The Sheridan Sun, Thursday, December 10, 2009: Page 5
Online shopping easier on consumers... and their wallets
“RedFlagDeals.com has over 2.4 million unique visitors a month, who look at over 35 million pages,” said Ryan McKegney, vice-president With Christmas two weeks away, it’s time to find any of your loose of operations at RedFlagDeals.com. “This year, we’ve seen more and change left over to buy gifts for family and friends that mean so much more Canadians trying to save money and our traffic has grown by 30 to you. per cent compared to 2008.” The holidays can put a strain on Those shoppers looking to do their anyone’s wallet when it comes to gift shopping all in one place should also giving. Consumers are just a few clicks look at Amazon.ca. The company is an away from finding great savings on the online department store, which features holiday must-haves, by simply looking electronics, books, DVDs and, new on the Internet. this year, home and garden products. In 2001, David Szeto started RedAll products are shipped to customers’ FlagDeals.com after he began shopping doors so they don’t have to fight the online and found that Americans were holiday crowds. receiving great deals on their online All of Amazon’s products are availpurchases. He realized that Canadiable at discounted rates that are great on ans must have the same opportunities a holiday budget. to cash in on the savings available to “It’s always difficult to stay within a them. budget during the holidays,” said Mary The website has 15 categories of Gardiner, a frequent Internet shopper, coupons and deals that can be found who is only buying presents for imon the web or in stores. The categories Those looking to save this holiday can shop online, and let the products mediate family members. “It just didn’t range from apparel to travel savings. come to them. seem like the thing to do this year with The website also has a full section dedisome family members just trying to buy cated to offers only available to students. RedFlagDeals.com also has a the things they need, let alone gifts for everyone else.” freebie tab for users. Listed in this section are offers that allow consumGardiner said she uses Amazon because of its added security feaers to receive free products or services. tures, giving her an added peace of mind during the stressful holidays. The website has gained popularity since it first began, with more than “With the economy the way it is you never know how des225,000 members, who add coupons daily to the site’s forums. The site is more perate some people are these days,” Gardiner said. popular than ever this year, with people looking to save every penny. Amazon adds free shipping for orders over $39 as an added bonus. Justin Edmonstone The Economy
Jill Kwasniak The electronic fare system is set to be available to all Oakville residents within the new year.
PRESTO card launched for local transit users
Jill Kwasniak Community News
A new way to pay transit fare, known as a PRESTO card, has been introduced recently to the GTA. The smartcard-based fare began as a field trial with 500 applicants to test the effectiveness of the system Nov. 30. Those commuting in the Oakville area began using the cards with both GO and public transit. The card, the size of a debit card, works as a contactless way to pay for public transit. Similar systems have been introduced across Europe. “It’s a new way to pay for your transit fare,” said Suzanne Adamkowski, a spokesperson for PRESTO. “You will be able to load your card with money on the web or in person at a customer service outlet so you don’t actually even have to line up.” The field trial is part of a fourstage plan to implement the fare system. Stage one will integrate PRESTO into three Oakville Transit buses. As well, GO Transit stations at Union, Bronte and Oakville will be equipped. Stage two to four will introduce the technology into all of the GTA’s public transit systems, including the TTC. “You will be able to use the same card to pay for multiple transit systems,” said Adamkowski. “You’d be able to get on Hamilton transit, get on the GO train, and take it all the way out to Oshawa and then get on Durham Region transit when it is fully in place, which is going to take a couple years to do that.” Brittany Shalton, 21, commutes using three different transit systems and would like to see a collaborated system. “Paying for three different fare tickets is annoying,” Shalton said. “It’s really irritating having to dig out all these different tickets from my wallet each day. It’s so unorganized.” Shalton filled out an application form for the PRESTO card earlier this year but was not chosen for the field trial. “I’ll try anything that makes my life easier,” she said. “I’m still a little confused about how the PRESTO card works and the costs, but it seems like something that might just be able to help people that commute on several transit systems.” There is no exact date of when PRESTO will be available to everyone, but an implementation target for the fall of 2011 has been set.
New local program aids the developmentally disabled Lindsey Papp Community News
Oakville resident Matt Bursey, along with a volunteer team, have developed the ACCEPTional foundation, focusing on improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. Initially, ACCEPTional will fund organizations that support these individuals to obtain employment. The foundation’s goal is to implement an employment-training program within a hostel setting. In 2008, Bursey rode his bike around North America, travelling more than 13,000 kilometers and raising almost under $200,000 for an autism centre in Hamilton. The bike ride wasn’t the first time Bursey has volunteered his time and effort to help those with disabilities. “I started when I was in Grade 9,” said Bursey. He began with basic support and teaching life skills. “I was born in a family with a little sister who has Down syndrome. She was the main reason why I [volunteered my time],” said
“
Bursey. the field was It was duremployment ing the bike trip support,” said that Bursey first “How can I draw Bursey. “With my started develop- attention to this love of travel and ing the idea of my experience cause?” creating the ACwith disabilities, I CEPTional founstarted to [think dation. about] ‘How can I draw attention to “Basically what we’re doing right this cause?’” now is raising the capital of funds to Bursey and the foundations be able to do that,” said Bursey. volunteers came up with the idea Bursey has been backpacking of a youth hostel. and riding his bike in more than 25 “We’re going to start a hostel countries since he graduated high in downtown Toronto and from school. Along the way, he saw how this hostel we’re going to have our differently people with mental dis- training program,” said Bursey. abilities are treated around the world. “We’re going to make this a very “Canada is one of the greatest innovative, well-researched proplaces for how we have more equal- gram that will be moving these ity [but] it’s still not where it should individuals from our six- or eightbe,” said Bursey. “Some of these de- month program into the hospitalveloping countries don’t have the ity industry.” money [or resources] to really supThe idea to use the hostel model port these individuals, [how they came from Bursey’s experience with were treated] really hit me hard.” travel. Lots of youths that travel use Bursey began thinking about hostels and it is a very popular form how he could make a difference to of accommodation. people with disabilities. Bursey is hoping that the peo“My experience working in ple using the hostels will see how
individuals with developmental disabilities are working side-by-side. They, in turn, could bring these ideas to other hostels and, hopefully, back to their native countries. “Hopefully, we use this as kind of a messenger system, where we can kind of inadvertently pass our ideas to these people about what we’re trying to do,” said Bursey. Bursey believes that educating individuals with disabilities will help them enter the workforce, as well as minimize the amount of people depending on government assistance. “There will always be programs and we’ll always have to support them through that, but if we can help a lot of the ones that do have these skills to get a job it really benefits everybody,” said Bursey. ACCEPTional hosted its first fundraising event at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Oakville called Spell it Out on Nov. 28. “When I did the trip, I was trying to experience the isolation they encounter on daily basis. That experience for me has made me want to just push inclusion,” said Bursey.
Help support ESL teachers and students during ESL awareness week Natasha Thompson Education
English as second language teachers, students and schools hope to draw attention to some of the challenges new Canadians across Canada are facing. Many organizations are participating by holding poster and writing contests to mark the week, which runs until Dec. 12. “Since most new Canadians arrive with little or no comprehension of English, feelings of isolation often results, which inevitably leads to further issues that impact not only the
individual, but also society,” Renate Tilson, executive director of Teachers of English as a Second Language Ontario, wrote in an e-mail. “Our aim is to assist immigrants, refugees and international students with learning English in order to communicate confidently, be employable and productive citizens. “ESL week was created to raise awareness of the important role of ESL education in our society,” added Tilson. “It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of our ESL instructors and teachers in helping new Canadians.”
ESL instructors help new Canadian feel more comfortable in their new country. They are often cultural interpreters. Language courses are offered at college, high school and elementary school levels. The idea is that it will help new Canadians be successful at school, as well as in postsecondary education and later on in life. Sheridan currently offers a full-time, one-year English as a second language course, as well as night classes. For more information visit www.teslontario.com or www.sheridaninstitute.com