Author: Rajat Jindal

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.

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.

A Self-Care Moment

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.

Saje | Bath Soak

Lush | Bath Bomb

Gap | Logo Sweatshirt

Lululemon | Yoga Mat

Sephora | Eye Masks

A Beauty Refresh

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.

Sephora | Bronzer

Shoppers Drug Mart | French Pharmacy Kit

Sephora | Leave-in Conditioner

Sephora | Fragrance Kit

MAC Cosmetics | Lip Balm

Stylish Wardrobe Wins

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.

Gap | Shirt

American Eagle | Sandals

RW&Co. | Jeans

Pandora | Bracelet

Aritzia | Dress

A Happy Home

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.

H&M | Cutting Board

Stokes | Cast-Iron Pot

H&M | Apron

H&M | Planter

Stokes | Tea Set

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!

A DEEPER PERSPECTIVE

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

Q. Has painting murals always been your dream?

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!

Q. What was the process of painting this mural like?

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.

Q. How did you arrive at the name A DEEPER PERSPECTIVE?

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.

The Trend: Actually-Cool Athleisure

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.

Lululemon

JD Sports

Lululemon

Aritzia

Browns Shoes

The Trend: Fanciful Florals

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.

H&M

Torrid

H&M

American Eagle

Dynamite

The Trend: Slick Suiting

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.

RW&CO.

Reitmans

RW&CO.

Tip Top Tailors

H&M

The Trend: Pretty Pastels

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.

Forever 21

Call It Spring

Forever 21

Ardene

Aritzia

The Trend: By the Sea

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.

American Eagle

Aritzia

American Eagle

RW&CO.

Reitmans

Q. What kind of challenges have you faced along the way?

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.

Q. We’ve heard a lot about the BOM Sweetheart Box – what is it, and where can people get one?

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.

Q. What is BOM YEG doing this year for Black History Month?

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!

Q. What’s the best way for people to stay in touch with what you’re doing?

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.

Rachel Spencer Wong, content creator

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!”

Dylan Yang

Rachel’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Nudestix Nudies Glow Cream Highlighter Stick in Hey Honey (Available at Sephora): “My fave gold highlighter!”
2. ‘Dim Sum Palace’ by X. Fang (Available at IndigoSpirit): “I purchased this book for my cousin’s children during the holidays – in my childhood my cousins and I used to go to dim sum every week! Thought this would be a very special gift.”
3. Aesop Resurrection Duet (Available at Hudson’s Bay): “It’s tradition to clean house in anticipation of LNY – and I love any reason to stock up on my favourite luxury hand soap.”

Shop Nudestix | Shop books | Shop Aesop

Nudestix at Sephora

IndigoSpirit

Aesop at Hudson’s Bay

Mai Nguyen, author, ‘Sunshine Nails’

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.

Lucy Doan

Mai’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. ‘Lunar Love’ by Lauren Kung Jessen (Available at IndigoSpirit)
2. Jellycat Bashful Dragon Plus Toy (Shop at IndigoSpirit)
3. Dr. Martens Adrian Year of the Dragon Hair-On Tassel Loafers

Shop books | Shop toys | Shop Dr. Martens

IndigoSpirit

IndigoSpirit

Dr. Martens at Browns Shoes

Deborah Lau-Yu, editor-in-chief of Fête Chinoise and creative director of Palettera Inc.

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.

Chris Chong for Fête Chinoise

Deborah’s Lunar New Year Picks

1. Red sweater: “[It’s] always a good reason to choose a red sweater to add to the closet that can be worn at LNY and other occasions, like Christmas. [I’ve] already got mine.” (Editor’s Pick: Lilysilk Ultrafine Merino Wool Crewneck at Hudson’s Bay)
2. Gold bracelet: “When you receive lucky red pockets from elders or give pockets to others, the attention is on the hand gesture of giving and receiving.” (Editor’s Pick: Paris Jewellers Cosmic Bracelet With Pearl In 10kt Yellow Gold)
3. Red Hunter Boots (Available at Hudson’s Bay): “Some lucky red Hunter boots to do all the travelling, celebrating, home visits, and event set up, all while being protected from the rain.”

Shop red sweaters | Shop gold bracelets | Shop Hunter boots

Lilysilk at Hudson’s Bay

Paris Jewellers

Hunter at Hudson’s Bay

Sasha Mei, content creator, writer and co-founder of Yu + Mei

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.”

Sam Bolianatz

Sasha’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Pandora Two-tone Chinese Year of the Dragon Collier Necklace (Available at Pandora)
2. Chanel N°1 de Chanel Revitalizing Serum (Available at Hudson’s Bay)

Shop necklaces | Shop Chanel beauty

Pandora

Chanel at Hudson’s Bay

Hannah Sung, Canadian media veteran, award-winning journalist, co-founder Media Girlfriends

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.”

May Truong

Hannah’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair (Available at Sephora): “My skin is crazy dry right now, so I’ll use anything that is healing.
2. “A few baked treats for the family.” (Editor’s Pick: Lunar New Year Gift Tin from Purdy’s Chocolates)

Shop Dr. Jart+ | Explore Kingsway dining options

Dr. Jart+ at Sephora

Purdy’s Chocolates

Trevor Lui, chef, restauranter, author and co-creator of Highbell Group and Quell

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.”

Chef Trevor’s Lunar New Year Picks:

“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:

1. Paris Jewellers Asian Heritage Lotus Disc Pendant (Available at Paris Jewellers)
2. Sulwhasoo Lunar New Year First Care Activating Serum VI (Available at Sephora)
3. Gua Sha Stone (Available at Skin High)

Paris Jewellers

Sulwhasoo at Sephora

Skin High

Inspiring Tablescapes

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.

Hudson’s Bay

HomeSense

Embracing Autumn Décor

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.

Walmart

QE Home

Delicious Eats Await

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.

Pur & Simple

Moxies

Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving

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.

Stokes

Shop Harrow

Female-Founded Fashion

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.

RW&Co.

Rebecca Minkoff at The Bay