MOTIVATING GIRLS: The Sparkle Project is a movement dedicated to inspire young girls to lead healthy, self-confident and successful lives. Country singer, entrepreneur and founder Kristal Barrett-Stuart reached out to a community of accomplished B.C. entrepreneurs, artists and public figures to share their experiences and words of wisdom to the next generation of leaders, empowering young women to achieve their dreams. Funded solely on the generosity of community leaders and businesses, Barrett-Stuart and co-author Kristin Van Vloten collected the stories and sage advice of notable B.C. ladies over a six-month period in 2014. The result was Sparkle, a 165-page handbook of inspirational stories. Amongst the contributors: media personalities Tamara Taggart, Jillian Harris and Dawn Chubai; music artists One More Girl, Madeline Merlot and Victoria Duffield; and community leaders Maria Kritikos, Emily Chow and Brenda Adams. The group celebrated the book’s launch at the Shangri-La Hotel. Partial proceeds will go towards creating $500 scholarships for girls to turn their dreams into realities. For a copy of the book, go to thesparkleprojectbc.com.
LEADER OF THE PACK: For a tiny surf town, Tofino has established itself as quite the culinary hub for visitors and locals alike. From the Pointe at Wickaninnish Inn, Sobo, Shelter and Tacofino, Wolf in the Fog is the latest culinary gem to appear on the scene. And what a first impression! Just months after opening, the two-storey casual fine dining eatery at the entrance of downtown Tofino was awarded Best New Restaurant in Canada by enRoute magazine. The restaurant is owned and operated by Tofitians Nick Nutting, Jorge Barandiaran and Andre McGillivray, all former Wick staff. The trio has skillfully created a warm and inviting environment, from the prowling wolf assembled from driftwood that greets you upstairs to the surfboard sundial that towers above the restaurant, to the mismatched dinnerware and plaid-shirted servers. The food on the other hand is far from casual. Nutting’s dishes are masterful, a reflection of his formal training and the area’s abundant seafood and produce provided by local fishermen and foragers. Wolf in the Fog is the perfect ending to a day of surfing, trail blazing or sight-seeing.
MODERN DANCE: Started in 1986, Kinesis Dance, the Vancouver-based modern dance company led by founder Paras Terezakis has performed worldwide more than 40 original dance works. The Greek/Canadian choreographer continues to push the envelope of dance, working within his particular style of dance vocabulary, a fusion of Mediterranean passion that has taken him and his dancers across Canada as well as to the United States, Europe, the Balkans, Central and South America. The company recently staged its signature fundraiser DecaDance at the Miele Kitchen. More than 150 guests converged at the downtown showroom for an interactive evening of food, wine and dance fronted by top city chefs. Revelers grazed on their creations while supporting of one of the city’s most innovative contemporary dance companies. Party chair Pam Bragagnolo and her committee aimed to cook up $40,000 for the not-for-profit arts organization.
