#TOpoli January 14, 2016

Trudeaumania takes over Toronto

Photo taken by Katherine DeClerq

Trudeaumania is real.

Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to Toronto’s city hall to meet with Mayor John Tory. It was the first time in 18 years a prime minister visited the institution, but that wasn’t why people were so excited. It was because they had the opportunity to get close to the celebrity politician.

The media struggled to stay up with Trudeau and Tory as they walked from Queen St. up to city hall. People sporting bright unicorn Trudeau sweatshirts were running through the crowd, trying to get a selfie with the sexiest head of state in the world, while scores of young women stood in his path screaming his name.

One cameraman made a wrong step and slipped on the skating rink in the square. Reporters ran — and I mean sprinted — around the crowd to get better view of the prime minister, just to run face-first into a father holding his kid, trying to get a glimpse of the people at the center of the spectacle. Personally, I was elbowed in the head and shoved into a snow bank.

“Oh my god, it’s Justin Trudeau!” screamed two jumping girls as he made his way into city hall. I have to say I was impressed with the strength of the prime minister’s security force, dawning the stereotypical sunglasses and earpieces, trying to keep everyone at bay. What a job.

After the screaming died down and the swooning stopped, the prime minister got up on stage with the mayor and opened his mouth to talk. And talk he did — although he didn’t say much. In fact, he hardly said anything worthwhile.

It was obvious the prime minister didn’t want to make any promises during this visit, despite the mayor’s attempts to indicate otherwise. There was no mention of a commitment to the SmartTrack or the Yonge Relief Line, and he didn’t even touch on the $2.6 billion promised to the city for transit.

“We are in the middle of pre-budget consultations.” Trudeau said when a reporter asked when we could expect a cheque for infrastructure. “The infrastructure investments that the mayor is counting on are not a problem, they are part of the solution that Canada is facing.” What that means…no one knows.

Really, the only thing Justin Trudeau reiterated was his government’s pledge of $60 billion over the next 10 years towards green and social infrastructure, and public transit. There was no elaboration. Where will the money go? What are the government’s priorities? All are excellent questions that remained unanswered. The rest of the 10-minute question period included the Prime Minister dancing masterfully around each media inquiry, citing what seemed to be election promises and vaguely mentioning the Liberal’s commitment to job creation, economic growth, and international relations.

But, that didn’t matter to the fans. As one grown man standing behind me in the crowd said: “Wow, his hair really is great!”

And I guess that’s all that mattered.

Photo by Katherine DeClerq

Entertainment January 11, 2016

The Kinkiest Boots around

“And remember. You are not making footwear. You are not making boots. You are making two and a half feet of irresistible, tubular sex!”

Shoes. I love them. It doesn’t matter how much weight you gain or what mood you are in, shoes will always fit and will ALWAYS look good. A pair of red heels will make your legs look awesome and your bottom…well, I’ll leave the words to describe your own derrière up to you. So, imagine my excitement when my sister approached my family over the holidays with tickets to Kinky Boots, a Tony Award-winning broadway musical entirely about heeled shoes? I was over the moon!

The Toronto Mirvish production of Kinky Boots opened in June 2015, and since then it has been extended three times. The show is inspired by true events and tells the story of a shoemaker’s son, Charlie, who takes over the business and decides to tap into a niche market — making sturdy stilettos for crossdressers. An incredible partnership between Grammy/Tony award-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and broadway legend Harvey Fierstein ensured the music was sublime and the characters were loveable.

As we settled into our cramped seats — the Royal Alexander Theatre really packs a crowd and doesn’t provide a lot of leg room — I was a bit worried. Our show featured a lot of understudies and the singing during the opening segment was a bit rough and pitchy. I remember thinking that I had hyped up this production so much that it was going to be a disappointment in the end.

Enter Lola (a.k.a. Simon), played by the absolutely incredible Alan Mingo Jr., a show-stopping drag artist that captivated the audience with her confidence and comedy. Seriously, Mingo Jr. could teach me a few things about high kicks and dancing in 8-inch stilettos. Not only does Mingo Jr. have the moves, but he also has the pipes to play this layered character. With energetic toe-tappers like “Sex is in the Heel” to emotionally-draining ballads like “Not My Father’s Son,” his portrayal of Lola was flawless. Any pitch problems from the rest of the cast was made up by his incredible performance.

It was the women who really made Kinky Boots shine. Lola and her band of Angels had the audience hooting and whistling the whole show with their outrageous outfits and ridiculous dance moves, while Lauren (who is Charlie’s love interest and unexpected business partner) left us in awe with her hilarious numbers. What’s even better is that behind all of the hilarity and production, there were some fantastic voices with unbelievable ranges.

Underneath the fancy shoes and the sparkling outfits, Kinky Boots makes us rethink what the word “acceptance” really means. The show reflects the complex nature of gender and the stigma associated not only with drag, but with what it means to be a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’. It’s about coming into your own and learning to accept the people around us for who they truly are — a lesson that seems even more important to reiterate in the 21st century. Or as Lola liked to say at the beginning of one of her shows, “Welcome ladies, gentlemen and those who are yet to make up your mind.”

I would highly suggest seeing this musical production before it leaves Toronto in March, but who knows? I’m hoping for a fourth extension!

#TOpoli January 6, 2016

Who rules Toronto’s transit? Girls!

Over the past few years subtle changes in the management structure at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) have amounted to more women and visible minorities placed in key postions within the organization.

Despite the fact that there are not a lot of women wanting to change oil, or do heavy mechanical work, the TTC has, over the past few years, become a place where diversity being brought into the upper management is bringing a cultural change to the organization that is long overdue.

The 10 person TTC executive now includes three women — the Chief of Staff, the Chief People Officer and the Chief Capital Officer. This is a dramatic change from the executive just five years ago, which had no women on the executive team.

In the layer below the executive, there is an increasing number of women and ethnic minorities including Head of Stations, ‎Head of Wheel Trans, Head of Recruitment, Director of Employee Relations, and Head of Bus Transportation.

Jody Humble is the Director of Change Management at TTC and her role is to bring about the sort of cultural that CEO, Andy Byford, envisions. When asked about the changes at TTC, Byford stated, “It is not unusual now, for men to be in the minority at high level, decision-making meetings. At a recent executive sub committee, ‎men, including myself, were outnumbered 4-10. This reflects the increasingly important role that women are taking in the running of the TTC.”

Out of six group station managers 50% are women.

In December, a number of media reports spoke about gender equality within the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Most writers focused on the fact that women only make up 15 per cent of the transit agency’s workforce. This number came from the TTC’s 2014 Annual Report on Diversity and Human Rights Achievements.

The city/provincial benchmark for female employment within the TTC is set at a lofty 48.7 per cent, a figure the media used to show the abysmal state of gender equality within the transit agency. They argued that women use transit in different ways than men. They take shorter trips, sometimes need to make multiple stops, and are often in caregiver roles which require greater accessibility. If more women were employed by the TTC, they said, more changes would be made to better transit.

However, what these articles failed to touch on is the number of women in positions of power—in senior management.

Before the holidays, we put a call out to both Metrolinx and the TTC to find out about the number of women within the agency that held decision-making roles. A spokesperson for the TTC reported that women make up 26.5 per cent of senior management, while Metrolinx said half of their senior management team positions are held by women.

This is a much greater accomplishment considering the city benchmark for senior management positions is 27.2 per cent.

The reality is that it’s difficult to attract women to the manual and physical jobs required of TTC employees. And even if the agency was able to get more female employees, the jobs they would employ would not be in roles of power. They are not positions that would allow women to make actual change within the agency.

Should the TTC be trying to encourage more women to be a part of their ranks? Absolutely! But, until that happens, Women’s Post will rest easy knowing that women are running the place.

Living January 4, 2016

How to conquer the New Year’s resolution

It’s the new year, and I’ve already broken down twice. The first is when I realized how much a gym membership would cost me. The second is when I purchased a new phone and it didn’t work to my satisfaction—my emails weren’t there, all of my contacts had disappeared, and my news feeds had to be downloaded again.

It seems silly, doesn’t it, to get so stressed out about such consumerist items. But, it’s not the products themselves that got me worked up. It’s what they represent. My goal to lose weight this year and look amazing for a family wedding was put to an abrupt end when I realized I couldn’t afford to go to the gym. My intention to get more organized was halted when my phone—the device that allows me to remember which meetings I have or which interviews I have to do—wouldn’t work properly. All of a sudden, I’m looking at myself in the mirror and telling myself “If I can’t get a phone to work or afford to go to the gym, how on earth am I supposed to be the confident, beautiful businesswoman I strive to be in 2016.”

Is this silly? Absolutely. But, I doubt I’m the only one who thinks this way.

At Women’s Post, we’ve already covered why New Year’s Eve sucks, and why we should all avoid the gym. Despite this cynicism, we all find ourselves making resolutions, wanting to be a better person than the year before. A new year brings with it a fresh start, whether or not we believe it’s worth the hassle. So, if we are all going to make New Year’s resolutions anyway, how do we prevent the derailing of these hopes and dreams?

There are a lot of things I could write in this post. I could quote psychologists, nutritionists, and weight loss experts who will all say “be specific” with your new year’s resolutions. They will tell us all to be patient, tell our friends about these plans, take the small wins, be realistic, ect. We hear these statements all the time and yet, studies still show few people actually keep their New Year’s resolutions. So, I’m going to make something up.

This is what I am going to do: Instead of telling myself what I should be doing his year, I’m telling myself what I should not be doing. For example:

I will not tell myself I am anything but beautiful: Do I need/want to lose weight? Yes. But, it’s not going to happen overnight. If I can’t get a gym membership now, that’s fine. Did my favourite pair of jeans rip at the thigh? I will take this opportunity to get better ones. If I struggle with my salad lunches or decide I want to splurge on a chocolate mocha, that’s okay! No matter what it says on the scale, I’m beautiful. And that’s, well, that.

I will not judge my choices once I’ve made them: Too often have I sneaked down to the kitchen, taken out a bowl of ice cream, and looked at my sister in the other room and said “don’t judge me.” When I make a decision, it’s mine. I don’t want to feel regret. The only thing going through my head should be “oh well,” “moving on,” “or “hell yes!” I will not dwell on the past any longer. Life is full of choices and if we spend hours thinking about whether or not we made the right ones…well, we wouldn’t be doing anything else.

I will not shy away from learning something new: It’s time to embrace challenges. If I don’t know how to do something, I won’t get frustrated. I will take a deep breath and figure it out. Whether its trying yoga for the first time, learning how to juggle, or even figuring out a new phone, I can do it. And if I can’t, I won’t be ashamed or afraid to ask for help.

I will not let others get me down: Too often is our self-esteem controlled by statements other people make. When someone makes a comment about my abilities, skills, talents, or personal traits, my response will be “I’m sorry you feel that way.” When an environment becomes poisonous, I will leave the room. I will take deep breaths, do some yoga, or maybe even meditate. I may even fight back. Which ever coping mechanism I decide to use, I promise not to let it effect my confidence.

Will these affirmations work? Who knows. But at least it relieves some of the pressure we are all facing. Ignore the news articles, promotional ads, and messages you get from companies wanting you to buy into their products. Who cares if you lose 30 pounds by bikini season? As cheesy as it is, be happy with who you are. The rest will follow.

Because you are as awesome as you were in 2015, maybe even moreso.

And don’t forget it!

What's Hot January 1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEARS FROM WOMENS POST

It’s been a crazy year, and we are ready to start another one. How about you?

Despite agreeing to publish an article about why New Year’s sucks yesterday, I have to say that I do look forward to it. The past year has been a year of opportunity and re-branding. We have been working hard to make Women’s Post more accessible through social media. We have dedicated ourselves to sharing intriguing and thought-provoking articles, speaking with and profiling amazing women in business, and providing some fun pieces about fashion and the meaning of beauty.

I would love to hear your thoughts about our wonderful publication. Is there something we’ve done you really enjoyed? Was there something you wish we had written about? Do you have suggestions for how we can improve? Now is the time to share those opinions. We are here to serve our readers — that’s you! — and without feedback, we won’t know what our resolutions should be.

Let us know what you think in the comments below, or email me at editor@womenspost.ca.

-Katherine DeClerq, Managing Editor of Women’s Post

What's Hot December 28, 2015

Oh so many leftovers! What to do with them?

My mother’s Christmas dinners are irreplaceable. They are also, much to the chagrin of the few of us on Weight Watchers, huge! My mom was born into a large family, and often was given the duty of preparing these large extravagant affairs. Even now that there are only four of us, she cooks for eight. And this was after the downsizing.

Suffice to say, we usually have a lot of leftovers. But, what to do with them? Here are a few suggestions for those with eyes bigger than their stomachs:

The sandwich: Because of the amount of food we cook for Christmas dinner, we usually don’t touch the rolls. Instead, we use them the next week for turkey sandwiches. We each have our own version — my dad and sister like theirs with mayo and bacon, while my personal favourite is the simple turkey and cranberry sauce (sometimes I add a bit of stuffing).

The Soup: After a while, even turkey sandwiches start tasting a little boring. Try making a soup out of your leftovers. Simply cook up some onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and whatever other vegetables you have in your fridge, put them in a pot with some chicken broth and turkey, and let simmer! Plus, it will keep you warm during this not-so-cold winter we’ve been having.

The pie: Another option is to cook a pie crust (homemade or pre-bought) and to stuff it with meaty goodness. The best turkey pies will include carrots, peas, celery, chicken broth, a little bit of milk, and some poultry seasoning. It may look complicated, but I ensure you a novice cook could do it — as long as they buy the pie crust.

The quesadilla: Instead of a sandwich, try a quesadilla. Inside a tortilla put a lot of cheese, some turkey, fried mushrooms, peppers, onions, and some spices. Fold over the tortilla or place another one on top of all the toppings. Then, place it in a frying pan. Flip when golden brown or the cheese begins to melt. You can even do this on a George Foreman grill.

The bowl: Or, just mix everything in a dish, pour gravy on it, and enjoy! It’s not new years yet — no need to count the calories.

How do you use your leftovers? Let us know in the comments below!

What's Hot December 24, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO OUR READERS!

**From the staff at Women’s Post, here’s wishing you a wonderful Christmas day!**

What's Hot December 22, 2015

Woman of the Week: Ann Kaplan

Think big — that’s Ann Kaplan’s biggest piece of advice for those wanting to succeed in business.

“I wish I had thought bigger,” she said. “Once I looked back and saw how big we had become, I thought ‘why didn’t I envision that when I was thinking of building the business?'”

Kaplan is president and CEO of iFinance Canada inc., a money-lending company that offers loans for elective surgeries, veterinary services, dental, and home improvement financing — items that would otherwise be difficult to get a loan from the bank. She built the corporation from nothing, relishing in the chance to pitch her ideas and grow.

Kaplan originally went to school for interior design, but once she opened up her own store, dealt with her own clients, and got a taste for the back room dealings of business, she was hooked. She now has an MBA in finance, a Masters of Science in Business, a Corporate Governance designation (ICD.d) and is completing her PhD thesis, which involves creating an algorithm that would determine whether a consumer would default on a loan.

All of her hard work has resulted in an influx of awards, the most recent being the PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship as part of the 23rd annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. She said she cried when she found out she had won. “I was taken aback. I knew I was a finalist, but there were very qualified candidates.”

Kaplan was also recognized in 2000, a few years after the creation of Medicard Finance Inc., her first enterprise which is now under the iFinance umbrella, as Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year, Start-Up. In 2001, she won the Peak Award of Excellence in Finance. Kaplan has been on the Canada’s Profit Top 100 Companies nine times and has held a place on the Canadian W100 list eight times. She was inducted in the WXN Hall of Fame in 2014 after being named as one of Canada’s top three Female Business Leaders and as Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. If that isn’t enough, she has also written four books — and these are only some of her notable achievements.

Despite her success, Kaplan remains humble and modest, speaking with a dry sense of humour — “verbal volleyball” she calls it, a skill that makes her popular with bankers and businessmen. Her time is split between work and her large family of eight kids, which means the word ‘relax’ isn’t in her vocabulary. Kaplan gets her hair done three to four times a week, and schedules in time for manicures and pedicures, but even then she has her laptop on hand. “No time is wasted,” she says.

What’s unique about Kaplan is that after nearly 20 years building iFinance, she still sees the opportunity for growth and education. But, what else made her start-up a success? Kaplan spoke with Women’s Post over the phone to go through a few tips on pitching to investors or lenders. According to Kaplan, the first, and most important aspect of a pitch, is to have an idea. This idea must help solve a problem. “That’s what a good business model is. Whether that is an App or providing instant financing that’s unsecured.”

Kaplan explains that the internet is inundated with everything. An idea must stand out and it must be able to provide a service that solves a specific problem. This means that people will actually be motivated to use the product or service you are pitching.

The next step is preparedness — be prepared to demonstrate your market, competition, and uniqueness. Understanding how your business is going to grow and what investors are going to get in return is crucial to landing a pitch. “There are great things like crowd-funding, but even in that you need to be prepared and be able to display the vision.”

In addition to knowing the worth of your business endeavour and of the company you are pitching to, it’s also important to also understand your own worth. Don’t undersell.

Finally, it’s all about communication and confidence. If you are able to explain in a concise manner how investing in your idea will be mutually beneficial, how the idea will be a success, and how you plan on making it into a larger, bigger entity, there is no reason why the pitch shouldn’t be considered.

For Kaplan, the independence that comes from creating a business from scratch is empowering. “The first time someone besides your mother buys something — it’s exciting!” That’s why it’s so important to continue to grow and think of new ideas, expand, and adapt to the new technology available. Kaplan is in the middle of a new and exciting enterprise called Brix Exchange, a Canadian crowd-funding portal for real estate and technology start-ups. It will be the first regulated portal of its kind in Canada.

The biggest piece of advice Kaplan can give, besides thinking big, is to follow your dreams. You can have everything if you are organized.

“Young women … they come to talk about handling their boyfriend who are concerned they are not spending enough time with them. It sounds like I’m generalizing, but it’s very common,” she said. “Family will come, but you should set yourself for your future.”

“Being able to walk away and do what makes you happy is empowering.”

Ann Kaplan is currently reading “So Anyway” by John Cleese.

Living December 21, 2015

How to rock this year’s holiday fashion

It’s the week before Christmas, and that means last-minute parties and get-togethers with friends. But, what should you wear? It’s the typical dilemma: We don’t want to dress to casual, but we don’t want to overdress either. Yes, the ugly sweater may be all the rage, but for those of us who don’t want to look like a knitted nightmare, here are some festive options for your next work party or holiday smash:

The glittery shoe: It doesn’t matter if you wear a simple black dress or a pair of jeans — the shoes make the outfit. Dazzle your friends with a pair of silver or gold-studded heels and watch as all the attention is drawn towards you. The best part about the particular shoes pictured below is that they have mesh, which will give your feet a bit of extra support. The glittery shoe does not have to be ten-inch stilettos. As long as they sparkle, you are golden (pun intended).

The classic red dress: You can’t go wrong with the red dress — it’s sexy, flattering, and eye-catching. Most people would go the ‘little black dress’ route, but not you! You are daring, confident, and sexy. And you want the world to know you are here.

BTKA_14495192548311_1442e6beb5b369232d3522b0f24b69 — Rosie the Rebel, $95

The sleeveless party top: Sometimes, a dress is just too much. If you are heading to a semi-casual party with some friends, this top is the perfect festive attire. Pair with a pair of black dress pants or with a ripped pair of jeans. It’s perfect under a nice jacket or blazer as well.

The handbag: A purse is just too much during the holidays — people bump into it on the bus, crowded streets are a nightmare, and you have to weave in and out of stores holding it close to your chest so you don’t accidentally break a priceless item. We are all better off with a small handbag, especially in the evening. This bag is typically only big enough for the essentials: cell phone, money, ID, and emergency lipstick.

Knitwear: If you must wear something knitted, make it something unique and stylish. A knitted shirt or dress can be paired with funky tights for colder weather, or with boots as seen below. It’s a great casual outfit that just screams “I just threw something on, but look how fabulous I look.” Much better than the ugly sweater!

What’s your favourite holiday outfit? Let us know in the comments below!

Living December 10, 2015

5 stylish winter coats for the not-so-winter season

Tis’ the season for winter coats — well, maybe not yet. It’s been unusually warm in Canada this December, but I’m still dreaming of a white Christmas. Eventually, the temperatures will drop below zero and small white fluffs of frozen water will descend from the sky. Wouldn’t it be better to be prepared?

Winter coats, especially those made for typical Canadian winters, can usually look a bit frumpy. The sensible among us will get the thick overcoats that make us look like the Michelin Man. However, not everyone wants to feel puffy when heading to work or for a night out with friends.

Here are some good alternatives to keep you warm, and stylish, when winter finally arrives:

The toggles: My sister came home with a coat similar to this one last week. Apparently, toggles are the newest coat fashion trend. Rock the militarized look with multi-coloured palettes. Just make sure that the coat has a zipper underneath those chic button accessories. It’s important to make sure the seams can withstand snowfall.

The long and insulated: I am an absolute fan of the long winter coat. Not only is it fashionable, but it also provides the maximum protection from the cold. Don’t worry, this coat won’t make you look like the Michelin Man. The shape of the jacket pinches in just the right place to show off your curves, and the fur-rimmed hood adds a little colour and style.

The professional: This jacket is perfect for a business meeting or an interview. Tied at the waist, this coat will flatter just about everyone. One of the best features includes a shawl collar, which can be worn with a sweater or a turtleneck shirt for effect. It’s the epitome of the professional outfit.

The unique: There are a lot of coats out there that don’t meet the typical criteria for a winter jacket. These items are sleek, fashion-forward, and one of a kind, although they may not be as warm as the other options in this piece. This particular jacket, however, is multi-layered, which means that it is just as warm as it is stylish.

The faux-fur collar: Instead of fur-rimmed hoods, the trend is to have a full fur collar as an accent to a simply designed coat. Paired with some warm boots and leggings, this coat is perfect for a night out with friends. And you won’t even have to wear a scarf!

Do you have a favourite winter coat? What do you think of our choices above? Let us know in the comments below.