muchmor

Discover Your Canada

Canada Magazine issue 42 jun 09

Did you hear the

one about the
bathroom reno?.

One Family’s Journey Across

Canada: Part 3

Motoring: this months test drive

The Volkswagen Tiguan.
Quick guide to your financial ABC’s

Travel: Come out and play in Miami.

Real life: Not your run-of-the-mill relocation
Living with Osteoporosis
don’t forget to visit us at www.muchmormagazine.com
2 Editorial

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From the Editor
At last it’s June and we can finally look forward to long
summer days and the smell of grilling in the air. Speaking
of grilling, check out some great recipes on pages 20
and 21 - my mouth is watering already.
If you fancy grilling in even more exotic locations they
read all about what Miami has to offer as a summer
destination. Prefer to stay in Canada? Read the story of
Marie-Julie and her family as they continue their journey
across Canada. This is part three of their story and if you
missed parts 1 and 2, you can read them in our March
and April issues.
Mark Atkinson test drives the Volkswagen Tiguan to
see if it lives up to its claims on page 38.
This month we treat you to not one, but two real life
stories of relocation. One from Stephanie who moved
from southern to northern Ontario and another from
Birgit who moved all the way from Germany in the late
1990’s.
Osteoporosis can be a very debilitating disease and we
get first hand information and advice from Osteoporosis
Canada on how to live with the disease as well as ways
of preventing it in the first place.
If you are thinking of renovating your bathroom, you
will find our story on page 60 interesting as well as funny.
On the home front we also take advice from Doug Wilson
of TLC's "Trading Spaces fame about incorporating
technology into your home.
Until next time.
Jane Toombes
Editor
 Contents 3

Contents

Canada Relocation
Journey across Canada - part 3 4 Real Life: Not your run-of-the-mill
You belong in Brandon 10 relocation story 41
Real Life: From city life to country wife 44
Travel Which route to use to immigrate
Come out and play in Miami 14 to Canada? 46
Flying high 49
Lifestyle
Grilling with skewers 20
Health & Wellness
Praize and be praized 22 Living with or without osteoporosis 50
Passport required to enter U.S. 23 The positive side to no 54
Top Canadian 24
Top kids stuff 25
Home & Garden
Technorating tips 56
Business Property in Alberta 58
The slightly unusual 26 Did you hear the one about the
Stand out and get more ROI 28 bathroom renovation? 60
Canada’s workplace taboos 29 Real estate today 62
Email marketing: Developing your
email content 30
Business Finder
Muchmor Business Finder 63
Money
Financial ABC’s 32
Financial tips for parents and teens 37

Motoring
Test Drive: Volkswagen Tiguan 38
4 Discover Canada

Follow Marie-Julie
and her family on
their journey
across Canada.
Part 3

Marie-Julie Gagnon, Joseph Sarr

and their daughter Maya aged 20
months continue their journey
across Canada

On to the Rockies!
Flight AC8056. We are about to
leave British Columbia for Alberta.
Maya, who is now accustomed to
falling asleep in one place and
waking up in another, is still sleeping
as we head to the airport.
Being able to take the stroller to
the departure gate (or in this case,
right up to the small plane) makes
our lives so much easier (we simply
have to register the stroller when we
check in). Maya continues to snooze
in her “home on wheels” between
flights, while we relax over breakfast
in the Maple Leaf Lounge. We make
a mental note: morning is an
excellent time for us to travel.
Flight AC208. We land in Calgary,
and board the minibus to Banff. The
closer we get to Canada’s oldest
national park (and the third oldest in
the world), the more impressed we
are by the landscape. And the town
is just as stunning. The first thing we
notice is the abundance of
chocolate shops. I count at least
three on our way to the Mount Royal
Hotel (a reminder of our little “hill”
back in Montreal).
When we get off the bus, we
realize that no matter where we look,
the Rockies shape the landscape.
Incredible.
The next morning, we visit the
Cave and Basin National Historic
Site and learn a little more about the
history of Banff. The town was
created after three railway workers,
in search of silver deposits, looking
to make a fortune, discovered
thermal springs instead. Today you
cannot dip so much as a toe in
these sulphurous waters because
human bacteria could harm the
Banff Springs snails, a protected
species.
The castle-like Fairmont Banff
Springs Hotel really piques our
curiosity. William Cornelius Van
Horne, Vice-President of the
Canadian Pacific Railway Company,
decided to build a deluxe hotel for
wealthy tourists interested in the hot
springs. The building opened its
doors in 1888 and soon became one
of the most popular hotels in North
America. It is probably one of the
most photographed spots in Banff,
as it can be viewed from so many
different angles.
“Naminals! Naminals!”
Maya is ecstatic. Just a few
metres away, some bighorn sheep
are watching the cars go by. When
we board the minibus, we can see
them strolling past us. It is not
unusual to spot black bears,
grizzlies, wolves, elk and the
occasional moose either.
Maya is in such good spirits that
we decide to join a tour group
headed to Lake Louise. Although we
only spend half an hour there,
Joseph declares it to be the most
beautiful place he has ever seen. It’s
not surprising that this is one of the
most photographed sites on Earth.
We are also thrilled by nearby
Moraine Lake and its “beware of the
Discover Canada 5
bears” signs. Is this my chance to
finally see one?
From Banff to Edmonton
Travelling all the way to Alberta has
taken me back to my parent’s living
room. These same snow-capped
mountains used to grace an entire
wall of my childhood home in the
1980s.
My parents have redecorated
since then, but the Rockies continue
to draw tourists from around the
world, including from Quebec. Some
come as visitors, and other young
people come as seasonal workers.
“There used to be a lot more of
them,” our taxi driver informs us on
the way to the cable car. “Lots of
them would party into the wee hours
of the morning and then would not
show up for work the next day.”
Oops.
On the cable car ride up Sulphur
Mountain, we watch the Fairmont
Banff Springs Hotel gradually
disappearing into the vast expanse
of green. We can spot a few hikers
below us. Maya is delighted with the
view, while I madly snap photos to
drive out thoughts of the
catastrophes that could occur as we
dangle between heaven and earth…
When we reach the top, we get
out and explore. A hiking trail climbs
even higher, but there are too many
stairs for a stroller, so we decide to
stay at the main observation area.
6 Discover Canada
Back at the bottom, we take a dip
in the Upper Hot Springs. There are
old-fashioned women’s bathing
suits (skirts and all) for rent, and I
am always keen on playing dress-
up. If the suit came any higher, it
would be a turtleneck. People give
me strange looks when I get into the
pool, but a few minutes later, two
other women show up in the same
attire.
“It’s hot!” complains Maya, who
loves swimming. “It’s great!” I reply,
happy to have finally found a pool
that doesn’t give me hypothermia
after five minutes. Open year-round,
this site must be especially magical
in winter, with Mount Rundle in the
background.
We do some shopping in town
before boarding the bus. Banff is
truly delightful. A place to relax and
forget your worries. And with its
wealth of winter and summer
activities, it is never boring.
On paper, exploring Alberta from
Calgary to Edmonton in four days
seemed like a great idea. But we are
proven wrong on the five-hour trip
from Banff to Jasper. From my
window, I can see dozens of
landscapes reminiscent of the one
on the wall of my childhood home.
Breathtaking panoramas. But
despite the incredible landscape,
five hours on a bus with an
impatient infant is too long. To make
matters worse, we arrive in Jasper
just after the cable car has closed
for the day. Exhausted from trying to
convince Maya to have a decent
meal (the story of our life), we go to
bed without even exploring the
area. The next morning at 7 a.m.,
we’re back on another bus. Our
impressions of Jasper? It seems
great…
The ride from Jasper to
Edmonton is much less scenic, but
we are relieved to finally arrive in
Edmonton. Although we’ll be
catching a plane at 1 a.m., we’ve
taken a room at the Fantasyland
Hotel in the famous West Edmonton
Mall.
The hotel’s 120 theme rooms
transport guests to Hollywood, the
Victorian era, the Arabian Peninsula,
Africa, Rome or Polynesia. Our
“Western” room creates just the
right mood for the Stampede, which
will soon be in full swing in Calgary
(from July 4 to 13).
As soon as we enter, Maya jumps
onto the “stagecoach” bed. She
loves climbing up and down the
ladder and finds her reflection in the
overhead mirror absolutely hilarious.
As our time is short, we have a
quick bite at Café Europa (an
excellent buffet) and head for
Galaxyland. I soon realize that our
daughter is in not in the mood for
“thrills and spills”. She clings to me
when I lift her onto the carousel
horse, and cries and calls for her
daddy on the little train that winds
through the amusement park.
We decide to return to our
fabulous hotel room, with its
whirlpool bath. Ah, la dolce vita!
A bit of shopping and we’re on
the bus to the airport… In just a few
hours, we’ll be in the Maritimes.
P.S.: I never did get to see that
bear.
In the footsteps of Anne of
Green Gables
It was my friend Julie who talked
me into reading Anne of Green
Gables. We must have been 13 or
14, I can’t quite remember. What I
do know is that the story of that
outspoken orphan forever captured
our imaginations.
As we headed for Green Gables
in Cavendish, I was thinking of
Anne, but also of Diana, Gilbert
(how could anyone forget him),

Marilla and Matthew. These
characters had always seemed so
real to me; I almost expected to see
them around the corner of Lover’s
Lane (where you can still go for a
stroll). I was also thinking about my
friend Julie; how was it possible for
two teenagers who had vowed to be
best friends forever, like Anne and
Diana, to have been out of touch for
so many years?
These thoughts continued to run
through my mind as I watched Anne
of Green Gables — The Musical at
the Confederation Centre of the Arts
in Charlottetown. “Don’t give up all
your romance, Anne,” Matthew tells
the redhead with his dying breath.
Staying true to yourself, despite the
passage of time is one of the
messages that continues to strike a
chord with me from this tale that has
been translated into 36 languages.
“Many couples tie the knot here,
the same place where Lucy Maud
Montgomery was married,” Maureen
Campbell, co-owner of the Anne of
Green Gables Museum, informs us.
“Especially Japanese couples.”
“Japanese?!!”
I have heard about their
fascination with Anne, and seen
busloads of Japanese tourists at
Green Gables and Avonlea Village
(tourist sites recreating the period of
the novels), but do they really GET
MARRIED in the same setting as the
author?
“Absolutely. In fact,
Signthere’s a
in Churchill
wedding here tonight. I play the
wedding march that was played at
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s wedding,
on the very same organ, in the very
same room…”
I still can’t get over it
Flight AC1138, July 4, 2008. It is
after midnight but Maya is running
all over the place. We brace
ourselves for another hectic flight.
“We’ve decided to put you in
Business Class,” the boarding agent
tells me.
I almost kissed him.
A journalist perk? Whatever the
reason, we accept this unexpected
offer. Between Edmonton and
Montréal, the three of us doze
comfortably in our roomy seats.
Nothing could have convinced us to
stay awake, not even Air Canada’s
state-of-the-art entertainment
system (I am totally hooked on the
multi-function, individual seatback
screens — available even in
Economy! — that let you pause,
advance or replay a movie or
program).
At Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport, we
get lost speeding through the maze
that leads to the departure gate.
They do not call our names on the
intercom (as I had always imagined
it), but we are the last ones to board
the plane that will take us to
Charlottetown.
Less than an hour later, we are
greeted by Grant MacRae from
Discover Canada 7
Tourism PEI. On today’s schedule: a
visit to Avonlea Village, the site of
numerous activities celebrating the
100th anniversary of the famous
redhead. When we arrive, I give in to
temptation and head straight for
Anne of Green Gables Chocolates,
where fudge, chocolate-covered
caramels and chocolate-covered
potato chips (I kid you not) beg me
to indulge. I spot a pile of straw hats
with red braids attached. I will be
seeing THIS souvenir everywhere
over the next few days, both in
stores and on tourists’ heads
(including Japanese tourists — an
incongruous image that amuses me
for days). I fight the overwhelming
urge to buy one for myself (okay, I
might be exaggerating a little bit),
and settle instead for four little
chocolate caramels. A more subtle
way of expressing my admiration for
the character (Maya approves of my
choice).
Avonlea Village in Cavendish has
a line-up of activities spanning the
entire summer: plays, potato sack
races, musical performances, magic
shows, etc. A petting zoo along with
a horse and wagon ride bring smiles
to the faces of even the most unruly
children. Actors play various
characters from Lucy Maud
Montgomery books and mingle with
the crowd, to the delight of the little
ones. It is an ideal spot for a family
outing.
8 Sequoia
DiscoverClub Canada
The presence of the beloved
orphan is felt all over PEI. In
Charlottetown I find a branch of
Anne of Green Gables Chocolates.
At Cows, a shop known for its ice
cream as well as its t-shirts and
knickknacks bearing the image of a
cow, I come across a Holstein
sporting a straw hat and red braids.
Anne beverages and potato chips
are also sold everywhere.
Excessive? Not for diehard fans.
True Anne enthusiasts must
include a visit to the Anne of Green
Gables Museum in Park Corner on
their agenda. This is the house
where Lucy Maud Montgomery’s
beloved cousins lived. Now owned
by one of their descendants, George
Campbell, it is full of information
about Montgomery’s life as a
woman and a writer. The rooms
have remained nearly intact since
the turn of the last century, and the
many photographs provide an idea
of the “real-life characters” that
inspired the novelist.
Maybe I should call my friend
Julie…
In PEI, the living is easy hair, but I suspect that Canada’s
smallest province just blushes really
easily. The Micmac have praised its
In the glacial waters off Cavendish beauty for thousands of years. They
Beach, 20-month-old Maya says her called it Abegweit, “Cradled on the
very first swear word; she parrots Waves.” In 1534, Jacques Cartier
the impressive three-syllable word described it as “the most beautiful
uttered by her father as he plunges place one can imagine,” according
into the icy Atlantic. Despite the to Ulysse’s Fabuleuses Maritimes,
water temperature (a mere 14 published in 2007 (for an English
degrees Celsius at the time), they guide, see Ulysse’s Atlantic
both emerge with big smiles from Canada). Since then, visitors
their brief dip. rediscovering the island have raved
While they were braving the cold, about its beaches, its charming
I was listening to some of the fishing villages and the pure lines of
conversations on the beach (which its landscapes. With so many
is spectacular, by the way). A compliments, how could it help but
teenager was casually inviting her blush?
pals to a barbecue with “hotdogs Prince Edward Island is more
and shrimp.” Shrimp? This is than just the birthplace of Lucy
definitely a seaside town. Maud Montgomery and the setting
The first thing you notice is the for the adventures of her redhead
colour red, apparently, the result of character (although the sites related
grains of sand that solidified and to the novelist and to Anne are well
were transformed into a layer of worth a visit). Through our
sedimentary rock (sandstone), excursions and random stops,
containing iron (thanks 275-allô!). Joseph, Maya and I discover the
The soil of Prince Edward Island is island and take in the landscape. I’m
rust-coloured because the iron not surprised that so many artists
contained in it oxidized in contact have been inspired by these vistas.
with the air. Maybe the red has
something to do with Anne Shirley’s

I fall in love with the picturesque
fishing villages, with their old-
fashioned lobster traps and brightly
coloured cabins. The sea lapping
against the red sand, the pure green
of the valleys, and the people
themselves clinch the deal. I am
mesmerized, and can tell that
Joseph is too: just two days after
our arrival, he starts noticing houses
for sale!
Charlottetown. With its terraces,
green spaces and various shops,
the capital seems as idyllic as the
countryside. There are 56 kilometres
of paths for cyclists and
pedestrians. A boardwalk, starting
from Victoria Park, lets you walk
along the water. And Peakes Wharf,
by the waterfront, is full of charming
little shops.
I treat myself to a double dip
chocolate ice cream at Cows, the
best ice cream parlour in Canada,
according to Reader’s Digest (I do
not need any more convincing). “Life
seems good in PEI,” I think to
myself as I wander through the
bustling streets (and the ice cream
is to die for).
While Maya takes a nap, Grant
MacRae, our delightful guide/
chauffeur/walking-encyclopaedia/
entertainer (officially representing
the tourist bureau for the project)
and I (Joseph is with Maya), taste
Isle Saint Jean red wine at the
island’s first commercial winery, the
Rossignol Estate Winery, located at
Little Sands, a 70-km drive and 10-
km ferry ride from Charlottetown.
There are some sheep grazing
blissfully around the estate, which
overlooks the Northumberland
Strait. The setting is as delicious as
the contents of our glasses. I buy a
bottle for my father and mail it
quickly to avoid temptation. We
don’t have the time to see more, but
note that you can take a guided tour
of the grounds, if you schedule it
beforehand.
To end our visit, Grant takes us to
Fisherman’s Wharf in Cavendish for
a “World Famous Lobster Supper,”
as described by our placemats. It
will be the first of a long series of
lobster dinners in the Maritimes.
P.S.: There are no bears in Prince
Edward Island.
Discover Canada 9
In our next issue we continue the
journey with Marie-Julie and her
family as they visit the New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland and Labrador .
Courtesy of the Canadian Tourist
Commission
Marie-Julie has worked in the
communications field since 1994. She is
a freelance journalist, a columnist, a
researcher and a reporter for print,
broadcast, and online media. She is also
the author of a travelogue, Cartes
postales d’Asie
(www.cartespostalesdasie.com)
published in 2007 by Mémoire d’encrier,
and a book for young travellers,
Embarquement immédiat (Stanké, 2004,
www.edstanke.com/
ShowGuidePage.asp?
CodeProduit=295687). She has set
down her backpack in twenty or so
countries and has been keeping a blog,
Taxi-brousse (www.marieju.com), since
spring 2008. She admits to knowing
Asia better than her own country. But
that is about to change!
10 Discover Canada









Advertorial

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OFSMALLTOWNLIVINGYOUWANTITALL

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 Advertorial Discover Canada 11

You belong in Brandon

Close your eyes, picture a vibrant, growing city nestled in the scenic
Assiniboine River Valley, surrounded by alluring landscapes, rolling
hills, enormous skies, quaint towns and unspoiled countryside.
Welcome to Brandon, a city of promise, in which our children wish to
stay and raise their own children.

We invite you to discover Brandon, Manitoba more
closely throughout 2009 monthly editorials, each
focusing on a unique topic. This month’s focus is
recreation and leisure. Brandon’s diverse, world-class
recreation facilities provide those who want to play for
enjoyment or compete at an elite level, the surfaces
on which to excel – whether it be hockey arenas,
swimming pools, indoor and outdoor soccer pitches,
baseball diamonds or boxing rings. As a host of many
major, national events, Brandon has the legacy
facilities that continue to support a strong recreation
environment in our community. In addition, many
sporting organizations are well developed to support
and develop individuals at every age, from recreation
leagues to elite athlete development.
Recognizing the importance of providing residents
with a superior quality of life, the City of Brandon is
working towards developing a series of recreation
hubs throughout the community to enhance existing
leisure opportunities. Recreation hubs are being
designed to function as gathering spots for families,
youth, seniors and anyone who wishes to be active.
Each hub will offer elements unique to their location.
The hub located at 3rd and Aberdeen Avenue contains
a water spray pad, a beach volleyball court, paved
pathways, washrooms, a community garden, a
children’s play structure, a BMX park , extensive
landscaping, picnic areas, a gazebo and parking.
Multiple indoor fitness centres offering a full range
of services and equipment as well as personalized
trainers are located throughout the city for the
convenience of residents. Several racquet ball and
squash courts, an outdoor running track and
numerous indoor and outdoor swimming pools,
including a waterslide and an olympic sized pool, are
readily available in the city. For those that are a little
more adventurous, there are a variety of more
challenging recreational opportunities available
including; pilot lessons, parachute jumping, and
several rock-climbing walls to name a few.
The City of Brandon is great for the outdoor
enthusiast with an extensive trail system that ranges

Activities on the
Assiniboine River
12 Discover Canada Advertorial

One of Brandon's many

golf courses

from natural river bottom forest to paved, lit walkways

and links to sports venues, downtown shopping and
dining. The Assiniboine River Corridor stretches 17
km through Brandon and is the ideal setting for
canoeing, water sports, fishing, picnic spots and a
host of other activities. It is not uncommon to see
wildlife such as deer and rabbits in the river corridor
area as well as in the undeveloped land in the City.
The Power Smart Waterfall of Lights is a wintertime
oasis offering skating and cross country skiing
through beautiful light displays. This popular winter
venue is illuminated from December through the end
of February each year, weather permitting. The public
park is complete with a warm-up shack, music, fire
pits, benches and onsite bathroom facilities.
Hiking and cycling are extremely popular in
Brandon and the nearby Brandon Hills. Brandon
offers a nice mix of man made and natural scenic
trails perfect for walking, hiking, biking, rollerblading,
horseback riding, skiing and snowshoeing.
Golf is another sport that is extremely popular.
Brandon offers multiple 9 and 18 hole golf courses
and driving ranges, each offering it own distinctive
feature or flare. For those that like a bit of variety, over
30 beautifully groomed golf courses are located in
southwestern Manitoba, a short distance from
Brandon.
As a long-time Communities in Bloom competitor,
Brandon’s parks and boulevards are well-maintained,
showcasing beautiful blooms throughout the city in
the summer months. Brandon also has a wide variety
of arts and cultural performances and showings as
well as unique shopping and dining experiences.
Brandon is near some of Canada’s most amazing
natural attractions including the Spirit Sands - a
Paved trails throughout Brandon
 Advertorial Discover Canada 13

Power Smart Waterfall

of Lights

prairie desert phenomenon, the spectacular Riding

Mountain National Park, several downhill ski resorts
and countless lakes, forests and provincial parks.
With Manitoba’s abundant natural landscapes and
wildlife, thousands of rivers and streams, 100,000
lakes, countless parks and forests, the area provides
endless outdoor recreational opportunities.
Riding Mountain National Park is located 100 km
north of Brandon amidst a sea of agricultural land.
The park rises dramatically from the prairie landscape
offering visitors a panoramic view of the beautiful
prairie landscape. The park is home to a variety of
wildlife and vegetation with numerous hiking trails
throughout.
Several spectacular downhill skiing facilities are
located a short drive from Brandon offering over 40
downhill skiing runs, snow tubing runs, as well as
snowboarding. The facilities are equipped with
chairlifts, tow bars, rope tows and certified ski and
snowboard instructors and offer licensed dining and
equipment rental.
If you’ve been thinking about making a lifestyle
change, we recommend you take a closer look at
Brandon, Manitoba. Brandon is well-equipped with
the recreation facilities, organizations and attitude to
provide residents and visitors the opportunity to play,
learn and relax. Whether coming for a visit, or coming
to live, you will soon discover that you belong in
Brandon.

Stanley Park
 14 Travel

Come out
and play in
Miami
If you want sun, sea, sand
and sports then Miami,
Florida is the recreation
destination of choice.
Photo by: Juicyverve
 Sequoia Club Travel 15
Photo by: GoMiamiCard.com

Water sports in Biscayne Bay

The world's most famous fun in the
sun playground, Greater Miami,
lures visitors year round with perfect wet never need look far to organize
weather and award-winning
beaches, whimsical architecture and landlubbers have plenty of onshore
a celebrity-driven nightlife scene
that grooves to an only-in-Miami
beat. On any given day, however,
many visitors to this urban tropical
resort are far more interested in
where the fish are hiding out than in
J Lo's purported whereabouts. In
perfect synch with all of its other
charms, Miami is a sought after
international recreation destination
by virtue of its mild climate and
unrivaled water access.
In 2008, Miami ranked #1 on
Forbes.com’s America's Cleanest
Cities list, and the #3 Fittest City by playful child within.
Self Magazine in 2005, Miami caters
to action-oriented visitors from
around the globe with some of the
world's top golf, tennis and sporting Whether it is from the deck of a 50-
facilities. Add sparkling waters that
are a magnet for boating
enthusiasts, fishermen, divers and
water sports aficionados to the
equation and it is easy to see why
Miami is a number one choice for
active travelers of all ages and skill
levels.
Flanked by the mighty Atlantic
and the beautiful azure waters of
Biscayne Bay, and warmed by yearly
average temperatures in the 70s,
visitors who want to get their feet
a day on the bay. Meanwhile,
activities from which to choose. In
the mood for afternoon tee?
Courses created by the world's
top designers make Miami a golfer's
paradise. Tennis more your racket?
The Crandon Tennis Center hosts
the Sony Ericsson Open each
March, while the rest of the year
its immaculate courts are open to
the public, along with innumerable
other well-kept facilities throughout
Miami. Bicycle and jogging trails,
beachfront yoga classes, even ultra-
light airplane rides beckon the
Water, water everywhere
foot luxury yacht out for a pleasure
cruise on Biscayne Bay or astride a
rented wave runner, Miami looks
magnificent from the water.
Opportunities to experience this
privileged vantage abound, with
multitudes of marinas and waterfront
concessions offering visitors dozens
of different ways to experience the
calm, tranquil waters of Biscayne
Bay and the ocean beyond.
If you have a passion for fishing,
Haulover Beach Marina, home to the
largest charter/drift fishing fleet in
South Florida is probably on your
vacation agenda. Nestled between
the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal
Waterway in Sunny Isles Beach, the
180-acre Haulover Beach Park also
houses a popular kite rental
concession, bicycle rentals, a 9-hole
golf course and tennis courts, with
an underground walkway leading
directly to world-renowned Haulover
Beach. Those who want to pilot their
own course through the waters will
find plenty of choices at Miami's
many marinas that dot the coastal
landscape. Here, knowledgeable old
salts are quick to advise where the
breezes are blowing and the fish are
hiding. Black Point Marina in
Homestead provides access to
Biscayne National Park's treasure
trove of wildlife, while Dinner Key
Marina in Coconut Grove
and the idyllic Matheson
Hammock in Coral Gables have
popular cityside access and
amenities.
Want instant gratification? Rent a
motorboat for a few hours and zip
around Biscayne Bay, exploring
uninhabited islands and communing
16 Travel
with local wildlife, including dolphins,
sea turtles and sea birds. Looking for
a more long-term commitment? Stop
by the Miami Beach Marina and
charter a sailboat, complete with
captain and provisions if you prefer,
and set course for the Florida Keys or
Bahamas. A very special community
is served by Shake-A-Leg Miami,
South Florida's only adaptive sailing
program. Adults and youths with
disabilities and at-risk youth, enjoy
sailing programs, while events like the
World Blind Sailing Championships
event bring international attention to
this important non-profit organization.
Perhaps the greatest testament to
the city's love affair with the waters
that surround it is the yearly Miami
International Boat Show. Taking place
at the Miami Beach Convention
Center and other locations for over 60
years, the show brings together more
than 2,300 of the world’s leading
marine industry manufacturers to
display the newest powerboats,
engines and accessories. The latest in
sailboats and related accessories are
on display at Strictly Sail Miami, the
sail-only portion of the show.
Parasailing is a great way to see
the city from above, while Key
Biscayne's Hobie Beach gets its
name from the proliferation of Hobie
catamarans and other multi-hull
sailboats that push off daily from the
popular beachside launch. Thrill
seekers have many avenues for
adventure: surfers catch waves at
South Pointe Park at the tip of South
Beach and points further north, while
kitesailing, a relatively new sport is
catching on like wildfire all over
Miami. Requiring equal parts
balance, skill and nerve, kitesailing is
the Gen X version of windsurfing. Kite
boarders are pulled through the surf
and sky, riding the wind and
manipulating a massive kite in to skim
the water's surface at high speed.
One moment the board is on the
water's surface, and the next moment
the boarder is aloft, hang-gliding over
boats. Instruction and equipment
rentals for both windsurfing and
kitesailing are available at locations
throughout Miami.
Divers and snorkelers are spoiled
with the choice of a plethora of
natural reefs, as well as one of the
largest artificial-reef programs in the
world. Fish flock to the more than 30
ships, tanks, concrete, limestone and
other structures that have been sunk
over the past 20 years off Miami's
coast, as far south as Florida City and
north to Sunny Isles Beach. Most are
located just a few miles offshore, in
less than 130 feet of water, providing
great diving for all levels. One of the
most popular routes is the Wreck
Trek, located off Miami Beach, just
north of the Art Deco District. Here,
divers can explore the 85-foot tug
Patricia, the 100-foot steel fishing
vessel Miss Karline, and an old radio
antenna welded into 19 pyramids. In
shallow waters off of Key Biscayne,
the Half Moon and Germania form a
fabulous underwater archeological
preserve. Natural reefs are also found
off Key Biscayne, Miami Beach,
Surfside and Sunny Isles Beach.
Kayaking is another great way to
navigate the waters of Biscayne Bay
and Miami's inland waterways. The
Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation
Department offers a variety of
naturalist-led eco-adventures. Key
Biscayne is the setting for a wide
range of tours - with hammock walks,
kayak, snorkel and canoe trips, and
bike trips for all age groups and skill
levels. Canoe trips are popular - and
there seems to be one for every
conceivable interest - along the Coral
Gables Waterway, at sunrise, sunset
or by moonlight, along the historic
Oleta River and through hidden
waterways of Key Biscayne. For
more information, visit
www.MiamiDade.gov/parks/
ecoadventures.asp.
For those with time to venture
further from the city, there’s the option
of traveling along Everglade National
Park’s 99-mile Wilderness Waterway.
Adventurers can paddle all day
without seeing another soul, and
spend the night camping out on
remote chickees - raised platform
campsites accessible only by water.
Tee Time
Golfers from all four corners of the
globe are making a beeline for Miami
Beach, eager to check out the Miami
Beach Golf Club. Designed by Arthur
Hills, one of America's foremost golf
course designers, the course features
papsalum turf, the perfect ecological
answer to Miami Beach's sand-and-
salt-heavy topsoil. The challenging
course features plenty of hazards,
however the wide fairways, groomed
roughs and gentle breezes make a
trip to these links memorable.

Golf is the main event at the Doral
Golf Resort and Spa, which won
Travel + Leisure Golf magazine's
2006 "Best of Florida Golf Resort"
award and hosted the 2008 World
Golf Championship. The 650-acre
resort offers five 18-hole
championship golf courses that can
cater to golfers at every skill level.
The renowned Blue Monster, host to
the PGA Tour since 1962, is
considered one of the most difficult
courses in the world. The Greg
Norman-designed "Great White,"
opened for play in 2000, features the
only triple green in South Florida --
holes 11, 13 and 17 share a putting
surface of 25,000 square feet. The
Silver, Gold and Red (host to LPGA
event) Courses complete the
equation, while professional
instruction provided by the Jim
McLean Golf School is considered
among the tops in the nation.
Fisher Island, a private residential
and resort community just a half mile
south of Miami Beach, is one of
Miami's most exclusive
environments, accessible only by
boat, helicopter, seaplane or auto
ferry. Here, golfers can luxuriate at
The Links at The Fisher Island Club
on a par-35, nine-hole golf course,
designed by architect P. B. Dye. Don
Shula's Hotel & Golf Club in Miami
Travel 17
Lakes boasts two tree-lined courses
Miami Facts complemented by native plants and
wildlife that are accessible to all
levels of golfers. The landmark
Greater Miami covers over Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables has its
2,000 sq miles own 18-hole, par-71 course, which
first opened in 1925 and has since
Miami has a population of been redesigned by renowned golf
over 2 million architect Donald Ross with a $5
million upgrade completed in 2007.
The average January In Aventura, the 300-acre Turnberry
temperature is 20℃ Isle Resort and Club is a world onto
The average July itself. Golfers can choose from two
Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed
temperature is 28℃ courses, notable for graceful
Average annual rainfall fairways and deceitfully tranquil
hazards and traps.
142 cm Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation
Average annual days of Department operates several top-
sunshine: 250 notch public golf courses, including
the Crandon Park Golf Course. With
More than 800 parks water views, the course is
considered one of the most beautiful
Over 460 hotels and motels and difficult par-72 courses in the
with 50,000 rooms state and has been rated in the top
Over 60 languages spoken 10 courses by Golfweek and one of
America's top 75 upscale courses by
locally Golf Digest. Other public courses
One of the cruise ship include International Links and
Miccosukee Golf Club in South Dade
capitals of the world
and Greynolds and Haulover, further
Over 1,200 golf courses north.
Over 12 million visitors
every year
18 Travel
Tennis Anyone?
Tennis ranks with golf as a top
recreational pursuit in Miami.
Indeed, many of the world's top
ranked players got their starts early
through youth tennis programs at
the many fine public facilities
throughout the county. Foremost
among them, the Crandon Park
Tennis Center is home to the U.S.
Tennis Association's Player
Development Program and the
National Junior Tennis Team. The
Sony Ericsson Open draws
thousands of visitors when it plays
host to the world's top players
every March.
Over 50 locations operated by
the Miami-Dade Parks and
Recreation
Department offer more than 200
courts to serve every corner of the
county with amenities that
encompass private and group
lessons, courts lit for nighttime play
and pro shops offering equipment
rentals and sales. People with
disabilities can also enjoy playing
wheelchair tennis at various
locations.
For visitors who stay at one of
Miami's luxury resorts, there is no
Homestead-Miami Speedway
need to leave the premises to enjoy Festivals Galore
top-notch tennis facilities and
instruction. Among the many
upscale properties that make In a city known for great outdoor
scheduling court time as easy as parties, one of Miami's most
ordering room service: Grove Isle colorful events, the Miami-Bahamas
Resort in Coconut Grove, the Ritz- Goombay Festival takes place in
Carlton Key Biscayne, the Fairmont the city's oldest black community,
Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, the Coconut Grove, every June.
Mandarin Oriental, and Acqualina Settled in the 1890s by Bahamian
Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles Beach. immigrants, the "Grove" celebrates
its roots with an annual week-long
party that transforms Coconut
At the Races
Grove's Grand Avenue into
Nassau's Bay Street.
Those with a "need for speed" will The annual event sends brilliantly
want to check out the races at the costumed junkanoo groups into the
Homestead-Miami Speedway. streets, dancing to Caribbean
Dedicated in 1995, the 1.5-mile oval rhythms to the accompaniment of
race track on 600 acres has rake n' scrape instruments ranging
grandstands that hold 65,000 and a from drums and whistles to
Champions Club Tower that has 16 cowbells and combs. A wide variety
luxury skyboxes. The speedway is of arts, crafts, food and drink from
home to the Ford Championship more than 400 vendors line Grand
Weekend, where NASCAR crowns Avenue.
its season champions. The Ford With its legendary nightlife, top-
200/Craftsman Truck race runs on tier celebrity scene and non-stop
Friday, the Ford 300/Nationwide on party atmosphere, South Beach
Saturday and the weekend hosts Urban Beach Week each
culminates with Sunday's Ford Memorial Day Weekend. The huge
400– the final race in the chase for event transforms the Art Deco
the NASCAR SPRINT Cup. District into a hip-hop paradise.
Celebrities such as Allen Iverson,
P.Diddy, Janet Jackson, Nelly,

Ludacris, 50 Cent, Lil Kim, Beyonce,
Sean Paul, Jay-Z, L.L. Cool J., Cash
Money, R. Kelly and countless
others have made the scene, joining
stylish revelers from across the
United States. Hotels and
nightclubs are packed to capacity,
while street traffic on Ocean Drive is
brought to a standstill. Part hip-hop
extravaganza, part beach blast,
Urban Beach Week brings close to
250,000 revelers together to enjoy
top musical acts, great weather and
unprecedented people-watching in
a safe, festive environment.
Miami sizzles all year long with
hot events and one of the most
scintillating is Zo's Summer Groove,
a weekend-long slate of sports and
entertainment events spearheaded
by Miami Heat basketball star and
local philanthropist Alonzo
Mourning. The weekend offers a
jam-packed roster of events
designed to celebrate the spirit and
culture of South Florida. Zo's high-
profile friends in the basketball and
entertainment communities join him
for a "Mega Groove" concert/
comedy show, celebrity gala/auction
dinner, Zo’s “BLOCK” Party and the
grand finale – an All-star Basketball
Game at the American Airlines
Arena, featuring some of the NBA's
top stars. All proceeds from Zo's
Summer Groove are donated to the
Children's Home Society, 100 Black
Men of South Florida and the
Overtown Youth Center.
Shop till you drop
A far cry from the days when a half
bushel of grapefruit and a Greetings
from Miami Beach snow globe were
de rigueur tourist purchases, Miami
has become a red hot retail
destination: a tropical treasure trove
of trendsetting fashions, cutting-
edge home décor and great values.
Serious shoppers from around the
world travel to Miami to check out
designer showrooms displaying the
latest styles and innovations, and
visit funky boutiques trumpeting
homegrown talent.
As celebrities and fashion-savvy
editors fall in love with South Beach
all over again, a shopping
renaissance is underway. A steady
stream of trendy new boutiques and
stores continue to open along the
pedestrian-only Lincoln Road and in
the Collins Avenue fashion district.
Lucky Magazine, the glossy that
serves as the bible to those who
view shopping as a calling, labels
South Beach “a great shopping
option with the same kinds of stores
you find in New York or Los
Angeles.”
Lincoln Road’s eclectic mix of
funky boutiques, restaurants and al
fresco cafés now includes such hot
brands as Diesel, Earl Jeans, Steve
Madden, L’Occitane, and Kiehl’s. In
its first heyday in the 1950s and
1960s, "the Road" was known as
the Fifth Avenue of the South:
stomping grounds for jewelry-laden
matrons shopping at Saks Fifth
Avenue and Harry Winston. Today,
Lincoln Road serves as the true
heartbeat of Miami Beach, as
evidenced by the constant parade
of shoppers, rollerbladers, parents
pushing baby strollers, and people
walking dogs and making the scene.
In the heart of the Art Deco
District, on Collins and Washington
Avenue between 5th and 9th
Streets, lies South Beach's bustling
fashion district, a collection of hip
designer stores including Betsey
Johnson, Cynthia Rowley, Hugo
Boss, Versace and Armani
Exchange. Funky, youthful fashions
are the rule at Urban Outfitters,
Benetton and Kenneth Cole, while
Spec's offers a great selection of
music and DVDs. On nearby Ocean
Drive, intrepid shoppers will be
rewarded with several interesting
shops and one of the best people
watching spots in the world.
Another area that has been
percolating with activity in recent
years is the Miami Design District.
With a synergistic blend of art,
architecture and design, the district
is a compelling 18 blocks of interior
design showrooms, home
furnishings and furniture studios
that are open to the public.
Yet another renaissance in the
making is the rebirth of downtown
Coral Gables. Traditionally a tranquil
shopping and business district,
Miracle Mile has been transformed
into a bustling, hip Mecca for
shopping, dining and entertainment.
More than 170 designer boutiques
and specialty stores now line the
boulevard. With nearly two dozen
bridal boutiques, wedding cake
galleries and invitation stores,
Miracle Mile has also become a
preferred shopping destination for
brides from all parts of the world.
Travel 19
The Village of Merrick Park,
800,000 square feet of high-end
retailers and restaurants in Coral
Gables, illustrates just how much
shopping has become part of the
Miami experience. Beautifully
landscaped with fountains, tropical
foliage and serene gardens perfect
for reflecting and relaxing between
purchases.
The prestigious Bal Harbour
Shops, located one block from the
ocean at the northern end of Miami
Beach, set the standard for upper
echelon shopping centers when it
opened in 1965, with a reputation
for the finest quality shops and
products.
Two other Miami-Dade shopping
centers are hot destinations for avid
shoppers. South Miami's Dadeland
Mall is a traditional enclosed
shopping mall featuring an excellent
retail mix of 185 stores. At the
opposite, northern end of Miami-
Dade, Aventura Mall has recently
completed a comprehensive
renovation project that brings a
fresh and contemporary look to the
mall.
Savings is the lure at Dolphin
Mall, located just five miles west of
Miami International Airport. A
mélange of reasonably priced
specialty stores and bargain outlets,
Dolphin Mall has been designed to
reflect Miami's rich multicultural
heritage.
Prime Factory Outlets in Florida
City is worth the drive. About 35
minutes south of downtown Miami,
bargain seekers will find Nike, Gap
Outlet, Mikasa Factory Outlet and
other brand name stores in a
colorful Caribbean-style
marketplace chock full of great
deals.
The Greater Miami Convention &
Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an
independent not-for-profit sales and
marketing organization whose
mission is to attract visitors to
Greater Miami and the Beaches
for leisure, business and
conventions. For a vacation guide,
visit our website at
www.MiamiAndBeaches.com or call
1-888-76-Miami (US/Canada only)
or 305-447-7777.
20 Lifestyle

Get grilling with skewers

Chicken and Bacon
Shish Kabobs
Ingredients:

60 ml soy sauce
60 ml cider vinegar
30 ml honey
30 ml canola oil
10 large mushrooms, cut in half
2 green onions, minced
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast
halves - cut into chunks
225 g sliced thick cut bacon, cut in half
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks,
drained
skewers

In a large bowl, mix the soy sauce, cider

vinegar, honey, canola oil, and green
onions. Place the mushrooms and
chicken into the mixture, and stir to coat.
Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at
least 1 hour. Preheat grill for high heat. Wrap the chicken chunks with bacon, and thread onto skewers so that the
bacon is secured. Alternate with mushroom halves and pineapple chunks. Lightly oil the grill grate. Arrange skewers
on the prepared grill. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, brushing occasionally with remaining soy sauce mixture, until bacon is
crisp and chicken juices run clear.

Basil Shrimp Skewers

Ingredients:
40 ml olive oil
55 g butter, melted
1.5 lemons, juiced
45 g brown mustard
20 g minced fresh basil
3 cloves garlic, minced
salt to taste
white pepper
1360 g fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
skewers

In a shallow, non-porous dish or bowl, mix

together olive oil and melted butter. Stir in
lemon juice, mustard, basil, and garlic,
and season with salt and white pepper.
Add shrimp, and toss to coat. Cover, and
refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat grill to high
heat. Remove shrimp from marinade, and
thread onto skewers. Discard marinade. Lightly oil grill grate, and arrange skewers on preheated grill. Cook for 4
minutes, turning once, or until opaque.
 Lifestyle 21

Chili-Lime Chicken
Kabobs
Ingredients:

45 ml olive oil
20 ml red wine vinegar
1 lime, juiced
3 g chili powder
1 g paprika
1 g onion powder
1 g garlic powder
cayenne pepper to taste
salt and freshly ground black pepper to
taste
455 g skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves - cut into 1 1/2 inch
pieces
skewers

In a small bowl, whisk together the

olive oil, vinegar, and lime juice.
Season with chili powder, paprika,
onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish
with the sauce, and stir to coat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 1 hour. Preheat the grill for
medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for
10 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken juices run clear.

Honey-Mustard Beef
Kabobs
Ingredients:
120 ml Dijon mustard
60 ml honey
5 ml Worcestershire sauce
2 g salt
0.3 g pepper
340 g beef sirloin steak, cut into 1 inch
cubes
skewers

In a bowl, combine the mustard, honey,

Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.
Pour half of the sauce into a large re-
sealable plastic bag; add beef cubes
and toss to coat. Set remaining sauce
aside. Thread beef onto metal or soaked
wooden skewers. Discard marinade from beef. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until meat
reaches desired doneness, turning once. Serve with reserved sauce.
22Sequoia
Lifestyle
Club

Praize and be praized

Do you know a business that deserves to be praized? Do you have a business yourself that you want to
praize, or want others to praize? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then you will want to check
out Muchmor’s new online business finder - Praized.
You can search for any vendor type e.g. retail, plumber etc, in any location to check out what others
think - both good and bad and to give your own opinion. Simply use the search function to find the
business, click on the (up or down) arrow to praize good or bad, you can also leave a comment for others
to see. Virtually every company in Canada is in the system.
The more people who use this service the more information will be available to others.
 Lifestyle 23

Passport now required

to cross U.S. border
Canadians are now required to show passports, or
equivalent documents, to enter the United States by
land, sea or air. As of June 1 2009, the Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative will take full effect,
meaning most Canadians will need to produce
passports, NEXUS cards or enhanced driver’s
licences, when entering the U.S.
Previously, such documents were only required for
U.S. air travel.
Under the new rules, all Canadian travellers aged 16
and up will be required to present a valid passport, or
other WHTI-compliant document to enter the U.S.
Canadians aged 15 and under will be able to travel
by presenting proof of Canadian citizenship, by using
a birth certificate or citizenship card.
Additionally, Canadian citizens aged 18 and under
are only required to present proof of Canadian
citizenship when traveling with a school or other
organized group that is under adult supervision.

By Thomas Pix
The new travel rules also require Mexican,
Bermudan and Caribbean travellers to carry the same
type of documentation as Canadians when entering
the U.S. as of June 1.

Your donations will have a lifelong impact!

By sending a child to camp who otherwise would not be able to attend.
By helping us finance post secondary educations for children who have
grown up in care & overcome numerous challenges in their short lives.

The Children’s Aid

Society of Brant
Endowment Fund
Your donations & estate gift giving will
help us invest in a child’s future!
Call: 519-752-9094 Fran Welsh Thank you.
24 Lifestyle
Top Canadian…
TV shows
1. American Idol 8 (Tues) - 2.46
2. Grey’s Anatomy - 2.42
3. American Idol 8 (Wed) - 2.21
4. Amazing Race 14 - 2.16
5. C.S.I. New York - 2.07
CD’s
1. Fais-moi de la Tendresse,
Ginette Reno
2. Quiet Nights, Diana Krall
3. Mille Excuses Milady, Leloup
Jean
4. Passione, Paul Potts
5. The Hannah Montana Movie
Soundtrack
DVD’s
1. Taken (14A)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button (PG)
3. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG)
4. Valkyrie (PG)
5. New in Town (PG)
Fiction paperbacks
1. The Shack, William P Young
2. The Book of Negroes,
Lawrence Hill
3. The Guernsey Literary and
Potato Peel Pie Society, Shaffer 7. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
& Barrows
4. Careless in Red, Elizabeth
George
Fiction hardbacks
1. The Winter Vault, Anne
Michaels
2. Tea Time for the Traditionally
Built, Smith
3. The Host, Stephanie Meyer
4. The Guernsey Literary and
Potato Peel Pie Society,
Barrows & Shaffer
5. The Sweetness at the Bottom
of the Pie, Shaffer & Barrows
6. House - 2.06
7. Survivor: Tocantins - 1.95
8. C.S.I. Miami - 1.85
9. Desperate Housewives - 1.71
10. C.S.I. - 1.66
6. Ailleures Volume 1, Eric
Lapointe
7. Together Through Life, Bob
Dylan
8. Annie Villeneue, Annie Villeneue
9. Only by the Night, Kings of
Leon
10. We Sing We Steal We Dance,
Jason Mraz
6. Outlander (18A)
7. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
(18A)
8. Bride Wars (PG)
9. Killshot (14A)
10. What Doesn't Kill You (18A)
5. The Cellist of Sarajevo, Steven
Galloway
6. Water for Elephants, Sara
Gruen
8. The Private Patient, P D James
9. Still Alice, Lisa Genova
10. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies,
Austen, Grahame-Smith
6. Through Black Spruce, Joseph
Boyden
7. The Children’s Book, Byatt
8. Dead and Gone, Charlaine
Harris
9. Going Ashore, Mavis Gallant
10. The 8th Confession, Patterson,
Paetro
 Lifestyle 25

Top kids stuff…

Bestselling books

1. Percy Jackson & the 7. Love You Forever, Munsch &

Olympians 5, Rick Riorden McGraw
2. New Moon, Stephanie Meyer 8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Munsch
3. Eclipse, Stephanie Meyer & McGraw
4. Breaking Dawn, Stephanie 9. Warriors Power of Three, Erin
Meyer Hunter
5. Twilight, Stephanie Meyer 10. Betrayed, Cast & Cast
6. The Awakening, Kelley
Armstrong

DVD rental

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG) 6. Bride Wars (PG)

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin 7. The Wrestler (PG)
Button (PG) 8. Scooby-Doo: Where Are You?
3. New in Town (PG) Vol. 2 (G)
4. Dora the Explorer: Super 9. Killshot (14A)
Babies' Dream Adventure (G) 10. Taken (14A)
5. Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts
(PG)

Video games

X-Box 360 Wii

Halo Wars (T) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (T)
Tom Clancy’s HAWX (T) Super Smash Bros: Brawl (T)
Need for Speed: Undercover (T) Mario Party 8 (E)
PS3 Nintendo DS
Tom Clancy’s HAWX (T) Pokemon Diamond (E)
Street Fighter IV (T) Pokemon Pearl (E)
MLB 09: The Show (E) New Super Mario Bros (E)

Movies in theatres

1. The Ghosts of girlfriends Past 6. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PG)

(14A) 7. Angels and Demons (14A)
2. Monsters V’s Aliens 3D (PG) 8. 17 Again (PG)
3. Star Trek (PG) 9. Earth (G)
4. Obsessed (14A) 10. The Soloist (PG)
5. Terminator Salvation (14A)
26Sequoia
Business
Club
The slightly unusual
We continue our series of unusual jobs with Christine Raynor who is
the president of Home or Away Property Services based in Whitby,
Ontario. Her company will look after you home when you can’t, so
read on to find out more.
So, Christine, tell us a it
about your business.
Home or Away Property Services are
fully insured, professional house
monitors that provide a
comprehensive property
management service for your empty
home. We check the security of your
home, cut grass, water gardens and
indoor plants, shovel snow, take in or
forward mail and perform any other
task that our clients require to enable
them to remain worry free about their
most expensive asset during their
time away from home. As well as our
regular services, we offer pool or hot
tub maintenance, gardening, small
animal care and house cleaning and
our clients are greeted upon their
return home with milk, juice and fresh
bread in their refrigerator.   locally; I visit real estate agents,
Emergency visits after power
outages, severe weather or alarm
calls are also included for no extra
charge.
We sit down with our clients to
customize our services, bearing in
mind the terms of their home
insurance policy. Insurance
companies now require regular,
frequent visits to the home, by a
responsible person, during the
owners’ absence or they may refuse
a claim for anything that occurred
during that absence. Our job is to
maintain insurance compliance,
make the home look lived in and take
great care when you can’t be there!
Our commercial department
specializes in landlord’s services, real
estate management, power of sale
and probate properties, corporate/
individual  relocations and services
for travel agents.
Christine
How did you get started in
this business and when?
The business was started in 2007.  I
had been working for a local court
reporting service and my job was not
very fulfilling at all. I had always
wanted to start my own business
and had completed a course at
Durham College in 2006 to give me
the tools to do that. I was also
accepted into the Ontario Self
Employment Benefit program, run by
Essential Communications in Whitby.
My background was in commercial
property management and I
managed retail plazas and office
buildings in London and Manchester,
England. I saw an opportunity in the
market, due to insurance legislation,
for a home monitoring service for
residential properties and now my
business seems to be going from
strength to strength. In fact, I am
currently working on a franchise
model and will be offering franchises
throughout the GTA within the next
12 months.
How do you market your
business?
My marketing has been based on
creating a good, strong branding  for
Home or Away Property Services, so
I have been working with On Top
Marketing, to create the image that I
had envisaged. My business is built
on trust and professionalism and my
branding has to echo this. My
company provides a new service to
homeowners and my biggest
challenge is to get the word out there
that there is a professional, security
conscious, fully insured and
surprisingly affordable alternative to
‘having your neighbour’s son pop
over’ to check on your most valuable
asset – your home.  I advertise
insurance brokers, travel agents and
other relevant businesses; I blog,
write articles, network up a storm,
deliver flyers and appear on the
television. I do what I have to do to
get the word out about my business
and then I also have my favourite
way of obtaining business – through
word of mouth.
My clients that come to me by
word of mouth are very special to me
and I go out of my way to ensure that
they will be more than happy with
our services. I build a relationship
with many of my clients that goes
beyond purely a business one and
have many testimonials and letters of
referral to show that relationship.
I guess you don’t do all the
work yourself?
I could not do my business well
without an extensive network of
support services such as

landscaping, snow removal services,
carpentry, painting and general
repairs, just to name a few.  I am a
member of Durham Relocation
Services, which provides a free
service to staff of local companies
who have corporate relocation
needs. DRS also provide relocation
information to individuals relocating
into or out of the Durham Region.  I
am also a proud member of the
Whitby and Oshawa Chamber of
Commerce and the Durham Home
and Small Business Association.
Give us some unusual facts
about your business.
My business is evolving and I find
that I am being asked to provide
increasing amounts of services
because of the demographics of the
Durham Region. Sadly there has
been an increase in power of sale
properties in this area and Home or
Away Property Services offers a
service to banks and real estate
agents to help keep these properties
looking maintained. We can also
arrange for painting or landscaping
work to be carried out to increase
curb appeal and help these
properties to sell as quickly as
possible. We provide a service for
families of people in long-term
hospital or nursing home situations,
whereby we maintain and regularly
visit the home, allowing it to keep
insurance compliance. We cut grass
or shovel snow, forward mail and can
even feed the cat! Our probate
service provides similar coverage
and we can even arrange for our
invoice to be paid through the lawyer
when the estate is settled. Our
services can be a great help to the
‘sandwich generation,’ caught
between taking care of young
families and older relatives and trying
to hold down a job and keep house
at the same time.
Business 27
What are the best and worst
aspects of your job?
I love my job! It enables me to
interact with my clients on a daily
basis and build relationships that are
mutually beneficial with other
business owners. Is there anything I
don’t like? Paperwork! But I’ve
learned that you sell your strengths
and hire your weaknesses, so I have
someone to do that nasty
paperwork!
You can contact Christine via her
website at www.homeoraway.ca or call
her on 905-448-0808. Alternatively you
can send her an email at
info@homeoraway.ca.
If you are an MBN member you can
view Christine’s profile using this link.
 28 Business
Sequoia Club
Stand out and get
more ROI!
By Darcelle Runciman
Standing out from the crowd can be the best thing for
your investment property and a way to gain outstanding
tenants. There are many ways to use “out of the box”
thinking and get those quality tenants, great rents and
more value for your money and yes even in Ontario’s rent
controlled market. Turning over your vacancies quickly
and efficiently takes a system, good marketing, and
great relationships.
What are you doing to stand out! 5 Ways to
do just that!
1. Look at what you can do to attract the quality
higher paying tenants. Attracting the right tenant is
easy with a clean, well cared for unit, a location close to
amenities, schools, transit, and good value for the
money. Advertising and the words used are keys to
promoting your property as the best thing since sliced
bread. Showing the tenants that you care about them
Hemlock Investments is a real estate investment
company that specializes in purchasing residential
investment real estate with joint venture partners who
may not know where to start, or may not have the
time. We invest in properties generating positive cash
flow or high appreciation with a proven system and a
goal of helping others achieve success.
Looking for Cash Flow? - Looking for
Appreciation? - Want to Own
Investment Property?
Hemlock Investments A Professional Team,
A Proven System, A Winning Combination!
Call Now!! 613-921-2535 - Or visit our
website!
info@hemlockinvestments.ca -
www.hemlockinvestments.ca
and that it should be treated as well as if it was their
own, is vital to the success of maintaining a long term
relationship with that tenant. A business relationship
based on mutual respect is what you are going for.
2. How can you attract long term equity building
tenants? Having quality units, one that you are proud to
say you own. You don’t need to spend thousands of
dollars to make a property look good, just some
attention to the unit while vacant is the best time to get
those minor repairs done.
3. Where can you reduce costs to spending for the
unit? Property management fees could be one way. If
your tenants are paying for their own utilities great if
not...they should be. Do you have any leaks in
bathrooms or kitchen that may be increasing your water
bills? Are your mortgage rates been looked at and
decreased? Now is the time to talk to your banker to
negotiate a better rate.
4. What can you improve on for the unit to build
equity and get those quality tenants? Curb appeal,
curb appeal, and curb appeal! The next item is having a
sense of Security of the area, unit, then quality of the
home, then price. Renovate strategically to achieve
higher ROI.
5. Is your system replicable? Are you verifying the
information the tenant gives you? Is your system
working for or against you? Check into what the
tenant is telling you. Check references, and treat your
investments as a business. This individual will be
renting from you for a long time and you will want to
ensure you have the best possible candidate in your
unit.
Curb appeal, renovated suites, and a systematic tenant
approval process will get high quality people and lead
you on a path of getting what you want while creating a
win/win for everyone involved. Your tenants will be
happy, your investors or you will be happy, and most
importantly you now will have an investment that
increases in value and cash flow over the long term.
Darcelle Runciman is the COO (Chief Operations Officer) of
Hemlock Investments a real estate investment company, a
Business Mentor and a Contributing Writer of The Power of
Women United a book about Confidence, Success, and
Networking. Hemlock Investments works hard for you so you
don’t have to. Visit her website at
www.hemlockinvestments.ca or call 613-921-2535.
 Sequoia Club Business 29

Careers 33

Canada's workplace
Duties of this fast-growing profession Market Research Analyst If you want to make the case to a

taboos
include writing and editing text, creating Market research analysts, whose job potential employer or your boss to let you
graphics, converting photos and drawings numbers are expected to grow 20 percent work from home, keep a few things in
into digital images, designing page layouts by 2016, gather data on competitors and mind. If possible, provide concrete
and developing presentations. analyze prices, sales, and methods of examples of how this arrangement was
marketing and distribution. They often successful in the past or how it will
Data Entry Clerk design surveys, compile and evaluate the succeed. Suggest that you ease into it --
By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.ca Nevertheless, the survey saysathat
spending while
few days to higher
a few weeks in the
Like administrative assistants, job data and make recommendations to their
percentages of younger age
office at
groups
the
commit
outset, meeting
taboos,
people and
prospects should be best for those with client or employer baby
based boomers
upon their are anything but innocent.
Certainexpertise
activities, words and
in computer topics just aren’t
software for the
findings. getting to know procedures. Then, during
Twenty-six per cent of Canadian workers over the age
workplace. For example,
By typingsleeping, drinking alcohol and the first three to six months on the new
applications. text, entering data of 55 have snooped around their office after hours
kissing into
co-workers
a computer,are
andall things to
performing be done behind
other Paralegal compared to 16 per cent job, make frequentage
of workers visits.
18-24.
closed clerical
doors duties,
– or atthese
the workers
very least, outside of the
ensure office.
While lawyersAdditionally,
assume ultimate 24 per cent of workers 55 and older have
But a recent
companiesCareerBuilder.ca survey and
keep up with information says workers are
responsibility for legal work, they delegatewhile working, compared to 13 per
consumed alcohol Kate Lorenz is the article and advice
embracing these
technology. taboos – and others – in the workplace. cent of 18-24 year-old workers.
editor for CareerBuilder.ca. She
much of their work to paralegals.
“Things that are considered ‘taboo’ in the office have The younger workers seem
researches toand
have sticky
writes aboutfingers –
job search
Paralegals not only assist in preparation
changed as workplace environments have evolved over and brains. Thirty-fivestrategy, per cent of
career both 18-24
management, and 25-34
hiring
the years,”Insurance
says Rosemary Underwriter for closings,
Haefner, vice president of hearings, trials, and corporate
year-olds have stolen trends something from the
and workplace office. While
issues.
Insurance underwriters serve as the meetings,
human resources for CareerBuilder.ca. “Employees need fewer than they also perform a number of
one per cent of Canadian workers age 35-44
to be more
main aware of what
link between is and iscarrier
the insurance not OK inother
a vital functionshaveincluding
taken draft
someone else’s idea and presented it as their
professional setting to avoid negatively impacting their
and the insurance agent. Underwriters contracts, mortgages, separation
own, 6 per cent of workers 18-24 have done so.
career.”analyze insurance applications, calculate Finally, 14
agreements, trust instruments andper
maycent of young workers (18-24 year-olds)
Nearly
thehalf (46loss
risk of per cent)
from of workers
policyholders, have fallen
decide asleep
assist in preparinghave lied about
tax returns and their academic background compared to
at work,whether
according tothe
to issue thepolicy
survey. Thirty-five planning
and establish per centestates.
of onlyemployers
With 5 per cent of both 35-44 year-olds and workers age
reducing
those surveyed
appropriatehave kissed
premium rates.a co-worker and 31 per
costs cent 55
by replacing and
duties older.
once tended to
have consumed an alcoholic beverage whilebyon the job.
lawyers with paralegals, growth of this
Other workplace taboos that Canadian workers have
profession is expected.
committed include:

• Stealing from the office (28 per cent)

• Spreading a rumour about a co-worker (26 per cent)
• Snooping after hours (22 per cent)
• Lying about an academic background (9 per cent)
• Taking credit for someone else’s work (4 per cent)

Boys versus girls

Subscribe
Men engage in everyto Muchmor
office Magazine
taboo more and
than women, CareerBuilder® is one of
accordingnotto the survey.
only willForyou
example, while women
be reminded whenare
stereotypically the usual suspects in office gossip, only Canada’s top job sites
every
19 per cent new issue
of females is published
have spread a rumour but
aboutyou
a
co-worker, compared to 31 per cent of males. allowing you to get the best
will also be placed into a draw to win
When it comes to drinking, 37 per cent of men have
a $50
tipped the bottle at work TimCard™
compared to only 21 per cent
and most up-to-date
of women. Additionally, one-third (33 per cent) of men employment information
have stolen something from the office, while only 21 per
cent have women reported having sticky fingers. available.
Over half (51 per cent) of males surveyed have fallen
asleep on the job, compared to 40 per cent of females.
Six per cent of men have taken credit for someone else’s
idea versus just 1 per cent of women having done so.
Sign up completely free to
Moreover, when it comes to kissing co-workers, 36 per receive job
cent of males
readhave puckeredfor
muchmor up, the
as opposed to 33 per
latest winner
cent of females. recommendations or add
and to subscribe at
your resume to allow
readmuchmor.com
Age ain’t nothin’ but a number
employers to search for
Young workers are presumed to engage in off-limits
behaviour more frequently than older workers.
you.

30Sequoia
Business
Club

Email Marketing:
Developing your email
content – part 2
By Penny hearing from you and will pass your emails on to friends
and colleagues.
Olorenshaw - So now let’s look at some places where you might find
poloDesign some of this content, both within your business and
elsewhere.
First of all, what’s your area of specialty? What are
In my last article, I you an expert on? Share what you know with customers
discussed some of the and clients (of course, you’re not going to give away
types of content you trade secrets because you never know when your email
might include in your will end up on the desk of a competitor – more on that
permission-based email later), explain how things work in your industry, show
program. Newsletters, how to distinguish a product of value from one that’s
product promotions and ‘just okay’ (assuming that your product falls into the
special offers are just a ‘value’ category). You can even expose a dirty little
few of the ways you can maintain and develop your industry secret as long as it won’t backfire on you – if
connection with current customers and client prospects. there’s a sales strategy that less scrupulous competitors
The most important thing is to make sure people want to employ, make sure your own tactics will stand up to
hear from you, either by asking new contacts if you may scrutiny.
add them to your mailing list or by adding a sign-up form
to your website. Frequently Asked Questions – companies often
There are a few other types of content that might fit provide a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) on
well with your business. their websites to answer some of the most common
concerns raised by customers. FAQs give web visitors
Opinion or analysis of industry-relevant topics – more information about how to use your product and
particularly if you are in a technical business, give you another opportunity to subtly reinforce the
commenting on new research or interpreting the details features and services you offer. If your website doesn’t
of a report can be invaluable to your subscribers. include an FAQ, talk to your front line people about the
kinds of questions people ask. You can use these
Industry trends – keeping your readers in touch with questions as a basis for newsletter articles or just include
the changes in your industry helps keep you top of mind a Q&A section in your regular messages.
and positions you as an expert they can rely on for up-
to-date and relevant information. What are your readers interested in? – your email
service provider should provide you with reports on the
Case studies – showing how your business has links that readers click on to visit your website. Those
solved a problem or provided a service for one of your reports can give you a pretty good idea of the types of
clients will give readers insight into your business information your readers are interested in, whether it’s a
methods and practices and get them thinking about particular type of product or an article on a special
ways you can help them. service you offer. Compare that with your sales and client
contact statistics – did those clicks turn into sales or at
Product news & reviews – in this era of unlimited least more inquiries? With that knowledge in hand, you
choice and new product introductions every day, readers can include more of those successful links in the future.
appreciate hearing from a trusted voice. Evaluations of Or try some different links and compare results from one
new products help readers make informed choices and campaign to another.
cast you in the role of advisor.
Remember that people like having useful information What is the competition writing about? – You have
that helps them wade through the mass of data available signed up for newsletters from your competition, right?
to them now. As long as you continue to engage your This is a great way to keep up with what others are doing
readers with relevant, trustworthy information that helps and telling their clients. There is nothing to stop you from
them in their lives or businesses, they’ll look forward to signing up for a newsletter – your competition is
probably reading yours (see note above about not
 Sequoia Club Business 31

revealing trade secrets). You’d never want to copy from

another’s newsletter but you can find out the kinds of
issues similar companies are discussing or the
products they’re promoting. If you’re uncomfortable
about signing up for a direct competitor’s email, look
for a company in another city who’s in your line of work
and subscribe to their newsletter to get ideas.

What are people Twittering and blogging about? –

the world of the web is all about connecting with others
and finding new ways to promote your unique brand to
the world. Even if you don’t want to get caught up in
the Twitter craze, there are a lot of great ideas and
trends making the rounds through social connection
technologies, so you might be missing out on the next
big thing. If there is someone in your industry you
consider a guru, chances are they’re Twittering and
writing a blog; the things they’re talking about will likely
have relevance to your clients, either now or in the not-
too-distant future.

Invite a guest author – you don’t always have to

write everything. Is there a complementary business
that would be of interest to your readers? Offer to
exchange articles; this lets you introduce a new
company to your customers and gives you an
opportunity to reach a new audience.
Ask your readers – invite your readers to tell you what
they’d like to hear more about. In your email, place a link
to an online form on your website to solicit ideas for
future articles. That way, you’re encouraging two-way
communication; customers love to feel that they’re
connecting with the companies they deal with.
So there are many places to find inspiration for your
email campaigns. Next issue, I’ll talk about structuring a
successful email message.
Penny Olorenshaw is the owner of poloDesign, located near
Brighton, Ontario, and offers graphic design and web services
to clients in eastern Ontario and the GTA. See her website at
poloDesign.ca for further information or if you’re a member of
The MBN you can view Penny’s profile by clicking here
32 Money

Financial
ABC’s

By Heather
Lang

A Advisors: Who to trust and do I savings accounts and real estate are long term care insurance for when
have enough money to warrant
using the services of an advisor ?
When people say to me we have
no money, we don’t need an advisor
I counter with - you have no money
because you don't use an advisor!
An independent advisors duty is to
provide the right advice to the client,
they act on your behalf not the
companies they do business with or
the bank. Consider an advisor as a
financial coach or translator helping
you negotiate the complicated and
often confusing world of personal
finance. InvestorEd.ca has a special
section on what to look for and how
to find a good financial advisor.
B Bonds: In the recovering
market to come, real return and
corporate bonds are being highly
recommended by many industry
experts as a great opportunity to
participate in growth.
Be careful in the BEAR market,
selling at a loss destroys your ability
to recover - remember you want to
buy low and sell high . Invesco
Trimark has a great site to help
negotiate the recent market
downturns www.knowingpays.ca
C Compounding interest can be
your friend or your enemy! Credit
card and Line of Credit interest can
be a killer - pay off this type of debt
first. The best kind of debt is a
mortgage.
Check out Manulife’s unique
Manulife One calculator
manulifeone.ca . What’s your
number ?
Contribute early, now and often
to your RRSP or better yet TFSA.
The trick is to start - even a very
small amount grows substantially
over time.
D Debt is dangerous to your
financial health - see C.
Diversify Diversification in an
investment portfolio reduces your
risk and increases your exposure to
more growth, exposure across
sectors, geography and investment
styles are all important to consider
but also look at the actual products
used in building your financial
program. Stocks, bonds, mutual
funds, segregated funds, exchange
traded funds , guaranteed minimum
wealth bonus products, high yield
Money 33
all building blocks to look at when you can no longer live in it.
planning your financial present and
future. I Insurance: Most people have too
little, start too late to acquire it and
E Estate planning: You’re never can't get it when they need it the
to young to start, and starting can most. Insurance can be like a multi-
be as simple as having an up to date purpose tool in your financial tool
will, living will and power of attorney. box. Everything from protecting
We can never determine or chose income and retirement savings to
when exactly we will need all this so providing a tax shelter for
like the Boy Scout motto says Be investment growth can be done with
Prepared. an insurance product. Using an
For many of us who are dealing independent insurance broker is
with aged parents this is an your guarantee of getting the right
important conversation to have with product at the right price for your
family. Too many of us share too individual situation. See IFB.ca for
much of our hard earned life savings an affiliated broker.
with the government and not our
own family or community. For a J Jobless rate: Used as an
Free will kit see indicator of national economic
www.truehelpfinancial.com health by many forecasters, 2009
February's rate of 7.7% was an
F Forced savings: Pay yourself increase from previous months and
first - how many times have we approaching the last recession Aug
heard this message and not acted 2003 rate of 8%. Still, these
on it? It doesn’t have to be hard. numbers are short of the double
Any automatic chequing (PAC) or digit rates posted in the 1980s. So
pay check deduction directly into a what does it mean? Some are
high yield savings account (TFSA) suggesting a shorter length and
will do the trick. Very few of us can quicker recovery from our present
successfully budget our way to financial crisis. Like many of the
wealth, making a savings program stories in the media it has to be
simple and automatic allows us to taken with a grain of salt - bad news
forget it and reap the rewards in sells and keeps the media and
retirement or time of emergency . forecasters both employed!
see ING.ca or Manulife Advantage.
K Keep your money yours: Using
G Goals: Great to have - harder tax efficient strategies like corporate
to achieve. Make them realistic and class funds for open or non
SMART specific measurable registered money. Invest as much as
actionable realistic timed. Write possible in your Tax Free Savings
them down as it makes you more Account and/or RRSP, sheltering
accountable. money in a Universal Life insurance
Gold: When markets crash or policy are all good tactics. Using a
inflation is deemed a risk investors good accountant for the basic tax
flock to gold - not a bad strategy return may be worthwhile, however,
but once again, don’t put all your any small business or corporate
eggs in one basket. filing should be prepared by a
certified accountant. Estate planning
H Home: For many people their should consider many options
home is the first big purchase and including gifting heirs before
the building block for retirement. charitable contributions of
Today’s environment is a great time investments or insurance and the
to buy - historic lows for interest use of segregated funds.
rates and a dip in the real estate
cycle. A house can also be a source L Leverage loan: Using other
of cash, re-financing (with a peoples money is a strategy used
mortgage broker of course), using frequently to top up RRSP holdings
built up equity can help fund all and jump start investment
manner of projects or goals from programs. While the numbers
home renos, debt consolidation to almost always work out in favor of
the investor realize this is a fairly
34 Money

aggressive tactic and only the the products offered by many insurance knows this and to ensure taxes are
truly sophisticated investor with time companies. For those looking to paid automatically withholds money
(to allow the numbers to work) generate income, these segregated till April filings. You can do the same.
should use this. One advantage is funds with perks have guarantees to Most people quickly learn to live on
the interest charged on borrowed provide a steady income no matter what remains in their bank account.
money to invest is tax deductible. what the market does with original
The majority of home owners already investment, still offering the Q Quick rich schemes: If it
use this in the form of a mortgage a opportunity to participate in marketsounds too good to be true, it
much safer option and one that in highs and resets to lock in those probably is! The recent news is full of
todays interest rate environment is a market highs. Ponzi rackets, corrupt financial
great deal. professionals and inept managers.
O Open money: This refers to Your best defense is research and
M Mutual Funds: There are over investment money not in a registered trusted personal referrals. Look into
5000 funds available to the retail program RRSP RESP RDSP or Tax professional associations and
investor. Basically a mutual fund is a free account. Returns generated are licensing bodies to ensure the
basket of stocks and bonds taxed fully. The best form of growth person you are dealing with is who
managed by a professional money for open accounts is a Return of they say they are.
manager. When you purchase a fund Capital ROC no tax. These returns
you buy a unit, units change in value are offered with many Corporate R Real Estate: An essential part of
over time generating a loss or growth Class funds. The next preferable is any financial plan. If you own your
( in the form of interest, capital gains - only 50% of growth is own home it’s a great start. As part
dividends ,capital gains or return of taxable. Dividends offer the next of a plan Real Estate can provide an
capital) time is the factor here the lowest rate with interest being the inflation hedge, great diversification,
average fund should beheld between most taxed form of investment conservation of principal and it can
5 and 8 years to see a profit. This growth. be very simple and accessible. You
makes them great to hold in long can purchase directly or indirectly
term investing scenarios like P Pay Yourself first: One of the through many of the real estate
retirement savings. easiest ways to do this is with an REITS and funds available.
automatic pay roll deduction directly
N Notational value: This is a key into an RRSP or other savings S Savings: See P - Consider
factor in the make up of the new vehicle. Budgeting is a near savings as a first step toward
Guaranteed Minimum Wealth Benefit impossible feat, the government investing. One of the best vehicles
 Money 35

around to do this is the virtual bank $5,000 10%, $5,000 -$15,000 Like brushing your teeth every night
account, higher interest and no fees. 20%, and funds greater than good financial habits do not make
Many companies such as Manulife , $15,000 30%. sense to the younger set right away
Presidents Choice, MRS and ING All the more reason to look at but pays off in spades later in life.
(Save your money) all offer these Critical Illness and Disability
with the ability to bank on the phone insurance as well as S and T to have Z Zig Ziglar is a motivational
or the internet/computer. To get an an emergency fund or benefits to expert who uses the term “stinking
even better return consider doing avoid situations where you might thinking” you know that negative talk
one of these as a Tax Free Savings have to withdraw early. we often engage in. Thinking
Account. negative is not only bad for your
X eXchange traded funds: EFT’s mental health it can make you
T Tax Free Savings Account: Do are a new financial product physically sick as well. The news
you have yours yet? A super becoming more available to the retail these days is full of negative news
government registered program (you and me v’s instituions or and predictions, sometimes we need
allowing all Canadians 18 and older pension funds) investor. They are a to just unplug from it all and focus on
to invest up to $5,000 a year and not cross between traditional stocks and the really important things in our
pay any tax on the growth. Any mutual funds. More transparent than lives like family and friends.
unused contribution room can be mutual funds but traded daily like
carried over to the next year. stocks these are becoming more Heather Lang is an independent
Withdrawals can be made for any attractive due to lower fees and financial advisor in the Quinte region of
purpose, any time without incurring predicted higher returns . Ontario. Her company Cedarlane
tax. Great for any kind of savings Financial Consulting can be found at
project from a house down payment Y Youth is wasted on the young! www.cedarlanefinancial.com
to education or retirement savings. I can’t remember who said that but If you’re a member of The MBN you
teach good financial habits early. If can view Heather’s profile by clicking
W Withholding tax: This is what you don’t have the money to pay for here
you will pay (on top of regular it right away, save and wait, or walk
income tax) on any early withdrawals away. Every young person should
from your RRSP. How much depends have a savings and a chequing
on the amount withdrawn. Up to account and learn how to use them.

RENT or CHILDCARE

Over 1 million Canadians can’t afford both. The high cost of

housing forces many people to make choices no one should
have to make. You can choose to help. To donate, participate or
advocate visit www.habitat.ca
cted.

36Sequoia
Money Club

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 Money 37

Smart financial tips for teens

and parents
Are you a parent of a teenager? Set a budget and
Does your teen expect you to dole stick to it
out cash like an ATM? Does your
child know the word "budget?" As
many families take a hard look at Sit down with your
their finances in light of the current teenager and help
economy, many are seizing the them hash out a
opportunity to instill money realistic budget plan.
management skills and financial Record monthly
responsibility in their children. income totals,
Now is the time to talk with your including paychecks
kids about money. With the end of and allowances. Then
the school year approaching, along record all expenses -
with milestones like graduation, non-discretionary

By Alan Cleaver
summer jobs and preparing for spending like food
college in the fall, it is the perfect and insurance, and
time to make money matters part of discretionary
the dinner table conversation. The spending like movie
fact is, whether you are 13, 30 or 90, tickets and CDs.
no one is immune to financial stress, Don't forget about
especially given today's economy. savings - try to set
"It’s important that parents have aside 10 percent each
the ‘money talk’ with their kids first -- month.
even if you feel like maybe you
haven’t always made the best Understand and
financial decisions as a parent, older actively manage
children learn from our candor,” says
Matt Boss who heads up the mass a chequing
customer strategy, including account
students, for Bank of America. “By
talking candidly about money and Take advantage of
finances with your child, it will be A chequing account is the
easier for them to take the reins and
educational seminars in your
foundation of your teen’s financial
head down the path to a successful world. If they don't have one already,
hometown
financial future." help them open one and explain how
Here are some basic steps for it works. Make sure they understand It's not uncommon for schools or
providing your teen with a better the importance of a balanced banks to hold short, educational
understanding of how to manage account and consequences classes to help younger generations
their money: associated with not keeping track of comprehend different aspects of
that account. Talk about the pros financial basics. Contact your bank,
Talk openly and honestly and cons of debit cards and how local community groups or your
they work. Finally, utilize your bank's teenager’s school to see what is
The first step in educating your online tools for managing a checking available. Make it more fun by
teenager about finances is to create account including online banking, attending with them or finding out if
an open and honest relationship mobile banking, account alerts, bill you can recruit their friends to go.
when it comes to money. Sit down pay and transaction records. Using
and explain the importance of money Mobile Banking, students can check "Taking the first step today will help
management and ask them what account balances, pay bills, transfer your child learn financial
steps they think they should take to money, view transactions, and management information that will
get their finances in order. Discuss receive mobile alerts when their benefit them for the rest of their life,"
any questions or problems that they balance falls below a set minimum, concludes Boss.
have. Once trust is established, it helping them avoid fees.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
leaves the door open for effective
learning.
38Sequoia
Motoring
Club

Test Drive
Volkswagen
Tiguan

Story and
photos by
Mark Atkinson

Talk about being late to a party.
During the Cute-Ute revolution of the
late ‘90s, Volkswagen stood back
and laughed. ‘Why would anyone
spend money on a tall station wagon
when you could just buy a regular
station wagon instead?’ it asked.
Over a decade and millions of sales
later, it seems Vee-Dub has a case of
corporate amnesia, finally
introducing its Tiguan compact SUV
last fall.
Its competitors from Honda and
Toyota have gone through three or
four generations apiece by now, so
you’d hope that with that much time
to plan, the Tiguan would be the
outright champion in the class,
right?
Hmm. Not quite.
I’ve seen it before you
The Tiguan is based on the same
Volkswagen platform that underpins
the Golf, Jetta, Eos and Passat, and
shares just about everything
mechanically with one of those rides.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-
injection, “TSI” engine and
transmissions are ubiquitous
amongst the Vee-Dub family, as is
the optional Haldex-based 4Motion
all-wheel drive hardware normally
found in the Audi TT and Golf R32.
While the Tiguan’s engine
produces a pretty sedate 200 hp, it’s
the torque that makes it sprightly:
206 lb-ft from 1,700 to 5,000 rpm.
That makes for a very flexible
delivery, although there is some
initial turbo lag followed by a big
surge of power, which can make
stop and go driving interesting. Only
the base model comes with a six-
speed manual transmission; all
others get the familiar six-speed
automatic.
The benefit to using the
turbocharged engine is its
reasonable fuel economy – 11.2/7.6
L/100 km city/highway with the
manual, and 10.4/8.1 for the more
popular automatic versions.
The Tiguan uses MacPherson
struts up front with a four-link
independent setup in the rear, and
even the base suspension is tuned
for more sporting tastes. Four-wheel
disc brakes with ABS and ESP are
standard, meaning even the front-
wheel drive versions are easy of
control. The turning circle is small for
this class, which helps around town.
Customers in Europe and
elsewhere can order a Tiguan
prepped for serious off-roading,
including skid plates and hill-hold
systems. For North America, though,
Volkswagen’s focus is completely
on-road.
Motoring 39
A tall golf?
From the outside, the Tiguan apes
many of VW’s styling themes, and
the front shares more with the sleek
Passat CC than its bigger Touareg
SUV brother. The rear would be
familiar to a Golf/Rabbit owner, if
only a little taller. Standard dual
exhaust, roof rails and heated side-
mirrors lend an upscale touch.
Once you climb in the cabin, the
Tiguan moves beyond the expected
conservative German vibe, but not
by much. Switches and gauges all
come from the (admittedly very nice)
parts bin. However, the radio, HVAC
controls and center console are all
different enough to be satisfying.
The rear seats are intimate,
although they do recline and adjust
for either more leg room or increased
cargo space. And the front-
passenger seat folds flat to help
when hauling long loads.
Little value here
Unfortunately, like most
Volkswagens, value isn’t really part
of the equation. The range starts
with the front-wheel-drive Trendline
at $27,575 and moves through the
$33,975 Comfortline to the $38,375
Highline. That’s without even
40 Motoring
considering selecting the optional
all-wheel drive, which adds nearly
$2,000 to the SE or SEL.
Standard equipment includes 16-
inch alloy wheels with all-season
tires, an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD
playing with aux-in, air conditioning,
eight-way adjustable front seats, and
head-curtain airbags.
The Comfortline adds all-wheel
drive, 17-inch wheels, fog lights,
privacy glass, upgraded ‘partial
power’ front heated seats, a huge
panoramic sunroof, and some
leather and chrome bits strewn
about to liven the place up.
Finally, the Highline tries to justify
is sky-high price tag by bringing all
the luxury car touches to the
masses, including 18-inch wheels,
xenon lights, 12-way power seats,
dual-zone climate control, leather
seats, rain-sensing wipers and
ambient lighting.
Popular options include a quite
excellent HD-based navigation
system with music server, a rockin’
DynAudio sound system and rear-
view camera for $3,450, while rear
passenger side thorax airbags are a
reasonable $450.
Premium prices
What you’re left with is a premium
SUV without a premium badge. The
full-blown Highline is $3,500-$5,000
more than either the Honda CR-V
EX-L or RAV4 Limited V6 AWD. A
new Subaru Forester XT tops out at
$29,995, and it’s much more
capable on and off-road than the
Tiguan. Even an entry-level Audi Q5
based on the same mechanicals is
only $5,000 in the other direction.
The Tiguan’s ace in the hole will
be its materials and build quality,
which trump the Japanese
competitors. And reliability,
previously a dirty word when
considering Volkswagens, has also
improved dramatically in recent
years, meaning customers can’t
immediately take it for granted that
the Honda or Toyota will be out of
the shop any less.
But that still doesn’t help answer
the question of why not just buy a
Jetta Wagon and be done with it?
Unless you desperately need all-
wheel drive, the Wagon offers the
same engine, better handling, a
lower-step-in height and more cargo
room, all for thousands less than the
Tiguan. You could even put the extra
money towards a set of snow tires if
needed, and still have enough left
over for a trip somewhere warm.
Mark Atkinson has nearly 10 years
experience as an automobile journalist
working for publications like Inside Track
Motorsport News, Carguide, World of
Wheels, Canadian Auto World, the
Hamilton Spectator Wheels section,
Metro Carguide, Suburban Life and West
of the City. Besides writing for Muchmor
Magazine, Mark also has his own blog,
www.drivingguy.com, and appears in a
number of other print and online
publications.
 Relocation 41

Not your run-of-the-mill

41 Moving to Canada

relocation story!
Birgit Wartenberg and her husband Wolf have become Muchmor regulars. Wolf
featured in our March 09 issue and Birgit in our Feb 09 issue. I first met Birgit last
year and it was obvious from her accent that she, like me, was not from around
these parts. So, now Birgit shares how they first decided to move from Germany to
Canada in the late 1990’s and how the move wasn’t what could be classed
as “conventional”.

By Birgit Wartenberg time as the property she lived on was make’s no sense to think about it,
for sale. book a flight and come over, you
My sister in law is a swami, an have to see it!”
When I met Jane, your editor, we Indian monk, always wearing orange. That’s what I did. I made different
discussed our mutual moves to She lived with her spiritual family on arrangements, booked a flight and
Canada. After she told me her story, I what was called an “Ashram”, where arrived the next Friday at Toronto
mentioned that ours is “just a bit old & young live together, but they airport. My husband and my sister-
more” interesting than others! I know had decided to sell the place as it in-law picked me up and we drove
you will say, well that’s what didn’t work out so well. At this point I two hours north. I have to tell you,
everybody is saying. Wait … read had never been to Canada before, upon arrival I was in complete shock!
about two immigrants in there forties, but my husband was always very When I entered the house, it was
that decided out of the blue with one enthusiastic about it. dark, not very clean, run down - in
phone call across the ocean to So, two days after he arrived in fact everything I hated. I started
switch countries, lifestyle and move Beaverton at Lake Simcoe, Ontario crying and couldn’t stop all night
away from family and friends. he called me and said, quote: “I’m long. I questioned my husband, what
Remember we were not teens who standing here, it’s 35 Celsius below, was he thinking, he always said it’s
are entitled to do strange things! the sun is shining, lot’s of snow and so beautiful over there! There was
But let’s start from “THE I’m thinking why don’t we buy the nothing “beautiful!” There were four
BEGINNING”. We lived in property my sister is selling?” buildings on the property and the
Duesseldorf, Germany and one day I was speechless, which doesn’t next morning we did another tour,
in 1995 my husband Wolf surprised happen very often - after a couple of this time with the sun out. Unable to
me with a “New Years Eve” in New seconds my husband said “are you cry any longer I saw potential in all
York. We decided that after New York still there?” Yes, I’m still here, can I these run down buildings. What
I would fly home to Germany, as I think about that?” I asked. “Sure,” he really sold me was the 50 acres and
worked in my husbands company at replied, “let’s talk again tomorrow.” the Beaver River.
that time, and he would fly to The next day he called and said, “it
Canada to visit his sister for the last
42Sequoia
Relocation
Club

I had to fly home on the Sunday

and Wolf’s flight was a week later.
My head was spinning… I have to
admit, at that point in our lives we
were talking about changes in our
lifestyle, what to do, where etc. So, I
said to myself, maybe this is our
chance for change. Knowing that
opportunities only pass by once and
it’s not always the best timing, but
sometimes you have to jump on that
train!
At that time we were based in
Germany but had purchased a
property in Spain which we were
about to move to. The architect had
already completed the plans for the
renovation when we decided to
move to Canada - after we talked to
our lawyer, tax advisor,
accountants .. you name it.
At the end of February 1996 we
made all the arrangements we
thought we had to do in order to
move to Canada, not knowing that
this was a long, long ….!
We applied for landed immigrant in
Bonn, Germany, did our medical
tests and translations. In the
meantime we had an appointment
with our lawyer in Toronto and found
out that we couldn't buy farm land as
we were not “landed immigrants.” As
my sister-in-law wanted to close the
sale, our brother-in-law bought the
property for us. We started to
renovate our house and in the
meantime we sold our house in
Spain and were looking for a buyer
for the company. One of us was
flying constantly, picking up tiles,
wood, finding a kitchen builder etc.
The best I remember was when the
construction guy called me and
asked if I wanted the outlets on the
east or north side of the living room?
How would I know were east or north
is in my future living room? Anyhow
we managed it very well and we were
very pleased with the outcome!
Our problem was the permit, my
husband couldn’t get one because of
his high blood pressure, they didn’t
say yes, but they didn’t say no either.
He had to go and get even more
medical tests. I flew over in October
with our dog, direct flight from
Frankfurt so the dog had less time on
board, and stayed in the little cabin
we had on the property, approx. 300
sq.ft., no furniture and in the
meantime 2 dogs. My husband came
in December and our 40 foot
container arrived in the middle of
December 1996 in Montreal. We had
to truck the container over to Toronto
and had to appear at customs with
our papers, keep in mind, we still had
no permit! I said to my husband
“what if they don’t allow us to keep
the container here, what’ then?” His
answer was “we have to put the
container in storage or ship it back to
Germany!” Great !!!
Here is what I love about Canada!
We walk towards the customs officer,
he looks at our papers and said “I
assume you bought a cottage and
needed some European furniture,
right?” With our yes he endorsed our
papers and we walked out with his
best wishes and a “welcome to
Canada”. I started crying as soon as
we left the building still expecting
him to be calling “come back, I made
a mistake!”
So, our 40 foot container arrived
and we unloaded it with eight hard
working people in a couple of hours!
It was raining cats & dogs - or should
I say raccoons and beavers?
Our constructor was stunned
when he came back after the
holidays. The house looked great,
most of our boxes unpacked, books
in the shelves, pictures hanging,
fresh flowers on the dining table. I
think we worked 14-16 hours a day,
just the two of us.
On New Years Eve 1996 we were
sitting in front of our open fire place,
but still sleeping in the cabin. Four
weeks later the second floor was
done and we moved in completely.
We started to renovate our guest
house, bought furniture from IKEA,
our favorite store, which we then had
to assemble. At the end of February
our first yoga group came - our new
venture had begun.
My husband was still running his
company from Canada, flying over to
Germany every other month. Once,
whilst he was on one of these trips
and I was alone in Canada I fell
whilst taking the dogs for a walk. It
was about ten at night and I knew
instantly that I had broken my wrist,
just by the sound. I called our
neighbor and he and his wife drove
me, in a snow storm to the hospital
in Port Perry. However, it turned out
they only did x-rays until 7 pm, so we
went home and had to return the
next day to the hospital in
Newmarket. After 7 hours waiting I
got my cast and my neighbours
picked me up again. My husband
came back two days later and we
continued to host more and more
yoga groups whilst continuing with
the renovations.
After being in the country as a
visitor for over six months I got a
letter asking me to leave - I still had
no permit. We decided to drive to the
U.S. Border and come back through
thus giving me another six months as
a visitor. However, at that time they
just waved the cars through and I still
had no stamp in my passport. My
 Sequoia Club Relocation 43

husband decided that it was time

to go to an immigration lawyer as
we needed to hear a definite yes or
no from the government.
We made an appointment and
were a bit shocked when we had
to pay $500 at the door as a down
payment, but what can you do?
During all these months of
waiting I remember that in our first
summer the liner from the pool
broke, the tractor broke and in the
fall the furnace in the guest house
developed a hole and had to be
replaced. Our chef quit in the
middle of a 14-day workshop and
we had to take over, literally over
night! I started baking German
cakes as desserts (I had never
baked before in my entire life) But
still no permit!
We adapted to porcupines,
skunks, raccoons and snakes in
the basement, snapping turtles on
the driveway or in the pool,
coyotes, wolves and bears at the Believe it or not the note that our During the following twelve years
front porch, blue herons eating our permit was ready for pick up in we created a very peaceful retreat
frogs in the pond, beavers playing at Germany was finally in our mail box center which was very successful.
the river, minks, a dead emu, in May 1998. We had to collect our The people loved it and some groups
squirrels you name it….. permit from the Canadian Embassy come back over ever year for ten
We still continued our renovations, in Bonn, Germany as our first years. Our guest always said that
we had a to-do-list for both outdoors residence was still Germany, and the they entered a different world when
and indoors, our guest list was rule is to enter the country and get they turned into our driveway.
growing but still no permit! the landed immigrant status at the I have to say, after we decided to
In spring 1998 we were so tired of border. What we did, was that we host workshops (yoga,
waiting for the permit that my organized a courier service to enlightenment, talking to nature,
husband said, “if we do not get it by Canada, and than we crossed the drum crafting, meditation, NIA dance
June 30, 1998, we will move back to border to the states and came back etc) we met some amazing people
Europe, not Germany, but directly to 20 minutes later to get the “status”. Very kind, funny, some of them may
Spain.” At long last we were officially be different (that could be another
residents of Canada. article), but we had a great, great
time!
In 2008 we felt it was time to move
on and we sold the place. We now
live in Prince Edward County, Ontario
and have new business ventures
which you can read about using
these links. Birgit and Wolf.
Maybe we are able now to slow
down a bit!

Visit www.readmuchmor.com
to read all our back issues
and find muchmor.
44Sequoia
Relocation
Club

From city life

to country
wife

by Stephanie
Brown
 Relocation 45

By Scott from Mississauga, ON

As summer fast approaches us here You learn to incorporate new and it, you just get those experiences
in the north, we hear the fascinating stimulating things with your time in living in the city. It still amazes me to
sounds of the songbirds, bees the country; no more of running to this day how small wonders provide
buzzing on the newly bloomed the malls or restaurants, as we no us with so much gratification.
flowers, and tractors tilling the farm longer have that luxury and it’s Regrettably, one serious drawback
fields. Each morning, I wake up and probably for the better, it provided to country life is that loneliness can
have the pleasure of looking out my absolutely no benefit anyway, and come quickly knocking at the door
window to see the serene sights of needless to say, my baking and as a mysterious house guest and the
the deciduous trees beginning to bud cooking skills have vastly improved. chances of becoming a recluse draw
and sometimes if I am lucky I will see Now our ideas of excitement consist closer and closer. Although it can
the occasional animal scamper by. of taking the girls out on the property happen to anyone, it tends to fall
Only in the country can you and exploring every unturned rock, much easier in the hands of the
appreciate such idealistic things to examining the mysterious claw country dweller. Believe me I have
see. marks on the trees and checking out first hand at this, after many trials
Being born and raised Central many different types of animal and tribulations, I have finally realized
Ontario I would have never pictured droppings. that country life is something that
myself living here in rural Northern I will openly admit that over the just takes time to adapt to and
Ontario and especially for this length years I have done a lot of despite the trivial matters of country
of time, I really have gone against all complaining about living so rurally living such as having to drive
the odds on this one. Its no doubt and sometimes wonder if the impulse thousands of kilometres each year to
my husband has had a hard time decision we had made to trade in our visit family and friends and the odd
breaking this city girl into a country life from the rapid pace of city to the power outage it kindly repays us in
wife. However, I am gradually getting much slower pace of country living a the end with its ever changing beauty
used to this new found life of dial up short 4 years ago was actually for the and abundance of wildlife.
internet, the coexistence with bears better, but when it comes down to it,
and moose, not to mention to the I truly believe it has been a blessing
numerous unknown bug bites. I in disguise, while living here in what Stephanie Brown is a freelance writer
simply wasted no time getting used my children refer to as the “boonies” who lives with her husband and three
to having so much privacy; all of a I have had the opportunity to be able daughters in Northern Ontario. She
sudden there was no need to worry to sort out life’s issues and discover writes for pleasure donating her articles
about going outside in my pajamas new passions in life such as writing to community newspapers. She can be
or sun tanning around the pool, since and enjoy nature at its finest. Have contacted at stephaniestevens-
no one is around to disturb you. So you ever laid under the blanket of brown@hotmail.com
when you do get a visitor whew it’s stars or seen a falling star so close it
quite a surprise. felt like you could reach out and grab
46 Relocation
Which route to use to
immigrate to Canada?
When people get the idea of moving
to Canada for good, they may initially
think it will simply be a case of filling
in some paperwork, waiting a short
while and off they go. This is
absolutely not the case.
In order to immigrate to Canada
from any country there are rules to
follow and only a few select methods
of immigration to choose from. If
you find you do not fit the criteria of
one method, you can look to another.
Many people will find a route suitable
for them, but there will always be
some who, however determined they
are o get to Canada will not be able
to do so. This might be because they
do not have the right skills or
perhaps the right experience. Here
we take a look at the various options
available to potential immigrant
applicants.
Skilled Worker
The most popular route into Canada
is the Skilled Worker Class. This
route allows people to immigrate to
Canada as permanent residents
based on their education, work
experience, language skills etc.
The criteria for immigrating using
this route was recently amended and
now the principal applicant needs to
not only score enough points in the
selection factors, but must also have
experience and qualifications within
certain industries and job
descriptions as specified by the
government of Canada.
In order to apply under this
category you must either have an
arranged offer of employment, or be
a foreign national living legally in
Canada for one year as a temporary
worker or international student or
have at least one year of experience
in one or more of the following:
Financial Managers, Computer and
Information Systems Managers,
Managers in Health Care, Restaurant
and Food Service Managers,
Accommodation Service Managers,
Construction Managers, Financial
Auditors and Accountants,
Geologists, Geochemists and
Geophysicists, Mining Engineers,
Geological Engineers, Petroleum
Engineers, Specialist Physicians,
General Practitioners and Family
Physicians, Audiologists and Speech
Language Pathologists,
Occupational Therapists,
Physiotherapists, Head Nurses and
Supervisors, Registered Nurses,
Medical Radiation Technologists,
Licensed Practical Nurses, University
Professors, College and Other
Vocational Instructors, Chefs, Cooks,
Contractors and Supervisors,
Pipefitting Trades, Contractors and
Supervisors, Carpentry Trades,
Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy
 Relocation 47

Construction Equipment Crews,

Electricians (Except Industrial and
Power System), Industrial
Electricians, Plumbers, Steamfitters,
MOVING 2 ALBERTA
Pipe fitters and Sprinkler System
Installers, Welders and Related
Contact Helen Parnell a property relocation
Machine Operators, Heavy-Duty
Equipment Mechanics, Crane
specialist who has helped many
Operators, Drillers and Blasters –
Surface Mining, Quarrying and
expats settle here after making
Construction, Supervisors, Mining
and Quarrying, Supervisors, Oil and
the move herself.
Gas Drilling and Service or
Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and
Free assistance on • Accommodation
Chemical Processing and Utilities. • Real Estate • Insurance
If you qualify under this criteria
you must then score at least 67 • Mortgages • Airport meet and greet
points in the selection factors which
include education, French and • Serving Calgary and South Alberta
English language skills, work
experience, age, arranged Tel: 001 403 932 5670
Email: Helenparnell@shaw.ca
employment in Canada and
adaptability.
You must then be able to show
that you have enough money to www.moving2alberta.com
support you and your family.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
In either case you must also must score at least 35 points in the
(CIC) set proof of fund figures for
possess the ability to speak either selection factor criteria and have
different family numbers and you will
English or French. enough money to support your
need to prove you have this money
Full details of this class of family as per the proof of funds
available at the time of application.
immigration can be found using this amounts set by CIC.
An example would be a family of
link. Full details of this route can be
four would need to have at least
found using this link.
$20,130 CND as proof of funds.
If you satisfy all of these criteria Investor Class
you may apply for permanent Self-Employed Class
residency under the skilled worker If you are an experienced business
class. Ore details about this class of This class of immigration attracts
person willing to invest in Canada
immigration can be found on the
you may qualify under this category people who are looking to become
Citizenship and Immigration website
of immigration. self-employed in Canada, but may
using this link.
You must have at least two-years not be exactly what you think, so
Applicants wishing to immigrate to
business experience and have a net read the rules carefully.
Quebec will need to use the Quebec
worth of at least $800,000 CND and You must have relevant
Skilled Worker Immigration route.
be able to invest $400,000 CND. experience in one or three
I addition to this you must also categories: participation at a world-
Experience Class score at least 35 points in the class level in cultural activities or
selection factor criteria and have athletics, farm management
This route of immigration can be enough money to support your experience or self-employment in
family as per the proof of funds cultural activities or athletics.
used by people who are temporary
amounts set by CIC. I addition to this you must also
foreign workers or foreign students
Full details of this route can be score at least 35 points in the
in Canada and who wish to reside in
found using this link. selection factor criteria and have
Canada permanently. This route
enough money to support your
does not apply to people who wish
Entrepreneur Class family as per the proof of funds
to reside in Quebec.
amounts set by CIC.
In order to apply through this route
Full details of this route can be
you must either be a temporary This class os for people who have found using this link.
foreign worker with at least two money to invest in a Canadian
years experience of full-time (or business and can successfully
equivalent) skilled work experience manage a business which Provincial Nominee Program
in Canada. Or you can be a foreign contributes to the economy and
graduate from a Canadian post- creates jobs. This class of immigration is
secondary institution with at least You must have at least two-years determined by each individual
one year full-time (or equivalent) business experience and have a net province or territory based on the
skilled work experience in Canada. worth of at least $300,000 CND and
48 Relocation
needs of the area regarding skill
shortages etc.
All Provincial Nominee
Programs (PNP) are based on the
applicant having a secured job
offer from an employer within the
province or territory.
Each has its own rules and
regulations and criteria, so you
should check out each to see if
you might qualify.
Alberta
Manitoba
Newfoundland and Labrador
Ontario
Saskatchewan
British Columbia
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Yukon Territory
Family Sponsorship
If you have family in Canada who
are permanent residents or
Canadian citizens they may be
able to sponsor you to immigrate
to Canada. This is dependent
upon your relationship to them
and the sponsorship must be
initiated by them.
Spouses, conjugal partners and
common-law partners of opposite
or same-sex can be sponsored as
can dependent children.
Other relatives that can be
sponsored include parents,
grandparents, brothers or sisters,
nephews or nieces,
granddaughters or grandsons who
are orphaned, under 18 years of
age and not married or in a
common-law relationship or
another relative of any age or
relationship if none of the above
relatives could be sponsored, and
you have no other relatives who
are Canadian citizens, persons
registered as Indians under the
Indian Act or permanent
residents.
Full details of the family
sponsorship class can be found
here.
Everyone looking to move
permanently to Canada will be
required to meet medical and
security requirements. You and
your family members must pass a
medical examination and security
and criminal checks. This is
relevant to all immigrants
regardless of the route used to
enter the country.
Details of all routes into Canada
including temporary foreign
workers and study permits can be
found using the Citizenship and
Immigration website.
Visit www.readmuchmor.com
to read all our back issues
and find muchmor.
 Relocation 49

Flying high
Air Canada expands flights to
and from Spain
Air Canada and fellow Star Alliance partner Spanair
today announced they have entered a codeshare
agreement that expands their networks between
popular business and leisure destinations in Canada
and Spain. This follows the re-introduction May 1, 2009
by Air Canada of non-stop flights between Toronto and
Madrid, the only scheduled service between Canada
and Spain.
Under the codeshare agreement, Air Canada's
network has expanded to serve six destinations in Spain American Airlines new travel
on codeshare flights designated by the AC code that are
operated by Spanair between Madrid and: Barcelona, tool
Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Alicante, Bilbao and
Valencia. Spanair customers in turn, benefit from an According to American Airlines booking travel through
expanded network including non-stop codeshare service their website www.AA.com just got easier. Their new
designated by the JK code between Madrid and Toronto, DealFinder℠ downloadable desktop tool gives
operated by Air Canada, with convenient connections in information and control over your travel planning. The
Toronto to and from: Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. new DealFinder gives you quick and easy access to all of
Both carriers thus offer services between popular the great information available on AA.com. The tool
destinations in Canada and Spain, each one using its works with most Windows® computers, but is not yet
own code throughout the entire itinerary. The new available for Mac users.
codeshare flights are now available for purchase.

Air Transat specials

Air Transat are currently offering special deals between
Canada and European destinations such as the UK,
France and Germany.

Great offers from Canadian

Affair
Travellers searching for a summer holiday bargain need
look no further than Canadian Affair. The UK’s largest
tour operator to Canada commences its summer
schedule this week with return flights to and from eight
Canadian.
For summer 2009, the operator will offer a choice of
over 60 direct services each week from 10 UK & Ireland
airports – London Gatwick, London Heathrow,
Manchester, Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and Shannon.
With flights available to eight Canadian cities -
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax,
Edmonton and Fredericton.
50 Health & Wellness

Whether living
with or without
osteoporosis
– your bone
health is
important!
 Health & Wellness 51

Bone Density Scanner

Throughout generations, parents loss of mobility, and decreased
and guardians have made their independence.
Consequences of osteoporosis
children’s health a top priority.
Whether they exposed their children are frightening, and though many of
to the right foods, or perhaps us may feel that we do not need to
encouraged them to pursue physical worry about osteoporosis, we must
activity, parents have understood still pay close attention to our eating
the need to help children build habits and lifestyle in order to
strong and healthy bodies. Yet even ensure that we reduce our chances
if one were to eat all of the right of acquiring the disease later in life.
foods and maintain a healthy and Osteoporosis Canada, the first
active lifestyle, the risk of national organization of its kind to
developing osteoporosis still focus on raising awareness of and
remains. promoting education about
In Canada alone, one in four osteoporosis, is on a mission to help
women and at least one in eight the public decrease their chances of
men over the age of 50 have developing the disease, as well as
osteoporosis. It is estimated that as helping those already living with
many as two million Canadians may osteoporosis to learn how to
be at risk of osteoporotic fractures manage it safely, thereby regaining
during their lifetime. The reduced their quality of life.
quality of life for those with
osteoporosis is enormous. This
disease can lead to disfigurement,
lowered self-esteem, reduction or
Decrease your risk of
fracture
While the most common fractures
associated with osteoporosis are
those of the hip, spine and wrist, not
everyone diagnosed with this
disease breaks bones. Whether or
not you have had a fracture,
everyone with osteoporosis should
attempt to modify their lifestyle in
order to minimize their risk of
breaking a bone. The essential
elements in maintaining bone health
are an adequate intake of calcium
and vitamin D and physical activity,
particularly weight-bearing activity.
(This is any kind of activity where
you are bearing your own body
weight, such as walking.) If you have
been diagnosed with osteoporosis,
your doctor may prescribe an
osteoporosis medication. There are
several that have been approved by
Health Canada. Even if you are on a
52 Health & Wellness
medication, don’t ignore calcium and vitamin D. For
those 50 and over, Osteoporosis Canada recommends
1500 mg of calcium and at least 800 IU vitamin D daily
from all sources. In the winter months, October to
March, vitamin D is not created by the action of the sun
on the skin, and there are not many food sources of
vitamin D, so a supplement is in order.
In addition to drug therapy, exercise, calcium and
vitamin D, it is very important to understand how to
move in a way that is safe for your bones. The practical
advice that follows is designed to help you understand
what are considered safe movements and to pay
attention to the details of daily living so that you don’t
compromise your bones.

Guidelines for safe movement:

Do not bend forward, as it puts you in danger of

breaking the bones in your spine. Use your knees
instead of bending at the waist.
Avoid twisting your torso – it will put pressure on your
spine.
When lifting objects that are not too heavy, bend your
knees and keep your back straight. Avoid lifting objects
above shoulder level and do avoid reaching over your
head to retrieve something from a shelf or cupboard.
Avoid activities that overload your spine when you
are in a bent position, e.g., putting a roast in or out of
the oven, putting wet laundry in the dryer, lifting the
mattress to tuck in sheets, shovelling the driveway. Ask
for help.
Think, then do. Don’t do something dangerous in a
moment of impatience. Don’t be in a hurry to catch a
bus, answer the phone or respond to a doorbell. Haste
may create more problems than it’s worth.
Stick to moderate weight-bearing exercises. Jogging
jars the spine and puts you at risk of injury.
Take extra care if you have a poor sense of balance,
poor eyesight, or if you wear bifocals.

Tips for daily living

In your home:

• Don’t bend to pick up a child (or anyone else you

may be caregiving). Sit and let the child climb onto
your lap.
• Get in and out of bed carefully. To get in, first sit on
the edge of your bed. Then lie on your side and
gently roll over. If you sleep on your side, a pillow
between your knees will help support your hips and
lower back. To get out of bed, lie on your side, ease
yourself to the side of the bed, then push yourself up
 Health & Wellness 53

with your arms so that you are in
a sitting position at the side of
the bed with both feet on the
floor.
• Avoid reading in bed. To read
comfortably, sit in a chair, place a
firm pillow on your lap, and
support your arms and book on
the pillow. Keep chin tucked and
neck straight. Raise your feet on If you have been recently
a low stool, keeping knees bent. diagnosed, here are some ideas
In public places:
• Request a comfortable chair
when dining out. Don’t feel you
have to explain your illness, just
say “I have a bad back problem.”
• Do avoid crowded public places
because it is easy to get knocked • Consider adding your name to
off balance and fall. If using
public transit, travel during off-
peak hours if possible.
• Take care not to jolt your spine
when climbing stairs or stepping
off a curb.
• Take a pillow with you for back
support in cars, offices, etc.
• When getting in and out of a car,
sit down facing the door, then
swing legs inwards. Reverse the
procedure to get out of the car.
• If you drive a car, use rear view
mirror extenders and your side
mirrors to check traffic behind
and beside you to avoid having
to twist around. Watch out for the
blind spot.
about where to begin:
• Educate yourself: learn all you
can about osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Canada operates a
toll-free information line. Our
information counsellors discuss
your concerns, send you relevant
information and, if there is one,
refer you to a Chapter or support
group near you.
COPN, the Canadian
Osteoporosis Patient Network.
They publish a regular newsletter
with helpful tips and information
on living with osteoporosis.
Please visit our website (another
great resource tool!) for more
details.
• Review your treatment options
with your doctor. You have
several choices.
• Review necessary lifestyle
changes with your doctor as well.
• Ask your doctor to refer you to
other professionals. Although
your physician is your primary
medical resource, there is a wide
range of professionals who can
be involved in helping you care
for your bones.
This article was prepared with
collaboration from Osteoporosis
Canada; for more information about
osteoporosis, please visit
www.osteoporosis.ca or call
1-800-463-6842.
•

Naturopathic Chiropractic Massage Therapy Psychotherapy

2443 ! Yonge St, Toronto ON M4P 2E7

www.ForcesofNature.ca
416.481.0222
54 Health & Wellness
The positive side of no!
By
Aprille
Janes
Recently
I was
speaking
with a
young
mother
who felt
overwhelmed by all her commitments
and the things she had to do in a
day. As we talked I started to
suggest that she needed the word
‘no’ but before I could finish she cut
me off.
“No is a negative and I don’t invite
it in.”
In the moment my thought was to
reframe what I was about to say but
her statement has stuck with me
simply because I could hear her pain.
There was a definite disconnect
between her belief and what she was
experiencing in her life. I felt it as she •
said it but it eluded me until later
when I had time to think about it.
I realised that there was a basic
assumption being made. It’s one I
hear often, particularly from those
who are striving to live a conscious
life. Simply, that the word ‘no ’ itself
carries a negative charge. The
disconnect occurs because this
assumption creates a powerful
consequence. By refusing to use the
word “no”, we relinquished our
power of choice.
So I am challenging that
assumption here. I believe that ‘no’
possesses some very positive
aspects, such as protecting our
boundaries which in turn support our
mental and physical wellness. The
perfect example of this is how ‘no’
protects our children from predators.
You would never take the power of
that word from them.
In the same way, ‘no’ protects you
from the predators that prey on your
time and energy. Without the option
to say “no” we are at the beck and
call of everyone else’s agenda as
well as our own ego’s demands.
It’s not the words – yes/no – that
carry a positive or negative charge
but rather the intention with which
you use them. Consider this:
• Are you saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’
without thought to the
consequences? Either answer is a
negative influence in our lives if
we operate on autopilot.
• Are you saying ‘no’ because the
request steps on one of your core
values? In this case your ‘no’ is
positive because you are
maintaining healthy boundaries.
Will you answer ‘no’ in order to
say ‘yes’ to something that is a
higher priority for you? Creating
balance in your day, week and
year is a huge positive, reducing
stress.
• Are you saying ‘no’ because of
fear? Definitely a negative charge
but again, it’s not the word that
carries it but the fear itself. Often
closely related is replying with a
‘no’ because a request takes you
out of your comfort zone.
• Are you responding ‘yes’ to
please someone else? Or
perhaps to please your own ego?
Again, this so-called positive reply
usually carries negative
consequences.
There are plenty of other scenarios
we could explore but the bottom line
is this - when we make up the rule
that we can’t say ‘no’ we remove our
own freedom of choice, one of the
most valuable freedoms we possess.
At the extreme end of this spectrum
is something like a Stepford Wife!
We can even trace the current
economic crunch to this flawed
assumption. When we stopped
saying ‘no’ to our wants because
credit was easy to obtain, negative
energy built up until we could no
longer sustain the illusion. Now we
are being forced to say ‘no’ because
a universal law states that for every
action there is an equal and opposite
reaction.
Without choice, our lives become
busier and busier, filled with the
demands of others. We build up time
and energy debts that must
eventually be paid. Then, like the
economy, we crash and burn under
the strain of trying to do it all and
please everyone.
In the end you’ll find that a few,
well-spoken nays are vital to the
balance of your life.
Aprille Janes is a certified life coach,
author, inspirational speaker and a
champion of women who long to live the
life they were meant for! She teaches
that the best way to reclaim that Bolder
Woman inside of each of us is by
connecting to our irresistible core of
passion. Download her free Ebook -
Passion, Purpose and Values - at http://
www.aprillejanes.com . It's a great place
to start your own journey.
If you’re a member of The MBN you
can view Aprille’s profile by clicking here
Health & Wellness 55
 56 Home & Garden

Techorating tips:
new technology
in your home
Angel

Downtown Calgary
ARAcontent

Pastures

In the current economic
environment, many people are
refocusing their priorities on family
and home. Experts say more
Americans are creating a home
theater experience in their home
instead of going out. Perhaps you're
thinking about using your tax refund
for a new HDTV. Or maybe you're
getting a new home theater system
in time to invite friends over for the
summer baseball season or to enjoy
this fall's football games in big-
screen style.
But do you know how you're
going to incorporate this new
technology into your home decor?
LG Techorator Doug Wilson, from
TLC's "Trading Spaces" and
"Moving Up," has some tips to
streamline your space and cut out
the clutter. Techorating means
combining technology and interior
design so that a room works as one
unified space.
Recycle the old technology
You don't need your old box TV or
huge computer monitor anymore, so room if the screen size is too large
why not be environmentally
responsible, get it out of your house on the wall to offset the presence of
and recycle it? Companies like
Waste Management and LG
Electronics offer nationwide
recycling programs for unwanted
electronic products at 150 the cat technology.
Monty
designated "eCycling Centers"
across the country. Visit
www.lgusa.com/green to find out
more about the programs near you.
Pick a focal point
Now that the old stuff is gone, find
your room's focal point and work
your way out. "In large rooms, make
sure you don't go overboard with
one particular theme, pattern or
technology," says Wilson. "With just
a few integral pieces, the room can
be made to feel spacious, yet
comfortable."
Remember to streamline by
removing unnecessary clutter and
installing shelving units or wall-
mounting your new HDTV.
Consider your space
This is a case where bigger is not
always better. Technology needs to
fit the space you have; otherwise it
can overwhelm a room. While large
flat-screen HDTVs are a nice
upgrade, they can overpower the
for the space. You need other items
the TV. If you're still shopping
around, take measurements of your
wall space along with you to make
sure you get the perfect sized
Home & Garden 57
Practice cord control
Nothing causes more headaches
than trying to hide all the cords
behind furniture while still trying to
reach the available outlets. "Go
wireless," says Wilson. "Many
leading technology companies,
including LG Electronics, offer
wireless speakers and TVs, giving
your living space a crisp, modern
feel."
Use digital accents
Digital photo frames placed
throughout the room and house can
hold family photos during the regular
year, but bring a reminder of your
favorite team's great season when
you have everyone over to watch the
games. The photos can help get the
conversation going, especially if
everyone has just met. Plus, this is a
decoration you don't have to clean
up -- either reprogram the frame or
take it on the road to the next game
party.
Whether you're equipping a tiny
den, medium-sized bedroom or
expansive media room with the
latest in consumer electronics, TLC's
Wilson recommends techorating as
a way to get the most from your new
equipment and your new digital
lifestyle. For more techorating ideas,
visit www.lgusa.com/techorator.
 58 Home & Garden

















Helen Parnell
Tel: 403-932-8888
www.moving2alberta.com

MLS: C3376533 Price: $790,000 Province: Alberta City: Waiporous

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Vaulted ceilings, skylight, deck, 1.8 acres, wooded views

You will be impressed by this 3520 sf two storey on private 1.8 treed
acres in Waiporous. Water not an issue 30+gpm. This home built by
Saddlebrook Homes has a 24x32 double attached garage, large
front veranda with metal rails & the same at the rear of the
home.Four large bedrooms on the upper level with 2-4pc bathrooms
each with a skilite. The master bedroom has a walk in closet and 4pc
ensuite with soaker tub & 4' shower stall.There is a bonus room with
scissor cut vaulted ceiling(also in master) that is used as school
room for home schooled children. Wrought iron railing on main
between Kitchen & livingroom. Open concept with large country
kitchen with maple cabinets, island, walk in pantry, tile flooring. The
livingroom has laminate wood flooring with corner airtight
woodburning fireplace, stone front. There is also a RI for fireplace in
master bedrm. The office is on the main as well as the laundry room(sink, cabinets, folding counter), mudroom with
cabinets, bench seat. Dark room finished in lower.

MLS: C3353410 Price: $217,000 Province: Alberta City: Cochrane

Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Condo, updated, south facing balcony

INVESTOR ALERT! FIRST TIME BUYERS! Bright 3 bedroom,up-down,

nicely upgraded condo walking distance to town. (Total living space:
1268 sq ft.) New carpet, tile, and fresh paint throughout. Main floor
laundry. Newer furnace and hot water tank. Private corner yard with
large spruce trees and south facing balcony. MUST SEE!

MLS: C3371769 Price: $499,900 Province: Alberta City: Cochrane

Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 9ft ceilings, walk-out basement, pantry, mudroom

This Calbridge built home is great for any growing family. You can
feel and see the upgrades as you walk into the home. The kitchen is
bright with south facing windows towards Cochrane. Ceramic Tile
and lighting put a classy touch on this kitchen. The family room has
upgraded carpet plus a gas fireplace for when the nights get colder.
There is a walk though pantry to a large mud room and garage.
Upstairs you have the bonus room plus a loft area. 3 good size
bedrooms and 4 peice ensuite to the master. There is plenty of room
for all the family in this house. The walkout basement has still to be
developed, so just bring your plans and finishing touches.

Pastures
 Home & Garden 59

Helen Parnell
Charlotte, Debra & Carl hiking in Arnica Lake

Tel: 403-932-8888
www.moving2alberta.com

MLS: C3375491 Price: $379,900 Province: Alberta City: Cochrane

Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Environmental reserve, rolling land, gazebo

First time for sale, immaculate 3-bedroom house backing on to the

reserve. Walk in and you are greeted to a large family room, which
is exceptionally bright and warm. To one side there is a sitting room
separated by a 3 sided gas fireplace. The kitchen has oak cabinets,
which overlooks the yard and deck. The deck was recently
completed with Dura deck, covered gazebo and smoked glass. This
house backs on to the RESERVE you will have NO ONE overlooking
you. Back to the house and you have one bedroom on the main with
full bathroom, the master bedroom with ensuite (with deep soaker
tub) and walk-in closet is just a few steps up and then down in the
basement we have a large rec room, 3rd bedroom and 3rd full
bathroom. This is a no smoking, no pet home. This house is
perfect, for anyone who wants to live in town and also have the
feeling they are living on an acreage!

MLS: C3369944 Price: $459,900 Province: Alberta City: Cochrane

Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Views, fireplace, walk-out basement, fenced yard

What a great home. This fully upgraded 2-storey home has

everything a growing family needs. It is situated on a quite street with
views of Cochrane and Bill Hill. There is hardwood through out main
floor. Family room has built in shelves and fireplace. Kitchen has nice
size island and nook. Out side there is a nice large deck to sit down
and watch the city lights. On the main we have a den or possible
dining room, the choice is yours!! Upstairs we have a large bright
bonus room with vaulted ceilings and 2nd fireplace, which leads to 3
good size bedrooms and 6-piece ensuite off the master bedroom.
The basement has in floor heat and 4th bedroom. The walkout
basement is currently used as a MIL suite but could easily be
converted to large family room with wet bar. To finally finish the
upgrades we have knock down ceilings, rounded corners and extra
large insulated and dry walled garaged. Call today.

Helen Parnell
Associate Broker
# Certified Condominium Specialist,
# Bronze medallion holder for real estate sales in 2006 and
2007
# Diamond award holder for customer service in 2007 and
2008.

Monty the cat

 60 Home & Garden

Did you hear the

one about the
bathroom
renovation?
Photo by: urbaneapts

Join us on a journey of how one

couple renovated their bathroom
and lived happily ever after…
 Home & Garden 61

“It was time…the ceramic tile had been falling off the consumption, one/two flush systems, lined tanks and
shower surround one by one for years, the sink faucet colour…we chose linen to go with our relaxed spa feel.
had a constant drip that was almost rhythmic For the faucets, our designer suggested brushed
sounding…almost! And the toilet, well the water was chrome, as maintenance won’t be such an issue with
just flushing away our money…every time we had to our hard water.
“Go”! So, I approached my Husband…we NEED to We decided on an under mount china lavatory sink to
renovate our bathroom…he concurred! So, now what… go in the quartz counter top our designer
we bought numerous décor magazines and visited the recommended…the counter has a mix of creams, blacks
home centers but still did not know where to start…can & blues! This works wonderful with our ivory coloured
we do the work ourselves, what colour do we want to cabinets that our designer is ordering for us direct from
paint the walls, do we use ceramic tile on the floor, vinyl her supplier…a great cost savings – no middleman!
flooring or something else!? What about all the choices Next, the ceramic tile store…we decided to go with
when it came to fixtures: toilets, sinks, taps, tubs and in-floor heating and a tile floor! It is a bit of a splurge but
lights! How much should we budget for? Do we need a we opted out of the whirlpool option with our new tub,
permit? Who can we get to do the plumbing, electrical, as the electrical upgrade would have been a huge added
carpentry!? Oh, did I mention…my Husband is not expense. And the in-floor heat will be awesome on those
handy at renovating and although I love him, he is not cold winter mornings.
great at finishing projects that he starts either! A few final touches…paint (a beautiful soft slate blue),
After being overwhelmed by all this and knowing we lighting (square brushed chrome with frosted glass
should NOT do the work ourselves, we made a decision! shades) & accessories (brushed chrome, of course and
Call a designer…what a huge help! She directed us linen coloured towels).
through the process and balanced both our desires for Our designer ordered everything, scheduled the
the décor of our bathroom! I wanted something calm & trades needed and supervised the project from start to
relaxing for our new bathroom but my Husband was finish…we were fortunate to have another two piece
afraid it would be too “girly.” But, I am getting ahead of bathroom for late night “emergencies” and our
myself! membership at the local gym for showering worked out
First, we started out having the designer come for a too. After two weeks of planning, two weeks for ordering
home visit…a free one-hour consultation to discuss our of material and two weeks of actual renovation time we
goals! We liked her, along with her portfolio of projects & were enjoying our new bathroom…this went so well we
list of referrals…so we paid a retainer to have her may tackle another project, with our designers help of
proceed with a design and arranged for our next visit to course!
go shopping…this was exciting…we were on our way to Thanks to Cindy L. Dow of Interiors by Cindy for
getting this bathroom done! making this a great experience.”
We decided that the placement of the fixtures was fine
and that would also help our budget. We did think that a You can contact Cindy Dow of Interiors by Cindy at
closet in the adjacent bathroom was not needed so we www.interiorsbycindy.com. She offers custom cabinet design
reclaimed that space…. allowing us to expand our vanity and installation, kitchen and bathroom renovations, furniture
and make the room feel larger! and lighting floor plans, colour consultations and decor
With our new plan in hand, our designer there to guide workshops. With over 20 years experience Cindy will help you
us…we visited the plumbing supply store and picked create the home decor of your dreams while working within
out our fixtures. Who knew there was so much to learn your budget. If you’re a member of The MBN you can view
Monty the cat
about toilets – elongated bowl, round front, low water Cindy’s profile by clicking here
62 Home & Garden
Real estate today
You would have to be living with
your head in the sand not to have
noticed the economic downslide.
One of the best indicators of this
has been the real estate market
which has certainly seen better
days. We asked Realtors across
Canada how their local market is
fairing and what the past year has
been like for them. We also look at
the future to see if the trend is now
getting better.
Let’s start with Canada as a
whole. According to the Canadian
Real Estate Association (CREA) the
average selling price across the
country is currently $306,366. This
compares to the same time last
year when it was a little higher at
$316,438. They also reported that
seasonally adjusted sales activity
rose 11.2% compared to the
previous month. This is the largest
month-to-month increase in more
than five years.
In Vancouver we spoke with Frank
Gerryts of MacDonald Realty who
said the market is less hectic than it
was last year. He went on to say,
“After years of boom times we have
seen prices come down and sales
volumes reduced. The winter months
were particularly quiet but with
spring here, market activity has
increased markedly, though still
below that for last year.”
In Vancouver the average sale
price is down around 12% on last
year. Single family homes are selling
for an average of $675,268
compared to $771,321 in April 2008.
Townhouses are selling for an
average of $431,759 and apartments
for $340,203. In the same month last
year these sold for $477,900 and
$389,070 respectively.
Over on the other side of the
country Realtor Mark Spindloe in
Halifax, Nova Scotia said “The
market started off really slow in 2009
with a double figure reduction in the
number of listings. This had the
positive effect of putting a floor
under prices as the supply dried up.
Since then the market has been
steadily improving with people not
seeing the feared catastrophe
same time last year when prices
Contributors were averaging $205,185.
“It is also worth noting we actually
Frank Gerryts - MacDonald have areas within Quinte where
Realty average sale prices have increased.
www.relocation2bc.com So far, May has been a very busy
www.VancouverForHomes.com month, so we have to wait and see
what the statistics will tell us.”
Mark Spindloe - Exit Realty Helen Parnell, a Relator from
Metro Calgary reports “The market is
www.100metro.ca starting to pick up in the Calgary
www.relocationnovascotia.com area but has not stretched as far as
the outer towns and rural acreages. It
Claudia Hancott - Century 21 has picked up compared to last
www.claudiahancott.com month, but compared to this time
last year the number of houses for
Helen Parnell - GMAC Real sale has dropped by 5% and the
Estate average price has dropped by 10%
www.moving2alberta.com from April 08 to April 09.”
Single family homes in Calgary
Greater Toronto Real Estate Board now sell for an average of $426,311
www.torontorealestateboard.com compared to $474,564 in April 2008.
The average selling price for a condo
in Calgary is now $277,593, 11%
forecast in the media, and so willing lower than the $312,586 of 2008.
to move forward with their plans. So, what does the future hold?
“In the Maritimes we never had a Helen says, “I feel that real estate is
boom market so are not experiencing going to level off by the end of this
a bust. However, we are not immune year and then stay level for at least
from the impact of the global another year. The time of big price
downturn and must expect a soft increases or decreases are gone for
market going forward. I feel we will now. Our net migration is down
see less effect than the rest of which was one of the main causes of
Canada.” house shortages and of big price
According to the CREA the increases.”
average price of a resale house in In Vancouver Frank agrees that
Nova Scotia in April 2009 was prices are unlikely to rise this year
$245,412 compared to $231,895 for but add, “Vancouver continues to be
April 2008. a popular destination for immigrants
In Ontario the Greater Toronto Real and this puts pressure on our
Estate Board reported seasonally housing supply, especially as there is
adjusted April figures 3% lower than limited land on which to build more
last year at $385,461. Sales also homes.
remain lower (7%) than last year Over in Halifax, Mark thinks Nova
however month-on-month they are Scotia benefits from the west. “The
increasing. “Conditions in the resale Maritimes is buoyed by locals
housing market have improved returning as cash buyers from the oil
markedly this spring,” says TREB rich provinces that have been taken
President Maureen O’Neill. down by the commodity crash as
Further east the Quinte area of well as a significant influx of
Ontario is also seeing lower prices immigrants from Europe and the U.S.
than last year. Realtor Claudia TREB’s Maureen says “Home
Hancott of Century 21 said, purchases have increased as
“according to the latest statistical households have taken advantage of
report the average prices in the low interest rates and slightly lower
Quinte area year-to-date are home prices. I see this trend
$199,067. This compares to the continuing.”
 Sequoia Club
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Muchmor Business Finder 63
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Careers
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Charities & Non-profit
Children’s Aid Society of Brant - A non-profit
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64 Business Finder
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Higgins House, 33 McGrigor Street
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Tel: 705-653-5117 Email: s_turner@sympatico.ca
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Tel: 613-771-0075
Email: info@stagingforsuccess.ca
65 Business Finder
Sequoia Club
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Tel: 905-668-2352
Email: tina@tinadezsidesigns.com
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Tel: 613-922-6699 Fax: 613-962-6736
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Tel: 613-921-2535 Fax: 613-473-0014
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The goal is to select the best photos from those sent in Email: coaching@theexpatcoach.com
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Put Your Business Here
You can put your business in front of thousands of
readers for just $85 per year. Listings feature in Muchmor
Canada Magazine and the MBN Magazine and include
links to website and email addresses. Just $85 per year
for listings in two online magazines.
Click here for details.
Real Estate
Century 21 Lanthorn - Claudia Hancott - Sales
Representative covering the Quinte area of Ontario. Earn
AIR MILES when using my services.
264 Front Street, Belleville, ON K8N 2Z2
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Tel: 403-92-5670
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