| Sometimes the most interesting encounters happen | | | | woman from Halifax who came to stay at their |
| spontaneously. I had just picked up the Beach Metro | | | | B&B. Mary, a good-looking tall woman in her |
| Community News and noticed an advertisement for a | | | | fifties, with blond hair, was a bit reserved, yet she |
| bed and breakfast in Toronto's Beach that had a | | | | also came across as relaxed and spiritual. The two |
| rather unusual name: Accommodating The Soul Bed | | | | owners knew that they were going to connect with |
| and Breakfast. For my neighbourhood portrait of the | | | | this B&B guest. Mary finally opened up and told |
| Beach I had wanted to interview a tourism | | | | them her story: she had had a very close friend, |
| entrepreneur anyway, so I decided to call the | | | | Anna, whom she had grown up with. They would |
| number listed. | | | | often have tea and cookies together, and one day, |
| I talked with one of the owners and got a positive | | | | during one of their get-togethers, Anna got up, and |
| reception. Steven and I arranged that I would drop | | | | fell back down - she had suffered a massive heart |
| by Saturday afternoon for a quick interview. So on a | | | | attack and passed away the same day. |
| snowy day I drove down Waverley Road and | | | | When Mary was taking the train to Toronto on her |
| stopped just north of Queen Street: I had found my | | | | way to visit Steven and Paul's B&B, Mary said to |
| destination. Steven Zarlenga, one of the co-owners, | | | | herself "Anna, if you are out there, give me a sign. " |
| opened the door to Accommodating The Soul | | | | Mary closed her eyes and when she opened them |
| B&B and welcomed me. He offered me a pair of | | | | again she saw a big A in the sky. As Paul was telling |
| slippers, a comfortable accessory on this cold and | | | | this story, something had just given me a chill. Steven |
| clammy day. The co-owner Paul Karamat had also | | | | and Paul added that they became good friends with |
| been waiting for me and said hello. After offering me | | | | Mary and they cried when she left. They felt they |
| a glass of orange juice, Steven took me on a tour of | | | | had met a soul sister. Needless to say, Mary has |
| the house. | | | | been back several times since her first visit. |
| The historic home has a beautifully decorated living | | | | I inquired into their personal backgrounds and Steven |
| room on the east side, with an adjoining dining room | | | | started to explain that he was born in Toronto into |
| that features a colourful oversize floral painting which | | | | an Italian-Canadian family. He graduated from a |
| Steven and Paul brought back from a trip to Thailand. | | | | program in marketing and started to work for |
| Upstairs are three tastefully decorated bedrooms, | | | | American Standard. He moved into the field of human |
| with one gorgeous private bathroom and one shared | | | | resources and started to work with disabled people |
| bathroom. Steven did all the interior decorating, and | | | | for whom he organized job fairs and work |
| the entire house has a tranquil elegance to it. Straight | | | | placements. |
| down from the entrance is the kitchen, a room they | | | | One day he literally had a light bulb moment, he |
| plan to renovate in the near future. Doors from the | | | | realized that he needed a change in his life, and at |
| kitchen and the dining room lead down a few steps | | | | the time he considered that he might open a home |
| to a new addition: a beautiful west-facing garden | | | | accessories store. Steven had always had a real |
| room with three sets of French doors provides a | | | | talent for interior design, and since he was a child, his |
| perfect spot to relax. In the summer you can gaze | | | | relatives would ask him for decorating advice. He |
| out over the green sanctuary behind the house. Their | | | | figured he might as well try to make a living at |
| backyard is part of the Beaches Garden Tour. | | | | something that he is really good at. He got as far as |
| Their garden has even been used as a backdrop for | | | | attending some trade shows and gathering some |
| weddings and other special events. The generous | | | | samples for the intended home accessories store, |
| garden room with its series of French doors | | | | but in the end, Steven and Paul decided to harness |
| reminded me a bit of a European palais, where doors | | | | Steven's decorating talents by putting them to good |
| open up to a beautifully designed oasis of colour and | | | | use in their own bed and breakfast which they were |
| fragrance. Steven commented that the garden is a | | | | planning to open. |
| quiet respite and many B&B guests have | | | | Steven is also a talented stained glass artists, and |
| remarked how peaceful the garden is. During the Jazz | | | | some pieces of Steven's art adorn their home. |
| Festival Steven and Paul often sit in the backyard | | | | Steven has also sold several pieces of stained glass |
| with their guests, enjoying a glass of wine and | | | | to some of his bed and breakfast guests while |
| listening to the music that drifts up from Queen | | | | several other visitors have requested his help with |
| Street. | | | | their interior design projects. |
| Steven and Paul used to live in Richmond Hill, and had | | | | Paul was born in Guyana and was twelve years old |
| been playing with the idea of opening a bed and | | | | when he came to Toronto. He said his initial |
| breakfast for some time, but they always thought | | | | adjustment period was a bit difficult since he was |
| that this would be something to do later on in life. At | | | | used to growing up in a large family who had been |
| a critical juncture in life they decided to go ahead | | | | living closely together. Once he arrived in Toronto, his |
| with their plans anyway and started searching for a | | | | entire family was spread out all over the city. In his |
| suitable property. They looked in different parts of | | | | twenties Paul completed his education in nursing and |
| Toronto and were shown various properties all over | | | | worked as a "traveling nurse" in various parts of the |
| the city. When they looked around the Beach, they | | | | USA for three years. He was hired by different |
| liked the small town feel of this neighbourhood and | | | | nursing agencies and worked in various cities |
| the restaurant and shopping opportunities close by. | | | | throughout Florida and California. |
| Paul commented that when their real estate agent | | | | Paul is also a registered physiotherapist and describes |
| drove them down Waverley Road, they somehow | | | | himself as an aspiring spiritual counselor, writer and |
| felt guided to this property and bought it right away | | | | public speaker. He also provides mindfulness |
| after the viewing. They became good friends with | | | | awareness meditation workshops. |
| the former owner who allowed them to put plants in | | | | One experience that shaped Paul Kamarat was a |
| the garden before they even owned the house and | | | | walk along the ancient pilgrimage route of the Camino |
| fixed up all the holes in the wall before Steven and | | | | de Santiago. We briefly talked about my friend Sue |
| Paul took over the property. | | | | Kenney who has become a recognized authority on |
| The name for this B&B came to Paul in a | | | | the Camino. Paul recounts a story of when he was |
| divinely inspired moment. Paul describes himself as | | | | traveling by train from France towards the border of |
| spiritual, he prays regularly and asked for a name for | | | | Spain where he would be starting his pilgrimage. He |
| their new bed and breakfast. Paul smiles and says the | | | | had met a local woman on the train who told him |
| next day the name came to him spontaneously: | | | | that they were very close to the famous French |
| Accommodating The Soul. He adds he wanted to | | | | pilgrimage town of Lourdes. Paul decided to get off |
| create a home for people to come and just be. | | | | the train and spent a night in this historic town, a |
| Over the last three years Steven and Paul have had | | | | magical experience. |
| guests from all over the world, including from | | | | Once he had started his pilgrimage near the Spanish |
| different parts of North America, Europe and Asia. | | | | town of Roncesvalles, he asked God to give him a |
| Steven likes to spoil them with his full hot breakfast | | | | sign whether he was on the right path. Just at that |
| which includes a fresh fruit cocktail, coffee, tea, juice, | | | | moment he saw a pair of dancing butterflies, which |
| and a main course, either an egg dish (Paul adds that | | | | had always been a positive symbol for Paul. He knew |
| Steven's omelettes are to die for), a quiche or a dish | | | | he was on the right track. |
| made with filo pastry. Steven told me about his | | | | Paul adds that as a budding writer he has a strong |
| pancakes: he takes thin slices of ripe pear and puts | | | | interest in regular people. He said that he meets so |
| them in the dough while the pancake cooks. The fruit | | | | many interesting people and there are so many |
| remains visible on one side of the pancake and the | | | | special individuals out there who are making a positive |
| top gets sprinkled with icing sugar. My mouth was | | | | contribution to the planet. |
| watering just listening to this description. | | | | Steven also pulled out his album and showed me a |
| I asked them to tell me a few of their favourite | | | | few pictures of the B&B's renovation project. |
| guest stories that they have accumulated over the | | | | Other images featured some of the special events |
| last three years. They both commented that their | | | | held here and some of his stained glass work. We |
| guests come from all walks of life, some are | | | | also went through their guest book which features |
| wealthy, some are regular, hard-working people, but | | | | so many positive comments about the guest |
| they treat everyone the same way, and 99% of | | | | experience at Accommodating The Soul B&B. |
| their guest experiences have been positive. | | | | Ever the gracious hosts, Paul and Steven had brought |
| Many of their guests say that they sleep so much | | | | me cookies and a delicious plate of cheese and |
| better here than in their own home. Just recently | | | | crackers to keep me energized during the interview. |
| some guests from the West Coast brought a bottle | | | | Their natural knack for hospitality is genuine and |
| of malt as a present, and other guests brought some | | | | welcoming. |
| cheese. Often their guests are interesting | | | | Just before I had to leave, Paul showed me his |
| personalities or they come for interesting reasons. | | | | pilgrimage passport and the scallop shell that is the |
| One of their guests was doing research into the | | | | symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Steven also had a |
| death of his uncle who was killed on duty as an | | | | special item to show me, particularly since Paul was |
| RCMP officer. Another couple from Korea came with | | | | instigating: Steven's artistic talent manifested itself |
| their Korean brother-in-law. As an interior designer, | | | | early in the form of a blue paper-maché pig, |
| Steven got involved in an animated discussion about | | | | an art project that was displayed in his high school |
| architecture with the brother-in-law. Later that day | | | | along with a variety of other exhibits and science |
| the couple commented that their traveling companion | | | | experiments. We all chuckled at this unusual |
| had not talked with anyone for five days, and | | | | long-lashed yet strangely endearing piece of art. |
| Steven was the first person that he opened up to. | | | | Two other interviewees were waiting for me, but |
| A young woman from Japan who spoke no English | | | | meeting these two hospitality entrepreneurs was a |
| stayed for several days at their B&B, and they | | | | real treat. I have interviewed many bed and |
| went on some joint excursions to | | | | breakfast owners over the years, but I don't think I |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake together. The only way they | | | | have ever met B& B hosts who enjoy the |
| could communicate was through improvised sign | | | | guest experience and the human connection as much |
| language, and the three established a great | | | | as Steven Zarlenga and Paul Karamat. Both |
| connection and had lots of laughs together. Positive | | | | gentlemen invited me to come back and I didn't |
| human connections are possible even without the aid | | | | leave before I got a big hug from both of them. |
| of a common spoken language. | | | | Truly a bed and breakfast with a personal touch... |
| Steven and Paul's favourite guest story involves a | | | | |