In Their Shoes: Sarah Chan + Don Iveson

Who’s walking around in Poppy Barley shoes? Here, we spend a few minutes with our customers to find out who they are and what they do.

 

NAME(S)

Sarah Chan (SC) Don Iveson (DI)

HOME

Edmonton, AB. Both Don and I were born and raised here (with the exception of Don being born in a St.Albert hospital)

 

OCCUPATION

(SC) Piano Teacher; Mom; Woman-At-Large (DI) Mayor of Edmonton

POPPY BARLEY STYLE YOU OWN

The Feminine Slipper (now sold out) in Black Python and Metallic Gold, 5 1/2 (SC) The Edmonton Oxford in Grey, 14 1/2 (DI)

 

Describe your typical work day.

(SC) I’m up and at ‘em with the kids; dealing with house stuff; hopefully having some admin time at the computer; taking meetings regarding my various initiatives; teaching music to my students; and, if I’m not out at an event, I get to put my kids to bed! For Don: council meetings; public hearings; speaking engagements; media scrums; interviews; appearances of all sorts; hopefully time at the office to check in with the team; if he’s home in time he helps the kids brush their teeth and never rushes story time. He does special voices for all characters and all that jazz.

If you could turn into any animal for a day, what would you pick? What would you do?

(SC) I’d want to be an Edmonton river valley coyote, so I could see the city from another perspective. (DI) An eagle. I’d fly.

How do your personalities complement each other? Is there anything about your personalities that clash?

I’m (SC) the extrovert and Don is the introvert. I am excessive in the talking department. He is very good at listening. We challenge each other to be our best! We’ve been working at our communication for a long time, so clashing has been less and less over our (almost) 10 years of marriage. It also helps that we genuinely find each other interesting and respect one another - what a concept!

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

(SC) Patience (DI) Mind reading

How has becoming the mayor and first lady of Edmonton impacted your lives in a way that you never expected?

(SC) I have met so many wonderful people doing amazing work to make our community better. (DI) Getting to meet really interesting people.

If you were going to lose one sense, what would you be willing to give up?

(SC) If I had to pick, probably sight. (DI) Smell

What's your ideal date night?

(SC) Good food, cocktails, and snuggles.

What's your favourite dish?

(SC) My dad’s pork, onion, and tomato stir fry (DI) Waffles with peanut butter

If you could spend 5 minutes with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

(SC) Grandma (DI) Abraham Lincoln