Brains, Beauty, and Bust

photo by Jaime Kowal

Stephanie MacDonald owns this month’s feature story. Not only did she write the piece, she felt strongly enough about the subject matter to be our cover model as well. It’s not every day that a writer is asked by a magazine to pose nude in order to provide the art for the story she’s writing. please see letters to the editor

As you will discover when you read our important lead story on thermography, Stephanie is not only a classically beautiful woman, but also has the innate gift of taking a lead-heavy topic (breast cancer) and whipping it into a compelling read with a frothy poignancy. Ah, we love those kinds of stories here at SharedVISION, and you see them every issue, thanks to our entire editorial team led by the deft guiding hand of editor Kathy Sinclair.

Stephanie’s cover story and the special centrefold pullout (hey, it’s not what you’re thinking!) are our nod to a month in which one of the biggest “sustainable and healthy living” events of the season comes to the Lower Mainland—the Vancouver Health Show at Canada Place. Here, you can find not only a full complement of personal health products, but also approaches to living lighter on the planet, such as socially responsible investing and eco-friendly home construction.

As the Show’s Gold Media Sponsor, SharedVISION worked with the Health Show coordinators to create this glossy pullout section to highlight the speakers, the exhibitors, and all the pertinent facts you need to plan your excursion to it in mid-October. We’ll see you there!

Reader Survey:
Aw, Shucks So what if I’m gushing? The SharedVISION team is simply amazed at the robust response we’ve gotten to our Reader Survey last month. Maybe it was because we bribed you with great prizes from our advertisers. But then again, you didn’t have to write all those impassioned comments. We just had to share a sampling of them with you.

Thanks to Villa Marco Polo for their grand prize weekend getaway, as well as Summerhill Wines, Saje Natural Wellness, Serendipity’s Backyard, and Open Door Yoga for their generous contributions toward enhancing the allure of completing our Reader Survey. At press time, it’s still September, so we will publish the prize-winners next month.

Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence
When it comes to health, SharedVISION is an ardent supporter of “integrative medicine”—the combination of the best of conventional medicine with the best of alternative modalities. So we’re thrilled that leaders who have made significant contributions in this area of health care, often in the face of doubt and criticism, are being recognized at a Gala Award event in Vancouver (see our Hot Dates for more info).Soul-Soothing Krishna Das A meditation practice offers clarity and relaxation, and is an enhancement to our lives in general. But not all of us are cut out to do sitting meditation. Perhaps you’re better with walking or singing ... or perhaps you don’t know because you’ve never tried. Well, now’s your chance. Krishna Das is one of the renowned chanters of our time and he will be in Vancouver for a one-time special engagement on November 2nd—brought to us by Banyen Books. If you’ve never felt the uplift from this form of meditation, you’re in for a treat.

It’s all good. It’s all a SharedVISION.

In gratitude,
Rebecca