Category: In The News

TORONTO-Canadian Comedy Award nominee, Second City Alumnae and star of her own comedy special on CTV and The Comedy Network, Anne Marie Scheffler is back with her 7th one person show, Suddenly Mommy!, taking place on the eve of this Mother’s Day.

Written and performed by Anne Marie Scheffler and directed by Debbie Tidy, the play happens at the Black Swan Tavern (154 Danforth Ave., upstairs), on Saturday, May 7th, 2011 at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased for $20 in advance from www.suddenlymommy.com and $25 at the door.

With the May 7th show close to sold out, Perfectly Norma Productions secured The Theatre Centre for a week run of Suddenly Mommy! from May 16th to 22nd, 2011.

The stage production is a funny examination of a woman who became a mom, a step-mom and wife with a guy she just met because she was getting older and didn’t want to miss out! Anne Marie discovers the truth: motherhood isn’t glamorous!

Women are expected to be yummy mommies in today’s society, but how exactly are you supposed to do it? Should Anne Marie give up all her hopes, dreams and yoga classes? Let them cry themselves to sleep and actually say ‘no’? Or figure out a way to have it all…whatever that means!!!!

Anne Marie Scheffler is a Toronto-based actress and playwright who made her mark on the theatre scene in 1994 with her first show, Situation: NORMA, which debuted at the 1994 Summerworks Festival and took her to selling out at The San Francisco Fringe in 1995, where a raving reviewer called her “a young Betty White.”

Other credits to her name include acclaimed shows such as, Watch Norma’s Back!, Leaving Norma, Dating Myself, Not Getting It and Got it Good.

Anne Marie has performed all over North America, including Atlantic City and Los Angeles, and her 5th show Not Getting It was made into a one hour comedy television special that currently plays on The Comedy Network. As a Second City Alumnae, she performed in What Fresh Mel is This? and Generation X Files.

Anne Marie has been in numerous television series, films and in over 40 commercials. Also a voice artist, she is the voice of Milestones Restaurant.

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Quotes

“Anne Marie Scheffler didn’t think motherhood would be this hard. She thought she could be the sexy showbiz mom, with a baby in one arm and a movie script in the other. Her jarring realization otherwise makes for a humorous and entertaining show. Scheffler is a charismatic, sparkling performer.”
-CBC Review

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Related Information

For more information visit: www.annemariescheffler.com

Ozery’s Pita Break has recently been recognized by the Canadian Liver Foundation’s 2011 LIVERight™ Awards, honouring the Just Minis Multigrain in the category of Best Family-Friendly Item. The Just Minis Multigrain was distinguished alongside 10 other packaged and prepared convenience food products as being both healthy and tasty.

Recognized this year, Just Minis are baked with all natural goodness and are free of artificial preservatives. The product is available in Multigrain, Muesli and Apple Cinnamon. At 14 pitas per 360g package, the Just Minis have 0g Trans Fat and are an excellent source of iron.

In 2010, Ozery’s Pita Break’s OneBun Multi Grain Sandwich was chosen as the Best Lunchbox Item and the OneBun Multi Grain 100 Calorie as Best Snack for the LIVERightTM Awards competition. Ozery’s Pita Break was also a three-time winner in the 2009 LIVERightTM Awards.

First started in 2008, the annual LIVERight™ Awards has two primary goals: firstly, to help raise awareness of fatty liver disease, currently the most common type of liver disease in people living in North America. The second goal is to identify practical solutions for those looking for healthy options that fit into their time-crunched schedules.

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Quotes

“We are truly honoured to be recognized by the Canadian Liver Foundation for the third year now.”

-Alon Ozery, Co-founder, Pita Break

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the LIVERightTM Awards, a great event that raises awareness of liver disease.”

-Guy Ozery, President, Pita Break

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Boilerplate

Ozery’s Pita Break is a family-owned bakery that is as passionate about baking as it is about continually creating new ways for people to enjoy bread with innovative products. The company has expanded its branches into the United States, better serving its growing clientele as Ozery Bakery.

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Related Information

Available for Interviews: Alon Ozery, Founder

To learn more about Ozery’s Pita Break, please visit www.pitabreak.com or follow us on Facebook by liking Ozery’s Pita Break

The secret to the perfect updo this season is more personal than you think. The updo is the staple style for brides and prom princesses alike, with everyone wanting their own to be unique and simply the best. Yada Salon founder and Creative Director Yamen Dak is known for creating signature looks that not only fit perfectly with every occasion, but also serves your individual personality trait and personal style.

Born in Beirut and trained in Paris, Yamen Dak has over 20 year’s experience perfecting classical French techniques learned alongside some of the world’s most renowned stylists, such as Jaques Dessange. Under the direction of these mentors, Yamen learned to dress hair in the same way that a fashion designer styles clothing. He pays precise attention to specific details like the client’s skin tone, hair texture, bone structure and lifestyle pattern.

Yamen Dak differentiates himself as a coiffeur, deriving from his French and Lebanese training. While trained as a finely technical practitioner, he transcends beyond his technical ability and uses it in a highly creative way. He is an artist of hair, in which no two hairstyles are ever alike. For Yamen, cutting hair is an art form, enabling him to create a distinct signature look every time.

The open concept at the salon resembles that of an art gallery. The pristine space is minimal, the design-lines are clean and clutter is absent, so that all attention is directed solely on the hair.

Interestingly, there are no magazines, books or pictures of any other hairstyles to be found in the space, which distract from a completely unique creative process. Yamen’s vision of hair is not to mimic other styles, but to create one of his own that suits the personal look of each client.

Yamen Dak is known to be the first hairstylist in Toronto to use the Brazilian Keratin Treatment, which was said to be the answer for the perfect straight hair. He is the only hairstylist in the city who has perfected this technique, by finely balancing the sum of keratin and collagen, to create the perfect straightening treatment, which is a signature of Yada Salon.

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Quotes

“Our hairstyle should reflect our personal identity and our individual personality.”

-Yamen Dak, Owner and Creative Director, Yada Salon

“I try to capture the client’s inner beauty, bring it out and share it with the world.”

-Yamen Dak, Owner and Creative Director, Yada Salon

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Related Information

Available for Interviews: Yamen Dak

Follow Yada Salon on Twitter: @salonyada

The secret to the perfect updo this season is more personal than you think. With the prom and wedding seasonupon us, it is a busy time at the Yada Salon. The updo is the staple style for brides and prom princesses alike, with each one wanting their own to be personal, unique, and simply the best. Owner and Creative Director of Yada Salon, Yamen Dak is known for creating signature looks that not only fit perfectly with each occasion, but also compliments your personality, traits, andpersonal style.

Born in Beirut and trained in Paris, Yamen has over 20 years experience perfecting classical French techniques learned alongside some of the best stylists, including Jaques Dessange and Frédéric Fekkai. Yamen dresses hair the same way a fashion designer styles clothes; paying attention to specific details like skin tones, hair texture, bone structures and lifestyle traits bringing the inside beauty out.

Yamen Dak differentiates himself from other hairstylists with his unique technique. Yamen sees cutting hair as a coiffeur process, deriving from his French and Lebanese training. The Coiffeur term calls for beautifying the hair, which is exactly what Yamen focuses on. Every customer that walks into Yada Salon walks out with a hairstyle that suits everything encompassing their persona and brings out the hair’s charisma.

While still focusing on his hair-cutting methods, Yamen is also able to transcend beyond the technical and into the creative. For Yamen, no hairdos are ever alike akin to the idea that no two paintings are similar. To the hair stylist, cutting hair is an art form enabling him to create a distinct signature look each time.

This one of a kind way of cutting hair is even evident when arriving at the Yada Salon. While instantly feeling an atmosphere of luxury and class, the open concept of the salon resembles that of a gallery mirroring Yamen’s idea that hair cutting is similar to art.

Another interesting detail to note is that there are no magazines, books or pictures of other hairstyles to be found in the space. Yamen’s vision of hair is not to mimic other styles but to create one of his own suiting the personal trait of each client. With no images of other hairstyles, it allows for Yamen to connect with his customers on another level and really get what they want to best suit their needs.

At the Yada Salon, Yamen also believes in the science and precision of hairdressing. He focuses on balancing the particular ingredients and quantities for treatments and processes to truly bring forth the hair’s best quality and beauty. For example, Yamen Dak is known to be the first hairstylist in Toronto to use the highly talked about, Brazilian Keratin Treatment, which was said to be the answer to getting the perfect straight hair.

The Brazilian Keratin Treatment became known as the best alternative to harsh chemical straighteners, and the Japanese method. Pioneered in Brazil, the Brazilian Keratin Treatment is performed on all types of chemically treated hair (bleached, highlighted, coloured, permed, relaxed or previously straightened). The treatment is more effective and less time-consuming than constant blow-drying. It also re-texturizes the hair, and seals in colour and shine. With this treatment, clients for the first time can have wash-and-wear hair that is in better condition than ever before.

Yamen Dak was able to perfect this technique by using the right amount of ingredients for the hair. By using a balanced sum of keratin and collagen, Yamen has created the perfect straightening treatment, which is signature to the Yada Salon.

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Quotes

“I have had great success with my clients, and I love to hear them telling me how attractive their hair has made them feel, how people have complimented them”

-Yamen Dak, Owner and Creative Director, Yada Salon

“I’m great at what I do because it’s my passion, my creative outlet – but this salon is about the clients, not about me. I try to figure out what they need – to be more sexy, stronger, softer.”

-Yamen Dak, Owner and Creative Director, Yada Salon

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Related Information

Available for Interviews: Yamen Dak

Follow Yada Salon on Twitter: @salonyada

TORONTO-Located in the very trendy “Village,” on Jarvis, south of Wellesley, The Blake House (449 Jarvis Street) kicks off its spring season with a brand new menu and a renovated patio giving its customers the ultimate al fresco dining experience.

The new all-local menu features modern tastes, such as the Veggie Samosa, the Portobello Burger and Atlantic Coast Prawn Cocktail. It also offers more traditional dishes like the Apple Glazed Pork Chop smothered with apple cinnamon glaze and the pan roasted Salmon Fillet. On Sundays, The Blake House will continue to feature its Sunday Roast which includes a roasted “AAA” Prime Rib accompanied by yellow and green zucchini, red peppers, mashed white potatoes and Yorkshire pudding.

Additionally, The Blake House boasts a wine and ale list exhibiting an all-Canadian taste. The pub has 14 local beers on-tap, and wines are VQA which pair perfectly with the menu.

To prepare for the warmer season, The Blake House has revamped its large patio. Diners can now sit and enjoy the newly installed gas drawn infrared heaters and take pleasure in the ultimate outdoors dining experience. The patio seating offers a great view of the exposed exterior architecture as well as a glimpse of the ballerinas rehearsing across the street at the glass exposed National Ballet dance studios. In the evening, The Blake House building is illuminated adding an alluring charisma to the atmosphere.

Built in 1891, The Blake House is one of Toronto’s last standing heritage structures mixing 19th century Victorian and Second Empire architecture. Originally occupied by Ontario’s second premiere, the honourable Edward Blake, The Blake House has been restored to a contemporary establishment while maintaining its authentic charm.

The ambiance of the heritage home is truly Canadian, featuring stained-glass windows and the original wood-burning fireplace. Patrons can enjoy photographs of a tree-lined Jarvis Street circa the late 1800’s and relish in how the trendy Church-Wellesley neighbourhood has changed over the last century. The Blake House also offers a private space on the lower level to serve any occasions, functions or events.

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Boilerplate

At The Blake House, the menu is always current. Owners and Brothers Jim, Mike and Nick Vasilakakos all support the local food movement and ensure The Blake House is serving up only the freshest and finest food. The restaurant’s daily features are always changing based on the season and owner Jim Vasilakakos sources all the ingredients to ensure value and quality. With a strong focus on local and fresh ingredients, The Blake House serves contemporary all-Canadian comfort food, mixing history with the modern.

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Related Information

Available for interviews: Jim Vasilakakos, Owner
Follow The Blake House on Twitter @TheBlakeHouse

For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
Los Angeles 818.748.7517

Family play and fun, exciting explorations, captivating cultural excursions and culinary delights are closer than you think. Come bike, hike and tee-off your spring season at an oasis, only a short drive from home. Enjoy the farmers markets, locally grown produce, fresh home baked goods and quaint restaurant patios. How will you spend your weekend in The Central Counties? Visit CentralCounties.ca for some great ideas today!

This March 30th, 2011, The Central Counties officially kicks-off its spring ‘Experience’ campaign, inviting GTA residents and families to Play, Explore and Savour. This season, visitors can share their favourite Central Counties experience online to win.

For the first time ever, The Central Counties introduces a social media ‘Experience’ contest, which invites visitors to share their favourite Central Counties stories and experiences online at www.centralcounties.ca. A prize of $100 will be awarded to the first 125 entries. A Grand Prize will be announced on May 5, 2011, offering the lucky winner an exclusive helicopter ride over the region’s breathtaking landscape and quaint villages.

Visitors can enter by submitting up to a 300-word memoire, along with photos and/or video footage that describes their visit to The Central Counties. The public can follow the contest online through Twitter, Facebook and the official www.centralcounties.ca website, in which they have an opportunity to rate the submissions. The top 25 highest rated ‘experiences’ will be entered into a random draw. Check your Twitter and Facebook for the latest exciting updates!

An incredible variety of urban and rural destinations start just minutes from the city in The Central Counties of York Region, Durham Region and The Hills of Headwaters. The Central Counties offers both day and overnight trips to kick off that long-awaited getaway. Be it the adventurous trails, family excursions, luxurious spas or cozy Inns, The Central Counties offers a play and stay experience that every loved one will enjoy and want to share.

The Central Counties have so much to offer so close to home! What will you do in The Central Counties this weekend?

To Play, you can tackle winding trails on a mid-morning hike or bike ride. Paddle across a sparkling river in a canoe or kayak. Toss a line on a peaceful fishing trip or try your luck at a hole-in-one on a prestigious, immaculately groomed golf course.

For the Family, enjoy the wonders of wildlife at a butterfly farm or reptile zoo. Go on a horseback ride, throw out a line on a fishing trip; or glide across a calm river in a canoe or kayak. Take the kids ‘pie hopping’ from bakery to bakery to find the best homemade apple pie in the region, or track down a local Easter egg hunt to truly experience a heritage town’s spirit.

To Explore, personalize your family getaway or romantic weekend, and truly discover what these Ontario regions have to offer. Tackle the picturesque hills and trails of the Oak Ridge’s Moraine on foot, bicycle or horseback. Uncover the regions’ history, cultural and ethnic diversity, exploring heritage sites, museums, art studios and galleries in one of the quaint towns and villages that dot the landscape. Whatever peaks your exploratory interests, you’ll walk away yearning to share your experiences of The Central Counties.

To Savour, reunite with friends and loved ones, learning the ins and outs of wine-tasting and beer-brewing or discovering the secret recipes of artisanal chefs. Come out and enjoy the fresh air at one of The Central Counties’ award winning farms that offer family fun, pick your own in season, and a bounty of fresh locally grown product. Finish off your culinary shopping experience by visiting one of the distinct gourmet food shops featuring tasty jams, jellies, preserves and fine wines unique to the region.

Whatever it is you’re looking for this spring, the regions of The Central Counties await you.

York Region offers the perfect balance of urban delights and country charm. Music lovers can go to the inaugural concert of the Markham New Music Festival. For a more festive experience, attend Easter Eggstraordinary at the Elman W. Campbell Museum. Discover the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery, hike across Sibbald Point Provincial Park or enjoy a thrill at Canada’s Wonderland.

 

In Durham Region, take in The Oshawa-Whitby Kiwanis Music Festival 40th Anniversary Gala Concert. Or, return to nature and enjoy the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority’s Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk. After a round of golf, see the 2011 Corn Flower Exhibit, which spotlights the best pieces in the DCMA Corn Flower Collection. Durham Region is also the home of the Bowmanville Zoo, charming small towns and the pristine waters of Lake Scugog and Canada’s largest motorsports complex, Mosport International Raceway.

Nestled throughout the famous rolling hills and valleys of The Hills of Headwaters lie four major river systems where you’ll find much more than great golfing and hiking. See the Kame & Kettle Artists – 20th Anniversary Exhibition of Dufferin County, sip some small town goodness at one of our unique wineries.

The Central Counties are yours to share! Tell us about your plans to getaway at CentralCounties.ca today!

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Quotes

“We are excited about launching our spring campaign on Twitter and Facebook .”

“It will truly help us to reach out and connect with visitors and let them know about opportunities to discover The Central Counties this Spring.”

-Colleen Pingle, Regional Tourism Ontario Zone 6 (RTO 6), Sales and Marketing Committee Project Lead and Owner/Manager of Pingles Farm Market

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Related Information

Available for Interviews: Jo Fillery, Regional Tourism Organization Zone 6, Sales and Marketing Committee Chair, Owner What’s Cookin’ in Erin, ON. Colleen Pingle, Regional Tourism Organization Zone 6 Sales and Marketing Committee Project Lead, Owner/Manager, Pingles Farm Market. Kelly Myles, Regional Tourism Organization Zone 6 Member of Sales and Marketing Committee, General Manager, Caledon Country Club

Follow The Central Counties on Twitter @CentralCounties

Toronto – March 15, 2011

Big It Up’s signature hat boutique, Brimz (321 Queen St W, Toronto) is celebrating its one year anniversary on March 19, 2011 at 8:00 PM, presented by Toronto’s Hip-Hop scene website, 1LoveTO. There will be special performances at the event by musical artists Sam Rose, Smash Brovas, Kamau and Balu.

Selected by Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker as one of her favorite stores in Toronto, Brimz carries the Big it Up house brand in addition to Kangol, Goorin Brothers, Ben Sherman, Biltmore and Nobis.

Known for quality, über-style & fit, Toronto’s very own Big it Up launches its 2011 spring collection with a sneak preview this February and an official launch in March 2011. New for 2011 is a stunning array of Panama Hats, the authentic hand-made straw hat that originates from the pacific coast of Ecuador.

The quality of Big it Up’s products speaks for itself. They are made with only the finest fabrics, painstaking attention to detail, material, color and fit.

“It’s good old fashioned craftsmanship with attention to detail,” said Dameion Royes, CEO of Big it Up. “We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re just preserving a trade that was becoming obsolete.”

At Big it Up the quality of the product is matched by its staff. The face of Big it Up is the face of Toronto. Its team is made up of people from every corner of the globe – Africa, Asia, India, the Caribbean, the Philippines and Europe – all creating a positive service oriented environment. They go the distance to help customers find the exact style and fit.

Giving back to the community is essential to the Big it Up philosophy. The company spearheaded Shoot With This, an after school film program that provides at-risk youth with the skills and resources to create their own movies. Big it Up also launched World Head Wrappers and Youth In Time in association with Princess Margaret Hospital Wig Salon. World Head Wrappers holds head-wrapping workshops for patients experiencing hair loss, a side-effect of chemotherapy. Youth in Time provides artistic and creative support and to young adults diagnosed with cancer.

The company stays true to its original vision: show respect, take pride and make great products. Through this vision Big it Up has made a name for itself as Toronto’s top purveyor of stylish, well-made headwear.

Big It Up’s claim to fame is its incomparable Gatsby Cap, also known as Poor Boy or Ivy Cap, which are the casual compliment to Big It Up’s fine traditional fedoras in felts & straws. Their stingy brimmed Pork Pies are also a favorite to the Jazz musicians, artists and trendsetters who populate Toronto. Sun lovers know the floppy brimmed ladies hats are indispensable for travel or a day at the beach. Big It Up also presents the ever popular and elegant Flapper 20’s style straw hat, a style featured in the movie The Great Gatsby.

Big it Up’s hats are celebrity favorites, owned, worn and loved by A-list talent including Wyclef Jean, Hayden Christiansen, Rachel McAdams, Joacquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, Cameron Diaz, K’naan, Naomi Campbell, Usher, Kardinal Offishall and members of Coldplay to name only a few.

Big it Up heralds “The Summer of the Panama”.

For more information, visit www.bigitup.com.

Follow Big It Up on Twitter: @BigItUpHats
Search for “Big It Up Hats” on Facebook

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Available for interviews:
Dameion Royes

Big It Up Locations
Head Office – 58 Spadina Ave (Toronto)
Eaton Centre (Toronto)
Yorkdale (Toronto)
Vaughan Mills (Vaughan)
Square One (Mississauga)
Brimz – 321 Queen St W (Toronto)

Big it Up hats can be purchased online and at specialty retailers across Canada.
For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
Los Angeles 818.748.7517

Toronto – March 7, 2011

A new environmental initiative comes to Ontario and this one is completely off the hook! The smart hanger and BMO Life Assurance Company will be teaming up to launch an eco-friendly campaign that places the smart hanger in dry cleaners across the province. This marks the first environmentally sustainable advertising campaign of its kind, in which a recyclable coat hanger is used as an advertising platform, placing BMO Life Assurance Company directly in the hands of target demographics. The smart hanger is now fully in operation at Carr’s 1 Hour Dry Cleaning, The Dry Cleaner, Hillary’s Dry Cleaners, Bayou West Cleaners, Flindall’s Cleaners, Woodland Cleaners, Super Cleaners, Trenton Cleaners, Parsons Cleaners and Launderers, Northtown Cleaners, Burdock’s Dry Cleaners, Happy Dry Cleaners, Orr Cleaners, Peter’s Drive-in Cleaners and Texmain Cleaners.

With 2 square feet of advertising space, the smart hanger offers businesses a sustainable way to increase the touch points of their advertising campaign, putting their message directly into the hands of viewers and key influencers.

Moreover, the smart hanger secured a license with Nickelodeon, through partnership with GLOBAL EDGE BRANBDS. Characters Sponge Bob Square Pants, Dora the Explorer and Diego are placed on the smart hanger for children and youth to enjoy.

Every year, about 300 million wire and plastic hangers senselessly end up in landfills. Businesses can reduce residual waste by up to 30 percent with the use of the smart hanger.

By replacing only 1,000,000 metal (steel) hangers, the smart hanger saves the equivalent CO2e emissions from the combustion of 5,804 gallons of gasoline.

“Canadian businesses are looking for exciting, functional, green, Canadian-made products and the smart hanger is all of those things. It solves a practical problem and it carries a message of social responsibility,” says Leigh Meadows, product designer and CEO of the smart hanger.

The smart hanger is a Canadian business that combines innovative design with environmentally responsible production. With its growth, it continues to create practical solutions to help conserve our environment. As Ontario moves towards a zero waste tolerance, the province is holding individual producers accountable for their waste products.

The smart hanger offers companies a chance to become environmentally sustainable. Since its inception, the City of Toronto has accepted the smart hanger into the blue bin program. It is an environmentally sustainable alternative to harmful, non-recyclable plastic and wire hangers.

Toronto based the smart hanger was one of three finalists in a special themed-episode of CBC’s Dragons’ Den: Greenvention. As runner up, the smart hanger has solidified a partnership with GLOBAL EDGE BRANDS as the exclusive North American distributor. The smart hanger is Canada’s only completely biodegradable and eco-friendly hanger, made with 100 percent recycled paper, creating a durable paper-based (FSC approved) clothes hanger.

ABOUT GLOBAL EDGE BRANDS

GLOBAL EDGE BRANDS is a national leader in the licensed apparel and hard goods business representing premium licensees within the Canadian marketplace. GLOBAL EDGE BRANDS is customer focused. That means it continuously strives to improve the quality, look, feel and image of its products by offering the best assortments and value to the customer. Innovation is vital to every product it brings to the marketplace. It is committed to continuously strengthening its brands and products. GLOBAL EDGE BRANDS is a fully integrated turn-key operation supporting all retailers in the Canadian marketplace.

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Available for Interviews:
Leigh Meadows

For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
Los Angeles 818.748.7517

For sales inquiries please contact:
GLOBAL EDGE BRANDS
[email protected]
Phone: (416) 645-3866
Toll Free: 1 (888) 865-0007
Fax: (416) 640-0673

For licensing opportunities please contact:
[email protected]

Toronto – March 7, 2011

Did you know that in Canada, there are four and a half million people with a disability of some kind? Yet their presence in the Canadian media often go unnoticed. Lights, Camera, Access! (LCA!), an institution with the mandate to advance the careers of people with disabilities in the arts, is planning to change that.

With the support of CTV Globe Media, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Inclusive Design Research Centre, The City of Toronto and Fireweed Media Productions, Lights, Camera, Access! has announced the official launch of its 2011 spring summer season program. This will include workshops, mentorships and other support services aiming to create a culture of inclusion in the Canadian media and entertainment industries.

As a non-profit organization with charitable status, LCA! connects its members to employment opportunities in Canada’s entertainment, arts and digital media industries. Most importantly, the program assists its talented members in the development, production and distribution of their product.

As part of its support services, LCA! offers mentorship and career counseling; casting liaison service for directors, producers, and script writers; catalogue & database referrals to alert talented performers about casting opportunities; online workshops & tutorials; monthly e-newsletters to help them connect with other members, as well as keeping them up to date on events and opportunities; annual galas & awards shows to celebrate productions, individuals and corporate supporters that encourage accurate, non-stereotypical portrayals of people with disabilities on radio and television, and in film, theatre and new media; and discounts to partner events that further employment opportunities.

LCA! was founded by Leesa Levinson, an actor with multiple sclerosis, who had been hearing the term “diversity” used, but felt the message was lacking. Instead, she felt “inclusion” was the future and so she formed Lights, Camera, Access! with that in mind.

Leesa sits on boards of governance within Toronto’s entertainment industry, including Women In Film & Television and Ontario Media Development Corporation with the intention of being a voice of influence for the talented disabled community.

Leesa has also been recognized for her role in the community with LCA! On February 6th, 2011, in celebration of Bob Marley Day in Toronto, the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) recognized her for her role in building bridges for diverse communities within the city.
For more information on Lights, Camera, Access! please visit http://www.lightscameraaccess.ca/

Follow Lights, Camera, Access on Twitter: @lca_canada

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Available for interviews:
Leesa Levinson

For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
Los Angeles 818.748.7517

Robin Barker hair’sociates (84 Yorkville Avenue) is a beauty spa and transformative hair salon, offering full salon service and aesthetics. On March 26, 2011 the Canadian Hairdresser Mirror Awards, hosted by Harco Publishing, will be honouring Robin Barker with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the hair and beauty industries and charitable endeavours.

At Robin Barker hair’sociates, every new client receives a personal consultation and a detailed questionnaire to ensure that the hairstyle fits the client’s lifestyle, hair texture and face shape.

Spring is a time for change and renewal. It is also the time to rejuvenate your look with a new cut, color or style. Robin Barker shares easy tips for getting out of the “Winter Hair Blues”

Cut.

• Freshen your look up by adding layers this season, it will add body and movement for a more polished and healthier finish.
• Today’s longer hair has moved away from the flat-ironed straight look and towards a sexier bouncy, flowing style.
• Short hair is once again hot, either with a very strong, clean geometric feel or with softer edges and a fluffier crown.
• Remember, the key to a good haircut is to shape with the natural movement of the hair, and not to over texturize.

Colour.

• Picking the right colour is very important when creating a successful new look. Your colour choice should compliment not only your eyes and skin colour, but accentuate the hairstyle as well.
• When having your hair coloured, especially hi-lighted, make sure the technician does not overlap, as this will lead to an over-processed look and breakage.
• Blonde will be a popular choice as always, however, don’t be afraid to go for the short hair with several shades of brown intermixed together in overlays, to show dimension.

Home Care.

• Do Not Neglect Home Care!
• By using clarifying shampoo you will be able to remove the build up of product and minerals dull your hair and give it the feeling of lifelessness.
• Attaining great hair takes work, so remember to maintain it by using deep nurturing treatments once or twice a month.

*Check out Robin Barker hair’sociates for Robin’s great product line that helps make hair-care at home easier.

Robin Barker offers a wide variety of educational services for both hair stylists and clients. Beauty professionals can bring Barker or his team in for full or half day workshop.

The First Impression Seminar is another Robin Barker hair’sociates programme. This seminar strives to help professionals develop better self-esteem through appearance and lifestyle changes. The goal is to help employees feel better about themselves, which in turn tends to increase productivity levels

Robin Barker hair’sociates also offers makeover parties, which take place in the privacy of a closed salon and can accommodate up to 15 guests. The session includes hair coloring, hair sculpting, highlighting and make-up application.

Robin Barker began his career in London in the 1960s and soon after moved to Canada and become head stylist of Gus Caruso’s Toronto salon. By 1971, Robin Barker opened his own salon, which was the first one where makeovers became an integral part of the service.

Robin Barker’s work has been featured in major trade publications such as Vogue and Vogue Italia. He has served as both the Artistic Director and President of the Guild of Hair Design and was a long time member of Intercoiffure.

Barker has received many accolades and awards including the Imagine Mirror Awards, the Contessa, and the coveted Gus Caruso. For over 30 years Barker was a regular on CityLine, and was the host and producer of a weekly television show, called WOW! You Look So Good!

With the wide range of services offered, founder Robin Barker still finds time to give back to the community. In 2010, Barker released What are the Children Worth?, a CD benefiting the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The album features artists such as Dora award winner Waylen Miki and Juno Award winners Tony Quarrington, Brandi Disterheft and Liberty Silver; in addition to artists Elise LeGrow, Sophia Perlman and Sarah Daye, to name a few.

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Boilerplate

Robin Barker was the first in the beauty industry to advocate for AIDS related causes (AIDS’ Committee of Toronto) and has also contributed to the Sick Kid’s Hospital Telethon, the Parkinson’s Cut-A-Thon and the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

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Quotes

“Suitability, contemporary design and open communication with the client make a perfect haircut.”

-Robin Barker, hair’sociates

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Related Information

Available for interviews: Robin Barker