muchmor

Discover Your Canada

Canada Magazine issue 40 mar 09

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

Follow One Family’s

Journey Across
Canada: Part 1
Is now the time to
buy an RV?
Researching and finding
jobs in Canada

Relocation Q&A’s

Have you claimed all the tax

relief you’re entitled to?
Earn tax credits for your
home renovations.
Business Finder
Photo by paulo.barcellos

The secret gardens of Quebec

Travel: Prince William Sound Alaska
Test Drive: The Nissan Murano

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2 Editorial
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From the Editor
Have you ever dreamt of traveling across Canada to
see all this wonderful country has to offer? Well, one
lucky family got to do just that and we will be serializing
their story over the coming months starting today on
page 4.
If you are looking a little further afield for your travel
plans then how about Alaska? We take a look at the
stunningly beautiful Prince William Sound area on page
16.
In our working life section you will not want to miss
our slightly unusual story. When we say unusual, we
really mean it this time! In this section we also profile
the up and coming Power of Women Conference which
will take place in April.
Our guest writer Mark Atkinson takes us on a test
drive of the new Nissan Murano - is this the car for you?
If not, perhaps you are considering buying an RV. You
may be thinking that this is not the right time to buy one
of these luxury vehicles due to the current economic
situation, but maybe it is exactly the right time. Find out
on page 33.
We also take a look at whether a planned home
renovation could earn you tax credits - yes the tax man
might pay you to renovate your home - sounds good
doesn’t it?
Well, there is lots more to this months issue so happy
reading. Just one thing before I go - next months
magazine will be published at the slightly later date of
April 13th, so don’t forget to subscribe free to get your
issue.
Jane Toombes
Editor
 Contents 3

Contents
Motoring

Test Drive: 2009 Nissan Murano 30

Is now the right time to buy and RV? 33

Relocation
Discover Canada The right price 34
Relocation news 38
Journey across Canada 4 Newcomers set record high in 2008 40
Brandon, the heart of North America 10 Clarification of implied status 41
The secret gardens of Quebec 12 Relocation Q & A 42
Canada: Did you know? 15 Researching and finding a job in
Canada 44
Travel
Health & Wellness
Alaska: Kenai Fjords & Prince William
Sound 16 Could it be fibromyalgia 46
Home remedies for a yeast infection 46
Lifestyle Checklist:four natural sweeteners 47

The cookie crumbles 20 Home & Garden

Photographers: Go snap it 22
Top Canadian 23 Earn tax credits for a home reno 48
Springs top home decor trends 52
Working Life Increase home value through smart
renovation 53
The slightly unusual 24
Power of Women conference 26 Muchmor

Money Muchmor Business Finder 54

You’ve earned it, claim it 28

4 Discover Canada

Follow Marie-Julie
and her family on
their journey
across Canada.

Marie-Julie Gagnon, Joseph Sarr

and their daughter Maya aged 20
months embark on a journey
across Canada.

Departure
After months of planning, dozens of
emails, phone calls, headaches and
jars of Nutella (our favourite fuel),
we’re finally on our way to the
airport. I haven’t sorted out all the
details of our grand tour before
leaving, so I’ll be spending the first
few days close to my cell phone
and keyboard. Ready or not, here
we go!
We’re on the plane. Maya is
antsy. Jo tries to calm her down,
while I can’t help but slip into a
deep slumber. My catnap is soon
interrupted by our seatmate, who is
sniffling and coughing up a storm.
You can almost see the germs
festering around his bright red
nostrils. If this goes on any longer,
the whole plane will soon be
swimming in a slimy sea of germs.
Judging from his sidelong glances,
he is not too pleased about being
seated next to a baby. But that
doesn’t stop Maya, who makes her
presence felt loud and clear. After
scrolling through the entire
entertainment system and tapping
on the touch screen (commenting as Toronto’s islands, home to only 250
she goes), she is now busily
plugging and unplugging Mommy’s
headset. Even after replaying the
scene, I will never know what poor,
pig-nose-bearing Christina Ricci
says to her suitor in Penelope, but
my daughter will have improved her pass several boats, including a
manual dexterity (travel is
educational indeed).
Fortunately, just an hour after
leaving Montreal, we touch down in
the Queen City. As soon as we get
into the taxi, Maya falls asleep (sigh). wheels), and start exploring this car-
We get some shuteye too, after
checking into our room at the
Sheraton Centre Toronto, where our
old, worn-out backpacks
“somewhat” clash with the décor
(this makes me feel kind of
rebellious, and I like it!).
“The cruise
offers a totally
different view
of Toronto”
The Toronto Zoo or the islands?
The CN Tower or the beaches? We
will be faced with similar dilemmas
every day for the next month, so we
might as well get used to it. We opt
for the democratic route: I decide
that we should visit the islands first.
Jo locates the Harbour Tour booth,
where we buy tickets ($25.95 per
adult) for a sightseeing cruise of
families. Maya starts running as
soon as we board - her way of
putting in her two cents’ worth (and
keeping us in shape).
We’re impressed. The cruise offers
a totally different view of Toronto. We
sailboat. Once on terra firma, we try
to avoid the duck and other bird
droppings scattered on the ground (I
dare anyone to keep their soles
clean, not to mention stroller
Discover Canada 5
free paradise. Swans come out to
greet us. People are picnicking on
the shores of Lake Ontario. Farther
along, we see ducks and barnacle
geese. It feels as though we are light
years away from the city that’s just a
half-hour boat ride away.
One of the highlights of this outing
for the whole family is the Centreville
Amusement Park. Admission is free,
but you have to pay for the rides
(various passes are available). Unlike
La Ronde in Montreal, which is
geared towards teenagers, this little
amusement park, built in 1833 (when
Toronto was still called York), is
designed for the very young. This is
where Maya experiences her first
rides! Although it doesn’t have many
animals (a few horses, chickens and
sheep), the nearby Far Enough Farm
is also a big hit with Maya. Three
hours after arriving, we board the
boat back to the mainland (there are
departures every hour).
Upon landing, we come across a
fabulous Cantonese restaurant: the
Pearl Harbourfront, which could
easily hold its own against Hong
Kong’s finest eateries. Most of the
customers are Asian, which leads
me to believe that this is one of
those rare spots combining
authenticity and popularity (given its
waterfront location). We enjoy some
delicious dim sum (a variety of small
dishes) and lemon chicken that is
making my mouth water just to think
about it. The Pearl Harbourfront
website tells me that it has made
enRoute magazine’s list of Canada’s
top 100 restaurants for the last ten
years. A real find!
6 Discover Canada
As we leave the restaurant, a
torrential rain drenches us to the
bone (and also cleans the stroller’s
mucky wheels). We decide to dry out
340 metres above ground, and head
for the observation deck of the CN
Tower while Maya takes her nap.
Despite the clouds, the visibility is
good enough for us to fully
appreciate the city. Several photos
later and a few storeys down, Jo and
I attempt to overcome our fear of
heights as we gingerly approach the
glass floor. Imagine looking down at
the ground 342 meters below you.
This would give Superman vertigo.
Jo actually stands on the floor for
several minutes (my superman!), but
a quick glance through these thick
glass “windows” is more than
enough for me. After all, we still have
another 29 days of excitement ahead
of us.
From Toronto to Whitehorse
via Vancouver
We manage to fit in the Toronto Zoo
and a quick look at the Darwin
exhibition at the Royal Ontario
Museum before heading to the
airport. Two and a half days are not
enough for a trip to the Queen City.
There are so many family activities
and wonderful restaurants (so much
for my preconceptions!). Had I been
more self-indulgent, I would have
loved to hang out in Queen West, a
hip neighbourhood full of little
boutiques, bars and terraces (like the
one at the Drake Hotel). I guess I’ll
have to take a rain check.
“Did you know
that traces of
human life
dating to 500
B.C. have been
discovered
here?”
Flight AC115. Our flight leaves
Toronto at 5 p.m. and arrives in
Vancouver at 4:57… the miracle of
time zones. On the plane, Maya has
turned into a little menace. The aisles
are her racetracks and the other
passengers are her “friends,” or
rather her captives. Fortunately,
many of them happily accept her
sudden spurt of sociability.
Air Canada has given us access to
its Maple Leaf Lounges (even though
we’re traveling Economy), so when
we arrive at the Vancouver Airport,
we relax in the super comfy
armchairs while enjoying the wireless
internet connection. In a few hours,
we’ll be in the Yukon!
Flight AC8449. A few drinks and
we’re off again. Having exhausted
her stores of energy zigzagging
through the travellers before
boarding, Maya is soon fast asleep,
and so are her parents. We have no
recollection whatsoever of the two-
hour flight to Whitehorse.
Imagine a territory about the size
of California with a population of
some 31,000 souls, 25,000 of whom
live in the capital. The Yukon
embodies all the clichés that
foreigners dream about: wide open
spaces, an impressive Native
presence (close to 7,000 people),
and…bears. Lots of bears. Although
we might not be “lucky” enough to

encounter one, I quietly slip a “What
to do if you run into Yogi” brochure
into my bag at the tourist information
office.
“That was incredible!”
Joseph is grinning ear-to-ear in his
wet t-shirt. He has just returned from
a canoe excursion to Miles Canyon.
His Whitehorse-bred, Up North
Adventures guide Tyler gave him a
history lesson as they paddled. Now
it’s my turn to learn something new.
“Did you know that traces of human
life dating to 500 B.C. have been
discovered here?” Jo asks me, all
abuzz with excitement.
Miles Canyon once marked the
start of the rapids which, due to their
resemblance to white horses, gave
the city its name. Today, these rapids
have practically disappeared. While
Joseph was paddling, Maya, Jim (the
PR agent from the tourism office) and
I followed the river by road, stopping
from time to time to take pictures.
Between my ooh’s and ah’s, Jim told
me a few stories about the region…
just enough to whet my appetite.
Back at the hotel, I peruse my
travel guide for more information.
“Whitehorse is located at the natural
upstream terminus of the Yukon
River, which is why people settled
here in the first place,” I learn from
Ulysses Canada. “Gold prospectors
traveling to the Klondike by way of
Alaska had a hard time crossing the
Whitehorse and Miles Canyon
Rapids with loaded canoes. The
most prudent way to proceed was to
reach the shore and then portage the
gear.” A short tramway line had been
built to carry passengers from the
foot of the rapids to Whitehorse.
In 1942, the city became one of
the main staging points for the
construction of the Alaska Highway,
a project commissioned by the U.S.
government. The expanding city
overshadowed Dawson, long
deserted by gold prospectors. Eight
years later, Whitehorse took over as
the territorial capital.
“History is all around you here,”
Joseph observes, on our way to
Shipyards Park for the Solstice
Festival, a few hours after our return
from Miles Canyon.
Equally fascinated by the
landscape and Tyler’s stories, he can
already see himself camping on the
shores of the Yukon River and
paddling all the way to Dawson, 700
kilometres downstream.
We count at least six banks
between our hotel and the park. On a
Discover Canada 7
building reminiscent of the Old West,
a Starbuck’s sign reminds us that the
city has entered the modern world.
I’m still wearing my sunglasses
when we get to the Festival after 10
p.m., not for protection from the sun,
which is shining less brightly, but as
a barrier against the swarms of
mosquitoes. (Have you ever had an
unidentified flying insect in your
eye?)
The Park is filled with the music of
Gristlestick, a band from Maine.
Some young people have gathered
on a small mound where they can
enjoy the concert without paying the
$10 admission fee. In the distance,
the Tim Horton’s, Pizza Hut and A&W
signs contrast with the nearly pristine
landscape. Mountains surround the
city on every side. And enormous
white clouds are suspended in a
Prismacolor-blue sky. We are
spellbound.
Later that night, at midnight, while
Jo and Maya are sleeping peacefully,
I stand at the window of our room at
the Edgewater Hotel to see if the sun
is still out and about. Although it has
shown signs of fatigue, I can confirm
that the sun did manage to pull an
all-nighter.
8 Discover Canada

The Gold Rush and then came back for good. Kneeling by the stream, I see the
Married to a helicopter pilot who is landscape reflected in sepia. It takes
There seems to be more sky in the equally passionate about the Far me back 100 years.
North, she spares no details in her Rabbit Creek, 1896. While
Yukon. How else can you explain the
attempt to convince us to love the scrubbing clothes on my washboard,
endless clouds, the sense of
Yukon, too. And she is succeeding. my mind starts to wander. Suddenly,
immensity, even where the towns are
Close to nature, she is humbled by I’m blinded by a flash of light
enclosed by mountains? How else
the beauty that surrounds her. “The reflected off a stone. I set aside my
can you account for the ever-present
Yukon belongs to the animals, not to task, lift the edges of my long skirt
midnight sun, lord and master of
us,” she says. “There are more and wade into the creek. I bend over
summer, embracing treetops and
moose than people here! We’re just and pick up what must be a mirage.
mountain peaks, day and night?
visitors.” Gold. I’ve discovered gold!
We’re on the road, somewhere
Atop the Midnight Dome (a This reverie is pure fabrication on
between Whitehorse and Dawson.
mountain) in Dawson, we finally my part, although the washboard
Between two scenic stops, Maureen
understand the meaning of anecdote is featured in many of
Conway, a transplanted Montrealer
“breathtaking”. In this town of barely Maureen’s tales about the discovery
who has lived in the Yukon for a
1,500 inhabitants, where, night after of gold in the Klondike, stories that
dozen years and now works for the
night, the musical cabaret at transport me into the past and into
tourist bureau, regales us with tales
Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Casino the skin of Kate Carmack. In the
of her adopted home. “Lots of
dazzles greying heads from the four official version, it is her husband
people with a murky past come here
corners of the globe (tour groups George who discovered the first
to start over,” she tells us.
mainly American and Canadian, but nugget at this very spot. Other
That’s another aspect of the
also German and Japanese stop at sources maintain that it was, in fact,
Yukon: the gallery of heterogeneous
Dawson en route to Alaska), words the Amerindian Skookum Jim
characters whose lives are as
fail us in our attempt to describe the Mason, a guide for Kate Carmack’s
intriguing as the land that welcomes
wild nature. For that’s what it is. The brother and his travelling
them. Although not aware of it,
Yukon is one of those nearly pristine companions in search of the young
Maureen is one of them. After doing
regions, despite the presence of the woman and her husband. As a
odd jobs for several summers in
big American chains in the capital confirmed feminist, Maureen prefers
Dawson while getting her B.A. in
and a few visible scars on the to cast Kate Carmack in the starring
anthropology at Concordia
mountains of the Klondike, where role, and I, too, have a weakness for
University, she decided to move to
people once tried to extract gold that version of the story.
this corner of the world, so beloved
without considering the environment. After gold was discovered here,
by the Guggenheim family (the
Wild, but with a rich history… Rabbit Creek was renamed Bonanza
founders of the famous New York
Creek, and the area was soon
museum that bears their name). She
combed by other prospectors. A few
taught in Japan for a few months

months later (news travelled slowly
in those days), the Klondike Gold
Rush began.
In Dawson, we feel as if we are
turning a page of history on every
street corner. This former capital of
the Yukon (where 30,000 people
once packed into the town of 1,500)
saw a stream of ambitious young
men, some of whom lost their lives,
while others hit the jackpot. The
market value of the gold found here
over the years is estimated at 500
million dollars.
“There are still millionaires living in
Dawson,” Maureen tells us. “But you
wouldn’t know it. They don’t flaunt it.
I received a few nuggets as a tip
when I worked at the casino. That’s
what’s so great about this place. It’s
a person’s character that counts.
There is no class structure.”
The homes of poet Robert Service
and novelist Jack London (actually,
half his home, as the other half is in
the U.S. through a bizarre agreement
with Canada), both of whom were
prospectors in the region, have been
transformed into tourist attractions.
Joseph and I each symbolically
“extract” a stone from the stream
before we hit the road. Later on, we
have our family portrait taken in
period costume at Peabody’s Photo
Parlour. Joe is a disgruntled, down-
and-out prospector, I am a cancan
“The Yukon
belongs to the
animals, not
to us,”
dancer, and Maya is a Laura Ingalls
character. Welcome to the Little
House in the Valley!
The high point of my day is a
lesson in panning for gold from an
old pro, Jerry McBride. He’s another
real character: a gap-toothed,
straight-talking former prospector
now in the tourist trade. His verdict:
despite my total lack of rhythm, I
probably would have made a better
cancan dancer.
Next month we continue to follow
the family, this time through British
Columbia when they visit Whistler,
Vancouver Island and many other
interesting locations.
Courtesy of the Canadian Tourism
Commission
Discover Canada 9
Marie-Julie has worked in the
communications field since 1994. She is
a freelance journalist, a columnist, a
researcher and a reporter for print,
broadcast, and online media. She is also
the author of a travelogue, Cartes
postales d’Asie
(www.cartespostalesdasie.com)
published in 2007 by Mémoire d’encrier,
and a book for young travellers,
Embarquement immédiat (Stanké, 2004,
www.edstanke.com/
ShowGuidePage.asp?
CodeProduit=295687). She has set
down her backpack in twenty or so
countries and has been keeping a blog,
Taxi-brousse (www.marieju.com), since
spring 2008. She admits to knowing Asia
better than her own country. But that is
about to change!
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and find muchmor.
10 Discover Canada










Advertorial Discover Canada 11

Brandon, the heart of

North America
At the very heart of North America lies Brandon, Manitoba, a city that has built its reputation on providing the
atmosphere in which business can succeed without artificial incentives. Brandon continues to consistently
be ranked in the top percentile of over 100 cities in 11 countries with regards to overall cost
competitiveness.

Brandon was destined to become the hub and service centre for Western Manitoba from its inception when
it was selected as the divisional point for the Canadian Pacific Railway, a role that Brandon not only
embraced but has excelled at. During its first year of existence, Brandon was often referred to as the
wonder city of the northwest because of the rapidness of its development. Virtually every name associated
with traditional consumer retail can be found in Brandon. The city offers shopping choices that range from
large retail power centres to unique boutique style shops and everything in between. Brandon consistently
records retail sales well above the national average.

Today, Brandon continues to be known as a city of opportunity that capitalizes on its unique strengths. With
innovation and foresight driving the economy forward, Brandon has evolved from the early days as a service
centre to a diversified and important contributor to the Manitoba economy. Significant economic generators
within the local economy include: farm fertilizer production, manufacturing, pork processing, metal
fabrication, trucking as well as Federal, Provincial and Municipal government and higher education including
a university, community college, emergency services college and private vocational colleges. Brandon is
fortunate to have a varied manufacturing base. While the agriculture community has a strong impact on
manufacturing, products and services are diversified sufficiently to allow the economy to remain stable
despite peaks and valleys in the farm economy. Brandonʼs largest manufacturing employers are Maple Leaf
Pork, Koch Fertilizer Canada, A.E. McKenzie Seed Company, Behlen Industries, Inventronics, Canexus,
and Wyeth Organics.

With ready access to a university, community college and an industry valued regional secondary school;
Brandon has a small but burgeoning New Media and Information Technology sector. Companies such as
ResQ, 360 Replays and a variety of highly regarded home based businesses have demonstrated that
Brandon offers the infrastructure and skills necessary to successfully operate an information technology
business.

Brandonʼs location near the geographical centre of North America positions it in the midst of a very strong
transportation network including rail and road. This strong transportation network coupled with low energy
costs has enabled the metal fabrication sector to flourish. Companies like Behlen Industries, Atom Jet
Industries and Sperling Industries have demonstrated that Brandon offers a business environment that
enables their companies to successfully compete in the global marketplace.

With a growing population and economy, employment opportunities abound. In 2008, Brandonʼs average
unemployment rate was 3%. The past four years, local businesses have cited the shortage of labour as their
greatest hurdle to reaching their full potential. Increases in immigration to the area have been extremely well
received by the community as a whole and businesses are benefiting from the expanded labour force. As
the community continues to grow and become more culturally diverse, individuals who are fluent in English
as well as other languages are highly regarded.

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.
12 Discover Canada

The secret
gardens of
Quebec

By Noah
Richler
Photo by otfrom
 Sequoia Club Discover Canada 13
© Michel Laverdire, Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens

My favorite of Québec’s Lodge—a salmon fishing lodge built vegetable patch or an organic farm
spectacular array of gardens is by Sir George Stephen, “baronet of nearby. These now supply not just
situated outside the picturesque Montreal and Grand-Métis” (one of Quebeckers’ kitchens, but the
village of Métis-sur-Mer, north of the original CP Railway barons and proliferation of gourmet restaurants
Rimouski and below the Gaspé. It’s the first president)—started of the region—from Québec City to
not just the labyrinth of streams and cultivating them in 1926. Out of the Métis-sur-Mer and Tadoussac,
English-style flowerbeds, romantic Gaspé Peninsula on the south shore where chefs make a point of making
and overflowing, or the fields of rare of the Bas Saint Laurent, Elsie their imaginative best of local
blue poppies shimmering under the Reford fashioned a marvelously ingredients.
fleeting summer sun. At the Jardins English set of rock gardens and A simple, circular route—from
de Métis, where an historic lodge flower beds into which she also Québec City through the
and garden is combined with an successfully introduced thousands Kamouraska region as far as Métis,
annual competition of landscape of unusual species—including, most and then, taking the ferry across the
artists, much of the joy in visiting famously, the Himalayan blue river at Rimouski, back along the
lies in the gaiety and laughter the poppy. North Shore through the Charlevoix
International Festival of Gardens Now the gardens are managed by and into Québec City again—
evokes. Reford’s great-grandson Alexander reveals Quebec gardens in their
Imagine hundreds of potatoes who cleverly introduced the astonishing variety. And no more so
lined up on pine shelves within a International Festival of Gardens— than in this year of the provincial
wooden subterranean root cellar. now in its 10th year—in a previously capital’s 400th birthday
The festival entry called Pomme de unused part of the villa’s extensive celebrations. The traveller who
parterre is as intriguing as a science grounds. (The Festival was the makes Québec’s horticulture his
experiment: the potatoes are inspiration for the recently mounted raison d’être can visit a plethora of
connected by wired electrodes to a Ephemeral Gardens in Québec City, that evoke the Old World (French
set of speakers that—without any QC, celebrating its 400 th and English), as well as others that
other source of energy—emit tiny anniversary.) amuse and even surprise with their
screaming sounds prompted by the Gardens are beloved in la belle imaginative variety of contemporary
proliferation of sugars in the province and throughout the Bas messages, for great gardens have
growing spuds. There’s no way Saint Laurent and the Gaspé, on the always invoked their designers’
around it. The wooden shed— south shore, and the Charlevoix visions of paradise, but it is a
resembling, in its subtle way, a region on the Saint Lawrence’s modern turn of the landscaper’s art
concentration camp dormitory—is a northern side. They celebrate that now their messages are
vegan’s tragicomic nightmare. memory and belonging, but also the political, too.
The Jardins de Métis, outside the task of actually living in a territory The classic gardens of Québec
historic summer resort of Métis-sur- that is by nature only reluctantly City—the Botanical Gardens of the
Mer, an area also known as the settled. Quebeckers’ gardens bloom University of Laval, the Joan of Arc
Reford Gardens. Their founder, Elsie in a riot of colour during the short Garden within the Plains of
Reford, who was the heir to Estevan season in which they are possible, Abraham (the park of profound
and there is nearly always a historical contemplation that was a
14 Discover Canada
gift to the city on the occasion of its
300th anniversary, a century ago)
and the Saint Roch Gardens within
the old town—present the
horticultural city in its more formal,
handsome and civically oriented
aspect. Theirs is the sensibility of a
place that, having to govern, sees
paradise in order.
But as part of the city’s ongoing
celebrations of its 400th birthday
another, more contemporary kind of
garden is sprouting in unanticipated
corners.
The Visionaries Garden—the
creation of Franco Dragone (a
previous Cirque du Soleil director
and creator)—is a mounting series of
vegetable planters boxed in concrete
and acrylic blue, illuminated at night,
that dress the steps of the Musée de
la civilisation in the lower part of the
city. A short walk away, across the
busy Rue Dalhousie (the street that
separates the old town from what
had been the river’s edge three
centuries ago), the 11 themed plots
of the Ephemeral Gardens—selected
from several hundred international
entries—are planted on a site that
had previously a parking lot.
One, called L’autre rive (“The Other
Shore”), uses stone paths winding
through the whispering greenery of
high willow saplings to rejoice in
nature’s shape-shifting; the sort of
immersion in the plant world that
pioneers, 400 years ago, would have
experienced. Today’s urbanite, likely
to be deprived of such an encounter,
will relate to Plage (“Beach”), a
humourous take on an inner city
garden, comprised of a series of
sandlots and brightly pastel-coloured
painted low benches cut in
ergonomic shapes kind to those
wanting to take a nap in the sun.
Another, Rouages (“Cogs”), invites
you to turn a crank on a gear system
that pulls a plow seeder tilling the
ground below in a marvelously
evocative recollection of the
province’s settler beginnings.
Downriver from the city, the lines
of the old seigneurial fields,
hearkening back to the earliest days
of la Nouvelle France, are still evident
in the long and narrow fields that
stretch from farmhouses a kilometer
inland to the very border of the river
(repeated, as if the great Saint
Lawrence was a blue mirror, on the
hills of the far shore). These strips of
land that, so beautiful to behold,
were distributed to French-Canadian
seigneurs in such a way that vital
access to the highway of the water
was guaranteed to all. Francis H.
Cabot is descended of one such
family. He the owner and designer of
Les Jardins de Quatre-Vents—20
acres of gardens on what used to be
the family seigneurie overlooking the
Saint Lawrence from La Malbaie, in
the Charlevoix region, on the north
shore.
The gardens are considered by
many to be the finest in Canada.
They are certainly among the most
eccentric, filled with exuberant folly
and recalling not just the Versailles-
like gardens of 18th century Europe,
or England’s Capability Brown, but
the lush and fantastical vegetation of
New Zealand—where Cabot lives for
part of the year—the comedy of Alice
in Wonderland (human-sized bronze
statues of frogs with musical
instruments that play Dixieland and
another quartet that plays chamber
music as you approach) and the
intriguing mysteries of Freemasonry.
On a secret door in the atrium of the
Pigeonnier, a three-storey wooden
pigeon house, Cabot has inscribed
an Alexander Pope poem promising
that: He Gains All Points, Who
Pleasingly Confounds,/ Surprises,
Varies and Conceals the Bounds.The
gardens do just that—baffling and
entertaining those who visit on one of
four permitted days a season.
But despite such delights, the
playful Jardins de Métis’ are still the
ones that capture my fancy like no
other. In one entry, retained from an
earlier year, sheets of tinted Perspex
in a patch of birch have an Orson
Welles-like effect in the redoubled
glade. In another, amusingly titled
Passe-moi un sapin, Rita (“Pass the
pine tree, Rita”), visitors are
encouraged to take oversized plastic
cutouts of green trees—ones that
mimic the pine air fresheners that
hang from car mirrors—and to
“plant” them in slots in an area of
authentic forest.
Afterwards, have a fine meal in the
airy dining room of the magnificent
lodge. Visit Elsie’s rooms, upstairs, or
take a walk along the garden paths
she made and try and imagine what
she thought she was building.
It is this exhilarating mix of the
traditional and the very modern,
Québec in both its envious aspects,
that make the Jardins de Métis the
perfect place to conclude—or begin
—your wonderful Saint Lawrence
horticultural journey.
Noah Richler is a CBC radio
documentary maker and the prize-
winning author of This is My Country,
What’s Yours? A Literary Atlas of
Canada. He is a regular contributor to the
Globe and Mail, the National Post, The
Walrus magazine and the BBC World
Service.
 Sequoia Club Discover Canada 15

Canada: Did you know?

In the town of St.Paul, Alberta The covered bridge over the Saint John River in New
you will find a flying saucer Brunswick is considered the longest covered bridge in
landing pad. It was built to the world at 391 m (1,282 ft).
celebrate Canada’s
centennial in 1967. Churchill, Manitoba is home to the world’s largest
population of polar bears. The bears can be seen
Although hockey is known between October and November.
as Canada’s national sport,
it actually shares the title More than half of Canada’s 209 mammals (a whopping
with lacrosse which is the 119 species) and a full 362 of the 462 species of birds
official summer sport. resident in Canada are found in British Columbia.

The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia is home to the highest
tides in the world reaching mean heights of 16 m (52 ft).
Quebec City is the only walled city in North America and
is a UNESCO World heritage Site.
Every year in Quebec City an ice
hotel is built using over 500
tons of ice. It is open January
to April and has 36 rooms,
cinema, chapel and a bar - all Alberta are home to the
made of ice.
The Confederation Bridge
which connects New
Brunswick with Prince Edward
Island is the longest continuous
bridge over sea in the world.
The highest town in Canada is
Rossland in British Columbia.
It is located 1,023 m (3,356
ft) above sea level in the
crater of an ancient
volcano between the
Monashee and Selkirk
Mountain ranges.
The badlands in southern
greatest concentration of dinosaur
fossils found anywhere in the world.
The largest national park in Canada is Wood Buffalo
which spans the borders of Alberta and the Northwest
Territories. It covers an area of 44,807
sq km (17,300 sq ft).

Algonquin Provincial park in Ontario is one of the best
places to spot moose in North America. It is home to
around 3,500 of them.
Toronto in Ontario is the only
city in Canada to still
operate electric street cars.
On March 29,1848 both
sides of Niagara Falls ran
dry. An ice jam had formed
on Lake Erie, blocking the
water that normally flowed
along the Niagara River and
over the falls. Thirty hours later,
weather and winds uncorked the ice and a sudden surge
of water swept down over the falls.
Baffin Island in Nunavut is Canada’s largest island. It
covers an area of 507,451 sq km and has a population of
11,000 people.
The Mackenzie River is the longest river in Canada. It
runs from Lake Athabasca in Alberta to the Beaufort Sea.
Canada is home to 14 World
Heritage Sites. In 2007, the
Rideau Canal, which flows
through Ottawa, Ontario,
became the latest Canadian
site to earn the designation.
Canada is the second largest
country in the world after Russia.
Canada’s total area is 9,984,670 sq km.
The border between Canada and the United States is
8,890 kilometres long.
The largest non-polar ice field in the world can be found
in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory. It covers an
area of 40,570 square kilometres of which 16,900 square
kilometres are located in Canada, the remainder being in
Alaska.
The longest highway in the world is the Trans-Canada
Highway which is 7,604 km and stretches from one side
of Canada to the other.
The highest waterfall in Canada is Della Falls in British
Columbia which is 44 metres high.
 16 Travel

Alaska

Kenai Fjords
and Prince
William
Sound
Photo by Sillysocks

Glaciers in Prince
William Sound
Photo by Alaskan Dude
One of the best ways to see the of Alaska, the waters are mostly
wonders of Alaska's Prince William protected by a series of islands.
Sound and the Kenai Fjords National Calm bays, a plethora of islands and
Park is on a boat with someone who so many glaciers that they aren't all
knows them well. named provide unparalleled
Tour boats that ply the glacier- opportunities to explore one of
lined waters of Southcentral Alaska Alaska's most impressive and
are floating classrooms. National accessible bodies of water.
park rangers stand by the railings, Most tours from Anchorage begin
ready to answer any question about in Whittier, a 40-minute drive from
the birds and sea mammals nearby. Anchorage that connects to a short,
Captains, as familiar with the pristine 11-mile train ride through a tunnel
waters as they are with their crafts, carved into a mountain. You can
offer rich narratives and often alter drive your vehicle onto a flatbed car,
their routes to make sure passengers or just hop on the train.
don't miss breaching whales or Once in Whittier, a small enclave
calving glaciers. originally built to be a self-contained
The two bodies of water are easily army community, travelers can throw
within the reach of travelers to sea kayaks into the sound or catch
Alaska. Although the stunning an Alaska Marine Highway ferry, or
settings offer many of the same buy a ticket on one of the numerous
opportunities - sightseeing tours, sea half- or full-day tours provided by
kayaking, calving glaciers, whales, tour companies.
astounding fishing opportunities and Like the captains who ply the
miles of pristine shoreline - they are waters of the Kenai Fjords National
very different. Park, Prince William Sound captains
and crew members provide
information and insight into the
Prince William Sound wildlife and glaciers along the way.
You'll gaze at huge, sheer walls of
Prince William Sound, with 3,500 prehistoric ice, watch other chunks
miles of coastline and 150 glaciers, of glacial ice - some call them
lies within the boundaries of icebergs - float, freshly calved away
Chugach National Forest, the second from the sound's spectacular
largest in the country. The sound is Columbia Glacier, a 40-mile-long and
home to one of the world's largest four-mile-wide tidewater glacier.
collection of tidewater glaciers. There is another option to get to
Although it's in the far northern Gulf see the sound. You can do what the
Travel 17
locals do - something an Anchorage
newspaper reporter once called "The
Valdovier Loop" - that is, a trip
encompassing Valdez, Cordova and
Whittier. It involves a six- to eight-
hour drive to Valdez, a ferry to
Cordova and onto Whittier, then a
train ride (with your car onboard) to
Portage for the return drive to
Anchorage.
The drive to Valdez, spectacular to
even the most seasoned Alaskan,
peaks at Thompson Pass, where the
Worthington Glacier is accessible by
car. Valdez, a lively little berg famous
for the World Extreme Skiing
Competition usually held around the
end of March, wild rafting,
unsurpassed fishing and the
termination of the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline. It's also home to
internationally acclaimed Prince
William Sound Theater Conference,
an August event that draws
playwrights and actors from all over
the country.
Cordova is an amazing spot, a
quaint fishing town of about 2,500
set in the Copper River Delta, where
six glacial rivers meet. The docks are
lined with weathered canneries and
the harbor filled with commercial
fishing vessels.
About 50 miles outside of
Cordova, along the old Cordova
River Road, is Childs Glacier. A 300-
foot-wall of ice sits across the
Copper River. When the mighty
18Sequoia
TravelClub

Prince William Sound glacier calves, a steel bridge - still
unfinished but open to pedestrians -
reverberates with the thunderous
sound. Tours or taxi rides to the
glacier are available from Cordova.
Birders love Cordova, as do
anglers. Camping and fishing tips are
best gotten from the U.S. Forest
Service and the Alaska Department
of Fish and Game. In May, Cordova
fills with birders to catch some of the
240 species of birds that live here or
stop on various migration routes. The
Copper River Delta Shorebird
Festival marking the event provides
opportunities to share birding
information and enjoy the small-town
Sea lions charm of the town.
The Kenai Fjords
booths. But the big attraction that
weekend is the Mount Marathon
Race, when some 3,000 men,
women and youth race up the steep
4,603-foot peak.
If you can't make it in July, plenty
of other activities that mix
spectacular Alaska wilderness with
the hometown fun of Seward go on
all summer. The town hosts a silver
salmon derby every August and is
home to an active yachting club,
which stages regattas and races
throughout the summer, filling the
harbor with colorful sails.
The harbor area is lined with
charter boat offices, gift shops, a
small grocery/sandwich shop, a
couple of restaurants and the public
boat launch.

When local Alaskans have visitors,

chances are you'll find them driving “The cruises
offer a rare
three hours south along the Seward
Highway, a National Forest Scenic
Byway, to Resurrection Bay and the
Kenai Fjords National Park. Here, it's
almost embarrassingly easy to
chance to have
impress visitors who have traveled
north to learn first-hand about the beauty of
Alaska's natural wonders.
And travelers who arrive on their
own find opportunities to study the
Alaska
Alaskan ferry sea life and surrounding glaciers
from national park rangers. Rangers interpreted by
who work on many of the daily
commercial tours, staff the ranger
station and sometimes can be found
experts”
walking along the docks of Seward,
One of the area's premiere
enjoying a sunny day.
attractions is 690,000-acre Kenai
After a drive through the nation's
Fjords National Park. Dominated by
best salmon-fishing country, the road
the immense Harding Icefield, the
trip ends in Seward, a small, friendly
area surrounding the fjords feeds
community of about 3,000 that lies
dozens of deep-blue glaciers that
nestled where turquoise waters meet
tumble down into the waters of the
with the timbered Kenai Mountains.
bay.
The town is a mix of working
Out on the water, it's not hard to
fishermen, young cannery workers
find communities of Steller sea lions,
and people in the tourist trade. It's
otters, puffins, bald eagles and
Kenai Fjords lively and a tribute to its somewhat
calving glaciers. Whales sometimes
rocky history.
make it deep into the fjords, but the
The city is named after William H.
odds of seeing one increase as you
Seward, U.S. Secretary of State in
boat further into Resurrection Bay.
1867 when Russia agreed to sell
To get out on the water, take one
Alaska to the United States for $7.2
of several tour boats or smaller
million. Seward drew widespread
charter boats that provide tours from
criticism for fostering the purchase,
the small boat harbor. Tours range
hence the state's early monikers of
from 2.5-hour cruises across
"Seward's Folly" and "Seward's
Resurrection Bay to the edge of the
Icebox."
national park, to 9.5-hour cruises
Fourth of July weekend is one of
deep into the fjords. The sizes of the
the busiest in Seward. Over 30,000
commercial tour boats vary, holding
people gather to enjoy a parade and
from less than 10 to 200 passengers.
street fair filled with food and craft
 Sequoia Club
Seaward
harbour
The cruises offer a rare chance to
have the beauty of Alaska interpreted
by experts. National park rangers
staff many of the cruises and tours.
Captains also provide ongoing
narratives during the tours, often
altering their route to give travelers
closer viewing to whales and sea
lions. Maps and other printed guides
allow for even more study of the
glaciers and wildlife along the way.
Personalized sightseeing tours and
fishing charters are also available out
of Seward, with operators offering
trips to catch ling cod, halibut and
salmon or to simply cruise the bay.
If you're not inclined to head out
onto the water to see glaciers,
downtown Seward is a short drive
from the foot of Exit Glacier. Part of
the national park, this glacier empties
out at a trailhead nine miles off the
Seward Highway just outside of
Seward. Energetic hikers can
scramble up the three-mile trail
alongside the glacier to overlook the
Harding Icefield. Or you can simply
walk to the face of the glacier. A
nearby ranger station offers maps,
literature on glaciers and, as always,
helpful rangers who love to talk
about the region.
Much of the best of the Fjords'
wildlife can be seen at the new
Alaska SeaLife Center. This $52
million state-of-the-art marine
research, rehabilitation and
educational facility has three main
exhibits including Stellar sea lions,
harbor seals and a variety of
seabirds. The research center was
designed and built as an outgrowth
of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Its
“You'll gaze at
huge, sheer
walls of
prehistoric
ice”
mission is to rehabilitate marine
birds, mammals and fish while
allowing the public to observe.
The displays are top-drawer. Huge
glass tanks make visitors feel as if
they are standing under the bay's
waters. In the "Discovery Zone," you
can get up-close looks at sea stars,
sea urchins and a passel of other
marine invertebrates. Descending
into the display, "Denizens of the
Deep," you'll watch sea lions and
other marine species in their natural
elements while another underwater
viewing area boasts of wolf eels,
giant octopus and various species of
crabs.
Travel 19
Photo by Alaskan Dude
A variety of organized packages
can get travelers to Seward by rail,
bus or plane. The independent
traveler can also arrange
transportation on those modes, or
drive. Ambitious hikers can walk from
Anchorage to Seward, having to walk
along only 40 miles of highway in the
course of the 125-mile journey.
For information about Prince
William Sound, the Kenai Fjords, and
travel and lodging information,
contact the Valdez Convention and
Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 1603,
Valdez, AK 99686, 800-770-5954,
Cordova Chamber of Commerce,
P.O. Box 99, Cordova, AK 99574,
907-424-7260 or the Seward
Chamber of Commerce and
Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O.
Box 749, Seward, AK 99664,
907-224-8051.
For more Alaska visitor information,
write to Dept. 712, P. O. Box 196710,
Anchorage, AK 99519-6710, call
800-862-5275 or visit the web site
http://apr.travelalaska.com
Alaska Travel Industry Association
2600 Cordova St. Ste. 201
Anchorage, AK 99503-2745
P. (800) 327-9372
F. (800) 276-1042
E. ATIAmedia@gci.net
20 Lifestyle

The cookie crumbles

Chocolate Chip
Cookies
Ingredients:

205 g butter flavored shortening

150 g white sugar
110 g brown sugar
2 eggs
10 ml Mexican vanilla extract
280 g all-purpose flour
5 g baking soda
6 g salt
335 g milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175

degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. In a
large bowl, cream together the butter
flavored shortening, brown sugar and
white sugar until light and fluffy. Add the
eggs one at a time, beating well with
each addition, then stir in the vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until
light brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients:
115 g butter, softened
60 ml applesauce
145 g brown sugar
65 g white sugar
2 eggs
5 ml vanilla extract
190 g all-purpose flour
6 g salt
5 g baking soda
245 g rolled oats
80 g raisins
60 g chopped walnuts
85 g semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175

degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. In a
large bowl, cream together the butter,
applesauce, brown sugar and white sugar
until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a
time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda, then
gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the oats, raisins, nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by
rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow
cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.
 Lifestyle 21

Almond Biscotti
Ingredients:

115 g butter or margarine, softened

250 g sugar, divided
3 eggs
5 ml anise or vanilla extract
250 g all-purpose flour
9 g baking powder
Dash salt
50 g chopped almonds
10 ml milk

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and 1

cup sugar. Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each addition. Stir in
anise or vanilla. Combine dry
ingredients; add to creamed mixture.
Stir in almonds. Line a baking sheet
with foil and grease foil. Divide dough in
half; spread into two 12 x 3-in.
rectangles on foil. Brush with milk and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or
until golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees F. Lift rectangles with
foil onto wire rack; cool for 15 minutes. Place on a cutting board; slice diagonally 1/2 in. thick. Place slices with cut
side down on un-greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn cookies over; bake 10 minutes more. Cool.

Spicy Banana Cookies

Ingredients:

100 g shortening
220 g packed brown sugar
2 eggs
150 g mashed ripe bananas
250 g all-purpose flour
9 g baking powder
1 g ground cinnamon
1 g baking soda
0.5 g ground cloves
2 g salt
60 g chopped walnuts
70 g raisins

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and

brown sugar. Add eggs and bananas;
mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add
to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in
nuts and raisins. Chill (dough will be very
soft). Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until
lightly browned.
22 Lifestyle
 Lifestyle 23

Top Canadian…
TV shows
1. House - 2.88 6. Two and a Half Men - 1.83
2. American Idol (Wed) - 2.41 7. Bones - 1.59
3. Grey’s Anatomy - 2.30 8. Grammy Awards - 1.59
4. American Idol (Tue) - 2.29 9. Desperate Housewives - 1.58
5. C.S.I. Miami - 1.86 10. ER - 1.53

CD’s
1. Working on a Dream, Bruce
Springsteen
2. Frey, The Frey
3. Dark Hourse, Nickelback
4. The Fame, Lady Gaga
5. 2009 Grammy Nominees,
Various
6. We Sing We Dance We Steal,
Jason Mraz
7. Fearless, Taylor Swift
8. Only by the Night, Kings of
Leon
9. I am Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
10. Tonight, Franz Ferdinand

DVD’s

1. Zack and Mira Make a Porno 6. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

(18A)
2. Pride and Glory (18A)
3. Passchendaele (14A)
4. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
(PG)
5. Lakeview Terrace (14A)
(G)
7. Max Payne (PG13)
8. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (14A)
9. The Secret Life of Bees (PG13)
10. RocknRolla (14A)

Fiction paperbacks
1. The Shack, William P Young
2. The Book of Negroes,
Lawrence Hill
3. Three Day Road, Joseph
Boyden
4. Water for Elephants, Sara
Gruen
5. Thousand Splendid Suns,
Khaked Hosseini
6. Outlander, Gil Adamson
7. Slumdog Millionaire, Vikas
Swarup
8. The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga
9. The Appeal, John Grisham
10. World Without End, Ken Follett

Fiction hardbacks
1. Through Black Spruce, Joseph
Boyden
2. The Guernsey Literary and
Potato Peel Pie Society,
Barrows & Shaffer
3. The Host, Stephanie Meyer
4. The Associate, John Grisham
5. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle,
David Wroblewski
6. The Hour I First Believed, Wally
Lamb
7. The Flying Troutmans, Miriam
Toews
8. The Origin of Species, Nino
Ricci
9. A Most Wanted Man, John le
Carre
10. Just After Sunset, Stephen King
24 Working Life
Sequoia Club

The Slightly Unusual

In the past, our unusual jobs profiles have been just that, however
this month we talk to Wolf Wartenberg who definitely fits the criteria
of unusual. He is an barrel organ grinder, and for those of you who
have no idea what that is - read on.

Before we talk to Wolf, lets first fulfill my childhood dream by doing

understand what a barrel organ is.
According to the Oxford Canadian
dictionary a barrel organ is: a
mechanical musical instrument that
plays a tune when a handle is turned.
So Wolf is the grinder who turns the
handle - with us so far?
Wolf, give us a bit of
background and when and
why you started this unusual
job.
Twelve years ago when we moved
from Germany to Canada I thought I opening for the German Chamber of
would retire here. My wife and I
bought a 50 acre farm and renovated in Toronto, a wedding and a 60th
the buildings and wanted to open a
B&B. It turned out that we became a
very well known yoga retreat center.
After these successful years I
thought I should try again to retire, to your organ grinding?
but didn’t know what to do in my free
time, so my wife suggested why not Wherever I go, people start smiling,
some entertaining. As a lot of
people play a barrel organ in
Germany why not start this in
Canada and entertain people here? I
did some research on the internet,
flew to Berlin, Germany and bought
a wonderful handcrafted instrument.
While still in Germany I advertised in
Toronto and got my first
engagements.
Was it hard getting started?
Strangely, no. Once back in Canada
I bought my “outfit” and in the first
year I played for a big restaurant
Commerce at the Royal York Hotel
birthday party. However, I do have a toy monkey
who sits on top of my organ.
What is the general response
What type of events do you
perform at?
no matter their age. I really enjoy my These days people or groups hire
new career as a busker and the nice me to play at events such as
conversations I have with people. exhibitions, fairs, weddings,
anniversaries, retirement homes,
What is the funniest part of garden parties, street events (BIA’s)
etc. I even played 2 days in Oil
your job? Spring City (near Sarnia) for the
150th anniversary of the Oil Museum.
People always ask me “where is I travel all over the place with my
your monkey?” barrel organ.
The background to the monkey is:
in the old days the barrel organ Do you busk on the streets?
grinder walked through the streets
and the backyards of the houses and
they had a monkey who would Unfortunately Canada differs to
collect the money the women were Germany in that local communities
throwing out of the windows. As I do do not allow me to play on public
not trust the monkey and my wife will streets, if they do, they ask for a
not agree to have one in the house permit which can be expensive. For
(we already have 3 dogs & 3 cats) I that reason I only play if privately
have to pick up the money myself! hired.
 Sequoia Club Working Life 25

Tell us about your barrel organ.

My instrument continues the tradition of the world

famous Berlin street organ, preserving the old concepts
tonally and mechanically. The instrument, played by
means of the traditional perforated paper rolls operating
the old pneumatic system which has stood the test of
time for more than 100 years.
This year I will fly to Germany to attend a barrel organ
grinder festival where about 300 barrel organ grinders
will come together and play. I’m really looking forward to
this event!!!

So, when are you planning to retire now?

Who knows? I love what I do and as long as I am

physically and mentally able to continue, I will do. I have
no plans to retire anytime soon!

If you want to know more about Wolf

and his barrel organ grinding why not
check out his website at
www.barrelorgangrinder.com or contact
him by email
info@barrelorgangrinder.com

26Sequoia
Working
Club Life Advertorial

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Denise and Sharon have joined together to help you find these keys within yourself; your task is to use
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causing current negativity around you. You’ll better understand your life situation and enable yourself to
remove the barriers that once stopped you from achieving your goals. You’ll discover how to make positive
changes and to systematically create the kind of life you’ve been longing for. You’ll gain a brighter outlook
on your future and a renewed zest for living. These keys will allow you to discover who you truly are and to
become who you were born to be.
 Advertorial
Sequoia Club Working Life 27

Conference Workshops Business Development - Joanne Ferns

Session 1
Personal Development - Aprille Janes
Create a Life Plan Before a Business Plan.
Business Development - KPMG
Are you Maximizing your Tax Deductions?
Should you Incorporate your Business?
Lifestyle/Health Development - Dr. Cecilia Ho
Healthy Breast Workshop
Session 2
Personal Development - Mary Giuffre
Create flow in your life with Feng Shui
Build a successful business and Prosperity
Plan
Lifestyle/Health Development - Corey
McCusker
Identify what Motivates You and Your Clients
Session 3
Personal Development - Stephanie Herrera
Improv
Business Development - Stefanie Antunes
Keeping Strong in a Weak Economy
Lifestyle/Health Development - Nicole Risman

For full details of POWE and the conference go to www.powe.ca

Tickets are $175 for POWE members or

$199 for non-members plus GST

Muchmor Canada readers can get a special price of

just $150 for members and non-members
phone Cheryl on 1-877-876-6585 and quote MB200902.

PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN FRONT OF 300 WOMEN

with an exclusive Vendor Table for Members at $350 each including your
ticket.
Only 15 available with one in a category only!

Conference Sponsors
28 Money
You've earned it.
Claim it.
The Government of Canada
has introduced a wide range of
income tax relief measures to
help you save on your taxes.
Also, find out about our quick,
easy, and secure electronic
services.
Lowest tax rate – The
lowest tax rate for 2008 is
15%. This rate also applies
when calculating federal
non‑refundable tax credits.
Amount for children born
in 1991 or later – You may be
able to claim $2,038 for each of
your or your spouse's or common-
law partner's children if they lived
with you throughout 2008 and were
under the age of 18 at the end of the days and the user purchases enough
year.
Children's fitness amount – You
may be able to claim up to $500 in
eligible fees paid in 2008 to register Individuals can also claim the cost of
each of your or your spouse's or
common-law partner's children in a
prescribed program of physical
activity.
Northern residents deductions –
For 2008, the residency deduction
has increased to $8.25 per day if you proposed changes, the required
are entitled to only the basic
residency amount, or $16.50 per day was reduced by 25 per cent for 2008.
if you are entitled to both the basic
and the additional residency
amounts.
Pension income splitting –
Individuals who received eligible
pension income in the year may be
able to allocate up to half of that
income to their spouse or common-
law partner. To make this election,
individuals must complete Form
T1032, Joint Election to Split Pension
Income.
Public transit amount –
Individuals can claim the cost of
monthly or longer duration public
transit passes for travel within
Canada. The passes must permit
unlimited travel on local buses,
streetcars, subways, commuter
trains or buses, and local ferries. The
Working Income Tax Benefit
(WITB) – When filing their
income tax returns, individuals
and families with low incomes
may be able to claim the WITB,
which includes a supplement
for individuals who are entitled
to the disability tax credit.
Eligible individuals and families
can also apply for advance
payment of up to one half of
their estimated 2009 WITB
using Form RC201, Working
Income Tax Benefit Advance
Payments Application for 2009.
To ensure the best service
cost of shorter duration passes can possible, it is very important for the
also be claimed if each pass entitles Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to
the user to unlimited travel for an have, on file, your current mailing
uninterrupted period of at least five address and financial account
information.
of these passes so that the user is The Government has also
entitled to unlimited travel for at least introduced the following measures to
20 days in any 28-day period. help Canadians:
Apprenticeship Incentive Grant –
electronic payment cards when used For information, go to
to make at least 32 one-way trips www.servicecanada.gc.ca/
during an uninterrupted period not apprenticeship.
exceeding 31 days. Registered disability savings
Registered Retirement Income
plan (RDSP) – The deadline for
Funds (RRIF) withdrawals – Under opening an RDSP, making
contributions and applying for the
minimum RRIF withdrawal amount matching grant and the income-
tested bond for the 2008 contribution
This measure applies to all RRIF year has been extended to March 2,
holders, regardless of age. RRIF
2009 from December 31, 2008. The
holders who withdraw more than the 2009 RDSP contribution year will
reduced 2008 minimum amount will begin March 3, 2009.
be permitted to re-contribute the
excess to their RRIFs (up to the Remember to file your income tax
amount of the reduction provided by return before the deadline at
this measure), until March 1, 2009 at midnight on April 30, 2009. Tax
the latest. Re-contributions are returns can be submitted to the CRA
deductible for the 2008 tax year. electronically using NETFILE or
Tradesperson's tool deduction – EFILE, or by phone using TELEFILE,
On their 2008 income tax returns, your return will be processed faster
employed tradespersons (including and if you are entitled to a refund,
apprentice mechanics) may be able you will receive it earlier. If you are
to claim a deduction of up to $500 filing a paper return, mail it to the
based on the cost of eligible tools in CRA using the envelope included in
excess of $1,019 that they acquired your tax package.
during 2008. For more information on tax
topics, go to www.canada.gc.ca/
taxinfo.
 Money 29

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.

!
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(+!HIJ;KLM;MKHM!N!OMIK!!!!=:4++*)PB(2*<*-/!!
!
30Sequoia
Motoring
Club

Test Drive:
2009 Nissan
Murano

Story and
photos by
Mark Atkinson

When the Nissan Murano first to figure out where its corners are.
appeared in the early noughties, it The rear follows the general themes
was the most futuristic design from its smaller sibling, the Rogue,
available, especially since most of its and doesn't match the front's
competitors were trying to ape the drama. The de rigeur rising beltline,
still-upright-and-boxy traditional thick A-pillars and small rear window
SUVs. Based on the front-wheel- mean plenty of blind spots, although
drive Altima's platform, the Murano the large side mirrors do a decent
offered decent levels of equipment, job of filling in the blanks.
a healthy V6 engine, optional all- All Muranos feature Nissan's tried-
wheel drive and a reasonable ride. and-true 3.5-litre V6 with 265 hp and
Fast forward to 2009, and the 248 lb-ft of torque, matched with a
Murano's up for its first makeover. In continually variable transmission
the grand scheme of things, not (CVT), which also allows you to
much has changed in terms of its manually select from six preset
brief - meaning a car-based five-seat ratios if desired. New for '09 is
crossover - but the competition in standard all-wheel drive on every
this segment is much fiercer than in model.
'03. Just about every major Safety features include six
manufacturer has at least one such airbags, ABS with emergency brake
vehicle in its lineup - and sometimes force distribution and brake assist,
two or three. The big question is stability and traction control, and
whether Nissan's evolutionary active head restraints for the front
makeover is enough to keep it row.
relevant. Although the Murano S starts at a
Size-wise, the new Murano is reasonable $37,648, my tester was
within a couple millimetres of its in loaded $47,498 LE trim, meaning
predecessor, although the new standard HID headlights, fog lights,
design is even more controversial. 20-inch wheels and all-season tires,
Its snout feels significantly pointier heated mirrors, power-adjustable
than previously, and the sculptured heated leather seats front and rear,
front fenders mean it's more difficult climate control, auto-sensing
Motoring 31
windshield wipers, power tilt/
telescoping steering, keyless entry
and ignition, a dual-panel moonroof,
rearview camera with 7-in display,
11-speaker Bose audio system,
Bluetooth connectivity and
secondary audio and cruise controls
on the steering wheel. Metallic 'Deep
Sapphire' paint was an extra $135,
while the excellent hard-drive-based
navigation system and 9.3GB 'music
server' (onto which you can copy
your MP3 files) with appropriate
voice controls was a pricey $2,950
option.
All that luxury is thrown into one of
Nissan's better cabin designs to
date. The gauges are bright and
legible no matter what time of day,
major controls fall right to hand, and
the materials are better than
average. It's very easy to find a
comfortable seating position, and
there's a decent amount of room in
the second row, even behind my 6-
foot-three-inch frame.
Cargo space is reasonably
generous, and the rear seats power
fold flat to increase usable room.
On the road, however, the
Murano's habits are merely OK. It's
not an overly sporty vehicle, thanks
32Sequoia
Motoring
Club
to too much lean and vague
steering, but the suspension bumps
and thumps over the smallest
imperfections. It's probably the
setup trying to deal with the extra
weight of the 20-inch wheels, but
there's a lot Nissan could do to
improve things for future releases.
Performance-wise, acceleration is
strong and the CVT works well
enough that you never notice it.
While the Murano offers a huge
number of features and look-at-me
styling, the only problem is its
pricing. My 'LE' tester's sticker
totaled $50,583 before freight, PDI
and taxes. A similarly equipped Ford
Edge Limited AWD runs a touch over
$46,000, while a loaded - and much
more attractive - Mazda CX-7 can't
get much higher than $42,000. Even
Infiniti's own EX35, although smaller
and less practical, would only total
about $48,600 for all the bells and
whistles. And that's only counting
dedicated five-seaters. Excellent
vehicles like the seven-seat Toyota
Highlander and Ford Flex either beat
or match Nissan's pricing.
That means, other than perhaps
styling and brand loyalty, there isn't
anything the Murano does
outstanding enough to make it
worthy of recommendation. It seems
Nissan stood still these past six
years while the market is moving
much, much faster.
The vehicle and insurance were
provided by the manufacturer for this
test. All prices in Canadian dollars.
Mark Atkinson has nearly 10 years
experience as an automobile journalist
working for publications like Inside Track
Motorsport News, Carguide, World of
Wheels, Canadian Auto World, the
Hamilton Spectator Wheels section,
Metro Carguide, Suburban Life and West
of the City. Besides writing for Muchmor
Canada Magazine, Mark also has his
own blog, www.drivingguy.com, and
appears in a number of other print and
online publications.
He has driven nearly a thousand
different vehicles in his career, including
notables like the latest Chevrolet
Corvette Z06, Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R,
but his current favourite is Mercedes-
Benz’ C63 AMG… at least until
something else comes along.
As a freelance automotive journalist,
Mark enjoys working from home with his
two dogs and kitten as his office staff.
He’ll soon be adding another member to
the family as his wife Rebecca is
expecting their first child in July.
Mark’s love of cars came at a young
age thanks to his grandfather, who had a
trio of antique Chevrolets and attended
races at Watkins Glen in the 1950s.

Is now the right time to
buy an RV?
The recent volatile fuel prices and
the falling value of homes have
impacted both RV owners and the
RV Industry. In the past several
months many major RV
manufacturers have shut their doors
permanently.
Quite a few people, who recently
bought new RVs at the highest
monthly payments that they could
qualify for, are now regretting their
decision to get the RV of their
dreams. In other words they over
bought their RV and they are now
paying the price for it.
Is this all doom and gloom for
RVers and potential RVers? The
answer is a resounding NO! If you
were ever thinking about buying an
RV or upgrading to a different class
of RV, now is the time to do it.
Because this is where the basic
concept of Supply and Demand (also
known as price and demand) you
learned in your economics class in
high school kicks in. To put it in RV
terms, when the economy is bad, the
demand for RVs goes down.
With less demand, the RV dealers
are going to do everything they can
to get rid of those new RVs (in other
words they will accept less money
for them). The volatile fuel prices and
questionable economy have also
caused panic amongst some current
RV owners. These owners have
hastily made the decision to sell their
RVs because they believe that they
will no longer be able to afford to use
them.
This has created a buyer’s market
for RVs right now. Whether you are
planning to buy a new or used RV,
you will be able to get a lot more for
your money. Of course you are going
to have to still negotiate the best
price you can for what you want, but
now more than ever you are in the
driver’s seat during these
negotiations. Depending on what
type of RV you are going to buy, the
money you save on the purchase
price could pay for your fuel and
other travel expenses for quite a
while.
In some cases you may have to
finance your RV purchase. When
financing, remember the finance
company will give you a loan for as
much as you want (based on your
credit). But, just because they are
going to give you that much credit
does not mean that you have to use
that much credit. You might believe
you can afford the monthly
payments. But, you need to ask
yourself if you can comfortably afford
the monthly RV Loan payments and
still have money left over to pay for
the other costs of owning an RV such
as fuel, maintenance, storage and of
course camping. In other words
don’t overbuy.
Now, let’s address the concerns of
the cost of going camping in your
new RV. The biggest cost, depending
on the type of RV you have will be
fuel. This would be a major concern
if you are planning a 3,500-mile
cross-country trip. Now, even for the
most avid RVer is not the time to
spend all of your money seeing the
whole country (unless you have deep
pockets).
Getting away from it all and
camping does not require traveling
100’s or 1000’s of kilometres. Look
around within a 50, 60- or 70 km
radius of where you live and you will
be surprised at all of the places there
are to camp. Remember, the whole
Motoring 33
point of RVing and camping is to
relax and enjoy your surroundings. I
guarantee you there is no kilometre
limit on relaxation. Whether you are
25 km from home or 2,500 km from
home, you can and should relax:
after all, that is what the RVing
lifestyle is all about.
Our family has been RVing for over
35 years, and we have been all over
the US and Canada and have
enjoyed every minute of it. Have we
changed our RVing habits as a result
of the economic crunch? YES, we
are not planning to travel 1000’s of
kilometres right now. Have we given
up RVing? NO, we just go camping
closer to home, visiting destinations
we have not been to before. This
change in our habits has not
diminished our zeal for; or enjoyment
of RVing.
You won’t regret your decision to
buy an RV. Just plan ahead and don’t
put a financial strain on yourself as
this will diminish your enjoyment.
Author Alan Wiener says; whether you
are new to RVing and camping or a
veteran, http://www.everything-about-
rving.com/ has something for you. We
know that Going Camping in an RV is fun
and we hope that visiting our site makes
it even more fun. We give you excellent
information about RVs, Camping and the
RV Lifestyle.
 34 Relocation

34 Moving to Canada

The price
is right
Research prices
before your move
to Canada

Furniture, appliances etc
The Brick: www.thebrick.com
The Brick is one of Canada’s largest
furniture store chains. They sell
furniture, appliances and electronics.
and have stores in all provinces
except Newfoundland and Labrador.
A store is also located in the Yukon.
Lastman’s Badboy Furniture:
www.nooobody.com
This chain of stores operates in the
Golden Horseshoe area of Ontario.
They sell furniture, appliances and
electronics.
IKEA: www.ikea.ca
IKEA is a Swedish company selling
furniture, textiles and home
accessories. They have locations in
British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario
and Quebec.
Leons: www.leons.ca
Leons is Canada’s largest retailer of
home furnishings. They also sell
home electronics and appliances.
They have stores in all Canadian
provinces but not the territories.
Sleep Country:
www.sleepcountry.ca
Sleep Country sells mattresses and
beds in British Columbia, Alberta,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Ontario. They are the number one
mattress specialists in the country.
Sears: www.sears.ca
Sears is a department store selling
clothing, health and beauty products, home improvement, construction
furniture, appliances, electronics,
home and garden products and
tools. They have stores throughout
Canada.
Holt Renfrew:
www.holtrenfrew.com
This high end Canadian department
store has locations in Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and
Quebec. They sell designer
cosmetics, fragrances and fashions.
Mattress Mart:
www.mattressmart.ca
This company sells mattresses in
Ontario , Quebec and Nova Scotia.
The Bay: www.thebay.com
Part of the Hudson’s Bay Company
this department store sells clothing,
health and beauty products, home
wares, furnishings and appliances.
They have stores across Canada
except PEI, Newfoundland and
Labrador and the territories.
Winners: www.winners.ca
Winners stores offers brand name
clothing, furniture and house wares.
They have stores in all provinces but
not the territories.
Zellers: www.zellers.com
Part of the Hudson’s Bay Company,
Zellers offers goods such as clothing,
electrical, health and beauty, home
wares, furniture and appliances.
Stores located in all provinces but
not the Territories.
Countrywide:
www.countrywidestores.com
Countrywide stores offer a complete
range of furniture, appliances and
bedding. They have stores in all
provinces except Quebec and PEI.
Home Improvement
Home Depot: www.homedepot.ca
Home Depot is the world’s largest
home improvement retailer. Stores
cater to do-it-yourselfers, as well as
and building maintenance
professionals. They also sell
appliances. They have locations in all
provinces, but not the territories.
RONA: www.rona.ca
RONA is the largest Canadian
distributor and retailer of hardware,
home renovation and gardening
products. They have stores in
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
New Brunswick, Newfoundland &
Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec,
Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Relocation 35
Home Hardware:
www.homehardware.ca
This Canadian company operates
under three banners: Home
Hardware selling tools, house wares,
paints and garden supplies. Home
Building Centre, which sells lumber,
electrical and plumbing supplies and
building materials, Home Furniture
which sells furniture and major
appliances. They have locations
throughout Canada.
Lowes: www.lowes.ca
This American DIY chain has recently
entered the Canadian market with
stores presently only in Ontario. They
sell everything for home
improvements including appliances.
Home Décor
Home Sense: www.homesense.ca
This store sells brand name and
designer home décor and
accessories. They operate in all
provinces except Prince Edward
Island and the territories.
Pier 1 Imports: www.pier1.com
Pier 1 are a specialist retailer of
imported home furnishings and
furniture. They have stores in Alberta,
British Columbia, Manitoba, New
Brunswick, Newfoundland &
Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario,
Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Home Outfitters:
www.homeoutfitters.com
This store is part of the Hudson’s
Bay Company with stores in Alberta,
British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova
Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and
Saskatchewan. They sell kitchen,
bathroom and bedroom goods.
JYSK: www.jysk.ca
JYSK pronounced yi-sk is a
Scandinavian company supplying
furniture and home décor products
for the bedroom, bathroom and living
room. They have locations in British
Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.
 36 Relocation
Home Hardware:
www.homehardware.ca
This Canadian company operates
under three banners: Home
Hardware selling tools, house wares,
paints and garden supplies. Home
Building Centre, which sells lumber,
electrical and plumbing supplies and
building materials, Home Furniture
which sells furniture and major
appliances. They have locations
throughout Canada.
Business Equipment
Staples Business Depot:
www.staples.ca
Staples Business Depot is Canada's
largest supplier of office supplies,
business machines, office furniture
and business services to small
business and home office customers. Supermarkets
They have over 240 stores in all
provinces and the Yukon. Loblaws: www.loblaws.ca
Office Depot: www.officedepot.ca
Office Depot supplies office furniture
and machinery to both business and Extra Foods: www.extrafoods.ca
home office customers. They have
stores in all provinces and the Yukon. This supermarket has locations in
Electronics
Future Shop: www.futureshop.ca
Future Shop is a retailer of consumer
electronics owned by Best Buy Co
Inc. They have over 110 stores
located in all the provinces.
Best Buy: www.bestbuy.ca
Best Buy is Canada's fastest-
growing specialty retailer of
consumer electronics, personal
computers and entertainment
software and also operates the Geek
Squad, a 24 hour computer support
task force. They have stores in
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.
The Source by Circuit City:
www.thesourcecc.com
This store sells consumer electronics
such as TV’s, computers, phones
etc. They have stores in all provinces
and territories.
Loblaws upscale supermarket has
stores in Ontario and Quebec.
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
Northwest Territories, Ontario,
Saskatchewan and Yukon.
No Frills: www.shopnofrills.ca
This budget supermarket is owned
by the Loblaws Company and only
operates in Ontario.
The Real Canadian Superstore:
www.superstore.ca
This chain of hypermarkets sells
groceries as well as electronics,
clothing and house wares. They have
stores called Atlantic Superstore in
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island. Dominion in
Newfoundland & Labrador and Real
Canadian Superstore in Western
Canada and Ontario.
A & P: www.freshobsessed.com
This upscale Canadian supermarket
has stores in Ontario.
Food Basics:
www.foodbasics.com
This budget supermarket has stores
only in Ontario.
Sobey’s: www.sobeys.ca
Sobey’s has supermarkets in all
Canadian provinces. IGA is also part
of Sobey’s and many of their stores
are being re-branded as Sobey’s.
Safeway: www.safeway.ca
This is North America’s second
largest supermarket chain. They have
locations throughout Canada.
T & T: www.tnt-supermarket.com
T & T is Canada’s largest Asian
supermarket chain. They have
 Relocation 37

locations in British Columbia, Alberta
and Ontario.
Thrifty Foods:
www.thriftyfoods.com
Thrifty operates a number of stores
in British Columbia and is the largest
supermarket chain on Vancouver
Island.
Walmart: www.walmart.ca
Primarily a supermarket, Walmart
also sells electronics, clothing,
entertainment products etc. They
have stores all over Canada except
Nunavut.
Misc
Canadian Tire:
www.canadiantire.ca
Canadian Tire sells everything from
car parts to fireplaces, fishing rods to
toilet rolls. They are a national brand costs from $50 to $100 depending
with 455 stores throughout Canada.
London Drugs: They sell everything from CD’s to pet
www.londondrugs.com supplies, instruments to office
equipment.
London Drugs is a Canadian owned
company located in Alberta, Michaels: www.michaels.com
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British
Columbia. They sell home wares, Michaels is the largest art and crafts
health and beauty products, retail chain in North America and is
electronics, computers, cameras and located throughout Canada.
food.
Toys R Us: www.toysrus.ca
Shoppers Drug Mart:
www.shoppersdrugmart.ca Toy store and computer gaming
centre. They have locations
Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada’s throughout the country except,
largest retail drug store group. As Prince Edward Island and the
well as health care products they territories.
also sell cosmetics, perfume,
magazines, food and drink. They also Chapters: www.chapters.indigo.ca
offer pharmacy services in stores
throughout Canada. Chapters, part of Indigo Books and
Music Inc is Canada’s largest retail
Costco Wholesale: www.Costco.ca book chain. They sell books and
music both in store and online. You
Costco is a wholesale company for will find Chapters and Indigo stores
members only. Annual membership throughout Canada
on membership level. Business and
personal membership is available.

RENT or CHILDCARE

Over 1 million Canadians can’t afford both. The high cost of

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
34 Money
38 Relocation

great as it means you that thewhole
foreign worker program should beable
revised
Alberta may cut
Line of credit or get the available but wants to be to use it as
during the
amount up-front to do with as you please,temporary downturn.
and when they need it.
Currently
on theover 170 occupations are
to listed ascredit
beingof in
loan? but you are making payments If you agreed a line of

foreign worker
When you decide you need a little
short supply. These range from barbers to petroleum
whole amount, even if you don’t use it all
engineers.
at once. By this we mean that if for
$20,000 for a ten year period, you can dip
into that money as and when you need it

numbers
extra cash, and who doesn’t, the first example you borrow $20,000 but only use and only pay interest on the amount used.

Ontario Provincial
place you will probably go is your financial $10,000 initially and keep the rest in the Use $10,000 and pay interest on $10,000.
institution for a loan. But is a loan the right bank for a rainy day, you are still paying If you pay back the $10,000 then you have
thing to ask for? If you are a home owner, interest and repayments on the whole the $20,000 still available to you. This is
O ver the last two years Alberta has
you will be borrowing against the equity in $20,000.
of temporary foreign workers coming into the
your home, essentially a second
doubled the number
province. Nominee Program
Generally a HEL is more suitable for
basically a revolving credit similar to a
credit card.

extended
However, due to the downturn in the economy it may be
mortgage. You should discuss with your these one-off payments such as a car This type of credit is useful for
forced to review current and future numbers.
financial advisor the differences between
As of December 2008, Alberta had 58,456 foreign purchase or major home renovation. ongoing needs such as tuition payments,
workers
loans andbut linesduring December
of credit. Depending over
on 16,000 jobs in the ongoing renovations,or perhaps a holiday
province
what you need weretheshed
moneywithfora will
further 5,700 gone during
Line of Credit each year.
January 09. This leads to the
determine which options will be best for inevitable question of why L ast year Ontario launched its new Provincial Nominee
continue
you.
to bring in foreigners when Canadians are out Program (PNP) as a pilot and has just announced the
With either of these options you home
of work. A Home Equity Line of Credit of the program.
expansion
is at risk if you default on the payments.
Gil McGowan president of the Alberta(HELOC) works
Federation ofin a different
The way
newand is
Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee
LabourLoans says that any jobs available in the province
much more flexible. YouProgram
still havewas launched
to agree Bothon canFebruary
be set as20 fixed rate orand
th 2009 flexible
will
should be made available to Canadians tofirst, even if that help employers
an amount you can borrow and the time find skilled
rates of workers
interest and
and foreign
interest on workers
both types
means foreign workers lose their jobs and have to leave. and
With a loan you agree to borrow a set period it is available, but you will only paystudents find work.
of During
loan are 2009
usually Opportunities
tax deductible.
McGowan says, “bringing in even more unskilled foreign Ontario aims to have 1,000 Alwaysnominations.
consult with an advisor before
amount of money which you repay by interest on the amount you borrow. This is
workers during the downturn will continue to keep wages The program will nominate
taking on
individuals
either
and their
type of loan to be sure
fixed installments
down in service over
and aretail
fixedjobs.”
period of especially useful for someone
familieswho basedwants
on pre-approved job offers in the
time. For homeowners you are opting for the one which suits your
Danielle Smith whothis is isthe
referred
Albertato director
the security
of the of knowingprovince.
the moneyThisis will allow employers in Ontario to find and
Canadian
as a Home Federation of Independent
Equity Loan (HEL). This is Business suggests recruit foreign workers circumstances.
for roles which cannot be filled by

Location,
location,
location.
Fluctuating exchange rates could put
your dream property out of reach

To minimise the risk of paying more when

moving or buying abroad, call us now and
speak to one of our expert advisers or visit
www.hifx.co.uk

0845 370 5133

(all calls charged at standard local rates)

Currency Specialists
Morgan House Madeira Walk Windsor Berkshire SL4 1EP
 Relocation 39

Canadians. Approved employers can recruit foreign Careers 33

workers through the General Category and international
students through the International Student Category. Foreign student
numbers to
Individuals
Duties of who are recruited
this fast-growing by an Ontario employer
profession Market Research Analyst If you want to make the case to a
and meet thewriting
include Opportunities Ontario
and editing text, criteria canMarket
creating then research analysts, whose job potential employer or your boss to let you
apply graphics,
to Citizenship
convertingand Immigration
photos and drawingsCanada (CIC)are
numbers forexpected to grow 20 percent work from home, keep a few things in

increase
permanent residence after being nominated as provincial
into digital images, designing page layouts by 2016, gather data on competitors and mind. If possible, provide concrete
nominees. They may
and developing also apply for temporary work
presentations. examples of how this arrangement was
analyze prices, sales, and methods of
permits whilst their applications for residency are being successful in the past or how it will
marketing and distribution. They often
processed. succeed. Suggest that you ease into it --
Dataabout
Information EntrytheClerk design surveys,
program for both employers andcompile and evaluate the
spending a few days to a few weeks in the
individualsLike
can administrative assistants,
be found using thisjob
link. data and make recommendations Citizenshipto their
and immigration Minister Jason Kenny
prospects should be best for those with client or employer based office at the outset, meeting people and
upon theirthat Canada
announced will “substantially increase” the
getting to know procedures. Then, during
expertise in computer software findings. number of foreign students during the coming year. He
thenumbers.
first three to six months on the new

Settlement
applications. By typing text, entering data would not commit on
into a computer, and performing other Paralegal The new Experience job, Class
make frequent visits.
of immigration which was
clerical duties, these workers ensure launched
While lawyers assume last year allows students to apply for
ultimate

services
companies keep up with information and permanent
responsibility for legal residence when
work, they delegate
Kate their
Lorenzstudent visas
is the article andexpire.
advice
technology. "We are not receiving
much of their work to paralegals.
editorenough foreign students,"
for CareerBuilder.ca. She
Kenney said. “Universities
researches areand
pressing for the
writes about increase,
job search
Paralegals not only assist in preparation

extended in
he said, because foreign strategy,students,
career who pay the
management, highest
hiring
Insurance Underwriter for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate
tuition fees, are "a source
trends and of revenue."
workplace issues.
Insurance underwriters serve as the meetings, they also perform a number of

Ontario
main link between the insurance carrier other vital functions including draft
and the insurance agent. Underwriters contracts, mortgages, separation
analyze insurance applications, calculate agreements, trust instruments and may
the risk of loss from policyholders, decide assist in preparing tax returns and
whether to issue the policy and establish planning estates. With employers Visit www.readmuchmor.com
reducing
Theappropriate
federal government
premium rates.recently announced the
costs by replacing duties once tended totoread all our back issues
expansion of its newcomer assistance programs intowith paralegals, growth of this
by lawyers
fourteen more libraries in southern Ontario.profession is expected. and find muchmor.
The original pilot program started in Toronto, Ottawa
and Hamilton and will be expanded to include Brampton,
Kitchener, Richmond Hill, Windsor and London.
“Our Government is helping make settlement services
more accessible to immigrants,” said Minister Kenney.
“This investment will give newcomers in our community
access to settlement services to help ease their transition
to life in Canada. Their success will strengthen this
community and Canada.”
The workers located at the libraries will offer
newcomers help andto
Subscribe advice relating Magazine
Muchmor to housing, and
employment transport and other opportunities. CareerBuilder® is one of
not only
“The library serveswill
as ayou be reminded
gathering place for when
newcomers,” said Ahmed Iqbal, Executive Director of the Canada’s top job sites
every new issue is published butare
you
Brampton
pleased to
Multicultural
work more
Community
closely with
Centre. “We
the Brampton
very
Library.
allowing you to get the best
will also be placed into a draw to win
This dynamic partnership, funded by Citizenship and and most up-to-date
Immigration Canadaa(CIC), $50 will
TimCard™
enable us to integrate our
services and coordinate efforts to reach more employment information
newcomers, thereby improving their access to much
needed services in our growing community.” available.
The federal government is spending $1.9 million to
fund the service organizations taking part, these are:
• Brampton Multicultural Community Centre: Sign up completely free to
$373,059
• Catholic Community Services of York Region: receive job
read muchmor for the latest winner
$414,131
recommendations or add
• Kitchener-Waterloo
and Multicultural Centre: $398,324
to subscribe at
• New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence, Windsor: your resume to allow
readmuchmor.com
$543,840
• Centre for Lifelong Learning and LUSO Community employers to search for
Services, London : $130,463
• South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre: you.
$95,808
40 Relocation

Newcomers set record

high in 2008
According to preliminary figures issued by Citizenship Destination of immigrants
and Immigration Canada (CIC) in February, Canada
welcomed a record number of newcomers.
“While other countries are talking about taking fewer Destination in Canada Numbers
immigrants, today, I am pleased to announce that in
2008, we increased the number of new permanent Newfoundland and Labrador 623
residents to Canada,” said Citizenship, Immigration and
Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. Prince Edward Island 1,483
In total Canada saw a total of 247,702 permanent
residents enter the country during 2008. In addition to Nova Scotia 2,653
these numbers 193,061 temporary workers and 79,459
foreign students also arrived during the same year. This New Brunswick 1,845
brings the total combined number of newcomers to
519,722. Quebec 45,882
“Our government will not follow the advice of those
who believe that Canada should take steps to reduce Ontario 110,583
immigration levels. In fact, we are maintaining our
planned immigration levels for 2009,” said Minister Manitoba 11,230
Kenney. “As minister responsible for multiculturalism, I
Saskatchewan 4,832
am particularly concerned by short-sighted, divisive
rhetoric that pits immigrants against Canadians in our Alberta 24,185
economy.”
So, lets look at the numbers and take a close look at British Columbia 43,535
who used what route and where they settled.
Yukon 111
Permanent resident routes used
Northwest Territories 127

Category Numbers Nunavut 50

Family class 65,554 TOTAL 247,202

Entrepreneurs 1,706
At the end of March Mr Kenny will meet with federal,
Self-employed 494 provincial and territorial officials to review the economic
impact on the workforce and immigration. This may lead
Investors 10,192 to modification in the immigration system.
“We don’t want people coming to Canada and facing
Skilled worker 103,734
unemployment. We need to be sensitive to the changing
Provincial nominee 22,411 labour market, and if we need to make modifications,
we will,” stated Minister Kenney.
Live-in caregivers 10,510

Refugees 21,859

Other 10,740

TOTAL 247,202
Visit www.readmuchmor.com
to read all our back issues
and find muchmor.

Clarification on ‘implied
status’ is not so clear
By Guidy Mamann
Sometimes I feel like our
immigration department makes
things complicated just to baffle the
public and keep immigration lawyers
employed.
A case in point.
When a foreigner in Canada is
about to run out of status they must
submit an application to the Case
Processing Centre in Vegreville,
Alberta to extend their stay if they
are to remain here legally.
Vegreville is currently taking 74
days to issue a study permit, 97
days to extend the status of a visitor,
and 73 days to extend a work
permit.
The frequent question that arises
is: What happens if your work permit
expires before you receive an
extension? Can you still work in the
meantime?
The answer to this is pretty
simple. You may still do so under the
terms of the expired work permit
until a decision is communicated to
you. This is so because you are
granted “implied status” from the
time you applied until the time that a
decision is communicated to you.
However, what happens if the
worker leaves the country briefly
while awaiting a decision on an
extension? When he returns to
Canada, can he return to work while
he continues to wait for the
extension application to be
processed?
The relevant section of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection
Act states that “if a temporary
resident has applied for an
extension…the period is extended…
until a decision is made”. This seems
to apply to temporary workers since
they are classified as “temporary
residents”. It contains no limitations
for brief departures.
However, in an unrelated part of
IRPA, i.e. the part which deals with
those foreigners who are allowed to
Relocation 41
work in Canada without a work the whole point of “implied status”
permit, the Act includes a provision to avoid disrupting Canadian
which clouds the issue. It says that a employers and their businesses
person can work in Canada without while their lawful foreign workers
a permit if they made a timely wait for Vegreville to process an
application for an extension and “if extension request?
they have remained in Canada after The answer to our question is now
the expiry of their work permit”. “clear”. However, the rationale for
Needless to say these two allowing the re-entry of a worker
provisions suggest different answers who left Canada with “implied
and have caused quite a bit of status” but denying him the right to
confusion. The first provision return to work while his work permit
suggests that the worker who briefly is being renewed is far from it.
departs Canada continues to have
implied status while the second Guidy Mamann practices law in
suggests that they can’t return to Toronto at Mamann, Sandaluk and is
work in Canada after a brief absence certified by the Law Society of Upper
while awaiting processing. As a Canada as an immigration specialist.
result, port-of-entry officers have Reach him confidentially at
been dealing with this scenario 416-862-0000 or at
inconsistently. metro@migrationlaw.com.
On January 15th, the immigration
department issued a bulletin
ostensibly clarifying this situation.
Indeed, a foreign worker who leaves
Canada in these circumstances can
re-enter
Canada as a
temporary
resident but
only if they
are from a
visitor visa
exempt
country or if
they have a
multiple
entry visa.
However,
they will lose
their right to
work here
“until their
application
for renewal
has been
granted”.
This result
makes little
sense from
a public
policy point
of view.
Wasn’t
42 Relocation

Relocation Q & A
We get asked lots of questions and usually we try to answer each one
personally. However, recently we have had a lot which have addressed
very similar concerns, so we thought we would answer them here. We
have adapted the questions to reflect a number of queries.

We have just received our visa and can now move to If you have no address in Canada you have six months
Canada, however we have a problem. We live in the to provide one. This address can be your own or a friend
or relative who you trust to receive your PR cards. The
UK and the current economic situation means our
address must be in Canada.
property is worth far less than it used to be and we If you leave Canada before receiving your PR cards,
are having trouble selling it. Can we postpone our you must be in possession of them before you are
landing to perhaps next year when hopefully things readmitted into the country again. If you have had them
will be looking better? sent to a friend or relative they will need to get them to
Angel you before you can reenter Canada.
The rules about landing as permanent residents are very
clear. You must “land” within a year of your immigration When I applied for residency I had savings which
medical. If you do not do so your visa will expire and you more than covered the proof of funds requirement.
will have to reapply and start the process over again. Since then I lost my job and have had to use my
This applies to all applicants. savings to live on. I have now secured a new job but
There is a little leeway however. You may land and
it does not pay as well and I fear that I will not have
activate your residency anytime within a year of your
medical. You can then leave Canada and return at a later the required funds when I land, hopefully later this
date either permanently or again temporarily. year. Do you have any suggestions?
As a permanent resident you have certain
requirements to adhere to which include the stipulation Under the rules of applying for permanent residency you
that you must be resident in Canada for at least two must have the required funds at the time of application.
years within a five year period. So, you can land, return You may also need to prove these funds nearer the time
to the UK and as long as you return to Canada and fulfill of your file processing. Also, when you land the
at least two years residency in the first five years you will
admitting officer can ask for proof of funds. If you cannot
be okay. show proof of these funds it is within the rights of the
There is one sticking point. When you land you need officer to refuse you admittance.
to give an address to which your PR card can be mailed. However, your main concern should be about survival
once in Canada. As a single person you are
required to have a minimum of $10,833 CND in
MOVING 2 ALBERTA funds. This is really a bare minimum and you
should expect to have well in excess of this figure
in order to maintain a decent lifestyle once
Contact Helen Parnell a property relocation landed.
specialist who has helped many My family and I want to emigrate to Canada
expats settle here after making and I qualify under the new occupation rules - I
the move herself. am an electrician. However I am confused
about the points. Do I still need to get the 67
Free assistance on • Accommodation points to qualify even though my job is on this
• Real Estate • Insurance
• Mortgages • Airport meet and greet
• Serving Calgary and South Alberta
Visit www.readmuchmor.com
Tel: 001 403 932 5670 to read all our back issues
Email: Helenparnell@shaw.ca and find muchmor.
www.moving2alberta.com
 Relocation 43

list? Does my original apprenticeship taken nearly equity

Charlotte, in your
Debra & property and would
Carl hiking it sustain
in Arnica you in the
Lake
twenty years ago count? UK if you could not find employment straight away?
Make sure you are running to something, not running
Yes and yes. You do still need to qualify under the away from something. Readdress the reasons why you
chose to move to Canada in the first place, what has
points system even if your job is on the occupation list.
changed and can you do anything to improve matters?
An apprenticeship will allow you points in the education
Do you want to?
part of the points system. The number of points
If you do decide to return to the UK, you can still
allocated will depend on the type and duration of the
move back to Canada in the future. As a permanent
apprenticeship. For example, a three year
resident you have to be resident for two of every five
apprenticeship (full time) will gain you 22 points whilst a
years, so as long as you comply with this you will be
two year one 20 points.
okay. If you apply and gain Canadian citizenship before
You will need to have documented proof of your
you leave then you would be free to come and go as
apprenticeship which you will need to submit to CIC
you please.
upon their request.

I am a temporary foreign worker currently working in My husband and I have recently received our PR
visa and are looking forward to our new life in
Canada. I am also applying for residency at the same
Canada where my sister currently lives. We are
time. I am very worried about the current job losses
however very concerned about the job situation
reported in Ontario where I live and although my job
there. At the moment we are both employed, myself
is not currently in danger, my fear is it will be.
in marketing and my husband as a chef in a hotel.
If I am laid-off can I remain in Canada and look for
We earn decent money and so far, touch wood, there
alternative work, or will I have to leave and will this
are no signs that our jobs are in jeopardy and we
affect my permanent residency application?
have not told our employers of our move.
Would the sensible thing be to stay In the UK
Any change to your employment conditions means you whilst employed and earning, save our money and
have to extend or change the conditions of your work
then move to Canada once the economy starts to
permit. If you change jobs you will need to apply for a
new work permit before your current one expires. pick up?
If you are not given a new work permit you are
required to leave Canada. This will not affect your This perhaps would be the sensible thing to to if you are
permanent residency application. happy to stay in the UK for a while longer. You must be
As a temporary foreign worker you may be able to aware of the need to land before your visa expires. You
apply for permanent residency via the new Canadian will need to do this within a year of your immigration
Experience Class. You can use this link to see full details medical. When you land you can still return to the UK
about this scheme. and continue your life there until you decide to move to
Canada permanently. You must however spend at least
We have been in Canada for three years now and two years of a five year period in Canada to retain
residency status.
have failed to settle. My wife had her own small
The only thing you need to be aware of is that upon
business which gave us some holiday money but landing you will need to give an address to which your
since the downturn in the economy she earns very PR card can be mailed. You mentioned your sister lives
little. My job looks as if it might be in jeopardy as it is in Canada so it would make sense to give her address
loosely linked to the auto industry in Ontario which is and then she can send the PR cards to you in the UK.
suffering big time. You will need these cards in order to reenter Canada at
We are seriously thinking of moving back to the a later date.
UK but don’t want to jump from the frying pan into
the fire. Have house prices gone down in Canada as they
We have never really settled here and still miss our have in the UK? Will I get a better bargain now?
friends and family in the UK. Should we give up and
return to the UK and if we did and regretted the Yes, house prices have dropped over the past year.
decision can we come back to Canada? Nationally the Canadian Real Estate Board has said that
prices dropped around 11%. In Toronto the average
We are sorry to hear things are not working out for you. house price in Jan 2008 was $374,499 and January
Unfortunately the economic situation is world wide and 2009 saw that price fall to $343,632.
you might be in the same boat or worse if you returned This means that you will find you pay less for the
to the UK. same house this year as you would have done last year,
Only the two of you can decide what to do. Perhaps however inventory is lower. Many people are not putting
you should write a list of things you love and hate about their houses up for sale which means you may not have
each country and see which one has the edge. Also, as many to choose from as you would normally expect.
look at job options back in the UK as things are pretty
bad there too. Can you afford to move? Do you have
Monty the cat
44 Relocation
Advertorial
Researching and
finding a job in Canada
By Louise Green, The
Expat Coach
In times of economic
uncertainty, with daily
bulletins announcing more
job losses by the
thousand, it can be a
gloomy prospect looking
for work. If you are
emigrating, need to get a
job offer to move to
Canada, or are looking for
a new career, there are
more opportunities than ever these days. You can reach
out to contacts around the globe from the comfort of
your living room and vastly increase your chances of
success.
Gone are the days when finding a job was just a
case of scanning the local classifieds and sending off a
few CV’s. In fact these days even submitting your
resume/CV to job websites is not enough. You have to
be more proactive, think laterally and pursue new ways
to secure the right job. There are a few key steps that
will help to position yourself in the right place at the
right time. The time is NOW and the place is
EVERYWHERE.
Preparation
Get specific about what you are looking for. What do
you want from your career? Financially, and personally. amazing the number of people you can communicate
Make a list of what your job needs to provide, the salary with online. Literally thousands of people you could
you need, the hours, the terms and conditions. Get
clear about what you enjoy about your job right now,
what you don’t like and what needs to change. List a
few alternative careers to research; this is your
opportunity to look in new directions. Collect all your
work history, education, qualifications, references, skills anymore. You can use many of the social networking
and any other information into one reference file, it
makes research and job search easier later on. When
you know what you want it is much easier to search
and find the right job.
Research
Get as much information as you can about the current
job market before you start looking for work. Don’t
waste time looking for jobs that do not pay enough or
you are not qualified to do. At a minimum you must find Your time is valuable; spend it on activities that are
out:
• What skills and qualities you need to be able to do
each job
• Where there is demand
• That it will support your lifestyle.
You can also consider alternative careers, without
being committed to the change. By having the facts
about each job you can decide if it’s a viable option and
save time by only pursuing opportunities that will
support what you want. Use government and provincial
immigration websites to get this information. Job
websites have useful tools and resources to help you
find this information.
Planning
A well planned and organized job search is going to get
you the results you want. You will need to be
consistent, focused and determined in your approach.
It’s no good spending 20 hours one week and then
nothing for the next 2 weeks. Decide what you are
going to do, allocate time for each activity, set out what
you want to achieve and record what you are doing.
Keep good records of all your new contacts, and where
you found them. List all potential employers, new
opportunities and what actions you take.
Networking
There are many ways to network, in person and online.
When you are searching for work outside your local
area, online can be much more practical. It is quite
never have dreamt of coming into contact with before.
It has a huge potential to increase your job search
success. You don’t have to be a computer expert or a
professional networker to do it. Online networking is not
just for business people and high flying careers
sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Linked In,
Muchmor Business Network and Mymuchmor to
actively meet and make new friends who can help you
in your job search. Networking takes time, you need to
get to know people, think about what you can do for
them, what you know that may help them, and in turn
they will do the same for you.
Follow up
working most effectively. Because there are so many
 Advertorial Relocation 45

places you can be active you will have to be

selective, you can do this by reviewing and modifying
your plan.
Keep good records about what activities are
producing results.
• Which website has given you the most
contacts?
• How many of those contacts have given you a
useful lead?
• How many responses did you have from
posting your CV on each website?
• Which version of your CV gave the best results?

If you spend 8 hours on a particular website and

get no responses or replies, is it worth continuing
with that site, or moving on to another. You are going
to have fun interacting and making new friends,
which is good but to get that job you will also need to
stay focused on your overall goal.

The next step is to take action. Whilst it’s exciting

thinking about the opportunities and new career
waiting for you it can be quite daunting, wondering
where to start. Everyone who emigrates has been
there too; every journey starts with the first step.
Contact Louise to get more information about the
new Guide to Researching and Finding a Job in
Canada.
Listen to these FREE interviews with families who
took the first step and kept going to successfully
emigrate to Canada. We talk with two families who 32Sequoia
Working
Club Life
used very different approaches in their determination to
create the life they wanted in Canada.

Written and submitted by Louise Green of The Expat

Coach – helping emigrants get the answers they need to
IF YOU DON’T LIKE
YOUR JOB
research, move to and succeed in Canada.

THEN MAYBE YOU

SHOULD GET
ANOTHER
JOB
mymuchmor - social networking brought to
you by muchmor - connecting canada
www.mymuchmor.com
46 Health & Wellness
I was diagnosed with FMS in 1992
Could it be by a chiropractor. Not a lot was
fibromyalgia? known about FMS at the time but I
was willing to try most anything. I
went for massage, physical therapy,
acupressure, acupuncture,
By Linda Batey chiropractic adjustments, a
nutritionist, a rheumatologist,
There is not a feeling like knowing changed my diet, went to the
you feel rotten but all the tests are gym...no help. Eventually, I even
negative, the doctor has no answers changed jobs. More interesting, but
and your family and friends think not helpful. After three years I
you're crazy. You begin to think stopped working completely. My
they're right because no one can doctor, an O.D., put me on Cymbalta
find anything wrong and you know for FMS, Ambien for sleep and
there is. You're achy all over, you're Darvocet for acute pain. This is
exhausted but can't sleep, and can where my fibromyalgia and I are at
hardly move a muscle without pain. today.
Nothing seems to help you feel I am one of the fortunate ones.
better and everyone says "you don't Just finding a doctor who
look sick". understands FMS is a huge step,
There are several views on and thankfully, I have a really good
whether Fibromyalgia Syndrome one. To find a doctor familiar with
(FMS) is related to arthritis, a virus, FMS, you might call a physician's
an immune system disorder or toxic referral office, or if there is a FMS
buildup so there are several views on support group, contact them (or
how to treat it. Unfortunately, for better yet-go to a meeting) for
many people, it seems as though not names of good doctors who know
any one treatment works. and understand fibromyalgia.
Through trial and error, the doctor
will try you on different medications
Omega-3 and Omega 6 – this is stuff
Home remedies everybody needs as an essential part
for a yeast of any healthy diet. They are also a
great anti-fungal agent, which means
infection they go to work killing off the yeast.
Slippery Elm Bark
By Josie McEachern
Slippery elm bark helps with all 3
major symptoms of a yeast infection
Are you still searching for home - burning, itching, and swelling. To
remedies for a yeast infection that put this to work, just purchase the
actually do what they say? There are powder, add a little water, and grind
plenty of remedies that promise a it into a paste. Then you can either
fast and easy cure, but which apply it to the external areas of the
actually deliver the goods. Here are a vaginal, or the inside as well.
few time-tested remedies that work
every time:
Chickweed
Flaxseed Oil
Found at your local health food
store, this is found in the form of an
This is definitely one of the better ointment or the actual chickweed
home remedies for a yeast infection. leaves. If you decide to purchase the
Chock full of the essential fatty acids leaves, just grind them down into a
to see what works for you. Generally,
three common denominators seem
to come into play: sleep problems,
depression and pain. Fortunately,
there are medications that work well
in keeping the symptoms at a level
you can live with. Even though you
may not feel like it, stretching and
gentle yoga work well in warding off
pain and stiffness.
Probably the biggest obstacle in
having fibromyalgia is making your
family and friends aware of what you
are feeling. This can be very difficult.
You might try gathering supporting
information in the library or online
and giving them copies to read, or
possibly bringing them along to a
support group meeting. The better
your support system, the easier it is
to deal with your own symptoms.
Although FMS is not curable, it
isn't fatal either. Learn your limits
and stay within them and you can
enjoy a reasonably full life. Keep a
positive attitude and take very good
care of yourself. Count your
blessings, not your symptoms!
paste. Then rub this on the infected
areas. Chickweed works great on the
itching that may be tormenting you
as part of your infection.
All three of the methods just
described are great home remedies
for a yeast infection. While they are
very effective in treating the
symptoms, they cannot kill the yeast
spores – the root cause of your
problem. Not even store bought
medications can kill them. This is
why your yeast infections keep
coming back. For a job like this,
you’ll need a more powerful method
of treatment.

Checklist - four
natural
sweeteners
healthy alternatives
to sugar
When it comes to making it sweet,
one of the first things that people
grab for is the sugar or, if they are
trying to lose weight, an artificial
sweetener. However, neither of
those options are the healthiest
ones to choose. There are healthier
options.
1. Stevia: Stevia is a wonderful
alternative for sweetening. Stevia is
a herb that is a part of the sunflower
family and is commonly known as
sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or
simply stevia. It is widely grown for
its sweet leaves. Its extracts have
up to 300 times the sweetness of
sugar and because it has a
negligible effect on blood glucose
and is known to enhance glucose
tolerance, it is a much better choice
than artificial sugars like Aspartame,
Nutrasweet, Equal, Splenda,
Sucralose, for people who are
diabetic.
Stevia in most forms, other than
the white powered forms, gives a
long even energy and works in the
body like a complex carb. It is
important to note that many of the
Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Street West
Thursday, May 28, 2009 12:00 - 2:00p.m.
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Health & Wellness 47
extracts, are processed with alcohol Agave Nectar is remarkable in that
and do not keep the plant properties its Glycemic Index (GI) and glycemic
intact; therefore it is important to load are lower than most, if not all
pay close attention to how the natural sweeteners on the market.
stevia you may use is processed. This makes it a good alternative to
If you are a baker and wonder honey as honey has a high GI.
what you can use as a sweetener Agave Nectar also naturally contains
that is a healthier alternative, then quantities of Iron, Calcium,
Rapadura or Sucanat are good Potassium & Magnesium which why
choices. They are both natural
sugars which have many of the
it has the color it does.
There are other alternatives such
minerals, vitamins and nutritional as molasses, honey and maple
value still intact. syrup. However, due to some
negative properties such as the fact
2. Rapadura: Rapadura is a dried that they can raise blood sugar
sugarcane juice that is common in quickly, they are not the best
Latin American countries, that choices for a healthy sweetener;
comes in the form of a brick. It is the although they are still healthier
perfect unbleached, unrefined alternatives to refined white sugar.
sweetener to use in place of refined Refined white sugar, and let me
sugars. And the unique processing add, most brown sugars, are
of Rapadura gives it a mild, unhealthy options for cooking,
caramel-like flavor which is superb baking, drinking, and all sweetening
for baking and sweetening food and needs. In order to find the natural
drinks. sweetener that is best for you, do a
taste test and choose the one that
3. Sucanut: Sucanut is a non- fits your needs. You may find it
refined cane sugar that, unlike white necessary to have two or three of
sugar, is a pure dried cane sugar, these sweeteners in your home for
retains its molasses content. Of all whatever your food preparation
the major sugars derived from sugar needs are.
cane, Sucanut ranks highest in
nutritional value; although, as with Diana Walker, Sunrider Leader,
most sugars, it is not a significant Cravings Coach and CEO of Diana’s
source of any nutrient apart from Healthy Lifestyles www.diana2.com
carbohydrate. provides natural, safe options for
creating vibrant health. Free education
4. Agave Nectar: Finally there is at www.thecravingscoach.com
Agave Nectar, a sweetener that acts
as a complex carb instead of a
simple one. It is derived from a plant
and due to its fructose content,
(BMB
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48Sequoia
Home Club& Garden

Can you earn tax

credits for your
home reno?

Understanding how the

new Home Renovation tax
Credit can benefit you.
Photo by Joe Shlabotnik
 Sequoia Club Home & Garden 49

Did you know that if you undertake Eligibility for the HRTC will be family • the date the goods were
renovations on your home this year based. A family will generally be delivered (keep your delivery slip
you could benefit from a tax credit? considered to consist of an individual as proof) and/or when the work or
The government of Canada or an individual and his or her spouse services were performed;
implemented a temporary Home or common-law partner, including • a description of the work
Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) this children who will be under 18 years (including the address of where
year which will enable many home of age, at the end of 2009. A family the work was performed);
owners to claim back some of the will be allowed a single credit that • the amount of the invoice; and
costs associated with home may be shared within the family. • proof of payment.
renovations. If two or more families share the To verify whether someone is
The HRTC covers projects carried ownership of an eligible dwelling, registered for GST/HST, please
out between January 27 2009 and
th each family will be eligible for their consult the GST/HST Registry.
February 1 2010. The HRTC can be own separate credit (i.e. each up to
st

claimed for renovations and enduring $1,350) that will be calculated on
alterations to a dwelling, or the land their respective eligible expenditures. my windows in 2009: can I
on which it sits.
Here is a Q & A supplied by the
5. How will the credit be
Canada Revenue Agency
1. What is the Home
Renovation Tax Credit
(HRTC)?
The proposed HRTC is a non-
refundable tax credit for work
performed or goods acquired in
respect of an eligible dwelling.
2. What is meant by eligible
dwelling?
An eligible dwelling is a housing unit
that is eligible to be an individual's
principal residence or that of one or
more of their family members, at any
time between January 27, 2009 and
February 1, 2010. In general, a
housing unit is considered eligible to
be an individual's principal residence
where it is owned by the individual
and ordinarily inhabited by the
individual, the individual's spouse or
common-law partner, or their
children.
3. What is the eligibility
period?
The credit will be based on eligible
expenditures for work performed or
goods acquired after January 27,
2009, and before February 1, 2010.
Expenditures incurred pursuant to an
agreement that was entered into
before January 28, 2009, will not be
eligible for the credit.
4. Who will be eligible for the
credit?
8. I am planning to replace
hire my brother-in-law to help
me out and still be eligible?
calculated?
The credit will only be available for
the 2009 tax year and applies to
eligible expenditures of more than
$1,000, but not more than $10,000,
resulting in a maximum credit of
$1,350 ($9,000 x 15%).
6. What are eligible
expenditures?
To be eligible, expenditures incurred
in relation to a renovation or
alteration to an eligible dwelling (or
the land that forms part of the eligible
dwelling) must be of an enduring
nature and integral to the dwelling,
and includes the cost of labour and
professional services, building
materials, fixtures, rentals, and
permits.
Eligible expenditures must be
supported by acceptable
documentation.
7. What does the CRA
consider to be acceptable
documentation?
Documentation, such as
agreements, invoices, and receipts,
must clearly identify the type and
quantity of goods purchased or
services provided, including, but not
limited to, the following information:
information that clearly identifies
the vendor/contractor, their business
address and, if applicable, the GST/
HST registration number;
• a description of the goods and
the date when the goods were
purchased;
It depends. Expenditures will not be
eligible if the related goods or
services are provided by a person
not dealing at arm's length with the
individual, unless that person is
registered for the Goods and
Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax
under the Excise Tax Act. So, in your
case, if your brother-in-law is
registered for GST/HST and if all
other conditions are met, the
expenditure will be eligible for the
credit.
9. Will expenditures for the
common areas of
condominiums and co-
operative housing
corporations qualify for the
credit?
In the case of condominiums and
co-operative housing corporations,
the individual's share of the cost of
eligible expenditures for common
areas will qualify.
10. I rent out my basement. If
I renovate the basement for
my tenant, will I be allowed to
claim the credit?
No. Individuals who earn business or
rental income from part of their
principal residence will be allowed to
claim the credit only for expenditures
made for the personal-use areas of
the residence.
For expenditures made for
common areas or that benefit the
housing unit as a whole (such as re-
50 Home & Garden
shingling a roof), you must divide the
expense between personal use and
income-earning use. For further
information, please consult the
Business and Professional Income
Guide or the Rental Income Guide,
as applicable.
11. If an eligible expenditure
also qualifies for the Medical
Expense Tax Credit (METC),
will I be allowed to claim both
the HRTC and METC?
Yes. Where an eligible expenditure
qualifies for the METC the individual
will be permitted to claim both the
METC and the HRTC for that
expenditure.
12. Will the credit be reduced
by other government grants
or credits that I may receive
for the same expenditures?
No. Eligible expenditures will not be
reduced by other government tax
credits or grants that the individual
may be entitled to.
13. Could you provide me
with some examples of
eligible and ineligible
expenditures?
Yes, some examples are:
Eligible:
Renovating a kitchen, bathroom or
basement
New carpet or hardwood floors
Building an addition, deck, fence
Purchasing a new furnace
A new driveway
Painting of interior or exterior of a
house
Ineligible:
Furniture, appliances, and audio and
visual electronics
Curtains and draperies
Purchasing of tools
Cleaning carpets
House cleaning
14. What types of
expenditures will not qualify? For more details on the HRTC please
The following expenditures will not
be eligible for the HRTC:
• the cost of routine repairs and
maintenance normally performed
on an annual or more frequent
basis;
• expenditures that are not
integral to the dwelling, and other
indirect expenditures that retain a
value independent of the
renovation;
• expenditures for appliances and
audio-visual electronics; and
• financing costs.
15. Do I have to submit any
supporting documents with
my income tax return?
No. However, you must ensure that
this information is available, should it
be requested by the CRA.
16. How will I claim the
HRTC?
A new line will be incorporated in the
2009 personal income tax return to
allow you to claim the credit.
visit the following websites:
Canada Revenue Agency
Department of Finance Canada
 Sequoia Club Home & Garden 51

Helen Parnell
Tel: 403-932-8888
www.moving2alberta.com

Price: $549,900 Province: Alberta

City: Cochrane Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3
Corner lot but so private with tall mature trees, mountain view, inlaid brick
patio and flowering landscaped plants in the raised beds. Formal dining
room, large office, master bedroom with walk in closet and ensuite.
Kitchen with white units, pantry, island, breakfast nook and vaulted
ceilings. The open concept leads you to a great room with floor to ceiling
oak surround gas fireplace in the corner.Lower level has large games
room, future media room, two bedrooms, bathroom and wet bar.
Price:$259,9000 Province: Alberta
City: Chaparral Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

Beautiful brand new 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in 45+ unit. Maximum

upgrades and warm colours. 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. Black granite, breakfast
bar,upgraded cabinet hardware, lighting & plumbing package. Under mount
sink, soaker tub, curved shower rods, stainless steel appliances microwave
hood fan and front load washer & dryer. Full lake privileges.

Price: $449,900 Province: Alberta

City: Bow ridge Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

The LR has a block glass feature window, formal Diningroom, 2 bedrms

and 2 full baths. The kitchen has dark maple cabinets,bar style
counter,built in wall unit for more storage and pantry,new Bosch
dishwasher, nook,door to deck with duradeck and metal rails and inlaid
patio below in the mature and creative landscaped and fenced yard. The
lower level has large family room with sunshine windows and corner gas
fireplace with stone front, 2 more bedrooms, 4pc bathrm.
Price: $544,900 Province: Alberta
City: Parkdale Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2
A fantastic 1.5 Storey 3 bedroom home.This home features a recently
renovated large eat-in kitchen as well as a formal dining room, exposed
hardwood floors as well as carpet over more hardwoods. Also offering a
1 bedroom suite down with large windows, a wood stove, a 4pce bath
and a separate entrance. Other upgrades include newer furnace, hot
water tank and 100 amp electrical panel plus some newer windows.
Spacious park like lot and gorgeous patio area on a quiet street.

Price: $330,000 Province: Alberta

City: Sunset Ridge Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5
A quiet street and a family yard. A great 2 storey layout - Recently built in
2007. The hardwood, tile and nice carpets compliment the modern colors.
The custom gas fireplace and built-ins gives your home that cozy warm
feeling. A practical kitchen that comes with a Island, Nook, Bright
windows and even a built in desk. Enjoy the deck out back for those
famous sunsets or for your family BBQs and entertaining. The Master
bedroom features a useable walkin closet and a 4 piece ensuite with a one
piece tub and shower.
52 Home & Garden

Spring’s top home decor

trends draw inspiration
from nature
It is time to pay tribute to the joy and jubilance of
nature as the welcoming signs of spring arrive. The
familiar will appear refreshingly new as we take in its
splendor. This spring, the hottest trends in home decor
reflect this breathtaking beauty as Mother Nature
awakes from her slumber.
"Spring is such an exciting time of year," says Susan
Atchison, manager of trend development for Jo-Ann
Fabric and Craft Stores. "Nature inspires decorating
trends that are simple, yet grand. What you might see
on a stroll through your local park has become the
backdrop for interior designers and do-it-yourself home
decorators across the country."
Here are the top home decor trends for spring 2009:

1. Emulate outdoor serenity.

"Lush leaves and exquisite florals convey outdoor

serenity," says Atchison. She notes that creating a
peaceful element within your home might be as simple
as adding a flower or greenery arrangement. "It's the end of the season, you can fold for easy storage and
amazing what plant life can do to liven a room. A vase of use next year.
flowers in the bathroom can make your morning routine
more cheery, or a green centerpiece on the kitchen table 3. Refresh what you already have.
might make dinner a mini-retreat from the long day at
work."
Whether fresh or silk, use leaves and flowers to bring a With the tight economy, many people have limited
touch of classic nature into your home. Bright colors budgets for updating their home decor. Taking note from
have pick-me-up appeal, while earthy tones convey springtime renewal, an affordable, smart idea is to
calmness. Match complementary options with the update what you already have in your home.
current color scheme of your home, or combine to Atchison suggests using polymer clay to add spring-
celebrate the harmony of the season. inspired designs to different glass items you have around
your house. For example, take a set of wine glasses and
use different shades of green clay to create leaves on the
2. Make practical pretty. outside of the glass. Bake the glass with the new clay
design for 30 minutes at 230 F and you'll have an entirely
The things you use on a regular basis in your home are new glass set to toast the spring sunset. Consider
often the things that don't have a lot of flair. But this updating other items in your home such as old vases,
spring, practical items are getting a stylistic boost with candy dishes and hand and lotion dispensers. According
new designs and fresh ideas that make them stand out. to Atchison, pretty much anything made of plain glass is
Take a flowerpot for example. You don't have to spend a potential subject.
a lot of money to get a unique, beautiful pot. "Flowerpots "As you walk though the woods or sit on a park bench
made of fabric are undoubtedly one of the freshest ideas in the city, note the sights and sounds of springtime,"
for spring," says Atchison. She suggests creating your says Atchison. "This will inspire fresh home decor that is
own by using durable yet breathable Sun N Shade sure to make your home beautiful and leave a lasting
outdoor fabrics to create fun yet functional pots. From impression on guests."
bright, eye-catching colors, to earthy, subtle tones,
choose fabrics that mimic your favorite theme, whether For more ideas on spring home decorating trends, visit
you plan to use these planters indoors or out. Plus, at www.Joann.com. Courtesy of ARAcontent.

Increase home value
through smart
renovation
The practice of increasing home value through proper
renovation techniques has never been more important
than it is today. We constantly hear on the news about
poor economy and poor real estate market.
Homeowners who plan to increase their home value
through renovations should be reminded that the margin
for error is slim and a small mistake could easily wipe off
their profit or worse result in a total loss.
Slow economy should not scare away homeowners
from remodeling their home in order to increase their
home value. However, homeowners should only follow
smart renovation techniques and be careful not to over-
renovate their home. Over-renovation could be a total
financial disaster. Prudent homeowners must learn
about value engineering in respect to home remodeling
if they are serious about profiting from renovation.
The methods and analysis that enable you to
determine what specific renovations allow you to benefit
most from renovation is referred to as value engineering.
In the next paragraphs we are going to briefly point out
the steps one needs to follow in order to maximize one's
profit and increase his/her home value.
I) Step one is to contact your local real estate office or
a qualified appraiser to obtain the current market value
of your home as well as the value of renovated homes
that are similar to yours within your area. The purpose of
this research is to ensure that there is room to profit. If
you find that the value of renovated homes nearby is
Home & Garden 53
close to the price of your un-renovated home, then
there is no point in renovating your home. Make sure
that you only compare your home with homes that are
similar to yours and are located a short distance from
your home. There is no point comparing your home
that is on a 30 x 90 parcel of land to a home built on a
10 acre land or a home that is located in different
areas as real estate prices vary from area to area.
II) Contact your local real estate office or a qualified
appraiser to find out which renovations in your area
add value and which renovations do not. You then
need to look further at the renovations that add value
and ask your appraiser or your real estate agent to
determine how much value each of these renovations
bring to your home
Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) is the method
used by real estate salespersons and appraisers to
determine home value. Appraisers look at large
quantity of sold properties near your home and then
adjust the price for your home based on the condition
of various parts of your home as well as any new
additions or extensions that you may have build to your
home. As an example the appraiser knows that a
second additional bathroom in your area is very
desirable and the sold price of homes with a second
bathroom show an increase of $4,000 in comparison to
those that did not have the second bathroom. In the
same way the appraiser may note that a finished
basement increase value by $6,000 or fireplace has no
impact on the value and etc.
III) Now that you know the value of each renovation,
you need to find out your cost for carrying out each of
these renovations. This step is needed to find out if you
are able to make a profit from a particular renovation. To
determine your cost for each renovation, you should
obtain at least three price estimates from qualified
contractors.
IV) After completing step three you are in the position
to determine which particular renovation maximizes
your profit. You can accomplish this by subtracting
the added value each renovation brings as detailed in
step three from the cost of that renovation
determined in step four. This is especially useful
when you have a limited budget and need to know
which renovation will give you the maximum profit.
To learn more about remodeling your bathroom, click
Bathroom Remodeling Ideas To find other helpful remodeling
ideas, advices and resources, click Home Remodeling
54 Muchmor Business Finder
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Professional™ Birgit Wartenberg help you to transform
your home. Serving the Quinte area of Ontario.
Tel: 613-771-0075
Email: info@stagingforsuccess.ca
56 Muchmor Business Finder
Jewellery & Clothing
Jewelry by T - Jewelry for the woman who dares to be
admired. Custom handcrafted designs by Canadian
Designer Tina Dezsi.
Tel: 905-668-2352
Email: tina@tinadezsidesigns.com
Money & Finance
Cedarlane Financial- Independent financial services
advisor servicing Quinte Region, Eastern Ontario
RR#2, Shannonville, Ontario K0K 3A0
Tel: 613-922-6699 Fax: 613-962-6736
Email: heatherlcfc@kos.net
Hemlock Investments - Investors who specialize in
residential real estate in Ontario, and Alberta.
Quinte, Ontario
Tel: 613-921-2535 Fax: 613-473-0014
Email:info@hemlockinvestments.ca
HiFX Currency Specialists - HiFX helps over 30,000
people buy and sell currency every year for personal and to the Calgary & Southern Alberta area
business needs.
Worldwide locations
Sciore & Associates Inc - Certified Financial Planner,
Insurance Specialist, Retirement Income Specialist
102 King St E, Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 1N5
Tel: 905-697-2262
Email: laura_sciore@cooperators.ca
Photography
Go-Snapit - The aim of this project is to capture
everyday life in Canada as seen by ordinary Canadians.
The goal is to select the best photos from those sent in
and produce a book that captures the real essence of
how Canadians see life around them.
Put Your Business Here
You can put your business in front of thousands of
readers for just $85 per year. Listings feature in Muchmor
Canada Magazine and the MBN Magazine and include
links to website and email addresses. Just $85 per year
for listings in two online magazines.
Click here for details.
Real Estate
Century 21 Lanthorn - Claudia Hancott - Sales
Representative covering the Quinte area of Ontario. Earn
AIR MILES when using my services.
264 Front Street, Belleville, ON K8N 2Z2
Email: claudia.hancott@century21.ca
Stagecoach GMAC - Helen Parnell - Sales
Representative covering the Cochrane and Calgary area
of Alberta
Tel: 403-92-5670
Email: helenparnell@shaw.ca
Relocation
Best Place Immigration - Immigration advice by
authorized representative Ron Liberman, Full Member of
the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC).
1500 West Georgia Street, Suite 1400, Vancouver BC,
V6G 2Z6
Tel: 604-970-0629 Fax: 604-608-4723
Email: info@bestplace.ca
LoonLounge.com - LoonLounge is your Canadian
immigration and settlement community; a place to meet
your future Canadian neighbours, employers and
employees while learning about life in Canada.
Email: info@loonlounge.com
Moving 2 Alberta - Real estate, relocation and
settlement services by Helen Parnell for people moving
Tel: 403-92-5670
Email: helenparnell@shaw.ca
Mymuchmor - This Canadian online social network
enables people to meet, blog, post photos, chat and
promote local events in a friendly and safe environment.
Tel: 613-396-5531 Fax: 613-396-3463
The Expat Coach - Our services ensure you collect the
research information you need, choose the right place to
live, know the lifestyle you can expect, and to be certain
your emigration is worth the time, effort and money.
136 Cougar Point Road, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1A1
Tel: 403-675-2039
Email: coaching@theexpatcoach.com
Shopping
Buy Canadian First - Our website's mission is to
showcase products that are made in Canada, but more
importantly, it tells consumers where to buy them! We
also offer content celebrating these products and
Canada as a whole through our blog. Check us out! Tel:
1-888-633-6319, Email: marketing@buycanadianfirst.ca
Blog: www.thegoodshopperblog.ca
Web Services
poloDesign - Whether you need a custom-designed
website you can update yourself, a retractable banner or
pop-up display, or a whole new look for your company,
poloDesign will help you communicate your message.
Tel: 613-392-2011 Email: penny@polodesign.ca
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