JILL MATTHEWS
founder of conscious lifestyle blog Sutton + Grove
on her travel itinerary: Vancouver
(but lives in: Kelowna, British Columbia)
you never know when something will change your life. for jill matthews, it was a college course.
true story. it was 2015, and Jill was persuing a degree in Global Development when she enrolled in “Canada and the Third World” — a class that highlighted the history of global inequality, and colonialism, and globalization. the knowledge sparked a fire in her, and she went on to devour everything she could on the subject of sustainability — including watching fashion industry documentaries like “The True Cost” and “Sweatshop: Deadly Fashion”.
“knowledge changes things,” Jill says. “it moves us and it shapes our decisions.” and such was the impetus for Sutton + Grove, a conscious lifestyle blog that she writes with her husband Luke. the duo are nonstop, working and traveling the world together in search of the latest and greatest in sustainability, but recently took a five-hour road trip to Vancouver — where they once lived — for a bit of down time.
WHY VANCOUVER — AS in, WHY DID YOU RETURN, AND WHY NOW?
“we came for the 10K Vancouver Sun Run — a lot of fun! — and to visit friends!”
CONGRATS ON THE 10K! HOW DID YOU UNWIND?
“over a game night with some friends, and at dinners out downtown.”
WHAT DID YOU PACK?
“the no BS bomber jacket. namely because it is lightweight and can be thrown on over any outfit, but also because i really love the zipper pockets — i don’t like to carry a purse so i can shove my wallet and sunglasses in there when i don’t need them.”
THE ONE THING EVERYONE WHO VISITS VANCOUVER MUST DO?
“go for a walk or bike ride around Stanley Park.”
BEST ALL-AROUND ROAD TRIP TIP — OR THREE?
"always bring a reusable water bottle (fill it up before you go) and a couple of snacks. make a playlist for the drive that everyone in the car can appreciate! (my husband and I have been really into country these days.) and bring your own pillow."