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Swinging the Doors Wide Open;
Join in all the Festivities at the Children’s Museum
Kitchener, ON – The Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum is swinging its doors wide open on September 16 from 10am to 5pm. They are hosting a fun-filled family oriented day of festivities celebrating both their 3rd Birthday and Doors Open Ontario with a special unveiling ceremony, presenting a newly installed Kitchener City Hall pediment in the entrance way.
For the past two years, the Museum has thrown a themed birthday party and invited the community to join in on the fun for free. This year, once again sponsored by Sun Life Financial, the Museum is inviting members of the community to join them in the celebrations. Those in attendance can anticipate a 50s & 60s inspired atmosphere, as children and adults alike can decorate cupcakes, dance at the Sock Hop, make a vinyl inspired name tag, or play some “old fashioned” games such as marbles or jax.
Doors Open Ontario will be holding part of their event in Waterloo Region on the same day, and the Children’s Museum will be offering guided, historic tours all day with local historian rych mills. He will offer visitors a glimpse into the past, when the Museum was still home to the Goudies Department Store. The art of elevator operation will be revived, as volunteers dress up and take on the roll. An original Goudies elevator operator will be on site to share her experiences and stories with visitors.
The Museum is also excited to be unveiling the newly installed Kitchener City Hall pediment. A truly historic and magnificent piece, the pediment will be installed in the entrance way and will offer visitors a glimpse of Kitchener City Hall’s past every time they enter and exit. The formal unveiling ceremony, by local dignitaries, will be at 10am.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Noon to 5pm on Sundays. Admission is $7 and children under 3 always get in free. City parking is available immediately behind the museum in the Duke Street parking garage.
For further information, visit the museum website at www.wrcm.ca or contact admissions at 519-749-9387 x239.
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Experience Toronto's Signature "Flavour" on September 10th
Free, all day multicultural festival set to celebrate city's diversity
OSHAWA - On Sunday, September 10th, the CNE's Bandshell Park will be transformed into a cultural oasis for the day, complete with colourful and exotic foods, art, and entertainment performances to honour Toronto's many multicultural communities.
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What: Flavour is a free all-day multicultural festival featuring
authentic cuisine from around the world, free dance and music
classes, thrilling exciting sporting demonstrations and more.
Photo/interview opportunities at Flavour:
- Highly visual performances and artists will be available,
including:
- Arabesque Dancers
- Thai Boxers
- Yakudo Traditional Japanese Drummers
- The Silk Road Acrobats
- Caribbean Fire Eaters
- Chinese Lion Dancers
- Extreme Martial Artists
- Live performances by the Multicultural Comedy Extravaganza,
featuring Elvira Kurt, Ben Mathai, Ron Josol, Gilson Lubin and
Frank Spadone
Where: Exhibition Place, Bandshell Park
When: Sunday, September 10th
11:00 a.m. - 9 p.m. (opening ceremonies begin at 12:00 p.m.)
Who: Amrit Mehta, GM Canada's Flavour representative, is available for
interviews between Tuesday, September 5 - Sunday, September 10 to
discuss the celebration of Toronto's multicultural communities in
more detail.
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TALENTED TEACHERS FEATURED AT WATSON GALLERY
Kitchener -- Beginning September 2, 2006 the public will have a chance to see the art of two talented teachers from St. Mary's High School as Paul Kekish and John Kipfer launch an exhibit of their work at the renowned Homer Watson House and Gallery.
The exhibit runs until October 29, 2006 and will officially launch at a special reception at the Gallery on Sunday, September 10, 2006 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Gallery is located at 1754 Old Mill Road, Kitchener, 519-748-4377. Information about the Gallery is available online at: www.homerwatson.on.ca
As we begin a new school year, the staff and students of Waterloo Region's Catholic Schools salute Paul and John and all the staff members across the Region who teach and lead by example.
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 100,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 52 schools and four adult education facilities serving more than 30,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region -- continuing a tradition of education excellence first begun in 1836.
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What are some of the steps parents and students can take to better manage their budgets about back to school shopping? What steps can parents take to better educate their children about personal finances?
According to the National Retail Federation, the average American family will spend $527.08 this year on back-to-school purchases, up 19 percent from a year ago.
Step 1: Take an inventory. You might already have on hand some of the supplies--pens, pencils, notebooks--and don't need to buy them again.
Before you head to the mall, have your child clean out his closet. Need ... or want? A key personal-finance question for people of any age is: "Do I need it or do I just want it?" Armed with the list they made after going through their closets, get your child to clarify which items on the list are surefire needs. If you and your child disagree on what are needs vs. wants this presents a time to explain to a child what the difference is and how important money is.
Parents are often hesitant to say "we can't afford this" for fear of upsetting their child or because they don't want their child to go to school with less than other kids have. Instead, focus on your budget, and on the long-term goals you can attain by sticking to it. Don't be afraid to say we don't have endless cash for this stuff.
Tell your children that if they come in under the budget limit, they can have the money to spend on some of those "want-but-don't-need" back-to-school items, like that pair of designer jeans.
Don't change your budget limit as you shop. If you're letting your children have $200, then that's the amount and don't waiver. Also, if they owe you money, make sure they pay it back. You’re not helping them if you let them off the hook with their debts.
Setting a budget means you avoid the leakage issue. You drip out $20 here, $20 there. The children know they can keep coming back to the well and it keeps dripping. What have you taught your child? You've taught the child there's an entitlement program.
Step 2: Take advantage of tax holidays, but stick to items you truly need. Don’t go spending beyond your budget because you don’t have to pay taxes today. Use the tax day opportunities like a coupon and factor into your spending budget.
Step 3: Spread purchases out over the year, instead of buying an entire year's worth of outfits upfront. Besides, fall fashions are now full price but will be on sale in a few months--for a lot bigger discounts. Don't charge school supplies if you won't be able to pay off the credit card if the bill comes in. Otherwise, the finance charges can wipe out any sales tax savings.
Do as you say. According to a recent Charles Schwab survey, 24% of teens said their parents lecture them about money but don't practice what they preach. That's not the best way to get lessons across. Don't tell children not to waste money if you're a profligate spender. Work as a team, with the whole family practicing smart financial moves together. It can help to focus on a family goal, like a big trip next year.
Debt seems to be an intrinsic part of life these days: 31% of the teens surveyed by Schwab said they owe money and half of them are concerned about being able to pay it back. Consider giving your teenager a credit card with a low limit so they can practice before they head off to college. They need practice on using the card, paying it off on a monthly basis, reading the statements, understanding how interest accrues if you don't pay it off and penalties that you incur as well. With a minor, the parent will have to be the account-holder and pay the bills, but the parent can deduct those payments from the teen's allowance.
Step 4: Set up an allowance for your child. With the start of school approaching, now's the time to set up an appropriate allowance for your child for the upcoming school year. If you've got a teenager, ask her to track her purchases for a few weeks, then, estimate what her monthly expenses are. Then, decide what portion of that you're willing to pay for.
Step 5: Lower-income households should contact the school. Find out if there are any local programs where businesses or other organizations donate school supplies.
Step 6: Use this time of the year to teach your children to withstand peer pressure to spend.
Step 7: Do additional research.
Courtesy of: CPA Financial Literacy Commission
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Study: Wives as primary breadwinners 2003
The dramatic increase in dual-earner couples during the last four decades has been accompanied by a gain just as dramatic in the number of wives who are the primary breadwinners, according to a new study.
In 1967, an estimated 11% of wives earned more than their husbands did. By 2003, this proportion had nearly tripled to 29%.
The study, published today in the August online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income, showed that the wife was the primary breadwinner in nearly 1.4 million of the 4.7 million dual-earner couples in 2003.
However, while most of these primary-earner wives had twice the earnings of their husbands in 2003, they did not match the earning power of husbands who were the primary breadwinner.
On average, wives who were primary breadwinners earned $41,200 in 2003, well below the level of $57,800 among their male counterparts. Husbands who were secondary earners had average earnings of $21,300.
In general, primary-earner wives earned less than primary-earner husbands in each of the occupational groups the study examined. For example, primary-earner wives in managerial and professional occupations earned on average $68,000 a year, while their male counterparts earned $83,000.
Their average family income also lagged behind that of families in which the husband was the primary breadwinner. Family incomes in which the wife was the primary breadwinner averaged $74,000 in 2003, compared with $86,000 for families in which the husband was the primary earner.
The tax system narrowed some of this gap, resulting in after-tax incomes of $61,000 for families in which the wife was the breadwinner, as opposed to $69,000 where the husband brought home the bread.
In addition, on average, primary-earner wives contributed less to family income than primary-earner husbands. Employment earnings of primary-earner wives represented just over half of their family's income, while the earnings of primary-earner husbands corresponded to two-thirds.
In nearly two-thirds of couples with a primary-earner wife, the wife earned more than twice as much as her husband. Only about one-quarter of primary-earner wives earned less than 50% more than their husband.
However, the ratio of their earnings to their husbands' earnings has remained relatively static on average since 1994.
The study, which used data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, showed that primary-earner wives differ from other working wives in many ways. For one, they are slightly older. They are also generally more educated than secondary-earner wives and primary earner husbands.
In 2003, 30% had a university degree, compared with 21% of secondary-earner wives and 25% of primary-earner husbands.
With their higher education levels, primary-earner wives have increased their presence in higher paying occupations. In 2003, 40% of primary-earner wives were employed in managerial and professional occupations, compared with only 26% of their secondary-earner counterparts.
Primary-earner wives are also more likely to have a full-time job, work more paid hours per week, and have more years of experience, characteristics that are all associated with higher earnings.
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When is junior moving out? Transitions from the parental home to independence
by Pascale Beaupré, Pierre Turcotte, and Anne Milan
Children obtain most of their early socialization at home with their parents, where they acquire the experiences and ideas that will influence their adult years.1 Consequently, leaving the parental home is a significant event for both parents and children. For the parents, it may represent relief, pride in having fulfilled their parental role, and joy at seeing their children move towards greater independence. For the children, the first departure is a symbolic marker as they make the transition from youth to adulthood.
However, there has been a substantial increase in children still living at home long past the age when their parents expected them to leave. The largest growth has occurred among young adults in their late 20s or early 30s: between 1981 and 2001, the proportions doubled from 12% to 24% for those aged 25 to 29 and from 5% to 11% for those aged 30 to 34.2
Most of this increase took place during the early 1980s and early 1990s, years during which Canada endured two of the most severe labour recessions since the 1930s. Given the context, it does seem fair to ask whether young adults are really taking longer to leave the nest than their parents did.
This article uses data from the 2001 General Social Survey to examine patterns in leaving the parental home. It compares the transition process for five birth cohorts, with the focus on Wave 1 Boomers (born 1947-56) and Generation X (born 1967-76). The differences in patterns of leaving the parental home are examined, and then the principal factors associated with a young person's initial departure from home are identified.
Go to study
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Study: Fleeing the parental nest to independence 2001
Young adults are taking longer to leave the parental nest than their parents did, according to a new study examining transitions out of the home across five generations.
The study, published today in the August 2006 electronic issue of Canadian Social Trends, focuses on early baby boomers born between 1947 and 1956, and Generation X born between 1967 and 1976.
These people were interviewed as part of the General Social Survey in 2001 when the early (Wave 1) baby boomers were aged 45 to 54, and the Gen Xers were aged 25 to 34.
The study found that a male Wave 1 boomer had a 49% to 59% probability of leaving home for the first time before his 22nd birthday. However, the likelihood dropped to between 46% and 53% for Generation X males.
One factor was the economy. Economic conditions changed considerably between these two time periods. Well-paying unionized jobs were not nearly as plentiful, and real wages for young workers had declined, reducing the incentive for independence from the family home.
(Coincidentally, census data found a growing trend among young adults to remain in, or return to, the parental home. The census showed that 41% of the 3.8 million young adults aged 20 to 29 lived with their parents in 2001, a jump from 27% in 1981. Much of the increase occurred during the early 1990s.)
The study identified key socio-demographic factors associated with the likelihood of leaving home for the first time, regardless of the generation. Many factors associated with adult children leaving home sooner rather than later were beyond a parent's control.
It found that stepfamilies and multiple siblings were factors leading to early departures.
Women who spent at least part of their childhood in a step-family had a 57% higher probability of leaving at a younger age than women who grew up in an intact family, that is, one where both biological parents were present. Men raised in a step-family also had a 30% greater likelihood of leaving home earlier.
Growing up in a large family was also associated with independence sooner rather than later. Men with three siblings had a 20% greater chance of moving out of the family home compared to someone the same age with only one sibling.
Similarly, women had a 13% greater chance. And having four brothers or sisters at home made it even more likely that a young person would leave home early.
Other factors concerned geographic location, incomes and education levels. People who spent at least part of their childhood in the West were most likely to leave home early. Compared to adults who grew up in Quebec, women from the Prairies had a 64% greater chance and men a 54% higher likelihood of launching earlier from the nest.
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Canada's Birth rate for 2004
Canada's crude birth rate (the number of live births for every 1,000 people in the population) edged downward to another record low in 2004 — despite a second straight increase in the number of live births.
The crude birth rate declined from 10.6 live births for every 1,000 population in 2003 to 10.5 in 2004. Rates appear to have stabilized, with crude rates hovering around 10.5 to 10.7 since the millennium.
The number of births in 2004 actually increased by 1,870 compared with 2003, but the increase in the number of births was not large enough to outpace the increase in the crude rate.
In total, 337,072 babies were born in 2004, up 0.6% from the previous year. This followed a 1.9% gain the year before.
The number of births increased in only 5 of 13 jurisdictions: Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Yukon.
Alberta edged out British Columbia for third spot in the number of births, after Ontario and Quebec. A total of 40,779 babies were born in Alberta in 2004, up 1.2%. The number of births in British Columbia was virtually unchanged.
The last time Alberta topped British Columbia for the number of births occurred in the 1980s, and previous to that in the early 1960s. On both occasions, it was associated with resource booms in Alberta.
Newfoundland and Labrador had the largest relative decrease (-3.0%), similar to its annual average decline of 2.8% in the number of births throughout the 1990s.
National, international migration driving trends
Trends in migration from province-to-province, as well as inflows of international migrants, have a major impact on the number of births in various provinces.
Women who live in Newfoundland and Labrador gave birth to 4,488 babies in 2004, only about half the level of 8,929 in 1983. One reason behind this decline is out-migration, especially among men and women aged 20 to 29.
The out-migration from Newfoundland and Labrador was not offset by in-migration, both in terms of international immigrants and migration from other provinces.
Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest proportion of births to residents who were born outside of Canada (less than 1 in every 100 births). It also had one of the lowest for births to residents who were born elsewhere in Canada (9 in every 100).
On the receiving end of migration trends, about 29 births in every 100 in Alberta were to women who were born elsewhere in Canada, while about 20 were to international immigrants. Only 51 in every 100 were to women born in Alberta.
In contrast, Ontario relied much more on international immigrants for births. A total of 56 births out of every 100 in Ontario were to women born in Ontario, while 36 out of every 100 were to international immigrants. Only 8 in 100 were to women born elsewhere in Canada.
Studies have shown that immigrants have higher fertility rates compared with Canadian-born women, but those rates decline to Canadian levels with the second-generation.
Moms keep getting older
The average age of women giving birth in Canada was 29.7 years in 2004, a slight increase from 29.6 in 2003. This continues a long-established upward trend.
The change in the age distribution of mothers is particularly striking compared with one generation earlier. In 2004, women aged 24 and under made up 20.6% of all mothers, half of the proportion of 40.7% in 1979.
The bulk of the births now occur to women aged 25 to 34, who accounted for 62.1% of all births in 2004 compared with 54.7% in 1979.
Births to older mothers, those aged 35 and older, were almost four times as frequent as a generation earlier. These mothers accounted for 17.2% of births in 2004, nearly four times the proportion of only 4.6% a quarter century earlier.
Migration may also be driving the trend to older motherhood. The average age of mothers who gave birth in the province or territory in which they themselves were born was 29.0 years in 2004, compared with 30.1 for Canadian migrants, and 31.1 for international immigrants. Women may delay marriage and childbirth while settling in a new area and re-establishing social networks.
Fertility rate unchanged
The total fertility rate is an estimate of the average number of children that women will have during the years they are aged 15 to 49, based on current age-specific birth rates.
The statistics show that the rate in 2004 was unchanged from the 2003 rate of 1.53 children per woman. The record-low fertility rate for Canada was set in 2000, at 1.49 children per woman.
At 1.53, the total fertility rate in Canada is very close to the 2003 average rate of other industrialized countries: 1.56 children per woman (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
The Canadian rate is much lower, however, than the rate in the United States. In 2004, the total fertility rate in the United States edged up to 2.05, compared with 2.04 in 2003, as a result of increases in birth rates for women in their thirties.
Although older motherhood is increasing in both Canada and the United States, Canadian women in their thirties are more likely to be having their first child. Over a third (34.7%) of births to Canadian women in their thirties in 2004 were first births, compared with 27.1% of births to American women in their thirties.
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Few High School Students Take PE, Play Sports, Study Finds
Less than half of Ontario’s high school students take physical education classes after Grade 9, and only a fraction are involved in school sports and recreation programs, a new study by a University of Guelph professor reveals.
In fact, student participation in PE classes and intramural and inter-school sports has declined steadily during the past six years, according to the research published in this month’s Journal of Adolescent Health.
“It’s a worrisome finding,” said Guelph Prof. John Dwyer of the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. A specialist in physical activity promotion, Dwyer conducted the study with Kenneth Allison of the University of Toronto’s Department of Public Health Sciences.
“How often people engage in physical activity is partly influenced by the opportunities available. Yet here we have a situation where schools are offering numerous PE classes and sports and recreation programs, and the majority of students are not participating.”
Dwyer said it’s part of an alarming trend of inactivity among Canadian youth, which is contributing to an epidemic of obesity and overweight status. Since 1981, the percentage of obese children in Canada has tripled, and less than half of all youth are physically active enough for optimal growth and development.
The study included 474 Ontario public and separate secondary schools. Dwyer found that nearly all high schools offer curriculum-based PE classes and that participation is the highest in Grade 9 (98%) — the only grade in which it’s required.
In Grades 10, 11, and 12, the percentage of students who take PE classes falls to 50, 43 and 36 per cent respectively, and those figures are between 9 and 13 per cent lower than they were six years ago.
The study also says that while 97 per cent of schools have an inter-school sports programs, only about 25 per cent of students participate — down 4 per cent from six years ago.
As well, two-thirds of schools have intramural programs, but only 15 per cent of students are involved, a 8 per cent decrease.
“The results suggest that strategies to increase student participation in PE, intramural programs and inter-school sports need to be considered,” Dwyer said. Strategies include ensuring there is a wide range of offerings and that programs are attractive and considered worthwhile.
“Students seem to be opting for what they, or their parents, consider to be more academic courses. But they must start to recognize the importance of physical activity.” The benefits include improved fitness and health, decreased susceptibility to obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and high self-esteem and positive social skills, he said.
The study also highlights the overwhelming influence a policy or mandate has on participation in school-based physical activity, and the need to promote sports and recreation opportunities for youth outside of school.
This is the latest in a series of studies Dwyer has done on youth and physical activity. He is also one of 12 people across the country chosen by Health Canada to serve on its external Food Guide Advisory Committee, which is part of the team working to revise Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating.
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Cooling Locations in Waterloo
The City of Waterloo and the Facility Services Division of Recreation and Leisure Services Department advises that the recreation facilities within Waterloo along with City Hall continue to be open and available to the community as locations to seek relief from the summer heat.
Each facility continues to operate under normal business hours with a regular schedule activity and programs taking place at all locations. Public common areas and space are available to all patron visiting facilities.
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex
101 Father David Bauer Drive (P) 519-886-1177
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Daily) www.thecomplex.ca
RIM Park – Manulife Financial Sportsplex & Healthy Living Centre
2001 University Avenue E. (P) 519-884-5363
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Daily) www.rimpark.ca
Albert McCormick Community Centre
500 Parkside Drive (P) 519-885-1700
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Also available:
Waterloo City Hall
100 Regina Street S. (P) 519-886-1550
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
“We have great facilities in our city and making them open for the people in our community that require a place to go for cooling is in the best interest of everyone,” said Mayor Herb Epp.
The use of these recreation facilities as a location to visit may be an option for our residents and the greater community during the increased hot weather the area is currently experiencing.
Further the City of Waterloo currently provides both public swimming and family swimming at both the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex and the Moses Springer Outdoor Pool.
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Survey highlights trend shifts in cosmetic enhancement industry
- Medicard(R) reveals industry stats for cosmetic procedures in Canada -
Number of surgical and non-surgical procedures Performed in Canada in 2005
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642,828
79 per cent non-surgical procedures
21 per cent surgical procedures
Number of Canadians having non-surgical facelifts
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4,185 patients in 2005
3,519 patients in 2004
Number of Canadians having surgical facelifts
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2,185 patients in 2005
2,300 patients in 2004
Percentage of Canadians having facelifts
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19 per cent increase in non-surgical facelifts
5 per cent decrease in surgical facelifts
Patient knowledge upon entering physician's office
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44.32 per cent of patients have some knowledge
25.16 per cent have researched their options
14.27 per cent enter the physician's office misinformed
Top procedures (surgical and non-surgical) in Canada
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Botox(R), Injectable fillers, Laser hair removal, Liposuction,
Non-surgical facelift, Breast augmentation, Eyelid Lift,
Rhinoplasty,Surgical Facelifts
Number of Canadian women vs. men seeking cosmetic procedures
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83.5 per cent vs. 16.5 per cent
Number of Botox injections performed in Canada
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More than 142,374 injections in 2005
100,569 injections in 2004
Increase of 16.67 per cent
More than 100,000 in 2003
Increase of 19 per cent from 2002
Number of Canadians seeking injectable fillers
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126,554 procedures in 2005
Increase 21 per cent from 2004
Number of Canadians seeking laser hair removal
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94,021 in 2005
Increase of 17 per cent from 2005
Number of Canadians seeking liposuction
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29,064 procedures in 2005
9 per cent increase since 2004
40 per cent increase since 2002
Number of Canadian women seeking breast augmentation
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19,289 in 2005
6 per cent increase
33 per cent increase over four years
Where do the patients live?
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44 per cent located in Ontario
21 per cent in British Columbia
12 per cent in Quebec
11 per cent in Alberta
5 percent in Manitoba
the remaining 7 per cent spread throughout the country
Age groups of patients seeking procedures
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72 per cent are 35 to 50 years old
14 per cent are between 19 to 34 years old
6 per cent are over 50 years
Top three services requested by Canadian men
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Surgical: liposuction, rhinoplasty and eye lifts
Non-Surgical: Botox injections and laser hair removal
Clinical Highlights
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Physicians state that 25.17 per cent of their patients return in one
year for a different procedure
Physicians state that 61.77 per cent of patients are first time patients
Celebrity cosmetic trend
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Less emphasis on "big"
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Boomers Are A Stressed Generation Who Are In Debt, But Satisfied With Life, According to BMO Study
Boomers Juggling Needs of Parents and Children, While Trying to Plan for
Retirement
TORONTO - The generation known for its "me first" mentality is juggling the needs of their parents and children with their own future retirement needs, according to the "State of the Baby Boomer" study released today by BMO Financial Group. The study, conducted by The Strategic Counsel, reveals that three in five Canadian boomers with children aged 18 and over are providing some kind of financial support to their kids. Adding to the pressure, one-quarter of those boomers whose parents are still alive have one or more elderly parents that need their assistance on a regular basis.
Yet, while taking care of others is a big part of their lives, boomers
are becoming increasingly concerned about their own future. Only 28 per cent
of respondents are very confident that they will be financially secure in old
age compared to 41 per cent of those under 40 years of age and 47 per cent 60
years and older. A third of boomers (32%) believe their standard of living is
likely to drop in retirement, compared to 16 per cent of younger generation
Canadians.
"Given the changing nature of retirement, particularly concerning
longevity, it's no surprise that boomers are somewhat unsettled by what the
future holds," said Tina Di Vito, BMO Financial Group's Retirement Planning
expert. "This is uncharted territory, so it's all the more important for
boomers to start considering a variety of contingencies and lifestyle choices
today. The key is to start reflecting on the range of options. Working with an
investment professional is a valuable way to get started."
According to the study, many baby boomers are having challenges balancing
the books, with most still with debt (73%). Only 28 per cent of boomers say
they have savings and investments of $100,000 or more. Almost one-in-five
boomers who have not yet retired (19%), say they have no savings.
"It's never too late to start saving - especially for retirement. Today's
65-year old couple has a one-in-four chance of at least one person reaching 97
years of age. That means the average Canadian should plan to fund at least 20
years of retirement," added Di Vito.
Despite the tenuous financial picture, almost all boomers surveyed (91%)
are satisfied with their lives, with almost half (47%) indicating that they
are very satisfied.
The national telephone survey of more than 1,500 people was conducted by
The Strategic Counsel for BMO Financial Group between May 24, 2006 and June 5,
2006. The survey findings also include:
Boomers are willing, but reluctant to sell their houses to fund retirement
- Two-thirds of boomers (65%) are at least somewhat willing to sell
their assets to fund retirement, although only a third (30%) are
intending to use this strategy.
- The vast majority of boomers own homes (80%) and one-in-five (19%)
own a second house.
Boomers are happy, but pre-boomers (age 60+) are happier
- Pre-boomers are overwhelmingly satisfied with their lives (96%).
- More than half (56%) say they are very satisfied, and another 40%
say they are somewhat satisfied.
- Pre-boomers report a sense of confidence in their financial futures,
with half (47%) very confident in their financial security. This may
be because their finances tend to be in order:
- 82% have paid off their mortgages
- 85% have prepared a will
- Almost half (45%) have no debt, and those with debt have less than $25,000 worth (35%).
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Study: The death of a spouse and the impact on income 1993 to 2003
Senior women suffered economically from widowhood, much more than senior men, according to a new study. Senior widows saw their median family adjusted income decline continuously in the five years following the loss of their husband. On the other hand, widowers' median adjusted income was higher five years after the wife's death when compared to the year before that event.
More precisely, adjusted income declined continuously among senior women during widowhood. Five years after the death of the spouse, senior women saw their adjusted income decline by more than 15%, from $25,800 one year prior to widowhood.
Widowers walked a much different path. The adjusted median income one year before widowhood amounted to $27,800 among senior men who lost their spouse. After five years of widowhood, at $29,400, it was 5.8% higher than in the year before widowhood.
Overall, 51% of widowers suffered a loss of adjusted income after five years of widowhood compared with 72% of widows.
Not only did widows' adjusted income decline, more of them fell below the low-income threshold following widowhood. After five years of widowhood, 8.7% of widows were living in low income, compared with 5.1% of widowers.
For widows, the loss came mainly from lower pension income and earnings. For widowers, lower earnings contributed the most to the decrease in adjusted income.
Widowhood affects women at all income levels
The study also evaluated whether the economic consequences of widowhood varied for men and women at different income levels. To do so, all widows and widowers were ranked on the basis of their adjusted family income the year preceding the death of their spouse, and then divided into four equal groups called quartiles.
Widows in all four quartiles saw an overall and substantial decline in adjusted income. Five years after the death of the husband, the richest widows (those in the fourth quartile) experienced an 8.6% decline, compared with a 9.8% drop among the poorest.
On the other hand, the consequences of widowhood at each income quartile for senior men were different compared with those of widows. The poorest widowers saw a small decline in their adjusted income five years after the death of their wife compared with one year before while all other widowers ended the period with an increase in adjusted income.
Sources of income change due to widowhood
Loss of pension income affected widows the most among those who suffered a loss. This component contributed 28.6% of the loss in adjusted income for these women. On the other hand, pensions played a minor role for widowers, contributing only 1.1%.
For widowers, lower earnings contributed the most to the loss of adjusted income while it was the second most important source of decrease for widows.
For some individuals, the deceased spouse was still active in the labour market at the time of their death, so earnings contributed an important share of the family's income.
Note to readers
In this article, total family income before taxes and expressed in constant 2003 dollars is used as a measure of income. Income is further adjusted to take into account family size and composition.
An assumption is made that a drop in family size, all things being equal, should be associated with a redistribution of the family income. Therefore, the loss of a spouse may be associated with an increase in adjusted family income even if the unadjusted family income did not change.
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According to New Study: Mediterranean Diet Better Than a Low-Fat Diet
Landmark Clinical Study Suggests - Including Walnuts May Cut Risk of Heart Disease by 50%
SACRAMENTO, CA - In what's being hailed as one of the world's largest and longest dietary intervention studies, early results indicate that the so-called Mediterranean diet may reduce the risks of heart attack and cardiovascular disease by up to one half.
In an article entitled "Effects of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on
Cardiovascular Risk Factors," reported in the July 4 issue of the Annals of
Internal Medicine, the researchers note that high risk participants who
improved their diet with vegetables, legumes, olive oil or nuts, especially
walnuts, showed lower blood pressure, improved lipid profiles, decreased
insulin resistance and reduced concentrations of inflammatory molecules
compared with those allocated to a low-fat diet (American Heart Association
guidelines).
"The early results of this clinical trial indicate that the Mediterranean
diet pattern is ideal for cardiovascular disease prevention. What we knew
before was scattered pieces of evidence from prospective studies. The primary
endpoint of this long-term study will be a composite outcome of cardiovascular
events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke). The results
to date make us believe, long term, the Mediterranean diet enriched with
walnuts or olive oil will indeed reduce heart disease. The size, duration and
clinical basis of this study make it landmark," said Dr. Emilio Ros, Hospital
Clinic of Barcelona, and PREDIMED study co-investigator.
The investigators of this 4-year clinical study being conducted under the
sponsorship of the Spanish Ministry of Health reviewed the effects of the diet
on almost 800 men and women aged 55 to 80 years. Each participant had either
diabetes or three or more cardiovascular risk factors: family history of
early-onset heart disease, excessive weight, smoking, hypertension, or high
blood cholesterol levels. Researchers maintain that the early results of this
clinical trial suggest that the Mediterranean diet pattern is ideal for
cardiovascular disease reduction.
Carried out by primary care doctors affiliated with 10 teaching hospitals across Spain, the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (PREDIMED) study is a large, parallel-group, multicenter, randomized, controlled four-year feeding trial that aims to assess the effects of the Mediterranean diet on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (www.predimed.org).
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LCBO Experts Pick Top Ten Wines for Canada Day barbecues
Ontario wine country open for business on holiday weekend
NIAGARA - LCBO's top wine experts have cooked up a list of top ten Ontario VQA wines to match with Canada Day weekend barbecues and other summer recipe favorites.
"The food and wine matches can help take the guessing out of what to
serve your guests this holiday weekend," says Norm Beal, Chair of the Wine
Council of Ontario.
All the recommended wines are available in local LCBO stores. Although
LCBO stores are closed this Saturday to observe the Canada Day holiday,
Ontario wineries will be open for business. For more visitor information, log
on to www.winesofontario.ca.
<<
LCBO Ontario VQA wine recommendations to celebrate Canada Day
- Trius Brut VQA $24.75 ---- enhance the celebrations with a crisp
sparkling wine that refreshes the senses and pairs well with
shrimp or cold seafood salads.
- Peninsula Ridge Beal Vineyards Cabernet Rose VQA $14.95 ---- beat
the summer heat with a lovely rose; aromas and flavours of
cherries and cranberries. Serve as an aperitif or with grilled
salmon.
- EastDell Black Cab VQA $12.85 ---- Canadian back bacon on a
burger is a great match for this robust red wine.
- Vineland Estates Semi Dry Riesling VQA $12.85 ---- The king of
Ontario white grapes, Riesling, is a royal way to add some class
to any Canada Day celebrations. Ripe citrus and peach fruit is
backed by racey acidity. Great as an aperitif or with spicy
grilled sausage.
- Ancient Coast Baco Noir VQA $8.90 ---- Wines made with Baco Noir
are the pride of Canadians. Robust black fruit flavours are
peppered with spice. Serve with grilled steak, lamb or burgers.
In Vintages sections:
- Cave Spring Riesling Reserve $17.95 ---- Chilled Chicken Caesar
Salad
"Pear, floral, mineral and lime aromas. Dry in style with crisp
citrus notes. Lively medium long finish."
- Henry Of Pelham Sauvignon Blanc $14.95 ---- Grilled Chicken
Breast and Asparagus spears marinated in a Balsamic/Oil Marinade
"Loads of grapefruit character with typical gooseberry and grassy
aromas which follows on the palate"
- Malivoire Chardonnay $22.00 ---- Salmon or pork tenderloin
"Aromas of apples, citrus, pear and mango. The nutty finish ends
with a kiss of oak"
- Chateau Des Charmes Cabernet Merlot $18.95 ---- Grilled Lamb Chops
"Aromas of black cherries, plums and vanilla, silky smooth palate
with flavours that mimic the nose."
- Trius Red $19.95 ---- Grilled Porter House
"Complex aromas of currants, strawberry, cedar and tobacco. Juicy
black fruits on the palate with a spicy finish."
>>
The Wine Council of Ontario is a non-profit trade association that
represents Ontario's four wine regions - Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, Lake
Erie North Shore and Prince Edward Country. These regions grow 75 per cent of
the grapes used in Canadian wine production.
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Award-Winning Lakeview Cellars to Launch New Wine Brand in Tetra Pak
TORONTO -'Out of the Box' initiative part of commitment to lead Canadian wine industry towards reducing packaging waste
Lakeview Cellars, the award-winning Ontario winery, will be one of the first Canadian-owned and operated wine producers to launch a premium wine exclusively in Tetra packaging, announced Murray Marshall, CEO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.
Out of the Box will hit LCBO shelves in July 2006.
"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits has been working closely with the LCBO to seek environmentally friendly packaging alternatives. Our commitment to this initiative inspires us to offer consumers quality wines in Tetra Paks across a range of styles," said Marshall.
Available in one-litre Tetra Prisma packs, the Out of the Box line will include four varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay (winery retail stores only) and Sauvignon Blanc. All will retail for $12.95.
Tetra Paks are comprised of 75 percent paperboard, 20 percent food grade polyethylene plastic and five percent aluminum foil. The packs are recyclable and can be transformed into a range of products. A further benefit is that the lower weight of the packaging allows efficiencies in transportation that reduce emissions.
Tetra Paks for wine offer the consumer a lightweight alternative that is easy to transport and store, and lends itself to uses such as camping and other outdoor activities.
"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits has taken a very proactive role in working with the LCBO to help meet its objective of reducing waste through the use of alternative packaging. Our goal is to reduce waste by 10 million kilograms by 2008," said Phillip J. Olsson, CEO and Acting Chair, LCBO.
Out of the Box will be promoted via in-store tastings, displays and media outreach. Tetra-packaged offerings from Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits' European and new-world wine suppliers will join `Out of the Box' on store shelves in the coming months.
Out of the Box wines will be packaged at Richmond Hill-based LANPAK, a company that specializes in the production and packaging of food and liquid food using Tetra Brik and Prisma aseptic technology.
Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits, which was very recently named by the LCBO "2006 Agent Of The Year" and also won the LCBO's "VQA Excellence Award" for its EastDell Estates winery, projects strong sales results for Out of the Box. The brand is slated for expansion to other markets within Canada after the Ontario launch.
Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. serves as the sales and marketing agency for domestic wines from Lakeview Cellars, EastDell Estates, Birchwood Estates and Thomas & Vaughan as well such compelling international brands as Kendall-Jackson Wines from California, Fat Bastard Wines from France, Vinissimo and Giovello from Italy, Long Flat, MadFish and Angus The Bull Australian wines plus numerous others from around the world.
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Stress and the 21st Century Woman
OTTAWA - While in today's modern society men and women are equally likely to be exposed to stress and stressful life events, stress may affect their health in different ways. Women are more likely to develop stress-related illnesses such as depression whereas men are more likely to develop cardiac disease.
"Depression is two times more common in women than it is in men," said
Dr. Diana Koszycki, Research Director of the Stress and Anxiety Clinical
Research Unit at the uOttawa Institute for Mental Health Research housed at
Royal Ottawa Hospital. While stress is an important risk factor for depression
in both men and women, their response to stress varies depending on the
stressor. Men are more likely to become depressed after divorce or work or
financial difficulties. Women are particularly sensitive to events in their
social network and are more likely to become depressed if there are ongoing
conflicts in relationships or when a loved one dies.
Stress does not directly cause people to develop stress-related mental
disorders. Stress interacts in a very complex way with genetic, biological,
psychological factors as well as early life experiences to increase a person's
susceptibility to developing stress-related mental disorders. Certain
psychological characteristics such as pessimistic thinking, low self-esteem,
or use of ineffective coping strategies can influence how someone reacts to
stress. Genetic factors also appear to play an important role. Recent research
indicates that people with a short version of the serotonin transporter gene
are at higher risk for depression following life stress than those with the
long version. Early stressful life experiences can cause enduring changes in
brain development and enhance responsiveness to stress in adulthood by
programming the sensitivity of the brain's stress axis. Some researchers have
suggested that women's increased susceptibility to depression following
stressful life circumstances may be attributed to gender differences in
brain-based responses to the effects of stress.
Dr. Koszycki, who has conducted ground-breaking research in the area of
stress and anxiety, will be giving a public lecture on the impact stress has
on women on Thursday, June 29 at the Royal Ottawa Hospital.
"Stress can be a good thing, it motivates us to accomplish things and
avoiding stress may in fact mean we become less resilient to it," she said.
"Stress is part of life and something we have to deal with from the moment we
are born until we die. If we have dealt with stress in the past and learned
the valuable lessons it teaches us, we will be better prepared to cope with
it."
Dr. Koszycki added that people have different thresholds for stress and
self-awareness and knowledge about how much stress a person can manage is key
to successful stress management.
Stress affects both the mind and the body. Symptoms of stress include
difficulty concentrating, problems with sleep, increased anxiety, depression,
impatience and even heart attacks or strokes.
"We need to teach children how to deal with stress and if we are not
coping well with stress, we need to examine our lives to determine whether
changes need to be made," Dr. Koszycki said. "There is no magic pill. I
encourage my patients to make changes in their lives, which could include
lifestyle changes, changes in their thinking and changes to their environment,
to help them better manage their stress."
Dr. Koszycki will discuss the signs of stress and the stress-depression
connection and provide some concrete ways of managing stress including
meditation, exercise and relaxation techniques.
This is the last in a series of public lectures hosted by the Royal
Ottawa Hospital on a variety of issues related to mental health and mental
illness. The idea behind this popular information series is to help the public
appreciate the progress and changes that have been made in the field of mental
health and change the image associated with the Royal Ottawa Hospital and
mental illness.
Stress and the 21st Century Woman will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the
Auditorium of the Royal Ottawa Hospital, 1145 Carling Avenue on Thursday,
June 29. The series is open to the public and admission is free.
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Study: Consumer demand for entertainment services outside the home1998 to 2003
Canadian households have been devoting more and more of their budget to four key entertainment services outside the home, but the amount they spend on such services is still less than 0.5% of overall household spending, according to a new study.
Households spent $3.2 billion in 2003 attending movies, performing arts, and spectator sports events and visiting heritage institutions, up 41% from 1998. On average, each household spent $273 on these entertainment services outside the home. For every dollar of this amount, they spent just under 40 cents on movies, 31 cents on live performing arts, 17 cents on sports and 13 cents on heritage institutions.
The $273 that the average household spent on these entertainment services in 2003 represented a sharp 31% increase from 1998, well above the overall 19% increase in the average household's spending on all goods and services.
Average spending on live sports events increased 44% between 1998 and 2003, the fastest growth rate among the four services. Growth was slowest for heritage institutions.
Spending varied from province to province and from one income group to another.
The provinces: Entertainment spending lowest in Atlantic Canada
Spending on entertainment services outside the home was relatively low in the Atlantic provinces, where the average household spent $189 in 2003. This result is not surprising because spending on entertainment services is highly discretionary, therefore dependant on income, and household incomes in the Atlantic region are well below the national average.
In contrast, Ontario households spent $326 on entertainment services outside the home, the highest average among the provinces. They were followed by households in Alberta ($323) and British Columbia ($271). Households in these three provinces had Canada's highest before-tax incomes, supporting the contention that spending on entertainment services is highly discretionary.
Spending habits varied widely among various income groups. On average, the one-fifth of households with the highest incomes spent $602 in 2003 on entertainment services outside the home, more than triple the $191 average for other households. The one-fifth of households with the lowest incomes spent an average of only $70.
Among various types of households, couples with children spent the most ($384 on average) in part because these households are large and earn the highest incomes.
The fastest-growing segment of the consumer market for entertainment services outside the home was lone-parent households. Lone-parent households accounted for $169 million in entertainment services spending in 2003, a robust 61% increase from 1998. One explanation for this rapid growth is that incomes for these households rose relatively rapidly during the period. Nevertheless, the $257 that the average lone-parent household spent on entertainment services outside the home in 2003 was still below the $273 recorded for all households.
Movies and performing arts: Ontario households spent most
Households in Ontario and Alberta were the most avid movie goers in 2003, spending around $120 per household. At the opposite end of the spectrum, households in Newfoundland and Labrador ($65) and Saskatchewan ($62) spent the least.
In terms of growth from 1998 to 2003, average household spending at movie theatres rose most rapidly in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Ontario.
Of the various types of households, lone-parent households spent an average of $127 on movies. Their spending increased the fastest of all household types during the five-year period. Couples with children spent the most attending movies, an average of $161 per household.
For live performing arts, Ontario households spent the most ($105) while households in the four Atlantic provinces spent the least.
The availability of performances likely has an impact on spending. The number of performing arts companies varied widely across the country. Quebec and Ontario had 242 and 216 companies respectively, compared with only 36 in all Atlantic provinces combined.
Again, there were large disparities in spending among income groups. For example, the 20% of households with the highest incomes comprised nearly half of the consumer market for live performing arts.
Sporting events and heritage institutions
Between 1998 and 2003, the average household's spending on live spectator sports rose 44%. Most of this growth occurred due to higher prices rather than increased attendance, as the Consumer Price Index for live spectator sports rose by about 40% during the same period.
Alberta households spent the most to attend live sports events ($75 on average), while those in Quebec spent the least ($25). During this five-year period, total household expenditure on live sports events rose in every province except Manitoba and New Brunswick.
Among income groups, the biggest increase in spectator sports spending came from the 20% of households with the lowest incomes. Even so, by far the biggest consumers of live sports events were the highest income households.
The average Canadian household spent just $36 in 2003 visiting heritage institutions, considerably less than what they spent attending movies, performing arts or sporting events. Heritage institutions include museums, non-commercial art galleries, historic sites, zoos and botanical gardens.
Income levels heavily influence how much households spend at heritage institutions. Not only were Albertans ($47 per household) and Ontarians ($45) the biggest spenders on heritage institutions in 2003, the two highest income quintiles accounted for 70% of all such expenditures even though they comprised only half of Canada's population.
Note to readers
This release is based on an article titled "Consumer demand for entertainment services outside the home" in the Service Industries Newsletter.
Most data for this article come from 1998 and 2003 results of the Survey of Household Spending (SHS), an annual survey that looks at the spending behaviour of Canadian households.
The analysis covers all households in Canada, not just those that reported spending on entertainment services.
The SHS defines a household as members currently residing at the same dwelling as the reference person. A household may consist of a family or group of unrelated persons or of a person living alone.
As well, there are industry results that come from the following Statistics Canada surveys: The Motion Pictures Theatre Survey; The Annual Survey of Arts, Entertainment and Recreation; and The Performing Arts Survey.
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Aurora Cup Scores The Co-operators Sponsorship
GUELPH, ON - As World Cup soccer captures the attention of millions around the world, preparations for the first Aurora Cup International Soccer Tournament in Camrose are well underway. The tournament received a major boost today as The Co-operators announced a donation of $12,500 to support the event which is expected to bring together 1,200 international athletes.
"We're proud to support the Aurora Cup, which will bring teams not only from across Canada, but from other nations, to our community," said local
Co-operators agent Mike Kelemen. "Ensuring a successful inaugural event lays the groundwork for the future of this tournament, which has the potential to bring international flavour and tourists to Camrose for many years to come."
The Camrose & District Soccer Association plans to hold the tournament every two years. With the help of hundreds of local volunteers, the Organizing Committee will welcome 64 teams from across Canada as well as Mexico and two teams from Nigeria. From July 3rd to 6th, the event is expected to draw 4,000 spectators.
"With the opening game just a couple weeks away, our sponsors and volunteers have really kicked up great support. The excitement is spreading throughout our community," said Shirley Damberger, a key organizer for the tournament.
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Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games celebrates 35 years
WATERLOO -- The University of Waterloo's Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games -- a unique Canadian resource dedicated to the research, collection, preservation and exhibition of games and game-related objects -- celebrates its 35th anniversary this week.
The celebration on Wednesday will recognize the support of the museum's founder, donors and members of the museum's board of directors and former staff, as well as funding from the heritage operations branch of the Ontario Ministry of Culture. The invitation-only event begins at 2 p.m. in the main foyer of B.C. Matthews Hall.
The museum was renamed the Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games in 2000 to honour the significant contributions made over many years by a now-retired faculty member who founded the museum in 1971.
"Through the study of games, we can learn a great deal about human behaviour," says Ron Johnson, a UW professor of recreation and leisure studies. "Games reflect the cultures in which they were developed and played, as well as illustrating the diffusion and interaction of people throughout human history."
The museum collection includes more than 5,000 physical objects -- many of which have been exhibited in the public gallery since 1971. Private, public and corporate donations have supported the acquisition of artifacts from around the world.
The museum's website (www.gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca) features photographs and documentary text about many individual items in the collection. Presented in the form of Virtual Exhibits, each web page includes one or more illustrations of objects in the collection. Many were photographed by the late Gerald Hagey, a museum volunteer and the first president of UW.
The museum is operated by the recreation and leisure studies department, staffed by graduate students and co-op students, and administered by the faculty of applied health sciences as part of the Waterloo Heritage Collections Association.
The current exhibit is Animal Games, displaying a collection of about 50 card games, board games, puzzles, children's games and more -- all based on animal themes. Visitors can learn about the history of classic games such as Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, Rummy and The Uncle Wiggily Game. The free exhibit is open to the public.
The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 25 and again from Sept. 5 through Dec. 15. To arrange tours, call 519-888-4424. Its next exhibit opens in January 2007, featuring games from 1957, in celebration of UW's 50th anniversary.
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North Bay, Ontario Resident To Be The First-Ever Fan Honoured In The Hockey Hall Of Fame
Canadians Choose Mike Brideau To Be The "Lay's(R) Greatest Canadian
Hockey Fan"
TORONTO- Lay's(R) and the Hockey Hall of Fame are pleased to announce that Mike Brideau of North Bay, Ontario has been chosen by Canadians to be the first-ever fan to be honoured in the Hockey Hall of Fame as the "Lay's(R) Greatest Canadian Hockey Fan".
Mike was selected as one of five finalists after visiting www.tsn.ca/lays
and submitting a photo and 250-word summary about why he should be chosen as
Lay's Greatest Canadian Hockey Fan. A judging panel, made up of
representatives from Frito Lay Canada, TSN and the Hockey Hall of Fame, chose
the five finalists from all eligible entries. The other four finalists were
Kenn Shaw (Victoria, British Columbia), Brigette Mcilmoyle (Westbank, British
Columbia), Brian Logie (London, Ontario) and Jack Gurevitch (Montreal,
Quebec). From May 15 to June 2, Canadians could go online to view each
finalist's essay and photo and vote for their choice of the Lay's(R) Greatest
Canadian Hockey Fan.
As the Lay's(R) Greatest Canadian Hockey Fan, Mike Brideau will be the
first-ever fan to be honoured in the Hockey Hall of Fame. This honor will also
include a trip for Mike and a guest to Toronto for a guided tour of the Hockey
Hall of Fame and tickets to the Hockey Hall of Fame Game and the Hockey Hall
of Fame Induction Celebration.
"It's an incredible honour to have Canadians choose me to represent them
as the first-ever Lay's Greatest Canadian Hockey Fan," said Mike Brideau of
North Bay, Ontario. "Hockey fans are the lifeblood of the sport and it's great
that Lay's has created such an amazing opportunity for dedicated fans to be
recognized at the Hockey Hall of Fame. I'd like to thank everyone that voted
for me and congratulate the other four finalists for being such dedicated
hockey fans."
"Canadian hockey fans have spoken and we think they've made a great
choice with Mike Brideau. His passion and excitement for the game and
commitment to teamwork exemplifies the true spirit of the Lay's Greatest
Canadian Hockey Fan," said Dale Hooper, vice president marketing, Frito Lay
Canada. "We're excited to join Mike as he becomes the first-ever fan to be
honoured in the Hockey Hall of Fame."
"We're thrilled to celebrate Canadian hockey fans by giving Mike Brideau
the opportunity to become a part of hockey history and be honoured in the
Hockey Hall of Fame," said Phil Pritchard, Vice-President and Curator of the
Hockey Hall of Fame. "We hope Canadians will visit the Hockey Hall of Fame
this November to see Mike Brideau's display and other historic hockey
memorabilia first-hand."
Lay's(R) is also pleased to announce the 100 Lay's(R) Greatest Canadian
Hockey Fan secondary prize winners. Canadians can visit www.lays.ca to view
the list of minor hockey teams that were nominated by contest entrants and
randomly selected to win one of 100 minor hockey sponsorships worth $500 each.
"Minor hockey plays an important role in the lives of many Canadians as
it builds confidence and encourages teamwork and cooperation among youth,"
said Hooper. "We're pleased to support future generations of Hall of Famers by
giving away $50,000 in minor hockey sponsorships."
Established in 1943, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a museum and place of
entertainment offering state-of-the-art multimedia presentations and exhibits
from its premises at BCE Place, Toronto, Canada. Its mandate is to recognize
and honour the achievements of teams and individuals who bring special
distinction to the game of hockey, and to collect and preserve objects, images
and resource materials connected with the game as it is played in Canada and
throughout the world.
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Luxury homes sales surge in residential markets across the country, says RE/MAX
MISSISSAUGA - Affluent Canadians are fuelling unprecedented demand for luxury homes from Halifax to Vancouver this year, according to a report released today by RE/MAX.
"Million dollar home sales are climbing at a rate never before seen in
major centres across the country," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice
President and Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "The Canadian
love affair with residential real estate is far from over. If the market
continues at this pace, existing sales records for all types of real estate,
including upscale properties, will be shattered by year end."
The RE/MAX Upper End Report found that luxury home sales rose to new
heights in 12 out of 13 markets in January to May 2006 compared to one year
ago, with percentage increases ranging from eight per cent in
Halifax/Dartmouth to as high as 177 per cent in Edmonton. Only Windsor,
Ontario, where concerns over the future of the automotive industry are having
an impact on real estate in general, reported a decline in sales.
"The surge in upper end sales can be directly attributed to three
factors," says Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western
Canada. "Existing homeowners cashing in on substantial equity gains to
re-invest in the top end of the market; strong economic performance across the
country; and solid consumer confidence levels. Limited inventory has further
served to underscore the intensity of the marketplace."
Rising values and renovation have been major factors in the upper-end of
the market, redefining price points and reclassifying residential
neighbourhoods across Canada. Infill is occurring in virtually every older,
established community located in close proximity to the downtown core -
creating new upper end enclaves. Limited inventory levels in areas like
Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto are placing serious upward pressure on prices
in 'blue chip neighbourhoods,' with many properties now selling in multiple
offer situations.
Local buyers, including young professionals, corporate executives, and
entrepreneurs are behind the push for upscale homes and condominiums. More and
more Canadians are reaching millionaire status and that position is often
reflected in their choice of a home.
Highlights:
- The highest-priced MLS sale in Canada this year -- $10,880,000 --
occurred in Greater Vancouver.
- The most expensive property listed for sale is a $45 million
waterfront estate in Oakville, Ontario.
- Out-of-province and international purchasers are a factor in
Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton and St. John's.
- Teardown and infill is occurring in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary,
Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton/Burlington, Toronto, Ottawa, and
St. John's.
- Turnkey properties are most sought-after in Vancouver, Kelowna,
Windsor, and Halifax-Dartmouth.
- Upper end condominiums are popular in Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton,
Winnipeg, Toronto, and Halifax-Dartmouth.
<<
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luxury homes Sales Sales Percentage
Market(xx) start at... 2005 2006 +/-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver $1.5 million 212 403 90%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria $1 million 42 62 48%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelowna $1 million 16 36 125%
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Calgary $1 million 92 206 124%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edmonton $500,000 52 144 177%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winnipeg $500,000 12 24 100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windsor $500,000 15 7 -54%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
London / St. Thomas $500,000 32 38 19%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton / Burlington $500,000 158 225 42%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater Toronto $1.5 million 221 289 31%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa $500,000 145 222 53%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halifax / Dartmouth $500,000 37 40 8%
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(xx) Based on local board MLS statistics (January - May), RE/MAX
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Create Your Own Personal Sanctuary: Easy Tips to Design a Bedroom Retreat
WALTHAM, Mass. -- As the space in which we sleep -- and start and end our days -- the bedroom is easily the most personal room in our homes. For too many people, the bedroom is functional space, often the last room in the house to be decorated. But with the right planning and decor, it can become a personal sanctuary that calms, centers and energizes. Davis Remignanti, Furniture.com's lead design consultant, offers these easy design tips on how to transform the most traditional "sleep space" into an instant personal getaway:
* Get away from it all: Start by thinking "Sanctuary" and begin designing a true retreat with a focus on your favorite pastime. Whether you love to paint, read, exercise, or listen to music, don't crowd your activity -- provide the desk space, storage, or comfy seating that it requires.
* Savor your Zzzzz's: At the end of the day, the bedroom is about sleeping, and your bed is where you likely spend around a 1/3 of each day. Since a good night's sleep will make all the difference tomorrow, consider upgrading your mattress or simply adding fresh new bedding. Then, stretch out and relax.
* Shun the distractions: Escape from the world by hiding away larger electronics -- television, stereo components and computer -- in an armoire that provides easy access to your media channels when you want them, but is even easier on the eyes when you don't. * Showcase your passion: If you love it, let it show. When redecorating, resist the impulse to pack away mementoes. Instead, look for opportunities to showcase souvenirs and photos of what you love to do and the people you love to be with. A true retreat is not just a getaway, but a celebration of your passions.
* Look up: Don't forget your vertical space. Carry your retreat design theme into the third dimension by updating your walls with a fresh new color. You can also put them to work: Walls are an underutilized resource -- examine where you can add shelving, storage options, or a new piece of artwork.
* Lighten up your outlook: Any room makeover calls for a fresh look at lighting. Survey the room as a whole as well as specific task needs. The lighting requirements in your new activity area will differ greatly from your dressing and your sleeping areas. For extra convenience -- as well as added ambiance -- consider putting your primary lights on a dimmer switch.
* Feel groovy: When accessorizing, feel the energy of Feng Shui by following the practice originated in China of honoring the environment -- indoors. Where possible, introduce water, wind chimes, color and crystals into your design.
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Flag raising at City Hall marks the start of Pride Week in Toronto
TORONTO - On June 19 Mayor David Miller proclaimed June 19 to 25 as Pride Week in Toronto. Councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale) joined the Mayor and Pride co-chairs Natasha Garda and David Anderson to raise the Rainbow flag at City Hall, marking the start of the 26th annual week-long cultural festival for Toronto's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited and transsexual community.
"Pride Week is not only a celebration of Toronto's diversity, but an
example to the world of our tolerance and inclusiveness," said Mayor David
Miller. "This is one of the most important, colourful and fun events held in
the city. Later this summer, Toronto will host the 16th International AIDS
Conference; we can all take pride that Toronto's gay and lesbian community has
always been at the forefront of the global HIV/AIDS education movement."
"The raising of the rainbow flag symbolizes the City of Toronto's support
for our communities," said Councillor Kyle Rae. "This is especially important
now that the Harper government is threatening to take away our equality
rights."
Musical entertainment was provided by Forte Men's Chorus and the Ode'min Kwe Singers. The Ode'min Kwe Singers not only celebrate Pride, but also help mark June 21, National Aboriginal Day. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the founding of the Two-Spirited People of the First Nations - a Toronto-based non-profit organization whose clientele consists of Aboriginal lesbians and gays in Toronto.
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Father Research Makes Headlines
Research headed by U of G family relations professor Kerry Daly on the complex challenges facing fathers was featured in national news reports over the weekend.
Articles on the research appeared in the Toronto Star, National Post and in CBC’s Analysis and Viewpoint.
Daly is the director of the national Father Involvement Research Alliance (FIRA), a five-year, $1-million research project aiming to increase father involvement. The FIRA study included interviews with a diverse cross-section of more than 300 fathers from across Canada.
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Jazz Bassist Releases a Decade's Worth of Music
ATLANTA -- "Decade", the newest release by Joseph Patrick Moore on Blue Canoe Records, contains material compiled from his recording efforts spanning the years 1996-2005. Unlike other compilation or "best of" recordings, Decade is not a testimonial of past achievements but a preface, or glimpse, into the artist's future.
http://www.josephpatrickmoore.com/
JPM is a master bassist, equally proficient with upright and electric instruments; his technical virtuosity and artistic curiosity has taken him in pursuit of many musical styles. It is apparent that Moore's works are inspired by mainstream jazz and contemporary jazz as well as r&b, gospel and pop. The result of this exploratory approach to composition is fresh, imaginative, and adds an air of excitement and serves as a foil to the all too often boring and overworked state of academic classroom jazz.
A great sense of adventure thrives in this compelling 80-minute, 19-song CD. Moore pays tribute to mentors Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis with original compositions "Herbie" and "Pause 1". His solo bass version of The Police tune "Masoko Tanga" and the full-band vocal rendition of Men at Work's "Down Under" (in the spirit of Hancock's "Possibilities" and Davis "Tutu") are evidence that pop music is an excellent source of inspiration of jazz arrangements. JPM's abilities come full circle on the title track: he composed and played all the instruments on this soon to be smooth jazz anthem.
If you are searching for music with rich textures and groove oriented arrangements, look no further than Joseph Patrick Moore's "Decade 1996-2005" on Blue Canoe Records. Aptly titled, it is a remarkable odyssey through the world of contemporary jazz.
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