Tell us about yourselves, and how you ended up where you are today?
CXBO is a creation of both Sarah and myself; I always wanted to have my restaurant and my chocolate company. Sarah comes from an art background she’s a documentary film maker, an installation artist, having done three Nuit Blanche installations, and other smaller ones around the city. I come from a process background of flavours having worked as a head chef. She’s the box and I’m what’s inside of the box. Its crazy within a year where this company has taken and gone the local, national, and international press its gotten, we’re just a chocolate shop on college.
Where did you train to become such an accomplished chef/chocolatier?
I’ve been cooking for the past 18 years, I was the head chef at the black hoof and I opened up bar Isabel as a head chef and now I’m opening up my restaurant. I want to be the chocolate company that would do interesting flavours; I want to go against the grain. If you want a coffee chocolate don’t come here but if you want something exciting, come here. Our philosophy is the Willy Wonka of the chocolate world; your world is your imagination.
"Our philosophy is the Willy Wonka of the chocolate world; your world is your imagination."
Have you always known you wanted to work as a chef/chocolatier?
No, this is a passion, I love chocolate and this has been purely self-taught, absolutely no training in chocolate. So it’s been a lot of failures, three steps forward and eight steps back. I knew I didn’t want to be a chef at a restaurant that wasn’t mine so I thought about what I could do in the meantime. So I did this. I’m not a businessman and I’m totally the non-traditional sense, I went against the grain, which is interesting and exciting. I don’t always know how we’re going to make it work but we’re going to make it work.
How would you describe your style?
Everything is traditional in the sense of technique but the presentation is out of this world with its creativity. There’s no stopping us in what we can do and the way we can do things. We tell our staff, this is the box of creativity do whatever you want just go have fun. You got an idea? Lets work it. My whole goal with this was to be the non-traditional, I don’t want to be traditional, I want to be different. I am different, chocolates are different, Sarah and I are different, but it works.
Each chocolate has such a unique flavour with such interesting combinations, how do you create a new flavour?
There is no process, its like hey what do you guys want to do today? Throw out ideas. How we came up with the Uzu Sake one was we were driving and we needed a new one, so Sarah says what about Sake? Her friend is a Sake distributor and I thought, Uzu. That’s how that one was born, just like that. Some of them are just random it just comes to us. I’m going tell you right now there are a lot of failures. All these are diamonds in the rough. I did a black garlic and miso for this garlic festival and it was one of the most vile things I’ve ever made. We’re always constantly talking about what we want to reference; colours, textures, flavours, we just don’t put flavours in a box without thinking, there is always a purpose for it.
How did you come up with your signature chocolate design and what is the process in its creation?
The geodomes? That’s a stock mould off the shelf that no one uses. The thing with chocolate is its fashion; I don’t want to be known for using the trendy moulds. When you’re walking down the street without even registering a brand or logo you just know that design; that’s CXBO. I wanted to build brand recognition, you could be anywhere and without tasting you know what it is.
"I don’t always know how we’re going to make it work but we’re going to make it work."
What’s next for chocolatesxbrandon?
Just getting through this Christmas rush- ha. We’re launching a vegan line, which is very exciting. I wanted to do a collection for vegan and lactose intolerance because I get a lot of sad faces when we tell them they cant eat them. So we finally developed a recipe that accommodates that demographic. If I walk in and I say I don’t want this anymore and we want to come up with a new 9 that’s what we’ll do. There are no set rules, I wanted a place where there is no, no. What do you want to do - lets do it and make it happen.
What does the concept of chasing your passion mean to you?
Chasing your passion means that you’re willing to give up everything in your life to succeed on that one thing. I’m willing to gamble everything from my relationship to my personal finances, anything to make this a success. If you’re going to do it dive in and put it all on the line. When it’s all on the line there is accountability for your actions. If you believe in yourself, just dive in and go for it. For people who are passionate just do it, you’ll figure out a way to make it work. Its not going be tomorrow but you’ll roll with it and one day it will just click.
When you have the talent and passion for something it’s not surprising to stumble upon success. Sarah’s impressive career in the arts and Brandon’s extensive flavour knowledge has created the perfect pairing for a unique culinary experience. They both search for new ways to innovate their creations including personalized hand painted boxes and against the grain chocolate filling. Their meticulous approach parallels creativity only found in the world of fantasy, manifesting chocolate excellence. With the mindset that different is always better, after biting into one of the signature geodomes, we couldn’t agree more.
]]>We often neglect the qualities that give our culturally diverse neighbourhoods life and personality. Enter Ben Johnston self-taught multidisciplinary artist and designer. Working with brands, corporate clients, and community partners, Ben elevates our streets with iconic art pieces that help bring charm to our surroundings. Jumping from one method of design to the next, he has landed on typographic lettering. His work is constantly evolving and has become internationally recognized through the use of various mediums. We took a walk to view the impressive pieces and discuss his passion for his work and how he stumbled into the creative field.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a multidisciplinary designer and artist; I was born in Canada but grew up in South Africa and moved back to Toronto a couple years ago. I work in design, with a focus in illustration, lettering and branding. I currently work alone but I try to collaborate whenever possible.
What does an average day look like?
It really depends on what projects are happening at that time. Generally I walk over to the studio around 10am, grab a coffee on the way and start sketching up concepts straight away while my mind is relatively fresh. Generally in the afternoon I’ll get back to computer work and start wrapping up projects. Depending on how many projects I’m working on, I’ll generally go back to work for a couple hours at night.
Have you always known you wanted to work in a creative industry?
I only really got into design around 21. I first studied product design for about a year and a half. Then I dropped out and pursued graphic design and just taught myself from there because I didn’t want to go back to school; it wasn’t really for me. It’s been a learning curve ever since, which makes every day pretty interesting.
"I don’t let anything out of the studio unless I feel it’s the best it could possibly be."
Where did you spend most of your time working on your craft?
In the beginning I worked at a few different advertising agencies, so I used to work on my illustration and lettering work at night. It took quite a long time to build up a solid portfolio before pursuing a freelance career of my own.
Take us through your creative process while working on a project.
I try and get as much information as I can from the client so we are on the same page from the beginning. Then I’ll generally put together some concepts/mood boards, so we can decide on a look for the project. I like to inform people what they’re going to get early on, that way everything goes a lot smoother throughout the project. From there it really just about rolling out the project and making sure everyone is happy. I work on at least 5 projects at any given time, so I need to make sure things are as streamlined as possible.
How would you describe your art and its style?
Whether it’s hand-painted or digital, it has a personal touch to it. I don’t let anything out of the studio unless I feel it’s the best it could possibly be. It’s also important these days to be able to adapt to different styles depending on the brief, but also be able to add your personal style to it.
In the age of technology how and why do you think your traditional cursive design has become so popular?
I think people like the personality behind the pieces, that there’s been time spent on it. People can relate to the time that goes into the craft, and what it takes to be able to create large-scale pieces.
"If you’re content in what you’re doing, success will inevitably come."
How do you measure success?
I think it changes as you grow as a designer or person. Luckily these days I get to work with amazing brands and it took a long time to get to that stage. It’s not necessarily a money thing, it’s more about working with people that are like-minded and being able to do something you love everyday. If you’re content in what you’re doing, success will inevitably come.
What advice would you give to someone looking to chase their passion but worried they aren’t able to because it may not follow a traditional path?
I think people shouldn’t be too hard on themselves. Crafting your talent takes time so don’t rush things. You don’t have to quit your day job straight away, just keep at it and things will come together.
What does the concept “chasing your passion,” mean to you?
Taking your time, finding what you really love to do and following that. Follow your path and stick to it. Careers are not built in a day, sometimes things are really difficult but you just have to keep the end in sight.
His ability to transform a monotonous space into one that embodies the character of its surroundings is incomparable. Not only do his designs create the perfect tone, they are unique to others in the industry. The use of traditional typography in such a digitally driven age allows the sense of time and care taken for each piece to be felt. Ensuring each project is taken with the same care and consideration is what sets his art apart. Next time you walk through one of your favourite neighbourhoods be conscious of your surroundings and the talent behind the art.
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We rarely carry things from our preteen years into our adult lives. Memories and childhood relics, sure. Hobbies, interests and jobs? Well, those change. They’re fluid and subject to the transition of growing up and getting older. In the case of Torri Webster, her interests only got more intense. As a young girl she was an entertainer in need of an outlet. Cue her dancing. As a young teenager, that passion turned her to musical theatre. Today, the performer in her finds home in her ongoing film-acting career. We sat down with Torri to discuss her journey through the arts, how it has shaped her to be the young woman she is today and how acting fits in with the rest of her identity.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m 20 years old, born and raised in Toronto. I started dancing when I was 2 and got into musical theatre when I was 7. I ended up following that passion until high school. Somewhere in between theatre and high school, I fell into film when I found my agent after she saw me perform onstage. I was probably 12 at the time. I got lucky with that and booked Life with Boys, which is what everyone sort of recognizes me for. After high school I was gonna go to NYU for musical theatre but I decided against it at the last second. I wanted a business background and different experiences so instead I did the summer program at NYU and went to ryerson for Creative Industries. Since then, I’ve had different experiences as a result of my different interests. Be it doing a PR internship at a fashion showroom, doing branded social media or booking another show on Nickelodeon, it has all been very random and all over the place. I wear a lot of hats.
Explain Creative Industries.
It’s an interdisciplinary business program for the creative industry, basically. It’s a fine balance of marketing, finance and communications mixed with the art of film and the music industry. That sort of interdisciplinary study is what I wanted in university so I’m so happy I ended up pursuing it rather than musical theatre.
Why did you start dance so young? Was it one of those things that you were just thrown into or did you want to do it yourself?
I was such a character from the time I could speak. All I would do was blast ABBA and sing along to every song. I think my parents just needed to get me out of the house so I could let out some of that energy. I thrived there. I just wanted to dance. It was wonderful and was probably half the reason I gained the confidence to create the stage presence that I did. It was a really hard decision when I finally had to quit in high school. I was in a performance dance class, I was auditioning and I was also on set. Something had to give so I ended up quitting dance.
Is that something you’ve constantly had to do in your career - compromise other parts of your life?
Yeah, that’s the biggest thing about film-acting that people don’t realize - there is always some sort of sacrifice. You always have to give up something else and it’s not always that glamorous lifestyle it’s made out to be. I missed so many of those high school rites of passage. In retrospect I don’t care that I missed that semiformal but in the moment, it can seem like you’re giving up a lot.
How was the balance in high school vs. how it is now?
In high school it was really easy to enjoy because nothing else was happening. I had my school on set and I had a tutor on set just like everybody else. We’d have school for two hours, hand whatever it was we needed to hand in and spend the rest of the time on everything else.
In university, once you’re on set, school is no longer a thing. It becomes really challenging because it’s all about time management and prioritizing. Once you’re over 16 or 18 and you’re in your adult career, you can start work as early as 4am. When I was filming The Other Kingdom, sometimes I ran off set at 5pm to go write exams at Ryerson. It was definitely a lot, but it was worth it. I think I may have bitten off more than I could chew but it was great. It was a fabulous crew.
What’s something you think people would find surprising about acting or the acting industry itself?
I think that the biggest fallacy around it is that everyone books a job in a snap. It’s just not the reality. Some people do get really lucky and that does happen to them but they’ve done their share of prep too. There’s this quote that my business professor says and it’s “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” so getting the opportunity is one thing but if you’re not prepared, then you won’t get “lucky”. It can be really challenging to take on an episodic TV show and be doing 14 hour days. You don’t know what you’re getting into. A lot of people don’t see that.
What has been the most memorable part of your career?
I think the people I’ve met along the way. For me it’s always been about making connections, making new friends and networking with different people who come from various backgrounds. That’s something really awesome about the entertainment industry. It’s not the same team for 10 years. You’re with a crew for 6 months at a time, you become a family and then you move onto the next show. The industry is so small in Toronto that it feels so nice when you go on a different set and you see familiar faces. That can feel really nice especially in my current years because I’ll run into people I worked with at 13 or 14 whom I hadn’t seen since. It’s nice to see that those connections are still there.
What are you most excited about in the years to come?
I still have one more year of school after this one but I don’t know what comes after. On different days I believe different things about my future but I’ll definitely always be a performer. Whether that means just simply public speaking or being a lead on a TV show, the entertainer/performer in me will always be a part of what I’m doing.
"I’ve learned that when something should happen, it will happen."
How has acting shaped who you are today? Or vice versa
It’s given me so many different opportunities. The thing that has been a constant throughout my life is my effort to be creative. That’s why my program has been great because it forces me to always push myself to make cooler and more creative decisions about my career.
What’s something you’d be doing if you weren’t doing acting?
If I hadn’t done film when I was younger, the decision could have been really different and I could have gone to NYU for theatre. It would’ve been my comfort zone and I wouldn’t have had the experience in the film industry that then inspired me to learn the producing side of things. It was such a chain effect in my life so if that part of it was taken away, I honestly would probably be living a completely different life right now.
Is there anything you wish you knew when you were just starting out that you know now?
There’s this underlying stress of being an actor because there’s a genuine concern about whether you’ll work the next day or ever again. That stressed me out when I was younger so I think I would tell myself not to worry about what’s coming next. I was always thinking of where I should go and what decision I should make about something so I think I needed to chill out. I’ve learned that when something should happen, it will happen. You’ll have a feeling and you will make the decision and it will always be okay.
What advice would you give someone who wants to be in this industry?
My advice is to just recognize that it’s not always glamorous. You put in a lot of work and a lot of time with auditions that sometimes don’t work out.
But the other side of it is that it’s awesome and a lot of fun. If you love it it’s incredible. The opportunities only come because of the work you put in so the highs can feel so high but you also need to remember that there are low periods. There are times where you need to face the fact that you’re not working. It’s this constant battle of reminding yourself that you have value. Whether you’re working in that moment doesn’t mean you’re never gonna have another cool gig.
So do you think it’s important to keep yourself separate from your professional self?
I don’t know.. To be fair I don’t keep them separate. I am my brand. I know a lot of people aren’t. There are people on social media that I’ll meet in real life and my mind is blown. They’re completely separate people. If someone met me and they scrolled through my instagram, they’d see the same. It’s all there. It’s just a highlight reel.
"The thing that has been a constant throughout my life is my effort to be creative."
What inspires you and keeps you driven?
I don’t know if it’s one thing specifically but there’s definitely a combination. I’m very driven and inspired by pop culture. I wanna see what goes on in the world, what’s new and what’s happening so I’ll watch things like The Social. It’s also just doing things that take me back to my roots. I’ll watch Sex and The City because it just reminds me of high school. I can think, I can chill, I can be my inner Carrie Bradshaw and then I can get my life together again. Sometimes random things like going to yoga and spending time with family are the things that keep me grounded and out of my head.
Do you have other siblings?
Yes, I have two other siblings. I have an older sister and younger brother. We’re all very different in terms of our interests so it was a lot for my parents. One would be on set with me and the other would be doing things with my siblings. My dad was the coach of my sister’s hockey team. I have no idea what they did the last 20 years, honestly.
What was your parents’ take on you acting when you were younger?
My dad is a straight business man so when I initially started to get into it he actually wasn’t super thrilled with the idea. From their perspective, they never wanted to stop me from pursuing something that I loved even if it was a little bit scary and totally new. They were always so supportive of my dance and musical theatre so it was sort of the same. They started to fall in love with it the same way I did. They became really close with all the people on set because they were there so much. It was also nice because usually at that age you spend the least amount of time with your parents but I was with them all the time.
If Seneca had it right when he said luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, then Torri is on her way to being the most lucky person in Toronto. Sitting down with this 20 year old in the midst of a flourishing creative industry, it’s clear that she has ensured she’s ready for everything to come. Just like a tree that doesn’t budge in the face of the harshest wind, it’s very clear that Torri has built the roots that will push her to hit new highs no matter where her career takes her.
]]>To tell someone to follow their passion is instinctive advice to give. It almost goes without saying. Of course everyone should follow their passion, why wouldn’t someone want to go after what makes them happy? Often, actually doing so is not so easy. Life gets in the way with bills, jobs, responsibilities and everything else that comes with being an adult. But when we heard Krystle Ng-A-Mann was not only the successful blogger, dineandfash, but also a successful corporate lawyer, we knew that she was one of the few who had the balance of passion and responsibilities figured out. We knew we just had to sit down and talk to Krystle about her career, her industry, and how that balance takes shape.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your legal career
I’ve been practicing law for the past 8 years. I was called to the bar in 2008, which is when I finished the licensing process and all of my schooling to become a lawyer. I articled* at a large Bay Street firm, where I was hired back as a corporate tax lawyer. The problem was I didn’t love corporate tax so I moved into general corporate/commercial law after a couple of years. I practiced corporate/commercial for 5 years at a mid-size firm in North York and I recently switched to another downtown firm where I’m continuing my practice.
"I’m a creature of habit, I like getting into work, sitting there and knowing what I have to do."
Explain your industry for people who may not know what it entails to be a corporate lawyer.
First off, it’s not like anything you see in Suits. Also, many people don’t understand that there is a difference between being a solicitor and a barrister. A barrister is a litigator, which is somebody who goes to court. Some people find that to be the more exciting and fun stuff. When you’re a solicitor, you’re basically closing deals and drafting agreements. If someone wants to buy or sell a business I would be acting on behalf of one of the parties involved, or if a company wanted to restructure its affairs, I would act on behalf of the corporation or shareholders to “paper” the transaction. I like being a solicitor because I have more of a routine. I’m a creature of habit, I like getting into work, sitting in my office and knowing what I have to do for the day without having the unpredictability of having to drive to different courts or examinations for discovery.
Did you always know that you wanted to get into law? If no, how did you get into this line of work?
As mentioned, I started in corporate tax, which I quickly realized I hated. I didn’t want to be a corporate tax lawyer, but was kind of pulled in that direction when I was an articling student (I mainly just wanted to get hired back at the firm I was at). I transitioned into corporate/commercial because I knew I liked the transactional aspect of corporate law. I’ve been doing that for the past 5 years and so far so good.
Did you want to be a lawyer growing up?
I always wanted to be a lawyer growing up even though I didn’t even know what it meant. I probably thought it meant prestige and making a lot of money because of the shows I’d watch, but you don’t see all of the hard work that goes into it. You really only find out when you’re practicing. It’s so different than Suits or The Good Wife. It’s a lot of grunt work and striking that work/life balance is a struggle.
What is it like moving through this industry as a woman?
Generally speaking I would say law is still male-dominated but women have made a lot of progress. Technically in law schools, there’s a bigger female population than male which is a wonderful thing. Thankfully I’ve never experienced any sort of sexual harassment or been put down because I’m female so that’s all wonderful, but I know that’s happened to a lot of other females. There are generations and generations of ‘old boys’ mentality. Often, I’m the only woman present in meetings, and the dynamic and how male lawyers and clients relate to each other is different.
"At the end of the day I think it’s important that, as females, we respect each other’s choices and different paths"
Do you face more challenges or disadvantages by virtue of you being female?
There’s still the inherent disadvantage that we face largely because of biology. We’re the ones who get pregnant and take maternity leave, which might set us back as compared to our male counterparts. By law, we’re entitled to a year off post-pregnancy. But, I’ve seen females - associates or partners - return after 4 months or 3 months of mat leave because it’s understood that they need to show that their job is important to them or they’re so committed that it’s hard to be away for that long. Maybe they want to become partner or continue moving ahead without interruption - the reasons always vary - but there’s certainly an unspoken pressure to prove your career comes first in certain firms. I believe every woman reaches a point where she has to ask herself “do I want to be this committed to the firm or do I want to be committed to my family?” It’s unfair, I think, that as a woman you have to make a decision that men never will and this automatically puts us at a disadvantage. However, at the end of the day I think it’s important that, as females, we respect each other’s choices and different paths.
What’s your favorite thing about your career?
I’m happy to be working at a firm where I’m learning and being challenged. Sometimes it’s very tough. I mean, it’s hard to not know something and to feel like you’re not doing the best job because you’re still learning. You obviously want to feel as if you have mastery over something but it’s good to be challenged and I think the fact that I’m learning is amazing. I’m using my brain and gaining new skills on a regular basis. I’m also happy to be pursuing my passions as a blogger, which challenges me in different ways and allows me to fuel my creativity on a regular basis.
Describe your career and your career path in general in one word.
I would have to say “growth”. I’ve always been learning and growing. It’s a lot of development and, whether it has been learning how to be more comfortable with practicing corporate law or moving to a new firm and growing as a lawyer and person, I’m always progressing. This applies equally to blogging, since I’ve grown so much in less than a year of doing it and am learning the ins and outs of the food and fashion blogging industries.
How do you find time to be a successful lawyer as well as a successful blogger and instagrammer? Where does that balance find a home?
I’m still figuring it out! I love what I do but the creative stuff is what I’m more passionate about and that’s why, no matter how hard I have to work in my legal career, I will always try my best to maintain and keep one foot in the creative world. Not only for my own sanity but because I see a future and many different types of opportunities.
Bottom line: when you want something you make time for it. I somehow figure out where I can fit my blogging in whether that means waking up a bit earlier or staying up a little later to get a blog post done or planning out my Instagram posts. The blog itself is like a full-time job but without getting paid for it (yet!).
What's something you wish you knew when you were just starting out that you know now?
Learning to not doubt yourself is key. I think it’s endemic with females. Even after 8 years of practicing law, I still constantly doubt myself. The same applies to my blogging career. There are so many times where I second guess whether I want to post something, write something, or if I should say something about myself or put myself out there. Learning to not give a fuck and how to believe in myself has been very important. You have to remember that you can’t please everybody at the end of the day. Sometimes people have a valid reason for not liking you and sometimes people are just haters. Either way, you can’t let that deter you. You have to keep focused and just do you. Confidence is not automatic for everyone, but it can be learned and found within yourself.
What advice can you give young people who are beginning their journey or thinking about getting into law?
About going into law, it’s a tough process and tough world, but if you really want it, go for it! And in general, don’t doubt yourself - just go for it! Don’t ever lose sight of your passions and find a way to live them out, whether full-time or part-time. In an ideal world we would all do what we’re passionate about. But if that’s not possible right away, make the time to maintain that balance. I think me working my butt off in law, while at the same time, working my butt off in blogging, is a good example of this. Make time to achieve your personal and professional goals!
It’s clear that Krystle is voraciously heeding her own advice. Between running a flourishing food, fashion and lifestyle blog and enjoying a successful career as a corporate lawyer, her life is led by her passion. If there is one thing we can learn from this bride-to-be it’s that you can stand up to the most notoriously busy industry out there and prove that you won’t let your career be incompatible with what fills you with drive and zeal, no matter how distinct the two may seem.
*Articling is part of the licensing process to become a lawyer. It’s 10 months of practical experience before being called to the bar. For many, it’s your first taste of working at a firm. Similar to medical students doing their residency, but not as long..
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