August/September 2013

A window into the world of Roots Issue 113 • Aug./Sept. 2013

A REMARKABLEJOURNEYFrom a tiny shop in Toronto in 1973 to an iconic, global brand today, Roots celebrates its 40th anniversary

Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green at the first storein Toronto in 1973

2 • The Source Issue 113 • August - September 2013

SPECIAL DELIVERYA selection of recent letters from the world of Roots

EXPRESS YOURSELFWe invite you to send us your letters and/or your most creative photos or

illustrations for publication in The Source.

Please send your submissions to [email protected]

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

HEALTH TIP

DÉJÀ VU

FINE PRINT

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL

GREEN TIP

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN

SPEAK TO MY AGENT

STARTING LINEUP

MUSICAL ROOTS

CHEF’S CORNER

DEPARTMENTS

PublishersMICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN

EditorROBERT SARNER

Interns OKSANA KRAVETS

SAMANTHA PREDDIELINDSAY SYKES

The Source is publ ished by Roots Canada Ltd. We welcome letters from readers for publication. Please address all correspondence to The Source, Letters to the Editor, Roots Canada, 1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6B 4C4 or by email to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Each issue of The Source is also available as a pdf at http://issuu.com/rootscanada

I S S U E 1 1 3 Two months after being featured in The Source, the PACT crew is coming to the end of their 5,000-km journey, passing through Ontario en route to Montreal.

THE EXTRA MILERecently, the zipper on my much-loved, old Roots wallet broke. I wasn’t looking forward to finding a new one but headed to your store in downtown Calgary. There I met Shaylee Schnell. I explained my dilem-ma and she told me Roots had many more wallets than were on display. She offered to phone around to see if she could have one similar to mine brought in.

Within 10 minutes of leav-ing the store, I had a voice mail from Shaylee saying she’d found my wallet in Banff and was having it sent to her store for me. Yay! I got my wallet and I love it.

I’m so fortunate to have dealt with a salesperson who really cared enough to make this happen. Shaylee was attentive but not intrusive and when it came time to help me, she went the distance and then some. She’s a major asset to your store. Linda ParksCalgary, Alberta

WHAT IT’S FORAfter buying an iPhone, I knew I needed a cover to protect it if it were dropped as I have a grandson who would be playing games on the phone. As a result, I purchased the Roots Tuff Skin. One day, while driving on the highway at 100 km, something caught my eye as it flew from my hood over my car and onto the highway. It was my iPhone!

I stopped my car on the shoulder and ran back. Several cars drove over the area but luckily not over the phone. I picked it up off the highway and, to my surprise, it still worked. There was no damage, not even a crack on the glass.

I’ve just purchased the iPhone 5 and because it’s a dif-ferent shape, I have to purchase a new case/cover and it will be a Tuff Skin. I just wanted you to know that it’s so good that an iPhone can come off the hood of a car at 100 km and land in the middle of the highway and survive.Anne HeinlSidney, British Columbia

TRUE LOVEI just wanted to tell you how much I love your Oakville, Ontario store. I come there all the time and I have introduced my cousins to it. I also love your clothing. Robin GomezOakville, Ontario MAKING AN IMPACTUpon entering your Scarbor-ough location, my wife and I were immediately greeted by one of your associates named Karla Capili. We were there to browse for the Brooklyn Bag for my wife. Karla then checked up on us while we looked at all the purses. She showed us various styles that might suit my wife and made the extra effort to ask us questions about ourselves and

what brought us in. Our conversation with Karla

was very enjoyable and we end-ed buying a different bag that was more suited for my wife. She adores her Londoner Bag in red that she chose, in part, due to Karla’s suggestion. I’d like to applaud her for her great cus-tomer service skills and efforts, which helped make shopping in your store a pleasure.

Working in the real estate industry, I know what great customer service looks like. In this case, it was unforgettable because it was genuine.Joseph and Catherine LamToronto

PLEASANT IS PLEASINGRecently, after doing some shopping at several stores in downtown Ottawa, I went into the Roots store on Wil-liam Street. I’m glad I did. I was helped by one of the most pleasant salespeople I’ve ever encountered at Roots, Mathilde Gerard. If your company has an employee recognition program, I’d recommend Mathilde with-out hesitation.Brier DodgeArnprior, Ontario

CUSTOMER LOYALTYRoots connects with one of its first customers

A FAMILY REUNIONThree generations mark a 40-year milestone with Roots

HELPING OTHERSSales associate shares her story of volunteering in Jamaica

A GREAT COLLABORATIONRoots teams up with venerable Canadian restaurant to celebrate its 50th anniversary

TACKLING HIS DREAMStore employee joins the Cana-dian National Rugby squad

PEACE AND SERENITYRoots yoga studio participates in outdoor yoga festival in Toronto

A COLOURFUL RUNStore associates partake in run for charity

TAKING INITIATIVERoots staff in Belleville, Ontario raise money for cancer research

Issue 113 • August - September 2013 The Source • 3

TWO SCORE AND SO MUCH MORE

As Roots marks its 40th anniversary, the company’s co-founders reflect on what’s behind the brand’s enduring sense of style and culture.

Continued on next page

Many people might be hard pressed to define style but they know it when they see it. That

certainly applies to the style of Roots.

After 40 years, it’s gratify-ing to see that Roots style – and everything the brand represents – has stood the test of time. As much as certain aspects of Roots may have changed over the years, its essence has not. Today’s world bears little resem-blance to that of 1973 and since then, the company has grown in more ways than we could have ever imagined.

Shaping Roots has been a collaborative process. Thou-sands of people, events, phe-nomena, and social movements have broadened our horizons. An eclectic mix of sports, music, movies, books, art, travel, and fashion have enriched us and our sense of style. A sense of time and place has also contributed immensely to the look and feel of what we do.

The genesis of Roots style began in our youth in Detroit in the 1950s and early 1960s. It was a golden time for the city, then one of America’s leading urban centres and home to a booming auto industry. A busi-ness and cultural powerhouse, Detroit was a lively, upbeat place, brimming with promise and possibility.

Detroit was also the epicen-tre of many musical styles that riveted millions of people. Not only was the city a major jazz centre but also the birthplace of Motown Records, which pro-vided the soundtrack, the soul, and the hipster presence to much of the world. Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Smokey Robin-son, the Four Tops and many more had a look and an innate coolness that helped define being

nature. The camp’s Co-Found-ers, Lou Handler and Omer Stringer, were impressive, larger-than-life figures. We were drawn to the values, positive attitudes, skills, and knowledge they shared with Tamakwans, as well as to their rustic clothing,

young, hip, and alive.The city’s sports teams, fea-

turing some of the best and most colourful athletes of the day, had unrivalled success. While we were growing up, Michigan produced some legendary teams – the Red Wings, the Lions, the Tigers, the Spartans, and the Wolverines. They played hard, lived large, and taught us what winning was all about. To witness Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Dick “Night Train” Lane, Al Kaline, and Harvey Kuenn in their prime had a last-ing impact on us.

But for all that excitement, it was a 12-hour trip by train, bus, and boat into the heart of Canada’s wilderness that would change everything. The destination: a summer camp in Ontario’s Algonquin Park, an outdoors paradise, the yin to Detroit’s yang. Located 300-km north of Toronto, Camp Tamak-wa is where we first really got to know each other, and learned important lessons about life and

which was authentic, comfort-able and rooted in heritage brands.

Tamakwa and its physi-cal setting also introduced us to another world – Canada. Its pristine, expansive beauty stimu-lated senses within us that we barely knew existed. The more we discovered about Canada – its nature, people, culture, his-tory, sports, and lifestyle – the more we liked it. In time, each of us would move here. Unques-tionably, it was the best decision of our lives.

Roots style had its begin-nings in Detroit but it matured in Canada. The early 1970s were a wonderful period in Toronto, as the city and the country itself were coming into their own. In this post-hippie era, amid a growing environmental and health consciousness, the Roots Negative Heel Shoe hit home. Toronto was also a magnet for great talent in the arts including Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, and Catherine O’Hara, who became good friends of Roots while making

“Personal style is about having a sense of yourself and of what you believe in.” - Ralph Lauren

Michael and Don in Algonquin Park, 1983

By MICHAEL BUDMAN and DON GREEN*

* From Roots: 40 Years of Style to be published this fall by House of Anansi Press.


Continued from previous page

their names in the local comedy scene.

In the mid-1970s, the success of the Roots Negative Heel Shoe in North America led us to open stores in several European coun-tries, in the process heightening our own awareness of the conti-nent’s refined sense of style.

When movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer asked us in 1979 to design footwear and leather accessories for Richard Gere’s character in American Gigolo, we went to Milan to meet with Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani, who was coordinating the wardrobe for the film. At the time, Italian designers were at the forefront of international

fashion and seeing their work there made a strong impression on us.

In 1981 in Paris, where Roots had two stores and where one of us (Michael) was then based, we helped launch Paris Passion magazine with journalist Robert Sarner. It pro-vided an entrée to some of the world’s leading creators in different fields, many of whom we featured in Passion and got to know person-ally – Andrée Putman, Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Thierry Mugler, Claude Challe, Jean-Paul Goude, Helmut Newton, Jean Touitou, Bernard-Henri Lévy, and many others. Some, such as Andrée Putman and Jean Touitou, worked on projects

with Roots.In the 1990s, we chan-

neled our love of sport into our involvement in the Olympics. Our aim was to make Canada look hip and cool on the world stage. In 1998, the world

watched as the Canadian team, dressed in Roots, entered the stadium in Nagano, Japan – and people loved what they saw. The look was widely celebrated and the poorboy hat became a major sensation. Back in Canada, people were thrilled, proud that a Canadian company had produced the style hit of the Games.

In Salt Lake City, four years later, Roots outfitted the US Olympic team, only months after 9/11. During the opening ceremony, the American athletes, wearing their

Roots berets and jackets, sol-emnly carried a tattered flag re-covered from the Twin Towers. It was one of the most poignant moments in Olympic history. And from our perspective, when the Canadian men’s and wom-

en’s hockey teams won gold, it was the icing on the cake.

Given all of the above and more, it’s little surprise that

Roots is unmistakably Canadian and global. Urban and bound to the great outdoors. Contem-porary and classic. Moving forward while staying true to its heritage. Popular with the young yet multi-generational in its reach. Roots has clearly come a long way. Today, with 100 retail stores in Asia, along with a growing online borderless business, more people in more countries are now connecting with Roots style and culture.

If, indeed, style is char-acter, then we owe a lot to our parents, who imbued us with lots of character and helped us in many ways. Our respective mothers, Helen Budman, a 50-year veteran of the couture de-parment at Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bethea Green, a gifted artist, inspired us and opened our eyes to great style when we were growing up.

Credit is also due to our late fathers, Irwin Green and Albert Budman, whose mentorship was critical to our early success. Fortunate-ly, we had the good sense to recognize their business acumen and heed their wisdom. They instilled in us the importance of details and making

sure quality reigns in all aspects of Roots. The memory of our parents continues to inspire and guide us every day.

The influence of our wives has been equally significant. Both have been indispensable to the development of Roots. In ad-dition to their incredible support, Denyse Green and Diane Bald, usually far from the limelight, have honed the style of Roots, which they’ve long understood better than anyone. Each embod-ies the ultimate Roots woman in their taste, style, and approach to life. Their contributions to the brand, which go back almost

to the start of the company, are im-measurable.

Of course, Denyse and Diane have also been partners in a more important achieve-ment: the raising of our respective children. All of our kids – An-thony, Sophie, and Deeva Green, and Matthew and Alex Budman – have not only been

a huge source of inspiration for us, but each has also contributed to the style and life of Roots in far more ways than they realize.

Looking back is important but we’re more excited about what lies ahead for Roots. Ul-timately, the real style of Roots is encapsulated in the immortal words of Albert Budman: “Keep on keepin’ on.” And that’s ex-actly what we’re doing, day after day, true to our roots.

In the initial years of Roots, footwear dominated the company’s product selection

L to R: Diane, Michael, Don and Denyse, for Toronto Star article, 1985

Cover of forthcoming anniversary book

Roots Department Store in Toronto in the 1980s

Vintage Roots Student Pack


CROWD SCENECustomers come out en masse for 40th anniversary sweat event

To mark the company’s 40th anniversary on August 15, Roots gave customers 40

per cent off all sweats, for one day only. The response was phe-nomenal, both in the retail stores and online. It was a shopping frenzy.

From the morning until the evening, Roots locations across Canada were literally invaded by huge crowds seeking to take ad-vantage of the anniversary offer. Craziness and mayhem reigned. Appropriately for such a mile-stone day in the life of Roots, it also proved historic for the brand for another reason: After the numbers were all in, it turned out to be one of the biggest days on record in terms of total sales revenue.


BEHIND THE BRANDFor the 40th anniversary, Photographer Ilich Mejia and Digital Fashion Editor Amanda Rotstein

invited members of the Roots family to show their style in front of the camera

Denyse Green and Sophie Green

Syd Beder

Bob Baker

Marissa EngelsAlice Mallinson

Sisi Jiang

Grethe Liverud

James Connell

Candice Cuthbert

Ilich Mejia

Laura Cristinzo

Liz Doggett and Noa LalondePatrick Davis

Robert Sarner

Raymond and Liam Perkins

Halla Koudsi

Deeva Green and Lee Reitelman

David Young

Jillian Grant

Laurie and Sophia Campbell


Pauline Landriault

Michael Kerr

Liz Doggett and Noa Lalonde

Karen Fernes and Ling Chow

Kowalewski brothers: Stan, Richard,Karl and Henry

Rima Biback

Judy Hurlburt

Victoria Lee

Subin Yoo

Tony Battencourt Alex Budman and Diane Bald

Renée Frenette

Andy McCurbin

Ed Cox

Kim and Hannah Court-Hampton

Adrian Aitcheson

Caroline Iwanowski

Oliver Capistrano

Melinda McDonald


LASTING LOYALTYBev LeMay’s relationship with Roots began the day it opened for business in 1973

For any retail company, long-time, loyal customers have a special place. For

the past 40 years, Roots has had the good fortune to form a strong bond with many of its customers.

On August 15, 1973, Bev LeMay stumbled upon the original Roots store in Toronto a few hours after it opened for its first day of business. As part of their promotional efforts for their new company, Roots Co-Founders Don Green and Michael Budman gave the first 100 customers a leather chequebook cover.

“I was 15 years old and I remember that as I was walking past the shop, I was intrigued by the Roots logo and designs and I went inside,” says Bev. “Within seconds of entering the store, Don and Michael welcomed me and then handed me a leather chequebook case. Forty years

later, I still use it as it’s in mint condition. It hasn’t fallen apart, which speaks to the high-quality products that

Roots makes.”During her visit to the

store, Bev purchased a pair of beige leather shoes, which she

says were extremely comfort-able and lasted a long time. Just last year, she donated the pair of shoes to charity.

Although Bev says she was never a huge shopper, the com-pany’s relaxed and comfort-able designs appealed to her sense of personal style. Today, she continues to be a regular customer and has passed on her love for the brand to her children.

“My kids and I also love the Beaver Canoe line,” says Bev, a psychotherapist who lives in Pickering, 40-km east of Toronto. “I purchased an original Beaver Canoe sweat-shirt, which has been passed down to my children.”

Back in 1973, Bev never imagined Roots would one day be celebrating its 40th anniver-sary. However, she is delighted with the brand’s success and that she can justly claim to be one of its first-ever customers.

Bev LeMay’s chequebook case still holding strong

In honour of the 40th anniver-sary of Roots, a selection of the company’s vintage prod-

ucts recently went on display at the Toronto flagship store, giving customers a glimpse of the brand’s heritage.

Earlier in the summer, archi-vist Eva Lee and Senior Direc-tor of Visual Planning Pauline Landriault selected a mix of iconic items that represents the

evolution of Roots style. “I hope the display will

educate people on our history, our roots, and allow them to appreciate where we’ve come from and where we are today,” says Eva.

Glass cases are scattered throughout the store, displaying aged leather bags and time-honoured apparel. Above the shelves is an array of classic

DISPLAYING DECADES PASTAnniversary exhibit spotlights the iconic products of the first 40 years

Award Jackets. The exhibit emphasizes the quality crafts-manship and design for which Roots has been known since its inception. One case shows the blueprints and planning used in making the negative heel shoe, the first-ever Roots product.

Customers have been admir-ing the displays, some remi-niscing over their own original Roots products.

The exhibit will run until No-vember, when a special 40th an-niversary commemorative book, Roots: 40 Years of Style, will be published, featuring a compre-hensive view of the brand.

“I was happy to do this proj-ect and pleased that the products were available for people to see and enjoy,” says Eva. “It’s rare that these items get to be on display.”

Negative Heel Shoe

Vintage Award Jacket Norwegian Sweater



A PENNY CAN GO A LONG WAYStore employee uses one-cent coins to pay tribute to symbol of Roots

Since the inception of Roots, the beaver has been an iconic, beloved symbol of

the company. Over the years, fans of the brand have paid trib-ute to Canada’s national animal by using various objects includ-ing thumbtacks, bottle-caps and other scraps to depict it. Today, much of this artwork is dis-played at the Roots head office in Toronto.

After seeing an image of the beaver made entirely out of bottle-caps, Anne-Marie Laroc-qua, an employee at the Roots store in Quebec City, decided to create her own interpretation of the industrious creature using (now discontinued) Canadian pennies.

It was a labour of love, taking about a month to com-

plete. In the first few days, colleagues helped Anne-Marie find the coins, selecting only those minted in 1973 and after to coincide with the founding year of Roots.

“It was a team effort because we all had to collect pennies from stores in our neighbour-hood,” says Anne-Marie, 25, who’s also a graphic design student. “We worked very hard

together to make this happen.” Pleased with the outcome of

the project, Anne-Marie decided it would make the perfect gift for Roots Co-Founders Don Green and Michael Budman, espe-cially in view of the company’s 40th anniversary this summer. Ginette Fillion, Regional Direc-tor of Quebec, happened to see the emblem when she dropped into the store in May.

“When I saw the artwork, I appreciated Anne-Marie’s initiative and the work she put into creating it,” says Ginette. “I wanted to do something special and decided to bring the piece with me to Toronto.”

Ginette hand-delivered the artwork to Don and now it hangs proudly on the second floor of the head office.

ALL IN THE FAMILYThe la Fleurs mark a milestone with their favourite Canadian brand

Roots isn’t the only one celebrating a 40th anni-versary this summer. Over

the Canada Day weekend, three generations of the la Fleur family marked 40 years at their cot-tage on Stoney Lake in central Ontario. Every summer, they gather at their rural retreat and this year, they used a selection of Roots apparel to help celebrate

the benchmark occasion. Based in Toronto, the family

– comprised of two grandparents, their four children (three of whom are married) and eight grandchil-dren – likes nothing better than to get away from the city to spend time at their cottage in the Kawar-tha Lakes area. For their latest reunion, Sylvia la Fleur, the matriarch of the family, had the

idea for everyone to wear Roots 73 shirts to mark the anniversary.

“Not only do all our shirts say ‘1973,’ the anniversary date of our cottage, but the Roots brand is also a great reflection of our Canadian summers by the lake,” says Sylvia’s daughter Joanna la Fleur.

Having always been a fan of Roots, the family decided to send

the photos of their special week-end to the company. Given that four generations of the la Fleurs have spent time at the cottage, it’s clearly dear to them.

“We love that the cottage brings us together year after year,” says Joanna. “To us, these photos celebrate our family history and our Canadian pride including Roots.”

The la Fleur family comes together at Stoney Lake for their annual reunion

Andrew and Kristina la Fleur with their children Sienna and Caleb

Dan la Fleur with grandson Caleb


DOING RIGHTSales associate puts her compassion for others into action in the Caribbean

It takes a special type of teen-ager to use his/her free time to travel 2,750-km to lend a

helping hand to strangers. For Katherine Cambridge-Scott, a Roots sales associate in London, Ontario, assisting the less fortu-nate has always been a priority.

In pursuing her passion for helping others, Katherine decided to volunteer in Jamaica in poverty-stricken areas. This summer, for the third straight year, she traveled there for the month of July with a group of 15 other volunteers from her local church. They ran summer camp programs and educa-tional initiatives in Negril and Hanover, teaching children important life skills, such as literacy and promoting healthy self-esteem.

“The children who attend our camp programs vary from three to 20 years old,” says Katherine, 18. “I particularly enjoy working with pre-teens as

I’m able to form a special bond and lasting relationship with them. Jamaica is a great place to volunteer because I’m able to connect with the children with-out a language barrier.”

In addition to summer camp programs, Katherine and her

team assisted local organiza-tions, including an AIDS hos-pice and an orphanage for young children.

“I choose to help out in Jamaica because a lot of people view it as a beautiful vacation spot without realizing the issues

and struggles that many locals face there,” says Katherine. “The children in Jamaica have taught me invaluable life lessons that have had a positive impact on me.”

Katherine joined Roots in 2011 at the White Oaks store in London.

“Katherine is a well-rounded sales associate that customers adore and respect,” says Krista Desrosiers, Store Manager. “Our team definitely misses her when she’s volunteering abroad.”

After traveling and seeing first-hand the poor living condi-tions of many people around the world, Katherine was inspired to become a nurse. In August, she is beginning the Pre-Health Science program at Fanshawe College in London.

“Caring for others is a big part of who I am,” says Kath-erine. “I want to help as many people as I can.”

Katherine Cambridge-Scott volunteering in Jamaica

In mid-July, more than 100,000 people converged on Vancouver’s Kitsilano

neighbourhood to attend the Khatsahlano Music & Arts Festival. It’s the city’s larg-est outdoor music celebration, featuring local bands, artists, food trucks, giveaways and much more.

As part of their involvement in the community festivities, employees at the Roots store in Kitsilano set up a table outside the store and offered custom-ers apples and clementines as a morning snack.

“We created a kids station that included Canada-themed pencils, colourful stickers

and bubbles,” says Samantha Schoffer, Store Manager. “The kids really enjoyed themselves and we received great feed-back from the parents, many of whom signed our guestbook.”

Established in 2011, the Khatsahlano Music & Arts Festival celebrates the city’s artistic talent. This year, it

showcased more than 50 local bands, as guests experienced the best of local music in a free, family-friendly environment.

“We had a great day and it was fun to see lots of regular clientele as well as tourists at our store,” says Samantha. “We can’t wait to participate in the event next year.”

CELEBRATING LOCAL CREATIVITYStore associates participate in Vancouver street festival

Crowds take in the music in KitsilanoRoots store employees join in the festivities


TAKING TO THE FIELDRetail staffer makes his dream come true to represent Canada playing rugby

After years of hard work and dedication, Gareth Reid, a Roots sales associate in

Toronto, recently achieved the dream he’s had for as long as he can remember – to be part of a national rugby squad.

Impressed by Gareth’s per-formance for the Toronto City Saints club in the Ontario Rugby League, the Canada Wolverines invited him to join their national team this summer as part of the rugby international series. Having lived in Toronto, Hong Kong and England, he’s had a longstanding passion for rugby and he’s now proud to represent Canada as an athlete.

“I’ve always dreamt of representing my nation in sport,” says Gareth, who works at the flagship store on Bloor St. “I

never thought I’d get such an opportunity.”

In addition to his job at Roots, he follows a rigid

strengthening program, training nearly every day, both with his teammates and on his own.

“I love the physical chal-

lenge of the sport,” says Gareth, 25. “It’s a true test of a person’s grit and determination.”

This summer’s international series is made up of five games called “test matches,” in which the Canada Wolverines face the United States three times as well as Jamaica and Norway. Each team fields 13 players at any given time from a 19-member roster.

Being new to the internation-al league, Gareth hopes to prove himself as a valuable member of his team so that he can share his love of rugby on the interna-tional field.

“The first time I’m able to play on the field as a Wol-verine,” he says, “will be the proudest moment of my life and sporting career.”

Gareth Reid, (middle), in recent action

ALL DRESSED TO GORoots teams up with Webers to celebrate the eaterie’s 50th anniversary

With Roots being inspired by Ontario’s Algon-quin Park, it’s little

surprise the brand is so popular with people who appreciate the Canadian outdoors. When heading up north from the Toronto region to cottages and campgrounds, many travelers stop at Webers, a highly popular hamburger restaurant located along the highway near the town of Orillia. Given the image and popularity of Roots, Webers approached the company a few months ago to create a limited edition collection to celebrate its

50th anniversary. In mid-July, Roots set up a

pop-up store outside the restau-rant where Webers held a special four-day event for its benchmark birthday. Numerous entertain-ers, including live bands, face painters and clowns, added to the festivities.

At the store, which consisted of a converted recreational vehicle (RV), people purchased items from the exclusive col-lection, which featured T-shirts, sweatshirts and baseball caps, all made in Canada. Select styles of company merchandise

were also available. “Customers thought the

collaboration between the two Canadian companies was great,” says Debbie Perkunder, Man-ager of the Roots store in nearby Barrie, who worked at the pop-up store. “American tourists were eager to learn more about both brands. The atmosphere was amazing and I’d love to work on a similar Roots project with Webers again.”

Michael Budman, Co-Founder of Roots, visited the temporary store and posed for pictures with Webers staff,

including Mike McParland, a popular figure known as the “grill master.” He’s worked at Webers since its opening in 1963 and can reportedly flip up to 800 patties an hour over the charcoal grill.

Webers was established by Paul Weber Sr. and was sold in 2004 to Tom Rennie, current president and owner.

“The celebrations were ter-rific,” says Tom. “It was great working with Roots on this collaboration. We’ve received fantastic feedback from our cus-tomers and the event exceeded our expectations.”

Standing tall in front of the pop-up store at Webers Grill master Mike McParland meets Michael


UNDER THE CITY SKYToronto’s Roots Yoga Studio helps celebrate longest day of the year as part of outdoor yoga festival

For centuries, people have used yoga to find peace by harmonizing the mind,

body and spirit. Recently, amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, the Roots Yoga Studio took part in a special event that celebrates the summer solstice through free outdoor yoga ses-sions. In June, in its inaugural edition, Om T.O. invited instruc-tors from the city’s top studios

to lead a lesson in the down-town Distillery District.

“Yoga is a fitting way to honour the longest day of the year,” says Anne Theriault, Manager of the Roots Yoga Stu-dio. “An important part of the practice is called the Surya Na-maskara, which means ‘salute to the sun.’ We use the sequence of poses as a way of being thankful for the sun and how it benefits

In late-June, a new summer comedy series, Satisfaction, premiered on CTV. Filmed

in Toronto, the sitcom takes a humorous look at three room-mates and the challenges of their relationships, life crises and personal ambitions.

Canadian actor Luke Mac-farlane plays the character of

Jason Howell, who lives with an immature and uninhibited room-mate. As a distinctly Canadian show, it’s little surprise that an episode has Luke wearing a pair of Roots sweatpants. Staying true to its Canadian identity, Sat-isfaction will feature other Roots items, including a backpack, in upcoming episodes.

SATISFYING FASHION FROM SET OF TV SITCOMActor Luke Macfarlane wears Roots on camera

Luke Macfarlane wearing Roots sweatpants

the earth.”Dorothy Leung, an instruc-

tor at the studio, kicked off the day’s first session with a morn-ing Hatha yoga class.

“The morning Hatha les-son was designed as a slow yet deliberate movement series,” says Dorothy. “It invigorates and

awakens the body.”There was a constant buzz of

excitement throughout the day as yoga enthusiasts participated in 11 sessions overall. The event also supported a good cause. In order to receive a yoga mat, participants donated money for colon cancer research.

WINNING STYLELuc Pokorn shows off his Roots in competition

Roots sometimes appears in the most unexpected places and situations. In

2011, Torontonian Luc Pokorn traveled to China to explore its rich history and culture. Dur-ing his 15-month stay there, he became fluent in Mandarin, built lasting relationships with locals and developed an appreciation for the country.

After returning home to study at York Uni-versity in Toronto, Luc entered in a Chinese-language competition for foreign students. Known as Chinese Bridge, contestants are judged on their writing skills, speech delivery and cultural performances. At the preliminary rounds, Luc won first prize. After progress-ing in the competi-tion, he was invited to attend the finals in China this summer.

“The initial rounds were difficult, but I prepared as much as I could,” says Luc, 20. “My victory made me feel more con-

fident to enter the finals at the international level.”

Established in 2002, Chinese Bridge is a large international event televised to millions of viewers worldwide from Hunan,

1,500-km south of Bei-jing. With the popular-ity of the show and online voting compo-

nent, Luc describes the program as being similar to

American Idol. “For one

of the episodes, candidates had to wear an article of cloth-ing representing their home country,” says Yolanta Stachow, Luc’s mother. “Since Canada doesn’t have a

national costume per se, we thought it was best for Luc to wear some-thing from the Roots Canada Collection.”

He did and it served him well. Luc was a top five finalist in the competition and named Champion of America, earning himself a scholarship to attend university in China.

Participants perform the Warrior II pose

Yoga enthusiasts reach for the sky


A guide to just-launched Roots productsNEW & NOTEWORTHY

Mini Malibu Dylan, Greystone, $298Night Zip Prince, Autumn Red, $118Cabin Stripe Scarf, Chambray Blue, $58

Cover Up Cardi, Purple Velvet Mix, $78Belcarra Dolman Top, Cabernet, $58Bennett Shirt, Mountie Orange, $58

Sustina Tee, Tundra Taupe, $24Hudson Ponte Riding Pant, Burgundy, $78Canmore Jacket, Black Mix, $140


A guide to just-launched Roots productsNEW & NOTEWORTHY

Sport Root Tribe, Africa, $158Roots Camp Moc Cuero, Brown, $118Kirkton Racer Cap, Charcoal, $24

Snowy Fox Hoody, White, $98Franklin Henley, Indigo, $48Courier T-shirt, Zion Orange, $30

Fairfield Jacket, Estate Blue Mix, $94Trophy Pant, Charcoal Mix, $68Crosby Plaid Shirt, Brick Red, $55


Getting fit doesn’t have to be complicated or tug on your

purse strings. If a high-priced gym membership, elaborate workout gear and an overbearing personal trainer are not for you, that’s no excuse to stay sedentary. The simplest, cheapest and most time-honoured way of exercise can be the ideal solution for improving your physical and mental state.

Speed walking on a regular basis is one of the simplest ways to stay healthy and fit. Whether walking with friends around the neighbourhood, taking your dog for a stroll, or making tracks on your own, it’s easy to incorporate this ac-tivity into your daily routine. A half-hour of this aerobic exercise each day is a great way to improve your health. Its many benefits include:· A healthy heart: Fast walking can lower your cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascu-lar diseases. It can also strengthen your heart and lungs. · A boost in energy: Power walk-ing is one of the best natural en-ergizers. It can wake up stiff joints and relax muscle tension, making you feel less sluggish.· Improved brainpower: Walking stimulates the blood flow, provides oxygen to the brain and leads to improved mental functioning. Even a moderate amount of walking reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in seniors.· A rejuvenated mind and spirit: Vigorous walking, especially out-doors, can ease stress and anxiety, reduce depression and improve self-esteem. It can create a posi-tive kick-start to your day.· Fat loss: Fast-paced walking engages all of your body’s muscle groups and trims fat from various areas of your body.· Source: <http://health.sify.com/11-benefits-of-brisk-walking/>

We invite you to send us your letters and/or your most creative photos or

illustrations for publication in The Source.

Please send them to [email protected]

EXPRESS YOURSELF

HEALTH TIP

ADD A BRISK WALK TO YOUR DAY

A voyage back in time to a vintage moment from the pages of The Source DÉJÀ VU

A KALEIDOSCOPIC 5KStore employees cross finish line of charity run soaked in paint

In late-June, a group of ener-getic, socially conscious em-ployees from the Roots store

in Niagara Falls, Ontario trav-eled across the nearby border to Buffalo, New York for the day. Their destination was Darien Lake Amusement Park, but the visit had a serious purpose. That was the venue for Color Me

Rad, a 5-km charity-related run in which the store sales associ-ates were participating, as were thousands of other people taking part in more than 70 places in Canada and the US.

Color Me Rad is not your typical race. The four Roots employees began the competi-tion wearing white clothing, but

Attack by the Colour Bomb Squad

In August 2006, the main protagonists of the highly popular TV comedy, The Office, occupied the cover of The Source.

At the time, it was the latest NBC program to order custom co-branded merchandise from Roots.

The cover story focused on the relationship between Roots and the New York-based NBC Television, which began in the early 1990s with the Roots/Saturday Night Live collection. In the case of The Office, Roots produced a special line of mer-chandise for the hit series.

Starring Steve Carell as a bumbling executive, and based on the original British series of the same name, NBC’s ver-sion of The Office ran for nine seasons from 2005 until last spring. It attracted high ratings and won numerous awards for its hilarious, documentary-style look at workday life in the Scanton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

crossed the finish line soaked in paint. Throughout the race, vol-unteers – called the Color Bomb Squad – blasted the runners with more than 5,000 pounds of coloured cornstarch.

The run attracted thousands of local residents and tourists of all ages and fitness levels. Established last year, the for-profit company donates a portion of the proceeds to the Special Olympics of New York, which provides year-round sports train-ing and competitions for chidren and adults with intellectual dis-abilities.

“We thought that embrac-ing the Roots lifestyle of being active and fit was a perfect way to represent the company,” says Ryan Cassolato, Sales Associ-ate. “We left the race feeling energized and satisfied with what we accomplished. We can’t wait to run again next year.”

STANDING TALL ON PARLIAMENT HILL

When he decided to attend the Canada Day festivities in Ottawa on July 1, Stan Kowlewski knew exactly

what he was going to wear for the occasion. He proudly donned a vintage long sleeve, red and white Roots shirt. Though you’d never know it from the way it looks, he’s had the shirt for 23 years.

Another high point of the summer for Stan was the 40th anniversary of Roots in August. Like his broth-ers Karl, Henry and Richard, and his late father Jan, he helped work on the original negative heel shoes that launched Roots in 1973. Today, he continues to oversee the footwear production at the Roots factory in Toronto.

On the nation’s birthday, Stan Kowalewski shows his true colours in Ottawa

Stan Kowalewski


TV adventure show host spotted sporting Roots LEADING THE WAY

On July 15, Canada’s much anticipated summer televi-sion series, The Amazing

Race Canada, premiered on CTV. A spin-off of the popu-lar American reality program, the Canadian edition features contestants in an intense, multi-disciplinary race around North America.

Jon Montgomery, who

won a Gold Medal for Canada in skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, hosts the competition. In a national ad campaign for the series, Jon looks impressive in a Roots Keith Jacket. So far, during the show’s inaugural season, he’s worn other Roots items, upping the Canadian content and style quotient of the program.

UCC Horizons students showing off their new Roots shirts

Jon Montgomery wearing Keith Jacket

Students helping students at UCC Horizons

Roots socks aren’t only for keeping toes warm anymore. Shayna Tinson

from Brighton, Ontario, a small town south of Peterborough, recently used the Roots Cabin Sock as the inspiration for a creative initiative.

Earlier this year, the high-school student decided to make her own stuffed monkey out of the iconic Roots sock.

“I started this project to learn how to sew,” says Shayna, 16. “I plan to keep making them

MONKEYING AROUNDHigh school student gives new life to Cabin Socks

because they are cute, easy and fun to make.”

First created in North America in the late 1800s, sock monkeys have long been popular with both children and adults.

Given Shayna’s hope to one day work in the fashion indus-try, making the soft toy helped her gain some desired sewing experience. So far, she has made two Roots sock monkeys as gifts, each one taking between three and four hours to complete

NEW HORIZONSRoots supports program that benefits young mentors and their protégés

Each year, high school students at Toronto’s Upper Canada Col-lege (UCC) have the opportunity to help students from other schools by participating in a special pro-

gram called Horizons. It enables UCC students to provide mentorship for classes and extra-curricular activities for those in the city’s low-income areas. It’s a mutually beneficial initiative as the mentors learn strong leadership skills and become more aware of their community, while those on the receiving end gain valuable learning opportunities.

Since the inception of Horizons 14 years ago, Roots has pro-vided specially designed T-shirts and other apparel in support of the

program. With the Horizons logo printed boldly on the front, the mentors and their protégés proudly sport this year’s T-shirts.

“Roots has supported Horizons since the begin-ning,” says Jyoti Sehgal, director of the program. “It’s always a highlight for the students to receive their shirts.”

Horizons accepts 180 students to participate in its mentorship and learning program each summer.

Socks covering a lot more than feet

Here are some recent sightings of Roots in newspapers, magazines and on TV and websites:· Toronto Star: Aug. 7. Spotlights 40th anniversary exhibit at flagship store in Toronto.· Chatelaine: Aug. issue. Alex Hoody in melton and fleece included in base-ball-themed fashion spread.· Ion magazine: Aug. Spotlights re-issue of negative heel shoe.· Flare.com: July 25. Mini Alex Pack in Africa Tribe appears in What to Wear: How to Travel like a Celebrity.· Marilyn Denis Show: July 19. Mini Alex Pack in Africa Tribe showcased on makeover segment.· LouLouMagazine.com: July 12. An-nie bag featured on #FollowFriday.· Solo Lisa: July 12. Vancouver fash-ion blogger showcases Cutie bag. · Globe and Mail: July 13. City Pack in Vegetable Tan leather and Omer’s Pack in Tribe leather appear in fashion spread.· The Souls of My Shoes: July 8. Tote in Biarritz featured in online giveaway.· Toronto Star: July 5. Highlights Roots in round-up of Canadian compa-nies.· Marilyn Denis Show: July 3. Fash-ion expert Angie Smith showcases Village Pack in Africa Tribe in a travel-in-style item. · National Post: June 29. Men’s Brogue sneakers appear in Canadian-made fashion shoot. · Marilyn Denis Show: June 28. Fashion expert Peter Papapetrou’s segment at a Roots store in Toronto features a mix of apparel, accessories and leathers.· Toronto Star: June 28. Women’s Canada Tee appears in The Kit.· Flare.com: June 28. Love Your Beaver Undies included in round-up of Canadian labels.· Zoomer.com: June 27. Men’s Oxford shoes featured in spotlight on Canadian-made products.· TheCloset.com: June 26. Highlights Canadian products, including Love Your Beaver Undies, Canada Collec-tion and Canada Pillow. · Cityline: June 25. Chatelaine fashion editor Tyler Franch showcases Edie bag in segment on handbag styles for summer.· Women’s Wear Daily: June 25. Highlights opening of new Roots store in Venice, California.· Chatelaine.com: June 20. Edie bag in Wineberry included in round-up of 16 best summer bags under $100. · Chatelaine: June. Canada Pillow and Tweed Cabin Throw recommend-ed by home décor editor.· Best Health: Summer 2013. Spot-lights Carlye Striped Dress.

COVERAGE OF ROOTS IN THE MEDIA

FINE PRINT

UNDER THE BIG TOPStore staff organize circus-themed entertainment for a good cause

In mid-June, the Cana-dian Cancer Society brought thousands of people together

for Relay for Life, a 12-hour, overnight event that takes place in cities across Canada. This annual initiative creates a sense of community among those who are affected by cancer as they

work together to raise millions of dollars for cancer research.

In Belleville, Ontario, Syd-ney Joselin, Assistant Manager of the Roots store, and Keyhold-er Kelly Lewis took a leader-ship role in their community’s relay, heading the Entertainment Committee. Their work involved

scheduling bands and planning themed activities.

This year’s theme, Under the Big Top, was inspired by the cir-cus. As such, Sydney and Kelly had to find tents, cotton candy machines and performers to create a festival atmosphere for participants and their families.

“As I’ve had family mem-bers and friends pass away from cancer, I felt very connected to this issue,” says Kelly. “It’s also nice to give back to your com-munity.”

Sydney, too, appreciated the opportunity to volunteer for a good cause. “I think it’s important for people, including those my age, to contribute to the community,” says Sydney. “I plan to continue to do so for a very long time.”

The two co-chairs also partook in the relay, walking the Survivors Lap and the Fight Back Lap together. In total, Bel-leville raised $211,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

FOCUSING ON THE RED AND WHITECustomers enter photo contest showing their Canadian spirit

As part of its ongoing use of social media to interact with the public,

Roots connects with people in a variety of ways. Recently, the company took to Twitter when it held a photo contest for customers.

Over the Canada Day long weekend, Roots invited Twitter users to head into their local store and snap a photo of them-selves wearing their favourite piece of clothing from the annual Canada Collection. By tweeting their photo to Roots, participants became eligible to win prizes, including a $500 Roots gift card.

The contest generated scores of fun photos exuding Canadian pride on the occasion of the country’s 146th birthday. In early July, the three contest winners, chosen at random, were announced: Janelle Blackman from Kitchener, Ontario; Laura Pellerine from Montreal; and Michelle Cay-ouette from Toronto.

Janelle Blackman from Kitchener, Ontario

Laura Pellerine, (left), from Montreal

Michelle Cayouette, (right),from Toronto

Charity supporters rise to the occasion with flair


GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED INTaking attendance of special guests at Roots

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAILSpotlighting the top performing Roots stores based on their sales results

Shortly before this issue of The Source went to press, we

received the final sales figures for Roots stores in recent months. Tak-ing the top spot for sales in July was the Hillcrest Mall store in Richmond Hill, Ontario while the June spot went to the Birmingham store in Michigan.

As for the Roots 73/Outlet category, the Georgian Mall store in Barrie, Ontario claimed the top spot in July, with the Fanshawe store in London, Ontario winning the June spot (pictured).

Congratulations to Suzy Dubiel, acting Manager of the Birmingham store; Amanda Lawless, Manager of the Hillcrest Mall store; Debbie Perkunder, Manager of the Geor-gian Mall store; Wade Stansbury, Manager of the Fanshawe store; and to their respective teams for their winning performances.

Celebrities have long made a point of shopping at Roots and developing friendly

ties with the brand. Here are the latest sightings of prominent figures from the entertainment industry and sports world who recently visited the company’s stores, head office, factory or were seen wearing Roots. (Stores listed alphabetically)

Workplaces contribute greatly to climate change. Everything

from computers and printers to air conditioning and lighting uses en-ergy, which can have a pernicious effect on the environment.

Fortunately, there are many ways to create a greener, health-ier workplace. Best to start with small steps and eventually incor-porate a more ambitious plan. Here are eight relatively simple measures to make your business greener.· Save energy. If you’re not using your electronic devices, make sure to turn them off. Unplug all devices that use energy even when they are turned off, such as cell phone chargers. · Eat healthier. When catering lunches or special events at your company, choose foods that are local and organic. · Commute smarter. Walk, bike or take public transportation to work. If you must drive, carpool with others in your area.· Waste less. Set “double-sided” as the default setting on your computer’s printer.· Conserve water. Ban bottled water in your organization and encourage employees to drink either tap water or filtered water using reusable glass or stainless steel bottles or cups.· Minimize the mileage. Hold teleconferences and video confer-ences to reduce the travel of participants when possible. · Clear the air. Encourage employees to add plants to their workspace as they filter the air.· Favour green suppliers. Choose eco-responsible suppli-ers that offer sustainable products and services· Source: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/green-your-workplace/five-easy-ways-to-go-green-at-work/

GREEN TIP

MAKE YOUR WORK-PLACE ECO-FRIENDLY

Fanshawe team (L to R): Susan Yu, Shane Bahmann, Laura Winkler, Janice Tadgell, Cassandra VanEnglen (Missing: Wade Stansbury, Candace Crosby)

Alexandra Grant

Sarah Fisher

Scotty Bowman

Stephen Curry

Sari Tuschman

· BCE Place, Toronto – Actor Callum Keith Rennie dropped by the store.· Beverly Hills, California – TV host George Stroumboulopou-los visited the store and pur-chased an RBA vintage T-shirt.· Birmingham, Michigan – TV producer (Entourage) Eric Weinstein purchased the Grace bag for a friend.· Birmingham, Michigan – Kaitlyn weaver and Andrew Poje, Six time Canadian ice dance medalists were in-store.· Bloor Street, Toronto – NBA player Stephen Curry pur-chased various items, includ-ing a Varsity jacket, which he

customized.· Bloor Street, Toronto – Suits actor Rick Hoffman and his family did some shopping.· Centreville, Montreal – Leg-endary NHL coach Scotty Bow-man shopped with his family and took pictures with staff.· Devonshire Mall, Windsor – Canadian NHL player Steve Ott stopped by the store with his family, who are fans of the salt and pepper sweatpants.· Mt. Tremblant, Quebec – Former NHL star and co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux dropped in to do some shopping.· Robson, Vancouver – Style blogger Alexandra Grant came by to share her fashion favou-rites.· Robson, Vancouver – Actor/singer Drew Lachey, wife Lea Dellecave and their two children stopped by for some shopping.· Venice Beach, California – Foam magazine Editor-in-Chief Sari Tuschman came by for a photo shoot.


· Yorkdale, Toronto – Degrassi actress Sarah Fisher shopped and posed for pictures with staff.

STARTING LINEUPIntroducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

SPEAK TO MY AGENT

SALUTING THOSE WHO GO THE DISTANCE

STAYING POWER

Little – and not so little – customers show their Roots

We often receive unsolicited photos from people eager

to show us pictures of their children, cousins, grandchil-dren, or even pets, wearing Roots. Sometimes the send-ers ask if we could use the photos in a future advertising campaign for Roots. While we can’t promise that, we are happy to publish them in The Source. Over the years, Speak To My Agent has become one of the most

popular items in our magazine because it showcases every-day people wearing Roots.

Everyone is welcome to submit their favourite shots to be considered for publication. Please send your pictures to [email protected].

Be sure to include the name and age of each child or pet in the photo, where it was taken, place of residence and a sentence stating that you agree for the photos to be used in The Source.

As part of our continuing series of team pictures, this issue spotlights the Bayers Lake Power Centre store in Hali-fax, Nova Scotia. Left to right: Stephanie Cruickshanks, Lindsay Shea, Brooke Fullerton, Lisa Moorhouse. (Missing from this photo: Petrina Valentine, Haya Hafez, Andrew LeBlanc, Laura Tremaine)

Throughout July and August, several Roots employees

are celebrating benchmark an-niversaries with the company. Congratulations to the following people for their huge contribution and enduring loyalty to Roots:Albertina Quadros, Leather Embroi-dery Operator, Factory, 20 yearsLynne Morris, Senior Designer, New Design, 20 years Sabina Foluszczyk, Leather Table Worker, Factory, 15 years My Van Luu, Sewing Machine Op-erator, Factory, 15 years Rainbow Wong, Leather Stitcher, Factory, 15 yearsKaren Bryan, Technician, New Prod-uct Development, 10 yearsLe Cung Ngo, Leather Table Work, Factory, 10 years Vui Thi Nguyen, Leather Sewing Machine, Factory, 10 yearsVarsha Patel, Sewing Machine Operator, Factory, 10 years Maria Pires, Sewing Machine Op-erator, Factory, 10 years Raywoti Singh, Sewing Machine Operator, Factory, 10 years Claire St. Aubin, Store Manager, Waterloo, ON, 5 yearsLai Wan Cheung, Sewing Machine Operator, Factory, 5 years Ping Huang, Leather Cutter, Factory, 5 years Maria-Josee Lopez, Assistant Man-ager, Toronto, 5 years Issa Mohamed, Sales Associate, Toronto, 5 years Michelle Quinteros, Sales Associ-ate, Hamilton, ON, 5 years Paramjit Saini, Leather Table Work, Factory, 5 years Richard Sleightholm, Sales Associ-ate, Pickering, ON, 5 yearsSusan So, Keyholder, Vancouver, BC, 5 years Meghan Wall, Assistant Manager, Kingston, ON, 5 yearsMonika Waraich, Leather Table Work, Factory, 5 years Taylor Warman, Sales Associate, Oshawa, ON, 5 years Laura Winkler, Assistant Manager, London, ON, 5 years

Lucas Lepera, 7 months, Colborne, ON

Sadie Buchanan, 4½, Mississauga, ON

Parks Hagen, 1½, Calgary, AB

Bodhi Dufour, 5 months, San Marcos, CA

Rex, 18 months, Gilford, ON

NEW APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS Wendy Bennison, Chief Operating OfficerChris Ivanovs, Graphic Designer, Art Department Heidi Kim, Financial Analyst, Finan-cial Control

ON THE MOVE


Send us details of recent mar-riages, births, graduations

and other milestones in the lives of Roots people to be in included

in The Source. Email info to [email protected]

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

MUSICAL ROOTS

CHEF’S CORNERRoots-friendly recipes that promote a healthy diet and bring pleasure to your palate

Spotlighting Canadian singer/songwriter Serena Ryder’s triumphant journey to stardom

CHIPOTLE MAC AND CHEESE WITH ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS:Mac and cheese suffers from an image problem due to its dubious reputation among health enthusiasts. Typically laden with milk, butter, pro-cessed cheese and all manner of artificial, unpronounceable stuff, this (admittedly tasty) dish offers little nutritional

sustenance.Fortunately, there’s a healthy

alternative for those who have mac and cheese cravings. You can get all that cheesy goodness with a clear conscience with this vegan macaroni and cheese rec-ipe. Made with cashews, nutri-tional yeast and brussel sprouts, it goes to show that comfort food can be good for you too.Total time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4Ingredients:8 ounces macaroni1 pound brussel sprouts, quar-tered 1 tablespoon olive oil For the sauce:1 cup vegetable broth2 garlic cloves3 seeded chipotles2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes2 tablespoons chickpea miso (or the flavour of your choice)Salt to tastePreparation:1. Soak cashews for 2 hours prior (alternatively, boil for 15 minutes) and set them aside.2. Preheat the oven to 425°F for the brussel sprouts.3. Meanwhile, prepare a pot of salted water for the macaroni.4. Prepare the brussels with olive oil and salt.5. Line a large baking sheet with

parchment paper.6. Bake brussels for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. You don’t need to flip them.7. Meanwhile, boil macaroni according to package instruc-tions.To make sauce:7. Drain the cashews and blend all sauce ingredients with cashews in blender until com-pletely smooth.8. When the macaroni is tender, drain it in a colander.9. Immediately place macaroni back in the pot you boiled it in and stir in the sauce.10. Place pot on low heat and stir for 3 minutes or so, until sauce is thickened.11. Taste for salt, toss in brussel sprouts and serve!· Source: http://www.theppk.com/2013/06/chipotle-mac-cheese-with-roasted-brussel-sprouts/

All signs point to 2013 as a benchmark year for Ser-ena Ryder. Driven largely

by the huge success of her most recent album, Harmony, the Canadian singer/songwriter is increasingly recognized in the all-important United States market for the power of her raw, deep voice and lively perfor-mances. Ryder recently finished an international tour for Har-mony, which generated the hit single, “Stompa”. Having over-come various challenges early in her career, Ryder’s success is all the more sweet for the 29-year old. It will be reflected in September when she’ll be one of the headline performers at Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival in Toronto.

Raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Ryder grew up listen-ing to records of The Beatles, Etta James and Leonard Cohen. By the time she turned seven, Ryder was already singing pub-licly and after she received her first guitar, she was performing original work.

“When I got my guitar, a whole other world opened up

to me,” says Ryder. “I realized I could put the poetry I was writing into song and bring two very separate things together.”

In 2002, when Ryder was 18, her demo tape earned her an invitation to play on-air for CBC Radio. As luck would have it, musician Hawksley Workman heard the broadcast and immediately contacted the singer at the station to invite her to record an album on his label.

With the talent and support of her producers and fellow musicians, Ryder released Un-likely Emergency in 2004. The album proved successful as the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame offered her a performance slot at a 2006 media conference. A year later, her second album, If Your Memory Serves You Well, consisting of 12 covers and three original pieces, added to the initial buzz surrounding Ryder. Her success was con-firmed when she won the 2008 Juno Award for the Best New Artist and the following year for Adult Alternative Album for Is It OK.

Unfortunately, the rush

of fame proved detrimental to her health, and Ryder suf-fered through a bout of clinical depression. Writing music was her way of fostering the healing process. In 2012, she released her next album, Harmony, which includes her most recent hit single “What I Wouldn’t Do.”

“This album was totally my medicine,” she says. “The songs were conversations with myself, telling myself that I wasn’t the depression.”

In addition to singing, Ryder is also an accomplished visual

artist who makes paintings, sculpture and collages. Some of her paintings have been sold at charity events, such as The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Ryder has actively supported many other charities in Canada and abroad, including Young Artists for Haiti, Time for Climate Justice Campaign, Peterborough MusicFest, and Fashion CARES.


Serena Ryder’s single “Stompa” reached triple platinum status

– Davin Bujalski· For more information on Serena Ryder, go to www.http://serenaryder.com/ or listen to Roots Radio to hear the music of Serena Ryder.

Date post:	22-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	roots-canada
View:	232 times
Download:	4 times

August/September 2013

Documents