Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Category Archives: Health & Wellness


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Spring cleaning? 10 tips to conquer clutter

REAL ESTATE CORNER BY CECILIA STEWART

Spring cleaningWhen you look around at all the stuff in your home, does the thought of spring cleaning fill you with dread? Have no fear! Here are 10 easy tips to declutter and refresh your living space.

  1. Boxes Ready. Have three boxes. Label them Trash, Donate and Keep.
  2. Love It or Lose It. If you haven’t used it or worn it in six months to a year, you probably don’t love it. Right?
  3. A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place. Buy organizer inserts, baskets, storage bins and label them.
  4. Take It Slow. Clean room by room; clean one room each week.
  5. Beat the Clock. For each room set the timer for one hour. Ready, set, go!
  6. The Basics. Clean windows, mirrors, refrigerator, stove and floors.
  7. Pump Up the Volume. Make it fun, play your favourite tunes while cleaning.
  8. Divide and Conquer. Make it a family affair or hire a cleaning service.
  9. Sell It. Make some money selling your unwanted items.
  10. Reward. Take time to reward yourself at the end of all your hard work!

Born and raised in Vancouver, Cecilia Stewart attended Vancouver Technical high school and now works, lives and raises her family in Renfrew Heights. She is a licensed realtor, home stager and decorator. www.ceciliastewart.ca, www.CSihomestaging.ca, 604-816-1595

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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East Vancouver swordplay school named Top 5 Emerging Entrepreneur in small business awards

Valkyrie Western Martial Arts - student

A student works on her fencing stance in class. Photos courtesy of Valkyrie Western Martial Arts

BY COURTENAY RICE

Late January 2016, Small Business BC announced the top 5 finalists for all categories of their 13th annual awards. Valkyrie Western Martial Arts Assembly, a school of boxing, wrestling and swordplay in East Vancouver’s Collingwood neighbourhood, was chosen in the Best Emerging Entrepreneur category. This award recognizes a new business that “contributes to the social, cultural and economic well-being of their communities [and] has demonstrated community leadership and entrepreneurial initiative.”

Valkyrie WMAA 1As co-owner Kaja Sadowski puts it, “Martial arts and fitness training offers an important path to personal transformation, self-esteem, self-reliance and lifelong health. Unfortunately, this path is closed to many women, older or unfit people, and members of the LGBT community due to hostile environments and poor training models that cater predominantly to fit, straight, men.”

In the macho, competitive world of mixed martial arts training and high-end fitness, Valkyrie WMAA’s colourful, welcoming space, strict anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, and wealth of strong female role models stand out.

Valkyrie WMAA 2

With over 50 years of combined martial arts experience, the school’s teaching team offers top-tier technical training and fitness support for a diverse student body that includes everyone from competitive athletes to self-described couch potatoes. They’ve also gained the attention and respect of the international martial arts community.

Maija Soderholm is an instructor of Yizong Chinese internal martial arts and Visayan Style Eskrima, a Filipino sword art. She has taught martial arts for over 15 years, including seminars in the United States and Europe.

In her view, “What has been missing for far too long is a space where all people will feel comfortable participating regardless of gender or ability. A school offering top class training on par with the best there is, a place for women, the LGBT community, and for older folks who still wish to enjoy movement and play, alongside the more traditional demographics. Finally we have a place like this. A women-owned martial arts space committed to full inclusivity, and to becoming a vibrant part of the community of which it is part.”

The winners of the Small Business BC Awards will be announced at their award gala on February 25, in front of an anticipated audience of 450 members of B.C.’s entrepreneurial community. To take the top prize, the Valkyrie WMAA team is preparing a Dragon’s Den-style pitch for a six-person judges panel of business, development and marketing professionals.

Says Sadowski, “I’m really excited for it, actually—it’s not every day that we get to introduce this kind of audience to the arts we love, and to really share the big dreams that drive our school.”

Courtney Rice has been studying swordplay for more than 10 years. She is the vice president and co-founder of Valkyrie Martial Arts.

UPDATE: Valkyrie WMAA didn’t win the Top Entrepreneur prize, but it is still achievement to be nominated. Congratulations!

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Eating Out in RC – Freshii

Freshii
2920 Virtual Way #2 (@ Renfrew)
North of Renfrew Skytrain Station
(604) 253-3732

BY PAUL REID

Go try the Spicy Thai burrito at Freshii and find out why this new healthy fast food chain is sweeping the planet.

Go try the Spicy Thai burrito at Freshii and find out why this new healthy fast food chain is sweeping the planet.

Do you know about Freshii? This healthy fast food phenomenon started in Toronto by a young Canadian entrepreneur, Matthew Corrin, Freshii is growing by two to three stores per week and now has over 250 stores worldwide. Including, now, Renfrew-Collingwood.

Yay! This new location is located just north of the Renfrew Skytrain station, in the Broadway Tech Park at Renfrew and Virtual Way. Our Freshii was just opened in July by Rani Mannan and her husband, Mike. Experienced restaurateurs and franchise owners, this dynamic duo are preparing to open a second Freshii location at Station Square in Metrotown.

So what makes Freshii so special? How about a Buddha Satay with rice noodles, crispy wontons, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, green onions, peanut sauce Spicy Lemongrass soup with spicy lemongrass broth, rice noodles, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, cilantro. Or a Metaboost salad with field greens and spinach, kale, mangoes, carrots, edamame,  almonds, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette.

Yes, this is healthy food. To all of these, you can add tofu, chicken, steak or turkey. Also on the menu are burritos, juices and smoothies, frozen yogurt and chili.

I tried out the Spicy Thai burrito. This included quinoa, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, edamame and spicy lemongrass sauce – to which I added chicken. I also ordered a bottle of juice and some pita chips. Within just a few minutes, my burrito was ready, along with a couple of sauces: sriracha and ranch.

This burrito, no lie, was probably the best wrap that I have ever tried – and I’ve tried a lot. So delicious, and so packed full of fresh delcious flavours – Freshii definitely is a good name for this type of food. Perfect for that business person or teacher or student who wants something to eat on the run, but something healthy.

Yes! Healthy food, I thought, as I gorged on my nutritious burrito, can taste awesome.

Go taste for yourself why Freshii is sweeping the nation. They also do catering. Maybe your boss will spring for the famous catering box filled with popular chef-designed wraps and burritos with tofu or chicken; kale, quinoa, steak or gourmet tuna.

Bon appetit.

Copyright (c) 2015 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News