“If it is one thing that we have learned in the last three years it is that if you take care of the people, the business takes care of itself,” says Robert Amado, owner and creative director of Amado Salon. “There are so many factors in running a business, but at the end of the day, it’s the people that matter most.”

Like the agile scissors of a polished stylist, Amado’s empathy towards his clients’ needs has shaped this cutting-edge salon into a sanctuary of style and relaxation. Yes, it’s a place for securing the latest cuts, styles and colours, but it’s also a space to kick back and relax. “Every client wants to be taken care of from start-to-finish, and at Amado Salon, the staff can facilitate this with tremendous ease,” says Amado. “It’s also a place where we as professionals get to build a relationship with our clients to understand their needs and wants and to make them look and feel their best,” he adds.

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To keep clients looking good, Amado offers an array of different services, such as eyelash/hair extensions to hair shaping, colouring, makeup and signature blow-drys. While clients look to Amado for professional beauty advice, the salon is inspired by its clients to make their experience that much better.  “Our customers love coming to visit us because we always have something new happening.”

Thanks to support from the local community, Amado Salon just won a Best of Vaughan award at Vaughan Today’s first annual Best of Vaughan ceremony, and with so much to offer, it’s easy to see why. “At Amado, we want to convey a relaxing experience in an upbeat environment with an organic twist. We want to make the ordinary extraordinary.”
905.893.3686
For promotions visit www.amado.ca

Bringing some of the world’s best designers home, the warmly romantic boutique offers rare collections for a unique and beautiful approach to modern elegance and traditional affection in bridal wear. Amidst tufts of tulle and delicate silk duchess rises a Studio Sposa bride – a woman who fittingly swathes her silhouette in fine beauty, expert craftsmanship and handmade couture. “We always thought that if we were to do something, how would it be different. We then started doing research on wedding dresses and designers,” says Mariangela Muia, who met Mary D’Aversa while both worked in the financial sector.

The duo waited a year before they opened the doors of their boutique in the intimate village of Kleinburg, a treasured photo shoot location for newlyweds. During this time, Muia and D’Aversa carefully selected renowned bridal houses that design one-of-a-kind semi-custom dresses by hand. What soon filled their showroom were the accoutrements of David Fielden’s simple prettiness; the ethereal romance of Katerina Bocci; Claire Pettibone’s delicate vintage looks, and more. “The designer that really inspired us the most was Atelier Aimée,” says Muia. “Through our visions of what we saw in regular bridal, this was above and beyond what bridal was.” The whimsical, enchanting creations of this European brand sparkle with Swarovski crystals, the finest French lace, hand-sewn rosebuds and flowers. A Grace Kelly inspired dress by Atelier Aimée rivals the intricacy of Sara Burton at Alexander McQueen’s wedding dress for the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middelton). Your first steps into Studio Sposa are the prologue to your own personal fairy tale.

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With the class of a horse-drawn carriage and the shine of a jewelled tiara, Studio Sposa provides all brides-to-be with the royal treatment. “Elegance is indicative of what we do here. You’re not just getting a couture gown; you’re getting that service, that reliability,” says D’Aversa. At Studio Sposa, relaxing sit-down consultations reveal multiple layers of a bride’s personality, even before dresses – which come equipped with authentic warranty tags – are shown. This materializes the gown that will suit personality and silhouette while stirring orchestral awe. “The gown chooses the bride, it’s not the bride that chooses the gown,” says Muia. Refreshingly, the prevention of bride doppelgängers is ensured at Studio Sposa, where a dress is never shown to multiple brides living in the same community. What’s more, the boutique offers designer trunk shows starting in January, where brides get to meet the designers of their dress and inquire about additions such as crystals, flowers and rosebuds to their dress. A bride also has the option to ask for cost-effective solutions, such as switching a higher-priced material with one that costs less yet boasts valuable quality. “When brides walk out of our boutique with their dress, we say, ‘Wow, that’s her,’” says Muia.  Unveil yourself as you walk down the aisle as a Studio Sposa bride.

By personal, one-on-one appointment
www.studiosposa.ca
905.893.8100

Dolcini by Joseph

As his second bakery, Dolcini by Joseph is the manifestation of Joseph Montinaro’s desire to produce artistically beautiful and progressive pastry. After taking over his father’s business, West Finch Bakery, he soon became bored with traditional recipes. He journeyed to Europe to explore other baking possibilities. Treated to a whole other world of pastry delights, Montinaro experienced an “explosion of ideas.” This new-found inspiration was a key factor in opening Dolcini by Joseph.

“We have a philosophy to be cutting-edge, so we take the opportunity to learn new techniques and ideas from other chefs from around the world, and incorporate that in our pastry,” says Montinaro.

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Combining extravagant design with phenomenal flavours, Montinaro and his team create an unrivalled culinary experience. An array of colours and tastes blossom through the always fresh, high-quality ingredients Montinaro insists on using. Never satisfied with sticking to a limited range of recipes, Montinaro welcomes new ideas from demanding clientele.

“My clients demand innovative flavours, innovative looks and textures. [They] don’t mind paying a few dollars more for the product, but as long as it’s top-notch,” explains Montinaro. “We focus on a range of products – not just one. Every piece of our work is really done with a lot of passion.”

Stimulated by the exciting world around him, Montinaro’s passion and creativity materializes in marvellous fashion with truly imaginative, tasty desserts. For an unparalleled eating adventure, treat your palate to the enchanting experience of Dolcini by Joseph. www.dolcini.ca 905.893.5499
10462 Islington Ave., Kleinburg, Ont.

Edible Arrangements
Artistically sculpted fruit and chocolate are arranged in beautiful ways with these fabulously prepared delights from Edible Arrangements. The ideal centrepieces for any social function, these juicy and delicious displays redefine the way fruit is served. www.ediblearrangements.ca 905.738.4100

Alfa Cappuccino
Distributing some of Italy’s best espresso and cappuccino products, Alfa Cappuccino has everything you need to brew the perfect cup. With an unbridled passion for coffee, Alfa Cappuccino imports world-renowned blends, including the rich and superb Italian coffee Ionia … il Caffè. www.espresso.com 1.800.764.2532

Molisana Imports
Since 1977, Molisana has been importing the finest foods direct from one of Europe’s culinary capitals. Enjoy real pasta, bread, juice and treats from some of Italy’s best brands. You can find all Molisana’s fabulous imported brands at your local grocery store. For a complete list visit www.molisana.com or call 416.747.8707

Dolce Bombe
For a blast of sweetness in the form of a delicious pastry, look no further than Dolce Bombe. Known for its cream-filled pastries of the same name, Dolce Bombe serves traditional Italian desserts using imported ingredients that will leave your taste buds shell-shocked. 905.265.7841
7611 Pine Valley Dr. Unit 4, Woodbridge, Ont.

Small business owners struggle to compete with the low prices massive big-box stores so easily display. Although their prices might not be as low as their colossus competitors, they offer so much more. Unlike that teenage stock boy dragging his feet at these mega-stores, small business owners really care about the products and services they provide. They often offer one-to-one service, unrivalled expertise and exclusive goods rarely found in the maze of massive superstores. They are integral parts of our cities, keeping money in the community and adding character to the cold and calculated economical environment that corporate giants tend to foster. Without the help of consumers, local shopping districts would become ghost towns filled with relics of our shopping past, where ancient entrepreneurs once owned their businesses.

With packed parking lots and pushy shoppers crowding narrow aisles and fist fighting over that last popular children’s toy, holiday shopping can be more burden than bravura. Those that dread these hostile environments ultimately opt for online shopping or tough it out in one quick trip to the local big-box store.

Much like everything else in our progressively faster digital world, shopping is becoming streamlined. Why brave the cold weather and wait in endless lines when you can grab that new iPhone off a website? We live in a hyper-consumerist society where we want everything 10 minutes ago – and for 50 per cent off. As we continue to adapt to the ever-changing, highly digitized cultural landscape, we learn how to cut corners and increase speed, alleviating the burden of unnecessary and time-consuming chores.

This is the Holidays – the time of year to stop worrying about petty desires and give to others. Explore Unionville’s historic Main Street, taking in the sights and sounds of the centuries-old community. Visit all the distinct and exclusive boutiques lining the streets of Kensington Market, with sights and sounds of the season. Find that hidden treasure in the various shops on Wooodbridge’s Market Lane. Rifle through numerous items as business owners provide you with expert advice on the charming businesses in the historic village of Kleinburg. Stray from cookie-cutter merchandise as you stroll down Queen Street West. Think of the exclusive and less-crowded boutiques that line the local shopping districts of your community. If we took the easy route and poured our money into the large and seemingly bottomless pockets of these massive corporate entities, all we would be left with are giant consumer temples built in the honour of low prices and commercial brands. Don’t just shrug off “going out of business” signs and chalk it up to mismanagement by some inexperienced entrepreneur. Take responsibility and make a conscious decision to keep the heart of our
community beating.

As its name suggests, NuAge Med Spa provides its clients with advanced professional services that boast new technologies and procedures in skin care and beauty while delivering the highest level of results. NuAge Med Spa gives visitors the chance to enhance and improve everything from their face, nails, hair and body with procedures like Botox, as well as laser skin treatments to remove fine lines, age spots, sun damage and spider veins.

“I carry only the best products and offer the most-wanted services in the beauty industry,” says Teresa Kavanagh, owner and experienced esthetician of NuAge Med Spa. Kavanagh, who decided to start a new career in the beauty industry with the opening of NuAge, longed for the undeniable satisfaction she got from making people feel beautiful.With a big smile and an Irish accent, Kavanagh recalls the days when she was living in Ireland, going to her clients’ homes on her moped to apply facials and makeup. Today, she continues to make all of her clients leave feeling and looking even better than they did when they first walk into NuAge. “I love to make people happy,” says Kavanagh, who because of her strong background in makeup application and art graduated with honours from the Micro-Pigmentation Centre in Mississagua. She also attended and graduated with honours from The Aesthetic School of Canada.

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Services offered by NuAge Med Spa include natural spray tanning by St. Tropez; laser hair removal; permanent makeup; semi-permanent eyelash extensions by Xtreme Lash; tattoo removal; artificial nails including OPI and Shellac gel nail polish; hot stone massages, waxing, spa evenings for bridal or birthday celebrations, and more. Equipped with a staff of fully certified medical estheticians and an on-site doctor for all cosmetic injectable procedures, NuAge Med Spa provides realistic prices and exceptional, beneficial treatments. Its signature Thermal Stamp treatment inspired by 14th century Thai therapy soothes the body, while customized facials boast ingredients like papaya, lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, sea mud and chamomile.

NuAge is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays by appointment only from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
www.nuagemedspa.net 905.893.7900

“Kisses,” Amanda Morra’s new single, is giving the world a glimpse of her artistry and growing talent. With hard-hitting dancers, innovative choreographers and a visionary director, an entertaining music video was created for the fun and up-beat song. “I actually co-wrote this song,” says Morra. The choreographers, Hollywood and Stephanie Viola, developed an edgy burlesque theme for the video.

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With a new album set to release this fall, Morra is excited for what lies ahead. “I’ve always loved to sing, I’ve always been a dancer, so for me it just kind of came natural to be a performer and to want to get into this line of work.” Pursuing her dream, this rising star loves expressing herself to the world through music.

www.amandamorra.com

Kleinburg
Secretly known as the “Forest Hill” of Vaughan, Kleinburg houses the affluent executive types.

Kleinburg locals hold much pride in the area’s reputation, which is home to the famed McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Kortright Centre for Conservation.Take a stroll through the historic village to discover its treasured shops.

Neighbourhood Hot Spots:
Avenue Market Café: The chic and trendy spot to grab an espresso and be seen.
Mr. McGregor’s House Tea: The mix of a lovely garden, baked goods and home-cooked dishes make you feel like you’re visiting family.
Villaggio Ristorante: Chef Antonio Barbiere’s charming ambiance gives Italian cuisine a gorgeous look.

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Housing Stock:
Your entry ticket starts at $650,000 for cosy bungalows, while monster mansions along the conservation and Humber River are by far the most expensive. Zoning changes are in progress, so expect major transformations for Kleinburg.

Maple
If you’re looking for action, Maple is the place! Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan Mills and fine restaurants are the staple stops for locals and visitors. With the approval of a subway extension, an influx of 416ers are expected to make the trip.

Neighbourhood Hot Spots:
The Keg: A fave spot for after-work drinks and mingling. Think loud and busy!
Pollo Loco Churraqueria: The place to taste the best BBQ chicken around.
Grazie: Suburban sister to its uptown location, it maintains a busy yet casual mood with rustic eats for any occassion.

Housing Stock: Best variety of options, from starter cribs to luxury condos. Affordable townhomes begin at $350,000, whereas deep-pocket splurges along Weston Road can run over $2 million.

3700 Steeles Ave., W. Vaughan, Ont.  — B. 416.748.9598
131 Woodbridge Ave. Woodbridge, Ont. — B. 905.856.1111
647.405.Sold (7653) — F. 905.856.9782   www.ReMaxExcellenceRealty.com

Top: Intercity Realty sales team. Mid: Clients indulge in all the elegance and craftsmanship of Kleinburg Reserve. Bottom left: Julie and Tony De Cicco with new neighbours of Hazelridge Court. New homebuyers from left to right: Mathew, Anna, Sophia and Joseph Aquino, Susie and Anthony Recine, Patricia Bucilli. Bottom right: Alda Neves and Lou Grossi of Intercity Realty.

Every time I’m asked where I’m from I hesitate. I pause because I want to avoid the know-it-all smirk. I equivocate because I don’t want to hear the toxic and discriminative comments that fall from ignorant lips. That’s not fair to me or any other resident of Vaughan who lives life according to the law.

I’m not naive, but Vaughan is primarily a city full of heart, ­not villains. So why do cantankerous mediums continue to pollute our clean air with what appears to be anti-Italianism and acrimonious sound bites?

What alarms me the most is that Italians continue to be easy targets because they prefer not to speak out on issues that concern them. And many people take advantage of that.

Yellow journalism was at its best with a recent feature on Vaughan entitled “The Land of the Rich and Infamous,” written by Chris Nuttall-Smith, former food editor and current freelancer for Toronto Life. Residents of Vaughan found this story – which lambastes 905 developers, Mayor Linda Jackson, Vaughan council and the Italian community – plainly distasteful.

I asked Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino how he feels when his culture or the community he lives in is criticized in the media.

Julian Fantino, Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner

“Most of the critics have an agenda of their own, and very often there are issues that are not properly portrayed or reported,” responds Commissioner Fantino. I think it’s disconcerting … very often the facts are not really known. A lot of it is just sensationalism. The screaming headlines … all of that I think is intended to tear down and disenfranchise not only the community, but the people, unfairly. There’s far too much of that I think, going on in Vaughan,” adds Fantino, who has lived in this community since 1981.

With Vaughan’s 2010 municipal election approaching, the Toronto Life feature raked Mayor Linda Jackson and Vaughan council over the coals. Any charges against Mayor Jackson have not yet been proven in a court of law.

Apart from portraying council members as the “enemies” of the mayor, Nuttall-Smith colours his introduction with a harsh physical description. “She’s 50 years old, with dyed blondish hair and skin that’s often the colour of inexpensive bronzer … It’s fair to say that she carries around a few extra pounds.” This passage raises the question as to whether or not a person’s appearance affects his or her ability to govern a city.

In 2000, years before Toronto Mayor David Miller began an exercise regime to shed his extra weight, he was lauded with an A+ and named best councillor by Toronto Life magazine. For Mayor Jackson, presenting her best appearance comes second to executing her duties as mayor, as she displayed during the endless hours she spent helping citizens in the aftermath of the Vaughan tornado. Mayor Jackson recalls: “The skies opened up, and I said, ‘Don’t give me an umbrella! These people’s homes are destroyed, and all I would be worried about would be an umbrella?”

I have resided in this city for a little more than 20 years, during which time my experiences with some of the
non-Vaughan populace have left me speechless. The media have taken every opportunity to splash its headlines about Vaughan with blood. As a result, the excellence of our city has been spoiled by unhealthy, unbalanced reporting, bordering an obsession with politics, lifestyle and Italian developers. Nuttall-Smith’s story begins with: “Everything about Vaughan – its executive estates, its hectares of malls, its politicians’ aspirations – is big and brash … Its expansion has been orchestrated by politically connected developers who know what they want.”

Toronto Life is published by St. Joseph Communications, which was founded in 1956 by Gaetano Gagliano, who is Italian. As Canada’s largest privately owned communications company, St. Joseph’s corporate communications office is located in the core of the Canadian marketplace – Vaughan.

I wanted to ask St. Joseph’s CEO Tony Gagliano how he felt about the way his heritage and the community he works in were criticized by the very brand he runs. After I made several attempts to arrange an interview with him, his executive assistant sent me this message in an e-mail: “As previously mentioned, I am unable to schedule any time for a call due to Tony’s [Gagliano] schedule for the next few weeks. There is no one else that I can recommend to speak on his behalf. We thank you again for this opportunity. Warm regards, Rose Giorgio.”

I tried to reach the five building magnates described in the Toronto Life story under the subheading, “Developer Kings: The builders of Vaughan’s suburbs are also some of the city’s richest residents.” But John DeGasperis (TACC Construction), Vic De Zen (Royal Group Technologies), Carlo Baldassarra (Greenpark Homes) and Rudy Bratty (Remington Group) opted not to comment. Would anyone who was criticized constantly be comfortable speaking to the media?

The only developer who offered his thoughts was Alfredo (Fred) DeGasperis, founder of the nation’s largest construction company, ConDrain.

While I don’t want to discredit the hard work that Nuttall-Smith did on his feature, he said DeGasperis was a resident of Vaughan, but he is not; rather, he lives in the city of Toronto. “I was upset when I heard about [the story]. We’re very proud of what we’ve done for many, many years. We still keep doing it. We build buildings. I know they [the media] make the problem bigger. They always try to throw dirt on a project,” says DeGapseris. He won a lawsuit against The Globe and Mail in 2000, for which the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered the newspaper and a journalist to pay him $780,000, which he then donated to charity.

Under the headshots of most of the developers, their estimated worth is listed. If money talks, why not explain where some of the cash goes? Every year, all these men, including Fred DeGasperis (“worth $1.4 billion”), donate millions to charities and hospitals.

In just one example, Fred DeGasperis and family donated a staggering $7 million to Toronto General Hospital in 2004 to enhance patient care at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

“We believe we should take care of the sick people. We believe that when you work so hard and you make decent money you should give back to charity. We’re very proud of what we’ve done for hospitals,” says DeGasperis, who, like the other developers, has extended his generosity to Toronto institutions like the Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai, Sunnybrook and Princess Margaret hospitals.

“Our very generous donor community, which includes wonderful supporters from the city of Vaughan, allows us to raise funds to deliver breakthrough research, exemplary teaching and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world,” says Paul Alofs, president and CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

Matthew Teitelbaum

TACC Construction recently helped fund the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services at the Markham Stoufville Hospital with a $1 million gift.

Many Italian developers have also supported the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) with $500,000 contributions towards the Galleria Italia, a sculptural promenade across the front of the AGO. “I’m thrilled because I’ve never been with a group of donors who seemed more excited and pleased with the association and with their ability to make a difference,” says Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner director and CEO.

Cities in Canada and across the world are troubled by scandals, and whether it’s true or not, a dose of equilibrium and a dash of class go a long way in fair reportage.

“We don’t need any more bad publicity about Vaughan,” says Remo Ferri. “I think there’s a great community up here. It’s a great place, and some of us have worked very hard to build what we have. We’re not crooks,” adds the founder of The Remo Ferri Group of Automobiles. Earlier this year, Ferri, who supports a number of charities, opened North America’s largest Ferrari Maserati dealership in Vaughan.

The city of Vaughan is home to multiple ethnicities, living and learning together in one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.

The issue of Italian culture begins when Nuttall-Smith writes, “The city has more than 250,000 residents today, and the largest concentration of Italian immigrants in Canada. More than 40 per cent of the population claims Italian heritage. Six out of eight of the city’s councillors are Italian; they often campaign in Italian and bow to local Italian-language media.”

Sandra Yeung Racco, Vaughan Councillor.

In instances like this, I’m jaded from having to explain, very slowly, that no, not every Vaughan resident is Italian. “We have a very multicultural and diverse group of residents and businesses,” says Vaughan Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco. I think that makes us very rare. We have a good balance of multiple cultures within our community.”

A surprise to most, the city of Vaughan is just 38 per cent Italian. The rest of the community includes Jewish, Indian, Russian, Vietnamese, French and Romanian cultures, among others. “It is a very interesting and special experience for emigrants that first come to live in Vaughan and are new to the country. For me, Vaughan has everything you need,” says Mimoza Gila, an Albanian who lives in Woodbridge.

I must dispel yet another illusion: that of the housing climate of Vaughan. Guess what! We don’t all live like starlets in Hollywood-style “executive estates” with Roman pillars and multiple garages. “A number of condominium apartments and multiple row houses have been built [in Vaughan] over the past few years,” states the city of Vaughan’s website.

Just take a drive through Vaughan’s major communities – Concord, Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill, Woodbridge – and you will find families living under the roof of a condominium, duplex or ­– gasp! – renting. Also, Vaughan is not “paved over,” with more than 1,000 hectares of vacant land.

For those who do enjoy the niceties of an upscale life, it all wasn’t handed down to them on a silver platter.

Vaughan isn’t where ”old money” lives and breathes. That kind of currency dwells in Toronto’s lavish Rosedale neighbourhood, where our nation’s wealthiest hold tea parties and clink their crystal in a lifestyle set in the most posh and expensive neighbourhood in Canada.

Maurizio Bevilacqua

Vaughan is a city where immigrants settled many years ago, and instead of being stagnant, grew and expanded. Adding 10,000 new residents each year, Vaughan continues to be one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. By 2031, it is expected to be home to 420,000 people. How could a city described as a “political mess” with “politically connected developers” continue to attract new residents?

“Vaughan is a city that can in fact become world-class,” explains Maurizio Bevilacqua, a member of Parliament who represents Vaughan. “People [in Vaughan] are entrepreneurial and enlightened in the sense that while they excel at creating economic growth, they also understand their social responsibility. We are willing to share with one another … our focus is to improve the quality of life and standard of living for all Vaughan residents.”

The people of Vaughan were not spoon-fed a great life. They have felt the effects of segregation, communism, fascism and Nazism; they have endured poverty and oppression. But they rose out of hardship and misery; they struggled and sweated and strained to get to where they are today so their children could enjoy a lifestyle they didn’t have. “A lot of people came to this country in the ’40s and ’50s with only the shirt on their back, wanting to make a better life for themselves,” says Mayor Jackson. “They sacrificed … leaving wives and children in other countries to come to this country to make a better life, and they worked non-stop.”

As the innocent and hardworking residents of Vaughan continue to face an unfair reputation, the city’s accomplishments have taken a back seat. “The perception being created is an unfortunate one, but it is one that certainly can be improved by presenting the true nature of Vaughan and the community – its reality, not its mythology,” says MP Bevilacqua.

It’s time to take a stand, so that the next time you venture out of Vaughan, you won’t feel ashamed to say where you came from.

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www.wildorchidlingerie.com, 905.893.7545, 905.850.8721

10480 Islington Ave. Unit #5, Kleinburg, Ont.