COVID.”

Besides her affinity for radio, Dunn also treasures a valuable connection to St. Albert, although she’s lived in Edmonton most of her life. Raised in one of the Alberta capital’s more northern neighbourhoods, Dunn was encouraged by her francophone mother to attend École Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville (ESSMY), a French immersion school in nearby St. Albert. She relished her six years at the school, recalling highlights that included a field trip to an orphanage in Costa Rica, and the time her English teacher got Dunn to annotate lyrics by Rise Against, her favourite band.

“The teachers, the staff, and the experience there, I felt really made it for me,” said Dunn. “I know some students liked to go to Paul Kane or other places for the big high school experience, but I honestly thought that education-wise, my learning at ESSMY was so one-on-one, and you got a lot more out of it.”

She also felt at home in St. Albert, where she found the surroundings were more serene than life in Edmonton. “I could definitely walk around with my friends and get to be a teenager and wanna walk to the 7-Eleven and get Slurpees. It was a lot less daunting than walking in Castledowns or Clareview to get a Slurpee,” She said, laughing about the memory. “It was definitely safer.”

After getting her high school diploma, Dunn enrolled in the media communications program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. During her first semester, she lucked out in landing a spot on Sonic’s promotional street team and working overnight DJ shifts, before eventually getting a weekend slot. After graduating from NAIT and wanting to expand her skill set, Dunn snared a weekday spot at Sonic’s sister station in Grande Prairie, where she worked for three years. She returned to Sonic in 2024.

ends meet in the so-called gig economy. But she’s quick to point out she was in a similar position while at NAIT, at one point holding down three jobs between classes.

“I busted my butt,” Dunn declared. “I remember waking up in the morning and not remembering what shirt to put on. I’d be bartending until 1 a.m., have a 7 a.m. class and go to HomeSense after. I know what it’s like to have multiple jobs.”

For now, Dunn is content to have only one job, which has occasionally taken her far beyond the studio. She’s attended such extravaganzas as the Grammy Awards and the Junos, but her biggest thrill took place in 2023 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in New York. Accredited as a photographer, Dunn captured images of Sheryl Crow, Sia, and Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, the event’s inductee.

But for Dunn, the most touching moment of the ceremony occurred when Elton John played “Tiny Dancer,” a song included in the soundtrack of Almost Famous, the very movie that helped entice Dunn to pursue the profession she enjoys now.

“So, it was this weird moment for me where this is like, very full circle.” t8n

Dunn admits that luck played a huge role in her professional journey, given that most of her Gen-Z peers still try to make

Egg-zactly!

This

Easter-themed contest isn’t one that’s served over easy

Just in time for Easter is a contest that won’t have you walking on eggs, but it might be a tough one to crack. Undertaking this might be a hard-boiled effort, but at least it won’t involve counting any chickens before they hatch. It also helps that we put all those eggs into one basket.

Now that you’ve made it past all those idioms, try guessing how many chocolate eggs are in this container. Once you figure that out, write down the answer on this page, whip out your smartphone to click an image of it, then post it on either Facebook or X (tagging #t8n, of course) or direct message us with the attached image instead.

The person who guesses the right number or gets closest to the solution wins. If there is a tie, we will randomly draw from those lucky candidates. Prize is available only to St. Albert residents.