Montrose Cannabis: Breaking the stereotypes associated with creating a boutique atmosphere for cannabis

SEAN SEURATTAN sean@carib101.com

This experience afforded him the foresight to be mindful and conscious of a great many things beyond just selling cannabis. This fact alone puts him and Montrose Cannabis far ahead of most other licensed retailers. Paired with Nick’s enthusiasm to put his fingerprint on every aspect of his business has led to a truly unique retail experience.

Starting from before cannabis was legal in Pickering, he knew his political awareness would be critical to the viability of Montrose. The weather of politics can shift and change dramatically affecting even well-established industries much less an entirely new one such as cannabis. He knew it would require collaboration and assurances from the local municipal government to ensure a proper environment in order to thrive. Once given the green light from Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe, Montrose Cannabis was born almost immediately.

From interior layout design to general contracting, to staff training, to product purchasing, it has all been purposefully thought out with a clear end goal, the best possible customer experience. When speaking with Nick it was easy to see that he was breaking the stereotypes associated with creating a boutique atmosphere for cannabis.

Montrose has business core values of providing fresh products, having eco conscious suppliers, giving tailored customer service and providing CBD as therapy. The retail experience is easily recog-

Would you be willing to jump into frigid waters in order to protect something you cherish? British-born Lewis Pugh is willing. He’s dived into frigid Arctic waters and has long-distance-swum in all the world’s oceans to show how much he cares about protecting the world’s maritime heritage, and that includes slushy Antarctic and Arctic waters. On June 5, 2015, we celebrate World Environment Day with a salute to Pugh, a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador who just this past year pulled off his Seven Swims in the Seven Seas campaign to raise awareness about the need to protect our ocean resources.

Helping to protect the environment also means thinking about what goes into your lunch box. That’s right; you can make eco-friendly lunches that will enable you to reduce the amount of garbage you produce.

Always opt for reusable items

An eco-friendly lunch starts with a reusable lunch box — no more paper or plastic bags that just end up in the recycling bin or garbage can every day. This nized as being elevated. Nick’s high involvement and close connections to licensed producers allows him to have a very curated inventory of products to service his clientele. Customers are rewarded with products and services unavailable elsewhere. When I was given a peek at the elaborate calculations used to determine how much of each product ends up on the shelves, I realized fresh product is never in question.

The second part of the Montrose sales strategy goes further than just selling cannabis in store by creating a community beyond its doors. Consciously forecasting current and future trends identified that ecommerce was an undeniable revenue stream. The majority of existing licensed retailers merely use their online presence for another point of sale and space to advertise. Montrose has an e-commerce award winning website adept at allowing customers to quickly locate their desires but does more by having a highly integrated online presence.

Montrose TV is a branch of the company that creates lifestyle online content promoting members of the community along with associated producers. All parties come out as winners; Montrose gets customers driven to visit the store after

Swimming the world’s oceans

According to UNEP, less than three per cent of the world’s oceans are protected from over-exploitation of marine wildlife and environmental degradation. Pugh, who is also a marine lawyer, aims to promote the UN’s goal of having up to ten per cent of oceans set aside as Marine Protected Areas. In 2014, as he swam the Adriatic, Mediterranean, Red, Black, Aegean, Arabian and North Seas, Pugh says he saw few dolphins, sharks and whales. He has seen with his own eyes that our oceans are over-fished and full of pollutants and garbage.

“MPAs help us re-build our fish stocks,” says Pugh. “And they increase resilience to environmental changes. They’re also good for the world economy, because they support food security.” Who could argue with that? Well, it’s actually quite hard for some nation states to enact legislation to create MPAs without taking a short-term hit to their fishing industry. But Pugh hopes that his publicity campaigns will continue to pave the way for bold policy makers to take the risk and do the right thing.

Eco-friendly lunches

rule also applies to dishes and all the other contents of the lunch box. In other words, plastic dishes, metal utensils, a reusable coffee cup and a cloth napkin should become part of your everyday life.

Make the right choices at the grocery store

Try to avoid products sold in individual portions, such as small yogurts and juices, because they produce more garbage. Instead, opt for bulk foods and large formats. That way you can prepare portions that are perfect for your appetite and store them in reusable containers. Buying local foods and seasonal fruits and vegetables also helps protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated by transporting food over long distances.

Put your garbage can on a diet

To be truly eco-friendly, your lunch viewing the website, producers get their products promoted to a very receptive demographic, and the community wins by feeling more connected to the industry along with each other. Even further than this Nick has taken the initiative to bring more of the community together by hosting many different types of events like business summits, new product launches or Paint & Vape nights within his retail space. should only generate a tiny amount of garbage. Assess your needs in order to avoid wasting food, and recycle and compost whenever possible. Be sure to take back returnable containers as well. Do you make eco-friendly lunches? You can help the environment even more by encouraging others to do the same.

The more I spoke with Nick, the more similarities between us became evident. Similar upbringings, interests and past experiences made it extremely easy to relate both professionally and personally. Both of us being of Caribbean descent made certain influences within Montrose and its business philosophy obvious, but when I asked about the legacy he wanted to create, his answer was uniquely novel. “Bringing a legalized framework across the Caribbean islands is a passion project I’m focused on. Let’s bring out the best of our people in a new industry.” Giving back to the community that has given us all so much is a testament to the type of person Nick is and what we should all emulate from Montrose Cannabis.

Are you familiar with organic gardening methods?

If you’re committed to protecting the environment, then you’re probably doing everything you can to reduce pollution, waste and garbage. You may already be carpooling, taking quick showers and choosing reusable shopping bags, too. But have you thought about applying this philosophy in your yard? Some gardening practices encourage waste, while others are harmful to the environment. Here are some tips to help you to garden in an environmentally friendly way.

Better water management

Did you know that more than half of the water used for watering lawns and gardens is either lost as runoff from overwatering or through evaporation?

To avoid such waste, ensure that you only give your lawn the amount of water it needs, and be sure to water early in the morning to avoid evaporation loss.

Collect rainwater and select plants that don’t need much watering. Cover the soil with a layer of organic mulch to retain moisture longer.

Enrich the soil

Avoid using pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as they are harmful to the environment and to the health of humans and animals. Use compost and organic fertilizers to enrich the soil.

Organic gardening also means banning decorative rocks and geotextile membranes, which compromise the exchange of gasses between the air and the soil. Switch off any lights that light up your yard unnecessarily at night, and leave grass clippings on the lawn rather than sending them to the landfill with your garbage. So, is your garden green?

How to choose the best toys for your dog

It’s no secret that dogs love to play with toys. In fact, dogs with access to a variety of toys are less likely to develop behavioural issues. If you don’t know which type your dog will prefer, use their playing style to guide you.

If they’re treat oriented Toys that can be stuffed with kibble or treats are great for dogs that live for snacks. Some of these require that your dog solve a puzzle to get what’s inside, which is ideal if your pooch could use some mental stimulation.

If they want comfort

Plush toys, with or without squeakers, are a hit with many dogs. Some pups carry them around and cuddle with them for comfort. Others shake and chew on them to release pent-up energy.

If they like to run Balls, discs and other retrieving toys are great for dogs that love to run and play fetch.

If they like to pull Ropes and rubber tug toys are great for dogs that enjoy a round of tug of war with either you or another dog.

No matter what style of play your dog prefers, keep an eye on their toys, and be sure to replace them when they get damaged.

Top tips for dealing with jealous dogs

Does your dog growl when another dog or person walks by? Or perhaps your pooch insistently tries to get your attention when you’re doing something else? If so, your pup may be exhibiting signs of jealousy. Here are some tips for dealing with a jealous dog.

• Ignore unwanted behaviour. Don’t react when your dog barks, growls, paws at you or otherwise shows signs of jealousy. If they exhibit this behaviour while sitting on or near you, calmly remove them from the immediate area.

• Reward good behaviour. Reward your dog with treats and attention only when they’re calm and relaxed. This will reinforce the idea that this is how you want them to behave.

• Review training exercises. If obedience classes are a distant memory, practise basic directions like sit, stay and come. This will reinforce your role as alpha, and you can use these commands when your dog is displaying unacceptable behaviour.

• Include newcomers in activities. If your dog’s behaviour springs from a new person entering their life, make sure that your pooch becomes acclimatized to the newcomer’s presence. Bring a new baby on walks or have your new partner practise commands with your pup. This will help your dog understand that the unfamiliar person is now part of their pack.

If your dog becomes aggressive or their behaviour is affecting their health or safety, be sure to enlist the help of a professional dog trainer.

A tarantula can be a great pet for the right person. If these large and hairy spiders fascinate you, here’s what you need to know before adopting one.

They don’t like to cuddle

Some tarantulas have urticating hairs that cause irritation and itching. Though they’re usually docile creatures, tarantulas scare easily. When they feel threatened, they may bite or even pull out some of those hairs to fling at you.

They have specific enclosure needs

There are two types of tarantula, and each requires its own kind of enclosure. Arboreal species need a tall space with branches, twigs and other structures to climb. Terrestrial types thrive in smaller terrariums with lots of substrate to hide in.

They eat live insects

Tarantulas are insectivores. Be sure to provide them with a steady supply of crickets and other insects. Never feed ta-

What to do if your pet goes missing

Up to 10 million pets go missing in North America every year. While you can hope that your cat or dog won’t be one of them, it’s important to know what to do if it does happen. Here are some steps you can take to safely bring home a lost pet.

• Notify the right people. Contact local veterinary clinics, animal shelters, rescue groups and animal control centres. Provide them with a description of your pet, the location where they were last seen and a recent photo.

• Make posters. Include your pet’s photo, name and breed as well as your phone number and any other relevant information. Post your notices on public bulletin boards at the library, community centre and grocery stores, and on utility poles in your neighbourhood. It’s also a good idea to share your poster on social media networks and groups.

• Canvas the area. Walk around your neighbourhood calling your pet’s name and any phrases you typically use to call them. Knock on doors and ask your neighbours if they’ve seen rantulas anything you catch in your garden. Backyard critters can be contaminated with chemicals and other things that may be harmful to your spider. your pet. Leave them with copies of your poster if they haven’t. Search a few times a day. Your pet could be scared and may not respond to your calls right away.

As with many other types of pets, adopting a tarantula involves a long-term commitment. Some have been known to live for more than 20 years in captivity, so be prepared to care for your spider over the long haul.

Don’t give up! Many pets are reunited with their owners weeks or even months after they go missing.

Make Sure They Carry Identification

Pets that wear ID tags are more likely to be returned than those that don’t. Make sure your pet wears a tag that includes their name and your current phone number. In addition, have a veterinarian implant a microchip in your pet. This type of ID can be detected with a scanner and has a unique number that’s linked to your pet’s information.

Picture a stream. You can stop the flow by building a dam. The stream before the dam will swell while the other side will fall. As the swell continues, the dam will collapse under pressure. The resulting flow will be turbulent. Rising interest rates are like a dam that inhibits the natural flow of buyers into the marketplace. It’s an artificial solution to a bigger problem. When interest rates decrease, the dam will crack, and the market will explode. The answer is to boost immigration.

Between 2023 to 2025, the Canadian government plans to welcome half a million permanent residents. As a result, we need to build more homes. To keep up with the demand, we have to add approximately 200,000 new homes in 2023 and 2024. Currently, there are around 100,000 new homes being built across Canada yearly. The swell is growing rapidly.

The GTA is a city of ethnic diversity. Many immigrants want to live there, but the infrastructures are not in place to handle the influx. We cannot build enough accommodations to offset the flow. As a result, house prices will continue to surge.

Increased immigration is not the only reason for the drastic climb in house prices. Policies such as exclusionary zoning, heritage designations and high development charges slows growth. When other factors such as supply chain issues and lack