Muchmor Magazine Issue 31

muchmor Canada

issue 29 april 08

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Ottawa’s Tulip Festival we tiptoe through the tulips

Sandbanks Provincial Park Prince Edward County, Ontario

Explore the Sunshine Coast B.C’s stunning coastline

Lethbridge, Alberta What can it offer you?

Moving with kids will it make or break your family?

Attracting birds tips for attracting birds to your garden

Plus muchmor.....

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Up to 20% discount on all Zoom flights if you use our discount code MM2007ZA when booking

This discount offer will end April 28th 2008 - book now to secure your discount

Contents 3

muchmor Muchmor Media 17 Woody Woodward Lane Corbyville RR1 Ontario K0K 1V0 Canada Tel: 1 613 396 5531 Fax: 1 613 396 5531 www.muchmormagazine.com Advertising: sales@muchmormagazine.com Editorial: editor@muchmormagazine.com Muchmor Magazine is a publication of Muchmor Media.

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From the Editor.....

This month we have made a few changes to the content of muchmor which we hope you will like. We will continue to give you as much information as possible about Canada and what this fabulous country has to offer from motoring to recipes, travel to where to invest your money. If you have any ideas for articles or want to promote your community or local festival let us know.

This month we have feature articles such as how to attract birds to your garden and moving with kids. We also explore the Sunshine Coast and take a look at life in Lethbridge Alberta. The Ottewell family continue their story of moving to Canada from the UK and we offer you some tempting recipes to try at home.

This month is the last opportunity to take advantage of the Zoom Airlines discount offer as it will end on April 28th. It is sad that Zoom have decided to withdraw their discount, but over 2,500 of you have taken advantage of it in the last year, so many savings have been made by muchmor readers. We thank Zoom for this opportunity.

Happy reading…. Ed

Contents…

Features The Sunshine Coast 6 Choose Lethbridge, Alberta 20 Moving with kids 28 Attracting birds to your garden 38 Discover Canada Tiptoe through the tulips 4 Sandbanks Provincial Park 10 Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump 14 Lifestyle Let’s wet your appetite Top Canadian…

Protect yourself against identity theft

15 17 18

Moving to Canada Nova Scotia Bound, part 2 24 Canada needs immigrants 26 Amendments to immigration system 31

Careers Working from home

32

Money Line of credit or a load?

Saving, the tax-free way

34 35

Health and Wellness A good night’s sleep New pap testing for women MedicAlert funding for kids People with diabetes

36 37 37 37

Home and Garden Realtor v’s sale by owner Staging your home to sell Winter storms affect real estate sales Buying a house with a well Saskatoon housing market Calgary BeerFest

43 44 46 48 51 54

4 Discover Canada

Tiptoe through the tulips….

Discover Ottawa’s Tulip Festival

Discover Canada 5

Ottawa is a great place to visit at any time of year, but in the first two weeks of May this year you will have even more reason to visit as this is when the annual Tulip Festival takes place.

For fifty-five years Ottawa has been celebrating this important symbol of international friendship, but why? Well, we have to go back to 1945 for the answer. In this year Princess Juliana of The Netherlands presented Ottawa with a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs in appreciation of the city giving safe haven to members of the royal family during the Second World War. The first Canadian Tulip Festival took place in 1953 and was an instant success with photographs of the event featuring in news coverage worldwide. The festival grew in size over the coming years with over two-million flowers on show.

Over half a million people from around the world visit the show each year.

Royalty and celebrities alike have visited and performed at the festival over the years.

During the 1990’s the tulip was celebrated as a symbol of peace and international bonds were established by

twinning with the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Japan and Turkey. This theme of international friendship and celebration has carried on over the years and will be the main theme for this year too.

So, what can you expect to see at the festival this year? Well first you need to know when to come and that is between May 2nd and 19th. Activities take place in various locations around the city and local accommodation is available, although at this busy time you should book in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you like music you will want to take part in Music in the Tulips. Lots of entertainers, both local and international can be found as you stroll among the tulips. So if tulip busking is your thing, then this is not to be missed.

Families are catered for with several activities including the International Pavilion which will feature culture, food and entertainment provided by fifteen embassies. Adults and children alike will be able to take part in activities such as origami from Japan, soccer from Argentina as well as lots more.

Of course the main reason to be there is to see the tulips and these can be seen in many locations including Commissioners Park where 300,000

blooms will amaze you. Another great location to see the tulips is Parliament Hill which gives an impressive backdrop to the spectacular floral display.

This year Major’s Hill Park will form the centerpiece of the festival and will be the location of the before mentioned International Pavilion.

Canadian Tulip Festival Chairman David Luxton said, "The International Pavilion will provide programming and entertainment that is meaningful and fun for residents, visitors and families that reflects the legacy of the Tulip Festival and the tulip as a symbol of international friendship."

Admission to the festival is completely free, although visitors can purchase an International Friendship Passport which includes food sample coupons for the participating countries in the International Pavilion. Passport holders will also receive a souvenir Tulip Pin and other coupons for gifts and discounts for festival partners. The cost of the International Friendship Passport is $20 plus GST. For more details about the Canadian Tulip Festival visit the official website at www.tulipfestival.ca.

6 Discover Canada

Explore the Sunshine Coast B.C’s stunning coastline

Porpoise Bay, Sechelt by P.M.Graham

Discover Canada 7

Along the British Columbia coast you will find a coastal road called Highway 101. It is the world’s longest highway extending from Castro in Chile to Lund in British Columbia, a total of 15,020 km. The section between Gibsons, north of Vancouver to Lund, some 150 km northwest is known as the Sunshine Coast offering tourist and locals alike stunning scenery and a truly beautiful drive (with a couple of ferry crossings thrown in).

If you are planning on touring the Sunshine Coast you will probably be starting your journey from the Vancouver area, so will need to take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across to Langdale. The journey will take approximately 40 minutes and will cost around $10 per adult depending on the time of year. Make sure your camera is

handy as you sail between islands such a Howe Sound and Bowen Island.

Once you reach Langdale you drive south along Highway 101 to Gibsons which is known as the “Gateway to the Sunshine Coast.” It is also known as the location of the TV series The Beachcombers. Although filming no longer takes place some of the places seen in the series are still there to see such as Molly’s Reach restaurant and the pier. Although not a huge tourist destination it is perhaps worth spending a little time here to explore the harbour front and take in the views.

The town is home to around 4,000 people and has recently undergone a revitalization which included the downtown area and the harbour as well as creating the Winegarden Waterfront Park which opened in 2001. This area includes ponds, play areas, walkways, boardwalks, wetlands, watercourse and is wheelchair accessible with beautiful views over the coast.

Once back on the 101, your next stop will be Roberts Creek, a quaint

Gibson

Gibsons Harbour

Winegarden Park

8 Discover Canada

P.M.Graham

Roberts Creek Provincial Park

Smuggler’s Cove

Pender Harbour

town which has become a haven for artists and craftspeople. It is known as the “Gumboot Capital of the World” a symbol adopted by the Gumboot Acoustic Society and the Gumboot Garden Cafe.

Whilst here, apart from visiting the town itself you will want to take a look at Roberts Creek Provincial Park located a couple of kilometres north of the town. The park covers an area of 40 hectares with cedar forests. The park has several trails as well as campsites and is wheelchair accessible. The beach area offers excellent picnic facilities where you can watch the ocean and if you are lucky see seals and whales pass by.

The next place you will come to is Sechelt which itself is not an especially stunning location, however just north of the town is Porpoise Bay Provincial Park which is definitely worth a visit. The park has easy to walk trails and access to Angus Creek known for its salmon population. The park covers an area of 4 hectares and includes campsites, playgrounds, picnic areas and facilities such as toilets and showers.

Once you have taken in the beauty of Porpoise you can continue north to Halfmoon Bay. This bay is protected from the open sea by Thormanby Island making

Porpoise Bay, Sechelt it a peaceful location to watch the world go by. Here you will find a pretty coastline, harbours and wooded shores. This area is known for its arts and crafts and is home to several galleries as well as many home studios that locals open to the public.

The next location on your trip will be the equally romantically named Secret Cove which has become a popular summer destination for tourists. The town offers some of the best fishing available along the coast and this alone attracts many visitors and locals alike.

Smuggler’s Cove Marine Park is also located here and is another favorite. There are several hiking trails which are easy to navigate as well as campsites and other facilities.

Back on the road and your next stop off will be the area known as Pender Harbour, if you can find it! This area consists of many islands and three communities: Madeira Park, Garden Bay and Irvines Landing. Even the locals have trouble getting their bearings in this area as it forms a complex maze of inlets, coves, lakes, islands and reefs. There are freshwater lakes and salt water coves and where one begins and another ends is open to much guess work.

Discover Canada 9

Goat Lake, Powell River

Willingdon Beach

Lund Hotel

Desolation Sound

The harbour is home to many boats and yachts which are moored here and the deep clear waters are world renowned for excellent diving and underwater photography opportunities.

This is a great location for kayaking and other water sports as much of the water is sheltered making it ideal for leisurely boating.

If you visit during May be sure to plan your visit round Victoria Day when the area celebrates May Day with games, activities, crafts, music and an outdoor barbecue. Fun for all is guaranteed.

Okay, so if you did manage to find Pender Harbour you can now return to Highway 101 which now travels inland and heads towards Earl’s Cove. Here you will need your sea legs again as another ferry journey is in order. You will need to get on the ferry to Saltery Bay which crosses the Jervis Inlet and takes around 50 minutes and again costs around $10 per adult. .

You will not need or want to stop at Saltery Bay as it really is just a ferry terminal. Instead you will get back on the road and continue northwest to Powell River. This is an area made up of several communities including Cranberry, Wildwood, Lang Bay and the largest, Westview.

Westview is the main destination for travelers as it offers the most amenities with hotels, restaurants and stores. If you visit during August you may experience the Blackberry Festival which has nothing to do with personal electronic devices but more to do with those lovely berries we pick from the many bushes located here.

The festival coincides with the peak of the blackberry season and is a week-long party featuring music, dancing, crafts and a street party.

From Powell River you can also take ferry trips to Texada Island or across to Vancouver Island to the town of Comox.

The area north of Powell River leads up to Lund which is the last destination on Highway 101 and the gateway to Desolation Sound. The most famous landmark here is the Lund Hotel which overlooks the ocean. Lund is used by tourists as a staging point for trips to the northern British Columbia coast, Savary Island and Desolation Sound.

Desolation Sound Marine Park is known around the world s a premier sailing area. It offers stunningly beautiful scenery with bays, coves and waterways that attract boaters and paddlers worldwide.

There are lots of camping opportunities along the coast as well as activities such as kayaking, canoeing and backpacking. If you don’t have your own equipment, there are plenty of places where you can rent everything you need for a few hours or a few days.

The Sunshine coast not only offers tourists an excellent place to visit, but it also offers an excellent way of life for those who choose to live here.

Many of the communities, particularly those to the south are close enough to commute to Vancouver if you have a job in the city. You can get the best of both worlds by living in relative isolation, but still have all the amenities you need close by or be a short hop to the city.

There are many types of real estate in the area from single family homes to condominiums. Some offer cheaper alternatives to those seen in Vancouver, however for that special waterfront home you really can expect to pay in excess of a million dollars for that million dollar view.

Although the area is great for families with schools and local amenities, many also choose to retire here. The relaxed way of life along with great health care, recreational facilities and social community gives seniors exactly what they are looking for without being too far away from city life. The Sunshine Coast certainly has something for everyone.

Useful Links: www.bigpacific.com www.lundhotel.com www.bcferries.com www.sunshinecoast.ca www.scrd.bc.ca www.sunshinecoast-bc.com

10 Discover Canada

Sandbanks Provincial Park Some of the finest beaches in Ontario

Discover Canada 11

Sandbanks Provincial Park

Sandbanks Provincial Park

It may be hard to believe that just two hours east of Toronto you can find some of the best beaches in Ontario at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County, a small island off the Quinte Isle region of Ontario, it is a mecca for wildlife and a place popular with vacationing Ontarians.

children. This is the most popular of the three beaches meaning it can get very busy during the summer months. It is worth noting that none of the beaches are supervised, so parents do need to keep an extra eye on their children.

If all you want to do all day is relax and laze on the beach then this is the place to do it. However if you want to be a little more adventurous then Sandbanks has much more to offer.

The park has the largest freshwater baymouth sand dune system in the world giving the area some of the largest and most beautiful beaches in Ontario.

You can be forgiven for thinking you are in the Caribbean when sunbathing on the clean sandy beaches and paddling in the warm, shallow waters. In fact the park boasts three impressive beaches: Sandbanks Beach is the most open of the beaches making the water cooler here and often rougher. Dunes Beach is the smallest but it has large sand dunes which make it fun to explore especially for children. Finally there is Outlet Beach which is the most sheltered of the three with warn shallow water suitable for

There are several trails to explore such as Cedar Sands Trail which is about 2 km in length taking around an hour to navigate. It is an easy, interpretive trail with two viewing platforms. Along the way you will learn about the ecology of the dunes and the park itself.

Woodlands Trail is another easy trail around 5 km in length and taking two to three hours to complete. Starting at Outlet Beach and ending at Dunes Beach it features excellent views and wanders through wood and pasture giving many wildlife spotting opportunities. You can also cycle this trail should you choose.

Hiking

Swimming Of course being close to water there are many swimming opportunities. The shallow waters are heated by the summer sun making it ideal for adults and children alike to paddle and swim. Because Dunes Beach is sheltered the waters warm up much quicker and the swimming season starts much sooner than the other beaches. However, this beach does have a steep drop-off at the end of the shallows.

Boating There are many areas that are ideal for various boating activities. Small sail boats and motorized boats will find the waters around the park to be ideal for leisurely boating activity. Canoes, kayaks and paddle-boats are also welcomed in the park with rental facilities available.

Fishing If you love to fish then you will have come to the right place as West Lake and East Lake have plentiful supplies of mouth bass, walleye, perch and pike. Indeed the nearby Bay of Quinte area is known as

12 Discover Canada

one of the best places in North America to fish for walleye.

Winter Activities Don’t think that Sandbanks only offers summer activities, it doesn’t. If visiting in the winter you can take advantage of over 11 km of cross country skiing trails. The trails are suited to beginners and intermediate skiers and professionals may find the area a little to

easy. However there are other cross country skiing trails nearby which will cater to the the needs of the more experienced skier. Snowshoeing is also popular in the park.

Camping If you are visiting Sandbanks you will want to stay longer than a day, so camping may be your answer. The park has five campgrounds with 549

Sharon Armitage Broker of Record (email) sharon@quinteisle.com

campsites. every campsite has a picnic table and fireplace grill and some have an electrical service too. All sites also have drinking water taps, washrooms and shower facilities nearby. Some are also wheelchair accessible.

If you are traveling in a group you can take advantage of the two group camping sites. The first site accommodates up to thirty people and has facilities such as fire-pit, picnic tables, water tap, outhouses

Betty Burns Sales Representative and Associate to Sharon Armitage

(email) betty@pictonrealty.com

YOUR LOCAL BROKER Situated in the Heart of Wellington, Ontario, Canada Serving ALL of Prince Edward County & Quinte District

www.quinteisle.com

Discover Canada 13 and parking. The second accommodates up to fifty people with the same facilities.

Day use Areas If you want to use the facilities for the day you can at Dunes Beach, Sandbanks Beach, Lakeshore Lodge and Outlet Beach. Here you will find picnic tables and other amenities. Check which area offers you the amenities you require as they do differ.

diving. There are quite a few shipwrecks in the area and you can charter a boat to take you to them.

Several conservation ares are also close by and worth a visit such as Macaulay Mountain, Beaver Meadow and Little Bluff.

Nearby towns include Wellington and Picton in Prince Edward County. If you want somewhere a little bigger then the city of Belleville is a short drive away.

Accommodations Amenities There is a park store which sells everything from camping equipment to souvenirs. You will also find a restaurant which serves light meals, fast food and breakfast.

The visitors centre is open daily during the summer months and sells snacks, souvenirs, clothing books etc.

You can also rent kayaks, canoes, bikes and paddleboats from the Wood Yard and Boat Rental Facility on Outlet River.

Both Outlet River Campground A and Woodlands Campground have laundry facilities.

Wildlife During the spring and fall migration the area is swarming with birds who use this area as a staging post. In fact yearround over 240 species of birds can be found in the park. During the migration period birds such as pileated woodpeckers, the largest woodpecker in Ontario can be spotted along with orioles, kinglets and many more.

Reptiles and amphibians are also found in the park with several snakes (all harmless) calling the place home as well as many frogs, toads and turtles including the rare musk turtle.

Nearby Whilst at Sandbanks Provincial Park you might also want to check out the local area.

If you like diving you might want to check out the Wellington Bay area which is fast becoming a popular spot for scuba

Accommodations are available close to the park as well as nearby locations in Picton, Wellington etc. You will find hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, RV parks and camping facilities all within easy reach of the park.

Next Month we will be looking in more detail at Prince Edward County and what it has to offer both residents and visitors.

This month’s winner of a $50 Tim Horton’s TimCard™ is M.B. Merrick of Orillia, Ontario Subscribe to Muchmor Magazine and not only will you be reminded when every new issue is published but you will also be placed into a draw to win a $50 TimCard™

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I have helped many newcomers find a home in the Prince Edward County, Quinte area and now offer my services to Muchmor readers - give me a call today!

Carol Brough Sales Representative 102 Main Street Picton Ontario K0K 2T0

Lanthorn Real Estate Ltd.

Tel: +1 613 476 2100 (Office) Tel: +1 613 476 8039 (Home) Fax: +1 613 467 3482 email: carolbroughc21@hotmail.com www.century21lanthorn.com

Brokerage Each Office is independently Owned and Operated

I make it happen You make it home

14 Discover Canada

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Well that title probably got your attention and for good reason.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is certainly a mouthful, but it sums up exactly what this attraction in Alberta is all about - Buffalos jump and get their heads smashed in, lovely!

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the world’s largest, oldest and best preserved buffalo jumps. If you are still wondering what a buffalo jump is all about, we will explain.

As you know buffalos a pretty big creatures and can be hard to kill. For almost 6,000 years Blackfoot hunters used this site to heard the buffalo towards the cliff which was 300 metres long and over 10 metres high. When the buffalo got to the cliff they could not stop in time and simply fell over the edge landing in a huge pile at the foot of the cliff. The carcasses were then taken to a nearby camp to be processed. In those days not much of the animal was wasted as the hide was used for clothing and shelters, the meat for food and even the bones and horns were used for tools.

The site was first discovered by archeologists in 1938 and during excavations buffalo remains were found to be 10 metres deep - that’s a lot of buffalo over a long time-span.

As well as being able to explore the site itself, you can visit the Interpretive Centre which is built into the sandstone cliff. It consists of five levels depicting ecology, mythology, lifestyle and technology. It also has a reconstruction of the buffalo jumping off the cliff with informative talks about the history of the site.

The site is open all year (opening times vary) and costs only $9.00 for adults, $5.00 for children or a family ticket can be purchased for $22.00.

You can find Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump on Highway 785, 18 km northwest of Fort Macleod, Alberta. Visit their website for more information at www.head-smashed-in.com

Lifestyle 15

Let’s wet your appetite Spring onion chicken Ingredients (Serves 2) 2 chicken thighs 2 tbsp dark soy sauce 2 stalks spring onion a few slices of ginger 1/2 tsp minced garlic 1 tbsp rice wine 1 pieceof rock sugar 1/4 cup water or chicken broth De-bone chicken and cut into pieces. Marinate with dark soy sauce and set aside for about 15 minutes. Heat up 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a wok. While doing so, cut spring onion on the bias into one and a half inch pieces. Cut ginger into slices. Stir fry garlic and chicken until chicken changes color. Set aside. Stir fry ginger and spring onions until fragrant. Add chicken, rice wine, rock sugar and water (or chicken broth). Mix well, cover wok and allow to braise over low heat for about 10 minutes.

Rhubarb crumble ice cream Ingredients Ice cream: 1 lb (450 g) trimmed rhubarb 8 oz (225 g) sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 15 fl oz (425 ml) whipping cream

Crumble: 3 oz (75 g) plain white flour 2 oz (50 g) butter 2 oz (50 g) light brown muscovado sugar ½ level teaspoon ground ginger

Place all the crumble ingredients together in a bowl and combine together using hands so mixture resembles large bread-crumbs. Sprinkle evenly into baking tin and set aside. Cut rhubarb into 1cm lengths and place in large baking dish with sugar and lemon juice. Place the rhubarb dish in a pre-heated oven (375F) on the lower shelf. Now place the crumble dish on the shelf above. Bake crumble for 10 minutes and remove to cool, leave rhubarb in until tender, perhaps another 10-15 minutes. When rhubarb is cooled a little, mix in blender or processor until it forms a smooth puree.

Place in fridge to chill. The crumble mixture will now need re-crumbing by hand. Mix the rhubarb puree with the whipping cream until it resembles ice cream. Pour in the crumble mixture and stir. Place in freezer box and freeze for a minimum of 2 hours before serving.

16 Lifestyle

Potato-crusted halibut Ingredients (serves 4) 4 skinless halibut fillets 1 cup flour salt and pepper 6 sprigs Italian parsley, chopped 3 eggs slightly beaten 4 Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and shredded Dip fillets in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Add parsley to eggs and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze out any excess liquid from potatoes.

Spread potatoes over a flat surface. Dip each floured fillet in egg mixture then place on top of potatoes and coat on both sides. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add fillets and brown on both sides and when cooked in the centre, serve on top of grilled leeks. Garnish with fresh lemon wedges

Blueberry Pancakes Ingredients (approximately 18 pancakes) 1/2 cup whole grain red wheat flour 1/2 cup emmer flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 3/4 cup milk 6 tablespoons heavy cream 3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest 1 cup fresh blueberries In a large bowl, stir together the flour(s), baking powder and spices. In a second bowl, combine the milk, cream, brown sugar, butter, egg, vanilla and lemon zest. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix until batter just comes together. Leave a few lumps; they’ll take care of themselves. Fold in the blueberries. Let the batter rest for 20.

Griddle on a medium-low heat, using 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake, flipping when the bubbles begin to pop on the top.

Approximately 2-3 minutes on either side.

Lifestyle 17

Top Canadian…

TV shows

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

American Idol (Tue) - 2.66 American Idol (Wed) - 2.28 Survivor: Micronesia - 2.13 Law & Order - 1.80 Lost - 1.58 Law & Order: SVU - 1.44 CTV Evening News - 1.41 Two and a Half Men - 1.35 Corner Gas - 1.23 N.H.I.C. Game 1 - 1.22

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Celebrity Apprentice - 1.18 Jeopardy - 1.15 Medium - 1.14 CTV Evening News (wkd) - 1.04 C.S.I. - 1.03 Cold case - 1.02 Curling - 0.98 Oprah’s Big Give - 0.98 The Moment of Truth - 0.94 Two and a Half Men - 0.92

CD’s 1. Sleep Through the Static, Jack Johnson 2. Thriller - 25th Anniversary, Michael Jackson 3. Nos Lendemains, Isabelle Boulay 4. Ego Trippin’, Snoop Dogg

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Simple Plan, Simple Plan Step Up 2 Soundtrack, Various Hannah Montana 2, Soundtrack Good Time, Alan Jackson Back to Black, Amy Winehouse Baroness, Sarah Slean

DVD’s 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

I am Legend Enchantment Atonement No Country for Old Men Hitman

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Bee Movie Dan in Real Life Into The Wild Awake American Gangster

Fiction paperbacks 1. King Leary, Paul Quarrington 2. Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen 3. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini 4. The Gathering, Anne Enright 5. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, Alexander McCall Smith 6. Obsession, Jonathan Kellerman

7. Icefields, Thomas Wharton 8. The Other Boleyn Girl, Phillipa Gregory 9. Atonement, Ian McEwan 10. Memory Keepers Daughter, Kim Edwards

Fiction hardback 1. Remember Me, Sophie Kinsella 2. Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini 3. The Appeal, John Grisham 4. Late Nights on Air, Elizabeth Hay 5. World Without End, Ken Follett 6. Gods Behaving Badly, Marie Phillips

7. Honor Thyself, Danielle Steel 8. Mistress of the Sun, Sandra Guliand 9. Duma Key, Stephen King 10. Strangers in Death, Robb/ Roberts

34 Tea Break

18 Lifestyle

Protect yourself against identity theft “Dumpster Diving” is another way see if any transactions show up which are thieves get hold of your details. They will not yours. Make sure you sign new credit resort to going through your trash looking cards as soon as you receive them. for old credit card statements. If they find Always shred statements, pre approvals one, they can phone the credit card and receipts etc that are no longer company and get the address details required. Never give out your credit card changed and have new cards issued. to others or loan them to friends of family. because the statements are going to a Never share your PIN number and never new address, you may not be aware of write them down. Do not reply to phone or the problem straight away, but they will be email solicitations for credit cards, always happily spending on your credit card. go through the official company website or When someone acquires your You should always shred credit card speak to them in person. When paying by personal information and uses it to statements before throwing them away. credit card always make sure your card is commit fraud it is known as identity theft.

Another item that should always be only swiped in the official machine. If the In today’s electronic age it is becoming shredded are pre-approved credit card card is swiped twice and you are told the increasingly easy for criminals to get hold offers you receive. Thieves use these first swipe did not work, get a receipt of your personal information and use it to letters to return to the card company and which records this transaction. commit any number of crimes. have the card issued to their address and PhoneBusters, the Canadian Antionce again they fraud Call Centre reported 8,000 victims in are happily 2006 which resulted in losses of over $16 spending your million. More recent figures estimate that money. figure to be nearer $2 billion.

Another An Ipsos-Reid survey found that 73% way that thieves of Canadians were concerned about can get hold of becoming victims and 28% had already your credit card become a victim or knew someone who details without had. you knowing is Identity theft is the fastest growing by “skimming.” crime in North America. By simply going This is when about your daily routine you are your card is constantly putting yourself at risk of swiped in a identity theft, so you need to be aware of skimming how it occurs and what you can do to help machine which prevent it happening to you. records all your card details.

Credit Cards You can help to make Credit card theft is the most common yourself less form of identity theft. There are several likely to be a ways a criminal can get hold of your credit victim of this card details. Theft is an obvious one and crime by taking anyone who has their wallet or purse some simple stolen should report it immediately to the measures. Make police and cancel all credit and debit sure you On line shopping coming in May cards so that any misuse is kept to a monitor your www.crosmazandbrown.com minimum. statements to

Over the last few years the tern “identity theft” has become more and more prevalent. Most Canadians are now aware of what identity theft is and the possible consequences, but many still choose not to take preventative measures.

Lifestyle 19 Email and website spoofing Spoofing is when a thief creates an email or website which appears to be a legitimate business, but is in fact a fake used solely to get your details.

Many of these emails ask you to verify your information such as from a financial institution asking your to verify you banking details, or popular sites such as Ebay asking you to update your information. Many take you through to official looking websites which are very hard to spot as fake.

This type of identity theft is easy to avoid if you follow some very simple rules.

Never click on links in these emails, always delete them. If you think the email many be genuine i.e. it comes from a bank you have an account with, log into your account using the bank’s official website (do not use the link in the email) and check for messages. Likewise if the email suggests an offer that you are interested in, again do not use the link to get to the offer, go to the company’s official website and check there.

Many times you will notice that the email is not addressed to you personally, but to ‘dear customer” or no one in particular. This is a good sign that the email is fake as most financial institutions and companies such as PayPal and Ebay use your name in all communications.

Shoulder Surfing This is when someone looks over your shoulder to see your PIN number when you are in a queue or at the ATM. The card can then be stolen by a pickpocket or can even be skimmed by devices fitted to ATM’s allowing the thief to use your card and spend your money.

Always cover the keypad when tapping in your PIN number, never let your card out of your sight and never use an ATM that looks as it it may have been tampered with.

Database Theft The average consumer can do little to prevent this type of theft as it occurs in large companies where personal data is

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stored. It might be the theft of a computer disk, a “bad” employee or a hack into the database that means your personal information is compromised.

If you find out that a company you have had dealings with has been violated in this way check your statements and notify the authorities of any possible problems such as unauthorized payments and use of your accounts.

If you are a victim If you suspect you have become the victim of identity theft, act immediately.

Notify your financial institutions of the problem and cancel all accounts and cards that have been compromised.

Report the problem to the police as you may be required to have supporting documentation such as police reports to substantiate any claims you may later make or to correct your credit file.

Report the theft immediately to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre by phoning PhoneBusters toll free on 1-888-495-850.

You should also contact the credit reference bureaus to alert them. The two main agencies in Canada are Equifax: 1-800-465-7166 and Trans Union: 1-877-525-323. Get each agency to send you a copy of your credit report and ask about getting a fraud alert placed on your file.

Get items such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN), drivers licence and health cards replaced in case they too are used against you. Call 1-800-OCanada to discuss your options.

If you find that your mail is missing, report this to Canada Post by calling 1-800-267-1177.

Summary Stay vigilant, check your credit report at least once a year, shred all personal documentation before discarding. Check bank and credit card statements for discrepancies and guard your cards and PIN number. Avoid keeping SIN cards, passports and Permanent Residence Cards in your wallet.

20 Lifestyle

Choose Lethbridge, Alberta

High Level Bridge

Lifestyle 21 When considering a location within Canada to call home, look no further than Lethbridge, Alberta. Well-known for its affordability and low cost-ofliving, short commute times and world-class educational institutions Lethbridge is one of the sunniest locations in the country. This vibrant city boasts a strong arts and culture community, plenty of sports and recreational opportunities, exceptional facilities, parks and pathways.

Affordability is one of the key attributes of Lethbridge. Comparatively low housing prices, reduced commute times and affordable consumer goods all contribute to the cost advantage of living in Lethbridge. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, average home prices in Lethbridge are the lowest of all the major cities in Alberta, a trend that is expected to continue into the future. In addition, the selection of outstanding housing in Lethbridge only adds to the appeal of the city. New architecture and design concepts include the first “Built-Green� community in Canada.

While most Lethbridge residents own their own home, there is a quality selection of rental units and smaller houses also available for rent. The average monthly rate for two-bedroom and three bedroom units is $675 and $705 per month, respectively.

Newer subdivisions and mature neighbourhoods offer safe and comfortable surroundings and are close to the many amenities the city has to offer. There are also maintenance-free

developments suitable for those preferring an adult-living environment.

The City of Lethbridge Transit Department (LA Transit) provides public transportation service to all residential areas of the city.

Reasonably priced parking also adds to the low cost of living Lethbridge residents enjoy.

Due to the city’s location within the province, Lethbridge residents are not required to pay provincial sales tax, saving residents at least five percent on their goods and services when compared to other provinces. In addition, a low single-rate tax system, couple with the highest basic and spousal exemptions in the country, provides a significant personal tax advantage for all Albertans.

Albertans also enjoy the lowest gasoline tax rate among the provinces and low property taxes.

Lethbridge has pursued balanced growth of approximately two percent annually over the past ten years. This growth allows Lethbridge to keep pace with the needs of the local economy and the demand for essential services much more efficiently than most cities in Alberta.

Lethbridge boasts a young, well-educated and diverse population of 81,692 individuals, a community that actively contributes to the economic growth and prosperity of the city.

22 Lifestyle

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden The favorably temperate climate of Lethbridge has attracted many people to the city. The warm winters and mild summers are heavily influenced by the Chinook winds that occur approximately 11 times throughout the year. In addition, the proximity to the mountains ordinarily protects Lethbridge from the influence of the strong northwest and southwest winds associated with blizzard conditions. A comparatively high elevation combined with the periodic Chinook conditions, results in a reduction of the severity and duration of winter cold periods and also alleviates extreme summer heat. The Lethbridge area also enjoys one of the highest amounts of sunshine in the country, with more than 320 days of sunshine per year.

As a result of the favorable climate, Lethbridge has long been the centre of southwestern Alberta’s rich agricultural region. In addition to the opportunities available in this primary area of commerce, the wide variety of industry sectors offers a good selection of employment opportunities in trade and service, manufacturing, public service, construction, transportation and finance.

The number of employment opportunities available and the level of employee satisfaction has resulted in Lethbridge’s unemployment rates consistently rating lower than the Canadian average.

Employers in Lethbridge and the surrounding region also experience direct benefits of the large student population.

Home to both the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College, Lethbridge is one of a handful of Canadian cities with both a college and university that attract students from national and international locations. The city’s smaller size and safe environment create an exceptional environment for student learning and development.

The University of Lethbridge is grounded in a curriculum liberal education and is committed to providing students with a personal and engaging learning environment. The University of Lethbridge is strongly committed to communityminded research and the development of centres of excellence and including students in research endeavours. Offering more than 150 degree/program options through six faculties and schools – the University of Lethbridge attracts more than 8,100 students from 58 countries and has more than 25,000 alumni worldwide.

Opened in 1957 as Canada’s first publicly-funded community college, Lethbridge College maintains its tradition and reputation of meeting the educational and training needs of southern Albertans.

Lethbridge College attracts over 7,500 students from national and international locations each year. Offering over 70 career programs including options in Agriculture, Engineering and Industrial Training, Applied Management, Criminal Justice, Environmental Science, Health and Human Services, and Media and

Computing, Lethbridge College also provides opportunities for companies and industry to ensure their employees have the up-to-date skills and training they need in a competitive business environment.

Lethbridge College continues to enhance existing relationships with other educational institutions and businesses, while developing new, mutually beneficial partnerships.

For those students who have not yet reached the post-secondary level, the Lethbridge public school system includes 19 elementary and secondary schools for children and youth as well as six outreach programs for children in special circumstances. In addition, the public system also includes a French immersion school. Educational options also include a separate (Roman Catholic) school system that is comprised of 13 elementary and secondary schools in the Lethbridge area.

Schools in both the public and separate systems are free of charge.

In addition to the wonderful employment and educational opportunities, Lethbridge residents enjoy the wide variety of quality recreational facilities and amenities that have been designed for all age groups. Lethbridge boasts an excess of 70 parks, playgrounds and sports fields that are dotted throughout the city and feature extensive facilities for both baseball and soccer.

Lifestyle 23

High Level Bridge Geographically, Lethbridge is intersected by the Oldman River valley and coulee formations, a landscape that makes it truly unique. The present river valley was formed when glacial run-off carved the 100 meter deep valley when the last continental glacier retreated from southern Alberta, some 10,000 - 15,000 years ago. Sloping into the valley is a series of short, v-shaped valleys leading to the floor of the main valley. These are the coulees; smaller post-glacial drainage channels cut by surface runoff as the main valley deepened. With 755 hectares of protected land, Oldman River valley has been turned into one of the largest urban park systems in North America.

Another significant landmark in Lethbridge is the High Level Bridge.

Constructed in the early 1900’s to meet the needs of the growing coal mining industry and the growing population, the High Level Bridge is part of the CPR rail system developed and it is still used today with numerous trains crossing daily.

The trestle bridge stretches across the Oldman River valley and is considered the longest and highest bridge of its type in the world. Its girders provide nesting sites for Canada geese, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls while the shade cast by the bridge encourages lush shrub growth favoured by pheasants and whitetailed deer.

Five scenic golf courses, located directly in the city, capitalize on the

breathtaking Lethbridge landscape and an additional 12 regional golf courses can be accessed within a short half hour drive. Lethbridge is also home to several public and private fitness clubs that offer first-rate equipment and facilities. The city has five indoor pools, one outdoor pool and six indoor ice arenas. The 5,000 seat ENMAX Centre hosts world-class concerts, multicultural events, national curling tournaments, international basketball games, banquets, skating events and a major WHL franchise, the Lethbridge Hurricanes. A wide range of annual sporting activities are also available to spectators including Dragon Boat Races at Henderson Lake, Horse Racing at Exhibition Park, Intervarsity Sports featuring the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns and Lethbridge College Kodiaks.

When its time to relax, enjoy the social and cultural experiences Lethbridge offers: a full complement of familiar franchise eateries as well as niche restaurants with traditional and ethnic menus. Residents are well served by shopping malls, specialty shops and markets as well as national chains and “big box” stores. Lethbridge boasts three shopping malls with more than 200 stores, several power centres and a vibrant downtown. The culture and arts scene thrives in Lethbridge with easy access to a wide variety of performing and visual arts, and other cultural events

and attractions at a number of local facilities.

With a booming economy, a wide variety of employment and educational opportunities, enviable recreational choices and affordable living, it is no wonder that so many people Choose Lethbridge as their new home.

Useful Resources City of Lethbridge www.lethbridge.ca Lethbridge Economic Development www.chooselethbridge.ca Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce www.lethchamber.org University of Lethbridge www.uleth.ca Lethbridge College www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden www.nikkayuko.com

24 Moving to Canada .

Nova Scotia bound This month we continue the story of the Ottewell family who are planning to move from the United Kingdom to Nova Scotia. Last month we got the background to their move and this month Vanessa continues the story leading up to their fact finding family holiday next month.

Well, loads has happened since I last wrote. It is now 9 weeks until we go to Canada (my first visit!!) and for Steve to attend his interviews. We booked the flights a while back, taking full advantage of the 20% discount that you receive through Muchmor magazine and Zoom Airlines. It made it significantly cheaper, which is great when you are on a budget.

The family are finally getting used to us emigrating, which is a bonus as at least everyone is pleased for us, although I know they will miss the children terribly.

Everyone is already making plans to come out and visit, which is really nice.

We will probably end up seeing more of them when we move out to Canada than we do now!

We have now had our Police Checks returned. These cost £10 each. It normally takes about 40 days from when you send off your applications. Both me and Steve

had to do them, so that is another thing ticked off the list.

As I write this (hopefully I am not tempting fate!) we have sold our house.

Luckily for us it is a private sale, so we are saving on estate agents fees. Our next door neighbours mother has bought it off us. There are two people in the chain before her, so as we have never been in a house buying chain before, I am hoping that there shouldn't be too many problems. They have requested that it go through as quickly as possible, with us potentially moving out by the end of April – no pressure there then!!!!!

My parents have said that we can move in with them, which is great, as the last thing we wanted to do is to have to get into a short-term lease in a flat or house, as that’s extra money that we could be saving towards Canada.

We have started the ball rolling with regards storing our furniture while we are living with my parents, and its not as bad as we first thought pricewise. We are going to go and have a look around a storage depot over the weekend. We have used one in the past, but we only put half our house in it, not the whole lot. One thing to bear in mind is how much boxes cost for packing your belongings into. One company to buy shares in is definitely a “box supplier”. It costs about £75.00 for packing boxes to do a 3-4 bedroom house – and you just know that its not going to be enough so you will have to buy 2 lots! So my advice for anyone starting the emigrating process now

The Family Steve (35), Vanessa (37), Connor (11) and Lauren (5)

UK Location: Bedhampton, Havant, (near Portsmouth) Hampshire

Canadian Destination: Nova Scotia – START SAVING BOXES!! Because when the time comes you won't be able to find any for love nor money.

We have already sourced a container company. Fortunately for us we know someone who knows someone with their own company, so it will be half the price, which is great. We are just waiting for information as to how to pack all our belongings, as we have been told by our friends that the Canadian authorities are very strict with container contents. The last thing we want is for them to rip the whole container apart because we'd packed something the wrong way, or put something in that shouldn't be there.

Not much more to do really. We have to book the taxi to the airport for when we go out in May, but that’s nothing major.

Our friends have been saying that it is still cold out there (I know this as well

Moving to Canada 25 as I am sad enough to check the weather daily!). They live about 10 minutes from a Ski Resort (how cool is that!) and their boys have been learning how to ski and snowboard, and they have taken to it like a duck to water. They have also purchased quad bikes (boys toys), so you can imagine what my husband now wants – bless... the little things!

Steve is already on the slippery slope, he had his first snowboarding lesson last weekend, see photos. He loved it, but looked shattered by the end of the day. I'm not convinced it’s fun, so am happy to watch from the sidelines with a hot chocolate!

Thats it for now.... Hopefully will have a bit more to say next month (and hopefully it will all be good!).

The Ottewells (the Canadian SoonTo-Be's) .

Nova Scotia Fact File • Nova scotia is the second smallest Canadian province • Population of 935,106 (Oct 07) • Capital city is Halifax • Provincial motto “One defends and the other conquers” • Land area is 53,338 km² • Entered the confederation 1st July 1867 • Nova Scotia is 580 km long and an average width of 128 km.

• It has over 10,000 km of shorline • Nearly 80% of Nova Scotians can trace their ancestry back to the British Isles • Nova Scotia is in the Atlantic Standard Time zone

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Cell: 902-222-4937 Fax: 902-835-4539 email: donnamcneil@exitmetro.ca email: donna@relocationnovascotia.com Web: www.halifaxdartmouthrealestate.com

Moving to Nova Be one of theScotia many?families that I have Lots ofsuccessfully Questions? helped relocate to the For Information meet mearea. at Emigrate 2008 Halifax March 1 & 2 - 2008 Stand I can118 assist from your first fact finding trip to Sandown theRacecourse purchase of your new home.

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26 Moving to Canada

Canada needs immigrants, so why keep them waiting?

Last month we discussed the problem with immigration processing times and thought we would take a closer look a the figures produced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Every few months CIC produces figures relating to past processing times for each type of application from each visa office. Obviously past figures cannot be used to forecast accurate future processing times, but you can at least get an idea of how long the process will take from you location. Processing times vary depending on the visa office used and the type of application processed.

We will take a look at the top ten source countries of immigration to Canada. All figures are based on 2007 data.

China Lets look at China to start with as many more immigrants are now coming from China. The visa office in Beijing processed 30% of skilled worker applications in 53 months, but took 68 months to finalize 80% of applicants.

If you were applying via a business category then it took 29 months to finalize 30% of applications and 67 months to finalize 80%.

Family class applications are much quicker with 80% of spousal/partner applications taking just 4 months to finalize, children 5 months, other family members one month and parents and grandparents taking longer at 19 months, although 30% are processed in 12 months.

Provincial Nominees processed through Beijing took 8 months to process 30% of cases and 15 months to process 80%.

India New Delhi processed 30% of its skilled worker applicants in 68 months, but took 73 months to finalize 80% of cases.

Business class applications were much the same with 30% being processed in 56 months and 80% in 70 months.

Again family class applicants can expect a quicker turnaround with 80% of spouse/partner cases being finalized in 6 months, children in 8 months and parents and grandparents in 33 months, although 50% were completed in 12 months. Other family members took as long as 53 months to process 80% of cases.

Provincial Nominees were processed in under 6 months for 80% of cases with 50% being completed in 9 months.

Philippines The Manila visa office took an average of 58 months to clear 30% of skilled worker applications and 65 months for 80% of cases.

Family class applicants took an average of 6 months to finalize 80% of spousal applications, 7 months for dependent children, 18 months for parents/grandparents and 22 months for other family members.

Provincial Nominee applications took 11 months to finalize 80% of cases although 50% were completed in 8 months.

No figures were available for business applicants.

Pakistan Islamabad saw skilled worker applicants waiting 70 months for 80% of the cases to be finalized. Their 30% figures were just as bad at 65 months.

Business applicants fared a little better with 30% of cases being finalized in 29 months and 80% finalized in 54 months.

Family class applications took 9 months for 80% of spousal/partner applicants and dependent children, 15 months for other family members but 38 months for parents an grandparents,

Moving to Canada 27 .

however 50% of these cases were cleared in only 12 months.

Provincial Nominees processed from Islamabad took 6 months to process 30% of cases and 14 months to complete 80%.

United States of America The visa office in Buffalo took 25 months to process 80% of skilled worker applicants and 19 months to process 50%.

Business applicants took a lot longer with 50% being processed in 46 months and 80% taking 56 months.

80% of spousal and partner applicants were processed in 9 months, with dependent children taking 6 months for the same percentage. Parents and grandparents took 13 months to process 80%, whilst other relatives took just 9 months.

50% of Provincial Nominees were processed in 6 months and 80% in 8 months.

Iran All Iranian applications are processed through Damascus and on average skilled workers were processed in 63 months for 30% of cases and 71 months for 80% of cases.

Business applicants are slightly quicker with 80% of cases being finalized in 67 months and 30% within 30 months.

Spouses and partners waited an average of 4 months for 50% of cases and 6 months for 80% of cases.

Dependent children took 8 months for 80% of cases and parents and grandparents took 33 months. Other family members took 23 months for 80%.

Provincial Nominees can expect to wait 14 months for 50% of cases and 17 months for 80%.

United Kingdom The visa office in London takes 33 months to process 50% of skilled worker cases and 38 months to process 80%.

Business applicants wait much longer with 80% of cases taking 61 months to complete, with 50% being finalized in 33 months.

Family class applicants using the spousal route took 9 months for 80% of cases whilst dependent children took 13 months. Parents and grandparents took 12 months to complete 80% of cases and other family members 8 months.

Provincial Nominees waited on average 9 months for 80% of cases and just 6 for 50%.

Spouses and partners took an average of 9 months to finalize 80% of cases whilst dependent children took 7 months. Grandparents and patents can expect to wait 21 months for 80% of cases and other family members 3 months.

Provincial Nominee applicants waited an average of 5 months for 50% of cases and 9 months for 80%.

Korea Averages Seoul processes skilled worker applications in 28 months for 50% of cases and 31 months for 80%.

80% of business applications took 33 months with little difference being seen with 30% processed at 29 months.

Spousal and partner applications took just 5 months to process 80% of cases and dependent children took 4 months.

Grandparents and parents were processed in 18 months for 80% of cases whilst other family members were processed in just 3 months.

Applicants for Provincial Nominee took 8 months for 80% of cases.

Columbia In Bogota skilled workers were processed in 34 months for 30% of cases but the majority of cases (80%) took 75 months.

Family class applicant using the spousal route took 12 months for 80% of cases and dependent children a little longer at 15 months. Parents and grandparents were in a similar timeframe of 17 months with other family members taking 5 months.

Provincial Nominees waited 16 months in 80% of cases, however 50% of cases were finalized in just 11 months.

No figures were available for business applicants.

France Paris takes on average 62 months to process 80% of its skilled worker applications.

Business applicants are much the same with an average of 80% being processed in 64 months.

Across all visa offices across the world the average time for 80% of applicants under the skilled worker class to process was 68 months. The shortest waits were in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Lima, Peru. Both had processing times of 18 months. The longest wait was in Kiev in Ukraine where it takes 77 months for 80% of cases.

The average time for business applicants to be processed across the world is 63 months. The shortest processing times for 80% of cases was Berlin, Germany which took 25 months and the longest Cairo, Egypt with 74 months.

Provincial Nominees take an average of 11 months with the shortest wait being in Taipei at only 5 months.

Spouses and partners take an average of 8 months to process with Beijing,China taking just 4 months and Accra, Ghana taking 18 months.

Dependent children take an average of 10 months across the offices with the shortest waits seen in Seoul, Tel Aviv and Vienna at 4 months each. At the other end of the scale both Abidjan and Nairobi take 25 months to process 80% of cases.

Parents and grandparents average 21 months with Cairo leading the pack at 11 months and Nairobi and Buenos Aires both trailing at 46 months.

Remember past performance is no indication of future processing times.

Correction: Last month we produced a chart of processing times, please note the column titles should have read 30%, 50%, 70% and 80% respectively. We hope the above article will further clarify this information. We apologize for any confusion.

28 Moving to Canada

Moving with kids, will it be the making or breaking of your Family?

When you make the decision to move to a new country, you are entering a stage of life in which there will be lots of decisions, massive change, excitement, uncertainty, and there may be times when you wonder what you are doing! Why do you want to put yourselves through all that? Everyone has their own personal reasons for emigrating, what would your children say if asked the same question?

By Louise Green, expatriate and migration coach

Moving to Canada 29 If you are feeling such a roller coaster of emotions, having initiated your emigration, imagine what it would be like to have no control, no say and little clue on what’s happening, except that everything is changing. It can be a bewildering time for children, you are busy dealing with your own personal transition, and children can sometimes find it hard to express what they are feeling about the move.

They will have a very different set of priorities, requirements and concerns that are very important to them. Our five year old, didn’t want to go because he was going to miss his granny. Whatever their age they cannot fail to be affected in some way, by such an enormous change.

You have their best interests at heart, but to them life is about to change beyond recognition and they may not share your vision of what a great life you are creating.

It can be well worth the effort to help your children prepare, adjust and actively get involved in the migration process. You are creating a better life for you and your children, to give them new opportunities, and by including them in the decisions and planning to create your new exciting life can make everyone’s life easier, during and after you move.

Keep everyone informed Schedule time to sit down as a family and go through what’s happening, what tasks need to be done, give everyone a chance to express their views in a non judgmental way, ask questions, and treat all concerns with equal importance. It can be a good chance for you to review where you are, and the children will feel involved. You might want an agenda, set actions for everyone, set the next meeting. At a surprisingly young age, kids have the ability to pick up on things and understand a lot more than we credit them with. Make sure your kids are involved with the migration process and

let them know what is planned, what is going to happen and when. Minimize the unexpected, and help them to prepare and understand what is happening.

Holding regular discussions to review progress, set out goals and actions, can be a great way to get everyone involved.

It provides a great opportunity for you to review where you are at, and what’s next.

Case study: A client, Rachel was feeling overwhelmed by the whole process and feeling like her husband and four kids were just waiting for her to organise and arrange the whole move, they were not involved and not really sure if they wanted to go or not. By holding regular meetings she was able to unburden herself and the kids and John volunteered to take on the responsibility to get certain tasks done. The kids had a little competition on who could get their tasks done first and it really brought them together and excited about the emigration.

It became a team effort.

Define what everyone wants This is a fun activity for the whole family to brainstorm and list all the things everyone would like to have in their lives.

Younger kids can draw pictures. It’s a

good chance for you all to discuss the changes, opportunities, activities you will have in your new country. Focus on learning something new about each other.

The kids will learn more about why it’s happening and you may be surprised what you learn about your kids. Create a collage of the drawings, pictures, and lists, it will be a unique piece of family history, to look back on and review how you are moving towards your goals.

Case study: Tim and Shona, two kids Sam and Richard, were not sure of what they wanted from emigrating they just knew they want something better than what they had. We worked on creating a visual record, a wish list of all the things they wanted to have and do. The kids drew a pictures of the type of house they would like to live in, they stuck pictures of activities, cycling, skiing they wanted to do. Wrote paragraph about the type of work they loved. The board was pinned up in their kitchen, and when they came to move got packed away and forgotten about for several months, until they finally got around to opening the last few boxes, they were amazed at how much their life included many of the things they had visualised way back in the early stages.

30 Moving to Canada Listen to their concerns Put aside some regular time to really listen to your children, give them the opportunity to tell you how they feel about the move. Listen with the view to understanding what they are feeling. Use open ended questions: what exactly is bothering you about that? Tell me how you feel about that.” this encourages discussion not one word answers. Refrain from jumping in with a dismissal of their concerns, what may seem a small issue to you can be very important to them.

Give them the chance to tell you they are worried about starting a new school; they don’t want to leave their friends, etc. Avoid replying with the ‘yes but, you’ll make new friends….’ etc they don’t want to hear it at this point, however much you know it will be right. All that is telling them is that you don’t understand and are lowering the importance of their concerns. Ask them who specifically they will miss, get to the real issue, and ask them how they could resolve it. Explaining the reason why you are moving and that will not change but what options can you generate between you to overcome their concerns. Kids have an amazing imagination they will come up with ideas. It will bring you closer and they will love that you recognise their concerns as important enough to spend time resolving them together.

you arrive, which friend to be pen pals with.

Get motivated into action Get kids involved with some of the tasks needed to be done before moving. If they are fully on board they will want to help, and it will be easier to get volunteers. If there is resistance to the move, challenge them to put forward their case. You can discuss the results together. Forcing them into chores they don’t want to do, and with kids especially is just not going to work. Whereas allowing them to come up with ideas, suggesting actions they want to help with and giving them the responsibility to get on with things, works wonders at creating excitement and self importance. Get agreement from all parties and set guidelines so you can leave them to it.

The sense of achievement could be the one thing that tips the balance in your favor if there are differences of opinion over the whole move. What tasks can you delegate?

Have a day off to do something fun

During and after the move you will have a very long list of jobs to be done.

It’s all too easy to get focused on getting organised, housing, jobs, finances etc.

Every Opinion Counts You and your whole family will benefit immensely from taking a day off to We all know how it feels when our appreciate your new country and take opinions are valued. It’s good to know our some time to enjoy the rewards of your views are being considered, there is a real hard work. Younger children will love the sense of contribution and belonging. In fact you are spending time with them, and situations where insecurity, and change it will give older children an insight into are happening, getting your children what your new life can offer them. Plan involved in the decision making process something together give the children a can help them to feel connected and give say in where you go or what you do. them a sense of control over their destiny.

It may not be possible to let them decide Look for a new activity they where you are going to live! But they can can join add their requirements and wishes on the list for consideration. Give them the This can be something you decide on opportunity to put forward their case. in advance of moving, get the children From the previous activity you will know involved in thinking about what they would what may be worrying them, create a new like to do when you arrive. Investigate and issue for them, deciding what toys of research options, or get them to find out theirs will go in the removal container, for themselves. It will help create a sense what activities they might like to do after

of excitement and anticipation. Once you arrive follow it up, and make sure it happens. Your kids will have fun, begin to make friends and you will meet parents and start making contacts too.

Keep to a routine Children especially at younger ages, love routine. It provides them with security, gives them familiarity and helps them understand where they fit in.

Keeping that routine as much as possible during your move, will help them to adjust to new situations more quickly. Keep some familiar toys, bedding, books available to keep little ones feeling secure.

Case study: Lisa, Patrick and Olivia (18months) decided to get a travel cot that Olivia could get used to sleeping in several weeks before moving, to allow her time to get used to new cot in their own home. It turned out they made several short moves before buying their new home and Olivia remained settled throughout. They kept her favorite toys and night-time routine.

Starting new schools During your research for possible schools, you will visit each to have a look around, but this may be well in advance of your children actually starting school. Plan a visit to the school just before they are due to start, so they can remind themselves what it’s like and creates some familiarity. Ask the school if they can put you in touch with other students in their class, that live locally to you, to see if it is possible to meet up with parents and new class mates, before the big day. Just having a face you know can make that first day a little less daunting.

Louise offers migration planning and coaching to help you get where you want with less stress and more focus. Contact Louise or visit www.theexpatcoach.com for more details.

“You will get where you want, with perseverance and determination, I know you can do it!”

Moving to Canada 31

Are you new to Ontario?

Amendments to the immigration system In March an announcement was made by the Government of Canada relating to amendments to the immigration system. The new measures are designed to address the problem of backlogs in the application process and give the government greater flexibility in processing new applications.

Once passed, the new measures will apply to applications received on or after 27th February 2008.

The new measures will allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to select and choose the applications that best meet Canada’s labour market needs.

A spokesperson from CIC said “Canada remains open to immigration, and anyone can apply to immigrate. The proposed legislative amendments give the department the flexibility to be more selective – to take certain candidates quickly, hold some applications, and return others. That shouldn’t deter good candidates from applying, unlike the current system which deters many well-qualified skilled workers from applying because they have to wait so long.

“Skilled workers are selected for their ability to contribute to our economy and establish themselves successfully in Canada. They are the most skilled and highly educated immigrants that Canada accepts.

“Research shows that the demand for highly qualified workers in Canada is growing.

“Within the next decade, immigration is projected to account for all net labour force growth in Canada. Two-thirds of the available jobs will require post-secondary education. Jobs that require a university-level education are the fastest growing types of jobs.

“Skilled workers do well in Canada. With their generic skill set, they are better able to weather downturns in the economy. They are also more successful in the labour market than other immigrants, catching up to their Canadian counterparts more quickly and earning the highest average incomes.”

Muchmor will provide more information about this matter as and when it becomes available.

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32 Careers

10 jobs that let you work from home

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.ca How would you like to work from home? No hustling out the door 10 minutes late, no fighting your road rage or battling for the last seat on train, no fast food lunch and no noisy co-workers.

Sounds like heaven doesn't it?

More than ever, workers are attracted to the 30-second commute, thanks to social and economic trends.

Technologies necessary for setting up a home office are widely available, relatively inexpensive and getting easier for people to use. In addition, more workers are seeking flexible schedules to care for children and aging parents.

The number of Americans whose employer allows them to work remotely at least one day per month increased 63 percent, from 7.6 million in 2004 to 12.4 million in 2006, according to a 2007 report issued by WorldatWork. In total, the sum of teleworkers (both employed and selfemployed) working remotely at least one day per month has risen 10 percent from 26.1 million in 2005 to 28.7 million in 2006.

Many people associate working from home with starting a home-based business and becoming an entrepreneur, but more and more employers are offering this option to workers in order to attract and retain top employees.

Don't fret; there are jobs that you can find with established employers. Search using terms including “work from home,” “home office” and “telecommute.” In addition, even if the job is advertised as office-based, here are 10 positions are telework-friendly and could be in your future.

testing and evaluation of computer software, and continual training is Administrative assistants and secretaries comprised 4.2 million U.S. jobs suggested for the quickly evolving industry. in 2006 (according to the latest data from Corporate Event Planner the BLS), one of the country’s largest occupations. Also known as virtual Employed by a private company assistants, home-based administrative rather than a hotel or convention facility, a assistants use office experience and corporate event planner coordinates staff computer skills as support personnel. activities including group meetings, client Many skills easily transition into this presentations, special events, conventions position, which offers many part-time and and travel. The BLS projects this temporary opportunities. occupation will add 10,000 new jobs by 2016.

Administrative Assistant

Advertising Sales Agent According to eMarketer, the number of dollars spent on advertising is expected to exceed $295 billion in 2008. Advertising sales representatives sell or solicit advertising space in print and online publications, custom-made signs, or TV and radio advertising spots with online advertising is growing rapidly.

Computer Software Engineer The BLS projects computer software engineer to be one of the fastest-growing occupations between now and 2016.

Duties include design, development,

Copy Editor Copy editors mostly review and edit a writer's copy for accuracy, content, grammar and style. This is a competitive field; however, the growth of online publications and services is spurring the demand for writers and editors, especially those with Web experience.

Desktop Publisher Desktop publishers use computer software to format and combine text, images, charts and other visual elements to produce publication-ready material.

Careers 33 Duties of this fast-growing profession include writing and editing text, creating graphics, converting photos and drawings into digital images, designing page layouts and developing presentations.

Data Entry Clerk Like administrative assistants, job prospects should be best for those with expertise in computer software applications. By typing text, entering data into a computer, and performing other clerical duties, these workers ensure companies keep up with information and technology.

Insurance Underwriter Insurance underwriters serve as the main link between the insurance carrier and the insurance agent. Underwriters analyze insurance applications, calculate the risk of loss from policyholders, decide whether to issue the policy and establish appropriate premium rates.

Market Research Analyst Market research analysts, whose job numbers are expected to grow 20 percent by 2016, gather data on competitors and analyze prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. They often design surveys, compile and evaluate the data and make recommendations to their client or employer based upon their findings.

Paralegal While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they delegate much of their work to paralegals.

Paralegals not only assist in preparation for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings, they also perform a number of other vital functions including draft contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, trust instruments and may assist in preparing tax returns and planning estates. With employers reducing costs by replacing duties once tended to by lawyers with paralegals, growth of this profession is expected.

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If you want to make the case to a potential employer or your boss to let you work from home, keep a few things in mind. If possible, provide concrete examples of how this arrangement was successful in the past or how it will succeed. Suggest that you ease into it -spending a few days to a few weeks in the office at the outset, meeting people and getting to know procedures. Then, during the first three to six months on the new job, make frequent visits.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.ca. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

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

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

34 Money

Line of credit or loan?

When you decide you need a little extra cash, and who doesn’t, the first place you will probably go is your financial institution for a loan. But is a loan the right thing to ask for? If you are a home owner, you will be borrowing against the equity in your home, essentially a second mortgage. You should discuss with your financial advisor the differences between loans and lines of credit. Depending on what you need the money for will determine which options will be best for you.

Loans With a loan you agree to borrow a set amount of money which you repay by fixed installments over a fixed period of time. For homeowners this is referred to as a Home Equity Loan (HEL). This is

great as it means you get the whole amount up-front to do with as you please, but you are making payments on the whole amount, even if you don’t use it all at once. By this we mean that if for example you borrow $20,000 but only use $10,000 initially and keep the rest in the bank for a rainy day, you are still paying interest and repayments on the whole $20,000.

Generally a HEL is more suitable for these one-off payments such as a car purchase or major home renovation.

Line of Credit A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) works in a different way and is much more flexible. You still have to agree to an amount you can borrow and the time period it is available, but you will only pay interest on the amount you borrow. This is especially useful for someone who wants the security of knowing the money is

available but wants to be able to use it as and when they need it.

If you agreed to a line of credit of $20,000 for a ten year period, you can dip into that money as and when you need it and only pay interest on the amount used.

Use $10,000 and pay interest on $10,000.

If you pay back the $10,000 then you have the $20,000 still available to you. This is basically a revolving credit similar to a credit card.

This type of credit is useful for ongoing needs such as tuition payments, ongoing renovations,or perhaps a holiday each year.

With either of these options you home is at risk if you default on the payments.

Both can be set as fixed rate or flexible rates of interest and interest on both types of loan are usually tax deductible.

Always consult with an advisor before taking on either type of loan to be sure you are opting for the one which suits your circumstances.

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Money 35

Savings the tax-free way In the federal budget a new tax-free savings plan was announced. We all want to pay as little in taxes as we can, so what can this new plan offer the average Canadian?

The new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) will start in 2009 and will allow Canadians to earn tax-free investment income. Each person will be allowed to contribute up to $5,000 annually, with the ability to carry forward unused contributions. Any withdrawals from the account will create contribution room for future savings.

The government gives an example of someone investing $200 each month for 20 years accumulating approximately $11,045 more in savings than if the same

money was invested in an unregistered account.

The advantages of the new TFSA is in its flexibility. You will be able to withdraw money as and when you need to without penalty. The amounts you withdraw open up your future contribution room to allow you to take full advantage of the tax-free status. This means that if you save $5,000 in years one and two, but then need to withdraw $7,000 at the start of year three, you will then be able to make up the $7,000 in future years as your finances allow. You will never loose out on your contribution room.

Spouses and partners can also contribute to each others TFSA, subject to the contribution room available. This means a person who does not work or has a low income can still take advantage of the TFSA via contributions from their spouse. Assets from TFSA’s can also be

transfered to a spouse or partner upon death.

In summary: • $5,000 can be invested each year • Unused contributions can be carried forward • Contributions are not deductible • Investment income and capital gains earned will not be taxed • Income and withdrawals will not affect eligibility for income-tested benefits and credits • Withdrawals create future contribution room • Spouses and partners can contribute to each others account • Annual contribution limit will be indexed to inflation in $500 increments

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36 Health & Wellness

A good night’s sleep Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important factors for keeping all round good health.

Many people underestimate the need for good quality sleep and their overall health can suffer as a result. So what can we do to make sure we get a good night’s sleep?

The amount of sleep we need varies from person to person. Some people cope very well on just four hours sleep a night, whereas others need at least eight hours in order to function the following day. Our age plays a part in our sleep pattern too: children need more sleep that adults and older adults often need fewer hours than younger adults. Your activity levels will also impact on your sleep requirements. If you are a very active person then you may need less sleep than someone who has a very sedentary lifestyle. So as you can see there are no hard and fast rules about how much sleep you should be getting, your body will be the best guide.

An important thing to remember, is that just because you get eight hours of sleep it is not always “good” sleep. The quality of sleep is also very important in order that you feel rested and ready for

the day. So what can you do to give yourself the best opportunity for a good night’s sleep?

Your bedroom should be a place that is compatible with sleep. Your mattress should be comfortable and supportive as should your pillows. Sheets should be cotton to allow your body to breathe. Have the right type and amount of covers so your are neither too hot or too cold.

The bedroom itself should also be at the right temperature, often a few degrees cooler than the daytime temperature. Use heavy curtains or blackout curtains to prevent early morning light from creeping into the room and waking you. Another useful tip is to hide your clock so that you are not fixated on it during the night.

There are things that you can do during the day which will impact on your sleep such as not taking a nap, avoid alcohol and caffeine in the hours before going to bed and don’t smoke. All these can prevent you from sleeping well.

Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time in the morning. Oversleeping, even once can seriously interfere with your sleep pattern. Try to relax before sleeping, either through meditation, reading or perhaps a warm bath.

If you find you cannot get to sleep straight away, you might want to get up and walk about, read a little or do something relaxing until you feel tired.

If getting enough good sleep is a problem for you try keeping a sleep diary.

Note the times you go to bed and get up, whether you had a good or bad night’s sleep, how often you woke up during the night and how long it took to get back to sleep. Keep track of what you eat and drink and also any medications you take so that you can see if any patterns emerge. It may be that having a coffee after a certain time in the evening means your sleep is disturbed and by keeping a diary you will see this pattern and be able to address the problem.

It goes without saying that stress can interfere with sleeping and you should try to keep stress levels low before bedtime.

Some people find that writing down the things that are bothering them with possible solutions helps them get a more restful sleep.

You should always bare in mind that taking medication for sleep disorders should be the absolute last resort and should be done so under medical supervision.

37 Health & Wellness

New advances in Pap testing for women Most women are aware of the Pap smear test which is taken to assess the cellular changes in the cervix which can lead to a diagnosis of cervical cancer or detect early stages of the disease.

You may also have heard of the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is now know to be the primary cause of nearly all cervical cancers. In fact there are over 30 type of HPV and thirteen of these are known to be high risk, leading to cervical cancer.

Now an alternative to the Pap test is available to women. It is called a HPV DNA test and it is 40% more sensitive than a Pap smear. It can detect the very early stages of the HPV virus which if detected early enough can be treated and may avoid the onset of cancer.

A study undertaken by McGill University in Montreal found that in a screening of 10,154 women ages 30-69 the HPV DNA test detected 94% of the cancers and precancers compared to 55.4% of those found by Pap testing.

A second study of 12,527 women in Sweden found the new DNA test to be 51% more accurate.

“What we found, with very strong results, is that HPV testing is more sensitive than Pap testing almost twice as much," lead author Dr. Marie-Helene Mayrand said in an interview from Montreal.

HPV DNA testing is available in Canada, but access across the country varies. Women can request this type of test, but will probably have to pay privately for it and may need to travel to a participating clinic for the test and the results.

The test is available to women who have had a suspicious Pap test.

Funding for free MedicAlert bracelets for children announced It is estimated that one in ten children in Canada have severe allergies, asthma, epilepsy and other conditions that can be life-threatening. In light of this Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced the government’s support of the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation’s No Child Without campaign.

“This is a constant worry for parents of kids with medical conditions that are potentially dangerous,” said the Prime Minister, himself a father of two young children. “That’s what prompted the creation of the MedicAlert program, which came to Canada 45 years ago. Countless children and adults have received lifesaving emergency treatment thanks to their membership in the program.

Numbers with diabetes Newfoundland: 30,668 Prince Edward: 7,427 Nova Scotia 52,882 New Brunswick: 38,146 Quebec: 332,822 Ontario: 510,253 Manitoba: 41,152 Saskatchewan: 40,072 Alberta: 105,242 British Columbia: 164,010

“Over the next five years, the No Child Without campaign will be taken to every one of Canada’s 12,000 elementary schools,” Prime Minister Harper said. “I want to congratulate MedicAlert for this tremendous initiative, and I also want to applaud their new partner in the campaign, the Lions Club of Canada, which is providing funding and community-based support as the program expands across our country.

The announcement provides an additional $3 million to the No Child Without campaign. The Budget 2008 commitment, combined with $2 million allocated to the campaign in Budget 2007, brings the federal government’s total contribution to the No Child Without campaign to $5 million.

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38 Home and Garden

Attracting birds to your garden

Eastern Bluebird

39 Home and Garden There is nothing that tells us it’s spring more than the arrival of birds such as blackbirds and robins. Nearly everyone appreciates the beauty and enjoyment of watching birds feasting on your garden treats. So what are the best ways of attracting birds to your garden?

Birds not only provide colour and beauty to a garden they also perform important functions such as pest control and plant pollination.

In order to attract birds you need to know what they want from life mainly: food, shelter and water. If you can provide their needs they will come.

Food Depending on where you live will depend on the type of birds you are likely to attract. If you live in Ontario you will be very familiar with the Blue Jay, whereas in British Columbia the Grey Jays and Stellar’s Jay are far more numerous.

Like humans, birds have their favorite food types and each species has its own preferences. Some like seeds, some nuts, some like nectar and others like insects or fruit. If you are prepared to offer a wide selection of foods then you will be rewarded with a wider selection of birds. It is also worth knowing what food each species feeds to its young as this can determine if you have nesting birds nearby.

Shrubs and trees: The type of shrubs and trees you have in your garden will have an impact on the species you attract. If you try to plant those which offer berries, fruit, seeds and nuts you will see far more birds than a garden with just one or two tree types. Evergreens are excellent as not only do they offer year round colour for your enjoyment they also offer food sources and shelter to birds all year round.

Unless it is unsafe, try to leave any dead wood and trees in your garden as many insects use this as home and thus you will attract more birds. Woodpeckers,

nuthatches and chickadees love nothing more than hiding their food in tree bark, so by leaving the odd bit of dead wood about you will be providing a larder for them.

You might also want to provide an area of dead limbs and leaves such as a compost as this will attract grounddwelling birds such as towhees and sparrows. These little birds will spend hours rummaging through such areas for insects.

Plants: The type of plants you use are also important. Using wildflowers native to your area is always a good idea as they will in turn attract native birds.

Wildflowers will also attract insects so you will then be appealing to insect eating birds. Remember many birds who feed on seeds, nuts etc as adults feed their young on insects, so to have both options in the garden will encourage them to stay nearby and nest.

Flowers such as sunflowers, daisies and coneflowers can be left to go to seed as the seeds are very attractive to many bird species such as finches, sparrows etc. Remember too that they are also very attractive to squirrels and chipmunks, so be prepared to be raided!

Note: With all trees, shrubs and plants it is important to get a mix of conifers, grasses, nectar producing plants, fruiting plants, nut producing plants and evergreens.

If you include mulch or bark chips round your plants and trees this will encourage insects too. Birds love to rummage around in this type of surface digging out tasty treats.

Feeders: Another important step to take in attracting birds is to provide feeders in key locations throughout your garden.

Bird feeders come in many shapes and sizes and can be made to be squirrel proof if this is an issue to you. You will find that there are different feeders for different types of food. Some hold seeds and nuts, some fruit and some will hold suet bars or nectar, many hold any number of things.

Your feeds should be large enough to hold a good amount of food as you don’t want to be running out filling it up every hour. It should also be sturdy to withstand

Steller’s Jay

American Goldfinch

Black Capped Chickadee

Downy Woodpecker

Home and Garden 40 both the weather and the weight of larger birds. It should keep food dry and clean and should be easy to refill and look after and keep clean.

You will want to use several different types of feeder in order to attract the greatest variety of birds. If you have a small garden which does not allow you to landscape for birds then feeders will be your way of attracting birds to your home.

Likewise if you live in a property without a garden, you might consider using feeders outside your window or on a balcony to attract as many birds as you can.

Tray feeders will appeal to many birds. They are basically a raised, flat surface onto which various foods can be placed. Some have a roof to offer protection from the weather, but many are open. This type of feeder should have drainage holes to allow water to escape.

Hopper feeders are basically a box forming an enclosed food hopper. Some have clear fronts so birds can see inside.

Most birds will use a hopper feeder and it will also keep food dry and clean.

Window feeders are useful if you want an “up close and personal� view of your birds. They are clear boxes that attach to a window by way of a suction cup to allow you to see the birds.

Cylinder feeders are long hollow cylinders which can be filled with food.

They can have several feeding holes and perches to allow many birds access at the same time. They can be made from anything from metal, plastic or wood and encourage smaller birds to feed. These feeders are not good at attracting larger birds as they are space restrictive.

Suet feeders can be found as individual items or attached to other feeders. They are a mesh cage or bag which holds suet cakes. Woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees will enjoy this type of feeder.

Nectar feeders are plastic containers which hold artificial nectar or sugar solution. They often have red flower like feeding ports to allow hummingbirds to hover and feed. They should have bee guards to prevent bees from entering the container. This type of container needs to be cleaned frequently, so make sure it is easy to clean. Some nectar feeders are saucer shaped allowing hummingbirds to

Bobolink feed from the top. Nectar feeders should not be placed in direct sunlight as it will cause the nectar to spoil too quickly.

box, some birds like a lot of room, others want a small cozy space. The height the box is placed is also a factor to be considered.

When buying a nesting box many will Shelter have details of the type of bird it is likely to attract an the optimum placement for it.

Shelter comes in many forms, both A Chickadee will like a box that has a natural and artificial. Birds rely on shelter not only to protect them from the elements hole of 3 cm diameter and the hole should be 15 cm above the bottom of the box. and predators, but to provide a secure The box should be between 2 and 5 location to nest and bring up their young. metres above the ground.

Natural shelter is in trees and shrubs, A Hairy Woodpecker will require a particularly evergreens that can offer hole 4 cm diameter and 25 cm above shelter in the winter months. Dense bottom of the box. This box should be wooded areas are great for birds as it placed 3 to 5 metres above the ground. offers protection from both the elements and predators. By providing different types Water of foliage you will be providing shelter for many types of birds.

Artificial shelter comes in the form of Water is not only used for drinking, nesting boxes which can be placed in but for bathing. Water can be in the form strategic locations in your garden of a pond, stream or an artificial bird bath. encouraging birds to nest.

If the source is natural make sure it is Not all birds will use nest boxes, but easily accessible. This might mean adding species such as chickadees, nuthatches some stones or rocks for birds to stand and woodpecker may. on as water more than a few centimeters The type and location of the nest box deep will be off-putting to smaller birds. is crucial. The entrance size is very The water source should also be close to important as a bird will obviously want to shelter as this will allow the bird to escape be able to enter and exit easily, but will not any predators. want other birds to get in the box. Other Bird baths should have a rough important factors are the actual size of the surface with sloping sides and shallow

Home and Garden 41 .

water. trough. The bath should be refilled regularly and kept clean.

Birds love running water, so a fountain or waterfall will be an added bonus for them.

As well as bathing in water birds love to bath in sand or fine soil. If you can provide an area of this type you will find many birds dusting themselves off very happily.

Nesting Materials As well as providing the actual nesting boxes for birds it is also worth trying to provide the nesting materials they will need to make a comfy nest.

Again this will depend on the type of bird, but things such as twigs, leaves and general garden debris will all be welcomed. We mentioned before the use of an area of dead branches and compost, well this can also be a good source of nesting products for birds.

Other things to consider providing are straw, string, yarn, dead twigs, feathers, bark and pine needles. Don’t let your household waste go unused either. Things such as animal fur and shredded paper will also be used by birds to make their nests.

Butterflies As well as attracting many types of birds to your garden, you will also be attracting butterflies.

Butterflies like many of the plants and flowers you will be planting to attract the birds. They particularly like strong scented plants and brightly colored plants, particularly blue ones.

If you plant your garden with different height border plants butterflies will love to fly between the different blooms. They also need the sun to warm their bodies, so if you place some flat stones in sunny , wind-less spots this will encourage sunbathing butterflies.

Plants that attract birds and butterflies Aster Bellflower Black-eyed Susans Coneflower Malva Butterfly Bush (Buddleja) Yarrow Sedum Honesty Sweet Rocket Bellflower Honeysuckle Candytuft Michaelmas Daisy Nicotiana Arabis Dwarf Phlox Alyssum Rosemary Hyssop Lavender Bergamot Thyme Butterfly Bush Thistles Dogwood Bittersweet Vine Sumac Trees Maple Trees Holly Trees and Shrubs Winterberry Wisteria Buckeye Hibiscus Lobelia Verbena Winterberry Honeysuckle Lilac Berbaris and any berry producing tree or bush

42 Home and Garden

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Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 1

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Licensed for 60 people, main floor 2500 sq. ft with 1100 sq. ft. 3 bedroom apartment upstairs. Excellent downtown location within minutes to Provincial Sandbanks! Owner will hold Mortgage. Financial statements available to serious offers. List of chattels and inclusions available on offers.

MLS: 2075898 City: Prince Edward

Price: $375,900 Bedrooms: 5

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Grand Century Home situated on a 12 acre parcel of land with great Privacy! Large barn in good condition. This home boasts many original features, 9 1/2 foot ceilings, extra wide baseboards, original trim and most doors. Over 3400 sq. ft. with great potential. Spacious 4 bedrooms upstairs, original wood bannister. Large room on main floor could be master bedroom or Parlor. This all brick home is set back from Road with long driveway going into property, offers a wonderful Privacy!

MLS: 2080554 City: Hillier

Price: $198,000 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Solid Brick/Stucco Century Home - on large lot. 4 bedrooms, spacious kitchen with newer cabinetry , main floor laundry, 200 amp service. Basement has been insulated. Ultra Violet light/water filter, water softener. Single Detached garage.

MLS: 2071638 City: Hillier

Price: $299,000 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 1

Solid bungalow with 33 acres of good clay loam soil. Close to many wineries. 40' x 60' cement block building with 14' ceilings, 200 amp service. Deeded access to well

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43 Home and Garden

Realtor v’s sale by owner Many people looking to sell a house these days are faced with the option of selling the property themselves or enlist the services of a Realtor.

For years Realtors have been the number one option when selling your home and many people never thought of selling by any other means. These days with the growing use of the World Wide Web across Canada, more and more people are debating whether to do it themselves.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both and these must be weighed up before choosing which model to choose.

Realtors Realtors are licensed real estate professionals and will be members of their local real estate board, their provincial association and the Canadian Real Estate Association. They will have trained extensively and be knowledgeable and experienced in the real estate market.

A good Realtor will know your area well and will be able to guide you through the legal maze of selling your home. They will know exactly how much you should ask for your property, guide you regarding changes you need to make before selling and will get you to sign a Listing Agreement to cover both parties.

Marketing is a major reason for choosing a Realtor. They will have a database of clients that they can contact as well as an office to promote your sale.

They may organise a Realtor open house in which they invite other Realtors to your property so they can see it first hand and be able to market it to their clients too.

Another big marketing tool only available to Realtors is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). When they enter your property onto MLS, not only is it available for all potential buyer to see, it is also sent immediately to local agents so that they know instantly that your property is on the market.

Realtors offer advice and guidance throughout the process, they deal with all

the marketing and paperwork. They may offer open houses and will always show potential buyers around your home.

When you find a buyer your Realtor will be the one doing all the negotiating between the parties. You will not have to communicate with the buyers and this means that all personal issues are removed. The Realtor will be working for you to get the best possible deal.

Realtors typically charge around 5% of the selling price to market and sell your home. Obviously if a sale is not achieved you will not incur a cost.

If you oraganise open houses or private viewings, you will have to show people around yourself.

All paperwork and legal documentation will need to be done by you and you will also be dealing directly with the buyer and be responsible for negotiating the selling price, inclusions and conditions of sale.

Summary

If you are in no hurry to sell your home you might want to try to sell it yourself to start with. You may be lucky Sale by Owner and get the ideal result - you sell for the price you need and pay little or nothing.

Many websites and companies have However you might find the whole sprung up over the years allowing you to process too daunting and too personal advertise and sell your home yourself. and prefer to hand over the reigns to a The costs involved are sometimes professional. Many people feel the price is free, but usually amount to a few hundred worth paying for the peace of mind a dollars depending on the service offered.

Realtor can bring.

This may seem like an excellent way Either way, the choice is there, you of selling your home without the costs of a just have to find the one that fits your Realtor, but are you ready to sell your own needs and requirements. home?

You will need to decide how much to market your property for and you will also be responsible for all marketing.

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

44 Home and Garden

Staging your home to sell When looking to sell your home you obviously want to get top dollar and in order to do that your home needs to be presented in such a way that buyers cannot resist.

staging to home owners. If you have no idea where to start or what to do they can be a good option, but they do cost money and you can do this yourself.

Simple rules of staging

Clean your home: This may seem Staging is a process by which you obvious but can be overlooked, especially present your home in the most appealing in those places where you don’t always way in order to attract buyers. It need not go. Remember buyers will be opening cost very much or take too long to do, but cupboards, looking behind things, looking can mean the difference between getting through windows and in your garage and an asking price offer or even multiple outhouses. Make sure every part of your offers or not getting any interest at all. home is sparkling clean, inside and out.

Even if you are not aware of it, De-Clutter: It is vital that you get rid builders use staging when presenting of any clutter in your home before you show homes to the public. They “dress” sell. You don’t have to throw it away, you the house to appeal to the market they can put it in storage for future use, but are trying to attract. you do need to remove it whilst selling.

So how can you benefit from staging By removing clutter you are and how is it done? There are lots of presenting your house as a clean and tidy people and companies around that offer home. De-cluttering will also make the home seem bigger.

Make sure kitchen and bathroom countertops are clear of clutter too.

De-personalise: This should be Subscribe to Muchmor Magazine and part of your decluttering not only will you be reminded when process. every new issue is published but you Removing personal items will also be placed into a draw to win will mean a $50 TimCard™ potential buyers can picture themselves in your property and not be overwhelmed by your personal photos, religious artifacts or read muchmor for the latest winner knickknacks. and to subscribe at Do fixes: By this we mean fix that dripping tap, or broken cupboard handle. This

readmuchmor.com

applies to outdoor items too, so if you have some shingles that need attention, fix it. Buyers will use these things to try to negotiate lower offer prices. A thing that may have cost you a few dollars to correct can end up costing you thousands .

Neutralise: If it a fact that buyers are more inclined to picture themselves in a home that has neutral decor. If you have bright red walls, many buyers will be put off. Even if you love your purple bedroom, a buyer might not and so if you neutralise you will have a better chance of appealing to more people. Neutral colours also tend to make rooms look bigger.

Curb appeal: As the saying goes, “you only get one chance to make a first impression.” If a buyer drives to your home and is immediately put off by the weeds in your flower bed, the peeling paint on your front door or the old rusting car in your drive then you can bet however nice your home is inside, they will have already decided not to buy.

Clean up the front of your home to make it as appealing as possible. Plant flowers, paint woodwork, replace the old mailbox and remove unused vehicles. Put other vehicles in the garage.

Overall: Do not cook anything strong smelling before accepting viewings. You don’t want buyers referring to your home as “the garlic house.”

Empty wastebaskets before viewings. Make sure all plants are healthy looking. Make sure your closets are clean and tidy. If you have carpets are they clean? If not get them cleaned. Are your windows clean? Is your refrigerator tidy and not full of beer or rotting cheese? Are the towels in your bathroom clean?

Leave lights on for viewings and make sure all light-bulbs are working.

Get advice from your realtor. They are in the business of showing homes and know what works and what doesn’t. If they suggest changing something, do it.

After all they want to sell your house as much as you do, they want the commission!

Home and Garden 45

Donna McNeil Exit Realty Metro Tel: (01) 902-222-4937 Exit Realty Metro 2055-1658 Bedford Highway Bedford NS B4A 2X9

MLS: 00570739 City: Wellington

Price: $269,900 Province: Nova Scotia Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1

If a park like property and privacy is what you are looking for, well take a closer look.

This one of a kind gem has one of the most private settings available in the area. Beds of perennials fill the property and line the paved driveway. The home sit on professionally landscape lot that measures almost an acre in size and backs on over 7 acres of unused HRM Parkland. Inside you will be equally impressed with new hardwood floors, fully finished basement with walkout, 3 bedrooms and open kitchen.

Truly a pleasure to view!

MLS: 41238866 Price: $469,000 Province: Nova Scotia City: Hammonds Plains Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Stunning two storey in Cox Lake Ridge, Hammonds Plains new luxury living community.

Deeded lake access, and fabulous views of the lake. Minutes to all amenities.

MLS: 41116138 City: Halifax

Price: $374,900 Province: Nova Scotia Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4

This absolutely stunning 2 storey cape cod home has a very unique layout and is situated in desirable St. Andrew’s Village; one of Metro’s most popular subdivisions! You will be impressed by the cozy and yet elegant styling which includes walnut stained birch floors, mushroom glazed kitchen cabinets with center island, and the brick wood burning fireplace. The 3216 sq ft of finished living space offers 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, home office, den, media room, and more.

MLS: 41115593 City: Fall River

Price: $339,900 Province: Nova Scotia Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

Stunning 4 bedroom home has everything you’re looking for. Sunken family room with stone propane fireplace, eat in gourmet kitchen that’s great for entertaining. Double French doors to formal living room. Double doors that leads through to master bedroom with walk in closet, 5 piece en-suite, bay window seat with storage. Main bath with laundry. 10 year New Home Warranty. HST rebate back to builder. Please note that the listing agent is related to the vendor. Commission payable on sale price minus HST.

MLS: 40841470 Price: $344,900 Province: Nova Scotia City: Hammonds Plains Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 This exceptional three bedroom home with 2500 sq ft of living space is located on quiet, friendly, sought after Carmel Cres., in Highland Park Subdivision. The home is brand new using quality materials. Built with extreme thought and care at every stage of construction. The home features a huge double car garage, private 22x10 pressure treated rear deck, maple kitchen cabinets with island, desk, pantry and garden doors to the deck.

www.halifaxdartmouthrealestate.com

46 Home and Garden

Winter storms blamed for downturn in real estate market An immigrant, helping NEW immigrants find their NEW HOME or an investment property for the past 18 years. email or call me TOLL FREE TODAY

Tel: 1-877-256-0006 email: stef@lukasgrouprealty.com This winter all across Canada the weather has taken its toll on the housing market. Many places have seen record snowfall and severe bad weather for an extended period of time and this seems to have put off both buyers and sellers.

The Canadian Real Estate Association reported that across the country’s major centres sales fell in February by 9.6% compared to the same time last year.

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) accounts for a third of all major markets and it saw sales fall by 18% on last year.

“It’s important to recognize that we have endured the snowiest winter since 1939 and this has undoubtedly affected the market,” said Maureen O’Neill of the Toronto Real Estate Board. “The storm that pounded the GTA during the second weekend of March likely had more people focused on shoveling sidewalks than house hunting.”

Other areas of Ontario were also hit, the Quinte area reported sales dropping by 25% on the same time last year. “The harsh winter has impacted negatively on our sales, that's for sure," said Doug Row of the Quinte Real Estate Board.

Ottawa was also hit hard by excessive snowfall but managed to weather the real estate storm with a decrease in sales of only 4.5%, considerably less than other areas.

In Alberta, Calgary sales dropped 35.4% in February and Edmonton saw drops of 31.8%. By contrast these two areas also saw huge rises in new inventory with Calgary listings up 38.9% and Edmonton 65.1%.

Saskatoon, as we report on page 51, was an exception to the rule with increases in sales. Regina also saw increases of over 27% on last year.

www.lukasgrouprealty.com

Let me help you find your ideal home Claudia Hancott Sales Representative 264 Front Street Belleville Ontario K8N 2Z2 Tel: +1 613 967 2100 Fax: +1 613 967 4688 email: chancott@c21lanthorn.com www.claudiahancott.com

Lanthorn Real Estate Ltd. Brokerage Each Office is independently Owned and Operated

If you are looking at moving to the Belleville and surrounding area of Ontario, then give me a call. I am fluent in both English and German and as an immigrant myself I know the importance of finding the right home!

Home and Garden 47

Helen Parnell Tel: 403-932-8888 www.moving2alberta.com MLS: C3307045 City: Cochrane

Price: $599,000 Bedrooms: 5

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

This unique walkout bunglow in a cul-de-sac location has a rare LEGAL 2 bedroom suite in the basement with own private entrance and patio. Rental income from this suite can be used as income when appying for a mortgage. The main entrance has a great slate floor and den/home office. Upstairs you have a good size kitchen with island come kitchen table.

Family room has cosy fireplace already fitted with wood surround. There is also a formal dining room or this could be the home office! hardwood flooring throughout. At the front is a huge 36' deck with doors off the master and family room and partial mountain views.

MLS: C3305603 City: Cochrane

Price: $297,500 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

This amazing 3rd floor condo is one of the few PREMIER suites. Placed on the corner you have extra windows making it a bright spacious apartment. The kitchen has some of the many upgrades with maple cabinets and breakfast bar lighting. There are two good size bedrooms with the master having a walk though closet and 4 peice ensuite. The ensuite was upgraded with a soaker tub and tiling to the ceiling. The second bedroom is large enough for a double bed or even an office.

MLS: C3297692 City: Cochrane

Price: $279,500 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

Great private, secluded and quiet place to call home. This home has it all. Nice size family room to cosy into on these cold nights. The kitchen is bright with dining area and new laminate flooring installed earlier this year. The kitchen faces west so great for the evening sun. A two-piece washroom completes this level. Upstairs you have a good size master and then two further bedrooms. The 4-piece washroom is all new with tiling all the way to the top of the wall by the deep soaker tub. The walkout basement needs your finishing touches but walks out on to a nice deck on private fenced yard.

MLS: C3312425 City: Cochrane

Price: $347,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

LOCATION, location, Location. On the banks of the Bow River in a quiet cul-de-sac. This walkout bungalow has everything for a growing family. The location is superb with a oversized, huge, south-facing yard with great views of the river with the added bonus of being in the golf community of Riverview. The main floor boasts recently tile foyer, large family room with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The bright county kitchen features two skylights and leads to the large covered deck (16'x20') and steps to the yard. The basement has two more bedrooms and a full bathroom, an office (which could be a 6th bedroom or den) plus family room with corner gas fireplace. The walkout basement leads to one of the largest yards in Cochrane and has access to the 'red' paths along the river.

MLS: c3315110 City: Cochrane

Price: $562,500 Bedrooms: 5

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

Enter the main floor family room and admire the rich Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors throughout. The main floor contains the Master bedroom with 5 piece en-suite, 2nd bedroom/ flex room, re-modeled kitchen with granite worktops and brand new appliances, mudroom and 4 piece guest bathroom. Panoramic views of the golf course can be enjoyed on those long sunny evenings whilst cooking on the gas line BBQ. The walkout basement has an excellent design; a further 3 large bedrooms, 4 piece bathroom, storage rooms and lounge with French doors leading to a large cobblestone patio and spacious garden.

48 Home and Garden

Buying a house with a well Last month we discussed the issues surrounding buying a house with a septic system. Well, if you are going to be buying such a property chances are that it will also have a well as the main source of water supply.

If you have always lived in a city or town in Canada, or are new to Canada then you might not be familiar with what a well is and how it works.

What is a well?

In simple terms a well is your own personal water supply which means you are responsible for it and best of all, like having a septic system you will not be paying any municipal charges for water and sewage treatment. Many rural properties in Canada rely on wells for domestic water supply as they are not connected to municipal supplies.

Wells are dug to a depth allowing them to penetrate an aquifer, an area of saturated permeable rock or soil. The type of soil or rock will have a baring on the type of well you will require.

Generally gravel and bedrock make good aquifers whilst clay and silt do not.

Dug or bored wells: This type of well is used when the ground will not allow for a deep well or the aquifer is shallow. As their name suggests they are holes dug into the ground to a depth of less than 15 metres. Because they are shallow they have the highest risk of contamination. They are also more susceptible to water shortages when the water table drops during a drought.

Sand point wells: This type of well is constructed by driving lengths of pipe into the ground to depths of less than 15 metres. They are used in areas where there is loose soil, sand or gravel and they suffer the same contamination and water shortage problems as dug wells.

Drilled wells: Drilled wells are the most expensive to construct but provide

Drilled well diagram courtesy of Government of Ontario a much better and safer source of water.

They are constructed using precision machinery and can go to depths of 300 metres, although depths of around 60 metres is more usual.

Well location Because a well is providing you with your water, including drinking water you will want to know that it is located in such a position as to prevent contamination as far as possible. You can see, even with an untrained eye if some of the key points have been addressed even before you employ a professional to look at the system.

The well cap, which provides the access point to the well should be at least 30 cm above ground level and be watertight. The well should be a good

distance from any form of contamination including septic systems, roads, agriculture fields, fuel storage areas etc.

As long as the casing is watertight to at least 6 metres then the distance from contaminants should be at least 15 metres. If the watertight level is less than 6 metres then distances should be increased to at least 30 metres.

Buyers tip There are three things you should make a condition of the sale: well inspection, water recovery test and water quality test. Always have a well inspected before you buy a house by a licensed well contractor. The contractor will check for things such as water level, pump performance, water-tightness, pressure,

Home and Garden 49 water quality, contaminants as well as the general condition of the well itself.

The contractor will also issue you with a Water Recover Test which will tell you how much water can be drawn from the well. Ideally a minimum of 14 litres per minute for a duration of 120 minutes should be recorded.

You should also obtain a well record from the owner or the Ministry of the Environment. The record will include details such as when the well was built and of what construction, the depth and diameter, pump rate and recommended settings.

You might also want to contact neighbors to see if they are aware of any problems in the area such as water shortages, known contaminants etc. You can also contact local well contractors to see if they are aware of any issues which might concern you.

However, you should be aware that softeners increase sodium content in the water which can be a health risk for people with heart or circulatory problems.

You can install a system which bypasses drinking water but softens other water in the home such as shower water, washing machine water etc.

Iron & manganese: If you have these in your water you might notice a metallic taste or find coloured staining around plumbing fixtures. A water softener can help with this problem as will aeration (adding oxygen to the water). There are also new synthetic mediums which can be added to reduce this problem.

Nitrates: Nitrates can come from a variety of sources including septic systems, farm waste, fertilizers etc.

Exposure to nitrates can cause health problems and is a particular problem for young children under six months of age.

Levels of 10 mg/L or higher need to be investigated immediately.

Water quality Although there are treatments for this type of contamination, the first thing you Obviously the most important thing need to do is remove the source of the about your well is that it provides safe problem. Once the reason behind the water for your household. Wells can become contaminated with any number of nitrates is removed you should not have things such as bacteria, chemicals, runoff, any further problems, but should get water checked regularly incase of reoccurrence. septic systems and such like.

E.coli: If levels of E-coli are found the You should always have the water you have a problem with human waste. quality tested before committing to buying Perhaps the septic system is leaking? Any a property. Once you are the owner you E-coli presence should be investigated should continue to have the water checked at regular intervals. Ideally water immediately as only a level of 0 per 100/ ml is acceptable. Even a count of 1 can should be tested at least annually, be lethal. particularly in the spring after any snowTotal Coliform: A measurement of melt. If any concerns are felt such as a coliform in your water suggests that bad taste or discoloration then the water surface water is getting into the system. If should be checked immediately. the measurement is between 1-5 then you The results of the test will indicate if should get this checked immediately. Any there is a problem with the water that measurement higher than five means your might need attention. water is unsafe.

Hard water: This is the most Sulfur: The presence of sulfur can common problem with well water and give off a rotten egg smell to your water although it doesn’t cause any health problems can be a problem for the health as well as leave a bitter taste. It can of your house. Hard water is caused when cause corrosion to plumbing and appliances and can have a laxative effect there are high levels of calcium and on humans. magnesium in the water. This causes There are several methods for scaling in appliances and pipes and you treating sulfur: aeration, ozone, hydrogen will also find it harder to form a lather with peroxide, and chlorine (best followed by soap. You might want to consider filtration) are effective against dissolved installing a water softener in your home if hydrogen sulfide or gas. Reverse osmosis the hard water causes problems.

systems can also be effective against sulphur build-up.

Lead: This can be a problem with old systems and any trace of lead in water is dangerous and should be investigated immediately.

Whatever the results of your water test, always get the inspector to go through them with you to ensure any problems are easily correctable.

Care of a well As a well owner you will want to look after your water supply and this means some simple maintenance such as having the well inspected on a regular basis and having the water quality checked regularly - at least once a year, especially after a winter thaw or a flood. If you ever discover an unusual taste, smell or discoloration of your water, contact a qualified contractor immediately to assess the problem.

Do not use any chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides etc near your well as these can get into the water table. Make sure you keep other contaminants away from your well such as animal waste, septic waste etc. Always make sure your septic system is in good working order so that it will not compromise your water supply and ultimately your health.

Make sure the area around your well cap slopes away from the well so rainwater etc flows away from it. If water is allowed to pool around the well it can potentially seep into it causing problems.

If you ever need to have work dome around your well such as landscaping etc make sure you contact a well contractor for advice to make sure you are not going to be doing anything that harms your well.

The cost of installing a new drilled well to a depth of 60 metes, depending on location and conditions can cost in the region of $10,000, so they are worth looking after.

It is also worth remembering that if you have a well, you have a well pump which runs on electricity. If you have a power failure you will lose your water supply, so you might want to consider having a backup generator in order to maintain your water supply during outages.

50 Home and Garden

MLS: Exclusive City: Calgary

Price: $286,000 Bedrooms: 1

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 1

Beautifully renovated 1 bedroom apartment in Bankview! Hardwood Floors, Italian tiles, Laundry hook-ups, new bathroom and kitchen, stainless steel appliances. Heated garage and much more! Assumable Mortgage, No Qualifying, Through RBC. The payment is $1418.00 P.I., at 5.19% interest rate.

MLS: Exclusive City: Calgary

Price: $363,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

THIS PROPERTY IS OFFERED BY CAROLINA HOMES EXCLUSIVELY FOR STEF AT THIS PRICE AND RETAILS FOR 420K. Adjacent to Coventry Hills in the city's North-Central area, Panorama Hills is the model of accessibility and design. With Deerfoot Trail only moments away, you are only 25 minutes from the Downtown Core, and have easy access to the rest of the city. A future LRT station is planned for the area as well, further increasing your ability to get around. However, you may not have much need to go outside of your community for your leisure and recreation needs, as a the heart of Panorama Hills is the e-community Centre available to residents, that will provide a space for homeowners to host social, educational and recreational events in it's beautifully equipped and landscaped environment.

MLS: Exclusive City: Calgary

Price: $365,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

THIS PROPERTY IS OFFERED BY CAROLINA HOMES EXCLUSIVELY FOR STEF AT THIS PRICE AND RETAILS FOR 425K. Adjacent to Coventry Hills in the city's North-Central area, Panorama Hills is the model of accessibility and design. With Deerfoot Trail only moments away, you are only 25 minutes from the Downtown Core, and have easy access to the rest of the city. A future LRT station is planned for the area as well, further increasing your ability to get around.

However, you may not have much need to go outside of your community for your leisure and recreation needs, as a the heart of Panorama Hills is the e-community Centre available to residents, that will provide a space for homeowners to most social, educational and recreational events in it's beautifully equipped and landscaped environment.

MLS: Exclusive City: Calgary

Price: $395,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

THIS PROPERTY IS OFFERED BY CAROLINA HOMES EXCLUSIVELY FOR STEF AT THIS PRICE AND RETAILS FOR 436K. Adjacent to Coventry Hills in the city's North-Central area, Panorama Hills is the model of accessibility and design. With Deerfoot Trail only moments away, you are only 25 minutes from the Downtown Core, and have easy access to the rest of the city.

A future LRT station is planned for the area as well, further increasing your ability to get around.

However, you may not have much need to go outside of your community for your leisure and recreation needs, as a the heart of Panorama Hills is the e-community Centre available to residents, that will provide a space for homeowners to host social, educational and recreational events in it's beautifully equipped and landscaped environment.

Home and Garden 51

Saskatoon housing market just keeps soaring

Last year the Saskatoon housing market really took off and many new records were set within the real estate industry. This year is shaping up to follow suit.

During February this year the average selling price set new records at $265,269 and 367 properties were sold. This price is 41% above the average selling price for the same time last year. The number of listings entering the market was also up 40% on last year.

Much of this recent activity has come from Albertans wanting to move to Saskatchewan as they see far better value for money than can be seen in Alberta.

Many are cashing in on the huge profits they are seeing on their Alberta homes and buying for much less in Saskatoon leaving them money in the bank.

Even though Saskatoon has seen large increases in average selling prices, properties are still seen as great value for money to Albertans and indeed other Canadians.

Saskatoon’s nearby rural communities have also seen a steady rise in prices.

Average prices in these areas have risen 37% to an average of $218,931 in

February 2008. Martensville and Warman During the first two months of the year a see prices similar to those of Saskatoon total of 376 housing starts were recorded. whilst communities such as Clavet, Dundurn and Dalmeny have much lower average selling prices.

The demand for homes is so high that many vendors are receiving multiple offers on their homes, giving them the luxury of getting the best possible deal.

Buyers are being forced to place offers in excess of asking prices in order to secure their dream house.

Another sign that Saskatoon is on the up and up are the new housing starts. During February there were 175 new housing starts info@muchmormedia.com in the city. The majority of new starts were either single family homes or condo’s. This number is 94% higher than the previous record set in February 2007.

Realtors

Get your properties listed in Muchmor for less than $10 per week.

Contact us now for more information

52 Home and Garden

MLS: 301679 Price: $279,900 Province: Saskatchewan City: Saskatoon Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 1 Immaculate 2-storey home in move in condition and located in the heart of city park. This solid well-build 1928 character home boasts bride of ownership throughout. Gleaming hardwood floors, great yard lots of improvements. Includes storage shed with electric supply, ideal for artists studio, handyman, potter etc. Also boasts garden, patio and two parking stalls.

MLS: 301693 Price: $247,900 Province: Saskatchewan City: Saskatoon Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Great opportunity in Caswell Hill !.Charming 829 sq ft 2 bdrm character home.Features hardwood floors, crown mouldings in livingroom , a bright front veranda, a huge master bdrm and main floor laundry. Upgrades include hi efficiency furnace, H2O tank and shingles done recently. Built in hot tub on deck. Close to schools and downtown.

MLS: 301457 City: Saskatoon

Price: $369,900 Province: Saskatchewan Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

Excellent bilevel style home in the Arbor Creek area. Spacious european style kitchen with eat-in nook. Master bedroom with walk-in closet and a full bath. Bright with large windows in this professionally finsished basement, developed in a contemporary decor. Features vaulted ceiling, direct entry to garage, two tiered deck, and a maintenance free exterior vinyl siding. Fully fenced with lawn in the front and back. Move in condition!

MLS: 301522 Price: $469,900 Province: Saskatchewan City: Saskatoon Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 1 This beautifully maintained two storey features large living and dining areas with gleaming hardwood floors, a main floor family room with patio doors to the deck and an updated maple kitchen. Extra features include an oak living room wall unit with gas fireplace, newer central air conditioning, five appliances, many upgraded windows and recent exterior paint and shingles. You'll love living in one of Saskatoon's most sought after areas with easy access to Broadway Avenueand the river - this home is located just steps to everything with easy access to the University of Saskatchewan.

MLS: Various lots Price: $60,900 - $139,900 Province: Saskatchewan City: Prince albert These beautiful lake lots come in a variety of dimensions and elevations and are conveniently located just 10 minutes west of the town of Big River on highway 55. Power & phone service to be run upon completion of roads. Marina to be located on the south west corner in the phase one of the development. This is your chance to get in at phase one prices. Lots being sold first come first serve. Investor package available..

Home and Garden 53

MLS: 2076639 City: Picton

Price: $975,000 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: 2081511 City: Prince Edward

Price: $649,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Custom Built home on 2.73 Ac. with approximately 190' of waterfront on East Lake.

Laminate, ceramic tile and carpet floors, 11 sets of French doors plus double hung windows.

Large lliving room with propane fireplace, ensuite bathroom with heated floor, 6x8 wallk-in closet and claw foot slipper tub in main floor bath. There is also an outbuilding that has potential for a studio. Minutes to Sandbanks, wineries and local artist studios.

MLS: 2077012 City: Prince Edward

Price: $339,000 Province: Ontario Waterfront plot, build your dream home

Beautiful waterfront lot overlooking the sand dunes at West Lake. Great swimming and boating. Lot size is irregular with 127 feet being the shoreline. Build the house of your dreams here and view the fantastic sunsets.

MLS: 2076824 City: Picton

Price: $229,000 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Brick century home in good area of Picton. Owners have completely renovated kitchen, 2 baths [one with clawfoot tub], newer roof, electrical upgrade including breaker panel plus gas furnace. All pine floors, 9' ceilings, 3 season sun room, back stairway, 10' x 10' deck plus insulated garage/workshop.

Discover Canada 54

Get-A-Life Events Inc. is proud to present the 4th Annual Calgary Beerfest. On top of the multitude of beers available, the event will feature some of Calgary’s premier eateries, nightclubs, pubs, live music, massage therapists, clairvoyants, games, prizes and of course an even more amazing selection of world class beers. We are proud to be supporting the Autism & Aspergers Friendship Society – http:// members.shaw.ca/aafs - helping to provide respite care in a recreational environment while promoting socialization among children-teens-adults on the Autism/Aspergers/PDD spectrum in the Calgary area.

When is Calgary Beerfest?

Calgary Beerfest will take place Friday, April 25th: between 4 pm and 10 pm and Saturday April 26th between 3 pm and 10 pm.

Where is Calgary Beerfest?

Last year’s festival was a huge success - so much so, that this year we’ve decided to keep the event at the large and very accessible Lower Big 4 Building ~ Stampede Park, Calgary.

What is Calgary Beerfest?

Calgary Beerfest is an amazing sampling event that allows you to sample beers and other beverages from all over the world, meet great people, play games, enjoy entertainment, and basically have a great time! Patrons will enjoy the amazing beers, succulent food, incredible interactive entertainment, great live music, air-brush tattoo artists and a lot more! Play games, learn about beers, meet people; there’s never a dull moment!

Ticket Information Tickets can be bought in advance for $19 through our website - www.CalgaryBeerFest.com - through Ticketmaster.ca, or select Liquor Depot locations. Tickets at the door are $25 and entrance is subject to capacity. Sample tokens can be purchased inside for $0.50/each. Upon entry attendees will receive the official Calgary BeerFest sample mug to keep!