Interviewed and written by Trina Moran Photographed by Noriko Nasu-Tidball Near the corner of West 41st Avenue and Maple Street lies Gem Chocolates. Radiant in its chic white and deep sky blue hue, this artisan chocolate delicatessen is owned and run by foodie and chocolatier, Glenn Knowles. Behind the counter Glenn is accommodating, approachable, and is a wealth of knowledge about each and every product in store. Whether he is behind the counter constructing an original Gem collection for a customer, in his candy kitchen crafting award winning caramels, or simply making the best hot chocolate of you will ever taste, Glenn is a chocolate mastermind and his creations are so delicious they could be criminal!                   Gem Chocolates opened on December 19th 2011 and quickly thrived under the Holiday demand for sweet treats as presents. Previously Gem Chocolates was only available through third parties and online. Today, Gem Chocolates is proud to say that it has settled its roots in its Kerrisdale location and has already gained numerous regular clientele. As well, Gem Chocolates has shipped chocolates as far as eastern Canada, Florida, Virginia, New York, California, Japan, Hawaii, and Brazil. After many years of working in finance and securities in both Canada and abroad, Glenn felt that he had to pursue another passion in life. Glenn notes that he was always a foodie and was interested in the culinary arts. After learning of an online chocolatier school, École Chocolat, (http://www.ecolechocolat.com/chocolate-program.php), Glenn found his passion: Chocolate. Needless to say, after much practice and recipe perfecting, Glenn was on his way to being one of the top chocolatiers in Vancouver. When deciding to become a commercial business, Glenn spawned the name ‘Gem’ in congruence with his two children: Eamon and Madeleine. Glenn’s chocolates consist of...

A former Chief of Musqueam Band Interviewed by Keiko Honda, Editor-in-Chief Photographed by Noriko Nasu-TidBall Videotaped by Rosanna Goncalves “What was your take home...

Steve Stanczyk Interview by Barb Mikulec Steve Stanczyk is the artist chosen to work with the Kerrisdale community to make a mural for the entrance to the KCC centre. Steve has always been interested in art, from elementary school through high school. He started making paintings as a teenager and has kept it up until today. He attended Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver and The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. He also received a diploma in Digital Art and Design from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC and before studying at TRU, he studied Fine Arts and Art History at The University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, BC. Steve taught painting in the Saturday Program at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York along with teaching photoshop and digital art with Gateways Learning Centre in Abbotsford and art history and painting at Abbotsford’s Reach Gallery Museum. His art practice consists of working in a diverse range of themes and mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, digital design, video, installation art and other mixed media. Steve’s portfolio includes both experimental and abstract work along with more traditional paintings such as landscapes and portraits, and also works that have been commissioned. His exhibition history includes exhibited my art in three shows at The Cooper Union, including exhibiting and selling one of his silkscreen prints in a fundraising exhibition at the Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Gallery, with other New York artists, including students, teachers and alumni such as Hans Haacke. Steve has also exhibited art in several shows in Vancouver, including the Pendulum Gallery on West Georgia St and at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford, BC. Along with completing painting, graphic design and photography commissions, Steve has also painted several large–scale public murals on both canvas and on walls for different businesses, organizations and communities. An amazing thing...

With music and lyrics by JEANNIE CORSI and featuring vocals by JANET OXLEY Photographs by Noriko Nasu-Tidball   “The two friends with boundless passion for music, Jeannie Corsi and Janet Oxley, finally completed what they started 37 years ago. Their music has it all: drama, comedy, romance, friendship, spirituality, happiness, community, and values. The 9 original pieces of music and lyrics written by Jeannie and sung by Janet are quite magical, highlighting the joy of their collaboration and their long, loving friendship. They do put their hearts in it!! Watching them perform together is a refreshing, encouraging, and moving experience. Their faces are full of graceful smiles and humor, as well as their life struggles. Their genuine happiness appears so natural in their music that you will remember that life is beautiful indeed. I was in awe of the music and their personalities, which are unique and full of vigor and creativity—absolutely first-rate. I am sure everyone will agree! I am proud and excited to bring their nine original pieces to our 1st Annual Community Engagement Celebration event scheduled in September 2012. Please stay tuned, everyone!”  ~Editor-in-Chief   An Interview with Jeannie Corsi & Janet Oxley VIDEO by Rosanna Goncalves   BIO: Jeannie Corsi – composer and...

  Photographed by Noriko Nasu-Tidball   Aryan Etesami I would like to begin by saying how I sincerely appreciate the opportunity that Kerrisdale Community Centre has awarded me here to express myself to the wonderful people of this great community. At first glance, I am a third year student at the University of British Columbia currently pursuing my post-secondary education in the field of Psychology. Based on my educational background, it may be evident how much I love to get to know and interact with new people of all walks of life. Also coming from a family of Persian descent, it is even more interesting for me to meet and learn about people of different backgrounds so to compare their amazing cultures, to find out the beauties embedded in each of them and realize the astonishing similarities that give meaning to the oneness of all humanity. I believe that it is only through interaction and communication with others that you will truly be able to know yourself. And as obvious as it may sound, you can only understand the meaning behind life and be able to fully enjoy it, if you know who exactly you are. To me, life is a never-ending journey to discover your own self through committing to new experiences and meeting new people that will shed more and more light into your inner realm. In today’s modern world, fortunately, our lives involve many chances to encounter new people and new experiences that we may sometimes take this opportunity for granted. Meanwhile, many of us become too busy with the hassles and stresses of everyday life that we may forget to realize the importance of quality communication and interaction with the people around us. This is why I consider it essential for...

Meet Our President = Interviewed and Written by Shahbanno Bhatti   Photographs by Noriko Nasu-Tidball   I interviewed Oscar Bisnar, the chairman of the Board at the Kerrisdale Community Centre.  Oscar has been involved with the Kerrisdale Community Center society for the past four years, starting out as a committee member.  He has a Sociology and Master of Education degree from UBC.  Oscar retired from teaching after 35 hardworking years.  ??????Travelling all around the world, he has come to the conclusion that Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. His hobbies include woodwork and fitness.  He often comes to Kerrisdale to use the fitness room.  ??????Oscar would like to see some improvements in the community center.   One of the things the Board plans is to have the new facilities for the swimming pool and arena.  However, there are issues with this development, as the community center is against the brick financial wall of the city and Park Board to get funding for it.  Moreover, one of Oscar’s main focuses being the President is to do Succession planning to motivate and encourage new board members to take up leadership positions.  He believes that it is one of the main components to achieve success in an organization, as the transitioning phase of appointing new board members runs more smoothly.   The community center consists of a diversified Board of individuals.  The center conducts elections every year electing new members for a two year term.  The current board consists of 4 newcomers as well as 15 members who have been working on the board for various years. Here is a brief introduction of the highly-engaged and high-functioning Kerrisdale Board.   Note: The summary information below comes from a brief self-report questionnaire in which...

Beauty Comes From Movement Interview with contemporary filmmaker Daniel Conrad Daniel Conrad, a filmmaker and writer, has Masters degrees in cinema and molecular immunology. He makes dance films and documentaries. His dance films look at the human organism confronting the alienated modern city and the natural wilderness. His documentary films focus on the aesthetic response, one of the most universal human traits. What awakens our sense of beauty? My personal response: Everything that makes life “beautiful” involves movement. The seasons, the tides, growth, development, aging, change. This coming Fall at the Centre, we will screen some of his dance films, followed by a discussion. So come and meet the director and stay tuned for the film screening! ~ Editor-in-Chief  To watch movie trailers: http://www.rhodopsin.ca/films_en.html   Q: When did you first start getting into films? Does your science background help you make films (and how so?)? A: I started life as a wilderness photographer. I wanted to understand life, in the broadest sense. When I had accumulated more questions than answers, I went to graduate school to study molecular immunology. This gave me a sense of the structures of emergent systems. I then went to a second graduate school to study cinema. This was not such a change for me: I had been studying all my life, and these formal periods of specialization allowed me to look more deeply. In film school, I studied Eisenstein, whose first training was in architecture and civil engineering. There is biology in all of my films, sometimes explicitly. Q: To what extent your movie comes from a very personal place? How did you get the idea to write the scipt for “Accdent by Design”? What sparked your creation? A: I wanted to know what makes things beautiful. It’s a question that should be easy...

  About Artist Noriko is Japanese born, and moved to Canada in 1990.  She took up photography in 2009, beginning with an SLR camera.  Noriko has studied under and worked with different photographers including noted local photographer, Yukiko Onley.  She has worked taking photographs for a series of events.  Noriko currently lives in Vancouver with her husband and daughter. My Photography  I have used digital cameras in my photography.  Modern digital cameras are very easy to use for taking technically good photographs.  However, as my interest and understanding of photography has grown, I have begun to appreciate how photographs can capture the feelings and thoughts of a photo’s subjects.  I find that a camera can create images that are very interesting, and the viewer can have a deeper understanding of the subject.   Daily life, Chinatown Vancouver, 2011* *This photograph appeared on the National Geographic website as an editors choice as one of the top photographs submitted to them that day.     Rememberance day, vancouver, 2011     Vancouver fashion week, 2011     From street, Harajyuku, Tokyo, 2011       Untitled, Vancouver, 2011     Untitled, 2011     Joy, Vancouver, 2011   Flow, Wakayama, 2011   In the dust, Wakayama, Japan, 2011   Harvest time, Wakayama, 2011   Musician, Vancouver, 2011   Noh performance, Vancouver, 2012   Noh mask, 2012   Untitled, Vancouver, 2011 Untitled, Vancouver, 2011   Hot afternoon, Maui,...

“An action-packed year has taken Creativity and Innovation Expert, LINDA NAIMAN aroud the globe consulting key business leaders. Using art-based learning and coaching, her insights and methodologies are drawn from the multi-disciplinary perspectives of business management, art, design, and social science research. Here, an acoount of her last 20+ years. When people do something for a long time, there’s reason.”  ~ Editor-in-Chief~ Linda Naiman is a long-time resident in the Kerrisdale community and founder of CreativityatWork.com and co-author of Orchestrating Collaboration at Work. She has been featured in theGlobe and Mail, Vancouver Sun, and Canadian Business Magazine. To find out more about coaching for creativity and innovation: visit Creativity at...

‘Bridging the Gaps’ An Interview with Ph.D student Hana Al-Bannay By Trina Moran When it comes to improving the lives of fellow community members, the story of Hana Al-Bannay outshines the rest. Hailing from Qatif, Saudi Arabia, Hana is pursuing her Ph.D in rehabilitation sciences at the University of British Columbia. Her dissertation focuses on improving the health of Saudi Arabian Muslim women through education related to lifestyle conditions with special reference to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hana began her academic career at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh, and finished her first degree with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Language. Shortly after finishing her English degree, Hana worked at a military based hospital as an interpreter. It is here that Hana became interested in the medical field. In addition, working with a large number of international employees inspired her to study abroad, leading her to Canada. In 2003 Hana completed a BA in Sociology at the University of Victoria and went on to pursue a master’s thesis at Royal Rhodes University focusing on the B.C. Arab community experiences with the Canadian health system. Aiming to finish her doctoral thesis by 2013, Hana hopes that the impact of her research at UBC will aid in designing health education programs suitable for the lifestyle of Muslim women in Saudi Arabia, empowering Saudi and Muslim women to pursue healthy living, and decreasing the prevalence of lifestyle conditions including type 2 diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia. A recent medical study notes that since the late 1980s there has been an increasing trend among adult Saudis of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, the rate being one in five. Other studies have concluded that a rise in obesity, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are the most...

Through all these years that I have been living in Canada my work has evolved in different ways. Somtimes it resembles memories that identify me with my past, sometimes with ideas that come at random or words that fall out from a poem that has moved me, sometimes they are personal like my mother’s death. And how about nature as an inspiration: it always touches me, but more than emulating it, I embrace it. I have always believed that art is like life: to live life, one has to learn to live; when we cease to learn we begine to die.”   ~ Davide Merino    Volim te (“I love you”), oil on paper     Crosswords, oil on paper     Dream with Colors, oil on paper       About the artist: Originally from Mexico  , Davide merino works and lives  in Vancouver for the last 25 years , after  studying  architecture in Mexico city (UNAM) he study and graduated in fine arts  at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design  Vancouver BC. Read more…… For...

By Trina Moran Dr. Chan appears to be your average dentist. He is 5’5’’, dons the blue dentist uniform, and is ready to accommodate all of your dental needs. However, beyond the blue scrubs and the dentist’s drill (that most of us fear), is Alex the Aikido practitioner.   One year ago Alex began taking Aikido classes at the Kerrisdale Community Centre. Now, after much hard work and perseverance, Alex is now a practitioner of Aikido at KCC. Alex was inspired to take up Aikido because of his interest in mixed martial arts, UFC, to meet new people, and for stress release. After one year, Alex is proud of all that he has accomplished in Aikido and recommends it for people looking to take up a sport either for fun, fitness, or self-defense.   Aikido is a martial art that originates from Japan and was developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his personal martial arts studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is commonly translated as ‘the way of unifying with life energy’ or as ‘the way of the harmonious spirit’. Ueshiba’s goal with Aikido was to create an art that people could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury. Overall, Aikido places emphasize on defense, not offense. Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacked and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. Therefore, little physical strength is used. In a fight, an aikido practitioner would ‘lead’ the attack’s momentum using entering and turning movements finishing with a throw or joint lock. Today, Aikido is found world-wide in a myriad of styles with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis. However, all share techniques originating from Ueshiba.   Alex is a UBC...

The Secret to Being a Great Musician Kevin Olafsson, a master teacher of Japanese tradiational Koto and Shamisen music, revealed how cross-cultural experience was a great foundation to expand his art and to deepen his understanding of musical masterworks and tradition.  Being a native Japanese, I was not only blown away by his Japanese-like demeanor but also by his great soulful sounds. My hats off to him! ~ Editor-in-Chief About Kevin In 1988, Kevin left Canada for Japan and began koto and shamisen lessons as a member of the Souchiku Kai, a school under the direction of Takemura Aiyako.  In 2000, he left Tokyo for Honolulu to begin graduate studies in ethnomusicology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His research focused on the Iemoto Seido.  He was a Graduate Assistant in the University of Hawaii Music Department and taught the shamisen portion of the Koto Ensemble class.  He has been heard on Hawaii radio as a guest on Barbi Wong World Notes, and the late Glen Grant Japanese Ghost Stories as well as on TV KHON morning show.  He regularly taught and performed both koto and shamisen and guest lectured at the UH music department. Kevin is especially proud of the University Laboratory School Japanese music ensemble, which he founded in co-operation with the Kimono Culture Class.  Most recently he has performed in Vancouver for the Japan Canada Relief Fund and conducted a lecture workshop at Quest University. Photograph by Noriko Nasu BONUS!! Come Meet Kevin and Try His KOTO Workshop! Recommended for all ages! When: May 20, 2012, Sunday, 2pm-4pm Where: Kerrisdale Community Centre For Registration:  https://pbregister.vancouver.ca/adet.sdi?activity_id=354719   Complimentary coffee is donated by Bean Around The World...

About Paul Toolan I first got bitten by the acting bug when I was in secondary school in England.  The school put on a yearly production of a Shakespeare play and of course at first I was cast in supporting roles which gradually grew in size until I was cast as hylock in The Merchant of Venice.  I attended university where I became a very active member of the dramatic society. The society put on at leastone production a year and took a play and a late night revue to the Edinburgh Festival fringe. I particularly enjoyed one year at the fringe when I played a sizeable cameo in the play Antigone  by Jean Anouilh and then took part in the late night revue which had been written by a very talented graduate who was trying to make his way in the show business scene in London. For a while after I graduated I combined teaching and acting at The Mountview theatre club in north London which put on amateur theatre of a high quality. After I emigrated to Canada I continued to teach and took part in the amateur theatre scene in Winnipeg. Then I married and had a family and decided to commit myself fully to teaching. Only recently since I came to Vancouver as a retired teacher have I revisited my theatrical self. I¹ve taken part in several productions over the last few years and finally decided to put together a one person show which explores Shakespeare¹s life and times and how they are reflected in his plays. A Short Story by Paul Toolan Mrs. T It was the voice that struck him at first, high pitched and at the upper end of the register just a little quivery. Reminded him of...

Photographed by Rosanna Goncalves...

An Interview with Lori Wotherspoon BY Keiko Honda, Editor-in-Chief Videotaped by Rosanna Goncalvas   Visit: KJM Country...

Oliver Samonte “Dr. Recycle and the Art of Recycling” Interviewed and Written by Trina Moran Innovative, creative, and environmentally friendly, Dr. Recycle exhibits a pioneering way of educating the importance of recycling in a creative and interactive environment. With his self-invented ‘junkology’ anything is possible. From crocodiles to venus fly traps, Dr. Recycle can transform ordinary recyclable containers into charming works of art and children’s toys. Dr. Recycle’s workshops are filled with creative and amusing toys and projects that are age appropriate for pre-school children to grade 12 students. Dr. Recycle’s projects have been used by the GVRD for their educational programs for over the last ten years. In addition, a series of books have been published and a board game has also been developed all in the theme of recycling. Dr. Recycle, Oliver Samonte, hails from the Philippines where he learned the art of ‘creative recycling’ as a child. After studying electrical engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology, he immigrated to Canada in 1991. He later enrolled in the Self-Employment program at Douglas College to take on a new career path after developing many of the recycled creations featured in his workshops as well as earning his nickname ‘Dr. Recycle’. Oliver also teaches Sunday school at the Bible Missionary Church in Surrey. When asked why recycling is important to him, Oliver remarks that it ‘makes sense that everything can be [recycled]’ and that these choices and decisions that we make at home impacts the world as a whole. Oliver developed and based his recycle program around children as he feels that they are more understanding and accepting of these global notions: they can see and understand the importance of it, how it impacts them both in the present and the future, what previous...

My passion        Written by Lindsay Gibson My name is Lindsay Gibson and I am from the Musqueam Nation in Vancouver BC. I am 28 years old and have lived in Vancouver on the Musqueam reserve since 1990. My family and friends are extremely important to me, as it is their love and support that has made me who I am today, I admire each and everyone of them. My number one goal in life is to positively contribute to other people’s lives, Aboriginal youth in particular. When I am not at work you can find me walking, reading, kayaking, enjoying a live show, and camping when I have the time. For the past three years I have been combining my passion of kayaking and helping by participating in Kayak for a Cure Vancouver. Where we paddle from Jericho to English Bay and back and donate the proceeds to the Canadian Cancer Society. I have done many things as I got my first job when I was thirteen years old, and had a summer jobs in Musqueam everyyear since. Before I even started to work my friends and I started a Creek Clean-Up Crew where we would clean up the local creek in Musqueam. One summer two other youth and I taught Musqueam’s traditional language to kindergartners to grade fours. I have done everything from Musqueam Bike Patrol, receptionist, treaty researcher, to landscaper. I was even hired as a youth carver to work on a totem pole outside the Musqueam Band Office. In 2005 I participated in a Haida Gwaii field studies course with Langara College, which started my interest in world culture, travel and experiential learning. The following year I went to Ecuador as a participant on an Aboriginal exchange project, called the...

An Interview with Mark Perry by Trina Moran     When you walk into Kerrisdale Lumber on West Boulevard and West 46th Avenue, you right away get caught up in its bustling atmosphere: exquisite garden ornaments, hanging fire places, BBQs, and cheerful employees who are delightful to talk to and eager to show you how one of their many intricate home furnishings work. I stumbled upon a decorative fireplace that emitted smoke. Did I mention it hangs on a wall? It hangs on a wall.   Overall, the store itself is an extraordinary home hardware store that has everything and anything you would possibly need to furnish, fix, re-decorate, re-model your home, or accentuate, your backyard, or garden. Amidst the liveliness of the store, is Mark Perry. Mark is the current President of Kerrisdale Lumber which his grandfather, Bert Perry, founded in 1921. Rich in history, pertaining to both Kerrisdale and Vancouver, Kerrisdale Lumber’s mandate is to provide the ultimate home hardware shopping experience; able to cater your home’s each and every need over time.   Kerrisdale Lumber was founded in 1921 by Bert Perry who started the business with a horse and wagon after migrating from England after World War I. Sidewalks and just about everything at that time were made of wood and was what allowed Bert’s business to thrive in the beginning. In the 1920’s, Bert did not restrict Kerrisdale Lumber to only Kerrisdale (part of the Municipality of Point Grey at the time). He had his eye on expanding the business and making a name for the company and sought business wherever he could. Much of the original wooden streets of Vancouver were built out of the pine supplied by Kerrisdale Lumber and contracted by Bert Perry. The story behind the wooden streets...

  Written and Photographed by Fitnat Fahrner   Markus Fahrner is a freelance Graphic Designer, writer, photographer and Book Artist. His passion for books and eye for all things design has been a lifelong love affair. He has been a fixture at the Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurt/Main Germany) since he was 9 years old and the London Book Fair (UK) since adulthood. Now that he is Vancouver based; the Codex Book Fair in San Francisco is one of the new arena’s for his work. A self professed ‘Mac Geek’ and letter press enthusiast Markus loves to share his enthusiasm for the arts with like minded individuals. Here is what he has to say about his craft: “I love the challenges and variety of graphic design. Typography is one of my favorite subjects. It has been a special honor to design the Alcuin Society Canadian Book Design Awards for the past two years. I am delighted to layout the catalogue again this year. The catalogues have been well received and have gained high praise from the public and industry alike.When not working on design projects I produce artist books for my own book art company called Fahrner & Fahrner. We specialize in limited edition books and individual graphic posters. Fahrner & Fahrner books have been acquired by the Library of Congress, Wash. DC, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Meermanno Museum Den Haag and the Klingspor Museum, Offenbach to mention just a few. It was fun and a privilege to give a lecture about Fahrner&Fahrner at the Berkeley Museum of Art during the CODEX Book Fair. ”My goal is to bring excellent typography and innovative, fresh design to all my projects. I enjoy providing my clients with professional advice ranging from layout, paper, printing and publishing...