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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1471305
at a university in Lithuania after graduation, eventu- ally returning seven years later and finding himself apprenticing at interior design firm Robert Bailey Interiors. That's when he met Reynolds at OPUS Vancouver Hotel in 2006, where Falkenberg liked to stop for coffee and where Reynolds was working as a bellman at the time. They launched Falken Reynolds Interiors six years later. By then, Reynolds had won a wide range of expe- rience: the Vancouverite had served in the military, worked with the local police, been a flight atten- dant and completed the Ironman Triathlon. "I'm a natural swimmer and a cyclist, so the first two were easy," he says of the 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bicycle race that precede the 26.22-mile run. Reynolds' love of na- ture and wildlife started at a young age, just like Falkenberg's. Although the Edmonton farm he was raised on didn't present a lot of hiking opportunities, it did mean that Falken- berg's childhood was filled with chickens, horses, goats and cows. "My sister and I used to make tree- houses all the time," he re- calls. "And I grew up riding horses—my parents used to take us trail riding up into the Rocky Mountains." Their favourite expedi- tion as a duo? Travelling to one of the world's oldest tropical forests in Borneo. The uninhabited area only had two research stations, the odd person trekking and lots of monkeys. "We also saw some boar, deer and these bugs called cicadas," says Reynolds. "They're giant—like the size of birds." And when it comes to B.C. trails, they have an affinity for fan favourites like the Grouse Grind and Mount Harvey. "We also really like doing Deep Lake," adds Falkenberg of the 2-mile trail near Kam- loops. "There's this beauti- ful lake up there and it's not busy, but it's intense. It's like two Grinds." The pair still love to travel, visiting Europe at least once a year since the start of their business. Falkenberg and Reynolds claim that exploration plays a big role in their approach to decorating homes: "We saw an oppor- tunity to bring a bit of an international perspective, but still with a very local, West Coast mindset." £ A F T E R HO U R S FELINE FINE Cat people, this one is for you. Meowfest is the largest feline-focused event in the country—the last pre-COVID fest welcomed 3,000 attendees. The full-day, non-profit festival benefits local cat rescues, and highlights include a vendor marketplace (look for Vancouver-based kitty subscription service Meowbox), meet and greets with internet-famous cats and an "Adoptable Kitty Corner" provided by the Langley Animal Protection Society. There's also a human-sized, climbable cat tree to take pictures on, obviously. August 20 at Rocky Mountaineer Station Tickets $27 for adults, $20 for children under 13; more info at meowfest.com PLUGGED IN Can you draw a line between technology and humanity? Artists say no! The Polygon Gallery's latest exhibition, Ghosts of the Machine, uses installations, video, avatars, and even an indoor garden to tackle the binary of tech versus reality. Featured artists include Cease Wyss, Ho Tzu Nyen, Juliana Huxtable, Anne Duk Hee Jordan, Lu Yang, Skawennati, and Santiago Tamayo Soler. Through August 14 Tickets by donation, details on hours at thepolygon.ca £ BOTTOM: SANTIAGO TAMAYO SOLER 76 BCBUSINESS JULY/AUGUST 2022 WINNERS REVEALED IN VANCOUVER MAGAZINE'S JULY/AUGUST ISSUE! Vancouver magazine's 2022 Made in Vancouver Awards spotlight the city's best homegrown goods, from artisanal hot sauces to handcrafted bags to eco-chic outerwear.