Mar / April 2012

Issue 105 • March - April 2012 The Source • 1

CHARTING NEW WATERSReviving Beaver Canoe in a fresh way, Roots reinforces its connection with the great Canadian outdoors

A window into the world of Roots Issue 105 • March/April 2012

Omer Stringer

Peter Vooys, Outdoorsman

2 • The Source Issue 105 • March - April 2012

Departments FINE PRINT

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL

GREEN TIP

GUESS WHO DROPPED IN

HEALTH TIP

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

ON THE MOVE

SPEAK TO MY AGENT

STAYING POWER

SPECIAL DELIVERYA selection of correspondence from the world of Roots

I N S I D EI S S U E 1 0 5

EXPRESS YOURSELF

PublishersMICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN

EditorROBERT SARNER

Interns AMANDA LAI

STEPHANIE LIPTONSHAYLA SCHIPPER

The Source i s pub l ished by Roots Canada Ltd. We welcome letters from readers for publication. Please address all correspondence to The Source, Letters to the Editor, Roots Canada, 1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6B 4C4 or by email to [email protected] Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Each issue of The Source is also available as a blog on the Roots website at www.thesource.roots.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rootsthesource.

ROOTS VILLAGE PROJECTThe new Roots community initiative officially launches

BETTER MUS’ COMERoots invites director Storm Saulter to celebrate the Canadian premiere of his film

SAFETY FIRSTThinkFirst Canada continues to promote physical health

FASHION BLOGGERSNotable Toronto fashionistas enjoy a private sneak peek of Roots merchandise

ROOTS HOME IN TAIWANA new flagship store opening brings Roots Home to Taipei

A YEAR OF MILESTONESMont Tremblant manager Carolyne Dupras celebrates 15 years with Roots

DONATING INVENTORYStaff and friends of Roots bring company clothing to children in need worldwide

We invite you to send us your letters and/or your most creative

photos or illustrations for publication in The Source.

Please send your submissions to [email protected]

SUPPORTING THE CAUSEWe extend our sincere thanks to Roots for your contribution to the Canadian Cosmetic, Toi-letry and Fragrance Association Foundation’s annual fundraiser, the Mirror Ball gala in Toronto. Valued donors, sponsors, sup-porters and patrons raised more than $450,000 to support the psycho-social needs of Canadian women with cancer.

We appreciate and value your support for the important resource the Foundation’s free programs and services provide to those faced with the challeng-es of cancer and its treatment. Allan LeverCCTFA Foundation, Toronto

SIZE MATTERSI’ve been a customer and lover of Roots for more than 20 years. I’ve always experienced great customer service but I feel like I need to let you know how truly awesome you guys are.

In December, I bought the Cape Breton cardi. After a few wears, I realized that the sleeve length was too short, but due to the holidays, I didn’t get a chance to deal with it.

The other day, I went to your Metrotown store to get the cardi switched. The manager I dealt with was great and I am now quite happy in my new size. Dilani AndrewsMaple Ridge, BC

UNITED IN AIDOn behalf of the Foresters insur-

ance company, I’d like to thank you for your donation to our fundraiser. We hosted a very successful Silent Auction and Fun Fair for the United Way that would not have been possible without your help.

In previous years, Foresters has helped the United Way fund their more than 200 community health and social service agen-cies in Toronto. With your help, to date we have raised $28,000 and we are still in the process of wrapping up our campaign.

We at Foresters are continu-ally inspired by the dedication and generosity of donors like Roots who answer the call to give again and again. Katharine RounthwaiteForesters, Toronto

DELIVERING THE GOODSMy fiancée and I recently visited your store in Park City, Utah where she fell in love with the Laurentian long down coat but didn’t purchase it. After imme-diately regretting her decision, we had it shipped from Park City to us in Maryland where we live.

But as it didn’t fit, we con-tacted the folks in Park City who kindly located a smaller size at your Birmingham, MI store. We shipped the original coat there, and they sent the smaller size to us. We could not help but feel taken care of in the best way possible throughout the whole process.

In this day and age, top level

customer service is something too often neglected. But every-body at Roots was extremely gracious to us. You have defi-nitely earned our loyalty and we look forward to shopping at Roots again. Matt BurkeTakoma Park, MD

ALL SMILESWe’d like to thank you for the wonderful experience you gave our daughter Lisa when you chose her for the varsity ad campaign this past year. It was a thrill for her and her family. How exciting for a girl from Northern Ontario to be forever connected to the Roots Family.

Lisa described her experi-ence with Roots just as we expected: first class, generous, fun and professional. We have always been huge fans of your company and will continue to be some of your most devoted customers.

We just wanted to let you know that Roots made a positive and lasting impression on our daughter, and we can’t thank you enough. It was definitely one of the highlights of 2011 for us.Jim and Cynthia Hysen Sudbury, Ontario

Roc

king

the

catw

alk

in A

spen


BEAVER CANOE REACHES NEW SHORES

Roots enhances the historic brand with new collection, staying true to Beaver Canoe’s outdoors heritage and original inspiration of Omer Stringer. By STEPHANIE LIPTON

In Canadian mythology, the canoe has a hallowed place. With its historical links to the country’s wilderness,

First Nations and early explor-ers, along with being an envi-ronmentally friendly mode of transportation and a staple of summer camp lore, the canoe is one of Canada's treasured icons.

As with Canada, the canoe played an important role in the history of Roots. For two Detroit teenagers attending Camp Tamakwa in the late 1950s/early 1960s, canoe trips contributed greatly to their discovery of nature, especially Ontario’s Al-gonquin Park. Their passion for canoeing and the bush grew in no small part thanks to legend-ary outdoorsman and master canoeist Omer Stringer, Co-Founder of Tamakwa. Their time at Tamakwa would ultimately help lead Michael Budman and

Don Green to move to Canada and start Roots.

Omer would also figure in Don and Michael’s future in a way they could never have imagined while at Tamakwa. His canoeing prowess was the in-spiration behind Roots’ involve-ment in creating Beaver Canoe 30 years ago – a brand that today is enjoying a major resurgence.

“Beaver Canoe is for the urban tripper,” says Michael. “Everything essential for a canoe trip is proving useful in the city. We live in a mobile society. Backpacks, sturdy boots, and quality inner and outerwear are necessary in order to be prepared for an entire day, to be ready to face anything. There’s been a revival in people’s interest for quality products from heritage brands, apparel that is authentic and unique, and Beaver Canoe is just that.”

This spring, Roots is introducing a new and expanded Beaver Canoe col-lection. Designed for men, women and children with adventurous spirits, the line uses earthy, natural materials and includes items such as the Pathfinder and Portage shorts, Camp and Baseball shirts, and of course, a va-riety of variations on

the classic sweatshirts and pants. “Beaver Canoe brings Roots

deeper into the fabric of Cana-dian history,” says Peter Vooys, Camp Tamakwa staff member, outdoorsman and the face of Beaver Canoe. “It enhances Roots by expanding its heri-tage. Beaver Canoe draws on historical inspiration from the various people involved with the establishment and develop-ment of a young Canada. Beaver Canoe is the brand of adventure. Solid and time-tested by the true explorers.”

As a brand, Beaver Canoe is a modern classic, with an engag-ing back-story of great personal significance for those involved with its birth. For many, to see its revival is meaningful. It’s far

more than just an aesthetically pleasing logo. Beaver Canoe is a manifestation of Omer Stringer’s talents and passions.

“I admired Omer immense-ly,” says Michael, a celebrated canoe instructor at Tamakwa during the mid-1960s. “He had a genuinely original way of look-ing at the world and living

Continued on next page

Michael and Omer Stringer take part in Canoe Day in Toronto in 1987

Omer in one of his handcrafted canoes, with Don, (left), and Michael in foreground in 1983

Beaver Canoe vests from the 1980s

Peter Vooys stands tall in Algonquin Park, Beaver Canoe’s most natural setting


Continued from previous pagein nature. He taught me the skill of canoeing which changed my life. Beaver Canoe is, and will always be, meaningful to me on a variety of levels. It feels great to see the enthusiasm with which the brand is being embraced today.”

The story of Beaver Canoe began more than 30 years ago. In 1980, Vic Norris and Dave Bale, with silent partner How-ard Perlmutter, became co-owners of Camp Tamakwa. For the previous 45 years, Tamakwa had used canvas-covered cedar strips, provided by the “Cadil-lac” of canoes, Chestnut Canoes. The New Brunswick-based manufacturer faced bankruptcy and prepared to shut its doors. Unable to find another supplier of quality canoes, the owners de-vised a creative solution to their quandary; they would construct their own canoes.

“We knew no one better to approach than Tamakwa’s Co-Founder, our mentor, Omer Stringer,” says Dave Bale. “He was a master canoeist and an exceptionally skilled craftsman. At the time, he was building his own canoes and uniquely styled cherry wood paddles. We approached Omer about teaching our staff about canoe building during the camp’s off-season. He was happy to oblige. All that lacked was a production space.”

Upon learning of Tamakwa’s need, camp alumni Michael and Don offered Vic and Dave some unused space in the Roots fac-tory. In the winter of 1982, Omer and his team began making canoes, commencing a Roots-Tamakwa partnership.

Once the entrepreneurial

spirit took hold, Tamakwa and Roots decided to create a brand together and immortalized the Omer stylized canoes. The aptly named Beaver Canoe incorpo-rates two prominent symbols in Canadian history while com-bining elements from the two contributing establishments.

They contracted Richard Male, a now retired graphic designer, to create the Beaver Canoe logo. Inspired by early Canadian 20th century de-signs and the Algonquin’s art and culture, he designed a picturesque diamond em-blem. Osten-sibly carved from a wood foundation, the logo features the symbol of Roots and Tamakwa – and the namesake of the brand – a beaver. Edged by a natural patterning, the rustic font reads “BEAVER CANOE, built by Omer Stringer, Beaver Canoe Company, Algonquin Park, Canada”.

Manufacturing six canoes that year, which still remain a part of the Tamakwan fleet today, Omer and his team con-tinued to build more canoes, but for general retail. Each canoe deck included a brass nameplate embossed with the diamond emblem and was finished with a canvas decal featuring a stylized horizontal version of the logo on both sides at the hull’s midpoint.

In 1983, Roots added branded accessories and apparel to the Beaver Canoe repertoire. Canoe building and marketing proved a costly and complex endeavor, forcing Beaver Canoe to reassess its business direc-tion. The company decided to concentrate instead on producing sweatshirts and T-shirts. With 19 retail locations across the coun-try, including a flagship store in Toronto’s Hazelton Lanes, Beaver Canoe fashion items had become a must-have for campers and city-slickers alike.

Together with Roots, Lloyd Perlmutter, son of Tamakwa

co-owner Howard, managed Beaver Canoe. Due to diverg-ing professional philosophies, Roots opted to sell its half of the company to Lloyd, who ran the brand until early 1992.

Though purchasing back the Beaver Canoe brand in the mid-1990s, Roots waited until the right moment to re-introduce it into select retail stores. In winter

2010, Roots decided to sell a Beaver Canoe hoody to gauge mar-ket interest in the heritage brand. The sweatshirts, available in Roots green and canoe red, flew off the shelves, inspiring the Roots design team to expand the collection in

months that followed. “We’ve established Beaver

Canoe to be a more rugged brand, inspiring and encourag-ing travel and exploration in the great Canadian outdoors,” says Stephanie Holden, Creative Director for Roots. “Beaver Ca-noe is about getting outside and enjoying the wilderness, be it with canoeing, camping, snow-shoeing, portaging, hiking, or walking. It enhances the Roots aesthetic through its focus on outdoor adventure. Supporting the Roots brand, yet maintain-ing its own identity as a distinct entity.”

Working with Stephanie and her team, Syd Beder, Product Development Coordinator for Roots, appreciates how the sub-brand enables a creative growth.

“With a focus on rustic luxury, Beaver Canoe gives the designers an opportunity to pioneer new areas for Roots,” says Syd. “Using the brand for aesthetic exploration, Roots opens itself to new customers. It is the perfect partnership.”

Both inspired by Algonquin Park, the subtle difference be-tween Beaver Canoe and Roots reflects the complimentary yet distinct aspects of Canadian his-tory – the canoe and the cabin, the camping trip and the cottage getaway.

“Roots and Beaver Canoe represent great quality and integ-rity in fabrication,” says Stepha-nie. “Beaver Canoe includes special pieces that are trimmed with leather or have different fastenings. However, similar to their history, they are collec-tions that come from the same place but travel different yet parallel courses. Beaver Canoe compliments the Roots aesthetic and works within its line. You can easily pair a Beaver Canoe hoody with a Roots bag or a Roots shirt with a Beaver Canoe woven pant.”

In addition, the Beaver Canoe collection includes a developing line of accessories. Baseball and Waxed Field caps, bandanas, socks and daypacks will be introduced into select retail stores starting in April.

Due to the tremendous cus-tomer demand for Beaver Canoe products, Roots plans to con-tinue developing its rustic luxury sub-brand. The commitment to a growing product line under the brand’s umbrella may one day lead to a revival in standalone Beaver Canoe stores. Michael says in the future he would love to see a return to canoe manufac-turing, bringing Beaver Canoe back to its roots.

Roots model Rachelle Goulding

Though inspired by the outdoors, Beaver Canoe looks good anywhere

Standing the test of time: Peter does an old Omer trick

Omer shows how it’s

done


STYLING FOR CHANGEThe Roots Village Project celebrates launch with fashionable event in Toronto

In mid-February, the Roots flagship store in Toronto buzzed with excitement as

members of the Roots Village Project took part in an evening of fun, fashion and photog-raphy. Representatives of the city’s wellness community were styled in pieces from the newly launched Active Athletics collec-tion and captured in a photo-booth style shoot by professional photographers for the Roots Facebook page.

Laurie Campbell, Director of Health and Wellness, is the driving force behind the Village Project. As a yoga practitioner for the past 13 years, Laurie channels its tenants of spiritual awareness, community, and physical wellness into the Vil-lage Project through various programs and initiatives targeted at at-risk urban youth in Toronto.

Inspired by the Nigerian proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” the Village Project brings together 50 local health and wellness practitioners, yoga instructors, personal trainers, dancers, art therapists, food-

ies, nutritionists and eco-savvy entrepreneurs. United by the common goal of bettering their community through education and activity, the Village Project Ambassadors have been divided into five teams and matched with youth participants. The Village Project has teamed up with the Academy of Lions Foundation, a not-for-profit that aims to elimi-nate barriers to health, fitness and nutrition. Through exercise and skill building, the program fosters a sense of community and self-empowerment.

“I wanted to create an initia-tive that had integrity behind it,” says Laurie. “People who go into athletics as a career usually had someone supporting them from the beginning and due to this, understand the importance of leadership and mentoring. The best way to support youth is to interact with them in an environ-ment where self-esteem can be built.”

Grethe Liverud, Roots Yoga Studio teacher, became involved with the project as a way to contribute to the community-at-

large by sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge of yoga with youth that may not be exposed to the practice.

“It’s a dynamic, organic program that grants you the opportunity to become both a brand ambassador and a youth mentor,” says Grethe.

Laurie and her team viewed the gathering of like-minded individuals as an ideal opportu-nity to display the cornerstone of Roots clothing: athletic wear. The new Active Athletics line has been integrated into the project. Each ambassador has been outfitted with a selection of pieces and asked to share feedback about fit, functionality, comfort and aesthetic appeal.

“The style aspect is part of the project because it’s impor-tant to get the clothing on people who matter,” says Laurie. “Our ambassadors are out there in the community and build brand awareness through word of mouth.”

For the style launch event, stylists from the Visual Depart-ment drew upon key pieces from

the Active Athletics collection for each Village mentor and cre-ated looks which were captured in a photo booth-type shoot. Hair stylists from John Steinberg and make-up artists from GEE Beauty helped make the ambas-sadors camera-ready. Roots gifted each mentor with the essentials for going about their health-conscious and physically active lifestyles.

Through social media, both the Active Athletics line and the mentorship program get exposure. The youth partici-pants are encouraged to network and connect with their mentors through an online community via Facebook. The photo-booth images from the style event are available on the Roots Facebook page and link visitors to the main Village Project website. Since late February, two dollars from each item sold from the Roots Active Athletics Collec-tion go to support the Roots Village Project.• For more information on the Roots Village Project, visit www.roots.com/rootsvillageproject

Grethe Liverud, yoga instructor

Justin Haley, yoga instructor

Sheldon Shannon, yoga instructor

Brent Bishop, personal trainer

Anne Theriault, administrationRoots Yoga Studio

Karen Jull, children’s yoga instructor

Brooke Tantzi, creator of Dancing With Life

Allan Bekerman, owner of iQFood Co.


TAKING ROOTS BY STORMBetter Mus’ Come celebrates its Canadian premiere

Daring to dive into one of the darker moments of Jamaica’s storied his-

tory, filmmaker Storm Saulter explores the conflict behind the 1978 Green Bay Massacre in his film Better Mus’ Come. The di-rector, accompanied by his lead actor Sheldon Shepherd, visited Toronto in early February for the movie’s Canadian debut. Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green invited Storm to publicly exhibit photographs and posters from the film over cocktails and Jamaican cuisine at the Bloor Street store. The evening event gave the director an opportunity to interact with fans and film enthusiasts in a casual, intimate setting.

“I have been connected to Roots for many years,” says Storm, 28. “The Budmans and the Greens have been coming to my hometown of Negril for quite some time now and I shot a campaign for the company a

couple years back. Since Toronto is Roots’ town, it seemed only natural we would get together at the store to listen to some reggae, eat some great food, and celebrate the Canadian premier of the film that examines the roots of Jamaican contemporary history.”

The North American debut headlined the opening week-end for the Black History Month film screenings at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in down-town Toronto. The venue also hosted the Caribbean Tales Youth Film Festival, giving Toronto-based Caribbean youth a chance to view a variety of stories from across the islands.

“This year, Jamaica celebrates 50 years of indepen-dence,” says Storm. “There are many things about our personal identity that

we’re still trying to figure out as a young

Now in its third year, the an-nual Aspen Fashion Week features noteworthy ski

designs at high altitudes. Show-casing upcoming collections from outerwear, technical and après-ski designers, this four-day outdoor style fest is unique in the catwalk community. To the delight of all the Aspen ski bunnies, this was the first year that Roots presented upcoming winter apparel in the mid-March fashion show.

“I am so pleased we had the opportunity to increase our visibility in the community,” says Peggy McCaffergy, the

Aspen store manager since 1996. “Fashion Week takes place dur-ing Spring Break, and our town is always bustling then. Partici-pating in the event is going to be great exposure for Roots.”

The idea to take part in Aspen Fashion Week came to Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman while visiting the Rocky Mountain town during the festivities last year. Roots pre-

STYLE FOR THE SLOPESRoots showcases upcoming winter collection in Aspen

sented apparel alongside winter wear designers Dale of Norway, Fera Skiwear, Helly Hansen, Killy, Krimson Klover, Skea and Sport Obermeyer.

The film’s star Sheldon Shepherd, (right), with Roxanne Wright

Roots Business-to-Business guru David Jackson with author Mary Jennifer Payne

Posing with a movie poster, Delrose Miller Brown, (left), and Jenine Gregory

Better Mus’ Come director Storm Saulter and Nadine Spencer

country. This film is about analyzing some of the darker elements in our history by ex-amining the connection between politics and gang warfare. Basi-cally, we are looking back at

ourselves, unafraid to tell our own story from the inside out, which is something unique.”

Winning awards at Caribbean film festivals in Trinidad and Tobago and in the Bahamas, Better Mus’ Come (2010) is a note-worthy cinematic piece. Storm, a celebrated writer, photographer, editor, director

and cinematog-rapher, held two

screenings of his film before departing for

L.A. and New York for further premieres.

Après-ski style à la Roots

Behind the scenes: pre-catwalk activity

Phot

os: R

yan

Sing

h


SAFETY FIRSTRoots upholds commitment to philanthropy and friendship by supporting ThinkFirst Canada

Staying true to its tradition of charity and friendship, Roots recently teamed up

with ThinkFirst Canada for an evening with skating champion Patrick Chan. Founded in 1992 by Dr. Charles Tator, a longtime friend of Roots, the national charitable organization brings awareness to brain and spinal cord injury prevention.

In late January, excitement filled the chilly air in both the skating rink and event space at Toronto’s Evergreen Brick-works. Figure skating and hockey superstars came together for a skating show with the goal of spreading ThinkFirst’s mes-sage. The organization, which has chapters across the country, uses educational programs to teach young people how to reduce sports-related brain and spinal cord injuries.

Hosted by comedian Mike Bullard, the ice extravaganza featured many of Canada’s skat-ing and hockey stars, including Don Jackson, Olympic medal-ist; Cynthia Phaneuf, Cana-dian figure skating champion; Alexandra Paul and Mitchell

Islam, Canadian figure skating junior champions; and for-mer NHL players Brad May, Claude Lemieux, and Steve Thomas. During the show, opera star Robert Pilon serenaded the crowd of 300, which was fol-lowed by inspiring remarks from Dr. Tator.

A leading Toronto-based neurosurgeon who has had a major impact on spinal cord injury research, prevention and treatment, Dr. Tator has been a close friend of Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green since well before the company began. Dr. Tator met Michael at Camp Tamakwa in 1956 during a summer which proved particularly significant.

“I met my wife that summer and we have been together for the past 52 years,” recalls Dr. Tator with a smile. “It’s also the summer I met Michael.”

With a shared love for Tamakwa, Algonquin Park and hockey, his friendship with Michael and Don blossomed over the years. While working in Algonquin Park in the summer of 1970, Michael discovered an

ideal cottage for Dr. Tator and his family that they still enjoy to this day.

“My wife and I were prob-ably the first couple to see the Roots Negative Heel shoe,” says Dr. Tator. “We were the focus group. Michael brought them over to the cottage one day and we thought these would never sell. Thankfully, we were wrong.”

When Dr. Tator started ThinkFirst Canada, Roots was one of the first companies to support the organization.

“Roots has done and contin-ues to do so many good things for us,“ says Dr. Tator. “The ideas of playing sports safely and preventing injuries, especial-ly for young people, resonated with Michael and Don. They’ve helped promote our concepts and have sponsored ThinkFirst from the beginning. They’ve been ex-cellent friends and supporters.”

The event at Brickworks was a perfect opportunity for Roots to continue its commitment to both Dr. Tator and ThinkFirst. As one of the main sponsors, Roots contributed custom

Patrick Chan

Dr. Charles Tator, (left), adressed the crowd after Don Jackson, (right), skatedElegance on ice, figure skaters dancing

From left to right: Michael Budman, Olympian Patrick Chan, Dr. Charles Tator, and Don Green

designed tuques made for the occasion.

“The tuques were sensa-tional,” says Dr. Tator. “They’re so nicely done and it’s all due to the skill of Michael and Don. To have the name Roots on the tuques means so much to me because of the relationship I have with the company and co-founders.”

Raising more than $20,000, Roots was proud to demonstrate its ongoing support of ThinkFirst Canada and Dr. Tator.• For more information about spinal and brain injury preven-tion and how to get involved with ThinkFirst Canada, go to www.thinkfirst.ca

SKATING SAFEHelpful tips from ThinkFirst

Canada to significantly reduce your chances of an injury while skating

• Skates should be snug and supportive• Wear suitable clothing to maintain optimal muscle temperature• Perform proper warm-up and flexibility exercises• Wear proper equipment, such as knee and elbow pads, to reduce soft tis-sue injuries. Gloves likely reduce hand injuries• Ensure that supervision is provided, especially for younger and inexperienced skaters• Novice skaters should fol-low instructions on proper ice-skating techniques and the use of protective gear

Former Leafs including Brad May, Claude Lemieux and Steve Thomas, conquer the ice


MADE IN CANADA WITH LOVEToronto fashion bloggers enjoy a private sneak peek at new Roots leather

Over the past year, in ap-preciation of the growing influence of bloggers in

today’s fashion world, Roots has reached out to involve their community. In late January, in the most recent initiative, the E-Commerce Deparment hosted an event for fashion bloggers, inviting the industry insiders to a private preview of the new Made With Love in Canada collection at Toronto’s Bloor Street store. The function gave the style mavens a chance to mingle with Roots staff, check out the new leather goods and, of course, shop a little.

“The fashion industry has really embraced the blogging community and it's important for us to build relationships with them,” says Tanja Zelko, Man-ager of Digital Marketing and Online Customer Experience for Roots. “By hosting these types of events, we can really connect with bloggers on a one-on-one basis and introduce our brand or, in some cases, re-introduce our brand. Many of these people live and breathe fashion, so by showcasing our new collections to them directly, it allows for the fashion bloggers to talk about our brand more authentically as they can picture how they'd wear the pieces, try them on and share those ideas and photos with their followers online.”

The event drew notable bloggers from across the city, including Gracie Carroll, Nelia

Belkova of StyleBlog.ca, Jay Strut, and Rapcity host and 1 Love T.O. founder Tyrone “T-RexXx” Edwards. The fashion aficionados took advantage of the occasion to ask questions about Roots leather goods and the company’s design teams, and commended the new direc-tions of the season.

“Valentine's Day is a favou-rite of mine, and I think it's great that Roots dedicated an entire collection to love,” says Gracie. “For a day dedicated to hearts, it’s nice to see the polka dot, one of this season's biggest trends, make an appearance.”

Fellow blogger Jay Strut was equally enthusiastic.

“I found the new collection astounding,” he says. “There’s such great variety and I found it progressively fashion forward and, as always, great quality. I can't wait to get my hands on a couple of amazing and specific pieces. I’m still oohing and ahh-ing over this collection.”

Last year, Roots began hosting functions to connect directly with the fashion com-munity. It organized a casual

networking event for Toronto’s bloggers and, a few months later, invited the writers to the leather factory for a tour. It’s initiatives like this that results in Roots being a company often acclaimed for its digital market-ing strategies. Looking forward, the Web Department plans to continue building relationships with fashion bloggers by hosting events for them just before new collections launch. • Stay up to date with the fashion bloggers: Jay Strut, JayStrut.com, @JayStrut; Gracie Car-roll, GracieCarroll.com, @GracieCarroll; Nelia Belkova, StyleBlog.ca, @StyleBlog

• Gracie Carroll: Canadian heritage• Jay Strut: Quality apparel• Nelia Belvoka: Canada

Blogger Jay Strut takes time to pose while networking

New sandals and Kristina bag

Bloggers unite (L to R): Kimberly Lyn of The Souls of My Shoes, Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Richard Fabregui of Toronto is Fashion

FINE PRINT

Here are some recent sightings of Roots in the newspapers, magazines and websites:

A selection of coverage of Roots in the media

• Village Post: Feb. 29. Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker features the Banff Bag in cognac box leather.• 24 Hours: Feb. 23. Features the Roots Old School Bag on the cover of both print and online editions.• Hello!: Feb. 20. Highlights the Grace Bag in black and white in ‘Opposites Attract’ feature.• National Post: Feb. 18. Spotlights the Roots French Tote.• The Kit: Feb. 16. Presents the Kristina Bag in sunshine yellow.• Now: Feb. 16. Showcases the Unisex Urban Traveler Bag in red.• The Closet: Feb. 15. Fea-tures the Knit and Slouch top in black and grey.• National Post: Feb. 11. Highlights the Heart Change Purse in Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.• Cityline: Feb. 10. Features Roots in fashion segment ‘How to get the Jennifer Aniston look’.• Style.com: Feb. 9. Features Flare magazine’s Marketing Director Mosha Lundstrom Halbert wearing the Roots Sorority Jacket. • Sweetlife.ca: Feb. 6. High-lights the heart-shaped Coin Pouch for Valentine’s Day.• Toronto Star: Feb. 4. Spot-lights the Banff Bag in brown leather.• EnRoute: Jan. issue High-lights the Roots Village Bag in chocolate. • iVillage.ca: Jan. 31. Spot-lights the Edie Bag in Valen-tine’s Day Gift Guide.• Globe and Mail: Jan. 28. Features the Charlotte Tote in black and tan as well as the Fairisle Scarf, Pendleton Short and Western Riding Boot.• Hello!: Jan. 23. Highlights the Western Sheepskin Boot in ‘Get a Boot’ feature.• Globe and Mail: Jan. 21. Spotlights the Sorority Tote in Style section.• Flare Magazine: Jan. 17. Features men’s Roots leather shoes in ‘Must Have Spring Shoes’.

EXPERTS WEIGH INWe asked them: “What does Roots mean to you?”


With just a week to go before the Chinese New Year and a couple

of days ahead of an important presidential election, the recent launch of the Roots flagship store in Taiwan took place at an auspicious moment in the life of the Asian country.

Located in downtown Taipei, the new Roots emporium is the 46th and largest store in Taiwan. Spread out over two levels, it covers more than 5,000 square feet and showcases the full Roots experience. Notably, the new location hosts Asia’s first Roots Home department and the second Roots Lodge Café.

“There’s something about Taiwan and its people that make it such fertile ground for Roots,” says Co-Founder Michael Bud-man, who attended the store’s official opening event. “The Taiwanese have great respect for nature and the environment, which surely contributes to why they've embraced the Roots culture so enthusiastically.”

In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, the event included a fashion show highlighting the newly-launched Roots Dragon Collection. Featuring a line of tees, polos, hoodies and sweats, the collection has received highly positive feedback from

the Asian market. Reflecting the popularity of

the Roots brand in Taiwan, the launch attracted more than 100 journalists to the store along with Asian superstar Coco Lee, a celebrated singer and actress sometimes referred to as the Madonna of Asia.

In addition to the extensive press coverage of the event, Melinda McDonald, the VP of Wholesale and Business Devel-opment who has been to Asia several times for Roots, was fea-tured prominently in Elle Taiwan at the Roots Lodge Café.

Having visited Taiwan twice in the last six months, Michael is

ROOTS AT HOME IN TAIWANNew flagship store opens its doors in Taipei

proud of the company’s achieve-ments there.

“The success of Roots in Taiwan says a lot about our brand and a lot about Canada,” he explains. “And what it says makes me incredibly proud of our team, our company, and our country.”

In another development in Taiwan, Roots is planning the launch of its first standalone kids store and a separate leather shop in Taipei at the end of March.

Since making its debut in Taiwan in 1996, Roots has be-come one of the country’s top in-ternational lifestyle brands. The new flagship store represents

a culmination of what the company has been build-ing there since its inception in Asia.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring China, the latest Roots store opened there a week after the Taipei launch. Covering just over 1,000 square feet, the new store is lo-cated in Chengdu, the capital city of Sechuan Province. With two other Roots stores in Chengdu and three in Shanghai, Roots now has six stores in China.Melinda McDonald’s feature in Elle Taiwan

Team picture: the new staff with Diane Bald, (back row second from left), Director of Roots Taiwan Matt Meng, (back row third from left), Coco Lee, and Michael Budman, (back row far right)

Donning the latest Roots styles, two models smile at opening fashion show

Melinda McDonald’s feature in Elle Taiwan

From left to right, Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman, Taiwanese singer Coco Lee, and Roots Home designer Diane Bald pose on the latest merchandise now available in Taipei


NEW & NOTEWORTHYA guide to just-launched Roots products

Mesh Raglan Crew, River Rock, $48

French Tote, Lollipop Prince with Norwegian Tan Trim, $188

Village Satchel, Lollipop Prince with Norwegian Tan Trim, $238

Village Bag, Prince, Aqua, $138

Pure Comfort Sweatpant, Canyon, $64Linen Camp Shirt, Chambray, $68 Bonita Lake Tee, Federal Blue Mix, $34

Beaver Canoe Crewneck Sweatshirt, Federal Blue, $68 Portage Short, True Khaki, $62


NEW & NOTEWORTHYA guide to just-launched Roots products

Jackson Football Tee, Cottage Red Mix, $39

Beaver Canoe Kanga Hoody, Federal Blue, $78 Beaver Canoe Baseball Tee, Federal Blue, $42

Keith Jacket, Lake Leather, $498 Elkwater Polo, Federal Blue, $68

Beaver Canoe Premium Hoody, Vintage Pepper, $78Pathfinder Utility Short, Multi, $62

Brewster Short, Chambray, $62

Trail L/S T, Pebble Mix/Cosmic Latte, $39


For members of The Trea-sures, working with an iconic Canadian brand such

as Roots represents a much-ap-preciated opportunity to expand their audience. This innovative collaboration, which began last summer, has since proved to be a good omen for the band.

Recently, The Treasures signed with an independent Toronto-based label that chose the band as its first recording artist. In addition, the group secured a residency at the Drake Hotel in Toronto this winter performing live concerts every week in January.

Playing together since 2009, the all-Canadian band was featured in the Roots Connecting Canada campaign last summer,

a marketing initia-tive that celebrated Canadian heritage.

“When Roots heard our music, they felt that it might be a good a match,” says the band’s drummer, Galen Pelley. “They approached us to ask if they could use a couple of our songs for their campaign. It was a good oppor-tunity for us to get

our music heard more widely.”The promotional video for

the Connecting Canada cam-paign featured three songs by The Treasures, (‘On My Own’, ‘Juice’, and ‘I Know You’).

At the core of the group is a strong bond of friendship. What initially began as an excuse to spend more time together eventually led to the genesis of this talented country-rock band. Inspired especially by such groups as The Flying Burrito Brothers, Wilco, and The Band, The Treasures bring an inno-vative bluegrass sound to the music scene.

Featuring band members Mi-chael Poskanzer, 25, (acoustic/vocals), Duncan Davies, 24, (guitar/vocals), Galen Pelley, 24, (percussion), Liam Cohl, 25, (bass/vocals) and Mike Eckert, 25, (pedal steel guitar/dobro), The Treasures remain true to the traditional country-soul spirit and Americana-roots-infused rock.

When asked about the origin of their name, the band recalls what the word ‘treasure’ initially meant to them.

“We like the associations that it evokes,” says Michael. “Everyone has an individual

treasure, it’s something the audi-ence can relate to.”

During a Roots event last fall in connection with the 2011 Toronto International Film Festi-val, The Treasures played a live concert at the flagship store on Bloor Street where they enter-tained guests.

To show its appreciation for the Toronto-based band and their music, Roots gave each member a matching leather bag.

“We all grew up with the Roots brand as a household sta-ple,” says band member Duncan. “It’s great to support and work with such a respected Canadian company.”

Galen, the band’s percus-sionist, praises Roots for its comfortable apparel and iconic sweatpants.

“When you’re not on stage wearing Western gear, and you’re in a van going to Montre-al in minus 30 degree weather, Roots sweat pants are essential.”

The group hopes to continue its relationship with Roots as it prepares for the release of its de-but album in the coming months.

The Treasures will be play-ing at the Dakota Tavern, a bar in Toronto, during Canadian Music Week in March. • Visit www.thetreasures.ca for more information

CANADIAN TREASURESLocal band receives support from Roots

DONATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL SOUTHRoots staff and friends collect extra stock to send overseas

Having often donated merchandise to large charitable organizations

such as World Vision and the Canadian Red Cross in the past, Roots recently wanted to do something different this time around. Allocating 3,000 units of inventory for donation, the company created an opportunity to do something creative.

As part of a charitable initiative, the staff at the Orfus Road store in Toronto worked diligently to collect and organize surplus merchandise, which was then shipped to the Roots head office.

In mid-January, a team of 10 head office associates volunteered their lunch break to sort through the merchandise –

which included children’s cloth-ing, hats and other accesso-ries – cutting off price tags and organizing them into boxes for various chari-table donations.

Employees at the head office were encouraged to give the items to organizations and causes important to them.

“The goal was to do as many nice things as possible,” says a Director of IT, who led the proj-ect. “It’s about doing something different and meaningful.”

Distribution channels that have received Roots items to date include The Deacon’s Cupboard, a food bank run by the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, and Out of the Cold, a shelter for the less fortunate, both of which are in Toronto.

A community centre in Peterbor-ough also received the items, as well as three local church groups that deliver charitable items to third world countries such as Guatemala and Cambodia.

A couple of head office em-ployees are also taking some of the inventory with them on their Caribbean holidays, giving the items to those in need.

Meanwhile, in early Febru-ary, a friend of Roots in the travel industry brought a suitcase full of hats to Africa and person-ally distributed them to children in cities in Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

With many boxes of chil-dren’s apparel and accessories left to give away, Roots wel-comes suggestions for recipients in need. If you have an organiza-tion or cause in mind that would benefit from these donations, contact Robin Nelson at [email protected].

The Treasures, (L to R): Galen Pelley, Duncan Davies, Michael Poskan-zer, Liam Cohl and Mike Eckert

Michael in an Award Jacket

Looking smart in Roots hats


WORLDCLASS DAREDEVIL FLEXES FOR HIS BRANDCanadian Olympian Jason Burnett opts for Roots apparel for his official website

Holding the world record for the highest degree of difficulty completed in a

trampoline routine, Canadian athlete Jason Burnett, 25, is now training for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. With a rich archive of v i d e o footage f rom previous

competi-tions,

and as a self-proclaimed enthu-

siast of personal videos, he

launched his official website in early January to better connect with his fans.

The main page of the website displays the athlete flexing his muscles while sport-

ing a Roots black long sleeved zip-up and red sweatpants. Last summer, the company gave Jason, and fellow trampolin-ists Karen Cockburn, 31, and Rosie MacLennan, 23, apparel

to represent Roots at My Best Play Day, an initiative that promotes athleticism and healthy living for Toron-tonians. The trio

took turns per-forming their

rou-tines

for event attend-ees,

showcasing their abilities. Roots agreed to outfit the trampolin-ists, following a request from Katherine Langdon, Commu-nications Manager for Spring-free Trampoline Inc., that she made on behalf of the athletes. Karen and Rosie will also be

competing for Canada this summer in London and

can be found sporting a black Roots blazer in

the photo galleries on their respective websites.

“I liked the look and feel of Roots cloth-ing,” says Jason. “It’s

important for us to wear Canadian

companies. As athletes, we are proud to be Canadian, and Roots clothing is a great way to represent this pride in our everyday lives.”

Commencing his trampoline career at age 10, Jason trained for only four years before enter-ing his first competition. Born

and raised in Toronto, he cur-rently belongs to the local club Skyriders Trampoline Place. Gearing up for his second Olym-pic competition, the University of Toronto student hopes to surpass his showing at the Bei-jing 2008 games where he won a Silver Medal for Canada. • Catch Jason in action at www.jasonburnett.ca, connect with Karen at www.karen-cockburn.ca and Rosie at www.rosiema-clennan.ca

STYLING SPORTSCASTERSRoots keeps Sportsnet anchors warm for assignment outdoors

Once a year, fans of the National Hockey League have the opportunity to

watch a game in its more histori-cal form, played on an outdoor ice rink. In early January, the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers faced off in the annual Winter Classic, drawing nearly five million TV viewers in North America. The

more observant ones noticed that sportcasters covering the event for Rogers Sportsnet wore custom downjackets provided by Roots.

The winter jackets, given to on-air personalities such as Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean, Daren Millard, Hazel Mae, Christine Simpson and Damien Cox, feature the Sportsnet logo

on the chest. First appearing during the 2012 Winter Classic Alumni Game in Philadelphia, Sportsnet anchors later donned their Roots outerwear for the 2012 Winter Classic, the AHL Outdoor Classic in Hamilton, and the 59th annual All-Star Game in Ottawa in late January.

Last October, while looking for appropriate winter ap-

parel for outdoor broadcasting, Sportsnet stylist Debra Berman contacted Syd Beder, Roots Product Development Coordina-tor, and asked him if Roots could outfit the on-air sportscasters with custom apparel. Clearly, she’d come to the right place.

“Roots is a Canadian com-pany that caters to Canadian style across the country,” says Jennifer Neziol, Sportsnet’s Director of Communications. “Sportsnet is fuelled by a strong nation-wide fan base, and we love to feed their passion for sports. We see a parallel be-tween Roots and Sportsnet and therefore wanted our sportcast-ers to wear quality pieces from a Canadian company, reflecting our philosphy through presenta-tion and appearance.”

On-site reporters, camera-men and hosts from the affiliated radio station the Fan 590 such as Bob McCown, Tim Micallef, Sid Seixeiro, and Jeff Blair, also received the Roots jackets.

Karen in her Roots blazerJason’s homepage picture

From left to right, Hockey Central’s Daren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean in their Roots jackets


GOING WITH GOOGLEIT Department announces that 100th Roots employee makes switch to Gmail

As Google continues to conquer the world, one of its services is now be-

ing integrated into the Roots workplace. Like most companies today, Roots relies on email for much of its internal and external communication, now made more effective thanks to Google.

In early Febru-ary, Roots reached a landmark in its on-going project to convert email services from Microsoft Out-look to Google’s own electronic mail solution: Gmail. When a graph-ic designer signed on, it marked the 100th Roots em-ployee to have his email address setup on the Gmail service.

“With approximately 300 email addresses under the Roots.com umbrella, we still have a ways to go,” says the Director of IT. “We plan to have everyone on the new system by early next

year.”Over the years, Roots

invested considerable resources in maintaining its own internal email system using Microsoft Outlook. Users often lamented the lack of storage space and the

limited access to email when out-side the Roots

head office. Gmail provides a cost-ef-

fective solution that overcomes many of these challenges, offer-ing various benefits including:• More space: Roots Gmail al-lows for 300 times more space than Microsoft Outlook.

• Effective search engine: Roots Gmail uses the powerful Google engine to search through mail-boxes.• Visual Aids: Labels can be used to organize mailboxes and emails can be stored under more than one label. Stars can high-light certain emails and act as a visual reminder for follow-ups. Filters allow for messages to be automatically organized into

folders or marked with stars. • Connectivity: Roots Gmail can be accessed from anywhere in the world with a browser as it works on any platform. • Management: Using a compa-ny-issued Blackberry allows us-ers to manage email only once,

no more double deleting. • Security: Roots Gmail uses the same encryption strategies as bank websites.

The IT Department says that moving onto Gmail is a big step forward. By doing this, Roots can reduce costs, increase stor-age and optimize mobility while

maintaining security. This project show-cases one of the many areas where IT is evolv-ing in order to stay com-petitive in this ever-changing industry.

As there are several dif-

ferences between Gmail and Mi-crosoft Outlook, the IT Depart-ment at Roots offers orientation classes and a self-guided web tutorial to help with user adjust-ment. As an added bonus, Roots email addresses will not change after moving onto Gmail.

L to R: Jessie Vetterl, Donna Willock and Brenda Lee

DÉJÀ VUA voyage back in a time to a vintage Roots moment from the early 1990s

In 1987, Roots began a multi-year sponsorship

of Canadian heavyweight

boxing champion Michael ‘Razor’ Ruddock, providing him with customized Roots

apparel and promoting his career.

The collaboration began a few months before Razor took part in a Canadian Heavyweight Champion-ship title fight during which he wore customized Roots products, including a satin boxing robe, shorts and a leather Award Jacket. Even his personal logo was specially designed by Roots. In 1990, he won the World Boxing Association’s Heavy-weight title.

After much anticipation, Razor faced four-time world champion Mike Tyson in Las Vegas in March 1991. Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green attended the bout as part of a delegation from Canada supporting Razor. In the seventh round, in a highly controversial call, the referee ended the fight prematurely,

thinking Razor was in no condition to continue. A few months later, the two box-ers met again in a rematch in which Razor lost in the 12th and final round.

Born Donovan Ruddock in Saint Catherine, Jamai-ca, the Toronto-resident, now 49, won 38 of his 44 professional boxing match-es. Although he earned the nickname “Razor” early in his boxing career for his cutting jab, he was better known for his powerful left hook and uppercut, which he called "The Smash." In 1992, Razor won the International Boxing Coun-cil’s Heavyweight title, and the Canadian Heavyweight title in 2001, a few months before he retired.

The sponsorship of Ra-zor is part of the longstand-ing tradition of Roots sup-porting Canadian athletes.


GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN...Taking attendance of special guests in the world of Roots

Celebrities have long made a point of shopping at anddeveloping friendly ties

with Roots. Here are the latest sightings of prominent figures in entertainment and sports who recently visited Roots stores, the head office, factory or were seen wearing Roots.• Bloor Street, Toronto –Canada’s travel couple, D Plan-et, also known as Dave Bouskill and Deb Corbell, visited the flagship store for an afternoon of shopping in early February.• Beverly Hills, CA – Actress Annette Bening stopped by Roots to pick up the Shearling Motorcycle Boots and the Mo-nique Bag in red in late Febru-ary.• Sioux City, IA – Singer Jamie Grace was captured sporting Roots sweatpants while taking a breaking during her tour.

HEALTH TIP #66Easy ways to stay healthy

• Edmonton, AB – Food Net-work personality John Catucci stepped out of the kitchen for a shopping trip – and a hug – at Roots in early January.• Beverly Hills, CA – The well loved Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan dropped by Roots for some activewear in late February.• Beverly Hills, CA – Action movie star Dolph Lundgren visited Roots in February to stock up on leather. He took home the Matthew Boots, and purchased the Western Boots and Lauren Jacket for his girlfriend.• Toluca Lake, CA – Actress Kirsten Dunst and her boy-

friend actor Garrett Hedlund were spotted in Roots sweats while searching for their cat in early February. The couple spent an afternoon cycling around postering their neighbourhood for their beloved pet ‘Tazzy’.

Annette Bening

Cesar Milan

Jamie Grace

Deb Corbell, (left), and Dave Bouskill

Kirsten Dunst, (right), and Garrett Hedlund

Dolph Lundgren

John Catucci gets a hug while shopping in Edmonton

INTEGRATE SEASON’S BOUNTY INTO YOUR DIET:

This spring, enjoy nutritionally beneficial herbs and vegetables:

• Fiddlheads are the young, unfurled leaves of the ostrich fern. The coiled veg-etable contains significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.• Mint is an excellent aid with indigestion and bloat-ing. It contains high levels of vitamin A, C and man-ganese. Essential mint oil contains antibiotic proper-ties and inhibits the growth of certain types of fungus. • Watercress, regarded as a purifying herb, acts as a diuretic and stimulates circulation, resulting in a clearer complexion. Water-cress contains significant amounts of calcium, folic acid and iron.• Kale is extremely high in folic acid and iron and con-tains powerful antioxidants linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cataracts. Kale can help reduce the risk of cancer and can be easily integrat-ed into your diet through smoothies or salads. • Sources: foodrecipe.org, webmd.com/food-recipes/default.html

The Source is now on Tumblr, stay

up-to-date at on the inside world of

Roots:thesource-roots.

tumblr.com


SPEAK TO MY AGENTThe littlest customers show their Roots

We often receive unsolicited photos from people eager to

show us pictures of their chil-dren, cousins, grandchildren, or even pets, wearing Roots. Sometimes the senders ask if we could use the photos in a future advertising campaign for Roots. While we can’t promise that, we are happy to publish them in The Source. Over the years, Speak To My Agent has become one of

the most popular items in The Source.

Everyone is welcome to submit their favourite shots to be considered for publication. Please send your pictures to [email protected].

Be sure to include the name and age of each child or pet in the photo, where it was taken, place of residence and a sentence stating that you agree for the photos to be used in The Source.

Délia Cosentino, 21 months, London, ON

Rico Suave, 1 year, Thornhill, ON

(L to R): Aniya, 1, Avaia, 4, Peters, Toronto (L to R): Dana Sabatini-Speciale, 6, and Danika Farand-Taylor, 12, Toronto

Kellen Younker, 16 months, Hillside, NJ

GREEN TIP #69Easy ways to help the environmentA TRULY GREEN THUMB:

Spring is a time of birth and rejuvena-tion, es-pecially in

the yard and flowerbeds. A healthy, sustainable garden is a great way to celebrate the new season. To ensure that an eco-friendly garden springs up, follow these simple tips:• Install a rain barrel to collect precipitation run-off for use in the garden. This diverts water from storm drains, thus decreasing the impact of run-off on canals and other bodies of water. A rain barrel will also help you save on your water bill.• Eliminate weeds with a natural herbicide. Pour four cups of white vinegar, one-quarter cup of salt and two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid into a spray bottle, and then shake. On a wind-less day, spray this herbi-cide onto unwanted plants.• Create your own potted plants by placing seeds and soil in a paper-based egg carton or recyclable plastic container. • Plant species that are native to Canada. Indig-enous plants and flowers fare better in varied weather conditions and adapt easier to local soil composition.• Make your own compost with plant trimmings and biodegradable food left-overs. Natural fertilizers promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and fos-ter a healthy environment for earthworms, fungi, and ultimately your plants and flowers.• Source: http://www.home-makers.com, http://environ-ment.nationalgeographic.com


MUSICAL ROOTS

CHEF’S CORNERRoots-friendly recipes for a healthy diet and to bring pleasure to your palate

This time around, we spotlight Canadian country singer Johnny Reid

Shredded Brussel Sprouts and Kale Salad: Offering a fresh and deli-cious way to integrate dark leafy greens into your diet, this salad is a simple three-step dish sure to please most tastebuds. Dressing 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 1 to 2 lemonsCoarse salt1 tablespoon plus 1 tea-spoon pure maple syrup2 tablespoons cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil

Salad8 ounces brussels sprouts, shredded (about 3 cups)6 Lacinato kale leaves, shredded 1/3 cup raw hulled sunflow-er seeds, (toasting optional)1/4 cup dried cranberries Instructions1. Stir together mustard, lemon juice, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and maple syrup; whisk in oil until emulsified.2. Shred brussel sprouts and kale.3. In a salad bowl, toss to-gether the brussels sprouts and kale. Add sunflower

seeds, raisins or dried cran-berries, and dressing; toss to

In recent years, soulful coun-try vocalist Johnny Reid has become one of Canada’s most

successful recording artists in the past decade. The two-time Juno Award winner is known for blending North American country music with traditional Celtic instrumentation, creating a unique sound. Releasing in mid-March, his latest album, Fire It Up, is his fifth studio production and features songs reflecting his life experiences, ranging from his childhood in rural Scotland to immigrating to Canada and falling in love.

Exploding onto the music scene in 2006 with his debut album, Born To Roll, Reid, earned sev-eral award nominations, resulting in three wins, including Single of the Year and Rising Star of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Wast-ing no time, he released his second record, Kicking Stones, the following year. Reid then spent two years out of the

limelight, moving to Nashville, Tennessee, which he now calls home. However, his devotion to his fans keeps him returning to the studio and touring.

“One of the greatest rela-tionships I have, apart from my family, is the relationship I have

with the people who come out and see my

shows and buy my records,” says Johnny, 38. “The longer I’m given the opportunity

to record and sing

my

songs, the deeper that relation-ship becomes.”In 2010, Reid made a triumphant return to the stage and released a new album, Dance With Me. It won the Juno for Country Album of The Year, as did his next album, A Place Called Love (2011).

His new album features duets with fellow Juno Award win-ners Serena Ryder and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. The first single “Let’s Have A Party” is a good old-fashioned rock and roll jamboree that has Reid sounding like a vintage Bruce Springsteen.

With this numerous awards under his belt and a much-antic-ipated Canadian tour beginning in April, it’s a safe bet Reid’s upward rise will continue for many years. But awards and accolades only partly explain his popularity. Fans seem to connect with Reid for his commitment to sharing his emotions, his ability to craft songs that resonate and

for just being a regular guy at the same time. • Roots radio fea-

tures the music of Johnny Reid. For more infor-mation about the artist, visit

facebook.com/of-ficialjohnnyreid or

johnnyreid.com

coat. • Source: marthastew-art.com

– Davin BujalskiJuno award winner Johnny Reid

RADIO HITSThe top ten tunes on the Roots spring airwaves1. Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye feat. Kimbra2. The Wolves – Ben Howard3. Disparate Youth – Santogold4. Shabop Shalom – Devendra Banhart5. Glad You Came – The Wanted6. Summer Paradise – Simple Plan feat. Sean Paul7. Rain Of Gold – Young Empires 8. The Woman I Love – Jason Mraz9. Is There Anybody Out There – K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado10. Watching You Watch Him – Eric Hutchinson

Follow The Source on Facebook

facebook.com/rootsthesource


Roots at Aspen Fashion Week

Documents

Mar / April 2012