Karen Radley meets Catriona Belsham

Favourite neighbourhood in Montreal:
The one in which I live: Le Plateau Montréal. Known for quirky shops, colorful row-houses, many cute cafes and restaurants, and iconic twirling iron staircases. Home to Muralfest the city’s most colorful wall murals bring a cool edge to this area. Additionally, The Plateau (as it’s known) sits at the base of beautiful Mont Royal – the perfect city oasis for a walk or jog. 

Favourite place for brunch:
Classic Montréal restaurant Lemeac on Avenue Laurier. The mood is chic French Bistro. I highly recommend their cheddar omelette and simple-but-delicious green salad. If you’re in the mood for something more decadent, try the enormous pain doré with authentic Quebec maple syrup.

Best coffee in Montreal:
Humbly speaking, in my kitchen! My minimalist Jura coffee machine makes the perfect allongé espresso every time. 

Favourite gallery or museum:
Musée Mccord. Known for its many fashion exhibits including Dior and Balenciaga. It also has a fantastic private fashion archive.  

Tell us a secret:
(Not so secret) Montréal’s construction is as bad as they say. Orange cones, traffic jams and construction on almost every corner!  

Favourite place to shop:
I love a weekend stroll through Old Montréal. It’s a great combination of old and new. The narrow cobblestone streets mixed with historic buildings, modern boutique hotels, charming boutiques, great cafes and restaurants make it a really special corner of the city. 

Favourite place to find inspiration:
Travelling. I adore attending the fabric shows in Paris or visiting London, New York or Milan. Seeing something different and experiencing a little adventure is food for the soul.

Best Montréal destination for a date:
Perhaps a little niche – but by far my best date with my husband was sailing a 35-foot sailboat on the St. Laurent River. Stunning views of the Jacques Cartier bridge and the Old Port of Montréal! 

Favourite park in Montréal:
There are so many great parks in Montréal, but perhaps my favorite is Park La Fontaine. 84 acres of green space featuring a man-made lake which turns into an enormous outdoor skating rink in the winter.

Favourite food market:
Jean Talon food market – especially in the summer. It has an incredible selection of Montreal’s finest fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, seafood, and a great selection of plants, too. 

Your sanctuary in Montreal:
My summer sanctuary is any of the great green spaces. Montrealer’s contend with such a long, cold winter so come spring/summer we love picnics and meetups at any of the fantastic parks the city has to offer. Mont-Royal, Parc La Fontaine or Parc Laurier.

What inspires you?
I’m always inspired and uplifted by the many amazing women that are so loyal to the Joseph Ribkoff brand. I adore seeing how they style the collection and what pieces they gravitate towards. I also love seeing classic pieces that they continue to wear season after season. Fashion that has longevity just makes sense these days. 

This season I’m loving:
This season I can’t seem to get enough of simple blazers in pops of colour. It’s the perfect way to update your wardrobe for the season. There’s a colour for everyone!