Slightly dishevelled but intact from his journey, Rocco reminds us that sometimes life isn’t all apple pie and sunshine – even if others wistfully think you’re living the sweet life uninterrupted. “Are you kidding? Yesterday, on my birthday, I had one of the toughest days at work – we’re doing a new series – and there were some issues that came up. I have a business, a production company, and like any entrepreneur or business person, you have challenges,” says the eponymous host and producer of David Rocco’s Dolce Vita. “Nothing’s easy. The harder you work, the luckier you get. And it took some time for me to realize that.”

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Before flipping the page to a new calendar year that will take him to South America to begin filming David Rocco’s Dolce Brazil, Rocco is looking forward to a different kind of adventure. He and his high school-sweetheart wife, Nina Rocco, are expecting their third child, a boy, a sibling to their twin daughters Emma and Giorgia, 3. Having waited a long time to be father to a growing household, Rocco knows that the family who eats together, stays together. “At the end of the day, no matter how good or bad work is, it’s only television, it’s not a big deal. Nothing seems to be a big deal when you look at coming home and seeing your kids. They’re my heroes, they’re my inspiration, my love.” And for Rocco, motivation embodies the sweet life. As if on cue, his girls burst into the studio, shrieking “Daddy!” as they race to their father for a hug. Ever their father’s daughters, the girls shyly respond “risotto” when asked what their favourite dish is. “They’re deliciousness,” he smiles, adding that he hopes nothing more than his children to grow into compassionate, independent adults. “My legacy is my kids. Everything else is gravy.”

With hectic schedules, the Roccos know a thing or two on teamwork to achieve their dreams. “I took a backseat to the show,” says Nina, who co-produced Dolce Vita before the girls were born. With Rocco completely consumed with production, Nina stays focused on the children and the plans surrounding a new home in Toronto they will soon move into. “I don’t know how we could have achieved or attempted to achieve these things if we didn’t divide and try to conquer,” says Nina. Exposed to the beauty of travel and delicious food during gastronomical journeys with Rocco, Nina certainly has had a taste of the good life. But when you ask her what’s most important, she takes a page from her husband’s book. “I say family. The other stuff is very nice, but the best production is Giorgia and Emma and now … I don’t have a name yet. We’ve been calling him ‘baby boy.’” The new family addition is due at the end of November.

These days, Rocco is relishing in some much-deserved family time after flying back and forth between his Toronto home and New York for a developing series, and to appear as a guest judge on Iron Chef America. Not just yet, Rocco will return to the U.S. in November for a promotional tour on his second upcoming cookbook – “We’re very proud of it, it’s a continuation of our first book, which was a Canadian bestseller” – Made in Italy (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.). As well, Rocco spent most of this summer in Italy on the series David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway, which is scheduled to debut next year. And if you’re not someone who’s patient, you can catch Rocco in November as he joins his colleagues in the Chef’s Challenge, a cooking combat to raise funds for Mount Sinai Hospital. With so much on his plate, it’s easy to see how deadlines and the stress of undertaking new projects adds up. “Behind the scenes, I work 18 hours a day. And it’s great because I think working that hard really grounds you and lets you appreciate some of the sweeter things in life. It sounds glamorous, and it is, but … I go away from home and miss my family … it’s difficult.”

No stranger to working just as hard as the second time, Rocco doesn’t take shortcuts to the top. “Our new series in the U.S. is just as hard to get off the ground, you think it gets easier? Our second book? Just as hard. Our first book [David Rocco’s Dolce Vita] was so successful, that there was this nervousness, this anxiety, of how do we top this? So I had to work harder, I had to push the team to do better, the photography had to be better, which was a tall order because our first book was so nice. And I see that in almost every aspect of my life – I have to push myself.”

If you’ve ever tuned into David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, you’ve seen how Rocco courts the Italian countryside for local produce and original recipes, and just as he does in his day-to-day, enjoys espresso breaks with friends new and old. He knows that there are those that view him as living the carefree European lifestyle in Toronto, but just as others have  to sweat to climb ladders, Rocco’s right there with them. “I just turned 41 and to me it’s the best time of my life because I realize my potential now – 10 years ago I was not completely aware of the work ethic that needed to be brought to this stage or to life in order to accomplish things. It’s funny because I’ll go to the office at 6 a.m. and have a coffee break at 7:30 and then back to the office at 8, and people will see me with my coffee and say, ‘Ahh, la dolce vita.’ And I just smile and say, “Hey, it’s not bad.”    www.davidrocco.com

The Piano Man is surrounded by some of the city’s most imaginative minds: members like Ronald Reeve who joined in 2004 and spends his days drawing cartoons and comics that highlight socio-political issues within his community. His preferred pen is sparkly, but specialty ink is running low these days. “It gives me an opportunity to express my artistic ability. Dan there, he’s encouraged me along,” he says, pointing to a tall wavy haired man with artwork on his pants.

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Dan Walsh came to The Good Neighbours’ Club a year ago with his artistic gift in hand, ready to make a mark on a much bigger picture: poverty. “Being a professional artist, I felt it was time to move it over, pay it forward if you will, and I love it, it’s application, it gives me purpose definitely,” he says, adding that he loved the colour aspect of Reeve’s work so much that he decided to put it on his pants. As he peers into the distance, Walsh recognizes the juxtaposition between having a club for homeless men across the street from The Grand Hotel and Suites, and a few lights away from where Isadore Sharp forged the very first link in his lucrative Four Seasons chain. On Jarvis Street you’ll find dreams everywhere – whether it’s to build a real estate empire, or simply have a roof over your head.

In his quest to volunteer, Walsh came across Wayne McKinnon, better known as ‘Cape Breton Red,’ a respected local artist and former billiard master who was once one of The Good Neighbours’ Club’s homeless members. Try walking through the halls with McKinnon today without someone stopping him to share a story or shake his hand. Impossible. “I used to come here and finally I joined, and now I teach an art class here and it’s a blessing. I don’t know anything really, but I do know life is wonderful and it’s all in choice, I’m able to make a choice today,” says McKinnon, whose success story serves as a lighthouse for those trying to find their way in the dark.

What began during Canada’s Great Depression as a support system for WWI veterans now provides approximately 5,000 of Toronto’s homeless, disabled and socially isolated men a sense of community. Open 365 days a year between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., The Good Neighbours’ Club sees about 200 people daily and has an array of services from hot meals, showers, clean clothes, phones and Internet access, and hosts regular visits from nurses, psychologists, health specialists, housing workers and dental hygienists.

Unfortunately, not all members can be saved. On Aug. 25th, 2011, McKinnon, Reeves and Walsh joined The Good Neighbours’ Club and its supporters in commemorating the legacy of late member Paul Croutch. “He’s in a better place right now and I do know that,” McKinnon says.

Resting on a bench just down the street at Toronto’s Moss Park is a bursting bouquet of red, pink and yellow reminders of the perils of homelessness. These flowers mark the spot where Croutch had his last sleep. It was there next to the baseball diamond that the 59-year-old was awoken – not by the violent storm outside – but by two drunken Canadian Forces reservists who senselessly beat him to death six years ago. Croutch was a father. He was once a journalist who co-founded a community newspaper. And like many of Toronto’s homeless, he had a difficult childhood and suffered with health and mental illness issues. The heinous attack that took place on Aug. 31, 2005, continues to plague the community, especially The Good Neighbours’ Club which launched The Day of the Homeless to honour him.

Raymond May Burgess lays the flowers there every year. They aren’t forget-me-nots but in many ways they represent a life that will never be forgotten. Burgess, who helps further the centre’s mission to enhance the lives of homeless men, remembers the days when he would deliver clothes and food to Croutch’s bench instead. Dozens of citizens, politicians, media and fellow members surrounded The Good Neighbours’ Club to raise awareness at this year’s third annual event. At the press conference, Burgess recognized individuals who have made extraordinary strides, presenting them with the first-ever Paul Croutch awards.

One of those recipients is Judy Graves, the city of Vancouver’s housing advocate who formed the Vancouver Homeless Outreach Project in 2005, which successfully took hundreds of people off the street and into affordable housing in its first two years. During her acceptance speech, Graves used Croutch’s story as the insignia of a much larger issue. “I visited his bench. I saw where he was zipped into his sleeping bag and couldn’t escape, and if he had even a small home of his own, he’d be alive with us here today,” she tells the crowd. “People are often quick to point out that the people in the streets have made poor choices, but I think we’re all old enough to know that if we’re perfectly honest with ourselves, we have all made poor choices,” she adds, heads nodding in agreement.

Former Toronto mayor, and current senator representing Ontario, Art Eggleton sang from the same song sheet, emphasizing the fact that four million Canadians don’t have affordable housing. “When I talk about affordable, I’m talking about the CMHC guideline, the federal guideline that says people shouldn’t be paying over 30 per cent of their income on housing. Well, there’s people paying 50 or 60 per cent,” he says. Of Toronto’s 93, 198 social housing units, only 70, 379 of them have rent that’s geared to 30 per cent of the household’s income. These figures show how slippery the slope is. Imagine adding addiction and mental illness into the picture. “One in three single men in this country live in poverty. Now this is the land of plenty, this is one of the richest most prosperous countries in the world. How can we allow this to happen?” asks Eggleton, adding that it’d be far less expensive for taxpayers to get people off the street and into decent, affordable housing.

There were many speakers that day at The Good Neighbours’ Club. From Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray, who announced the renewal of an $80,000 grant, to Ryerson University president Sheldon Levy. While supporters seemed attentive, you could still hear a faint fluttering of voices and the heavy snarl of truck engines that passed by Jarvis Street every few minutes. There was even a member who repeatedly referred to the event as a “photo-op,” expressing disappointment in the lack of results. There was one moment, however, where a poignant silence covered the corner of Jarvis and Shuter streets like a chilled blanket. It was when 22 names consecutively hummed through the speakers. They were the names of members who died last year.

Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, United Way and the City of Toronto are The Good Neighbours’ Club’s primary sources of revenue, but without the added help of volunteers and outside corporations, the club wouldn’t be able to survive on its modest operating budget. “It’s really hard because really, you know, who are you going to donate to, a club to men over 50 or Sick Kids Hospital? And it’s very difficult and everybody keeps asking for funding, so it’s very difficult for us to get any type of funding,” says program assistant Alex Zsager. While the club recently received a federal grant to renovate its washroom, laundry and shower facilities, there are still several service expansions and facility upgrades it hopes to provide its members within the near future.

There are many levels to The Good Neighbours’ Club, but the second storey is perhaps one of the most meaningful to its members. It isn’t where the food is served. It isn’t where the clothes are cleaned. There’s no showers or social workers up there. Instead, you’ll find a rainbow of paints and canvases. You’ll see political cartoons and poetry. And on a good day, you might just hear the piano.

www.goodneighboursclub.org

You can imagine the surreal experience of enjoying that cup of coffee with Chilton a day after the official launch of his long-awaited follow-up, The Wealthy Barber Returns. The conversation coincidentally takes place amongst a backdrop of books at The Fairmont Royal York’s Library Bar; books by authors that likely didn’t smash Canadian publishing records like he has. “I still look back now 22 years later and shake my head at the whole thing,” he says, crediting much of his success to mass word-of-mouth. Chilton had no plans of putting his economic pointers on paper a second time. It was a growing frustration with Canadian’s low savings rates and high-borrowing trends that caused him to concede. “I know it sounds a little corny, but I think the final piece that motivated me is that I don’t think there’s much of a link between consumer spending and happiness … plus I had a lot of new things I wanted to say,” says Chilton, who earned the highest mark in the country on the Canadian Securities Course in ’85.

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In addition to exploring the psychological realms of money, The Wealthy Barber Returns forges ahead with its popular maxim of saving at least 10 – 15 per cent of your earnings. It also places a new prominence on the culture of spending, the harsh realities of chasing the stock market and the role of banks in today’s volatile economy. “It’s tough to save, because it’s tough not to spend. So when I wrote this book I really gave a lot of thought to how to position it in a way that actually changes behaviour … I thought if I could introduce enough stories and humour and everything else, I might be able to get people to look at it,” he says. This timely 224-page financial guide is delivered directly from Chilton, rather than his fictional proxy, Roy the Barber.

Readers can dine comfortably knowing that Chilton is a chef who eats at his own restaurant. The man warning society not to spend beyond its means lives in a modest 1,300 sq. ft. house, doesn’t have a garage, cottage or boat, and derives no apparent happiness from haute couture. “I don’t like all that stuff, I find it a burden to even be worrying about it,” he says, sipping a Coke. “I have a sweet life.”

Since he’s returned, Chilton has been doing back-to-back interviews and book signings. The Wealthy Barber Returns is currently No. 1 on several best-selling lists, and based on his vocalized passion, this conversation could have continued for hours if it weren’t for a reporter visibly waiting his turn in the wings.

Before Chilton departs, a card-carrier of his cult-like following emerges. “You’re the Wealthy Barber, right?” the woman asks, perfectly timed. “I read your book many years ago, you taught me to pay myself first,” she says. As he offers her a copy of his latest release, there’s a sense that Canadians are safe for at least a little while longer. “I would love to have people 10 years from now say, ‘Hey, I read the book and I’m
saving more.’”  www.wealthybarber.com

Audio One specializes in retail as well as custom installation of home entertainment systems. The retail showroom boasts eight lavish demonstration rooms that allow customers to audition and discover the latest audio and video products. “The second part is the custom installation side, where we do everything from a simple mounting of a TV or speakers to lavish home theatre rooms and full automation systems that can control everything in the home from music, video, lighting, climate and security,” says D’Ascanio. Gino is primarily responsible for the retail and operations side of the business, while brothers Anthony and Carlo work almost exclusively in the custom installation division.

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The family atmosphere doesn’t stop at the three siblings. Staff consists of trained and skilled professionals, all passionate about the industry. Many of them have been with the company well over 10 years. “They are part of our extended family and are all vital to what makes Audio One special,” explains D’Ascanio. “We believe customers should expect a high level of quality from both our people and the systems we install.” Audio One’s 23 years of experience speaks volumes to what customers can expect. “We have installed an excess of 2,500 home theatres in our history,” estimates D’Ascanio.

The clientele at Audio One ranges from electronic equipment enthusiasts to successful business professionals. “Our most affluent customers can sometimes be the least technologically savvy. Our job is to make our systems so easy to use that they’re not even aware of the sophisticated technology in their home,” say D’Ascanio.

D’Ascanio provides insightful reasoning for the growing popularity of home theatres in recent years: “The world is a bigger, scarier place than it used to be. I think a lot of clients want a home theatre to keep the family at home. It’s great bonding and it’s a safety thing; you know where your family is. Plus it is a lot of fun.”

The brothers are all Vaughan residents. “We love this area. Vaughan offers so much that there is nowhere else we would want our homes and our business to be located.”

www.audio-one.ca, 416.665.0749