Muchmor Magazine Issue 39

muchmor Discover Your Canada

Canada Magazine

issue 39 feb 09

Subscribe at www.readmuchmor.com to receive your FREE copy every month

Dogmushing: Yukon’s winter adventure Discover Hamiltons great outdoors.

Big White and Silver Star skiing in British Columbia.

Feng Shui your home using colour Valentine recipes Networking effectively Boys & Girls clubs of Canada

There’s more to Vegas than gambling Immigration tips - shipping goods to Canada Health - understanding Cholesterol subscribe free online at www.readmuchmor.com

2 Editorial

Muchmor Media 17 Woody Woodward Lane Corbyville RR1 Ontario K0K 1V0 Canada Tel: 1 613 396 5531 Fax: 1 613 396 3463 www.muchmormagazine.com Advertising: info@muchmormedia.com Editorial: editor@muchmormagazine.com Muchmor Magazine is a publication of Muchmor Media. All rights reserved in all media. No parts of this publication can be reproduced in any form, copied of stored electronically for commercial use without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Storing for personal use is acceptable.

Muchmor Media relies on information supplied by external sources and this publication is supplied on the basis that it believes the to be correct and accurate at the time of publication.

Muchmor Media does not however warrant its accuracy or completeness and to the full extent of the allowed by law excludes liability for any loss or damage sustained by readers arising from or in connection with the supply or use of this information. If errors occur and are brought to our attention it is our policy to correct any errors of fact whenever we can.

The opinions of readers and contributors are not necessarily the opinions of Muchmor Media, and we cannot be held responsible for their comments.

From the Editor February brings with it love and romance and nothing says “I love you” more than food. So on page 24 you will find some beautiful recipes to put your loved one in the romantic mood - and they are not just for the ladies to make - men can wear an apron too!

We also take a look at dogmushing - Yukon style. This popular activity can bring excitement and joy to people of all ages and is one of those things everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.

If you have never been to Las Vegas, then you really are missing a treat. After all, as our story title suggests, there is more to Vegas than gambling. But if Vegas isn’t your style then how about skiing at two of the best resorts in B.C? Big White and Silver Star offer excellent opportunities for all winter sports enthusiasts.

Parents and kids alike will want to check out our special feature on The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.

This superb organization offers fantastic opportunities for lots of children so read all about them in Kidzone.

For those of you not yet in Canada but hoping to be, you might want to start your emigration plans with Louise Green who gives some great pointers in her article on page 50.

And lastly, we are launching our new Business Finder on page 62. This will appear every month and will grow as we go along and will act as a quick way to find businesses throughout Canada. Get in touch if you want your business included.

Jane Toombes Editor

Contents 3

Contents Motoring 2009 Canadian Autoshow Neglect wiper blade at your peril Dealing with blind spots

New non-smoking law in Ontario

Discover Canada Dogmushing: Yukon style

Brandon: warm winter welcome Hamilton: Beyond the skyway

Photographers go-snapit

White & Silver the colour of skiing

4 8 10 13 14

Travel There’s more to Vegas than gambling

18

Lifestyle Recipes for Valentine’s Day The best of 2008

When only Canadian will do Top Canadian

24 26 28 29

Working Life The slightly unusual

Are you networking effectively

10 interview questions decoded

30 32 34

Money Manage your credit

Recession proof your income

36 38

40 40 41 41

Kidzone The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

42

Moving to Canada Shipping your goods to Canada Permanent residence card Start your emigration to Canada Canada measures up

Foreign workers reigns tightened

46 49 50 52 53

Health coverage outside Canada Understanding cholesterol

54 55

Health & Wellness

Home & Garden Staging your home for sale

The real estate market in 2009

Reasons to love stainless steel Use colour to Feng Shui your home

56 57 59 60

Business Finder Muchmor Business Finder

62

4 Discover Canada

Dogmushing:

By Darrell Hookey

Š Government of Yukon YG Photo by J Bradely

Yukon's winter adventure culture

© Government of Yukon YG Photo by J Bradely

Discover Canada 5

Gliding silently through the pristine

Yukon wilderness - literally lying in bed while doing so as canine companions happily provide the locomotion - has to be one of the most thrilling experiences of a vacation well spent.

No, strike that … try this: Standing on the runners of a sled, working as a team with your dogs, you swish through the jack pine of a boreal forest in search of yet another spectacular view. Oh if only your friends could see you now.

Whether you are sitting back and enjoying a dog sledding trip, or running your own team, a Yukon dog musher is there to show you the way and to enlist your help often. First, each dog needs booties on their paws and harness around their shoulders. Each of the dogs bark excitedly because each knows a trip is in the offing and do not want to be left behind. You help calm the dogs and coo reassurances as each are hooked up to the sled. The dogs strain at the anchor as they just want to run. You catch up in their enthusiasm and you are happy for the dogs as they begin to gallop into

the trailhead that yawns open into the Yukon forest.

“customers do not just sit in the basket; they help with the dogs” The barking settles as the dogs establish a comfortable pace and your senses are freed to drink in the smell of pine, the feel of the crystal snow crunching beneath the runners, the warmth of the sun on your cheeks and the sight of a ribbon of blue above the green of the forest rushing past.

Those who opt for the leisurely trip are laid out in the basket on a layer of pillows with a blanket for warmth and possibly a loved one cuddled in close to share the experience.

The dog sled driver requires only a minimum of attention to the welltrained dogs and is available to answer questions and provide a running dialogue of what you are seeing. Keep them talking because you will learn that dog mushing is a lifestyle for them and taking guests out on the trail is a way for them to share that love for the dogs and to help pay for the dog food.

Anne Tayler, who owns Muktuk Adventures with her husband, Frank Turner, says if they didn’t have customers to take out on trips, they would still go out for runs.

These trips include four-hour trips to multi-day trips. And, for special occasions, they can arrange for onehour trips.

But, she says, they have no interest in turning this into an assembly line type of business.

Tayler says she is proud that Yukon dog sled companies have avoided the trap of putting through as many customers as they can. She hears about that all the time and she wants her customers to know that Muktuk Adventures offers “learning adventures”.

© Government of Yukon YG Photo

© Government of Yukon YG Photo by W Towriss

6 Discover Canada

“We are more interested in people who care about learning how to drive and how to take care of the animals,” she says. “We promote the care of animals according to a Code of Practice.”

Tayler thinks for a moment and then adds, “We all do. The Yukon is the only region that has a Code of Practice and that is there for the well-being of the dogs.”

Her customers do not just sit in the basket; they help with the dogs’ care and they actually drive the team.

For their longer trips, they tend to see a lot of father-and-son pairs and even mother-and-daughter. Tayler says it is a great bonding experience for them.

Still others just want to enjoy the Yukon’s scenery and the northern lights in the most natural way they can.

One thing they all have in common is a love for dogs. Tayler says customers become attached to the dogs and, sometimes, there are tears when it is time to part.

Many come back again and again.

Tayler says in this world of whacky weather, Yukon’s dog sledding business will continue to

thrive as snow is plentiful and sticks around for a long time.

market and these visitors love the unspoiled nature.

“They find the Yukon is undisturbed and original,” says Korner. “While they run the dogs, no other houses, snowmobiles, skiers, etc. crosses the trail.

“It is one of the last frontiers to do this sport.”

Being south of Whitehorse, away from the Yukon Quest Trail, Tagish Wilderness Lodge has a much easier time finding virgin lands to break trails on.

Even the drive from Whitehorse As for finding her own niche in the out to the spruce log-built lodge Yukon market, she says her with cozy and authentic log cabins husband’s name helps a little. He is along the picturesque shores of the ironman of the Yukon Quest Tagish Lake is a journey into having run the race all but one year unspoiled nature. Indeed, the truck since 1984. Some customers will only gets so close and a ask for him specifically to hear his snowmobile must take guests the tales from the trail. But, he isn’t a rest of the way. household name Outside since the Yes, this is a true wilderness Yukon Quest is not as famous as experience, but between trips the less gruelling Iditarod. guests can enjoy the sauna, hot tub Over at Tagish Wilderness Lodge, and fine dining. it is this spectacular outdoor Korner says he has owned sled wilderness experience that has dogs since 1985. He decided on been the cornerstone to its success. moving to the Yukon because it was Beat Korner says his business the best place to indulge in this concentrates on the European hobby and to incorporate it into his business.

“they find the Yukon is undisturbed and original”

© Government of Yukon YG Photo by J Bradely

Discover Canada 7

There is yet another family, north of Whitehorse, that has indulged in their love of dogs and found a way to be around them all day and all year. The Cathers family owns 80 dogs and lives with them on property accessible only by snowmobile in the winter and boat in the summer. There is a rustic experience that hop scotches from cabin to heated wall tent along their own trail.

Ned Cathers and his daughter, Jeninne, take turns guiding most of these tours just as they take turns racing in the 1,600-kilometre Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.

But, first, the experience begins with “mushing school” that teaches everything from developing a rapport with the dogs to sledding from forest to hill to lake trails. Many customers choose to drive their own team instead of riding in the basket.

These trips can be considered “extreme” by many standards, but Uncommon Journeys has packages that will challenge the most adventurous guests and reward them with experiences of a lifetime.

For instance, there is one trip that takes guests to Herschel Island.

This Arctic expedition can see

Yukon Dogsledding Opportunities MUKTUK KENNELS AND SLED DOG TOURS - Frank Turner and Anne Taylor www.muktuk.com - (867) 668-3647 TAGISH LAKE WILDERNESS LODGE - Beat & Jacqueline Korner www.tagishwildernesslodg e.com - (867) 393-4097 CATHERS ADVENTURES Ned, Mar and Jennine Cathers www.cathersadventures.co m - (867) 667-6318 UNCOMMON JOURNEYS Martha and Rob Taylor www.uncommonyukon.com - (867) 668-2255

extreme Sign temperatures and weather and in camping is on sea ice.

Then there is the trip to the village of Holman on the west shore of Victoria Island up in the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. There, the Inuvialuit are hosts for another unforgettable experience.

Another trip begins just south of the Arctic Circle on the worldfamous Dempster Highway and traverses through alpine terrain and is surrounded by the magnificent spires of the Tombstone Mountains.

There is also a more instructional package called Outward Bound Dogsledding Course. It teaches how to care for a team, cold weather physiology, first aid, canine first aid, navigation and meal preparation on the trail.

There is a culture of dogsledding in Yukon and an infrastructure that supports any level of activity a visitor wants to experience.

8 Discover Canada

open Your journey becomes sweeter when you meet wonderful people along the way.

From the open road to open hearts, you belong in Brandon.

1-888-729-2132 www.econdev.brandon.ca

Discover Canada 9

Brandon, Manitoba

A Warm Winter Welcome Prairie winters have a reputation of being cold with fierce wind and snow. While the cold can not be denied, Brandon provides a beautiful city where visitors can enjoy the many winter sports afforded by the season, while being warmed by the welcoming nature of our people. Picture skating through winding trails with your family, surrounded by beautiful light displays while the snowflakes drift down. The evening can end with everyone snuggled into large chairs and couches by a fireplace, drinking hot chocolate and discussing the activities of the day. The server in the coffee shop is helpful and friendly, and you relax and soak in the moment. Images like this are easy to come by, and we welcome you to visit Brandon and create a memory of your own.

The Waterfall of Lights is nestled in a stand of trees and rolling berms located along the Assiniboine Riverbank which meanders through the heart of Brandon. This wintertime oasis is lit from December through till the end of February each year, weather permitting and offers skating and cross-country skiing through beautiful light displays. Onsite warm-up buildings, music, benches and fire pits allow visitors to take a break from skating for a wiener roast or even a snowball fight. For those who prefer the speed and skill of hockey, Brandon is home to 4 indoor rinks and 6 outdoor ice pads.

For cross country skiing enthusiasts, Brandon has a number of skiing options to choose from. The Brandon Recreation & Sports Centre has 3.5 kms of lit classic and skating ski trails and 4 kms of unlit trails. The trails are regularly groomed and offer a great work out right in the City. If you want to re-connect with nature, consider the Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Area. Just 13 kms south of Brandon, the hills are a haven for recreation and wildlife with over 17 km of trails suitable for cross-country skiing. There are three individual loops ranging in distance from 2.5 km to 7.5 km with a warm-up hut and cook shelter available.

Tobogganing is a very popular winter activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Brandon recently opened Hanbury Hill, featuring different sized runs, winter lighting and a warm up building. Other tobogganing locations throughout the city provide smaller hills for younger ones to have their first experience.

Once you have enjoyed the fresh air and outdoor activities, there are lots of indoor activities to keep the family entertained. Learn about the history of the area, the Military or World War II at Brandon’s world-class museums. Or, take in an art exhibit or live theatre performance to satisfy your creative side. When it comes to dining and shopping, Brandon can meet everyone’s needs from big box stores and chain restaurants to speciality shops and local eateries.

To help plan your itinerary, there are a few events that should be included in your getaway plans. The Lieutenant Governor’s Winter Festival is held annually in early February. The event is a celebration of different cultures that have come to call Brandon home over its 126 year history and is focused on sharing ethnic food, music and dance.

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair will be held March 30-April 4, 2009 and attracts over 100,000 visitors from around the world who come to see world-class show jumping and heavy horse competitions, livestock sales and displays, a quality hands-on agricultural awareness program including Thru the Farm Gate, exceptional live entertainers, over 300 commercial and agricultural exhibits and much more.

From cross-country skiing and skating to tobogganing or taking in the beautiful Waterfall of Lights winter park, there is something to keep you busy in the winter months. Brandon boasts many activity options for the outdoor enthusiast, as well as indoor events and festivals, for those who want to stay warm. The winter weather may be colder, but the welcome is always warm, as you come to discover that you belong in Brandon!

For more information on Brandon and the events and activities happening in and around the city contact Brandon Tourism at 1-888-799-1111 or www.tourism.brandon.com.

10 Discover Canada

Beyond the skyway

By John Kernaghan

Photo by: Hot Meteor

Hamilton's great outdoors

Discover Canada 11 Photo by: Derek Purdy

Photo by: Derek Purdy

Sequoia Club

Dundas Valley Conservation Area

holiday retreat in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. At Confederation Park, thought to represent the city is the the Beach Strip Trail also leads to panorama from the Skyway Bridge Wild Waterworks, boasting slides, a as it passes over Burlington Bay. wave pool, restaurants, batting And the stark majesty of that cages, go-karts and fine picnic industrial front yard, with its steel areas as well as the lakefront mills and attendant industry, promenade. The new trail came scarcely suggests an outdoor three years after the opening of the mecca.

Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail, a It is in fact a narrow look.

10-kilometre magnet on the city's Sometime over the past two west harbourfront for walkers and decades, Hamilton went from gritty joggers. to pretty. You just can't see it as you Dozens more trails wind through hurtle across the heights of the several conservation areas. Then bridge. there's the storied Bruce Trail, which It's there, though, in a very high bisects the city along the Niagara ratio of conservation areas and Escarpment.

The uninterrupted recreational lands that offer hiking, footpath follows the escarpment biking, in-line skating, swimming, from Queenston Heights near boating, birding and fishing, as well Niagara Falls to Tobermory on Lake as many winter sports opportunities.

Huron.

And Hamilton may just be Canada's More paths have been added. The capital of waterfalls, with over 60 Lafarge 2000 Trail, for instance, is documented falls amongst the many one of the HCA's two Millennium streams that tumble down the One of the newest additions is projects.

The 22-kilometre route in Niagara Escarpment. almost right under the Skyway suburban Flamborough links "There's no chart comparing Bridge. The Beach Strip Trail, a 10conservation areas and ultimately percentages of recreational land for kilometre paved pathway along Lake joins up with the Hamilton Harbour cities in Canada, but we believe we Ontario, has won back public and Lake Ontario Waterfront trails. rank very high," says Garnet Cowsill access to the lake. For some of its The other Millennium project, the of the Hamilton Conservation distance it covers the former Beach 11.5-kilometre Dofasco 2000 Trail, Authority (HCA). "We believe we Strip Promenade, a popular walkway connects the Devil's Punch Bowl compare very favourably with other back when the area was a summer

The view of Hamilton most widely

cities in terms of open space." In and around Hamilton, some 6,353 hectares of publicly owned lands, or 14 per cent of a watershed area with a land component of 280 square kilometres, are devoted to an array of recreational activities.

Sherman Falls

“We believe we compare very favourably with other cities in terms of open space”

Photo by: Derek Purdy

12 Discover Canada

Sam Lawrence Park overlooking the city of Hamilton Conservation Area with the Vinemount Wetlands and the Bruce Trail, in time continuing to a conservation area on Lake Ontario.

A cycling favourite is the Hamilton to Brantford Rail Trail, a 32-kilometre multi-use trail that runs from west Hamilton to Brantford. Canada's first fully developed, multi-use interurban trail system, it's also part of the Trans Canada Trail network. Links to Paris and Cambridge extend the trail to 80 kilometres. In fact the old rail bed and good trails between Paris and the Hamilton suburb of Ancaster has sparked an annual cycling event called the Paris to Ancaster classic, a 60-kilometre test of endurance which often draws some of Canada's best riders.

There are also 40 kilometres of trails in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and 10-kilometre systems at both the Valens and Christie Lake conservation areas.

They're groomed for cross-country skiing in winter, too. Valens also offers clean, safe swimming in chlorinated waters separated from the rest of the lake by a special screen. You can camp there year round as well, at campsites nestled in a pine and spruce forest, with

good access to modern washrooms and showers (reservations are recommended).

The Christie Lake Conservation Area also offers clean, safe swimming in an idyllic natural setting.

Like Valens, it has a chlorinated beach area separated from the rest of the lake by a screen. Nine ponds in the conservation area are stocked with rainbow trout from late April to early July, but you can fish right into September.

Meantime at Fifty Point Conservation Area, anglers can fish for salmon in Lake Ontario - salmon charters are available at the marina or catch rainbow trout and bass in the stocked pond. Fifty Point also boasts one of the warmest and cleanest beaches on Lake Ontario.

Boating is available at the Valens, Christie Lake and Fifty Point conservation areas. Christie Lake and Valens rent canoes, paddleboats and HydroBikes and offer boat launch areas as well, though only electric-powered boats are permitted. Over at Fifty Point, the full-service marina is one of the best on western Lake Ontario, complete with a double boat launch and docking space for 312 craft.

For winter sports, the Dundas Valley Conservation Area is a mecca for cross-country skiers; the valley's 40-kilometre trail system offers a challenging mix of terrain for experienced skiers. Those looking for more moderate conditions can try the smooth, level surface of the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail, which runs through the valley.

Birding is another popular activity found at 23 locations in and around Hamilton. The Beamer Memorial Conservation Area offers peeks at migrating hawks, falcons, and eagles from March to early May, particularly on sunny days with southeast winds.

Luther Marsh, meantime, boasts various waterfowl, ospreys, sandhill cranes and cormorants in spring and summer. And right in the city, the Red Hill Valley provides viewing of long-eared owls and finches in winter and breeding Carolinian zone songbirds in spring and summer.

All in all, Hamilton's rich outdoor opportunities are beginning to change people's perspective of the old industrial city.

Advertorial

Discover Canada 13

Photographers go-snapit!

Calling all photographers, both professional and amateur. Muchmor Media has just launched a brand new project aimed at capturing everyday life in Canada as seen by ordinary people.

We want you to submit your photographs to our website www.gosnapit.com. They can be photographs of absolutely anything as long as it reflects Canada or Canadian life. This is your chance to submit photos you already have or an excuse to get out and take some more.

The tag line of the website is “Life as you see it” and that is exactly what this project is all about.

Over the next few months we will be accepting submissions from the website and the ultimate aim is to select the best photographs and produce a book that captures the real essence of Canada and how Canadians see life around them.

So “go-snapit” and send it in

14 Discover Canada

Travel 14

White and Silver - the colour of skiing If you want to get away from it all, head to Big White and Silver Star where you can leave reality behind and escape to the winter wonderlands of majestic mountains, panoramic views and famous Okanagan Champagne Powder.

Visit www.readmuchmor.com to read all our back issues and find muchmor.

Discover Canada 15

Big White

From the moment you arrive, you’ll

be enchanted by the magical atmosphere and friendly charm of the family resorts.

Located in the mild Okanagan Valley, Big White and Silver Star are uniquely blessed with an average mild temperature of -5C creating a pleasant environment for everyone to get out and enjoy BC’s wilderness.

Big White lives up to its motto “It’s

the Snow!” with an average of seven meters (24.5 feet) of Mother Nature’s finest, driest champagne powder blanketing the mountain each year.

From the immaculate cruising runs to the alpine bowls and worldfamous “Snow Ghosts”, Big White provides an exhilarating ski and

snowboarding experience for beginners and experts alike. With five powder bowls, 118 marked runs fanning from the peak, and endless lines through the trees, there is a great range of terrain and conditions for everyone!

“the largest totally Ski-in Ski Out resort in North America” If you want to session in one of North America’s greatest terrain parks then head to the award winning TELUS terrain park which features a half pipe, boarder/skier cross rails, and a progressive terrain park which are all serviced by a double chairlift. The TELUS terrain park is fully equipped with a state of the art sound system and is part of

the 1,600 feet vertical night skiing area – the largest in the West.

As the largest totally Ski-in Ski Out resort in North America, Big White's family friendly village boasts Canada’s most modern ski-in/ski-out resort properties. Big White has everything for the entire family, and with room for over 17,000 guests, there is literally something for every taste and budget. Hotels, luxury apartments, vacation homes, and charming log cabins with private hot tubs dot the snowy slopes. No matter where you lay your head, great skiing and snowboarding is literally at your doorstep.

As BC’s premier Family holiday destination, Big White has a great range of family events and activities to keep you entertained on and off the slopes. The Village Centre Mall is the centre of Big White’s activity’s and fun with the Ski School, rental shop, main ticket office, and retail shops all centrally located to create great access and a fun atmosphere for guests. Twice a week, it's the home of Carnival night, with familyfriendly games, a jumping castle, free popcorn and candy floss, its great fun for kids and the whole family.

16 Discover Canada Big White

Big White Facts Average annual snowfall 750 cm (24.5 ft) Summit elevation 2,319 m (7,606 ft) Resort area: 7,355 acres (3,052 hectares) Runs: 18% beginner, 54% intermediate, 22% expert and 6% extreme Total of 105 km (65 miles) of marked runs Vertical drop 777 m (2,550 ft) 17 restaurants, cafes and delis Over 100 qualified instructors 3 hotels, 25 condos, 244 vacations homes and a youth hostel Entertainment and nightlife including après-ski

For Après entertainment and family fun activities, Happy Valley is located just a short gondola ride from the Village Centre Mall and is the home of Blockbuster Video Nights, Bingo Night, Big White Idol, ice skating on Canada's largest high-altitude skating rink, the MegaSnow Coaster tubing park, guided snowmobile tours, mini 'Mini-Z's', horse sleigh rides and Nordic skiing. There’s something for everyone at Big White so experience for yourself why Big White has received so many awards and praise from the international snow sports media including Condé Nast’s award for Best Snow!

ultimate riding experience. Just like Big White, Silver Star enjoys over 700 cm (23 feet) of light, dry, powder snow annually. Combine that with the mild average temperatures, and the result is unbelievable skiing and snowboarding. From easy, cruiserfriendly Vance Creek to experthaven Putnam Creek, there is literally something for everyone.

With its rare mid-mountain location, the uniquely colourful village offers a variety of fantastic ski-in, ski-out access.

Silver Star also offers exceptional Nordic skiing with many Olympic teams including the USA, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand choosing to train on the resort’s 105 km of trails, two fully certified biathlon ranges and 4km of lit trails in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be hosted by Vancouver & Whistler.

The charming, Victorian inspired From the moment you arrive, the village offers convenient ski-in, skipersonable Silver Star community out access to Silver Star’s boutique strives to deliver the winter holiday retail shops, restaurants and cafés. of a life time. Located in the heart of The magical village offers an British Columbia, Silver Star is excellent selection of hotels, a Canada's skiing and snowboarding purpose-built international ski Mecca. With 115-plus runs, 3,065 hostel, award-winning vacation acres of skiable terrain and 12 homes, and suites and condos modern lifts, skiers and each with their own unique style snowboarders experience the and warm hospitality. This

Discover Canada 17 Silver Star Vacation Homes

pedestrian only, mid-mountain village provides ski-in, ski-out access from every doorstep.

Silver Star Village Sleigh

prefer to discover the natural wilderness of the mountain on an unforgettable guided snowshoe tour or sleigh ride. Whatever you choose to do, you will have a fantastic time at the world class resort.

Silver Star has something for everyone.

There’s no better time to head to Big White and Silver Star with great conditions and unbeatable deals with WestJet including 5 Night, 4 Day Air Inclusive Packages with from $578 per person at Big White and $553 per person at Silver Star.

Big White and Silver Star are incredibly easy to get to, less than an hour's shuttle from the Kelowna There are so many exciting International Airport, which enjoys activities at Silver Star that you’ll non-stop direct service from want to extend your holiday just to Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver, fit them all in. Whether you want to Calgary, Edmonton, and even Las test your prowess on the mountain, Vegas and Honolulu. Plan your or just relax beside a romantic stone vacation through our fireplace, the choices are endless. www.bigwhite.com website, or talk At Adventure Park, you can speed directly with one of the on-mountain downhill on truck-sized inner tubes, reservation agents at the kids can ride their own 1-800-663-2772. snowmobile and Brewer's Pond is ideal for a classic Canadian game of hockey or a leisurely ice skate. If you are looking for something Visit www.readmuchmor.com different, why not view the scenery around Silver Star's beautiful village to read all our back issues on a thrilling snowmobile ride and find muchmor. through the picturesque snow covered trees? Or perhaps you’d

“Silver Star is Canada's skiing and snowboarding Mecca”

Silver Star Facts Average annual snowfall over 700 cm (23 ft) Summit elevation 1,915 m (6,280 ft) Skiable acres: 3,065 (1,240 hectares) Runs: 20% beginner, 50% intermediate, 20% expert and 10% extreme Total of 93 km (58 miles) of marked runs Vertical drop 760 m (2,500 ft) 125 qualified instructors 2 hotels and many condos, suites, vacation homes and a hostel 12 lifts available Entertainment and nightlife available in village

18 Travel

By Jane Toombes

PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

There’s more to Vegas than gambling

Travel 19

PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

Sequoia Club

Elvis Presley once sang “If you see

it once, you’ll never be the same again.” in the hit song Viva Las Vegas. Well, he was right. Anyone who has experienced the wonder and amazement of Vegas will never forget it. Anyone who hasn’t, should experience it at least once.

Las Vegas is known the world over as being the gaming destination of the world, but if you visit Vegas only for the gambling you are missing out on so much.

Las Vegas has come a long way since it’s humble beginnings back in 1931 when the Northern Club was established on Fremont Street.

During the 40’s and 50’s further development took place and hotels and casinos sprang up along the road now known simply as The Strip.

During the 60’s and 70’s Las Vegas was made famous by artists such as Frank Sinatra, his Rat Pack and of course Elvis Presley. But it was the late 1980’s, 1989 to be precise when the Vegas we know today really started to evolve. Steve Wynn, a developer, was the first person to establish what is referred to as a mega-resort when he built The Mirage along The Strip.

The Mirage featured an indoor forest and volcano along with opulent rooms and services. It cost $630 million to build and became an instant success. Wynn has since built several resorts in Vegas making his name synonymous with the city’s history. Other resorts of his include Treasure Island Resort and Casino, The Bellagio, The Venetian, Paris Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay.

“There is a is misconception that you will have to spend tons of cash in Vegas” In 2000 Wynn sold the above hotels to MGM Grand Inc. for $6.6 billion, but he obviously missed the buzz of owning part of Vegas so in 2005 his latest self-named hotel Wynn Las Vegas Resort and

Country Club opened. This resort is one of the most opulent in Vegas and cost $2.7 billion to build.

As of October 2008, Las Vegas had 137,690 hotel and motel rooms available at an average cost of $115 per room per night.

Of the 25 largest hotels in the world (by number of rooms), 19 are located in Las Vegas. These hotels between them have 69,745 rooms.

The gaming scene The big draw in Vegas are the slots

with over 65% of visitors saying they played the slot machines during their stay. Blackjack and poker come in distant second and third place at 14% and 6% of visitors playing respectively. If you want to get involved in the gaming scene but have no idea how to play there are many gaming lessons available. Most of the larger casinos offer complimentary lessons on games such as Craps, Poker, Roulette, Blackjack, Omaha and Texas Hold ’Em. Some hotels offer in-room television channels dedicated to gaming tutorials, so there is no excuse not to get

involved, even if it is simply putting a few dollars in the slots.

There is a misconception that you will have to spend tons of cash in Vegas, but this simply is not true. If you do have a lot of money to spend then you certainly have the opportunity of spending it, but if you just want to dabble now and again you can easily get away with spending very little on gaming, but still have fun.

You can play many of the slots from as little as 1 cent, so as you can see by playing the right machines even $10 can go a long way. All of the large casinos also have slots that pay out multi-million dollar prizes, but obviously the stakes are a little higher than 1 cent to play those.

PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

PHOTO CREDIT: LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

20 Travel

which we know as the Las Vegas Strip, or simply The Strip. This portion of the road is 4 miles long and the vast majority of the megaresorts are located here. It is these resorts that are the key to the thriving economy of Vegas. No other city in the world can boast that it is the hotels themselves that are the attractions.

There are over 30 hotels and resorts along The Strip, each with its own attractions and themes.

Most people choose to stay in one of these major hotels and resorts as by doing this they feel part of the Vegas vibe. But, if funds are tight or you simply do not mind staying off-Strip then significant savings can be made by staying in a smaller, less-grand hotel. Other than the rooms, you will not miss If not gaming, then what? out on any of the action as all resorts and casinos are open to When you sum up Las Vegas it everyone, not just residents. basically boils down to a couple of If you have never been to Vegas roads with lots of hotels and casinos. you might still be wondering what a Although the actual city of Vegas hotel can offer you by way of sprawls over many miles of the entertainment, especially if you are desert landscape, the Las Vegas the not so interested in gaming. Well, tourist sees is actually quite small. never fear, Las Vegas is not called The main artery road that runs the “entertainment capital of the through Vegas is Las Vegas world� for nothing.

Boulevard, the southern portion of

Fremont Street

Las Vegas Facts Around 40 million people visit Las Vegas each year There are 137,690 rooms available The average daily room rate for 2008 was $122 Gaming revenue averages $8.4 billion a year The average visitor spends $560 on gaming per visit The average age of a visitor is 49 years Nearly 24,000 conventions are held here every year The average visitor spends 3.5 nights in Vegas Average hotel occupancy rate is 95%

Travel 21

Sequoia Club

Travel the world Okay, so you are in Nevada, but

New York - New York Hotel

Paris Hotel

Gondola ride at the Venetian

Luxor Hotel

perhaps you want to stay in New York - no problem. The New York New York Hotel and Casino is just the place for you.

The exterior of the hotel comes complete with twelve skyscrapers (⅓ scale), a 47-story Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and of course lets not forget the Brooklyn Bridge - honest! Oh, and one other thing, a Roller Coaster which winds itself both inside and outside the hotel.

“Thrill-seekers will love the Stratosphere Hotel where you will find three of the world’s highest rides”

The Venetian is yet another Italian themed hotel but at this one you can glide down the Grand Canal in an authentic Venetian gondola serenaded by your host as you pass quaint shops and sail under bridges.

The little more adventurous among you will want to visit Egypt.

No trip to Vegas is complete without a trip to The Luxor Hotel. The Luxor is one of the most recognizable buildings in Las Vegas with its huge 30-story black pyramid and Sphinx which guards the hotel entrance. On top of the pyramid is a spotlight which points directly into the sky and is the brightest beam in the world. It is claimed that the beam can be seen from space.

Something for everyone If you love animals you will want to

discover the wild side of Las Vegas.

Visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo Hotel and see Chilean flamingos, swans, ducks, koi, goldfish and turtles. Venture over to The Mirage for the Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.

The Secret Garden is home to royal white tigers, white lions, black panthers, a snow leopard, and golden tigers. The Dolphin Habitat, adjacent to the Secret Garden, houses an extended family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. At MGM Grand, see The Lion Habitat, a showcase for public education and If you don’t fancy New York, how appreciation of this majestic about Paris? Yes you can visit Paris creature. The lions live in custom whilst in Vegas via the Paris Hotel. accommodations on an 8.5-acre This hotel boasts its own half-scale Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Paris ranch 12 miles from MGM Grand and visit the habitat daily. Get up close Opera House and Louvre facade.

You can travel to the top of the Eiffel and personal with endangered and unusual aquatic animals at Mandalay Tower for superb views of Vegas both by day and night. There is even Bay's Shark Reef. Visitors journey through a replica of an ancient a restaurant at the 11th floor where you can eat whilst enjoying the view. temple ruin and a sunken galleon ship surrounded by several varieties If you prefer Italy, then perhaps of sharks. you might want to visit the Bellagio, Thrill-seekers will love the the 3,933 room luxury hotel with a Stratosphere Hotel where you will Tuscan theme. This hotel is home to find three of the world’s highest the famous dancing fountain which rides: Xscream (which teeters riders entertains visitors every day with over the edge of the tower 900 feet spectacular choreographed water above the ground), the Big Shot - a displays which are lit at night for that thrill ride that shoots fun-lovers 50 extra special wow. meters into the air at a force of 4G's Another hotel with an Italian flare is Caesars Palace. This opulent hotel is before letting them free-fall back to home to the Colosseum where stars the launching pad - and Insanity, an appropriately named, dizzying such as Cher, Elton John and Bette spinning ride that dangles Midler perform. passengers over the edge of the

22 Travel

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace tower before whirling them around at speeds approaching 40 miles per hour.

Other thrill rides include Speed The Ride at the Sahara which takes passengers around a roller coaster loop and up a 224-foot climb at speeds topping 70 mph and then retraces the same path...in reverse.

The Roller Coaster at New York-New York Hotel & Casino is an exciting roller coaster with twists, loops and dives around the resort. It features the first-ever heart line roll, which provides a sensation similar to that felt by a pilot during a barrel roll in an airplane.

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus Hotel is America’s largest indoor theme park with 21 rides and attractions.

Downtown's famous, casino-lined Fremont Street has been converted into a 175,700-square-foot pedestrian area covered by a continuous canopy studded with more than 14 million lights. Called the Fremont Street Experience, this canopy showcases spectacular lightand-sound shows every hour on the hour during the evenings.

Helicopter tours are also available so you can see the city from above.

A night tour is particularly good.

covered with façades representative of real Parisian districts.

At the Planet Hollywood Hotel you If you want it, Vegas has it. From will find the Miracle Mile Shops designer splurges to bargain deals, where over 170 shops and 15 Las Vegas has become a one-stop restaurants are set in a futuristic shopping Mecca. Everything from setting. colorful souvenir shops to haute Nearly every resort hotel in Vegas couture boutiques can be found in offers a host of shopping retail centers along the Las Vegas opportunities, but if you want Strip and surrounding areas. exclusive names in clothing and Enter any casino resort and you'll accessories then visit The Wynn discover amazing shopping Esplanade - just remember to being opportunities around every corner. Of your credit card! notable interest, you won't want to In addition to the hotels there are miss The Forum Shops at Caesars many malls located along The Strip Palace, which has around 160 and at other nearby locations. The boutiques and shops and 13 Boulevard Mall is one of Nevada’s restaurants all with a unique Roman largest shopping malls with over one decor. million square feet of retail space.

Cobblestone walkways line The There are also several outlet malls to Grand Canal Shoppes with over 70 explore. shops and restaurants within The Venetian. This indoor shopping area features an authentic reproduction of The buffet capital Venice's Grand Canal (complete with gondolas) and a replica of St. Mark's Although Las Vegas is full of Square, which serves as the restaurants and eateries covering all centerpiece of the mall area. tastes and pockets it is famous for its Paris Las Vegas features upscale all-you-can-eat buffets. You can French retail shopping, located within choose to have a buffet for breakfast, the resort's quaint Le Boulevard lunch or dinner at any number of District. The interior buildings are locations. These buffets offer huge selections of just about every type of

Shop till you drop

Travel 23

Hoover Dam food you can imagine from fruit and salads to meats, vegetables and seafood. These are ideal for fussy eaters or those who want to try something new without ordering a full meal from a restaurant. After all, if you don’t like what you choose, leave it and try something else.

Remember you can eat at any hotel regardless of where you are lodging.

One of the best known buffets can be found at Planet Hollywood: The Spice Market Buffet where you will find cuisine on offer from all over the world. The Carnival World Buffet located at the Rio has recently upgraded its award winning buffet to include over 300 dishes prepared daily.

can stand on the dam with one foot in each state - how cool is that?

Another great place to visit from Vegas is Red Rock Canyon. Again it is a short drive away and features stunning landscapes of red rock (what else!) and if you are lucky wildlife such as big horn sheep, foxes and snakes.

Valley of Fire State Park is also close by and is Nevada’s oldest state park. Like Red Rock you will see stunning sandstone formations along with plenty of wildlife.

About 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas you will find Mt. Charleston a 7,717 ft elevation offering not only spectacular views but great hiking opportunities.

One of the biggest draws in the area however is the Grand Canyon Leaving Las Vegas and the best way to get to it is by helicopter. Several companies offer Although Vegas has more than helicopter flights to the Canyon with enough to occupy the average tourist various ad-ons such as a picnic in for many days, there is also a lot to the Canyon or sunset trips, limousine see nearby. There are many tour pick up, etc. Depending on the type companies offering specialist tours of trip booked you should allow in but you can explore on your own too. excess of three hours for the trip, but The Hoover Dam is a short drive it will be one of the best three hours from Vegas and should not be of your life. missed. It spans Lake Mead and is where Nevada meets Arizona. You

The Grand Canyon Weddings Vegas style No feature about Las Vegas is

complete without mentioning weddings. Vegas is almost as famous for weddings as it is for casinos with more than 120,000 marriage licences issued annually.

Part of the allure of getting married in Las Vegas is that it offers the ultimate freedom of choice, ranging from Elvis presiding over a 24-hour, drive-through chapel to a lavish soiree at one of the world's premier resorts. In addition, Las Vegas has minimal requirements and no waiting period, making "quickie" weddings an attractive possibility.

Even the rich and famous have chosen Vegas for their nuptials including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Angelina Jolie (to Billy Bob not Brad), Jon Bon Jovi, Tony Curtis, Michael Jordan and of course the ill-fated marriage of Britney Spears.

So whatever your reason for visiting

Vegas, one thing is for sure - “If you see it once, you’ll never be the same again.”

24 Lifestyle

Sweet recipes Red Velvet Cake Ingredients: Cake: 100 g shortening 300 g white sugar 2 eggs 10 g cocoa 60 ml red food coloring 6 g salt 5 ml vanilla extract 235 ml buttermilk 310 g sifted all-purpose flour 7 g baking soda 15 ml distilled white vinegar Icing: 40 g all-purpose flour 235 ml milk 200 g white sugar 225 g butter 5 ml vanilla extract Grease two 9 inch round pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cream shortening and sugar well then add eggs and beat well. Make a paste of cocoa and red food coloring. Add to creamed mixture. Mix salt, vanilla and buttermilk together. Add alternately the flour with the milk mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix soda and vinegar and fold into cake batter. Bake for 30 minutes. To Make Icing: Cook flour and milk over low heat till thick, stirring constantly. Cool. While cooling, cream other ingredients and beat till light and fluffy.

Add to flour mixture and beat until of a good spreading consistency. Ice cake once cooled.

Valentine Cookies Ingredients: 225 g butter, softened 310 g sifted all-purpose flour 125 g sifted confectioners' sugar 15 ml milk 5 ml vanilla extract Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C). Mix butter in a mixer until light, add remaining ingredients. Knead until velvety. Roll one-half of the dough at a time to about 1/4 inch thickness using the smallest amount of flour possible. Cut out shapes using heart shaped cutter and bake on a lightly greased pan for 12 minutes. Decorate as required using icing, fruit, chocolate or any topping of your choice.

Lifestyle 25

for Valentine’s Day Black Forest Cake Ingredients: 235 ml milk 15 ml vinegar 220 g all-purpose flour 400 g white sugar 65 g unsweetened cocoa powder 3 g baking powder 9 g baking soda 3 g salt 2 eggs 120 ml vegetable oil 235 ml strong brewed coffee, cold 5 ml vanilla extract 595 g cherry pie filling 120 ml cherry liqueur Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8 inch cake pans. Make sour milk by combining milk and vinegar. Set aside.

Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, coffee and vanilla. Stir in the sour milk. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake layers to cool completely before filling. To make the cherry filling: Combine the cherry pie filling and cherry liquor. Refrigerate cherry mixture until chilled, then fill cake. Decorate with cream, cherry and chocolate.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Ingredients: 450 g milk chocolate chips 25 g shortening 455 g fresh strawberries (with or without leaves) Toothpicks (optional) Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. If you do not have a double boiler use a bowl over a pot of hot water.

Dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture (using toothpicks if preferred).

Lay strawberries on foil or wax paper to cool. If you are using toothpicks you can insert them into Styrofoam or half an orange to allow cooling. The strawberries can be left in the fridge to cool.

Club 26Sequoia Lifestyle

The best of 2008 Well, the figures are out and we now know what the best of everything was in 2008. Did you read a bestseller or watch the highest grossing film?

You might be surprised by some of the results.

Bestselling Fiction Books of 2008 1. Heart and Soul, Maeve Binchy 2. Through Black Spruce, Joseph Boyden 3. The Cellist Of Sarajevo, Steven Galloway 4. A Most Wanted Man, John Le Carre 5. Given Day, Dennis LeHane 6. The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer 7. The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski 8. The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity, William P. Young 9. The Host, Stephanie Meyer 10. The Hour I First Believed, Wally Lamb Courtesy of Chapters.Indigo

Bestselling Teen Books of 2008 1. Breaking Dawn, Stephanie Meyer 2. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins 3. BRISINGR: Inheritance, Book III, Christopher Paolini 4. The Sweet Far Thing, Libba Bray 5. The Darkest Powers Series, Book 1: The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong 6. Identical, Ellen Hopkins 7. Twilight Collector’s Edition, Stephanie Meyer 8. Lost and Key, Sarah Dessen 9. Untamed: A House of Night Novel, Kristin Cast 10. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, James Patterson Courtesy of Chapters.Indigo

Bestselling Non-Fiction Books of 2008 1. Audition: A Memoir, Barbara Walters 2. The Snowball: Warren Buffett And The Business Of Life, Alice Schroeder 3. Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell 4. In Defense Of Food, Michael Pollan 5. Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth, Margaret Atwood 6. Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization, Nicholson Baker 7. Don Cherry's Hockey Stories And Stuff, Don Cherry 8. When You Are Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris 9. Cobain Unseen, Charles R Cross 10. My Stroke of Insight, Jill Taylor Courtesy of Chapters.Indigo

Bestselling Kids Books of 2008 1. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, JK Rowling 2. Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke 3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney 4. Before Green Gables, Budge Wilson 5. The 39 Clues Book One: The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan 6. Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, Melanie Watt 7. The Artemis Fowl: Time Paradox, Eoin Colfer 8. Bone #8: Treasure Hunters, Jeff Smith 9. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Four: Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan 10. Raven Rise, D.J. MacHale Courtesy of Chapters.Indigo

Lifestyle 27 Top Grossing Films of 2008 1. The Dark Knight ($997,063,938) 2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ($786,636,033) 3. Kung Fu Panda ($631,908,951) 4. Hancock ($624,386,746) 5. Iron Man ($582,030,528) 6. Mamma Mia! ($573,034,202) 7. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ($558,281,654) 8. Quantum of Solace ($551,354,412) 9. WALL-E ($528,616,453) 10. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($419,649,113) Worldwide gross figures in US dollars

Top Movie Rentals of 2008 1.The Dark Knight 2.I Am Legend 3.No Country for Old Men 4.Burn After Reading 5.Iron Man 6.Hancock 7.American Gangster 8.21 9.National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets 10.Get Smart Courtesy of Rogers

28 Lifestyle

When only Canadian will do These days more and more people want to buy Canadian if they possibly can. The “buy locally” mantra has been embraced by many Canadians and with this in mind an entrepreneur from Quebec set up a website which allows vendors of Canadian products to showcase their wares and for fellow Canadians to purchase them.

Last year an Angus

Reid survey revealed that 43% of Canadians were trying to buy Canadian products rather than foreign produced goods but many had problems finding them. This got Isabelle Remy of Quebec thinking….what if there was a website which showcased Canadian products?

Last year she took on the task of developing such a website which would showcase everything from furniture to clothing and all things in between. Isabelle wanted to build a vehicle by which fellow Canadians could search for and find Canadian-made goods and from there BuyCanadianFirst.ca was born.

"It's a pro-Canadian site, not anti-globalization or boycott imports," Isabelle stressed. "We wanted a name that conveyed the concept of buying Canadian first, not buying Canadian only."

Since this first idea Isabella has built the website and launched a business with several staff.

So what does it offer shoppers?

The website has catalogues of products which visitors

can search and view. There are many categories including electronics, clothing, gifts, furniture, home wares, food and even musical instruments. The only things not featured are tobacco-related items and pornography. Each product is listed with a photo, description and link to the sellers website for purchase or a link to retail outlets carrying the product.

“We are not a transactional website,” says Melissa Thibodeau,Partner and Director, Marketing & Business Development, “we showcase the products and allow the buyer to trade directly with the seller.

“All products must meet the guideline set by the federal government stipulating that the “Made in Canada” or “Product of Canada” label can only be used if at least 51% of the value has been made in Canada.

Some of our products carry the Super Canadian icon meaning that 100% of the product is made in Canada.

This has to include the packaging and labeling too.”

Buyers can also see if items are made by Aboriginals, are eco-friendly or recycled by way of easy to identify icons.

“We cannot guarantee the quality of the products featured on our site.” says Isabelle.”Any country is capable of producing low-quality products, Canada included (unfortunately). This is why we ask our shoppers to rate and review and take ownership of the products. We expect to hear about their likes and dislikes, and we welcome them!”

And what about merchants?

Merchants become members of BuyCanadianFirst.ca in order to promote their Canadian products. The site puts their products in front of motivated and targeted customers and directs the sales to them via links to websites, promotional microsite or traditional brick and mortar retail outlets.

“We offer specialized tools and services to assist members in their business to consumer as well as with their business to business efforts, allowing them to continue to grow and remain in Canada and thus continue to employ Canadians.” says Melissa.

Member packages start from $500 per year and can be customized to suit the needs of the company depending on the type and number of products they want to showcase.

So, what’s next for BuyCanadianFirst.ca?

“We are still a very young company.” says Melissa, “but

already we are seeing a huge growth. Since launching in August 2008 we have seen an increase of over 400% in unique visitors. Most of our traffic comes from the big cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg but we have visitors from all over Canada.”

“We want to build a community of buyers and sellers who have a common goal: to promote the “Made in Canada” brand.” says Isabelle, ‘By choosing products made closer to home, consumers support Canadian jobs and the local economy while also cutting down on the environmental costs of moving products around the world. We want to promote the great and wonderful things made in Canada and the companies who make them”

www.buycanadianfirst.ca

Lifestyle 29

Top Canadian…

TV shows 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

C.S.I. - 2.89 House - 2.24 C.S.I. New York - 2.13 Criminal Minds - 1.89 Survivor: Gabon - 1.85 C.S.I. Miami - 1.65

7. Law and Order: SVU - 1.61 8. Survivor: Gabon Reunion 1.55 9. ER - 1.48 10. CTV Evening News - 1.36

CD’s 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The Fame, Lady GaGa Dark Horse, Nickelback Circus, Britney Spears Twilight, Soundtrack Fearless, Taylor Swift

6. Muchmdance 2009, Various 7. Freedom, Akon 8. Black Ice, AC/DC 9. 808s & Heartbeat, Kanye West 10. Funhouse, Pink

DVD & Blue-ray 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Max Payne (14A) My Best Friends Girl (18A) Pineapple Express (18A) Saw V (18A) City of Ember (PG)

6. Righteous Kill (14A) 7. Igor (PG) 8. Brideshead Revisited (TBD) 9. Appaloosa (14A) 10. Mirrors (18A)

Fiction paperbacks 1. The Shack, William P Young 2. The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hill 3. Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaked Hosseini 4. The Appeal, John Grisham 5. Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen

6. The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga 7. Three Day Road, Joseph Boyden 8. World Without End, Ken Follett 9. Heart and Soul, Maeve Binchy 10. A prisoner of Birth, Jeffery Archer

Fiction hardbacks 1. The Host, Stephanie Meyer 2. Through Black Spruce, Joseph Boyden 3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Barrows & Shaffer 4. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski 5. The Flying Troutmans, Miriam Toews

6. The Hour I First Believed, Wally Lamb 7. The Origin of Species, Nino Ricci 8. A Most Wanted Man, John le Carre 9. Just After Sunset, Stephen King 10. The Gargoyle, Andrew Davidson

30 Working Life Sequoia Club

The slightly unusual Over the past few months we have been taking a look at people who have slightly unusual careers and this month is no exception. We talk to Moonlyn, an independent singer/ songwriter from Toronto who is currently working on her second album.

Moonlyn, please tell us about yourself

And a common misconception?

Photo by: Randy Chipkar

I am a singer/songwriter and am

currently working on my 2nd album of songs. I create all my songs from top to bottom all alone. The only time I collaborate with others is in the final stages of the songs, with the mixing and mastering. All my songs are programmed electronically and the only real instrument ever used thus far- is a keyboard. I also occasionally act and model on the side.

I began writing my first album

What is your greatest What is the most difficult part achievement so far? of your job?

I try to take everything in my stride

"Butterfly Girl" in 2001 and released it at the beginning of 2004. However, I've been singing since I was a little girl, mainly in church and school choirs. I self-taught myself how to play the piano a couple years before I began composing my own music.

Before I began concentrating more on music, I used to model and act more and even delved into painting and drawing.

The most difficult part of my job thus

With all these different interests, what is your favorite?

The absolute best part of my job

My absolute favourite thing to do in

life is to do music. Every stage fulfills me, whether it's the creation of a new piece, or making it come to life on my computer, or producing my songs, or performing them live. Each part of the process exhilarates my soul, even the more tedious stages like editing and remixing.

common misconception about my job is that all musical artists are mindless party animals. I live a very quiet and lonely life. It takes a lot of time and energy and focus to get as far as I have in this industry as an independent solo artist. My friends all tell me that I'm the biggest dork they know and the most obsessive workaholic and I have to admit, I fully agree with them.

and appreciate every success and

far has been dealing with other people. I find it hard to collaborate and associate with the people in the music industry, who mainly consist of men. I find I have to work really hard to get them to take me seriously and really listen to what I have to say and to give me the respect I require.

And the best part? would have to be the positive feedback and support from strangers and the expressions on people's faces during a live performance. But to be honest, there are so many great parts. Even just hearing someone else singing along to one of my songs and seemingly enjoying themselves. I can't say I write to help others and to save the world, I write to empty my mind of the music that frequently fills it... but it is nice when my art has a positive affect on others.

Photo by: David Susilo

How did you start in this line of work?

I would have to say that the most

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Sequoia Club

Photo by: Moonlyn’s mum

positive occurrence, no matter how great or how small. If I had to choose, I would say my greatest achievement so far was getting some of my songs off of my first album "Butterfly Girl", on the radio and also having them licensed on a television program and in an indie film.

What was your best moment of 2008?

and photos and various musical profiles all over the web, invites attention from all kinds of shady characters. I'm relatively unknown to the world and even to Toronto, yet I have a bizarre assortment of obsessive fans and stalkers. If they only saw what I am like on a daily basis, cycling around and being my regular nerdy self- they would probably be very disappointed by the girl behind the sexy facade.

2008 was a difficult year for me, with a

You can check out Moonlyn on her

lot of struggles and disappointments, but it did end awesome.. I have nearly finished mixing my upcoming new album and I met my soulmate.

Is there anything strange or unusual about your job you would like to share?

The thing I find the most unusual about being a musician, is some of the negative attention from strangers.

Being a public figure with information

MySpace page at www.myspace.com/ moonlynmusic. You can also listen to and purchase her CD “Butterfly Girl.”

Club 32Sequoia Working Life

Advertorial

Are you networking effectively for 2009? acquired contacts IS absolutely the place to start.

First, lets take a look at the key ingredients to true networking.

Entering a room where you hardly know a soul can be scary indeed, however seeing a familiar face is most welcoming. Upon arrival, most people scan the room and look for the people they know, which always makes us feel comfortable. You should acknowledge the contacts you know and strengthen those relationships. All relationships require some form of nurturing to continue to grow and business is no different. Be sure to find out how they are doing and if there is anything you can do for them.

The next step is to get outside your comfort zone and start approaching new people or ask your warm contacts you have spoken with for an introduction to someone they might know in the room that are Networking. What does that mean new to you. Always, shake their to you as a business person? For hand, introduce yourself and ask most people it means going to them about themselves…. THEN meetings where you can meet SHUT UP AND LISTEN….. sounds others who might do business with harsh? It is. This is one of the you. The truth is, there is so much ultimate keys to your networking more to networking for business or personal reasons than this. However success.

People love to talk about most people just don’t get it! themselves and share what they do, Operating a women’s networking what they are passionate about and organization gives me a birds eye mostly what they need from you. view of how people operate while You as an intent listener will be networking and beyond… and how welcomed into their circle with open they don’t get business, yes that is arms.

Ask what you can do for them right, how they don’t get business. or offer suggestions about referrals In this months article we will explore the reasons why and look at you can make for them – however, be sincere and make sure that you ways you can change yourself to can follow up on your word. increase your business by using Exchange business cards by simple steps in networking etiquette. asking for theirs – NEVER, NEVER Being honest with yourself regarding shove your card in a persons hand your methods of networking, followthat has not asked for it! This is not up, referring others to your newly only rude, it makes the other person

By Tina Dezsi

believe that you are only in this relationship for what you need and don’t care about theirs.

Notice anything familiar here that could pertain to all other relationships in your life?

Follow up is absolutely required and as the saying goes, if it is to be, it is up to me……it is ten-fold here.

Do not wait until your new contact gets around to contacting you.

Within the first 24-48 hours send them an email or a handwritten card saying how nice it was to meet them, acknowledge something you discussed, possibly something they shared with you about a new contract, their vacation or whatever else that shows them that you are interested in their success as well as your own.

Lastly, and most importantly is something that most people ignore or worse don’t think it applies to them (truth is they are usually the ones it does apply to), however being in the business I am in, I am here to tell you this is the ULTIMATE INGREDIENT to your success using networking as part of your marketing strategy.

Being positive should be a given yes? WRONG - so many people are not even aware of their own negative attitude and conversations with others. There is no polite way for me to say this, but IT TURNS PEOPLE OFF! When you are approached by someone at a networking meeting who starts a conversation off with everything that is wrong about the

Working Life 33

Sequoia Club

venue, the food, the climate, the organization or anything else that they see fit makes people want to run the other way and fast. How does that affect you? Not only does it leave a bad taste in your mouth about the organization but it actually turns you right off that person. You can’t wait to get away from them and never ever see them again. Who wants to do business with someone like this?

This leads me to the biggest mistake you can do to ensure you will not be successful at obtaining business through networking or anything else for that matter…..

GOSSIPPING! Gossip can only lead you down the wrong path both personally and professionally. People may listen to you once, maybe twice before they realize quite quickly what type of person you are. Most times you only get one chance to make your good impression and in business your reputation and integrity are what smart consumers expect. Gossip is the key ingredient to a sure disaster.

When networking you must never engage in any kind of gossip about the organization or its members.

Others in the group will start to see you as a person who is not only negative but is a bad influence and will begin avoiding you. You may be a long standing member who is not getting any business and blaming the group or others in the group for your lack of success instead of looking at yourself and your decorum.

In my experience watching the dynamics of this type of issue within POWE, my suggestion is to take your blinders off, be real with yourself and take a good long look at how you are handling yourself at

meetings. Ask yourself if you are following the key steps above. Are you being positive, are you avoiding gossip, are you being helpful and referring others to your contacts, are you following up? These steps are not options - they are mandatory ingredients to successful networking.

Leaving out or substituting a key ingredient can spoil any recipe and it will indeed guarantee you will not be successful at networking. As we enter a brand new year, make sure to stir in the above ingredients into your action plan for success.

Tina Dezsi, CEO, Founder Power of Women Exchange, a networking group for women entrepreneurs, executives and business professionals that provides the tools for women to empower themselves to create success on their own terms.

Tina is a writer, facilitator, business coach and leader in inspiring people to plan their path to success. She teaches marketing and sales for the womens market and building mutually beneficial relationships with networking. Tina offers tips on her blog at www.powe.ca. Tina provides numerous workshops on these subjects. She is also a successful Canadian Jewelry Designer of her own line called Jewelry by T. Check out her site at www.tinadezsidesigns.com.

POWE Chapters Bay of Quinte Meets at the Holiday Inn, Trenton on the 4th Tuesday of each month Registration from 11:00 am.

Clarington Meets at Bobby C’s Dockside in Bowmanville on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Registration from 6:30 pm.

Durham East Get together at the The Oshawa and District Shrine Club in Oshawa on the 1st Tuesday of each month.

Registration from 11:00 am.

Durham West The Forest Brook Community Church in Ajax is the location of this meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month with registration from 11:00 am.

Markham This chapter meets at Victoria Square Community Centre on the 2nd Tuesday of the month with registration at 11:00 am.

Ottawa West Meet at City View United Church, Ottawa on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Registration starts at 11:00 am.

Coming Soon….

Scugog/Uxbridge Kitchener Waterloo

Visit www.readmuchmor.com to read all our back issues and find muchmor.

POWE networking meeting

34 Working Life

10 interview questions decoded Job interviews are stressful at the best of times, but if you are not properly prepared you can throw good chances down the drain. By anticipating questions and having answers to hand you will better your chances of getting that dream job

By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing Anyone who's ever spent time in a

job search has probably walked away from at least one interview knowing right away that he botched it. Quite often, people who do feel confident about their last interview know they still could have answered one or two questions much better than they did.

The problem behind such scenarios is that too often, job seekers misunderstand or underestimate what they're being asked during an interview, according to Jack Warner and Clyde Bryan, co-authors of "Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job." A question such as, "Do you have any more questions for me?" may seem innocent and simple enough to answer, but candidates who give a weak response are usually the ones screened out of consideration for the job.

Job seekers should be aware that every question an interviewer asks is an opportunity to sell themselves as the most outstanding, must-have candidate for the job. In their book, Warner and Bryan identify some of the most popular interview questions, reveal what interviewers really want to know when asking them and offer tips to help job seekers develop a savvy response.

These questions include:

Tell us about yourself.

speech" that overviews your experience and achievements.

What are your greatest strengths?

What they're really asking: How do you perceive your talents and abilities as a professional? Will you be an asset to our organization?

Tips: Sell yourself. If you don't promote your strengths, nobody else will. Prepare six or seven responses.

Be "confidently humble."

What are your greatest

What they're really asking: What weaknesses? makes you special? Why should we hire you?

What they're really asking: How Tips: Prepare several selling points about yourself. Give a quick "elevator honest are you being about yourself with us? How realistic are you?

Tips: Present your weakness as a positive. Don't talk too long or emphasize your downfalls.

Why are you interested in working here?

What they're really asking: How dedicated are you? Do you have a passion for this type of work?

Tips: Keep your answer simple and to the point. Stay away from such responses as, "Many of my friends have worked here." This response isn't very impressive.

Why should we hire you?

What they're really asking: Can you convince us you're "the one?"

Can you sell your "product?"

Data Entry Clerk

design surveys, compile and evaluate the data and make recommendations to their client or employer based upon their findings.

succeed. Suggest that you ease into it -spending a few days to a few weeks in the Working Life office at the outset, meeting people and35 getting to know procedures. Then, during the first three to six months on the new their question and are genuinely job, make frequent visits.

Like administrative assistants, job prospects should be best for those with expertise in computer software applications.

By typing text, entering data serious thought to Tips: Make a powerful statement about the value a computer, performing other interested in the job." you'll into bring to their and organization.

Toot your ownParalegal horn, these workers ensure but beclerical waryduties, of sounding arrogant.

While lawyers assume ultimate Katewriter Lorenzfor is the article and advice companies keep up with information and Dehne is a career JIST Publishing responsibility for legal Selena work, they delegate for CareerBuilder.ca.

She job technology. who shares the latesteditor occupational, career and much from of their work to paralegals.

Where do you see yourself five years researches and writes about job search Paralegals not only search assist in information preparation available with job seekers and career now? strategy, career management, hiring Insurance Underwriter changers. articles help people find meaningful for closings, hearings, trials, andHer corporate trends and workplace issues.

Insurancereally underwriters serve asyou the be meetings, performdevelop a numbertheir of career and life plans, and carry out What they're asking: Will here for they onlyalsowork, job search campaigns. link between insurance carrier other vital including draft year amain before movingthe on, or are you committed to functionseffective and the insurance agent.

Underwriters contracts, mortgages, separation staying here for a while? Are you a stable person? Can analyze applications, calculate agreements, trust instruments and may you set goalsinsurance for yourself? theBe riskaware of loss from in preparing tax returns and Tips: thatpolicyholders, they might decide not wantassist to hire someone whether who to issue will be thearound policy and forestablish only a year planning or two. estates.

Feel With employers Visit reducing www.readmuchmor.com free toappropriate say that premium you have one goal at the moment: to be duties once tended to rates. costs by replacing to read all our back issues the very best employee for that particular job. by lawyers with paralegals, growth of this and find muchmor. profession is expected.

What are some of your hobbies?

What they're really asking: How well-rounded are you? What do you do outside of work that might transfer positively into the workplace?

Tips: Emphasize any hobbies or activities that may relate to the job. Help the interviewer learn more about you and perceive you as a person, rather than a job candidate. Therefore, don't just answer questions, respond to them.

Subscribe to Muchmor Magazine and Wouldnot youonly be willing will you to pursue be reminded an extra when certificate credential? everyornew issue is published but you will alsoreally be placed a your draw to win What they're asking: into How is attitude?

How flexible are you? a $50 TimCard™

CareerBuilder® is one of Canada’s top job sites allowing you to get the best and most up-to-date employment information available.

What were you hoping we'd ask today, but didn't?

Sign up completely free to receive job recommendations or add your resume to allow employers to search for you.

Tips: Tell the interviewer how important professional growth is to you. Understand that the person who will impress the interviewer the most is the one willing to do the extra work.

muchmor for Is the latest winner What read they're really asking: there anything special about yourself thatand you want us to know? to subscribe at Tips: Consider this a "show and tell" opportunity.

Use materials from your portfolio to convince them how valuable you'll be to their organization.

readmuchmor.com

Do you have any questions for us?

What they're really asking: Are you prepared to ask questions? How interested are you in this position?

Tips: List five or six questions on an index card. Ask at least one question, even if all of your prepared questions have been answered. Never say, "No, you've answered all of my questions."

Warner and Clyde remind job seekers that it's

important to sound natural and thoughtful when replying to such questions, saying, "Don't let your responses sound 'canned' or rehearsed. It's important to make the interviewer feel as though you've given

Sticking your head in the sand won’t help.

Marketing your business will.

Websites & graphic design Email marketing Banners & trade show displays

polodesign.ca 613•392•2011

36 Money

This year's resolution: manage your credit With 2009 underway, many New Year's resolutions may

have fallen to the wayside, but one that should stay at the top of every consumer's list is reducing debt and improving credit standing.

"While losing weight is typically at the forefront of Canadian’s minds as they enter the new year, managing credit health should take precedence for consumers this year," says Lucy Duni, vice president of consumer education at TrueCredit.com by TransUnion.

"Consumers who play a more active role in managing their credit will establish important lifelong habits that can enable them to have a truly holistic view of their finances."

Here are five easy tips to help keep Canadians on the right path with their credit resolutions in 2009.

Tip 1: Always pay your bills on time.

While it may sound like a no-brainer, making payments on time is essential whether consumers are trying to boost or maintain their credit score. Yet, TrueCredit's 2007 survey revealed that one in four (25 percent)

respondents had missed making one or more on-time bill payments.

Tip 2: Don't overspend.

Keep debt below 35 percent of your limits. Although it can be tempting and easy to overspend, it's important for consumers to keep their credit card balances low and not to max them out. Part of a lender's evaluation includes reviewing a consumer's available credit. If consumers are nearing or have over extended their credit, it may impact their ability to be approved for a loan at a competitive rate.

Tip 3: Keep tabs on your credit report.

In order to maintain a "healthy" credit score and to

position yourself best with creditors, it's important for consumers to monitor their report regularly to provide an up-to-date view on credit card activity and debt. It also enables consumers to identify possible signs of

Money 37 fraudulent activity, as the potential for identity theft remains high.

Tip 4: Monitor leases and loans closely where you are the co-signer.

Retreat-on-Trent Relax - Recharge - Rejuvenate

When consumers open a joint account or co-sign a

loan, they are taking on legal responsibility for the account. Any activity on these shared accounts, good or bad, will be reflected in both credit reports.

Tip 5: Long-standing credit card accounts can help your credit score.

Consumers should be cautious when thinking about

closing credit card accounts where they have been making punctual payments over a long period of time.

In addition to lowering your available credit, canceling old credit accounts can also ultimately lower your credit score by making your credit history appear shorter.

To learn more about managing your credit, visit www.transunion.ca Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Overlooking the Trent River as it joins the Bay of Qunite, this 1830's character home is a unique hideaway for those times when quiet solitude and tranquilty are priceless. Lounge and enjoy the warm breeze in the private garden and fill your senses with the scent of lilacs and the surrounding vistas.

Within minutes you may participate in winery, historical, or studio tours or enjoy golfing, watersports and hiking trails in Prince Edward Country or along the Bay of Quinte. Retreat-on-Trent will rejuvenate your soul

Club 38Sequoia Money

How to recession-proof your income such as rent and you know the news on the economy utilities. And, by working from is not good. Employers have been cutting workers from their payrolls for home you'll six months straight, and economists eliminate all commuting don't expect the job market to costs, which is improve any time soon. With all this especially talk about a recession, it's hard to important with feel any kind of job security lately.

However, starting an online business the rapid can be a quick and affordable way to increases of gas prices this year," make additional money and, it says Strauss. provides a safe back-up plan if you There can fear your job might be in jeopardy. also be Steven D. Strauss is a lawyer, significant tax author and speaker who specializes write-offs in small business and entrepreneurship. He writes a column associated with having a home office and using your in USA Today and his latest book is vehicle for business purposes.

"The Small Business Bible." He offers several tips on how to Go global without going anywhere: recession-proof your income in When looking at the various types of uncertain economic times. home-based small businesses, online businesses are not only the Do what you love: Having trouble most affordable; they also have the coming up with a business idea? highest impact. Over the last several Starting a small business is not only years there has been an increasing a great strategy for protecting and trend for businesses, large and small, increasing your income; it's also an to get online. opportunity to make a living doing With an online storefront you can something you truly love. Start by sell anywhere. Even if your area is in thinking of all of the things you enjoy a recession, it's important to keep in doing in your spare time, and then mind that other places around the see if you can come up with a way to world are not, and you can easily make them profitable. For example, if reach those global markets with a you're constantly knitting clothing for good Search Engine Optimization your friends and family, why not offer (SEO) campaign.

Drop-shipping -a your products to the masses? Or, if supply technique in which the retailer you've been collecting baseball transfers customer orders to cards since you were a kid, you wholesalers who then ship the goods could create a database for people directly to the customer - is costto buy, sell and trade them. The effective, completely eliminates all possibilities are virtually endless storage costs and keeps your home when you get creative. office clutter-free.

Unless you live in the wilderness,

Make your home your home-base: Setting up a small business in your home is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to build a startup - especially during a recession. In fact, small businesses have generated 60 to 80 percent of new net jobs annually in North America during the last decade.

"By working out of your home you can avoid the not insignificant costs of a brick-and-mortar storefront,

Take time to make time: One of the many benefits to having an at-home online business is that you can work around your own schedule. Whether you're choosing to start a business for extra income to supplement your day job, or if you've recently left or lost your full-time job and are choosing to venture out on your own - an online business provides you with the flexibility to work at your

own pace and around your own schedule.

So, not only does an at-home online business afford you the opportunity to create actual income, rather than the debt and loans that starting a traditional storefront business would require, but also allows you to make your own schedule.

Look every bit as big as the competition: "Even if you're working alone from a laptop on your sofa, an online storefront allows you the opportunity to appear as established and professional as the "big boys".

With strategic Web design and online marketing, the Web works for you and can even the playing field between retailers of all sizes," says Strauss.

Don't be afraid to ask for help: While establishing your small business, you should look for an online services partner like Network Solutions that offers around-theclock customer service and a wide array of design, marketing and ecommerce tools that can help make your Web site stand out.

For more information about doing business online and tips from other small business experts, visit www.MySolutionSpot.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Money 39

RENT

or

CHILDCARE

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

Canada brochure

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Free charity advertising Muchmor Media wants to help Canadian charities to promote their causes by offering a free quarter page advertising spot in Muchmor Canada Magazine.

If a registered charity wants to take advantage of this offer simply contact us at editor@muchmormagazine.com Muchmor Media will place ads on a rotating basis each month and reserves the right to amend or refuse ads.

Club 40Sequoia Motoring

2009 Canadian International AutoShow be held in the North & South Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Rogers Centre.

This month sees the return of the Canadian Admission for adults is $20 and children aged 7-12 International AutoShow in Toronto - and Muchmor will $7. Children under 6 years of age get in free. You might be there to bring you all the latest news and trends from also want to consider a family pass (2 adults and 2 the motor trade. children under 12 years) for $40. A adult multi-day pass If you want to go along yourselves, there is still time. which is valid any two days can also be purchased for Simply go to www.autoshow.ca and purchase tickets $30. online. Tickets can also be purchased at the event.

If you cannot get along yourself then look out for the The show is open to the public between February special feature in next month’s issue of Muchmor 13th and 22nd. Hours are from 10:30 am to 10:00 pm Canada. with the final Sunday closing at 6:00 pm. The show will

Neglect wiper blades at your peril Many of us are aware of the many safety features

available on our vehicles these days such as anti-lock breaks, stability control and airbags, but what about wiper blades?

Most of us don’t consider wiper blades in any great detail, they are just something on our car that we use when it rains or we need to clean our windshields.

However the wiper blade is an essential safety tool and should not be neglected.

In order to keep your wiper blades in tip-top condition they need replacing regularly - but how regularly?

Well according to surveys it seems that most Canadians change their blades every two or three years, but research shows that we should be changing them at least once a year and in some cases more often.

We all know how frustrating it is when we get that smear on the screen just in your line of sight or a bird leaves you an unwanted message. Usually a quick spray There are certain things you can do to help your wipers of the screen wash and a few swipes of the wiper blade stay “healthy” longer. and we are good to go. But when the wiper creates more 1. Never use them dry, always use windshield washer mess than you started with it’s a good indication that as this helps the wiper glide over the glass without your blades need changing. Another sign that your damaging either. wipers need changing is if the blades become noisy to 2. Never use the wipers to clear large amounts of use or they jump across the screen. snow from the windshield. Instead clear the snow with Many things take their toll on wipers, the weather is a brush before activating the wipers. the biggest culprit. Sun and heat can do as much 3. Never use the wipers to remove ice from the screen damage as ice and snow and everyone should check for the same reasons as snow. Scrape the ice off first their wipers seasonally. using a proper scraper.

Go into any car accessory store and you will be 4. Remove debris such as leaves from the wipers to amazed by the sheer array of wipers now available. stop them getting clogged and deformed, stopping Gone are the days when you simply had to know the them contacting properly with the windshield. length of the wiper you require. Now we can even buy 5. If they need replacing do it whilst you think about it. wipers specifically designed for winter driving. They are Don’t leave it until you really need them and they are tougher than summer blades to allow them to cope with past performing. the heavy snow and ice build up.

Motoring 41

Car safety: dealing with blind spots With SUVs, trucks and large cars growing in size,

backing up can pose a serious problem for drivers.

Even the most accomplished driver can’t see blind spots, which can lead to costly repairs or serious injury.

A back-up camera is a small investment to protect your car, and those around you. It is especially a good idea if you live in an area with many pets or children.

Between 2001 and 2003 alone, over 7,400 children ages one to 14 were treated for injuries after being hit by a car backing up. Many of these accidents could have been avoided through enhanced vehicle safety features, such as a back-up camera.

Some new cars come standard with some kind of sensory device or camera to help drivers with rearward motion. A small camera system is mounted above the rear license plate and a color LCD monitor mounts to the inside front windshield with suction cups. The screen can be anywhere from 2.5 inches to seven inches, in size for easy viewing, and is wirelessly connected to the camera. The system provides greatly improved rearward visibility when backing up and helps drivers judge distances better when maneuvering backwards to park.

In addition to being a must-have safety device, a back-up camera also saves users a lot of money from repairs needed from avoidable accidents. While the average back-up camera costs $100, repairs to a mirror can be as much as $500, and back bumper replacements and repairs can run as high as $2,000.

A PEAK Back-Up Camera System assists with parking and general rearward motion. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and can bring much piece of mind. Back-up cameras aren’t just shiny new gadgets built for luxury. They can be cost effective

and life saving. It’s a small investment to make your vehicle safer and provide great peace of mind.

In addition to, or as an alternative to cameras, drivers can also become more alert and take measures into their own hands with other tactics.

Mirrors are often bumped in tight garages or even while a car is out on the street. Checking to be sure they’re properly aligned, even just once a week, can make a big difference in being able to see. Also, checking blind spots before getting into a vehicle, and again before making any sudden movements, is always good idea.

Regardless of how you do it, making sure your blind spots are addressed when driving a vehicle of any size can not only save you money and insurance headaches, it may just save a life.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Ontario brings in new no-smoking law in cars with kids In order to protect children from the hazards of second-hand smoke Ontario has implemented a law which

prohibits smoking in vehicles where children under 16 years are present.

The new law came into effect on January 21st 2009 and anyone caught breaking the law faces fines of up to $250.

Canada Health reports that second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, 50 of which are associated with cancer.

The concentration of smoke in a vehicle can be up to 27 times greater than found in a smoker’s home. This makes it highly toxic for the developing lungs of children.

Nova Scotia was the first province to ban smoking in cars with children nearly a year ago and British Columbia has also passed a law but is yet to put it into effect. Other provinces and U.S. States are also considering similar bans.

42 Kidzone

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Kidzone 43

as weekends, evenings, and summer and school holidays.

Club Programs focus on key areas essential to healthy child development:

Our Mission To provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.

“I love the Boys and Girls Club because everyone gets to be included, we learn to play together and have fun, we do fun activities like bowling, swimming, arts & crafts and cooking and we learn to follow the rules and get rewarded when we do.”

Emily, Age 8 and her Mom - Okanagan Boys and Girls Club Summerland

What We Do Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is a national charitable

organization providing after-school programs that support the healthy physical, educational and social development of 200,000 young people and their families each year.

Through an association of Boys and Girls Clubs in 700 community locations across Canada, dedicated, trained staff and volunteers offer programs after-school, and at other times when children are not in school such

Physical Recreation, Health and Safety With child obesity reaching epidemic proportions, the

need for physical recreation opportunities for children has never been greater. Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada understands the critical role that physical recreation and nutrition play in the life-long health of Canadian children. Clubs encourage daily physical activity through a variety of programs, from team sports, ballet and karate, to rock climbing and outdoor adventure, as well as cooking classes, healthy lifestyle and nutrition education. Club programs also focus on other areas important to children’s safety and health such as substance abuse prevention, conflict resolution and street proofing.

Leadership, Growth and Empowerment Boys and Girls Clubs provide a place of belonging for

young people to feel accepted and supported to develop and express themselves. Whether through music and the arts, outdoor adventure or community leadership, our clubs provide a wealth of opportunities and experiences for children and youth to develop confidence and skills for life.

Club 44Sequoia Kidzone

Educational Support and Technology Learning For today’s children, a good education is critical to

finding work, achieving financial security and being able to contribute to society as adults. Through access to computers and technology training, tutoring and academic support programs, and employment training, clubs give young people opportunities to strengthen and acquire new academic skills, test their abilities and enhance career readiness, as well as develop a thirst for life-long learning.

The Arts Clubs provide children and youth opportunities to

express their creativity through crafts, music, dance, drama and digital arts exploration.

Youth Leadership Clubs provide youth with a variety of opportunities to build self-esteem and life and career skills through involvement in youth driven volunteer activities and employment counseling.

Community Services Boys and Girls Clubs work to establish programs that

strengthen children, families and community.

Family and parent support programs, meal programs for hungry children, emergency services to youth on the street and working with young offenders to get them back on the right track are just a few of the programs clubs provide in this area: • Meals • Family support programs • Drug addiction prevention and treatment • Emergency shelter for homeless youth • Youth employment and job training Each club creates a safe, positive environment where children and youth, ranging in age from pre-school to young adulthood, can find support to explore their interests, build positive relationships with peers and adult role models, overcome personal challenges and develop confidence and skills that will sustain them in life. Boys and Girls Clubs have been helping young Canadians to discover, develop and achieve their potential, for over 100 years.

“I like the happy environment at the Boys and Girls Club Youth Centre...and I really enjoy just hanging out with the other teens and staff. I have always considered the staff to be role models for me.”

Krisalynn Neilson, Age 14 - Okanagan Boys and Girls Club Westside

Our Approach Boys and Girls Clubs are concerned with the well-being of children and youth in Canada. With over one million

young people living in poverty, there is a need to level the playing field so that all children and youth have opportunities to develop to their fullest potential. Boys and Girls Clubs address this need by offering fun, challenging experiences and opportunities that teach children and youth about the importance of healthy living, personal growth, learning, and community involvement. Young people come to the club to have fun and hang out, but end up doing so much more.

“I have two children aged 7 & 8...They are involved in the afterschool program, swimming lessons and go to the summer camp.

They also love the Friday evening program and the extra outings and events the club offers...just wanted to say thank you for a great organization and keep up the great work.”

The McElligotts - Eastview (Oshawa) Boys and Girls Club

BGCC Facts • Youth Served by Age Group: • 5 and under (8%) January July • 6 to 12 (56%) • 13+ (36%) also provide additional family support services • Clubs February to 70,000 Canadian families August • All children are welcome. Membership fees are affordable March for all and fees are reduced or waived for children and families in need.September • Over 14,000 community volunteers - including 5,000 youth hours annually April– contribute over 530,000 October providing direct, community-based program leadership, together with 3,000 trained full and partMaystaff. time November “We’d run just to get to the club, because that was our safe June haven, it was like running home.” December Ron Kennedy, Boys and Girls Club of Calgary Alumnus 1968-1975

We Instill Values In our work with children, youth, families and

communities, all Boys and Girls Clubs are guided by the following Core Values, which guide us in our work with

Kidzone 45

children and youth and teach our kids the importance of mutual respect, teamwork and being socially responsible.

• Inclusion & Opportunity • Respect & Belonging • Empowerment • Collaboration • Speaking Out on behalf of children, youth and their families “The rewards in this job are endless! I love seeing a child’s face light up with excitement and pride because they have acquired a new skill. Learning and growing is an everyday occurrence and the club - for both staff and the kids. On a daily basis these children teach me lessons about myself and about life that I will carry with me forever.”

Robin Bressette - Okanagan Boys and Girls Club - Westside

All Local Boys and Girls Clubs Are: • Safe, supervised facilities offering daily programs that encourage the healthy physical, social and educational development of children and youth, from pre-school to young adulthood • Founded on a belief in the positive potential of every child. Caring adults help build self-esteem and encourage the development of positive values and skills for life during critical periods of childhood growth • Responsive to the unique needs of each child and each community Managed by an experienced executive director, assisted by full and part-time youth development professionals and an army of dedicate community volunteers

• Private, non-profit, community-based agencies with policy set by an autonomous voluntary board comprised of local residents

Our National Spokesperson: Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh Toronto Raptors’ player, Chris Bosh and Boys and Girls

Clubs of Canada (BGCC) have teamed up to help kids “shoot for their best in life” as Bosh was named a national spokesperson for Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. In recognition of this honour, Bosh has donated $75,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. The money will be used to support an arts and culture grants program for children and youth who attend the Clubs.

"Growing up, I had a lot of opportunities that many other kids didn’t,” said Bosh. “I have done well and want to give other kids that same chance at being their best."

Boy and Girls Clubs of Canada are thrilled that Chris has chosen to lend his name as a fantastic role model for kids to BGCC, as well as his personal support for the artistic aspirations and talents of children and youth through this generous donation. As a Boys and Girls Club alumnus, Chris is an ideal figure to be promoting the value of the Clubs for kids.

To learn more, visit www.bgccan.com.

To Find a Club near you. Click here

46 Moving to Canada

Shipping your goods to Canada Downtown Calgary

Pastures

Moving to Canada 47 will need to beDebra aware of Land: Obviously option is only When we make the decision to move example Charlotte, & the Carl hiking in Arnicathis Lake to another country we often get confused by the more mundane things such as whether to take all your worldly goods with you or start afresh when you get there.

There are many things to take into consideration when deciding what to take with you and how and who to use when you do it. Although this is something that is done pretty much at the last minute before moving you should consider it well in advance to avoid mistakes and confusion.

differences.

In canada the voltage is 110 volts whereas the United Kingdom it is 240, the cycles are different too: 50 in the UK and 60 in Canada. This put simply means that items such as fridges, washers and dryers will not work in canada and should not be taken with you.

You will be able to take things such as laptop computers and items that work off a transformer. Smaller items such as hairdryers, which are duel voltage, will work with the addition of a socket adaptor, but you are best to leave all your other electrical items behind.

available if you are moving from a North or South American country.

Shipping types

Sole Use Container: This means that you have a 20’ or 40’ container for your sole use. Once packed, it is sealed and delivered straight to the port for transportation.

Shared Container: As the name suggests if you haven’t got enough property to fill a complete container, you share one with another party.

Knowing what to take This can save in costs, but can delay shipment if there is no one else needing to share a container for the This is the most important time or destination you need. questions as the answer will dictate to some extent how you ship. Do you Method of shipping Part Loads: This is where a want to pack up everything in your number of smaller shipments are Sea: This is the most cost effective grouped together into one container house and take it with you? option, especially if you are shipping and shipped together. Again this can There is a lot to be said for taking large containers.

It will take longer to save on costs, but delays can result, your entire house contents with you. reach your destination, so you as your shipment has to wait until a • Your new home will feel more should not pack things in this familiar if you have your own container is full. shipment that you will need on or possessions in it.

Excess Baggage: If you only have soon after arrival in Canada.

• Children often don’t like to part a small amount of baggage you can Air: This is the quickest method, with even the smallest toy so send it as excess baggage. You may taking kids stuff with you might be but will be more expensive. You choose to take this with you on your should use airfreight for essential important. outward flight and pay the airlines items you will need immediately or • You might have items that are excess baggage fee. Alternatively worth a lot of money or have great soon after arrival. Airfreight can be there are a number of companies limited by size and weight. sentimental value to you. Or who will collect your baggage and • You simply really like your bed or transport it to your destination, either sofa and don’t want to part with it.

However, before you decide to take everything you should know how much it is going to cost you.

In order to send all your house contents to Canada it will be placed in a container by your chosen removals company. The container is costed by its size and not by how much you take. You can choose to have a half container if your items will not fill a complete container. The cost will depend upon where you are shipping to and from and the type of transportation used.

If you decide that you only need to take personal items such as clothing, books, CD’s etc you can reduce the shipping costs considerably. You may even get away with taking them as excess baggage on your flight.

One thing to remember when deciding what to take is that the Canadian electrical system is different from some other countries.

If you are moving from the United States then it will not affect you but anyone from Europe or Asia for

48 Moving to Canada

to the airport or port or door to door.

This option will cost you slightly more but it does mean that you do not have to struggle with the luggage yourself.

access the quotes and to get advice from the different companies. Three months prior to move should be the latest you leave this process.

Start by contacting the companies and ask for a home survey. You should never have to Choosing a shipping pay for this and if you are asked to company do so, walk away.

You should have a clear idea of When you decide to move your what you want to take with you and possessions to Canada, you want to allow the estimator to walk round be as sure as you can be that you your house to view the items to be are using the right company. After all, shipped. Before the meeting, make you are often putting everything you a list of questions as you think of own into their hands and if your them, so you can go through these goods were to be damaged or lost, whilst he is there. Take notes, so then you could loose everything. that you can remember what has As with many things it is a good been said and don’t be afraid to idea to go by recommendation. Use contact the company at a later date the Internet to research companies to ask more questions or to clarify and get other people’s experiences, any points. be they good or bad. Look at forums Here are some questions you and discussion groups related to may want to ask: immigration to see if others have • How long will it take to pack up used the companies you might be my goods? considering. This will enable you to • Professional or self-packing? narrow down your search to a few • What is the best method of recommended companies. shipping (air, sea)?

The next thing you need to check • How long will it take for my is the company’s credentials or goods to arrive at their licences. Each country has its own destination? body which regulates the industry • What type of insurance will I locally. This is the first step to finding need? a good, reliable removal company.

• What happens if there is a In the United Kingdom removers problem? should be members of the British • What paperwork will be needed?

Association of Removers (BAR). In • Are there things I can’t take?

America the American Moving and • Can you ship my pet too?

Storage Association sets the • Can you store my goods if standards and in Australia the needed?

Australian International Movers Make sure you get like-for-like Association (AIMA) is the regulatory quotes. Are they all quoting for the body and so on. same amount of goods, professional In addition to these local packing or customer self-packing, regulators anyone using a removal door to door service etc. company for international shipping should also check the company is a Insurance member of the International Federation of International Furniture Regardless of which company you Removers (FIDI). FIDI is the largest global alliance of independent quality use or what type of shipping service always make sure you are international removal companies. adequately insured. You should have Every member of FIDI is a policy which gives full replacement independently audited on site to value on all goods. check that it meets quality All shipping companies have requirements. FIDI ensures that the recommended insurance policies standards and qualities are extended which can be purchased.

Although throughout the world. the cost may seem high, remember Once you have established which companies you are interested in it is you are insuring the safe arrival of time to contact them for quotes. You your goods in Canada. Sometimes you might need the insurance to should do this well in advance of cover the replacement or repair cost your move to give you time to

of an item that gets damaged in transit. But in the worst case scenario, if anything were to happen to your shipment you may loose everything so insurance is a must.

Final decision Once you have met with several

companies and have comparable quotes you can make a decision on which to use. Remember if there is anything you are unsure of, go back to them to ask questions.

Once you have made the decision, book the company as far in advance as possible to ensure they can accommodate your request at a date that suits you.

Make sure you know what you have to do yourself by way of packing or preparation and what the process is once your goods arrive in Canada.

Once you know your goods are in safe hands you can concentrate on moving yourselves to Canada.

Moving to Canada 49

Permanent Residence Card When you become a permanent resident (PR) in

Canada you will be issued with a permanent resident card. This is a small plastic card, about the size of a credit card that you will need in order to prove your status when re-entering the country. Everyone, including infants will be issued with a PR card.

When landing in Canada, you will be asked to provide a mailing address to which your card will be sent. If you cannot provide this initially on landing, don’t worry; you have six months to submit one.

However any delay in providing an address will mean you do not receive your card until much later. If you want to leave and re-enter Canada during this time you will need to apply for a temporary travel document.

The cost of the card has already been incorporated into your immigration fees, so there will be nothing extra to pay. The card is valid for five years and replacement cards will cost you $50.

The card is designed to improve border security and also provide the cardholder with proof of their entitlement to reside in Canada. Whenever you leave Canada and return via a commercial carrier such as airplane, boat, train or bus you will need to show your PR card to gain re-entry. If you drive across the border in a private car, you will not need to show your card.

The card has many security features ensuring that the details held on it are only accessible by authorized persons. It has a laser engraved photograph and signature of the cardholder on the front, along with details such as name, sex, nationality and date of birth.

The card also has a magnetic strip that contains further information taken from your immigration papers.

Although the strip looks like those found on the back of credit cards, it is, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) much more advanced, making it impossible to change, erase or add information already encoded.

Once you have given a mailing address, either on landing or later, you should receive your PR card within 30 days. You will need to contact CIC if you don’t receive yours within this time.

If during the coming years you decide to become a Canadian citizen, your PR card will be taken from you and you will then need to apply for a Canadian passport in order to travel and re-enter Canada.

If you need to travel internationally before you are able to obtain your PR card, your application can be prioritized. When you complete your PR application you should include a copy of your travel documents i.e. plane tickets and mark it “Urgent – proof of travel included” on the envelope. Your application will then be processed on a priority basis.

Visit www.readmuchmor.com to read all our back issues and find muchmor.

50 Moving to Canada

Advertorial

Step by step guide to start your emigration to Canada

By Louise Green You have decided you

want to emigrate to Canada. Where do you start? The internet is fantastic at providing information yet the very amount of information available can be overwhelming. You can end up going in circles, with information overload.

You’ll be excited, scared, exhilarated and frustrated

brackets[ ] so you can find relevant info. E.G. If you are thinking of Ontario [PROVINCE immigration] the search term becomes [Ontario immigration] List your sources, and save them as favourites in your browser making it easier to access them frequently.

Keep a record of which gives you the best info as you progress and switch if it’s not working.

How are you going to get there?

Lets start with visas, because you really aren’t going

anywhere without that! The aim of this section is to know your visa options and choose the best one for your circumstances.

• Collect your work experience, qualifications, family all at the same time. history, job descriptions, CV’s etc: you will need this If the only thing you know right now it that you want to to check your eligibility. Get everyone’s details so you move to Canada, that’s OK. Everyone who emigrated can see who is most suitable. has been in exactly the same position as you. Everyone • Learn all you can about visa types, use official has to research, learn, and investigate what is going to Citizenship and Immigration Canada site, and check work for them. provincial immigration sites. [PROVINCE immigration] Is it possible to have a simple step by step checklist to • Check immigration consultants/lawyers websites get you started? Yes, up to a point, and by the time you for free assessments and more information worked through this, you’ll be so much more informed [immigration lawyers Canada] and clear about what’s going on you’ll know where to go • List the types of visa you can you qualify for; you to get further advice and help. might find concentrating on different work experience In the beginning, there are three questions you need to will expand your options. answer: • Check processing times on government websites to Where are you going to go to?

LOCATION/AREA see what fits with your timescales.

• What are you going to do when you get there?

• • Pick the best visa option to fit your circumstances CAREER/WORK • How are you going to get there? VISA OPTIONS These three things go hand in hand and are dependent upon each other. The type of visa you choose may be dependent upon your work experience, availability of work will dictate where you move to etc.

So be prepared to return to each question and change your answers as you find out more.

Pick your sources A combination of official websites, discussion forums

and social networking sites will give you a cross section of information. You will be able to confirm and validate your findings. Pick a couple of each and stick to those, to avoid chasing too many sources. Search engines will be vital in finding what you need. Rather than list specific websites, I’ve included search terms in the

What will you do when you get there?

The aim of this section is to find out the type of job you

can do, if it can support your lifestyle and what demand there is for your experience.

Advertorial Sequoia Club

Moving to Canada 51

• Create a Canadian resume, with job descriptions from the HRDC website [Canada resume examples] • National Occupation List will help you categorize your current job and experience to see what category it comes under. I’ve given you this link because it’s hard to find.

• Check provinces for in demand occupations [PROVINCE immigration program] • Check average salaries province/nationally [Canadian average salaries] • Check HRDC for job availability [job bank Canada] • Contact trade associations for information if available [JOB trade associations PROVINCE] • Use job websites and local papers to assess job availability

Where are you going to?

The aim of this section is to shortlist some suitable

locations that fit your requirements • List what you want and need from where you live, if it helps think about where you live now, what is good and what more do you want.

• Use maps and guide books to begin your broad search pick some starters • Check facilities/amenities town websites, proximity to airports etc. [TOWN, PROVINCE] • What activities and leisure options do they have • Job availability [jobs TOWN] and [job bank] • Get some average cost of living information - use discussion forums.

• Schooling [education TOWN/CITY] [schools TOWN/CITY] • Check average house and rental prices [realtor.ca]

Your Next Step Now you are on a roll, keep it going there’s loads more about moving to Canada, on the Emigration Research – Getting Started Audio Series.

Here you will find important information about the 2008 immigration process changes, using expat discussion forums for research, tips to secure a job, how to calculate the cost of a mortgage, and what action to take NOW that will make life easier as you get closer to emigrating CLICK HERE for more details.

You can also Sign up to hear FREE interviews with families who have successfully immigrated to Canada. These free interviews give a valuable insight into what it’s like to emigrate to Canada.

Written and submitted by Louise Green of The Expat Coach – helping emigrants get the answers they need to research, move to and succeed in Canada.

Visit www.readmuchmor.com to read all our back issues and find muchmor.

MOVING 2 ALBERTA

Contact Helen Parnell a property relocation specialist who has helped many expats settle here after making the move herself.

Free assistance on • Accommodation • Real Estate • Insurance • Mortgages • Airport meet and greet • Serving Calgary and South Alberta

Tel: 001 403 932 5670 Email: Helenparnell@shaw.ca www.moving2alberta.com

52 Moving to Canada

Canada measures up When moving to canada you should remember that not everything will measure up the same Bed Sizes We often get asked about bed sizes, so here are the standard bed sizes. This is something you need to take into account if you are planning on bringing either furniture or bedding with you from your home country.

Size

Canada / USA

United Kingdom

Europe

Australia

Single / Twin

39 x 75 in (97 x 191 cm)

36 x 75 in (91 x 191 cm)

35 x 79 in (90 x 200 cm)

36 x 75 in (91 x 191 cm)

Double / Full

54 x 75 in (137 x 191 cm)

54 x 75 in (137 x 191 cm)

55 x 79 in (140 x 200 cm)

54 x 75 in (137 x 191 cm)

Queen

60 x 80 in (152 x 203 cm)

n/a

63 x 79 in (160 x 200 cm)

60 x 80 in (152 x 203 cm)

King

76 x 80 in (193 x 203 cm)

60 x 78 in (152 x 198 cm)

71 x 79 in (180 x 200 cm)

72 x 80 in (183 x 203 cm)

Temperatures Canada uses the Celsius temperature chart. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius subtract 32 and divide by 1.8 To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8 and add 32

Weights Canada uses metric weights (kilograms) 1 lb = 0.45 kg 1 kg = 2.2 lb

Distance All road signs, speeds and distances are in kilometres 1 mile â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1.61 km 1 km = 0.62 mile 30 miles per hour = 48 km per hour 50 miles per hour = 80 km per hour 70 miles per hour = 112 km per hour

Moving to Canada 53

HRSDC tightens the reigns on foreign workers conduct similar recruitment activities demonstrate reasonable “ongoing” consistent with the practices recruitment efforts in communities prevailing within that occupation. which face barriers to employment It is not surprising for countries This can include advertising in i.e. Aboriginals, seniors, and other facing tough economic times to professional journals, newsletters, disadvantaged groups. implement measures intended to national newspapers, or even HRSDC makes it clear that these better protect their domestic consulting with unions or requirements are the minimum workers. professional associations. These efforts that can be expended and In Canada, this responsibility falls efforts must be made during the reserves the right to impose on the shoulders of Human three months prior to the LMO additional requirements.

Resources and Skills Development application.

From a public policy point of view, Canada (HRSDC).

For occupations which usually the recruitment of foreign workers is Subject to certain exceptions, require college education or tricky business at the best of times.

Canadian employers who wish to apprenticeship training (i.e. NOC B In the worst of times, the public recruit foreign workers must occupations) advertising in the insists on greater protection. demonstrate to HRSDC how the national job bank is mandatory and Now, it’s been delivered. entry of the foreign worker(s) will cannot be substituted with the transfer skills and knowledge to alternatives listed above.

Guidy Mamann practices law in Canadians, fill a labour shortage, or Additionally, the advertisements Toronto at Mamann, Sandaluk and is directly create or retain job must include the employers name certified by the Law Society of Upper opportunities for other Canadians. and address and must disclose the Canada as an immigration specialist.

Canadian employers who wish to wages being offered. This latter Reach him confidentially at recruit overseas must first make an requirement will make this type of 416-862-0000 or at application to HRSDC for a Labour recruitment more delicate since Market Opinion (LMO). If HRSDC is existing employees will have access metro@migrationlaw.com. satisfied that the recruitment of a to the wages foreigner is in our interests, it will being offered to issue a positive LMO which then their foreign paves the way for the chosen foreign counterparts. worker to submit a work permit Lastly, application at a Canadian visa post employers who overseas. are recruiting On January 1st, HRSDC those in implemented a national advertising occupations requirement for all occupations. which require only The failure to comply with these high school minimum advertising requirements education, “will result in the application for a Exit Realty Metro occupationLMO being denied”.

1687 Bedford Hwy, Suite 1 specific training, Bedford, Nova Scotia, As a general rule of thumb, the or on-the-job B4A 1G1 more complex the position, the less training (i.e. NOC Donna McNeil Mark Spindloe advertising is needed since those C and D Cell 902-222-4937 Cell 902 877-1208 combinations of skills are believed to occupations) Fax 902-835-5538 Fax 902-405-0749 be harder to find here. The “lower” must advertise on donnamcneil@exitmetro.ca markspindloe@exitmetro.ca the position, the more likely it is the job bank and perceived that we should be able to must conduct find someone locally to do the job. other recruitment Accordingly, employers who are activities offering positions in management or consistent with in occupations which usually require the practice in the th st a university degree (i.e. positions occupation in described in our National question, all Occupations Classification as skill within three levels O and A) must advertise the months of the position on the national job bank LMO application (www.jobbank.gc.ca) for at least 14 They must also calendar days. Alternatively, they can

By Guidy Mamann

Relocation Specialists

www.100metro.ca

Meet US At Emigrate 2009 February 28 & March 1 Stand 38 Sandown Racecourse London UK

Photo by: Yasir Haniff

54 Health & Wellness

here because this would come in very expensive especially if you are out of your own country. This is where travel health insurances come in handy.

Travel insurance is the answer to supplement provincial plan coverage and thus, ensure full coverage for medical emergencies, unexpected illnesses and accidents while on vacation outside Canada. Services like emergency hospitalization, physician fees, medical assistance, emergency medical transportation, health care monitoring and other

By Ronald Chan related services can be provided as well.

Out of the budget medical In order for you to be eligible for emergencies can be extremely coverage in your provincial health overwhelming and can be so plans, most Canadian provinces burdensome. Especially when you require a minimum number of days are out on a trip with your family and that one should spend in the friends, or on that important business province each year. In Ontario, you trip only to find out that your should stay for a minimum of 153 Provincial Health Insurance will not days in that province within a 12cover your medical expenses; such a month period to be covered by the nightmare!

Ontario Health Insurance Plan. In Provincial government health Alberta, the minimum number of insurance plans will only cover days of residency required is 183 emergency care up to a certain days in a 12-month period to be extent, and that extent is dependent eligible for care under the province upon the service that would have health insurance plan; same is true been expended in your home with the most of the other Canadian province. The rest should be paid for provinces. by you, and this is the difficult part

What are the provincial planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coverage when traveling outside of Canada?

Are you aware that traveling to other provinces within Canadian territory could necessitate a need for you to secure travel insurance to get you covered? There are a number of provinces and areas in Canada where you can find yourself uncovered; there are a number of exceptions in the Provincial Health Plan policy. Items that are not covered include medicines prescribed in the course of consultation, dental services under certain instances and circumstances, expenses incurred from bringing a family member to the ill personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedside, ambulatory services for transport to a better facility, costs of returning the vehicle, appliance rental like wheel chairs, crutches, braces and the like, and also costs of accommodation of a travel companion.

This only means one thing: buying and securing yourself with a travel health insurance is a necessity, whether you are traveling in or out of Canada.

Ronald Chan is the editor of Travelinsurancequotes.ca, the best travel insurance quotation system on the web. Visit Travel Insurance Canada for you free travel medical insurance quotation.

Health & Wellness 55

Understanding the cholesterol trans fat connection are capable of raising cholesterol additive trans fat seems to be in the levels to unsafe levels.

Trans fats are bad for the simple news health reports nearly everyday. reason that they raise the level of Trans fat was first developed in the LDL cholesterol 1940's by adding hydrogen in the blood stream. LDL, or low molecules into vegetable oil, which density lipoproteins, are the bad half partially hardens the oil which can of the cholesterol equation. A high be used in a variety of foods. It level of LDL cholesterol in the blood gives foods a better taste and stream leads to excessive plaque extends their shelf life. Up until build-up which blocks and clogs the about 1990 it was considered safe arteries.

This increase the risk for because it was produced from coronary artery disease which is a vegetable oils but ongoing research major risk factor for heart disease soon discovered that trans fats and stroke, particularly if any of increase cholesterol levels which these plaque formations breaks free can increase the risk for coronary of the artery wall in the form of a artery disease, heart disease, and blood clot. strokes.

This is one case where creating a food product did not have the desired results. Trans fat does not occur naturally and was developed to help processed foods last longer while making them palatable.

Unfortunately its effects on human physiology were never fully researched until 50 years after its development because it was The other half of the cholesterol assumed that vegetable oils derived equation is high density lipoproteins, from plant sources were safe. As or HDL cholesterol, which is the science has learned more about the good cholesterol.

It is considered effects of different fats on the body beneficial because it function is to this is no longer true. While some pick up the excess bad LDL types of fat are safe others such as cholesterol in the blood stream and saturated fats and trans fats both return it to the liver where it is

In the last year or so the food

Trans fat does not occur naturally

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disposed of and excreted out of the body. Trans fat lowers HDL levels while increasing LDL levels which is the exact opposite of what we need to have happen in the prevention of heart disease.

There are alternatives to trans fat and saturated fat. Food and food products such as olive oil, peanut oil, and canola oil contain monounsaturated fats, which when eaten in moderation can lower blood cholesterol levels. Another good choice are foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as fish and nuts. Omega-3's have been shown to help protect against the risk of heart disease and its complications.

Although many food manufacturers and restaurants are moving away from trans fats it still is important to read the nutrition labels on the food products you buy. Avoid restaurants that continue to use trans fat in their cooking processes and stop using cooking oils that are high in trans fat and saturated fat for home cooking. Doing these simple things can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease for you and your family.

56 Home & Garden

Staging your home for sale in this slow market

By Birgit Wartenberg Thinking of selling your

home, but not sure were to start in this slow market ? Have you considered spending a little before you list in order to help improve the look and feel of your space? The potential benefit of “Staging” before you list is profit on your investment.

Homeowners often fail to realize they have to market their house as a product - just like Tim Horton’s markets it’s muffins or BMW market their cars.

Quality sells, particularly in a competitive market where a lot of “for sale” signs can allow buyers to become fussy customers. Studies also show that buyers are willing to spend more if the house is seen as move-in ready.

“This is the first impression, make it a lasting one !

You never get a second chance to make a first impression !”

Did you know?

• 81% of potential buyers look at MLS before employing the services of a Realtor • 77% drive by before booking a viewing, often dismissing a property at this point • Buyers know in the first 30 seconds if they are comfortable in a house, if it is going to be their home. Remember – buying is an emotional decision.

A stager’s goal is to highlight the best features and architectural details of the home rather than draw attention to a client’s particular tastes or way of living which might not match up to the buyers.

Staging is a three step process: Step one - typically, a staging professional will begin with a consultation that includes a room-byroom written report, detailing what the homeowner can do to better prepare the home for sale.

Step two – clean up! This is the part the home owner has to do before the stager comes back. Pick up all litter and garbage on your property. Scrub doors and windows, do all the suggested repairs and re- paint according to the colours suggested by your stager.

Step three – The stager will return to the home and will rearrange furniture, reduce clutter and stage your home in a way in which it will appeal to a buyer.

They will add accent colours which will further enhance the home in the eyes of the buyer.

Lastly the stager will give you some advise how to live in a staged house and what to do if you have a showing.

Staging is a great marketing tool. Home buyers are aware of what’s out there and are very sophisticated in knowing what they want and what to expect. In order to sell your house faster and smarter in a competitive market you have to “go the extra mile.”

This means marketing your property correctly - after all it is probably the biggest investment you make in your life. It’s YOUR HOUSE ! Call a Certified Staging Professional to reach your goal !

Birgit Wartenberg, C.S.P is the owner of Staging for Success Inc. Located in the Quinte area of Ontario. Birgit and her trained team of professionals will provide you with a definite edge over the competition in your neighbourhood.

Visit www.readmuchmor.com to read all our back issues and find muchmor.

Home & Garden 57

The real estate market in 2009 Where do you see the best opportunity?

Answer: As more new listings enter the resale market and existing With the global financial crisis still home sales continue to ease, the sending waves of uncertainty rate of growth in house prices will through the Canadian Economy and slow significantly in 2009. This may real estate market, we turned to inspire more activity by new buyers. experts from various parts of the Any Final thoughts? business to help us and you, make Answer: The real estate market in sense of it all, and project what Canada will remain strong with might lie ahead in 2009. housing starts existing home sales Today's buyer's and seller's need decreasing from historically very to look at their real estate high levels.

The outlook for 2009 transaction as an investment, represents a transition to a pace for regardless whether its their first housing starts and existing home home purchase or sale of their sales that more in line long-run existing residence. After all, for most demographic demand. of us, the either transaction Question to Michael Polzler, represents the largest amount of executive vice-president, regional money we will ever spend or director, Re/Max accumulate in our life time. And, What do you see as the biggest where would you rather park your opportunity in 2009? money these days- in real estate or Answer: After years of seller's in the stock market, mutual funds or market conditions, buyers are in the other more volatile investment driver's seat.

They have faced vehicles? To be sure, with seemingly unprecedented demand, extremely daily market swings and fluctuations tight inventory and multiple offers in just about every major financial situations, especially at entry-level. influence, some calmness needs to be restored amid all the talk of doom Today's home buyers will find a good selection of properties listed and gloom.

Question to Gregory Klump, chief for sale at more affordable prices.

They'll have a luxury of time to make economist, Canadian Real Estate decisions. Opportunities will exist for Association move-up buyers who can now take How would characterize the health of the Canadian real estate advantage of the narrowing spread in the marketplace. Given the market as we approach the 2009 steadiness of real estate in the face first quarter? of what's been described as Answer: While Canadian housing 'Armageddon', we may see some market cycle peaked in 2007, bounce back in housing- as we did national sales activity remains after October 1987- when investors healthy and is on a completely moved their money out of the stock different footing than the US. market into tangible investments Mortgage defaults and home such as bricks and mortar. foreclosures in the US. Are soaring; Question to Phil Soper, president in Canada, they remain very low. and CEO, Royal LePage Real Estate When annual sales activity in Services Canada is finalized for 2008, it is What do you foresee will be the expected to rank among the best biggest challenge facing the five years ever.

Canadian real estate market in Question to Bob Dugan, chief economist, Canadian Mortgage and 2009?

Answer: Unrealistic expectations Housing Corp. by some sellers, buyers and even

By Stef Lukas - Lukas Group Realty, Calgary, Alberta

realtors. We've moved into different market than we had in the past few years- mindsets of buyers and sellers must catch up. Sellers should plan for longer sales cycles and moderating price levels. In most regions, prices should be relatively stable, but an 'add 10%' mentality may result in a difficult property to move.

And the biggest opportunity?

Answer: Buyers who have frustrated by short inventory levels, rapid price appreciation and unconditional purchase agreements will be able to make a sober look at the market and make these important decisions in a less hurried and pressured environment.

What would be your top three tips for Canadian buyers to keep in mind over next 12 months?

Answer: 1) Do your research. 2) Hire a realtor who is very experienced in the region and property type you are interested in.

3) Prearrange financing. The Canadian residential market has been remarkably reliable over the past few decades. It has experienced compound growth at over 10% over the past 30 years.

Invest for a long term, whether in a principal residence, or, as an educated professional investor and time will work in your favor- as history has shown us.

Question to Don Bayer, president MonsterMortgage.ca What about mortgage market for 2009?

Answer: Patience and intelligence. Next year will be a market that favors the buyer, and patience will be rewarded. Low interest rates will continue to stimulate affordability. The intelligent consumer will sell before they purchase, get a four-month rate guarantee in writing and shop the entire marketplace for the best opportunities. Individuals renewing their mortgages in 2009 will be in for a few surprises.

Club& Garden 58Sequoia Home

Carol Brough - Sales Representative CENTURY 21 Lanthorn Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage* 102 Main Street, Picton, ON K0K 2T0 Tel: (0) 613-476-8039 Email: carolbroughc21@hotmail.com

MLS: 2076639 City: Picton

Price: $935,000 Bedrooms: 5

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 4

Located on prestigious Loyalist Parkway overlooking Picton Bay stands this fifties vintage structure renovated & added to in a "Southwestern" style. Prince Edward County Glenora Road lakeside living at it's best. Beautiful sunsets, easy access to sheltered water, substantial lake activity(birds, sailing school, kayaking, world class fishing, seaplanes, power & sailing yachts), an award winning saltwater pool & hot tub & a myriad of lake facing rooms including the substantial in-law suite. The custom designed large well equipped commercial kitchen is a Chef's dream. B&B potential

MLS: 2085960 City: Picton

Price: $399,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Unique 4 year old custom built, bright, open concept home with commanding view of Smith's Bay and convenient waterfront access. Many exciting features include living and dining area with vaulted ceiling, skylights, gas fireplace and three sets of French doors opening onto a wrap around balcony overlooking the bay. Main floor family room, stunning kitchen with island. Full basement with 9' ceiling, double car garage with loft plus single carport and triple parking. Close to marina and vineyards.

MLS: 2081104 City: Adolphustown

Price: $259,900 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Hobby farm for horses. Newly renovated home on hill top. Original hardwood in living and dining rooms. All new windows (2007). New flooring in kitchen and bathrooms (2008). Main floor laundry and walk out to deck. Hill top views of orchard and Adolphus Reach from front porch. 10+ acres with two quonset huts. One is used for stable for horses. 100' x 125' riding ring plus 4+ acres fenced pasture. Virtual tour: http://www.Obeo.com/464998

MLS: 2082916 City: Warkworth

Price: $398,90 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 3

Large custom built eat-in-kitchen featuring cedar posts and lots of pine. Wood stove, 2 skylights, loads of countertop and kitchen garage. 9ft. Ceilings original hardwood and trim in dining room. Beautiful wood staircase and railings. 3 season sunroom with lovely views of the rolling countryside, walk in closet in Master Bedroom, media room with wood stove, attached 2 car garage, 2 wells plus year round stream and large pond, machine shop with hydro and 32x16 inground pool.

Advertorial Sequoia Club

Home & Garden 59

Six reasons to love stainless steel Glistening metal discretely mounted beneath acres of gleaming granite – clearly, this is not the utilitarian stainless steel sink your grandmother washed dishes in decades ago. Briefly deemed too industrial-looking by some designers to be included in contemporary, upscale kitchens, stainless steel is back, better and more beautiful than ever.

“A well-made stainless steel

sink is the little black dress for your kitchen,” says Ken Fey, vice president at stainless steel sink maker Houzer Inc. “Stainless steel has transitioned from industrial applications like medical and food-service to residential use for very good reasons.

Stainless steel offers exceptional hygienic and durability qualities, it ages gracefully and beautifully and it’s a ‘green’ building material.”

Stainless steel is again enjoying a place of honor in American kitchens. Here are six reasons to love stainless steel:

1. It’s ‘Green’ The trend towards “green” building

and decor is still going strong, with more homeowners, builders and designers looking for materials and practices that will reduce a home’s environmental impact. Stainless steel fits the “green” bill because it is recyclable. And modern stainless steel sinks, like Houzer’s Novus Sink Series, are often made from recycled materials. In addition, stainless steel’s durability ensures years of use and beauty, minimizing the need to replace and discard older, worn out sinks – thereby keeping them out of the waste stream.

2. It Looks Great Gleaming, clean-looking with

elegant lines, stainless steel easily pairs well with a range of decorating styles – from modern to contemporary to country. Stainless steel sinks also develop character as

4. It’s Durable Stainless steel is relatively light

when compared to other sink materials, yet it offers strength and durability that ensure years of use when properly cared for.

Modern styles achieve strength and a modern look without seams and mount well under the counter. Stainless is also easy to clean and naturally germ resistant.

5. It’s Budget Friendly Whether you have the budget

of a home improvement show or a more modest amount to they age. Scratches in your enamel spend on your kitchen renovation, or solid surface sink might spell the you can find a stainless steel sink to end for the fixture, but stainless steel fit your budget. It’s possible to find develops a patina of small scratches an affordable, modest stainless sink over years of use, lending it a natural for a few hundred dollars. And depth of character that can easily be designer sinks, like the Novus line, cleaned and buffed to shine like new. sell at prices that compete credibly with high-end designer sinks of more 3. It’s Versatile trendy materials.

Versatility is as important as beauty

in modern kitchen design, and new stainless steel sinks are more versatile than ever. With design options ranging from two- and threebowl sinks and the ability to be mounted beneath countertops, to the capability of expanding a cook’s usable work space, stainless steel sinks afford wide adaptability.

Extending countertop space is a popular feature, and sinks like Houzers Novus series meet the challenge with two sliding, removable platforms -- one with an integrated drainboard -- that are perfect for meal prep, staging and cleanup.

6. It’s Timeless Stainless steel lends itself to the

classic clean lines of many contemporary kitchen designs, lifestyles and tastes. Once a stainless steel sink becomes the showpiece of a kitchen, its versatility and durability ensure that multiple owners will be able to use and enjoy it for many years.

To learn more about the advantages of stainless and to find a Houzer dealer near you, go to www.houzersink.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

60 Home & Garden

Advertorial

Use colour to Feng Shui your home & life Dark blue is also the colour of wisdom. the ancient Chinese art of Blues are best used in Feng Shui but are unsure bedrooms and places how to incorporate it into where relaxation is their lives. These days required but only in the there are many lighter tones. Light blues practitioners around who on ceilings give the (for a small fee) will guide impression of sky and you through the principles can be very calming to of bringing about a children. harmonious environment Dark tones should be to promote good health, used more sparingly. happiness, love, wealth Green: The colour green and so many other things is symbolic of growth and we crave in our lives. refreshment and healing One easy way we can as it is the colour of incorporate Feng Shui into nature. our homes is by using Using different shades of colour. Each color is an green in the home expression of one of the creates the best balance five Feng Shui elements: and green can be used Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, almost anywhere. and Wood. Colours have Orange: Orange is their own qualities both associated with positive and negative and concentration and used in the right way in the organization, so is often right places can affect the used where creativity is way we live. required such as an office. It is also known to Red: This is a dominant promote conversation so colour representing energy used in abundance can bring about can be useful in a living room or and fire. Using red in a balanced way anger and restlessness. family room. in your home will bring excitement, Purple: Purple is a strong, vibrant White: This is the colour of purity, joy and passion. Red is also the colour holding great significance in confidence and trust. It can be used Chinese colour of luck and Feng Shui where it is associated with anywhere in your home and is happiness and is often associated mental health and spiritual especially useful to use with other with love and romance. awareness. colours to maximize their qualities.

Red should be used as an accent Purple should be used sparingly in Black: Money and prosperity are colour rather than a main colour as rooms although lighter tones such as qualities of the colour black. It is lavender can be used more freely. thought to bring about good fortune One of the best and so combining black with metallic ways of colours is good for the career. Using introducing items in your work with black and purple to your metallic colours such as a pen or cell CARPET & FLOORING home is through phone is a good use of black.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s under your feet? the use of Yellow: This is an auspicious amethyst, one of colour and like the sun represents the most warmth and happiness. powerful Brian & Kim Suurdt Using yellow in the home will crystals in Feng promote cheerfulness and will be 400 West Front Street, Stirling, Shui. uplifting. It can also increase selfOntario, K0K 3E0 Blue: This Tel: 613.395.1400 Fax: 613.395.4705 esteem and strengthen well-being. colour is Toll Free: 877.847.5464 associated with peace, healing Email: info@stirlingflooring.com Web: www.stirlingflooring.com and relaxation.

Many people are aware of

STIRLING

Home & Garden 61

Sequoia Club

Helen Parnell Tel: 403-932-8888 www.moving2alberta.com MLS: C3356955 City: Cochrane

Price: $293,500 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

Fantastic fully finished attached home, Kitchen and both bathrooms have just been re-done and look fantastic. 4 bedrooms,(lower recroom is being used as 5th bedroom). This home has a HUGE back-yard with a double detached garage.

Fantastic for RV parking off the back lane. Walking distance to shopping. Quick possession possible

MLS: C3358883 City: Cochrane

Price:$384,000 Bedrooms: 1

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

One of the larger units in popular Riverview villas. View of the river valley from the great room. Kitchen is open concept to great room with centre island and large nook.

The home has a den at the front, large dining room, kitchen,nook and great room with gas fireplace, 1/2 bath, large master bedroom with walk in closet and 4pc ensuite. Carpet and lino thru-out, Well maintained. The lower level has a finished 4pc bathroom and the rest of the lower level with 9 foot ceilings is ready for your ideas. This home is set up with handicap accessories and has a collapsible wheelchair ramp in garage.

MLS: C3353017 City: Cochrane

Price: $459,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

One of a kind bilevel that you will love. Enter the home from the front porch into the foyer and be welcomed by the formal living room and bedroom(used as a den).

Up the few stairs to the Kitchen with oak cabinets,high quality laminate flooring,breakfast nook and great room with corner gas fp. The door leads to a deck that overlooks the golf course(2&3 holes). Off the kitchen are two bedrooms and a 4pc bathroom. The lower level has another bedroom, 3pc bathroom with shower stall, a large family room with corner gas fireplace.

MLS: C3355621 City: Calgary

Price: $259,900 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

PRICE REDUCED BY $20,000. Rent to own option! $15,000 cash to mortgage.

Beautiful brand new 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in 45+ unit. Maximum upgrades and warm colours. Main floor unit located a few doors from the open 2 story social area with catering kitchen, media room, library, fireplace and Exercise facility. Elevator from titled underground parking. Full LAKE PRIVILEGES. Trails overlooking Bow River & proposed 26 hole Champ golf course. A MUST SEE!

MLS: C3353988 City: Cochrane

Price: $684,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

Executive living in an exclusive neighborhood close to three schools & the Cochrane Ranche. A green space w/park backs this 1739 sf walkout bungalow w/ mtn view & the 285 sf bonus room with freestanding gas fireplace and vaulted ceiling(presently used as an office) gives you 2024 sf of main living space. The lower level approx 1400 sf has a wetbar with cinnamon maple cabinets, dishwasher, second large fridge, tile flooring and accompanies the family and games area. Two bedrooms and 4pc bathroom, large storage area and in-floor heat make this area a comfort to enjoy family or entertaining.

62 Muchmor Business Finder

Business Services D’s Bookkeeping - Bookkeeping solutions for small businesses and independent contractors 764 Hearns Road, Frankford Ontario, K0K 2C0 Tel: 613-398-7964 Email: denise@bookkeepingbyd.com

MBN Muchmor Business Network - Free online business network that enables Canadian businesses and people to network, promote their services and exchange ideas.

Tel: 613-396-5531 Fax: 613-396-3463 Email: mbn@muchmormedia.com

Power of Women Exchange - A networking group from professional women and entrepreneurs.

Meetings throughout Ontario Tel: 905-668-6687 Fax: 877-876-6585 Email: cheryl@powe.ca

Success For Women - Aprille Janes, a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and business consultant.

PO Box 5, Port Perry, Ontario, Canada, L9L 1A2 Tel: 905-985-6454 Fax: 905-985-7090 Email: aprille@ajanesinc.com

The Office Rescue - Delivering trustworthy and accurate bookkeeping & administration.

598 Sidney Street, Belleville Ontario, K8P 4A6 Tel: 613-849-1844 Fax: 613-962-9776 Email: info@theofficerescue.com

Careers CareerBuilder Canada - Jobs from the Canada

Junior Achievement - Dedicated to educating and

inspiring young people about business and economics through hands-on learning and mentoring.

Tel; 905-432-2492 Fax: 905-432-7514 Email: info@jaeo.org

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada - Our

Mission :To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.

Tel: 416-922-6600 x 2304 Fax: 647-435-4961 Email: darina.landa@mssociety.ca

YWCA Durham - Serving women and their families in Durham region since 1945 Higgins House, 33 McGrigor Street Oshawa, ON L1H 1X8 Tel: 905-576-6356 Fax: 905-576-0816 Email: admin@ywcadurham.org

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.

Communities Brandon Economic Development - Marketing

Brandon as a great place to live, work and invest in.

City of Brandon 410-9th Street Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A2 Tel: 204-729-2132 Fax: 204-729-8244 Email: econdev@brandon.ca

Government of Alberta - The best place in the

Job Bank, the largest web-based network of job postings available to Canadians as well as jobs from some of Canada’s top employers

world to live, work and do business. Information about economy, development, productivity, immigration and all things Alberta Tel: 780 427-2711

Charities & Non-profit

MyCollingwood - The most popular website for

Children’s Aid Society of Brant - A non-profit

agency mandated under the provincial legislation of the Child & Family Services Act to protect children.

The Family Resource Centre, 14 Henry Street, Brantford, Ontario Tel: 519-752-9094

Habitat for Humanity - National, non-profit, faithbased organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.

Tel: 800-667-5137 Fax: 519-885-5225 Email: habitat@habitat.ca

Collingwood and surrounding area of Ontario 20 Forest Drive, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 4W5 Tel: 705-444-0123 Email: jcard@mycollingwood.ca

Mymuchmor - This Canadian online social network enables people to meet, blog, post photos, chat and promote local events in a friendly and safe environment.

Tel: 613-396-5531 Fax: 613-396-3463

Muchmor Business Finder 63

Education

Photography

Lansbridge University - Only accredited eLearning

Go-Snapit - The aim of this project is to capture

institution in Canada for in MBA and eMBA Degree Programs 412 Queen Street, Fredericton NB, E3B 1B6 Tel: 506-443-0780 Fax: 506-459-2909 Email: admissions@lansbridge.edu

Home Services

everyday life in Canada as seen by ordinary Canadians. The goal is to select the best photos from those sent in and produce a book that captures the real essence of how Canadians see life around them.

Put Your Business Here

Staging Professional â&#x201E;˘ Birgit Wartenberg help you to transform your home. Serving the Quinte area of Ontario.

Tel: 613-771-0075 Email: info@stagingforsuccess.ca

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.

Money & Finance

Real Estate

Cedarlane Financial- Independent financial

Century 21 Lanthorn - Carol Brough - Sales

Staging For Success - Let certified Canadian

services advisor servicing Quinte Region, Eastern Ontario RR#2, Shannonville, Ontario K0K 3A0 Tel: 613-922-6699 Fax: 613-962-6736 Email: heatherlcfc@kos.net

Representative covering the Quinte area of Ontario 102 Main Street, Picton, Ontario, K0K 2T0 Tel: 613-476-8039 Email: carolbroughc21@hotmail.com

Hemlock Investments - Investors who specialize in

Representative covering the Cochrane and Calgary area of Alberta Tel: 403-92-5670 Email: helenparnell@shaw.ca

residential real estate in Ontario, and Alberta.

Quinte, Ontario Tel: 613-921-2535 Fax: 613-473-0014 Email:info@hemlockinvestments.ca

HiFX Currency Specialists - HiFX helps over

30,000 people buy and sell currency every year for personal and business needs.

Worldwide locations

Sciore & Associates Inc - Certified Financial

Planner, Insurance Specialist, Retirement Income Specialist 102 King St E, Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 1N5 Tel: 905-697-2262 Email: laura_sciore@cooperators.ca

Stagecoach GMAC - Helen Parnell - Sales

Relocation Moving 2 Alberta - Real estate, relocation and settlement services by Helen Parnell for people moving to the Calgary & Southern Alberta area Tel: 403-92-5670 Email: helenparnell@shaw.ca

The Expat Coach - Relocation services for

Health & Wellness

emigration and living in Canada 136 Cougar Point Road, Canmore Alberta, T1W 1A1 Tel: 403-675-2039 Email: coaching@theexpatcoach.com

Forces of Nature - Naturopathic, chiropractic,

Web Services

massage therapy and psychotherapy 2443 ½ Yonge St, Toronto Ontario, Canada M4P 2E7 Tel: 416-481-0222 Email: PFrankND@ForcesofNature.ca

MaxGXL - is a complex nutritional supplement that

uses an ideal combination of nutrients to facilitate glutathione replenishment. Sherry Turner Independent Associate, 101 Trentview Crescent, Campbellford Ontario, K0L 1L0 Tel: 705-653-5117 Email: s_turner@sympatico.ca

poloDesign - Graphic design, website design, email marketing and photo imaging Quinte, Ontario Tel: 613-392-2011 Fax: Email: penny@polodesign.ca

Club& Garden 64 Home 32Sequoia Working Life

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