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Whisky vs. Bourbon: Canadian Distillers Wary of a Cross-Border Tariff Showdown

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Single malt whiskey ages in oak casks at the Eau Claire Distillery in Turner Valley, AB, August 1, 2017. Ottawa’s new 10 per cent tariff on American whiskey could force bourbon aficionados to shell out more for a drink, prompting some to switch to a domestic blend, but Canadian distillers fear the politically motivated move could paint a reciprocal target on their industry.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Ottawa’s new 10 per cent tariff on American whiskey could force bourbon aficionados to shell out more for a drink, prompting some to switch to a domestic blend, but Canadian distillers fear the politically motivated move could paint a reciprocal target on their industry.

The federal government confirmed Friday that American whiskey is on its final list of dozens of American goods subject to retaliatory tariffs starting July 1 in response to the crushing steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

The strike is both political and symbolic — it would target Kentucky, the home state of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the heart of a distinctly American product in the midst of a rise in global popularity.

Any price increase could drive some Canadian drinkers to choose a domestic blend, an historic Canadian product that is experiencing its own moment in the global spotlight, including the recognition of Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest Rye as 2016 World Whisky of the Year.

But Canadian distillers also fear the tariffs could spark reciprocal levies from U.S. President Donald Trump against Canadian whiskies sold into the bigger U.S. market, just as Americans seem to be embracing the lighter-tasting spirit from north of the border.

U.S. whiskey producers of popular Kentucky bourbons and Tennessee-style whiskeys could pass along the 10 per cent tariff to Canadian consumers. Jack Daniel’s producer has already announced it will increase prices by about 10 per cent in the European Union due to the impact of a new 25 per cent tariff in response to Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum from the trading bloc.

Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman said it’s taking a brand-by-brand and province-by-province approach to dealing with Canada’s tariff.

“Tariff increases could be passed directly to the customer in full, partially or not at all,” it said.

But some provincial liquor boards appear set to raise prices on their own.

The Societe des alcools du Quebec carries 20 U.S. whiskies in continuous supply that would be affected by the surcharge if it comes into effect. Prices could rise as much as $4 per 750-millilitre bottle, it said.

A spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation said bourbon retail prices will rise in accordance with the 10 per cent tariff on July 16 — once the corporation can make changes to promotional materials that will be issued on that date.

Price increases on American whiskey could prompt bourbon connoisseurs to switch to Canadian whisky instead, increasing the customer base for the domestic spirit, Davin de Kergommeaux, author of “Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert.”

However, he warned, the possibility of reciprocal tariffs “could be pretty devastating” given that the U.S. is the world’s largest market for Canadian whisky.

In 2017, 157.5 million litres of Canadian whisky was sold in the States, according to the Distilled Spirits Council — up 2.4 per cent from the previous year.

From the 1860s until about 2010, Canadian whisky was the most popular whisky style among American drinkers, he said. Recently, bourbon gained popularity and is now neck-and-neck with the Canadian-style blend, which includes labels such as Crown Royal and Canadian Club.

Tariffs on Canadian whisky would impact distillers’ ability to export south of the border, said David Farran, owner of Eau Claire Distillery, a new producer in Turner Valley, Alta.

“Everybody gets hurt with a tariff like this, no matter what side of the border you’re on,” he said.

“That would be a disaster for everybody and I think that’s the slippery slope of a tariff trade war.”

AGM 2018 Results

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Please take notice that the 139th Annual General Meeting of The Union Club of British Columbia was held in the Centennial Ballroom of the Union Club, on June 7, 2018, at 4:30pm.

With a special “Thank you” to those who let their names stand for election, the results of the General Committee election are as follows:

 

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

LCdr Angus Fedoruk

Rick Sousa

Jon Watson

 

President Lawrence Graham, Vice-President Grace Van den Brink and the Club’s General Committee look forward to welcoming Mr. Fedoruk, Mr. Sousa and Mr. Watson to the General Committee.

Posh New Philly Club to Target City’s Emerging Youthful Elite

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Artist’s rendering of lounge with terrace at the members-only Fitler Club planned at 2400 Market St.

When it was known as the Marketplace Design Center, 2400 Market St. was a lightly trafficked building in what remained a fringe neighborhood at the far west of Philadelphia’s central business district.

Hospitality financier David Gutstadt now wants to turn part of the building, which will also soon host Aramark Corp.’s new world headquarters, into a center for the social lives of the city’s emerging business, tech, and cultural elite.

Gutstadt’s $50 million-to-$60 million plan for what’s to be called the Fitler Club, unveiled at a press event Thursday, involves fitness facilities, fine dining, hotel rooms, coworking offices, event spaces, and other amenities encompassing 75,000 square feet over parts of the building’s lower three floors.

It’s a local take on the new wave of high-end private membership clubs – such as those making up the London-based Soho House chain – that are popping up in some of the world’s more prosperous cities. It underscores Philadelphia’s rising fortunes.

The decision to place it at Center City’s far-western edge overlooking the Schuylkill, meanwhile, highlights central Philadelphia’s shifting center of gravity toward University City.

Gutstadt, whose background includes working on hotel deals at Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley, as well as a stint devising a hospitality concept for a venture involving Related Companies and the Equinox fitness chain, said he hoped his Philadelphia club would the first in a national network.

His plan has attracted about 75 financial backers, including basketball hall-of-famer and former naval officer David Robinson’s Admiral Capital Group, he said.

“Why should we have to wait to import something? Why can’t we do something great that’s for Philadelphians, by Philadelphians?” he said. “Why don’t we get the best example of something first here, then we can be an exporter?”

The Fitler Club is scheduled to open in early 2019. It will enter a market long dominated by old-line establishments, such as the Union League and the Racquet Club, spaces filled with elaborate chandeliers, oriental rugs, classical statuary, and oil paintings.

“When you look at the aesthetics and you walk in and you see 100 years of presidents of the club and a majority are old white men, I think the younger demographic says, ‘I don’t want to join my father’s country club; I want my own identity,’ ” said Zack Bates, chief executive of Newport Beach, Calif.-based members’ clubs consultancy Private Club Marketing.

The Fitler Club will feature food and beverage services managed by Vetri Family restaurant group co-founder Jeff Benjamin, with chef Kevin Sbraga, whose since-shuttered eateries include the fine-dining namesake Sbraga and the Fat Ham.

Also onsite will be a 14-room five-star hotel; a coworking center with 20 private offices, and 65 single-desk workstations; more than 10,000 square feet of event space that will spill out onto a deck over the Schuylkill; a fitness center with a 75-foot lap pool; and a screening room that will feature first-run films, Gutstadt said.

“The whole theory is, you want people to activate the space all day, all night,” he said. “So what are the elements you can use to keep this space activated?”

The club’s management plans to build up its membership in phases, growing from an initial cap of around 1,000 to about 2,500 in coming years.

It will be priced in line with similar clubs in other cities, Gutstadt said. That translates to initiation fees of $1,500 to $2,500, plus monthly dues of $250 to $500, Bates said.

The number of Philadelphians able to afford those fees may be small compared with the likes of New York, Miami, and West Hollywood, Calif., But it’s growing: The number of Philadelphia households earning more than $100,000 a year increased 25 percent to 85,455 in 2015 from five years earlier, according to calculations based on U.S. Census data.

Jacob Cooper, a managing director with brokerage MSC Retail in Philadelphia, said he thought there would be solid demand for memberships from long-term residents and recent transplants seeking a place to have most of their social, business and exercise needs met under one roof, in like company.

The club will be well-placed on the Schuylkill waterfront to draw members from those in medical and technology fields in University City — which includes sites proposed to Amazon.com Inc. as potential locations for a second headquarters — as well as from the emerging business leaders in western Center City, where Comcast Corp. continues to expand, Cooper said.

Gutstadt happens to be the son-in-law of Philadelphia real estate entrepreneur Carl Dranoff, among the city’s first contemporary developers to discover the Schuylkill waterfront, and he previously worked for Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds, a co-owner of the 2400 Market St. building.

But he said the location rose to the top of list on its own merits during the six months he spent scouring Philadelphia for the right site.

“It really is the new center of Center City,” he said.

36 Hours in Victoria, British Columbia

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The following article recently appeared in The New York Times:

On lush Vancouver Island, this urban jewel offers innovative restaurants, gorgeous parks and gardens, and museums that celebrate the area’s many cultures.

The Inner Harbour, with the majestic Parliament buildings in the background. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

By Suzanne Carmick, New York Times

This compact, eminently walkable city, set amid the breathtaking beauty and bounty of Vancouver Island, is lauded as one of the world’s top smallurban destinations. Beyond the picture-perfect downtown waterfront, British Columbia’s capital is an exhilarating blend of cultures, from Canadian and First Nations to Chinese and European (especially British). There are three universities, thriving arts and cultural institutions, significant historic preservation, a celebrated local food scene and Canada’s mildest climate: That means year-round forest visits, biking and golf; gardens galore (daffodils in February); even beehives downtown (at the Fairmont Empress hotel; atop the Harbour Air floating terminal). There is wildness too: “bear jams” disrupting traffic, cougar sightings and soaring eagles, towering ancient trees, log-strewn beaches and distant snowy peaks.

Friday

1) 3 p.m. EARLY DAYS

The blocks north of the Empress and west of Douglas Street, including Chinatown, comprise the Old Town. Start at Bastion Square and Wharf Street, overlooking the harbor, where James Douglas founded Fort Victoria in 1843 as an outpost of the Hudson’s Bay Company. This area became the heart of commerce, industry and government, swelling in size after the 1858 Fraser Gold Rush drew thousands of immigrants. Next to the Old Victoria Customs House is a grassy overlook with a display telling the history of British settlement and the indigenous Lekwungen people. Check out the lively Bastion Square pedestrian area of shops, restaurants and cafes, music and markets; then, on Government Street, browse through Munro’s Books, situated in a century-old bank, and founded in 1963 by the Nobel Prize-winning Canadian writer Alice Munro and her then-husband. Detour through Trounce Alley (note the 125-year-old gaslights), then walk east on Fort Street to La Taqueria to snack on Mexican tacos amid festive music and colorful tiles. A juicy carnitas taco with pickled red onions and salsa is 3 Canadian dollars, or about $2.35, and a Baja fish taco with cabbage, salsa and chipotle mayonnaise is 6 dollars; wash it down with Mexican fruit soda or local beer.

Munro’s Books, situated in a century-old bank, is a book lover’s paradise. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times.

2) 6 p.m. ON THE WATERFRONT

The Inner Harbour is where seaplanes, water taxis, kayak outfitters, whale-watching tours, restaurants and festivals can all be found. Sit under the trees and watch the boats and passers-by; then head to the chateau-style Fairmont Empress, one of several luxury hotels built across Canada by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at the turn of the century. Don’t miss the Q restaurant and bar, with its coffered ceiling, gold and purple accents and portraits of Queen Victoria. An elaborate British tea is served daily in the spacious lobby. The nearby majestic Parliament buildings were erected in 1898 to boost the capital’s profile after Vancouver became the railway’s western terminus. Open daily for touring, they are spectacularly illuminated at night. Thunderbird Park on Belleville Street is a quiet spot among the trees, where a regional First Nations house and totem poles were recreated by the Kwakwaka’wakw master carver Mungo Martin in the 1950s.

3) 8 p.m. THE ART OF DINING

Stepping inside Little Jumbo feels like a warm embrace: The exposed brick, aged wood and glowing copper ceiling take you back in time. The restaurant, which has received accolades for everything from design to food and drinks, is a homage to two New York City saloon owners in the 1860s who championed the art of dining and mixology. Dinner for two — try the warm Halloumi cheese salad, spicy Fernet-roasted nuts and grilled lingcod — including choice British Columbian wines, costs about 131 dollars.

The 19th-century Old Victoria Customs House exemplifies the Second Empire architectural style. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

Saturday

4) 9 a.m. URBAN OASIS

Fol Epi bakery is known for its wild-yeast breads, made from milled-on-site organic flours and baked in brick ovens. Choose from an array of loaves, pastries and quiches, then think ahead to a packable lunch of sandwiches. Walk down Douglas Street to Beacon Hill Park: This 200-acre oasis is to Victoria what Central Park is to New York City. The landscape varies from manicured and natural gardens to forest, swampland, lakes, Garry oaks and camas fields (originally planted by the Lekwungen, who harvested the edible bulbs), and includes a children’s farm and a 127-foot totem pole. Great blue herons nest in the towering firs and peacocks strut; relax and listen to birds fussing and fountains gurgling. Make time to tour the nearby Emily Carr House (6.75 dollars); the Victoria-born painter of forests and First Nations scenes spent her childhood gamboling in the park.

5) Noon. ALONG DALLAS ROAD

This scenic stretch on the southern shore of the city, from Fisherman’s Wharf to beyond Ross Bay Cemetery, draws walkers, joggers, bikers and dogs. Have a picnic, clamber down to the beach or simply marvel at the water views and roadside homes. Start at Ogden Point, where interpretive kiosks tell about the Breakwater and the Unity Wall murals painted on both sides, depicting Coast Salish First Nations culture. Walk out to the lighthouse, watching for sea otters and seals. Farther east, past Clover Point, cross the road to Ross Bay Cemetery. This rambling, peaceful resting place of many of Victoria’s notable citizens is also where you’ll find some of the city’s oldest heritage trees, cuttings from which were planted all over the young city (see treesofvictoria.com). Look for deer lying on the spongy grass among the weathered obelisks, statuary and stones in this wondrous place.

Seven modern gallery spaces adjoin an 1889 mansion to form the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

6) 2 p.m. TO THE GARDEN

From the cemetery, head to the exquisite Abkhazi Garden, tucked away on a quiet block behind rhododendrons and Garry oaks. The tranquil gardens, with their several distinct outdoor “rooms,” were designed to harmonize with the rocky glacial outcroppings and native trees on the hilly property, which includes rock ponds (with mallards and turtles) and the 1950s Modernist summerhouse and former home (now teahouse) of the couple whose love story started it all. Suggested fee: 10 dollars (includes guide).

7) 4 p.m. AFTERNOON ART

At the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, seven modern gallery spaces adjoin an 1889 mansion that once served as the museum. On permanent display are works by Emily Carr and an impressive Asian collection and garden — second only to that of the Royal Ontario Museum. There are amber and ivory carvings, a Japanese Shinto shrine, and a Chinese Ming dynasty bell presented to Victoria in 1903. Admission is 13 dollars.

The Bastion Square pedestrian area is filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

8) 6 p.m. CHINATOWN

The 19th-century gold rushes and Canadian Pacific Railway construction drew thousands of Chinese immigrants to Victoria, where they settled above Johnson Street. Today, Canada’s oldest Chinatown is a National Historic Site, a small, colorful (especially red, for luck), vibrant community of narrow streets and alleyways, shops and restaurants, beyond the resplendent Gates of Harmonious Interest. The Victoria Chinese Public School, built in 1909, is still used to teach Chinese language classes. Climb the stairs to the top floor of the Yen Wo Society building to see the oldest active Chinese temple in Canada, honoring the sea deity Tam Kung.

9) 8 p.m. DOWN TO EARTH DINNER

Olo (meaning hungry in Chinook) serves up serious farm-to-table fare with a nod to the region’s cultural diversity. The space is comfortable and rustic, with warm light emanating from hanging spheres of loosely wound wooden strips. A recent meal included crisp Hakurei turnip salad, garganelli pasta with a meaty sauce, and a dreamy dessert (rhubarb, salmonberries, elderberry ice cream, fennel macaron), with local wine (about 140 dollars for two).

Agrius, which opened in 2016, is known for its organic, local menu. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

Sunday

10) 9 a.m. BRUNCH FOR BREAKFAST

When it opened in 2016, Agrius garnered rave reviews for its organic, local menu. Now the restaurant serves brunch, with hearty buckwheat and rye pancakes, egg dishes (cured salmon scramble with fennel, capers and cream cheese), house-made lamb sausage and pork belly, kale and mushroom Benedict, vegetable pâté, even fried oysters (9 to 21 dollars). In fine weather there is pleasant outdoor seating along a pedestrian way.

11) 11 a.m. ROYAL BC MUSEUM

You could spend hours in this stellar repository of natural and human history, with its singular collection of British Columbia First Nations archaeological materials, as well as provincial archives. The First Peoples gallery includes a totem hall and ceremonial house, an interactive language display and a collection of Argillite (black shale) carvings from Haida Gwaii, while the Old Town recreates period streetscapes and trades — a cannery, hotel, sawmill — even the 1790s ship quarters of George Vancouver. Admission: 17 dollars.

12) 1 p.m. DRIVE UP THE COAST

Beyond the cemetery, Dallas Road takes other names but continues along the dramatic rocky coast through neighborhoods such as upscale Oak Bay, where you’ll find art galleries and British-style pubs and teahouses. Stop at Willows Beach for a walk or a swim, then continue north past the University of Victoria to Mount Douglas Park. You can hike or drive up; either way, the panoramic view is remarkable: across Haro Strait to the San Juan Islands, toward downtown, or across rural Saanich. Hungry again? Head back to town for Foo Asian Street Food, where a hearty, steaming bowl of curried noodle stir fry with pork and shrimp, prepared while you watch, costs 14 dollars. Alternatively, the charming Venus Sophia Tea Room serves organic teas and sweets — Cream Earl Grey with scones, cream and jam costs 14 dollars — and vegetarian lunch items.

The Union Club Travel Club Is Pleased to Announce…

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There is ongoing enthusiasm among experienced members interested in hosting small-group trips for fellow members to bond and enjoy as a benefit of membership. The UC Travel Club encourages you, dear reader, to come forward to us with your own proposals, if you have a trip or an outing that you are familiar with that would provide pleasure to our membership.  You could propose to host a group or just tell us all about the opportunities out there.

We are pleased to announce the following future hosted trips for your consideration. As new trips are proposed and vetted we will update the list.

2018:  Day trip to Othello Tunnels on Kettle Valley Rail Trail at Hope

2018 or 2019:   Art Tour of London

2018 or 2019:   Experience Yukon!

2019:   Wine and Culture Tour of Italy

2019:   Great Migration and Highlights of South Africa

2019:   Via Rail Winter Wonderland Cross-Canada Trip

2019 or 2020:  Self-drive Canal trip in France

2020:   The Road From the Past: Traveling Through History in France

 

EXPERIENCE YUKON 

Possibly for later this year or 2019.  Presented previously at the monthly UCTC meeting on March 26, 2018

Hosted by member David Leverton, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum of B.C.  David has a long history of close museum and cultural workings with First Nations of the area. He will host a set of unique experiences in Yukon that his special relationships and knowledge will facilitate. While ready with a proposed format, he is open to suggestion by early responders with interest. Be sure to see his presentation for more details of the moment. For expressions of interest or questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

David Leverton at dleverton@telus.net

 

ART TOUR OF LONDON 

Possibly for later this year or 2019.   To be presented at the monthly UCTC meeting  on April 29, 2018.

Hosted by UC member and art tour expert Lara Tomaszewska, PhD  ISA ,this adventure is forming up to comprise a comprehensive guided art appreciation tour in select renowned venues and opportunities in London. The trip will feature the tour over several initial days of arrival and then allow participants complete flexibility for unhosted enjoyment of London or other destinations for as long as desired. Opportunities will exist to stay in reciprocal clubs. Further details to be released, but early responders with interest can have a hand in shaping the details.  For expressions of interest and questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

Lara Tomaszewska, PhD, ISA 

OPENWORK Art Advisory

www.openworkart.com

+ 1 250 213 2111

+ 44 (0)747 031 4475

 

WINE AND CULTURE TOUR OF ITALY

Possibly for 2019 . To be presented at the monthly UCTC meeting on May 28, 2018.

Hosted by members Kerry Brown and Richard Larkin, this tour would be based on the premier wines of Italy and some little-known fabulous ones, likely Tuscany and Piedmont, visiting such wineries in Chianti, Montelcino (Brunello region), many of which have accommodation and/or restaurants with meals paired with their wines.  The northern part of Italy is unique – lakes and mountains and not often traveled; UNESCO World Heritage sites, good wine and food. We would also see if we could tie in any affiliate clubs for a stay or at the very least a meal. We could tie in Rome which is a perennial favourite with lots of things to do/see/experience. For expressions of interest or questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

Kerry Brown at kerry@successbizcoach.com

GREAT MIGRATION AND HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 

September 2019

Hosted by member David Bate, Victoria resident turned long-time South African entrepreneur and traveler, his tour is described as follows: Experience the greatest annual wildlife event on Earth.  Join a discerning group of Union Club members on a trip to Southern Africa in September 2019 to witness the arrival of millions of zebras, wildebeests and other antelopes at the end of their journey across the plains of East Africa from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.  This annual pilgrimage is known as the Great Migration and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should top the bucket list of every travel enthusiast.  The 15-day trip includes highlights of South Africa, Victoria Falls and Kenya.  Touch down in South Africa and begin your journey with an introduction to Cape Town and visit to iconic Robben Island, the Alcatraz of Africa, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 prison years.  Move into the heart of South Africa’s nearby winelands of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl and spend two days exploring some of the best wines and cuisine the New World has to offer, including at least two restaurants listed in the World’s Top 100 restaurants.  Fly into Victoria Falls and experience the largest waterfall and one of the wonders of the natural world.  Return to Johannesburg and spend a day touring the Apartheid Museum and Soweto.  Enjoy an overnight train journey on Rovos Rail, rated as the most luxurious train in the world, from Pretoria to Durban with stops to tour the Kwa-Zulu battlefields where figures such as Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi and Jan Smuts all participated in the same battle. You will also get a brief taste of a safari before disembarking in Durban for a flight to the Maasai Mara and the heart of the migration.  During your four night sojourn in the Maasai Mara, witness river crossings where hundreds of thousands of antelopes and zebras test their luck against lurking crocodiles.  Watch packs of lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs track the herds and, if your timing is right, see a kill in action from the safety of your safari vehicle.  During your down time, enjoy luxurious ‘Out of Africa’ styled tented camps where butlers cater to your every whim and rose petals await you in the bath drawn in your old fashioned iron bath tub.  Dine on gourmet meals and fine wines that introduce the culinary delights of Africa.  Options available for extended tours to South Africa (golfing tours, garden routes) Namibia (sand dunes and Skeleton Coast), Botswana (Okavango Delta), and Mauritius, Zanzibar, The Maldives and Madagascar (all great beaches), among other locations.  This trip will be guided by Dr. David Bate, a Union Club member who has lived in South Africa for over 20 years and owns wine cellars in the heart of South Africa’s wine country.  Space is limited.  If this trip piques your interest, please reach out to:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

WALKING DAY-TRIP TO THE OTHELLO TUNNELS ON THE KETTLE VALLEY RAILROAD TRAIL AND COQUIHALLA RIVER AT HOPE, BC    

Proposed for later this spring or summer.

Hosted by Rob d’Estrube this will be a simple ferry/bus ride to Hope with lunch and an opportunity to walk the trail along the Coquihalla River and through the tunnels. Travel site ratings are 4.5+ out of 5. Easy walking and available in a 1K or 4.5K version along the rail trail. Easy possibility of both distances being accommodated in the same trip. Timing will be determined by member input. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

VIA RAIL WINTER WONDERLAND FIRST CLASS ALL-INCLUSIVE PRIVATE-CABIN RAIL JOURNEY ACROSS CANADA 

Proposed for winter of early 2019.

Hosted by Rob d’Estrube this trip is from Vancouver to Toronto during the season where all the sights are snow-clad wonderlands, taking advantage of the lowest rates for travel plus discounts for seniors. Great for single travelers, no single supplements, as there are cabins for one as well as for two or more. All meals (very good) included and 4 + days of wonderful relaxation and bonding with members. Plenty of room to move around so we aren’t glued together. Stay on or travel further when arrived in Toronto.  The destination is not important here, nor is the schedule: the immersive journal is all. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

A SELF-DRIVE CANAL TRIP WITH MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN FRANCE

Proposed for 2019 or 2020

Hosted by Rob d’Estrubé, this will be a two-week bit of life in the slow-lane through some backwoods of France. Depending on the canal and the size of the locks we will limit the group to 12, likely divided between 2 or maybe 3 boats. Single travelers welcome as there are a variety of accommodations.  The journey is everything here, the French Immersion experience transcends place and time: You will neither be in the here nor the now: you will be “in the present”.  We will drive our own boats, cook our own food aboard or dine out along the way as desired. Happy hours are long and usually all on one boat. Stories, lies and exaggerations, through the blur of wine and cheese, replace the real world. This will be perhaps your most relaxing and engaging holiday ever. Quaint villages and towns, chateaux and market places abound at our side. Have semi-independent days away from the boat if you are fit enough to cycle or walk down the towpath: you’ll never get lost. Read a book while the world goes by but be ready to help in the locks. It’s easy work and you can get off and explore the lock keepers’ gardens. Tie up anywhere between locks for the evening and let the birds serenade you in a countryside without road noise. Acquainted members will become fast friends. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

THE ROAD FROM THE PAST: TRAVELING THROUGH HISTORY IN FRANCE  

Proposed for 2020.  A truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime exploration.

Hosted by Rob d’Estrubé, this adventure will follow closely the famous book by the same name written by Ina Caro, historian and gourmet food and wine writer. We would be a small group traveling for about 3 weeks, professionally driven and guided. The history of France will be discovered in the locations where events and paradigms took place. Reading the book will reveal the excitement ahead and the book will be a constant companion on the trip. Quoting from the NY Times here a partial review of the book and what the trip will essentially offer:

“She begins in the ruins at Orange and Nîmes, and then ushers us through blood and fire, religious wars, feudal rivalries and monarchical madness, into the light of the Renaissance, up to Louis XIV’s punishment of his superintendent of finance, Nicolas Fouquet, for the in-the-king’s-face magnificence of Vaux-le-Vicomte. And thus we visit Provence, the Languedoc, the Dordogne, the Loire Valley and the Ile-de-France.

Caro brings the reader along gently, with precise information on how long it takes to drive from one place to another, what roads to choose, how much time to budget for this or that sight; she is also helpful on where to linger, on what towns are pleasant places to have a long coffee or a picnic, and which are dull or overcrowded or seem to have metamorphosed into parking lots.

Although the book is written for visitors who don’t know France well, it is packed with information even for people who do. Caro does not seek to be exhaustive about hotels or restaurants, but she tells us about the ones that have become favorites and about others that have failed her test.

She approaches every new step visually – what’s the view from the hotel or restaurant, what can be seen and measured and studied before it is visited.

Caro is an opinionated traveler…taking no guff from unpleasant restaurateurs and snotty tour guides, and refreshingly direct about what to avoid…etc.”  The route is essentially C shaped as we start in Roman times in Provence and progress in time West and North and then East to Paris for the Revolution.

There is at least one copy of the book in the UC library for your perusal but is easily available online.

Interested early responders can have a hand in formulating many aspects of the trip, like timing, as well as determining price points for levels of accommodation and cuisine where practical.

Rob d’Estrubé has traveled extensively in France and is directly related to many of the nastier characters in this history. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

The Union Club Travel Club (UCTC) Lives!

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The Union Club Travel Club (UCTC) Lives!

The UCTC is a member-driven resource existing independently from Union Club administration and committee direction.  As such, the UCTC will operate with the blessing of the General Committee and management but with a firewall saving the Union Club harmless from liabilities.

The UCTC is formed altruistically to offer at least the following:

  • Information on interesting and worthy DIY travel experiences.
  • Presentations from experienced members who want to host small groups on exciting travels.
  • Presentations from members who will recount adventures.
  • Offer a variety of member-hosted trips throughout the year and be the central reservation resource.
  • Offer an optional central travel agency service to facilitate ease of planning of hosted trips.
  • Hold monthly presentations on the last Monday of the month coinciding with opportunities to enjoy the weekly buffet beforehand.
  • Blog informational updates and articles.

The UCTC has no commercial interest in the offerings but will provide travel agency services and advice or members’ insights as requested or needed.  The hosted trips may be structured to allow free or discounted travel to hosts if numbers allow.  Discounts, where available to group travel, can be applied. The optional travel agency of record will be Cathy Scott’s Destinations Travel but individuals can retain their own agencies to work with the host or the agency of record to facilitate arrangements if logistics allow.

As the Union Club website and reservation system evolve we hope to be able to access the service to make it easy to confirm or express interest in proposed activities. At the present moment questions, expressions of interest or reservations for any particular out-of-club event need to be addressed to either the event hosts or the UCTC committee. The main contact members are Cathy Scott and Rob d’Estrubé.

Cathy Scott  Cathy@departurestravel.com

Rob d’Estrubé  robdestrube@gmail.com

Jon Watson  rory55858@gmail.com

Leda Townshend  ledanell@shaw.ca

Barrie Hewstan  hewstan@shaw.ca

Please continue to regularly search the blog for updated information about presentations and trip proposals.

The Auction: “Thank You” to All Who Attended

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On March 9th, the Club hosted “The Auction” in support of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. It was a fun evening with over 115 Members and art-lovers attending. Club Member Alison Ross, owner of Kilshaw’s Auctioneers (pictured above), presided over the sale of 46 lots, entertaining the guests during the introductions and bidding on every lot. More than $15,500 was raised for the Art Gallery. Brilliantly done Alison! The funds will help support making AGGV’s collection more available online to our community.

The Auction was held under the Union Club’s Art+Fare banner. Art+Fare4 will be held on September 22nd and will have an exciting, revised format for the evening. To date, Art+Fare has raised over $65,000 for the Children and Family Programs at the AGGV.

Save the date for Art+Fare4 – it will be fun as the Union Club continues its historic commitment to the arts in Victoria!!!

If you would like to help plan the event, please contact Art+Fare4 Chair, Heather Kohler, at HeatherK@artandfare.com. There is a range of sponsorships available for A+F4. For more information, please contact Heather or Bob Coulter at robertacoulter@mac.com.

Douglas Magazine: 10 Jobs That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago

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One of the best indications of how quickly the world is changing is how fast new job titles pop up on the scene to keep up with changing technology, scientific discoveries, market shifts and new ideas. Here are 10 job titles that only emerged in the past decade.

Scrum master
Assists an agile team in adhering to scrum values and practices, and coaches the team to be more productive. Scrum methodology originated in software development.

Virus designer
Makes use of patients’ stem cells to create antibodies or targeted therapies. Cells are grown, differentiated and processed using viral vectors. The designer engineers the viral vectors that activate the cells for targeted therapies.

Sustainability manager
Communicates and coordinates with employees, shareholders and customers to address social, economic and environmental sustainability issues and initiatives within an organization.

Chief commercialization officer
Strategically oversees the multidisciplinary pursuits required to commercialize a product. Requires technical knowledge, marketing know-how and strong business development skills.

Social media manager
Leads an organization’s social-media strategy to boost engagement. Develops strategy to guide online presence on various platforms, producing content, customer service, analyzing data, managing campaigns.

Big data scientist
Frames business problems as data questions, and then creates data models to answer those questions. Uses data to tell stories.

UX designer
Improves the usability and/or accessibility of a product (e.g., an app or website) by examining every stage of a consumer’s interaction with that product; tries to make the experience better at each point of interaction.

Information security analyst
Plans and administers security measures to protect networks and systems, (e.g., installing firewalls, updating software against cyberattacks).

Chief innovation officer
Ensures a certain percentage of company resources is directed toward innovation. Identifying opportunities and developing capabilities to serve them. Engages in change management.

Health coach
Facilitates wellness-related behaviour change. Uses evidence-based clinical interventions to engage clients in clarifying their values and taking action on their goals. Can include nutritional and exercise education.

Ottawa’s Rideau Club Welcomes Younger Crowd with Casual Reinvention

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‘This is not grey-haired old people falling asleep in wing-backs’

Above: The new general manager of the Rideau Club, Carol-Ann Goering, with member James Hanington. Photo by Caroline Phillips.

The venerable Rideau Club is looking to shake its reputation as a place for rich, old white men to convene by successfully attracting a growing number of millennials to what’s become the last private social club of its kind in Ottawa.

Not only is the number of people joining on the rise following several years of decline, but nearly half the new members who’ve joined over the past 18 months have been under the age of 40.

Founded in 1865 – two years ahead of Confederation – the prestigious club has always been regarded as a social hangout for Ottawa’s political and social elite. Its first club president was also our country’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

But times are changing, and so are private members’ clubs that are looking to stick around for the long term. The 152-year-old Rideau Club has been quietly reinventing itself as a relevant, familial space where men and women of all ages, ethnicities, professions and interests can connect.

“We used to be very much what we would consider a political club, with a lot of government officials and politicians,” says Carol-Ann Goering, who was hired eight months ago as the new general manager and chief operating officer. “We still have that group, but really we’re looking to be bigger than that, to reflect what Ottawa looks like these days.

“The club is the best place to be from a business networking perspective, and we are working to ensure that our members represent the leaders in all industries. We are also focusing on the social benefits of belonging, so that members feel the club is the best place to gather socially and a place where they can connect personally and build lifelong relationships.”

The club has recently relaxed its dress code. Casual business attire – even denim – is now acceptable in some areas of the club.

“It’s not your grandfather’s Rideau Club,” says 34-year-old James Hanington, CEO of Stiff, an Ottawa-based strategic communications agency. He joined the club a year ago.

“This is not grey-haired old people falling asleep in wing-backs, although it’s a really nice thing to do if you have the time.”

For Hanington, the club provides him with an opportunity to meet other like-minded young professionals.

“It’s called a social club and it very much feels like that,” he says.

He’s particularly happy the place has become more family-friendly. He has two daughters, ages three and four, whom he brings with him on occasion. It nostalgically reminds him of his own childhood visits to private clubs with his grandfather, an admiral in the navy who survived a torpedo attack by a German U-boat during the Battle of the Atlantic.

‘Excited for Change’

Because Hanington’s home is in the south end and his office in the west end, he uses the Rideau Club as his downtown work base.

“It’s the calm; that’s what I love about this place,” he explains. “I have a crazy travel schedule and a crazy work life and I have insane children, so I have very few opportunities to come to places that are so calm and relaxing. It’s like a mini-vacation every time I come here.

“It’s also nice to come to a place that has a sense of formality to it, because not all millennials need to have bean-bag chairs and ripped jeans to feel like they’re part of something.”

The Rideau Club is perched atop the Sun Life Financial Centre at 99 Bank St. It’s one designated elevator ride up to the 15th floor, where a pause-worthy panoramic view of Parliament Hill awaits.

The club was at one time located on Wellington Street, across from Parliament, until a fire in 1979 destroyed the building. That’s the same year Jean Pigott became the first female member.

The club’s new strategic plan, unveiled in December, also identifies a need to update the look of the place.

“The members are so excited for change,” says Goering. “Even when we talk with the older demographic, they see the need.

“If the club is going to be around for another 150 years, we need to stay relevant, but we also need to do that while respecting the traditions and history that made us the outstanding club we are today.”

Not just anyone can join the Rideau Club. To be considered for membership, a person must be proposed and seconded by current club members.

One of the perks to belonging includes reciprocal club privileges at more than 150 similar clubs in 30 cities around the world.

The Rideau Club remains steeped in elegance and history, from its Yousuf Karsh meeting room full of famous portraits by the legendary photographer to its tale of a thwarted assassination attempt on Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

A disappointed office seeker from Rimouski, Que., barged into the club one day in 1897, brandishing a revolver and looking to kill the then-prime minister, according to historian Christopher McCreery’s commissioned publication, Savoir Faire, Savoir Vivre: The Rideau Club 1865-2015. The prime minister was luckily out of town that day and the would-be assassin was apprehended by a club member, but not before twice discharging his gun.

The Rideau Club currently has a membership of 760, plus spouses, but its goal is to reach 1,000 members by 2022. It’s never hit this maximum membership before, but it did come close a few times back in its heyday.

Sales director Ted Wagstaff has been getting the word out to young professionals that the Rideau Club is the place to be and that memberships are not as costly as one might think. The entrance fee is $500 for a person under the age of 40, followed by annual fees of $1,400. After you hit the big 4-0, the initial fee jumps to $3,000, with annual fees of $2,300.

Top Five Reasons Why Autumn Golf is So Great

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Gorgeous Autumn Colours, Less Crowds, Off-Season Pricing – There Are Many Reasons Why Autumn Golf is So Great.

With summer somewhat of a distant memory and autumn upon us, there is still lots of great golf to enjoy.  So don’t put away the sticks quite yet. It is true that start times might be a little later but crisp cool weather, clear skies and beautiful course conditions all make fall a great time to enjoy an extra round of golf or two.

Here are some great reasons to extend your golf season this fall…

1.  Beat the crowds:  Summer is over and the crowds have by and large gone home.  So you probably won’t be rushed along by the anxious foursome behind you.  You can take a bit more time, relax and really enjoy the round – hone your golf skills that much more.

2.  Your game is in top form:  You have had an entire golf season under your belt.  You’ve been playing all season long and you are feeling comfortable with your swing, your putting is in top form and your equipment is feeling like an extension of your arms.  Chances are that your golf game has never been better (hopefully, or the theory goes).

3.  Great time for a golf lesson:  Your local golf pro is probably less busy than he has been throughout the busy spring and summer golf season.  He or she can spend a little extra time giving you the personalized instruction you need to take your game to the next level.

4.  The courses are in fantastic shape:  The golf courses have enjoyed a full season of primping and coddling by obsessive grounds keepers – every blade of grass has been nurtured to its natural best, greens have been babied to near perfection and tee boxes in are pristine shape.  Greens tends to be smoother, fairways thick and lush, and landscaping at its best.

5.  Scenery is at its best:  There is nothing like golfing though a forest of fall colors.  Yellow poplars, red maples, golden tamarack often grace the fairways – adding an extra element of beauty to the golf experience.  Blue skies and majestic mountains seem closer and even more dramatic in the crisp fall light.