Muchmor Magazine Issue 38

muchmor Discover Your Canada

Canada Magazine

issue 38 jan 09

Moving to Canada - all roads lead to Cobourg Discover Cultural Quebec City The joy of shopping in Edmonton Research trips and finding houses in Nova Scotia

Travel Destination Beautiful Mexico Tax-free savings accounts Overcoming shyness in children When a bad hair day is no laughing matter

Photo credit: Matt MacGillivray

Nova Scotia cooking - the way to a traveler’s heart.

Free subscription online at www.readmuchmor.com

2 Editorial

Muchmor Media 17 Woody Woodward Lane Corbyville RR1 Ontario K0K 1V0 Canada Tel: 1 613 396 5531 Fax: 1 613 396 3463 www.muchmormagazine.com Advertising: [email protected] Editorial: [email protected] Muchmor Magazine is a publication of Muchmor Media. All rights reserved in all media. No parts of this publication can be reproduced in any form, copied of stored electronically for commercial use without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Storing for personal use is acceptable. Muchmor Media relies on information supplied by external sources and this publication is supplied on the basis that it believes the to be correct and accurate at the time of publication. Muchmor Media does not however warrant its accuracy or completeness and to the full extent of the allowed by law excludes liability for any loss or damage sustained by readers arising from or in connection with the supply or use of this information. If errors occur and are brought to our attention it is our policy to correct any errors of fact whenever we can. The opinions of readers and contributors are not necessarily the opinions of Muchmor Media, and we cannot be held responsible for their comments.

From the Editor Welcome to 2009 A very Happy New Year to all our readers. I cannot believe we are already into 2009, where did 2008 go? If the cold, snowy weather has you thinking about warmer places then you might want to take a look at our article about Mexico. Whether it’s beaches or culture you want, Mexico has it all. We also look closer to home at Quebec City and Nova Scotia and what they can offer the visitor by way of culture and food. If you haven’t already done your fair share of shopping in the sales then how about shopping till you drop in Edmonton? If you have any money left after shopping then you will want to read all about the new tax-free savings accounts available. It might just be the thing for you. Read all about them on page 34. If your child is shy then they will want to read about overcoming this in our article on page 46 or perhaps they prefer to earn some money through babysitting - see top tips on page 47. In this month’s issue we give you a full list of all major articles which appeared in Muchmor Canada during 2008. You can click on the month and go straight to the issue to read. So, happy reading and here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year for all. Jane Toombes Editor

Contents 3

Contents Money Tax-free savings accounts Retirement plan contribution

Muchmor

Discover Canada Cultural Quebec City You belong in Brandon

The joy of shopping Edmonton facts





4 8 10 13



14 18

Travel Nova Scotia cooking Sombreros off to Mexico

34 38

Lifestyle Slow cooker recipes

Canadians Talk

Canada’s population

Canada fails UNESCO report Which games console?

Top Canadian

24 26 26 27 28 29

Working Life Get credit for your ideas

Creating a business image

30 32

40



45 46 47 47

To Cobourg with love

NAFTA - 3 year visa

Countdown to Canada

Moving 2 Alberta

Real estate in Nova Scotia Get closer to Canada in 2009

48 53 54 56 57 58

Muchmor Canada 2008

Kidzone Top kids stuff

Overcoming shyness Great babysitting tips Wii downloads



Moving to Canada

Health & Wellness When a bad hair day is no laughing matter

Invest in your health



60 63



65

Home & Garden First time home buyer







4 Discover Canada

Photo by: Yves Tessier, Tessima

Cultural Québec City A stimulating urban delight

Photo by: Yves Tessier, Tessima

Discover Canada 5

Sidewalk café on Quartier Petit-Champlain at night Labadie, they have since recorded history and beauty, only to discover eight releases under U.S. Label a thriving cultural crossroads, at the Dorian, toured all over Canada, the U.S., and Europe, and walked off forefront of artistic endeavour. As a major French-speaking metropolitan with numerous awards and distinctions. A further crowd pleaser area in English-speaking North is the Québec City Opera, which America, the city is a magnet for puts on several different productions artists, performers, singers, and a year. artisans.

People visit Québec City for its

A musical tour de force You don't have to speak a word of French to appreciate Québec City's vibrant musical scene. Star billing no doubt goes to the Québec City Symphony Orchestra (OSQ) directed by Israeli Yoav Talmi, formerly with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. The OSQ, which employs 67 fulltime musicians, puts on some forty subscription series concerts a year, often before sellout crowds. Québec City is the birthplace of Les Violons du Roy, a string orchestra launched in 1985 by graduating music students and young professional musicians in the early stages of their careers. Brilliantly directed by Bernard

frequent visitors to Le Colisée Pepsi, the city's main arena.

A full-flavoured local scene A great part of Québec City's

musical attraction is owed its piano bars, boîtes à chansons, and nightclubs. Whether visitors prefer a touch of jazz as they sip on wine, a A city of surprises repertoire of Québec folk as they enjoy a local-brewed beer, or the This musical effervescence spills next wave of streetsmart cool as over into other areas of city life. In they check out the local bar scene, fact it's not unusual to spy a they're only steps away from a night violinist, a guitarist, or even a of discovery and escape in walkable musical ensemble out practicing in Old Québec. Old Québec, much to the surprise Festivals and special events also and delight of passers-by. contribute to Québec City's musical Québec City is a real draw for renown. The granddaddy of them all touring performers with its many is the Québec City Summer Festival, concert halls and its avid ticketan eclectic summertime happening buying public. Le Capitole de that takes to the streets, squares, Québec, which once welcomed the and parks of Old Québec. For its legendary Edith Piaf, features a 38th edition in 2005, attendance at dinner & variety show formula. the event reached some 900,000. In Marquee performers like Céline Dion 2006, the American Bus Association make Québec City a regular stop on rated the Québec City Summer their tours. Rock groups like Bon Festival in the top 100 events in Jovi, Metallica, and Rush are also North America.

6 Discover Canada

Other musical events and attractions include chamber music at Île d’Orléans, the Québec City Festival of Sacred Music and the International Festival of Military Bands. Québec City also features regular recitals, organ concerts, and special performances in its many churches, chapels, and smaller concert halls. Some great names in music from the Québec City area include Luc Plamondon, the author of over 400 songs and the immensely popular musicals Starmania and NotreDame de Paris, and Félix Leclerc, a Québec storyteller, poet, playwright and songster who spent the last 25 years of his life on Île d'Orléans, just outside the city's limits. Bruno Pelletier, a rock opera singer, and Jorane (the Québec artist who earned the most nominations outside the province) are both from Québec City. Song writer and interpreter Sylvain Lelièvre was also born in Québec City. When he passed away a few years ago, the City named a place after him in the neighbourhood where he grew up.

Animation on Dufferin Terrace

Photo by: Yves Tessier, Tessima

Photo by: Yves Tessier, Tessima

Sidewalk café on Petit-Champlain Street

exhibition was also seen by record crowds in the summer of 2005. The Musée national des beaux arts du Québec City's vibrant cultural life Québec regularly presents major extends to the visual arts. Artists international exhibitions, such as cluster in the city's trendy SaintFrom Caillebotte to Picasso. Roch neighbourhood, close to Laval Masterpieces from the Oscar Ghez University's School of Visual Arts. collection (fall 2006) and Fernando Galleries abound, many featuring Botero (winter 2007). works of local inspiration, others Many local artists are avidly blazing trails in contemporary art collected, including Luc Archambault, Claude Pelletier, Élène Gamache, and Danielle April. another internationally acclaimed artist was Jean-Paul Riopelle, deceased in March 2002, who lived on Île-aux-Grues. A permanent exhibition is devoted to his works at the Musée national des beaux arts du Québec. And indelibly linked to Québec City is Francesco Iacurto, a Montréal-born artist who fell in love with the area in 1938 and made it his permanent home. Iacurto is noted as the only Canadian artist to have painted in the gardens of the and photography. The Musée national des beaux arts du Québec Vatican. on the Plains of Abraham offers A word to the wise permanent exhibits of Québec art and regularly stages blockbuster shows, such as its Rodin exhibition Québec City stands out in literature. in 1998 that drew over 500,000 For visitors with even a passing visitors. The Camille & Claudel knowledge of French, the rewards

A visual enchantment

“Québec City is a real draw for touring performers”

Discover Canada 7 Wall mural in Quebec City

of exploration can be immense. A perfect booklover's walk could start on rue Saint-Jean in Faubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste, outside the city's walls, and continue into the old town, with stops every block or so at the numerous bookstores. Once in the old city, visitors catch a special feeling near Côte de la Fabrique: they are in the Latin Quarter. Dare to step off the main street and venture in the narrow, winding streets. The historic building of Le Séminaire de Québec once was the campus of Laval University, the first French-speaking university in North America. Now a private highschool, this venerable building is also home to the Musée de l’Amérique française. From there, visitors could head down to the Old Port to unearth yet more treasures in the antique shops. The annual Book Show, called the Salon international du livre, draws francophone writers and editors. In summertime, the Bouquinistes du Saint-Laurent offer various treasures to book lovers on the Dufferin Terrasse, near Château Frontenac. One illustrious writer who adopted Québec City as home was

Gabrielle Roy, whose now Signname in Churchill adorns the main civic library. Her first novel Bonheur d'Occasion (The Tin Flute in English) received a Governor General's Award and France's Prix Femina. All of Gabrielle Roy's later works were also translated into English. Another writer with Québec City ties was novelist and poet Anne Hébert. Her 1970 novel Kamouraska based on a 19th century murder is a classic of Québec and Canadian literature and was made into a hit movie.

A dramatic presence The performing arts in Québec City

plays host to an international drama festival, Le Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec, and a panAmerican film festival, Festival de cinéma des 3 Amériques. Adding to the cultural diversity and interest of Québec City are its many artisans from every walk of artistic life. Glassblower Jean Vallières, whose creations are made right before visitors' eyes in his Petit Champlain craft shop, typifies the city's appeal in this regard. Many of his shopkeeper neighbours specialize in other areas, such as jewellery, fashion, leatherworks, pottery, and pewter. A visit to Québec City is a multidimensional experience. History, amazing architecture and landscapes, numerous natural sites and a rich cultural life all blend in our safe and friendly city.

are personified by internationally famous writer, actor, and director Robert Lepage. His Ex Machina workshop in the Old Port has mounted some dozen world-touring productions in its first years. Lepage Article courtesy of Québec City himself has notably staged works in Tourism Tokyo, Stockholm and London, and was the mastermind behind Peter Gabriel's Secret World Tour. Québec City is noted for the variety and quality of its theatre productions. In addition, the city

8 Discover Canada











Advertorial

You belong in Brandon Close your eyes, picture a vibrant, growing city nestled in the scenic Assiniboine River valley, surrounded by alluring landscapes, rolling hills, enormous skies, quaint towns and unspoiled countryside. Welcome to Brandon, a city of promise, in which our children wish to stay and raise their own children. We invite you to discover Brandon more closely throughout 2009 via the monthly editorials, each focusing on a unique topic, that will appear in the muchmor magazine. Brandon is a welcoming community of approximately 44,000 people that offers the opportunity and sophistication of metropolitan life minutes from quiet country living. As Manitobaʼs second largest City, and the education, health, retail, service and entertainment centre for the southwest Manitoba regionʼs 180,000 inhabitants, Brandon boasts amenities, services, educational and employment opportunities generally found in much larger centres. Though Brandon presents all the diversity and conveniences of a larger centre, our primarily English speaking city has remained a close-knit community that looks out for one another. Located in the southwest corner of Manitoba, Brandon is within a short drive of Manitobaʼs abundant natural landscapes, wildlife, rivers, lakes, parks and forests. With approximately 70% of Manitobaʼs farmland located within a 100 km radius of Brandon, alluring landscapes are as much a part of Brandon as city lights. Brandon is near some of Canadaʼs most amazing natural attractions including The Spirit Sands, a prairie desert phenomenon, and the spectacular Riding Mountain National Park. Brandon covers an area of 75 km2 and is located at the junction of major highways and rail services providing access to Eastern and Western Canada, Northern Manitoba and the United States. Brandon lies 197 km west of Winnipeg and Manitobaʼs International airport, 121 km east of the Saskatchewan border and 100 km north of the United States border. A low crime rate, affordable housing, clean water, fresh air, student oriented education systems, abundant recreational and cultural opportunities create an enviable quality of life for our residents. As a sports oriented city full of top-notch recreation facilities with everything from skiing to soccer to equestrian sports, a truly amazing community spirit is found throughout the City. Brandon has four very distinct seasons that all offer their own unique beauty and recreational opportunities. The summer season ranges from May through September with daytime temperatures from 12ºC to 26ºC. The months of November through February usually have considerable amounts of snow and temperatures well below freezing. Snow usually arrives in November and disappears in April, although these times can vary. The area enjoys over 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. At the end of the day, one of Brandonʼs greatest assets is the balance between profit and personal reward. Imagine taking no more than 15 minutes to get to and from work, no matter what time of day, or where you live in the city. Come for a visit, and you may decide that you belong in Brandon.

Discover Canada 9

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10 Discover Canada

The joy of shopping

WEM Europa Boulevard

Attention shoppers, shop until you drop takes on a whole new meaning in Edmonton.

Sequoia Club

Discover Canada 11

Edmonton City Centre development, where power centre shopping transcends to the next city, they transformed it into a retail level with offerings of more than 100 destination. You can, and should, think big when planning an outing to stores and services. Combine the two – 2.3 million Edmonton’s extensive range of square feet at South Edmonton shopping attractions. Common and 5.3 million sq. ft. At No true shopper should miss West West Edmonton Mall – and one can Edmonton Mall – just step right up easily see why bigger is better when and find yourself in the middle of it comes to the joy of shopping. what’s easily described as the Department store aficionados, greatest indoor show on earth. meanwhile, can find two of western There are more than 800 stores and Canada’s largest Sears stores at services, over 100 eating Kingsway Garden Mall and establishments to choose from and Southgate Centre, two of seven that’s just for starters. major Edmonton shopping centres. North America’s largest one-stop, But you’ll quickly find that over-the-top place to shop – equivalent in size to 48 city blocks – Edmonton just isn’t a mall world after all – despite the fact that the comes with its own hotel (there are city was also the home to Canada’s actually two to choose from) and first shopping centre back in 1955. nine world-class entertainment There’s a rich choice of shopping attractions. Need a break to districts to choose from, where recharge your shopping batteries? visitors will come across a wealth of Then try the mall’s water park and independent retailers and a wave pool or take a spin around the fascinating array of unique world’s largest indoor amusement merchandise to purchase. park – it’s amazing what you’ll find Old Strathcona for example, under here all under one roof. known for its charm and its nightlife, For shoppers who savour the bighas been named one of the 10 best box store experience – from fashion shopping districts in Canada. Amid to electronics and more – Edmonton its historic buildings, the shopping rolls out another North American fare ranges from locally produced to retail milestone. South Edmonton name brands known for their Common weighs in as North panache. You’ll find the ultra-cool America’s largest open-air retail

They didn’t pave paradise in this

American Apparel, lululemon and its highly sought after yoga-inspired athletic apparel, fashionable footwear from Gravity Pope – a growing independent chain that started in Edmonton – to charming boutiques with captivating selections of arts and crafts, accessories, books, home décor, unusual gifts and collectibles. The shopping destinations of 124th Street and the High Street area, meanwhile, minutes from downtown and literally steps away from each other, provide a quaint backdrop to more than 125 of their own enticing stores. One will find an assortment of antique and specialty stores, home décor options, books and must-have knickknacks. Art lovers will also find this area a must see, with a large number of Edmonton’s art galleries calling this part of town as their home. But with so many stores and possibly so little time, where should one start? If designer names are on your shopping list, try heading downtown to Holt Renfrew, Canada's leading fashion specialty department store for men and women. At the same time you’ll find yourself in the middle of the downtown shopping hub that encompasses Commerce Place,

12 Discover Canada Manulife Place and Edmonton City Centre. Joining Holts in Manulife Place is Birks, a well-known Canadian name in luxury jewellery, and Henry Singer, for the man looking for world-class clothing options. But before heading to Escada in Commerce Place or Edmonton City Centre, with its more than 170 stores to choose from, including Eddie Bauer, The Gap, HMV and Nine West, head over to Bernard Callebaut Chocolates while you’re still in the Manulife mall. The to-die-for delectably, sinful chocolate delights are not to be missed. If you’re a shopaholic – or even if you just want to be on top of the latest the world of retail has to offer – West Edmonton Mall is where you’ll find a wide variety of the world’s cutting-edge merchants. Mandarina Duck’s first North American store – the Italian retailer specializes in backpacks, luggage, purses and more – can be found there as well as the first Make Up Store to open in Canada – the chain is one of Sweden’s fastest growing retailers. There are many more examples and the mall owners report that they will continue to add unique, new retailers to their tenant mix. Bargain hunters should check out the outlet stores at South Edmonton Common, including Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne and the Designer Depot but may also want to browse through the large selection of the non-outlet offerings while they’re there. A little off the beaten path, and not too far from the downtown core, is Dots – a true Edmonton experience if you’re into fashion at discount prices. Tucked away in a corner on 105th Street, Dots offers a wide assortment of fashion choices – for both men and women – at incredible prices. But expect to spend some time there sorting through a multitude of clothing racks. Fashionistas, meanwhile, should definitely consider some of the uniquely Edmonton offerings. Maggie Walt Designs on Jasper Avenue, is an Edmonton designer with an East meets West fashion flair. Or try Who Cares?, another Jasper Avenue boutique that caters to the career woman, and adds a selection from local designers. So whether it’s for clothes (or other) encounters of the shopping kind,

you’ll find that Edmonton is your passport to the retail wonders of the world.

Shop Talk Edmonton’s Westmount Shopping Centre was the first shopping centre in Canada and the second shopping centre opened in North America. Westmount opened on Oct. 20, 1955, and is still in operation. • Edmonton is home to West Edmonton Mall – North America’s largest mall – and North America’s largest power centre, South Edmonton Common. • An estimated 28 million people visit West Edmonton Mall each year. It has an employee population of almost 24,000 people. • Retailers find Edmonton as one of the most attractive retail markets in Canada with some making the city their initial destination when they enter the country. • A number of major Edmonton retail destinations including West Edmonton Mall, South • Edmonton Common and Southgate Centre are in expansion mode, either adding new retailers or having recently announced expansion plans. • Finding Sophies Rubies, operated by Edmonton shopping guru Judy McDonald, is a unique way to shop the city’s shopping gems. McDonald runs shopping tours that can be tailored to meet individual or group requirements. Whether you’re looking for the scoop on how best to shop the mammoth West Edmonton Mall or that special shopping outing, consider contacting McDonald through the Sophiesrubies.com website. • There is no provincial sales tax in Alberta; shoppers only pay the five per cent federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). Article and photographs courtesy of Edmonton Tourism

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Discover Canada 13

Edmonton facts

The name "Edmonton" is a Latinized version of a Saxon word meaning "Happy Hamlet." Edmonton was named after a borough of London, England.

Ripley's Believe It or Not has recognized 96th Street as "Church Street" for its 16 churches in the neighbourhood.

The world's largest ice cream sundae weighing 54, 914 lb. 13 oz (24.91 tonnes), was made by Palm Dairies in Edmonton on July 24, 1988.

Edmonton is one of Canada's sunniest cities with about 2,300 hours of bright sunshine per year. In June, Edmonton enjoys up to 17 hours of daylight per day!

Edmonton has more than 30 established festivals each year devoted to music, performances, visual arts, family fun, sports and culture.

Edmonton Heritage Festival is an annual opportunity to sample the ethnic foods from more than 50

different cultures in an unmatched outdoor experience. There are up to 40 restaurants at A Taste of Edmonton each year that offer one savoury and one sweet dish from their menu.

Arabian, Canadian Rail, Hollywood, Igloo, Polynesian, Roman, Truck, Victorian Coach, Sports, Waterpark and Western.

Canada's largest Ecomuseum -

Kalyna Country is a heritage and eco-tourism district in East Central Canadian Cultural Capital for 2007. Alberta.

Edmonton was named as a

There are over 3,500 restaurants in Edmonton has the longest stretch the Edmonton region to choose from.

Old Strathcona, named one of the 10 best shopping districts in Canada is a bustling area rooted in history which boasts 300 businesses of which 90% are family owned.

of urban parkland in North America, which is 22 times larger than New York's Central Park and 8 times larger than Vancouver's Stanley Park.

The world's largest car park is

located at West Edmonton Mall. It can hold 20, 000 vehicles. West Edmonton Mall also holds records for the world's largest indoor The average yearly visitation to amusement park (26 rides and West Edmonton Mall is attractions), the world's largest approximately 28.2 million, more indoor triple loop rollercoaster than eight times the population of (1,285 metres of track), the world's the province of Alberta, making largest indoor lake (complete with WEM the Alberta's number one a replica of Christopher tourist attraction. Columbus's Santa Maria), the world's largest indoor wave pool West Edmonton Mall's (12.3 million litres of water), and Fantasyland Hotel features 12 the world's largest indoor different theme rooms for guests to permanent bungee tower (30 stay in including: African Safari, metres up and 30 metres down).

14 Travel

Nova Scotia cooking – the way to a traveler’s heart

Travel 15

Sequoia Club

Fish and chips to judge for yourself how plain ole’, well, new vegetables can become love our food. But there's a price to something ethereal. And it is. pay to enjoy it. You’re going to have Nowhere on earth is the to tell us so – over and over again. strawberry season more fully For a province-full of good, some enjoyed than here in Nova Scotia, even great cooks, we’re modest especially when the sweet berry is about our local fare. We just “cook married with our tart rhubarb. If it’s plain”. It’s the way we were brought on the menu,order a piece of up – with fish in one form or another strawberry rhubarb pie. It’s one of every Friday, baked beans and our favourites. And in August,when brown bread on Saturday nights the blueberries are being and Sunday mornings, fish chowder picked,you’ll want to sample that for supper (yes,supper, not dinner), dish called Blueberry Grunt. Forget fishcakes once a week, always with that it’s only blueberries simmered homemade chow chow, spareribs with sugar and spices and topped and sauerkraut, boiled dinners of with dumplings. Dumplings! corned beef and cabbage followed Together they’re great. Look for it. by leftover hash, and let’s not forget And ask for it. the rabbit stew,which you might As visitors, you may not find The food that comes out of Nova have trouble finding today. But,this yourselves at a kitchen table in Scotia kitchens is largely influenced is all plain cooking. Yarmouth, Guysborough, or Hants by French,British (especially Go to a restaurant worth its salt County. And if you do, the person Scottish), Loyalist,and German and you’ll find chefs and cooks, doing the cooking might fancy it up backgrounds. As early as 1633, often from away, who appreciate by using a recipe from a trendy when they came to stay, plant their what Nova Scotians consider to be magazine in an effort to please you. apple trees, and,urged on by nothing out of the ordinary. Loved, But you can buy the same frugality, invent “receipts” from yes, but what’s so different about it? magazine, and probably have. What Sometimes it takes an objective you crave is that special flavour that indigenous ingredients, the Acadians have established well their approach to fully appreciate and comes with Nova Scotia cooking. culinary heritage. Some say the love lovingly prepare the ingredients that You’ve heard about the wonderful of rappie pie is acquired only after a meld into a meal worth eating. At early summer meal of new few helpings. Others take to it home,the cooking is routine. The vegetables cooked in cream (or love goes into the eating. milk) called Hodge Podge. You want immediately,especially when it’s served with molasses,which is

If you’re from away you're going to

“Nowhere on earth is the strawberry season more fully enjoyed than here in Nova Scotia”

16 Travel

cock-a-leekie soup never far from the kitchen table. If that doesn’t suit your taste,you can be sure a chicken fricot or clam pie will do the trick. And for dessert,you can’t do better than buttermilk pie, an ingenious use of the by-product of butter-making. To leave Nova Scotia without having tried some form of Acadian fare, is never really having been here. Perhaps nowhere is the English culinary tradition more prominently reflected than in the pubs and taverns across Nova Scotia. This is where you'll find the shepherds’ pies, plowman’s lunches, sausage rolls, and,most popular of all, fish and chips. Fish and chips were to industrial England what the hot dog was to the United States – the original fast food of generations who knew of McDonald’s only as a Scottish clan. And here in Nova Scotia there are many corner operations and small restaurants that proudly aim to please the fish and chip crowd. Upscale restaurants might call their dish haddock and frites, but we know it’s fish and chips. And we order them at places we have come to rely on. Food critics have tried to locate the best of the batch, but it all

Cape Breton’s Glenora Distillery

comes down to a matter of preference. Do you like your fish fried in a light

Lunenburg County is the stronghold of German fare. If you’re lucky, you might start with an appetizer of Solomon Gundy (pickled herring) and go on to a salad of sauerkraut or cucumbers in sour cream. Follow this with an entrée of salt cod and pork scraps,which the Germans call House Bankin and others call Dutch Mess,and for dessert, gingerbread with lemon sauce, or pie of any kind. It’s here that the great cabbages grow and are turned into sauerkraut and kohl slaw. It’s here where potatoes are made into a delicious Kartofflesuppe or added to the batter of raised doughnuts called Fasnaks. It's here that a sausage called Lunenburg pudding is adored,and it’s here where some of the best home cooks ply their mixing spoons and rolling pins. Oh yes,in Lunenburg County, or heavy batter? Or just run through they take pride in their baking but a coating of seasoned flour? And will modestly ask “what's all the fuss?” that be cod or haddock? Some ask You’ll find Scottish cuisine only one question before they order.“ prominently located in Pictou County Is the fish fresh or frozen?”If the and Cape Breton,or wherever answer is evasive,like “Well, it’s oatcakes appear in bread baskets fresh-frozen,” true fish and chip (give a restaurant a star for this). addicts may opt for the special of the From Scotch broth or cock-a-leekie day. soup served with bannock or porridge bread, to smoked kippers,

“Fish and chips were to industrial England what the hot dog was to the United States”

Travel 17

Sequoia Club

finnan haddie or poached salmon with a side of clapshot, or tatties and ‘neeps, you'll find something special about Scottish fare. This is especially true if you wash it down with a tot of rare single malt whisky distilled at Cape Breton’s Glenora Distillery, the only place in North America that makes it. With the early back-and-forth flow of people between Nova Scotia and New England, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the cuisine of either. We readily credit the New Englanders who brought to their Nova Scotia homes the cornmeal that we turn into puddings and Johnny cakes, the baked beans and brown bread,and the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. But we hold close to our hearts the first fish chowders ever served in North America. To stake our claim we point to the blackened pots of the early 1500s, when foreign fishermen

came to fill their nets and ships with the prolific cod. They had to eat. And fish was handy.

“Lunenburg County, they take pride in their baking but modestly ask “what's all the fuss?”” The perfect fish, seafood or clam chowder is here. Somewhere. But finding it depends on your personal

Meet us - June & Mark Spindloe online at the Canadian Government’s portal: www.bfic.net Or email us: [email protected]

preference. Some connoisseurs like a thick chowder, others like it thin. Perhaps somewhere in between lies perfection. You may find it, if you stay long enough. Visit www.novascotia.com for more information.

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Please visit www.relocationnovascotia.com and register. Call June or Mark on 001 902 446 0766 and we’ll call you back.

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Photo by: Bruce Herman

18 Travel

Sombreros off to Mexico

Travel 19

The word Mexico conjures up images of beautiful beaches, lots of heat and of course lots of sun, but there is far more to Mexico than that. Mexico offers stunning scenery, culture, nature, diving, mountain climbing, in fact the list is as endless as the beautiful blue waters. The main beach resorts in Mexico are Acapulco, Cancun, Vallerta, Cozumel and Riviera Maya but again there are many more smaller, more secluded beaches that you may prefer. Each has its own special qualities that between them are sure to meet every travelers needs.

Cancun Cancun has been known for years as a destination of choice for travelers from all over the world. It is located in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula and is often referred to as the “Mexican Caribbean.” Although the area has been inhabited for hundreds of years the city we know today was specifically built to encourage tourism to the area. Development started in 1970 and was originally home to just nine

Photo by: Carlos Aquiles

Cancun beach

hotels. Over the last thirty-odd years plenty of shopping arcades, bars, the resort has grown rapidly and restaurants and the area is very now has approximately 600,000 family orientated. residents, many of who rely solely on the tourism industry. These days you will find over 150 hotels catering to the four million plus visitors who come to Cancun 25 km of sandy beach every year, 35% of which are Mexicans. This area is known as the Hotel Zone. 240 sunny days per year The hotels range from exclusive and expensive to more reasonably Time zone UTC -6 priced accommodation. Many are all-inclusive which means meals, drinks, activities, entertainment etc 25,000 hotel rooms are included in the room rate. You should check exactly what is included as some hotels vary. Nearly 400 restaurants The Hotel Zone is also where you will find the more expensive shops, clubs and bars. There are also Average temperature 30! large malls, restaurants, golf clubs and of course miles of beaches. In the Downtown area of Cancun Peak season Dec - April you will find traditional American retail outlets such as Sears, Blockbuster, as well as more Topless beaches available traditional Mexican stores such as Chedraui and Soriana. Downtown Drink purified or bottled tends to be where the locals shop and where you can find more water only reasonably priced items. There are

Cancun Factoids

20 Travel

Photo by Nadine Markova

Acapulco

Acapulco Do you fancy going “loco” in Acapulco? This vibrant and exciting city is located in southeast Mexico and is famous for the cliff divers at La Quebrada. Every day young men dive 50 metres from the cliffs into the sea. This is a skillful process because the divers have to coincide their dive with the incoming waves in order to prevent themselves from landing in the shallows, resulting in injury or even death. Hundreds of tourist gather to watch this spectacle and at night the divers hold torches whilst diving. Acapulco is a very popular tourist resort, second only to Cancun, especially for North Americans. It is also a popular destination of cruise ships. Since the 1990’s over US$1 billion has been invested in the city to upgrade the infrastructure as well as things such as waste management, sewage systems and water quality. Accommodations are available for every budget from the penthouse with ocean views to the more modest B&B’s. Many of the larger resort hotels are all-inclusive

offering everything from your food and drink to all your entertainment and water sports. Make sure you

Acapulco Factoids 360 sunny days per year Time zone UTC -6 Average temperature 33! Four championship golf courses La Quebrada dive shows at 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10 pm daily Drink purified or bottled water only CICI water park is great for kids Elvis Presley filmed “Fun in Acapulco” here

check exactly what is included in the price as this does vary between hotels. Acapulco is abundant with things to do especially water sports. You can scuba dive, sail, snorkel, waterski and para-sail as well as go deep sea fishing or simply swim in these beautiful waters. Golf is also a very popular pastime here and you will find many beautiful golf courses. The Mayan Palace Acapulco Golf Course is one of the most spectacular courses in the Mexican Pacific. It is surrounded by stunning scenery including lakes and palm trees. If you like a spot of nightlife then Acapulco will not disappoint you. You will find everything here from discos to quaint piano bars, spectacular shows to nightclubs. There really is something for everyone. Whilst in Acapulco you would be wise to include a visit to the Isla de la Roqueta. This is an island about ten minutes from the city, accessed by boat. There are many water taxies operating that will take you to the island for a couple of dollars. If you want to splash out then spend a few dollars more and

Travel 21 Chankanaab Park

opt for the glass-bottomed boat tour. The island itself has beautiful beaches with shallow areas which are safe for children. There are also well-maintained trails to explore as well as a lighthouse. If you like snorkeling or scuba diving then Roqueta is the place to be. Many tours are available allowing you to experience the beautiful coral reef and fish that surround the island. The visibility is brilliant and the tour guides excellent. Because the boats go to and from the island all day you can spend as much time as you like there and not feel rushed. You don’t have to go to Roqueta to find great beaches though. Acapulco has many beaches offering everything the tourist could want from beachfront restaurants to water sports. Shopping opportunities are also abundant in this vibrant city. There are two modern malls as well as smaller shopping centres and many traditional open-air markets.

whilst scuba diving with her children. A speedboat owned by a Mexican millionaire was in restricted Cozumel is an island off the waters when it hit Miss MacColl, Yucatan Peninsular in the Caribbean killing her instantly and injuring one Sea and is the largest island in of her children. Mexico. It is home to part of the On a lighter note the centre of the second largest reef in the world: island is made up of jungle and Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. swamps. Many of the mammals and Cozumel is world famous for its birds found here have never left the coral reefs and offers fantastic island. opportunities for scuba diving and The Chankanaab National Park is snorkeling. a natural habitat for local wildlife. The coral reefs were explored in You can visit the park which offers the 1950’s by Jacques Cousteau amenities such as beaches, diving and he soon made them popular as opportunities, shopping, one of the best places to scuba dive playgrounds and even sand in the world. Since the building of a wheelchairs for disabled visitors. modern airport in the 1970’s the One of the most popular island has grown in popularity and is attractions at the park is swimming now a major tourist destination. with dolphins. This is an activity for In 1996 the Cozumel Reefs children and adults alike and is National Marine Park was supervised by experienced staff established which prevented anyone making sure both dolphins and from touching or removing any humans are cared for. marine life within the park. Faro Celarain Eco Park is an Unfortunately this is a popular Ecological Reserve covering around location for boats and cruises and 1,000 hectares. There are five ecosome of the coral reefs have been systems within the reserve which damaged by boat activity. acts as a learning centre for visitors The area was made famous in and eco-tourists. There is a December 2000 when singer, museum, crocodile watching area songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed and catamaran tours. The beautiful

Cozumel

22 Travel Ruins at Chichen Itza Photo by Carlos Sanchez

Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

beach is where sea turtles come every year to lay their eggs and of course there is the barrier reef. If you prefer a little culture then you will want to visit San Gervasio which is the most important Mayan

Cozumel Factoids Part of second largest barrier reef in the world Average temperature 27! Underwater visibility up to 250 feet 25 species of fish 2 million visitors per year Use biodegradable sun block Over 90 restaurants & cafes Hundreds of weddings take place ever year

site on the island. You will see structures, carvings, temples, buildings and roads constructed by the Mayans many centuries ago. Cozumel’s Island Museum offers a geographic view and history of Cozumel in four exhibition rooms. The first room has a scale model of the island with details of the different areas and the geological and evolution of the island. The second room details the underwater environment including the formation of the coral reefs. The third room is dedicated to the Mayan history and the fourth is dedicated to the founders of Cozumal as it is today and how eco-tourism has developed. Many people choose to get married in Cozumel because the weather is almost guaranteed and the scenery offers a stunning backdrop to any wedding album. If you can’t get married here then it is a perfect place for your honeymoon. Cozumel offers everything from Mayan history to wildlife and of course the stunning barrier reef.

Mayan Ruins The ancient Mayan culture is centered around the Yucatan Peninsular and the lower rainforest of Mexico. The ruins have long been a mecca for tourists and culture buffs alike. Although there are many areas in Mexico where you can see these ancient ruins the two most famous are Palenque and Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is the best known and most visited location. The name literally means: "Mouth of the well of the Itza" and it is located 75 miles east of Merida and covers six square miles. Chichen is not entirely Mayan as it has some Toltec influences. The site was originally established by the Mayan sometime around 550 AD but was abandoned and resettled several times including once by the Toltec who had a strong influence on the building style. This has led to there being two sections to the ruins: one belonging to the Mayan period dating back to the 7th and 10th centuries and the second section being of Mayan-Toltec dating back to the 13th century. One of the best known buildings on the site is the Kukulkán's

Photo by Ruben Charles

Photo by Ruben Charles

Travel 23

Ruins at Palenque

Pyramid or El Castillo This pyramid is a square-based pyramid which extends 24 metres high and was originally built for astronomical purposes. The pyramid has four faces: one for each season, each with a wide staircase consisting of 91 steps leading to the top platform. Taking the number of steps and the platform itself it numbers 365: the number of days in the year. There are many other mathematical equations used in the construction of the pyramid including the fact that during the spring and fall equinoxes (March 21st and September 22nd) the sun falls on the structure in such a way as to suggest a serpent is descending the steps. Likewise during the winter solstice the sun appears to climb one staircase, sit on the platform then decent the adjacent staircase. Also at the site is the Ball Court which is the largest and finest example in Mexico. It measures 83 metres by 60 metres and was used by Mayan men to play a game called pok ta pok. Mayan prophecy predicts that on December 22nd 2012 the warrior serpent Kukulkán will rise from beneath the ground of the ball court and the world will end.

Temple of the Sun at Palenque

If you want to visit Chichen Itza you will find many hotels located close to the entrance of the ruins as well as in nearby Merida. Palenque is the second most popular Mayan site in Mexico. It is located near the city of Chiapas and dates back to between 100 BC and 800 AD. Although still not as popular or well-known as Chichen Itza it is actually much grander. One of the most beautiful buildings is the Temple of Inscriptions which houses the second longest glyphic text of the Mayan world. The pyramid is 60 metres wide and 27 metres high and afford stunning views across the countryside and mountains. The building consists of many rooms, chambers and courtyards. It also contains the tomb of Pakal the Great, a Mayan ruler of Palenque. You can walk down the steep stone steps to the burial chamber and visit the tomb yourself. Be warned that the humidity is intense, so much so that the stone walls seep water giving rise to the notion that they cry for their buried ruler. You might also notice the smell of bats, or rather their guano. It is well worth visiting the tomb, just be prepared for the smell, heat and humidity. Other buildings on the site include the Temple of the Cross, Temple of

the Sun and Temple of the Foliated Cross. All these temples are set atop pyramids, all with intricate carvings and all stepped. Still more buildings can be seen including the Temple of the Lion depicting a king in the form of a jaguar. There is also an aqueduct constructed with huge stone blocks and a great vault allowing the Otulum River to flow under the floor of the main plaza.

Mexico really does have something for everyone and it would be a shame for someone to visit and spend all the time on the beach when there is so much more to explore. If you think you may only visit Mexico once, then be prepared to visit many locations and explore what Mexico really has to offer. If you know you will visit time and time again then you have the luxury of being able to take in the beaches, the cities, the culture at your leisure. Just make sure that Mexico is on your list of “must-do’s.”

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

24 Lifestyle

Slow cooker recipes Jambalaya Ingredients: 475 ml Chicken Broth 9 g Creole seasoning 1 large green pepper, diced 1 large onion, diced 2 large stalks celery, diced 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes 455 g kielbasa, diced 340 g skinless, boneless chicken thigh, cut into cubes 185 g (uncooked) regular long-grain white rice 225 g fresh medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

Mix broth, Creole seasoning, pepper, onion, celery, tomatoes, kielbasa, chicken and rice in 3 1/2- to 6-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hr. (or on high 4 to 5 hr). Add shrimp. Cover and cook for 40 min. or until done.

Beef Barley Lentil Soup Ingredients: 455 g lean ground beef 110 g onion, chopped 310 g cubed red potatoes (1/4 inch pieces) 120 g chopped celery 130 g diced carrots 190 g dry lentils, rinsed 100 g medium pearl barley 1895 ml water 5 g beef bouillon granules 6 g salt 1 g lemon-pepper seasoning 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomato In a nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Layer with the potatoes, celery, carrots, lentils and barley. Combine the water, bouillon, salt and lemon-pepper; pour over vegetables. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until vegetables and barley are tender. Add the tomatoes; cook 2 hours.

Lifestyle 25

Chicken Fricassee Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped 6 cloves garlic, chopped 0.5 green bell pepper, chopped 8 small whole peeled potatoes 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce 120 ml dry white wine 3 g cumin 1 leaf fresh sage salt and pepper to taste 910 g chicken leg quarters

cook on Low heat until juices run clear, about 6 to 8 hours.

In a medium bowl, combine onion, garlic, bell pepper, and potatoes. Stir in tomato sauce and wine; season with cumin, sage leaf, and salt and pepper. Place chicken legs in slow cooker, and pour mixture over chicken. Cover, and

Cabbage Rolls Ingredients: 12 leaves cabbage 185 g cooked white rice 1 egg, beaten 60 ml milk 40 g minced onion 455 g extra-lean ground beef 8 g salt 3 g ground black pepper 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce 15 g brown sugar 15 ml lemon juice 5 ml Worcestershire sauce Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil cabbage leaves 2 minutes; drain. In large bowl, combine 1 cup cooked rice, egg, milk, onion, ground beef, salt, and pepper. Place about 1/4 cup of meat mixture in center of each cabbage leaf, and roll up, tucking in ends. Place rolls in slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix together tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over cabbage rolls. Cover, and cook on Low 8 to 9 hours.

Club 26Sequoia Lifestyle

The www.CanadiansTalk.ca website builds upon several small layers to form a unique vehicle to discuss issues affecting us all. Breaking down forums into individual communities, people across Canada can share thoughts and opinions at a local level, or engage broader national topics. Two years ago, I was looking for a site where I could communicate what was happening within my municipality. After being unsuccessful in my search, I decided to start my own. I figured that citizens of all over Canada had the same problem. With some hard work and many hours invested in promotion, today, we have grown to several hundred members with thousands of posts. The success of the site depends greatly on the members contributing. We have some very upstanding members that have been recruited as moderators for their local forums. They facilitate and moderate discussions to keep everyone civil. Sometimes discussions can become very heated! But, that just demonstrates the passion our members have for their communities and their Country. We are always on the look out for intelligent individuals who want to spend some time to moderate their community. Being a non-profit site, there is no pay, but there are benefits of engaging conversation that open up new ideas and change people’s perceptions. We have many other forums besides our bread and butter community forums. Some are Religion, Sports, Techie (If you require some type of computer assistance or just want to talk about the new gadgets available), Jokes, Travel & Entertainment, Cooking & Recipes, Politics, Business and Trade etc. There are over 100 different forums to fancy everyone! One recent topic of discussion is the Big Three Bailout. Members from inside the big three to those on the sidelines are sharing opinions. It really gives good insight to ideas and perceptions that one may not ordinarily be subject to. So, if you are interested in sharing your views, opinions, and getting into important discussions I encourage you to visit www.CanadiansTalk.ca. Tell them that Glenn sent you… “The happiness of every country depends upon the character of its people, rather than the form of its government.” - Thomas C. Haliburton (Canadian Writer, 1796-1865)

Canada’s population As of 1st October 2008 the Canadian population is estimated to be 33,441,300 This is an additional 129,900 since 1st July 2008 71,300 immigrants landed in the third quarter Alberta led the field in demographic growth Saskatchewan had the highest net interprovincial rate Ontario’s growth was below the national average for the fourth quarter in a row Quebec saw the highest growth since 1991 All Atlantic provinces saw population increases

Lifestyle 27

Canada fails in UNICEF child care report different range of services but this report was based on the country ranking 25 developed countries in overall. order of the child care services they Although there is progress in many offer. Canada came in joint last! parts of Canada, Nigel Fisher, Ten benchmarks were used in the President and CEO of UNICEF 1 per cent of GDP spent on early • report: Canada states that “greater equity in childhood services the provision and monitoring of • Child poverty rate less than 10 • Parental leave of one year at 50 quality services would give all per cent per cent of salary Canadian children the chance for the Near-universal outreach of • • A national plan with priority for the best possible start in life. essential child health services disadvantaged “This report clearly shows that • Subsidized and regulated child quality child care and educational Only one country, Sweden met all care services for 25 per cent of services with strong family supports, ten benchmarks. Iceland met nine children under 3 such as effective parental leave, are and Denmark, Finland and France • Subsidized and accredited early crucial to both our children’s and our each met eight. education services for 80 per cent nation’s potential,” Canada and Ireland both only of 4-year-olds Other notable countries included managed to meet the benchmark • 80 per cent of all child care staff the United States which met three stipulating that at least 50 per cent of trained benchmarks, Australia met two, staff in accredited early education • 50 per cent of staff in accredited United Kingdom met five, New services had post-secondary early education services tertiary Zealand, six and Japan four. education with relevant educated with relevant The full report titled The Child Care qualifications. qualification Transition can be downloaded in pdf UNICEF accepts that there are • Minimum staff-to-children ratio of format via this link. variants across the country with 1:15 in pre-school education different provinces offering a

UNICEF recently released a report

Your donations will have a lifelong impact! By sending a child to camp who otherwise would not be able to attend. By helping us finance post secondary educations for children who have grown up in care & overcome numerous challenges in their short lives.

The Children’s Aid Society of Brant Endowment Fund Your donations & estate gift giving will help us invest in a child’s future! Call: 519-752-9094 Fran Welsh Thank

you.

28 Lifestyle

Which games console? These days we are all well aware of Playstation 3 the games phenomenon sweeping the world. Only a few years ago, games consisted of a board and some counters or perhaps for those with more money a pingpong game on their Atari. These days most households either have a games console or know someone who has. So, what is all the fuss about and which one is the best to buy? There are several games consoles, some connect to your TV and others are hand-held. All have their place in modern society and it depending on what you want your console for dictates which one you buy.

Nintendo Wii

excellent online gaming via Xbox Live and is for the most part backwards compatible.

Sony PSP

The Playstation 3 (PS3) is for true gamers and includes an excellent Blu-ray HD disc player as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. This machine has the excellent graphics that gamers demand with both high definition and realism. It lacks backward compatibility with older Playstation games. If you want a good gaming machine and Blu-ray player then you won’t go far wrong with the Playstation 3.

The PSP has been a firm favorite in the hand-held market for many years now. It has a large high resolution screen and easy to use controls. The latest version is also lightweight and thin and can play music and movies on UND discs. It is the best available hand held console on the market, but is more expensive than its competitors.

Nintendo DS

Xbox 360

There is no doubt that the Wii has gripped everyones imagination. It has an innovative motion-sensitive Wiimote which allows the user to interact with the games like never before. The graphics are not in the same league as the Xbox or Playstation but the Wii attracts a different buyer than traditional gaming machines. The Wii is backward compatible with other Nintendo games such as the GameCube but has no DVD or CD playbck facility. It does have WiFi and Bluetooth compatibility. If you want good old-fashioned family fun then look no further, but hard-core games will not be swayed.

The DS is unique in that it has two three inch screens, one of which is a touchscreen. It is lightweight and user friendly. It does not play music or movies like the PSP but does offer microphone enabled gameplay and Wi-Fi capability. It is also backward The Xbox 360 offers the most compatible with Game Boy superior graphics of any console Advanced games. making it a firm favorite with hardThe DS, like its bigger brother the core gamers. Although plagued with Wii, offers something a little faults after its launch, most now different from traditional games seemed to have been ironed out. machines and if you want fun and a It has a built-in Blu-ray player and child-friendly hand-held then look a superior selection of games no further. compared to the PS3. It also offers

Lifestyle 29

Top Canadian… TV shows 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

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

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

CD’s 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Dark Horse, Nickelback Circus, Britney Spears Promise, Il Divo Black Ice, AC/DC Fearless, Taylor Swift Muchmdance 2009, Various Winter Came, Enya

8. Chinese Democracy, Guns N Roses 9. Un Jour Noel, Marie-elaine Thibert 10. Elvis Christmas Duets, Elvis Presley

DVD’s 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The Dark Knight (PG) Mama Mia (PG) Burn After Reading (14A) Death Race (18A) Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PG)

6. Traitor (14A) 7. The House Bunny (PG) 8. Wanted (18A) 9. Step Brothers (14A) 10. The Women (18A)

Fiction paperbacks 1. The Shack, William P Young 6. Heart and Soul, Maeve Binchy 2. The Appeal, John Grisham 7. Three Day Road, Joseph 3. Thousand Splendid Suns, Boyden Khaked Hosseini 8. T is for Trespass, Sue Grafton 4. The Book of Negroes, 9. World Without End, Ken Follett Lawrence Hill 10. The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga 5. The Pagan Stone, Nora Roberts

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

5. The Host, Stephanie Meyer 6. The Origin of Species, Nino Ricci 7. A Most Wanted Man, John le Carre 8. The Private Patient, P D James 9. A Mercy, Toni Morrison 10. Just After Sunset, Stephen King

30 Working Life Sequoia Club

How to get credit for your ideas at work but ...'" However, such disclaimers may result in the rest of the message being ignored. You are at a meeting to discuss "Women are often conditioned not ideas for implementing a new to brag about their accomplishments program in your company. After while men are trained to do exactly some discussion, you tentatively that," says Sandra Beckwith, author throw out an idea. It is ignored. of "Why Can't a Man Be More Like a Ten minutes later, one of your coWoman?" "I advise women to mimic workers says "Hey, here's an idea ..." male confidence when presenting and restates your suggestion almost their ideas so they are more likely to word for word. This time, "your" idea be heard and get the appropriate is met with a chorus of "Great idea!" credit." from your colleagues. "Be assertive when putting an idea If this has ever happened to you, forth," says Pamela J. Holland, coyou are not alone. author of "Help! Was That a Career Sonia Herasymowych, Ph.D., a Limiting Move?" "If you float consultant on mental diversity, says something out at a meeting, but do one reason ideas are sometimes not so without conviction -- even if it's acknowledged the first time they're brilliant -- there's a chance that it will stated is because of differences in be overlooked or maybe even thinking styles. jumped on by someone else who Right-brained thinkers tend to be recognizes its value and quickly intuitive. They may jump to a takes it on as their conclusion and express it before own." their left-brained colleagues have arrived at the same conclusion. It is 2. Tell your boss only after the discussion has logically led to the idea that it is likely to be Andrea Kay, author embraced by the left-brained thinkers, Herasymowych says. of "Life's a Bitch and Whether or not you get credit for Then You Change your ideas depends not only on Careers," says, when they are communicated, but on "Make a point to let how they are communicated. Here your boss know are some communication techniques about your to help you get credit for your ideas. achievements and worthy ideas. Don't assume he or she 1. Communicate with will notice. Bosses confidence are too busy with their own problems. If you've got an idea In her book "Talking From 9 to 5," on how to improve a Deborah Tannen reports that process, project or employees who get heard at relationship, meetings tend to be those who increase sales or speak more directly, loudly and at greater length than their co-workers. save the day, speak Says Tannen, "Many people try to up. "If you can't get avoid seeming presumptuous by face time with your prefacing their statements with a boss, write it down," disclaimer such as, 'I don't know if Kay says. "If it's via this will work, but ...' or 'You've e-mail, put in the probably already thought of this,

By Tag Goulet, FabJob.com

subject line: 'How to save the Turner account' or 'How to save $50,000 on training costs.'"

3. Get support from others "If you have a great idea, market it internally and discuss it with multiple people, which allows you to take ownership of your ideas and prevents others from appropriating them as their own," recommends Peter Handal, president and CEO of Dale Carnegie Training. "However, give credit where it's due and if you share the idea with someone and they come up with another idea that enhances yours, prepare to market it as a joint idea," adds Handal.

CareerBuilder® is one of Canada’s top job sites allowing you to get the best and most up-to-date employment information available. Sign up completely free to receive job recommendations or add your resume to allow employers to search for you.

Working Life 31

Sequoia Club In other workplaces, it may be better to let it go. Handal warns, "If you're working as part of a team, aggressively taking credit for your ideas can make you look like an insecure egomaniac."

5. Get something better than credit What if it's your boss who takes credit for something you've come up with? "If your boss takes the credit, they owe you one," says Ted Sun, Ph.D., 4. Set the record straight executive coach and author of "Secrets of Biz Success." If someone takes credit for your idea "Don't lose sight of the fact that your No. 1 most important job is to and you're in a competitive workplace, you may need to set the support your manager and make him or her look good," Holland says. "If record straight. Beckwith advises, that means letting this person take "Write a memo after the fact that credit for what you've done, so be it. makes it clear where the idea came The rewards you reap behind the from -- 'I'm glad to see that Bob scenes in terms of your performance liked my idea, which was to...'" appraisal, career support, etc.,



should offset it, provided you work for a manager whom you trust and who shows respect and consideration for you in other ways." If your boss routinely takes credit for your ideas without rewarding you, it may be time to look for a new job. But Steven L. Katz, author of "Lion Taming: Working Successfully with Leaders, Bosses, and Other Tough Customers," has a different point of view. "When it comes to bosses, clients and others who you want to engage in your ideas, the critical test of the value of an idea is if they do make it their own," Katz says. "Better than credit, what you really want in an organization is influence!" Tag Goulet is co-founder of FabJob.com, a publisher of career guides offering step-by-step advice for breaking into a variety of dream careers. Visit www.FabJob.com to subscribe to the free career newsletter.

Club 32Sequoia Working Life

Advertorial

Creating a positive business image and my money to help others and always offering a hand. As I write this, I immediately thought of how right she was and more to the point how important it is for a business person to always, always put their best foot forward. Indeed, the times are changing and no matter how positive we are, we must remain abreast of the economy and the changing world around us. When a person chooses to be an entrepreneur, they need to be prepared for everything. Putting a suit of armor on just doesn’t do justice to protect them from what they are about to experience. An entrepreneur is a creative person who allows pieces of their inner selves to be exposed by sharing their creativity and ideas for public display. When one opens Recently, a fellow entrepreneur themselves up to public scrutiny, whom I admire for her positive both positive and negative will surely attitude and her tenacity for never come your way. giving up through many ups and I believe that remaining positive is downs sent me an email that helped the best possible attitude an me to see all the wonderful things entrepreneur can have, is it easy – 2008 presented to me. absolutely not. When you are This comes at a time when I was bombarded with people who are being influenced by some negative threatened by your success or comments about myself and my possible success they become business. She went on to tell me negative and because of you their how blessed I was with having a self-confidence is shaken. People new love in my life, my business goals and visions coming to fruition, show their fear of your success by gossiping or giving you bad advice winning the Business Person of when you are sharing your ideas. 2008, Phenomenal Woman 2008 This advice comes from different Award, Readers Choice Award and angles such as family, friends and more….. fellow business people we network The thing that influenced this with. months article is her comments What I have learned is that it is about me always doing business always about their inner issues and with integrity, always showing never about you. Being in business honesty to everyone, engaging everyone involved and being upfront means that you are in the public and with changes, volunteering my time open to criticism, gossip and negative comments.

By Tina Dezsi

So what can a business person do? Firstly, in order to maintain your conviction you must surround yourself with positive people who help to build you up. Yes, that might mean eliminating the energy vampires, understanding and accepting the ones that continue to shoot you down. If you believe in what you stand for and what you are doing then others comments can’t possibly hurt you. You as an entrepreneur must first understand what you have to offer, what you stand for and always maintain your integrity. Follow through with your promises and offer only the very best foot forward. Maintain a positive attitude and write your goals down. Your vision should be very clear - enough to carry you through. Make sure you continue to do business with integrity and honesty - offer your clients that very best of you. Never ever compromise your values - no matter how much gossip you hear. You do not have to share all your secrets with others, when people start to interrogate you – maintain your composure and understand it is their way of finding out how you continue to be a step ahead and create success. You are obligated to be the best possible person and influence you can be. Never gossip yourself about others and always offer positive solutions for every situation. Be

Working Life 33

Sequoia Club

cautious of being sucked into someone else's vortex of negativity. Why is this important you might ask? It is of the utmost importance for your clients to continue to have confidence in you and for your business to prosper. The people who offer only negative energy will always fall flat of their goals and will show their own true colours to others – you will not need to do anything to help that along. Have faith in what you are doing and who you are. You will come out ahead. Image is more about all of this then the clothes you wear. Share the gifts you have been blessed with and know that you are making a difference in others lives. Tina Dezsi, CEO, Founder Power of Women Exchange, a networking group for women entrepreneurs, executives and business professionals that provides the tools for women to empower themselves to create success on their own terms.

Tina is a writer, facilitator, business coach and leader in inspiring people to plan their path to success. She teaches marketing and sales for the women's market and building mutually beneficial relationships with networking. Tina offers tips on her blog at www.powe.ca. Tina provides numerous workshops on these subjects. She is also a successful Canadian Jewelry Designer of her own line called Jewelry by T. Check out her site at www.tinadezsidesigns.com.

POWE Chapters Bay of Quinte Meets at the Holiday Inn, Trenton on the 4th Tuesday of each month Registration from 11:00 am. Clarington Meets at Bobby C’s Dockside in Bowmanville on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Registration from 6:30 pm. Durham East Get together at the The Oshawa and District Shrine Club in Oshawa on the 1st Tuesday of each month. Registration from 11:00 am.

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

Durham West The Forest Brook Community Church in Ajax is the location of this meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month with registration from 11:00 am. Markham This chapter meets at Victoria Square Community Centre on the 2nd Tuesday of the month with registration at 11:00 am.

www.crosmazandbrown.com Vintage One-Of-A-Kind Re-Designed Jewellery Home Parties jewellery in the convenience of your own home. No last minute panic, no crowds and no worries! I will even gift wrap that special gift for you at no extra charge. Or add to your own jewellery collection. Book Your Own Jewellery Party and receive bonus discounts Party bookings in a 50 mile radius of Campbellford, ON

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

Coming Soon…. Scugog/Uxbridge Kitchener Waterloo

Sticking your head in the sand won’t help.

[email protected] 705-653-0726 Marketing your business will. Websites & graphic design Email marketing Banners & trade show displays

polodesign.ca 613•392•2011

34 Money

Tax-Free Savings Accounts - get a quick start out of the gate in 2009

Money 35 Opening a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) can offer you and your family the opportunity to earn a significant amount of investment income tax-free. Though your contributions to this new type of tax-assisted savings account will not be tax deductible l the investment income and capital gains earned on investments in the account will be tax-free. You'll be able to withdraw this income and your contributions to your TFSA at any time without tax consequences.

How much can you contribute? You can contribute up to $5,000 per year to a TFSA starting in 200g1 as long as you are 18 or older and resident in Canada. The $51000 annual contribution limit will be indexed to inflation in $500 increments starting in 2010. You can carry forward unused contribution room indefinitely. You can hold more than one TFSA, subject to your contribution limit.

and can be re-contributed in the future. For example, if you contribute $5,000 in January 2009 and you decide to withdraw $41000 in June 2009 so that you have only $1,000 remaining in your TFSA, you will not be able to re-contribute the $4,000 you withdrew until 2010. At that time, you will be able to recontribute the $4,000 withdrawal Families can benefit along with your new $5,000 contribution limit for 2010, for a total from TFSAs of $9,000. Investment income earned in your TFSAs include an attractive TFSA works the same way. For feature for families in which one examplel if your $5,000 investment in 2009 earns $250 and you spouse has more income than withdraw the $5,250 in December the other: You can give funds to 2010 you can re-contribute the your spouse to establish his or entire $5,250 in 2010 along with her own TFSA and the normal your $5,000 contribution limit for income attribution rules that that year or $10,250 in total. would tax the investment In a similar vein if you invest your income in your hands will not $5,000 TFSA contribution in the apply. stock market and your share As a result, with careful investment appreciates rapidly to planning, a family should be able $20,000, for example you could sell to avoid paying tax on the the shares and realize the $15,000 income they earn on their first tax-free capital gain in the TFSA, withdraw the $20,000 cash $10,000 of savings each year, proceeds and still be able to restarting in 2009. contribute the full $20,000 amount to the TFSA in addition to any other unused TFSA contribution room in Withdrawing funds the following year or later. As a resultl you could potentially You can make a tax-free withdrawal contribute significantly more than from a TFSA at any time. When you $5,000 annually and therefore earn make such a withdrawal, the amount more tax-free investment income. withdrawn will be added to your contribution room in the next year

Which in vestments qualify? TFSAs will generally be allowed to hold the same qualified investments as RRSPs such as cash, guaranteed investment certificates (GICS)~te rm deposits, mutual funds, government and corporate bondsl publicly traded securities and in certain cases' shares of small business corporations. Note that your TFSA cannot hold investments in “non-arm's length entities, which generally means companies in which you, your spouse and other related persons, either individually or collectively, own 10% or more of the shares. Like an RRSP interest on funds borrowed and fees incurred to invest in a TFSA are not tax-deductible but unlike an RRSP, a TFSA can be used as collateral for a loan. Keep in mind when choosing your investments that capital losses realized in a TFSA cannot be

KPMG observation Consider putting investments that are expected to increase significantly in value over a short time in a TFSA because the income and capital gains earned can be withdrawn tax-free at any time and any withdrawals you make will create additional contribution room.

36 Money claimed against capital gains realized outside the TFSA account.

Where should you invest your savings? With all its advantages, you'll want to consider making a TFSA an important part of your tax and financial planning. Of coursel you'll need to weigh these advantages against the benefits of other taxassisted savings plans such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) and Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP), and other financial priorities such as paying down your mortgage. Whether you choose to save your money in an RRSP, RESP, or a TFSA will depend on your circumstances. Generally, if you have suficient resources, you should invest in all the relevant plans. Though TFSA savings are initially limited, as contribution room increases, a TFSA can become a significant supplement to your RRSP.

deduction you get today will be more than the tax you will pay when you withdraw the money from your RRSP. If your income falls into a lower tax bracket now but you expect it to be higher in the future, a TFSA offers a greater tax benefit because you would pay a higher tax rate on RRSP withdrawals than you will pay today on the income you contribute to the TFSA.

RESPs and TFSAs If you're saving for your child's

education, keep in mind that, unlike a TFSA, an RESP offers an annual guaranteed rate of return of $500 (20% on $2,500 annual contributions) via the federal government's Canada Education Savings Grant. Although RESP withdrawals are taxed, they are taxed in the hands of the student who receives them, not the parent who made the contributions. If the student's income is low enough, and taking into account tax credits such as the tuition and education creditsl the RRSPs and TFSAs student may have little or no tax to pay on the RESP withdrawal. A TFSA is like a mirror image of an Once your children turn lB1 you RRSP: RRSP contributions are tax- may want to consider giving them deductible but the contributions funds to invest in their own TFSAs and investment earnings are taxed to help finance their postwhen you withdraw them. TFSA secondary education or other contributions are not tax-deductible expenses. but withdrawals of contributions and investment income are taxTFSA vs. mortgage payfree. down As such, your best tax strategy for dividing your investments If you're considering whether to between TFSAs and RRSPs may depend on any differences between invest in a TFSA or pay down your your current tax bracket and the mortgage, it probably makes sense one you expect to be in when you in most cases to reduce your nonstart withdrawing funds from your deductible mortgage interest as RRSP. soon as possible. If you expect your future income to fall into the same tax bracket as Funds earning interest your current income, the tax benefits of a TFSA and an RRSP Assuming you have TFSA will be similar. That is, the value of contribution rooml it almost always the tax deduction for an RRSP contribution will generally equal the makes sense to invest in a TFSA if value of withdrawing funds tax-free you have money sitting in a bank account earning taxable interest. from a TFSA. www.cedarlanefinancial.com If you expect your future income TFSAs for seniors to fall into a lower tax bracket than your current income, an RRSP investment can provide a tax Unlike an RRSP, which has to be advantage because the tax wound up when you reach age 71,

(e) The deferre Money 37 contribution you can maintain your TFSA for your entire lifetime. For example, a TFSA can provide a tax benefit for individuals over 71 who want to save income they receive because they are required to begin drawing down their retirement savings. For example, excess after-tax funds received from an annuity or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) can be saved in a TFSA, subject to the available contribution room. Middle-income seniors may want to note that income earned in a TFSA does not affect their eligibility for federal income-tested benefits and credits such as Old Age Security, the Age credit! Guaranteed Income Supplement and GST credit.

Special situations Various rules apply to special situations, including the death of a

TFSA holder and ceasing Canadian residency. Some violations of the TFSA rules may trigger penalties. Death - Generallyl investment income earned in the TFSA after the account holder's death is no longer tax-exempt. Special provisions apply where there is a surviving spouse. Non-residents - If you become non-resident, you can maintain your existing TFSA and your investment income and withdrawals will remain exempt from Canadian tax. However' while you are nonresident, no new contribution room will accrue. You must also consider foreign tax implications of TFSA income and withdrawals, if they apply. For instance, while earnings in a TFSA will be tax-free for Canadian tax purposes, they will be taxable for U.S. tax purposes. However, it may still be beneficial for a U.S. citizen to establish a TFSA if he or she has sufficient foreign tax credits to absorb the additional income

reported for U.S. income tax purposes. Withholding tax does not apply to a non-resident's withdrawals from a TFSA but it may apply to payments made to a non-resident beneficiary from a deceased's TFSA. Penalties - If you go over your available TFSA contribution room! your excess contribution amount will attract a penalty of 1% per month until you withdraw it.

(f) The total of contribution pensionable

Your TFSA should be only one component of your financial planning strategy. Your KPMG adviser can help you to devise a practical and comprehensive investment and tax planning strategy to help keep you on track toward reaching your personal financial goals. For details, contact your KPMG adviser. www.kpmg.ca

!"#$

Club 38Sequoia Money

!"#$%"&"'#()*+'(,-'#%$./#$-'(0$&$#1 2007

2008

2009

$ 20,000

$ 21,000

$ 22,000

111,111

116,667

122,222

2010

Money Purchase Registered Pension Plans Contribution limita Pensionable earningsb

To be calculateda

Registered Retirement Savings Plans

Contribution l

Contribution limitc

$ 19,000

$ 20,000

$ 21,000

$ 22,000

Earned incomed

105,555

111,111

116,667

122,222

Pensionable earningsf

Pensionable e

Registered R Savings Plans

Contribution l

Deferred Profit Sharing Plans Contribution limite

Money Purch Pension Plan

Earned incom

$ 10,000

$ 10,500

$ 11,000

55,555

58,333

61,111

Deferred Pro To be a Sharing Plan calculated

Notes

Contribution l

Pensionable e

(a) The money purchase registered pension plan (RPP) contribution limits indicated in the table Notes are the minimum limits that apply each year. For 2007 to 2009, this amount will, in general, be (a) The money p compared to the 2005 contribution limit of $18,000, indexed by an inflation factor equal to the are the minim average wage for the applicable year divided by the average wage for 2005. If this indexed compared to average wage amount is greater than the limit indicated in the table, then the revised higher amount will amount is gre become the contribution limit for the year.

become the c

For 2010 and subsequent years, the contribution limit will be the greater of the limit for the previous year, and the 2009 contribution limit indexed as indicated above.

For 2010 and previous year

(b) The total of all employer and employee contributions to an RPP are limited to the lesser of the (b) current year’s contribution limit and 18% of the employee’s pensionable earnings for the year. The amount of pensionable earnings that generates the contribution room each year is indicated in the table. (c) The registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contribution limits are equal to the RPP contribution limits for the preceding year.

The total of a current year’ The amount o indicated in t

(c) The registere contribution

(d) The total of a contribution carry-forward the contributi

(d) The total of all contributions to an RRSP are limited to the lesser of the current year’s contribution limit and 18% of an individual’s earned income for the preceding year, plus any carry-forward contribution room (see page 54). The amount of earned income that generates (e) the contribution room each year is indicated in the table.

The deferred contribution

(e) The deferred profit sharing plan (DPSP) contribution limits are equal to one-half of the RPP (f) The total of a contribution limits for the year. contribution

(f) The total of all employer contributions to a DPSP are limited to the lesser of the current year’s pensionable e contribution limit and 18% of an employee’s pensionable earnings for the year. The amount of pensionable earnings that generates the contribution room each year is indicated in the table.

!"#$

Money 39

RENT

or

CHILDCARE

Over 1 million Canadians can’t afford both. The high cost of Transport housing forces many people to make choices no one should have to make. You can choose to help. To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca

Canada brochure

! ! !"#$%&'()*$+,+-+#.'%/'012.+&#'3#.1&$%'4!(035' ! "#$%!&'!(!)*+!,*-!.-*,&+!*-/()&0(+&*)!121&3(+21!+*! 2143(+&)/!()1!&)'.&-&)/!5*4)/!.2*.62!(7*4+!74'&)2''8! 23*)*9&3'!()1!2)+-2.-2)24-':&.!+:-*4/:!:()1';*)! 62(-)&)/!.-*/-(9'*-=8!2+:&3'8!/*(6;! '2++&)/!()1!&)1&?&14(6!&)&+&(+&?2:*!2)(762!4'!+*!*,,2-! @4(6&+5!.-*/-(9'!>&+:*4+!3:(-/2!+*!'3:**6'8!'+412)+'! *-!.(-2)+'27'&+2!(+!>>>
Free charity advertising Muchmor Media wants to help Canadian charities to promote their causes by offering a free quarter page advertising spot in Muchmor Canada Magazine. If a registered charity wants to take advantage of this offer simply contact us at [email protected] Muchmor Media will place ads on a rotating basis each month and reserves the right to amend or refuse ads.

Club 40Sequoia Muchmor

Muchmor Canada 2008 Want to know where to find what in our 2008 back issues? Here is a handy look-up for you to use. Once you find the article you want simply click on the corresponding month. Each issue also includes our regular monthly features.

Discover Canada

Lethbridge, AB

April

London, ON

January

Montreal, QC

January

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

May

Off the beaten path in Manitoba

August

Prince Edward County, ON

May

Quebec City, QC

January

All shook up in Collingwood

July

Quinte Country, ON

July

Arctic Circle road trip

July

Rideau Canal, ON

February

Belleville, ON

June

Sandbanks Provincial Park, ON

April

Best places to live

March

Sherbrooke, QC

January

Brandon, MB

October

Summer in the city - Winnipeg

September

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

March

The Rockies by train

May

Calgary Stampede, AB

February

The sunshine coast, British Columbia

April

Canada Day

June

Tiptoe through the tulips

April

Watson Lake, YT

January

Churchill - The polar bear capital of the world

October

Dawson City, YT

January

June

Discover Durham Region, ON

Nov / Dec

Whistler, AB

January

Edmonton, AB

February

Whitehorse, YT

January

Explore Algonquin

September

Winnipeg - the hearth of North America

August

Explore the Swan Valley, MB

October

Floating for furs

September

Food glorious food in Manitoba

September

Gatineau, QC

January

Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump

April

In search of dinosaurs

March

In search of lake monsters

December

Inuit History

January

Kingston, On - The limestone city

August

Best winter sports around

November

Lethbridge, AB

January

Costa del Sol, Spain

October

Whale watching in Newfoundland and Labrador

Travel

Muchmor 41 Flights of fancy

February

Job hunting while employed

May

Whistler winter wonderland

December

Mind your interview manners

May

No degree, no job?

July

Odd job titled & what they mean

September

Power of women exchange

June

Seven steps to achieving your dream

June

Six ways to prepare for a layoff

December

So how hard do you work?

September

So you want to be a Realtor eh?

August

Supersize your job offer

March

Lifestyle

Are you living in the best place?

October

Take charge of your career

March

Back to school shopping

August

Ten craziest excuses for being late

October

Film and DVD classification

August

Ten worst things to do at a meeting

December

I have a complaint

August

Top ten email mistakes

July

Perfect preserves

September

Top ten party offenses

December

Protect yourself against identity theft

April

Women in business

August

Swapping snow for cacti - Arizona

Nov / Dec

Working from home

April

Money

Working Life

Average weekly earnings

January

Investing in the U.S. Housing market

July

Canada’s top employers

Jan / Nov

Federal & provincial tax

February

Creating balance in your life

December

July

Five lies we tell at work

June

Line of credit or loan?

April

Five people you meet at the holiday party December

Reduce our taxes, give to charity

June

Five steps to an e-friendly resume

September

Saving money at the grocery store

September

Going green at work

June

Saving money in these uncertain times

December

Ignite your business

September

Saving, the tax free way

April

Taxes

February

Those taxing issues

March

Is your future boss researching you online?

November

Club 42Sequoia Muchmor

Travel insurance, plans for every need October Using RRSP’s for your down payment June Why will are so important

Kidzone

January

Motoring

Activities for summer



August

Back to school technology

September

Canadian students survey

January

Christmas presents for your family

December

All revved up - Toronto Motor Show

March

Do you have what it takes to be a cadet? October

Average gas prices

September

Game reviews

May

Canadian vehicle prices

June

Girl Guides in Canada

January

Demerit points

February

Help, my parents are taking me to Canada

Don’t let your car fall into a recession too December

February

Fuel efficient vehicles

June

Most wanted Christmas presents

November

Graduated driving explained

March

Plan backyard treasure hunt

August

Green rebates on cars

January

School curriculum

February

Summer camps

March

Have gas prices affected your travel plans?

September

Tackling peer pressure

July

Know before you tow

July

What will you learn in school

January

New cars on the block

October

The mystery of the roundabout

October

Top 10 funniest cars

September

Types of driving licence

January

What is a hybrid car?

December

What’s best for 2009

November

Winter car tips

December

Moving to Canada

A dream rebuilt - real life

August

Brockville, ON - real life

January

Buying a car in Nova Scotia

August

Changes to immigration system

May

Choosing is confusing

June

Muchmor 43 Claiming points for Canadian relatives August

Your British state pension and living in

Countdown to Canada

December

Canada

October

Driving in Nova Scotia

July

Yukon Nominee Program

January

Foreign-born Canadians

January

Have you talked to us lately?

October

Helping new Brits in Nova Scotia

August

Immigrants do better in small towns

February

Immigration medical

June

Kids questions

March

Landing for the first time as a resident

November

Language testing

June

Moving with kids

April

New Canadian Experience Class

September

New skilled worker criteria announced December Nova scotia bound - real life

Health & Wellness

A good night’s sleep

April

Change your lifestyle to stop snoring

August

Clearing snow without injury

December

Concern over failing health of new March / April / July

Canadians

November

Obtaining police certificates

August

Coping with grief

October

Pets and immigration

February

Coping with pelvic pain

May

Plying catch-up - real life

October

Extreme dieting

December

PNP program updates

June

Hair loss

October

PR card replacement

July

Just how long should we wait for breast cancer

Prepare for your new life

February

treatment?

September

Processing times get longer

March

Keeping your workout fresh

November

Proof of funds

July

Learning to breath - stress and anxiety

Research, research, research

September

Rural living in Nova Scotia

October

Seeking pension integrity for Brits

December

Setting immigration goals

July

Shattered dreams - real life

February

Simplify or not

March

Travel insurance

July

Vancouver - real life

May

Welcome to Halifax - real life

February

What paperwork do I need?

December

management

November

Mammograms do save lives

September

Natural cures help for allergy treatment October Pap testing for women

April

Smoking trends in Canada

October

Surprising things about Botox

June

Testicular cancer

August

The health of Canada

July

Understanding autism spectrum disorders

June

Walk with a goal

August

Club 44Sequoia Muchmor

Home & Garden

Add a bathroom

July

Preparing your garden for fall

September

Re-bloom the poinsettia - but how?

December

Realtor V’s sale by owner

April

Renting property in Canada

August

Septic systems explained

March

Staging your home to sell

April

The changing Alberta property market

August

The truth about water

September

Tile ads way to add personality to your home

Angel the donkey need s a new owner September

October

Attracting birds to your garden

April

Top wallpaper myths debunked

October

Backyard bliss

July

Understanding condos

July

Bed bugs and your family

December

Using your space

June

Buying a house with a well

April

What’s up with this market

February

Christmas decorations

December

Colour is the key to brightening a home June Considering a condo?

September

Countdown to moving day

November

Decorate to generate profit

September

Decorating a child’s room

November

Driveway makeovers

June

Flooring to use inside our home

December

Getting started in container gardening

August

Home theatre know-how

November

How to reface kitchen cabinets

August

Making the most of a condo

May

Million dollar properties

March

Mosquito myths

June

New technologies for replacement windows

November

Not all waste is created equal

September

Pesky bird problems

June

Plant enemies

July

Prepare your home now for the winter ahead

October

Go straight to an issue January

July

February

August

March

September

April

October

May

November

June

December

Kidzone 45

Top kids stuff… Bestselling books 1. The Tales Of Beedle The Bard, 7. Twilight Movie Companion, J K Rowling Stephanie Meyer 2. New Moon, Stephanie Meyer 8. Gallop, Rufus Seder 3. Twilight, Stephanie Meyer 9. One False Note, Gorden 4. Eclipse, Stephanie Meyer Korman 5. Breaking Dawn, Stephanie 10. The Tale of Despereaux, Meyer Dicamillo & Ering 6. Love You Forever, Munsch & McGraw

DVD rental 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The Dark Knight (PG) Step Brothers (14A) Horton Hears a Who! (G) Hancock (PG) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG)

6. Fred Claus (PG) 7. WALL-E (G) 8. Shrek the Halls (G) 9. Fly Me to the Moon (G) 10. The Longshots (PG)

Video games X-Box 360 Prince of Persia (T) Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (T) Need for Speed: Undercover (T) PS3 Prince of Persia (T) Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (T) Need for Speed: Undercover (T)

Wii Wii Music (E) Animal Crossing: City Folk (E) Star Wars: The Clone Wars Lightsaber Duels (T) Nintendo DS Pokemon Diamond (E) Pokemon Pearl (E) Diddy Kong Racing (E)

Movies in theatres 1. The Tale of Despereaux (G) 2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (G) 3. Twilight (PG) 4. Bedtime Stories (G) 5. Four Christmases (PG)

6. Bolt (G) 7. Delgo (PG) 8. Nothing Like the Holidays (PG) 9. Yes Man (PG) 10. Quantum of Solace (PG)

46 Kidzone

5 baby steps in overcoming shyness By Kevin Hensey So you are shy ... but then, who isn’t? In fact, everyone is shy. It is just that some people are good in masking what they are feeling and not let others know that they are shy. However, too much shyness could be detrimental to your social life. Here are some steps to help you overcome your shyness. These steps will allow you to come out of your shell at your own pace and at your own will. Overcoming shyness need not be forced upon you by anybody.

1. Know thyself The best perspective is from the inside out when compared to looking from the outside in. Remember, you know yourself best. As much as possible, be honest with yourself and find out the reason for your shyness. For instance, are you particularly scared on how people will react to anything you say or do? Are you anxious with your physical appearance? Take note that there are reasons why you react the way you do on specific situations. Find out the reasons. Maybe these can help you know yourself better and eventually help you change for the better.

2. Act your way out

walk. Speak in a firm manner. Though this could feel ridiculous at first, this is one baby step to overcoming shyness.

You could also break the ice by striking up a casual conversation about the weather or any recent events in the news.

3. Maintain eye contact

4. Be not afraid

As much as possible, practice eye

There is really nothing to be scared

contact with people. Look at them and smile at them. This could open a world of possibilities. However, if you find this difficult, focus your gaze on the point in between the person’s eyes, particularly near his or her forehead.

of. Manage your fear of rejection. One good way to do this is to imagine the worst social outcome in a given situation. After that imagined scenario, it is easier to think that nothing could be worst than that. Try not to dwell on rejection. It happens to anyone. Move on and learn from it, it is that easy.

5. Do not take yourself seriously This lightens the load from selfimposed pressure, like you have to look good, act, or be a certain way. Try not to be too critical of yourself. So you may not have the right dress on or your shoes are a tad too big, who cares? Do not be bothered by these trivialities. Life means more than your dress or shoe sizes. Do not be too hard on yourself. Frustration happens, feel it, and then let it go. Think positive and positive things will come. All in all, one of the best ways to overcome shyness is to have good fun and don’t ever forget that! Kevin Hensey speaks at business clubs and prisons on personal growth. He has written articles regarding personal development. His website is: www-powerbooks.com

Act like you are confident and you will become one. Of course, this is easier said than done. Or is it? In the privacy of your room, you could practice behaving like you are confident. Walk around with your chin up and chest out. Add a subtle swagger while you

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

Kidzone 47

Great babysitting tips 2. Advertise your services in a professional manner. Hang up fliers that have your name, phone Babysitting is a fantastic way to number, and experience listed on it earn some extra spending money. If at your church, parent's workplace, you are a new babysitter, you might community centers, and elementary need to add to your skills or practice schools. To drum up babysitter jobs, on how to present yourself to you can even talk to your old potential employers. The skills you elementary school teachers, your learn now will help you substantially parent's coworkers, and your as you grow older when you apply neighbors and tell them that you are for permanent jobs in the future. In free to baby-sit if they ever need or order to be one of the most sought know of someone that needs a after babysitters in your babysitter. neighborhood, then you need to follow these babysitting tips! 3. Act mature and responsible when you are interacting with the 1. Take a babysitter class. These parents. Whether they call you over classes teach you the basics of the phone or they ask to conduct an childcare, what to do in an interview with you in person, you emergency, and fun activities you need to prove to them that you are should take with you when you able to take care of their children. If baby-sit. You will feel much more you seem friendly and mature, prepared after you take a course speak confidently and articulately, whether through your community and prove to be a responsible center or online!

By Jane Worthington

individual, then you have a very good shot of being hired! 4. When you are sitting for a family for the first time, you should put together a babysitter checklist. This sheet of paper should have everything from the home's address and phone number; the names, ages, and allergies of the children; and phone numbers of the parents so that you can easily reach them. If there is an emergency, it is much better to have all that information handy because it is easy to forget things when you are anxious and overwhelmed. These babysitting tips will help you become a better babysitter. As long as you act maturely, keep yourself and the children safe, and have fun, you are doing a great job!

Wii Downloads Download Games to your Wii legally! Nintendo Wii’s high popularity cannot be argued. In a little over a year Nintendo has managed to re-capture the industry it ruled only a decade ago even though the industry has changed to now include two entertainment giants in Sony and Microsoft. Naturally there was always going to be download services pop up that allow you to download any entertainment you wish to your Wii. The Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have both been praised as the two machines that can best hold things like movies and TV shows and with good reason. The huge hard drives these two consoles have and the power they wield allow you to not only watch movies and play games, but to do it right from the machines hard drive resulting in a clutter free living room. But with all that said, the Wii is more than capable too. While it doesn’t have the hard drive that it’s competition does, the huge SD Cards that can now be bought mega cheap ($5 for a 1gb on ebay) more than makes up for that. The games you can download not only include the current generation games, but also older games from any console including the PSX, PS2, N64, Gamecube, Xbox, Super Nintendo, Dreamcast you name it. This means Wii Media Downloads

can turn your Wii into the ultimate retro gaming machine especially if you’ve already been taking advantage of the Wii Virtual Console. With this new technology, if course there has been criticisms. Many believe that owning a digital version of a game simply isn’t the same as holding the case and instruction manual in your hand. This is true to a point, but Wii Media Downloads has taken care of an element of that by allowing instruction manuals to be downloaded as well. Used correctly, Wii Media Downloads can definitely be used to expand your game collection.

Club to Canada 48Sequoia Moving

To Cobourg with love

Photo by: John Vetterli

The story of one couple’s move to Ontario from the United Kingdom

Moving to Canada 49 When Maggie contacted Muchmor it was originally to ask some questions about Canada as she and her husband were emigrating from England to Ontario and they wanted some advice. That was two years ago and now the couple live in Canada. So we contacted them again to see how things were progressing and if they had anything to share with other readers. Oh yes, you bet they had! “When we first thought of moving to Canada it was because we had visited on several occasions and loved it.” explains Maggie. “ We loved the wide open spaces, the rural living, the wildlife and the seasons. We wanted to get away from the day to day mundane existence we had in a large city in England.” In late 2006 Maggie and her husband Tom finally moved from England to Brighton in Ontario. For the first few months they rented a house as they weren’t sure if this was the place they wanted to stay and so did not want to invest in a property just yet. “When we first arrived, it was late October and it was still quite warm. We spent a lot of time outside, walking around the shores of Lake Ontario and some of the local parks. We loved the outdoor life and straight away felt that we had made a really good decision to come to Canada.” When in England, Tom had worked in the IT field and had never been out of work. Once they had settled in Brighton, Tom started to look for work, but came up against many obstacles. “I had a degree from the UK, which it seemed meant nothing here.” says Tom, “I was even told that my experience, some twenty years, didn’t count because it was from England and not Canada. My argument was always that IT is IT whether it is in Japan, UK or Canada. The machines still have the same parts, the software is still the same and even the language is the same. In fact I had worked on a special project in Germany for six months a few years previous and never encountered any problems with my “lack of German IT knowledge.”

“In some cases, I was more experienced and educated than the people interviewing me in Canada.” Although Tom had many interviews he could not secure a job in the Brighton area, even though he was prepared to travel. He then decided to start looking in the Toronto area as he felt he might stand a better chance there. “Because Toronto is so diverse, I thought that I would stand a better chance of being accepted and that perhaps my UK based experience and education might mean more there.” After lots of applications were sent to lots of companies resulting in a couple of interviews but no job Tom was all set to pack up and return to England.

“We had moved thousands of miles and suddenly all my years of experience and education counted for nothing” “I was really stressed,” he says, “we had moved thousands of miles and suddenly all my years of experience and education counted for nothing. I had never felt so worthless in my life. In the UK I had always had a responsible job that was well paid, but in Canada it seemed I would either have to start at the bottom of the ladder again or change vocation completely, which I did not want to do.” Whilst all this was going on Maggie too was looking for a job. She was a qualified physiotherapist, working at a large hospital in England, but she too found out that although it didn’t appear that she

would have as many obstacles as Tom, she would have to re-qualify. “I found out that I would need to be registered by the province in order to continue working as a physiotherapist and in order to do that I would need to have my UK qualifications accredited against the Canadian equivalent. I would then need to sit exams and then could practice under supervision before being given full licence to practice. “Although I knew that I would not be able to walk straight into a job, I decided that this was what I wanted to continue doing, so I started the process.” Whilst all this was going on the couple experienced their first Christmas in Canada. “It was lovely,” says Maggie, “I had made a few friends locally and we were invited to a neighbours house for Christmas day as they knew we had no family here ourselves. We were made to feel very welcome and as they had children and other relatives staying we all played silly party games and watched black and white films on TV. We had a really lovely time and were very grateful to them.” “We have no real family in the UK, or indeed anywhere as we are both only children of deceased parents.” explains Tom. “This is what made it easier for us to leave the UK and start again in Canada. I’m not sure if we would have felt the same if we both had family that we had to leave behind.” So, now we move ahead six months and finally Tom sees some light on the horizon. “I was accepted for a job in a company based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), fortunately the eastern side, so I could commute from Brighton. The job was lower in position to ones I had held before, but I was willing to do this in order to get a foot in the employment ladder. I hoped that by doing this I would either be able to move up within this company or it would heighten my chances of being employed by other companies in the future. The pay was significantly less than I earned in the UK, but by now we knew that our living expenses were also much less, so hopefully it would even itself out.” Maggie had also received her qualification approval from the appropriate bodies which meant she

50 Moving to Canada

Victoria Hall in Cobourg could now sit the required exams which would allow her to practice physiotherapy. She had also joined some local and national groups associated with the profession and through these had come into contact with other like-minded people. “I met up with one woman, Sheila, who lived in a neighboring city who was also a physiotherapist. She worked at a local hospital and pretty much did what I used to do and we hit it off straight away. I asked her if her hospital needed any more physiotherapists and she said they would once she left.” It turned out that Sheila was going to be leaving the hospital soon to start her own practice. She said she would put in a good world for Maggie if she wanted to apply for a job there. Because Maggie still had to sit some exams and Sheila was still some months away from leaving they put the arrangement on the back-burner. The two women continued to meet regularly and Sheila would run ideas through Maggie about her new practice. Before long Sheila suggested that Maggie work for her rather than try for a job at the hospital.

“This was great news,” says Maggie, “I knew that even with Sheila’s recommendation I would be competing with many other physiotherapists, most of them with Canadian work experience, so my chances of securing the job would be slim.”

“Even born and bred locals said it was like nothing they had seen before.” By now Sheila had secured a building for her practice and was about to give in her notice at work. It was agreed that she would employ Maggie as an assistant at first whilst they waited for her official licence to be issued. Once Maggie was fully recognized to practice she would

then become a physiotherapist within the practice. Tom and Maggie had now been in Canada for almost a year and both finally had jobs and were earning money. “Although we came over to Ontario with quite a bit of money from the sale of our UK house, we knew that the funds would not last forever, so it was important for us to start earning money.” says Tom. “We also knew that we should look at the possibility of buying a house as we now felt reasonably settled and knew a lot more about the area.” As Tom worked close to Toronto and Maggie would be working with Sheila in Cobourg, the couple decided that this is where they would look for a home. It would be much closer to Tom’s work and would obviously be very convenient for Maggie. Sheila recommended one of her friends, a Realtor, to help them find a house and soon the search began. Just before Christmas 2007 the couple found a house to buy, Sheila started her practice and Maggie got her licence so was able to bypass the “assistant” stage with Sheila.

Moving to Canada 51

TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS

Trade your suitcase for a permanent residence card. It’s never been easier for skilled and selected semi-skilled temporary foreign workers to become permanent residents of Alberta. Simply visit us online to learn about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. If you meet the criteria, talk to your employer. With our streamlined process you’ll have your permanent residence card before you know it. So the next time you pack, it’ll be for a vacation.

www.AlbertaCanada.com/TFW

52 Moving to Canada They moved into their new home in January 2008 amidst ice and snow storms. “Our first winter in Canada had not been too bad and hadn’t really started until after Christmas, but our second winter was harsh. Even born and bred locals said it was like nothing they had seen before.” says Maggie. Tom continues, “Our new house had a log burning fire which was wonderful. We had never had one before and we were surprised at how cosy it made the house feel as well as the amount of heat it generated. Having the new house made us finally feel like we really belonged in Canada and were not just visiting.” We now come back to the present day and Tom and Maggie have been in Canada for a little over two years and have been in their own home for one. So how has life been for them?

Tom continues, “I would also recommend people to start networking with Canadian businesses well before arrival in order to test the water as far as the job market is concerned. I now have a job I enjoy and have been promoted twice in eighteen months, but I had to start much lower in the company than I anticipated. It is very much who you know in Canada and if you can get known by them before you arrive you stand a better chance of securing employment once you land.” Other than jobs what other things have they learnt since their arrival? “We have learnt that Canadians drive completely differently to Brits.” says Tom. “It is almost compulsory to drive whilst drinking coffee, especially Tim Horton’s. They also do not seem to have as much courtesy on the roads as they do in normal life. They will block exits and entrances to roads rather than leave a gap for people to use. They also do not readily let people into traffic and they seem to have cell phones permanently attached to their ears, or more worryingly they text whilst driving.” “I have noticed that people do not hold the doors open for others.” says Maggie. ‘I would have thought it common courtesy to hold a door open for someone who is behind you, but I can honestly say I have never had so many doors slammed in my face since being in Canada. “The start was much harder than we anticipated, It is one thing that constantly annoys me. especially as far as securing employment was “The cost of living, although going up, is definitely concerned.” says Maggie, “I would recommend anyone lower than in England. We both earn less than we did in in a regulated role that they start the process of the UK, but seem to have so much more. We have a credential recognition before they leave their home bigger and better house in a better area with great views. country. This means that you will know if your credentials We are within easy distance of great parks, nature trails, are suitable and you will know the process required to woodland and wildlife. We have two cars and manage to gain professional recognition even before you land.” get away most weekends, if only for the day. We would not have been able to do this in the UK as driving 100 km here is completely different to driving 100 km in the UK - far less stressful.” Tom adds, “Our quality of life is much better now. Admittedly the first six months was stressful as we were both looking for jobs, had no permanent home and things got a little tense, even to the point of thinking of returning to the UK. But now we are far more settled and feel part of the community.” “We are planning our first holiday since moving here and we are trying to decide where to go.” says Maggie, “Because life has been so hectic we simply haven’t had the time to go anywhere other than a day here or there. When we lived in the UK we had at least one two-week holiday every year so next year (2009) we plan to start again. We cannot decide whether to go to somewhere else in Canada or go south of the border to the U.S. I really fancy Las Vegas, but we have already been there so it might be a good idea to go somewhere new.” “I would like to go to Vancouver.” says Tom, “We have never been and I really want to go there at some point in time, perhaps incorporating the Rockies.” So, as you can see the couple have really made Canada home and now feel that they will never return to the UK. “We want to live out the rest of our lives here.” says Maggie, “We may end up moving again, after all Canada is a huge place and we have only seen a very small part of it. But we do know that Canada is our home for life, regardless of exactly where.”

“Our quality of life is much better now.”

Moving to Canada 53

NAFTA professionals now get three-year visas. both at the time of their initial entry and again at the time of renewal. It will be interesting to see what our In May, I wrote about an border officers will be looking for in announcement by the U.S. the form of proof of a “temporary immigration service whereby it intent” when the person will be would start to issue TN work coming here for at least three-years. permits to Canadian and Mexican While I wholeheartedly support professionals for a maximum this development, it is nonetheless duration of three years as opposed interesting to note the title of my to the previous maximum of one November 16th column “To predict year. the future of Canadian immigration The purpose for this change was policy, look to the U.S.”. In this case, to make employment in the U.S. for the title seems very aptly named Canadian and Mexican since we followed in lock-step with professionals “more attractive”. our American counterparts Specifically, the change would notwithstanding, perhaps, some very reduce the potential for interrupted strong reasons not to do so. employment caused by annual No doubt, it made perfect sense renewals and delays in processing. for the Americans, in May 2008, to It would create a more stable and make a career in the U.S. “more Jason Kenney predictable work force and provide attractive” to foreign professionals. cost and resource savings to the However, since then the wheels have foreign workers and to their Although there is no legal limit to suddenly and completely fallen off American employers. the number of times a foreign worker the economic bus here and there. Although this initiative applied only can renew these NAFTA permits, But for the American announcement to professionals admitted to the U.S. they will only be renewed as long as in May, I doubt that a Canadian under the terms of the North immigration minister would have American Free Trade Agreement, the the reviewing officer feels that the worker is still here “temporarily”. ever agreed to a three-fold increase action taken by the Americans was This has always been a weird sort in the duration of work permits entirely unilateral. Although, neither of concept for me because these offered to any class of foreign Canada nor Mexico committed to workers are not always here for workers at the same time that we are reciprocity, it was expected that they assignments that have a finite witnessing record job losses and would follow suit. purpose (i.e. building a bridge or unprecedented government bailouts. Canada has now done so. setting up a computer system). Not an objection, just a thought. On December 15th immigration Often these positions (i.e. minister Jason Kenney announced accountants, architects, lawyers Guidy Mamann practices law in that American and Mexican etc.) are offered and accepted on a Toronto at Mamann, Sandaluk and is professionals seeking to work basis that is perceived to be opencertified by the Law Society of Upper temporarily in Canada under NAFTA can get work permits for up to three ended. Someone coming to Canada Canada as an immigration specialist. years at a time. This is a good thing to work for a year or more in one of Reach him confidentially at these occupations will often give up since foreign workers have better a job in their home country to accept 416-862-0000 or at things to do than run between their the one being offered here. They are [email protected]. HR departments and their also likely to give up their dwelling immigration lawyers every 12 abroad and bring their family and months to renew their status and Visit www.readmuchmor.com belongings here with them. Rarely that of their accompanying family do they have fixed arrangements to to read all our back issues members. return to their country. Yet they still and find muchmor. need to show a “temporary intent”

By Guidy Mamann

54 Moving to Canada

Advertorial

Countdown to Canada June Spindloe of Relocation Nova Scotia continues her Countdown to Canada series of articles. This month she talks about how to prepare for your move to Canada and in particular Nova Scotia. What measures should you take to make the process as easy as possible and how do you find the information you need? ....We Need You ! Here’s some good news, Jason Kenney, Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism has confirmed that Canada will maintain its positive stance on immigration by setting a target of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents for 2009. ! Is this the year you make it to Canada? Or is this the year you take the first step towards your goal of leaving your home country? ! Are you sitting reading this procrastinating about putting the wheels in motion? Or are you surrounded by negativity?

I know what you are going through and the good news is that we all feel like that at the beginning. The key is to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you can be in control of the process if you want to put in the time and effort to do your homework. For some of us the whole emigration process can seem totally overwhelming, you may need to write down what your next step should be. It could be something as simple as subscribing to Muchmor Canada and getting an idea of what province attracts you or attending an emigrate trade show. Lets take a quick review of what needs to happen before you make any major decisions.. First and foremost be clear about whether you actually qualify to emigrate. Take advantage of the internet. Start by going to www.cic.gc.ca everything you need to get started is there. You can also use the pre-qualifying evaluations on any of the Immigration Consultant websites or take advantage of any free telephone calls that you can make asking for advice. Check that

this information is provided by a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)

Do your research about each province that you are interested in, don't make the mistake of thinking that each Province will be the same as Canada is a vast country with diverse cultures. The rules will not be the same for each one if you are using a Provincial Nominee Program. Whether you use an immigration consultant or not is up to you. If you decide to go that route talk to several consultants before you decide and make sure that you get everything they have promised in writing. In my experience the most effective ways of getting information is to plan a research trip.

Nova Scotia focus Contact the Nova Scotia office of

immigration prior to your arrival and make an appointment to talk with a representative while you are here. It won't cost you anything and you will have ample opportunity to ask any questions that you have. Emigrating to a new country is a life changing decision, you need to be sure that it "feels" right. Aim to spend at least 10 days exploring your surroundings, look at the culture, the lifestyle, housing, employment options and be clear in your own mind that you feel excited about the prospects of living somewhere new. Don't view the whole trip as a vacation, it’s not the same at all. This is where Relocation Nova Scotia can help you. We can assist you with Itinerary planning and If you find that you may not easily accommodation. Simple things like qualify, take a new look at which one airport pick up, booking car hire and of you should be the main applicant using a local cell phone number or review your employment skills and while you are here are all services we see if using a past skill set might gain can help you with to hit the ground you more points. Maybe both of you running. Our Realtors, Mark and will decide to apply for work and one Donna have lots of first hand of you will be able to obtain a work experience regarding the concerns permit? you may have about house buying.

“Emigrating to a new country is a life changing decision, you need to be sure that it "feels" right”

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They can give you an orientation tour of the area and maintain contact with you after you have returned home so that you don't have to spend hours looking on MLS (Multiple Listing Service) wondering whether you will find your dream home.  I can personally offer all the support and contacts you need and help you network with other families that have settled here already. Our network is a valuable way to save time and money. Set realistic goals for yourself while you are planning a research trip. Take into account the amount of time it will take to travel from one place to another and the weather conditions. Budget for your accommodation costs, petrol and car hire costs; don't forget to include the hidden extras, restaurant meals and surcharges for hiring a car from the airport location. Nova Scotia also operates a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) so remember to add 13% on pretty much everything you buy as it is not included in the initial ticket price. Make sure you have researched the employers you want to visit and have contacted them prior to arriving and also do some cold calling while you are here. Be prepared to answer questions about the immigration process itself as some small employers will not be knowledgeable and may need you to guide them through the paperwork required, allowing them to hire you.

Moving to Canada 55

 I can guarantee that by the time Relocation Nova Scotia is based in you have completed your trip you will Halifax. If you need more feel inspired and motivated to begin information about settling in Nova your new life here. If you need some Scotia contact June Spindloe at extra encouragement here’s a quote www.relocationnovascotia.com from Peter Mackay member of parliament for Central Nova.  "Most importantly realize that you will become one of our most valuable assets: Attracting more Meet us - June & Mark Spindloe online at the Canadian Government’s portal: www.bfic.net immigrants to Or email us: [email protected] Nova Scotia will help to counter the declining Besides help with purchasing property we can save population you hours of research, time and money. trends in our These are just some of the benefits Relocation Nova Scotia clients enjoy! communities • Tailor Made accommodation solutions for your Fact Finding Trips and and provide our on landing, choice of B&B or one of our short term rentals. • We will provide meet and greet at Airport when landing with a large province with enough vehicle for your family and luggage. skilled workers • Meet with professional Immigration Consultant based here in Halifax who can meet on your fact finding trip and receive free consultation. the labour • Foreign exchange specialist will make moving your money overseas easy. Fast Track services to obtain day-to-day banking, mortgages, market needs of credit cards and financial services from one of Canada’s leading our businesses. Banks, with a one to one service from your own personal banker. New Canadians • Competitive rates for Car Rental, Car Insurance and purchasing a vehicle. are the hope of • Canadian Mobile phones, SIM cards delivered to you before you our future and land and pay using a UK credit card. they will return • Unique women’s network providing friendship and advice. to us so much more than we give." Please visit www.relocationnovascotia.com and register. Call June or Mark on 001 902 446 0766 and we’ll call you back.

56 Moving to Canada















Moving 2 Alberta Helen Parnell moved from the United Kingdom to Alberta in 2002 and has since built up a successful relocation and real estate career. If you are thinking of moving to Alberta then let Helen guide you through the process and help you with all the things that will make your move to Alberta a successful one.

There are so many things you need to think about when deciding to move to a new country: health care, education, employment, housing, the list goes on. Why not let someone else take the strain and help with all those things so that you can be sure your first few weeks in Alberta will be as hassle-free as possible. Helen says, “I can still remember how stressful it can be emigrating to a new country. Let me help ease the way for your relocation Angelto Alberta. I have built a great team of experts in the various fields which are more than willing to help you and usually at no or reduced cost. These include mortgages, banking services, insurance, rental accommodation or Bed and Breakfast locations.” Helen’s relocation, settlement and real estate services are guaranteed to be always completely free. Some of her extended services include: • • • • • • • • •

Airport pickup Finding temporary accommodation Applying for a drivers license Locating a family doctor Buying a house Applying for power, telephone and TV Obtaining bank accounts Applying for Social Insurance Numbers Obtaining permanent residence cards

Downtown Calgary • • • • • •

MOVING 2 ALBERTA

Contact Helen Parnell a property relocation specialist who has helped many expats settle here after making the move herself. Free assistance on • Accommodation • Real Estate • Insurance • Mortgages • Airport meet and greet • Serving Calgary and South Alberta

Tel: 001 403 932 5670 Email: [email protected] www.moving2alberta.com

Applying for medical coverage Exploring employment opportunities Location information Landing and customs information Purchasing vehicles and insurance Locating local schools

If you are planning a move to Alberta either this year or in the future then make sure you contact Helen Parnell. She has been through the process and understands first-hand the things you need in order to make your move to Alberta a good one. Let your move be as stress-free as possible. Helen operates out of Calgary and serves the whole Southern Alberta area. So if you are planning a move to Alberta, then give Helen a call on 1-403-932-5670 or visit her website at www.moving2alberta.com.

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

Moving to Canada 57

Living rural in

Charlotte, Debra & Carl hiking in Arnica Lake

Where you might ask is Nova Scotia? ( no traffic noise ) nature a Well, it’s the second smallest province lying and of course clean air. on the eastern coast of Canada with a Let me take you to M population of 930,000. It’s also a quick 5 hr. Historic Village lying along flight from the UK, making it a desirable Bay of Fundy. Once kno place to live for Brits wanting to exit the fast it’s about 1 hr drive from H lane. It offers a gentler, kinder way of life. from Truro. A fair number You may choose to live in an urban area community now, painters, such as Halifax. It’s a lovely oceanfront city scrimshaw artists are just and is the capital of NS. Being a small city home to antique stores, B with a population 370,000 people, it is studios ,small shops and friendly but also offers the amenities of a local Ladies Auxiliary is al much larger city. There are several summer they hosted Sund As a seller it means your house will take longer to universities in the city thus the down town Old Selma Schoolhouse, sell, but if it is priced right it will sell. Your job as the core caters to a younger crowd. Designated Historic Prope vendor, and your Realtor® can help you with this, is gallery. to However, the more adventurous may community art Ha make your home as appealing as possible so that it will choose to live in a rural area. You may even these lunches I can perso stand out and buyers. what have visited and impress come to appreciate they are delicious indeed. As living a buyer inoffer thissuch market your&timing rural has to as peace quiet is excellent.

What’s really happening to the real estate market in Nova Scotia It seems that every time you open a paper or turn on the radio these days all you hear is that “R” word, you know, Recession. So then, what exactly is happening to the Real Estate Market in Nova Scotia? The Nova Scotia Business Journal shouts, “Atlantic Market Canada’s newest housing hotspot.” Forget the west. The new housing hotspots are in Atlantic Canada said Robert Hague, senior economist at RBC. St John’s housing market is firing on all cylinders, trailing only Regina in terms of year over year price increases. St John and Halifax are also Maitland, NS showing solid price momentum creating favorable conditions for sellers.” According to figures released by CREA and Statistics Canada the number of sales is trending down in Nova Scotia, 3.9% in 2008 and a further 2.2% in 2009. However prices were up in Nova Scotia, 4.7% in 2008 and set to rise 2.6% in 2009. Compared to what is happening worldwide these numbers look pretty good. That being said the final quarter numbers will be interesting to see. I can’t wait. So stats aside, what actually is happening out there in the Real Estate world of Halifax? As I am out and about town, talking to past and perspective clients it seems that big financial decisions are being put off because everyone is afraid of the big R word and this in turn is slowing down our market. Even so there is still lots of Real Estate activity occurring. Companies are still transferring, first time buyers are still buying, people are still upgrading or downsizing. But now that we have a slow Real Estate Market (and not because of sub-prime mortgages as in the US and elsewhere because our banking practices are stable) how does this affect us?

Monty the cat

Interest rates are the lowest they have been for some time. Oil prices have dropped so heating costs are down. With lots of inventory to choose from there is room for negotiating. It is a buyers’ market and it hasn’t been this good in years. For investors there are some bargains out there. Based on the MLS® numbers and the Nova Scotia Real Estate market, Halifax is holding it’s own. Happy House Hunting and Happy New Year!

Donna McNeil Exit Realty Metro 2055-1658 Bedford Highway, Bedford, Nova Scotia, B4A 2X9

Cell: 902-222-4937 Fax: 902-835-4539 Email: [email protected] Web: www.100metro.ca Relocation email: [email protected]

Be one of the many families I have successfully helped relocate to the Halifax, Nova Scotia area. I can assist from your first fact-finding trip to the purchase of your new home.

58 Moving to Canada













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Get closer to Canada in 2009 By Louise Green Where will you be celebrating your next Christmas? Will you be closer to living the Canadian lifestyle you dream of? New Year is a time for reflection, looking back over the past year at what you’ve achieved and looking forward to what you want for 2009. What would you like to have

happened this year? Imagine tearing open that big brown envelope with your passports and new visas, now you really are going to Canada. Booking your flights, knowing the actual date when you will be arriving, or speaking to your new employer about starting your job. Picture the house you will be living in, get excited at your first Canadian snowfall. Buying your first toque, actually being able to see and follow the puck at a hockey game and shrugging off -20°C as nothing to get excited about. Ok you have some ideas of what you want, so how are you going to get there? It can feel a little overwhelming thinking of all the things you have to get done en-route to Canada. Of course the getting there is a major challenge in itself and then there’s everything after you arrive. Research and planning will smooth the way and reduce stress for you and your family. After reading this, you can create your emigration todo-list for the next year, and set action points, to make real progress towards your new life in Canada for 2009. Minimize the time it’s going to take, and get prepared.

Creating your emigration to-do list There is a key factor that’s going to make a big difference in how much you get done, how easily and how quickly you make progress. In fact you probably already know it, yet knowing it and actually doing it are two different things. The key is to break down each task until you have a series of logical smaller steps. This saves you time, because you are always moving in the right direction. Instead of flitting from one thing to another, looking at houses, when you don’t know how much you can afford, checking towns before you know if you can get a job there. You can find out what you need to know in the right order. This simple process will get you started.

1. Write down your ideas for what you want to have achieved in each area by next Christmas. 2. Turn your ideas into effective emigration actions by making sure they follow these emigration goal principles. 3. Think about all the actions you need to take. Write down each action, and keep breaking it down until you have a series of small easy steps. 4. Plan each step in the order they need to happen with dates for completion. 5. Tell someone what you are planning to do; it will make all the difference when you commit, have someone to hold you responsible and keep you on track. 6. Finally review often and change your actions if you need to. Be flexible make sure the action continues to reflect what you actually want. I’ve included at least three areas you are sure to be considering below. Of course one of the most useful resources is hearing about people who have already succeeded and are living in Canada. You can benefit from what they did and learnt, by listening to these FREE exclusive Expat Interviews.

Research With all emigration research, it’s important to have reliable, factual information. Everyone has their opinions and ideas about what’s best for you, usually based upon what was best for them. With the internet, you have the world at your finger tips; go to the best sources of information and learn how to separate fact from opinion? What areas do you need to research in 2009?

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Moving to Canada 59

Discussion forums, social media sites, and Expat blogs offer new ways to research your emigration. We discuss how to use discussion forums to compliment your research and how to get the best responses to your questions on the Emigration Research CD.

Jobs Securing a firm job offer might be your best

option for moving to Canada, or you may need a job once you get there. Networking has the highest success rate for getting a job and with Internet 2.0 there are lots of ways you can do this from a distance. It takes time to build relationships with the right people so it’s important to start this as soon as you can. On the Emigration Research CD we discuss maximizing your chances of getting a job by having the right resume, how to approach your Canadian job search and the best ways to use internet networking to secure a job.

Finances This is something that is going to be integral to

your success in Canada. Your lifestyle will be directly dependent upon how much money you take, earn and spend. Canadian lifestyle is no longer so much cheaper than other countries so it’s going to take careful research and detailed budgeting. This starts early on in the emigration process. There are advantages to setting up bank accounts in advance of your move, building a history with your new bank, and getting support once you arrive. The Emigration Research CD covers mortgages and day to day banking in more detail. Answering your questions about how to calculate the amount of money you will need as a deposit, the amount you can borrow, and what you need to qualify for a mortgage, getting Canadian credit cards and lots more. Now it’s up to you. Is this the year you move towards your new life in Canada? Everyone emigrating has challenges to overcome, and does so with hard work, and determination, I know you can too. Create your emigration to do list, make use of all the resources, the Emigration Research CD will help you get started and remember to listen to the FREE Expat Interviews. Get your research of to a great start with the Emigration Research CD which includes information about visa options, real estate market, Canadian job searching, mortgages, bank accounts, and much more… The Expat Coach, founded in 2007 by Louise Green, offers emigration research programs and support for every expat wannabe. Helping emigrants get the answers they need to research, plan and succeed in Canada. From initial research to resolving the challenges of settling in a new country, The Expat Coach primary objective is for you to get where you want and need to be.

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60 Health & Wellness

Photo by dearbarbie (Kim)

When a bad hair day is no laughing matter

A condition called trichotillomania causes people to pull out hair from any part of their body

Health & Wellness 61 of the condition can be found then treatment is much more effective. which causes people to pull out their own hair. The hair can be from However, it is often the case that the original cause remains unknown and the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or so treatment is less focused. indeed any part of the body. Abby Leora Rohrer is a consultant Although eight out of ten sufferers and self-healing mentor, and author are women, men also suffer from of What's Wrong With Pulling My TTM. Hair Out? and of the Pull-Free, At TTM can start at any age, but is Last! System, a complete at-home seen most frequently in prehealing program for sufferers of adolescence, usually around the age Trichotillomania. Here Abbey tells us of twelve. However it is not unusual of her own personal experience of to see people of any age with the TTM and possible treatments. condition and even babies can be affected. What can start off as simply a stress reliever can soon turn into a compulsion. The compulsion to pull out hair can be overwhelming and lead to bald patches. Someone with the disorder can often disguise bald patches on the scalp, but will often have missing eyebrows or eyelashes From the ages of twelve to thirtyand male sufferers can have bald nine, I suffered from compulsive hair patches in their chest hair or on pulling. For the past twelve and a other parts of their body. Many half years I have been successfully sufferers will pull one hair out at a healed from this compulsive time, not large clumps which can behavior. Based on my experience, I hide the condition from others. believe that fully healing from a It is thought that around two compulsion or addiction is a percent of the world population universal journey that is available to suffers from Trichotillomania. The anyone. It requires that the sufferer condition is more prevalent in the look inside, take responsibility for western world with up to 5% of his own problem and remain flexible North Americans suffering. while following his own guidance. Many sufferers will go to extreme Along my journey I learned many lengths to hide the disorder as they things. Here are three of the most consider it embarrassing. Often they important. will wear hats or even wigs along with false eyelashes to cover the 1. In order to heal, I had to believe condition. that healing was possible for me. Some TTM sufferers will take the In order to change, I needed to hair pulling one stage further and get to the point where I really will eat their hair. Although this may understood deep inside that my sound harmless enough it can beliefs create my reality. If I couldn't cause serious health problems. Hair believe that it was possible for me balls or trichobezoar can form in the to stop pulling, then I would never intestine and cause abdominal pain, be able to do it. vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and in Visualization became an extreme cases bowel obstruction or important step. Because I could perforation which may require actually see myself on the other side surgical removal. of hair pulling with a full head of hair, There is no known “cure” for TTM, I was consciously and instead different forms of treatment unconsciously able do everything can reduce and sometime stop necessary to achieve my goal. symptoms. Many treatments revolve I read books like Real Magic and around counseling and self-help. By You'll See It When You Believe It by understanding what caused the Dr. Wayne Dyer, which helped me to disorder in the first place is often the incorporate the concept of how my best way to approach treatment. No thoughts create my reality. This gave one cause will apply to all. Everyone me the tools to align my thoughts will have been triggered by a with my intention to stop hair different factor, be it stress, abuse, pulling. chemical imbalance or simply a habit pushed to excess. If the origin

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a disorder

Three lessons learned from living with trichotillomania

2. In order to fix a problem, I had to be willing to focus on it. Not just make it a priority in my life, but to make it the top priority in my life until I accomplished my goal. Can you fix a flat tire without making it the focus in your life; even if just for a few minutes? Although this seemed obvious to me in terms of dealing with any external problem, it wasn't obvious when dealing with my compulsion. Making your hair pulling the only priority in your life takes work and commitment. It takes a conscious effort to bring it to the forefront of your life. At 12 years old, I put my hair pulling problem on the back burner and decided to get on with my life. After all, there was no known cure-what else could I do? Many of us fear that if we focus directly on a problem like this, it and our inner pain will worsen. So most of us are unwilling to take this risk. This fear is real and justified, but to heal you must be willing to move through this stage. As I began to focus on my hair pulling, my problem did get a bit worse. As I continued to frontburner it, I found that I was strong enough to deal with a temporary worsening in order to reap the greater rewards of ending the problem for good. Hanging in through this process required me to trust in the process of natural healing. 3. Everything in life is a gift - even painful compulsions like hair pulling. Use your gifts to learn and grow. Hair pulling was not the problem, but a symptom of much larger underlying early traumas that I had endured. I had no memory of many of them. Consequently they remained hidden and unresolved and created a great deal of pain in my life. By facing my hair pulling, I was forced to recognize and heal the other problems in my life. I learned to maintain a childlike excitement about discovering my repressed feelings even in the midst of pain and sadness. I began to embrace my emotions and to feel that I was on a treasure hunt, knowing that in releasing old feelings, no matter how painful, I could get closer to my goal to end the compulsion. At each step I

62 Health & Wellness uncovered clues as to what to let go of and where to look next. Remember, it isn't just about letting go of something from the past; something you may enjoy. It's also about reaching out to a new and exciting future. A future that you can choose to live anyway you desire.

natural balance. When you use this method of healing, you become the true expert about what you need to resolve each problem.

4. Address your addictive nature. Traditional cures come from outside of you, are done to you and are usually "generic" in nature. They don't help you to uncover the rootcause of your hair pulling but simply attempt to rid you of the urge to pull (symptom) and the unhappy consequences of your pulling. Sensitive hair pullers may find this approach disempowering because it doesn't help you to become balanced, evolve, take into account whom you uniquely are or The way each person deals with a completely resolve why you became compulsive behavior like hair pulling a hair puller in the first place. This is greatly influenced by the culture in approach is likely to cover over your which you live. What are your addictive nature rather than address beliefs? Do you believe that you can it. completely free yourself or that you must live each day attempting to 5. Increase your personal power. control your hair pulling problem? Trichotillomania sufferers often Do you believe that someone else desperately hope that if they can holds the key to ending your find the right expert, they will find a suffering? cure. But cures don't increase your Here are some powerful ideas to power because they don't help you help you see your situation in a new to grow or use your intuition and way and to move forward to feeling-sense to help you to fully completely free yourself from resolve your hair pulling. This Trichotillomania: approach may decrease your feelings of personal power. 1. Become aware of your fears, personal biases and the 6. Reduce your anxiety by taking compromises you make as you an active role in freeing yourself. choose a method to help you end Many hair pullers struggle daily with hair pulling. Think about whether chronic anxiety. Western society you want natural healing and tells us that outside experts know personal growth or a conventional more about our emotional and solution with a traditional cure. physical health than we do and that others hold the answers to our 2. Resolve the hidden issues that suffering and the power to fix us. In lead to mental and physical our age of managed care and problems. "Authentic Healing" uses HMO's, this message is so an invisible natural self-healing pervasive that it causes chronic system inside each of us. Everyone anxiety and feelings of has this system and can learn to use powerlessness. A natural way to it. Authentic healing experiences increase your personal power and always increase your personal decrease your anxiety is to take an power and help you to grow as a active role in your own recovery by person. using your own authentic healing system. 3. Empower yourself through authentic healing to listen to and 7. Take responsibility for yourself. trust your instincts about what you "Give a man a fish and you feed him need. Authentic healing is holistic for a day. Teach him how to fish and and encompasses all aspects of you feed him for a lifetime." (Lao human life, the physical, mental, Tzu) Authentic healing is a lot like emotional and spiritual. It always knowing how to fish and being brings these four aspects of you into capable of feeding yourself

12 powerful ideas to help you claim your freedom from hair pulling

whenever you need to. It automatically increases your personal power and self-esteem because it uses your intuition, creativity, courage and independent thinking. Once you learn how to self-heal, you can do it again and again for other issues, each time gathering more power to you.

8. Put a "Gone Fishing" sign on your door. Being cured is like being handed a fish just for tonight's dinner. While a cure provides a solution to this one issue, it may also create dependency. You will always need to return to the outside source for another cure. This dependency is like an "addiction" because it decreases your power and self-esteem. 9. Look for the real cause. Seeking a cure for hair pulling may provide you with a short-term solution but won't ultimately rescue you from doing the inner work to fix what caused you to pull in the first place. Authentic healing guides you look at the real cause of your hair pulling and to fully resolve that. 10. Learn to use experts as consultants and "tools" to assist you in your own process. Because authentic healing is a personal journey, you can continue to use experts but in a different way. 11. Stay only with empowering healing partners. Some experts may hold a negative "my way is the only way" mindset, while others may empower you to take personal responsibility and to find your own power. Stick with the latter. 12. Find and use great support tools. There are many wonderful healing techniques and tools available and more arrive on the scene daily. While there is inner work to be done, you don't have to go it alone more than is necessary. The key is to find what's right for you by trusting your intuition and feelings to guide you throughout your healing process. To contact Abby Leora Rohrer visit www.123trichotillomaniafree.com or http://www.pullfreeatlast.com or call 303/546-0788 for more information.

Health & Wellness 63

Make the most important investment this year - invest in your health Obesity is a mounting health problem locally and worldwide. More than 1 billion adults globally are overweight, and at least 300 million are obese, according to the World Health Organization. Obesity not only takes a toll on personal health, it can inflict a huge monetary cost on individuals as well as the economy in general: * When compared with their healthy-weight counterparts, healthcare spending among the obese is 37 percent higher, reports The Policy Journal of the Health Spheres. * The rise in obesity contributed to the increase in spending related to diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fortunately, a sustained 10 percent weight loss may reduce an overweight person's lifetime medical costs by $2,200 to $5,300 by lowering costs related to hypertension and high cholesterol, among many other related illnesses. Additionally, sustaining a 5 to 10 percent weight loss over six months or longer has been shown to improve health by helping to: * Lower the risk of heart disease. * Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. * Reduce the risk of some kinds of cancer. * Reduce the strain on joints. So if weight loss is your resolution this year, or you want to make an important investment in your health, consider an approach that is not just designed to take weight off, but to help you change your behavior. Just in time for the new year, Weight Watchers has introduced the Momentum program which encourages smarter food and lifestyle choices. Your weight loss plans can absolutely stay on track in 2009, but it's important to choose a weight-loss plan that truly teaches you how to make healthy, sustainable changes. Here are Weight Watchers 10 Tips for a Healthy 2009: * Look for low-calorie substitutions that don't sacrifice taste. For example, switching from mayo to mustard can add to big calorie savings over time. * Losing weight with a friend or group of friends really helps with weight-loss success. * Ounce for ounce, the nutrition in fruits and vegetables can't be beat. To get the best blend of nutrients, include as many colors as possible. * Put a napkin over your plate as soon as you're satisfied -- it's like turning off a light switch.

* Purge unhealthy food from your pantry, freezer and fridge. * Make physical activity as convenient as possible. Keep your sneakers and jacket ready and nearby for short, frequent walks. * Try creating a new favorite dish. Visit www.weightwatchers.com for delicious recipe ideas. * Wear something you feel fabulous in -- a compliment goes a long way in sustaining motivation. * Set new goals to keep yourself motivated. Goals do not have to be weight related. * Know what you're doing. Write down what you're eating each and every day to keep you on target. To find out more, visit a Weight Watchers Meeting for free or go to www.weightwatchers.com or www.weightwatchers.ca. Courtesy of ARAcontent

Club& Garden 64Sequoia 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: [email protected]

MLS: 2076639 City: Picton

Price: $935,000 Bedrooms: 5

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 4

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

MLS: 2085960 City: Picton

Price: $399,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

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

MLS: 2081104 City: Adolphustown

Price: $259,900 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 2

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

MLS: 2082916 City: Warkworth

Price: $398,90 Bedrooms: 4

Province: Ontario Bathrooms: 3

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

Advertorial Sequoia Club

Home & Garden 65

Are you a first-time home buyer in Canada? By Mark Spindloe No matter how many homes you may have bought and sold, when you arrive in Canada you are in the same position as a first timer Canadian buyer. It is important that you have someone to represent you who is not only used to working with first time home buyers but understands where you are coming from. Our approach is to lead you through the process by explaining before hand what will be happening and what your choices and obligations are. One comment we hear a lot is should you deal with several agents as this is common back at home in the UK. The answer is; you should sign with one agent who, once they find out all your wants and needs, can gain access to every property in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system for you. When we act as buying agents for you, our fees are paid by sharing the selling agents commission. We are therefore free to you. This is the best deal you will get! However, another major difference is that as professional agents have fiduciary duties to you and are mandated to act in your interests to get you the best deal. On our first meeting we will take note of what price range, style of home, area, and other requirements you need. We will explain customer and client status and the implications as they affect you. We will work with you as a client and describe our duties and obligation to you. First you need to save for a down payment. You will also need sufficient funds for the closing costs as well as being sure you can afford on-going costs like, heating, telephone, maintenance etc. Next, if you are not buying with cash, you should get pre-approval for a mortgage from your bank or mortgage broker. This will tell you the maximum you can afford. We will

“The average Canadian moves every three to five years” search within this price range for properties for your consideration. Note: any pre-approval is only an amount that your income can support and generally it locks in the interest rate quoted for a period of time. What this means is that should interest rates go up during this period you will pay the lower agreed rate, should interest rates fall you will get the lower rate. When you have chosen a property the bank will have to approve a loan on that property to ensure it's investment is secure. You may be asked to pay for this appraisal. The average Canadian moves every three to five years; so keep this

in mind. As your conditions change so will your housing needs, so we suggest you concentrate on the home you can afford now. Although, when it comes to borrowing there are two schools of thought. One is you shouldn’t borrow as much as you qualify for, while the other says you should buy as much home as you can afford. You should carefully consider this decision and make the choice that is within your comfort zone. From properties that you may find or we suggest, we arrange appointments through the listing agent and accompany you on all viewings, giving advise and listening to your feed-back. The owners are not usually present during your viewings. A second viewing of a property is generally arranged when one is under serious consideration. When you find the property you want we draft the initial offer to purchase based on your instructions and we are there to explain anything you need. The offer has a limited period of a day or two for acceptance. We transmit your offer to the seller through their appointed agent. The seller has the opportunity to ignore your offer and allow it to lapse, reject it outright, or what normally occurs is they counter with a response that could alter the price, conditions, closing date, etc. We discuss all changes and their implication to you and follow your instruction. Negotiations continue back and forth via the listing agent and us until we have an agreement acceptable to you and the sellers. This agreement is then conditional on the clauses inserted to protect you. These would include satisfactory finance, house inspection, insurability, lawyer review, etc. At this time you will need to pay the agreed upon deposit which is placed in trust by the selling brokerage. This deposit is returned if the deal does not complete, or forms part of the purchase price if the sale completes.

66 Home & Garden





We can suggest other home-buying professionals you will need to satisfy these conditions such as a lawyer, a home inspector, insurance broker, etc. but you are free to find your own. For rural properties you should have the water quality checked, the flow rate of the well and septic system.

The time span for these conditions is usually around ten business days. We will assist you to organize the house inspection and accompany you on the day, also the water/septic inspection if necessary. Depending on the results of inspections you have the opportunity to walk away from the deal or engage in further negotiation to have problems rectified by the seller or the purchase price reduced. After we have all the reports, finance is in place, the insurance company confirms insurability and lawyer review is satisfactory and you are satisfied, then the transaction is firm and binding awaiting the closing, or move in date. Knowing that you will be moving into your new home you can go ahead and book a moving van, send out change of address cards, talk to the utility companies to make sure you will have power, cable, internet, water etc on the day you take possession. Usually on the day of closing we will arrange to go with you to do a final walk-through of the property after the owners have left, to ascertain that the property is in the condition you expect and any appliances etc in the agreement are there. You then visit your lawyer to sign deeds, transfer monies, adjust for closing costs and get the house keys. After you move in there may be other services you may need to turn that house into your home. We have access to other services through our network. Mark Spindloe can be contacted through www. 100metro.ca. He and his business partner work with Relocation Nova Scotia, and are experienced in the international relocation process. Mark is a licensed Nova Scotian Realtor®

Advertorial

Average house prices across Canada November 2007

November 2008

British Columbia

$451,991

$395,687

Alberta

$353,125

$338,354

Saskatchewan

$193,521

$217,801

Manitoba

$173,318

$174,235

Ontario

$312,509

$293,328

Quebec

$210,045

$211,191

New Brunswick

$133,878

$141,354

Nova Scotia

$172,942

$175,490

Prince Edward Island

$1327,277

$141,717

Newfoundland and Labrador

$146,164

$191,148

Yukon Territory

$254,290

$331,875

Northwest Territories

$346,192

$355,118

Figures supplied by the Canadian Real Estate Association

STIRLING

CARPET & FLOORING

What’s under your feet?

Brian & Kim Suurdt 400 West Front Street, Stirling, Ontario, K0K 3E0 Tel: 613.395.1400 Fax: 613.395.4705 Toll Free: 877.847.5464 Email: [email protected] Web: www.stirlingflooring.com

Home & Garden 67

Sequoia Club

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

Price: $293,500 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

Fantastic fully finished attached home, Kitchen and both bathrooms have just been re-done and look fantastic. 4 bedrooms,(lower recroom is being used as 5th bedroom). This home has a HUGE back-yard with a double detached garage. Fantastic for RV parking off the back lane. Walking distance to shopping. Quick possession possible

MLS: C3358883 City: Cochrane

Price:$384,000 Bedrooms: 1

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

One of the larger units in popular Riverview villas. View of the river valley from the great room. Kitchen is open concept to great room with centre island and large nook. The home has a den at the front, large dining room, kitchen,nook and great room with gas fireplace, 1/2 bath, large master bedroom with walk in closet and 4pc ensuite. Carpet and lino thru-out, Well maintained. The lower level has a finished 4pc bathroom and the rest of the lower level with 9 foot ceilings is ready for your ideas. This home is set up with handicap accessories and has a collapsible wheelchair ramp in garage.

MLS: C3353017 City: Cochrane

Price: $459,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 3

One of a kind bilevel that you will love. Enter the home from the front porch into the foyer and be welcomed by the formal living room and bedroom(used as a den). Up the few stairs to the Kitchen with oak cabinets,high quality laminate flooring,breakfast nook and great room with corner gas fp. The door leads to a deck that overlooks the golf course(2&3 holes). Off the kitchen are two bedrooms and a 4pc bathroom. The lower level has another bedroom, 3pc bathroom with shower stall, a large family room with corner gas fireplace.

MLS: C3355621 City: Calgary

Price: $259,900 Bedrooms: 2

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

PRICE REDUCED BY $20,000. Rent to own option! $15,000 cash to mortgage. Beautiful brand new 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in 45+ unit. Maximum upgrades and warm colours. Main floor unit located a few doors from the open 2 story social area with catering kitchen, media room, library, fireplace and Exercise facility. Elevator from titled underground parking. Full LAKE PRIVILEGES. Trails overlooking Bow River & proposed 26 hole Champ golf course. A MUST SEE!

MLS: C3353988 City: Cochrane

Price: $684,900 Bedrooms: 3

Province: Alberta Bathrooms: 2

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

Club& Garden 68 Home 32Sequoia Working Life

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