Muchmor Magazine Issue 28

muchmor Canada

issue 32 july 08

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

All shook up in Collingwood...Elvis is in the building Quinte Region

Ontario Real Life Story Nova Scotia Tackling Peer Pressure

Dempster Highway - Dare you take on the Arctic Circle road trip?

Internet use in Canada the facts

recipes book reviews real-life stories Immigration reforms

Plus muchmor... www.readmuchmor.com

2 Advertisement

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Contents 3 From the Editor.....

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. All rights reserved in all media. No parts of this publication can be reproduced in any form, copied of stored electronically for commercial use without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Storing for personal use is acceptable.

We are happy to make every effort to verify all the information we publish, but products and prices do change. Muchmor Magazine cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any losses that may arise as a result, but it is our policy to correct any errors of fact whenever we can.

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

First of all, Happy Canada Day everyone! Although some of you may read this issue after July1st, we still want to wish you all a happy holiday.

Well summer is finally here and we can all sit outside and enjoy the summer sun (with sun protection of course) and visit the places we love. Canada has so many places to visit but I must confess that I didn’t realize that Collingwood in Ontario was such a mecca for Elvis fans. See page 10 for full details.

We have lots of other information and articles as you can see from the content list below, so happy reading and as Elvis would say - Thank you very much.

Jane Toombes, Editor

Contents…

Discover Canada Quinte Country 4 All Shook up in Collingwood 10 Arctic Circle road trip 12 What’s happening in July? 15 Lifestyle Albert College, Belleville Game Ratings Recipes from the sea Internet usage in Canada Top Canadian Petiquette for summer Book reviews Moving to Canada Immigration bill passed Travel insurance PR Card replacement Proof of funds Couple apply together Real life story - update Driving in Nova Scotia Setting immigration goals Real life - Nova Scotia bound

16 17 18 20 21 22 23

24 25 27 27 28 29 30 32 34

Money Investing in the US housing market 36 Comparing bank accounts 37 Working Life No degree, no job?

38 Top 10 email mistakes 39 Power of Women Exchange 40 Motoring Know before you tow Motoring news

42 43

Kidzone Tackling peer pressure Top kids stuff

44 45

Health and Wellness The health of Canada

46

Home and Garden Understanding condos Backyard bliss Add a bathroom without breaking the bank Real estate news Plant enemies

48 51 52 54 55

4 Discover Canada

Quinte Country, Ontario

Discover Canada 5

CFB Trenton

Quinte West

Over the last couple of months we have looked at Prince Edward County and neighboring Belleville in some detail. Both are located in what is known as Bay of Quinte Country which also encompasses other towns and villages. In this issue we will take a look at the whole Quinte area to see what it can offer both visitors and residents alike.

The Bay of Quinte country is midway between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

Easily accessible by road, rail or boat, the 401 corridor runs through the region as does the VIA Rail network and of course, being located on the shores of Lake Ontario make it a boaters dream. It is also home to the Trent-Severn Waterway so there really is no excuse for not visiting this beautiful location whichever mode of transport you choose.

The Quinte area includes the cities, towns and villages of Belleville, Quinte

West, Brighton, Greater Napanee, Deseronto and Prince Edward County.

Prince Edward County and Belleville were featured in our May 08 and June 08 issues respectively. In this issue we will concentrate on the other locations.

Quinte West Quinte West was formed on January 1st 1998 from an amalgamation of the former municipalities of Trenton, Sidney, Murray and Frankford. The city has a population of 42,697 according to the 2006 Census. The population is predominantly English speaking and nonimmigrant with only 3,160 of the population originating from outside Canada. Of those non-Canadian born only 510 are not Canadian citizens.

Trenton has the largest population in Quint West and is home to CFB Trenton the largest Air Force Base in Canada. The section of Highway 401 running from Trenton to Toronto was recently renamed Highway of Heroes in honor of Canada’s fallen soldiers who are repatriated at CFB

Frankford, Quinte West

Trenton before being driven along the highway to the the coroners premises in Toronto.

CFB Trenton is home to many military families as is the town of Trenton itself.

The base has many facilities such as its own hospital and dentistry, swimming pool, tennis courts, recreation centre, golf course, yacht club, gymnasium and of course accommodation.

CFB Trenton is also the location of the National Air Force Museum of Canada. The museum first opened in 1984 as the RCAF Memorial Museum but has since been renamed. It is open year round and is completely free to visit.

There are many things to see at the museum including memorabilia, artifacts, artwork, uniforms, weapons, medals and of course aircraft.

Outside the museum you will see a collection of static display aircraft and you can watch ongoing restoration projects take place. Of course no tourist attraction is complete without a gift shop. In this one you will be able to buy books, models, toys and clothing amongst other things.

6 Canada Discover gone by. The waterway is open between May and October, with it being icebound for much of the winter months.

Quinte Health care is responsible for the health care needs of the whole Quinte area. Trenton Memorial Hospital provides primary and secondary care and has 70 beds. Other health care facilities include after hours clinics, specialized services, health units, long term care facilities and social services.

There are 16 elementary and 5 secondary schools in Quinte West including Catholic and French language schools.

Average earnings in the city are around $52,000 for a couple without children and $66,000 for couples with children. The main employment sectors in the city are retail, manufacturing and service industries.

The average housing costs are around $190,000 for a single family dwelling and the average monthly rental for a property in the area is $700.

Presqu’ile Provincial Park

Brighton

Presqu’ile Lighthouse

Quinte West is also proud of its recreation facilities and boasts nearly 400 acres of parkland including 52 parks.

Centennial Park is the location of the amphitheater in Trenton which can accommodate 7,000 people and hosts many concerts and events from the large covered outdoor stage.

Frankford is where you will find the 9 hole municipal golf course. Other sports in the area include curling, skating, hockey, softball, basketball, baseball, soccer, bowling, skiing and so many more. The city recently passed a motion supporting the construction of a Recreation and Aquatics Centre and it is hoped that this will be built in the near future.

Quinte West also has its own community greenhouse which is run by volunteers in Trenton. The greenhouse is a 100 x 10 ft structure which provides fresh produce to local food banks and the Salvation Army.

The Trent-Severn Waterway starts its journey in Quinte West, meandering north to Georgian Bay. It is a canal system used purely for pleasure craft, although it was used for commercial purposes in years

Brighton Brighton is perhaps the charming, laid-back part of the Bay of Quinte.

Located to the east of the area it has a population of 10,253 (2006). It is known as the “Gateway to Presqu’ile Park” a provincial park that attracts wildlife and people alike.

Presqu’ile Park is a tombolo or an island attached to the mainland by a sand or gravel bar. The park provides for some unique habitats and is well known to locals and visitors alike as a great place to view birds, animals and plant life. Many birds stop off at Presqu’ile on their annual migration and it is a favorite with marsh birds such as caspian turns and American bitterns. The park is also on the migratory path of the monarch butterfly. Thousands of these beautiful creatures can be seen in late summer as they make their amazing journey to Mexico.

The park has many trails which you can hike as well as picnic areas, campgrounds and skiing in the winter months.

The town of Brighton has its roots firmly in agriculture and particularly apples. Every year the town hosts the

Discover Canada 7

Greater Napanee Town Hall

annual Applefest which this year will be held on September 27th along Main Street. This event, which dates back to 1975 includes a parade, street vendors, local crafts and lots of food, much of it apple based. You will also find live music, amusements and an apple bobbing contest.

In line with the communities agricultural heritage the local farmers market is a popular place to hang out. The market only allows local produce and vendors have to be verified to enable them to sell their products and produce, so you are guaranteed fresh goods.

The town has three elementary schools and one secondary school.

Catholic schools can be found in nearby Cobourg.

The Brighton Health Services Centre offers primary and specialist health care services. Patients needing hospital treatment will travel to nearby Trenton.

The average incomes of residents are very similar to those of Quinte West.

Sales and service industries are the major employers in the area.

Housing costs here are slightly higher than Quinte West with the average single family home selling for around $210,000.

Average monthly rental costs are just over $700.

Deseronto

There are several parks in the town offering recreational facilities such as soccer, baseball, football etc. The town also has two pools; one indoor and one Greater Napanee outdoor.

Household incomes are slightly less The town of Greater Napanee (pop. than neighboring locations with a couple 15,400) was created in 1999 by without children earning on average amalgamating the town of Napanee with $47,500 and a couple with children the townships of Adolphustown, North and $63,600. The major areas of employment South Fredericksburgh and Richmond. are the sales and service sectors along Much of the town retains its original with finance and trades sectors. The two Victorian charm and many historical largest employers in the town are the buildings can be found here including Allan Macpherson House. This house was Rubber Company and Goodyear Tire.

Housing costs are reasonable in built in 1826 as a private home to Napanee with the average cost of a single entrepreneur Allan Macpherson on the family dwelling costing around $190,000 banks of the Napanee River. Today the and the average rental per month of $650. house is owned by the Lennox and One of Napanee’s claim to fame is Addington Historical Society and has that singling sensation Avril Lavigne was been completely restored to look as it did brought up in Napanee from the age of in the 1830’s. The house is now a five after being born in neighboring museum where you can visit a “Napanee gone by” and indulge in their Cream Teas. Belleville.

Napanee also boast a new multiDeseronto purpose complex: the Strathcona Paper Centre which offers residents two NHL size ice rinks. The centre also has a The town of Deseronto, east of banqueting hall (capacity 400), meeting Belleville has a small population of just rooms, lounges, fitness centre and retail 1,824 (2006). The immigrant population of space.

115 has just 10 persons who do not yet hold Canadian citizenship.

8 Canada Discover Deseronto gets its name from Captain John Deserontyon, a captain in the British Military but also a native Mohawk Indian.

Indeed the town has close ties to the nearby Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. In 1995 the Mohawks submitted a claim regarding the Culbertson Tract, an area of land in which Deseronto sits. The land is still in the midst of negotiations and has been the centre of some recent protests by native Indians. Perhaps because of this the average cost of a single family home in Deseronto is much lower than other Quinte areas at just $125,000. Average monthly rent is around $550.

The average earnings in the town are also lower at $44,000 for couples without children and $57,000 for those with children. Sales and service occupations are the biggest employers although many residents will travel to nearby Belleville, Napanee or Kingston for work.

Deseronto has elementary schools located in the actual town with secondary schools and further education located nearby. Health care facilities can be found in Greater Napanee and Belleville.

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory an ideal place to see traditional arts and crafts, dancing, singing and dress.

In-between Belleville and Greater Napanee you will find the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Captain John Deserontyon first selected this land in 1784 and at first only around 20 families occupied the area. The name translated into English means “placing the wood together.� As we previously mentioned the Mohawks are currently in negotiation with the government regarding land claims in the area.

The community has several churches, schools, a community centre and many retail outlets offering tax free goods.

Every year on the second weekend in September the Mohawk Agricultural Society hold the Mohawk Fair at the community centre. The fair celebrates the harvest and you can take part in crafts, arts, horse pulls, mud drags, demolition derby amongst other things.

Tyendinaga's Annual Traditional Pow Wow takes place at Tsitkerhododon Park on the second weekend in August. This is

Useful Links Quinte Country www.quinte.on.ca Brighton www.brighton.ca Greater Napanee www.town.greaternapanee.on.ca Deseronto www.deseronto.ca Quinte West www.city.quintewest.on.ca Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory www.tyendinaga.net Shannonville Motorsport Park www.shannonville.com

Shannonville This small community is located within the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and is home to the Shannonville Motorsport Park.

The park is used by professional race teams, racing schools, clubs, vehicle testing and has featured on many TV programs. The track is used for many different motor sports including motorcycles, cars, karting, drag racing etc.

Corbyville This community can be found just north of Belleville and highway 401.

Corbyville was founded when British baker Henry Corby immigrated to Canada in 1832 and set up a food shop. A few years later he set up a grist-mill and later still a distillery. He then became mayor and served as a member of parliament. After his death in 1881 his son Harry took over

Discover Canada 9

DUCK AND LOON Bed And Breakfast

Overlooking Beautiful Picton Bay King/Queens/Twins - Private Washroom - Private Ensuites Adults Only - Air Conditioned - Visa/MasterCard Accepted

630 Highway 49, Picton 613-476-8167 www.bbcanada.com/duckloon - dobinson.res@sympatico.ca

the business and it was renamed H.Corby Distillery from where the current name stems.

Today the community has its own post office and school to serve its 800 households.

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

Belleville Belleville is the largest city within the Bay of Quinte area with a population of 48,821. Please read last months issue to read about Belleville in detail.

Prince Edward County Prince Edward County is an island located to the south of Belleville, also referred to as Quinte Isle or simply The County. To read complete details of The County please read our May 2008 issue.

Napanee park

Brighton park

The Bay of Quinte area offers the best of both worlds. It has the cities of Belleville and Quinte West to satisfy those who want to live in a larger community with all the amenities close at hand.

But if you prefer the quieter life then there are simply lots of rural locations to choose from, but all are only a short drive to the city.

If you occasionally want to explore the “big cities” Toronto is less than 200 km away from Belleville (approximately 2 hours) and to the east Ottawa is a pleasant 2.5 hour drive away.

If you prefer trees to buildings then Quinte is only a 180 km away from the magnificent Algonquin Provincial Park. A shorter 1.5 hour drive will get you to places such as Charleston Lake Provincial Park or Rice Lake. Of course Brighton has its own Provincial Park: Presqu’ile which is literally on the doorstep.

As if that wasn’t enough then of course we must not forget Lake Ontario alongside which the Bay of Quinte lies. The area is famous for its fishing opportunities as well as shipwreck diving and general water sports.

So, whether you are just visiting or thinking of making the Bay of Quinte a more permanent base we think you will find everything you are looking for and more. After all, your favorite magazine Muchmor Canada is located here - what better endorsement can we give?

10 Discover Canada

All shook up in Collingwood

Advertorial

Discover Canada 11 When thinking of Elvis you perhaps think of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee or Las Vegas or perhaps Hawaii from some of his movies, but we bet you don’t automatically think of Collingwood, Ontario.

But you should as this is the location of the Annual Collingwood Elvis® Festival which this year celebrates its 14th anniversary. This festival is the largest of its kind anywhere in the world and this year will take place between July 24th and 27th.

The festival features live shows, tribute artists, competitions, dancing, street vendors, parades and so many other exciting things.

Every year some of the worlds greatest tribute artists compete in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. This is not just any old tribute contest, but the official one presented by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. The presentation to the

winner takes place in Memphis itself during “Elvis week” celebrated in August.

During the Elvis festival over twodozen shows will take place, reminiscent of the the Las Vegas shows Elvis himself was so famous for.

Other events taking place include the a pub crawl, carnival rides, street party, pancake breakfasts, classic car parade, Elvis trivia contests, street dancing, gospel competition and general fun for all.

Some events are family events, but others are adults only.

In order to participate in the event you can purchase tickets either by phoning toll free 1-866-444-1162 or buying tickets online at www.collingwoodelvisfestival.com Tickets range from $5 to $75 © The Collingwood Elvis Festival is a licensee of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Elvis and Elvis Presley are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., a subsidiary of CKX, Inc.

12 Discover Canada

Arctic Circle road trip Explore the Dempster Highway

Discover Canada 13

The Dempster Highway is the only all-year public highway which crosses the Arctic Circle. It was officially opened in August 1979 at Flat Creek, Yukon. The road begins at the Klondike Highway, near Dawson City, Yukon and extends some 671 km north to Fort McPherson in the Northwest Territories. During the winter months the road extends a further 194 km to Tuktoyaktuk.

Back in 1958 the Canadian government decided to build a road which would connect Yukon Territories with Northwest Territories and thus supply a link to southern Canada. With oil and gas reserves found in Eagle Plain the need to get supplies and equipment to the area was paramount.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) surveyed the area and estimated that the road would cost around $22.7

million to complete, a cost per mile of between $30-35,000. So in January of 1959 construction of the road began.

However progress was slow due to mounting costs and arguments between the federal and Yukon governments as to who would pay for what. In 1961 the whole project came to an abrupt holt with only 115 km of road completed when it was found that the oil discovered in Eagle Plain was not of any commercial value.

The completed section of the road was nicknamed “The Road to Nowhere.”

This is how the road stayed until 1968 when the Americans discovered oil and gas reserves in Prudhow Bay, Alaska and the Mackenzie Delta was booming in Canada. In order to stop the Americans monopolizing the area the Canadian government decided to complete the road and develop the oil and gas reserves located in the Mackenzie River Valley.

The development was not without its setbacks. In 1975 concerns were raised about the adverse affect the road would have on the porcupine caribou herds who crossed the area during their spring and

fall migrations in numbers of over 70,000.

Although this did not stop the construction of the road it did initiate a hunting ban on the caribou in 1977.

Because of the terrain in this area the road had to be constructed in a special way in order for it to withstand the unique conditions found in the Arctic Circle. The road sits on top of a gravel pad which ranges in thickness from 1.2 metres to 2.4 metres. This pad insulates the road surface from the permafrost of the soil underneath. If the gravel pad were not in place the permafrost would melt and the road would sink.

The highway was finally completed in 1978 and officially opened the following year. Over 200 people witnessed the official opening in Flat Creek, Yukon.

The road follows a trail originally used

by William Dempster who attained the rank of inspector in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. When he was a corporal in the early 1900’s he patrolled the area by dogsled from Dawson City to Fort McPherson using a trail learned from the Gwitchin Indians. He became known as

14 Discover Canada

The Iron Man of the Trail’ as he completed this 765 km journey ten times in four years. It is from him that the Dempster Highway got its name.

In 1982 a study by the Canadian Wildlife Service found that the road had not impacted on the porcupine caribou in any way. It was thought that the animals might be forced to change their migration route, but this was found not to be the case. They continued to ross the road just as if it had not been there, indeed some even used the road as a mode of transport for themselves and could often be seen wandering along it.

The Dempster Highway is one of the great road trips of the world. You can travel from Dawson City in the Yukon to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. During the winter months when the very north is completely frozen you can travel a further 194 km by road to Tuktoyaktuk. This is because the Mackenzie river delta is used as an ice road.

The highway is truly a place of beauty with stunning scenery and wildlife. Over the course of the journey you will see river valleys, mountain ranges, forests, marshes and you will also cross into the Arctic Circle where you will be greeted by vast expanses of tundra. The Dempster is one of only two roads that cross the invisible Arctic Circle line.

If you are planning on driving or cycling the Dempster you are advised to plan well ahead and be prepared for any eventuality. It is not unusual to have snow at any time of the year, even in the middle of August. It is also not unusual to have to

change your tires due to the rougher parts of the road which can cut tires to shreds.

You are therefore advised to takes spares with you and to know how to remove and fit them.

If you are traveling by RV you will have your accommodation with you, otherwise you will either be camping or taking advantage of the few facilities in the area. There are campsites and road side facilities at various locations throughout the journey, although most are located at Dawson City at the start of the Dempster or at Eagle Plains, around 360 km into the journey. Of course Inuvik is a large town, well by northern standards, and also offers some facilities.

When you start the journey in Dawson City you will be able to explore the North Fork Pass with its great mountain views and trees. Make the most of these trees as when you pass the treeline you will see no more.

The highest point on the Dempster is 1,300 km above sea level and lies on the continental divide and all rivers north of this flow north into the Arctic Ocean.

When you get to around 150 km into the journey you will find yourself in the Ogilvie Mountains. These mountains are mostly made up of eroded rubble or scree and have never been glaciated. They can be climbed but can be very dangerous as rock slides are common and footholds are not easy in the scree.

From the Ogilvie Mountains you then ascend up to Eagle Plains for about 100 km. By now only a few spruce trees remain.

At 371 kilometres into the Dempster you will reach Eagle Plains where the first and only hotel along the route is located.

The hotel has 32 rooms and is located midway between Dawson City and Inuvik, so a good place to stop off and rest up for the night. Facilities include licensed dining room, lounge, service station, garage, tow truck, laundromat, landing strip and helicopter fueling service. Whilst here you can also take advantage of the many tour packages available such as hiking, fishing, skiing and rock hounding.

At at point around 400 km into the trip you will cross the Arctic Circle. A sign is erected to mark the occasion and is an obvious photo opportunity.

Next comes the Richardson Mountains which is completely treeless as you are now above the tree-line. In fact vegetation full stop is very hard to find from here on.

The next milestone is crossing from the Yukon into Northwest Territories. The Dempster kilometer signs start again from 0 and are blue instead of the previous green.

Fort McPherson is the next major location where around 700 people live.

This means it has some limited facilities such as restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat.

During the summer Inuvik is as far as the road will take you. If you want to reach the very end of the Dempster at Tuktoyaktuk you will have to take a flight, however in the winter the area is frozen enough to allow for an ice road into the town.

Discover Canada 15

What’s happening in July?

Calgary Stampede The famous Calgary Stampede will take place between July 3rd and 13th at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta.

Stampede Park is located southeast of downtown Calgary along Macleod Trail between 12 Avenue S.E. and 25 Avenue S.E. The park will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight every day, although indoor attractions and commercial exhibits will close at 11 p.m. www.calgarystampede.com

Belleville Waterfront Ethnic Festival Enjoy free admission to this fun event taking place in Belleville, Ontario between July 10th and 13th. The festival includes arts and crafts, children’s village, music, fireworks, parades, dragon boat racing and lots more. Find the festival at West Zwicks Island Park on the waterfront. www.bellevillewaterfrontfestival.com

Great Northern Arts Festival If you happen to be in the Northwest Territories then why not stop off and enjoy the Great Northern Arts Festival being held in Inuvik.

The festival takes place between July 11th and 20th and will include arts and crafts, galleries, concerts, workshops,

music and lots of other things to keep you entertained. www.gnaf.org

Halifax Highland Games and Scottish Festival You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy this event held at Dartmouth Common, Nova Scotia.

Join in the fun on Saturday July 12th with piping, drumming, highland dancing, golf and of course the games themselves. www.halifaxhighlandgames.com

Québec City's Summer Festival To experience Québec City's Summer Festival, is to take part in the largest outdoor arts festival in Canada.

With 400 shows and 200 groups over 11 days, the excitement in the art of majestic Québec City will be contagious.

Taking place between July 3rd and the 13th with Rock, world music, French, jazz, classical, street art, the Festival has exclusive and large scale events to suit every taste. www.infofestival.com

Winnipeg Folk Festival Taking place between July 10th and the Winnipeg Folk Festival will entertain you with performances from groups from across Canada and the rest of the world. See Folk-Rock, Joan Armatrading, The Beautiful Girls, Geoff Berner amongst many others. Find them all at Birds Hill Provincial Park. www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca 13th

Caribana Festival, Toronto The Caribana Festival is an exciting two-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts.

The event takes place between July 15th and August 3rd at various locations in the city of Toronto. enjoy the Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. www.caribana.com

16 Lifestyle

Advertorial

Albert College: “Small School.

Smart Choice.”

It is hard to be 150 years old and remain a “hidden gem”, but there are still those just discovering the world of independent education in general and Albert College in particular.

Attracting students from Canada and abroad, Albert College in Belleville, Ontario is Canada's oldest, coeducational boarding and day school. Its strength lies in a challenging academic and co-curricular programme offered in a small, supportive “family” environment.

Albert College presents a full range of athletic and artistic activities, numerous leadership opportunities and adventure possibilities. Classes range from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, including a Post Graduate year providing an opportunity for university-bound students to evolve academically, socially and emotionally. With only 340 students in total, including 125 live-in boarding students from 28 different nations, classes are small enough to ensure that each student’s intellectual curiosity is nurtured and critical thinking and innovation can happen on a daily basis.

Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of residential life at Albert College is the amount of thought and attention given to creating a warm and supportive community within each residence.

Learning to live with others - to balance a need for privacy with a growing sense of the needs and rights of others - is a key opportunity. In each residence, you make your first friends and develop productive study habits. All in all, learning with students of different backgrounds and interests, students discover that learning at Albert College is a continuous and lively adventure.

Day students come from Belleville and as far away as Kingston, Napanee, Trenton, Stirling and Prince Edward County. “With daily shuttle transportation available and an option for 5-day boarding,” reports Kristopher Churchill, assistant head of school, “more and more families in the region are discovering the difference that an Albert College education can make for their children.”

Parents in the junior school are “especially appreciative of the daily French, music and physical education programming starting in junior kindergarten and the extended hours programme available to working couples.”

Why are independent schools like Albert College successful? According to Kristopher Churchill, the research points to several outstanding factors: they are close-knit communities; there is ample opportunity for individualized attention for students; they employ high-quality and committed teachers; there are actively engaged parents; there are wonderful university placement records; and, there are educational experiences beyond the classroom. As an example, reports Churchill, “At one point during the school year we had 14 students on a community service trip to northern Mexico where they were volunteering in a migrant shelter. At the same time we had students off to represent the school in the Ontario independent school swimming finals and others who were just catching their breath, having performed three nights in a row -- a wonderful theatrical production for the local community. As a student in a small, independent school you have a chance to try just about anything.”

Albert College has also made an impact on the local community for over 150 years, playing a tangible role in the economy. A recent economic impact study suggested that the total direct and indirect economic impact of the school, its

Advertorial

Lifestyle 17

employees and students is more than $10 million annually.

This is in addition to capital projects such as construction of the junior school facility four years ago which spent the dollars locally. Albert College also helps to attract and retain new business people and professionals who come to the area and are often looking for independent education, which other small communities may not offer. This has been true for doctors, armed forces personnel and for corporations including Boeing, Proctor and Gamble and Nortel.

Volunteers – student and staff alike -- are very involved in the community from assisting with Big Brothers/Sisters, to the Gleaner’s food bank, to the Canadian Cancer Society, and Heart and Stroke organizations.

Albert College taxes, utilities and permit fees add to local coffers with local day parents paying taxes, without the added expense of educating these young people in the public system. Albert College also tries to make itself a true resource to the community – in terms of athletic facilities, music facilities, and Doors Open Ontario. Also, featured speakers are heard by wide audiences – guests such as Dr. Jane Goodall, David Suzuki and Craig Kielburger.

Professional educators generally bring an interest in the arts and other intellectual pursuits, and their spouses bring their capabilities and professions to the area sitting on professional boards, playing in the symphony and the like.

For almost 150 years, Albert has aimed to be a good neighbour, and in many ways the school has met those aims.

What do those ratings mean?

We all buy or rent video games but do we take notice of the ratings displayed on the box? Parents particularly need to pay attention to them as many games these days are not suitable for children of certain ages.

EC: Early Childhood This means that all the content is suitable for children three years and older. No inappropriate content.

E10+: Everyone 10 or older - This means the game is suitable for children of ten years and older. May contain fantasy or cartoon mild violence, mild language or suggestive themes.

T: Teen - The content is suitable for teens of 13 years and older. May contain sexual themes, more intense violence and/or language.

AO: Adults Only - Only suitable for people of 18 years or older. May include graphic sex or violence and strong language.

E: Everyone - Suitable for persons six years or older. May contain minimal violence, mischief or mild language.

RP: Rating Pending This game is still awaiting final rating.

M: Mature - Suitable for persons seventeen or older. May contain mature sexual themes, intense violence and strong language.

Many games will also include a list of contents such as fantasy violence, comic mischief, mature humor, nudity, sexual themes, simulated gambling, use of tobacco or alcohol, strong sexual content, use of drugs, blood and gore to describe the game. So make sure you take a close look before you rent or buy.

18 Lifestyle

Recipes from the sea Shrimp scampi with a twist Ingredients: Serves 4 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 1/2 pounds fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined without tails 1/2 cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 shallot, chopped 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed 2 tablespoons white wine 2 tablespoons brandy

In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly. Dredge shrimp in flour mixture. In a large skillet, saute dredged shrimp in olive oil for 5 minutes over high heat. Toss shrimp often to prevent burning. Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a serving dish, leaving the oil in the pan. In the same pan, saute the garlic, shallot, parsley and oregano over medium heat for 3 minutes; stirring constantly. Spoon the mixture over the shrimp. Return pan to the heat.

Preheat your broiler for medium heat. Pour the wine and brandy into the skillet and ignite with a match or lighter. When the flames die down, stir to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet; pour over shrimp. Place the serving dish of shrimp in a preheated broiler for about 2 minutes.

Blackened salmon fillets Ingredients: Serves 4 2 tablespoons ground paprika 1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 4 salmon fillets, skin and bones removed 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted In a small bowl, mix paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, white pepper, black pepper, thyme, basil and oregano.

Brush salmon fillets on both sides with 1/4 cup butter, and sprinkle evenly with the cayenne pepper mixture. Drizzle one side of each fillet with 1/2 remaining butter. In a large, heavy skillet over high heat, cook salmon, butter side down, until blackened, 2 to 5 minutes. Turn fillets, drizzle with remaining butter, and continue cooking until blackened and fish is easily flaked with a fork.

Lifestyle 19

Tuna steaks with citrus

Pecan Baked Scallops

Ingredients: Serves 4

Ingredients: Serves 6

1 pink grapefruit 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup lime juice 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon snipped fresh dill 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 4 (6 ounce) tuna steaks or fillets

1 1/2 pounds sea scallops, rinsed and patted dry 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice salt and ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup cracker crumbs 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Peel and section grapefruit over a bowl, reserving juice.

Refrigerate half of the grapefruit sections. Add remaining grapefruit to the reserved grapefruit juice. Add the lemon juice, lime juice, honey, dill, red pepper flakes and ginger.

Remove 1/4 cup for basting; cover and refrigerate. Pour remaining marinade into a large re-sealable plastic bag; add the tuna steaks. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 30 minutes, turning once. Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill. Drain and discard marinade from tuna. Grill tuna, uncovered, over medium heat for 6-7 minutes on each side, basting frequently with reserved marinade. Top tuna steaks with reserved grapefruit sections.

Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Arrange scallops in a single layer in a baking dish. Combine wine and lemon juice in a small measuring pitcher. Add salt and pepper to taste, and pour over the scallops. Combine cracker crumbs, pecans, and parsley in a small bowl. Spoon evenly over the scallops.

Drizzle the crumb topping with melted butter. Bake in preheated oven until topping is golden and scallops are opaque, 10 to 12 minutes.

Flounder stuffed with crab

1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 egg yolk 5 tablespoons mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Ingredients: Serves 6 1 1/2 pounds flounder fillets 1 cup crabmeat drained, flaked and cartilage removed 1 tablespoon finely chopped green bell pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground dry mustard 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt ground white pepper, to taste 3 crushed saltine crackers 1 egg white

Preheat oven to 400 F. Rinse the fillets and pat dry with paper towels. Combine crab meat, green pepper, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, white pepper and the crushed saltines. Combine the egg white and 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Stir into the crab meat mixture. Brush the flounder fillets with melted butter. Place in a lightly greased, shallow baking dish. Spoon the crab mixture over the fillets and drizzle with any remaining butter. Bake the fillets at 400 F for 15 minutes. While the fish is baking, lightly beat the egg yolk in a small bowl. Stir in 5 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Remove fish from oven and spread this mixture over the stuffing; sprinkle with paprika and parsley.

Increase oven temperature to 450 F and bake until golden and bubbly, about 6 minutes.

20 Lifestyle

Internet usage increases across Canada A recent survey of Canadian Internet usage was recently published by Statistics Canada and showed a marked increase in usage between 2005 and 2007.

The survey looked at Internet usage of people aged 16 years and older. This is the first time the 16-17 years age group has been surveyed.

The vast majority of people accessing the Internet did so using highspeed connections. 88% of users who accessed the Internet from home did so using high-speed compared to 80% in 2005.

In urban areas 9 in 10 use high speed connection compared to only 7 in 10 in rural areas. This is mainly due to the lack of high speed connections available to those in more rural locations.

E-mail is by far the most popular online activity (92%) with general web browsing coming in second (76%). The most popular activities included finding government and health information, travel arrangements and Internet banking.

Internet Usage percentage usage in 2007

N.L P.E.I. N.S. N.B. QC ON MB SK AB B.C.

61% 69% 69% 65% 69% 75% 70% 73% 77% 78%

In the 16-17 year age group 94% said they used the Internet for educational purposes, 90% for instant messaging, 83% to download music and 73% played games.

Of those accessing the Internet 68% went online every day and 50% were online for five hours or more during a typical week.

The report also shows that income, education and age have a baring on Internet usage.

Of the higher earners (more than $95,000 p.a.) 91% used the Internet whilst those earning less than $24,000 only 47% accessed the Internet.

Education also has a baring with 84% of people with at least some postsecondary education accessed the Internet compared to 58% of those with less education.

It is no surprise that age plays an important factor in Internet access. Of those surveyed 96% of people aged 16-24 years went online and only 29% of seniors over 65 years of age.

Internet usage in every province increased between 2005 and 2007. The

national average is 73% and three provinces, British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta saw levels above this figure.

British Columbia had the highest Internet usage rate at 78% an increase on 69% in 2005.

Alberta came in second with 77%, again a significant increase on the 2005 figure of 71%.

Ontario has a usage rate of 75% (2005 - 72%).

The lowest Internet usage was seen in Newfoundland and Labrador with 61%.

However this was a huge increase on the 2005 figure of 55%.

New Brunswick just pipped Newfoundland and Labrador with 65% usage a big increase on their 2005 figure of 57%.

Prince Edward island, Quebec and Nova Scotia all came in third from last with 69% usage, an increase on their 2005 figures of 61%, 62% and 67% respectively.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan again saw increases on their 2005 figure of 66% with Manitoba showing a 2007 percentage of 70 and Saskatchewan of 73%.

Lifestyle 21 .

Top Canadian…

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

TV shows

You Can Dance (Wed) - 1.63 You Can Dance (Thu) - 1.38 Canadian Idol - 1.37 C.S.I. New York - 1.34 Million $ Password - 1.30 Law & Order: SVU - 1.22 CTV Evening News - 1.20 The moment of Truth - 1.13 C.S.I. Miami - 1.12 Law & Order: CI - 1.08

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Bones - 1.00 NCIS - 0.99 CTV National News - 0.87 Jeopardy - 0.86 House - 0.85 Young & the Restless - 0.83 Without a Trace - 0.80 Global National News - 0.71 News Hour - 0.70 CTV Evening News (wkd) - 0.70

CD’s 1. Weezer, Weezere 2. Here I Stand, Usher 3. Sex and the City, Soundtrack 4. Indestructible, Disturbed 5. Rockferry, Duffy 6. Let the Truth be Known, Faith Imaan

7. Hard Candy, Madonna 8. I Know You’re Married But, Martha Wainwright 9. Bab Khan Presents: Culture, Various 10. Best of Radiohead, Radiohead

DVD’s 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Fool’s Gold Jumper The Bucket List Semi-Pro Be Kind Rewind

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

The Other Boleyn Girl Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins The Flock The Eye Rambo

Fiction paperbacks 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Late Nights on Air, Elizabeth Hay High Noon, Nora Roberts The Hollow, Nora Roberts Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen Divisadero, Michael Ondaatje Mister Pip, Lloyd Jones

7. The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hill 8. The Bourne Betrayal, Robert Ludlum 9. The Gathering, Anne Enright 10. The Good Guy, Dean Koontz

Fiction hard cover 1. The Host, Stephanie Meyer 2. Careless in Red, Elizabeth George 3. Blood Noir, Laurell Hamilton 4. The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Alexander McCall Smith 5. Love the One You’re With, Emily Giffin

6. Devil May Care, Sebastian Faulks 7. World Without End, Ken Follett 8. The Cellist of Sarajevo, Steven Galloway 9. Bright Shiny Morning, James Frey 10. Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini

22 Lifestyle

Petiquette for summer entertaining Humans are not the only ones who look forward to summer. Imagine warm weather from your pet’s perspective – long walks in parks full of green grass and interesting aromas for dogs, and hours of bird-watching from a sunny window for cats. It’s also fun for pets to be part of the festivities when their human “parents” do some summer entertaining. However the definition of a party for a furry friend is very different from that of its care takers.

ahead of time what furry friends will be at the party.

2. Freshen and clean.

Bathe and groom your pet before the summer party. “It’s very common for pet owners to become so used to their pet’s aromas that they don’t even notice them anymore,” Reed says.

“But your guests likely will, especially when they come into your home from How do you include the furry fun in the sun outdoors.” members of the family into summer In addition to helping your pet entertaining without turning a backyard clean up, be sure to freshen your barbecue into a doggie food free-for-all or home as well. Vacuum carpets, fabric the evening dinner party into a feline hissy upholstery and drapes just a few fit? By carefully planning and managing hours before guests arrive. Use a pet your pet’s interactions with guests and odor elimination product, like preparing for the big day, it is possible to Febreze Air Effects Pet Odor keep Fluffy or Fido an enjoyable part of Eliminator, to remove pet odors from your celebration, says Charlotte Reed, pet the air. “Avoid products that simply care expert and author of “The Miss Fido cover up pet odors with stronger Manners Complete Book of Dog scents. Febreze actually eliminates pet Etiquette”. odor and replaces it with a light, “Petiquette for summer entertaining is refreshing scent,” Reed says. a fine balancing act, but one that offers significant rewards for you and your pets,” 3. The ABCs of Reed says. “Your guests can enjoy the introductions and interaction. presence of a well-behaved pet and a fresh, odor-free home.”

First impressions mean a lot. “If your Here are Reed’s tips for making dog jumps up on people every time he summer entertaining as enjoyable as meets them, he won’t be giving a good possible for your pets and your guests: impression,” Reed says. If your dog has a tendency to jump, work with him for 1. Make your pets’ presence several weeks before the party to train known. him to sit and lay. As guests arrive, keep your pet on a leash and personally While most summer guests will likely introduce him to each new guest. know your pet status, some may not, Encourage guests to interact with him especially if they are recent calmly and firmly so that he doesn’t forget acquaintances or first-time visitors to your his manners in the excitement of meeting home. Be sure to alert guests to what type someone new. of pets you have at home at the time you Likewise, if your pet is simply not that invite them to visit. From strong allergies social, don’t force her to interact with to pet hair aversions, there are many guests. Allow cats to retreat to their reasons why guests may want to know favorite hiding spot – few felines are into the party scene. And if your dog seems

stressed by the attention and action, allow him some quiet time in a private place.

“There’s no point in forcing your pet to interact with your guests if he or she doesn’t want to,” Reed says.

4. Fend off food fights.

Food discipline should start long before the party, Reed advises. “You may think your dog’s begging eyes are adorable and irresistible, but few things are more unappetizing to house guests than a pet begging for food,” she says.

Train your pet not to beg at the table. And if he or she simply can’t break the habit, then confine him to quarters when the food is served.

Discourage guests from feeding pets tidbits or table treats. “The last thing you want is a pet with an upset stomach because he ate too much human food,” Reed says.

Febreze Air Effects Pet Odor Eliminator is available in grocery and drug stores nationwide. To learn more, visit www.febreze.com. Courtesy of ARAcontent

Lifestyle 23

Book reviews Ottawa Book of Everything

by Arthur Montague Publisher: MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Publishing Date: September 2007 ISBN-10: 0973806389 ISBN-13: 978-0973806380 List Price: $14.95 Muchmor Review: This is a great little book that is full of interesting facts as well as fun trivia. Some well known Canadians give their views on Ottawa including Ben Mulroney who shares five things you didn’t know about living at 24 Sussex Drive.

The book gives details of the city’s history, demographics, geography, weather and culture as well as looking at things such as crime, politics, education and economy. Although all these things are interesting we found the trivia the most entertaining. For instance did you know that 49.6% of the population is married, or that there are 1,580 km of sidewalk in the city or that of all the major capital cities in the world, Ottawa holds the distinction of being the coldest and snowiest? Did you also know that the average response time for emergency calls for police attendance is 8.9 minutes, below the department standard time of 15 minutes or that in 1892 Thomas Ahern from ottawa became the first person in the world to prepare a meal using electricity?

This book is so full of these interesting facts and figures it will keep you reading for hours.

Highly recommended reading.

Prince Edward Island Colourguide (5th edition) edited by Colleen Abdullah & Laurie Brinklow Publisher: Formac Publishing Date: April 2007 ISBN-10: 0887807240 ISBN-13: 978-0887807244 List Price: $19.95 Muchmor Review: This pocket size book is an excellent resource when researching a trip to Prince Edward Island and small enough that you can take it with you.

The first section gives you a background to the island such as the land and sea and the history of the confederation, Anne of Green Gables and other such interesting facts about PEI. If you have kids there is a section dedicated to places and events that kids will find interesting such as fishing trips near Charlottetown and Shining Waters Family Fun Park which features rides and attractions for kids of all ages.

The book gives details of where to get the best lobster supper, the best beaches and golf courses, where to go cycling, hiking and walking and where to spot the best architecture. You will also find details of local events and festivals.

The pages are filled with easy to read, useful information from people who live there and know what they are talking about. The book is beautifully illustrated with photos on almost every page. At the back of the book you will find lists of restaurants, accommodations, attractions, recreation and sports.

Although there are many tourism books about and if you are anything like me you will buy several before taking a trip, you will not go far wrong by buying this book as it is a pleasure to read and easily carried in a pocket or handbag for on the spot research.

24 Moving to Canada

Immigration Bill passed For the last couple of months we have been giving you details of a proposed new bill (C-50), part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2008 which would allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to have more control over who they allow to reside in Canada and how they process applications for permanent residence.

We have given you the views of various different people from politicians to immigration lawyers and you will have seen that there are as many people for it as against it. Here is the update.

On June 2nd a vote of confidence for the bill was passed allowing the bill to go to the next stage of voting.

On June 9th a third and final vote was held in the House of Commons and was passed by a vote of 121-90.

On June 18th the bill was passed by the senate meaning that it has now passed all the stages it need to in order to be implemented.

So what does it mean to anyone wanting to apply for immigration to Canada?

Well, the new system will allow CIC be more selective when processing applications for permanent residency.

Whereas before anyone who applied was processed as long as they fulfilled the criteria laid out i.e. had enough points, passed the medical and had proof of funds etc. Applications were processed in the order they were received. Now the CIC has the power and right to look through all the applications received after February 27th 2008 and only process those they feel meet the skill sets required. This will mean that some applicants will be side-lined and others may find themselves fast-tracked.

At the moment no indication has been given as to what the new guidelines

Diane Finley speaking in the Commons are and who may be processed faster, or indeed at all.

Immigration minister Diane Finley said, ”Our government believes in immigration. With these changes, we now have the tools in place to strengthen our system so that people with the skills for the jobs available can be brought to Canada more quickly."

The next stage of the process will be for CIC to consult with the individual provinces and territories to asses the priority skills required. "Once we've determined Canada's immigration needs, we can develop a set of instructions to guide the processing decisions of immigration officers, including whether applications are prioritized, retained or returned with a refund," Finley said.

In addition to being subject to consultations, the instructions will comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect against discrimination. They will also support the objectives of IRPA, ensuring a balance between the economic, family reunification and refugee protection goals of Canada’s immigration system. Finally, the instructions will complement the government’s annual levels plan, which establishes clear target ranges for the number of permanent residents accepted in each category: economic, family class and protected persons.

“We will continue to uphold our commitments to family reunification and refugee protection,” underlined Minister Finley.

There are currently 925,000 people waiting for their immigration applications to be processed and those who applied before February 27th 2008 will remain part of the old system. This will mean that their applications will be processed in the order received and as long as they meet the required criteria they will eventually get to Canada. Anyone applying after this date will be part of the new system.

Until details of the skill sets required are known it is hard to predict the outcome of this new system on new applicants. It is assumed that the skill sets may change from time to time as skill shortages around the country change.

For some people who fall into the skill shortages category this may be great news as their applications may be fast tracked and they may find themselves in Canada in a much shorter time period.

However for some it might mean waiting longer or even being refused altogether.

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

By 2012, immigration is projected to account for all 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.

Many people in the immigration backlog have contacted Muchmor asking if they should reapply under the new system. We would urge anyone who applied prior to February 27th to sit tight until the new skills requirements are known. Remember you are already in the queue and if you withdraw your current application you will loose your place and have to start again.

Once decisions have been made by CIC regarding the types of applicants they are looking for a more informed decision can be made. We will keep you posted of developments on our website as well as in Muchmor Canada.

Moving to Canada 25

Guide to purchasing travel insurance for visitors to Canada

by Ronald Chan With the strong economy, welcoming culture, great natural beauty and high quality of life, Canada is a popular destination for foreign visitors.

Canada in not only a popular vacation destination it has the strongest economy in the G8. The strong Canadian economy means that Canada is a hot spot for business travelers, foreign workers, new immigrants, and international students.

Also, Canada has an aging population which means that the health care system is overburdened. Canada's health expenses rival the United States as the most expensive in the world.

Also, Canada has an aging population which means that the health care system is overburdened. Canada's health expenses rival the United States as the most expensive in the world.

Sample medical costs in Canada.

• Simple doctor visits cost approximately $150 • Ambulance approximately $250 • Non-critical hospital stay cost around $3,500 per night • Air ambulance around $20,000 Medical expenses can become financially crippling. To ensure personal safety, Medical Insurance is highly recommended for all foreign visitors to Canada.

The good news is that medical insurance is quite affordable. For example, good individual coverage can be purchased for a 40 year old for $3-$5 per day, and an entire family can be covered for under $15 per day.

Canadian insurance companies have developed medical insurance plans for all types of visitors to Canada. weather you are a business traveler, international student, new immigrant, foreign worker, or simply vacationing in

Canada, a plan designed to suit your needs is available at an affordable rate.

Business Travelers and Tourists Visiting Canada Whether you are traveling to Canada for business meetings or vacationing with your family, medical insurance is important to cover the high costs of medical care. Visitor to Canada Emergency medical is available to pay the expenses incurred by sudden and unexpected medical conditions.

Coverage is available up to 89 years of age. No medical questions are required but pre-existing medical conditions will likely be excluded from coverage. If you have a pre-existing medical condition please review the medical policy wording closely before purchasing.

Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical Insurance can be purchased at levels of $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000. Coverage can be purchased for individuals, couples, or families. Single trip and annual plans are available. If you plan to travel to Canada

frequently within a 12 month period then an annual plan will be most suitable.

New Immigrants to Canada New immigrants to Canada are not eligible for provincial health insurance until they gain landed immigrant or permanent residence status.

Foreign workers in Canada The Canadian labor shortage has provided ample opportunities for foreign workers to enter Canada on a work visa.

Unfortunately, these work visas are normally issued for 6 months minus one day... this is one day before the foreign workers become eligible for Provincial health insurance coverage. This means that private health insurance must be purchased to cover emergency medical costs for the time spent living in Canada on a temporary work visa.

Inpatriate Medical Insurance Employers can provide medical insurance to foreign workers by

26 Moving to Canada purchasing Inpatriate Medical Insurance.

Inpatriate Medical Insurance can be purchased for the six month work visa.

Inpatriate insurance can be purchased for durations as short as one month for workers who have already arrived in Canada. Coverage can be purchased at levels of $100,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000. Single, Couple, or family coverage is also available. Inpatriate medical Insurance coverage differs from Visitors Emergency Medical Insurance as it provides for non-emergency medical visits.

Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical Insurance Foreign workers who are not provided coverage by their employers will be required to purchase private medical insurance. Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical Insurance is available for personal coverage for your entire work visa term in Canada. Coverage can be purchased at levels of $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000, with the high cost of health care in Canada it is recommended that foreign worker

purchase the best coverage amount.

Single, Couple, or family coverage is also available.

International Students in Canada Canada is a world leader in education. Many international student choose Canada for their foreign education destination. Not all international students are eligible for government sponsored health insurance.... and for those who are eligible may have to wait three months before the coverage becomes effective.

Also, international students not attending eligible educational institutions will not be covered by the provincial government health insurance plan. Private medical insurance will be required. International students can choose to purchase complete Health and Hospital Insurance or only Emergency Medical Insurance.

Health and Hospital Insurance Provides International Students visiting Canada with complete health

coverage. In addition to emergency medical coverage, non-emergency health costs and prescription drugs are also covered up to maximum amounts.

Medical coverage of to $1,000,000 is available. Coverage can also be purchased for the students spouse and family while they are residing in Canada.

Emergency Medical Insurance Similar in coverage as the health and hospital plan but does not cover nonemergency medical and prescription drugs are limited to a 30 day supply.

Coverage can also be purchased for the students spouse and family while they are residing in Canada.

Make sure that you are safe and enjoy 'peace of mind' during you stay in Canada by purchasing medical insurance.

Ronald Chan is the editor of Travelinsurancequotes.ca, the best travel insurance quotation system on the web.

Visit Travel Insurance Canada for you free travel medical insurance quotation.

Annual foreign workers and students entering Canada in 2006 Location

Workers

Students

NFL P.E.I. NSD N.B. QC ON SK MB AB B.C. Y.T. N.W.T. NV

863 163 1,317 751 16,038 47,956 1,428 2,164 15,172 25,316 115 198 71

404 155 1,788 938 9,898 21,085 1,081 1,462 4,765 20,097 13 -

Canada

112,608

61,703

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Moving to Canada 27 .

Permanent residence card replacement When you receive your permanent residence card (PR Card) after being granted residency in Canada you will notice that it is only valid for five years. After five years you will need to apply for a replacement card which is issued subject to you having kept to the original residency requirements.

In order to keep your permanent residency status you need to have lived in Canada for at least two years within the five year period. You can also loose residency status if convicted of a serious crime.

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 own as long as you have proof i.e. valuation of property and statement from a financial institution showing mortgaged amount. By subtracting the amount owed from the property value you will have the equity figure.

Currently the amounts required by CIC are as follows:

16th

On June Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced changes to the way in which PR cards are replaced. Instead of having to send in your existing PR card with your renewal application you keep your card until it is exchanged. There is also no longer a need to have a guarantor signature or to sign a statutory declaration in lieu of a guarantor.

The changes make it much easier for permanent residents to continue traveling whilst their replacement card application is being processed. As a permanent resident you need to show your PR card in order to reenter Canada via commercial transportation after visiting another country.

Without a valid PR card you will not be allowed to board commercial transportation back to Canada.

You should check the expiry date of your PR card and apply for a new one well before the date.

Proof of funds Many people are confused by the proof of funds requirement when immigrating to Canada. The government needs to have proof that once you land you have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents without having to rely on the government.

Every year the amount of required funds is set by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and is determined by the size of your family. The money must be in available funds and cannot be borrowed from another person. However, you can include the equity in property you

NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS

REQUIRED FUNDS IN CANADIAN DOLLARS

1

$10,601

2

$13,198

3

$16,225

4

$19,700

5

$22,343

6

$25,199

7+

$28,055

You can of course bring in any amount above the minimum required, although you should not carry more than $10,000 CAD into the country without reporting the fact to a Canadian official. Failure to report excess amounts can result in imprisonment. You are therefore advised to have excess funds transferred to a Canadian bank account or similar rather than bring cash, cheques, travelers cheques etc into the country.

If you have arranged employment in Canada you do not need to show proof of funds.

28 Moving to Canada Alberta Relocation Specialists Are you planning to emigrate to Calgary, Alberta?

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Better for couple to apply together

By Guidy Mamann This week a reader asked about a young couple that is immigrating to Canada.

The plan is for the husband to immigrate here first and get settled. Then the wife would follow a year later.

Settlement.Org provides you with information and answers to settle in Ontario.

Visit www.settlement.org for information about Finding a Job, ESL Classes, Housing, Health and much more...

Funded by:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada

Managed by: Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)

They are wondering why the visa post is insisting on the wife filling out an application form at the same time as her husband when she is not planning to move here for at least another year.

This innocuous question raises an extremely important aspect of our immigration laws.

All intending immigrants to Canada must show that they qualify for selection under the category under which they are applying and must prove that they are not criminally or medically “inadmissible” to Canada.

Additionally, the principal applicant must show that his family members (i.e. spouse/partner and children) are also not inadmissible. This rule is designed to prevent the immigration of an otherwise desirable immigrant whose dependent might constitute a threat to us or to our universal health care system.

Accordingly, the wife must fill out an application form now in order to answer questions about her medical or criminal history.

She must also undergo a medical examination prior to the finalization of her husband’s application whether or not she is coming to Canada now, later, or at all. If she is determined to be inadmissible to Canada, his application will also be refused.

This rule is designed to avoid two problems.

First, it would avoid the husband landing and getting settled here only later to find out that his wife can’t join him.

Secondly, it prevents the husband from becoming a permanent resident of Canada while married to an inadmissible person and acquiring the right to sponsor her and acquiring the right to appeal any refusal of such an application to the Immigration and Refugee Board.

The failure to disclose a family member is a material misrepresentation that could lead to the refusal of an application

or to the deportation of the applicant after landing. A family final changes June 2,will 2005 member who is not examined no longer be considered a member of the family class and cannot later be sponsored as such (unless it was specifically determined by an officer that they did not need to be examined).

Intending immigrants who have children in the care of their former spouse or partner must also have such children examined even if the kids are not coming to Canada. Such applicants are often met with great resistance by their former spouses who fail to understand why their child must undergo Canadian medical exams when they have no intention of letting that child immigrate here.

In this case, the wife will have to fill out forms and undergo medicals now to establish that her husband and his family members are not inadmissible. When the wife applies on her own, she will have to do it again to prove that she remains qualified to immigrate.

My advice would be for them to apply together. Once they are landed here she can return to her country temporarily while her husband gets well settled here.

Guidy Mamann practices law in Toronto at Mamann & Associates and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as an immigration specialist. Reach him confidentially at 416-862-0000 or at metro@migrationlaw.com.

Moving to Canada 29

Real life story update adoring of his older brother. “He tends to follow Hayden around a lot and wants to be doing everything he does. Hayden finds this a little annoying at times but we try to explain it is When we last spoke to them they had because James been in Toronto for three years and Mike loves him that he had a great job as a partner in a firm wants to be with newly relocated to Toronto. Angela was a him and like him.” stay at home mum and the family had says Angela. acquired a dog, Banjo, so what are they So what do doing now? the family really Well Mike is still happily working for think of Toronto? the same firm and heads their Toronto “I totally adore office. He has also recently been in Toronto.” says charge of the company’s expansion into Angela, “ I feel as Ottawa. “The last year has been very though I was born to be here. It fits all my busy,” he says, “the company decided to criteria for a great life - lots of shopping, open another Canadian office after the great vibe, excellent theaters, great success of the Toronto office. I must have restaurants, great schools and Mike has a done a good job with that one because great job here which allows us to live a they allowed me to oversee the good life.” establishment of the Ottawa office too.”

Mike ads, “We often go to the theatre Angela ads, “With Mike being in and are lucky to have a great circle of Ottawa quite a bit I was left at home with friends that we can leave the kids with the kids, but my parents have been knowing they are going to be fine and visiting often, so it hasn’t been too bad they in turn can leave their kids with us.” and Ottawa isn’t too far away.”

The family have recently moved to a Now the new office is pretty much new apartment, their third since being in established, Mike has been able to return the city. “Although the last place was nice, to Toronto full time and the family are back we saw an advert for this new condo into their normal routine. development and it looked fabulous, so Hayden is now seven years old and we did some research and actually loves school. He has lots of friends and purchased the condo long before it was takes part in many school activities and is actually built” says Mike, “This meant that starting to get the hang of hockey. “I used when we did move in, the condo was to love hockey as a kid,” says Mike, “so already worth far more than when we Hayden is quite like me in sports issues purchased it, so is a great investment. It is basically he loves most of them!” bigger than our old place and has great Young James was only 8 months old views over the city. We also have the use when we last spoke to the family and is of a gym, pool and other facilities that we now over two years old and is very didn’t have before.”

Back in November 2006 we featured the story of Mike and Angela and their two children Hayden and James and their move from Boston in the United States to Toronto Canada. We catch up with the family to see what they are up to.

The couple also hinted that another family member might be on the way soon.

“When we last spoke to Muchmor back in 2006 we wanted a third child then.” says Angela, “Since then life has been a bit hectic, so the idea was put on the backburner. However, now we are settled in the new apartment and Mike is back in Toronto full time we can start to put our lives back on track. We are hoping that we will be able to say we have a new addition on the way before too long.” she giggles.

And what about Banjo the German shepherd? “Oh he is still a very big part of our lives. One of the reasons we decided to move was so he had more space and this condo block has quite a few parks nearby so he is much happier. We have had to stop Hayden taking rides on his back though as he is getting far too big now. Fortunately he is now old enough to understand.”

So it seems that Toronto life certainly suits this family and we with them well in the future - whatever it may hold.

Read their original story here.

30 Moving to Canada

Driving in Nova Scotia Once again we dip into the lives of June and Mark Spindloe of Relocation Nova Scotia. This month June explains the “how to’s” of driving in Halifax and Nova Scotia and how driving differs from her native England. She also shares the views of some of her guests.

This month I've decided to write about how to get around Halifax and driving in Nova Scotia.

Mark and I were like most families before we emigrated - we depended on a car to travel to and from work and driving was very stressful and time consuming. There was always the alternative for me which I did every morning for a couple of years between Eastleigh and Southampton which was to use buses and trains. This was mainly because parking in downtown Southampton was almost impossible and very expensive. My experience of all forms of transportation in England was stressful; trains not running on time and buses crowded and often late.

When I revisit my home town I opt not to drive as it’s too fast and furious out there on the motorways and my Nova Scotian driving abilities don't have the cutting edge I need in England to survive on the road - so I resort to trains and buses reliving those mornings when I had no choice.

I am often asked how driving and public transport in Nova Scotia compares to UK so besides my own comments after living here for over ten years I have also included some contributions from some of our guests who have recently experienced driving and car buying.

Before you read on though I'll tell you about the other ways of getting around downtown Halifax and the surrounding areas. Halifax is a small but sprawling city with a Public Transport system that will service you well within the Halifax Regional Municipality. There are enhanced bus services to the Universities and special U Passes for students which save on regular monthly bus passes. There is a flat fee of $2.00 for any trip and transfer tickets are free for further travel for 2

Jeff Phillips in Nova Scotia hours. Each bus stop will have a GO Time number which can be telephoned and the on board computer tracking system will give you the exact real time arrival of the bus at your stop. Buses are clean and comfortable and in general drivers are much friendlier.

My other favorite form of public transport is the is the ferry. The ferries criss cross the second largest harbour in the world in just 12 minutes giving you some of the best views of the city, they are modern day icons. The ferries were the only form of transport across the water until 1955 from downtown Halifax to downtown Dartmouth .

There are various Park and Ride facilities all over the city, the majority of them are free or free with the purchase of a bus pass. We have been here over ten years and have only seen the buses cancelled twice during a vicious snow storm with white-out conditions and once during freezing rain.

I'll also add that we do have a "local" train that has three stops in the province. One in Amherst, one in Truro

and finally the CN Rail station at Barrington Street. There is also an overnight train that runs six times a week from Montreal for more info http:// www.viarail.ca/ One of the most common questions we are asked about is the driving test here in Nova Scotia. I have a contribution from Jeff Phillips. Jeff and his wife Ange arrived from the UK a few weeks ago and have been busy finding their way around Halifax and familiarizing themselves with the rules of the road and enjoying some of the things that they will never have to deal with here. There are no CCTV cameras, no roundabouts (we only have one), you can turn right on a red light and free parking is available outside almost every major mall.

Car rental may be the only way you will get around for the first week or two, so allow enough money in your budget to spend on this as its almost impossible to buy a car without a car to go looking with. Also, if you are not bringing them with you, budget on

Moving to Canada 31 buying child car-seats as they are quite expensive to factor in to the car hire price.

And last but not least, I would highly recommend purchasing a GPS system as this takes all the stress out of finding your way around for the first little while.

Anthony Kawalski also arrived a few weeks ago and purchased a car from a larger car dealership that has several outlets here in Nova Scotia. It can be daunting as most of us are not familiar with North American makes and models of cars. Looking online and then talking with a dealership is a great way to get a feel for what vehicle will suit your lifestyle. www.oregans.com Here Anthony gives us his thoughts: The search for a car in a new country can be as perplexing as it is exciting, much the same as anywhere. However in Canada the distance between towns and the weather has to be a major consideration. Upon arriving in Halifax it soon became apparent that renting cars is a fairly expensive affair. A car purchase was logical and finding one became a necessity.

Having decided to live out of the City and travel an hour from our chosen home, we decided to look for a strong sturdy vehicle. The worst the Maritimes could throw at us in terms of weather led us towards an SUV with 4WD. The choice here is mind-numbing and as budget precluded a new vehicle we were tempted by the Green light system of O'Reagans.

A large multi-outlet car group, located in Dartmouth Halifax and other locations in

southern NS specializing in Japanese imports but with a huge range of used vehicles.

The used Meet us - June & Mark Spindloe online at the Canadian Government’s portal: vehicles are www.bfic.net Or email us: subject to a info@relocationnovascotia.com rigorous 48 Besides help with purchasing property we can save point safety you hours of research, time and money. check and then assigned a 6 These are just some of the benefits Relocation Nova Scotia clients enjoy!

• Tailor Made accommodation solutions for your Fact Finding Trips and month or on landing, choice of B&B or one of our short term rentals.

10,000km • We will provide meet and greet at Airport when landing with a large mileage enough vehicle for your family and luggage.

• Meet with professional Immigration Consultant based here in Halifax guarantee on your fact finding trip and receive free consultation. which relates • Foreign exchange specialist will make moving your money overseas easy. Fast Track services to obtain day-to-day banking, mortgages, to the powercredit cards and financial services from one of Canada’s leading train, tires and Banks, with a one to one service from your own personal banker.

• Competitive rates for Car Rental, Car Insurance and purchasing a various other vehicle. aspects.

• Canadian Mobile phones, SIM cards delivered to you before you land and pay using a UK credit card.

This gave • Unique women’s network providing friendship and advice. us the reassurance we were Please visit www.relocationnovascotia.com and register.

Call June or Mark on 001 902 446 0766 and we’ll call you back. looking for in terms of purchasing a reliable used vehicle with the backing of large vehicles new or old and for the most part service and maintenance system. is not shown as included in the sticker In all of this there was just one price. With that in mind, there should be solitary fly in the ointment. When you no hefty shocks in the price department have selected your trusty steed, be aware for your car. of this. Sales tax at 13% applies to ALL

Halifax - Dartmouth ferry

Anthony and his new SUV

Halifax bus

32 Moving to Canada

Setting emigration goals by: Louise Green, Expat Coach

factor that linked all these students was that they had set clear goals.

Without goals you are drifting and when you drift you are not in control. If you are not in control then someone else is. You have relinquished your basic right to shape your own future.

Benefits of Setting Goals

The Importance of Goals A famous study of Yale University graduates found that back in 1953, just 3% of the graduating class had a written set of goals for their lives. 20 years later a survey of the same group revealed that the ’goal setting’ students were financially worth more than the other 97% put together. This 3% also enjoyed better relationships, and better health. The

Good goals focus your mind on the outcome. You will be clear about what you want and why you want it. Knowing what benefits there are for you and how each goal ultimately serves you, creates the motivation and momentum to keep you going. Gives you the drive to come up with perfect solutions, to get what you want.

Many people don’t have a clue what they really want. If you ask them what they want they will very often tell you the ideas and things they don’t want. The problem is you get what you focus on.

The subconscious mind works to achieve the things that you think about most of the time, whether you want them or not.

Types of Goal Goal can be defined as: Ongoing – something you do on a regular basis e.g. Check immigration news twice a month.

Short term – achieved within a week to a month e.g. Have contacted 3 moving companies by next Friday Medium term – achieved within a month to a year e.g. I have researched 5 destinations within 6 months Long Term – a year or more to completion e.g. We have purchased a 4 bed house in Melbourne Australia, by Jan 2010.

Emigration Goals Emigration is a long term goal, but most important, is the long term goal of what you are emigrating for. You are emigrating because you want a lifestyle that can be best accomplished in a new country. Your definitions of your ideal lifestyle are the ultimate long term goal.

Having that definition will get you closer to your goal more quickly when you break it

Example of a series of emigration goals Desired lifestyle

emigrate to a new country

Receive your visas

To have submitted application

To have chosen a location

Have information on 3 cities

Have all paperwork

Have sold our house

Know best location for jobs

Have a tidy clutter free house

Moving to Canada 33 down into a series of ongoing, short and medium term goals. As you define the highest level goals, you can spilt each down into smaller manageable goals and keep repeating this process until you have a series of steps to take you towards the desired lifestyle.

Instead of thinking about a goal that is years away you are focusing on a series of short term goals that need to be done in the next day, week or month.

Keeps it in the forefront of your mind.

months’ or My kids play safely in the For example ‘To be successful in my visa street’. application by June 2009’ how much Inspiring: How exciting are you by control do you have over this? You are not your goals? You must feel inspired and making the decision about your visas or motivated to take action towards this goal. how long they will take to process it.

What are the benefits to you of achieving Better to set something like ‘I have it? Imagine achieving your goal. What do accumulated the required number of you see? What do you hear? What are points and submitted the application by you doing? Make the goal personal and Jan 2008’ These things you are in control tangible. What is your level of excitement of and they will give you the best chance on a scale on 1 – 10, if it’s less than 8, of getting the original goal, and still be in make the goal more exciting. control of it.

Measurable: You must know when you have achieved each goal. There must Contact Louise for more information, Goal Setting Principles be a way of measuring the outcome. on setting your own emigration goals, to Receiving your visas, or having sold your successfully plan, and achieve your To set effective goals follow these house, are quite easy to quantify. Those emigration dreams. guiding principles to help you. less straight forward such as making coaching@theexpatcoach.com Written down: Writing your goals, decisions, or feeling prepared are less About Louise: Having moved country makes them a reality, and is an intention clear.

But any measure even if it is you several times and experienced many of to commit. State each goal in a simple the emigration challenges, Louise has a concise sentence to focus on your desired ‘feel prepared’ is better than no measure at all. good understanding of what you are going outcome. It is a good idea to summarise Challenging: If a goal is too easy it’s through. She has a personal coaching your goals on a card you carry with you to not really a goal.

You may become bored diploma and is a member of The review often. and uninterested; there is no sense of Coaching Academy (UK). Louise began Reviewed regularly: This means achievement when you reach it.

Dare to coaching in 2006, and established The reading your card every day without fail. dream big, turn your dream into ambitions Expat Coach in 2007. She specializes in Take a minute over each goal, see it in and ambition into goals. coaching clients to successfully plan, your mind, and know what will be Achievable: The goal must be prepare for and achieve their dreams of happening to show you have achieved it. realistic, if you are just starting out and set life in a new country. Read the Expat Know that everything you say and do is a goal to have emigrated within the next Coach Blog for coaching tips and news moving you nearer to you goal. month, it is unlikely to happen.

You need about emigration and expat issues.

Specific: You must be able to . describe each goal in one sentence that is to believe you can achieve it.

Time-frame: clear and specific. This will bring clarity to Always attach a your goals. ‘I want to emigrate’ is too Anglo Pacific made it easy start and finish vague. ‘I want to be living in Canada When we moved to Canada Anglo Pacific time. Goals within 3 years’ gives where and when. took care of everything without dates just Positive: Focus on what you want, drift on and tend to and not a negative. For example, ‘I want to get a way from traffic queues’ or ‘I want get forgotten.

Having dates to be out of this incessant rain’ or ‘I don’t’ keeps you on track want my kids to grow up in a high crime and focused. area’.

Within your Possible reframes could be… responsibility: ‘I want a quiet and calm commute to You cannot set work everyday’ goals for other ‘I want to have sunshine and warm people. The goal weather for 5 months of the year’ must be within ‘I want my kids to be safe playing in your control and the street’ Over 500,000 satisfied customers have already trusted their possessions to Anglo Pacific, Britain’s leading international influence. If you You can take it one step further and movers. We deliver our promises, so whatever you need to move, wherever in the world, we’ll deliver your goods safely, are not in control state your goal in the present tense as if securely and on time. So call us now for a free home survey and of the outcome quotation, and get the facts from our friendly experts. you have already achieved it. ‘I have a you have a ready quiet and calm commute to work every FREEPHONE 0800 234 6188 made excuse for day’ or ‘It is sunny and warm for 5 www.anglopacific.co.uk. London, Manchester, Glasgow, Nationwide not achieving it.

34 Moving to Canada

Nova Scotia bound In previous issues we have been speaking to the Ottewell family in the United Kingdom who are hoping to emigrate to Canada in the near future. When we last spoke to them they were getting ready to travel to Nova Scotia on both a fact finding trip but also so that Steve can take some job interviews with a view to being offered employment. They have now returned from their Canadian trip and we catch up with Vanessa to see what is happening next in their lives.

We have all just returned from our “trip” to Nova Scotia, which I must say was even better than I had hoped. Things were really hectic leading up to us going.

We decided to try and sell our house early on, so that we would pay everything off before we left; that way we would know exactly what we had to spend on a house out in Canada. We sold the house privately to our next door neighbours mother (which was very handy) and completed the house sale a week before we went to Canada. Great timing, but extremely hectic. We have moved in with my parents until “D Day”. Our belongings have gone into storage, and we have arranged for them to be shipped out a week before we fly out (it takes approx. 7 days from England to Halifax).

The flight to Halifax went very smoothly and relatively quickly once you have sat through two movies and eaten!

Halifax airport itself is very small in comparison to the big airports in the UK,

and when we landed we were outside with our cases within about 10 minutes!

Just like Gatwick (ha ha!) We decided to rent a people carrier as we knew we were going to be in the car sometimes for hours on end. The children took their portable DVD players and PSP’s so they were fine.

We had arranged to stay with friends for the first 3 days, but took the “scenic” route to their house, which was about an hour away. I knew Canada had a lot of trees, but I don’t think anything prepared me for quite how many!!! There were trees and lakes everywhere. The scenery was breath-taking - even the children were excited!

Our friends have two boys, one of whom is the same age as my son. My friend Karen had arranged for my son to go to her sons school for the day, so he could see what a “Canadian” school would be like; just so the whole thing wouldn’t be so daunting when he

Connor and Lauren enjoying the Nova Scotia scenery

The family Steve (35), Vanessa (37), Connor (11) and Lauren (5) UK Location Bedhampton, Havant (near Portsmouth) Hampshire Canadian Destination Nova Scotia

eventually came out. It turned out to be a huge success, and he was even invited to the school disco that evening!

My husband Steve had five interviews arranged throughout the course of the holiday. Two interviews were in New Brunswick and the other three in and around Nova Scotia. Steve had one interview a few days after arriving, which went well, and then we travelled down to New Brunswick.

The attorneys had given us the interview schedule a week prior to us going out, so we were able to go through the schedule and book hotels accordingly.

It took us around 6 hours to get to New Brunswick, which we amazingly only travelled on 2 roads to get to! We couldn’t believe how quiet the roads were. I pass more traffic getting out of Portsmouth than

Moving to Canada 35

Connor and Lauren we saw the whole journey up to New Brunswick! Unbelievable, but totally true.

It was lovely being able to explore some of Canada whilst we were there.

The driving was extremely relaxing, and you would never believe that you had been in the car for hours.

Whilst we were in Nova Scotia we had decided to look around some houses.

My husband had already done this when he visited in October, but now it was my turn! The houses were beautiful, and I just couldn’t believe what our money could buy us. We had gone with the same realtor that Steve had met up with in October. His name was Rob Brown and he worked for Remax. He was fantastic, and despite knowing that we wouldn’t be purchasing anything until later in the year, still spent 4 days showing us houses, and taking us round to all the areas that we had shown an interest in. He also “threw in” some of his own ones for good measure.

We also took some cars for a test drive whilst there, as obviously that will be one of the first things that we purchase.

Cars are considerably cheaper in Canada

than the UK, and we are looking at buying a 4 x 4 for about £7,000, and that is only 2 years old. The car dealers were very helpful, even when they knew we wouldn’t actually be purchasing anything that day. All of the dealers we went to just asked for a photocopy of our driving licence, gave us a Sat Nav and let us take the car out on our own.

The holiday itself seemed to go really slowly, but I think that is because the pace of life is so much slower out in Canada.

Everyone is so friendly and helpful. I especially noticed how patient they were when I was trying to work out what currency to give them!

We had decided to open a bank account whilst there; just so it would be easier when it came to transferring our money out to Canada. Again we found everyone extremely helpful, and we have even had a mortgage agreed in principal, which is great.

We all found it really amusing that everyone seems to drink coffee out there, and there are Tim Hortons (a donut and coffee shop) absolutely everywhere. They even sell coffee and donuts in all the

Vanessa with Lauren petrol stations, and everyone seems to buy a coffee when they fill their cars up; something we laughed about at first, but scarily found ourselves doing every time we filled up the car!!! Whilst in Rome though……

We have come away from the holiday really fired up. Steve has decided to accept a job in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with a smallish truck company. We have even been to his new boss’s house for tea and biscuits. We are also incredibly lucky as his new boss has offered to rent us her in-law suite until we find somewhere to buy. That will be great for us as rental is quite expensive, and obviously we want to save as much money as we can for our own house.

We are so excited that we have, in fact, brought our moving out date forward to the middle of July instead of the middle of August. We decided that we wanted to start our new life as soon as possible why wait!!!

So, hopefully the next time I write I will be on my way, or even better may actually have arrived…… .

36 Money

Investing in the US housing market

International Newsletter

FX Markets

June 2, 2008

Last 12 months Canadian $

• Profiles of Canadian Buyers

International Buyers

! Need daily rates or other currencies?

Contact your Account Recent Rates Executive.

Currencies Overview

Seizing the Opportunity on “Canadians buying in the US” • The “Perfect Storm”

Personal Finance

US Dollar: 1 CAD = 0.98 USD CAD $ up 12% vs. US$

Euro

Sterling

• Marketing Tips for Realtors 1 GBP = 1.96 USD

Sterling flat vs. US $

1 EURO = 1.56 USD Euro up 16% vs. US $

Although the US dollar has lost significant ground against most major currencies over the past year, many analysts feel a bottom may be forming. With the FOMC having arguably reached an end in their recent easing cycle, the US dollar looks poised to begin pairing back some of its recent losses.

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Canadians now get as much as 70% discount in certain areas of US as property value has dropped more than 50% and the strength of loonie carried 20% more in purchasing power compared to a year ago. There is definitely interest in U.S. properties at the moment. With over 400 Canadians registering for the recent Arizona Property Seminar hosted by HiFX in Calgary, it’s clear that this is more than just media hype.

A follow up survey conducted by HiFX indicated that 68% of attendees were aged 50 or higher.

75% of respondents indicated they were interested in condos, but of that figure nearly 35% said they’d also consider purchasing a single family residence. Roughly 50% of attendees said they’d buy property within the next 6 months if things continued going the way they were, and other 50% would continue to wait for a market bottom.

5 Marketing Tips - Updating your web site with more content and features to attract foreign investors such as market outlook, examples of foreigners who have purchased in your area and information on currency movements.

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- Advertising strategy depending on your available budget, teaming up with your strategic partners to share the advertising expense helps maximize your exposure in a bigger ad with lower cost.

- Speaking at seminars and trade shows helps you build credibility in front of clients and establish yourself as a source of valuable information.

- Providing value added service: consider partnering with other service providers to offer additional services such as financing, currency exchange and money transfer to improve the overall client experience for such foreign investors.

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Money 37 .

Comparing bank accounts and credit cards

up to five to compare in more detail. We were ideal for small business + independent contractors given two options based on our answers. denise@bookkeepingbyd.com For most of us the task of comparing Summary: chequing and savings accounts is a very We found this tool tiresome prospect. We all want to get the to be very easy Spend less time on paperwork and more best account for our everyday needs but and quick to use. time on your business often the details of each account can be The only thing confusing. Things like what is included in you need to be the account, is a banking package the what types of rewards and benefits (if aware of is how many transactions of best solution for you and what exactly are each type you use on a monthly basis, any) we would like. Options included you being charged for? travel, cash back, health care, insurance, otherwise the information you are The Financial Consumer Agency of warranties etc. We kept it simple and presented with could be incorrect.

Canada (FCAC) has included some chose travel rewards only. *If you are a child, teenager, student simple to use tools on its website The next stage is the summary of or senior citizen, when you select this www.moneytools.ca to help everyday your requirements and a list of possible option you will go straight to a list of people find the right account for them. We available accounts designed especially for credit cards that fit your criteria. We were decided to check out these tools to see your age group. You can then compare up given the option of 15 cards ranging in exactly how simple they were. interest rates of between 9.9% to 17.9%. to five at a time.

Again you can then go on to compare the cards and make an informed decision.

Banking Package Selection Savings Account Selection Summary: Very quick and easy to Tool tool use and because of the choices it makes you think about what you want from a Click on this button and you will first With this tool you first select the credit card. If you want you can do be asked which province or territory you province required and are then asked how several searches based on different require the bank account in. We chose much you can keep in your account at all criteria. By doing this you can make a Ontario. You will then be asked if you are times. The choices rage from zero dollars decision as to what benefits etc are of a child, teenager, young adult, student or to over $60,000. value to you and worth paying additional senior citizen*. We chose none of these.

Depending on your selection, you will fees or interest for. For example you might The next stage asks if you will be able to be presented with a range of accounts consider that having a low interest rate keep a certain minimum amount in your with their features, fees etc. Again you and no features or benefits better for you. account at all times. This allows the tool to can compare accounts.

When we entered this criteria we were find accounts that offer special packages Summary: Although this tool does given the option of 13 cards ranging from for minimum balances held. The choices not drill down as much as the first one, it prime + 0.9 interest rate to 17.99%. range from less than $1,000 to over gave a clear list of accounts and the This result means that we could have $5,000. We chose less than $1,000. ability to compare those you like the look a card with an interest rate of prime + 0.9 The next section asks how many of. with no rewards rather than the 9.9% with transactions of different types you make travel rewards we were offered previously. each month. They are split between inCredit Card Selection Tool Obviously everyone is different but branch and self-service options and this tool allows you to look at all the include the number of withdrawals, bill After selecting your province the tool options and helps you make an informed payments, transfers etc. We chose a asks what features of a credit card are decision about which credit card to apply random number of transactions. The next important to you. Examples include: for. stage asks if you use any specialized interest rates, no annual fees, rewards, banking services such as money orders, benefits or specialized options. We Other options on the site include travelers’ cheques, overdraft protection, selected interest rates. You are then mortgage calculators, mortgage qualifier safety deposit boxes etc. We chose only asked your main uses of the card such as calculator, quizzes and other general personalized cheques. purchases, cash advances, balance banking information. www.moneytools.ca After answering these questions you transfers. We chose purchases. You are get a summary of your answers and a list then asked if you mind paying an annual of financial institutions relevant to your fee and can answer no or yes if the type of banking. Depending on the rewards and benefits make it worthwhile. number offered to you you can then select We chose the latter. We were then asked

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38 Working Life

Does no degree mean no job?

Not having a 4-year degree doesn't necessarily rule you out of contention for that job you want.

by: Joe Turner, Career Coach Often, while perusing the job postings, you'll see listed under the requirements section wording such as "Bachelor's degree or equivalent".

Does this mean that those without a degree need not apply?

Not necessarily.

Although many corporate cultures require that their employees be degreed regardless of their position or length of experience, others will allow the degree to be trumped by industry experience. This is especially true for those job postings that have a degree **or equivalent** tagged to them. As such, you may have a chance when you lack the degree.

Generally speaking, a degree will usually be mandatory for those younger candidates lacking solid, relevant job experience. The operative word here is "equivalent" and how that is defined.

Sell results instead While these employers may have different requirements for equivalent experience, a good rule of thumb is to demonstrate past performance and proven results in your previous work. To accomplish this, your goal is to show how you either make money or save money for your employer. From your past work experience, develop as many specific instances when you actually have done so. If you can attach a dollar-value to several of those, so much the better. Put these in your resume.

Here are some actual examples: "Responsible for generating 13 new accounts by creating database and mailing piece" "Booked $150,000 in new business for 2007 by contracting with 2 major

groups for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2007."

"Increased revenue by 38% from new social market bookings."

"Chaired meetings and headed the negotiation discussion that resulted in the settlement of a long protracted contractual and legal issue with the subcontractor and client."

"Improved cash collection and debt aging from average 100 days to a more manageable 30 days and realized savings of about $276,000."

"Reduced turnover by 45% over previous management within 15 months through my training program and development plans."

"Won the Leadership and Excellence award in 2007 for outstanding achievements during my project management role."

"Increased our customer satisfaction survey scores by 32% on average by training my team on the proper way to provide a great customer experience."

"Reduced non-beneficial spending costs by 40% by effectively researching and analyzing accounts payable data."

You should also have a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) near the top of your resume. Also called a "personal branding statement", this is a short, one-sentence "pitch" that describes who you are in about 15 seconds. You USP should state the single greatest strength you offer and the biggest benefit that you bring to an employer.

Example: "Hospitality business development professional with a strength in creative sales and marketing techniques that generated $500,000 in new revenue for my employer in 12 months."

You can outweigh the formal education by showing exactly how your specific work has benefited your previous employer. The bottom line is that employers today more than ever, want to have problem solvers on board. Though you may have no degree, you can prove yourself a resource that fits into their larger profit and loss picture. If you can demonstrate that, you can get hired.

Summary You can overcome the "degree or equivalent" obstacle if you can (a) show proven benefits to hiring you, and (b) they are open-minded or flexible enough to get past the degree hang up. There will always be some inflexible companies when it comes to having a degree. But, you'll also find those companies who are more impressed with actual real-world results.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of Job Search Secrets Unlocked, Joe has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: http:// www.jobchangesecrets.com

appropriate premium rates.

costs by replacing duties once tended to by lawyers with paralegals, growth of this profession is expected.

Working Life 39

The top 10 e-mail mistakes - are you making them?

4. Going on and on and on. This strategy might work for the Energizer Bunny, but your goal when crafting a message should be to keep it short. You Subscribe to Muchmor Magazine and don't want to write the eRobert Half International not only will you be reminded when mail equivalent of a novel, every new issue issopublished but you get to the point as If you're like most professionals, you will bebasis. placedquickly into aasdraw to using win possible, use e-mail in the office on aalso regular both short sentences and a $50 Because of its immediacy and relative lack TimCard™ paragraphs. At the same of intrusiveness, it's the communication time, you don't want to write method of choice for many workers, too brief of a message, including, chances are, your boss. which could make you According to a Robert Half International appear curt. survey, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of 5. SHOUTING IT OUT. executives polled prefer e-mail over other Some people like the ease forms of communication. read muchmor for the latest winner of typing in all capital While hitting send may be an and effective to subscribe at way to get your ideas across, doing so too letters. What they may not quickly or without a lot of thought can send realize is this is the online the wrong message. Here are 10 common equivalent of shouting, so e-mail mistakes and tips for avoiding them: avoid the temptation of using the Caps Lock button.

1. A vague subject line. The subject 6. Striking the wrong line not only lets the person receiving the note.

Unfortunately, it's easy for tone to be message know what it's about but also lost with the written word, especially in provides him or her with a reason to read shorter messages. An attempt at humour, it. Some people and your boss is probably one of them get hundreds of e- for instance, may be read as something offensive or inappropriate. If you're not mails each day and may not have the time sure how something you wrote will be to open each of them. The subject line interpreted, err on the side of caution and acts as the window into the message and leave it out. can also indicate its urgency, so be 7. Weighing others down. If your especific with what you write there. mail inbox is continually clogged, you 2. No sign-off. A weak signature is know how frustrating it can be to receive almost as bad as a weak handshake: Both large attachments, especially when you convey a lack of professionalism. A don't want them. And, according to a signature at the end of your e-mail should survey we developed, executives agreed, include your e-mail address, physical work ranking the receipt of large, unsolicited address and phone number. Including files as the most annoying aspect of these details gives recipients multiple communicating via e-mail. Limit the means of contacting you. This information distribution of massive files to people who is especially important for people to whom absolutely need them. your e-mail might be forwarded or 8. Sending to the wrong box. Before individuals either outside the company or you send a message, always doublein another office. check the list of recipients. Many e-mail 3. 'Im writing re: the meeting @ 3.' programs automatically fill in information Many people take a casual approach you've previously typed, such as the ewhen using e-mail. But what you write is a mail addresses of frequent contacts. If you reflection of your professional self, so take have multiple people in your address book the time to craft complete sentences, use with similar names, you could mistakenly proper grammar and check your spelling. choose the wrong person and send him or And don't depend solely on your her a message intended for someone else. computer's spell-check function, which 9. Mixing business and pleasure. won't find misused words; review your eWhen the information is confidential or mail carefully before sending it. sensitive, this move could limit your

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

readmuchmor.com

Sign up completely free to receive job recommendations or add your resume to allow employers to search for you. career. Any time you use your work e-mail account, the message should be businessrelated. After all, you are using your firm's resources, and the company has the right to monitor your communication. Get to know your organization's e-mail policy, and have your friends send non-work-related e-mail to your personal account, which you can check at home.

10. Over e-mailing. Do you find yourself typing a long message in order to avoid confusion on the recipient's part? Do you hesitate to click Send because you think your contact might forward your message to someone who shouldn't see it? E-mail is best suited for quick communication, and, in situations like these, it's wise to call your colleague or speak to him or her in person instead.

With e-mail correspondence becoming increasingly important in the workplace, you can only benefit from learning how to craft an effective message.

So keep the above tips in mind the next time you sit down at the keyboard.

Robert Half International Inc. is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and the AsiaPacific region. www.rhi.com.

40 Working Life

Last month we introduced you to the Power of Women Exchange or POWE a networking group for women executives and professionals. This month we continue our conversation with the three directors Lia Bandola, Tina Dezsi an Marlene Marco and find out more of where POWE is heading in the future.

So ladies, first of all we have to ask about your logo. Why a purple woman with a handbag?

TD: The logo was developed from a concept we saw somewhere and liked.

The woman is actually holding a business satchel and because today’s woman can carry everything on her blackberry it doesn’t need to be bigger then a purse!

She is strong and knows what she wants – she is stepping into her future and taking control of it! We have always used the purple colour due to it being a “Power” colour.

Although you obviously are very involved with POWE, are any of you members of other networking groups?

TD: Networking is the key to building relationships in business. Successful Entrepreneurs of today know it takes more then a desk, phone and a computer to make it happen. They go get it, build their reputations in the community and promote their businesses through networking.

When I opened my business I hit the ground running and joined every networking association or group that I found. I attended marketing workshops, reached out to charity organizations and donated items, volunteered for events in my community, dropped off promotional items and spoke to anyone and everyone that needed to know who I was.

I still belong to various organizations however with a different mindset. After five years, I have learned that I can’t sit back and wait for business to come to me. I believe I must be visible in my community however choosing what is best for my business and my personal life. The time I spend networking must be productive and

I must be enjoying it. Combining business and pleasure is important.

I believe that everyone should belong to 3-4 networking groups all the time and should attend at least 3 meetings a month in order to stay in the loop.

LB: I personally belong to a couple of networking groups and POWE belongs to local Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade. It’s important for us to be visible with other organizations, both personally and professionally.

With all the time you put into POWE do you also have other jobs?

TD: I still sit at the helm of my healthcare company T&E HealthPros Inc. in which we employ 65 staff. I am now in the process of training an executive director as well as a full time admin assistant to take over some of my duties.

Having started this business I believe that you need to keep your finger on the pulse and never lose sight of what the business is doing.

I split my time between POWE and T&E and as it happens now POWE takes most of my working time up.

LB: I have pretty much closed my private practice as a counsellor/coach. I do still have a couple of clients but am not taking any new clients. POWE is pretty much a full-time endeavor for me and while I would still enjoy delivering workshops and doing my professional speaking, at the moment I am putting all my energies into building POWE. MM: The relationships that I have built through POWE assist me in a business & lifestyle around helping women with fashion & image. I have been in the fashion business for 23 years, helping women to build their wardrobe wisely. Their figure type, lifestyle and

personal taste all have to be taken into account. I have recently changed my supplier & am now with Optionelle, a Canadian company out of London, ON. I currently hold the position of Fashion Agency Director, coaching and mentoring a successful team of ladies, as well as presenting the fashions at group and private appointments.

Recognizing the importance of image, I added another element - Finer Face Durham, where I offer a natural alternative to facial rejuvenation using micro current technology. We all love that youthful, fresh & polished look. It's my pleasure to guide my clients through that process!

Now for a very serious question.

What vehicles do you drive?

TD: I drive a hot little red 2 door Cobalt with the hopes that I will get my motorcycle license this year!

LB: Still driving the more practical Venture van for the most part, though we just bought a 2004 Nissan Maxima – red too, which I just love to drive whenever I can but hubby drives it the most (for now!).

MM: A silver Lincoln Town Car Can you give us a insight into any new chapters that might be on the horizon?

Working Life 41 TD: We are continually being approached by women all over Canada and the US interested in finding out how to bring POWE to their area. Currently we have seven chapters and 2008 will bring us to a total of ten. Can’t give too much away though!

Do you think the high gas prices will affect meeting attendance?

TD: Because we have different chapters in various locations and growing those chapter locations all the time, we don’t foresee that high gas prices will affect attendance at all. For the most part people don’t have to travel very far to attend a meeting so they really don’t have to spend much on gas to get to a POWE meeting. Besides, whatever it costs to get there, it is well worth the expense and after all, it is a legitimate business expense, so it’s a write off!

And finally, because we know men are important too. What do the men in your life think of POWE? TD: I am now fortunate to be in a new relationship with someone that is 200% behind me, asking me everyday what new exciting things happen with POWE. He would love to attend all the meetings and has actually given me some awesome ideas on new benefits to bring to the group. I am blessed to be at this point in

my life where personal and business are finally meeting up!

LB: I just celebrated my 30th anniversary with my very supportive husband. He has always believed in my dreams as much as I have (sometimes more – he’s my biggest cheerleader) and has been very instrumental in helping me achieve my vision for POWE. On a practical level, he has pitched in and helped out many times with events and some of the more physical tasks – most recently doing the majority of the renovations to the new POWE offices. He wants to see the success for POWE as much as we do!

MM: I am blessed to have a partner with a corporate managerial background.

He’s learning the entrepreneurial lifestyle – that was new to him. Fortunately, he’s on board with this new experience and is totally involved nd supportive. He’s my greatest cheerleader and you’ll see him at every event possible.

On a final note we wanted to highlight the POWE VIP Awards that recently took place. POWE Member of the Year was Lynn Morrison of Willow Pond Bed & Breakfast. Winner of the Spirit of POWE Award: Yvette Maxwell of Hands in Demand Massage Clinic and the Helping Hands Award went to Carol Drew of Welcome Wagon, Congratulation!

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

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

Durham East Get together at the Harmony Creek Golf Centre in Oshawa on the 1st Tuesday of each month.

Registration from 11:00 am.

Durham West The Forest Brook Community Church in Ajax is the location of this meeting with registration from 11:00 am.

Kingston Meet at Zorba’s Banquet Facility in Kingston on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Registration starts at 11:00 am.

Markham This chapter meets at La Rosa Banquet Hall in Markham on the 2nd Tuesday of the month with registration at 11:00 am.

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

Winners of the POWE 2007 VIP Awards with the directors: Back row L-R : Marlene Marco, Lynn Morrison, Carol Drew & Tina Dazsi.

Front Row L-R: Yvette Maxwell and Lia Bandola

42 Motoring

Things to know before you tow Even with gas at $1.35 a litre, many people will soon be hitching up their boats, trailers and RVs and hitting the road for summer vacations. Catching up on the latest safety features will help these weekend warriors get out on the open road quickly and safely.

Before you set out on your first summer excursion towing a trailer or fifth-wheel it's a good idea to practice turning, stopping and backing up your trailer in an area without heavy traffic or distractions. Because trailer wheels are closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of the tow vehicle, they are more likely to hit or ride up over curbs. Make sure to take turns wide as corners, curbs and curves will require greater clearance.

Another safety tip to remember is to operate the vehicle at moderate speeds and avoid sudden starts, stops and turns to reduce trailer sway, allowing for adequate reaction time.

The phenomenon commonly referred to as "trailer sway" occurs when a trailer being towed by a car, truck or van begins to sway or swing back and forth as it is being pulled. Severe instances of trailer sway can cause drivers to lose control. Cautious driving can help minimize trailer sway, and now new technology from truck and SUV manufacturers helps to virtually eliminate this occurrence.

"Trailer Sway Control is helping people who tow trailers achieve an enhanced level of control of their load," says Steve Kozak, Ford Motor Company's chief safety engineer.

Trailer Sway Control helps determine from the side to side motion of the vehicle if the trailer is swaying and takes measures -- such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque -- to help get both the vehicle and trailer under control.

For a video demonstration of the trailer sway control feature visit this link.

Before drivers can drive with these safety tips in mind, they have to first deal with hitching a trailer, RV or boat to their vehicle, which often calls for more than one set of eyes to help guide the driver.

When backing up to either a parking spot or to hitch a trailer use slight movements of the steering wheel to adjust direction. Exaggerated movements will cause excessive movement to the trailer. If you experience difficulty, pull forward and realign the tow vehicle and trailer or start again.

Automotive companies have developed some features such as a reverse camera system to help trailer, boat or RV towers get to their destination quickly.

For a video demonstration of the reverse camera system visit this link.

One final bit of advice would be to create a safety check-list before you begin any traveling with your RV, boat or trailer. Below are some pre-departure check-list items: * Check and correct tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer, as low pressure hurts not only the drive of the vehicle but also the fuel economy. * Make sure the wheel lug nuts/ bolts on the tow vehicle and trailer are tightened to the correct torque.

* Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other equipment that connect the trailer and tow vehicle are properly secured and adjusted. * Check that wiring is properly connected -- not touching the road, but loose enough to make turns without disconnecting or damaging the wires. * Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working. * Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating correctly. * Check that all items are securely fastened on and in the trailer. * Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support and any attached stabilizers are raised and locked in place. * Check load distribution to make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are properly balanced front to back and side to side. * Check side- and rear-view mirrors to make sure you have good visibility. * Check routes and restrictions on bridges and tunnels. * Make sure you have wheel chocks and a jack stand.

With precautions made to ensure safety while traveling with a trailer, boat or RV, motorists are ready to hit the road this summer and will be out on the water or setting up camp in no time.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Motoring 43

New licence plate for Alberta Many months ago we mentioned that Alberta was looking to redesign its licence plate and asked the public for suggestions in an online survey carried out between November 2007 and February 2008. After 33,000 suggestions and a public opinion poll the decision has been made.

The existing plate features a traditional wild rose emblem with the slogan “Wild Rose Country”.

Although the final design of the new plate will not be revealed until next year it will feature mountains instead of the wild rose.

Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk said “There were many slogans that were brought forward by many Albertans. There’s no clear direction on what it should be. ‘Strong and Free’ and ‘Wild Rose Country’ — those were probably the two most common, most favourite ones.”

The final decision will be made by the Tory caucus later in the year.

Thousands of jobs to go at GM plant General Motors Corp. have announced the closure in 2009 of the Oshawa truck plant resulting in a loss of nearly 3,000 jobs.

The losses are part of a North America wide scaling down of truck production. Rising fuel costs and the down-turn in the US economy mean that many Americans and Canadians are no longer buying “gas-guzzling” trucks reducing the overall demand and forcing the closures.

Unions are hoping that the closure can be stopped or that the plant can be used to produce other more economical vehicles.

Changes to truck tire rules A recent announcement by Michelin regarding amendments to Canada’s Vehicle Weights and Dimensions will allow new-generation, wide-base single tires to be used instead of duel wheels on tractortrailers and large trucks.

The changes come into force July 1st 2008 and will bring the Canadian regulations in line with the United States.

The rules will be in effect for all Canadian provinces, except for roads in the Northwest Territories, secondary roads in Newfoundland and Labrador, and roads in New Brunswick, depending on their highway classification.

Smoking in cars with kids banned in Ontario How far will your Following on from similar legislation in car travel on 50L of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Ontario fuel? has become the latest province to ban smoking in vehicles where children under the age of 16 are present.

Government studies show that children are exposed to 27 times the toxins in an enclosed space such as a vehicle than in other locations such as the home.

The new ban will mean motorist will be fined up to $250 for each offense.

Canadian Driver recently completed a challenge to see how far certain cars ran on just 50 litres of fuel. With rising gas prices in Canada this is a topic very dear to most drivers hearts.

The Toyota Corolla won the test traveling 1,017 km giving a fuel consumption of 4.9 L/100 km or 58 miles to the gallon. The Honda Civic came in

second with 947 km completed giving a fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km. In third place was the Pontiac Vibe with 854 km or 5.9 L/100 km. Read the full report here.

Electric cars not allowed in Canada Despite the fact that most Canadians these days are looking for fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles Canada has decided not to allow electric vehicles on its roads.

Transport Canada says vehicles made of lightweight metals and plastics are not safe to drive on the open roads.

Ian Clifford president of Zenn Motor Company based in Quebec is angry. His company produces a zero emissions, no noise electric car called the Zenn which they export to the United States.

"We build the car in St. Jerome (Quebec) and ship them all south of the border, where 44 states allow them, and some 45,000 electric cars are in use today,” he said.

Only westernmost British Columbia allows ow speed electric cars on rural roads.

Quebec is launching a pilot project which will allow the Zenn on roads posted with 50 km speeds. If this is successful other provinces may eventually follow suit.

Shortage of small cars in Canada Due to the high fuel costs more and more Canadians are choosing to buy smaller more fuel efficient cars which is leading to a shortage of smaller cars at many dealers. This is also being impacted

by Americans also buying smaller cars and fewer cars finding their way to Canada.

People wanting to trade-in trucks are also feeling the impact as they are not being offered very good trade-in values for their vehicles. Indeed some dealers are refusing to trade-in trucks altogether.

44 Kidzone

Tackling Peer Pressure by: Jim Hartley If you’re in your early teens you may already have encountered peer pressure … if you’re approaching your teens, it’s something you may face fairly soon.

During the 26 years of conducting our SuperCamp academic summer camp programs we have learned quite a lot about the problems that teens face. Peer pressure is something that teens find very hard to deal with so we've come up with some suggestions.

Think about this scene: you’re on your way to a concert with a group of friends and someone pulls out a bottle taken from Dad’s liquor cabinet and starts passing it around. You don’t want to drink, but everyone else seems to be doing it and you don’t want to look like an outsider by refusing. What do you do?

Maybe you’ve been in a similar situation – one where friends are coaxing you to do something you know is not a good idea, like drinking, skipping school, or cheating on a test. This is not to put down your friends – they are the people who listen to you and are there for you when you need them. However, it’s important to remember that if someone wants you to do something that just doesn’t feel right – from something

seemingly minor to some scheme that could land you in the principal’s office, or grounded, or even worse – it’s time to stand up for your beliefs and let the person know how you feel. How do you do it?

Step Out and Stand Up Step out of your comfort zone and stand up for what you believe in. We all know this isn’t easy. Many problems have occurred for many teens because no one wanted to stand up and speak out about how they felt. It takes courage.

There may be one person among your group of friends who dominates – the one who stirs others into action.

That’s fine. But when this person wants you to do something you’re not comfortable with, you need to let him or

her know. Chances are you’re not the only one in your group who feels uncomfortable. Others may share your opinion, but are waiting for someone else to take the lead. They are looking for a way out, but are afraid to speak their minds. Once you speak up, they will quickly take your side and share their concerns.

So how do you “just say no”? State your position firmly, but avoid putting the

person suggesting the activity on the spot. Calmly and simply stating “I don’t want to drink” is better than “No, thanks, dude. I don’t want to end up like you.”

Always avoid personal attack – make the activity the issue, not the person.

Sometimes a little humor can lighten the situation – half jokingly saying something about the consequences can get your point across and give others an easy opportunity to agree and a reason to "back out."

When That Doesn’t Work Ideally, you should be able to stand up for what you believe in, but if you’re having trouble saying “no” to your friends here are two alternative strategies: Ignore it. When someone comes up with some crazy plan you don’t want to be part of, pretend you never heard it.

Turn up the radio or pretend to be concentrating on your homework or what someone else is saying. Your friend may take the hint and the whole idea may be dropped.

Blame your parents. This is one time when your parents’ rules come in handy.

Say something like, “No way! If my parents found out, I’d be grounded for the whole summer! I’m not risking it.”

Whatever strategy you choose, you can feel proud of yourself knowing you have the ability to say no – you did not cave in to peer pressure. Going against the crowd isn’t easy – it takes courage and self-respect. But the more you do it, the more your courage and self-respect will grow. And respect for you will also grow among those who agreed with you and declined to participate in the activity.

In fact, they may thank you for saying what they were feeling!

Jim Hartley works for Quantum Learning Network, a company that focuses on children and teen education and life skills. http://www.qln.com

Kidzone 45

Top kids stuff….

Bestselling books 1. Twilight, Stephanie Mayer 2. Oh, the Places You'll Go!, Dr Seuss 3. Love You Forever, Munsch & McGraw 4. Eclipse Special Edition, Stephanie Mayer 5. Gallop, Rufus Butler Seder

6. The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan 7. Eclipse, Stephanie Mayer 8. Scaredy Squirrel, Melanie Watt 9. Goodnight Moon, Brown Clement Hurd 10. New Moon, Stephanie Mayer

Family DVD rental 1. National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (PG) 2. Transformers Animated Movie: Transform and Roll Out (NR) 3. Go Diego Go!: Great Gorilla (NR) 4. Fool’s Gold (PG-13) 5. The Jungle Book 2 (G)

6. Be Kind Rewind (PG-13) 7. The Sword in the Stone (G) 8. Witless Protection (PG-13) 9. Jumper (PG-13) 10. Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (PG-13)

Bestselling family video games X-Box 360 Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (T) Grid (E) Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (E10) PS3 Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (T)

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (T) UEFA Euro 2008 (E) Wii Super Smash Bros: Brawl (T) Boom Box (E) Kung Fu Panda (E10)

Top family movies in theaters 1. The Incredible Hulk (PG-13) 2. Kung Fu Panda (PG) 3. You Don't Mess with the Zohan (PG-13) 4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG-13)

5. Iron Man (PG-13) 6. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG) 7. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (PG) 8. Son of Rambow (PG-13)

46 Health and Wellness

The health of Canada A Canada wide study has recently been conducted by the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Statistics Canada: the results are quite an eye-opener. We have tried to pull out some of the pertinent facts for you about both the Canadian health system as well as individual health facts from across the country.

Life Expectancy First of all we will look at life expectancy. Where is the best place to be born in Canada where you can expect a long life? Well, overall Canada has a life expectancy of 80.4 years. Women are slightly higher at 82.7 years and men lower at 78.0.

Life expectancy for women all over Canada is very similar however those born in the territories have a much lower life expectancy of 79.9 years. British Columbia has the longest expectancy at 83.5 years and of the provinces Newfoundland and Labrador is the lowest at 80.9 years.

The life expectancy for men overall is lower with the same provinces and territories showing the same highs and lows. Men in the territories can expect to live 73.5 years compared to 78.8 years in British Columbia.

Cancer The study looked at the number of cancer occurrences in each province and territory for various forms of cancer for every 100,000 of the population.

The highest rate of breast cancer occurred in Prince Edward Island with 105.8 cases per 100,000 of the population, followed by Alberta with 101.4 cases. The lowest number of cases was in New Brunswick with 85.1 per 100,000.

Across Canada the average number is 95.9 per 100,000.

Prostrate cancer in men had the highest levels in Saskatchewan with 172.3 cases per 100,000, followed by P.E.I. with 162.8. These figures are high when you consider the Canadian average is 120.9. The lowest figures were seen in Northwest Territories with 89.0 cases per

Prostrate Cancer (cases per 100,000 population)

N.L P.E.I. N.S. N.B. QC ON MB SK AB B.C.

93.9 162.8 137.7 130.7 100.2 131.7 112.4 172.3 137.9 105.8

100,000 and Newfoundland and Labrador with 93.3 cases.

Bronchial and lung cancers saw an average of 55.6 per 100,000 across the country with Quebec, New Brunswick, P.E.I and Nova Scotia all seeing figures in the high 60’s. Newfoundland and Labrador is the lowest at 42.1 cases per 100,000 population.

Breast Cancer (cases per 100,000 population)

N.L P.E.I. N.S. N.B. QC ON MB SK AB B.C.

87.0 105.6 94.5 85.1 96.4 97.6 98.7 93.1 101.4 90.0

Colon cancer occurred in 33.3 per 100,000 of the Canadian population. The highest rate of 47.6 was recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador and the lowest in British Columbia with 28.5 cases.

Cervical cancer had a rate across Canada of 7.5 per 100,000 population.

The highest figure of 11.8 was seen in Newfoundland and Labrador and the lowest in British Columbia of 6.0.

Asthma For every 100,000 of the Canadian population 8.3 reported having asthma.

More females (9.6) than males (6.9) had the condition. The two highest rates for both sexes was found in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. The lowest numbers were in Manitoba (7.9).

Diabetes Across Canada more men (5.3) than women (4.4) suffer from diabetes. Overall the figure for both sexes is 4.9 per 100,000. The Atlantic provinces all saw higher than national averages, all above 6 cases per 100,000. Much lower was Alberta at 3.9 cases.

Caesarean Births The study also looked at the number of Caesarean births taking place in each province and territory. Unnecessary Caesarean sections can increase maternal morbidity and also results in higher costs.

Overall across Canada 2005-06 the rate of Caesarean births is 26.3% of all births. The highest rate was seen in British Columbia with 30.4% followed by

Health and Wellness 47 Newfoundland and Labrador at 30.1%.

The lowest rate was in Nunavut with only 8.2% of births being Caesarean. Of the provinces Saskatchewan at 21.1% and Manitoba at 21.3 were the lowest.

Heart Attack The number of deaths occurring within 30 days of a patient being admitted to hospital with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) between the years 2004 and 2007 was also taken into account. There were no figures gathered for Quebec as they operate a different data collection system.

Throughout Canada (excluding Quebec) 10% of heart attack cases resulted in death within 30 days of hospital admission. The lowest rate of mortality was seen in Yukon Territory with 7.8% and the highest in P.E.I at 12.8%.

Stroke A similar study was also completed for stroke victims who succumbed to their condition within 30 days of admission to hospital. The figures are based on the same three years and exclude Quebec.

Canada wide the figure was 18.2% of cases with the lowest death rate seen in P.E.I and New Brunswick, both with 16.2%. With a rate of 25.1% mortality rate Nova Scotia came in last place followed by Newfoundland and Labrador at 24.8%.

Hip and knee replacement In Canada 101.5 people have hip replacement surgery per 100,000 of the population. The highest rate of such surgery is seen in Northwest Territories with 133.3 per 100,000 population. The lowest figure was seen in Newfoundland and Labrador with only 80.6 having the surgery.

The difference in numbers does not necessarily reflect the actual number of people requiring such surgery, but can be related to availability of services and patient preferences.

Likewise knee replacement surgery has a country wide average of 149.4 per 100,000 with Nunavut recording 238.8 cases per 100,000 and at the other end of the spectrum Yukon with 103.0 per 100,000.

Hysterectomy Variations in hysterectomy rates can be attributed to numerous factors, including differences in population demographics and health status, physician practice patterns and availability of services.

By far the highest rate of hysterectomies were carried out in P.E.I. with 558 per 100,000 of the population.

Yukon saw the lowest figure with 321, followed by British Columbia with 328 per 100,000.

Hysterectomy (rates per 100,000 population)

N.L P.E.I. N.S. N.B. QC ON MB SK AB B.C.

469 558 449 450 343 364 429 384 328

Doctor numbers Canadian residents are becoming acutely aware of the national shortage of doctors. The following figures indicate the number of general physicians and specialist physicians in each province and territory. Overall Canada has 98 general physicians per 100,000 of the population and 93 specialist physicians.

Doctor numbers (rates per 100,000 population)

Location General N.L. P.E.I. N.S. N.B. QC ON MB SK AB B.C. Y.T. N.W.T. NV

Special

103 92 120 106 109 84 93 91 104 109 202 83 32

97 58 99 71 106 90 87 69 88 90 22 31 -

Dentists The average number of dentists per 100,000 of the population in Canada is 58. The highest proportion can be seen in Nunavut where there are 158 and the lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador where there are just 32 per 100,000.

Gloria York Tel: 613 634 0199 www.sendoutcards.com/45008 Send a card on me it's FREE

48 Home and Garden

Understanding CondosÂ

By Marissa Ponikowsk Condos come in all shapes, sizes and types - and there's more to these residences than meets the eye. Simply put, condo owners hold the title to their own respective units and share ownership and responsibility of and for the operating costs of the balance of the property, including common elements such as lobbies, hallways, recreation areas, pools, gyms and parking lots. A monthly maintenance fee is paid by each unit owner. This fee generally includes water, building insurance, common element maintenance, upkeep, security, concierge and property management salaries.

Rarely, hydro and cable fees will also be included in the monthly maintenance payment.

Here are the main categories of condo dwelling: The Condo Apartment: A condo apartment consists of one unit within a larger building. Owners hold title to these units, and also pay monthly maintenance fees towards the care of the building and its elements. A condo apartment comes in many styles, including suite, two-story and loft-style. Some condos are very luxurious, with sweeping balconies and plenty of space, while others are fairly small and may only consist of one or two rooms.

The Condo Townhouse: The interior of a condo-style townhouse is owned in the same way a condo apartment is owned. The exterior of the condo townhouse is shared, and monthly fees are paid towards upkeep of exterior and other common elements. Rather than gyms or recreation rooms, an amenity of a condo townhouse may include a playground or small park.

The Co-Op: With a co-op, shares are bought in a corporation which then leases the buyer an apartment or townhouse style unit. Often with a co-op, a down payment between 30 to 50 per cent

give it to charity or throw it out. If you don't know where you'll put it, don't buy it. Life is much easier without too much stuff, and condos are much more attractive when they aren't paced with useless possessions.

Flowing Decor: When decorating a condo, choose a theme and stick with it.

Condos and condo townhouses are generally open-concept and fairly small, and introducing too much color schemes will overpower the space. When painting, choose a color that you can repeat-for example, painting your bedroom the same color as your washroom to give the impression of an ensuite and then choose a lighter or darker version of the shade for the living area and kitchen.

Dramatic Wood Finishes: It's tempting to go with deep, dark paint colors is when seeking to add drama to your condo required. Co-ops are not as popular as decor, but particularly in a small space, condos because it can be more difficult to this is not a great idea. Instead, stain the garner a comparative return on investment floors a dark oak or cherrywood finish. in the end.

Cupboards can be outfitted with dramatic Condo Trends: When it comes to finish as well and furniture in rich condos, staying on the cutting edge of distressed black stain is another attractive style and decor is key. The general way to add depth to your decorating. perception of what's hot and what's not Streamlined Storage: Maximize can change daily, so choosing trendy yet closet space by building shelves and timeless decorating styles and furniture installing closet organizers. Make every pieces is the true challenge for the condo square foot count-even under the bed! dweller. Always keep resale value in mind Buy thin plastic storage boxes which slide when you paint or make upgrades. easily into small spaces and use them to Chances are, you won't live in this condo store seasonal clothing, wrapping paper, forever and when you do sell, you gift bags and more. Invest in drawer want the place to be attractive to a wide organizers and cupboards shelves, too. demographic-rather than simply to those who share the same tastes you do.

What's not:

What's hot:

Garish Paint Colors: Lime green may be your favorite color-and very in to Clutter-Free Living: The choice to boot-but that doesn't mean lime is a wise live in a condo generally means one must paint color choice. If you love it, don't shy commit to living clutter-free. Although most away completely, but don't make it the condos have a storage locker and at least main focus of your space, either, as rich one closet, the space for storage is quite colors tend to dominate. Instead, choose limited compared to that of other types of boldly-colored accessories such as homes. That's why it's so important to blankets, throws, candles and vases. If adopt a Zen-like approach to clutter and you simply must paint in a dramatic shad, possessions. If you don't need it, sell it,

Home and Garden 49 choose a single wall to adorn with shocking color.

Fading Floors: Even if you didn't upgrade your floors, it's important to keep them in great condition. Laminate floors should not be washed with water, because it can leak through cracks and cause bubbling. Instead, sweep well and spot clean with a damp cloth. If you have hardwood, keep it in mint condition by cleaning and waxing regularly. If you plan to sell, a floor sand and refinish may be a good investment.

Too Much Bulk: You may not plan to live in a condo forever, and thus would rather invest in furniture that will make the transition from condo to house with ease but big, bulky, house-size furniture just doesn't compute in a small condo. Choose your stuff wisely, and don't break the bank on condo furniture. There are bargains to be had, especially on small, streamlined stuff.

Benefits of buying brand new Although the resale condo market is going strong, it seems there is also no end to a new building developments cropping up all over Canadian cities. One of the main benefits of buying a condo is the development stage is choice. Most savvy developers offer potential owners the opportunity to have a hand in the design, layout and decoration of their unit. This means sumptuous upgrades are always on offer. Sure, standard fixtures are cheaper and function just fine-but sometimes custom upgrade is worth the splurge, especially when it comes to resale value, which is something every condo purchaser should have on the brain. Plus, it's always cheaper to choose an upgrade and benefit from the wholesale prices developers are generally privy to, rather then choose to remodel your condo or townhouse at full price later.

Here are some fantastic upgrade options guaranteed to pay off in the end: • • • • •

Custom cabinetry Recessed lights Kitchen islands Hardwood floors Marble entranceways

Jacuzzi or soaker tubs Luxury showerheads Gas fireplaces Courtyard-style terraces, bricked with interlocking stone • Built-in speakers or pre-installed wiring • High-quality carpeting • • • •

How condos function Purchasers of pre-build and brand-new condominiums face a unique two-step closing process. The reason for this is that new condos are generally ready for occupation before the legal title can be given to the owner. Two steps have been introduced to deal with the fact that closing dates often take place after a building is legally registered.

The first stage is the interim closing.

This takes place on or around the date the unit is ready for occupancy. On this date, the purchaser pays the balance owing under the contract of purchase, and this money is then held in trust until the purchaser receives legal title. Legal title is transferred on the final closing date.

Between the interim and final close, the purchaser must fulfill all of the agreements laid out in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, such as abiding by the rules and regulations of the condo and paying a monthly occupancy fee. The final closing takes place when the condo corporation is registered. This is when the purchaser is required to pay the balance of the purchase price, and the deposit money is released from trust. The developer will then provide the purchaser with a deed for his or her unit.

Maintenance: Generally, a builder will warranty all final finishes for a certain

period of time following the completion of the building. During this time, the builder is responsible for all repairs and amendment of deficiency. The building works with the board and property manager to get any necessary work done. Once the warranty period runs out, all repairs and maintenance become the responsibility of the condo corporation and its residents, and are paid for by the annual maintenance fees.

Repairs: When the need for general repairs arises, the property manager and condo board begin reviewing potential service providers, and generally ask for a range of service bids. "We don't always necessarily choose the lowest bidder, but make the decision based on quality and value", says Fred Moneta, a Sherwood Park property manager. The cost of any repairs are taken from the annual budget.

Insurance: A condo corporation will generally have a blanket policy for the building, but unit owners must still purchase their own home insurance.

Homeowners insurance for condo dwellers is slightly different from general homeowners insurance, given that a condo unit owner does not own the entire building. This insurance will protect a condo owner's personal property from fire, storm, explosion, smoke, theft and more.

Improvements and balconies are also generally covered under this insurance.

When purchasing insurance for your condo, go with a reputed insurance agency and be sure you are clear on what is covered. Next, make an appointment to meet with a property manager or board member to learn exactly what is covered in the building's general insurance plan.

50 Home and Garden

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

MLS: 40867764 Price: $294,000 Province: Nova Scotia City: Hammonds Plains Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Gorgeous executive rancher custom built by Whitestone Developments. A bright sunny foyer welcomes you into this well cared for home. The large kitchen features oak cabinets, a breakfast bar a walk-in pantry. The spacious dining room has an attached sun room with great views. The formal living room features a propane fireplace. The three bedrooms are a good size, with the master featuring a walk-in closet and ensuite. The basement has a walk-out, is partially finished and offers lots of possibilities. An attached garage (1.5) provides car room and additional storage space.

MLS: 40834640 Price: $349,900 Province: Nova Scotia City: Hammonds Plains Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 large 2 storey home on a quiet crescent with 2938 sq ft of living space. Fantastic kitchen with large island, formal dining room, main floor family room with corner propane fireplace and office. Main floor laundry room with 2 pc powder room. Main Floor features hardwood and ceramic in heat flooring and 9 ft ceilings. Harwood stairs to second floor basement is fully finished with 26 X 23 Rec room, with a large 4th fourth bedroom. Double car garage is 24X 26. Upper level is complete with three bedrooms and a Den. Other features include recently paved driveway, $15K of landscaping on a beautiful level lot.

MLS: 40819013 City: Grand Lake

Price: $369,000 Province: Nova Scotia Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Elegance abounds in this bungalow with 1800sq ft on the main living area. Large foyer has French doors opening to living room and dining room. Open concept in living area with a wall of windows to decks that run the full length of front and back so you can enjoy the wildlife. Carpet free home with Master bedroom located at one end of home and the other bedrooms on the far end. Kitchen has built in appliances that come with the property.

MLS: 40834590 Price: $379,900 Province: Nova Scotia City: Hammonds Plains Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 4 This custom built 2 storey, 3800 +/- sqft has 4 bedrooms on the main floors, plus an extra office/5th bedroom on the finished basement level. The large open concept features an impressive mudroom. The expansive formal dining room is sure to impress and the Great Room has a fire place for the special evening effect. Downstairs is a fully finished family room with walkout to large patio. The Master Suite has a walk-in closet and well appointed ensuite bathroom. Outside there is a double paved drive, shed and nicely landscaped yard.

MLS: 41078205 Price: $849,900 Province: Nova Scotia City: Grand Lake Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3 Sought after Grand Lake home loaded with all the options! This 3400+ sqft home has an abundance of windows to take advantage of every possible view that Mother Nature has to offer. With 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, a double car garage and huge landscaped yard what more could you ask for? How about a 6 person hot tub with Cedar Gazebo, 80+ feet of docking, irrigation lawn system, in floor radiant heat, alarm system & more. Well appointed Master Bedroom Suite complete with walking closet and Ensuite Bath.

www.halifaxdartmouthrealestate.com

Home and Garden 51

Backyard bliss Youth-inspired ideas for finding paradise in your own back yard When you were a kid, your back yard was an adventure waiting to happen, a world of new and exciting things right outside your door. Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you have to give up on the idea of finding paradise on your own property. Here are some tips to turn your own yard into an outdoor oasis.

Warm Water Retreat Aaaahhh - the memories of running through the sprinkler or enjoying a dip in the kiddie pool on a warm summer day.

But wait a minute - that water was freezing! If you want a slightly less shocking way to cool your family and Fido down and extend the outdoor water play well into the next season, install a singlehandle, hot-cold outdoor sill faucet from Moen. This faucet is the only one of its kind on the market, capable of delivering a mix of hot and cold water from one spout, with only one handle. To add to your peace of mind outdoors, the singlehandle, hot-cold faucet offers an innovative temperature limit stop

mechanism, assuring that the water never gets too hot for little hands (or paws).

Dig This When you were a kid, having a sandbox in your back yard was the ultimate treat. If you close your eyes, you can still feel the grainy sand between your fingers as you were digging for the perfect building material for the ultimate sandcastle. Now that you're grown up, you may still enjoy the feeling of the dig but for a much different reason. Instead of castles, you are growing flowers, fruit and vegetables. This job requires more than just an old sand pail and a plastic shovel. For the former sandboxer turned avid gardener, a potting bench is the perfect backyard amenity. Look for deluxe models with soil trays, tool hooks, drawers and compartments for all of your grownup gardening tools.

Light Your Fire Nothing beats a bonfire on a cool autumn evening - roasting marshmallows around the warm, blazing flames. But, bonfires are temporary and can permanently damage your yard. How about a fire that looks amazing and can be used year round? The GIZEH outdoor fireplace from RAIS stands out in the garden, with its sleek, triangular shape and its ever-changing color. Plus, this fire does much more than toast marshmallows - it doubles as a barbecue grill to facilitate al fresco dining for the entire family.

Still Swinging The swing set is the ultimate joy for children - swinging life away under the open sky. As an adult, you could do without the rusty chains and muddy seats.

If you're looking for a more relaxing way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, how about a hammock? The Twintex Fabric Hammock by Twin Oaks Hammocks allows both adults and kids to swing their cares away in a handcrafted, quick drying swing, with enough room for two.

This year, don't allow summer to pass you by without taking time to enjoy life's simple pleasures. With a few cool summer additions, you can enjoy paradise in your own backyard.

For more information on the single-handle, hot-cold outdoor sill faucet or other Moen products, visit www.moen.ca or call 1-800-465-6130 or 905-829-3400

52 Home and Garden

Add on a bathroom without breaking the bank Whether you have one bathroom or three, the addition of a bathroom to a home offers both value and convenience. The good news is a bathroom addition doesn't have to break the bank. A do-it-yourselfer with moderate experience can complete some of the work to keep the budget in check. It's surprising how effortless many projects can be, such as installing the flooring, shower components, fixtures and finishing touches.

Surround yourself The benefits of a shower surround are two-fold. First, installation by a moderately-skilled DIYer is relatively uncomplicated because it requires few man hours, materials and expense.

Secondly, long-term maintenance is relatively low making cleaning a snap.

After choosing the right shower surround for your decorating tastes, get started by reviewing the instructions.

As noted in most kits, utilizing the appropriately formulated adhesive is as important to the success of your shower's operation as running water.

Liquid Nails Tub Surround Construction Adhesive provides an exceptional waterproof bond that is heat and steam resistant.

"As building materials become thinner and made for cost-efficiency, one adhesive formula cannot and should not be applied for every project.

Using the right construction adhesive for the surface and project will ensure flawless results beyond installation success for long-lasting durability," says Mark Stypczynski, manager of technical development for Liquid Nails Adhesives.

Before beginning the addition, develop a plan with a professional contractor to identify the appropriate location, any size limitations and other project restrictions. It is imperative to leave the heavy lifting to the pros. For instance, the plumbing and electrical work should be completed by a certified professional who will also draw up plans for obtaining necessary city permits.

Next, there are several things to consider when discussing the design of the bathroom; most importantly, whether to add a tub or shower. Contemplate the It's in the details following: Are baths or showers preferred?

Is there adequate room for a full-size tub?

Complete your bathroom by moving In an attempt to maximize space, a on to the final details. Fixtures, vanities shower stall may be a smart choice. and mirrors can set the tone of the bathroom. These items are utilitarian in To tile or not to tile? nature but homeowners can choose from a number of styles from sleek and simple While countless options of tile colors to elaborate and ornate. If your goal is a and styles are appealing, tiling a shower modern look, opt for cool colors and sleek requires an advanced skill level and days lines, or choose marble counters for of installation. To achieve your dreams of timeless elegance. When selecting a a gorgeously adorned bathroom, hire an vanity, notice the detail and furniture experienced tiling professional. This will quality. Many stylish vanities are easy to be money well spent. assemble with most of the required elements provided in one box.

You can further elevate the addition's appeal with details such as crown molding, additional shelving, a picture rail or wainscoting. It's also a great idea to spruce up your bathroom with a decorative mirror. You can create a coordinating mirror by affixing intricately designed molding to an inexpensive frameless mirror with construction adhesive. For how-to instructions, visit www.liquidnails.com and click on Mirror Adhesive.

With adequate planning and attention to detail, homeowners can take pride in a bathroom addition while easily maintaining a budget. While some work is best left to the pros, there's no reason a do-it-yourselfer can't be creative and take on a few jobs. Homeowners will take pride in knowing they contributed to the success of a home addition.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Home and Garden 53

Helen Parnell Tel: 403-932-8888 www.moving2alberta.com MLS: Exclusive City: Calgary

Price: $629,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

Nestled in the beautiful Crestmont sub division in the SW. Only 20 minutes to downtown and less than one hour to the mountains. The home has large west facing windows with some mountain view.Features include 18ft. ceiling in living room, barrel ceiling in Bonus room and vaulted ceiling in Master Bedroom. Stainless steel appliances, Bosch D/W, Jennair Gas range, Kenmore 2 door fridge. Hardwood floor in kitchen /dining room, ceramic tiled entry ways and walk-trough pantry. All windows have high end custom drapes,rods and blinds.

MLS: C3313479 City: Cochrane

Price: $599,000 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

What a walkout bungalow! This house has recently been renovated with new paint throughout. Upon entering you are welcomed by a bright clean house with the MOUNTAIN view right from the new front door! The main level features the kitchen with tons of counter space, new stove, and light fittings, corner pantry, all black appliances and rounded high breakfast bar. There is also a private den/office and large mud room. The large Master Bedroom has a spacious 4-piece en suite with soaker tub and walk-in closet.

The main level boasts incredible windows that allows lots of natural light.

MLS: C3307045 City: Cochrane

Price: $555,000 Bedrooms: 5

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, 2 HOMES IN ONE, RARE LEGAL SUITE. Live up and rent down. 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.

MLS: C3323540 City: Calgary

Price: $329,900 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

This well cared for home is a must to see, End unit located in the heart of Mckenzie Towne, within walking distance to all amenties. This home offers lots of upgrades Oak kitchen cabinets ,island w/eating bar & paddle fan over kitchen nook,Christon "De Palma Series" tile entrance, stairs and bathrooms,"Lauzon" Red Oak Pacific Natural hardwood throught out,custom hunter douglas blinds & kitchen curtains, Impressive Pewter & Crystal chandelier in the 10 ft.entrance. All doors are Bostonian 6 panel upgrade, Duo- vac vaccum system, upgraded appliances, ADT security system .

MLS: C3323063 City: Cochrane

Price: $279,900 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. There is a separate laundry room ensuite,plus an additional storage room. The price includes one underground parking stall on a separate title.

54 Home and Garden

New moneylaundering rules to impact on real estate customers The Financial Transactions and Reports Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) is a body who collects, analysis and disclosed financial information and intelligence on suspected money laundering and terrorist activities. All businesses and industries who have to report to FINTRAC must collect identification from their clients before engaging in financial transactions. This will include businesses such as accountants, casinos, financial institutions, securities, life insurance, real estate agents etc.

As of June 23rd 2008 FINTRAC reporting businesses must “know their clients” and will have to ask for identification, even if the client has been with them for years previously. As a client or potential client you will be required by law to provide the required identification which could include a birth certificate, driving licence or other official document.

The company will then be required to keep this information for a period of seven years.

In the case of real estate agents this will mean that anyone wanting to buy or sell a property will be asked to provide the relevant ID. Because very few details have been made public about these changes, very few people know about them and will be shocked when they are asked to provide ID from a company they may have been doing business with for years.

The reasons behind the move are sound - to stop the laundering of money and companies have been required to report any suspicious financial transactions over $10,000 for many years.

Spot checks will be carried out over the next six months to make sure companies are complying with the new rules.

Canada should not see a real estate collapse like the U.S. Reports of a real estate collapse in Canada seem to have been greatly exaggerated. Although many markets are now seeing a slow down most are simply stabilizing after a year of craziness.

In Canada existing house prices have risen by 55% over the last ten years and new home prices by 27%. By contrast the United States has seen prices drop by 14% in the first quarter of this year alone.

Canada’s more conservative mortgage culture has protected this market from the subprime mortgage boom across the border which has resulted in many people owning property worth thousands of dollars less than their mortgage. This has left many people in a negative equity situation, something analysts don’t think will happen in Canada.

Saskatchewan is continuing to see rises in housing prices and led the country for the twelfth consecutive month.

In April the province saw a 43.7% increase on the same time last year.

Other provinces who saw strong gains were Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.

After huge growth over the past few years Alberta has started to see a slow down. "Edmonton and Calgary continued to experience slow market conditions," Statistics Canada said. "Competition among builders has resulted in lower prices being offered to prospective homebuyers. In Edmonton, the year-onyear rate slowed to 8.1 per cent - the ninth straight month of decelerated growth.”

Home and Garden 55

Fighting plant enemies The devices and implements used for fighting plant enemies are of two sorts: (1) those used to afford mechanical protection to the plants; (2) those used to apply insecticides and fungicides.

Of the first the most useful is the covered frame. It consists usually of a wooden box, some eighteen inches to two feet square and about eight high, covered with glass, protecting cloth, mosquito netting or mosquito wire. The first two coverings have, of course, the additional advantage of retaining heat and protecting from cold, making it possible by their use to plant earlier than is otherwise safe. They are used extensively in getting an extra early and safe start with cucumbers, melons and the other vine vegetables.

Simpler devices for protecting newly-set plants, such as tomatoes or cabbage, from the cutworm, are stiff, tin, cardboard or tar paper collars, which are made several inches high and large enough to be put around the stem and penetrate an inch or so into the soil.

For applying poison powders, the home gardener should supply himself with a powder gun. If one must be restricted to a single implement, however, it will be best to get one of the hand-power, compressed-air sprayers.

These are used for applying wet sprays, and should be supplied with one of the several forms of mist-making nozzles, the non-cloggable automatic type being the best. For more extensive

work a barrel pump, mounted on wheels, will be desirable, but one of the above will do a great deal of work in little time. Extension rods for use in spraying trees and vines may be obtained for either. For operations on a very small scale a good hand-syringe may be used, but as a general thing it will be best to invest a few dollars more and get a small tank sprayer, as this throws a continuous stream or spray and holds a much larger amount of the

spraying solution. Whatever type is procured, get a brass machine it will out-wear three or four of those made of cheaper metal, which succumbs very quickly to the, corroding action of the strong poisons and chemicals used in them.

Of implements for harvesting, beside the spade, prong-hoe and spading- fork, very few are used in the small garden, as most of them need not only long rows to be economically used, but horse- power also. The onion harvester attachment for the double wheel hoe, may be used with advantage in loosening onions, beets, turnips, etc., from the soil or for cutting spinach. Running the hand- plow close

on either side of carrots, parsnips and other deep-growing vegetables will aid materially in getting them out. For fruit picking, with tall trees, the wire-fingered fruit-picker, secured to the end of a long handle, will be of great assistance, but with the modern method of using lowheaded trees it will not be needed.

Another class of garden implements are those used in pruning but where this is attended to properly from the start, a good sharp jack-knife and a pair of pruning shears will easily handle all the work of the kind necessary.

Still another sort of garden device is that used for supporting the plants; such as stakes, trellises, wires, etc.

Altogether too little attention usually is given these, as with proper care in storing over winter they will not only last for years, but add greatly to the convenience of cultivation and to the neat appearance of the garden.

As a final word to the intending purchaser of garden tools, I would say: first thoroughly investigate the different sorts available, and when buying, do not forget that a good tool or a wellmade machine will be giving you satisfactory use long, long after the price is forgotten, while a poor one is a constant source of discomfort. Get good tools, and take good care of them. And let me repeat that a few dollars a year, judiciously spent, for tools afterward well cared for, will soon give you a very complete set, and add to your garden profit and pleasure.

56 Home and Garden

MLS: 2081104 Price: $289,900 City: Adolphustown Bedrooms: 2

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

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

MLS: 2075613 City: Hillier, Quinte

Price: $269,000 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 4

Immaculate home on pleasant bay. Walk-out from basement with guest suite potential.

Large insulated double garage plus: Marsh waterfront for the naturalist, Central air conditioning, Central vacuum system, TV antenna, Garage: double, Garage: attached, Garage: detached, Double width or more driveway, Paved driveway, Crushed stone driveway, Oil or heating oil, Brick exterior finish, Vinyl exterior finish, Asphalt shingles roofing, Smoke Detectors, Garage with inside entry, Carpeted Floor

MLS: 2082916 City: Percy Township

Price: $398,90 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 3

Century home on 21 acres, large custom built eat in kitchen [with Swiss flair]. Original woodwork, trim, hardwood floors and beautiful wood staircase and railings. Year round stream and spring fed pond [170' x 55']. Inground 32' x 16' pool, 2 barns plus machine shop with hydro. Perfect spot for horses,. Neighbouring farmer to be allowed to remove 2008 crop. DIRECTIONS: Hwy 30 north to County Road 29 to Skinkle, north to Concession 6 East, left to #581 . sign on Virtual tour: http://www.Obeo.com/464995

MLS: 2083535 City: Wellington

Price: $239,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Larger then it looks. Three bedroom home on large country lot. New kitchen with granite counter top and bathroom vanity, maple hardwood flooring and master bedroom ensuite done in 2007. 22' dug well, 6 jet whirlpool tub, 12 x 16 deck off kitchen with patio door. Area of wineries, close to beaches and local artist studio. Directions: North of Wellington on County Road 2, west on McFaul Road for 1/4 mile. Virtual tour: www.obeo.com/Public/ Viewer/Default.aspx?=466682