This year, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Kingsway is proud to recognize Women of Spirit from our community. We are honoured to recognize their energy, innovation, and perseverance in hopes that it will inspire others.
As the IWD 2021 campaign theme states:
A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.
We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.
We have partnered with the amazing crew at G.I.F.T. (Girls in Film and Television) to capture and share the stories of 7 amazing women. Please scroll down the full blog post below to watch their full interviews.
Kirsta Franke is born and raised Edmontonian, with a decade and a half of experience in the culinary and event industry. Her previous work with the 124 Street Business Association allowed her to bridge a gap between producers, local businesses and citizens. In 2012, she spearheaded and founded Wild Heart Collective LTD. and the 124 Grand Market, an evening farmers’ market located in the heart of 124 Street. As former Co-chair of the Edmonton Food Council, Kirsta has become an important voice within Edmonton’s developing food scene. Alongside her team at Wild Heart, Kirsta has produced and programmed countless events outside of the market scene, most recently, Nuit Blanche Edmonton, The Winter Shake-Up Festival with the City of Edmonton and the inaugural year for All is Bright on 124 Street in 2013.
In 2018, Kirsta began work on The Public, a new 15,000 square foot food incubator and hub in the cities core in the historical Central McDougall Neighborhood. She currently volunteers with the Edmonton Food Council, is the Vice-Chair for the North Edge Business Association Board, sits on the End Poverty Edmonton Round Tables Steering committee, and is a member of NAIT’s Center for Innovation Food Consortium.
Michelle Nieviadomy is nehiyaw iskwew- a Cree woman.
While Michelle’s roots are in Saskatchewan, she has found home & community in Edmonton for the past 20 years. She is the Assistant Director at the Edmonton Native Healing Centre. She is passionate about community development and social justice. She also is an entrepreneur with her business Iskwew Health-promoting wellness. She believes movement is medicine and connection and community are everything!
With a background in jewellery design and manufacturing, Katreenah Jewellery owner Katrina Petryshyn has participated in countless markets and pop-up events over the years and saw the need for something more. While living in South Africa, she came across a co-op store in Cape Town that sparked an ambition to own her own store– but not just any store.
With an undeniable passion for local and handmade goods, Katrina’s goal was to provide local businesses a place to display their product in a “market-like” environment. She wanted the store to be somewhere you could shop great finds just like you would at a market, but also be a place for connecting and nurturing.
After moving back to Edmonton, Katrina’s passion and drive were at an all-time high and in less than 2 months, The Makers Keep was born.
Susan Lovie is the Director and General Manager at Kingsway Mall and has been a noteworthy leader in the shopping centre industry for almost 20 years. She has developed new approaches to doing business and created opportunities for local business owners and entrepreneurs in a challenging retail environment. With a background in communications, Susan holds a Masters Certificate in Innovation Leadership, and is currently working to complete a Masters Certificate in Organization Development and Change. She believes that life should be a never-ending pursuit of growth and education.
Susan has great faith in the power of community, and always has her eyes open for new ways to support local organizations. She is an active board member of the Terra Centre in Edmonton, a member of Oxford’s Indigenous Wisdom Committee, and a member of the BOMA Canada Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council.
In 2017 Susan received global recognition as the recipient of the prestigious Albert Sussman International Community Support Award for leading Kingsway’s relief efforts during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire evacuation. And, this year, Susan was the recipient of a Platinum Facilitation Impact Award from the International Association of Facilitators for her innovative leadership methods at Kingsway.
Cynthia Booth graduated from Olds College as a Horticulturalist and went on to start a landscape company. She then had children and moved to Ontario where she managed a number of greenhouses and taught seminars and workshops across Northern Ontario including teaching adult education Horticulture for several years.
After coming back to Alberta, Cynthia worked at Holes Greenhouse as the Operation and Design manager for a short while, then moved forward to open Glass Earth Inc. Glass Earth started as a kiosk in Southgate Mall and graduated into Kingsway Mall where it has had a home for the last four years. Glass Earth Inc. expanded into a second location in Vancouver a year and a half ago and will be opening another location in South Granville this April. All Glass Earth Inc. stores are family-owned and operated by Cynthia and her children.
Tammy Ma opened Keravie Lash Loft in 2018. Tammy is a lash artist who began her business just as lashes started becoming popular almost a decade ago. She is passionate about lash health and believes all women are incredibly beautiful just the way they are naturally. Her passion led her to become certified as a GEL Lashes Master Trainer in Canada. Soon, Keravie — whose name means keratin-life– became synonymous with the Keratin Lash Lift, and in 2019, Tammy was awarded platinum first place in the Royal Canadian Lash Championships for Lash Lifting.
This year, Tammy and her all-woman team leads the way in advanced lash lift techniques and developed an online lash academy teaching methodology used for their Triple Lash Lift System and their professional line of products under the Keravie Professional brand. Their goal is to help raise lash lifting standards worldwide to help women everywhere fall in love with their natural lashes and beauty again while helping women feel empowered in their business and everyday life.
Elise Graham is a production veteran with more than 16 years of experience in film and television. She has loaned her talents to a wide range of projects, from features to commercials, live shows to corporate videos. Her eclectic resume highlights technical and logistical roles with some of the strongest companies and productions in Alberta.
Some highlights include working for world-renowned Karvonen Films, and on the television series CAUTION: May Contain Nuts, Blackstone, and Tiny Plastic Men.
Elise is thrilled to bring her experience to GIFT (Girls in Film and Television) as Director of Operations and Lead Instructor. GIFT is committed to giving girls hands-on instruction and experience in filmmaking, giving them an opportunity to tell their stories. More women behind the camera equal better representation on screen. Our vision is a worldwide media landscape of gender parity behind the camera and on the screen, with a diversity that represents the world in which we live.
Here’s a pretty great tip to start off your summer on a 10/10. Live in an RV for a week and make all your childhood Barbie dreams come true! This trip was Ania B.’s very first experience actually spending time in a camper and it was everything she imagined and more.
Read below to learn more about Ania’s full RV experience with CanaDream road-tripping from Calgary, starting with our friends at Southcentre Mall, to here at Kingsway.
For anyone who is going on a Canadian outdoors adventure this year, I could not recommend this style of camping enough. Bonus for those who are making their way across a few different cities, you can now park your RV at both Southcentre (Calgary) and Kingsway (Edmonton) Malls for up to 2 nights for FREE.
All you have to do is register your vehicle here and you are free to call the mall home for a day or two. This crosses off a few items off my bucket list as this would totally count as staying overnight at a mall (in a true 90’s teen movie fashion).
Added 24/7 security at the facilities makes it a super safe stopover for anyone who needs to replenish supplies, get that bathing suit they left at home, or stock up on some fun summer outdoor gear at stores like Eddie Bauer, lululemon, Boathouse, or Sportcheck.
Staying close to Kingsway also means getting a small break from cooking and enjoying the many restaurants you can find on premises. Anything from a seated dining experience for an impromptu date (Moxies, Boston Pizza) to a quick snack at the food court with the family. Not to mention both properties are proudly supporting local artists, makers and businesses.
During the summer months both Southcentre and Kingsway have many interactive activations and exhibits throughout the malls to check out and enjoy so don’t miss a beat, get your CanaDream camper and make the most of your overnight stay camping at the mall!
Special gifts to show you care.
It’s true: moms should be celebrated every single day of the year. With our curated gift picks, you can show her exactly how grateful you are. Whether she’s due for a beauty re-up or deserving of a self-care experience, our ideas will make shopping for Mother’s Day a cinch.
Moms are the first to prioritize everyone else. Help her carve out some recharging time with soul-soothing picks like fresh yoga gear, a face mask and some mood-setting extras.
Few gifts will delight as much as a thoughtful trove of beauty essentials. Tried-and-true favourites are a sure bet, but we love the idea of an elevated, exceptional option—something she’d never get for herself—to take your gift giving to new heights.
Want to really show mom how much you know her? A piece (or two!) that speaks to her curated style will do. Opt for seasonal staples or forever jewelry picks to show your appreciation.
Welcoming friends and loved ones into her inviting home is a total point of pride. Bring more beauty into mom’s space with standout decor, a signature home scent and unique kitchen staples.
Discover more personalized gifts for the always-worthy mom in centre or consider a Kingsway Gift Card—pick one up at Guest Services or send an e-gift card with a personalized message or video. It’s the perfect way to let her treat herself to exactly what she wants!
Artist: Ashley Rosenow
The newest addition to Kingsway’s gallery of murals is A Deeper Perspective, by local artist Ashley Rosenow. We sat down with Ashley to talk about art, life, and her journey.
PHOTOS BY: Penkee Productions
Never in a million years did I expect to be painting murals for a living. If you asked me 5 years ago if I’d be elbow deep in paint every day, I would have laughed, but also that would have sounded like a wonderful fairytale.
When I first opened my business, Illustrious Interiors, I had only intentions on focusing on Home Staging, Interior Design, and Paint Consults. It was within months of opening my business that I began painting murals for my design clients, which opened the door to the mural world. Fast-forward to 4 years later, and my most requested service is Custom Murals and I couldn’t be happier about it! I am proud of where I have come over the past few years and cannot wait to see what the future brings!
About 3 months ago, I was painting inside of a store inside Kingsway Mall and walking to the store I noticed so many breathtaking murals. I was in awe by all the different pieces and the talent behind them. Of course, as my eyes beamed with excitement, I could just feel that I needed to have a mural here of my very own, and could you believe it, it actually happened!
When I initially came up with the design idea for the Kingsway Mall mural, I wanted to show something that displayed positive energy. I’ve always been a believer that you can accomplish anything in this life if you put your mind and energy into it.
I called this mural “More than a Miracle” up until the day I painted it.
With the world changing day by day, I felt this mural meant even more than what I originally wanted it to be.
While painting this mural, I had so many people come up to me and not only thank me for this piece, but I was told it MOVED people. I heard so many different perspectives and it was beautiful to hear.
During the second day of painting, a sweet couple approached me and told me what the mural meant to them. All of a sudden, my arms were filled with goosebumps and an idea came to light. I decided that it would be incredible to have everyone’s ideas and opinions of the mural written in the hands and arms of this piece. I began to imagine everyone’s different writings and different perspectives in this mural yet displayed in the hands and coming together as one.
That’s the one thing I love about art. Just because it starts with an idea, doesn’t mean it has to end that way. Our minds all work in different ways and we completely see things differently. As an artist, sometimes it’s easy to stay comfortable in the ways we think, but I feel it is important to sometimes push those boundaries to grow and learn.
You can find Ashley’s work on the Upper Level of Kingsway, by Marshall’s.
Easy, breezy dressing is just around the corner.
Can you feel it? A fresh season is just ahead and so is a new style outlook. To help you hone in on your spring wardrobe wishlist, we’ve rounded up five highly wearable trends to shop now.
Whether you’re naturally athletic or someone who’s content on cheering from the stands, this sporty-leaning trend is for you: vintage-inspired track suits, beautiful ballet-inspired pieces and statement sneakers are set to be a slam dunk in the style space.
Zero surprise here: the spring runways were teeming with covetable flower patterns. From mixing micro florals to three-dimensional blossoms that crept across garments, there’s no doubt this season is in full bloom.
Elevate your wardrobe with tailored fits and sharp lines that embody modern sophistication. These pieces effortlessly combine classic elegance with a contemporary edge, making them perfect for any occasion.
Petal pinks, powder blues and vanilla-tinged yellows were the ultra-soft palette of the season. But fear not: this isn’t a suggestion to dress super sweet. Opt for more sophisticated pieces that are designed for everyday wear.
Across the style spectrum, nautical influences had us dreaming of a seaside getaway. Tap into this coastal cool aesthetic with striped tops, easy linen pieces and dark denim, all brought together by classic nautical hues.
Inspired to get started on your spring shopping? Visit Kingsway for even more ideas. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on these exciting launches and follow along on social for more in-the-know style suggestions.
Today, we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Black-Owned Market Edmonton, BOM YEG. This collective of volunteers works hard to support, uplift, and help build the community of Black-owned enterprises in our city. We spoke with Bernie Karabani one of the core team members of BOM YEG about what they do, and everything they have going on for Black History Month.
A. BOM YEG, Black-Owned Market Edmonton, is a volunteer-run collective established in July 2020. Its aim is to build, uplift, and support Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community organizations in the Edmonton area using innovative platforms to connect with the community. A simple reshare of BOM YYC’s inaugural event spurred our co-founders to assemble a team and help support the Black entrepreneurial community in the city.
A. Running a volunteer-based organization is challenging. Everything from recruiting volunteers, to establishing systems that work can be tasking. Not only that, starting as a grassroots organization with no funding and learning how to navigate that on a zero-dollar budget poses its challenges. We are basically brand-new entrepreneurs supporting other entrepreneurs. There has been a lot of learning and re-evaluation done over the course of time, and we’re grateful for the support that we get from our community that enables us to do what we do.
A. Our vendor community is very diverse, offering everything from services such as photography, design, including artists, makers, people in the culinary arts, and more. Definitely check out our Instagram to see which brands we’re currently working with.
A. We host an online market periodically so that consumers can shop from the comfort of their homes and have a one-stop shop for products from black-owned businesses.
UNITE is the same concept, in a sense that it also serves as a one-stop shop for different makers in the city. It’s a long-term goal for BOM to provide a space where people can have access to Black-owned products in one place.
A. The BOM Sweetheart Box is our annual curated gift box. This year’s box supports eight black-owned brands, and it comes with eight full-sized products and two samples as well. It’s a great way to promote self-love during Valentine’s day, with the idea that you can give gifts to yourself, friends or family while supporting Black makers. It’s our second year doing the box, it’s a fun project and a great opportunity to introduce and support different black entrepreneurs and makers in our community.
The first 24 boxes sold contain bonus items from additional Black-owned brands. These products are randomly added to the box and contain products such as jerk seasoning, bath soaks, discounts, and coupons.
A. For Black History Month we’ll be hosting the Black Futures Market at the Art Gallery of Alberta on February 5 & 6 to celebrate Black artisans in our community.
We’ll also be participating in a panel at MacEwan University as part of the Interdisciplinary Dialogue course. The theme of the panel is Black Futures: Creating While Black and it will feature our founder Rochelle Ignacio accompanied by Alain Intwali who is the Entertainment Manager for BOM YEG as well as a vocal artist and sound engineer. The panel will be moderated by Robert Tyndale who is a black creator here in Edmonton, and it will address the challenges of creating while being black and the resiliency we must have in trying to build up our communities and a little bit about each participant’s success stories.
And of course, we will be offering our Sweetheart box for BHM that has already launched!
A. We are super excited to be coming with our annual summer market this year, so stay tuned for more information on the dates and location because we’re starting to work with some really great partners, as far as what the future holds we dream big at BOM YEG. We have huge goals that one day we can have a space like UNITE by TMK that is filled with Black-owned products, as well as we can become more of an incubator space that helps entrepreneurs launch their business, walk them through the process of building their brand from conception to having them launch their products at our markets and really have them grow with us. We’re currently working towards streamlining our processes so that we can realize our dreams quicker.
A. For more of our activities during BHM stay tuned to our Instagram as we may be collaborating with other businesses throughout February and that’s the best way to support and amplify not only what BOM does but the work of other Black creatives, businesses and leaders in the city.
February 10, 2024, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, a celebration that’s considered the most important holiday in many Asian countries and across the Asian diaspora. The celebration marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars, traditional to many east Asian countries including China, South Korea and Vietnam. in China it is called Chūn Jié, in Vietnam it is known as Tết, in Korea it is Seollal and in Tibet it is called Losar. Additionally, it is known as Spring Festival.
Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals, all of which represent different characteristics and future. 2024 rings in the year of the dragon—a sign of power and energy, symbolizing a prosperous year ahead.
In honour of this celebration, we asked six prominent Asian Canadians to share their favourite Lunar New Year traditions.
If you’re a fashion girlie with a love for thrifting and DIY projects, you probably know Rachel Spencer Wong (aka @rachspeed). The Toronto-based content creator (who created the genius and now-viral “333 outfit challenge”) has built a loyal following for her fun, aspirational and yet still approachable take on fashion and styling.
Rachel’s favourite memories of Lunar New Year include spending quality time with her family.
“Every year I celebrate Lunar New Year with my immediate family – as well as my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Now that we’re all grown up, my cousins have their own families and children that we’re also able to share these traditions with,” she says.
One tradition Rachel is looking forward to this year is giving out red envelopes, now that she is married.
“This [year] is my first LNY married, which means traditionally it’s now our turn to give hong bao (lucky red envelopes) to our younger relatives!”
“I grew up being raised by a very superstitious Mah Mah (paternal grandmother), and one superstition I abide by is to make sure we clean our house before LNY. If you clean your house on the day, you’re ‘cleaning’ away all the luck!” — Rachel on her LNY superstitions.
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Mai Nguyen is the author of Sunshine Nails, a tender and humorous story about a Vietnamese Canadian family in Toronto who will do whatever it takes to protect their no-frills nail salon after a new high-end salon opens up closeby. The book’s complex characters showcase the diversity of immigrant experiences and community resilience.
Mai, who is also a National Magazine Award-nominated journalist and copywriter, was born in Winnipeg, raised in Halifax, and is now based in Toronto. She has fond memories from childhood of celebrating Lunar New Year (or tết) with her family.
“Growing up, my Vietnamese parents would buy these massive trays of dried, candied fruits every year. Ginger, tamarind, wintermelon, you name it. My favourites were the colourful coconut ribbons called Mứt Dừa. I could eat a whole batch of those!” she says.
This year marks her first Lunar New Year with her daughter, and Mai is looking forward to passing on traditions to mark this special occasion.
“I’m looking forward to dressing her up in red and giving her her first red envelope. I also can’t wait to eat this sticky rice cake called Bánh chưng made with glutinous rice, mung beans and pork. It’s best when it’s pan-fried so that it’s nice and crispy on the edges,” she says.
“I’m a firm believer that one should not enter the new year with a dirty home, so I start decluttering my belongings the week prior and thoroughly clean the home the day before. I like the idea that you can sweep away bad luck and enter the new year with a clean canvas.” — Mai on her LNY superstitions.
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Deborah Lau-Yu is the queen of Lunar New Year celebrations. The editor-in-chief of Fête Chinoise magazine and creative director of Palettera Inc. is the woman behind the Fête Chinoise Signature Lunar New Year gala, an annual black-tie event held in Toronto (and also in Vancouver this year) that celebrates Chinese culture in the Canadian community.
As a designer and creative director, one of Deborah’s favourite Lunar New Year traditions is collecting lucky red envelopes.
“These ‘lucky money pockets’ as I used to call them growing up are fascinating to me…I was obsessed with the design on the red pockets I would receive as a child. I had an affinity toward the very traditional ones because I felt a connection with my grandmother who taught me almost everything I know about my heritage when I was growing up. From the imagery to the words on each pocket, I learned a lot through the symbolism which factors into my understanding and depth of appreciation of Chinese culture today,” she explains.
Another favourite tradition of Deborah’s is feasting. “The feast with the family came with the festivities every year and is something I miss since a lot of my family is no longer around. I tried to capture this sentiment and love for food and culture in our Fête Chinoise tea towel, titled, Feast,” she says.
“I don’t wash my hair on new year’s day. It’s just a tradition and superstitious habit that was passed down through the grapevine: if you wash your hair, you might wash your new year luck away! I also wear red, as it’s an auspicious colour in the culture and for the occasion.” — Deborah on her LNY superstitions.
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You could say fashion runs through content creator Sasha Mei (@sasha.mei)’s veins. With a mother who worked in fashion marketing at GUESS in Malaysia, it’s clear that style runs in the family. Over the past few years, Sasha has solidified herself as a purveyor of style, providing endless inspiration of chic and effortless minimalism.
Community and conversation are also important to Sasha, which led her to co-found a supper club called Yu + Mei. Yu + Mei brings individuals together for stylish, intimate gatherings, where food and conversation take center stage.
When it comes to celebrating Lunar New Year, Sasha enjoys her special tradition of having Peking duck or dim sum with friends and, of course, dressing up for the occasion.
“We don’t have many family traditions surrounding LNY – the half of my family that celebrates is in Malaysia, and we didn’t have any relatives in Canada. My mother never really reinforced strict traditions, probably because LNY during her childhood involved endless rounds at relatives’ homes and she found it exhausting. [However], two things were guaranteed on LNY growing up: special red envelopes from our parents and grandparents, and some sort of delicious meal. When I went to university, I started bringing my friends for Peking duck or dim sum on LNY and it became a new tradition – they don’t have to celebrate it, but I always think that the best part of any holiday is sharing food with people.”
“I always keep my red envelopes – I’m too scared to throw them out in fear that it will bring bad luck!” — Sasha on her LNY superstitions.
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You may remember Hannah Sung gracing your television screen in the early 2000s as a MuchMusic VJ who hosted MuchNews and TheNewMusic. She was one of the few racialized women in media at the time, and for many, was one of the first examples of Asian representation in the Canadian media landscape. Her journalism career also includes roles at CBC Radio, TVO and Globe and Mail, where she produced Colour Code, a podcast about race in Canada.
These days, Hannah continues to create space for misrepresented voices in media through Media Girlfriends, an award-winning podcast production company led by journalists of colour which focuses on promoting greater inclusion of perspectives in Canadian media.
As a proud Korean Canadian, one special Lunar New Year tradition Hannah follows is getting dressed in a hanbok.
“It’s so much fun to do with my children because it’s the only day of the year that they get to put them on. They’re also growing so fast that their hanbok is always either too small or too loose, which is cute. We wear hanbok to bow to older generations. The kids watch my husband and I kneel down to the floor and bow to my parents and my kids bow to all of us,” she explains.
“My kids don’t speak much Korean but they’ve definitely perfected the Korean phrase for ‘Wishing you good luck in the New Year.’ They love this ritual of respect and they get money and well wishes in return. Then we eat ddeok guk (떡국), an absolute fave. It doesn’t feel like a new year until we have that meal.”
“I’m not superstitious, but I always do a quick Google of the Chinese zodiac to read what the year has in store for me, a snake. If I don’t like the predictions, I skip to the next one and just read until I find one that tells me I’m going to have a good year.” — Hannah on her LNY superstitions.
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Chef Trevor Lui is a known pillar in the Asian Canadian community, particularly in Toronto, where he’s based. The chef, restauranter and entrepreneur has a knack for bringing people together through culinary experiences—whether that be through his restaurant Bao Bird, food concept Fat Bao, management agency Quell, or hospitality business, The Highbell Group.
It should come as no surprise, then, that one of Chef Trevor’s favourite Lunar New Year traditions is the celebration of food with friends, family and community.
“Having a family banquet to both close and open the year (‘tuin leen’ and ‘hoi leen’) is always a wonderful time to have the family get together and eat great food. We also love the custom of exchanging turnip and sugar cakes (‘bak tong go’ and ‘leen go’),” says Chef Trevor.
This year, Chef Trevor is most looking forward to the continued emergence of the Asian community, one, he says, has begun to finally garner a voice beyond our own borders.
“Modern day successes buoyed by prominent figures in our community and growing allies are helping to tell stories of our generations of history of struggle, racism and success (particularly in the role we played in building North America),” he explains.
Some of these successes include what Chef Trevor calls a “new renaissance” of Asian chefs in New York City. “[These chefs] were classically trained and have now gone back to cooking the food they grew up with ‘their way’ and are now being recognized for it. I’d love to see that in our communities here in Toronto. With that, we need to take this time to help shine a light on the talent we have and find ways to support and elevate their names and establishments.”
“I’m still stuck on the superstition of not showering or washing our hair on New Year’s Day to ensure we don’t ‘wash away’ our year’s health and prosperity. So get that shower in at 11:59 NYE!” — Chef Trevor on his LNY superstitions.
“Support LNY-themed products that support community: where major retailers use LNY as a way to capitalize on culturally-important events, select those that do so authentically and intentionally to support our communities.”
Editor’s Picks:
Ring in the Year of the Dragon at Kingsway’s Lunar New Year Festival! On February 3rd from 11 am to 5 pm, watch live performances, participate in workshops, and enjoy a Lion Parade.
Lunar New Year wouldn’t be complete without “lucky money” in red envelopes known as Hónɡ bāo in China, Li xi in Vietnam and Sae bae don in Korea. These envelopes are typically given out by elders and married couples to children and single people of the younger generation. This year, consider gifting one of our gift cards in your red envelope so your loved ones can shop their favourite stores at Kingsway. Or try sending an e-gift card with a personalized video message wishing your loved one luck and prosperity for the year ahead.
Plus, don’t forget to take advantage of our Lunar New Year gift card promotion. From January 31st – February 14th, purchase a Kingsway gift card and receive a bonus gift card in celebration of Lunar New Year. Spend $200-$499 and get a $10 bonus gift card. Spend $500-$999 and get a $25 bonus gift card. Spend $1000 and more, get a $50 bonus gift card.
GIFT NOWNo matter how you celebrate, we hope this Lunar New Year brings lots of luck and prosperity!
We have everything you need to celebrate Thanksgiving your way and create a memorable experience for your family and guests.
Transform your dining table by elevating your everyday items to show off your entertaining style. A table runner or tablecloth will help set the tone, while elegant tableware will add a sophisticated touch. Create a focal point for your tablescape with a unique vase or tapered candles as a statement centerpiece.
From the entrance to your dining room, create a warm and cozy atmosphere with fall décor accents. Choose a colour palette to carry throughout your home as a theme or go the minimalist route with shades of white to keep it crisp and clean. Lean into fall foliage with bold wreaths, and rich jewel toned accent items.
If you’re skipping the turkey in favour of a non-traditional Thanksgiving meal, check out our various food and dessert offerings instead. The options are endless for a delectable Thanksgiving feast here.
The trick to a more eco-friendly and sustainable Thanksgiving is to plan your menu mindfully and repurpose where possible. Reduce single-use disposable items by opting for cloth napkins and quality food storage containers. Bring reusable totes to your local market which now come in various styles and prints.
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Who run the world? Girls.
March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It’s a day to recognize the efforts and struggles of women everywhere — from the suffragettes who fought for our right to vote, to the female pioneers who shattered glass ceilings in every industry.
One great way to honour these women’s legacies is by supporting female-owned brands. From cosmetics to clothing and accessories, female entrepreneurs have been disrupting industries and creating innovative products for everyone to enjoy. Read on to discover some of the most inspiring female-owned brands that deserve your attention and support this IWD and beyond.
When supporting female-founded brands, it’s important to consider local makers. Not only does shopping locally foster a stronger sense of community, but it also supports economic growth within that community.
Some female-founded local vendors at Kingsway include Skin High, an all-inclusive open-concept facial-focused skin bar, Glass Earth, a plant boutique large variety of tropical plants, succulents + cactus, bonsai, terrariums, and more exotics, Bud + Bloom, Canada’s first ever canna-floral boutique, and The Makers Keep and UNITE, two boutique marketplaces showcasing local makers.
The beauty industry has been transformed by the efforts of countless women who, through their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, have revolutionized the way we approach beauty and self-care.
Canadian-born Elizabeth Arden, who opened her famous spa in New York in 1910, is credited with making makeup mainstream, while Estée Lauder revolutionized the way cosmetics were sold and perceived in the 1940s and 1950s with the introduction of new innovative products and marketing techniques.
More recently, Rihanna changed the beauty industry in 2017 by launching her Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation in a whopping 40 shades (the most ever introduced in the industry at that time) and inspiring other brands to follow suit, while Glossier’s Emily Weiss disrupted the traditional beauty industry by creating a brand focused on minimalism, inclusivity and community engagement. She is also one of the first beauty entrepreneurs to recognize the power of social media in shaping the beauty industry.
Other female-founded beauty faves include Nancy Twine’s natural hair care line Briogeo, Selena Gomez’s makeup line Rare Beauty, Christine Chang and Sarah Lee’s skincare line Glow Recipe and Sheena Yaitanes’s natural cosmetics line Kosas.
Though fashion continues to be a male-dominated industry (a 2022 study by the Business of Fashion revealed that women design 40% of womenswear fashion brands and only make up about 14% of leadership positions in the industry), the impact women have had is immense.
Here in Canada, Sarah Reitman founded Reitmans in 1926 with her husband, Herman. Since its modest beginnings as one women’s clothing store on Boulevard St. Laurent in Montreal, it has since evolved into one of Canada’s largest women’s specialty retailers and operates Reitmans, Penningtons, and RW&Co.
A current female fashion brand founder who is making a statement is accessories designer Rebecca Minkoff, whose eponymous brand quickly gained a following for its edgy yet wearable designs.
Women in the lifestyle space have also made big strides in introducing new perspectives and disrupting traditional norms. Heather Reisman, founder, chair and CEO of Indigo, has singlehandedly revamped lifestyle shopping by transforming a bookstore into a one-stop shop for everything lifestyle, including home décor, paper goods, games, fashion accessories, and children’s toys. Then there’s Harvard Business School grad, Sarah Krauss, who founded eco-friendly water bottle line, S’well, one of the most important and successful brands in the realm of sustainability today. And we can’t forget about Shiza Shahid, the woman behind Our Place’s viral Always Pan that once garnered a 30,000-person waitlist!
With so many female-owned brands on the market, we hope you continue to support these founders and entrepreneurs year-round.
In honour of Black History Month, we’ve collaborated with our friends at BOM YEG to share the stories of Black creators in the UNITE space. Together, let’s support and lift up Black entrepreneurs!
Rochelle Ignacio is the co-founder of Black Owned Market Edmonton (BOM YEG). BOM YEG has been a part of UNITE by TMK since October 2021 when it first opened.
Currently there are six BOM YEG vendors at UNITE, including Rochelle’s line of candles (Enid Rose Collectives) and loose-leaf teas (Black Owned Makers). Getting started in UNITE has given vendors an opportunity to explore and learn methods of merchandising, retailing, inventory, and lifecycle management. This way, businesses are able to experiment with new products, merchandising, and marketing before they think about opening their own storefront or expanding into different retail environments. They’re able to find what that perfect fit and balance is for them.
Q: After Black History Month is over, how can people continue to support and recognize Black entrepreneurs?
ROCHELLE: It’s really important for people to support the Black community not only in Black History Month but all year round. We’re Black every day, 24/7, 365. I know that a lot of people want to feature Black businesses. They want to collaborate, work, order products, food, but really what we’re asking is that people continue to come to UNITE. It really helps to get the sales so that we can ensure we’re staying within the space.
Find Rochelle’s products at UNITE in BOM YEG.
Travelling Dishes is a local Nigerian food business that started in 2019. They offer catering, cooking classes, retail, and food delivery. The concept of their business is to highlight Nigerian food and introduce people to it. The name was inspired by their love for travelling and food.
Three products can be found in UNITE: Chin Chin Poppers (deep fried cookie chips), Coconut Candy (caramelized coconut flakes), and Rodo Brittle (chili infused peanut brittles). Being in this space provides them that opportunity to reach new clients or customers that normally wouldn’t know about them. Since their business is based online, they aren’t able to have that everyday customer interaction. The space gives them more exposure on their business, and helps them bring Nigerian food to new communities. As a start-up business, it’s sometimes hard to get into big box stores so being in UNITE provides that chance to start small then grow from there.
Beyond the snacks at UNITE, you can find a menu of Nigerian dishes with a little bit of “Canadian-ess”, meaning it’s a different spin on traditional Nigerian food. Two of their bestselling items are meat pies, called buka pies, and the very popular egusi soup.
Q: Is there anything that you’re looking forward to within the community during Black History Month?
DUPE: Definitely Feed the Soul. Knowing about all the different restaurants that I didn’t know about before, getting to try some of the food during that week, and even beyond that. Getting to see different black talents within the city or even in Canada, in general. I feel like there’s always something new to explore in terms of Black culture, Black excellence, and Black experience. I just love the celebration of how far we’ve come. From us coming from Nigeria to Canada, it feels so nice to be celebrated on someone else’s turf. I just feel really honored and privileged that there’s something like that here.
SEUN: For me, I would say educate myself on what’s going on in the community. There’s so much going on, that if we don’t celebrate, eat, or bring it out ourselves, we don’t know. If you want to be intention of universal support, you first need to know where to turn out and support. Being part of some of the events and celebrations for this month is a step towards being intentional.
Find Dupe and Seun’s products at UNITE in BOM YEG or their online website.
LAYERED by Rissa is a custom cake business in Edmonton. Tarissa specializes in cakes for weddings, celebrations; whatever you’re celebrating, she can provide that for you. A diverse menu is offered with 9 standard flavours and 11 seasonal flavours, as well as gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options.
arissa launched her brand in June 2020. At the time, she was working on her BA degree and a life situation occurred where she yearned for something to bring back that joy in life. Her brand is based on the fact that life has so many different layers and they all pile up sometimes, but the layers add to create something fruitful, exactly like a cake.
Coming from Carribean descent, Tarissa grew up in a household of cooking. She recalls memories of foods class in high school where she was given the opportunity to create something out of random ingredients and how it brings her joy to this day. Tarissa has been working on the recipes and working on them for years to come. From that, she has established a brand of cakes that are not too sweet, and something that her clients come back for.
Q: Black History Month is super busy for Black entrepreneurs. What is the lead up into the month and what are your energy levels feeling like?
TARISSA: The month is a lot. You’re expected to show up for your business or if you’re in the corporate world, for your job in that space. But as an entrepreneur, you’re supposed to show up as an entrepreneur and also for the other entrepreneur events that are happening. Balancing that can be quite tricky. I think for me personally, I mentally prepared myself by taking January a little bit slower and putting new systems in place that would help alleviate my time. We’re launching our new website that will be e-commerce based so that way I don’t have to do too much work on the admin side and answering so many emails. So just putting in different systems in place has helped me really prepare for this month. I think just knowing that I can still show up for the other events, it’s going to be really refreshing.
Join Tarissa for her pop-up at UNITE on February 14 from 12:30 to 6:30 pm for Valentine’s Day treats and Feed the Soul features.
Africart is a new jewelry vendor in BOM YEG that has been in Edmonton for over 10 years. When an opportunity for a new jewelry vendor at BOM YEG came up, Rochelle reached out to the owner of Africart because she thinks that their jewelry is beautiful and speaks to the black community.
Shop Africart at UNITE in BOM YEG.
