Humanitaritween Bilaal Rajan

“I don’t know if I consider myself mature for my age but I definitely consider myself an average 13-year-old.” For someone who has shot the breeze with the likes of Nelson Mandela, Roméo Dallaire and Desmond Tutu, Bilaal Rajan is not your typical teenybopper; he’s not even your run-of-the-mill human being. He was just four years old when tackling global poverty became his playground. When I was that age, the idea of selling Clementine oranges door-to-door to raise money for earthquake victims in Gujarat, India, would never have crossed my mind as I pushed Barbie and Ken in a luxurious convertible Corvette across a laminate floor. Your childhood mentality was probably the same.

Let’s be completely honest with each other: making a difference in the world is as far from many of our Western minds as a remote ocean island on the most extreme point of the Earth. Read more

Designer Kids Wear: Kiddy Couture

Dress your little man or mademoiselle in today’s latest styles of fashion’s most renowned designers. With adorable garments and accessories from famous design houses such as Burberry, Armani, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss, your little ones will no longer want to steal your clothes to play dress-up. “We really go all out in terms of selection. We’re always following the latest trends, in order to provide our clientele with new collections. We are excited to announce that we will be representing Dolce and Gabbana and Christian Dior for Fall 2010,” says co-owner Angela.

Designer Kids Wear is a boutique that’s filled with a range of fun and formal outfits for babies, toddlers and even teens. As one of the few places in the city that centralizes its fashion on high-end goods for younger age groups, Designer Kids Wear has become a recognized destination for consumers seeking quality clothing Read more

D&D Specialty Components Ltd.

A time-honoured tradition of treating their customers like kin is what has made family-owned D&D Specialty Components Ltd. a machining industry front-runner for more than 20 years. A pledge of satisfaction and an emphasis on using only the highest graded equipment on the market are the nuts and bolts of their solid reputation. Offering advanced services in the manufacturing of custom CNC machining, screw machine parts and custom die cutting, D&D – an acronym for husband and wife duo Ganu and Dora Desai – are grateful for the relationships they have built. “We try to make long-lasting impressions and create relationships that are based on our customers’ needs,” says Ganu. This rapport has been built on trust. Trade workers all across North America put their safety in the hands of D&D. Producing hard hats that protect construction workers, tradespeople and high-rise window cleaners during perilous activities and making vital components Read more

All Roads Lead to Tokmakjian Group

For a man who has successfully conquered the competitive industry of transportation, Vahe “Cy” Tokmakjian emanates bashful charm. He’s dressed in a light-coloured suit and dress shirt of a royal blue. Sipping on his morning coffee, Cy’s face is never without smile or nostalgic expression, as he delves into the storied past of his domestic and international conglomeration, Tokmakjian Group, a prodigy in the transportation business.

Headquartered in Ontario’s industrial community of Concord, Tokmakjian Group was conceived from childhood dreams and born via skilled experience. During a time when deals were sealed with a handshake, Cy set out solo at 29, unbeknown to what the future had in store for him. “I remember shaking hands with Tony DeGasperis, when we were both small businessmen beginning our journeys,” Cy, 69, reflects. Read more

Georges St-Pierre: One On One With An MMA UFC Legend

Everyone has a dream. Most often, it’s tales of rags to riches that give people inspiration, driving them to be like a heroic protagonist. For anyone whose dream involves becoming the Welterweight Champion of the UFC, there’s one man who knows exactly what it takes. Rising to the top with an already soaring career, Georges St-Pierre, also referred to as GSP, is the ultimate example of a winning warrior and a living legend.

Growing up in the humble parish municipality of Saint-Isidore, Que., St-Pierre’s early life was far from easy. Simple things like going to school provided big challenges for the young fighter, forcing him to defend himself as early as the second grade. “To tell you the truth, I was really concerned back in the day about my ego and my image,” St-Pierre admits during a telephone interview. “Even though I knew I was going to get beat up when somebody was trying Read more

Signature Developments: Making A Unique Mark On The Industry

Whether you’re talking about a convertible roadster or a diamond necklace, most quality manufacturers offer one rare product. Created to enjoy all that life has to offer, it’s usually a special series that distinguishes itself, symbolizing a personal touch. But when it comes to Signature Developments – a builder and developer that takes pride in being unique, bold and eco-friendly – everything is one-of-a-kind.

With a rich history in the construction industry, Signature Developments is part of the Clearway Group of Companies. Founded just five years ago, the company uses a set of fingerprints as part of its branding. The green etched image conveys a hands-on, tailored product built with nature in mind. “We’re innovative and different in the way we think,” says Sebastian Mizzi, development manager and planner. “We bring a unique, customer-centric Read more

Gord Martineau, Kicking up Good Will

Gord Martineau doesn’t just sit back delivering the news – he’s making it. Back to work from a relaxing getaway in the sun, Martineau sits across from me in Citytv’s CityNews boardroom, perfectly calm and coiffed and clad in a black blazer and crisp dress shirt. Although he’s just a few short hours away from delivering the 6 o’clock news to his faithful viewers, Martineau retains his composure, thanks to his early-morning regime of cycling, weights and martial arts. The 60-year-old also reveals that he has a fourth-degree black belt.

The lively pulse of CityNews trickles through the boardroom’s thick double-doors, yet his energy is much more palpable. And this isn’t just because of his recent jaunt to sun-drenched Sarasota, Fla., Read more

Apple: A Fruitful Revolution

If you were using an Apple computer in the early ’90s, you were part of a small cult-like group of people using a deteriorating product. With limited available software, declining sales and the absence of a true leader, Apple was undergoing gloomy technological Dark Ages that made it difficult to stay competitive. This is hard to believe today, where everybody who’s anybody has at least one of the company’s products.

Whether walking to school listening to your iPod or driving downtown with directions from your iPhone, you’re now on the other side of the fence. People everywhere are discovering why stores stock their shelves from top to bottom with Apple products, compared to a small cornered section 15 years ago. Apple can proudly say it’s won a hard battle to become No. 1, and fans are no longer part of a tiny sect. Read more

Steam Whistle Brewing: Whistle while you drink

For the makers of Steam Whistle Brewing, success is a microbrewery built on traditional values, environmentally friendly ethics, the hiring of passionate Canadians, and customer satisfaction.

It was a simpler time. Well-built cars rarely broke down. Milk was delivered right to your doorstep. Kids played with their hula hoops and Frisbees at family picnics. For many people, the 1950s were an era of principle, integrity and trust – just what the makers of Steam Whistle Brewing are all about.

The refreshing, brightly golden, premium pilsner is the only product made by Steam Whistle since it’s founding in 2000. Read more

Giovanni: Little Dynamite – The Margarita King

It’s true what they say – good things come in small packages. Giovanni, the Margarita King is living proof of this.

He is 4’11” tall, but he is a giant. He gives his name simply as Giovanni, but you may know him best as The Margarita King. And since the margarita is considered one of the most popular cocktails in the world, that is a rather lofty title to have. He won the title indirectly—it is not something he just bestowed upon himself.

Yes, won it he did! Giovanni’s The Margarita King is considered by many whose job it is to know such things as close to perfection as you can get in a pre-mixed cocktail in a bottle. Read more

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