Weathering Change out of Your Control

By Carla Grundison

Everything from aging to actions taken by others, there is often little we can do to
stop or delay changes that are at the mercy of time or outside influences. We might
resist or fear such changes, but becoming more resilient can help us weather them
with more strength and ease.

While we can eat well, get regular exercise, do sudoku and other practices deemed
beneficial for our physical body and mental aptitude – let’s not forget about our
emotional and spiritual well-being, which starts with how we feel about ourselves.

Accept yourself – just as you are in this moment.


The more we can accept ourselves and see ourselves in a favourable light –
perceived flaws and all – the more we…

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The Allure of CottageClub at Ghost Lake

By Cindy Stephen

CottageClub at Ghost Lake is a 92-acre gated recreational community just 45 minutes west of Calgary on Highway 1A, featuring exceptional cottage homes and year-round amenities.

This exclusive development is next to a 1,866-acre freshwater reservoir, which was created in 1929 by the damming of the Bow River. Local developer Lamont Land built the first cottages in 2010 and since then have added amenities such as an exclusive beach, a boat launch, community gardens, an extensive trail system, parks, playgrounds, and a private recreation centre.

Buyers will find cottage site options for almost every lifestyle and budget with no building
commitment and strong architectural controls. The…

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INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS - SPOLUMBO'S ITALIAN DELI

By Mario Toneguzzi

The ingredients for any business success are quite simple – sell a good product at the right price point and offer quality service.

But many companies, like Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli, an institution in Calgary for three decades, have also recognized the importance of giving back to the community.

It’s the element that really elevates a venture from being a good company to a great one. 

For Spolumbo’s, the idea of supporting community has been part of the company’s DNA since day one.

“We’ve always had a huge soft spot for kids. As soon as we were able to at the beginning, we started picking our spots where we could help out with kids’ programs and kids’ sports.…

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Meet Doug Putman

By Mario Toneguzzi

At a time when many Canadian businesses were shuttering their operations due to the pandemic, Canadian serial entrepreneur Doug Putman was expanding his portfolio.

Through his company Putman Investments, he recently purchased Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us. He’s also owner of T.Kettle, Sunrise Records, FYE (For Your Entertainment), Alex Brands, HMV Retail Ltd (UK), The Granite Restaurant (Bancroft, Ontario), Makin Waves Marine (Bancroft) and Everest Toys (Hamilton).

Despite the brutal economic challenges out there in recent times, Putman is positive and looking at further acquisitions in the near future.

“I think everyone has learned how to be a lot more nimble and to do a lot more with less whether…

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By Mario Toneguzzi

Manjit Minhas, one of the most successful and most recognized entrepreneurs in
Canada, has a key message for business owners across the country during these tough
economic times brought on by the pandemic.

Innovation and collaboration are extremely important in navigating the choppy waters
that came through the storm.

“Understand we will get out of it but it’s important you try to get out of this stronger with
understanding your finances, becoming more efficient, maybe understanding your own
business better, what’s working and what’s not. And whether there’s some other
potential – whether that be short term or long term,” says the co-founder and co-owner
of Minhas Breweries, Distillery and Wineries and a Dragon on the popular…

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Canadian billionaire Daryl Katz - Not Your Average Edmonton

By Cindy Stephen

Canadian billionaire Daryl Katz has homes in Los Angeles and British Columbia, but his beautiful riverfront mansion in inner-city Edmonton truly illustrates that there’s no place like home.

Katz is chairman and chief executive officer of the company he founded in 1992, The Katz Group, which manages a vast empire of drug store and retail pharmacies. He grew up in the Alberta capital, the son of a pharmacist who founded the Value Drug Mart chain in the 1970s.  He attended Jasper Place High School and obtained a law degree from the University of Alberta in 1985.  

Now worth an estimated $3.7 billion, according to Forbes, Katz also owns the Edmonton Oilers of the…

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THE CHANGING REFUGE OF HOME

By Cindy Stephen

If there’s a silver lining to the global pandemic, it is this:  home and family have never been so important.

Home has always been our refuge, but COVID-19 has forced it to also be our workplace, our restaurant, our gym, our theatre, and our neighbourhood pub.  After the initial shock of the first lockdown, when the world was put on pause, the real estate market did what no one could have predicted.  It took off, because people forced to spend nearly every waking moment at home wanted a better space for themselves and their family.

Big on the list of must-haves in the last 18 months are home offices or flex space on the main floor with lots of natural light. Zoom calls and online learning at the…

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TURNING HEADS - Not Your Regular Alberta Bunkhouse

By Cindy Stephen

A French Chateau just off Cowboy Trail west of Calgary has turned a lot of heads the last seven years or so, cause it ain’t your regular kind of Alberta bunkhouse.

It’s an 11,000 square foot stone-clad mega-mansion on 80 acres of spectacular ranch land in Rocky View County. It lies unprotected by trees, prone to the curious eyes of all who pass by on the straight stretch of highway between Bragg Creek and the Trans-Canada Highway. The rural landscape around Calgary is dotted with opulent houses but this one….this one is as fantastic as it gets. It has even commanded national attention and was profiled by Canadian journalist Jen Gerson in Maclean’s Magazine.

As it was…

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