women with vision fall/winter, 2015

VISION!Fall/Winter Issue 201517th Anniversary Issue

W E A R E C A N A D I A N

™

Women with

Showcasing Business & Lifestyle in South Georgian Bay

FiveOld Fashioned

Ways to PromoteYour Business

FiveOld Fashioned

Ways to PromoteYour Business

ORGANIZEYOURPhotoCOLLECTIONS

Photo

FashionTHROUGH THEDECADES

Fall &WinterIssue:

Fall &Winter

Nostalgia

MadeleineFrench MadeleineFrench Rock’n inToday’s WorldRock’n inToday’s World

Chat with other

www.womenwithvision.ca

VISION!O N L I N E

™

Women with

www.womenwithvision.ca 5

To advertise call:

1-866-306-6021or e-mail:

[email protected]

Wo m e n w i t h Vi s i o n ! ™ m a g a z i n e

i s p u b l i s h e d b y Wo m e n w i t h Vi s i o n I n c .

Founder/Publisher, C.E.O. Lorraine Leslie

Sales/Marketing: Lorraine Leslie

Feature Writers: Karen Brunger, Janette Burke, Monika Gibson,

Paola Gucciardi, Laura Hodgkiss, Janet Kurasz, Lorraine Leslie,

Susanne Mikler, Jessy Morrison, Lesley Paul, Lynda Pogue,

Karen Sencich, Linda Thorn, Marilyn Wetston, Rick Ziemski,

Design/Layout: Candice Lewis |www.candicelewis.ca

Ad Design/Special Feature Design: Lorraine Leslie/L’original

Productions-Women with Vision Inc.

Cover Photography: Lorraine Leslie of Madeline French

Editor/Publisher : Lorraine Leslie

Publisher’s Picture : Clever Office

Sectional Page Photography: Dreamstime.com

Feature Photography: courtesy of Madeline French

Destination & Gourmet Features: Lorraine Leslie/L’original Productions-Women with Vision Inc.

Proof Readers: Cindy Bailey, Wendy Senten, Lorraine Leslie

Women with Vision!™ magazine aims to provide editorials that educate,motivate and inspire people of all ages and from all walks of life, and topromote success in business and daily living.

Mailing Address:156 Brophy’s LaneBlue Mountains ON L9Y 0K3

Bus: 1-866-306-6021Fax : (705) 445-7153 Email: [email protected]

Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. Copyright 2015 Women withVision! Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole orin part, without the written permission of the publisher. The views,opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of this publicationand/or publisher who hereby disclaims any liability whatsoever arisingfrom the advice, information or offers presented in articles oradvertisements herein. Women with Vision! welcomes submissions, butaccepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All manuscripts,illustrations and photographs submitted must be accompanied by astamped, self-addressed envelope if they are to be returned oracknowledged. Readers who require legal, accounting or other expertadvice should obtain the services of a qualified professional.Women withVision! is a Member of the Canadian Copyright Association.

Created in Canada

Customer number: 9067964

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN TO

156 Brophy's Lane, Blue Mountains ON L9Y 0K3

o YESsend me 5 issues of

VISION!™ MAGAZINE

clip and mail this order form to: 156 Brophy's Lane, Blue MountainsON L9Y 0K3 along with a cheque or money order made payableto Women with Vision Inc.

Subscribe Today!

VISION!VISION!™Subscribe below or online at www.womenwithvision.caWomen with

Women with

VISION!Women with

Name__________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________

Phone#_________________________________________________

e-mail__________________________________________________

Credit Card no. ________________________________________

Expiry Date____________________________________________

Name on Card _______________________________________

for $12.00+ HST $1.56

at$13.56

™

6 www.womenwithvision.ca

The feature people about whom I write, have traveled a long, winding road to success – each one on their ownjourney; a journey that sometimes hasn't been smooth. These people open their hearts to inspire and motivateothers, of all ages, to follow their dreams and passions, creating their ultimate VISION!™

Creating both a successful business and a happylifestyle in today’s busy world can be a challenge.Even Pope Francis is speaking about how we arelosing our sense of one-on-one communication. Areyou seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tastingyour life for real?

In this issue of Women with Vision Magazine wehave stepped back in time to remember those simpledays of doing things together; like sitting with familyand putting together a photo album. Hobbies arenow often done on social media through onlinegames and such. What happened to the old boardgames on the card table with a bowl of popcorn anda soda? Perhaps you do this while on vacation butrarely is this an ongoing family ritual.

Could you return to the strengths found within ‘thebasics’? Do you take the time to see the expressionon a child’s face the first time riding a bike? Can youhear the first giggle of an infant when touching a softlittle kitten? Take the time to smell that baked plumtart fresh out of the oven – not to mention the dreamytaste of chilled whipped cream on top!

Our feature article on Madeleine French will capturethe 50’s and 60’s of those who bopped ‘til theydropped on the dance floor to the sounds of TheMartels. If you’re of a certain vintage, you willreminisce through this true life story that will bring

back the delight of the past. If you are younger, itwill be fun to read about what your parents orgrandparents did for enjoyment when they wereteenagers!

As the cooler weather arrives you can enjoy somemouth-watering old-fashioned recipes… maybegather around the table for a board or card game…get the family involved in putting old pictures from ashoebox into an album for future generations tolaugh at and enjoy. (Yes. Make some hard copies if all your pictures aredigitized!)

In your mind’s eye you can see what I’m writingabout. Our writers have each created a nostalgicarticle for you to enjoy. We recognize that everygeneration has its own kind of nostalgia so we inviteyou to bring back the important memories of yourlife; sit down with your parents or grandparents andask questions… have them share their life stories.Make the time.

There is so much to learn from the past.It’s what makes our future soexciting!

Lorraine LeslieFounder/Publisher

Publisher’s note

Creating a Future

from Our Past

&&BUSINESS, FINANCECOMMUNICATION

BUSINESS, FINANCECOMMUNICATION

…connecting through educational &

networking updatesonline

© E

vere

tt C

olle

ctio

n In

c. |

Dre

amsti

me.

com

www.womenwithvision.ca 98 www.womenwithvision.ca

BUSINESS, FINANCE& COMMUNICATION BUSINESS, FINANCE& COMMUNICATION

In today’s growing internet era, advertising practices arerapidly shifting toward marketing campaigns for websitesurfers. And while online marketing is a must for today'scommunication and promotional outreach, the truth is thatgood old-fashioned promotions are also still effectivewhen compared to the latest ads optimized for mobile andcomputer platforms. With a mixture of new technologyand old-fashion expertise, you’ll be well on your way tohaving a well-known business.

Word Of MouthThe traditional advertising technique of word-of-mouthmarketing will always be an effective marketing tool.Social media networks are not the only place friends,families and neighbours can share their opinions about your business and personalized service. By engaging inpersonal conversations, they can actually listen to referralsand recommendations about you. As long as you makesure to provide your customers with great value andservice, word-of-mouth buzz will spread graduallythroughout the community. Word-of-mouth advertisingmay not lead to instant leads for a business, but eventuallypeople will remember the recommendations they’ve heard.

ReferralsIn addition to your customers talking about your business,you can ask current customers for referrals. If they aresatisfied with your business, they will be more than willingto give you the contact information of friends and familymembers who might be interested in your product. Peopleare usually easier to sell to if they know someone who hasalready tried the product or service out and is satisfied.

Supporting the Local CommunityA local business should always try to focus on capturing theattention and support of its fellow residents and neighbours.Businesses can establish themselves in the community bytying their name to local events and organizations. Forexample, sponsoring little league teams and otherrecreational sports leagues provides direct exposure to atarget audience in a local community. Businesses can alsosponsor school concerts, holiday parades and other funevents that attract large crowds in a community.

Hosting a Promotional PartyAny business can hold promotional parties and events thatattract potential partners and future customers. A smallpromotional event could be held at a local park instead ofan expensive convention center. Live entertainment andlight refreshments will be enough to draw a solidattendance. Businesses can give away promotional itemssuch as branded shirts, logo pens, custom magnets andother small but useful items. Promotional products likethese are customizable and offer repeated marketingexposure for your company every time they are used.

Social NetworkingYou can utilize in-person networking opportunities, suchas business networking events, school sports games andother events that allow you to share business cards and getto know each other better. Being active in schools,community organizations and other activities allows youto build long-lasting connections, personal friendships andbusiness promotions. Meeting someone for a coffeeoutside a big networking event is another old-fashionedpromotional practice.

Although it’s important to take advantage of newtechnology to help grow your business, don’t forget aboutthe trusted methods that have worked for years. If you relytoo much on technology, you will loseyour personal touch and connectionwith your customers. Combine high-tech and high-touch methods, and trysomething new to promote yourbusiness.

Five Old-Fashioned Waysto Promote Your Business

n Janette Burke Marketing/PR Coach, Consultant and Columnist www.janetteburke.com

How Good Were ThoseGood Old Days?

By Day Merrill

By Janette Burke

Do you get sentimental over images of outdated objectslike 8-track tapes and Brownie Starflash cameras ordescriptions of simpler times with stay-at-home Momswelcoming school kids with freshly baked cookies? Manyof us recall “the good old days” from the perspective of atrending obsession: nostalgia.

Nostalgia lets us reflect on childhood and adolescencethrough a lens of simplicity, innocence and beauty. WithKodachrome clarity, nostalgia magnifies and celebrateswhat we remember (or misremember) about those days.

So how good (or not) was the past? True, back in the1950’s, someone (male), would have found it easier to getand keep a job in manufacturing, even without a highschool diploma. Over time, he and his wife could havebought a house and raised a family on a single income.That’s the idealized past we haul out like a faded snapshotwhenever we’re dissatisfied with the present.

But let’s look at how other members of the shipyard/autoplant/factory worker’s family fared back in the day. Thewife usually stayed home; beyond convincing her husbandto “let” her work, she was restricted to the “HelpWanted‒Female” section of the classifieds. Even with ajob, she couldn’t take out a loan or get a credit card in herown (married) name. Dependent on her husband, she hadno legal claim on his earnings, much less recourse againstmarital rape.

People of colour earned 40% less than white workers andwere excluded from the post-war suburbs being built forwhite (but not Jewish) families. Retirees had lesseconomic security, with more than 25% living below thepoverty line. If you were a healthy kid, life was good, butdisabled children were regularly banished to institutionslike the Asylum for Idiotic Youth.

The disparity between what I (mis)remembered aboutthose days and reality became clear when I saw the firstepisode of Mad Men. All the 1960’s clothes, furniture, carswere familiar, but I had been blissfully unaware of the

systematic sexism, racism, anti-Semitism and generalintolerance the series exposed. A recent Financial Poststory on the end of Mad Men warns of the danger of“trying to revisit past glories, either personally,professionally, or politically,” noting the power ofnostalgia to motivate us to “rally behind the symbols of apast that never existed.”

At a personal level, many of us spend time revering anidealized past. Nostalgia is now so prevalent that the pastwe seek to recapture is often seconds v. decades past.Facebook and Instagram let us freeze and share momentswhile they’re still unfolding. I coach clients to trackevolving trends in their fields v. waiting for the economyto get back to “normal.” Even politics is not immune tonostalgia, as demonstrated by the Tea Party in the US,Russians who long for the good old Soviet days and ISISfollowers pining for an Islam that never was. Here inCanada, the nostalgic ideal is what the National Postauthor calls “Diefenbaker-era Canada filtered through thegauze of white, anglo Canada’s post-Imperial longings.”

As Mad Men’s Don Draper notes, nostalgia‒literally thepain from an old wound‒ is “a twinge in your heart farmore powerful than memory alone.” Rather than focusingon times gone by or trying to capture every instant oftoday, we’d be better off to heed the words of the late BilKeane, cartoonist of the newspaper comic The FamilyCircus: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, todayis a gift, which is why we call it the present.” Be here now!

n Day Merrill, MALS Career Management Coach President, 2BDetermined Inc. www.2bdetermined.ca


BUSINESS, FINANCE& COMMUNICATION BUSINESS, FINANCE& COMMUNICATION

Ethics: An Asset“Ethics and the principles of justice do not change with the calendar.”

~ D. H. Lawrence

Whenever I see increased media coverage of occurrencesof corruption and/or unethical behavior in worldbusinesses, governments or societies in general I getconcerned. As a Canadian, I especially wonder howCanada is fairing on this subject as I view ethics to be acritical asset for economic success and we need to besure we have lots of it around. How this asset works isfairly simple.

Ethical behavior, which means doing the right thingwhether others are looking or not, is fundamental toeconomic survival of any “economic” unit; whetherindividual, family, business or government. Absence ofethics leads to corruption and that leads to economicdeath. We have seen it all over the world in recent times:

• The fall of Communism in 1989 was an economiccollapse driven largely by rampant corruption withinthe member states that eventually found theireconomies grinding to a halt by the 1980’s.

• The near depression of 2008 was caused by less thanethical behaviors in the financial industry, largely inthe USA, in lending money to borrowers who didn’tknow or care if they could ever pay it back.

• The 2010 economic disaster in Greece links directly tothe corruption that underlies daily life in Greece.Unfortunately, people there find it easier to be in self-denial and blame the rest of Europe.

• Russia’s economy, known for corrupt practices, hasfaltered and with a need for distraction Putin haschosen the risky venture of an all-out militaryintervention in the Ukraine.

So what about Canada? Here at home it is no coincidencethat over recent years Canada has had a comparativelyhealthy economy and also has scored high on scales withvarious measures as a respected nation and economy. Mostrecently the World Reputation Institute ranked Canada asthe most “admired nation” with the “best reputation”,citing absence of corruption as a significant factor.

But are there any chinks in the Canadian “armor” thatwarrant vigilance? I believe so:

• Ontario has had numerous financial/political scandals,highest debt of any world sub-national government andan extremely high debt to GDP ratio, raising questionsabout the behaviors within Ontario’s government andbureaucracy. The resulting undesirable economicconsequences are obvious daily in the media.

• Federal Senate members have been caught “at thetrough” with an attitude that if no one is looking justtake it.

• The corporate sector has misbehaved as well with atleast one Canadian high profile corporation recentlyembroiled in foreign corrupt business practicesincluding bribery.

• There is also the haven for financial frauds within theCanadian financial industry, as exposed byinvestigative reporter Bruce Livesey in his book“Thieves of Bay Street”.

Nothing is ever perfect and so irrespective of any ofCanada’s awards; we can always work harder to ensurecorruption doesn’t ever kill our economy and greatnation. In this sense a zero tolerance for corruption, anethical society, starting with ethical leadership, andparents and schools that teach our young right fromwrong are what is needed.

Maybe it is as simple as that 70’s songby Crosby, Stills, Nash; “Teach your

children well”.

By Rick Ziemski


n W. R. Ziemski, CPA, CA Management Consultant [email protected] www.linkedin.com/in/rickziemski

In this article, I am going to step aside from the topic ofhandwriting analysis and focus on a memory of longago - the ability to write cursively. Back in ‘the day’when I was a kid, I remember practicing writing thealphabet over and over and over again.

Penmanship was important back then. Learning towrite cursively (in longhand) was not an option. It wasmandatory. Our report cards (yes, they were cardboard)contained an evaluation of our penmanship. Studentstook pride in their ability to write. Good writing cameclose to being a status symbol of how well bred youwere.

We wrote with chalk on blackboards. We wrote in ournotebooks with a thick pencil and we received a goldstar if we did it well. We wrote secret notes in ourdiaries. We wrote thank you notes, usually at theinsistence of our parents. Today, it is interesting toobserve that thank you notes written by hand havecome back into vogue as a classy way of saying ‘thankyou’. Many will tell you that cursive writing is nowobsolete. It is no longer necessary. We have computers

that can do all this for us.What’s wrong with being accomplished in both areas?

Many think that cursive is harder to learn than printing.Actually it’s easier than printing. Writing involvescurves. Printing uses straight lines and round circles.It’s easier to draw a curve than a straight line.

As for the value of writing cursively, it stimulates everyarea of the brain. It improves memory. When you writesomething down, it sticks in the brain.

Ask your children if they know how to write cursively.You’ll be surprised to know that most of them do not.And they can’t read cursive writing! Alas! With all thisfocus on ancestry, it seems a shame that those whocannot read cursively will not be able to access thethoughts and ideas of their ancestors.

Give yourself a mental workout today. Write a note incursive! Better still, teach your children how to write,if they don’t already know how. It’s easy to teach andit’s even easier to learn. Your greatgrandparents will send you a silent‘thank you’ for that.

By Mary Ann Matthews

Where has all the scripting gone?Nostalgia is regarded as pleasant memories of days from long ago...the good ol’days...days that once were …and may no longer exist. Can we bring back the realityof some of the experiences we had long ago? I do hope so.

n Mary Ann Matthews, CGA Certified Graphoanalyst Certified Cursive Writing Coach [email protected] www.handwriting.ca


BUSINESS, FINANCE& COMMUNICATION

VISION!M A G A Z I N E

™

Women with

...living lifeat its best

LIFESTYLE BEAUTYLIFESTYLE BEAUTY&

© E

vere

tt C

olle

ctio

n In

c. |

Dre

amsti

me.

com


LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY

Okay. So maybe it wasn’t a real hot flash, but I

was certainly feeling heated after reading the

front page of the newspaper. The groundbreaking

Women’s Health Initiative Study had been halted

abruptly. The study participants were told to stop

taking their hormone replacement therapy, as

were millions of women worldwide.

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) began in

1993 to study the long-term effects of hormone

therapy in more than 161,000 women aged 50 to

79. What researchers found had been suspected

by some, but unexpected by many. The results for

those taking both estrogen and progestin

(compared to placebo) showed 41% more cases of

stroke, 29% more heart attacks, twice as many

blood clots, 26% more breast cancer cases and a

76% increase in Alzheimer’s related dementia.

On a positive note, there were 37% fewer cases of

colorectal cancer and 33% fewer hip fractures.

However this meant it was more harmful to take

the hormone combination than not.

After more than 40 years of use of one of the

best selling drugs in North America, sales of

Premarin® plummeted. Premarin® was promoted

in the 1960’s as the wonder hormone. If women

didn’t take estrogen they would be unhappy,

unattractive hags who would ultimately succumb

to a premature death. What the manufacturers

failed to note was that there was very little

research supporting the use of oral estrogen,

especially that of the equine source (the most

common source at the time was from pregnant

mare’s urine). Now that we had the facts, what

were women to do?

In the aftermath of the halt of the WHI,

menopausal women were lost. Suffering from

sleepless nights, hot flashes, irritated vaginas and

foggy brains, women were not happy and neither

were their partners. Physicians were frustrated

as well, with few options available to help their

female patients.

The WHI did however continue with other study

arms, which included an observational study

involving the relationship of health and lifestyle

and as well as the effects of calcium and Vitamin

D supplementation.

When I first started practicing pharmacy, a large

proportion of my postmenopausal female

patients were taking traditional hormone

replacement therapy. The WHI has significantly

altered the way health-care providers prevent

and treat both major and minor conditions in

postmenopausal women. Other forms of estrogen

and progesterone are available, commercially or

compounded. Non-hormonal treatments are also

being tried and we know that lifestyle and diet

are important. Research in women’s health is

continual even if that day in July for many is just

a foggy memory. More

information on the WHI is

available at www.whi.org and

www.menopause.org.

It was a moment in my career that I will never forget. On a warm day in July of2002, I felt my first hot flash…

FoggyBy Lesley Paul, B.Sc. Phm

n Lesley Paul, Pharmacist [email protected]

JUST A FoggyMEMORY…


LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY

THE HISTORY OF Diabetic Monitory Systems

In 1812, the New England Journal of Medicine andSurgery recognized diabetes as a clinical entity. Thoughno effective treatment had been recognized, scientistsand physicians took the first steps to understanding theunderlying causes of diabetes as a disease.

In 1912, Federick Banting and Charles Best discoveredinsulin when extracting pancreatic islet cells fromhealthy dogs and placing them in dogs with diabetes.This progression of research and vital scientificdiscoveries has lead scientists and health careprofessionals towards better care and improved livesfor patients living with diabetes. The discovery ofinsulin alone has led to widely available and lifesavingtreatments. However, based on research from“Statistics Canada” from 1988/89 to 2008/09 theprevalence of Canadians diagnosed with diabetes hasincreased by 70%. In 2008/09 more than 200,000Canadians were newly diagnosed reports the

government (that is an average of 6.3 cases per 1,000people). These statistics indicate that diabetes care ismore prominent than ever, and that the use andprogression of monitors is more and more important toa patient’s well-being.

In the beginning glucose monitoring was first donewith urine. Urine was boiled and used alongsideglucose monitoring strips. Ketones were measuredwith tablets that changed colour and dipsticks for urinewere just beginning to be introduced. It has been over40 years since Anton Clemens developed the firstblood glucose monitor. However, this firstdevelopment represents a vital stepping stone for thegrowth of point of care treatment for diabetic patients.

The 1980’s brought on an evolution of meters, whichbecame easier for patients to use. They were smaller insize, had more variations of design, and some even hadsoftware that allowed blood glucose levels to be put tomemory and stored. Though test strips have not changedin appearance over the years, they have evolved toneed only minimal amounts of blood. However, duringthe end of the 80’s the first enzyme electrode strip wasintroduced. This provided a choice of instrument tomeasure blood glucose.

In 1981 lightweight, portable and digital metersbecame available. They were battery operated and had“countdown” timers with audio signals. They still useddextrostix and had calibration with alarm signals tohelp remind patients to check their blood sugars. Themajority of progress has been centered on datamanagement, specifically for the hospital market.

Over the years meters have become easier to use andrequire less operating steps and calibration. With theseadvancements in technology results can bedownloaded to personal computers, iphones or evenspecified software programs. The progress andadvancements that have been madein the realm of meters during thepast 40 years has created a positiveimpact on patients and their care.

By Laura Hodgkiss

Finding Health Clinic

ReikiBodyTalk

NLP Hypnosis Timeline Therapy

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

Workshops and more

Are you looking for an alternative health care system that has

the power to transform your health...one that respects and

operates in cooperation with your body’s priorities and needs?

Then Jessy’s “Finding Health” Clinic is for you!

Find, Optimize and Maintain your Health with Us.

Call Jess to reduce your stress!

705 241-8680www.jessymorrison.ca

n Laura Hodgkiss Home Health Care Practitioner Stuart Ellis Pharmacy

6 to 8 p.m.OPEN HOUSELAST FRIDAY

OF EACH MONTH

6 to 8 p.m.OPEN HOUSELAST FRIDAY

OF EACH MONTH

Advertisement


LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY

We have probably all looked at photographs of ourselvesfrom the past and either chuckled or winced. Not only canour image reflect the social, economic and politicalconditions of the time, it is also a statement of ourpersonal situation, attitudes, and self-image. Taking alook at our past may help us choose where to go.

Here is a look at recent decades; what was yourexperience, and how did your image fit that experience?

1950s. Dior’s post-war “NewLook” emphasized the hourglassfigure and signaled a time forwomen to be homemakers.Fashion was limited, as were lifeoptions. Clothing reflected thehusband’s status; if a womanmarried well she had a minkstole and pearls. The youngergroup had poodle skirts, peterpan collars, bobby socks, andsaddle shoes. Hair was typicallyin a page boy or pony tail. Not alot of choice!

1960s. The Women’s Liberationmovement brought the narrowrectangular silhouette. Youngpeople wore mini-skirts, go-goboots and false eyelashes. ThePeace movement brought tie-dyes and blue jeans.It was a timeof exploration and pushingboundaries. For the settledmature woman, matched skirtsuits were safe and proper.

1970s. Women entered thework force en masse, andfashion responded with avariety of ‘male career’looks. Women lobbied towear trouser suits to work.Oversize jackets, ties,trousers and boots weremade famous by Annie Hall,and completely covered awoman’s curves.

1980s. ‘Dress for success’arrived. For the first part ofthe decade ‘big’ continued inhair, makeup, and shoulderpads. Women wanted to takeup space, and space equalspower. When the lookdeflated, for the first timewomen could align clothingchoices with personality,lifestyle, and body type.They could compete withmen and still be women.With options in clothing andoptions in life, the personaldevelopment movementexpanded, and womenexplored their own personalpower.

1990s. The leisure andfitness movementsinfluenced fashion forthe coming decades.The relaxation in dresscodes benefitedwomen, as the dark,cold, neutral, structuredand rigid look of man-style suiting is notusually flattering oravailable for women.Flowing fabrics,relaxed styles, femininecolours and patterns,are conducive tocreativity, flexibility, andrelationship- building.

2000s. Active wearhas become streetwear, and clothing hasnever been so body-hugging or revealing.Although professionalwear continues to expandits diversity, it can be achallenge to balance thedesire for personal styleand the need forprofessional credibility.

Ideally our image allows us to be our very

best, regardless of the decade!

YOUR EMERGINGImage

By Karen Brunger, BHEc, AICI CIP

n Karen Brunger Founder and President International Image Institute Inc., ww.internationalimageinstitiute.com

Walk-ins always welcomeUNISEX HAIRSTYLING

36 St. Marie Street, Collingwood

705-445-587836 St. Marie Street, Collingwood

705-445-5878

LA

My passion in Real Estate

leads to your Good Fortune.

My passion in Real Estate

leads to your Good Fortune.

Monika GibsonSales RepresentativeMonika GibsonSales Representative

72 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, ON L9Y 2L8Direct Line: 705-607-0445 Office: 705-445-5640

www.century21.ca/monika.gibson

LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY



Thirdly, you need to have an inventory of your wardrobe.Knowing what you have will help you determine whatyou need. This will let you set your priorities and focuson pulling your clothes together to make your bestwardrobe statement.

If a coat is on your need list, know that the 70’s maxi isavailable as well as the fur sleeved coat and a knee lengthwalking jackets in animal print or brocade or velvet. Nota coat person? Capes and ponchos and heavy sweatercoats are waiting for you, as are shaggy Mongolianjackets.

Need pants? Your options extend from wide legged floorgrazing trousers to long bell bottoms. Also croppedculotte lengths are being shown. Tights in leather orassorted fabrics infuse modernity. High waists are part ofthe new scene.

Skirts? All lengths and styles are there for you includingthe paneled car wash style!

Are you a sweater girl? Add to you collection withgorgeous cowl necks or close to the body high neckedknits in colours you can layer for oomph.

Remember the sweater dress? If you are trim, knitdresses can keep you cozy and set the stage foraccessories, vests, and interesting sweater coat toppers inthe weight you find comfortable.

The Hippie revival offers a huge selection of accessories.Brooches, long skinny scarves, big brim hats, andmultiple necklaces to layer as you wish all will update toyour fall 2015 outfit.

Mod is on the menu! Think color blocking, short swingydresses and high boots.

Suede boots, fringed everything and tassel finishes all arethere for the taking.

The Romantic will be happy to opt for tops with poetsleeves and or Victorian high necks with lace and or tiefinishes. She may love the slip dress of the 90’s or thebrocade and elegant items for daytime swish includinglux velvets.

As for colour all the neutrals are available including softwhite to all hues of brown. Seek out your special toneand surprise yourself in earth tone neutrals.

Accents are possible in an array of bold colors including

red or cobalt or rust and even soft icy pastels.

As for patterns: plaids, stripes and tribal configurationsare all there for the person to whom they appeal. For thebrave, mixing plaids stripes and patterns in a patchworkis acceptable but not necessary.

The boho look, the free spirited romantic and the sleek90’s flirty look are all offered and are yours for thepicking. The looks you can create are limitless. Use theopportunity this season to revisit things past and selectthose that are uniquely you today to personalize yourwardrobe and enhance your best look.

You most certainly can revisit past decades and make oldnew again so long as you select your key items and infusethem with you current stylish clothing. Avoid a head totoe retro look as it is more of a costume and less a fashionstatement. Feel free to be nostalgic and look back butmake certain what you bringto the present are items thatspeak the woman you aretoday.

n Marilyn Wetston, Branding Expert Wardrobe Doctor of Marilyn’s in Toronto [email protected] www.marilyns.ca

By Marilyn WetstonThe Wardrobe Doctor

Often a glance back intime can help one shapethe present and future. Infashion, past looks arefrequently revived andbrought forward. Womenhave been cautioned notto revisit trends they worethe first time around.However, what was oldcan be brought back andpresented as part of afresh new look. Thisseason offers just such anopportunity for those whocrave romantic details orboho atmosphere of the70’s and 90’s.

It is necessary to dress the woman youare today and to do her justice. If youare an individual who loved any of thetrends from these decades you now canrevisit your past and take the aspectsthat suit and flatter you now into yourcurrent wardrobe.

To list the retro trends offered is easy. Tore-invent them so you look your bestand convey the positive message youintend takes a few steps.

First you need to know yourself. Thisincludes what is reflected in the mirrorand your core spirit and values.Secondly, you need an understanding ofwhat fashion is offering you for thisseason.

LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY


Nostalgia

LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY


I’ve never quite understood nostalgia. I didn’t relate topeople who mourned what used to be. I seemed alwaysto be running towards a better future, and moving awayfrom the unpleasantness of the past. I always thoughtbeing nostalgic was a particular flavour of unprocessedgrief, or something akin to homesickness, a yearning forwhat used to be. But now as I mourn the death of mytwo kitties, I realize that the emotions – grief, yearning,loss, home-sickness – are all entirely different energies,with different chemical and physiological responses.

Nostalgia is remembering things with fondness, and alight, happy energy. Having a recollection that actuallytransports you right back into a memory of enjoyment,of good times - beyond fads, toys, music, fashions.Nostalgia is a flashback to the unencumbered optimismand naivety of childhood, a retelling of magic and funadventures. It is not a wistful longing for easier times; itis actually transportation back into the moment,biochemically and neurologically re-living a particularpleasant memory.

My children, now in their 20’s, remember one of ourhomes as idealic. It had huge floor to ceiling windows,18 acres with a fresh water pond big enough to paddle-boat on, and swimming daily from May to October.They reminisce over skinned knees and stitches. Myremembrances of that place however are very differentand not pleasant. Struggling with the aftermath ofdivorce, insufficient heating, I recall covering thewindows with blankets to stop shivering, water pipesbursting, being worried I couldn’t make the rent,

inability to repair things or buy my kids winter boots,or even groceries, my daughter living in and out

of hospitals, and that constant feeling of notknowing how I’d get through tomorrow.

The kids had no awareness of mystress. They remember playing

with each other, roaming theacres with their border

collie Scruffy,

sleeping with their black cat Ghost, climbing trees, playingwith original Polly Pockets, Barbie dolls, GI Joe actionfigures, doing crafts, hikes through fields looking for blueherons, swans on the pond, snapping turtles, tadpoles,skinny dipping, fishing, teaching their 70 year oldgrandmother to swim, and summers lasting all year long...

Interesting point of view! How can it get any better thanthat, eh?

Carl Jung said “The name you give your experience isthe lens through which you perceive your world.” Whenthe kids shared with me their nostalgic moments my oldimbedded feelings of dread and previously unprocessedworries vanished. Twenty years had passed, yet I hadnever really let go of my angst. They gave me a new lensthrough which to see the past. Now, I too feel the warmglow of their rose coloured nostalgia, I totally get it!

What have I learned? To me Nostalgia is a sweet, soft,and interesting flavour of awareness. The feeling ofbeing transported into the moment , the feeling of beingin the now so completely, just as we were as children -oblivious to the bad things that can happen in the world.Totally absorbed by the pleasure and sensuality of life asit was ‘when’... It is an energy vibration that takes usback to feeling joy long since forgotten or stuffed away.Reliving that feeling of pleasure and “magic’ that webelieved in when... And for a few moments I believe andre-live it again.

I enjoy remembering the feeling ofbeing naive, uncritical, un- cynical,and very optimistic. It helps meexpand my energy. How about you?

LIFESTYLE& BEAUTY

Que Sera Sera...Whatever will Be, will Be!

By Jessy Morrison

n Jessy Morrison Body Talk - [email protected]

Gourmet ™Gourmet ™

GeorgianGeorgian

...eat, drink and entertain

© E

vere

tt C

olle

ctio

n In

c. |

Dre

amsti

me.

com

© A

less

e |

Dre

amsti

me.

com

GeorgianGourmetGeorgianGourmet

26 www.womenwithvision.cawww.womenwithvision.ca 27

Nostalgia: a sentimental longingor wistful affection for the past,typically for a period or place withhappy personal associations. Byits very definition, nostalgiaconjures up the memories ofcomfort food.

Some culinary historians will trace theroots of granola back to the late 1700’swhen Dr. Sylvester Graham promotedgood nutrition and eating habits whichincluded a form of what we today callgranola. And over the years since,granola has resurfaced in many formsincluding what we know today. But mostof us will remember the sweet aromas ofbaking granola in our grandmother’skitchen; this culinary staple was oftenused as a topping for desserts, as a cerealor just on its own when a healthy snackwas in order.

Flash forward to 2013 and meet FranKruse. Fran had been dwelling on an ideafor some time, and like many foodies whofind themselves being asked by friends,family and even strangers for a particularspecialty item, Fran decided to finallytake the leap from the back burner into theoven! Not Yer Granny’s Granola wasborn. A business plan with goals andbenchmarks was created and the ovenswere ready to be fired up.

Fran, and her business and life partner,Mark, began taking the steps to turn theiridea and recipes into a business venture.Using the basis for good, clean eating(simple, real, natural ingredients), Frandeveloped her granola recipes and started

By Susanne Mikler

n Susanne Mikler

Co-founder Liaison College

www.liaisoncollege.com

to spread the word. Schlepping samples and her sunnypositive demeanour to numerous local fairs, markets andshows, Fran’s granola was a hit with anyone who tried it.It’s comfort food to the max and delicious at the sametime.

Fran started to experiment with different flavour profilesin her temporary home at Liaison College in Barrie.Using the school’s kitchen, Fran and Mark wouldlovingly prepare batches of the favourites: Maple MeHappy, Pumpkin Pizzazz and Hello Orange. TheJavanola recipe that includes Espresso is also a fanfavourite. The resulting demand from local retailers wasa bittersweet event. Fran and Mark would need to findlarger, permanent facilities to work from. Not YerGranny’s Granola was not just a back burner notion anylonger!

In July 2015 Fran and Mark officially began to bakein a brand new facility and are now ready to expandtheir customer base and product line. From an ideathat was hatched from a love for life, people andfood, Fran is living her dream.

Trying something different like Not Yer Granny’s

Granola is now an adventure for your taste buds.

Thanks Fran for making an old fashioned topping

into a healthy, sustaining treat for all ages.

Kitchen Nostalgia:Granolahhh

© L

orra

ine

Lesli

e |

L’orig

inal

Pro

duct

ions

| W

omen

with

Visi

on! M

agaz

ine™


Cabbage CasseroleCabbage Casserole

with Zucchiniwith Zucchini

© A

zurit

a |

Dre

amsti

me.

com

Ingredient basics

1 lb of ground beef1/2 C of chopped onion1/2 C of cooked rice1/2 Head of chopped cabbage1 zucchini finely chopped1—12 oz can of tomato soup8 oz of tomato sauce1/2 C water1/4 Tsp of Marjoram3/4 tsp of salt1/2 tsp pepper1/2 tsp oregano2 T brown sugar

Method

Brown ground beef and drainMix in rice and set asidePlaced chopped cabbage on bottom of 13 X 19 inch panSpread meat and onion mixture over cabbageCombine rest of ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a light boilPour over cabbage, meat and onionmixtureCover tightly with foil and bake at 350degrees for approximately 1.25 hours. For the last 5 minutes remove foil andsprinkle cheddar cheese over casserolebefore serving

By Lorraine LesliePublisher

Cabbage casserole is a new favourite at my house. It can be relatively plain or youcan add to the recipe and create your own masterpiece.


HOME, GARDENDESIGN

HOME, GARDENDESIGN

...creative and helpful tips

&&

M A G A Z I N E

Women with

VISION!©

Lor

rain

e Le

slie

| L’o

rigin

al P

rodu

ctio

ns |

Wom

en w

ith V

ision

! Mag

azin

e™

GeorgianGourmet


© L

ee S

nide

r | D

ream

stim

e.co

m©

Lee

Sni

der |

Dre

amsti

me.

com

With a little work, and maybe a little more, older homesare being transformed and rejuvenated into masterpieces.Many communities have established heritage committeesto preserve the older homes and buildings to retain ourhistory. What cost the original owner thousands to buynow cost hundreds of thousands for today’s home owner.

One can’t help but think that the smell of Grandma’scooking or charm of taking the other stairway from thekitchen to get upstairs draws people back. I know for meit was the size of the home that drew me back to a redbrick. The nostalgic connection we have could be a smell,a feeling or memories of a great point in our lives;something keeps drawing homeowners and businesspeople back to older homes.

Nostalgia does have its price. To recreate thecraftsmanship and true reproduction of details andconstruction of older homes requires a certain skill setthat has been lost to many. Trades who specialize in olderhomes have developed a niche and are called upon torestore and recreate detail that may have been lost overthe years. That porch or verandah that may have been

taken down because it was too expensive to replace nowcosts even more to recreate. So be prepared to do yourresearch when you are bitten by the nostalgia bug.

In some areas homes are being torn down to make way forlarger more modern homes. While this works in somecommunities, others have guidelines regarding what kindof building can take place. This can be right down to thecolor of paint.

Nostalgia is soul food, and it can be bittersweet. Whenconsidering an older home, it is most important toconsider all the idiosyncrasies and outcomes. What youare remembering may end up being different than whatyou experience. The true blessing of nostalgia in ourhomes is that we get to live our present lives, comfortedthrough a connection to the past,allowing us the chance to feel a part ofsomething bigger than ourselves.

HOME, GARDEN& DESIGN

By Monika GibsonWhether it is a love for the detail and craftsmanship or wanting to capture a bit of daysgone by, there is an attraction to older buildings and homes: an old red brick, stucco, boardand batten, or a cute war time bungalow; older homes are in vogue.

Nostalgiais good for the soul!

Nostalgiais good for the soul!

n Monika Gibson Sales Representative Century 21 Millennium, Collingwood

Garlic Tea Make your own garlic insecticidal spray byboiling a pint of water, throw in roughly chopped garliccloves and steep until the water cools. Remove garlic bitsand pour into a clean plastic spray bottle and apply toplants.

Garlic, Peppers & Onion Insecticide 2 hot peppers,1 large onion, 1 whole bulb of garlic, 1/4 cup water. Tossin the food processor and add water, blend until a mash ismade. Cover mash with 1 gallon of hot (not boiling)water and let stand 24 hours. Strain. Spray on roses,azaleas, vegetables to kill bug infestations. Bury mash inground where bugs are heaviest. Good for thrips, aphids,grasshoppers, chewing and sucking insects.

Tomato Leaves Mix Crush leaves from a tomato plantand soak in water for a couple days. Strain then spray.Good for grasshopper and white fly control. Tomatoleaves are poisonous, take care when preparing andhandling. Do not use on food bearing plants.

Controlling Powdery MildewMix into one gallon ofwarm water, 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 2teaspoons of oil soap. Mix well and spray on plantssusceptible to this disease.

Non-Select Weed Killer Mix together in a largecontainer, 2 cups table salt, 1 gallon white vinegar (5%acidity), and 8 drops of liquid dishwashing soap (useplain soap without antibacterial or other ingredients).Transfer some of the mixture into a spray bottle and spraythe offending weed or vegetation, preferably on a hot day.Do not apply if you expect to get rain within 24 hours.

Japanese Beetle Bait Trap 2 cups water, 1 mashedbanana, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup wine, ½ tsp yeast. Mixingredients together and put in an old margarinecontainer, cover with lid and set container out in the hotsun for a day. The next day, remove lid and set in gardenwhere the beetles have been spotted (use a shallowcontainer).

Mild Fertilizer for House Plants (always unsalted)After boiling vegetables, allow the water to cool thenpour it on soil around your plants. Save vegetablepeelings in a small bucket, cover with boiling water andallow to steep overnight (up to 2 days). Strain and use towater your plants.

Mosquito Repelling Plants Citronella, Lemon Balm,Catnip, Marigolds, Basil, Lavender, Garlic, Rosemary,Lemon Thyme, Mint, Wormwood, Lemon ScentedGeranium.

Slug TrapThe scent from fermenting yeast attracts slugs. Mix 2cups of water with 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon sugarand 1/2 teaspoon of yeast. Mix well and pour into ashallow jar or plastic margarine tub. Bury container intothe soil, level with the ground. Use 1container for every square metre.

n Janet Kurasz, Horticulturist

www.kurasz.ca

Old FashionedGarden RemediesExpensive “new & improved” products come out every year promising to help gardeners growbigger, better plants and eradicate destructive bugs. Even the eco-friendly and natural lines canbe pricey. Homemade products are inexpensive, easy to make and can be just as effective as thecommercial products. Home gardeners have embraced these old fashioned remedies. Theingredients can be found in your kitchen and garden; they are earth-friendly and natural.

By Janet Kurasz, Hort, AMCT(A)


Request that photos be scanned and submittedelectronically. To speed up the photo finding process andprevent duplication, assign relatives to seek outmemories from specific eras i.e. baby, toddler, schooldays, wedding, work place, family photos, poses withgrandchildren, and photos capturing them on vacation orenjoying sports or hobbies.

Flipping through your photo collection can be a source ofjoy, relaxation and instant nostalgia. The key is to beproactive and re-organize your photo collection now sothat you can quickly and effortlessly access cherishedmemories before there is an urgent need.

We can now snap photos anywhere, anytime using smartphones and then instantly post, file or forward them.There is no rule that says your various photo formatsmust be maintained in exactly the same way. Years ago, alifetime of photos fit into a couple of conventional photoalbums, usually stored on shelving units. You may haveinherited albums or shoe boxes with jumbles of unsorted,unnamed family photos of people you don’t recognize.Arrange a special time to review the photos with anelderly relative who may be able to identify who ispictured, the date location and the occasion beingcelebrated.

As technology advanced, photofinishing became lessexpensive, photo collections exploded and photo storage

boxes with convenient divider tabs became popular.Today, most photos taken are stored digitally onelectronic devices or in the cloud.

My advice to keep track of large photo collections is tocreate and maintain photo inventory lists using either anExcel spreadsheet or a small binder with loose leaf pagesto record how and where photos are stored. Whether youare sorting actual photos or digital files, I suggestlabelling using annual categories: winter, spring,summer, autumn and holiday season. Add optional sub-categories for birthdays, anniversaries and vacations.Some years may have special categories such asgraduation, weddings, or baby showers.

Avoid storing photos in storage areas with fluctuatingtemperatures such as the attic or garage. Always storeusing acid free paper and plastic containers in a cool, dryarea, removed from the path of water in case a toilet,dishwasher or washing machine overflows.

Share the fun! E-mail or post aforgotten photo favourite on socialmedia. It is surprising how wonderfula jolt of nostalgia can make us feel. Doit now!

Scrambling to find a particular photo in your photo inventory can be frustrating especially duringtimes of bereavement. When we have lost a loved one, someone needs to sort through a lifetime ofmemories to gather photos for the memorial. This can be emotionally exhausting, so why not askfor assistance from the extended family and friends?

n Karen Sencich CPO®

Certified Professional Organizer®, Speaker and Writer www.havoctoharmony.com

By Karen Sencich

OrganizingNostalgic

Photo Collections

&&ARTSENTERTAINMENTARTSENTERTAINMENT

© E

nglis

hinb

sas

| D

ream

stim

e.co

m

...experiencingclassical &creative

masterpieces


ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT

What was your highest count for keeping a hula hoopswinging around your waist during that 50’s craze? Canyou remember the flippity-flap sound of bubble gum cardssnapping on the spokes of your bike wheels turning? Asyoungsters born after the war, our generation of kids in theStates and Canada had idyllic lives. Television was a newmedium that sold products directly to the mass market ofkids for an advertiser’s dream demographic. We were thefirst impressionable children of visual TV ads withrecognizable cartoon characters and catchy jingles. I betyou can still sing a few songs for old cereal ads, chocolatedrinks and Brylcreem. Even if lyrics fail you now, youcan probably hum the themes from old favourite TVwesterns such as Bonanza or Davey Crocket. We all lovedhearing Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy with his handson hips, admonishing a guilty Lucy with, “Loosy, you gotsum splainin’ to do!”

My family were Fad Fanatics! Our house was packed withthe newest gadgets, clothes, records and food fromshopping forays to Buffalo. With Spoolies in myhair, I sat and squeezed the clear plastic bag ofwhite goop until the little orange colouredcapsule had transformed into a new product …abag of yellow margarine! Once, I received a lifesized doll with elastic straps for under my shoes.When I danced (with my Davey Crocket hat on)around the living room, the doll’s legs moved inunison with mine. It was hysterically funny towatch on our new super 8 film projector boughtfrom a shopping spree into the States.

There were so many new inventions! I rememberour whole family laughing ‘til we cried when anancient uncle lathered his face with a newinvention called shaving cream…only to find itwas the other new invention in an aerosol cancalled Reddi-Wip! I was mesmerized by apainting kit that allowed me to colourize all ofour black and white photos. I spent many happyhours painting albums full of photos.

In my neighbourhood, the ice and bread were stilldelivered by horse and wagon. For some strange reason,the milk deliveries were in a vehicle that was custom-madeinto the shape of a horizontal bottle of milk. What a cooldesign!

All the men in my family smoked. I was sent to the cornerstore frequently with 25 cents to purchase a packet ofBlack Cat tipped cork cigarettes. Looking back, betweenthe TV dinners, coloured lardfor margarine and secondhand smoke, it is a wonder Isurvived that household. Buthealth wasn’t an issue in the50’s. It was a thrilling timefor millions of kids who allshared that wonderful culturecraze. What are yourmemories?

Sometimes we experience warm memories thatgenerate a kind of longing.

It’s great to visit that moment… share thatmoment… dream about that moment…

Reminiscing about a past boyfriend? Cuddling awarm puppy? An athletic event in which youparticipated? A play, choir or dance group you werein? A grandparent’s unconditional love? A poemthat you memorized or a picture that you painted? They’re all a part of who you are. Those nostalgicmoments you experienced were simply buildingblocks that created that beautiful woman you aretoday!

Treasuring fabulous memories are like keepingdreams alive and this is healthy.

Yet… living there isn’t healthy.

Sometimes you might meet an old acquaintance whotalks as though they’re longing for the past. They saythings like, “It was all so much simpler then.”

Yes. For sure it was simpler. For a child! However,perhaps, there were adults or older siblings caringfor that child for whom things were not so simple.

People who dwell on their earlier years are often sadpeople… maybe even depressed with today and havebecome melancholy for their past life rather thanrecognizing and exploring the nuggets of now. Ithelps to remember this saying:

The past is gone.Today is the now.It’s a gift.That’s why we call it The Present.

And who doesn’t like presents??? Give yourself onetoday. In order to keep sweet memories inperspective, perhaps you might get a blank journaland draw or write about those past moments.Recalling happy times and delighting in thosememories are delicious.

Longing for the past and not being aware of thecountless number of wonderful glorious positivemoments in the present can be toxic. Literally.

Personally… I’ve seen too many people that arebringing misery into their own lives by living in thepast. I see my role, as a person who loves and liveslife, as bringing those people into the present andhaving fun with it. Today! Right now!

Truly… is it wise/healthy to be wistful about yourpast or could it bring you joy and insights into what’sso incredible about now?

I remember someone tellingme an important message:

Your biology is yourbiography…and yourbiography is your biology.

YOUR BIOGRAPHYis your biology

n Lynda Pogue, Writer, Artist, Professor, Keynote Speaker [email protected] lyndapogue.com

By Lynda Pogue

ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT

Hey woman! What’s your vision of your past?Are you still swooning over that good-looking new teacher?

Are you still laughing at the fun you had?

NOSTALGIA FOR

Oldies By Linda Thorn

n Linda ThornFreelance writer

Author- Beautiful Joe PoemBook


Ian McRuer shared, “Back in 1960 when I was nine years old I was cleaning the backyard with my father. The windswere quite heavy, blowing all the leaves around when I came across an old weather beaten envelope that had blown upagainst the fence. To my elation this discovery of the dirty envelope triggered my curiosity to go and find out more...

“My father, who was a teacher, told me I should investigate the envelope more as there might be something valuableinside. Carefully, I examined the envelope which had a Canadian commemorative stamp, dated 1660 - commemoratingthe 300 years of Dollard (defending Montreal from the Iroquois, known as the “Battle of Long Sault”) – [seephoto/illustration]. It turned out the value of the five cent stamp was worthless but this find led to me joining theBrockville YMCA Stamp club. There were other cubs and scouts, girl guides and Canadian Girls in Training... whowere also there to study the art/hobby of stamp collecting so they could earn their merit badges.

Ian became a Boy Scout, earning and collecting many other badges, which led to becoming a Queen Scout. His hardwork rewarded him a position at the age of sisteen, working at Expo’ 67 in Montreal. This opportunity led to a specializedcollection of world-wide scouting stamps, showing Jamborees in very remote locations. Many African countries likeTogo and Guinea generate thematic stamps just for this market of collectors.

Retired now, Ian is still meeting former scouts through his Scouts on Stamps Society International (SOSSI), where theMaple Leaf Chapter has celebrated over 50 years. Many other philatelists belong to the Greater Toronto Area PhilatelicAlliance (GTAPA.org) which has fifteen clubs under its umbrella. Ian attends these monthly meetings and also bothBarrie and the Georgian Bay Coin & Stamp Club(s). These clubs have developed a strong, trusting “fellowship” withmany seniors and “hard-core” network of philatelists.

Sadly, some older philatelists in these clubs have “lost” their inherited collections andhave had to start over three or four times due to wars and immigrating to Canada.

For more than fifty five years Ian has saved many fascinating items. Included in hisworld-wide collection, is all his fiancée’s (love) letters from her trip to Europe - whichshe thinks is due mainly because of the interesting stamps!

What nostalgia are you collecting to share with your family, friends and generations to come?

The philatelist – A person who collects or studies postage stamps

Nostalgia with StampsNostalgia with Stamps&MOTIVATIONAL INSPIRATIONALMOTIVATIONAL INSPIRATIONALMOTIVATIONAL INSPIRATIONAL

...gentle insightsof awareness and change

While attending a networking event in Collingwood the discussion turned to nostalgia...Anenthusiastic gentleman shared with the group, information on how Stamp Collecting had a life-long impact on his life and how his hobby has grown over the past 55 years.

Phot

ogra

phy

© L

orra

ine

Lesli

e |

L’orig

inal

Pro

duct

ions

| W

omen

with

Visi

on! M

agaz

ine™

By Lorraine Leslie and Ian McRuer


MOTIVATIONAL& INSPIRATIONAL

Madeleine French“My mother – OMG –worked day and night raising theten of us. She was always there for us, every single oneof us. Her wisdom and love...never ever judging...justaccepting; no hurtful or selfish words, ever! I rememberlooking up at her at a very young age thinking, “Howbeautiful is my mom”! She taught us all how to be kindwith each other; and of course this spilled over with meraising my children.”

“My dad who was very musical sent my sister Irene (the2nd oldest) to take piano lessons with one of the nuns.Not having a piano at home I was a bit envious; I wantedto play the piano too. Dad played in a band on weekends.One day he was speaking with a man about how he wouldlike his children to play the piano. True story, the mantold my dad he had a piano but didn’t have room for it inhis house. The two men made arrangements for the pianoto be stored in our home until he needed it back again.We had the piano for twenty five years before his familycame and picked it up. So, at age eight I started takingpiano lessons from the nuns and through theirencouragement began singing and performing in theKiwanis Music Festival - in trios, duos and as a single. Iplaced first, second and third in piano but always camesecond in the singing competition each year.”

Madeleine achieved the highest score in her pre-gradeone exam from the Conservatory of Music and received a1st place medal for all of Ontario. She appeared on stagein many plays, performed in choirs, sang alto-harmonyand also learned to tap dance, which also became part ofher stage performances. Madeleine’s goal was always toachieve excellent grades in school...but then...along cameboys!

“From grade seven through nine I attended a mixed boysand girls public Catholic school. This was a veryunsettling time in my life as the schools wereovercrowded and I found it hard to keep focused. Imentioned earlier that I came from a musical father, sofrom the time I was thirteen until I turned nineteen Icontinued to play the piano and was doing some leadvocals for my father’s band The Varietones. We playedevery weekend – Friday nights at the legion dances calledTeen Town, and on Saturday nights for the adults (21 andover in those days). My dad’s band did lots of weddingreceptions on Saturday afternoons and then we’d do ourregular evening gigs.”

“At thirteen I made a small salary from being in Dad’sband which allowed me to buy my own clothes from thattime on... I’m sure I was the youngest person allowed to

have a charge account at the famous ‘Marie’s Dress Shop’in Penetanguishene! By the way, Marie was the motherof Bert, the keyboard player and one of the original fivein the band.”

Madeleine’s parents were a great influence on her. “Myfather was my biggest fan and I always felt his love. Heliked the way I used my voice to sing the songs that werehis favourites; and for being part of his band. Weunderstood where each other came from when it came tomusic. He would wink at me on stage while he played hisfiddle as I accompanied him on piano at square dances.There was an untold and magical appreciation for musicbetween us!”

“At age fourteen I was absolutely positive I was going tobe a singing Star! I had dreams and aspirations of singinglike Brenda Lee, Shirley Mathews, and Linda Lane. In1964 I attended a performance at the Rogers Centre (thenthe O’Keefe Centre) where Stevie Wonder opened for theSupremes This show certainly affirmed I wanted to be anentertainer.”

“On Friday nights when we finished at the Teen Towndance in Penetanguishene at 11:30 p.m.; my dad woulddrive me over to our neighbouring town of Midland tospend the last fifteen minutes at teen Town to listen toThe Martels.”

“Dad and I knew they had a special sound...andeventually we realized it was the base guitar that set themapart from all the other local bands. The Martels wouldoften rehearse at Bert Desrochers’ house. Bert’s familylived up the street from us so I hung out with Bert’s sister;I knew first hand when and where The Martels would beplaying. All the guys in the band were around eighteenor nineteen years of age, and of course I was infatuatedwith all of them.

Through hanging out at the Desrochers household, Bertinvited me to attend one of The Martels rehearsals. Myfirst appearance with the band was at the age of fifteen atthe Embassy Hall in Barrie in 1965. As I was underage,my father had to drive me to Barrie - that in itself was anadventure. He actually drove me everywhere to performfor quite some time.”

When I asked Madeleine what she wanted to do for acareer when she grew up, a big smile came across herface...

continued on pg. 44

I love Rock ‘n Roll! How about you? I grew up jiving –really jiving with all the fancy steps, dips and twirls...

A good friend of mine, Linda Thorn, who has organizedmany Rock ‘n Roll dances throughout the GeorgianTriangle has brought The Martels to the Thornbury BeaverValley Community Centre a number of times, so when shecalled me in the spring of 2015 to ask if I’d like to interviewtheir lead female singer, I was delighted. Through emailsinger/songwriter Madeleine French and I were chatting toarrange a meeting date and time in her home town ofElmvale... This is Madeleine’s journey from the rock’n 50’sto present day...

By Lorraine Leslie

MOTIVATIONAL& INSPIRATIONAL

Rock’nIN TODAY’SWORLD

Madeleine was born into a large family; ten children to be exact – three oldersisters, a brother in the middle, Madeleine, and then five younger sisters.“We are all about a year and half apart. After the first three girls were bornmy parents were thrilled to have a son. They had their hands full so theytook a break from having more children for about five years– then four moregirls’ followed.” shared Madeleine.

With a smile, Madeleine said, “With a family of nine girls and one boy therewere lots of battles about sleeping arrangements. We would draw lines withpillows or rolled up blankets and place them down the middle of the doublebeds; heaven forbid you crossed the line! The girls, from time to time, wereenvious of our brother because he had his own bedroom, plus new clothes.We were all very close, even to this day.”

As we browsed through the family photo albums, stories started to emerge...“By the time I was six years old I attended kindergarten at Ecole Ste Croix,an all girl school. I loved music! In grade four Sister Aurelie, who was a kindand gentle woman, taught me how to live by example and to also learn byexample.”

Phot

ogra

phy

© L

orra

ine

Lesli

e |

L’orig

inal

Pro

duct

ions

| W

omen

with

Visi

on! M

agaz

ine™

Madeleine French ...continued from pg. 43 realized our kids sing along because they know all thewords. How about you?

“Looking back to August of 1981 my entire family’s liveswere impacted by the loss of my brother. He was in hisearly 30’s when we lost him in a sailing accident at theMidland Sailing Regatta. The boat capsized due to severewinds coming across the bay. It was a very traumatic daythat I’ll never forget. My family always had each other’sback – we came together and leaned on each other –we’ve always had our own selfhelp group. This experienceinspired me to write a song inmemory of my brother – What a

Day This Has Been. The songhelped me to deal with my loss. Idig it out and sing it occasionallyfor family and friends. Familyties mean so much to all of us.From the age of nineteen into myforties, life was full of kids,family and friends but I waslonging for more in my life andrealized how much I missedperforming and singing.”

“Music really took a back seat inmy life for so many years. I noticed I was longing for more self development in my forties.Around the same time I heard TheMartels were having a reunion inMidland and when I saw themperforming and heard that amazing sound, I started to thinkI’d like to be back on stage singing.”

“Larry, the band’s lead guitarist and music director, cameand asked me if I’d like to sing with The Martels, so whenhe asked me to join the band in 1990 I was thrilled. I wasvery appreciative for their patience with me while I wastrying to get my ‘mojo’ back! I had lost my rapport withmusic. I realized I needed to rebuild my self-esteem andrecreate my vocals.”

“They are an amazing, considerate, honest and kindgroup of guys who really understand what people love tohear. Everyone so enjoys our music! The ‘music of theirtime’; plus the band never wavered from the objective tomake people happy. It’s so much fun. We are a very closeknit ‘family’ and we all love to create the hype and thesound that made people want to get up and dance and jointhe party!”

“We all go through life transitions but the band was astaple for me; whether we were at someone’s cottage,keeping in touch in our personal lives or going to gigs;there was a natural draw emotionally between drummerGary and I. We eventually married in 1997. We settledin Elmvale with my children living close enough forvisits and family special occasions.”

“When my father passed away it left a huge gap in all ourlives. Dad was the king-pin of the family. He ‘directed’

the family in so many ways. He rana Christmas tree farm and was acarpenter. He only had a gradeeight education but he was so smart.Self employed, he worked very hardto make a comfortable life for all ofus. After my brother was no longerwith us, Dad was really there for usnine girls and my mother.”

“You know when you’re in the rightplace at the right time and doing theright thing when you’re makingpeople happy. We work hard andplay hard! All the preparationbehind the scene takes hours – evenweeks and months of planning.Discussions with venues; instrumentsneed to be checked before packingthe vans; and again during set upand tear down. We also have to takeinto consideration all the traveltime...

“This past summer, 2015, was The Martels Last DateTour. It was a difficult decision for all the band members.Some of the band members have been performing forover fifty five years... Now that’s dedication!”

Madeleine is an energetic woman whose love and passion forwhat she shares through her singing is contagious. Peopleadmire her true spirit of entertaining, singing and playing themusic that so many people love. She has inherited hermother’s positive attitude in everything she does.

I’ll miss seeing The Martels, but Madeleine isn’t finishedsinging yet. She and her husband Gary have had anotherfour piece band for quite some time and they will becontinuing to perform in the area. Keep an eye out for thefour piece band called Stir It Up and six piece band TheDesotos coming to your town someday soon.


“You know Lorraine, I didn’t think much about what I wanted to do when Igrew up...I always knew I wanted to be a singer. During summer vacationsI played and sang in my Dad’s band on Wednesday nights at the WagonWheel in Balm Beach and for the family fun nights. t was a very memorabletime in my life. As a teenager, making new ‘beach’ and boyfriends was funbut with all the gigs I didn’t have much time to hang out with them.”

Madeleine recalled, “I made a one-time appearance on the Mel Lavigne andBluewater Boys Show; and the Alfie Fromager Show on television – a localchannel CKVR in Barrie at the time. I was also a GO – GO dancer.

“Summers were incredibly busy! I was lucky as a teenager in those days tohave two jobs; I worked hard during the week as a chamber maid’s assistantat a local hotel and as a waitress in a local restaurant. Teenagers loved tohang out back then. We were always playing the juke box, drinking cherrycoke and eating burgers with fries and gravy.”

“As a teenager I was dedicated to singing and playing with my father’s band.I might have missed a lot of teenage experiences like hanging out withfriends but my true gift was standing on stage with my dad’s band, TheVarietones. We loved to watch the crowd enjoy themselves while theydanced and sang along with the music we played. We had a special rapport.He was my champion, mentor and friend – what more could a girl ask for!”

Madeleine took the five year Business and Commerce program in highschool as she was declined for the Arts and Music program. “I never didunderstand why I wasn’t accepted into the A & M program with all mymusical background.”

“After graduating high school I gave up my part-time jobs and started workingas a secretary for a local construction company. I married and had threebeautiful children; two boys and a girl – who all eventually gave me sixgrandchildren. Having longevity as a good secretary and years of experienceMadeleine eventually landed a great job with the Simcoe County School Board,where she worked in various positions from 1970 until she retired in 2000.”

“Having children changed my life completely as I didn’t sing for twenty fiveyears.”

“I got involved more with the community and volunteering but there was stillsomething missing... In the fall of 1977 I recorded a children’s album ofFrench songs and poems entitled ‘Si Tu Aimes Le Soleil. The album becamea teaching tool in the local French schools of the area.”

Madeleine missed the original days of be-bopping to the pioneers of jive andwiggly hips... We started to laugh as we reminisced about some of the artistsof the 50’s and 60’s such as Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, The Supremes tomention a few. We recalled certain songs she’d sing like Dancing in the Streetor Patsy Cline’s CRAZY! To this day both Madeleine and I love to sing alongwhen a song from the 50’s comes on the radio... What’s more fun, is when we

MOTIVATIONAL& INSPIRATIONALMOTIVATIONAL& INSPIRATIONAL

Dad takes a picture of his

nine children in 1964

1967 Winterama Queen Contest

1964 duet with Avela - We called ourselves

the ROBINETTE'S

THE Varietones (Madeleine on far left -

Dad Gilber on far right) 1964

n copyright Lorraine Leslie – Women with Vision Magazine 2015/16

Madeleine performing in 2014

By Paola Gucciardi NOSTALGIC EVENTS INSPIRED BY PERSONAL YEAR!

Personal Year 1Start new projects, embrace change,and be decisive, innovative and evendaring. Be open-minded, organized,confident, and determined. Avoiddistractions and pay attention to details.

Personal Year 2Unusual sensitivity this year requirespatience, tact, cooperation anddiplomacy. Balance your nervoussystem by taking time to rest, eatproperly and meditate. Stay focusedon your goals as the momentum oflast year is absent.

Personal Year 3This year encourages fun, creativityand self-expression. Your social life ishighlighted which inspires you toentertain and be entertained. Focuson completing tasks, avoid scatteringyour energies and refrain fromspending unnecessarily.

Personal Year 4Focus on hard work, organization,practicality, and security this year.Concentration and perseverance are

necessary. Take care of the detailsand guard against becoming toorigid, inflexible and overly worriedabout money.

Personal Year 5Embrace new opportunities, people,and travel, for this year freedom,change, travel, and progression aredesired. Be aware of the impulsivenature of this year and use wisdomand prudence when making choices.

Personal Year 6Focus is family, business, financialadvancement and progress. Create anenvironment of love, balance andharmony. Do not allow the burdensof others to become your own and toconsume you. Guard against fear andworry about financial affairs.

Personal Year 7Introspection is required to seek adeeper understanding of self and thepurpose of life. Quiet the mind anduse intuition to tune into what reallymatters to you. Not a year to makematerial goals your primary focus.

Personal Year 8A powerful year focused on pursingand achieving business goals. Focus onreaping the rewards of the effort,commitment and motivation in yourprevious years. Pay attention and staypositive. Tap into your intuition, innerstrength and confidence.

Personal Year 9Complete unfinished business and de-clutter your life. This year close thedoors to things that no longer work foryou (relationships, attitudes, materialthings). This lower energy year iseasier to handle if you redirect yourattention to the needs of others.

Lisa excitedly announced her daughter Sharon is having a baby. Lisa was shocked with the news as Sharoninsisted children would interfere with her career. This year Sharon’s perspective is strongly influenced byfamily, love and tradition, themes inspired by her 6 Personal Year.

The Personal Year number describes the events and momentum that influence your experiences and actionsduring a calendar year – past, present or future. Whether you are nostalgic about a past event (marriage,buying a house, traveling) or curious what an upcoming year brings, look to your personal year for clues.

1 November (11th month) 14 Universal Year (2015 = 8)

2 11 = 1 + 1 = 2 1 + 4 = 5 8

3 2 + 5 + 8 = 15 = 1 + 5 + 6

4 This year is Sharon’s 6 Personal Year

Life Numbers

n Paola Gucciardi, Numerologist www.lifenumbers.ca

To Calculate Your Personal Year ......Add the numerical values of Month + Day of Birth + Universal Year

• Reduce the SUM to a single digit Note: Universal Year = Sum of numerical value of the calendar year (ex. 1993 = 1+9+9+3 = 22; 2+2=4 Universal Year)

Example: Sharon’s Birthday is November 14th

women with vision fall/winter, 2015

Documents