When Ann Makosinski invented a flashlight powered by body heat, she didn’t realize it would turn her into a covergirl.
“I didn’t know I’d be on the cover,” laughed the St. Michaels University School student who, flashlight in hand, lights up the cover of Capital magazine’s première issue.
“I obviously wanted to work on my project, but I’m glad I got some attention so I can spread the word on the concept that humans have so much heat we can harvest and use as electricity,” she said, cheerfully dumbfounded when thrust into the spotlight during Thursday’s launch of the Times Colonist’s new business and lifestyle magazine at Atomique Productions’ Douglas Street headquarters.
Makosinski, 16, was one of 115 local movers and shakers — an eclectic mix of young newcomers and established veterans — and Times Colonist staffers who noshed on gourmet appetizers from North 48 washed down with beer and wine from Truffles or Capital-branded bottles of Blue Bridge Raspberry and No. 75 cream soda from VictoriaSodaWorks.
“It took a very good community effort to put this together,” said Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
“I think almost every business in Victoria is in this city because they love where they are. It’s the place where 90 per cent of all people in Canada want to retire to and we’re the ones who have actually done it.”
Even community and business leaders who have “retired” contribute to the capital region’s economic vibrancy and diversity the magazine reflects, noted Tartan Group owner Deirdre Campbell.
“The word Capital can be thought of in so many different ways,” she said. “We’re the capital city of B.C. but we have so much knowledge capital here that many people don’t realize — from people retiring early who still want to be involved, to all the young people coming up and getting involved in technology and tourism.”
Trisha Lees and Christine Gleed, two dynamic young PR professionals who co-founded local communications firm Mouthpiece, are part of that new generation.
“The key to success in Victoria now is that you have to be diversified; you can’t just be niche,” Lees said.
Other familiar faces included Al Hasham, president of Maximum Express, which is delivering 1,500 copies to local businesses; Cedarwood Productions’ owner Karen Davies; and business consultant Keith Dagg.
He introduced David McPherson and Sean Battistoni, regional business and consumer sales managers respectively for Shaw Communications, which Dagg just signed as silver sponsor for the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by the Times Colonist.
Paul Rayman, taking a break from his duties as unit manager of the Gracepoint TV series and operating the Pedaler, his local bicycle tour company, found himself put to work.
“I’ve got a new job as a doorman,” joked Rayman, opening the door for arrivals. “It’s just another service I offer.”
The self-employment sector was well-represented, including former Victoria Film Festival operations manager Mike Vardy.
“Initially, I was an enthusiast about productivity and learning how to get better at work, but now I’ve become a specialist,” the writer, speaker and father of three said, explaining his home-based company’s title: Productivityist.com.
If Times Colonist editor-in-chief Dave Obee appeared to be walking on air after unveiling the magazine with retail advertising sales manager Jason Scriven, you couldn’t blame him.
“It’s been amazing to watch our staff come together and work on this project,” he said.
“There was a bit of a buzz about doing this kind of thing in the newsroom. I trust our readers will be as enthusiastic as we were.”
There are stories in Capital that likely wouldn’t appear in the newspaper because they are “magazine-type” stories, he added.
“And there are hundreds or thousands more stories like that out there, which is why we’ll do more magazines as time goes on.”
You can view the première issue attimescolonist.com. The next issue is due Oct. 25.
