HELEN SIWAK, FOLIOYVR, EDITOR IN CHIEF, PUBLISHER, MAGAZINE, LUXURY LIFESTYLE, VANCOUVER, BC

Helen Siwak – Issue #38 Changemakers – Publisher’s Message

A society cannot endure without those who choose to care deeply for others, nor can it evolve without those who challenge us to imagine differently.

Community builders give structure, compassion, and continuity to our shared lives, while creatives stimulate both mind and spirit, urging us to dream beyond what already exists. Together, they form the connective tissue of culture, shaping how we gather, how we express ourselves, and how we move forward with intention.

This compilation of issue of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine is dedicated to Changemakers — individuals whose influence is felt not through spectacle, but through sustained commitment, creative courage, and meaningful contribution. Over the past year, we have had the privilege of sharing the stories of community-oriented leaders including Sirish Rao, Kasondra Herrendorf-Cohen, Paul Wong, Fred Lee, Harriet Corriero, and Katherine Evans. Each brings a distinct lens to leadership, yet all share a dedication to fostering connection, inclusion, and progress within our city and beyond.

We also celebrate a partnership that embodies both creativity and community at its core. Aleem Kassam and Victor Kazakov remind us that collaboration itself can be a catalyst for change, merging artistic vision with a genuine commitment to people and place. Their work illustrates how shared purpose amplifies impact, transforming ideas into lived experiences that resonate.

Equally vital are the creatives who communicate their perspectives through diverse mediums, enriching our cultural landscape and expanding the visual and emotional vocabulary of our time. This issue features voices such as Jean Paul Riopelle, whose abstract works currently on view at the Vancouver Art Gallery continue to shape the Canadian creative psyche long after his passing, alongside Pierre Coupey, Jamie Mann, Kriss Munsya, Otani Workshop, and Mira Song. Their work does more than capture attention; it invites reflection and dialogue. Appropriately, this is our first issue to present multiple covers, both created by Kriss Munsya, with category spreads thoughtfully shaped by Nicholas Tay, underscoring the power of visual storytelling.

As you move through these pages, know that every story included here reflects passion, drive, and a sincere desire to contribute something meaningful. To everyone featured in this issue, thank you for your passion, drive, and desire. Your dedication continues to shape our community in ways that matter, today and for the future.

All my best,

Helen

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at [email protected].