The most ambitious and expansive exhibition to date of contemporary artworks created with augmented reality technology is now at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) – one of 12 participating gardens across six countries. The exhibition, Seeing the Invisible, features works by more than a dozen international artists. Visitors can engage with Seeing the Invisible via an app.

Princess Margaret Home Lottery in Oakville

It’s back! A stunning 7,220 square foot luxury show home on Lakeshore Rd. in southeast Oakville, custom built by PCM (pcmnow.com), is the grand prize for the Princess Margaret Home Lottery. The family-friendly 5-bedroom home is designed for entertaining and features a stylish chef’s kitchen, an indoor/outdoor fireplace off the family room and two-storey dining room. There will be no in-person tours this year due to Covid-restrictions. Princessmargaretlotto.com

Stunning new Stratford Festival theatre

The Stratford Festival’s spectacular new Tom Patterson Theatre is complete. The elegant glass structure is comprised of curved walls that reflect the movement of the Avon River next to it. While indoor performances are still on hold, you can watch videos that tour the stunning new complex at youtube.com/stratfordfestival

Buzz worthy Graphica by Brampton native

Named one of the Top Ten Animators to Watch in 2020 by Variety, Aminder Dhaliwal is a native of Brampton and graduate of Sheridan’s Animation program whose second graphic novel, Cyclopedia Exotica, was serialized on Instagram to her 250,000 followers and is now in book form. It showcases Dhaliwal’s quick wit and astute socio-cultural criticism through a parallel cyclops universe is creating a serious buzz. Follower her on IG @aminder_d

Connect with art in Oakville

This summer, the Town of Oakville installed temporary public art installations at a number of local parks. Each installment features one of seven local emerging and professional artists with strong connections to Oakville. The locations are: Memorial Park, Navy St., Westwood Park, Glen Abbey C.C., Lions Valley Park, Shell Park and Pondview Place.

The Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate in downtown Oakville is now featuring a fun outdoor display that celebrates the blooms of spring and summer with its costume collection of dresses with colourful blooms. The dresses explore a variety of embellishment techniques and reveal fashion trends of the past. Oakville.ca/museum

Space exhibit in Burlington

Although the opening date has yet to be determined, a new exhibit titled Health in Space: Daring to Explore will be at the Burlington Museum in September 2021 (pending COVID restrictions). The exhibit demystifies the health challenges that astronauts face while living and working in space. Through authentic artifacts and captivating interactive activities, this exhibition will engage visitors to better understand Canada’s role in advancing health research.

Museumsofburlington.ca/exhibition/health-in-space-daring-to-explore/

Discover Canada’s emerging artists

“Art By” Toronto is an online platform created to unite and grow the art scene in Toronto. Its mission is to help Canadians discover and buy from the best emerging artists and was also conceived to bring a party vibe to the art shows. Its unique esthetic focuses on “POP” style art and abstract sculptures. Artbytoronto.com

Credit: artwork by painter, humanitarian and gender equality activist Heather Haynes

Twisted Histories podcast

CBC launched a new 11-episode podcast series on May 31, Telling our Twisted Histories, on that reclaims Indigenous history by exploring 11 words whose meanings have been twisted by centuries of colonization. “Savage. Reserve. Indian Time. Words connect us, but also have the power to wound, erase and replace us,” says host Kaniehti:io Horn (Letterkenny, The Man in the High Castle). “As Indigenous people, we are used to our stories getting a little twisted. This podcast is all about exploring some of these words, with humour and truth, so that we all better understand how they impact us to this day.”

If you’re looking to add some vibrancy to your rooms this spring, why not create an accent wall with beautiful wallpaper. Show here on of the debut wallpaper designs by Rifle Paper Co., Garden Party Mural. The company has also recently launched rugs and pillows with Loloi.

Riflepaperco.com

Pop of fun

Not ready to commit to a long term relationship with wallpaper? Try WallPops removable wall decals and stickers. They’re removable, reusable and repositionable wall stickers. Show here is Love Karla Designs and WallPops Wall Art. Wallpops.com

Furnishings by Maria Sharapova

The sophisticated home décor company, Rove Concepts, has introduced a furniture collection in collaboration with tennis star Maria Sharapova. “Traveling the world, I have been able to see the way culture and design intersect. This collection was born out of my passion for design and inspired by my love of art and architecture… my first-ever home collection pays homage to my life as an athlete, designer, art enthusiast, and entrepreneur.”

Indulgent soak

This bathtub by Kohler won the Best of CES 2021 award for Most Unexpected Product. Sink into a soothing bath prepared without lifting a finger. The KOHLER Stillness bath combines water, steam, lighting, and aroma into a relaxing journey for any mood. PerfectFill technology’s built-in voice assistant allows you to control how your bathtub fills, heats, and drains.

https://www.smarthome.kohler.com/smart-bathing

Waste-free cleaning

Canadian-owned Earth Brand is taking a ‘just add water’ approach to house cleaning with easy-to-use pods that are colour-coded to create a cleaning system that is simple and intuitive. Simply drop the dissolvable cleaning pod into water, shake, and they’re ready to clean using a reusable bottle. No more wasted plastic containers. Earthbrandpods.com

By Peter Bailey

When Royal LePage agents Michael and Anna Phinney decided on their new home’s design, they didn’t go halfway. They purchased the site, on Oakville’s Douglas Avenue, tore down the original structure, and started over.

“We bought with the plans and permit in place,” Michael says. “We tore down the house and began building. The builder, Randy Scarrow of Forestwood Homes, had an architect’s plans. We knew the builder’s work, we visited five or six of his homes, and that began an eight-month building process.”

Michael adds Scarrow was very helpful in keeping them on budget. The house was finished Dec. 16, 2019.

Scarrow, who is Forestwood’s owner and president, says the design of the home fits in well with the other houses in the neighbourhood. He and the Phinneys worked closely with his designer, Oakville’s Lou Ward Design. “It’s a great house,” Scarrow says. “Michael and Anna added great finishing touches. I always let my clients know where they stand with their budget. Good communication between the builder, the designer and the clients is vital.”

Scarrow adds that, whenever he can, he keeps the same tradespeople year after year. “I like to work with the same people. And I don’t advertise. I get referrals. Word of mouth is the best advertising.” The Oakville builder says he has constructed 35 homes in the area in the past 13 years.

The neighbourhood is family friendly, “a mix of young and retired, and people in their 30s and 40s moving from Toronto,” Michael says. “We live close to downtown Oakville, and there’s a vibrancy to the downtown now.”

The couple decided on a traditional style for their home’s exterior, with a more transitional look for the interior. The home is decorated in neutral tones, Anna says. “All our walls are white. Using bold decorating choices may not appeal to potential buyers,” she says. “We’re not going to live here forever – even so, we built and designed the home for ourselves.”

The house has 4,700 square feet of living space, with 3,000 of it above grade, Anna says. The front features granite stepping stones in the walkway, a stone address wall and a herringbone patterned driveway with a granite stone border.

The small back porch has a cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling and the porch features a fireplace and a TV mounted to the wall. While not large, it offers shelter from the rain and the sun.

“It’s nice when it’s raining,” Michael says. “We like the effect.”

“We had a huge porch on our other house,” Anna adds. “This is a good in-between.”

The 49-by-150-ft. backyard contains a 14-by-28-ft. swimming pool. Because the pool is not too large, it is low maintenance, Michael explains. They installed it for themselves, he adds. “Some people are 50/50 about buying a house with a pool,” he says, pointing out that a pool does not always increase the value of a home.

As for the house’s interior design, “We went for a good mix of modern and traditional, to keep it classy and simple,” Anna says. The main colour of accents is black, to provide contrast.

The result is a bright and airy interior, accented by designer Shawnna Truelove, senior designer at TRIG Inc. “I came in to help with the lighting,” Truelove explains. She also added various accessories to make the house feel warm and homey.

“Anna and Mike are the perfect clients,” Shawnna says. “They knew what they wanted, and trusted me to make their vision come to life. Their home features a black and white modern farmhouse look with an inviting air that is not too stark. I knew I didn’t want to go too modern as the bones of the home have some beautiful transitional elements to it that were fun to play off. We spent a lot of time making sure the lighting was perfect and it shows from the elegant chandelier in the dining room to the additional farmhouse wall lights located in the kitchen and family room.  In the end, the success of this house was achieved by having just the right balance.”

“We went for oversize, high-end fixtures. Beautiful lights change the feel of the room. They can have a huge impact. To me, it creates a feeling of luxury.” Their furniture was purchased from Cocoon and Accents for Living.

The entrance to the home is a sheltered open space that provides protection from inclement weather while you’re fumbling for your keys. Inside, the home is surprisingly spacious, with light pouring in from the windows and reflected off the white surfaces.

One of the first rooms encountered is Mike’s office. The black door with its large glass pane not only provides a sense of space but also serves to bring light into the room. Although its purpose is office space, both Michael and Anna prefer to go to their Royal LePage offices to work. Their daughter Harper, four, has taken the space over as her play area, Anna laughs.

“In real estate, it’s better to be in an office, to get out and meet people,” she says. “At home, it’s easier to be distracted.”

The black-on-white theme is also used to create interest in the main floor powder room, Anna adds. “Those are tiles on the wall, not wallpaper.”

Another striking use of contrast as an accent is found in the mudroom which has a black door to the garage as well as to the side of the house.

But the real sense of spaciousness is to be felt in the kitchen. It opens into the coffered-ceiling family room, which features a large gas fireplace and shiplap panelling on the shelves at either side. The shiplap theme is found in other rooms. “I strongly dislike rooms with totally different identities and colours that don’t match,” Anna says. “I believe you should follow a theme.”

Again, the accessories to be found in the family room were selected by Shawnna Truelove.

The dining room is highlighted by the large light fixture which sparkles above the dining table through its thousands of facets. It’s a cozy place that in future will comfortably accommodate large family gatherings.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, plus another in the basement. The master bedroom has a five-piece ensuite. It also features a large walk-in closet.

Daughter Harper’s room also has an ensuite. A third bathroom is shared by the other two bedrooms, and there is a 3-piece bath in the basement.

“Nowadays, everybody wants their own bathroom, and home buyers want four bedrooms,” Anna says. “A lot of families are moving into the area. Usually two kids and their parents want their own bedroom, and they need a fourth for a guest room. Or, people are using a bedroom as a home office or a studio.”

The basement includes an entertainment area as well as a playroom. Anna and Michael are proud of the results of their endeavour. The main reactions they get from guests are due to the attention to detail the designers and workers put into building the house.

“The trim work is very well done,” Michael says. “It’s solid poplar wood.”

Both are thrilled with the spacious feeling of the family room and the styling of the shelves. Again, accessories make the difference, Anna says.

“Shawnna was here all day yesterday adding accessories. She decorates the shelf units, the coffee tables, the kitchen tables, and she adds pillows, throws, bedding – all the little details.” The dinnerware shown was supplied by Nicetys, with floral arrangement by True Flowers.

In the end, although Anna admits she can be a stickler for details and a house that is neat and clean, she wants a home that looks lived-in – a place where she and Michael can relax at the end of a hectic day. For while many businesses are suffering during this Covid 19 pandemic, the real estate business west of Toronto is booming.

“We had our busiest year last year,” she says. “Inventory is low, interest rates are very low, and I can’t see it slowing down. I’ve seen sellers get $400,000 over their asking price, and I feel sorry for first-time home buyers. I’ve even seen first-time buyers with $1,000,000 who can’t get a home.

“Sellers are strategically listing houses low to create a bidding war. As a real estate agent, I don’t know how to price houses today. Houses may go for $1.2 million, or $1.3 or $1.4 million. Lots of buyers are backing off because of these bidding wars. They may only have one or two days to decide. And instead of getting an hour to look inside a house, they may only get 15 minutes,” she says. “The market may slow down, but I don’t know when.”

So, what’s a home buyer to do in such a situation?

“My advice is to pick a good realtor,” Anna says. “Someone who is used to handling multiple offers, someone who is experienced and very active in the marketplace.

“Using a lawyer isn’t enough. A lawyer doesn’t know the market. A realtor who is active and who has a good reputation is important.”

So, how do you find a good realtor?

“Ask family and friends,” she advises. “That’s the best way to find someone you can trust.”

Arts on the Credit presents the Arts Drive on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This fun outdoor event takes place at the homes of local artists, in their driveways or in their front yards. Simply drive by and view their displays from your vehicle or get out for a better view. Register for the event and you will receive a map for all the “art spots”. Shown here, artwork by Oakville artist Adriana Rinaldi who will part of the Arts Drive. Artsonthecredit.ca

Musical hands

Mimu gloves are the world’s most advanced wearable musical instrument, for expressive creation, composition and performance. The revolutionary gloves are the brainchild of musician Imogen Heap. Since 2010, the MiMU team and Imogen have worked towards new expressive ways of composing and performing music; and since 2014, a group of early adopter musicians have used MiMU Gloves for artistic projects. These include vocalists, classical pianists, beat boxers, guitarists and Ariana Grande on her 2015 world tour. Today, MiMU delivers the most advanced wearable technology for music, designed by musicians for musicians. Mimugloves.com

Artfully recycled

Turn your single-use non-recyclable plastic into visually stunning artwork with PECO, a new venture founded by past Oakville resident, Roger Brenninkmeyer who has relocated to British Columbia. PECO is determined to reshape our relationship with plastic with a mandate to artfully re-use plastic that would otherwise end up in the landfill. How does it work? Purchase a design online, then PECO will send you an pre-paid shipment box to fill with your single-use plastics to send back to PECO where the contents are used to create your artwork. Peco-fab.com

Open air performances

The Stratford Festival is planning a new Stratford experience this summer in the open air under two magnificent canopies, one at the Festival Theatre and one at the Tom Patterson Theatre. It foresees a season of productions from June to September that includes plays and cabarets, roughly 90 minutes each. Each venue will seat 100 people in socially distanced pods with performances at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Festival will also offer streamed versions of the productions, along with forum events to be watched in person or online. For now, you can appreciate exclusive content by Stratford Festival artists with a subscription to Stratfest@home. Stratfordfestival.ca

Photo: Laura Condlln, creative direction by Punch & Judy Inc. Photography by David Cooper

Pampered pets

Quebec-based wellness brand, Bleu Lavande, has released two pet shampoos crafted with hemp seed extracts and created to respect animals’ natural pH levels, formulated to leave skin hydrated and fur silky and lustrous. True to the values of the Quebec brand, products are made from natural ingredients and are free of parabens, petroleum products, sulfates, dyes, and artificial fragrance, offering the same soothing benefits as the body care collection for humans. bleulavande.com

The Social Distancing Festival is an online artist’s community made to celebrate and showcase the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing that has come about due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Here, artwork by Brampton’s Diana Rosa. During the pandemic she has documented, through photography and painting, her perception of the lockdown and amplifying her voice about this global disaster and the fragility of the human race.

Socialdistancingfestival.com

Real estate broker turned author

Nick Davis is a real estate broker specializing in the Oakville, Burlington and West GTA luxury market, as well as a life coach. His book, Take Off, is written for those still finding a way to overcome the trauma of self-destructive behaviour and straying from their life goals.

Canadian women’s health

Three of Canada’s leading women’s health foundations – Women’s College Hospital Foundation, BC Women’s Health Foundation and Alberta Women’s Health Foundation – have launched the Women’s Health Collective Canada (WHCC) to provide equitable care for women. Despite decades of progress in science, the picture of health for women is incomplete, leaving women’s health misunderstood and misdiagnosed. The collective is a movement to change that. Whcc.ca

Order of Canada embraces comedy

TV comic, Dave Thomas, who is best known for his role as Doug of the McKenzie Brothers on SCTV, was recently named a Member of the Order of Canada for his acclaimed body of comedic work as an actor, writer and producer over the past 45 years and as a mentor to the next generation. Born in St. Catharine’s, the 71-year-old was a member the brilliant SCTV cast that included John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis and Andrea Martin.

Virtual fitness in Oakville

The YMCA of Oakville has launched its Virtual YMCA Membership which offers 40+ live virtual classes per week led by certified YMCA instructors. Membership costs $47.76 per month and classes are booked through the MyWellness app. Classes include Gentlefit, Strength Training, Athletic Conditioning, Parkinsons, Circuitfit, Core, Cyclefit among others. ymcaofoakville.org

This year’s theme for Earth Day is Restore Our Earth. It’s an urgent call to undo the damage we’ve inflicted on the earth’s resources and return much needed balance to the natural world. What can we do as individuals? Here are five concrete ways you can help contribute to the earth’s health by learning about new technologies, being a more conscientious consumer and altering diet.

1. Less packaging waste

Loop offers zero-waste versions of everyday essentials from top brands like Häagen-Dazs. When ordering a product, you temporarily pay a 100% refundable deposit to borrow the packaging and Loop will professionally clean and reuse it once you’re finished. Products are delivered to your doorstep in a reusable tote and when you’re done put it back into the tote and schedule a free pick up. Loopstore.ca

Loop is part of global recycling organization, TerraCycle, which offers zero waste grocery service in Canada and across the globe. Its Zero Waste Boxes can be purchased for difficult-to-recycle waste not recycled through regular municipal recycling, including office supplies, pet food packaging, e-waste, coffee capsules, baby gear and many more. Terracycle.com

2. Reducing carbon

Elon Musk is offering $100 million (U.S.) in prizes for technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Canadian company, Carbon Engineering, based in Squamish, BC, is at the forefront of this amazing technology. It has developed a Direct Air Capture technology that captures carbon dioxide directly out of the air around us. This can help counteract today’s unavoidable CO2 emissions, and remove the large quantities of CO2 emitted in the past that remains trapped in our atmosphere. The company is now engineering the largest Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant in the world – it will capture one million tons of CO2 directly from the atmosphere each year, with a plan to build facilities worldwide that will capture one million tons of CO2 per year each – equivalent to the work of 40 million trees.

Its goal is to have the first plant ignite an industry by demonstrating that megaton-scale Direct Air Capture technology is feasible, available, and affordable. You can show your support by visiting its website and add your name to its supporter list to help signal the demand for climate change solutions. carbonengineering.com

3. Shrink your foodprint

A foodprint measures the environmental impacts associated with growing, producing, transporting, and storing our food. Check out the Earth Day EcoFood Guide that offers ways to alter your diet to help fight climate change. One significant change is by shifting toward a more plant-based diet. Leading environmental organizations and international institutions say this one of the most important actions the public can take to reduce climate destruction, deforestation, species extinction, and global hunger. The United Nations calculates that we could feed 3.5 billion more people by growing crops for human consumption on land currently used to grow animal feed. Check out the guide at earthday.org/campaign/foodprints-for-future

4. Help our pollinators

The bees need our help! It’s not hard to help these and other essential pollinators thrive. Seeds of Diversity is a not-for-profit organization that recommends eliminating the use of pesticides and, because habitat loss is another stressor responsible for the decline of our pollinators, plant for them. It’s simple. More native plant diversity equals more native pollinator diversity. Start by research each plant before buying to avoid planting invasive species. Look for “Grow Me Instead Guides” for your province. Find a variety of helpful local resources at seeds.ca/pollination/resources

You can also help track the health of our bees by signing up for the Bumble Bee Watch. Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborative effort to track and conserve North America’s bumble bees. Sign up to take photos and record your sightings. Bumblebeewatch.org

5. Electric drive

Driving an electric car can save you between $1,500-$2,000 per year on fuel and maintenance, and, in Canada, it can reduce your vehicle’s emissions by as much as 90 per cent.

Learn more about this new technology and whether it’s time to purchase one for yourself. Plug’n Drive is a non-profit organization committed to accelerating electric vehicle adoption with a mission to maximize their environmental and economic benefits. Since 2011, Plug’n Drive has established itself as a Canadian leader in the electric vehicle industry and an unbiased source of information about electric cars, charging stations and the electricity sector.

Visit the Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre in North York (once COVID restrictions lift).

The world’s first experiential learning Facility dedicated to electric cars is a one-stop-destination to test drive a wide variety of the latest EV models from leading manufacturers. Plugndrive.ca

While 2020 was overshadowed by a global pandemic, there’s another ongoing crisis that negatively affects one-third of the world’s population. That is access to clean, safe water.

The Oakville-based wine and whisky club, Gargoyle, wanted to help find a solution. Gargoyle’s team of experts has been curating wine and whisky since 2016. After two years ago of establishing their business, the company was ready to turn its attention to philanthropy. “We were offering amazing products like wine and whisky but, that wasn’t enough,” explains winemaker Will Predhomme.

“The water crisis is staggering and heartbreaking,” says Predhomme. Two hundred million hours are spent searching for clean water every year, mostly by women and girls. “If young girls aren’t in school and playing, they’re limiting what they’re able to achieve in the future,” explains the winemaker. This crisis also becomes an economic problem for women, who are unable to work. “It’s a solvable problem and it’s something we can do to change things in the world,” adds the winemaker.

Sommelier Scott Zebarth acknowledges their business is not alone in wanting to make a difference. “We knew we wanted to do something more,” he explains. “And it’s not just lip service.”

Once Predhomme and Zebarth realized how important water is to the wine-making process, working with Water.org felt like a natural fit. In addition, one of the main philosophies behind Gargoyle is the idea of drinking better. That value takes on deeper meaning through their partnership.

How Gargoyle’s partnership with water.org works is simple: For every single bottle of wine curated through the Gargoyle Wine Club, one person receives one full year of clean water.

Water.org was co-founded by actor Matt Damon and its partners include Cartier and Stella Artois. “Water.org has a stellar reputation and they’re careful who they work with, so we knew it wasn’t a given,” says Zebarth. “Their efficacy is through the roof,” adds Predhomme.

Gargoyle was honoured when the global non-profit organization agreed to partner with them in 201X. “We were very transparent with what we were trying to achieve,” explains Zebarth. “And we’ve now crossed 75,000 lives changed.”

“With a lot of these communities, it’s not that they can’t afford the water, they can’t afford the infrastructure for the water,” says Predhomme. The funds raised through every bottle of wine Gargoyle curates goes towards Water.org providing access to safe water and sanitation.

Water.org provides communities with consulting expertise and affordable financing called a WaterCredit. These microloans help communities build the necessary infrastructure to access water. “It’s a really intelligent model,” says Zebarth.

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic means access to safe water is even more critical for the health of families around the world. Gargoyle’s goal is to change 250,000 lives by 2022. “We need to be clear about who is donating. It’s not us. It is our customers who are doing this,” explains Predhomme. “When you buy a case of wine, that’s 12 people’s lives changed.”

As well as hand-selecting some of the best wine, such as a Pinot Noir from Argentina’s Patagonia region, or an Italian Barolo, Gargoyle is also curating their own brand of wine. Due for release in 2021, the label is being designed by Oakville-based Buck Productions, founded by Sean Buckley, and will speak to the story of how Gargoyle wants to be part of the solution to the global water crisis.