By Terri-Lynne Waldron

As I walk towards the home of Pauline Christian and her family, I wave to the young boy sitting on the front steps. Oddly enough, he does not wave back. Moving closer, I see that it is actually a statue of a young boy. “A lot of people have said, ‘Why do you have him sit there so long in the sun?’” laughs Christian about the life-like statue. “But I like animated stuff. I used to have fish and back home when we were kids, we used to have dogs and cats.”

Jamaican-born Christian, her husband Harold Anthony, son D’Juvayne and daughter Harolyn (both in their 20s) were one of the first residents in their Ajax, Ont. neighbourhood when they moved in 23 years ago. “I built this house from scratch,” she says proudly of the home that evokes both a warmth and regal quality. “This is my decoration. Even the landscape, I did it myself.”

Like her home, Christian, the founder, owner, CEO and president of The Best Lifestyle Residence, a retirement home located in Coldwater, Ont., has built her career from the ground up.

She excelled in school, made her mark in corporate Canada and is the recipient of many awards that highlight her leadership and entrepreneurial qualities. Christian spent 30 years at Bell Canada moving her way up and eventually obtaining a top-level management position. But when her husband fell ill, her request to work from home was denied. With encouragement from her kids, Christian decided that it was time to take control of her destiny.

“Here I am, a business major, and it seems like I’m OK just because I’m doing well in corporate Canada,” explains Christian, who is also the president of The Black Business and Professional Association. “But what about when they get to a point when they don’t need me or they can pay two people what they pay me. I realized that owning your own business is the key.”

And if you had a key to the Christian household, it would unlock the door to an eclectic mix of classics crossed with multicultural accents. As a missionary, her world travels have taken Christian to places like Kenya, New Orleans, Mexico and Jamaica. Souvenir dolls from Mexico hang in the family room and an animal print theme — which includes a tiger print mat and zebra print curtains in the kitchen area — runs throughout the home. Meanwhile, a grandfather clock greets visitors in the foyer and there are princess telephones in the living room.

As the first room at the top of the staircase, Christian’s office is filled with all the necessities of a workspace, but with the comforts of a home. A cosy black leather couch contrasts nicely with the desk, chair and computers. Encyclopedias are found on one bookcase, while the awards Christian has received, such as the 2009 honour from the African Canadian Achievement Awards for her work in the community and business, sit on another.

So what feelings does Christian want visitors to take away from her home? “I want them to feel welcome,” she says. “For me, our home is our castle. You won’t find a lot of noise in this home because we believe that when things get rough outside, you should let your guard down when you come inside. This should be a place where you sense love and care.”

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