Canadian Top Deal by Hidayat Abubakar

April 2013 | I Edition

DESIGNONDON Simple is Great

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CTD MAGAZINE: A SWEET DEAL ALL AROUND!

Canadian Top Deal magazine gives advertisers an audience that’s 50,000-strong, whilst bringing shoppers the best deals available on the products and services they love. Better still, CTD is distributed to consumers absolutely free yet offers premium advertising space to businesses for a nominal fee — a combination that’s hard to beat! CTD is an eye-catching high-quality, full-color glossy magazine printed in convenient A4 format and distributed monthly. The magazine provides an ideal marketing venue for businesses that need to get the word out about their latest sale or promotion. Imagine having a cool dozen opportunities every year to gain exposure for your advertising campaigns at a low monthly rate — and with no strings attached! That’s exactly what you get with CTD . And thanks to our generous customer-focused, no-contract advertising policy, this little gem of a magazine provides a virtual treasure trove of information and opportunities for deal-seeking Canadian shoppers. Every issue is packed with the best bargains on products and services that span the spectrum from business to entertainment, from home to travel, from real estate to health … and more. At CTD , bringing advertisers and shoppers together is what we do best. And making sure we sweeten the deal for both is what makes us the best. So, why not give us a try? Find out what so many other Canadian businesses and consumers have already discovered: Whether you are buying or selling, you just can’t lose with CTD ! 240 Duncan Mill Road, 6th floor Toronto, Ontario, M3B 3S6, Canada mail@canadiantopdeal.ca Tel: 416.205.9777 Fax: 1.855.853.8660 www.canadiantopdeal.ca

April 2013 | I Edition

Real estate in Canada looks attractive from the outside as well as from within the country. With many Canadian cities, including Toronto and Vancouver, being rated among the most desirable places to live in the entire world based on such criteria as health care, education, public transit, diversity, and green spaces, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder that it makes sense from an investment point of view to purchase Canadian property from abroad.

April 2013 | I Edition

HOW TO BUY

REAL ESTATE PROPERTY IN CANADA By Jamie Sarner Whether you plan to make Canada your permanent home now or in the future; relax in a vacation home in our lush cottage country; make your home-awayfrom-home a convenient urban flat, or simply buy an income-producing property for investment purposes, buying Toronto real estate is generally speaking easy for foreign buyers. Understanding the issues involved in purchasing, leasing, financing and selling a property in Canada will assist you in properly assessing the risks and rewards associated with these types of investments. The following information applies to non-residents of Canada – and it’s interesting to note that residency does not necessarily have anything to do with citizenship. Even a Canadian citizen will usually be treated as a non-resident if they live in Canada less than a total of 183 days in the year, or has no permanent home in Canada but instead lives abroad. Prospective immigrants to Canada, often lured to our friendly shores by soaring property prices in the U.K. and Europe, find it easy to travel here to get a feel for real estate opportunities by taking advantage of the affordable direct airfares now being offered by such online discounters as FlightNetwork. Once they have decided on a city, toured different neighbourhoods and viewed properties in person, they are usually pleased to find that there are no restrictions or limits on the amount of property they can buy. Local lenders such as chartered banks and credit unions will finance your purchase subject to credit 6

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approval (though if you don’t work in Canada, they may require a cash downpayment of at least 25%) so there’s no need to bring a whole suitcase of cash with you. Depending on where you take your business, you may need to provide a letter of introduction from your banking facility in your own home country; your previous income in the home country will also be verified. For more information on beginning a relationship with a Canadian financial institution, please visit the Citizenship & Immigration website. If you will be purchasing commercial property, GST (Goods and Services Tax) registration may be required. An added bonus when seeking full immigration (as opposed to ‘visitor’) status: the purchase of a home shows a connection to Canada, and the property is ultimately treated as a part of your overall net worth. Foreign investors who are purchasing solely for investment purposes and have no plans to live in their Canadian property, but hope to sell it in future for a large capital gain, would be wise to speak to an experienced accountant about all the implications. The property buying process itself usually runs smoothly, especially when working with reliable real estate professional. One thing’s for certain: non-residents are required to have 25% of the gross rental income of the property withheld and remitted monthly to the Canada Revenue Agency within fifteen days of each month-end,

or appropriate security for the prepayment. If the sale notice isn’t filed, stiff penalties apply.

either by the tenant, or by a Canadian representative appointed by the foreign investor. Failure to withhold this tax and to file a tax return can result in stiff penalties. Buying your piece of Canadian real estate may have been easy and unrestricted, but there are a few things to take note of – besides the profits - when the time comes to sell your property. It’s essential to have a trusted real estate agent guide you through the process. Even after signing on the dotted line, much must be done to ensure a smooth closing.

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In the next year following completion of the sale, non-resident property sellers can file a tax return and hopefully obtain a refund for a portion of their provable improvement expenses, legal fees, Realtor commissions, survey fees, etc., with respect to the property; consult an Ontario Accountant for assistance in preparation of this return

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Read more about the tax obligations for non-resident vendors disposing of real property in Canada on the CRA site.

Where an advocate comes into all this, is to help the non-resident property buyer with such things as obtaining fire insurance (a must for mortgage lenders, and something that can be more difficult to obtain for non-residents); providing Power of Attorney services if you will not be in the country for the closing; referring legal and financial representation you can trust; and helping you navigate the ever-changing immigration and tax laws. Jamie Sarner is a first class real estate agent based in Toronto. With over ten years experience in the real estate industry and four consecutive Gairdner Awards (2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012), he is one of the most respected and prominent members of his profession.

Non-resident sellers should be aware of the following tax obligations: •

Non-residents are subject to the same Land Transfer Tax on their sale transactions as paid by Ontario residents (the former 20% non-resident tax has been repealed)

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There are deductions to the Land Transfer Tax that may apply for non-resident first time home buyers who plan to use the property as their principal residence within nine months of completing the purchase

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Non-residents must notify the Canadian government via a sale notice within ten days of the completion of the sale transaction, to obtain a certificate of compliance showing that the CRA has received either a prepayment of the taxes owing

Having lived in Toronto all his life, Jamie knows the local area very well. He is therefore able to advise his clients about any adverse local market conditions that an outsider might not be aware of. Jamie focuses all his time and efforts on Toronto’s most desirable areas including Deer Park (Yonge and St. Clair), Rosedale,Yorkville, Forest Hill, Cedarvale, North Toronto and Davisville, Moore Park, The Annex, and Summerhill. That deep knowledge, combined with an honest, straightforward approach gives his clients the support and advice they need to make good decisions fast in Toronto’s demanding real estate marketplace. With a singular focus on exceeding expectations, Jamie is always willing to share his time and expertise and it is this dedication, passion and commitment that set him apart from the competition.

www.jamiesarner.com

April 2013 | I Edition

TOP

WHISKY BARS IN TORONTO By Jamie Sarner Whisky has a long-standing tradition as an important part of the lives of Torontonians. In the 2006 census, over 20 per cent of Toronto’s population claimed their origins as Scottish or Irish — hailing from the countries where whisky was born. Although you can find a considerable amount of bars serving both Irish and Scottish traditional brands, Toronto doesn’t lack a variety of Canadian whisky brands either. Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of corn spirits and are typically lighter and smoother than other whiskies.

in cash, people sometimes took payment in spirits. (And this tradition is alive and well when it comes to repaying favours from friends!) Soon, Canadian whisky became a highly sought-after product. One of the biggest booms for Ontario whisky production came with Prohibition in the United States. Canadian whisky featured prominently in rum-running into the US at that time. Hiram Walker’s distillery in Windsor, Ontario, directly across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan, easily served bootleggers using small fast smuggling boats.

The tradition of whisky making made Ontario and especially Toronto some of the capitals of high-quality whisky drinking. In the early Canadian farming economy, whisky even functioned as an alternative currency. Instead of pa yment

As you can see, whisky is a spirit that goes way back to the roots of our city, and today we would like to honour this by presenting the crème de la crème of Toronto’s whisky bars.

THE FEATHERS PUB & SINGLE MALT BAR

atmosphere goes, The Feathers is hard to beat. However, the service is not the fastest, and unfortunately a lot of meals from the menu are a bit too British. (For those who haven’t had the good fortune of experiencing British cuisine, if somebody offers you some traditional British fare, it might be best to run!) Since we’ve dealt with the “complexities” of British cuisine, let’s have a look at the whisky menu, since that’s the most important aspect of this article. We asked Reid Pickering, the owner of The Feathers, which he reckons is the best whisky on their menu.

The Feathers is a pub you should definitely visit if you’ve ever been to London and liked the English pub experience. It’s not just one person that says so; it’s almost everybody that’s visited The Feathers. It looks like a typical British pub with everything you’d expect — even the clientele have that shifty look British people get after a few glasses of whisky. As far as the 12

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I don’t think there is a best. We currently feature over 400 single malts on our menu, many of which are from closed or ‘silent’ stills. Choosing a best would be like choosing the best music or song, it all depends on your mood. However, our house Signatory bottling Islay Cask Strength is a great seller and excellent value at $5.99. Other than that the Islays in general, Lagavulin, Bowmore,

Ardbeg are also good sellers. The pub also features live music every Saturday. We’ve seen two performances, and both were very good and well-suited to the general atmosphere of the pub. If you’re a fan of a rare whisky, you should be on the lookout for The Feathers’ special whisky events, where they crack some of their rare-collection whiskies. As Reid confirmed, We do have some rare malts on our menu and are on our last bottles so once they are gone, they are gone. We also asked whether The Feathers serves any special cocktails with whisky or if the staff are purists who don’t put whisky in cocktails. The question was met with a strict denial of any cocktails. Reid even suggested that it wouldn’t be wise to add ice to your drink — maybe just a drop of water. Website: www.thefeatherspub.ca  Phone: 416-694-0443  Email: thefeatherspub@gmail.com

THE CALEDONIAN The big sign reading “Alba gu bràth — Scotland forever” above the entrance to The Caledonian should give you a hint why we chose to feature this particular pub.What would a list of the best Toronto whisky bars would be without a Scottish bar? We can assure you that you won’t find a better-equipped Scottish place than The Caledonian in Toronto. Despite what you might expect from out introduction, The Caledonian has its own look that at first glance isn’t typically Scottish. Donna, one of the bar’s owners, explained how the bar started: We are Toronto’s only real Scottish Restaurant and Malt Bar. I am from Huntly Aberdeenshire and was tired of the themed pubs and bars in Toronto so with my husband and whisky buff, we opened The Caledonian in 2010. Caledonia is the word the Romans used to describe the Scots of the north east where I am from in the 4th Century… so ‘Caledonian’ means a Scot from the northeast. The place is very classy and tasteful; you feel like you’ve come home as soon as you step inside. As usual, when you hear too many positive things about a place, it

can only mean only one thing: it’s almost constantly packed. I’m not kidding. Especially during dinners, The Caledonian is apparently one of the favourite go-to places in the area. We recommend booking a reservation at least one day in advance. We also asked Donna about the most important thing: their whisky. You can tell she really knows almost everything there is to know about Scottish whisky from the way she talks about it. Our list is primarily Scottish malts.We have 150 different malts that range from all six Regions: Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Island, Campbelltown, and Islay. Whisky is a very personal experience. I am partial to Glendronach, as it is my hometown distillery. Glendronach is a classic sherried full-bodied malt — quite like Macallan. My husband‘s love is Highland Park, in particular Highland Park 18 year. Our best selling malt is Ardbeg 10 year, which is a heavily Peated Phenolic Islay Malt. We are Canada’s top seller of Ardbeg according to LVMH, its owners. However, it is not only Donna and her husband who are whisky experts. If you ask anyone on staff, they are all very knowledgeable as well. The Caledonian also serves whisky in cocktails, as they believe it can be enjoyed in many ways. (The Ardbeg Caesar, Rusty Nail, Auchy Toddy, Vodka Irn Bru, Smokey Martini, and Rob Roy are among the recommended cocktails.) The Caledonian also “deals directly with many distillers in Scotland and [has] an Ambassador here from Scotland once a month for a tutored tasting.” Now that’s what we call commitment to the profession! Website: www.thecaledonian.ca  Phone: 416-577-7472  Email: info@thecaledonian.ca April 2013 | I Edition

THE EMMET RAY

College Street seems to attract good whisky bars. Only two streets down from The Caledonian, bar owner Andrew Keiser serves fine whisky and offers live music entertainment in The Emmet Ray. The Emmet Ray Currently has 184 whiskies from around the world, specializing in Canada, USA, Scotland, and Ireland, but we’re also adding some from Japan, Sweden, India, Wales, and Australia. Currently speaking, the trend is Bourbon; however, Single Malt Scotch is always a staple, but recently Canadian whisky is ever-growing in sales. The Emmet Ray offers a very complex experience. The first step toward a wonderful evening here is to enjoy the exquisitely prepared food. The Emmet Ray surprised us with the high standard of their meals. We preferred their Steakhouse Cheese Burger, which is simply incredible but also one of the simpler meals. If you want to taste something really unusual, the Scotch Fondue might be your choice. (We didn’t really fancy it, but to each their own.) All the meat they serve is sourced from high-quality Ontario farms, completely free of added hormones, steroids, and antibiotics! Gigs usually start around 9:00 or 10:00 P.M., but it’s better to arrive a bit sooner to eat and enjoy the conversation, because once the band starts playing intimate conversation is not really an option anymore. Whisky goes very well with music. They usually feature jazz bands, with occasional rockabilly, folk, and blues. They also feature DJs playing hip hop and soul — which is in our opinion really unfortunate, since they don’t go with the character of the place at all. However, if you avoid Saturdays, you can be sure to avoid the disappointment. Andrew knows how to appreciate Canadian whisky, so we asked him whether he thinks Canadian whisky can compete with Scotch and Irish brands. 14

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One hundred per cent yes, but ‘compete’ should be very different than ‘comparing.’ Each region has distinct characteristics, satisfying different tastes and desires. Sometimes there is nothing I would want more than an old Canadian Whisky, with a mellow finish; however, there are other times I want the complexity an aged single malt scotch might give you. Therefore time and place play a huge role. I look for diversity in what I drink. All brands have their strengths and weaknesses. That being said, Glenmorangie has always had my interest when it comes to single malt Scotch, and Forty Creek in Canada has been pushing the boundaries of Canadian whisky for years now. But Sazerac in the USA seems to be dominating the rye and bourbon market. So, to compare any of these brands together or within themselves, I would not want to venture to try. With all these wonderful drinks at your fingertips, it was a genius idea to place an ATM just downstairs. (The place is cash only, so we take this as a very nice gesture from the owner. Note: it’s very dangerous too, since you can always just pop down to the ATM to enjoy another batch of their delicious chicken balls or another glass of bourbon.) Website: www.theemmetray.com  Phone: 416-792-4497   Email: info@theemmetray.com

SPIRITHOUSE Spirithouse is a little bit like marmite or coastal weather (bear with us, there is a point): you either hate it or love it, but your preference can change very easily. The thing is, once you experience how brilliant Spirithouse is with whisky, you’d be willing to overlook its flaws.

Spirithouse is a signature bar of The Toronto Institute of Bartending, which should mean that they know how to make a good whisky cocktail. Len Fragomeni, the owner of Spirithouse, spoke to us about their cocktail philosophy:

Spirits are made to be enjoyed both on their own or mixed in a cocktail. You just have to know which ones to mix and which ones to enjoy alone. We serve many cocktails that cross these worlds together, and guests are surprised that we would do that and make it work. Our motto is: If it tastes good, drink it. If it doesn’t, don’t. You might expect more articulate expression from a place associated with The Toronto Institute of Bartending — and you might also expect better cocktails. In accordance with their philosophy, they do experiment quite a bit — we feel maybe even a bit too much — with some cocktails. Our recommendation is to stick to pure whisky and you’ll have a great time in Spirithouse, with one exception: you have to try The Old Fashioned, a cocktail mixed with Bulleit Bourbon (Spirithouse’s house brand). Spirithouse is a really neat and classy place to go.You’ll be seated in old-time booths, which are really great for having evening drinks with a group of friends because even though there will be music and a lot of people around, you can have a nice uninterrupted conversa-

tion. They use iPads to place their orders. This meant, at least for us, that they really put an effort to keep up with modern trends. Len is one of the owners that’s not afraid to stand up for a Canadian whisky. Corby Distilleries just re-released “Lot 40” , a Canadian whisky made heavily with rye. Great taste profile, and will match up to any great bourbon or Scotch. Crown Royal Black also delivers a beautiful flavour, which can be compared to a Bourbon. Spirithouse is the place where you can see one of the biggest mixtures of different customers in terms of age and background. Len also told us that until now, mostly men used to drink whisky, but as palettes are moving from sweet to more complex and bold, more and more women in their mid-20s are becoming whisky fans. Website: www.spirithousetoronto.com Phone: 647-277-1187 Email:reservations@spirithousetoronto.com

April 2013 | I Edition

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