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And the Winners Are… BBB Announces the 2018 Torch Award Winners

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And the winners are…

BBB Announces the 2018 Torch Award Winners

Better Business Bureau (BBB*) serving Vancouver Island announced the 2018 Torch Award Winners at the annual awards gala celebration hosted on Friday, November 2, 2018 at the Union Club of B.C.

“BBB would like to congratulate the following 16 businesses for their exemplary commitment to honest and ethical business practices and customer service excellence,” said Rosalind Scott, President & CEO of BBB serving Vancouver Island. “This year local businesses were nominated for a Torch Award by both their customers and other local businesses. The following companies and their employees should be proud of their accomplishments.”

And the Winners are:

Award Category: Carpet Cleaners
Luv-a-Rug Services Inc. (Victoria) 

Award Category: Community Service
Luv-a-Rug Services Inc. (Victoria)

Award Category: Computer & Internet Services
Dial-a-Geek Consulting Inc. (Victoria)

Award Category: Contractors
Victoria Drain Services Ltd. (Victoria)

Award Category: Customer Service
Act Together Moving Services (Brentwood Bay)

Award Category: Financial Services
Auxilium Mortgage Corporation (Victoria)

Award Category: Heating & Electrical
Gaslight Heat Services (Victoria)

Award Category: Home Improvement
X 2 Lewis Modern Home Renovations (Qualicum Beach)

Award Category: Installation Services
Van Isle Windows Ltd. (Victoria)

Award Category: Kitchen Renovations
Island Dream Kitchens (Sidney)

Award Category: Moving & Hauling
Provincial Moving & Storage Ltd. (Victoria)

Award Category: Outstanding Employee
Shane Casey – Luv-a-Rug Services Inc. (Victoria)

Award Category: Plumbing Services
Royal Bay Plumbing (Victoria)

Award Category: Roofers
High Definition Roofing Ltd. (Victoria)

Award Category: Sales & Service
M&N Mattress Shop Ltd. (Parksville)

Award Category: Specialty Cleaning
Pro Sweep Plus (Victoria)

World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Whisky That Was Made in 1926 Sells for Record-Breaking £850,000 in Edinburgh

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A Bonhams porter shows the bottle of Macallan Valerio Adamai 1926 whisky to packed auction house in Edinburgh today. The whisky was bottled in 1986 having been stored in a vat for 60 years previously

The world’s most expensive bottle of whisky – described by experts as the ‘Holy Grail’ – has been sold for nearly £850,000 at auction.

The 60-year-old Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 sold for a record-breaking £848,750 when it went under the hammer today at Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh.

Although 12 bottles of the vintage whisky were produced, it is not known how many of them still exist.

Bonhams auctioneer Charles Graham-Campbell takes bids during the sale of this whisky.

The bottle (right), which was expected to fetch between £700,000 and £900,000 ended up being sold for a record-breaking £848,750

One is said to have been destroyed in an earthquake in Japan in 2011, and it is believed that at least one of them has been opened and consumed.

Since the auction was announced earlier this year, Bonhams has been receiving inquiries from across the world, particularly China, for the tipple.

Bonhams Whisky specialist in Edinburgh, Martin Green, said: ‘I am delighted at this exceptional result.

‘It is a great honour to have established a new world record, and particularly exciting to have done so here in Scotland, the home of whisky.

‘Bonhams now holds the record for the three most valuable bottles of whisky ever sold at auction.’

The whisky was bottled in 1986 having been stored in a vat for 60 years previously.

Bonhams’ auction house in Edinburgh was packed out for the sale of the whisky today. Martin Green, Bonhams’ whisky specialist Martin Green said he was delighted with the result of the auction

Although 12 bottles of the vintage whisky (pictured) were produced, it is not known how many of them still exist. When they were bottled in 1986 Macallan commissioned world-famous pop artist Valerio Adami to design a label for the 12 bottles. Valerio Adami is an Italian artist famous for painting bold, flat forms outlined in thick, black lines, in a style reminiscent of comic art

The price keeps on rising at Bonhams’ auction house in Edinburgh where the whisky – made in 1926 – fetched a whopping £848,750 at auction

The whisky was expected to fetch between £700,000 and £900,000 at auction.

Macallan commissioned two world-famous Pop Artists, Valerio Adami and Peter Blake, to design labels for a very limited edition of 24 bottles -12 of the Adami and 12 of the Blake labels.

Valerio Adami (born 1935) is an Italian artist famous for painting bold, flat forms outlined in thick, black lines, in a style reminiscent of comic art.

He is among the most acclaimed of 20th Century Pop Artists.

The previous record for a whisky sale was held by another bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong in May.

It was sold for a world record-breaking price of £814,081 – the most paid for a bottle of Scotch whisky at public auction at the time.

Harvard Club Considers a Change, and Some Think It’s the ‘Worst Thing Ever’

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Members of the Harvard Club are upset about a proposal to turn the majestic Harvard Hall, designed by the famed architect Charles McKim, into a dining room. Credit: Ramsay de Give for The New York Times

On the wood-paneled walls of Harvard Hall, the majestic heart of the Harvard Club in Midtown Manhattan, hang portraits of Teddy Roosevelt and other notable graduates. The head of an elephant, a gift to the club, hovers in an alcove where members luxuriate on plush leather couches to read and sometimes nap.

It is a place of elegance and quiet contemplation, and as rarefied spaces go, there are few more rarefied. “I see it as Harvard asserting its primacy as an early American institution,” Barry Bergdoll, a professor of modern architectural history at Columbia University, said of the room.

But when the club’s leadership proposed turning Harvard Hall into a dining room, the sniping among members had all the gentility of a barroom brawl.

“I have been called a fascist dictator,” Michael Holland, the club president, told more than 200 unhappy members during a meeting on Sept. 12.

Harvard Hall has been used for dining before, from 1905 to 1915. Credit: Harvard Club

The crowd booed. “I am not defensive,” he said.

According to people in attendance and a recording of the meeting obtained by The New York Times, one member accused Mr. Holland of sending misleading emails. People clapped when a person called for the club’s leadership to resign. Still others questioned why a change was necessary given the club’s overall financial health.

Depending on whom one talks to, the proposed change to Harvard Hall is either a vast conspiracy to turn the esteemed club into a catering-venue-for-hire or an attempt by the leadership to stem losses in its food and beverage business.

It is not uncommon in the genteel world of New York private clubs for members to weigh profit and convenience. But the members of the Harvard Club seem to be taking this proposal personally.

Ivan Shumkov, an architect, called it one of the most sacred spaces in New York, having been created by an architectural icon, the Harvard alumnus Charles McKim. “If we destroy Harvard Hall,” he said that night, “I think it will be the worst thing ever.”

While refugees of the Yale Club, for example, have long complained it is more corporate than clubby, the Harvard Club, on West 44th Street, has maintained a familial appeal. The membership, roughly 13,000, is made up mostly of faculty, graduates and their spouses. There is a gym with squash courts and guest rooms decorated with university memorabilia for overnight stays. Every year the club holds its own Christmas tree lighting. New York residents pay as much as $2,147 annually in dues, with nonresidents and newer graduates paying less.

A chandelier, decorated with the university shield, in Harvard Hall. Credit: Ramsay de Give for The New York Times

What makes the ruckus at the Harvard Club particularly sensitive is Harvard Hall itself. Mr. McKim built the club, adding Harvard Hall, with its blush-colored French stone walls and two walk-in fireplaces, in 1905. He and his firm, McKim, Mead & White, designed some of the most celebrated Beaux-Art architecture in America, including the University Club of New York, much of Columbia University, the Pierpont Morgan Library and the Boston Public Library.

“It is quite distinct in New York,” Mr. Bergdoll said of Harvard Hall. “It is meant to represent Harvard.”

Like many fights, the one at the Harvard Club started over money. Mr. Holland, the owner of a private investment firm who like other club officers is a volunteer, said that three years ago, the club instituted 22 recommendations to shore up its finances. One recommendation not pursued at the time was to move the a la carte dining service from the dining room, with its airy windows and high balcony, into Harvard Hall. The idea was not unprecedented; Harvard Hall hosted diners from 1905 to 1915.

Since those changes, losses in the club’s food and beverage business have persisted. A mere 8 percent of members accounted for 50 percent of a la carte dining revenue last year, suggesting the dining room is underused.

In February, the club hired Julia Heyer, a restaurant consultant whose firm has worked on projects at Grand Central Terminal and for Brooklyn Brewery. Mr. Holland said she proposed that club dining be moved to Harvard Hall and that two kitchens be separated to improve efficiency. At the same time, the current dining room, which is more spacious than Harvard Hall, could be rented out for larger weddings and banquets, generating more revenue.

The changes didn’t seem too drastic to Mr. Holland. “It’s just moving the furniture,” he said. “It’s not an earthshaking change in how the rooms are used.”

Many members, though, had a different take. In early August, three former committee members of the club sent an email to the board of trustees. The men, Jonathan David, E. Theodore Lewis Jr. and Charles Lauster, laid out reasons the proposal to turn Harvard Hall into a dining room should be rejected.

They warned that the use of the main dining room for banquets and special events would “negatively effect the ambiance of the club” and “eliminate Harvard Hall as a place of quiet enjoyment for members and guests.”

“We are not opposed to making changes that could place the Club on a sounder financial foot,” they wrote. “But we view the current proposal as ill-considered, insufficiently researched and unnecessarily disruptive.”

Mr. Holland said the authors commented without knowing all the facts. (In an email, Mr. David said the three men declined to comment.) Herbert Pliessnig, the club’s general manager, said in an interview that the club planned to hold only an additional five to 10 events annually if the proposal were adopted.

The current dining hall could be rented out for more events if dining were moved to Harvard Hall. Credit: Ramsay de Give for The New York Times

Mr. Holland said of the men: “They really care about the club. How they go about it is their business, whatever they do.”

Their email was widely shared among members, particularly the club’s special interest groups, who frequently meet to discuss topics like American literature, politics or history.

Some were concerned that they would have limited access to quiet rooms if the Harvard Club rented out more space to outsiders. Others were displeased that lunch would no longer be served on the balcony of the main dining room, a favorite gathering spot, if that room were turned into an event space. Mr. Holland said he has received hundreds of emails, mostly in opposition.

One of those letters was from Seth  Herbert, a former vice president and senior international counsel at Estée Lauder who has been a club member for 25 years. He said in an interview that he had left the Yale Club (he has degrees from both schools) because it no longer felt like “home” and that he worried the same would happen to the Harvard Club. “I’m very ambivalent about the proposal,” he said. “It is a major decision that affects the culture of the club.”

Mr. Holland said there would be no decision on Harvard Hall without a vote of the members. He and his team have held three meetings to present the plan. At the first one, on Sept. 7, they laid out two options: members could choose to make Harvard Hall a dining room or they could not. If they opposed the change, annual dues could increase by as much as 10 percent, according to the presentation.

The Sept. 12 meeting, judging by the recording, was particularly tense. Among other accusations, one man told Mr. Holland that an email sent to members with the headline, “Enhancing Your Member Experience,” mischaracterized the seriousness of the proposed change. Most people didn’t read past the first sentence, the man said.

By the third meeting, on Sept. 18, “it was more mixed, but still emotional,” Mr. Holland said. “A couple of times I had to explain that we are volunteers and we are trying to do good.”

Why Foodies Should Visit Victoria, British Columbia

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The following article was featured Forbes Magazine’s Travel Guide on August 6, 2018.

Delicious Victoria TOURISM VICTORIA

When considering Canada’s best food, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal undisputedly clinch the title. And if you press further, destinations like Prince Edward Island and Quebec City shoot up as contenders. But there’s one Canadian city that’s quietly vying for epicurean attention: Vancouver Island’s Victoria.

Victoria’s food scene gets eclipsed by nearby Vancouver, but British Columbia’s capital has long earned its culinary cred: it was home to Canada’s first brewpub; it has a neighboring wine region; it serves one of the best high teas in the country; it boasts the nation’s oldest Chinatown; and Canada’s first chocolatier started here.

Dig in to find out why you should taste your way through the Pacific Northwest’s oldest city.

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa THE MAGNOLIA HOTEL & SPA

WHERE TO STAY

For our Victoria culinary tour, we checked into The Magnolia Hotel & Spa, and not just because the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel has an excellent location mere blocks from the Inner Harbour or because of its plush, sophisticated accommodations.

The 64-room boutique hotel offers fun self-guided itineraries for guests called Curated Trails, a number of which revolve around food and drink. Here are highlights from Magnolia’s Culinary Trailblazers, Craft Brewery and Tea-riffic Trails tours, plus some other delicious spots we found along the way.

Duck at The Courtney Room LEILA KWOK

WHERE TO DINE

The Courtney Room

The first stop is at the hotel’s chic brand-new restaurant that debuted in April. Come for fine dining or to soak up the sun on the new patio, which gives a glimpse of the domed capitol building, one of Victoria’s most-recognized sights. Then linger into the wee hours at the white marble bar for Midnight in Oaxaca cocktails (Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej mezcal, lime, habanero bitters, mint, cucumber) and the irresistible potatoes Courtney (duck fat tater tots accompanied by onion dip).

At dinner, order the seasonal tasting menu to see how chef Sam Harris spotlights local ingredients in French dishes. A tender Yarrow Meadows duck breast is covered with crispy skin and comes with carrots, turnips and pickled rhubarb. Local halibut goes decadent with a pool of airy, ethereal whipped béarnaise and tarragon.

Add on the caviar service. The sustainable, organic Northern Divine pearls, chives and creamy “dip” (garlic, garlic and onion powder, crème fraîche, egg yolk, grapeseed and olive oils, lemon juice) on top of a housemade chip was one of the best bites on the menu. And opt for the vino pairings — you’ll get a nice sampling of the local Cowichan wine region.

A Sampling from Olo JENNIFER KESTER

Olo Restaurant

The cozy space basks in a warm glow from its orange-yellow walls and birds-nest-like lighting fixtures. The food goes for an artful presentation, but it’s just as homey as the environs.

The addictive deep-fried semolina cubes with garlic mayo will have you requesting a second round. The vegetable platter gets an upgrade with a deeply smoky white bean hummus. For a seafood-heavy dish that won’t weigh you down, choose the sablefish collar with clams, potato, kale, daikon and shellfish butter.

Dobosala Cantina & Ride Thru DOBOSALA CANTINA & RIDE THRU

Dobosala Cantina & Ride Thru

Chef Kunal Ghose firmly established himself in Victoria’s food scene with popular restaurants like Red Fish Blue Fish and Fishhook. For his April-opened venture, he embraced Dobosala’s location fronting Pandora Avenue’s new bike lane and went with a fast-casual concept that has the only ride-through window in the city.

But it’s worth parking your two-wheeler and taking a seat inside the industrial eatery to savor Ghose’s bright, flavorful Indo-Pacific fusion. Try the crispy pakora with kimchi crema and tamari-tamarind ponzu; “squimp” onigiri — rice balls with Humboldt squid, Tofino shrimp, sockeye belly sashimi and horseradish mayo; and the adobo-gochujang chicken stuffed in a tortilla cone. Wash it down with a housemade mango-hibiscus iced tea.

Fresh, Handmade Pasta at La Pasta LA PASTA

Victoria Public Market at the Hudson

At the small public market, save your appetite for La Pasta, which debuted in May. The spot churns out handmade pasta daily. Order the comforting carbonara with toothsome spaghetti and porchetta bits or the fusilli pesto topped with generous dollops of fresh ricotta. But first begin with antipasti like fried artichokes with lemon aioli for some brightness as well as the rich arancini.

Or venture over to Very Good Butchers. The first vegan butchery on Canada’s west coast, it specializes in plant-based “meat.” Try a dish featuring the smoky seitan bacon or the “pepperoni,” which gives more of a kick than its beef-and-pork counterpart.

Kid Sister Ice Cream

Hidden along Chinatown’s photogenic Fan Tan Alley — Canada’s narrowest street — sits this scoop shop. You can’t go wrong with from-scratch ice cream like the luscious salted caramel in a house-baked waffle cone, but the parlor is known for its paletas (Latin American popsicles upgraded with fresh fruit and fun ingredients) in creative flavors like quince Creamsicle; mango, black currant and lime; and mocha cheesecake.

Fairmont Empress’ Tantalizing Tea FAIRMONT EMPRESS

WHERE TO DRINK

Fairmont Empress

Half a million cups of tea are poured annually at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel, whose afternoon ritual has been a Victoria tradition since 1908. Don’t let the date fool you: the modern room overlooking the harbor makes for one of Canada’s best tea experiences.

Thoughtful details abound: the china bears the same timeless purple-and-pink pattern that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth chose for a 1939 dinner party they hosted at the hotel; the menu arrives in an elegant wooden box that also holds samples of each high-quality blend; the housemade strawberry jam uses local berries, honey from the hotel’s beehives and lavender from its rooftop garden; and servers are warm, welcoming and ready with just the right recommendations.

Even if you’re not one for tea, come for the Empress 1908 gin. The hotel’s small-batch, butterfly-pea-blossom-infused pour possesses an indigo hue that turns lavender when you add citrus or tonic. The color-changing G&T is a must for your Instagram feed, but also for its great taste, with juniper and grapefruit notes.

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. JENNIFER KESTER

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.

The brewery launched in 2001, but it added the city’s first tasting room in April. Head there to sample the easy-to-drink Blue Buck or Robert Service Stone Fired Ale.

But everyone will find something to sip here. Check out the all-natural house sodas — i.e., made without syrups or other artificial sweeteners — like the effervescent, Creamsicle-like Dare Devil orange.

Little Jumbo

Seek out a small neon elephant above the Pacific Transfer Building sign, enter and go to the end of the hallway for this restaurant/bar. The brick-walled, pressed-copper ceiling space is an inviting local favorite for well-crafted cocktails.

Follow the Victorians and ask for A Convicted Melon (Altos tequila, Campari, hibiscus, honeydew melon, local Olive the Senses coconut balsamic, Bittermens molé bitters) or the Gin and Tea (Boodles Gin, Silk Road’s Alchemist’s Brew and Berry Victoria teas, lime and flowers).

Silk Road Tea SILK ROAD TEA

WHERE TO SHOP

Silk Road Tea

In this tea-loving city, there’s no better souvenir than local leaves. Tea master Daniela Cubelic makes exquisite blends at her Chinatown shop. You’ll notice that Silk Road teas appear all over the city (including Little Jumbo, The Courtney Room and rooms at the Magnolia).

Pick up health-targeting teas, like the antioxidant-boosting Beau-Tea-Ful Skincare (white and green leaves, rooibos, calendula, lemon balm, peppermint, lemongrass, lavender) or sinus-relieving Allergy & Hay Fever Defense (take the green tea, peppermint, nettle, holy basil, rooibos and eucalyptus blend three weeks before allergy season to prep your immune system). Or try the 8 Immortals, a special reserve oolong with floral notes that’s supposed to help longevity.

Rogers’ JENNIFER KESTER

Rogers’ Chocolates

While you can purchase Rogers’ chocolates all over Canada, Charles “Candy” Rogers started his business in Victoria in 1885. His first confection, the Victoria Cream, launched his career as the country’s first chocolatier.

Pop into the original Government Street shop, which seems frozen in time. Staff dressed in starched white button-down shirts and black ties stand ready to sate your craving from the wood shelves and glass cases filled with chocolates. The must-buy sweet is Rogers’ Victoria Cream, wrapped in a waxy pink-gingham paper. Enrobed in dark chocolate, the discs are made with fresh cream and fruits and don’t contain any additives. Our favorite was the not-overly-sweet, nut-studded hazelnut.

Jennifer Kester is Forbes Travel Guide’s Executive Editor. Her finger is on the pulse of the latest in luxury travel, spanning hotels, food, culture, top destinations and more.

The Passing of Past President David P. Goodenough

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It is with sadness that Club Management reports the passing of Past President David P. Goodenough.  Mr. Goodenough was 79.

DAVID P. GOODENOUGH – PAST PRESIDENT 1999-2000

David Philip Goodenough was born in Kaslo, British Columbia, on January 7, 1939. He received his basic education in both the East and West Kootenays. In 1963 he married Ruth Anthony of Vancouver and they have three children, Cherie, Michael and Mandi. After graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1969, he joined the Engineering Division of B. C. Hydro. In 1970 he moved to Westcoast Energy (formerly Westcoast Transmission) as an Electrical Systems Designer.

In 1973 Mr. Goodenough moved to Calgary to join Dome Petroleum Ltd. where he served in various engineering and management positions culminating as Director of Transportation and Communications .

In 1980 he left Dome to enter a petroleum industry consulting practice in Calgary as Managing Director and subsequently became Vice President of Operations for Coho Resources Ltd. In 1984 he moved to Victoria to serve as President of a company engaged in high speed sonar research and, concurrently, as Operations Manager for a marine transportation company.

Mr. Goodenough joined the Union Club in that year. He continued his management and engineering consulting practice and from 1990 to 1992 served as President of a steel fabricating company headquartered in Duncan, BC. In 1995 Mr. Goodenough, along with partners, founded Victoria Capital Corporation where he served as its President.

Since moving to Victoria, Mr. Goodenough has been involved in fund raising for the Maritime Museum, acting as an advisor to the Cridge Centre for the Family and is a member of the Premier Leads Club of Victoria.

David Goodenough passed away on August 3, 2018

13 Things You Should Give Up If You Want To Be Successful

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”Somebody once told me the definition of hell:

“On your last day on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become.” — Anonymous

Sometimes, to become successful and get closer to the person you can become, you don’t need to add more things — you need to give some of them up.

There are certain things that are universal, which will make you successful if you give up on them, even though each one of us could have a different definition of success.

You can give up on some of them as soon as today, while it might take a bit longer to give up on others.

 

1. Give Up On The Unhealthy Lifestyle

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” — Jim Rohn

If you want to achieve anything in life, everything starts here. First, you should take care of your health, and there are only three things you need to keep in mind:

  1. Quality Sleep
  2. Healthy Diet
  3. Physical Activity

Small steps, but you will thank yourself one day.

 

2. Give Up The Short-term Mindset

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West

Successful people set long-term goals, and they know these aims are merely the result of short-term habits that they need to do every day.

These healthy habits shouldn’t be something you do; they should be something you embody.

There is a difference between: “Working out to get a summer body” and“Working out because that’s who you are.”

 

3. Give Up On Playing Small

“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

— Marianne Williamson

If you never try and take great opportunities or allow your dreams to becomerealities, you will never unleash your true potential.

And the world will never benefit from what you could have achieved.

So voice your ideas, don’t be afraid to fail, and certainly don’t be afraid to succeed.

 

4. Give Up Your Excuses

“It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Successful people know that they are responsible for their life, no matter theirstarting point, weaknesses, and past failures.

Realising that you are responsible for what happens next in your life is both frightening and exciting.

And when you do, that becomes the only way you can become successful,because excuses limit and prevent us from growing personally and professionally.

Own your life; no one else will.

 

5. Give Up The Fixed Mindset

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.” ― Robert Greene, Mastery

People with a fixed mindset think their intelligence or talents are pre-determined traits that cannot be changed. They also believe that talent alone leads to success — without hard work. But they’re wrong.

Successful people know this. They invest an immense amount of time on adaily basis to develop a growth mindset, acquire new knowledge, learn new skills and change their perception so that it can benefit their lives.

Who you are today is not who you have to be tomorrow.

 

6. Give Up Believing In The “Magic Bullet.”

“Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better” — Émile Coué

Overnight success is a myth.

Successful people know that making small continuous improvement every day will be compounded over time and give them desired results.

That is why you should plan for the future, but focus on the day that’s ahead of you, and improve just 1% every day.

 

7. Give Up Your Perfectionism

“Shipping beats perfection.” — Khan Academy’s Development Mantra

Nothing will ever be perfect, no matter how much you try.

Fear of failure (or even fear of success) often prevents you from taking actionand putting your creation out there in the world. But a lot of opportunities will be lost if you wait for things to be right.

So “ship,” and then improve (that 1%).

 

8. Give Up Multi-tasking

“Most of the time multitasking is an illusion. You think you are multitasking, but in reality, you are actually wasting time switching from one task to another “

— Bosco Tjan

Successful people know this.

That’s why they choose one thing and then beat it into submission. No matter what it is — a business idea, a conversation, or a workout.

Being fully present and committed to one task is indispensable.

 

9. Give Up Your Need to Control Everything

“Some things are up to us, and some things are not up to us.” — Epictetus

Differentiating these two is crucial.

Detach from the things you cannot control, focus on the ones you can, andknow that sometimes, the only thing you will be able to control is yourattitude towards something.

Remember: nobody can be frustrated while saying “Bubbles” in an angry voice.

 

10. Give Up On Saying YES To Things That Don’t Support Your Goals

“He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”

— James Allen

Successful people know that in order to accomplish their goals, they will have to say NO to certain tasks, activities, and demands from their friends, family, and colleagues.

In the short-term, you might sacrifice a bit of instant gratification, but when your goals come to fruition, it will all be worth it.

 

11. Give Up The Toxic People

“Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.”

— Albert Einstein

People you spend the most time with add up to who you become.

If you spend time with those who refuse to take responsibility for their life, always find excuses and blame others for the situation they are in, your average will go down, and with it your opportunity to succeed.

However, if you spend time with people who are trying to increase their standard of living, and grow personally and professionally, your average will go up, and you will become more successful.

Take a look at around you, and see if you need to make any changes.

 

12. Give Up Your Need To Be Liked

“You can be the juiciest, ripest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be people who hate peaches.” — Dita Von Teese

Think of yourself as a market niche.

There will be a lot of people who like that niche, and there will be individuals who don’t. And no matter what you do, you won’t be able to make the entire market like you.

This is completely natural, and there’s no need to justify yourself.

The only thing you can do is to remain authentic, improve and provide valueevery day, and know that the growing number of “haters” means that you are doing remarkable things.

 

13. Give Up Wasting Time

“The trouble is, you think you have time” — Jack Kornfield

You only have this one crazy and precious life. That’s why you owe it to yourself to see who you can become, and how far you can go.

However, to do that, you need to ditch meaningless time wasters and stop allowing them to be an escape from your most important goals.

To do that, you should learn how to take control over your focus, attention and make the most out of your 24 hours within a day.

Remember that you will die, so never stop creating your legacy and doing the things that will enrich your life.

Canada’s 10 Best-Selling Vehicles in 2018 (So Far)

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They are, for the most part, long-time leaders. They are the establishment, the obvious choices, the natural ruling parties. They are Canada’s 10 most popular vehicles through 2018’s first six months. Together, they account for only a small fraction of the available nameplates on offer, yet they generate one-third of the market’s overall volume.

With a 2 per cent drop in total sales in June, the first-half of 2018 ends as the second-strongest start to the year in history. “Second-best” isn’t often good enough for automakers, which typically build their business strategy on the promise of consistent year-over-year growth. At the current pace, Canadians will still buy and lease more than 2 million vehicles in 2018 for just the second time ever, but that’s with fewer total sales than in 2017.

Given that more and more consumers are acquiring new vehicles by adopting longer-term loans, having been lured in to showrooms by strong incentives (and in spite of their frequent need to roll existing vehicle debt into their new vehicle loan), the Canadian auto industry may not be as healthy as it appears on paper.  

1.04 million new vehicles were sold between January and June, according to Global Automakers of Canada, but many of the most popular vehicles – the vehicles on which the industry depends for great swathes of volume – are suffering substantial demand decreases.

The market’s evolving palate nevertheless remains visible, even in a cursory glance at the best sellers’ list. Honda and Toyota, for instance, sold nearly 5,000 fewer Corollas and Civics in the first-half of 2018 compared with the same period one year ago. Yet the same two automakers reported 5,500 extra sales of the CR-V and RAV4. The most popular compact cars in the country can’t sustain recent levels of demand, while the most popular compact crossovers only briefly sit on dealer lots.

There’s more to Canada’s top 10 list than just cars and crossovers. Full-size pickup trucks consume 40 per cent of the limelight.

10. Nissan Rogue: 22,404, down 1 per cent

2017 nissan rogue sl 20 Canada’s 10 best selling vehicles so far in 2018

2017 Nissan Rogue

Faced with growing in-showroom utility vehicle traffic, Nissan Rogue volume fell slightly short of 2017 levels in the first-half of 2018. The good news for Nissan revolves around the success of its two other small crossovers. Together with the hugely popular Rogue, the Nissan Qashqai contributed 9,257 first-half sales, and Nissan sold its first 615 copies of the Kicks late in Q2. That trio accounted for just under half of the brand’s sales in June. 

9. Ford Escape: 23,612, up 1 per cent

17fordescape titanium 16 hr Canada’s 10 best selling vehicles so far in 2018

2017 Ford Escape Titanium

Historically, the Ford Escape was the preeminent SUV sales leader in Canada. That changed in 2016 when the Toyota RAV4 took over. Halfway through 2018, the Escape sits third among utility vehicles as the current generation approaches its seventh model year. Escape demand peaked in Canada in 2014 with 52,198 total sales.  

8. Toyota Corolla: 25,166, down 11 per cent

2018 Toyota Corolla

2018 Toyota Corolla

Long a global powerhouse, the Toyota Corolla remains a leading passenger car in Canada, as well. The current model, however, is dated in many ways, and is therefore left to trade largely on a reliability reputation and advanced safety technology. Corolla volume is currently shrinking more rapidly than the passenger car market at large, in part because demand that once resulted in a Corolla sale is often shifting to vehicles like Toyota’s own C-HR.  

7. Toyota RAV4: 26,606, up 5 per cent

03 toyota rav4 Canada’s 10 best selling vehicles so far in 2018

2018 Toyota RAV4

In 2016 and 2017, the Toyota RAV4 was Canada’s most popular utility vehicle. Indeed, with the launch of a more style-centric RAV4 – the fifth iteration – later this year, hype could yet see the Toyota take the top spot again in 2018. For the time being, sales of the RAV4 continue to rise even in the current model’s sixth model year.  

6. Honda CR-V: 28,022, up 18 per cent

2018 Honda CR-V

2018 Honda CR-V

On track to end 2018 as Canada’s top-selling SUV/crossover for the first time ever, the Canadian-built Honda CR-V is tracking towards a near-60,000 end-of-year sales total. The shift away from vehicles such as the Honda Accord toward the CR-V and its cohorts has been swift and momentous. Less than a decade ago, Honda Canada reported fewer than 20,000 annual CR-V sales. Fast forward to 2017, and Honda Canada will sell more CR-Vs in the first nine months of this year than the company did in all of 2015.  

5. GMC Sierra: 29,765, down 5 per cent

2018 GMC Sierra

2018 GMC Sierra

Caused only by General Motors’ own decision to market the two trucks under different banners, the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado separately take the No.5 and No.4 positions on Canada’s best-selling vehicles list. The trucks are all but identical. Combine their sales and the duo’s 59,975 first-half sales places GM in the second position, still well back of the leader, but well ahead of the current No.2.  

4. Chevrolet Silverado: 30,210, up 8 per cent

2017 Chevrolet Silverado

2017 Chevrolet Silverado

South of the border, it’s normal to see the Chevrolet Silverado generating far greater sales figures than its corporate GMC twin. GM Canada’s strategy, on the other hand, has always been different, typically resulting in Sierra leadership. That trend has flipped in early 2018, if only by the slightest of margins. Chevrolet is on track to sell more Silverados in 2018 than ever before and is therefore eating up significant chunks of full-size truck market share as chief competitors suffer sharp declines. 

3. Honda Civic: 35,536, down 4 per cent

img 4050 Canada’s 10 best selling vehicles so far in 2018

2018 Honda Civic Si Sedan

Only a remarkable second-half accomplishment by the No.2 Toyota Corolla would unseat the Honda Civic, which is set to be Canada’s best-selling car for a 21st consecutive year. The Civic, despite a predictable decrease in volume after 2017’s nine-year high, outsells its nearest rival by a surely insurmountable 41-percent margin.  

2. Ram: 48,659, down 16 per cent

2017 Ram 1500

2017 Ram 1500

Quickly losing full-size truck market share during a year of generational changeover, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ line of Ram pickups remains a tremendously high-volume family. But compared to 2017, sales fell by more than 9,000 units in 2018’s first-half alone. Now dealers are tasked with clearing out remaining 2018 models while accepting the hotter, newer, flashier 2019 trucks, a task that will be accomplished with long-term interest-free loans and 25-per cent-off stickers plastered on the sides of crew cab pickups.  

1. Ford F-Series: 72,308, down 8 per cent

2018 Ford F-150 diesel

2018 Ford F-150 diesel

Victory seems all but assured. By the end of 2018, the Ford F-Series will complete its tenth consecutive year as Canada’s best-selling vehicle line. As with its Detroit trio of full-size truck rivals, F-Series sales include a variety of full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. Production levels suggest between two-thirds and three-quarters of F-Series sales are produced by the F-150, a truck which now enjoys virtually annual updates. The F-Series’ reign atop the Canadian leaderboard did not occur by the Blue Oval resting on its laurels. Still, Ford has not proven able to sustain 2017’s record level of F-Series demand.

Hotelier: Bill Lewis, Magnolia Hotel & Spa, Victoria

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Hotelier Magazine recently featured our neighbouring property’s General Manager, Bill Lewis:

The words “fun” and “energy” seem to come up quite often in conversations with Bill Lewis. The GM of the Magnolia Hotel & Spa in Victoria, B.C. is an entrepreneur at heart. He’s also adamant about not accepting the status quo as good enough. “We can always look for improvements and ways to better meet our guests’ needs every day.”

It’s that can-do philosophy that’s earned the 40-something hotelier plaudits from guests and critics alike. Having landed in the hotel industry in his teens via the restaurant industry, Lewis quickly determined hotels would be “fun” places to work. “I originally thought I’d go to business school later and pursue a different field,” but instead, he continued working in hotels, while earning a Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship at Victoria’s Royal Roads University. He later returned to school to complete an MBA in Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Guelph, where it became clear to him hotels were his passion.

After nine years at the stunning Victoria hotel, situated a stone’s throw from the city’s inner harbour, Lewis still has fun being at the helm of a unique 64-room boutique property featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, bright spacious rooms with natural light and a tranquil spa setting that offers a soothing oasis.

The hotel is “locally owned and the owners are passionately involved. They provide the hotel every resource to ensure we continually pursue our goal — to maintain our place as one of Canada’s finest luxury boutiques.”

In April, the hotel opened a new restaurant called The Courtney Room, which celebrates local products with a classic-French twist. He’s hopeful the dining space will “set new trends in dining in our region.”

Lewis is proud and supportive of his team of 85 associates, who work tirelessly to keep customers happy. Clearly, it’s working: the Magnolia Hotel & Spa has consistently been voted one of the country’s top-five hotels by Conde Nast Traveler. One of Lewis’ biggest challenges is managing opportunities for his staff’s career growth. “I believe in promoting from within and mentoring strong talent but, based on our small size, we don’t have opportunity for advancement for all of our outstanding candidates.”

Delivering exceptional and personalized hospitality to each and every guest in a relaxed style is what drives the father of two. “I strive to create a service environment where guests’ expectations are always exceeded in a way that seems natural, not forced. When we get to know our guests, we can anticipate their every need,” he says. At the end of the day, “the key is to stick to your vision — in good times and bad — and not waver. Guests love consistency, which, in our case, builds loyal business.”

Athenaeum Club – 150th Anniversary Offer

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A proud resident of Collins Street, Melbourne, for 150 years, the Athenaeum is one of Australia’s oldest and finest clubs. They take pride in their heritage and traditions, yet are contemporary in their outlook.

The Athenaeum Club’s location, service, facilities and first-class dining reflect their Australian and international reputation as a welcoming place of relaxation and good fellowship in a busy world, and their members are proud to bring their guests into the Club to enjoy the fine ambience the Athenaeum Club is renowned for.

This year, the Athenaeum Club, Melbourne celebrates its 150th anniversary and invites Union Club members to help celebrate this significant milestone.

During the month of August the Athenaeum Club’s charming accommodation rooms are available for only, $150 per night.

If taking advantage of this offer for accommodation, why not make it even more special by dining in the elegant mixed dining Athena Room.

Reservations for accommodation or dinner can be made:

CFB Esquimalt Museum 5th Annual Open House

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Where: CFB Esquimalt
When: July 14, 2018 – 10:00AM to 4:00PM

CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum will be holding an open house on Saturday July 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The family-friendly event is free and features:

  • A bouncy castle
  • Button-making station
  • Military vehicles and re-enactors
  • Pirate camp
  • Artist-in-residence
  • Bubble blowing
  • Sno-cones
  • Cupcakes for early birds

The museum is located at CFB Esquimalt off of Admirals Road in Esquimalt. Enter at the Naden main gate and follow the blue lines. Please bring photo identification to gain admission.