Alison Law: ‘Things That Matter’

“Clothes totally matter. They make a difference on how we are received by each other.”

Alison Law speaks with an authority to which she is fully entitled. One of the most visually talented creative minds in Calgary, she is also one of the city’s best-kept secrets.

Her interior design business, Studio A Interiors, needs no promotion. A word of mouth, friend of a friend referral network keeps her busy. Clients who work with her receive far more than a beautiful environment within which to live.

Alison becomes animated as she describes a recent project, a home office for a health care worker who was one of many at the front line throughout the pandemic. The constant pressure and stress of critical contact tracing in the race against time was taking its toll on her. As Alison describes her redesign of the space, it is clear that her primary concern was to create an environment that would nurture her client. 

Reorienting the desk to give her client a soothing view into nature, comfortable chairs for family members coming in for a quick supportive visit, and an ottoman for man’s best friend – her puppy.  The focus is always on the needs of the person. Colours, shapes and textures get folded in as the design process develops. It is not about the expense of the pieces, but rather how the space serves the person. The client’s response to the end result?  Absolute joy. “This must be your best work ever! You need it on your website.”

In actual fact, everything that Alison creates is her “best work ever”. 

I am lounging comfortably under shady trees in her backyard oasis. The trickle of water from the small fountain disrupts the stillness of the afternoon. I feel utterly relaxed and am reminded of the profound influence our surroundings have on us.

I want to learn more from her about creating spaces that nurture us, as the space we inhabit plays a significant, and often overlooked, role in our personal wellbeing. Much the same way that exercise and nutrition are important, living beautifully further supports our happiness and ongoing success in life. Having a well-appointed home environment lies within the reach of all of us.

So where does one start? The advice immediately becomes practical.

“The most important aspect to address first is room layout. Figure out what you need and understand the function of the space – it’s not about money and adding things. Get rid of the clutter, but keep the personal pieces you love. When decorating always ‘shop’ your own home first. You will find things you have stored which can be repurposed and enjoyed, rather than heading to the store and purchasing meaningless accessories. Mix old with new – it will make the space feel so much more personal.” Alison continues to say that as a designer it is important to understand how clients live and work and that it is not about her own personal taste.  “Design is an intimate process. It is not a surface process.”  She talks about colour and understanding the nuances and psychological impact it has.

She delights in pushing the envelope herself and has the perfect opportunity with her rental properties.  “It has been satisfying to take old houses and, with cost-effective renovations, turn them into beautiful homes. There has been a tremendous diversity of tenants, and many have been affected very positively by living in these homes. They often stay for many years.”

“My sense of success and fulfillment comes from the clients who trust me with their homes and their everyday living. It also comes from the ability to be a creative person, and knowing that my creativity has helped others.”

Alison Law

Her own home is a magical space – every room invites you to just sit and look around at the gorgeous furniture, art and collectibles. The colours are rich and vibrant, and texture abounds. I try to maintain a veneer of politeness and not just stand and stare at it all. It makes a strong case against the starkness of minimalism as it celebrates her journey through life. It is an exquisite little jewel box demonstrating the realisation of the amazing potential that can be found in every home.

“My sense of success and fulfillment comes from the clients who trust me with their homes and their everyday living. It also comes from the ability to be a creative person, and knowing that my creativity has helped others. “

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Alison understands first-hand the impact of women encouraging other women. As a new interior design graduate 32 years ago she was employed by a cabinet company. It was the wife of the owner who insisted that her husband employ a designer in this previously male domain, as the industry was shifting from merely selling cabinetry to builders on to the next level of actually creatively designing kitchens. Alison learned to navigate challenging construction sites and do her work alongside the men, soon earning their respect through her professionalism and desire to learn. “I have worked with men my whole career – they have been invaluable in teaching me the technical foundation, which underpins all good design.”

She is widely travelled and loves the outdoors. We talk about life in general. She becomes thoughtful.  “I have so much gratefulness for life, and for simple things. How lucky I feel to be in nature, to be able to go out riding my bike, healthy, and to have time to myself. I so appreciate the life we live here in Calgary, in Canada. And to have a home, a beautiful home…..”

The things that matter. Yes, clothes totally matter, and our homes and way of life matter more than most of us realise too!

Written by: Mickey Foulds

Teri-Ann Begin: The Girl In The Three Piece Suit

The theatre is a place where we enter the world of imagination and possibility, of hopes and dreams, and vivid stories exploring the length and breadth of the lives we lead. Magnificent scenery and elaborate outfits create an illusion for the audience, and the actors fully immerse themselves into new identities as they put on their wigs, makeup and costumes and become someone else for the next few hours. 

Art indeed imitates life, and as Shakespeare aptly observed, “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players”.

A young student at the Fort William Collegiate Institute School in Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario was already intuitively aware of the transformative power of costume in her early teens, and the role she wished to play on this world stage.

Teri-Ann Begin smiles as she recalls, “I wore three-piece suits to school because I always wanted to be a business woman…….and no, the other kids didn’t think it was strange because I was in a band. I played the flute and the piccolo. I thought we were the cool group.” She laughs easily. “After all, it was the seventies and everyone wore weird clothes!”

The aphorisms “act as if”, “fake it until you make it” and “build it and they will come” have become popular mainstream beliefs for many, frequently referred to as the Power of Intention. Personal presentation and dress play an integral role in this journey to realising one’s goals.

 There was however nothing fake about the girl in the three-piece suit –working hard and being successful was in her DNA. She discovered she had a gift for sales, and quite simply states the reason. “I talk to people”.

It is late afternoon and I am grateful for the air-conditioned relief of Teri-Ann’s home, perched high above the silvery Bow River winding its way through the city below. It is a gracious and welcoming executive home, a testament to 34 years of climbing the real estate ladder in Calgary and reaching the upper echelons of success.  We chat for a while, then Teri-Ann leaves the room briefly. I look around and am struck by the lack of pretentiousness – the space speaks of family and community, of relaxed meals, and the business of daily life.

I also know that within these walls is her office, housing the highly successful RE/MAX Real Estate (Central) Begin Group managed in partnership with her daughter, Stephanie Begin. It is an enviable success story fuelled by a 92% referral rate and a strong performance in the corporate relocation sector. It is run as a tight ship, with Teri-Ann and Stephanie leading by example, uncompromising with regard to their expectations of excellence from the team.

I want to see her wardrobe, but already know it will be filled with well-tailored high-quality professional outfits. Mostly black and red, the power colours which suit her well. I note that today for my visit she is wearing a simple relaxed denim dress.

“If in all your actions you focus on making the world a better place, especially with respect to the people you meet, you in turn will have what you need”

Our paths have crossed many times for over a decade, and I have been intrigued by her stories of hiking across England and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa. Her positive, proactive and honest approach to life helps her navigate challenges with tenacity and integrity. It takes courage, and she makes it look easy.

Teri-Ann said she “talks to people”.  It goes far beyond that – she tells me the driving force in her business and in life is her desire to help people. She clearly listens to people too and makes them feel valued. She is passionate about maintaining contact with others – she does not merely orchestrate the sale or purchase of a house, and then disappear with her dues. Clients who purchased homes with her help return decades later when it is time for the next move. Such trust and loyalty is deservedly hers.

I ask her perspective on strategies for coping with personal difficulty, and without hesitation, she replies “No matter how difficult things are at any point in your life, you don’t need to look far to find someone in a worse position than you. Find that person and then do what you can to make their life better. You will find your own issue is no longer that bad.” She tells me her mum always volunteered, and taught her that “God has given us the best life possible, and it is our responsibility to give back.” 

Following in these footsteps, Teri-Ann initially became a Girl Guide leader. Later, looking for further opportunities to give back, a client suggested that she might be interested to volunteer with assisting women trying to get into the workforce. This perfect fit for the astute business woman has led to 15 years of significant contribution of her time, talent, and energy serving the needs of women at Making Changes.

I next ask her what she looks for in others that would earn her respect, and once again the answer is quick and concise “how they treat serving staff, older people and also people who are not dressed well”.

All I can see in her comes from inner strength, hard work and an unfailing belief that “if in all your actions you focus on making the world a better place, especially with respect to the people you meet, you in turn will have what you need”.

I leave, and as I drive home I reflect upon this rare encounter with someone who has spent a lifetime in unswerving commitment to her vision, helping others who are less fortunate by giving a hand up, and serving every client privileged to work with her to the very best of her ability.

The executive attire she now wears is no longer a costume, but simply a reflection of the remarkable business woman within.

Written by: Mickey Foulds

Allison Blackmore: An Encounter with Excellence!

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During the summer of 2020 I went for many walks along the banks of the river in Bowness Park. As I climbed the stairs one day at the Stoney trail bridge I saw two excited dogs and a flash of blue run past at the top, and then turn down the stairs.

Barely out of breath, I was greeted with her signature radiant smile and quick chat. Then she was off again, a little slower down the steep flight of stairs and, as I watched, breaking into a fast run at the bottom to continue her dog “walk”.

What struck me was the impact of that brief encounter. In her wake she left a surge of positive energy, a feeling of vitality and pure joy, and celebration of our stunning outdoor environment. She made it looks so easy, fluid and effortless. She made me feel that I could run too.

Allison Blackmore has always intrigued me, so I took the opportunity to sit down with her - she doesn’t sit for long - and learn more about her world.

I asked about running. I knew that she was world class, having reached the top of her game in 2019, winning the London Marathon in the 50-54yr Masters category, as well as being the fastest woman in Canada in that same group. I was curious about where this journey began.

Allison chuckles to herself as she tells me that her mum always walked really fast and as a small child she had to almost run alongside her to keep up. She tells me how later she would run the 1.5km home and back for lunch from school. She never liked to walk, because walking seemed so boring.

Always active, she initially started with figure skating competitively and later as a coach with top-level accreditation. Hugely athletic, it follows that “I always preferred and was better at the jumps rather than the figures.” In her college years, she started to play soccer. “I loved to run, and there is a lot of running in soccer. I didn’t have much skill when it came to scoring, but I could be where I needed to be.” In about 2005 she started “running a little bit for fitness”. This was the start of something huge.

““Success is meeting my goals. If I do the necessary training well, if I have come fully prepared and feel confident of it going well, that is success. It is THAT moment, before the race. If I then have a bad race it is not failure, as anything unpredictable can happen on the day.””

— Allison Blackmore

Self-effacing and hugely modest, she dislikes competition and has always focused on her own performance rather than on winning over others.

Wind it forward to 2012. A mere 9 years ago. Wanting to run a marathon, she walked into a Running Room store to purchase a pair of running shoes. However, she felt intimidated by the prospect, feeling that “I wasn’t good enough to run, and I didn’t want to fail. I didn’t believe I could do it.” The empathetic sales attendant responded that of course, she could. Anyone could do this. Just sign up for their course and they would get her ready. Allison duly signed up for the 16-week course.

I asked her if the course was easy. She laughs at the memory and without ego or arrogance replied “my legs wanted to run faster” Her goal of a sub 4-hour marathon was blown away by a 3:25:50 2013 Vancouver Marathon finish. Upon review, she realised she could change her strategy and easily do even better than that.

The years that followed saw her training seriously with the elite Adrenalin Rush running group and winning or placing near the top in Canada. The successes kept piling up as a result of intense commitment and hard work.

In 2014 she was ready for an international field, and ran the Boston Marathon in 3:22:56, followed by Chicago 2015, 3:05:45, Phoenix Half Marathon 2016, 1:25:30, Berlin 2016 where she spectacularly achieved a sub 3 hour time of 2:57:52 followed by a lightning speed half marathon in Phoenix in 2017 with 1:22:58.

Next stop was Africa, and the first ultra-marathon, the spectacular 56k Two Oceans. This was uncharted territory and she smiled as she recollected the start of the race. The field was huge with thousands of runners, so they were seeded at the start, placed with runners of equal ability with the fastest in front. It was early in the morning, chilly and still quite dark. The excitement was palpable. She found her spot and with a grin describes how she, a petite Canadian woman, looked up and found herself surrounded by the African elite, almost exclusively all tall athletic male runners who always lead the field there. She had no expectations, but ended up crushing the race, cheered on by the locals lining the streets shouting “go lady, go!”, and winning the women’s Masters category in 4:22, which was an enormous achievement.

Then the big ones. New York 2018, 3:01; London 2019 2:55:04 with another spectacular first-place finish, and Berlin again in 2019, 3:03:01.

We talk about training. She loves the freedom of running alone, at her own pace because “you see things differently”, although she values those around her that work hard and get results, “they make me want to be better”. She runs, and her achievements are fueled by a strong focus on personal best, “just for me”, rather than from a position of ego.

She continues and emphasises the importance of taking a break “one cannot always just push through, as physically you need to heal, or mentally you get drained. Otherwise it’s not fun anymore”.

With respect to being a woman, she expresses how grateful she is to live and train in Canada, as she has the freedom to go on long solitary training runs with little fear for her safety. She mentions meeting women runners from other nations whose training is compromised and potential unrealised because their training is limited to running tracks in broad daylight with others present to protect them.

Finally, we talk about success.

“Success is meeting my goals. If I do the necessary training well, if I have come fully prepared and feel confident of it going well, that is success. It is THAT moment, before the race. If I then have a bad race it is not failure, as anything unpredictable can happen on the day.”

Days later this unique perspective is still on my mind, as it applies to so much more than running.

We wrap up the conversation and she heads home, leaving me feeling grateful for my time with this remarkable woman in her fifties who has risen meteorically to world class. Just for herself.

Written by: Mickey Foulds