Chatelaine

AT THE END OF THE YEAR, it’s natural to take stock of what you’ve achieved, whether it’s a hard-won promotion or running your first 5K. But I’d suggest another metric: joy. In our first-ever Joy Issue, we asked 27 of our favourite Canadians to share their most exuberant moments of the year. And despite the challenges of 2025, not a single person turned us down. Lisa LaFlamme talked about becoming a great aunt, Tracy Moore shared the “peak joy” of daytime dance parties and Jann Arden described meeting the love of her life at an Icelandic writers’ festival. It’s impossible to hear other people recount their happiest moments and not feel uplifted yourself. In that spirit, my own most joyful moment of 2025 happened in Cavendish, P.E.I. I visited the…

Welcome to Weeknight Hero—a delicious, slam-dunk recipe you’ll want to cook again and again, any night of the week. Roasted Sweet Potato, Halloumi and Kale Salad PREP 25 MIN; TOTAL 45 MIN SERVES 4 This warm winter salad has it all: crispy kale, roasted sweet potato and salty pops of halloumi. I top it off with pita chips and sumac-pickled onions as a nod to my favourite Middle Eastern salad, fattoush. ½ cup white-wine vinegar1 tsp granulated sugar½ tsp sumac (turn to page 74 for more on sumac)1 ¾ tsp kosher salt, divided1 ½ cups thinly sliced red onion, divided1 bunch curly kale, stems removed and roughly torn1 large peeled sweet potato (300 g), diced into ½-in. cubes (see tip)1 cup canned chickpeas, drained1 ¼ cups cubed halloumi (300 g)6 tbsp…

Trudy Crane @trudy.crane 66, THE LAURENTIANS, QUE. It’s fair to say that ceramist and cookbook author Trudy Crane has a favourite colour. Her affinity for shades of white and cream—often accented with other neutrals—is obvious in the organically shaped dinnerware she crafts for her brand, Lookslikewhite, in the snapshots of her home and wardrobe that she shares on social media, and even in her signature hair hue. “I’ve always gravitated toward this sort of simplicity,” she says. Crane’s aesthetic is undeniably classic, but always with a twist to keep things fresh—an unexpected metallic detail, a sharp pleat or a hot trend that piques her interest. For the holidays, she pairs flowy suiting with a long silk top trimmed with lace, a look borrowed from fashion week street style that brings…

The Art of the SNL Portrait by Mary Ellen Matthews, $69 For 25 years, Matthews has photographed the hosts and musical guests of Saturday Night Live under extremely tight deadlines. Known as bumpers, these striking photos are only displayed for seconds in between commercial breaks—until now. In this hefty coffee table book, her artistry gets the attention it deserves. A Steady Brightness of Being: Truth, Wisdom and Love from Celebrated Indigenous Voices edited by Sara Sinclair and Stephanie Sinclair, $32 This anthology of letters from Indigenous writers, artists and activists across Turtle Island (including artist Ken Monkman and novelist Jessica John) is an intimate and polyphonic address to the history and future of Indigeneity. Everything I Know About Love Fifth Anniversary Special Edition by Dolly Alderton, $37 This anniversary edition…

Best for Coffee Broken Oak Brûlée Bliss A little on the sweeter side, this vanilla-forward liqueur, from Grande Prairie, Alta., pours like a dream into a cup of black coffee. $46, latitude55.ca. Best for Sipping on the Rocks  JD Shore Rum Cream Halifax Distilling Co. makes one of the most delicious cream-based liqueurs we’ve tried, bar none. Boozy, extra creamy and tinged with a subtle spiciness from the rum base, it’s perfect for serving in a short glass with ice. $35, jdshore.ca. Best for Dessert Drizzle Hansen Distillery Morning Glory Thick, rich and laced with chocolate and hazelnut, this Edmonton, Alta.- brewed cream treat has a dessert-coffee kick that would make an excellent ice cream topping or affogato booster. $32, hansendistillery.com. Best Signature Flavour Cabot Trail Maple Cream Sweet and…

CREATED FOR At just 168 square kilometres, St. Kitts may be small, but it offers a refreshingly expansive experience for travellers seeking equal parts adventure and restoration. Rainforests here are still growing, winding up the slopes of Mount Liamuiga in lush, mist-covered layers. Walk beneath the canopy where birdsong replaces traffic or unwind along beaches that range in colour from champagne to volcanic black. On this island, you’re invited to slow down, breathe deeper and reconnect—with nature, with others and with yourself. Wellness in the Wild Serenity isn’t staged in St. Kitts—it’s part of the living, breathing landscape. The rainforest doesn’t just surround you; it envelops you. The scent of flowering hibiscus hangs in the air, and time seems to stretch out. It’s a place where stillness feels purposeful—and healing…