C. difficile hits Markham Stouffville Hospital

Via: CTV News:

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions, such as colitis.
Markham Stouffville Hospital declared an outbreak of the potentially fatal bacteria C. difficile recently, the first to hit the Toronto-area hospital in a number of years.

The outbreak, which was declared on Dec. 20, affected an inpatient unit and a surgery unit.

Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Joyce refused Friday to say how many patients were affected by the outbreak. She also stressed that the units were not closed due to the outbreak.

"We have never closed units or restricted admissions to those units," she said. "There was an outbreak in the units but they were not closed."

However, it is limiting visitors to two per patient.

Joyce said that there were no deaths related to the 10-day-old outbreak.

C. difficile causes diarrhea and other intestinal diseases. It is brought on when antibiotics taken by a person kill off both "bad" and "good" bacteria. When the good bacteria are killed, this can cause the C. difficile to grow and release toxins that can damage the bowel.

It usually afflicts patients whose immune systems are already compromised, which include the elderly and those already sick.

Joyce said the number of patients has not grown substantially since the outbreak was first detected.

The hospital was confident that it has the bacteria under control, and was working within the guidelines of health officials to staunch the spread.

"Our frontline staff right up to our vice-president are so involved with this and are so committed to getting this under control so that it doesn't transmit any further," Joyce said. "I am fully confident we are doing everything we can."

A handful of hospitals have reported outbreaks recently. Last week, a patient with C. difficile died at the Greater Niagara General Hospital.

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Tuition rebates for 310,000 Ontario students start with new term in January

By Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - The majority of post-secondary students in Ontario will receive 30 per cent tuition rebates in time for the second instalment of their fees, promises Colleges and Universities Minister Glen Murray.

A centrepiece of the Liberal campaign platform was rebates of $730 for each college student and $1,600 for each university student from families with incomes under $160,000 a year.

Those already enrolled in the Ontario Student Assistance Program — about half of the 310,000 who will be eligible for the tuition rebates — will automatically be in line for the rebates, said Murray.

"They won’t have to do anything," he said.

"They will get an automatic computer credit based on their OSAP application (and) that will happen well in time for them to pay the second instalment of their tuitions."

The rest will have to apply online at a website to be launched next month.

"There will be a simple, easy to navigate website established in January that will be available for those students to apply, and it will be done well in time for them to meet the payment," said Murray.

"They will have lots of lead time to be able to fill out a simple form on line."

Murray credits Dalton McGuinty — the self-proclaimed education premier — with pushing the idea, saying families need help to cope with the slow recovery that followed the recent recession.

"We’re removing significant financial barriers for families who are under financial stress, especially for families — and there are many — who have two or three or four children now either in college or university or in the final years of high school," said Murray.

The Liberals say five out of six families with students will benefit from the tuition rebates, but the Canadian Federation of Students said all students should get a tuition cut.

The students' group presented a 40,000-signature petition to the legislature asking that the $423-million annual cost of the rebate program be used to pay for a 13 per cent reduction in tuition fees for everyone.

"Dalton McGuinty was elected by promising to reduce tuition fees, and students are calling for him to keep his promise and turn this grant into an across-the-board fee reduction," said Krisna Saravanamuttu, Ontario Representative of the CFS.

The opposition parties support the students' position that the Liberals should reduce tuition fees for all.

The Tories said a government facing a $16-billion deficit should not be launching such an expensive program, and claimed the policy was "made up on the back of a napkin," and has not been thought out.

"They don’t have the details students need and it’s putting the onus on students to jump into the policy rather than giving it to everyone," said Progressive Conservative critic Rob Leone.

"This policy doesn’t apply to everyone equally, so it’s not a fair and equitable policy."

The New Democrats called the rebates a good "first step," but also said any tuition fee cuts should be given to all students.

"We need to help struggling students, they need a break," said NDP critic Teresa Armstrong.

"This grant is not addressing the affordability of post-secondary school tuition for all students."

The government is "doing the final kicking of the tires on the website and things like that," and will move quickly to streamline the rebate program, said Murray.

"We’re trying to move to a system where students register only once for student assistance or for tuition grants, and I’m very optimistic we’ll have that in place in January," he said.

The Canadian Federation of Students also complained post-graduate students would not benefit from the tuition rebates, but the government said the program was deliberately designed to help students with their first four years of university.

"The reason we said four years is because in Year 5 students become independent, and we calculate their student aid, grants and assistance based on their own personal income, not on their parents’ income," said Murray.

Asif Khan, ABR
Re/Max Hall of Fame
Re/Max Chairman's Club
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
905-888-6222

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If I was Burke for just one day...... #leafs #mychristmaswish

If I was Burke for just one day, here's how I would change our beloved Maple Leafs. Coach: Dallas Eakins

G: Reimer-Gustavsson

F:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Macarthur-Grabovski-Kulemin
Kadri-Connoly-Colborne
Boyce-Steckel-Rosehill
Extras/Injured: Brown, Armstrong, Frattin
D:
Phaneuf-Gunnarson
Schenn-Aulie
Franson-Liles
Gardiner

Out: Orr, Dupuis, Lombardi, Komisarek, Ron Wilson!!

If you could ask Santa for your Leafs line-up, what would you want to see? (Working with just who we already have in the system)

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The 905's Priciest Condo

RICK EGLINTON/TORSTAR

TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
December 21, 2011 Until now, 60 Absolute Dr. in Mississauga was the address for the celebrated “Marilyn Monroe” building, one of a pair of curvy skyscrapers that wind their way into the clouds.

Now it is also the address for the most expensive condo in the 905.

A 56th-floor penthouse in the iconic tower, with 180-degree views of the lake and the city’s skyline, is up for sale for $3.2 million, a price that is generating a lot of buzz. Set at the corner of Hurontario St. and Burnhamthorpe Rd., the Absolute towers, as they’re properly known, are the daring outcome of an international design competition won by MAD Architects of Beijing. The first tower, quickly dubbed the Marilyn for its sinuous shape — which took complex computer calculations to build — proved so popular the builders decided to erect a second tower.

Together they constitute the most recognizable and talked-about project beyond Toronto’s borders, Myers pointed out. “It is one of the most desirable addresses.”

The price tag of $3.2 million may be a new high for Mississauga, but it’s still peanuts compared with Toronto. A 55th-floor penthouse atop the Four Seasons Hotel Private Residences in Toronto sold for $28 million in May.

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PATH - Toronto's Underground Walkway - To Be Expanded By 2015

PATH is downtown Toronto's underground walkway linking 28 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment. Follow PATH and you'll reach your downtown destination easily in weatherproof comfort.

PATH provides an important contribution to the economic viability of the city's downtown core. The system facilitates pedestrian linkages to public transit, accommodating more than 100,000 daily commuters, and thousands of additional tourists and residents on route to sports and cultural events. Its underground location provides pedestrians with a safe haven from the winter cold and snow, and the summer heat.

PATH facts:

According to Guinness World Records, PATH is the largest underground shopping complex with 28 km (17 miles) of shopping arcades. It has 371,600 sq. metres (4 million sq. ft) of retail space. In fact, the retail space connected to PATH rivals the West Edmonton Mall in size.

The approximate 1,200 shops and services, such as photocopy shops and shoe repairs, found in PATH, employ about 5,000 people. Once a year, businesses in PATH host the world's largest underground sidewalk sale.

More than 50 buildings/office towers are connected through PATH. Twenty parking garages, five subway stations, two major department stores, six major hotels, and a railway terminal are also accessible through PATH. It also provides links to some of Toronto's major tourist and entertainment attractions such as: the Hockey Hall of Fame, Roy Thomson Hall, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, and the CN Tower. City Hall and Metro Hall are also connected through PATH.

There are more than 125 grade level access points and 60 decision points where a pedestrian has to decide between turning left or right, or continuing straight on. The average size of a connecting link is 20 metres (66 ft.) long by 6 metres (20 ft.) wide.

The building furthest north on the PATH network is the Toronto Coach Terminal at Dundas and Bay Streets. The building furthest south that can be accessed through PATH is the Toronto Convention Centre's Convention South Building. PATH does not follow the grid patterns of the streets above.

The first underground path in Toronto originated in 1900 when the T Eaton Co. joined its main store at 178 Yonge St. and its bargain annex by tunnels. By 1917 there were five tunnels in the downtown core. With the opening of Union Station in 1927, an underground tunnel was built to connect it to the Royal York Hotel (now known as the Fairmont Royal York). The real growth of PATH began in the 1970s when a tunnel was built to connect the Richmond-Adelaide and Sheraton Centres.

In 1987, City Council adopted the recommendation that the City become the co-ordinating agency of PATH and pay for the system-wide costs of designing a signage program.

In 1988, design firms Gottschalk, Ash International, and Keith Muller Ltd. were retained in by the City of Toronto to apply the design concept for PATH.

PATH's name and logo are registered to the City of Toronto. The City co-ordinates and facilitates the directional signage, maps and identity markers throughout the system.

Each segment of the walkway system is owned and controlled by the owner of the property through which it runs. There are about 35 corporations involved.

In the early 1990s, signage for PATH was developed to provide pedestrians with better ease of use and functionality. The signage enhances PATH's visibility and identity, ultimately increasing its use, attracting more people to downtown Toronto, and drawing more businesses there.

Each letter in PATH is a different colour, each representing a direction. The P is red and represents south. The orange A directs pedestrians to the west, while the blue T directs them to the north. The H is yellow and points to the east.

Signage includes a symbol for people with disabilities whenever there is a flight of stairs ahead.
 
The following story appeared on CP24 today, December 20, 2011 and explains plans for future expansion of the PATH.

Via CP24 - With condos sprouting up all over the place and more people living and working in Toronto's downtown, the city is drafting a plan to expand its PATH system to the waterfront.

The proposal calls for a new pedestrian walkway to link the Air Canada Centre and WaterPark Place at Bay and Harbour streets by 2015, according to a Globe and Mail report.

That extension may not go underground, however.

Because the topography drops close to Lake Ontario and the Gardiner Expressway leaves little room for above-ground tunnels, the extension may consist of a pedestrian bridge to cross over Lake Shore Boulevard but under the Gardiner, said Michel Trocmé, a partner in Urban Strategies Inc. who helped to develop the draft plan, during an interview with the Globe and Mail.

With 28 kilometres of underground walkways to escape the cold, heat or rain, Toronto's PATH system is the world's longest underground shopping complex.

The system features almost 1,200 stores and links subway stations, office towers, food courts and tourist attractions such as the Hockey Hall of Fame, Rogers Centre and CN Tower.

About 100,000 daily commuters generate nearly $1.5 billion in sales revenue each year, the Globe and Mail reported.

The plan also proposes an extension linking Union Station and a waterfront development east of Yonge Street, and extending the system west from Yonge Street towards University Avenue, the newspaper reported.

City council is expected to vote on the draft plan, which cost $200,000 to develop, in 2012, according to the Globe and Mail.

A funding plan hasn't been arranged.

The plan also calls for clear signage and entrances to dismiss any confusion or to make people aware of the PATH system.

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Rob Ford pledges to reduce Toronto's land-transfer tax by the end of the year

Natalie Alcoba  National Post Dec 15, 2011

Matthew Sherwood for National Post

“You’re going to see a portion of the land transfer tax, I don’t know how much right now, be gone by the end of next year.” — Mayor Rob Ford, speaking to Stephen LeDrew on CP24.

His pledge was quickly applauded by the Toronto Real Estate Board, which issued a press release.

“Torontonians understand that the Land Transfer Tax is not part of the solution to the City’s financial challenges; it is part of the problem. It unfairly forces home buyers and business owners to pay more than their fair share, costing the average Toronto home buyer more than $6,000 every time they move; it is an unpredictable revenue stream that goes up and down with the real estate market; and it makes the City less competitive than other GTA municipalities,” said Richard Silver, president of TREB.

A Ford critic on council has another view.

“We can afford to cut the land transfer tax, if we impose a whopping property tax increase or put in service cuts that make this year look like a Sunday school picnic. I don’t think the Mayor could get ten votes on council to do this, let alone the 23 he needs,” said Councillor Gord Perks.

The land transfer tax raised $274-million last year.

Team Khan
Asif Khan & Associates
RE/MAX All-Stars Realty Inc.
549 Bur Oak Avenue
905-888-6222

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Town Of Markham Jeopardizes Safety Of UMPS Children

December 15, 2011 - Unionville, ON

With all the talk about Markham's Parking Authority and their harassment of Markham residents being talked about in the news lately, it is surprising that the Parking Authority has stooped to a lower level today. It is questionable if the town actually favours parking dollars over the safety of children. Today at 3pm I witnessed the Parking "Officer" block off the driveway so that parents would not be allowed to drive through and pick up their children. Furthermore, a second officer patrolled the street on foot with his hand held printer threatening to ticket parents that stopped in front of the school. When confronted about this ridiculously blatant cash grab, the officer on foot stated that the first officer had called him as back up to assist with "enforcement". The first officer, still on a high from his new found power trip as he blocked the " "fire route" which he felt needed to be secured, threatened to ticket those that stopped to ask what he was doing.

The confusion created by the Town Of Markham's parking authority along with the newly opened South Unionville Avenue put the children of Unionville Meadows at risk as they crossed the street in the rain to try and get into their parents cars while dodging cars trying to flee the terrorists bearing tickets.

As a parent, I am disgusted and furious. It is the York Region Board of Education's responsibility to ensure the safety of my children until I pick them up after school. The teachers of Unionville Meadows do an admirable job getting kids safely into their parents' cars after school and keep the flow of traffic moving through the driveway. For the Parking Authority to jeopardize the safety of children so that a few of their employees can hit quota before Christmas is ludicrous. The Board should step in and stop this craziness. To the town Councillors, I raise the question "when does the safety of someone else's child take the back seat to generating cash flow?". The obvious answer is "Today" and it better have been the LAST time this happens.

At some point, common sense should dictate how and when the enforcement of by-laws is conducted. Unfortunately, when easy money is involved, it seems common sense is thrown out the window.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Harper and Obama unveil new Canada-U.S. border deal

Cormac MacSweeney Dec 07, 2011

After months of waiting, the new Canada-United States border deal has been unveiled.

It is an unprecedented agreement that will change how you travel to the U.S. and the way companies conduct cross-border business.

The a massive deal is broken into two parts and will take years to fully implement.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says it is a merger between security concerns and a boost for trade and travel.

"These agreements create a new and modern bored for this century. Together they represent the most significant steps forward between Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement," said Harper.

On security, border agencies will begin sharing much more information to try and prevent future problems and stop high risk people from entering our countries.

U.S. president Barack Obama says it is about being smarter.

"Along with better screening and sharing more information, this will help us be even smarter about our joint security, concentrating our resources where they are needed most. Identifying real threats to our security before they reach our shores," said Obama.

For travel, new upgrades to infrastructure and technology at border crossings will help passengers make it through customs a lot quicker.

The deal will also benefit the economy. Many regulations and standards will be harmonized to increase trade, lower costs for companies and maybe lower the prices of products on the our shelves.

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Markham's $4 Million Outdoor Ice Rink To Open This Weekend!!!!

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti isn’t usually shy about dressing the part to be in the spotlight.
But don’t expect to see him on skates Saturday for the grand opening celebration of the Civic Centre outdoor ice rink — the largest of its kind in the GTA.
“I’ll leave that to more professional skaters,” Mr. Scarpitti said.
The inaugural skating season on the $4.1-million artificial ice rink, which features the state-of-the-art Eco Chill system from Cimco Refrigeration, will be given a workout by Toronto Maple Leaf Mike Komisarek and Carlton the Bear, former Olympic skater Steven Cousins, 2010 Team Canada player Becky Kellar and former Maple Leaf Steve Thomas.
Other skating performances will be presented by the Markham and Unionville skating clubs, with speed skating relay and ice sculpting demonstrations as well.
Australian tenor Tim McCallum will set the mood and a community skate and fireworks will follow.
The party, previously budgeted at about $20,000, is expected to attract about 2,000 people.
Mayor Scarpitti said while the construction of the ice rink was aimed to increase recreational opportunities in the community, he anticipates other people from the region, North York and Scarborough will use it, too. It will be a cultural and local tourism destination, the mayor said.
The Civic Centre celebration is 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, followed by public skating to 10 p.m.
Bring your own skates.
The rink will remain open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, December to March.

Asif Khan, ABR
www.asifkhan.ca
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame

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Bank of Canada holds interest rate steady

CBC News: Dec 6, 2011 The Bank of Canada on Tuesday has held its benchmark interest rate steady at one per cent, with the central bank warning that the country's economy is performing slightly better than expected but will soon change.

It's the 10th consecutive policy meeting that the central bank has stood pat."Uncertainty around the global economic outlook has increased," the bank said in its latest policy decision. "Conditions in global financial markets have deteriorated as the sovereign debt crisis in Europe has deepened."

The bank's target for the overnight rate is the rate at which banks borrow for short-term loans. Many other interest rates in the consumer sphere are correlated to it, so it is the central bank's best weapon for heating up or cooling down the economy.

Although the bank has held the benchmark interest rate steady, it also added a cautionary note.

"The weaker external outlook is expected to dampen GDP [gross domestic product] in Canada through financial, confidence and trade channels," the bank said.

"The economy also continues to face competitiveness challenges, including persistent strength of the Canadian dollar.... Reflecting all of these factors, the bank has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at one per cent."

Bank to monitor global economy
Choosing to hold steady is another signal that the bank remains concerned about the state of the global economy, but not enough to make credit cheaper to obtain than it already is.

"The bank will continue to monitor carefully economic and financial developments in the Canadian and global economies …and set monetary policy consistent with achieving the two per cent inflation target over the medium term," the bank said.

The central bank raised its target for the overnight lending rate to its current level from 0.75 per cent in September 2010.

The bank meets every six weeks to decide on its interest rate policy. Its governors are next scheduled to meet on Jan 17.

Asif Khan, ABR
www.asifkhan.ca
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame

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Balanced conditions set to return to most Canadian housing markets in 2012, while residential values expected to once again set new records, says RE/MAX

Mississauga, ON (December 6, 2011) - Canadian residential real estate defied conventional logic and outperformed expectations in 2011, posting another solid year of housing activity virtually across the board. The trend is expected to carry forward into 2012 as Canadians continue to demonstrate their faith in homeownership, despite concerns over the European debt crisis and its impact on the global economy, according to a report released by RE/MAX.

The RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook 2012 examined trends and developments in 26 major markets across the country. Eighty-eight per cent (23/26) anticipated average price increases by year-end 2011 - with percentage hikes ranging from one to 16 per cent. The forecast for 2012 shows the upward trend moderating, but still ahead of 2011 figures. Overall home sales are expected to remain on par or ahead of last year's levels in 85 per cent (22/26) of markets in 2011 - including Saskatoon with a year-over-year percentage increase of 13 per cent and an eight per cent uptick in Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton-Burlington and Sudbury. Almost half of Canadian markets will match the 2011 performance, while the remainder should post increases ranging from one to five per cent next year.

Asif Khan, ABR
www.asifkhan.ca
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame

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THE WORD is out ! Edition of Saturday, Dec. 03, 2011

THE WORD   Saturday, Dec. 03, 2011 HEADLINE Leafs brewin’ up a rivalry with Bruins Boston's Milan Lucic, with Nathan Horton, celebrates one of his two goals on Leaf netminder Jonas Gustavsson on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre. Chris Young/THE CANADIAN PRESS Kevin McGran Sport...   thestar.com     FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS   thestar.com CP24   TABLE OF CONTENT 41 articles, 0 photos and 0 videos by 4 contributors Education 10 Business 9 Environment 7 Sports 5 Art & Entertainment 3 Politics 3

OTHER HEADLINES OF INTEREST TODAY Toronto Music Scene - CONTEST: Win A Pair of Tickets to the Opening Night of The Canadian Premier... Published on The Toronto Vibe Daily torontoFree CP24- Stocks to open higher amid optimism for debt fix Published on The 3SecondHeat Daily CP24

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Rooneyisms: I've Learned That....

Here's something special that Wilf, a good friend of mine, forwarded to me earlier this evening. The Late Andy Rooney saw day-to-day life in its simplest terms. He had a gift of being able to say so much in so few words. He was a true student of human nature and, should we choose to heed his simple words of advice, we'll most probably find ourselves content, accepting and happy. His words are now known as Rooneyisms. Take the time to read these and you'll come away with an enlightened perspective on day-to-day subjects.

Enjoy - his words are golden.     
 

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile..

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned..... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

I'm sure that by just reading the above words of a great man, you've been enlightened just as much as I have been. Sometimes we forget to enjoy the important things in life while getting caught up in the not so important. All the above sayings tug at our heart strings. Which one got you the most? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Asif

Asif Khan, ABR
Re/Max Hall of Fame
Re/Max Chairman's Club
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
905-888-6222

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RIM Launches Blackberry Mobile Fusion!!

Battered Research in Motion is hoping to leverage its’ shining reputation for wireless security, even if it means letting competitors into the fold.
RIM announced that it will be upgrading its’ Global Enterprise server. This server is generally used by companies to make sure that sensitive information does not go beyond their employees’ reach.

In addition to RIM products, this server will accommodate iPads, and iPhones, as well as Google’s Android.

“Building on years of leading enterprise mobility management solutions from RIM, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will simplify the management of smartphones and tablets running BlackBerry, Google Android and Apple iOS operating systems.”

The hope is that customers, no matter what their product allegiance will come to rely on the security of RIM’s server.

“We are pleased to introduce BlackBerry Mobile Fusion – RIM’s next generation enterprise mobility solution – to make it easier for our business and government customers to manage the diversity of devices in their operations today,” said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at Research In Motion.

“BlackBerry Mobile Fusion brings together our industry-leading BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology for BlackBerry devices with mobile device management capabilities for iOS and Android devices, all managed from one web-based console. It provides the necessary management capabilities to allow IT departments to confidently oversee the use of both company-owned and employee-owned mobile devices within their organizations.”

RIM is also banking on the release of this new server to help buoy Playbook sales, which have been considerably limper than they had hoped. The launch of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, slated for early 2012, is set to coincide with an upgrade to the Playbook, which will likely now offer its’ own email application.

Asif Khan, ABR
www.asifkhan.ca
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame

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Safest Place To Drive In Ontario??

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer

TORONTO — The safest place to drive in Ontario -- it's Brockville.

An insurance company says Brockville has the lowest collision rate of 45 Ontario communities surveyed in its Ontario Safe Driving Study.

Rounding out the five safest communities in the Allstate Canada survey are Welland, Chatham, Amherstburg and St. Thomas.

Five Greater Toronto Area communities -- Bolton, Markham, Toronto, Thornhill and Brampton -- had the highest collision rates in the province.

Northern Ontario continues to be the region where drivers have the lowest crash frequency rate, with Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Greater Sudbury all in the top 10.

Belleville topped the previous list but dropped to 13th place, while North Bay dropped from 14th spot to 32nd.

The Ontario Safe Driving Study looked at collision frequencies and ranked them based on Allstate Canada claims data for 2009-2011 and also compared them to data from 2007-2009.

Only communities where Allstate Canada insured a minimum of 900 cars between 2009 and 2011 are ranked and rankings were based solely on Allstate Canada's car collision frequency data.

Allstate said collision rates in the province dropped seven per cent from 2007-09 to 2009-11.

"We are pleased to see the overall decrease in Ontario's collision rate and hope to see this trend continue," said Tony Irwin, spokesperson for Allstate Canada.

There will be an event Tuesday in Brockville to congratulate the city's drivers for having Ontario's lowest collision rate.

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Soccer Mom Vans Make Business Brisk For York Regional Police

Remember last week when I saw the under-cover York Region Police minivans? Here's an article from the Economist & Sun on the very subject.....
 

Bernie O'Neill
Markham Economist & Sun

Do we really need cops in soccer mom vans?
 
Do you ever wonder what the state of modern policing is or, in fact, what the state of Canadian society is, when you see a driver pulled over by a car that is not your typical police car?
And I don’t mean an “unmarked car”, in the sense it is a police cruiser with more subdued markings.
I mean a car that is just like your car or my car.
I’ve noticed a silver Dodge Caravan that has pulled over any number of drivers in Markham.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think some soccer mom had pulled over to help a hockey dad or ballet mom whose GPS had broken.
You get the idea parents have this sort of mental telepathy for each other.
“That guy looks like he’s looking for the arena,” you say to your passenger.
“How can you tell?”
“You mean other than the hockey sticks in the back of the van, the Leafs vanity licence plate, the dealership sticker from Georgina, the Tim Hortons mug on the dash and the incredible wear and tear on that thing, which looks like it has been driven all over York Region the past three months? Plus, he’s slowing down near every large building he passes. I can tell he’s lost. I can feel his anguish as if it were my own.”
At the stop sign, you roll down your window and offer, “Are you looking for the hockey rink?”
However, inside this soccer mom/hockey dad van is a York Regional Police officer. He’s not looking for the hockey rink. He’s looking for other people looking for the hockey rink who are trying to get there an hour before game time as per team policy and who may have broken the speed limit (or called home on the cellphone in a panic for further directions).
From what I have seen, this more-or-less undercover police officer (his cover being he is just a regular van driver) is doing quite a brisk business.
Because the truth is people don’t follow the speed limits or other laws, for any number of reasons.
I’ve already stated in a previous column I think in a lot of places the speed limits are too low.
At the same time, I’m not a fan of people who drive as if they are on their video game console playing Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.
When people driving like that get pulled over, it brings me joy. Same for armed robbers, violent thugs, fraud artists, terrorists and the like.
I just suspect it is a lot of people who are law-abiding citizens being nabbed in minor violations of the law by these acts of stealth by our own police force, who we’re paying to protect us from real law breakers.
It’s as if they decided they have probable cause to spy on every one of us.  Is this what we want our police force doing?
I’ve always thought the police should be visible, in clearly marked vehicles — that is a deterrent to crime as much as anything else, and an inspiration of confidence in the community.
We’ve paid a lot for these police officers, so where are they? They should be out in the open, in uniform, in clearly marked vehicles for all to see — not hiding behind the trees or billboards in unmarked cars or vans.
I also believed in the notion that, if you were ever to need a police officer, you could find one if one was in the area. You could see the clearly marked car or officer in uniform.
Now I suppose if you’re being mugged or assaulted or see a crime has been committed, you look for the silver soccer mom van on the assumption there’s a police officer inside (or that a highly capable soccer mom could save you, which is probably true).
Not to be too melodramatic, but you see people all over the world risking their lives for their freedoms. Yet our freedoms seem to be chiselled away bit by bit here without much justification.

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Markham Schools Receive Award!

Markham Economist & Sun

Seven Markham schools were recognized as being among the best elementary schools in the province at the annual Awards for Excellence in Education Thursday.
École élementaire catholique Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys was second runner-up in the category Excellence in Language Arts and received a $1,000 prize.
Other Markham schools named Schools of Distinction in this category were St. Justin Martyr Catholic Elementary School, William Berczy Public School, Roy H. Crosby Public School, Bayview Glen Public School and Stonebridge Public School.
Coledale, Bayview Glen, Roy H. Crosby, St. Justin Martyr and William Berczy also received recognition in the category of Excellence in Mathematics.
The awards, presented by the Fraser Institute since 2005, are based on an analysis of student results data from the Education Quality and Accountability Office assessment.
Out of 2,733 elementary schools whose test results were analyzed, only the top 30 performers in each category were invited to participate in the awards.
Honourees include school teams from public, private and Catholic schools, urban and rural schools, and schools serving families with moderate incomes as well as those serving more affluent families.
Check out the complete list of winning schools at www.forexcellenceineducation.org.
 

Asif Khan, ABR
Member of Re/Max Hall of Fame
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
905-888-6222

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Markham's Buttonville Airport Could Be Gone By 2013

Markham Economist and Sun November 24, 2011

Buttonville airport could close as early as 2013 to make way for a massive redevelopment that will include a cinema, office and retail space, residential and possibly a 60-storey tower.
The $4-billion joint investment between Cadillac Fairview and the Sifton family’s Armadale Properties calls for a transit-oriented downtown ambiance with an iconic building for Markham, planning consultant Don Given said Tuesday.
If Markham council wanted it, a 60-storey “elegant point tower” can be erected on the site to become “a beacon at the end of (Hwy.) 404”, Mr. Given told town councillors.
“That’s not Markham,” Mr. Given said of the building height. “But if you want one, we can do it.”
Local Councillor Alan Ho said he would like the 60-storey tower to become a good example in Markham of how parking wouldn’t be a problem.
The Buttonville concept plan includes more than 8 million square feet, which could also include a hotel, health club and convention space. It also features a lake abutting Hwy. 404.
The proposed water feature could be used for recreational activities, such as dragon boat races and kayaking, Mr. Given said.
“It’s going to be more than a business park — it’ll have character,” he said, adding the site will remain largely in private ownership, with Cadillac Fairview footing costs of future programming there.
While Mr. Given describes the lands as “the last truly great site” in the GTA, access to Hwy. 404 and transit will be challenges, he added.
Solutions could include Viva routes through the Buttonville site and to the TTC’s Don Mills Station, the extension of Allstate Parkway, widening of 16th Avenue, direct connection from Hwy. 404 interchange to the site and a new east-west connection from Woodbine Avenue, Mr. Given said.
The plans also includes an aggressive construction start in 2013 and occupancy by 2015, in time for the Pan Am Games.
He said employees and tenants of the Buttonville airport have already been notified of the airport’s 2013 closure.
He also said the not-yet-built Pickering airport is intended to replace Buttonville airport.
“The two can’t compete with each other,” Mr. Given said, adding other locations in the play for Buttonville airport’s relocation include Barrie and Oshawa.
Last summer, Transport Canada identified the contentious Pickering lands as a prime location in the Golden Horseshoe for a new airport as early as 2027.
However, Derek Sifton, president of Toronto Airways Ltd., which owns and operates Buttonville airport, said at the time his family would like to transfer Buttonville airport to Pickering as soon as operations end in Markham.
The Buttonville redevelopment plan was well received by town councillors, with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath asking staff to report back on transit and Pickering airport issues.
 

Asif Khan, ABR
Member of Re/Max Hall of Fame
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
905-888-6222

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The Essential Condos - New Release!!

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We have JUST received:

NEW Designed Suites 
NEW Purchaser incentives
NEW Floor plans

For Markham's hottest new project - THE ESSENTIAL CONDOS!!

The time to act is NOW - Please call Asif at 905-888-6222 ext 3 and book your private viewing to select the best available units as soon as possible.

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Canadian Immigrants Looking West

via: CBC News:

Canada's immigration patterns are changing, experts say, and western provinces are the beneficiary.

Only a decade ago, Ontario took in the lion's share of Canada's immigrants, with half going to Toronto and 60 per cent to Ontario as a whole. Last year, only 42 per cent of all immigrants went to Ontario, statistics show.

At the same time, immigration to Western Canada has surged, especially in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

One of the biggest reasons is a booming western economy, particularly in the farming and resource sectors, according to B.C.-based immigration expert Nick Noorani.

"Immigrants are going where they get jobs," Noorani told CBC News.

The change has also been fuelled by the provincial nominee program, which allows provinces to choose a certain number of immigrants each year, Noorani said. The program ensures those who come to Canada enter the workforce immediately, he said.

"What's happening is a lot of immigrants are coming in with prearranged employment," Noorani said, "and that's good because then you're reducing the unemployment or underemployment rate that immigrants seem to have."

The system is a far cry from previous decades, when the federal points system for skilled workers kept many aspiring newcomers waiting for years to immigrate and failed to meet the need for skilled tradespeople in the provinces.

The provincial system has resulted in economic payoffs for communities, Noorani said.

"From an economic perspective," he said, "let's remember every time you get people coming into a new community, business increases. So suddenly you'll have people putting up stores where they're going to have ethnic foods. Real estate has been bolstered tremendously by immigrants and their desire to own homes, more than Canadian-born."

Nevertheless, challenges remain, according to the University of Ottawa's Peter Showler.

Not all temporary foreign workers get the same level of support to become permanent residents, the former chairman of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada said, something that could leave too much power in the hands of employers.

"When you have very positive, future-looking employers, that works very well," he said. "If you have abusive employers, they can use that as a kind of threat or control to sometimes sustain improper labour practices."

As well, Showler said, the federal government needs to reduce wait times: The current immigration backlog has grown to more than a million people.

Asif Khan, ABR

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Re/Max Hall of Fame, Re/Max Chairman's Club

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IS MARKHAM WOOING THE NHL? 19,500 SEAT ARENA POSSIBLE FOR MARKHAM, ONT.

Bob McKenzie
11/22/2011 6:31:24 PM

It needs to be said up front, and quite emphatically, that the NHL has no plans to put a second franchise in southern Ontario.

But if the league's view on that should ever change, there is a potential 19,500-seat arena project in Markham, Ont., that could one day turn out to be a viable option.
 
Sources tell TSN that Graeme Roustan, the chairman of the hockey equipment company, Bauer, who also moonlights as an arena builder, and Toronto-area land developer Rudy Bratty, ranked in 2010 by Canadian Business Magazine as the 62nd richest man in Canada with a net worth of $940 million, are working together in a massive real estate venture that includes a 19,500-seat facility that they hope will be built regardless of the NHL interest, or lack thereof, in southern Ontario.
 
The project is located a slapshot away from where Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Steven Stamkos grew up in Unionville, or the western part of the town of Markham that is situated on the northeast border of Metro Toronto.
 
The arena would be built on a tract of land owned by Bratty, just west of the existing GO Transit train station in Unionville, and just north of Highway 407, but would be part of a much larger sports and entertainment complex, not unlike the Staples Center and  L.A. Live entertainment block in Los Angeles. And all of that would be just one element of what's known as the Bratty-inspired Markham Centre, a $3 billion , 900-plus acre  high-density residential, commercial and retail development that is part of the official plan of the town.
 
Markham mayor Frank Scarpitti is  believed to be  a proponent of an arena venture and town councillors are well aware of the project, although they have all signed non-disclosure agreements and cannot discuss it publicly. Mayor Scarpitti will reportedly update council on the project on Tuesday night during an in-camera, or private, segment of the regularly-scheduled town council meeting.
 
If this project is green lighted, the expectation is the arena will be economically viable even without a major spots tenant, that concert and show promoter Live Nation and arena management firm Global Spectrum are said to  have some interest  as well.
 
It is not a reach to suggest that Roustan's and Bratty's ultimate vision would be to one day secure an NHL franchise. Roustan was in the running to purchase the Montreal Canadiens at one point.
 
But NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's message to all of would-be suitors, including those from Quebec City, has been the same: do not construct a building thinking there's a chance to get an NHL franchise because the league has no plans at this time to relocate another team.
 
Nevertheless, the wheels are in motion to get this arena built in Markham. While nothing has been formally approved by Markham town council, there appears to be a desire to  try to break ground on this project as early as 2012 with a potential completion date of sometime in 2014.

Whether that's realistic, remains to be seen, but it's quite likely we'll be hearing a lot more about this project.

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Social Media - Are You In or Out?

From time to time I come across those that refuse to get on the Social Media bandwagon. "It's a fad", "it isn't going to last", and "it's a waste of time" are the most common reasons that have been mentioned. Sarah Evans has compiled many stats on the inevitable dominance that Social Media could provide for your brand or business. Here are her top 50. To the Unbelievers: See you on Facebook, or just tweet at me. ;)

November 20, 2011 Via: AdAge

On her social-media and PR blog, Commentz, Sarah Evans and her staff compile a lot of stats. Each quarter, she cherry-picks the most relevant for marketers to share with Ad Age.

1. eMarketer estimates there will be nearly 21 million Twitter users in the U.S. by the end of this year, and a sizable minority of those will use the service at least in part to follow brands. (eMarketer)

2. Forty percent of bloggers consider themselves professionals. (MediaBistro/State of the Blogosphere 2011)

3. There are now more than 800 million active Facebook users, with more than 200 million added in 2011. (Social Media Examiner)

4. B2C Facebook results are 30% above average on Sundays. (Convince & Convert)

5. Tweets last up to 67 times longer for users with higher Klout scores. (Mashable)

6. Nearly every large charity and university in America is on Facebook. Less than 60% of the Fortune 500 are. (Grow)

7. B2B marketers are spending millions of dollars annually on social-marketing programs, though nearly 30% are not tracking the impact of social-media programs on lead generation and sales. (TechJournal/Pardot)

8. Thirty-four percent of marketers have generated leads using Twitter, and 20% have closed deals using Twitter (AllTwitter)

9. Roughly two-thirds of social-media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is a major reason they use these sites, while half say that connecting with old friends they've lost touch with is a major reason behind their use of these technologies. (PEW Research)

10. The vast majority (95%) of the parents of 10-year-olds on Facebook were aware when their child signed up for the site, and 78% of those parents helped create the child's account [despite rules that prohibit children under 13 from joining the social-networking site]. (CNN Tech)

11. One in three respondents (33%) said that they would prioritize social-media freedom, device flexibility, and work mobility over salary in accepting a job offer. (GigaOm)

12. One in three texters would rather text than talk. (NYTimes: Bits)

13. Seventy-seven percent of consumers said they interact with brands on Facebook primarily through reading posts and updates from the brands [....] 17% of respondents said they interact with brands by sharing experiences and news stories with others about the brand, and only 13% of respondents said they post updates about brands that they like. (Mashable)

14. The average Facebook user has 130 friends and is connected to 80 pages, events and groups. (Social Media Examiner)

15. Seventy-three percent of people think employees overshare on social-media. (Marketing Pilgrim)

16. Forty-three percent of all online consumers are social media fans or followers. (HubSpot)

17. Netflix's price hike caused 805,000 paid subscribers to jump ship in the most-recent quarter. (Mashable)

18. Sixty-four percent of Americans stream mobile video at work. (Tubefilter)

19. The Mobile Marketing Association of Asia stated that out of the 6 billion people on the planet, 4.8 billion have a mobile phone while only 4.2 billion own a toothbrush. (60 Second Marketer)

20. According to ThreatMetrix survey of 722 active internet using consumers, 37% intend to make a purchase using their smartphone, nearly three times as many as those who plan to use their tablet. (Get Elastic)

21. A 2011 study by the National Restaurant Association confirms that consumers who use social media, including apps, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, UrbanSpoon and more, not only dine out more, but are more likely to become return customers. (ReadWriteWeb)

22. Ninety-five percent of Facebook Wall posts are not answered by brands. (All Facebook)

43. Twenty percent of searches on Google each day have never been searched for before. (HubSpot)

24. Tablet owners tend to consume a greater variety and volume of news on their devices, and tablets' visual, interactive features encourage in-depth exploration, according to a joint study from Starcom MediaVest and the online division of the BBC. (Mashable)

25. Auto-posting to Facebook decreases likes and comments by 70%. (Inside Facebook)

26. LinkedIn has 64 million users in North America alone. (All Twitter)

27. Twitter updates that include verbs have a 2% higher shareability than the average tweet. (HubSpot)

28. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are now considered cornerstones of most social-media strategies in larger companies. Ninety-four percent of respondents said Facebook is one of their top three social media platform priorities. Twitter was second with 77%, and YouTube trailed with 42%. (Search Engine Watch)

29. SEO still dominates for marketers, with both B2B (57%) and B2C (41%) businesses stating it makes the biggest impact on their lead generation goals. (AllTwitter)

30. Overall, 57% of comments about U.S. airlines on social media in the past year were negative. But American Airlines -- the world's fourth-largest airline -- stood out with only 12% of social-media opinions about the airline being positive. (The Realtime Report)

31. Fifty-six percent of consumers said they are more likely to recommend a brand to a friend after becoming a fan on Facebook. (Mashable)

32. Fifty-six percent of college students said that if they encountered a company that banned access to social media, they would either not accept a job offer or would join and find a way to circumvent corporate policy.  (GigaOm)

33. Johns Hopkins, Facebook's birthplace Harvard, and Notre Dame are the top schools for social media. (Boston.com)

34. Only 15% of the average local business's fans are in the city where the business is located. (WSJ)

35. More smartphone and tablet owners are researching products than purchasing them -- 80.8% compared to 41.4%, according to BIGresearch -- but attitudes vary quite a bit among different age groups. (eMarketer)

36. When you're cruising around the internet, how much of your time is spent on a social network or blog? According to a new study published by Nielsen, those two categories eat up 23% of internet usage overall. This is double online gaming, which comes in at number two and after that, it takes 75 different categories to account for the remaining 35% of time spent. (Marketing Pilgrim)

37, When it comes to liking brands on Facebook, the reasons are varied, but for the most part, respondents said they "Like" a brand on Facebook because they are a customer (58%) or because they want to receive discounts and promotions (57%). (Mashable)

38. There are 245 million internet users in the US, according to Internet World Statistics. Nielsen estimates that social media sites and blogs reach 80% of all active U.S. internet users. (PR Week)

39. IT professionals see serious risks associated with enterprise social network use -- and only 29% say they have adequate protection. (InformationWeek: The BrainYard)

40. There are now 100 million active [Twitter] users -- users who log in at least once a month -- with half of those users signing in at least once a day. Fifty-five percent of them access Twitter via mobile; 40% actually don't Tweet but simply dip into their Timelines to keep tabs on what people are saying. (CNN/Fortune)

41. Fully 65% of adult internet users now say they use a social-networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn, up from 61% one year ago. This marks the first time in Pew Internet surveys that 50% of all adults use social-networking sites. (Wired PR Works)

42. The mean half life of a link on Twitter is 2.8 hours, on Facebook it's 3.2 hours and via "direct" sources (like email or IM clients) it's 3.4 hours. So you can expect, on average, an extra 24 minutes of attention if you post on Facebook than if you post on Twitter. (bitly blog)

43. Social media is responsible for one-third the web traffic in Malaysia. (ReadWriteWeb)

44. There are more than 3.5 billion pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, etc.) shared each week on Facebook. (HubSpot)

45. According to a survey of 1,897 senior executives conducted by Weber Shandwick in partnership with Forbes Insights, 84% of the execs believe their brand's sociability is not up to world-class standards. (Mashable)

46. Beyonce's pregnancy news at MTV's VMAs birthed a new Twitter record of 8,868 Tweets per second. (TechCrunch)

47. Forty-four percent of companies track employees' social-media use in and out of the office (TheNextWeb).

48. What makes people retweet? 92% interesting content. 84% humor. 66% personal connection. 21% celebrity status. 32% offered incentive (tangible or virtual). 26% "Please RT!" (WhiteFireSEO)

49. Among college students and young professionals, 24% experience three to five interruptions in a given hour, while 84% get interrupted at least once while trying to complete a project. (GigaOm)

50. All but 7% of social-media campaigns used Facebook. (All Facebook)

Asif Khan, ABR
www.asifkhan.ca
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

York Regional Police Mapping Out Crimes

 
Via: Joe Fantauzzi 

York Regional Police has launched a new online map in an effort to arm you with information about where crime is occurring.
The map, which is hosted on the York Regional Police website, was launched today at the Richmond Hill police station. The initiative coincides with this year’s provincial Crime Prevention Week, which is focused on innovation and technology in crime prevention.
The point of the map is to provide an overview of criminal activity, rather than a detailed account, Deputy Chief Bruce Herridge said.
You can expect to see information about policing programs, break-and-enters, thefts, vehicle thefts, thefts from vehicles, homicides, assaults, sexual offences, arsons, missing persons, weapons offences, traffic enforcement and liquor and drug violations plotted on the map with clickable flags.
And you can customize the map to show you incidents in your community.
But not every crime will appear on the map, Deputy Chief Herridge said.
Domestic violence and family sexual assaults, for example, will not be posted. If an ongoing investigation results in an arrest, you may not see that plotted either, so as to not comprise the larger probe, he added.
Atop the map are crime prevention tips.
You will not see the specific address at which an incident takes place due to the privacy considerations. Rather, the map will plot incidents by block, according to police.
Typically, the map will be refreshed every 24 hours.
The map itself runs on software developed by U.S. company CrimeReports, which is being used by several other forces in Ontario including Ottawa, Windsor and Thunder Bay.
If you have any information about a crime plotted on the map, tabs allow you to send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers, Sgt. Karen Hodge said. You can also e-mail the incident to a friend.
The force is also a strong supporter of community policing and the map is a tool with which it hopes to grow that, Staff Sgt. Jim MacSween said.
“The reality is, preventing crime is not just a police responsibility — it’s everyone’s responsibility,” he said. “We need the assistance of the community to succeed in preventing crime.”

Find the map at http://www.yrp.ca/crimemap.aspx

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Gretzky asked to buy MLSE

As buyers start to come forward for the coveted MLSE stake, Wayne Gretzky has admitted that he has been approached to be part of a group intending to purchase the Teachers' Pension Plan shares.

With the way the Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled under the ownership of the Pension Plan, this is welcome news to those waiting to see a winning team in Toronto. It has seemed as though MLSE's focus had shifted from sports team ownership to business development as it diversified into Real Estate and Entertainment businesses.

Here's hoping that new ownership group comes in, cleans house and brings a hunger to win at all costs attitude - a passion that has been missing for decades. The city deserves it, and most of all the fans deserve it. Whether Gretzky be added for a management role or as a Canadian content figurehead to mask American ownership, this is good news for Toronto. Let's hope this "Gretzky to Toronto" rumour is more than an April Fool's joke, and MLSE stays out of the Rogers family.

TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
Published: November 18, 2011 5:59 a.m.
Last modified: November 17, 2011 9:59 p.m.

Add Wayne Gretzky’s name to the list of people now said to be interested in buying Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

The Great One has been asked  “months ago,” according to a source, to be involved by groups kicking the tires on the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund’s $1.5 billion share of the conglomerate.

Gretzky told Sportsnet he hadn’t decided on whether he would be involved with the unnamed U.S.-based interests.

What exactly his role would be — whether figurehead, president or in the management team — is unclear, but trying to add him as “Canadian content” for a U.S. owner makes a lot of sense, said Sportsnet analyst John Shannon, a former league executive.

 “They are trying to make it look like there is a Canadian-content factor,” said Shannon. “It’s Wayne Gretzky. There’s nobody more passionate about the game of hockey than The Great One.”

One executive within the MLSE empire thought having Gretzky on board was a “dumb” idea.

“Whoever buys this needs $1.5 billion, not Wayne Gretzky,” said the executive, asking not to be named.
Rogers is also said to be interested.

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Housing Forecast for Canada

By The Canadian Press

 

OTTAWA - The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales in Ontario were stronger than anticipated during the third quarter — resulting in a slightly brighter outlook for CREA's 2011 and 2012 national forecasts.

The industry association is now projecting sales this year will be up 1.4 per cent from 2010, half a percentage point better than the previous forecast.

CREA expects there will be slightly fewer units sold next year than in 2011, but the 0.5 per cent decline is an upward revision.

The association is now forecasting 453,300 home sales countrywide this year, up from 446,915 in 2010. The forecast for 2012 is 451,200 homes sold.

The revision comes at a time when central banks in Canada and the United States are keeping their key lending rates low to counter the economic drag caused by the European debt crisis.

The assurance of relatively low borrowing costs has probably given home buyers confidence while rising home values have kept new listings at a healthy level. Stable employment has provided some assurance to owners and buyers alike, although they have also been monitoring the darkening economic clouds.

"There was no shortage of headline news in October about global financial market volatility and economic uncertainty, but it doesn’t appear to have dampened homebuyers’ spirits," said Gary Morse, CREA’s president.

"Interest rates are at low levels and are likely to stay that way for some time to come. Homebuyers clearly see the opportunities that the current interest rate environment presents."

October's sales activity through CREA members was the highest since January and the national average price was up 5.5 per cent from October 2010.

Sales through the Multiple Listing Service operated by CREA members totalled 38,533 in October, including 35,837 homes — up 8.1 per cent and 8.5 per cent res

pectively.

A total of 397,561 homes have been sold through the MLS system in the first 10 months of 2011, up 1.2 per cent above the comparable period last year but in line with the 10-year average.

The national average price for homes sold in October was $362,899, up from $343,950 — although average prices in local markets varied widely.

Vancouver, as usual, was by far the most expensive market with an average sales price of $767,325. The nearby Fraser Valley area of B.C.'s Lower Mainland was second-most expensive at $483,965 followed by Toronto at $478,137.

The three lowest local average prices tracked by CREA was $154,537 in Trois-Rivieres, Que., $161,691 in Saint John, N.B. and $167,424 in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The forecast national average price for 2011 and 2012 is $362,700, up from $339,049 last year.

Asif Khan, ABR

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Re/Max Hall of Fame

 Google me: Asif Khan ReMax

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Winter Tires vs All Season Tires

November 15, 2011 - Jeff Voth - Via Yahoo

“Tis the season to be jolly”, or so claims the famous Christmas song we know and enjoy at this time of year. But does this hold true when it comes to driving our vehicles as temperatures drop, snow starts to fall and winter shovels replace garden rakes at the side of the shed? 

With each change of season comes the need to adjust our driving habits and the equipment found on our vehicles. Although all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles offer greater traction and all-weather drivability in general, they can be just as hazardous as any other vehicle when equipped with all-season or "M + S" tires in the winter.

All-season tires are designed to perform best when the temperature exceeds 7°C. Below this, they become hard and begin to lose grip. Winter tires are specifically designed to remain flexible in cold weather. Plus, their deeper tread pattern acts as a shovel to clear away snow and water from the tire as it rotates. With more rubber exposed tothe road surface, traction improves dramatically when compared to all-season tires.

The hard part is, however, investing in winter tires can be very expensive. In fact, a full set of four “snow” tires (it is never recommended to use only 2 winter tires even on a front-wheel drive vehicle), will easily cost upwards of $600.00, plus fees for mounting and a set of seasonal steel rims. Should you spend the extra money? In general, yes.

Let’s say, for example, you drive back and forth from the country or suburban areas to the city each day for work, plus spend time taking the kids to the arena and running a few errands. If this is your typical winter day of driving, snow tires are definitely worth the investment.

On the other hand, should you live in a major city with easy access to mass transit once the snow starts to fly, the added expense of winter tires may not be worth the investment. Traction will certainly improve on your vehicle, but your money may be better spent taking the bus or subway and letting someone else do the winter driving instead of you.

To better test the theory of winter tires, we contacted Continental Tires of Canada this past winter and asked them to supply two different sets of winter tires for long term evaluation. The late model test mules used in our evaluation represented everyday vehicles, typical of what many Canadians drive.  

The first was a set of 215/55R16 Altimax Arctic tires from General Tire.  Designed to aid in cold weather driving, key features and benefits included the following:

Features:
-    Multi-Angle Sipe System
-    Directional Pattern with Center Stability Rib
-    Reactive Contour Technology (RCT)
-    All-Weather Dual Tread Compound

Benefits:
-    270 degrees of sipes with biting edges that enhance traction in any direction of travel.
-    Water evacuation is amplified and straight-line stability is improved.
-    Contour reacts to different road conditions to maintain optimum contact with road surface throughout the life of the tire.
-    Exceptional cold-weather flexibility and excellent wet traction.

The second set we tested over the winter of 2010-2011 was the top-of-the-line 195/65R15 ExtremeWinterContact Continental Tires. Designed to look and perform at the highest level, features and benefits included the following:

Features:
-    Compact outside tread with elevated lateral grooves
-    Inclined longitudinal grooves
-    Maximum void and grip edges in center contact patch with traction ridges in grooves
-    High sipe density. Highly flexible compound

Benefits:
-    Improved dry handling
-    Swift removal of water
-    Excellent traction and braking on snow
-    Reduced braking distance

Over the course of a five month period, we drove both sets of tires on city and country roads, in blinding snowstorms and on clear days when it was simply too cold for mere mortal man to enjoy. We also spent time driving when the weather was clear, above freezing and, for the most part, favourable.

Both sets of tires performed flawlessly, providing superior contact with the road in every case when compared to equally new, all-season tires. This should hold true for any competitive tire of equal value and age to the Continental tires we tested. Why? Simply put, winter tires are specifically designed to work best when the weather turns cold and all-season tires are optimized for warm weather driving. 

Winter driving is a fact of life in Canada. That doesn’t mean we always have to enjoy it when the weather outside turns frightful. But, with the right set of winter tires, it may be somewhat less intimidating and potentially a little fun. Spring is still a long ways off. Put on some “snows” and have a safe driving winter.

Asif Khan, ABR

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Re/Max Hall of Fame

Google me: Asif Khan ReMax

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan