by VAN HANSEN

At Burlington’s Royal Botanical Gardens on a crisp Winter evening the forest paths glow with colour, with lanterns drifting overhead, electric reeds flickering to life, and a towering tree singing back to anyone willing to step up to the microphone.

At the centre of the transformation is Adrienne Lister, RBG’s Event Producer. For more than a decade, she has played a key role in shaping the garden’s most beloved events. 

“Winter Wonders started in 2020 as a reaction to COVID,” Adrienne says. “It began as this outdoor winter light experience with festive food, music and art installations and it’s become what it is today.”

Today, Winter Wonders welcomes 30,000 visitors over its five-week run, with many returning year after year to see what’s new.

A Trio of Interactive Art Installations

Adrienne and her team have added three new interactive installations this year—each one enhancing the natural beauty of the gardens.

The Singing Tree

Visitors sing into a microphone and the tree lights respond in bursts of different colours and patterns.

“It’s a fun one, especially for the kids,” Adrienne says. “Half the time, it becomes the shouting tree”.

Tree Love by ZEM (Kitchener-Waterloo)

A heartfelt and playful display, when you hug the trunk of the tree, the lights respond to the warmth of your embrace.

Switchgrass by the Treehouse Collective (Montreal)

A field of luminous reeds invites guests to touch, tap, and explore, with every interaction triggering a ripple of light.

“The installations are something totally unique that you’ll see just here at RBG.”

The Art of Building a World of Light

Pulling together an immersive experience of this scale is a complex endeavour and planning begins in the Summer, long before the snow arrives.

“We work together as a team doing the creative thinking early on,” Adrienne says.

In addition to the artists and designers, they start bringing contractors onboard in the early Fall. “And we have a wonderful team of staff and volunteers that help put Winter Wonders together,” says Adrienne.

Once the plan is in place the detailed work begins; mapping pathways, testing lights, coordinating power, building temporary structures, and ensuring accessibility.

The actual set-up takes about two weeks.

From Theatre to Lantern Lane

When asked about her favourite display, Adrienne smiles. “It’s the lantern display,” she says.

“We call it Lantern Lane. There are all these beautiful lanterns hanging from a tree-lined path. It’s really magical.”

Adrienne’s background is in theatre, where she specialized in stage management. But after years working in Toronto’s theatre scene, she discovered she loved events even more than the world of live performance.

“Starting at RBG thirteen years ago,” she says, “I worked my way up from event coordinator to event producer. Now I oversee all of RBG’s signature events.”

Some of the events include the Summer Music Series, the Enchanted Garden, and the Great Pumpkin Trail.

What’s Next?

Once Winter Wonders wraps up, the team will quickly shift to the next major installation: Bloomland in Oz.

“This is our second Bloomland exhibit,” Adrienne says. “It’s going to be great.”

The first was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, with this year’s focus being The Wizard of Oz.

Celebrating Community Through the Artisan Village

Another new feature this year is the Artisan Village, showcasing nine local makers. The lineup rotates throughout the run, offering visitors a curated selection of sustainable and handmade goods—from textiles and body care to jewelry, pottery, and unique gift items.

“We’re really excited that we can showcase different artisanal talent from within the community,” says Adrienne.

The Spark That Keeps Winter Glowing

With the months of planning behind her, for Adrienne the reward comes in seeing visitors enjoying the event.

After touring the Winter Wonders it was obvious to me that events like this connect people. They bring families together, and create memories.

And as Winter Wonders continues to evolve, one thing is certain… Adrienne and her team will keep finding ways to let imagination shine—one glowing installation at a time.

WINTER WONDERS TICKETS

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

JEN & VAN HANSEN

by VAN HANSEN

Just down the road from the Rockton World’s Fairground, Pavlo Pottery beckons with the soft scent of clay and the quiet rhythm of creation.

Shelves lined with mugs, vessels, and luminous glazes tell the story of two artists; Pavlo Tsarynny & Oksana Pogorila—whose shared journey in clay has spanned continents, decades, and countless kiln firings.

“Every kid likes to play with dirt,” Pavlo says with a laugh. “I was not an exception.”

A Creative Journey from the Ukraine to Ontario

Long before they established their gallery on Old Highway 8, Pavlo and Oksana studied pottery and fine arts in Ukraine together in the early 1990s, completing a rigorous five-year program at an Art Institute in Kyiv.

“I learned that dirt can be made into different colours,” Pavlo recalls. “And out of dirt, you can create a lot of beauty.”

After immigrating to Canada, Pavlo honed his skills under a master potter before the couple opened their own studio. Nearly twenty years ago, they purchased a property in Rockton, transforming it into both their home base and the Rockton Potters Gallery—a space that celebrates handmade craftsmanship and community connection.

The Art of Collaboration

Pavlo and Oksana’s creative partnership is a balance of precision and artistry.

“There’s form, there’s colour, there’s glaze chemistry, physics, even engineering,” Pavlo explains. “I focus on the form and glaze design, and Oksana adds her magic touch with artwork and carving. Every piece becomes something unique.”

That magic is most evident in their latest creation of fossil-inspired mugs—a collection featuring carved impressions of T-Rex bones and mammoth fossils that look as though they’ve been unearthed from prehistoric stone. Each carving, Pavlo says, is an original, taking Oksana weeks or months to complete.

“They look like real fossils,” he says proudly. “And no two ever come out the same.”

More Than Just a Mug

Their mugs are among their most beloved creations—functional, collectable, and deeply personal.

“By far, the mug is the most popular piece,” Pavlo says. “It’s something more than just a drinking vessel.”

He believes the appeal lies in the individuality of each one.

“The mug you’re holding—you know there’s only one. Not another person in the world will hold an identical piece.”

Even the firing process adds an element of surprise. Variations in glaze and heat create subtle differences that make every mug a small work of art. “It’s just magic that never repeats itself,” Pavlo says.

Building a Community of Makers

Over time, the Rockton Potters Gallery has become a gathering place for Canadian artisans. Inside, visitors can find work from roughly 30 artists—from jewelers and painters to other potters and craftspeople.

“We’re primarily about pottery,” Pavlo says, “but we also showcase the beauty and skill of many different Canadian artists. We want people to find something special—something made by hand.”

Beyond Rockton, Pavlo and Oksana’s work can be found at St. Jacob’s Market and select Ontario boutiques. Yet their focus remains local—on the slow, deliberate process of creating and sharing.

A Legacy in Clay

After more than 30 years of working side by side, Pavlo and Oksana have built not just a business, but a life centered on art, family, and connection.

Visitors can stop by their gallery any day between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., perhaps watch as new pieces take shape, and take home something truly one-of-a-kind. As Pavlo puts it:

“We make pottery you can enjoy every day—something that brings a touch of beauty to your life.”

Pavlo Pottery

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by VAN HANSEN

Hugh W. Drummond is the sixth-generation owner and operator of Drummond Farms / Belvedere Orchards in Waterdown, ON. 

And with his modern controlled atmosphere storage facility, he can now supply fresh off the tree tasting fruit all year round.

Hugh’s background is in the mining industry, and he continues to work short-term contracts in Canada and around the world during the farms off-season. He studied Mining Engineering Technology, graduating from the Haileybury School of Mines, and Laurentian University.

This month Van interviewed Hugh at Drummond Farms.

Next Gen Farming

Van: Was it always in the works for you to return home and take the reins of the family apple business?

Hugh: As an only child I was told to go work for somebody else and get your education so that the farm would be here if you need it or if you want to come back to do it. The opportunity was right in 2016 and it was just a dream come true to take over the family farm again. The farm has been in the family since the 1800s, and that’s the way I’d like to keep it.

Van: With your production at 2 million pounds, how big is your distribution zone?

Hugh: There are some large wholesalers that will come in and purchase the apples and take them by transport truck to the (Ontario) Food Terminal or other locations. So the majority of the apples have been just for Ontario. One year when Nova Scotia didn't have a very good crop, some of the apples went there, but they're all for Canada. And a lot of the apples go for school nutrition programs. 

Van: How did you get into the nutrition programs?

Hugh: It all started at the Walker Street Market when someone said, hey, do you mind supplying our school for a nutrition program? And so I started out with one school, and then I contacted the Hamilton Tastebuds (Student Nutrition Collaborative); they run the nutrition program.

So it’s mostly in the local area. We have dropped quite a bit for Halton and focused more on the Hamilton area. It’s due to the logistics and trying to get everything delivered on the same day to each school.

Van: What is your biggest challenge right now?

Hugh: This year, it's probably the weather.

But in general the biggest challenge is not worrying about things you can't control. As a farmer, if you worry about things that you can't control, you're going to drive yourself crazy.

So you just roll with the punches and that's one thing I've really had to learn since I started is everything changes and you can't control it. So you don't worry about it. And now you just move on from things that are out of your control. Plan for them, but don't worry about them.

Van: What do you enjoy the most about your work here?

Hugh: The freedom. I enjoy the work and I enjoy the benefit that comes from feeding the local community. So I do a lot of labor, but I don't really call it work because it's not work if you love it.  

Van: With more than 20 varieties of apples here, do you have a favourite? 

Hugh: Well, my favourite is the Ambrosia. It's a quite sweet, firm apple. 

It was discovered in British Columbia; it was just a chance find in a field so it’s a Canadian apple. And it stores well and that's why I like it.

Van: What are your hours for the Apple Shack?

Hugh: Store hours are Monday to Friday from 8 to 4:30, Saturday 10 to 4:00 and we are closed on Sundays.

Drummond Farms Apple Shack is located at 69 Concession 5 East in Waterdown and sells non-waxed apples straight from the farm, sweet apple cider, honey, and pure maple syrup.

__

Note: this interview was been edited for length and clarity and no AI’s were harmed in the process

Drummond Farms

Housing Horizon is your live Market, Economics, and Rate Review with Q & A, hosted by Van—don’t miss it!

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by VAN HANSEN

Scot Cameron bought his first skateboard 40 years ago at a garage sale. Being in California during one of his formative years he was inspired by surf culture, in the place where skateboarding first began.

Looking back to the early 1950's, surfers were installing roller skate wheels on makeshift boards, determined to find a way to surf the streets at times when the ocean swell was too gentle.

• Futuristic Hover Board with DeLorean ‘Time Machine’. Elliot Alder photo

The sport of skateboarding has been evolving ever since amidst a sometime rebellious counter culture while at the same time embedding itself into the collective psyche.

"The spark really ignited for me in the mid-eighties," Scot says. "It was in grade 7 or 8 when my friends and I kind of looked up to this group called the Bones Brigade with Tony Hawk being the most mainstream name. We all started skateboarding, and emulating what they were doing."

With no dedicated infrastructure available at the time, the boys were street skating, teaching themselves tricks on parking curbs or bombing a hill. "We were lucky we had a spot in Kitchener which was a vacant lot where they allowed us to set up some ramps," says Scot.

• Scot’s first skateboard atop the rack holding his personal rider collection

World of Wheels

In high school Scot found himself spending a lot of time in the shop classes, and he vividly remembers his teacher Thomas Schmidt, who passed away 5 years ago.

“Mr. Schmidt was always there at the right moment. He set me up with a job which led to my career, and later helped with the body work on my 1967 Ford Fairlane when I was getting it on the road”.

Scot went on to complete his apprenticeship, becoming a full-time automotive technician at Gord Kaster Automotive. He worked there for the next 3 decades after which he ultimately co-founded a start-up metal fabrication and repair shop specializing in hot-rods, street trucks, and classic cars.

CoMaCan Skateboards

As a creative outlet while he was in the industry, Scot also plied his craft as a freelance automotive journalist and photographer writing feature stories and columns, rounding them out with assignments shooting races, car shows, and automotive celebrities.

With print media in decline, Scot found the time to start a new project with the intent of increasing his engagement with the skateboarding community and in 2017 he partnered with fellow skater Will Mackie to found CoMaCan Skateboards.

"It's a skateboard brand which started out as the Colorado Massachusetts skateboard collective, or CoMa for short," Scot says. "Will had the opportunity to bring the company to Canada so we bought up the existing stock and accounts, and launched as CoMaCan Skateboards."

Skateboarding has experienced significant growth in recent years driven by the sport becoming more mainstream through its inclusion in the Olympic Games, social media coverage, and the increasing availability of skateparks.

• Olympic Games 2024 Skateboarding Mens Park Prelims. Stefan Scheepmaker photo

And with the proliferation of public skate parks the space is free, so cost of entry is essentially the equipment. As skaters progress, the boards become a consumable, eventually wearing out or breaking so CoMaCan’s philosophy is to supply top quality skateboard decks (and accessories) at low prices, to keep the sport fun and accessible.

“Local skate shops have always been the heart of skateboarding,” says Scot. So as well as offering their skateboards, apparel, and accessories for online ordering, CoMaCan has also become a trusted supplier to a growing roster of 15 skate shops across Ontario, 5 in Nova Scotia and one in BC.

Community Outreach

As well as sponsoring the Skate Jam at Waterdown’s Oh Canada Ribfest, you will find Scot & Will at the CoMaCan booth at various events in Hamilton, and Jackalope Festival Mississauga.

Scot has made CoMaCan Skateboards his full-time vocation, and it’s a labour of love.

“Skateboarding is a gift,” says Scot. “It doesn't mean everybody has to be a part of it. But I think everybody can see it as a physical benefit, a mental health benefit, a social benefit. It's a bit of everything”.

• Rainy Day at Waterdown Skatepark

CoMaCan Skateboards

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Love Your Neighbourhood

by VAN HANSEN

When Alex Moshtagh was a child, he couldn’t walk past an antique shop without wandering inside, captivated by the silent stories evoked by old wood, porcelain, and brass. His father was a collector, and when they moved to Canada, Alex’s parents would go and search for things that reminded them of back home.

“There’s so much history,” Alex says, his voice carrying both nostalgia and quiet authority.  “Where did these things come from? What’s the story behind them? It was always interesting to me.”

That childhood curiosity turned into a passion during his teenage years, when Alex took an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker.

Working with his hands, he embraced the artistry of finely crafted furniture, developing an instinct for recognizing quality and authenticity.

As he matured, Alex realized his interests stretched far beyond the craft of woodworking. Objects weren’t just things to build—they were artifacts with stories, each one a puzzle piece in a broader historical narrative. Alex and his family decided to transform their shared passion into a business.

“We chose to become antique dealers,” he says. “So we started the store, and almost 33 years later, I’m still doing it.”

The Moshtagh’s opened their first brick and mortar store in Toronto at Yonge & Steeles. More recently Alex relocated the business to Oakville, and then later to Burlington.  

Over the years, Alex has witnessed the antique market evolve dramatically. Trends come and go, tastes shift, and the internet has transformed how collectors and dealers connect.

Yet one thing remains unchanged for him: the allure of discovering an item’s past and helping others understand its worth—both sentimental and monetary.

“People often don’t realize what they have,” he says. “Sometimes it’s not about the dollar value—it’s about the history and connection.”

On the Road Again

Alex’s knowledge and approachable demeanor have made him a trusted resource in the community, and Jen & Van Hansen have engaged him regularly over the past couple of years to conduct Antique Road Shows in Burlington.

Whether offering advice to curious collectors from his shop or conducting estate appraisals, he approaches each encounter with the same wonder he felt as a boy exploring antique shops.

“Every piece has a story,” he says. “And that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

Alex Moshtagh holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics from York University, and he is the Owner of Treasure Antique & Appraisers.

Last Event was July 19, 2025—Antiques Road Show in Burlington

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Love Your Neighbourhood

by VAN HANSEN

Launching his coast-to-coast book tour in Burlington, Marc Garneau presented his autobiography to a full house. 

Garneau sat down with fellow engineer and author Terry Fallis for a captivating conversation in the sanctuary of Port Nelson United Church. 

It was last Fall, and no coincidence that the event was held on October 5th—the 40th anniversary of Garneau’s historic Space Shuttle mission when he become the first Canadian to fly to space.   

From the Sea

As a boy, Garneau harboured a long-standing fascination with the ocean and he joined the Navy at the age of 16. Four years later, in his final year at Royal Military College (RMC) he was given the opportunity to cross the Atlantic.

Garneau was part of a crew of 13 in a race from Newport, Rhode Island to Cork, Ireland on the Pickle, a 59-foot wooden yawl (2-masted sailboat).

“A few centuries before, stepping out on the ocean, you were taking your life into your hands,” said Garneau. “It was a voyage into the unknown. So that was a beautiful experience for me personally”.

The 20-day transit brought its share of rough seas and bad weather as they crossed nearly 5,000 kilometres of ocean. Sailing on to London, they were on the English Channel on the night of the first Moon landing.

Garneau was gazing at the moon and listening to the live broadcast on the radio as Neil Armstrong announced “The Eagle has landed”.

“I remember thinking to myself,” said Garneau. “Here I am in a sailboat, one of the oldest forms of transportation, and he and Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins had crossed 400,000 km of the vacuum of space and landed safely on the (Moon’s) Sea of Tranquility.”

The parallels were not lost on Garneau, and he believed that a seed was planted that night. 

After graduating from RMC with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics in 1970, Garneau furthered his education studying electrical engineering in the UK at Imperial College London, successfully defending his PhD thesis in 1973.

Returning to Canada, Garneau trained as a combat systems engineer which led to a posting on HMCS Algonquin, and as an instructor at the Canadian Forces Fleet School.

Other assignments included work at the Naval Engineering Unit in Halifax, qualifying as a diver, and postings to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. After attending Canadian Forces College, Garneau was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1983.

To the Stars

On returning home from HQ one evening in June that year, Garneau was reading the Ottawa Citizen (newspaper), when he stumbled on an advertisement from the National Research Council. Canada was looking for astronauts!

This was in response to NASA’s request for 2 Canadian astronauts to fly on the Space Shuttle as thanks for designing and building Canadarm, the Shuttle’s robotic arm.

Garneau was one of 4,300 applicants. Proving throughout the gruelling selection process that had the right stuff, he was selected as one of six who would become Canada’s first Astronaut Corps.

Sixteen months after that he was on launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, the Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Challenger, seated on the starboard mid-deck.

“I remember just being focused on my training,” said Garneau. “And then suddenly I was strapped in, the shuttle side hatch door was closed, and I thought this is not a simulation. We’re going today”. What followed was the longest two and a half hours of his life.

When the countdown finally reached zero as the solid rocket boosters roared to life, there was lots of vibration for the first couple of minutes until the boosters separated and the main engines fired, accelerating the Shuttle with Garneau feeling heavier in his seat, for the last part of the ascent sustaining a force of 3 g (gravitational force equivalent). 

It was eight and a half minutes from 0 to 28,000 km/h which is orbital velocity, when the main engine cutoff happens. Suddenly there was silence.

“And you realize you’re floating. It is a moment of euphoria. You can hardly wait to take off your seat belt and float over to look out the window”.

On that mission they were on an unusual high-inclination orbit flying over the Canadian provinces every 90 minutes.

They launched a satellite and conducted several experiments including a package of Canadian experiments (CANEX).

Garneau was promoted to Captain (Navy) in 1986, leaving the Canadian Forces in 1989.

Garneau flew on 2 more Space Shuttle missions in 1996 as Mission Specialist on the Endeavour, and in 2000 as Flight Engineer. On his 3rd mission, Garneau used the Canadarm on Endeavour to install one of the four solar arrays on the International Space Station.

Following his career as an astronaut, Garneau was appointed President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2001.

For the Common Good

Garneau was elected to Parliament and served as an MP for over 14 years in the House of Commons, including as Foreign Affairs Minister, and Transport Minister.

“Everything had to be, what makes the most sense? As opposed to doing things for, shall I say, political reasons,” said Garneau.

“I've never been drawn to making decisions for political reasons. I wanted it to be the best policy possible for Canadians”.

After a lifetime of public service, the Honourable Marc Garneau, PC, CC, CD retired in 2023, and set to work writing his memoirs. He dedicated A Most Extraordinary Ride, Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream “To my children, as I promised”.

Penguin Random House 

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Jen & Van Hansen

On June 4th, Marc Garneau passed away peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by his family, his wife, Pam Garneau said in a statement.

“Marc faced his final days with the same strength, clarity and grace that defined his life”.

Photo Gallery

by VAN HANSEN

Jean Clinton, MD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and a Specialist in Child Psychiatry.

Dr. Clinton is also a renowned keynote speaker and knowledge translator, aptly moving research findings from the lab or journal into practical use. This Spring she gave a talk for an attentive group of parents and educators in the auditorium of Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton...  

Opening warmly, Dr. Clinton reflects on her personal connection to Westdale. “It’s great to be in these hallowed halls. Four of my children went here.”

Drawing from both personal and academic insight, she emphasizes that adolescence is a critical time of brain development, shaped by neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to be molded by experience.

A key point is that the adolescent brain is “under construction.” Dr. Clinton explains that during this stage the brain prioritizes emotional and social development over executive functioning such as planning and impulse control.

The limbic system, which governs emotions and rewards matures earlier than the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and decision-making. This neurological imbalance partly explains risk-taking behaviours, impulsivity, and the strong pull toward peer relationships.

Dr. Clinton used an anecdote about her own child leaping into unknown waters, showing that even knowing the risks, adolescents prioritize thrill and peer approval.

Bell Times

Adolescents stay up later because their melatonin is changing, effectively delaying their signal to feel sleepy by several hours. At the same time they need 9 hours, making sleep deprivation a big issue.

“There is very good evidence that later start times for adolescents in school makes a big difference,” Dr. Clinton says. “Even starting at 8:30 compared to 8:00”.

From Anxious to Z

Throughout the talk, Dr. Clinton weaved in research, citing sources like Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” and studies on stress, social media, and brain development. They emphasize that adolescents’ heightened sensitivity to rewards (dopamine response) makes them more prone to seek novelty and excitement, which has evolutionary roots driving them away from the family nest to explore their world.

But how does modern technology disrupt the trajectory of this natural development? In particular, the rise of smartphones and social media, Dr. Clinton argues, is creating an anxious generation.

Children now grow up with a portal in their pocket that pulls them away from face-to-face interactions—an unnatural and potentially harmful shift for a species wired for social connection.

Data shows a decline in time spent with friends and an increase in loneliness, anxiety, depression, and self-harm since the early 2010s, particularly among adolescent girls.

Dr. Clinton shares that today’s overprotection in the physical world, along with underprotection in the virtual world, leaves children less prepared for real life. She highlights a cultural shift toward “safetyism” with shrinking zones of independent exploration across generations.

While free, unsupervised play has diminished, kids are being denied opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills.

Dr. Clinton calls for a balance between protecting children and fostering independence. She advocates for delayed access to smartphones and social media, recommending no smartphones before high school and no social media before age 16.

She encourages “phone-free schools” and collective action among parents to set shared boundaries, reducing the social pressure kids feel when “everyone else has one.”

It Takes a Village

Beyond technology, Dr. Clinton stresses the importance of focusing on the whole child. Drawing from Indigenous teachings and the medicine wheel, she posits that education must nurture physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being—not just cognitive skills.

“Mohawk Elder Tom Porter told me that in their Mohawk tradition, children are the sacred ones. They are the heart of the nation and it is the sacred responsibility of the community to raise them up”, says Dr. Clinton.

Belonging, engagement, and meaningful relationships are vital for academic success and healthy brain development. Dr. Clinton warns against a narrow focus on curriculum content, comparing it to “stuffing the duck” rather than fostering genuine learning and inquiry.

Dr. Clinton underscored that “relationships are nutrients for the (developing) brain”. She promoted the mantra of “connect before you correct,” encouraging parents and educators to prioritize empathy and emotional connection before addressing behaviour. This approach activates brain pathways that support reflection and learning, rather than triggering defensive or reactive responses.

Stress and its neurological impact form another crucial theme. Dr. Clinton explained how chronic stress floods the brain with cortisol and adrenaline, which impairs memory, focus, and learning. And many behavioural issues attributed to disorders like ADHD may actually stem from toxic stress or environmental factors. Positive early experiences and supportive relationships can buffer against adversity, highlighting the protective power of connection.

Dr. Clinton closed with actionable strategies for parents, namely practicing gratitude daily, fostering joy and laughter, asking reflective questions that center a child’s needs and strengths, and modeling calmness. She cited neuroscience research showing that gratitude can biologically shift the brain toward a healthier mindset.

Ultimately, Dr. Clinton encourages a cultural shift in how we raise and educate adolescents. By respecting their developmental needs, fostering strong relationships, limiting harmful technological influences, and nurturing their whole being, we can support adolescents in building healthy brains—and fulfilling lives.

Dr. Clinton left the audience inspired to reflect, connect, and act with intention for the benefit of their children’s growth.

Dr. Jean Clinton’s talk was presented by the Westdale, Dundas Valley, and Ancaster School Councils

Dr. Jean Clinton’s latest book is “Love Builds Brains”.

Love Builds Brains

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Jen & Van Hansen

by VAN HANSEN

Antrim Glen is the Adult Lifestyle Land Lease Community ensconced in the rolling hills of Freelton, ON.

There are 289 detached bungalows in this idyllic country setting surrounded by conservation areas and farmland. And pride of ownership is obvious as soon as you enter the community as the homes are lovingly maintained, with manicured lawns & gardens.

“When I first drove through the entrance here I felt like I was at home, and I loved it,” says resident A. Adams.

One advantage of buying at Antrim Glen is that the homes are typically more affordable than those outside the community, making it popular with downsizing seniors.

“I have moved many times in my life, and there’s nothing better as far as I’m concerned,” Adams says. “Value for dollar you can’t beat being in this community”.

Types of Home Ownership

In Canada there are several types of home ownership. For Freeholds, the house and the land are owned by the resident.

With Condominiums, the resident owns their unit, owns the common areas jointly with others, and pays a monthly fee to the condo corporation.

Other types of home ownership include Co-operative housing (co-op), Life Lease, Leasehold, and Land Lease.

With Land Lease the home is owned by the resident who in turn pays a monthly fee to the land owner for leasing the land.

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) applies in Ontario when a house on leased land is purchased. At Antrim Glen, new residents are approved by the landlord, and they sign a new lease prior to closing.

In Antrim Glen, the landlord is Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities Inc., the leading operator, developer and owner of more than 55 residential, and 35 recreational resort communities across Canada.

The monthly fees include land lease, maintenance, and property tax. Parkbridge maintains the common elements such as the clubhouse, pool, community well, lighting, roads, and snow clearance on the roads, while homeowners are responsible for maintaining their individual homes.

The Glen

At the hub of the vibrant, friendly social scene is The Glen, the 12,000 square foot community Recreation Centre. It features a meeting hall, lounge, library, billiards room, workshop, gym, sauna, and outdoor saltwater pool.

There are many organized activities and events such as BBQ’s, bus trips, card games, clubs, exercise groups, dances, and seasonal parties.

“This is an active lifestyle community, if you wish to be active. You can garden if you are a gardener”, says Adams. “You can play cards, go bowling or golfing with a group, there are just so many activities!

Antrim Glen is located halfway between Cambridge and Hamilton, with access to the 401 and 403.

The History of Antrim Glen

The 200 acres of Antrim Glen and adjacent Beverly Hills Estates were formerly farmland producing alfalfa, corn, grain, hay, and red clover, along with livestock including pigs, chickens, and Holstein cattle supplying milk to Silverwood’s Dairy.

William Russell Waller purchased the land in the late 1800s, and farmed it until the 1930s, with operations continuing up to 1968.

Gerry Maguire was one of the original partners in the Antrim Glen development after he emigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland, and the community owes its name to the Glens of Antrim. The Glens are in County Antrim, one of six counties in Northern Ireland’s province of Ulster.

The Glens of Antrim

There are nine glens: Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk, and Glentaisie.

The Antrim Coast & Glens are an excellent example of the magnificent scenery of Northern Ireland, and in 1988 they were designated as an Area of Natural Beauty (AONB), the intent being to conserve and enhance the landscape. This area includes Rathlin Island, the coastal area between Larne and Ballycastle, and the Glens of Antrim.

The Word on the Street

Closer to home, Antrim Glen’s street names in Freelton were also inspired by places in Ireland’s County Antrim…

• Armoy is a small village on the River Bush. In recent years Armoy has been host to a road race known as the “Race of Legends”

• Ballycastle, Town of the Castle

• Bushmill(s), watermill on the River Bush, famous for the Old Bushmills Distillery, founded in 1784 and still in operation

• Crumlin, (Croimglhlinn or) Crooked Glen sits at the head of the Camlin River

• Dunadry is a small village previously known as Dunedergel

• Eden is a settlement on the edge of Carrickfergus, birthplace of international footballer William John Irvine

• Emerald for Isle (aka Ireland)

• Garron (Tower) is a cliff-top Victorian castle

• Glenariff, is the largest of the Glens

• Glenarm is named after the (southernmost) Glen in which it lies. Glenarm Castle is the ancestral home of the Earls of Antrim

• Gracehill (Village) was founded in 1765

• Kells, (Na Cealla) is a village near Ballymena

• Kilroot, the town of the same name is on the mouth of Belfast Lock

• Portrush – favourite holiday destination, on a mile-long peninsula extending into the Atlantic

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Jen & I have experience brokering many sales of homes on land lease property including at Antrim Glen in Freelton, Martin Grove Village in Waterloo, and Cherry Hill at Vineland. And we have both earned our Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) designation.

So if you are interested in finding out more please contact us and we will be happy to talk about your wants and needs and how we can help you.

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Jen & Van Hansen

by VAN HANSEN

On a tree-lined street in the heart of the Victorian Village of Waterdown stands a Georgian style former church building, built circa 1838. These days it’s the home of Birmingham Consulting Inc. (BCI). While this may not be where you might expect to find a high tech information security firm, there is a certain synergy in the striking juxtaposition of old and new.

Jen and I were there to interview Scott Birmingham, BCI’s Principal Consultant, and he shared some valuable tips on how to avoid a cyber attack and protect your information online.

Scott founded BCI in 2009. The goal was to deliver information technology (IT) services using the engineering principles he applied while working in high-value manufacturing industries.

At the same time, BCI was an early adopter in delivering cyber security. And today they provide dedicated information security (InfoSec) services focussed on risk reduction for businesses.   

Inside the renovated office space, Scott ushered us into a meeting room where we sat down across a custom black walnut conference table made from wood salvaged from a tree on their property.

All Around the World

Van: Does the risk of cyber attacks vary regionally, or is it more or less uniform because these are global threats?

Scott: So let's start with the bigger picture. Statistically, Canada is the third most attacked country or has the third highest number of cyber attacks targeted at it in the world after the US and UK.

And so it definitely varies on a national or global level. Regionally now I always just say follow the money. Well where's the money? It's where the people are.

So where you've got a higher density of people and businesses you're going to have a higher number of attacks occurring. If you've got some little town out in the middle of the prairies, they're less likely to have major attacks happen compared to somebody in Vancouver or Toronto where big businesses are and there are lots of people.

How to Protect Yourself

Van: From the consumers point of view what can be done to protect their information and their devices?

I know there is some controversy as to whether Mac requires anti-virus software for example. And VPN’s (Virtual Personal Networks) are popular…

Scott: So there's a whole list, almost an endless list of recommendations you can make and it's where you're going to get the most bang for your buck.

You mentioned Apple. Well, we get do get monthly notifications about actively exploited vulnerabilities on Apple. There's more on Windows but it still happens. But how secure are they? Ultimately nobody is fully secure, including Apple.

That said, of the steps you mentioned, antivirus is kind of the old term now. Now you have an endpoint protection or an endpoint detection and response. There was a next-gen antivirus or NGAV, but yeah, more in the business world, you want to look at more than just antivirus.

And you know there's a big technical difference between regular antivirus and something that's actually looking at not just the antivirus part, but what kind of weird behaviour might be happening, and let's shut it down, right?
Yeah those are both very important those two things you mentioned, antivirus, (catch-all term), and a VPN.

But probably the number one thing, and as InfoSec professionals we harp on it, is to make sure your devices are up to date. I don't care whether it's Apple, Windows, iOS, Android, doesn't matter.

Make sure they're up to date, including the operating system. So there's a lot Apple's out there that are older (than 5-6 years) running that are not compatible with an upgrade.

So get a new Mac. Right? Otherwise you've got vulnerabilities on there that aren't being fixed.

The same applies to Windows and with Windows end of life in October, there's a lot of hardware that is going to become obsolete unless you pay to have support extended.

And that really leads to making sure your device can be on a supported operating system and it's fully patched. We just had an occurrence with a business client, but it was their personal phone. It was an iPhone 6. Let that sink in for a minute. What's that, 10 years old?

And we said we don't want to touch this because for all we know it's already infected. It's already compromised and we don't want to be held responsible for anything on here. You need to get rid of that phone.

And if they were doing banking on there or online purchases and that phone's compromised because it hasn't been capable of receiving updates for the last 10 years? You may not even know until the bank calls and says, hey, what's going on?

So that's the big, big thing. There are more security features on newer devices than on old ones. So even if it works perfectly well, I wouldn’t recommend using it.

All you have to do is find out if that's still supported. If the iOS 15.8 is still getting security patches released for it then you're okay for a bit, but you don't want to leave it too long.

Van: How do InfoSec requirements compare from a small business through to a large corporation?

Scott: I'll preface it by saying the financial risk is proportional. You know, if there's a hundred thousand dollar loss due to an incident, well a big company is not even going to notice that. But for an entrepreneur, that's a big deal.

So invest accordingly. When you've got millions or billions at risk as a big company, you're going to invest more in security than an entrepreneur might need to. The overall investment will vary, but the principles to follow are the same.

First is to conduct regular risk assessments at least annually. And of course act on the findings as well. I mean that kind of goes without saying.

The other one is to look at security as a continuous process, not just a project. And the short form of this is threats are ever evolving, so security needs to evolve to match.

And then create a culture of security, not just in your company, but in your personal life, with your family.

I think Christine might have mentioned the concept of safe words, which apply not just to families but to businesses as well. So by safe word, think of it as a code word.

If you get a phone call from somebody that's claiming to be your daughter or granddaughter or grandson or whatever saying I'm in trouble I need help I need money and the voice is an exact match because AI made it an exact match, you can say okay what's our safe word.

And AI is not going to know it. The criminal is not going to know it. They're not going to know it and right away you know this isn't real and move on.

The same as in business because you can have somebody try to impersonate an executive and say I want you to transfer money to XYZ. And In business there are also electronic ways to verify.

But if you don't have that culture of security you're not going to think to do that so keep it on your mind. It's not if, it's when. So be prepared and practice your preparedness to make sure that it's actually effective.

Cyber Insurance 

And have adequate cyber insurance on the business side. If you go to our website there is a business cyber liability calculator on there so if you're wondering how much cyber insurance you should have that will give you an idea. We don't sell cyber insurance so it's just an education thing and then you can now have an informed conversation with your insurance broker because a lot of them don't understand all the risks.

On the personal side be sure that you've got some kind of identity theft protection insurance.

These are key fundamentals, whether you're a sole proprietor or you're a billion dollar enterprise. They apply either way, it's just the scale.

Something New

Van: What do you love about your work?

Scott: We've collected a lot of knowledge over the years here at BCI. And I love sharing that knowledge, whether it be with business owners, whether it be with large corporate executives, whether it be paid or unpaid, and just in the community, sharing what we've learned and making sure that somebody takes one extra step to protect themselves.

So it's always something new that we’re learning, and there's always something new to share. That's why we're doing that presentation with the Hamilton police on fraud in March.

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Scott is a Certified Engineering Technologist (CET), with a CIM designation from the Canadian Institute of Management. He works with his wife Christine, who is BCI’s Operations Manager, and their team.

Their cat Kahn was named after Dr. Robert Elliot, a visionary engineer and one of the fathers of the internet, having co-invented the transmission control & internet protocols (TCIP/ IP), the fundamental communication protocols underpinning the internet. 

Birmingham Consulting is hosting the hybrid event Weathering Cyber Storms in 2025 at the Uptown Business Club and online on March 26th, 2025 from 12 – 1 pm EDT, with guest speaker Constable Ryan Clarke, Hamilton Police Service

Birmingham Consulting Inc.

Jen & Van Hansen

by VAN HANSEN

McCann Professional Dog Trainers have helped more than 100,000 families to train their dogs over the years.

The McCann Method® is always evolving, and today the business operates from a world-class facility on their 21-acre site in Flamborough, ON.

The main building has 3 air-conditioned training halls, adjacent to a new dock diving pool. And there is a 12,000 sq. ft. sports arena with artificial grass; many members of Team Canada use the arena when training for worldwide Agility Competitions.

Last month I had the opportunity to tour the McCann Dogs complex and interview Kayl McCann, Director/ Head Trainer and her husband Ken Steppe, Manager of Digital Strategy & Content Creation/ Trainer.  

Away to the Races

Van Hansen: So Ken, my first question is can all dogs benefit from training?

Ken Steepe: Yes! And one of the ideas that we try to dispel is that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. And whatever your expectations are for your dog’s training, you can set the bar higher.

That's something that I learned very quickly. I mean, my expectations were I just didn't want my dog to chew my shoes or drag me down the street.

But understanding that with better information, I could get her to respond to name, and have her off leash in a busier environment. Then you can do more things and go more places with your dog.

So in training we would ask students on their first lesson, if we set up a scenario where their dog is in one corner of the room and they are in the other corner, they call come would their dog run by ten other dogs? And they always say there’s no way.

Kayl McCann: And if we flash forward to graduation we see dog after dog after dog succeeding.

This isn’t us though. They did the work, they put the stuff in and it's like the dog is completely transformed from the beginning to the end. So cool.

Ken Steepe: And even if you're not looking for any of those specific skills, I would recommend for anyone whether you're getting a rescue dog or you've got a brand new puppy in the household, I mean training is the fast track to relationship. It is such an important part of that. You learn a lot about your dog, they learn a lot about you. It's really valuable.

Kayl McCann: We are really focused on teaching the student to train their dog. Our goal is to empower the person to train the dog, to build that relationship; I don't need the dog to love me, I need the dog to love them.

I think once you get the person learning things, then it's away to the races from there.

Positive Reinforcement

Van Hansen: Kayl can you tell me how McCann Dogs was first established?

Kayl McCann: The family started the business 43 years ago now. And at that time my parents were a young couple who had separate careers—my Mom (Deb) ran a recreation center and my Dad (Marti) worked at a bank.

Dad bought Mom a dog and once they started taking dog training classes, they really enjoyed it. So they started dog training as a fun thing to do together and they ended up falling in love with it.

They started competing, and back then the dog training was more focused on negative reinforcement, which was something they wanted to change.

And they started paving a different route back then, because they really wanted the dog to behave, but also look like it was having fun at the same time instead of ears pinned and being worried about it.

So much so that they would have classes where people would be laughing and having fun, and they ended up getting kicked out of the school that they were in because they were doing such different methods, and that sort of forced them to do their own thing.

Then one class a week turned into two and on and on and they were working in church basements and things like that until they ended up renting a space over at the Rockton Fairgrounds.

The next step was to build this facility, I think it was 25 years ago. And yeah, it's just grown into something really big over the years.

So that's sort of where the family dog training program was developed. And then we've spun off in a bunch of different directions from there, just because once you sort of get foundation on the dog, there's like a whole world of cool things related to dog training comes up, which is awesome.

In Their Shoes

Van Hansen: I have a question for both of you. What do you love most about your work?

Kayl McCann: (to Ken) that's a big question. Do you want me to go first?

Ken Steepe: Sure. Gives me more time to think.

Kayl McCann: Okay, great. I love a lot of things about my work and I would say my job has really changed over the last 10 years since my parents have retired and I've sort of stepped into their shoes.

From an instructor perspective, if it has to do with helping students and that type of thing, that never gets old. There are always new challenges. And there’s so much satisfaction when I can literally lower their stress level.

Students are so proud of what they accomplish and there’s a lot of satisfaction seeing somebody have a lot of growth and I think that excitement is what led me into coaching.

And we have amazing staff here. We have staff that work inside the building full time, we have staff that are associates, they work part time including school teachers and engineers and nurses, staff that do all kinds of cool things in their normal life.

And then they come and teach for us a couple days a week. And we have instructors that are online, and it's such a cool group of people that we can push each other and continue to push the envelope in terms of training so that we don't get stagnant in our ideas and trying new things. And I really enjoy that aspect of it whether it's a mentorship role to them or learning things from them myself.

The dogs seem like an obvious part. Obviously I love dogs but you can't do this as a business if you don't like people as well because there's so many people things involved. And I'm a people person, so I really enjoy that part of it.

Ken Steepe: I have a unique perspective because I came in as a student, but without sounding overly dramatic, I've been a firefighter for 26 years, and I have also worked as a paramedic. So I've seen emotional extremes firsthand and also been in some very rewarding scenarios as well, but there's something uniquely gratifying about seeing someone's joy when their dog (for example) does a recall across this entire room.

When you see students in the parking lot and they're just so proud that their dog is walking at their side without pulling them on leash.

The feeling of being able to influence, to shape the next 10 to 15 years of someone's life. The opportunity we're given to allow someone to have the dream dog that they had envisioned, even if it didn't start out that way, which is my case.

That's really powerful. And now we do it on a global scale with the YouTube studio and YouTube team. But doing it for 500 dog owners a week in this building, boy oh boy, that's a really great feeling. And it's hard to compare that to anything else.

Gallery photos courtesy Kayl McCann

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McCann Dogs delivers in-person and online classes and workshops from Puppy Prep to Essentials, and Life Skills. From there they offer Advanced Obedience, and Sports programs including Rally, Agility, and Competition.

“In just a few weeks your dog becomes a well-behaved family member!” — McCann Professional Dog Trainers

McCann Dogs

Jen & Van Hansen

Say hello… move forward with more™

by VAN HANSEN

My neighbour Brent Ivy, Agent with Key Mortgage Partners is celebrating 30 years in the mortgage business. And 2 weeks ago he stopped by my Right at Home Realty, Brokerage office in Burlington where we had a chance to chat for a few minutes about all things mortgage.

The Rules Have Changed

The first of the recent policies aimed at making housing more accessible to home buyers took effect November 21st, 2024. Now homeowners with uninsured mortgages will be able to switch lenders at renewal without having to pass the mortgage stress test.

“If you’re going to move from one lender to another, I suggest talking to your mortgage professional because we may be able to move you over at a discounted rate,” says Brent.

More changes that started on December 15th, 2024 include increasing the $1m price cap for insured mortgages to $1.5m.

“The premium that the insurers are going to request is added on to the mortgage” says Brent. “So it's not something first time homebuyers have to come up with, but it allows them to get into those higher priced homes”.

The other side of that is individuals with a separation agreement may qualify under this policy as well.

And 30-year amortizations are now available to first time homebuyers, and buyers of new builds.

Another policy coming into force January 15, 2025 is homeowners will be able to refinance up to 90% LTV (loan-to-value ratio) to use the funds to add a rental unit to their owner-occupied property.

Where to Start

A pre-approval will give you a ballpark figure. But in real estate time is of the essence. Which means that for buyer clients one of the first things I advise them to do is to consult with their mortgage professional. That way when I find the right home for my clients we can act quickly to offer on the property.

Brent's application is online. “I follow up to help complete any missing information. We look at documents such credit bureau, paystubs, T-4 for 2 years, and employment letter”.

Entrepreneurs may also need full T-1 generals, and sometimes bank statements and articles of incorporation depending how they have their business set up.

Down payment documents will be required once a property is selected, and the lender may require an appraisal.

Mortgage Brokerage v. Big Banks

“I'm fortunate in that I've been able to play in both sandboxes so I can speak with some experience on both sides,” says Brent. 

“So kind of the best way to think about it is the broker actually goes out and finds you the product that fits best for you. Whereas if you go to the bank, they're trying to put you into their box”.

Brent’s mortgage brokerage works specifically with 50 different lenders.

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Brent Ivy has lived in (West) Waterdown with his wife Tiffany for 21 years now. What drew them here was the proximity to schools for their children. They quickly established roots as they started to play hockey and meet families, expanding their network of friends.

Ivy Mortgage

Jen & Van Hansen

Say hello… move forward with more℠

by VAN HANSEN

Kate Batchelor is the extraordinary baker and proud owner of Batches Bake Shop at 321 Dundurn St S in Hamilton, a most welcome addition to the Kirkendall neighbourhood. 

She was inspired from an early age by her Grandfather’s legacy. He had operated Gerry’s Pure Food Bakery in Milton, and in retirement baked birthday cakes and made gingerbread houses for Kate and her brother during the holidays.  

Having graduated with her Diploma in Baking & Pastry Arts Management from George Brown College, she was perfectly positioned to fill the vacuum created when the longstanding Cake & Loaf Bakery shut down in October, 2023.

Kate opened Batches as a pop-up shop at the same location in November, 2023 and has been there ever since, offering a carefully curated variety of baked goods from cookies, cakes, and scones to soup and chicken pot pie.

Van Hansen interviewed Kate Batchelor at Batches Bake Shop in November, 2024.

Hansen: What was the first thing you ever baked?

Batchelor: It was the Betty Crocker box cake mixes and I made so many of them. I was like the family cake baker at eight or nine years old and my dad would supervise and then taste test but yeah it all started out of a box.

Hansen: Batches Bake Shop is a “from scratch bakery”. What does that mean exactly?

Batchelor: It means that all of our ingredients come in individually and we put them all together so nothing is coming out of a bucket and nothing is coming in pre-made. We make it all in-house from scratch, fresh, daily or every other day.

Hansen: Okay and where do you get your ingredients?

Batchelor: That depends on the season. We try to keep things as local as possible, so all through the summer we get things from the Waterdown Farmer's Market when we are there on Saturday.

That's why you'll see our menu change up seasonally, because when I can't get the produce, I can't produce the stuff.

Hansen: From a personal POV what does Baking mean to you?

Batchelor: Baking to me is love, right? That's how my family shows love. People cook for you, people bake for you.

Hansen: So you mentioned that baking was a hobby and a stress reliever, and that all sounds like great stuff.

Batchelor: That's how I started. I used to bake at home all the time, all through my university degree I baked and that was how I turned off my brain at the end of the day. I'd pop out a batch of cinnamon rolls or cook up a big pot of chili. So it was feeding me but also feeding my soul. Now it’s not as much a stress reliever but I still love it.

Hansen: Tell me about your Grandfather.

Batchelor: My Grandpa had a bakery when my Mom and her brothers were kids. I never got to see it—the shop closed before I was born.

But he used to make all of our birthday cakes and we would go and have sleepovers and there would be cinnamon buns in the morning. And at Christmas he would make gingerbread houses, personalized gingerbread houses for my brother and I. And so I just remember that was how he spread joy to our family was through creating everything.

Hansen: So you grew up in Milton. How did you end up in Hamilton?

Batchelor: When I finished university I moved back home for a while.

During that time I was working at a restaurant in Oakville and I had an epiphany… I realized that food service and hospitality is where I'm supposed to be.

And I started my first bakery out of my Mom's kitchen, which was a terrible idea because I really had no idea what I was doing at that point.

So after completing the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Program at Mohawk, I studied Baking and Pastry Arts at George Brown College.  We had to do an internship, and I wanted to do it closer to home.

And I remembered a girl that I knew in high school who worked at the Cake and Loaf Bakery. She put me in touch with the owners and it just kind of blossomed and I worked for them for several years.

When they decided to close they asked if I wanted to rent the building and that’s how I ended up here.

It was a little bit like coming home because I already worked here for so many years, but never during the day. I never got to meet anybody, so now being able to meet the community is really lovely.

BATCHES BAKE SHOP

Jen & Van Hansen

Say hello… move forward with more℠