Canadian Living May 2014

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE ISSUE YET, BECAUSE it’s about something close to my heart: amazing women transforming themselves, their families and their communities. Several months ago, Fashion & Beauty director Julia McEwen sent out a call: She needed five volunteers willing to undergo a complete beauty makeover. The only caveat was that they had to be willing to hand over control to the experts and be ready for big changes. Hundreds of women responded (we loved reading all the heartfelt letters!) and we ended up selecting five women at different stages in their lives and careers. Find the stunning results starting on page 33. I love before-and-afer stories. Having initiated many dramatic changes in my own life—I’ve done the weight loss thing, got a brush cut, bought whole new wardrobes—I can tell…

SING IT, SISTER You mentioned in the April issue that you’d like to know what we love about our communities. One of my favourite things about my community (Brockville, ON) is the women’s choir that I belong to, called Shout Sister. It was started in 2002, in Kingston, by blues singer Georgette Fry. There are now 15 chapters in Ontario with eight choir leaders. (Georgette is the leader for three of these—Brockville, Kingston and Picton.) Being part of this choir is such a joy. I have met women from my own village community whom I never knew in over 40 years living here and who are now among my closest friends. It is so much more than a choir—it’s a kind of singing sisterhood. We perform at charitable functions, nursing homes…

WOMEN EVERYWHERE WERE JEALOUS WHEN LUISANA LOPILATO MARRIED CANADA’S MOST SWOON-WORTHY SINGER, MICHAEL BUBLÉ. BUT SHE DIDN’T KNOW HOW SWEET LIFE COULD BE UNTIL SHE MET HER BABY BOY. I started appearing in commercials at the age of six. By the time I was 10, I was in movies and television shows. At 16, I joined a band that toured arenas all over South America and Europe. I’ve been very fortunate to make a career doing what I love. To say that life has been exciting is an understatement. I have been the centre of attention and the master of my universe. I thought that things couldn’t get any sweeter and that I had really lived. I couldn’t have been more wrong! I met little Noah Bublé on Aug. 27, 2013, and my…

On March 2, I found myself dangling from the top of an ice cliff holding onto the hand of Laureen Harper. Yes, that Laureen Harper. I probably wouldn’t have died if I fell, but I could have broken some bones. I was invited to Harrington Lake, the official country residence of the prime minister, to meet a group of Canadian veterans and corporate leaders who have spent the last few months preparing for an epic journey to the Arctic Circle. Their goal: to raise awareness of the needs of Canadian veterans and their families. The expedition is being organized by True Patriot Love, a not-for-profit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of veterans and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Mrs. Harper is honorary chair of the organization, a…

WHAT: Trails, Tales and Tunes is a lively small-town Newfoundland festival that combines traditional folksy activities, such as singing, dancing and storytelling, with guided walks through Gros Morne National Park. WHEN: The 10-day festival runs from May 16 to 25. WHERE: The festival takes you through the beautiful park in Norris Point, NL, a town nestled between two fjords. WHO: It seems each of the 700 residents of Norris Point has a gift to share, be it storytelling, song, dance, art, crafts or cooking. And it seems the entire town has a yearning for active outdoor living—not surprising, considering it’s smack in the middle of one of the most amazing parks in Eastern Canada. WHY: In an event fuelled by community spirit and civic pride, almost all of the festival’s entertainers and volunteers are…

Coloured eyeliner has come a long way from garish ’80s incarnations. Formula updates have ushered in multidimensional shades and budge-proof results. When it comes to adding colour to your beauty repertoire, a stroke of bright eyeliner wins out over lipstick and eye shadow every time, says Lori Taylor, global pro lead artist for Smashbox Cosmetics. “Liner is the easiest way to go from neutral to a pop of colour,” she says. As for the rest of your makeup, keep it clean and simple. “It’s all about balance. Everything else should be just slightly downplayed.” — Julia McEwen 1. BEGINNER Wade into the trend with a thin line of pencil along your upper lash line. Smashbox Always Sharp 3D Liner in 3D Orchid, $23, smashbox.com. 2. INTERMEDIATE Try a cat’s eye. Trace your lash line,…