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VA N C O U V E R S U N
PRESENTS
VSO SPRING
FESTIVAL
A BRITISH FANTASY
Barb Stegemann is founder of The 7 Virtues fragrance brand and co-writer of the documentary
Perfume War. Her company sources essential oils from nations like Haiti, Afghanistan, Rwanda.
Documentary extols
virtues of making
perfume, not war
M I C H E L E M A R KO
P E R F U M E WA R
Barb Stegemann created The 7
Virtues fragrance line almost
seven years ago and won a venture
capital deal on CBC’s Dragon Den.
Based in Halifax, N.S., the company
sources essential oils from nations
like Haiti, Afghanistan and Rwanda — that are struggling to rebuild
their economies and political systems — in an effort to foster peace
through prosperity.
Stegemann’s journey of creating the fragrance brand has been
documented in the film Perfume
War, which she also co-wrote with
director Michael Melski.
Friday, 7 p.m. |
The Park Theatre
Tickets and info:
cineplex.com
Q How did you come to be
involved with making the documentary Perfume War?
A We had several documentary
companies approach me after
we won a venture capital deal on
Dragons’ Den, but they wanted
the rights to my life story and
book so we passed. Then my
husband sold his business and
partially funded the documentary with award winning Canadian filmmaker Michael Melski
as director. He gave Michael full
directorial control. There was an
amazing respect and chemistry
between us all.
Q How does the other person
featured in the film fit into your
story and your brand’s story?
A Captain Trevor Greene, who
lives in Nanaimo with his wife
Debbie and their two children, is
my best friend and inspiration,
and he was my first mentor. He
believed in me when I showed up
at the University of King’s College.
We were poor growing up ... and to
have this super athlete, A student
believe in me — I just wanted to
rise up to meet his expectations.
When Trevor was axed in the
head in Afghanistan — while
discussing how to bring clean
drinking water and heath care
to a village — and survived, I
promised. ... I would take on his
mission of peace while he healed.
I then realized I didn’t have a way
to touch peace in this patriarchy
... So I created a new way, sourcing
legal rose and orange blossom oils
from farmers in Afghanistan so
they would not have to grow the
illegal poppy crop, which is 90 per
cent of the world’s heroin supply.
Q What do you hope the effect
of the film will have?
A Perfume War’s audience
choice awards really sum it up:
The attendees of Perfume War
leave with hope. We live in a
world that seems cluttered with
angry political messaging and
citizens need a break. People
need to know that regardless
of our differences we can work
together. Citizens need to be
reminded that regardless of your
resources, if you have a disability
or challenge, that if you have the
passion, and the love, together
we can find a way and take our
dignity and power back.
Q Did you have any control in
how your story would be portrayed in the final cut?
A The only control I had was
writing parts. ... The final edits
and changes were all up to the
director Michael Melski and the
editor Graeme Pass.
Q Can you explain the process
of making the film?
A It took two years. We filmed
everywhere from Rwanda to
Vancouver and England, Toronto,
and San Francisco. It was a long
process, but during the process
we learned more about how to
build peace. Interviews with
Fariba Nawa, author of Opium
Nation, reminded us that we have
to do trade with nations rebuilding or the oppressors, like the
Taliban, will take poppy farmers’ children as opium brides.
The process helped us to learn
more about why doing trade with
nations rebuilding after war or
strife is crucial to ending the
cycle of war and poverty.
Q Have you found that improving the economics of a region
has eased or eliminated conflicts?
A It’s still a complex formula.
You can’t put the military in
without economic empowerment, then pull the troops out
and think private economic
trade will fix it. It really has to
be a collaborate approach with
business, government and nonprofits working together. I have
yet to see that proper model in
place. Which is really surprising
given we know this it the only
way to reverse war and poverty.
In the meantime, yes, despite the
increased violence in Afghanistan since the troops pulled out,
our supplier in Afghanistan has
doubled the size of his distillery.
Q What is happening with 7
Virtues now? Are there plans
for expansion into other
regions for sourcing?
A We have expanded from
Afghanistan to Haiti, Israel and
Iran, Rwanda and India, and now
we are working with the minister
of housing for the Palestinian
Authority. We will continue to go
where people ask us to support
them. It’s been as organic as our
oils, we just naturally support
those who reach out and can provide fair wages and security for
their farmers and their families.
We just launched our new scent
with jasmine from India at every
Hudson’s Bay store across Canada. The oils we purchase support
blind perfumery students. We got
to meet them in India and thank
them for their great work.
Q What is your role in the
Sephora business competition?
A I was volunteering in Haiti
after hurricane Matthew last
November and learned of Sephora’s social enterprise program.
Less than four per cent of the
CEOs of major beauty companies are women. They want to
support women who run social
enterprises. Ten of us were chosen from around the world after
a rigorous interviewing process
to be mentored for six months.
We are flown into San Francisco to live in a mansion for a
week and literally get a Sephora
business makeover. Experts
in packaging design, financial,
forecasting, distribution and
more guide you through and
mentor you afterwards. Then
you pitch to investors and could
end up with investment and possibly get distribution at Sephora.
It’s just like Dragons’s Den for
me again.
This interview has been edited and
condensed.
THE 2017 VSO SPRING FESTIVAL features Maestro Bramwell Tovey,
violinist/violist James Ehnes, pianist Ian Parker, and narrator
Christopher Gaze in a 5-concert celebration of British composers
and their most popular works. Highlights include Holst The Planets,
Elgar Enigma Variations, and The Last Night of the Proms. Order
the Festival Pass (all 5 concerts) and save!
SONGS AND SERENADES
SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 8PM, ORPHEUM
James Ehnes leader/violin/viola*
ELGAR Serenade for Strings in E minor
BRITTEN Lachrymae*
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Fantasia
on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
BRITTEN Prelude and Fugue for 18 strings
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending*
ELGAR Introduction and Allegro*
JAMES EHNES
THE PLANETS: AN HD ODYSSEY
MONDAY, APRIL 24, 8PM, ORPHEUM
Bramwell Tovey conductor
James Ehnes viola*
Elektra Women’s Choir°
Morna Edmundson chorus director
GAVIN HIGGINS Velocity
WALTON Viola Concerto*
HOLST The Planets°
With HD VIDEO FROM NASA AND THE JET
PROPULSION LABORATORY, shown on the big
screen as the orchestra performs The Planets.
BRAMWELL TOVEY
HENRY V
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 8PM, ORPHEUM
Bramwell Tovey conductor
Ian Parker piano*
Christopher Gaze narrator°
Langley Fine Arts School Choir°
Jim Sparks chorus director
MACONCHY Proud Thames
MACMILLAN Fantasia on Scottish Airs
RIDOUT Fall Fair
ADDINSELL Warsaw Concerto*
WALTON Henry V°
CHRISTOPHER GAZE
ENIGMA
SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 7PM, ORPHEUM
Bramwell Tovey conductor/piano*
ELGAR Piano Quintet*
ELGAR Enigma Variations: An Exploration
ELGAR Enigma Variations
Maestro Tovey performs with VSO musicians
in the Elgar Piano Quintet, then explains the
Enigma Variations with his trademark insight
and wit, before a full performance of Elgar’s
landmark work in the second half of the concert.
BRAMWELL TOVEY
LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
MONDAY, MAY 1, 8PM, ORPHEUM
Bramwell Tovey conductor
Vancouver Bach Choir
VSO School of Music Sinfonietta
The Last Night of the Proms is the customary
ending to the Promenades series at the Royal
Albert Hall, a tradition proudly upheld by
Bramwell Tovey, the Vancouver Bach Choir,
the VSO School of Music Sinfonietta and the
VSO. In addition to music of Elgar and Holst,
there’s a musical tribute to the witty British
playwright Sir Noël Coward.
BRAMWELL TOVEY WITH THE VSO
FESTIVAL SPECIAL EVENTS
The VSO Spring Festival includes PRE-CONCERT TALKS which begin
one hour before each concert, and POST-CONCERT Q&A with
Maestro Tovey and guest soloists. FREE TO TICKETHOLDERS.
@VSOrchestra
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