Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i Zoomer Magazine

In the most candid and personal Ages & Icons interview to date, Canadian broadcasting great Erin Davis, 56, sits down for a poignant and, yes, humorous one-on-one discussion about her journey from unimaginable grief to rediscovering happiness following the sudden death of her 24-year-old daughter Lauren in 2015.  Davis, the long time, top-rated morning host on Toronto’s CHFI station and author of the new book Mourning Has Broken: Love, Loss and Reclaiming Joy, received the worst news a parent can hear just before going on air one morning in early May, 2015. Using her unique insight and trademark wit, Davis holds nothing back in guiding us through the struggles and successes on her road to regaining happiness in her life, offering an uplifting example for overcoming grief to smile, laugh and be joyful again.  …

I could help you lug that vacuum upstairs, Grandma, but you’ll thank me when you’re 100 and can still do your Sudoku Years-long study shows that seniors who remain active, including doing chores, show improved cognitive function. Research reveals some insects with very short lifespans still experience aging and physical decline So the next time you see an old fruit fly with a little walker struggling up the side of banana, have some compassion and break it off a piece. Forget cha-ching! The new sound of money rolling in is whoosh! Japan’s aging society creates huge demand for flushable adult diapers. Scientists say vampire bat venom could help combat effects of aging, including ailments from kidney failure to heart disease Though side-effects include aversion to sunlight, severe garlic intolerance and…

Legendary band Foreigner has no plans to rock their way into retirement just yet. Fresh off a 40th anniversary tour and world première of its theatrical show Jukebox Hero: The Musical in Toronto, the band sets out on an 18-date Cold as Ice Canadian tour in February. Founding member Mick Jones, 74, who will play some of the Canadian shows, recalls “so many great times with Foreigner in Canada” on the band’s website while, in 2018, he told the Toronto Sun, “I think as long as you can cut it musically, you can have fun and everything, why would I want to stop?” He added, “I don’t want to end up on a golf cart somewhere in Florida … The plaid trousers – I don’t think that’s quite my…

RELEGATED mostly to the interiors of boxes, bubble wrap is truly a useful material, yet leads a mundane existence – until now. The cushy plastic had a moment to snap, crackle and pop as the most unorthodox of fashion fabrics to come down the runway at Toronto Fashion Week. Canadian designer David Dixon took the inexpensive protective wrap and turned it into a few fashion-forward runway pieces, shown alongside his Fall 2019 collection. This wasn’t one of those silly reality television design challenges but, rather, the use of fashion to drive home an important health message. The designer, in a collaboration with Osteoporosis Canada, created Bübl x David Dixon, which aimed to raise awareness regarding the risks and other issues of osteoporosis. Although most of us understand that this disease…

THIS PAST January, 35 children and eight adults at a Montreal elementary school were taken to hospital for carbon monoxide exposure. The source was the heating system. The elderly, children and people with heart or respiratory conditions may be particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide. Initial symptoms of poisoning are headaches, nausea, vomiting and weakness. Later symptoms include visual changes, confusion, chest pain and, eventually, seizures, coma and death. Given that the initial symptoms are nonspecific, they can be confused with the flu and not addressed until it’s too late. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless toxic gas created when fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, wood or charcoal burn. Exhaust fumes from cars, trucks, stoves, gas ranges, generators and heating systems have carbon monoxide in them. Prevent deaths from…

■ Pension protection Give corporate pension members super-priority status in event the company becomes bankrupt. ■ Eliminate mandatory RRIF withdrawals Change tax law so Canadians no longer have to start withdrawing from their RRIFs at age 71. ■ Elder abuse awareness campaign Establish a 1-800 number to report and track elder abuse and connect older Canadians to services and supports. ■ Financial support for caregivers Make the Canada Caregiver Tax Credit a refundable tax credit (available to all, regardless of whether they’re employed or not) to ensure all caregivers are treated equally. ■ National Pharmacare program Adopt and implement a comprehensive drug plan that includes adult vaccines. CARP is a national not-for-profit, non-partisan association committed to advancing the quality of life for Canadians as they age. To become a member,…

DON McKELLAR relishes “opportunities to throw myself off balance from outside sources.” The 55-year-old Canadian actor and filmmaker told me so himself a few years back, so when he arrived at the Zoomerplex in downtown Toronto to discuss his latest film, an adaptation of Joseph Boyden’s Giller Prize-winning novel Through Black Spruce, I asked if that sentiment about off balance opportunities still applies. He leaned forward in his chair and let out a laugh. “Yes. Yes, that’s right,” he admits. “This is one of them.” “I felt very, very close to the characters without a lot of effort”—Don McKellar Through Black Spruce – about a young Cree woman from James Bay (played by Tanaya Beatty) searching for her twin sister who went missing after moving to Toronto to become a…

Fear of the unknown, fear of trying something new – fear of any form of change – is familiar to us all. Finding yourself at a crossroads can be mindnumbingly scary, but let’s put fear into perspective. Real fear can disable us, halt us in our tracks. It can also spur us into action. If you wandered into your backyard and were met by a roaring lion, you might freeze for a moment, but then the fear would propel you to leg it out of there before you got eaten! That’s real fear. Real fear is also that gut-wrenching physical dread that engulfs you when you have a seriously sick child. Or when you fall way behind on your rent or your mortgage and face losing your home. Or…

THE DAY I bought a burial plot was biblical. It was a morning near the end of last summer, during a rainstorm of Noah-like proportions. The parking lot behind the Lippa Green Building on north Bathurst Street, which housed the office for Toronto Hebrew Memorial Parks, was crowded enough that I had a quarter of a mile walk through pond-sized puddles to reach it. Despite my umbrella, I arrived half-soaked and late. The security measures at the building made me even later getting to the second floor, where, it seemed, no one had heard of the cemetery office. I finally managed to locate it, tucked into a corner of a hallway, a small utilitarian friendly space that belied its function. The first person I spoke to at the office…

What became legal on Oct. 17 is only the flower, to be broken up or ground and smoked as a joint, in a pipe (or bong, if you want a college flashback) or vaporized in a device. Other options, which can help regulate dose, will not be available in Canada (recreationally) until at least one year after the official legalization date, such as: ■ Pre-loaded vape pens. ■ Edibles (cannabinoids bind to fat, such as oils and butters, which can then be crafted into foods, candies or baked goods, among the many creative things that began to appear in the grey market). ■ Capsules, concentrates (flowers soaked in oil) and tinctures (flowers soaked in alcohol) have been legal medically; what forms will make the shelves in early days is yet…

CANUCK ROCKER Bryan Adams has turned out hit tunes for decades, but as the release date for his 14th studio album, Shine a Light, approaches, the 59-year-old notes that he’s enjoying one of the most creatively fruitful periods of his career. “Writing music has always been a constant for me, some days better than others of course. However, it’s been a prolific past two years. In fact, I’ve published more music/songs than I did in the first three years of my career,” Adams says. “That includes 20-plus songs from the Broadway musical Pretty Woman, two new songs on the Ultimate collection and making the new album with 12 new songs on Shine a Light.” Zoomer’s Mike Crisolago emailed with Adams about the new album. MIKE CRISOLAGO: At this point…

FROM MISPLACING our reading glasses to fussing with contact lenses to giving in to bi- or even trifocals, addressing our inability to focus on objects up close in our later years usually involves a layer of inconvenience. Presbyopia – the scientific term for this condition – is caused by a natural hardening of the eye’s lens, which in its younger years has the elasticity to change shape in order to focus on even the tiniest of print. While there’s no fixing these now-inflexible lenses, it’s possible to replace them. Lasik MD offers a procedure called Lens PresbyVision, where the eye’s natural lens is swapped out for a trifocal lens that simultaneously corrects far, intermediate and near vision as well as any astigmatism. “The problem is once you’re 50 [the lens]…

THIS IS shaping up to be a pivotal year for Canada, perhaps the most important in decades. The decisions that are made in Ottawa and abroad over the next few months will shape our future for years to come. Here’s a rundown of the five big question marks hanging over our country that will have a huge impact on our lifestyle and our livelihoods. 1 WILL CONGRESS APPROVE CUSMA? When President Donald Trump announced in the Rose Garden last fall that the U.S., Mexico and Canada had reached a new trade deal, he called it “truly historic news.” The arrangement, officially known here as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), is intended to replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new plan will cover $1.2 trillion in…

BILLY BALDWIN squints that famous Baldwin squint and speaks in that trademark Baldwin husky whisper. The third of four Baldwin brothers – behind Alec and Daniel and ahead of Stephen – the shared family traits conjure images of the whole brood as we sit in a room on the 10th floor of the CBC building in Toronto. All four siblings are famous – or infamous – for on- and off-screen antics, but Billy, in particular, feels quite at home here. In fact, you might say he’s the Canadian Baldwin. “I am. There’s no doubt,” the 56-year-old asserts when I suggest that he’s an honorary Canuck. “I have made films from sea to shining sea in Canada,” he adds, rhyming off locales from St. Stephen, N.B., to Vancouver and most places…

■ “I know Tuscany really well as I have holidayed there for decades and now I am lucky enough to call it home,” says Travis. “One of the delights of spending so much time there is exploring and discovering places that are not on the usual tourist route. Or you can relax with a glass of wine from our own vineyard by the infinity pool and just take in the marvels of the landscape.” Here are some of Travis’ favourites that she always shares with her guests. ■ Tuscany is synonymous with wine, the Brunellos, Chianti, Super Tuscans and the fantastic Nobile di Montepulciano. The vineyards of the latter surround our property. There are hundreds and hundreds of vineyards that offer tours and winetasting from the biodynamic wines of…

THE WONDERFUL thing about being older in today’s dating scene is that although it’s a whole different world now, many things remain the same – the anticipation, the butterflies, the thrill of maybe, just maybe, finding love. Whether you’re a newbie getting up to speed with all the sites and apps available or a dating rock star in the throes of the adventure, here are a few tips to Keep It Simple Sweetheart. 1 FIGURE OUT WHAT MATTERS What are you looking for in a mate? Does it really matter if they like long walks on the beach? Too often, people date with no idea of what they really want and need in a partner, says psychologist, Cheryl Fraser, the author of the new book, Buddha’s Bedroom. Her suggestion?…

EAT MORE PLANTS. Eat less meat. Choose whole grains. Not exactly news, but it is new for Health Canada. These principles are the basis of its revamped Canada Food Guide and, with that, the agency finally joins the zeitgeist of practising a more plant-based diet. And speaking of zeitgeist, keto eaters, where low carb and high fat is the order of the day (think Atkins Diet 2.0), may find it counterintuitive that meat (and dairy) has been moved to the back burner, as it were. But could our penchant for protein and curbing of the carbs be backfiring on us, from the longevity perspective? Of course, we’re talking healthy eating here – trying to lose weight is a different matter and if it’s serious, you must consult with a…

ACROSS 1 Quarter-page spot seller, say 6 Earth Day mo. 9 Some Like ___ (Marilyn Monroe film) 14 Spooky game that means “yes yes” 15 Be prone 16 “High” times 17 Michael Jackson’s Peter-Panish home 19 Take-charge, personality-wise 20 Bedroom piece for keeping vampire-repelling items? 22 Retort to a skeptic 25 Suffix with hotel or cash 26 Classroom aides: Abbr. 27 Guardian of a wooden bureau? 31 Club with free road maps: Abbr. 32 “That hurts!” 33 Room with the Queen’s throne? 34 Looks sunburnt 37 6 letters, on a phone 39 1983 Keaton film about a stay-at-home dad 43 Garment burned in the ’60s 45 Monsters, ___ (animated film) 47 Web connection co. 48 Out with the old china case, in with the new? 53 Exodus actor Mineo…

From the Eiffel Tower to the CN Tower, Paris in the 1800s and Toronto in the 21st century share a certain similarity. And with the new exhibit Impressionism in the Age of Industry: Monet, Pissarro and more, the Art Gallery of Ontario brings together more than 100 works from artists like Monet, Van Gogh, Seurat and others that depict a burgeoning, industrialized Europe that echoes our own modern metropolises. “This exhibition invites us to journey through this period of immense change, experiencing its thrills and challenges alongside the artists,” curator Dr. Caroline Shields said in a statement. “As our cities and technologies rapidly change, it’s a journey that continues to resonate today.” Impressionism in the Age of Industry: Monet, Pissarro and more runs through May 5. ago.ca…

1 Have your appliances maintained regularly and ensure that they are well ventilated. Fuel-burning appliances should be professionally inspected and your chimney cleaned annually. 2 Keep your home free of carbon monoxide by not smoking indoors, keeping the door between the house and the garage closed and never idling vehicles in the garage. 3 Never use gas-powered machines in the garage. Never use a barbecue or portable fuel-burning camping equipment in enclosed spaces or kerosene or oil space heaters and lamps unless they’re specifically designed for indoor use. Make sure the tailpipe of your car is clear before ignition. 4 Get a carbon monoxide detector! Alarms should be near sleeping areas and on each level of your home. Be sure the alarm has been certified to the Canadian Standard…

WHEN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Filomena Tassi as federal seniors minister last summer, he asked her to go across the country on a listening tour to meet with older individuals and seniors organizations and bring their concerns back to the policy table in Ottawa. Since Tassi’s appointment – in fact, since the Liberals’ first year in power when they made a flurry of senior-friendly policy changes – there has been a lot of travelling and talking but very little happening at the policy table, a state of affairs that hasn’t gone unnoticed by CARP or its members. “The issues this government has not dealt with are beginning to pile up,” says Laura Tamblyn Watts, CARP’s chief public policy officer. Tamblyn Watts notes that as much as 10 per…

“I hate my f***ing wrinkles,” she laughs, “and I would never do a thing to change them” IT ALL STARTED, as so many good ideas do, with two women having lunch. They were both successful women, with much important work behind them. What interested them as they sat down to lunch, however, was the important work that lay ahead. One of the women, Cynthia Dale, is an actress. The other, Sally Catto, is the head of programming at CBC. One had worked as a lawyer; the other had played one on TV. They talked about all the things: books and life and art, the reboot of Dynasty, why there are so few good roles for actresses who are on the other side of 30. They talked about the role that…

DEBBIE TRAVIS is no stranger to telling people what to do – with regards to home design and decor, that is. The self-made lifestyle expert and television personality – you’ll recall Debbie Travis’ Painted House and Debbie Travis’ Facelift – has also written eight books on decorating, all while maintaining her small business entrepreneurship. Now, Travis has decided it’s time to tell us “how to realize your dreams and reinvent your life,” with her latest book, Design Your Next Chapter. And it has nothing to do with decor. Realizing that it’s not all tossing a throw pillow here and a splash of paint there, the mother of two pushed herself to make a change a few years ago that would allow her to spend more time with friends and…

WHEN AIRBNB (airbnb.ca) launched in 2008, it was seen as the ultimate industry disruptor. Since then, Barcelona has banned the rentals, it has been blamed for reductions in rental housing in San Francisco and New York, and hoteliers the world over are getting together in convention halls to discuss what they’re all going to do to respond to these troublemakers. But really it’s the hotels that only about 150 years or so ago disrupted the age-old ecosystem of finding different kinds of places to stay depending on how you were travelling and why. This past summer, Tono Wrann showed me around his family’s hotel on the Wörthersee, one of Austria’s most picturesque lakes. He showed me where the horses used to get changed and sometimes the carriages, too. The…

A BUFF YOUNG MAN, the embodiment of clean L.A. living, is leading us upwards through the fragrant brush from the trailhead at Sunset Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway. He is normally a personal trainer but has been seconded for the day to lead our group of adventurers on this hike because, he says, he is such a fan of the product. The product in question being the chic little white Dosist cannabis vape pen, which is the primary adventure on our agenda. We each have a couple of Dosist pens in our pockets, curated to elicit specific moods that pair with the nature experience. Today’s journeys are Bliss (to tie in with the view) and Relief (in case of muscle soreness later). You won’t have seen the pens…

BROACH THIS SUBJECT Pins, medallions and brooches – pick one, two or even three – and pin them to your jacket’s lapel. It’s the height of masculinity – the military has been anointing heroes with these decorative flourishes for centuries. HARNESS THIS LOOK Unless you’re the extremely confident sort like famed architect Peter Marino, 69, whose daily uniform is all black leather, leave those Louis Vuitton harnesses to young hot shots. Instead, sling your fanny pack across your chest. All the fashionistos made this the new way to carry your bag during fashion week. YOU’VE GOT GAME Sneakers continue to reign as fierce footwear. Anything that looks like it doesn’t belong in the gym – multiple bold colours, thick chunky soles, knit sock-like uppers – is the bold new frontier…

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Canadian author Shelley Wood, 45, splits her time between a home in Kelowna, B.C., and a job in New York City, where she is the editorial director at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. The Quintland Sisters is her debut novel and explores the true story of the Dionne quintuplets and the most significant custody battle in Canadian history. “I’d never heard of the Dionne quintuplets before I stumbled across their photo in my local library, nor had most of the people I asked,” explains Wood. “At least among Western Canadians under age 60, the famous Dionne sisters seemed, to me, on the brink of being forgotten.” What advice do you wish you’d given your 25-year-old self? Stop worrying about the people you’ll lose. It’s a waste of the time you…