Muchmor Magazine Issue 34

muchmor Discover Your Canada

Canada Magazine

issue 34 sept 08

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Explore Algonquin a national beauty Winnipeg - summer in the city Recycling in Halifax N.S

Research, research, research - making the most of research trips to Canada

Alonzo Bodden names his 10 funniest cars

Prepare your garden for fall

Recipes - perfect preserves Save money on groceries Back to school technology subscribe online at www.readmuchmor.com

2 Editorial

Muchmor Media 17 Woody Woodward Lane Corbyville RR1 Ontario K0K 1V0 Canada

From the Editor Changes are afoot…..

Tel: 1 613 396 5531 Fax: 1 613 396 5531

www.muchmormagazine.com Advertising: info@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.

Muchmor Media relies on information supplied by external sources and this publication is supplied on the basis that it believes the to be correct and accurate at the time of publication. Muchmor Media does not however warrant its accuracy or completeness and to the full extent of the allowed by law excludes liability for any loss or damage sustained by readers arising from or in connection with the supply or use of this information.

If errors occur and are brought to our attention it is our policy to correct any errors of fact whenever we can.

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

Welcome to the latest issue of Muchmor Canada. You will notice that we have made some changes to the style of the magazine which we hope you will like. We all need a makeover every now and again and as we enter our fourth year of publication we thought it a good time to take the plunge. We now have a much cleaner, more contemporary look which we feel is a perfect match for Muchmor.

We will also be introducing new sections and features over the coming months including a new travel section for destinations outside of Canada. I know we all love Canada but there are times when we want to travel slightly further afield and experience new things. So, if you have always dreamed of a trip to Las Vegas or London or perhaps wanted to cruise around the Mediterranean we will have just the thing for you.

Another feature we will be introducing will be in our Working Life section. We will be featuring profiles and interviews with people who have unusual or misunderstood jobs. If you have an unusual job or one that is completely misunderstood then get in touch, we would love to hear from you - wherever you are. We will also be including “A day in the life of” type features which will appeal to the voyeur in us. After all aren’t we always wondering what so-and-so does or what such-and-such a job involves?

But back to this issue. We are once again packed with features including Algonquin Provincial Park, a particular favorite of mine and a great article about food in Manitoba. Talking of food, take a look at our lifestyle section for some great preserve recipes which we know you will love. And whilst purchasing the ingredients for these great recipes why not take on board some money saving tips about grocery shopping.

But that’s not all, we are packed with all sorts of information, so I will keep you no longer, happy reading.

Jane Toombes Editor

Contents 3

Contents Motoring 28

28 29

Have gas prices affected your travel plans?

Average gas prices Top 10 funniest cars

Kidzone

Discover Canada 4 8 11 12 15

Explore Algonquin, a natural beauty Food glorious food in Manitoba Manitoba fun facts Summer in the city - Winnipeg Floating for furs

30 31

Back to school technology Top kids stuff

Moving to Canada

Lifestyle

32 36

38

39 40

16 Perfect preserves 19 Top Canadian‌.

Health & Wellness

Working Life 20 21 22 23

Odd job tiles & what they mean Five steps to an e-friendly resume Ignite your business So how hard do you work?

Money 24

27

The basics to saving money at the grocery store Money quiz

42

45

Research, research, research New Canadian Experience Class launched Angel the donkey needs a new owner - can you help?

Provincial nominee news Immigration news

Just how long should we have to wait for breast cancer treatment?

Mammograms do save lives

Home & Garden 46 48 51 52 53 54

Preparing your garden for fall Decorate to generate profit Considering a condo?

Not all waste is created equal Answers to money quiz The truth about water

4 Discover Canada

Explore Algonquin, a national beauty

If it’s stunning beauty that you want and a tranquil environment then you can do no worse than visit Algonquin Provincial Park in central Ontario.

Discover Canada 5

If you intend to visit Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario then be prepared to only see a very small percentage of what the park has to offer, unless you are a serious explorer.

The park covers an amazing 7,630 sq km or nearly 3,000 sq miles, larger than the state of Delaware in the USA (6,446 sq km). The park can be split into two areas: the interior park section and the parkway corridor.

The parkway corridor section is the area most casual visitors will experience. Highway 60 runs the width of Algonquin in the southern part of the park. Although it covers only a small percentage of the park, it still offers excellent opportunities to explore for a few hours or several days. The highway starts at West Gate at the 0 km point and ends 55.8 km later at East Gate. An excellent map is available either from the park itself or online at http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/ campcan/cormap.html.

If you only have a day‌ If you only have a day at Algonquin then Highway 60 is an excellent place to get a feel of the park and explore some of the trails. It is accessible both during the summer and winter months. Depending on when you visit you can purchase a daily vehicle pass for between $11.85 and $13.85. This gives you access to the trails, car parks, visitors centre etc. You can travel the highway without

paying any fees, but cannot access any park facilities, although you can stop off at the side of the road to take photos etc. You can start your journey from either end of the Parkway Corridor and when you pay your fee you can pick up a map which gives you details of all the stop off points, trails, facilities etc along the way.

There are thirteen trails off the Parkway Corridor offering hikes of between 0.8 km and 11 km. They vary not only distance, but in ease of use and things to see. The Spruce Bog Boardwalk is the only wheelchair accessible trail and is 1.5 km long and can be found at km 42.5. It is a good trail for bird watching and will take you through two black spruce bogs.

Depending on the time you have available you might want to take one long hike such as the 11 km Mizzy Lake Trail which will take you 4-5 hours depending on how many times you stop to take photos! It is located at km 15.4 and is one of the best trails for spotting wildlife. For this reason dogs are not permitted. It is a moderate trail and will take you past nine ponds and small lakes.

There are many shorter trails which can be taken such as the Beaver Pond Trail (km 45.2) which is 2 km in length and gives excellent views of two beaver ponds.

Lookout Trail (km 39.7) as its name suggests gives excellent views of hundreds of kilometres of the park, but you should be

prepared for a steep climb. This trail is 1.9 km and will take about an hour.

If you start your day early you will be able to fit in many of the shorter trails and get to explore a lot of what the park has to offer.

If you are visiting the Parkway Corridor in the winter months you may find many of the trails inaccessible for hiking. However there are three ski trails off the highway ranging from five to twenty-four km in length.

If you are approaching the park from the north then you will find many access points off the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 17).

The trails here are generally longer and more strenuous than those found off Highway 60.

The Brent Crater trail is a strenuous 2 km trail accessed via the Brent Campground.

The crater was formed when a meteorite crashed here thousands of years ago.

To the east of the park from the Sand lake Gate entrance you will find three trails ranging from 1.5 km to 35 km, all classed as moderate.

If you prefer to cycle then you might want to try the Minnesing Mountain Bike Trail located at km 23 on the Parkway Corridor.

There are four loops to take of 5, 10, 17 and 23 km in length. All loops are classed as moderate and are not suitable for children or unfit adults. You will see forest and lakes along the trails with plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities.

6 Discover Canada Another cycling trail is the Old Railway Bike Trail, a 10 km trail suitable for all. It runs from Mew Lake Campground to Rock Lake Campground but can also be accessed from Pog Lake Campground.

If you have more than a day…

Beaver Pond Trail

Visitor Centre lookout (Summer)

Lake view

Fishing rods at the ready You will find some of the best trout fishing in

the whole of Canada at Algonquin. Both Brook and Lake Trout can be found in nearly Then you will want to explore the real 200 lakes. The best time to fish for Trout is Algonquin, or the park interior with its hills, the spring, although during the summer rocks and lakes. However, there are only two Smallmouth Bass are a favorite. Other ways of getting around the interior: on foot or species you can fish for are Splake, Yellow by canoe.

Perch, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, and There are over 2,000 km of canoe routes in Walleye. the park which cater to all levels of The lakes at Algonquin are regulated to experience. You should pick up a copy of the stop them being over fished and you will brochure "Canoe Routes of Algonquin need a fishing permit in order to do so.

Provincial Park," which gives details of the routes, maps and camping options as well as Other things to see & do information of what equipment to bring with you.

Any trip along the Parkway Corridor however, If you prefer to explore on foot then there is not complete without a trip to the Visitors are several backpacking trails available Centre located at km 43. The centre has a ranging from six to eighty-eight km in length. large car park and inside you will find a great Get a copy of the "Backpacking Trails of shop where you can purchase books, Algonquin Provincial Park” brochure before clothing, souvenirs and snacks. There is also embarking on these trails. a restaurant where you can sit looking out over the stunning landscape. The centre also has a theatre offering shows about the park and the wildlife as well as an exhibits area If you are planning on staying in the park for where you can see the history of the park and more than a day then you will want to know its wildlife. Whilst in the centre you should about the camping options. visit the viewing deck located at the rear There are eight campgrounds along the which offers excellent views across the park.

Parkway Corridor. Only one, Mew Lake, is There is also a wildlife feeding station where open year round. The others generally open you can see squirrels and birds close up. around late April, early May and then close The Algonquin Logging Museum is also around Thanksgiving. These times do vary, so located along the Parkway Corridor at km check before you embark on your journey.

54.5 close to the East Gate. You can follow The facilities available at each park vary too, the history of logging in the area with a video so if you require electric hook-up, toilet presentation. Follow that with a 1.5 km trail facilities, showers etc you should check that is very easy to navigate. You will see a which campground will suit you best. If you recreated camboose camp and a steamare taking dogs, not all allow them, so again powered amphibious tug known as the check beforehand, likewise for wheelchair “alligator” amongst other things. accessibility.

The Algonquin Art Centre (km 20) is one of Several of the campgrounds offer yerts the latest facilities in the park having opened which are 16 ft diameter tents in 2005. The centre is wheelchair accessible accommodating up to six people. They have and has both an indoor and outdoor gallery. two double and two single beds and many There is also a tea shop, so you can enjoy a have electricity, lighting, picnic table, chairs snack whilst you are there. etc. There are only eight yerts in the park so it The Arts Center also offers art activities is essential to pre-book. They cost $79.25 throughout the summer months for adults per night and are subject to reservation fees and children. You can learn how to paint and minimum stays during certain time using various mediums as well as learn skills periods. such as beading, rock painting and canoe If you are part of a group you can choose painting. You should pre book these activities to stay at Whitefish Lake campground off the as places are limited and prices average Parkway Corridor (km 37). Groups from 10 to around $20. You can checkout full details of 40 people can be accommodated, but the the centre and all it has to offer here. site only offers basic amenities. Prior booking of this site is advised.

Mammals There are three campgrounds to the north of the park which are open between the end There have been 53 species of non-domestic of April to Thanksgiving. All have flush toilets mammals recorded at Algonquin Park. but no shower or laundry facilities.

The park is the best place in Ontario to If you are exploring the interior of the park spot moose and if you visit in late spring, you are only permitted to camp in designated early summer you will most likely see moose interior campsites marked with an orange along Highway 60 as they drink from the

Get the campfire burning

Visitor Centre lookout (winter)

sign. See the guides mentioned before for full camping details.

Discover Canada 7

Moose roadside and lap up the salty water they love so much. The salt found on the roads after the winter salting operations gives them the much needed sodium they have been starved of during the winter months.

White-tailed deer can also bee seen in the park, again especially along the Highway 60 corridor. In recent years the numbers of deer in the park has declined due to bad winters and different forest conditions.

If you visit the park during October you may see beavers as they build their dams and preserve food for the winter. This is the time when they are most active in the day and more likely to be seen.

There are thought to be over 2,000 black bear in Algonquin, but you will be lucky to spot one yourself. You will not see them during the winter months as they hibernate, but they will be about during the summer.

Campers are reminded to stick to the bear rules when camping and to make sure they know what to do should they encounter a bear.

Since the 1960’s Algonquin has been a centre for wolf research but you will be unlikely to see a wolf in the park as they tend to stay away from human activity. Most years, weather pending there is a public wolf howl which allows members of the public to participate in this exciting event. Wolves are known to answer to even the poorest howling imitations and so you can join hundreds of other like minded people in howling to the wolves and receiving a response.

Other mammals that are possible to spot are chipmunks, squirrels, red fox, rabbits, hares, otter, moles, shrew, porcupine, raccoons, skunk, elk, groundhogs and bats.

Some of the less common species include mink, martins, lynx, weasels and mice.

Birds There are many birds within the park, in fact over 270 different species have ben recorded. Algonquin is most famous for the

Painted Turtle Common Loon which can be found on almost every lake in the park.

There are many other birds to see and hear throughout the park from the common Blue Jays and Chickadees to the less common Indigo Bunting and Barn Owl. Many of the birds are seasonal residents or migrants and very few reside at the park year-round. The Grey Jay is one bird which lives here all year. One of the best places to spot a Grey Jay is at the feeding station to the rear of the Visitors Centre. Here you will see many birds including Hairy Woodpeckers and Chickadees. Other species of birds to look our for are Common Flicker, Eastern Bluebird, Kestrel, Waxwings, Red-Tailed Hawks, Blue Herons, RubyThroated Hummingbirds and Turkey Vultures amongst others.

Reptiles and Amphibians The Painted turtle which resides in Algonquin is subject to the world’s largest study of turtles. Only recently through the study are scientists beginning to understand the complexities of these creatures. The turtles have beautiful yellow and red markings on their shells, head,legs and neck. Males have longer claws than females so they can stroke the female’s chin during courtship.

In total there are 31 species of reptile and amphibians in the park including five turtles, seven salamanders, ten frogs and toads and seven species of snake. None of the snakes found in Algonquin are venomous.

Because reptiles and amphibians are cold blooded they cannot make any heat within their own bodies and as such only those who can successfully hibernate through the harsh winter months can survive. This means there are far less species recorded here than other areas in southern Ontario where the winters are slightly warmer.

Orange Mycena Fungi Insects It is thought that over 7,000 insects species call Algonquin home, although it is hard to calculate how many there really are. This means that the large majority of wildlife species in the park are insects.

Insects are responsible for the ongoing development of the park and without them the ecosystem would collapse and the park would ultimately die.

Unfortunately many of the insects present in Algonquin are not so welcomed by humans. During the spring and summer months visitors are plagued by black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies and horse flies amongst others. Anyone visiting the park during this time is advised to wear insect repellants containing DEET and to dress appropriately - long trousers, long sleeves, hats etc. Once you get to late August and early September the park is normally bug free, although it is not unusual to see a rogue mosquito or two even then.

Some more welcome insects come in the form of butterflies, many species of which can be seen in the park. You will see Monarchs, Question Marks, Red Admirals and many more.

Plants and Fungi Plants completely blanket Algonquin and sometimes are taken for granted with visitors more interested in the wildlife. However, the plants must not be forgotten as they are fundamental to the park.

Trees also play a very important role in the ecosystem of the park. Various species of tree can be found here including cedar, spruce, pine, ash, cherry, aspen, birch, beech, maple and poplar.

Fungi are another important part of the park with many species of toadstool and mushroom being found here. During the summer you will see many beautiful and unusual fungi in many different shapes and colours.

8 Discover Canada

Food, glorious food Manitoba’s culinary icons and ethnic fare

Discover Canada 9

From asparagus to zabaglione, with every conceivable dish and ethnic food in between, Manitoba is a gourmand's heaven. Winnipeg places among Canada's culinary meccas, with this diverse, provincial capital possessing one of the highest ratios of restaurants per capita in Canada. You'll find traditional First Nations foods like bison, game, fish, wild rice and saskatoon berries featured on Manitoba menus. Try bannock, sample smoked Lake Winnipeg goldeye and look for wild blueberry desserts in season. Sushi, gelato, dim sum, tourtière, pea soup, challah, fresh-baked bagels, vinetarta, souvlaki, kugel, perogies and borscht all coexist here in an eclectic culinary melange. In recent decades, they've been commingled with Filipino, south-east Asian, and Central and South American ethnic flavours.

Home-grown Food Heaven Manitoba is home to dozens of ethnic groups, all with their own foods, and to unique flavours you won't find anywhere else – killingly smooth Co-op "Winnipegstyle" cream cheese, feather-light Winnipeg Rye Bread, City Bread and Kub Bakery rye breads, garlic-studded Winnipeg Old Country sausages, Old Dutch potato chips, Mordens’ chocolates, Bothwell cheeses… Enough talk – let’s eat!

Mordens’ of Winnipeg: Look in any candy shop for these sweet treats (or stop by the Mordens’ outlet at the Winnipeg Convention Centre). Most famous for their giant Easter bunnies and Russian mints (chocolates with soft ganache centres of creamy, mint-tinged milk chocolate),

Mordens’ of Winnipeg churns out a full ton of mints every three days from October through December. The factory and retail outlet is located at 674 Sargent Avenue – call 204-783-4551 for a tour and treat-fest.

(They make truffles, jellies and nut clusters, too.)

The Bridge Drive-In: Aka the BDI to locals, it’s famous for its boggling menu of soft ice cream offerings, capped off by the magnificent, towering, multiple fruit, sauce and ice cream flavoured Goog Special – a creamy blueberry ice cream shake, topped with chunks of banana, more ice cream, hot fudge sauce, peanuts, whipped cream and a cherry. It's at 766 Jubilee Avenue, open all summer, and we dare you…

Salisbury House: Now partly owned by Winnipeg's own brilliant, rock musician Burton Cummings, this 70-year-old traditional burger stop boasts a unique line of Nips (hamburgers), including the Mr. Big Nip for larger appetites, and the darling two-bite L'il Nip for pint-sized burger fiends. Standard toppers include sweet fried onions, gooey cheddar and a slice of genuine Canadian back bacon.

De Luca's: All things superbly Italian – from cheeses to sauces, olives, and sausages – are available both in grocerystore fashion and in the intimate little restaurant on the second floor (reservations are absolutely necessary and it's only open sporadically).

Rye Bread: Buy this delicious Winnipegstyle rye bread – made by Winnipeg Rye Bread, City Bread and Kub Bakery – at any grocery store. Former Winnipeggers have been known to beg friends visiting from home to bring dozens of loaves with them on the plane. Slather slices of the rye with

Co-op style cream cheese, also available in most supermarkets.

Old Dutch Potato Chips: Ubiquitous in Manitoba, these chips are made the oldfashioned way – with paper-thin slices of real potato, not processed potato powder.

Bagels: The glorious bagel was never so crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside as it is at a Winnipeg delicatessen or at Gunn's Bakery on Selkirk Avenue, just off Main Street in Winnipeg's fabled North End. When at Gunn's, load up on Apple Jacks, rye bread and everything else your palate desires. It's a provincial bakery icon.

Jeanne's cakes: Without a Jeanne's cake, a Winnipeg child has not had a birthday. The official, historic purveyors of cakes to Manitoba’s Lieutenant Governor (the royal representative in residence), Jeanne's Bakery boasts not just a secret cake recipe but also a secret icing and a secret shortbread cookie base. Where to get these delectable morsels is no secret though. Jeanne's Bakery is located at 931 Notre Dame Avenue (call 204-774-2554 to reserve a cake or find out which supermarkets carry them).

Alycia's: When you want home-style Ukrainian cooking, drop into Alycia's in Winnipeg's North End, find yourself a table and order up a plateful of made-right-there perogies with fried onion, bacon, sour cream and garlic sausage. You’ll find it at 559 Cathedral Avenue (phone 204-582-8789).

The Manitoba Fall (or Fowl) Supper: Every autumn, Manitoba churches, community clubs and social organizations of all kinds mount buffet-style banquets where you can load your plate with homeroasted turkey, pork or beef and side

10 Discover Canada dishes including pickles, salads and feathery buns. Leave room for the dessert table filled with pies of all kinds – apple, berry, lemon, chocolate cream – homemade, of course. Where else can you invite yourself to dinner with a community hall full of brand new friends, for ten bucks or less? Dozens of these suppers are held each autumn weekend. Listings are in Travel Manitoba's guides and in local daily newspapers.

Made-in-Manitoba Restaurant Menu Items: Bison: At one time, bison numbered in the millions here, and today, Manitoba boasts herds of free-range bison that provide lean, completely organic meat – like beef, only better.

Caribou: The further north you venture, the more likely roast caribou will be on the menu. Tender and delicately flavoured, caribou gives venison a real run for its money.

Wild Rice: Harvested by Aboriginal people, this nutty, natural grain offers a hearty complement to game dishes.

Wild Blueberries and Saskatoons: Both are dark blue fruits – each with a distinct taste. Wild blueberries are packed with more flavour than cultivated versions could ever dream. Saskatoons possess a mellower taste all their own.

Smoked Goldeye, Tulibee and Whitefish: The native tradition of smoking fish has long been perfected in this province and these rich morsels are often served as appetizers.

Pickerel: More commonly called walleye, Manitobans insist on referring to it as pickerel. Either way, it's a remarkably light, delicate fish that chefs treat with justified reverence.

Beer and Wine: Manitoba's microbrewing industry produces clean, strong ales and deceptively light pilsners. Look for Fort Garry, Two Rivers and Fort Gibralter labels among others from Fort Garry Brewing Co. Rigby Orchards makes light, fruity raspberry, strawberry and saskatoon wines, perfect post-dinner. Relative newcomer D.D. Leobard Winery has won four national medals in two years for its Iced Strawberry Dessert Wine, Wild Blueberry Dessert Wine, Wild Blueberry Wine and Rhubarb on Strawberry Wine – all of them made from Manitoba or Northwest Ontario-grown fruit. D.D. Leobard's newest addition is a white wine made from birch sap... light, not too sweet, and all-Manitoban.

Where to Eat St. Boniface: Visit Winnipeg's French Quarter restaurants where local ingredients meet French technique with delightful results. In February, traditional French-

Canadian dishes like pea soup, tourtiere and sugar pie are served up at the annual Festival du Voyageur, along with caribou – the drink (grain alcohol diluted with a little red wine).

Dauphin: Ukrainian comfort food – perogies (potato and cheese-filled dumplings served with onions and sour cream), borscht and bread fresh from outdoor clay ovens – is served up at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival held here in August.

Steinbach: It’s just one of the Mennonite towns in southern Manitoba where you'll find small local restaurants serving up hearty soups, sausage and noodle dishes.

Gimli: This lakeside town is the best place to find vinetarta, the luscious Icelandic "cake" with seven cookie-like layers spread with prune filling and iced with almond frosting.

Little Italy: The Corydon Avenue area in Winnipeg, given over to the local Italian community, is home to restaurants, bars and ice cream shops serving everything from antipasto to gelato to pasta.

Chinatown: Just north of Winnipeg's City Hall and Old Market Square area, it’s the place to find dim sum or tuck into good old Cantonese-style Chinese food.

Selkirk Avenue: It’s the North End grocery shopping area for Winnipeg's eastern European immigrants. Marvel at the myriad versions of sausages hanging on wooden dowels at the butcher shops and jostle tiny Ukrainian grandmothers in a battle for the last blood pudding.

The Forks Market: Located at The Forks National Historic Site in Winnipeg, this market is one a great place to sample a bit of almost every food Manitoba can offer, from fresh produce and specialty foods to Skinner's fabled, foot-long, European-style hot dogs.

Tearooms: They're ubiquitous in Manitoba, offering brief, delicious immersion into the British afternoon tea ritual – and they serve "dainties" (the Prairie term for tiny cookies and wee miniature cakes, squares and tarts).

Folklorama: The largest and longest running multi-cultural festival of its kind in the world takes over Winnipeg community halls, arenas and school gymnasiums for the first two weeks of August with more than 40 ethnic pavilions sharing their cuisine and culture.

Content kindly provided by Travel Manitoba www.travelmanitoba.com

Discover Canada 11

Sequoia Club

Manitoba fun facts ★ Manitoba basks in more than 2,300 hours of bright sunshine each year.

★ The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is Canada's oldest and North America's second oldest dance company.

★ The name Manitoba is believed to come from the words "manitowapow" (Cree) or "manito bau" (Ojibway), which mean "straight of the spirit" and refer to an island in Lake Manitoba Narrows where a "manitou" or "great spirit" beat his drums.

★ In addition to producing coins for Canada, Winnipeg's Royal Canadian Mint has minted currency for 60 countries around the globe.

★ The beaver is the world's largest rodent and its luxurious pelt fuelled the 19th century fur trade, leading to the exploration and eventual settlement of Manitoba by Europeans. ★ Churchill, Manitoba, is known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World" for being the most accessible place to view polar bears in the wild. ★ Comedian Bob Hope played his first game of golf in Winnipeg. ★ Winnipeg was the first city in the world to develop the 911 emergency phone number. ★ Souris, Manitoba, is famous for its 177 m (582 ft) free-suspension footbridge over the Souris River - more than 40 metres longer and reportedly bouncier than the West Coast's famous Capilano Swinging Bridge. ★ Winnipeg's Union Station was designed by the same architects responsible for New York's Grand Central Station. ★ Manitoba produces more than 25,000 pounds of gold medal, award-winning golden caviar from Whitefish roe and exports it worldwide.

★ Spruce Woods Provincial Park is home to an ecological rarity in Manitoba - a desert-like area known as Spirit Sands featuring 30 m sand dunes. ★ People have been meeting at The Forks in Winnipeg for thousands of years. The famous junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, once a gathering place for Manitoba's first peoples and later a bustling fur trading post, is now a popular 21st century attraction. ★ The Winnipeg Art Gallery has the world's largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art, including over 9,000 works from sculpture, prints and textiles to paintings. ★ There are more than 120 public and private golf courses in Manitoba, with some of the most scenic found in Hecla, the Whiteshell and Riding Mountain National Park.

12 Discover Canada

Summer in the city A three-day summer itinerary for culture-rich Winnipeg

Discover Canada 13 Manitoba Museum

Winnipeg Cityscape

Six-hundred and eighty-five thousand people Golden Boy, perched high atop the imposing call Winnipeg home. They work in its turn-ofthe-century warehouses and play in its spacious casinos. They dress up to attend world-class ballet, theatre, symphony and opera, and dress down for hikes and picnics in its many parks and green spaces. They get serious at white-knuckle CFL Blue Bombers football games and applaud the antics of street performers at the city’s many festivals.

They are Winnipeggers. And they take pride in their city – from its urban beat and multicultural milieu to its fascinating roots and friendly people. There are many ways to spend three spectacular days under Winnipeg’s sunny skies. Here are some suggestions from the pros.

Day One The Forks National Historic Site of Canada – Why not begin your travels at The Forks, a green riverside oasis where Winnipeg’s history began over 6000 years ago? Hear tales of its colourful past with entertaining one-hour walking tours. Attend an Aboriginal ceremony at the Oodena Celebration Circle.

Shop for funky, one-of-a-kind items at Johnston Terminal and visit the Explore Manitoba Centre for a visual journey through Manitoba’s diverse terrain and countless attractions. Then follow your nose to The Forks Market, where fresh seafood, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables are yours for the buying. Time for lunch? Stay where you are and choose from the many specialties cooked up by at least a dozen ethnic and made-in-Manitoba food vendors. Walk off lunch with a 15-minute stroll across the stunning Esplanade Riel Pedestrian bridge or west along the Assiniboine riverwalk. Hop on a waterbus or rent a canoe. Destination? The Legislative Building.

The Manitoba Legislative Building is reputed to be one of the finest public buildings in North America. Stroll the elegant landscaping, admire the monuments and statues on the lush grounds and stare up, way up, at Manitoba’s famous symbol of the

Portage Place

Give yourself at least half-a-day here to spend visiting galleries and museums, and strolling the cobblestone sidewalks lined with antique shops, second-hand book and clothing stores, furniture retailers and merchandise wholesalers. Lunchtime brings a whole new set of delicious choices, from exotic or continental cuisine in the area’s fine restaurants to one of the funky diners that dot the district.

The Manitoba Museum – Don’t leave the Exchange without visiting the Manitoba Museum, where you can view award-winning galleries depicting Manitoba through the ages, climb aboard a 17th century wooden ketch, explore the universe in the science gallery and gaze up at the changing sky in the Planetarium. If the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival is on (generally the second half of July), catch a few of the innovative, off-the-wall productions from Manitoba and around the world, performed at venues throughout the Exchange District.

St. Boniface - After lunch, it’s just a short drive to St. Boniface, the largest French quarter in in Western Canada. A rich tapestry of history and culture has spawned the passionate Francophone community you see here today. St. Boniface celebrates the proud legacy of Louis Riel, our province’s founder, and the rich contributions by Francophones and Metis to Manitoba history. You will quickly fall in love with the charming surroundings that include attractive streetscaping, road signs in French, restaurants serving French cuisine, and historic landmarks, statues and museums depicting Manitoba’s Francophone roots.

Casinos of Winnipeg or Sports – For an evening of fun and fantasy, visit one of Day Two Manitoba’s colourful theme casinos. Whether it’s a trip to the South Seas or a ride on the Winnipeg’s Exchange District derives its Millennium Express, the casino experience name from the Winnipeg Grain Exchange and offers something for everyone – fine dining, the many other exchanges that went on in live entertainment and exciting gaming what was the centre of commerce and action. Or, if sports are your passion, catch culture at the turn-of-the-century. The legacy some CFL (Canadian Football League) live of those early years is the area’s exceptional action with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or a buildings, displaying some of the finest terra Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball game. cotta and cut stone architecture in Canada. structure. Inside, join a professional tour of the Legislative Building.

Winnipeg Art Gallery - A five-minute walk north of the Legislative Building will land you on the steps of the world-class Winnipeg Art Gallery. You may want to take a photo of this uniquely designed building, constructed entirely from Manitoba Tyndall limestone. Not only is this gallery home to the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art, it contains over 22,000 works in its permanent collection and its walls are continually adorned with new exhibits from galleries across the globe. The gallery deserves two to three hours of your day – this can include lunch or coffee in its rooftop restaurant enjoying the smooth sounds of jazz.

Winnipeg Railway Museum - If you’re hankering for more history, take a half-hour walk east down Broadway, or jump in a cab, and spend an interesting hour or two at the Winnipeg Railway Museum, located on tracks one and two at Union Rail Station.

Visit the “Countess of Dufferin,” the first steam locomotive to pull into Winnipeg in 1877, and journey through time and the changing technologies of train travel in this museum dedicated to preserving Manitoba’s rail history.

Celebrations Dinner Theatre – Dine at Celebrations Dinner Theatre where you’ll spend an hilarious evening watching the show and intermingling with the actors who wait on you in costume as the characters they portray on stage. Then it’s back to your hotel for a good night’s sleep and new energy for a new day.

14 Discover Canada The Manitoba Legislature - the largest provincial legislative building in Canada

Day Three Assiniboine Park and Zoo - Enjoy the beautiful summer weather with a trip to Assiniboine Park, nearly 400 acres of spectacular parkland complete with lush picnic and barbecue areas, bike and walking trails, English garden, cricket and baseball fields, conservatory garden, pavilion, art gallery and fine dining restaurant. A highlight of the park is the Zoo, home to more than 300 different species, including Manitoba’s native polar bears, bison and elk, along with more exotic animals such as the Siberian tiger and snow leopard. (Try to go in the morning, when more of the animals are out and about.) Another must-see is the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, unique to North America, and dedicated to the work of this worldfamous sculptor, also a Winnipeg resident.

The outdoor Lyric Theatre is another of the park’s popular spots, where you can catch live theatre, a music concert, or Ballet in the Park by the world-renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Osborne Village – You can easily spend a day in the park, but if you’ve got that get-upand-go feeling, strolling and shopping the distinctive neighbourhoods of Osborne Village and Corydon Avenue should not be missed. Once an affluent suburb of early Winnipeg, the past several decades have

witnessed Osborne Village’s transformation into the trendy, vibrant neighbourhood and shopping area it is today. The turn-of-thecentury, character buildings now house an eclectic mix of restaurants, salons, services and boutiques featuring clothing, crafts, gifts, art, designer furniture and kitchenware, the products of some of Winnipeg’s most creative entrepreneurs. Enjoy a tasty lunch – grab some take-out sushi on the run or dine at one of the area’s many fine restaurants. Be sure to pick up some gourmet coffees and chocolates, popular stops in the Village.

Corydon Avenue – A short walk southwest of Osborne Village brings you to Corydon Avenue, dubbed Winnipeg’s Little Italy. Its distinct Mediterranean flair comes from the immigrants that settled in this neighbourhood and opened a unique mix of stores, services and restaurants. Some of the gems to be discovered on Corydon are designer clothing, curios and antiques, pottery, handmade jewellery and one-of-a-kind gift items. You should also experience Corydon Avenue in the evening, when the street comes alive with Winnipeggers of all ages strolling its sidewalks, filling its outdoor patios, eating Gelati (Italian ice cream) and enjoying the warm summer night.

Rainbow Stage or Winnipeg Folk Festival – Another great place to spend a summer night in Winnipeg is Rainbow Stage, where

you can enjoy a Broadway musical performed under the stars by local and international talent. As Canada’s longest running outdoor theatre, Rainbow Stage is a true Winnipeg summertime tradition. As well, in early July, you can take in the Winnipeg Folk Festival, a celebration of people and music featuring over 300 national and international artists performing on seven daytime stages and an evening main stage.

It’s a magical experience you won’t soon forget.

Content kindly provided by Travel Manitoba www.travelmanitoba.com

Discover Canada 15

Floating for furs Canadian voyageur canoe routes in Manitoba offer historic settings It was the perfect, rugged, Canadian natural image: canoe, wild rice bog, a portage point that could have been used 150 years ago by rugged voyageurs opening up Canada's savage northwest. So I savoured the moment as we snaked through the high screen of wild rice; seed-heads slapped our faces and wild rice bounced onto our hat brims.

Manitoba's Canadian Shield country offers dozens of paddlers' routes so pristine that beaver fever has not polluted the system, and the small companies who guide trips here caution their clients to make sure it stays that way. On more remote canoe routes, loons sing paddlers to sleep under bright moonlight. Bald eagles soar overhead, while muskrat or beaver dunk as canoes pass. Arctic swans may drift along quiet channels, pacing paddlers for a few hundred meters until alarmed elk or moose flounder out of glassy bays and back into silent pine forests.

The Hayes River/Middle Track runs almost 665 kilometres (400 miles) from Norway House to York Factory, a national historic site on the Hudson Bay operated by Parks Canada.

The Winnipeg River, in eastern Manitoba's Whiteshell cottage country, runs 266 kilometres (160 miles) from Kenora, Ontario, through Whiteshell Provincial Park to Pine Falls, Manitoba. Part of this route parallels the Mantario Trail, the Canadian Shield's longest hiking trail.

The meandering Assiniboine River is best travelled downstream from Brandon to Winnipeg, some 415 water-kilometres (250 miles) east, where the Assiniboine meets the Red River. Day paddlers can end at half a dozen take-out points; the entire route to Winnipeg would take a week.

In their heyday, these rivers were busy, commercial water-highways during the short but fabulous months of the northern summer. Early explorers La Verendrye, Henry Kelsey, Radisson and Groseilliers— among the earliest names recorded in Canada's history—all paddled the Shield's web of waterways in the 1600s and 1700s, using birch bark canoes modelled after those made by the Ojibwa and Algonquin— bark pieces stitched together with spruceroot lacing. the Cree version of Noah's Ark, where Those first explorers gave way within a Wasagajack the trickster created the postcentury to short, skinny voyageurs. Short flood world by sending animals into the water men took up less space, needed less food, to find a speck of dirt he could use to start and could handle the standard four-foot, the world over. The animals all failed until the three-inch paddle. Uneducated, hardy men brave otter finally floated up, drowned, its with a taste for adventure, voyageurs, little dead paws clutching the needed, precious better than indentured slaves, usually bit of mud. paddled fifteen hours a day, five to six men The Cree ark, appropriately enough, was to a freight canoe up to eight yards in length. a giant canoe. And appropriately, canoes still By trip's end, with winter setting in, the men ply these rivers—paddled today by dipped blades in water turning to ice slush contemporary adventurers who re-live the around the fragile boats. Loaded with voyageurs' canoe routes in modern comfort. provisions and trade goods on the way into On some waterways, we never saw evidence Canada's interior, the boats were burdened with a ton or more of stinking furs on the way of another human soul. We could have been original explorers here, charting a virgin out—and every day brought portages, course through an undiscovered world. sometimes a dozen or more, hauling fur bundles and canoes over dangerous trails.

Aboriginal tribes supplied furs to, helped feed and guided the voyageurs, in exchange for goods like blankets, tools and beads. And the Aboriginal people shared their legends as Contact info@muchmormedia.com or they guided the telephone 1-613-396-5531 voyageurs through the wilderness; stories like

Your ad here for as little as $350 per month for half page

16 Lifestyle

Perfect preserves Banana Jam Ingredients: 900 g mashed ripe bananas 80 ml fresh lemon juice 25 g brown sugar 0.8 g ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Heat to a boiling in a saucepan and simmer slowly, till mixture is thickened. Serve warm over pancakes or cool and serve as a jam.

Cinnamon Apple Jam Ingredients: 7 cups unsweetened bottled apple juice 1 (1.75 ounce) package powdered fruit pectin 2 teaspoons butter (no substitutes) 1 cup red-hot candies 9 cups sugar

Place the apple juice in a large kettle. Stir in pectin and butter. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in candies until dissolved.

Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Pour hot mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water bath.

Cherry Raspberry Jam Ingredients: 630 g finely chopped or ground sour cherries 245 g red raspberries 1000 g sugar 49.6 g powdered fruit pectin

In a large kettle, combine cherries and raspberries; stir in sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Add pectin; return to a full rolling boil.

Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; skim off foam.

Pour hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Adjust caps.

Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath.

Lifestyle 17

Rhubarb Cherry Jam Ingredients: 730 g diced rhubarb 800 g white sugar 595 g cherry pie filling 168 g cherry flavored gelatin

Place rhubarb in a large bowl. Pour sugar over top and stir to coat. Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight. Place rhubarb mixture in a pot and cook over medium heat until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in pie filling and gelatin, and bring mixture to a boil. Pour into a shallow pan and allow to cool in refrigerator. When jelly is cool, pack into jars or plastic containers. Can be refrigerated or frozen.

Mint jelly Ingredients: 40 g packed fresh mint leaves and stems 30 ml lemon juice 535 ml boiling water 1 drop green food color 700 g white sugar 84 g liquid pectin

Rinse off the mint leaves, and place them into a large saucepan. Crush with a potato masher or the bottom of a jar or glass. Add water, and bring the mint to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.

Strain, and measure out 35g of the mint. Place mint into a saucepan. Stir in the lemon juice and food coloring. Mix in the sugar, and place the pan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture is boiling, stir in the pectin. Boil the mixture for a full minute while stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and skim foam off the top using a large metal spoon. Transfer the mixture to hot sterile jars, and seal. Process any unsealed jars in a water bath.

Pecan Jam Ingredients: 120 g chopped pecans 200 g white sugar 15 g brown sugar 1 g salt 5 g ground ginger 7 g ground cinnamon 55 g butter, divided 15 ml apple cider vinegar In a large saucepan, combine the pecans, white sugar, brown sugar, salt, ginger, cinnamon, butter, and cider vinegar. Cook over medium heat, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is well blended. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Transfer to sterile jars, and refrigerate.

18 Lifestyle

Lemon Curd Ingredients: 180 ml fresh lemon juice 6 g grated lemon zest 150 g sugar 3 eggs 115 g unsalted butter, cubed

In a 2 quart saucepan, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, eggs, and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until thick enough to hold marks from whisk, and first bubble appears on surface, about 6 minutes.

Strawberry Marmalade Ingredients: 2 medium oranges 2 medium lemons 120 ml water 0.6 g baking soda 615 g ripe strawberries, crushed 1400 g sugar 1 (3 ounce) pouch liquid fruit pectin Peel outer layer of oranges and lemons; set aside. Remove the white membrane from fruit and discard. Set the fruit aside. Chop peels; place in a large saucepan. Add water and baking soda; cover and bring to a boil.

Simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, section oranges and lemons, reserving juice. Add fruit and juice to saucepan; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add strawberries. Measure fruit; return 4 cups to the saucepan. (If you have more than 4 cups, discard any extra; if less, add water to equal 4 cups.) Add sugar and mix well. Boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in pectin. Stir for 5 minutes to cool; skim off foam. Pour into half-pint jars or freezer containers, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath or store in the freezer. Serve with toast or biscuits.

Apricot Pineapple Jam Ingredients: 335 g dried apricots 235 ml water 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained 120 ml grapefruit juice 600 g sugar In a large saucepan, bring apricots and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until apricots are very tender. Mash. Add pineapple, grapefruit juice and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour or until thick and translucent, stirring frequently. Pour into jars or freezer containers; cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover and let stand overnight or until set, but no longer than 24 hours. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.

Lifestyle 19

Top Canadian…

TV shows 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Olympic Close Ceremony - 1.48 CBC National News - 1.32 Olympic Prime - 1.24 Flashpoint - 1.17 Canadian Idol 6 (Mon) - 1.12

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

CTV Evening News (M-F) - 1.09 C.S.I. New York - 1.02 C.S.I. - 1.01 Big Brother 10 (Sun) - 0.97 Canadian Idol 6 (Tue) - 0.95

CD’s 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Little Bit Longer, Jonas Brothers Mamma Mia, Soundtrack Viva La Vids, Coldplay Now 13, Various Artists Breakout, Miley Cyrus

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Girlicious, Girlicious Rock n Roll Jesus, Kid Rock The fame, Lady Gaga Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna Lost in the 80’s, The Lost Fingers

DVD’s 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

What Happens in Vegas (PG) Street kings (18A) Smart People (14A) Scorpion King 2 (18A) 21(14A) Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (18A)

7.

Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (PG) 8. Prom Night (14A) 9. The Bank Job (14A) 10. Art of War II: The Betrayal (18A)

Fiction paperbacks 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen Late Nights on Air, Elizabeth Hay Playing for Pizza, John Grisham The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hil My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult Standard of Honor, Jack Whyte

7. Mister Pip, Lloyd Jones 8. Strangers in Death, J Robb 9. You’ve Been Warned, Roughan/ Patterson 10. Divisadero, Michael Ondaatje

Fiction hardbacks 1. The Gargoyle, Andrew Davidson 2. The Host, Stephanie Meyer 3. Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini 4. World Without End, Ken Follett 5. Acheron, Sherrilyn Kenyon 6. The Cellist of Sarajevo, Steven Galloway

7. Careless in Red, Elizabeth George 8. The Enchantress of Florence, Salman Rushdie 9. Fearless Fourteen, Janet Evanovich 10. Love The One You’re With, Emily Griffin

Club 20Sequoia Working Life

Odd job titles and what they mean

By Rachel Zupek,

CareerBuilder.ca Do you ever wonder whose job it is to do some of the less desirable things in life? If you think about it, there’s a job doing almost anything, no matter how exciting, disgusting or just plain weird it may seem.

For example, remember when you stuck your wad of gum underneath the seat of a roller coaster so you wouldn’t choke? That sticky mess didn’t just disappear – a gum buster scraped it off, using a special steaming tool that removes gum stuck to various surfaces.

Think about all those times your golf ball didn’t make it over the water. Did you think the fish ate them? Nope, a golf ball diver, who scours the depths of bodies of water on golf courses to find lost golf balls to refinish and resell, got it.

Through photography in her books, “Odd Jobs” and “Odder Jobs,” Nancy Rica

Schiff portrays people working jobs you probably won’t find in the Sunday classifieds.

They aren’t your run-of-the-mill doctors, lawyers and the like. Some are simple, some complex; some are common, some one in a million – but one thing’s for sure – they are all (extremely) unusual.

Here are a few odd jobs portrayed in Rica Schiff’s books.

Breath odor evaluator: What they do: Odor judges smell nasty morning breath or breath “insulted” with strong scents, like garlic or coffee. They rate the breath on a scale from one to nine, one being the worst.

To test odor-reducing products like gum or mouthwash, they smell the breath again and assign it a new rating.

Ball tester: What they do: Assess basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls for air-retention, inflation, roundness, weight and reboundability.

Video game tester: What they do: For eight hours a day, five days a week, a group of males and females of all ages play video games. They repeat levels, games and characters, looking for any bugs and/or glitches in the software.

Tampon tester: What they do: Check all sizes of tampons for absorbency and cord strength in accordance with FDA standards. Most testers check up to 125 pieces per day.

Dog sniffer: What they do: Once a week, they analyze the odor of dog’s breath Diener: What they do: Prepare cadavers to test the effect of their diet on their teeth. for the pathologist before autopsies are Breath is graded on a scale of zero to 10 performed in hospitals. and is categorized as sweaty, salty, musty, fungal or decaying.

Ribbon candy puller: What they do: After a Potato chip inspector: What they do: heated combination of Search for over-cooked or clumped chips to sugar, corn syrup, water discard as they come down the assembly and coloring agent has line. cooled, batches of different colors are laid Porta-potty servicer: What they do: out side by side.

Like regular restrooms, portable toilets need Someone then pulls the maintenance, too. Once a week, service candy thin until it’s workers clean these single-stall facilities to about an inch wide. The achieve certain standards of sanitation. final product is a multicolored hard Wax figure maker: What they do: candy.

Mold wax to create figures, often for, but not limited to, the human form. Figures are often Ocularist: What they made in the likeness of people who have do: In short, they paint achieved historical or celebrity recognition. artificial eyes. It sounds easier than it is, since Safe cracker: What they do: When as with real eyes, no combinations are lost or forgotten, safe two are exactly the crackers use their ears and fingers to open same. the safe.

Beer tester: What they do: Taste – and spit out – beer all day to approve new and existing flavors.

Crack filler: What they do: Using a silicone sealant, they repair the wear and tear inflicted on monumental structures, like Mount Rushmore.

Paper towel sniffer: What they do: Paper towel manufacturers prefer their products to be odorless before, during and after their use. Naturally, paper towel sniffers ensure that once a paper towel is used, there is no noticeable scent.

Foley artist: What they do: Use whatever they can find to create and record the noises used to make the sound effects in films, like heavy footsteps, rolling thunder or creaking doors.

Working Life 21

Sequoia Club

Five steps to an e-friendly résumé Eric Presley, chief technology officer for CareerBuilder.ca Today's Internet-driven world has changed the way we look for and apply to jobs. Gone are the days of handwritten cover letters, typewriter-printed résumés and handdelivered job applications. Given the increasing number of online job boards that require Web-based applications, many employers don't want a hard copy of your résumé. Instead, they'll ask you to submit an electronic résumé, either online or via e-mail.

Point 1

Remove all formatting from your original résumé.

Unfortunately, the

Electronic résumés are plain text or HTML documents, which can also be included in the body of an e-mail for job applications online. It may not be as attractive as your word-formatted résumé in all its bulleted, bold-text, fancy-font glory, but it gets the job done.

Why you need one When an employer asks you to submit your application materials via e-mail or online your résumé will be entered into an automated applicant-tracking system. These systems don't care what your résumé looks like physically, which is why it's imperative you re-format yours so the database can

Point 2

Use Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText to reformat.

Close your original

Point 3

Stick to a simple font and style.

Use clear, sans-serif

read it. The system will scan your résumé (along with hundreds of others), keeping those with keywords similar to their job descriptions and discarding the rest.

Make sure you keep a hard (and visually appealing) copy of your résumé on hand not all employers are up-to-date on the latest technologies and may still require a paper copy. Plus, you'll need one to give to employers at all of your interviews.

Here are five easy steps to format your existing résumé into an e-friendly work of art.

Point 4

Apply keywords.

Applicant-tracking

systems scan résumés fonts, like Courier, Arial or for keywords that match the company's job Helvetica. This way, the descriptions. Fill your computer won't mistake same formatting that résumé document and rerésumé accordingly with your fancy lettering for a makes your résumé nice open the text version such words (as they to look at makes it almost using Notepad, WordPad jumbled word. pertain to your Use a 12-point font; impossible for a or SimpleText. Your text experience), but anything smaller won't computer to understand. version should be free of scan well. Also, stay away remember that using the To remove the most graphic elements, same word five times from italics or formatting, open your like fancy fonts, lines and won't increase your underlining.

Rather than word-processed résumé bullets. Text should be chances of getting called using boldface type, try and choose the "Save As" flush with the left side of in for an interview. using capital letters to option under the "File" the document.

Place the most separate sections like tab on your toolbar. Save important words first, education and experience. the document type as since the scanner may be Instead of using Plain Text or Text Only. bullets, use such standard limited in the number of In the following dialog keyboard characters as an words it reads. Use nouns box, choose the option to asterisk or a dash. Instead instead of action verbs. insert line breaks. of using the "Tab" key, use For example: "communications the space key to indent. specialist," "sales Make sure all headings like your representative" or "computer proficiency" is name, address, better than "managed," phone and e-mail "developed" or all appear on "generated." separate lines, Additionally, avoid with a blank line abbreviations as best you before and after. can. Spell out phrases like, "bachelor of science" Contact info@muchmormedia.com or "master of business administration." or telephone 1-613-396-5531

Put your ad in front of 50,000 people for as little as $199 per month for quarter page advert

Point 5

Test it out.

After you've reformatted your résumé into a text document, make sure it really is efriendly. Practice sending your new résumé via email to yourself, as well as friends who use a different Internet service provider. For example, if you use AOL, send it a friend who uses MSN Hotmail.

Send your e-résumé pasted in the body of an e-mail, rather as an attachment. Have your friend alert you of any errors that show when they open it, like illegibility and organization. After getting feedback, make any necessary adjustments.

Club 22Sequoia Working Life

Ignite your business As founder of POWE, I am blessed to meet many different women in business. Business is transacted in many different forms within POWE and outside of it. However the most powerful marketing tool that business has today is networking.

The power comes in a myriad of choices within this one underestimated method. In last months column my esteemed business partner Lia Bandola talked about how women do business differently then men.

This month we will take a deeper look at networking as a tool for both male and female business owners who expect more out of their marketing dollars.

In my 30 year experience in sales there is nothing more valuable or powerful then word of mouth advertising regardless of whether it is good or bad. WOM can be your greatest asset or your worst nightmare in marketing.

Regardless of what you may have believed until this very moment, YOU get to choose which it is.

In the late 1970’s early 80’s there was a well played shampoo commercial on Canadian television which proved the power of networking in its simplest form. The commercial showed a woman loving her hair after using this particular brand telling 2 friends who told 2 friends who told 2 friends and so on. As more and more women were told the entire screen filled up with pictures of women loving their hair. This was an extremely powerful message for any business owners and proved the point when we love something we will tell 2 friends (minimum). For those of you wondering, the shampoo in the ad was Breck.

However the reverse is even grander and not so wonderful for the business owner. For example let’s explore the case of an unhappy client that has an unresolved complaint. Studies show this disgruntled customer will tell a minimum of 12 people of their bad experience when dealing with your business, you can guess the rest.

People tend to ask for a referral from someone they trust first, for any products or services they may need before going to other sources. Good or bad their trusted resource will be more then happy to give their opinion. However, it is more likely that they will remember all the sordid details of the bad experience much easier than the good.

Having said all that, there are many ways to combat the bad WOM through your customer service program and being careful not to have it happen in the first place.

So what is networking? Simply put, it is made up the words net and working which indicates a big net – picture a large net full of people, like a strainer, and the net sifts through and keeps some and throws some back. What you have left, is a few people in which you can build a relationship with and possibly do business with. The truly underestimated word in the equation is WORKING. The word Working, from the root work, means just that – in order to make your networking beneficial you need to WORK. This is where most business owner’s fall down. They go to the meetings, wander the room, focusing on the food, the venue, speaking to familiar people only, collecting and distributing cards. They might even possibly follow up with a call, letter or email however they truly never really work that contact with a reciprocal outcome in mind.

Ok now that we now know what not to do, lets get down to business. You meet a contact at a networking meeting, felt the connection, exchanged cards and sent a follow up email saying the usual “it was great to meet you” and it ended there.

Where did you go wrong? Why doesn’t this person want to business with me? This may not be the case at all, however you wouldn’t know because you just left it hanging in the air.

To be blunt, most people I meet never ever go beyond the email which leads me to wonder how many other missed opportunities have they let slip by. As CEO of POWE, I hear complaints from women continually, “oh this isn’t working for me, this group isn’t for me” or whatever else they can blame their lack of success on. One thing I know for sure, is that it is always, always and I will stress again, ALWAYS THEIR OWN FAULT that they are not getting the business from networking.

I believe that most business owners hide behind many reasons why they are not successful with networking. For this article let’s call them excuses, made up by the business owner to make themselves feel and look better when asked “how’s business?”

However as true as I know that there is business owners making it happen, I can

Tina Dezsi absolutely guarantee you there is a cure for EXCUSITIS. It exists within the business owner when they spend time getting over the excuses and being real with themselves as to why they are not doing more business as a result of networking.

So, forget all the things you thought you knew about networking and let’s start fresh.

Right from the first hello; ask your new acquaintance all about them, finding commonalities is the key. Discover what they have to offer, who you know that can use their service, ask for their card, and make that 2 cards, one to keep and one to give away. Never, ever shove your card into their hands without being asked! Allow the conversation to flow naturally, make them the most important in the conversation until it comes to your turn. When it is your turn, make sure to let them know that you may have some contacts for them and offer to give the names or hook them up yourself.

Take your turn and offer them your concise elevator pitch without going into too much detail. At the end of the conversation plan a time to chat again, either via phone or in person, remind them of what you will do for them or vice versa and move on.

The most important key is to FOLLOW UP…… within 24 hours send your hand written card, your email hooking them up with the contact or just an email to remind them of your coffee date to get to know each other better. Remember manners, respect and courtesy go along way and it is up to you to set the pace! Get busy and Work your Net! Tina Dezsi offers workshops through POWE that takes you deeper into marketing strategies through marketing, sales, customer service and networking. Check out www.powe.ca calendar of events for upcoming workshops or to have her speak at your next event email tina@powe.ca.

Working Life 23

Sequoia Club

So how hard do you work?

A recent report by Workopolis showed that most Canadians work an extra three hours every week over and above that expected of them. But does that mean they are working harder or simply have poor time management skills?

According to Workopolis the criteria for hard working boils down to: a high degree of responsibility, a high level of concentration or mental effort and a heavier than average work load. Based on this criteria the top five hardest working professionals was deemed to be: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mums Nurses Air traffic controllers Surgeons Fire fighters

The survey revealed that for moms, it's because of their high amount of responsibility and non-standard work hours that put them on top. But, stress, mental concentration, physical effort and even danger were essential factors for the remaining four professions that rounded out the list.

Overall 32% of Canadians believe they work too hard whilst 9% thought they didn’t work hard enough. The older generation of 50 years and over believed they often worked too hard (40%) whilst only 20% of those aged between 16-24 believed the same of themselves.

"As Canadians continue to work harder and harder, are we in fact working any better or smarter? Longer hours don't necessarily mean increased productivity." said Patrick Sullivan, President of Workopolis. "The bottom line: assess the reasons why you're

working hard. Do you have an intrinsic drive or are there external factors being placed on you?"

Managers also believe they work far harder than their employees. 61% of managers said their increased responsibility meant they worked harder. However only 25% of employees thought their bosses worked harder than them.

For those who believe they work too hard taking some “me� time was their most used coping mechanism. Exercise, holidays and delegating more were other top stress relievers. Fifteen percent of people surveyed confessed to taking a sick day when pressure got too much whereas 22% would approach their boss about the problem.

Non-managers were more likely to turn to colleagues for help, while managers were more inclined to delegate more.

24 Money

The basics to saving money at the grocery store

Money 25

By Kimberley Clancy, www.frugalshopper.ca Everybody needs to shop for food. It is very costly for many families, but it also something you can save a lot of money on.

Saving $50 a week on your grocery bill will save you $2600 in one year! Here are just a few of my tips on how to save money while shopping for groceries:

Know your prices It is impossible to know a good deal, if you do not know off hand what is a good price for that product is. Along the same lines learn to know what a good price per unit/lb/grams/ unit are of your most used products. Many companies use different formats and sizes to confuse consumers as to what a good deal is, just think about diapers and how they come in Jumbo, Meg, Super Mega, Big Box and Club Box sizes. Or toilet paper in single, double, mega, ultra rolls. Without calculating the per unit cost of the different formats it is nearly impossible to tell what is the best deal.

Larger product formats do not guarantee a discount, so pay attention!

Not all sales are created equal The best sales are generally on the outside covers of the flyer, but the sale prices are not necessarily great prices. This is also why it important to know your prices. The advertised item you wanted, is not in stock?

Do not worry, ask if you can get a raincheck, it is a great way to extend the sale and get what you want at a good price!

Discount grocers Most grocery store chains have an associated discount grocer and they are about 30% cheaper, so think about shopping at No Frills (Loblaws), Price Chopper (Sobeys/IGA) or Food Basics (Dominion/A&P, Ultra, The Barn). Discount grocers carry the best selling prepackaged goods and are also

good for in season produce, and fresh lesser cut of meat (ie Chicken thighs). Bring your own bags and save $0.05 per bag (or use boxes). The lighting may not be as bright or the aisles as pretty, and they probably do not have a deli but the food comes from the same warehouse as the pricier counterparts, but is significantly cheaper!

Use coupons Coupons are like real tax free money to you!

Choice Rewards at Loblaws/No Frills/ Superstore. You can also put your groceries on any reward credit card to get free stuff from the purchases you need to make anyways (but make sure you pay the balance, the rewards are not worth paying interest for!)

Scanning Code of Practice The Scanning Code of Practice is a voluntary

code that most major retailers in Canada follow, it promises accurate prices at the checkout scanner. The policy says "If the scanned price of a non-price ticketed item is higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price, the customer is entitled to receive the item free, up to a $10 maximum.

When the item has a price tagged, the lowest price applies. When identical items are incorrectly priced, the second one will be Reduced produce & meats sold at the correct price." So, if the item scans in at the wrong price at a participating Take a glance at the reduced produce & retailer, you will get it for free or $10 off if the meats. If you are planning on eating the fruit item is more than $10. You may have to ask or vegetables the day you purchase for the retailer for this but if they are a sometimes it is even better because it is ripe participant they will have to give you the item and ready to eat! Reduced fruit is also great for free or $10, no questions asked after you for baking, bruised apples or over ripe have pointed out the error and mentioned bananas are easy to bake with. Meat is often this code. marked down the day before it is best before.

Most participating stores will have a Eat it the night you buy it or freeze it right sticker on the entrance doors and another away to eat later. sticker at the checkout counter.

For more information: Clearance/discontinued product http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/ internet/index.cfm?itemID=1262&lg=e For a list of participating retailers: Look for bins, tables or labels indicating a http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/ product is on clearance. Make sure to look PDFs/ for expiry dates, but most products are still good, it is just that the store will no longer be 280505ConsumerAdvisoryParticipants_e.pdf carrying that product or the labels are changing or a promotion on the package Guarantees may be nearly over (or over), or it is nearing it's expiry but the savings can be substantial Many of the stores and companies have guarantees, (.e. Price Guarantees, Freshness Reward programs Guarantees, We Have It or It's Free Guarantees, Quality Guarantees) know them and use them. The guarantees are there to Do not forget to use reward programs too, give customers a sense of trust in the price, like Airmiles & Baby Bonus Points at freshness, stock availability or quality. If your Dominion/A&P/Ultra/The Barn, or President If you clip or collect coupons, try putting them in an organized small folder you can keep in the car and take in to the store with you so that you can take them shopping and make use of the discount, instead of wishing you remembered them! Not sure how to collect or find coupons? Click Here

4 Money 26 Money

Line of credit or loan?

great as it means you get the whole

store has a guarantee and you find something that qualifies - use amount up-front to do with as you please, the guarantee. Not only will you be saving money but you'll be butthey youtry aretomaking payments on the making a difference for other customers, because rectify the situation to make good on the guarantee.

Many whole amount, even if you don’t use it all products themselves have quality guarantees, if the product is not When you decide you need a little at once. By this we mean that if for up to your liking or something is wrong, call and tell the company extra cash, and to who first . example you borrow $20,000 but only use or bring it back thedoesn’t, store forthe a refund.

place you will probably go is your financial $10,000 initially and keep the rest in the Mail-in for rebates try-me freeright offers institution a loan.and But is a loan the bank for a rainy day, you are still paying thing to ask for? If you are a home owner, interest and repayments on the whole New will sometimes mail-ininrebate incentives or Try you willproducts be borrowing against have the equity $20,000.

Me Free Offers. Look for rebates in your coupon flyers, as well as your home, essentially second You will find Try Me Generally a HEL is more suitable for around the neck of newaproducts.

Free mortgage.

You often should your but you these payments such as a car Rebates most on discuss Cleaningwith Supplies, willone-off also find them onadvisor the occasional food product.

Look on the Rebateor Form financial the differences between purchase major home renovation. for details. (i.e. Does it include taxes and mailing costs, how many loans and lines of credit. Depending on per household, as well as the dates within the products must be what you need money for will Line of Credit purchased and the when the forms must be sent) determine which options will be best for Combine deals you.

A Home Equity Line of Credit

Are you new to Ontario?

Do you need help?

Are you helping newcomers to settle? answers to settle in Ontario.

With either of these options you home

Visit www.settlement.org for information about is at risk if you default payments.

(HELOC) works in a different way and ESL is Classes, Finding a Job, Housing, Healthon andthe much more...

You can use coupons along with sales to get even better deals.

Loans

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

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

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

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

This type of credit is useful for ongoing needs such as tuition payments, Settlement.Org ongoing renovations,or perhapsprovides a holiday you with information and each year.

Both can be set as fixed rate or flexible

much more flexible.

For example you can use two coupons when products are on sale You still have to agree an amount you can borrow and the time rates of interest and interest on both types for Buy One Get One Free. So imagine salsa onto sale, buy one get of loan are usually tax deductible. oneWith free or 2/$2.99 you to have $1 coupons you one. a loan youand agree borrow a set when period it buy is available, but you will only pay You will get 2 salsas for $0.99! You are purchasing two Salsas so Always consult with an advisor before amount of money which you repay by interest on the amount you borrow. This is you can use two coupons. You can also combine sales with other taking on either type of loan to be sure fixed a fixedand period especially useful for someone who wants goodinstallments sales, rewardover programs otherofdeals and promotions. you are opting for the one which suits your Please the couponthis for details of use, only limitofthe time.

Forread homeowners is referred to but most the security knowing the money is Citizenship and Citoyenneté et Funded by: Immigration Canada Immigration Canada of coupons you can useThis per purchase, which means one circumstances. asnumber a Home Equity Loan (HEL). is Managed by: Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) coupon per item.

To learn more about saving money in Canada or discuss grocery shopping with other Canadians, please visit our discussion forum - http://www.frugalshopper.ca/phpbb2/index.php

final changes June 2, 2005

Location, location, location.

Fluctuating exchange rates could put your dream property out of reach To minimise the risk of paying more when moving or buying abroad, call us now and speak to one of our expert advisers or visit www.hifx.co.uk

0845 370 5133 (all calls charged at standard local rates)

Currency Specialists Morgan House Madeira Walk Windsor Berkshire SL4 1EP

Money 27

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Who features on the Canadian five dollar bill?

When did the $2 coin (Toonie) replace the $2 bill?

What colour is a Canadian $50 bill?

What three metals are used to make a 25 cent coin?

The 2008 Lucky Loonie is made from what metal?

When was the last $1,000 bill printed?

What bill features a quote from John McCrae’s poem “in Flanders Fields”?

When was the first silver dollar issued?

How much does the solid gold one million dollar coin weigh?

The Royal Canadian Mint is celebrating which anniversary this year?

What are all Canadian bank notes made of?

Name two of the security features on bank notes How long does the average $20 bill last?

How many commemorative quarters will be issued for the 2010 Olympic Winter games?

Which Canadian bill features John A McDonald and who was he?

Answers on page 53

Club 28Sequoia Motoring

Have gas prices affected your travel plans?

This summer we have seen gas prices in Canada reach extraordinary levels. We are not alone, other countries have also seen high gas prices and this has affected many people’s travel plans.

In Ontario for example many people who would usually visit “cottage country” at the weekends and holidays have been cutting back. Many Ontarians own holiday cottages which enable them to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and relax, often by the waterfront most weekends. This year many people simply have not been able to do this and have instead only visited their cottage a few times during the summer.

In a recent online survey by Angus Reid 56% of Canadians say that the high gas prices have affected their travel plans. 25% of recipients said they had cancelled road trips and 10% had cancelled flights. Others who did not cancel altogether modified their plans to include shorter trips or traveling to one location rather than several.

The survey found that the residents of Atlantic Canada and Alberta were most likely to change their travel plans due to rising gas prices. Indeed 22% of those in Atlantic Canada had cancelled plans to travel by air and 38% by car.

Many airlines have cancelled routes or added significant surcharges to their pricing in order to account for the gas hikes.

Lots of Canadians have chosen to stay at home this year and have spent their holiday money on the home instead. Sales of pools and hot tubs have risen as a result. Some have decided this is the year to do those home renovations that have been put off in past years.

We don’t know what the future holds, but as we go to publication we are seeing gas prices subside slightly. Let’s hope that this continues an we are soon paying a dollar or less - well one can dream!

Average gas price (per litre) Alberta

Nova Scotia

Average price August 2008 - $1.26 Average price August 2007 - $1.01

Average price August 2008 - $1.33 Average price August 2007 - $1.06

British Columbia

Prince Edward Island

Average price August 2008 - $1.38 Average price August 2007 - $1.07

Average price August 2008 - $1.28 Average price August 2007 - $0.99

Manitoba

Newfoundland and Labrador

Average price August 2008 - $1.30 Average price August 2007 - $1.03

Average price August 2008 - $1.39 Average price August 2007 - $1.09

Saskatchewan

Worldwide August 2008

Average price August 2008 - $1.31 Average price August 2007 - $1.07

Ontario Average price August 2008 - $1.25 Average price August 2007 - $0.98

Quebec Average price August 2008 - $1.28 Average price August 2007 - $1.00

California, USA - $1.09 US ($1.15 CND) Tennessee, USA - $0.94 US ($0.99 CND) United Kingdom - £1.12 GBP ($2.21 CND) Iran - 1000 rials - ($0.10 CND) Australia - $1.50 AUS ($1.34 CND) Mexico - $6.80 MX ($0.70 CND) Philippines - 62.30 P ($1.42 CND) Italy - €1.52 ($2.33 CND) China - 6.00 RMB ($0.91 CND)

Arm and leg oil company

New Brunswick Average price August 2008 - $1.27 Average price August 2007 - $1.00

All prices and currency conversions correct as of 18th August 2008.

Prices are for regular unleaded gas.

Motoring 29

Top 10 funniest cars

By Alonzo Bodden

American comic Alonzo Bodden of NBC’s Last Comic Standing fame has listed his top 10 funniest cars and his reasons. Here goes:

3- AMC Eagle – While we are on AMC, how can we forget the Eagle. The first 4wd sedan. A 4-wheel drive sedan is a good idea.

An ugly body grafted to a jeep chassis is not.

Maybe they were trying to take the title of trailer trash car from the El Camino

4- El Camino – Business in the front and fun in the back or was it fun in front and business in the back? Who know’s? I can’t remember. Listen Jeb, put the El Camino up on blocks, let it rust and go buy a real pick up truck

1- Fiat 500 - I never drove anything this small. Its fun to be in a car that looks up to Mini Cooper’s as if they are limos. Did I mention its powered by a 500 cc motorcycle engine? Just the thing to get out of the way of rampant SUV’s. Of course if you are under 5 ft tall and want 1000 mpg, its perfect

7- The Pinto – What could be more fun than a car that would rust to pieces while you were waiting for someone to hit it so you could see the gas tank explode. Pintos weren’t exactly built Ford tough.

8- The Popemobile – Jesus walked on water and they put the Pope in this. Are we sure they’re talking?

9- Dodge Viper – Do one thing and do it well. 600 HP of pure acceleration for no reason at all. It can slam the front of your chest to the back of the seat and it doesn’t have the luggage space to carry a briefcase.

I love this thing. Step on the gas and try not to laugh at the excess of it all.

5- Mercedes Unimog – This isn’t funny as much as it’s unbelievable. Huge, indestructible it will go anywhere and destroy anything in its path. Fun would be driving one to the next Sierra club rally.

2- AMC Pacer – Of course anything by AMC could make the list, but lets look at the Pacer, the first wide small car. AMC always liked to answer questions no one asked, like “why do you need a wide small car”? Then again, if you like riding in a fishbowl, there is only one choice

6- The Edsel – A spectacular example of doing things wrong. Sure it’s big and ugly but that’s balanced by the fact it’s underpowered and handles poorly. Way to go Ford

http://alonzolive.com/

10- The Minivan – Yes, it works, it’s a great way to carry the kids and their stuff, but what a sad way to castrate dad. That’s right dad, no matter how much you trick it out, you’re still driving a minivan. Sorry dad, the hottie you just drive past isn’t looking at you.

She want’s you to move out the way so she can smile at the guy in the Porsche.

30 Kidzone

Back to school technology Not so many years ago kids would have been happy to be returning to school with a new set of pens and pencils and a new school bag - not so now. These days kids want more and more, much of it technology based and with today’s prices, unfortunately not everyone can get what they want.

In an ideal world you will want to return to school or college with a new computer, new phone, iPod, computer games and so many more things. The problem is knowing the difference between what you need and what you want and probably even more importantly what your parents can afford.

Computers

Cell Phones A recent survey showed that over 38% of teenagers worldwide owned a cell phone and the age at which kids started using cell phones is getting younger. Two years ago the average age of teenage cell phone users was 16, now it is 13.

Try to get a phone on the same plan as the rest of your family, this way the costs will be lower and you can often share minutes or even get free calls between phones.

MP3 Players MP3 players are one of the hottest gadgets

in the marketplace today. Although there are many different types about, the Apple iPod choose from these days and at many has certainly led the market for a number of different price points. Although computers years and is destined to continue. are not a necessity many kids and parents Before buying the most expensive one agree that if used correctly computers can which holds more music that you can help kids learn and are brilliant for research - possibly download, why not look for one with and keeping up with friends on Facebook! a smaller hard drive and therefore a smaller Whether you choose a desktop or laptop price tag? depends on how and where you plan to use We bet your choice of music changes the computer. If you are at college then a quite often so why not buy a player that holds laptop is a good idea as it is portable, but less music. All it means is instead of having remember to buy a power lead too. Desktops your entire music collection on it, much of tend to be better if you need more processing which you never play, you simply have your speed and memory as they are normally favorites of the moment. Remember an iPod cheaper than equivalent laptops. touch with a 32 GB hard drive will hold 7,000 Laptops start at around $600 going right songs, but will cost around $470. However an up to several thousand dollars. Desktops 8 GB iPod nano will hold 2,000 songs but will tend to be cheaper starting at around $400 only cost you around $180. Do you really and up. need to access so many songs? Remember Remember to buy good anti-virus software you can change your play list any time really and a Firewall with any computer you buy. easily. If you really want to save money and pocket space why not get the 1 GB iPod Printer shuffle instead. It holds 240 songs and costs only $50.

These days printers are one of the cheaper technology products on the market. Unless Backpack you decide to buy a top of the range colour laser printer then you can usually pick up a Yes, we said backpack and this article is very good colour printer for as little as $50. about technology, so what gives?

Some printers come with added features Did you know that you can now buy back such as photo printing, fax machine, scanner packs with solar panels which charge up your etc, but you will pay extra for them, so decide phone, iPod or laptop whilst you wear it? Of which features you really need before course they are considerably dearer than splashing out big bucks. conventional back packs usually ranging from

There are many different computers to

around $100 upwards, but how cool is that?

Kidzone 31

Top kids stuff…

Bestselling books 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Breaking Dawn, Stephanie Meyer 7.

Twilight, Stephanie Mayer New Moon, Stephanie Mayer 8.

Artemis Fowl 6, Eoin Colfer 9.

Love You Forever, Munsch & McGraw 10.

Eclipse, Stephanie Mayer

Eclipse Special Edition, Stephanie Mayer Gallop, Rufus Butler Seder Claire, Lisi Harrison Scaredy Squirrel, Melanie Watt

DVD rental 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Hannah Montana - Miley Cyrus- Best of Both Worlds Concert (G) Nim’s Island (G) Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (PG) Step Up 2 The Streets Her Best Move (G) Ben 10: The Complete Season 4 (G)

7.

Mulan and Mulan II 3-Disc Collector's Set (G) 8. Never Back Down (PG) 9. 21 (PG) 10. Toopy & Binoo: Toopy Goes Bananas (G)

Video games X-Box 360 Too Human (T) Soul Calibur IV (T) Battlefield: Bad Company (T) PS3 Soul Calibur IV (T) Battlefield: Bad Company (T) Beijing 2008 (E)

Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl (T) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (E) Mario Party 8 (E) Nintendo DS Pokemon Diamond (E) Pokemon Pearl (E) Diddy Kong Racing (E)

Movies in theatres 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The House Bunny (PG) The Dark Knight (14A) Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG) The Longshots (PG) Mama Mia (PG) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PG)

7.

8.

9.

10.

WALL-E (G) Step Brothers (14A) The Rocker (PG) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (PG)

Club to Canada 32Sequoia Moving

Research, research, research Let me put a few questions to you. The last time you purchased a new car did you test drive a few before you decided which one to buy? Did you look at the costs associated with the purchase? Did you weigh up your options before making the final decision?

When you purchased your last house, we bet you went to view a good number of properties before making your final decision.

So why is it that some people believe they can make the biggest decision of their lives - moving to another country - simply by reading a few articles and hoping for the best?

We are constantly amazed at the number of people who move to Canada, having waited in the immigration queue for years without ever actually visiting the country.

Whilst we can understand that people apply for immigration before a visit, after all the waiting time is long enough that you can do this. You can also withdraw your application if you then discover Canada is not for you, but many choose never to visit before landing for good.

Now there may be many reasons for this, finances is probably one of the biggest as it obviously costs a lot of money to visit Canada, especially if you have children, but we cannot stress the importance of research trips enough. In the long term it will cost you a lot more, both financially and emotionally if you move to Canada and find it is not for you. Then you have to make the decision as to whether to stay, return to your home country or try another area of Canada.

As the spring and summer months are the times when most people seem to make research or fact finding trips we contacted a few people who had recently returned from their trips to get their views.

Sue and Marc are from a small town in New York state, USA and they have visited Canada on a number of occasions purely as visitors. In June 2007 they decided to move to Canada and submitted their application for permanent residency via the skilled worker program.

“We are fortunate that we are only a couple of hours drive from the US/Canada border and so are able to visit the area much more often than most potential immigrants.” says Sue. Because they had visited Ontario and Quebec on many occasions, they decided even before applying that Ontario was the place for them, particularly Ottawa. Since

Toronto skyline

applying the couple, who have no children have visited the Ottawa area three times.

“Our recent trips have taken on a whole new meaning to us,” says Marc, “although we have been to Ottawa before, we are now looking for different things.

“Before we were purely tourist, doing all the usual touristy things, now we are looking at suitable areas to live, where the best places for shopping are and of course looking at possible job opportunities for both of us.”

The couple know they may have to wait several years before they are granted residency so are taking their research trips casually at the moment. Because they have the luxury of being able to visit often, they are not as under pressure as other families moving from overseas.

“Over the next couple of years we want to have visited not just Ottawa but several other locations just to be sure we are moving to the right place.” says Sue, “Although you can get a good idea of a place by visiting often, I suppose you can never know for sure if a place is exactly right for you until you actually live there.”

One family looking to move from their home near Durham, England are Mel and Pete Brown and their three children aged 9, 16 and 18 years. Over the last fourteen years they have visited Ontario no less than six times. However, they only applied for residency in 2007 and received their AOR in July of that year, so their last trip to Ontario in July of this year was their first serious research trip.

They have a friend who lives in Collingwood and owns a holiday rental business and so they stayed in one of her houses as it was a cheaper option than a hotel for a family of five.

We asked the family if they had set any particular goals before the trip and if they managed to achieve them.

“Yes, we wanted to look at colleges for the older kids,” says Mel, “look at some show homes and check out possible towns to relocate to. We managed to achieve all of these on our three week visit.”

So, did the trip change their minds about that particular location,or indeed Canada itself?

“It enabled us to rule out towns we thought we would like due to high cost of living, commuting distance from Toronto and gut feeling the town wasn’t right for us.

The trip also showed us we had made the right decision about Ontario.” Mel says.

“After a trip to Toronto and a 2 hour drive back to our holiday rental home we decided we needed to live an hour from the city at best, so we concentrated on towns within that radius. We were also looking for a community feel in the town so we could make friends easier.’

The couple took all three of their children with them on the trip. The two oldest were always keen to move to Canada, but the youngest was unsure. Since the trip she can’t wait to move, although is still a little nervous about starting a new school.

In summarizing their trip the Browns had this to say.

Moving to Canada 33

Calgary Tower, Alberta “All in all it was a really good trip. Although we haven’t found exactly which town we’d like to live in, we eliminated quite a few. We were also able to take account of things like distance from friends, the city etc, by being there in person. Most importantly we talked to Canadians and Brits who had lived in Ontario for a number of years. Their tips were invaluable from places to avoid to utility costs. We took the older kids to look at where their colleges would be in Toronto. We visited during the day and again in the evening so they could get a feel of the city at different times. We tried not to do too many tourist things and went more for the types of activities we’d do if we lived there...so parks, beach, bbq’s with friends etc. We also took note of the types of cars people were driving around the area we’d like to live...Rav4 seemed to be a favourite!

“It’s been a relief really to have done the trip. We may well do another trip but probably for job interviews. The whole trip was very positive. We’re still moving to Ontario but perhaps to a town such as Barrie, an hour from where we originally planned to move to. Ontario no longer feels like a holiday destination and instead feels like our home.”

We next spoke to Robert and Jayne from the UK who are currently living in Abbotsford, British Columbia on a temporary work permit. The couple have three children who are now 19, 22 and 24 years old.

Although the couple now live in B.C. Their four previous research trips have been in Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario. The couple spoke of their previous trips and what they gained from them. Their first trip to Calgary was with the three boys and was part holiday and part research. The second trip to the city was just the two of them. The two trips to Toronto last year were both family trips.

“For all our research trips we wanted to look at housing and the general areas to live.” says Jayne. “We did not need schools as the boys would not be of school age when we moved, but we did want to network to help with our job search.”

Abbotsford, B.C. When they visited Toronto they also managed to visit other areas such as Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and Oshawa. Whilst there they stayed in hotels.

“Robert had been in contact with a company in Toronto and went to see them, unfortunately they were not very helpful and the person he was supposed to see did not turn up. He tried to meet him on several occasions without success.” says Jayne.

“On our second trip to Calgary we rented a basement off a couple who were originally from Scotland. This was a good way to get a ‘feel’ for living in Canada for real. We had a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. They were really good hosts and arranged an afternoon where they invited some of their friends for us to chat to. We got to meet people who had been in our shoes and knew what it was like to move countries, and the stresses this involved. I would recommend this type of accommodation to those going on a research trip. I wish that we had arranged to meet up with more employers whilst we were there, although I know that sometimes this is not always possible.

“On this second trip we found that the price of houses had risen by about $200,000 for an average 4 bedroom house. Although we still wanted to move to Canada we were having second thoughts about Calgary.”

Muchmor asked what the family had learnt from their trips.

“We decided,” says Jayne, “that we still wanted to live in Canada, but were not sure which province. Although Calgary is a lovely city the cost of housing is quite high. We did like Oshawa in the GTA, the cost of housing is reasonable (a large 4 bedroom house, over 3,200 sq ft, is about $350,000). I also have relatives there so this would help with the settling in process.”

Since returning from Calgary Robert received a job offer from a company in British Columbia, so this is now where they are located.

“We had never even considered this province (not sure why). We love it here, the people are very friendly and the views are breathtaking. The house prices are quite high so once we get permanent residency (PR) we

Ottawa, Ontario might decide to move over to the Toronto area, unless Robert can get a better paid job here.

“The only downside of our being here is that our eldest son was unable to travel with us. He is not classed as a dependent so he will come over once we get PR. It was a really hard decision to leave him back in the UK but we know that he will join us soon. It also gives him time to try and find work in his chosen field.”

Jayne ads a word of caution for anyone thinking of moving to canada under the provincial nominee route.

“Please make sure that the company you are dealing with are reputable and tell you exactly what the costs will be. Some of these companies are only in this to make money, they do not always use good employers and sometimes, as in Robert's case, get a portion of what the workers he has recruited are paid. Robert's employer is also paying below the average for his trade.

“I don’t want to put off anyone who has a job offer, but I do want people to know that there are unscrupulous employers and agencies here the same as in the UK. Please be careful and read everything before you sign any papers.”

Simon and his family, originally from the UK, have also benefited from research trips and he is now located in DeWinton in Alberta on a two year temporary work permit.

Simon’s first trip to the area was with his wife and children. “We stayed in a hotel during this trip mainly for comfort reasons and we managed to travel several thousand kilometres during the ten days we were there.” says Simon. “We set out to research employment opportunities for myself as well as schools for the children. We also took into account hospital access, weather and which area suited us best overall.”

The second research trip was a solo event for Simon and his main aim was to secure employment which he managed to do.

During this trip Simon stayed in the home of a British family as this was more convenient and cost less than a hotel.

So, did Simon and his family benefit from the research trips?

34 Moving to Canada Simon says, “The trips were essential. The application for permanent residency. This area, but did not love it, so on our second first, more family oriented trip allowed me to year the couple once again found themselves trip we stayed in Guelph, and explored other gauge viability for my family moving here; the in Canada and this time traveled to Ontario. areas as well. On this trip we decided that second was important for securing “We landed in Ottawa,” says Sofie, “and Southwestern Ontario wasn’t for us after all.” employment, permit and housing. I achieved spent the first few days exploring the area, The couple visited Canada for a third time my goals with the trip - to obtain work and a we then traveled across the province visiting in April of 2007, having just received their work permit, I will be applying for permanent many places including Bancroft, Brockville, residency visa. This time they visited the residency now though work and Arranged Oshawa and Toronto. We eventually ended Kingston area of Ontario.

Employment as a skilled worker. This was up in London and really loved the area. It has Straight away the area felt right,” says always my plan after examining all possible the sort of lifestyle we are looking for with an Chris,”We immediately felt at home and routes for my entry to Canada. energetic city life, but surrounded by lovely spent the two week trip looking for houses We also spoke to Sofie and her husband countryside and close to the lakes.’ and eventually found one which we made an Philipp who are currently living in their native The couple have now decided that offer on and was accepted. We left Canada Germany. The couple applied for permanent London is the place for them and they are with a house purchased, a vehicle secured residency in late 2007, but had made two hoping to fit in another research trip before and many contacts for things such as research trips before deciding to apply. they come over for good. “We want to visit insurance, lawyers, hotels, house inspectors “We had thought about emigrating to again as we only had a few days there etc. We moved to Canada for good in June Canada for some time,” says Sofie, “so we before. We need to research work 2007. decided to visit the country in the summer of opportunities more and find the ideal place to “The research trips were excellent for us add up fast for a family of six even if as youwe were can sleep to 6 properties goes a grand Andrea 2006. We traveled toby Nova Scotia Lamond as we liked live.” says Sofie. able up to see in total the of do buy some at the local grocery $864.28 for agauge 3 nights stay ($285/ night the idea of living near the sea.”

“Our research trips havesnacks been invaluable different areas and the type of lifestyle store.

If you’re staying in a big city plus tax).

It’s got a full kitchen, living The couple actually explored New to us and I would definitely recommend on offer at each location.

By ruling out Does the thought of staying in a Brunswick and Prince Edwardhotel Island during to move sometimes abroad to do areastwo we bathrooms, were then able to redowntown, justthem. finding a certainroom, and the apartment cramped room with youranyone entire looking the trip. “We looked at possible places to Even though we had set our sights on Nova concentrate ouroffers efforts on other places.

We grocery store can be a difficult task. complex a swimming pool, family (husband and 4 kids) make you live, work opportunities for both of us as well Scotia, once thereThat’s we felt it just wasn’t thetaking are verywhirlpool happy where we are andHotel haverooms since when I suggested at and fitness room. twice about traveling? A friend of as schools. Althoughthink we don’t have children place for us. I would hated to have moved visited London and Guelph again only to look at vacation rentals instead. You can at $300 per night would end up costing mine is in looking to go so to Vancouver at the moment, we hope to the future there for anda purchased a house and then confirm our decision that we are in the right rent an entire house for practically the $1200 plus tax and most likely wouldn’t fewthis daystoo.” to visit herSofie. working husband. we need to account for says realized that it was wrong.” says Philipp. place here in Kingston.” same or less that those hotel rooms.

On have aresearch kitchen or living room.

He is currentlysummer living with three guys in ahave allowed us to not only come On a second trip the following “Our trips Although trips can be expensive OwnerDirect.com for example, an 1,100 For larger groups or families, worth they visited British Columbia instead.

They to cut tocosts the conclusion that London is the place for and time consuming they are certainly one bedroom apartment square foot bedroom den house vacation rentalssure offeryou so much stayed at a hotel in Vancouver thehis first us,guys but they us to2 rule manyplus places theineffort.

Just make have more a set than of while awayfor from family. The all allowed few days whilst they live explored the area and and are out,just which as productive.” goals before the trip andcan. make sureisyou Coquitlam, only 15 minutes from small hotel rooms There also the in small rural towns in is just then spend a few days on Vancouver Island.

Wendy and Chris from the UK also visited achieve them. If a certain area is not for you, Vancouver to make some money to send Vancouver’s downtown is going for $210 possibility that owners will offer discounts “We totally loved Vancouver Island, but London on their “We decided explorefor further afield - the next town city perresearch night andtrips. can sleep 6. It has a full children under a certain age. or Thanks home. Six to eight months of hard work found it quite expensive. We would have had whilst still in the UK that London was for us,” along might be just the place you are looking kitchen, living room, laundry, large deck to the Internet, the travel industry is can keep their we families going says for awhile to pay more for the type of house wanted Wendy. “We had no basis for this just for. If one area or province doesn’t feel right, and a yard for the kids to play in too.

A competitive which means better value butplanned.” the kids need see theirresearch dad than we had originally saysto Philipp, from the internet etc. Our first trip to try to plan another trip to another location. much more comfortable solution to and lower prices be found if you occasionally “Also there didn’t seem to be thetoo. work the area was very productive and we Remember, Canada is acan huge country and staying in cramped hotel rooms. know where to look. available in the field I needed.” managed to visit many of the nearby areas there is somewhere for everyone - eventually!

If they wanted to be to right downtown These findings did not“There’s put the just couple off to relax too. We at many houses see no room withalso looked and soon after returning they filed their the types of property available.

We liked the Vancouver, a 2 bedroom apartment that everyone in one hotel room,” my friend

28 Moving to Canada

A remedy for the hotel room cramps – traveling with 4 kids

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Being in the travel industry I have to agree. It’s difficult enough to find a hotel room that can sleep six so my friend would most likely have to find two rooms side by side, thereby doubling the price.

With an average nights stay running $189 per night for an economy twin room, that’s $378 for her family per night.

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Moving to Canada 35

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36 Moving to Canada

New Canadian Experience Class Unveiled On August 12th Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley announced details of a new route into Canada for foreign workers and students.

The Canadian immigration system is undergoing some radical changes at present, some good, some not so good depending on your circumstances.

Last year Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced proposals to implement a new class of immigration relating to Canadian experience gained by foreign workers and students. Until now the details of this new scheme have been shrouded in mystery, but in August Minister Finley finally put some substance to the rumors.

The new route will be called the “Canadian Experience Class” and will allow certain temporary foreign workers and foreign students to apply for permanent residence using their Canadian experience as a key selection factor. Currently there is no route into Canada that allows for such experience to be taken into account.

The Canadian government realizes that many people who come to Canada on a temporary work permit are filling skills gaps in the local market. The companies they work for are investing time and money into training these workers, but when their visa ends and they leave the country their skills are lost and the investment gone.

The time that the foreign worker spends in Canada makes them an ideal candidate for permanent residency, but until now no route existed to take this into account.

Likewise students who study in Canada are more likely to obtain a Canadian postsecondary educational credit and therefore their prospects of gaining employment in the country are increased.

The Canadian Experience Class would allow Canada to retain workers and students already in the country. In turn those workers and students are more likely to choose Canada if they know that their hard work would be acknowledged and that they would be allowed to apply for residency based on their experience.

Another benefit of the scheme is that the types of skills seen in foreign workers is more diverse than those coming through the skilled worker route. The skilled worker program is very restrictive as far as

education and skills but foreign workers come in all skill sets.

“The Canadian Experience Class is one more measure this government is proposing to make our immigration system more attractive and accessible to individuals with diverse skills from around the world, and more responsive to Canada’s labour market needs,” said Minister Finley. “This new proposed avenue for immigration would also go further to spread the benefits of immigration into smaller centres across Canada.

“Choosing newcomers based on knowledge of our labour market and experience within Canadian society would make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world.

International students and skilled workers would be more likely to choose Canada if they knew their time in Canada and contribution to Canadian society would assist in their eligibility to apply to stay permanently.”

experience would need to demonstrate basic English or French language skills.

Moderate language skills means the applicant can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations. Basic language skills means the applicant can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty.

Non qualification: If an applicant does not have the relevant work experience in the required NOC categories, does not have at least two years Canadian work experience, cannot demonstrate the required language skills or does not have temporary resident status in canada at the time of their application they will not qualify.

Requirements for foreign graduates Foreign graduates would need to meet the

following criteria: • temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application; successful completion of a program of • Requirements for foreign workers study of at least two academic years*; • one year of skilled, professional or Temporary foreign workers would need to technical work experience demonstrate the following: • moderate or basic language skills, • temporary resident status in Canada at depending on occupational skill level. the time of their application; * Note: an academic year means eight • two years of skilled, professional months of study. experience The system would not be based on • moderate or basic language skills, points, but simply on whether they meet the depending on occupational skill level. minimum requirements. If they do meet the The system would not be based on points, requirement then they are eligible, if not but simply on whether they meet the they fail. minimum requirements. If they do meet the Education: The applicant must be a requirement then they are eligible, if not graduate of a Canadian public postthey fail. secondary educational institution, such as Work experience: Applicants would be an accredited college or a university or a require to achieve at least two years work Canadian private institution authorized by experience at Skill Type 0 (managerial) or provincial law to grant degrees.

Skill Levels A or B (professional, technical or The applicant would have to graduate trades) on the Canadian National from a program of study lasting at least two Occupational Classification (NOC). years or in the case of a one-year master’s Language skills: Anyone applying using or certificate program, previous education experience of Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A prior to admission into the one-year would need to demonstrate moderate program must have been completed in language skills in either English or French.

Canada for a total of two years of Canadian Those applying using Skill Level B post-secondary education.

Moving to Canada 37 Work experience: Applicants would need to accumulate at least one full year of work experience at Skill Type 0 (managerial) or Skill Levels A or B (professional, technical or trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC).

For graduates to meet the requirement for work experience, they could apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit after graduation. These work permits may be valid for up to three years with no restrictions on the location or the type of work they can do.

To ensure that they are eligible to stay permanently under the Canadian Experience Class, at least one year of work experience under the three-year permit would need to be at Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B under the NOC. The work experience would need to be obtained within two years of the application.

Language skills: Anyone applying using experience of Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A would need to demonstrate moderate language skills in either English or French.

Those applying using Skill Level B experience would need to demonstrate basic English or French language skills.

Moderate language skills means the applicant can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations. Basic language skills means the applicant can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty.

Non qualification: If an applicant does not have the relevant work experience in the

required NOC categories, does not have at least one year Canadian work experience, cannot demonstrate the required language skills, has not accumulated two years of study to the required level or does not have temporary resident status in canada at the time of their application they will not qualify.

Canada they will require fewer settlement services than current immigrants.

Graduates will have canadian credentials removing the need for foreign credential recognition.

Applicants will tend to be dispersed more widely and not be concentrated in areas such as Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

This will better meet regional labour market How to apply needs.

Immigrant outcomes are improved by The applicant must have temporary resident selecting those best positioned for status in Canada at the time of applying for successful labour market integration. the Canadian Experience Class. The Evidence shows that immigrants with application must be mailed to the Buffalo, Canadian study and/or work experience and USA* visa office. If the applicant is accepted, who have good language skills integrate into their residency can be granted at a local CIC the Canadian labour market more visa office or the closest border crossing. successfully than immigrants without such *The Buffalo visa office is dedicated to characteristics. processing temporary residents who have been in Canada for at least one year.

Implementation Once the scheme is finalized the application forms will be available via the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website Consultation will take place over the coming at: http://www.cic.gc.ca. weeks and months and the new Canadian Experience Class is expected to be finalized during the fall of 2008.

Benefits to Canada Muchmor Canada will announce any developments regarding this program on its At a time when the global need for skilled website and in future issues of Muchmor workers is growing, Canada needs to evolve Canada. its immigration program to ensure Canada remains a destination of choice for immigrants.

Because the people applying through the Experience Class are already established in

38 Moving to Canada

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Moving to Canada 39

Provincial Nominee News Saskatchewan adds hospitality workers to nominee program In August the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) introduced a new sector to its program called the Hospitality Sector Project. This allows certain people who are currently working in Saskatchewan on a temporary foreign worker permit to apply to SINP for permanent residency.

The Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association and the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association both identified acute labour shortages in certain occupation groups prompting this change to the SINP. In order to qualify applicants need to have been working in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six months on a temporary work permit. They must have at least grade 12 education or equivalent as well as be proficient in the English language.

Potential applicants need to be working in one of the following fields: Food/Beverage Server (NOC 6453); Food Counter Attendant/Kitchen Helper (NOC 6641); or Housekeeping/Cleaning Staff (NOC 6661). NOC or National Occupation Classification can be found at the following website. http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOCCNP/app/index.aspx. By inserting the relevant four digit NOC you will see a list of example job titles, main duties and employment requirements that need to be met in order to qualify under that classification.

Full details of this new category can be found at http:// www.immigration.gov.sk.ca/hospitality.

Newfoundland and Labrador launch International Graduate category The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program has announced a new International Graduate category. This will allow students who graduate form recognized Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary education institution to apply for permanent residence in the province.

In order to be considered the applicant must have graduated within the last two years from a full-time study program of at least two years in Newfoundland and Labrador. They must have received a certificate, diploma, or degree from a recognized Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary institution.

The graduate must have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer in their field of study or one that is related to their field of study. An alternative is to have a proven attachment to the labour market for at least six months with a reasonable expectation of future employment.

They must have a valid post graduate work permit, have the skills and training required for the role and have sufficient funds to allow them to settle successfully in the province. Proven English or French language skills are also required.

Full details of this new category can be found on this website: http://www.nlpnp.ca/internationalgraduate.html.

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Alberta Provincial Nominee Program changes its name The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program recently changed its name to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and has relaunched its website to reflect these changes.

The program has several streams including Employer Driven, Family and Self-Employed Farmer. Full details can be found at http://www.albertacanada.com/anip.

Other Provincial Nominee Programs can be found by clicking on the links below: British Columbia Manitoba Ontario New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Yukon Quebec has its own immigration process. Details of which can be found using this link.

40 Moving to Canada

Immigration changes - results expected soon As the Canadian immigration system continues to change we await the results of the recent consultations with provinces and territories regarding the types of skilled workers required and therefore fast-tracked through the system.

As we reported last month Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) are in the process of making sweeping changes to the way in which permanent residence applications are handled. Some applicants will find themselves fast-tracked whilst others may be refused altogether or put on the back-burner.

Over the last few weeks the CIC has been meeting with relevant parties at various locations throughout Canada to ascertain their requirements for skilled workers. Once the meetings have been concluded a roundtable will take place to finalize the categories of occupations required.

It is expected that Citizenship and Immigration minister Diane Finley will present her recommendations to cabinet once the House of Commons resumes sessions in mid September.

"These consultations have been pursued very aggressively since the bill was passed at the end of June and it's almost unheard of that we would have made this much progress before September," Finley said.

Once this happens and the recommendations approved a full list of occupations in demand will be published.

The consultations will determine the short,

medium and long term labour shortages across Canada from which a priority list will be established.

These changes will effect applications received after 27th February 2008. All applications received before this date will be processed under the existing immigration procedures on a first-come, first-served basis.

Expired visa means another 3-year wait

By Guidy Mamann Q: I successfully applied as a skilled worker without a lawyer.

I booked my flight to Canada for two days prior to the expiry of my permanent immigration visa.

Unfortunately, I got sick just before my departure and was unable to travel.

I took the flight a week after the expiry of my permanent residence visa and after I had begun to feel better.

However, when I arrived in Canada my immigration was canceled in spite of all the documentation I had concerning my health problem.

I was told to contact the visa post. When I called, they told me there is not much that can be done and that I would have to apply for permanent residency again. What can I do now? Is there any possible way to get the visa extended? I have documentation of my tickets and the hospital.

A: You applied legally, waited patiently for about three years, and met all of our criteria for permanent residence.

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Although you have done nothing wrong, except perhaps to have gotten sick near the time you planned to immigrate to Canada, our immigration laws are nonetheless quite rigid in these circumstances.

Why? I'm not sure.

The immigration department's manual is pretty clear. “A person who presents an expired or cancelled permanent resident visa cannot be authorized to enter Canada as a permanent resident.”

Period!

Not only that, it is likely that you will end up with a removal order because you appeared at a Canadian port-of-entry seeking to establish yourself here as a permanent resident without having a valid permanent resident visa in hand.

As for the possibility of extending your visa, this is what the manual has to say.

“The validity of a permanent resident visa may not be extended. Nor can replacement visas be issued with a new validity date. If foreign nationals do not use their visas, they must make a new application for a permanent residence visa. They must also pay a new application processing fee. If they have paid a right of permanent resident fee, they do not need to pay it again.”

An exception is made for those who, for reasons beyond their control, receive visas that are valid for less than two months. If they cannot travel before their visas expire, officers can re-issue medical instructions etc. and a new visa will be issued when the requirement has been met again.

This however, doesn’t seem to apply to you.

Normally, a foreign national who holds a permanent resident visa and against whom a removal order has been made can appeal to the Immigration and Refugee Board.

However, there is case law which strongly suggests that the Board would not have jurisdiction to hear your appeal since you are not a holder of a permanent resident visa since yours had expired.

Had you sought the advice of a lawyer earlier you might have been advised not to cut your departure so close to your visa expiry date. Having done so, you would have been strongly urged to get on the plane if at all possible.

Now, your most likely chance for success would be to simply start again and wait another three years or so.

Sad, isn’t it?

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.

T: 185 mm

Moving to Canada 41

ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER. SLOW DOWN YOUR LIFE.

In Ontario, we value a healthy balance between business and p le a s u re. H e re, yo u c a n b uil d you r c a re e r while e nj oyin g a hi g hl y satisf ying and rela xed lifest yle. Our spirit of innovation and qualit y o f l i f e a t t r a c t s p r o f e s s i o n a l s f r o m a r o u n d t h e wo r l d , f o r a w i d e variety of industries. As a result, we have a diverse, multicultural society that will make you feel right at home. When it comes to recreation and leisure, Ontario’s options are second to none. We have over 250,000 lakes for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming; hundreds of golf courses; ski hills ; world- clas s theatre a nd more. T he re’s no bet te r place in the world to work – and play.

bis@ontario.ca 2ontario.com /balance

T: 265 mm

Paid for by the Government of Ontario.

42 Health & Wellness

Just how long should we wait for breast cancer treatment?

Health & Wellness 43 Canadian women are waiting far too long for breast cancer treatment in many areas a recent study concludes.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) released a report which looked at the wait times for treatments during different stages of breast cancer. Although some provinces could not supply the information as they do not record wait times the remaining results are still very worrying.

Without exception all women who suspect something is wrong need timely and compassionate treatment. Early diagnosis is vital to catch tumors before they become inoperable. So what is a reasonable wait time?

In 2005 a benchmark was set across Canadian provinces and territories (excluding Quebec) of four weeks to treat cancer patients with radiation therapy. This applies to routine cases with emergency cases being treated as soon s possible. Breast screening for women between the ages of 50 and 69 was set to every two years.

There are no benchmarks for surgery wait times but some provinces have their own targets such as Ontario which depending on the stage of cancer targets a maximum 12 week wait. There are also no benchmarks for chemotherapy treatment.

Alberta The Alberta Cancer Board verifies that access to mammography in urgent cases is immediate whilst non-urgent cases usually wait 1-2 weeks.

From diagnosis to surgery the average patient waits 1-2 working days. Emergency patients are seen immediately.

Radiation treatment is only available in either Edmonton or Calgary and the wait time from referral is 3 weeks in Edmonton and 6 weeks in Calgary. There is then a wait of another week at both locations to start radiation. This brings the total wait time to 4 weeks in Edmonton and 7 weeks in Calgary.

The wait times from referral to chemotherapy treatment is a total of 3 weeks in Edmonton and 4 weeks in Calgary.

British Columbia Women in B.C. wait an average of 4.1 weeks from abnormal screen to diagnosis. Women seen under the Fast Track system are diagnosed in 2.9 weeks.

The time between diagnosis and surgery was 28 days with 90% receiving treatment within 64 days (9 weeks).

The most recent figures for radiation treatment are from 2006/7 with a median wait of 6 days. During the same period women requiring chemotherapy received treatment within 2 weeks of being able to receive it with the median wait time being just 3 days.

Manitoba Manitoban women wait a median time of 6.86 weeks for diagnosis and 3 weeks for radiation treatment. Statistics for surgery and chemotherapy wait times are not available.

New Brunswick The most recent figures relating to wait times between screening and diagnosis date back to 2002. During this time nearly 50% of women were diagnosed within 3 weeks.

The wait from diagnosis to surgery was less than 3 months in 86.7% of cases and the wait time for radiation was within 4 weeks for 93.3% of patients. Chemotherapy wait times were not available.

Nova Scotia The median wait time for biopsy is under 30 days and the average wait for surgery was under 30 days for 77% of patients. 100% of surgery was performed within 180 days.

Figures for radiation and chemotherapy treatments were not available for breast cancer alone.

Ontario The Ontario Breast Screening Program reports median a wait time of 4.7 weeks between screening and diagnosis.

The province has a target of 12 weeks for all breast cancer surgery and currently 90% of patients are operated on within 5.6 weeks (39 days).

From the time the patient is ready to start radiation to actual treatment is 2 weeks for 45.2% of cases.

The median wait time for chemotherapy treatment is 5.6 weeks with the majority having started treatment within 7.25 weeks.

Quebec The median wait time between screening and diagnosis is 3.9 weeks whilst 75% of women requiring surgery receive it in 4 weeks or less.

There are no wait time records for chemotherapy but 90% of radiation patients receive their treatment within 4 weeks.

Saskatchewan Health Quality Council (HQC) reported waits of 4.4 weeks from screening to diagnosis for 2006 - the most recent figures.

70% of surgeries were completed within 3 weeks and 96% within 6 weeks.

The wait times reported by the HQC for radiation therapy was a median of 13 weeks.

Whilst the Saskatchewan Health data median was 2.9 weeks in Regina and 5.1 weeks in Saskatoon.

44 Health & Wellness

Prince Edward Island

Nunavut

There is no current information available for

There are no breast cancer treatments

Prince Edward Island regarding waiting time between screening and diagnosis, surgery or chemotherapy. However the wait time for radiation therapy in 2006 was a median of 7.5 days and an average of 10.7 days.

available within Nunavut and all patients are referred to other territories or provinces.

In the future a mammography machine will be available for diagnostic screening at Qikiqtani General Hospital.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Northwest Territories

Again no data was available for anything

The average wait time from screening to

other than radiation therapy wait times.

Between January and March 2007 95% of cases started therapy within 4.3 weeks (30 days).

Yukon

diagnosis is 3.3 weeks or 23 days. The average wait time to biopsy is 1.7 weeks (12 days).

Surgery and radiation treatments are referred to Edmonton, Alberta and chemotherapy to Yellowknife, Yukon.

The wait time in the Yukon Territories for a

Results

diagnostic mammography is 2-3 days with the maximum time being 1 week. The wait time for a screening mammography is approximately 5 months.

The wait time for surgery performed within the territory is less than 6 weeks.

However many surgeries are transferred out of territory and wait times are then dependent upon the referred province.

All radiation therapy is performed in either Alberta or British Columbia.

Chemotherapy is performed within the Yukon however 50% of patients begin their therapy in either Alberta or B.C. following surgery. For those treated in the Yukon treatment is started immediately.

Most of the jurisdictions who reported data had acceptable wait times for screening to diagnosis.

Albert is ahead of the other provinces and territories when it comes to surgery wait times. Patients in Alberta waited an average of 1-2 days for surgery whilst other provinces and territories varied widely and due to reporting data discrepancies difficult to compare.

The national benchmark of four weeks for radiation treatment is met in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

The shortest wait times for chemotherapy are in British Columbia followed by Regina, Saskatchewan.

The report concluded that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women living with breast cancer are generally best served in British Columbia (most treatments), Quebec (most treatments), Prince Edward Island (most treatments) and Edmonton, Alberta (radiation and chemotherapy).â&#x20AC;?

These findings are consistent with other studies which found British Columbia to have the best cancer outcomes and lowest mortality in Canada.

Concerns It is obvious from this data that many jurisdictions simply do not have adequate reporting systems in place to monitor wait times for breast cancer treatment. It is also obvious that no national systems are in place.

Another finding of the study was that many new drugs take up to five years to become listed with provincial or territorial formulary to be fully or partially reimbursed by health care programs. Drug coverage varies widely between jurisdictions resulting in some women having access to them whilst others do not.

Canada still does not have an electronic health record scheme. Although some individual hospitals and practices do have electronic records there are no consolidated provincial or territorial lists which could help the referral program.

Health & Wellness 45

Mammograms do save lives!

By Stella Barron I specialized in mammography for 25 years.

This exam is possibly the most hated by women. Unfortunately, it's all we have for now. It's the only exam that will detect early stage breast cancer. Many patients experience pain and discomfort from the compression of the breast, but firm compression is most important.

The purposes of firm compression are to stabilize and separate the breast tissue to see it more clearly. It also thins the breast, resulting in a lower dose of radiation. I went to a seminar, and they presented two exams on the same patient. One with light compression, and one with firm compression. The light one was read as normal, but the firm one clearly showed a cancerous area. Scary!!

Another reason for firm compression is to minimize motion. Think of a photograph with something moving during the picture. What happens? You guessed it! Blurring occurs causing loss of detail. This is why X-Ray techs say "hold your breath!"

A routine mammogram consists of 4 images, 2 views of each breast. This is necessary to localize a suspicious area.

Extremely large breasted women require more images because their breasts are too large for the film! Breast implant patients require 8 images. The first 4 images are the standard views, mostly to see the axillary (armpit) area and the overall condition of the implant itself. The other 4 images are referred to as 'push back' views. The implant is 'pushed back' and only the breast tissue is compressed and imaged.

You should get your first (screening) Mammogram at age 40*. Your 'risk factors' determine how often you should have one. It

is important to make prior mammograms available for the Radiologist to compare the images. He can detect changes in the tissue and respond more accurately. You might have a 'suspicious' area that would result in a 'call back' for additional views, but if a prior Mammogram showed the same thing and it is unchanged, then you would not have to get the additional views.

Risk factors are: 1) Family history of breast cancer 2) Early menses (started your period before age 12) 3) Late menopause 4) Hormone replacement therapy 5) Long term use of birth control pills

The environment and a poor diet have also been linked to breast cancer. You should eat a Healthy Diet to help lower your breast cancer risk. Sadly, we can't avoid the environment!

If you are in the normal risk factor range, you should get your first Mammogram at age 40*. Follow up every 2 years until you are 50. After that, once a year is the standard for all women.

Your risk factor is even higher if your mother, maternal aunt, sister or grandmother had Premenopausal (younger than age 50) Breast cancer. This is a more aggressive form due to hormones accelerating its' growth.

In this case I would recommend your first Mammogram at age 35 and have yearly followups.

Before you have your mammogram, make sure the facility and the Radiologist are Accredited! You will Contact info@muchmormedia.com receive the best quality or telephone 1-613-396-5531 because they have to follow strict guidelines on

Put your ad in front of 50,000 people for as little as $199 per month for quarter page advert

a daily basis.

If you have tender breasts, try cutting back on caffeine and take a daily dose of Vitamin E. This has been proven to decrease sensitivity in your breast.

Please get a Mammogram! Your loved ones will appreciate it!

About the Author: I am a 46 y/o single mom of two wonderful boys. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with MS and had to end my cherished career in the Radiology profession. My boys have been my greatest inspiration to keep fighting! Visit my home page www.stellagothergroove.com hit the DIET link for a healthy diet! *Different jurisdictions will have different recommendations for mammograms.Check yours to see when you should start mammograms.

46 Home & Garden

Preparing your garden for fall With summer coming to an end now is the time to start preparing your garden for winter

We know you have only just got used to it being summer, but unfortunately we must start looking ahead to the fall. It is during the fall that you need to prepare your garden for our Canadian winters and make sure you will have a garden to look forward to next year.

One of the first and most rewarding things to do its to dig up your annuals.

Annuals will not grow again next year, so will need removing once flowering has finished.

Flowers such as marigolds and petunias are annuals. Once these are removed you will be able to see the space available to plant other things such as shrubs or fall plants. A good option at this time of year is to plant some chrysanthemums.These beautiful plants will add colour to your garden through the fall right up to the first frosts.

After this time you will need to remove these too.

Shrubs can be planted during the summer and fall and depending upon the type will add colour to your garden through the winter and will start to bloom again as soon as the weather warms up in the spring.

If you like the idea of attracting butterflies, how about adding a butterfly bush or two.

These shrubs will grow year after year, getting larger and fuller each time and adding some great colour to the garden.

They need little attention, so are ideal for the novice.

Bulbs can also be planted during the fall ready for a spring and summer bloom next

year. Remember to plant the bulbs later as if you plant them too early and the weather continues to be mild they may start budding which will prevent them doing so in the spring. By planting them later and deeper you will ensure that the cooler weather starts soon after and will delay budding until the spring. Daffodils, tulips and crocus can be planted and you will be rewarded with a bed of spring colours next year.

If you have some shrubs that you want to take cuttings from then this is the time to do it. However, the cuttings need to be kept in a warm environment until next year when you can plant them. If you want to collect seeds from plants then do so now and keep the seeds in the refrigerator. In late winter or early spring you can sow the seeds in pots ready to be planted out in spring.

Perennials are plants that grow year after year, so now is the time to take a look at these and decide if they are in the right spot or perhaps need thinning out. You can divide perennials simply by digging up the entire root ball and dividing into two or three sections and then replanting in a new location. Similarly if a perennial has grown too large for an area but would suit another location now is the time to move it and get it settled ready for the winter.

Protecting plants through the winter is another thing to think about now. Depending on where you live and the type of winter experienced you may need to buy some

mulch which can be placed all over your flower beds and round the bases of trees and shrubs. The mulch will protect the plant roots and help keep then warm, dry and healthy through the winter months. You can also use this as an opportunity to use the compost you have been collecting. Rake it into the mulch to add nutrients to the soil.

Small shrubs and trees may need covering during really cold weather to protect them from the ice and snow. Cover them with burlap or a similar material to protect them from the ice and winter sun.

This task can be left until the very end of fall to ensure you see the beauty of the shrub or tree before covering it for its winter â&#x20AC;&#x153;hibernationâ&#x20AC;?.

Your lawn will need extra care too. The fall is an ideal time to put down some grass seeds if needed. You should also make sure you clear the lawn of fallen leaves. By covering your lawn with a thin layer of manure you will ensure a good spring growth by improving the soil conditions now.

Remember to use the leaves you rake up to mulch your flower beds.

Although the spring may seem a long way off, by preparing your garden now, you will see the benefits in the new year. Your shrubs, plants and trees will appreciate the care you take now and will reward you with a beautiful garden next year.

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Home & Garden 47

Helen Parnell Tel: 403-932-8888 www.moving2alberta.com MLS: C3340604 City: Calgary

Price: $318,500 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

This end unit town house is 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, Tile entrance, stairs and bathrooms, "Lauzon' Red Oak pacific natural hardwood throught out, Custom linds & Kitchen curtains , Impressive Pewter & Crystal Chandelier in the 10 ft. entrance. Duo-vac vaccum system, upgraded appliances, ADT security system. The upper floor has two bedrooms with walk-in closets and ensuites, Private fenced front yard with concrete patio double attached garage and more.

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: C3337156 City: Cochrane

Price: $489,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

The main floor boasts rich hardwood flooring 9ft ceilings. The main living room has a gas fireplace to cosy up to in winter. The large master has a four-piece ensuite which included a seperate shower. The kitchen has a large island and breakfast bar, plus large eating nook to enjoy the view of green space. The main level currently has a den, which could be used, as a separate dining room and a third room, which could the 2nd main floor bedroom or office. Walkout basement with bedroom, ensuite, rec room with wet bar.

MLS: C3320549 City: Bighorn

Price: $429,000 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 1

Great mountain views,a beautiful treed lot(1.24ac.)1250 s.f. bungalow built in 1994,oak hardwood floors,vaulted ceilings,center fireplace(wood burning),large west facing windows(lots of sun,great views).3 bedrooms on the main floor 1 downstairs,small office downstairs. 1 full bathroom,updated kitchen cabinets. Basement is partially developed with a small office,and additional bedroom. Roughed in for another bathroom. Double oversize garage(26'x24')with toilet and sink. These original owners have cared for and maintained this property to perfection,a pleasure to show. Newer shingles(about 3 years)2 Storage sheds(match the house)Fenced dog enclosure. Access to the Ghost River.

48 Home & Garden

Decorate to generate profit When deciding to sell your property there are a few low-cost things you can do in order to maximize your potential profit When you decide to sell your home the last thing you are probably thinking about is spending money to re-decorate it. After all you want to save your money to spend on your new home, right - WRONG! You may not realize it but by spending a relatively small amount of money you can not only increase the value of your home and thus your profit margin but also decrease the time the property spends on the market.

When thinking of the type of things you need to do to your property in order to sell it you have to think about return on investment or ROI. Put simply this means the amount of money you spend verses the amount of money the property increases in value by. You don’t want to be spending $5,000 on something that will only bring in a return of $3,000, but if by spending $1,000 you can increase the value of your home by $2,000 then it is a worthwhile investment to make.

So what are the things that you can do to improve the value and saleability of your home?

De-clutter This is the number one trick to selling your home successfully. We all tend to collect things as we go through life: ornaments, photos, trinkets etc but we should not inflict these things on potential buyers.

When a buyer walks through a house they want to be able to picture themselves living there. They need to be able to see their furniture in your home and feel good about the place. If all they can see is your clutter then they may be unable to get past this and decide not to buy your home, even though it might be perfect for them.

Remove personalized items such as photos and things that make the home yours. Get rid of any excess furniture, ornaments, etc so that the floor is clearly

visible and buyers can move around the home easily.

Don’t be tempted to throw everything in a cupboard as buyers will probably look in those too. Instead store them tidily in the basement or hire a storage container for a short time.

If you have children you probably have toys etc dotted about the home. Always clear these away before viewings as this can be very off putting to buyers especially if they don’t have children themselves.

De-cluttering costs nothing, in fact if you sell your unwanted items in a garage sale you might even make a few dollars.

Accessories Accessorizing your home correctly can

make all the difference. We know we have already told you to de-clutter but by adding the right accessories you can bring your home to life.

Just by adding a throw or some pillows and a few vases to a room in a bold colour can immediately transform the space. In this way you can keep the main colour scheme neutral but add splashes of colour and interest with very little work and expense. Fresh flowers are always a good idea as they add beauty and fragrance to the home. However, steer clear of very Paint strong smelling flowers as you don’t want to antagonize someone who has an allergy.

This is one of the most cost-effective things Accessories can be a cheap and you can do to improve your chances of effective way to boost your homes selling selling your home, but you must do it right. potential and remember you can take Just because you like bright red walls, everything with you when you move so you doesn’t mean everyone does. By keeping are not loosing the value. paint colours neutral you give the potential new owners a clean pallet where they can Flooring easily see how they would change things to suite them.

Many people will not consider replacing or It is amazing how many people will repairing flooring as they think it will be too discard a home simply because they don’t expensive and they will not see a ROI. like the wall colours or the fact it has However, depending on what you do this wallpaper. Although this may seem silly as may not be the case. they can always change the colours later, if If you have linoleum in your kitchen or you tackle this objection before it begins bathroom consider replacing with ceramic you take one more negative out of the tiles. Tiles can be purchased relatively selling process. cheaply and will much improve the look of You don’t have to paint all your walls the floor and thus the salability of your white or cream, but avoid colours that home. Carpets in bathrooms are a complete scream out and take attention away from no-no and should be replaced. the house. Make sure the colours used in If you have carpets in your home make the different rooms compliment each other. sure they are in good repair and above all, Paint is relatively cheap to buy and you clean. You can hire carpet cleaners from will always get back more then you paid, so most DIY stores for a few bucks so make excellent ROI. sure your carpets are spotless before going on the market.

Home & Garden 49 If you have hardwood floors, are they in good order. You can have hardwood refinished and it can give a whole new life to your flooring, but it can be expensive depending on the area concerned.

Generally speaking you may not get back all your initial outlay for replacing flooring, but it will ultimately make your house more attractive to buyers and so you can estimate on getting back around 60% ROI.

If your existing bathroom suite is anything but white then you might want to consider replacing it with a white one as these are much more acceptable to buyers.

You will always get back your ROI with bathrooms and kitchens and if it is done well you can see a 150-200% increase on your investment.

Window treatments

Always make good any plumbing or

Just like flooring, window treatments can make a big difference to your home. Always have the right type of curtain or blind to accentuate the room.

If you have large open windows with great views, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t block them with heavy, dark curtains. Instead you might choose a blind or some light drapes which do not encroach on the window itself.

ROI is similar to that of flooring but you can choose to take them with you, so you may not see it as an expense.

Appliances Replacing appliances may seem a waste of time especially if you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be taking them with you. But with the growing demand for stainless steel you can increase the salability of your home considerably.

If your existing appliances are in good working order and are clean and not damaged then you will probably be better to leave as is. However if your appliances are old, rusty or damaged then it might be a good idea to replace them with stainless steel.

The ROI is usually around 100%, so you will get back what you invest.

Bathrooms and kitchens It is a well known fact that bathrooms and kitchens sell homes. If your home is perfect in every way, but has an old, scruffy kitchen or bathroom then potential buyers will see this as dollar signs. People immediately think that if a home needs a new kitchen or bathroom it will cost them many thousands of dollars and they decide not to buy. By spending some time and money yourself before you put your home on the market you can eliminate these objections.

Rather than completely replacing a kitchen, perhaps you can refinish the cabinets, giving then a fresh new look. By changing the handles and perhaps replacing the countertop you can give a whole new life to your kitchen.

Bathrooms too can be spruced up without too much expense. Make sure all grout around the tiles is clean and fresh, or replace tiles completely. Simply changing the taps on the sinks can uplift the whole area as can a new toilet seat or new mirror.

Plumbing and electrical electrical defects in the home. These fixes may be quick and easy and cheap to do for you but are sure to put off buyers if they think something is wrong. They will automatically think it will cost them a lot of money and inconvenience to repair. ROI will be at least 100%.

Exterior So far we have looked at the inside of the property, but the outside must not be forgotten either. The first thing a potential buyer sees when they arrive at your house is the outside. So curb appeal is everything.

Make sure paintwork on the exterior of the property is in good repair. Is the masonry or siding clean and free from defects? Make sure lawns are healthy and well manicured, tidy up shrubs and deadhead any flowers.

Make sure all steps and handrails etc are safe and secure.

If you have a deck make sure it is painted or varnished and looks clean and tidy. You must also make sure there are no loose boards or rails.

Pools and hot tubs must be spotlessly clean and free from any debris such as leaves and insects.

If you are selling your home during the winter months you might want to take a photo of your garden in all its glory during the summer so you can leave this out to show potential buyers how it looks without snow cover!

Conclusion There are many inexpensive and quick things you can do to improve the salability of your home. If you only have a few hundred dollars to allocate then you should at least declutter, paint and make sure the exterior is looking good. If you have a few thousand to spend then include bathroom and kitchen makeovers.

Anyone can improve the look and feel of their home and take advice from your Realtor who will guide you as to what they feel needs improving the most. You can also employ the services of a home stager to make things even easier. Get references and quotes from several before committing.

By spending a few thousand dollars before your home is marketed you can reap the rewards once it is sold.

50 Home & Garden

Donna McNeil Tel: 1-902-222-4937 Email: donnamcneil@exitmetro.ca

MLS: 00363259 Price: $184,900 Province: Nova Scotia City: Lower Sackville Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Bright and spacious split entry in great family neighborhood within walking distance to all levels of schools, sports stadium, First Lake Beach, Metropolitan Field and more. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and an eat-in kitchen. Large 12 x 18 deck with private backyard backing on parkland (Second Lake), situated on a beautiful extra large lot and on a bus route make this the perfect home for you and your family.

MLS: 41223892 City: Beaver Bank

Price: $239,900 Province: Nova Scotia Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1

Quality built three bedroom bungalow in a newly developed area of Beaverbank. This home features 3 good sized bedrooms, a large country kitchen with high end kitchen cabinets. New Home warranty and a quality builder will make this a smart transaction for the new buyer. Come see the model home already constructed and ready for possession.

MLS: 41081704 City: Seaforth

Price: $324,900 Province: Nova Scotia Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

Stunning ocean views! This beautiful lakefront bungalow with ocean views and beach access is ready to move in. This model home is located in Samoset Subdivision. The home features lake frontage on Leslie Pond and ocean access to the private sandy beach. Also features 3 bedrooms, attached two-car garage, and a bonus room above the garage that would make a great home office, den, or fourth bedroom. The cathedral ceilings and gorgeous curb appeal will surely impress! The convenience of one-level living with a full walkout basement with 9 foot ceilings for future expansion. Enjoy the beach access and large 2.38 acre lot.

MLS: 40412850B Price: $249,000 Province: Nova Scotia City: Beaver Bank Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Here is a great looking home with attractive rooflines. Large Master Bedroom with well appointed ensuite and a custom built walk-in closet that is sure to impress. This house will be fully finished and well appointed with top quality finishes. The sunny daylight basement will offer hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of natural sunlight. City water & sewer, Oil Heat and upgraded trim package will make this a smart investment for years to come. This home can also be built in Fall River, Wellington & 3 different areas of Beaver Bank (Pricing can vary).

MLS: 41223926 Price: $263,500 Province: Nova Scotia City: Beaver Bank Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1 Quality built bungalow in a newly developed area of Beaver Bank.

www.donnamcneilatexit.ca

Home & Garden 51

Considering a condo?

What you should know before buying

By Stef Lukas - Lukas Group Realty, Calgary Condominiums are a great alternative to home ownership. If you're looking to buy your first home, or want to downsize, chances you are considering buying a condominium. There are a few things that you should know first before signing on the dotted line.

It's often said that buying a condominium is buying a lifestyle. What does that Mean?

Condominium living is different from owning or renting a detached house because condominiums have a dual nature.

Condominium owners hold title to their units and share responsibility for the operating costs of the balance of the property (common elements such as lobbies) that makes up the condominium (or Strata Property as known in BC).

There are many advantages to condominium ownership. It may be less expensive than other types of home ownership. It can provide an "instant" sense of community. While someone else is shovelling the snow, you could be enjoying a swim in the shared warm water swimming pool.

However, condominiums are not everyone's cup of tea. Condominium corporation (or Strata Corporation) may set restrictions on things such as owning pets or having an outdoor barbeque.

How is the condominium managed?

A Board of Directors (or Strata Councils), elected by the owners, manages the condominium association (or Strata corporation). Major decisions are voted on at owners' general meetings. Participation in community decision-making is a benefit of condominium living.

Conditions and Restrictions Condominiums are governed by a set of rules called Covenants, which are enforced by the condominium association.

Condominium Conditions are enforced by the condominium association. Condominium Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) vary from one development to another. The CC&Rs may impose restrictions on noise

levels, renovation projects, pet ownership and renting.

As a potential condominium owner, you should be comfortable living within the rules and restrictions of the condominium association and living in close proximity to others.

Condo Fees (or Strata Fees) The condo or owners association budgets and determines the fees for all units, usually based on the size of each unit, the number of units occupied and the projected expenses for maintenance and repair.

Every condo owner pays fees to help maintain the building, pay the salaries of concierges, handymen or groundskeepers, and provide facilities such as a pool, gym or gardens. The fees are paid monthly and are subject to change.

Special assessments could be made when an unexpected repair or planned modification exceeds the cost of the condo fees collected.

Questions to ask!

It's absolutely critical that you read and understand the documents given to you when you are purchasing a condo. The association is required to give you all documents affecting the use of your property. These documents will tell you absolutely everything you need to know, what you can do and what you cannot do. If you don't have a clear understanding of the information provided in the documents, ask for clarification so that you know what you are getting into.

Request copies of minutes from the past two years from the Board of Director's meetings. If there are any major problems with the condominium association, this is where you'll find it. The association is required to have regular meetings and make the minutes available. Be absolutely sure to do this so that you are aware of any major problems with the bureaucracy of the condominium association that would make living in the condo undesirable.

Ask owners for comments or complaints about the association's (or council's) activities and reputation. Find out if there any plans to add to the facilities, such as a swimming pool or gym? Such projects can mean a rise in fees. The minutes of the

condo association meetings should reveal any such plans.

Be aware of the marketing hype If you are thinking of buying a preconstruction condominium unit, be aware of the marketing hype, and bear in mind you are buying a "Fish in the Water". You may be surprised to learn that the beautiful rooms you saw in the model suites are not necessarily like the ones you'll live in once your building is complete.

The den on your floor plans may become a walk-in closet by the time you move in.

And the fantastic view you see in the building model, may soon get distracted by the following phases of the project. Your dream condo may turn out to be "Dog Suite" and you may not get what you paid for.

On the other hand, if you get a "Prime Suite", you could make a few thousand dollars in profit by the time you receive your condo keys.

Your real estate agent can help you avoid the pre-construction sale pitfalls and help you make the right decision.

* In the province of British Columbia, Condominiums are called Strata Property and are governed by the Strata Property Act of BC, they are managed by Strata Corporation which is elected by Strata Council.

52 Home & Garden

Not all waste is created equal

By David Youd In Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) everyone is expected to recycle their waste and the municipality operates an excellent scheme which doesn't take up too much of your time. Waste is divided up into four groups ORGANICS; RECYCLABLES; GARBAGE & HHW – HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE. Waste needs to be curbside before 7 am on your designated day. Further information can be found at http://www.halifax.ca/wrms/ We all must be very careful NOT to mix the types of waste as it is costly to sort and depending on what has been mixed in; it can be very hazardous to the people handling the waste. If waste is not placed outside your property correctly you will be notified by the collectors and they will not remove it; so be very careful.

Although it looks complicated it isn't really; there is plenty of information online or neighbours will advise you; just ask. You can ring the municipality too. They publish the guidelines in the phone books and will send you the info; or go online and download it.

Organics Organics are to be put into the green carts which have breathable lids and bottoms.

You can use various sizes of paper bags from kitchen bin size to green cart size and these can be purchased from various supermarkets or DIY stores. Items to be put into the bags for example - fruit & vegetable peelings; table scraps; meat; fish; dairy products; cold cooking fats; bread; rice; pasta; bones; tea bags; eggshells. boxboard & soiled paper such as cereal (NO inner liner); shoe; cracker; cookie & tissue type boxes; paper towel rolls; napkins. Also yard waste such as leaves & plants (NO excessive soil), sawdust & wood shavings.

Grass is expected to be left on your lawn when cut. You can always have a compost but take advice before as it will depend on where you live and wild animals being attracted to it.

Households eligible for curbside collections receive a green cart and there is a weight limit of 100 kg once loaded. The cart belongs to the property; so if you move to another property the cart does not go with you. Normal service of collection is every two weeks (even if not full) however

during the summer months you are allowed to put it out each week.

Recyclables Recyclables collected in Urban & suburban areas every week but rurally its every two weeks. You can buy blue plastic bags from supermarkets and DIY stores or use clear bags to place items such as the following: (all should be separate grocery bags placed inside blue bag) dry & clean paper; newspapers; flyers; magazines; catalogues; envelopes (inc windows); paper egg cartons; phone & paperback books and shredded paper. Straight into the blue bag goes all deposit bearing containers; other plastic containers marked with the triangle and 1 (pete) or 2 (hdpe); glass bottles & jars; cans; clean foils; Tetrapaks of all types (if any container has plastic lid or top then throw just tops in garbage). Also, all types of plastic grocery; bread; clean food; retail bags and bubble wrap (put all into one

grocery bag and place inside blue bag). This group also includes any type of corrugated cardboard which has to be flattened & bundled together and placed at side of the blue bag.

Garbage – most other waste comes under this and should be put in black or dark coloured bags or containers; it is collected every two weeks. Items for example are empty aerosol cans; soiled foils; cold ashes; broken glass (wrapped up to avoid injury); ceramics; non-recyclable containers; cloth items; dishes; light bulbs; packaging; empty dry paint cans; soiled plastic wrap; potato chip bags; Styrofoam; toothpaste tubes; wallpaper; disposable diapers; carbon paper. Also bulky items like furniture; stoves; washing machines.

Fridges and freezers will be removed for free separately (ring 490-4000 before your garbage day) You are only allowed 6 bags of waste so excessive amounts need to be taken to the Otter Lake disposal facility

Home & Garden 53

where a fee will charged of $5 up to 100kg; over this is charged by the Tonne.

We have 3 plastic containers in the house to put our recyclables in until collection day; also a normal kitchen bin for garbage, when this is full or smells we tie the bag up and Household Hazardous Waste put it outside in a small holding box until Household Hazardous Waste - there is no collection day. Our green cart has a large curbside collection for this group. HHW drop paper sack in it and in the kitchen we have a plastic lidded container for all organics, off is open on selected Saturdays at 50 when full we empty into the paper sack.

Chain Lake Drive in Bayers Lake Business Park (call 490 4000 for schedule) Items taken Doing this during the summer dramatically reduces the fruit flies in the house. in here are: All types of batteries; corrosive For further information contact 490-4000, cleaners; pesticides; herbicides; gasoline; TDD/TTY 490-6645, 1-800-83506428 or fuel oil; solvents; thinners; drugs; aerosols http://www.halifax.ca/wrms/ containing substances; small propane cylinders (camp fuel) Left over paints should be returned to the Enviro depot in your neighbourhood (to find out where your nearest depot is ring RRFB Nova Scotia on 1-877-313-7732) Also, Rona the DIY store is advertising at the moment; that they will take all unused/ leftover paints.

All types of needles should be disposed of in a 'sharps container' and returned to the local pharmacy or contact the Canadian Diabetes association.

You can take all your deposit recyclables back to get the money or if you don't want to do this; you notice there are many persons travelling around the area collecting from your curbside collection; these people aren’t doing anything wrong just simply collecting items to get the money back themselves. Someone may as well have the money.

Answers to quiz on page 27: 1. Sir Wilfrid Laurier - the first French Canadian prime minister 2. 1996 3. Red 4. 94% steel, 3.8% copper and 2.2% nickel 5. 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper 6. The last printing of the $1,000 bill was in 2000.

7. $10 bill 8. 1935 for the Silver Jubilee of King george V 9. The coin weighs 100 kilograms.

It is 50 cm in diameter and 3 cm thick 10. 100 years 11. All bank notes are 100% cotton paper 12. You can choose from: holographic strip, watermark, security thread, see-through number, raised ink or florescence.

13. Between two and four years 14. Between February 2007 and the games 25 quarters will be issued 15. The $10 bill features John A McDonald who was Canada’s first prime minister

54 Home & Garden

The truth about water We should all be looking at ways we can reduce our water consumption be it for conservation reasons or to boost your own finances - it’s never too late to take action

Water is the lifeblood of our planet and everything living on it needs water, without it everything would cease to exist. So what, you are saying, isn’t 70% of the Earth covered in water - we have plenty! Not so say the experts. We are using twice as much water today than was used 50 years ago which equates to around 3,800 cubic km annually.

Freshwater lakes and rivers, ice and snow, and underground aquifers hold only 2.5% of the world's water. By comparison, saltwater oceans and seas contain 97.5% of the world's water supply.

Here in North America we are home to the Great Lakes Basin which holds approximately 18% of the world’s fresh surface water and is the largest surface fresh water system in the world. The border between Canada and the United States runs through the Great Lakes and thus the lakes are “shared” between the two countries.

The largest lake - Lake Superior is 35% Canadian, Lake Michigan is entirely in the United States, Lake Huron is 60.4% Canadian, Lake Erie 49.8% Canadian and the smallest, Lake Ontario is 52.7% Canadian.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was signed by Canada and the U.S. in 1972 and is reviewed every six years. The agreement is a commitment to control pollution in the Great Lakes and clean up wastewater from industries and communities.

Because we have the Great Lakes, Canadians believe that we have an abundant supply of water and can use as much as we want but that is simply not true.

We have to take steps now to conserve as much of our water as we can. This simply

means doing the same things but use less water to do it. By changing the way we use water and the appliances and equipment we use we can make a big difference.

By identifying where we use water in the home we can begin to understand how we can make small changes to reduce our overall consumption.

Bathroom Because 65% of household water is used in the bathroom this is the first place to look at conserving it.

The toilet is the single biggest user of water in the home. Before 1980 most of the toilets produced used 20 litres of water with every flush. During the 1990’s new “water saver” toilets were introduced that reduced usage down to 13 litres per flush. These days you can purchase toilets that use only 6 litres of water per flush they are known as ultra-low-flush (ULF) toilets.

In Ontario all new homes built after 1996 have to be fitted with ULF toilets according to the Ontario Building Code. No other province or territory has such regulations although some municipalities such as Vancouver do have bylaws addressing the issue.

You may think that a toilet flushing with just 6 litres of water cannot possibly be as good as one which uses 20 litres, but you would be wrong. With modern technology most ULF toilets actually perform better than their old 20 litre counterparts.

By replacing a toilet that used 18 litres of water per flush with one that uses 6 litres you can expect to save around 120 litres per day with an average of ten flushes.

Did you know?

• 65% of household water is used in the bathroom • Toilets are the single biggest user of water in homes • Only 10% of household water is used in the kitchen • During the summer over half of municipal water is used in the garden • Municipal water prices in Canada are some of the lowest in the world • A single lawn sprinkler spraying 19 litres per minute uses more water in just one hour than a combination of ten toilet flushes, two 5-minute showers, two dishwasher loads, and a full load of clothes.

• Nine million Canadians rely on groundwater for their domestic supply.

Home & Garden 55

You can also go one better by installing a duel-flush toilet which allows you to choose a full flush or a half flush. You can expect to save a further 25% with this type of toilet.

Another big saver of water is taking a shower instead of a bath. The average bath uses between 120 and 190 litres of water, depending upon its size. A four minute shower will use on average 75 litres or around half the amount. This can be reduced further still by using a low-flow shower head which will use half again (38 litres).

Another very simple way of saving water is not to keep the tap running when you brush your teeth. Either run some water in the sink and use that or only turn on the tap when you need to rinse your toothbrush.

Kitchen By choosing to use a dishwasher instead of hand washing the dishes you will actually save money. You may be surprised by this statement but you have to look at how people tend to hand wash. Most people will wash up pots and dishes as they use them.

This can result in several wash loads every day. By using a dishwasher once every day or even every other day you will ultimately save money. Many manufacturers are now producing machines that use less water and water savings can be increased further. Look for models featuring the ENERGY STAR symbol.

Laundry Make sure you are using the most efficient washer and dryers as they will not only save water they will also save you money. By replacing an old washer with a new ENERGY STAR model you can save yourself $100 a year in energy bills.

Modern front-loaders use far less water than traditional top loaders. Some models boast savings of up to 75% on water consumption.

Water heaters If you have an old water heater installed in your home consider changing it for a modern high efficiency model. Further monitory savings can be made by turning down the thermostat. Most manufacturers pre-set their thermostats to 60℃ but you can reduce this to 55℃ which will save energy.

Outdoors During the summer months over half of the municipal water used in Canada is in the garden. The problem with this is that the majority of this water is simply wasted.

If you have a sprinkler system make sure it fits the size of your lawn and does not water your driveway or sidewalk. Choose a flat sprinkler rather than an oscillating one as these tend to loose as much as 50% of the water to evaporation.

Why not water your plants and lawn using recycled water? Installing a cistern to capture rain water is a cheap and simple option.

Landscape your garden in such a way that is doesn’t require so much water. By choosing native plant species you can save on the amount of water they need. Restrict the lawn area to places where the family sit and play so that you are not watering areas you don’t use.

When washing the car use a bucket of water instead of a hosepipe. A hose uses much more water than you would use if washing by sponge and bucket. You can save around 300 litres of water this way.

Summary It doesn’t matter if your water is supplied by your municipality or your own well we can all do simple things to conserve water. By doing this not only do we ensure we will have enough fresh water for the future, but we will also reduce our water bills or the likelihood of wells running dry.

Water Facts • An older toilet could use up to 20 litres of water for each flush • A four minute shower uses around 75 litres of water • An average bath will use around 160 litres of water • Brushing teeth with the tap running can use 10 litres of water • Garden sprinklers can use 35 litres of water per minute • In order to be ENERGY STAR rated a clothes washer must use less than 1.07 litres per cycle for each litre of tub capacity • Ontario is the only province to introduce building codes requiring all toilets, shower heads and faucets in new buildings to be water conserving.

• The average Canadian will use around 350 litres of water every day • 60% of Canada’s fresh water drains to the north, but 85% of the population lives to the south • Households without water meters use approximately 70% more water than metered households • A third of Canadians rely on the Great Lakes for water

Club& Garden 56Sequoia Home

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

MLS: 2082916 City: Picton

Price: $389,900 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. Virtual tour: http://www.Obeo.com/464995

MLS: 2083535 City: Wellington

Price: $229,900 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. Virtual tour: http://www.Obeo.com/ 466682

MLS: 2081104 City: Adolphustown

Price: $279,900 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

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

MLS: 2081511 City: Athol

Price: $649,000 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

Custom built home on 2.73 acres with approximately 190' of waterfront on East Lake.

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

Large living room with propane fireplace, ensuite bathroom with heated floor, 6' x 8' walk-in closet and claw foot slipper tub. Minutes to Sandbanks, wineries, local artist studio.

Outbuilding has potential for studio. Virtual tour: http://www.Obeo.com/464859