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

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Toronto may launch bid for 2024 Summer Olympics

John Stall and 680News staff Nov 15, 2011

TORONTO, Ont. - Could the third time be the charm for Toronto and the our bid to host the Olympics?

The head of Toronto's successful Pan-Am Games bid, Bob Richardson, told the Globe and Mail he is working on organizing a team and putting together a campaign to launch a bid to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to the GTA.

Richardson is the man who spearheaded both the Pan-Am Games bid and the city's last Olympic bid, which went to Beijing in 2008.

Richardson had already put together a lot of pieces for a bid for the 2020 games, until Mayor Rob Ford nixed the idea.

He now says that his core group of backers remains in pace and is prepared to resurrect a bid for 2024 that would be pitched to the International Olympic Committee in just three years from now.

This would be the city's third Olympic bid, but Richardson says that doesn't hurt the city's chances at all.

Paris pitched four times, London pitched three times before it got the games, and Istanbul made five pitches for the coveted games.

Toronto also lost a 1996 bid for the games to Atlanta.

The formal bidding race begins in 2015  while the winning city is announced in 2017.

If Toronto does go forward with the bid, it will likely have to compete with countries like South Africa, France and the United Arab Emirates, who have all hinted that they may have interest in the 2024 games.

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Winter driving tips: Should you warm up the car?

- Jeff Voth, Yahoo! Canada Autos

Those of us who live in a four season climate are comfortable with the idea of allowing our vehicles to warm up on a cold winter’s day before driving off to work, or taking the kids to weekend hockey practice. But with the technology available in today’s automobiles, is this still something we should be doing?

The simple answer is no. For the most part, letting your vehicle idle for long periods of time when it is cold is not only bad for the environment, but can cause serious damage to your engine and emission system.

In the past, most vehicles employed a carburetor to deliver fuel to the engine. Today, almost all new automobiles employ some form of electronic fuel injection. During cold engine startup, the computer management system tells the fuel injectors to stay open longer allowing more fuel to flow into the engine in part to keep it running cool. Trying to warm up the engine at slightly above idle speed is actually doing the reverse and inviting additional problems.

Cold engines produce a much higher level of unburned hydrocarbons as fuel needs heat to burn efficiently. Even the best catalytic converter is unable to process 100 percent while running at maximum temperature. Allowing the engine to idle for extended periods of time will, over time, begin to clog the exhaust system.

In addition, spark plugs may also become plugged or dirty due to inefficient fuel burning. Older vehicles require regular maintenance, most calling for spark plugs to be changed approximately every 30,000 km. The good old days weren’t always so good.

Today, almost all engines employ an electronic ignition system that requires spark plugs to be changed at intervals in the range of 100,000 kilometres. An engine at idle for extended periods of time could dramatically shorten the life of your plugs, causing you to spend hard-earned dollars on unnecessary service and repairs.  

A better approach is to start your vehicle and let it run for up to one minute before driving off to work or play. This will allow fluids to start flowing through the engine and then warm up to efficient temperatures under normal driving conditions.

Should the temperature outside dip below freezing, allow up to a maximum of five minutes of idle time before driving away. In most cases, this will be just enough time to clean off any snow or ice that may have accumulated on the windows.

While you may not be warm as toast on the way into work, school or taking the kids to hockey practice, you will benefit by saving money at the pump and the repair shop by driving a vehicle that runs cleaner and more efficient for many years to come.   

Asif Khan, ABR

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Re/Max Hall of Fame

Google me: Asif Khan ReMax

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Slain RE/MAX Realtor a "Proud and Happy Father".

The attached article from the Toronto Star details the great family man that was Devinder Kumar. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, especially his two little girls. Such a senseless crime, one that has left many heavy hearts and some broken ones that can never heal. A son, father, husband, sibling, nephew, cousin and friend has been lost. The vulnerability of our profession has been highlighted. The trust that led Mr. Kumar to his killers is the same trust that thousands of my colleagues rely on in their day to day activities. As much as this trust is a requirement for our businesses, sometimes you just have to draw the line and say "it's just not worth it".
To Devinder Kumar: may you rest in peace; to his family and friends our heartfelt condolences.

To my fellow Realtors: be safe and never forget that it doesn't matter now how great a Realtor Mr. Kumar was, or how many properties he sold. What matters most is that two little have lost their father for ever. November 11th was a sad day to be a Realtor and even sadder for those that have lost this great family man.

Toronto Star - November 12, 2011 21:11:00
Staff Reporters   Dylan C. Robertson and Peter Edwards   
 
The last time Andrea Dookhie saw Brampton real-estate agent Devinder Kumar, he was the picture of a proud, happy father, buying ice cream for his two daughters.

That’s the way Dookhie, 17, wants to remember Kumar, 38, who was left for dead at the side of a Caledon road Thursday morning.

“He was a family friend and also our real-estate agent,” she said Saturday, recalling how Kumar brought his daughters to her family’s creamery on Nov. 4.

“He was obviously totally proud of his daughters,” she said. “He was a good family man.”

Her high opinion was typical for neighbours and associates of Kumar, who sold homes and owned rental properties.

Police found Kumar at The Gore Rd. north of Mayfield Rd. around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday with serious injuries.

He was found near a sprawling home he had listed for sale on a semirural lot. No price was listed for the home, which had parking for four cars.

Police unsuccessfully tried to save Kumar, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The area was still blocked off by police tape and cruisers Saturday.

Marlon Nurse, 29, of Caledon and Darryl Plummer, 25, of Brampton have been charged with first-degree murder. A post-mortem exam was conducted Friday, but a cause of death has yet to be announced.

“It was very shocking to hear that someone could harm that guy, because he would never get into an argument ever,” said Ravi Hooda, a real-estate agent who had done business with Kumar. “Even if someone wanted an argument, he’d keep laughing and walk away.”

Hooda added that Kumar was popular among their colleagues and would greet many of them with a bear hug.

“He was a very successful Realtor who never had any kind of professional jealousy,” said Hooda, who also volunteered with him for the Progressive Conservatives in the recent provincial election. “It’s tough for the whole real-estate industry.”

Kumar was an engineer before working for ReMax. He leaves behind a wife, and 6- and 9-year-old daughters.

“He’s like a brilliant star, which shines for a little while and just goes away,” said Hooda. “It seems like I’ve lost a brother.”
The Toronto Star

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Markham Waxers In Search Of National Anthem Singer

The Markham Waxers are hoping to find a budding crooner who will sing the national anthem for their home games at Markham Centennial Arena.
Craig Adams, Waxers marketing manager, said the club recently sent flyers to elementary schools in Markham informing them of an audition for their national anthem contest to be held at the Markham Centennial Community Centre’s lounge area (McCowan Road and Bullock Avenue) Nov. 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Those eligible to take part must be 13 or under, Mr. Adams said.
The promotion is in conjunction with the Town of Markham, Markham Youth Council and Zammit Real Estate.
So far, Mr. Adams said the response from principals and the school board has been overwhelmingly positive.
Candidates will sing before a panel of three Waxers players and three members of the Markham Youth Council.
From there, 10 finalists will be chosen and they will showcase their talents by singing at a Waxers’ home game (one per week for 10 weeks).
The entire school will be offered free admission while accompanied by a parent, to come out and support their fellow classmate.
The winner of the program will be decided by the entire team and fans by online voting through Facebook.
The winner will also sing the anthem at the final home regular season game and throughout the post season.

Good luck to all!!

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Housing evolution driving average price appreciation in Canada's major centres

Forget the Stock Market, the real value is in Canadian Real Estate. Record investment dollars poured into Canadian housing stock over past decade

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 7, 2011 /CNW/ - Billions spent in new construction, renovation, and infill over the past decade have contributed to a serious upswing in the calibre of Canada's housing stock, propping up residential average price in the country's major centres, according to a report released today by RE/MAX.

Since 2000, the value of a Canadian home has doubled, rising from $163,951 to $339,030 in 2010. Nowhere has the upswing been better captured than in both the value of residential building permits issued nationally between 2000 and 2010—at $340 billion—and the estimated $450 billion spent in renovation.  The impact of these two forces alone has fuelled the Canadian residential real estate market - as well as the construction industry—for more than 10 years.

As a result, investment in Canada's housing stock is at an all-time high in the 16 Canadian residential real estate markets examined in the RE/MAX Housing Evolution Report. Higher quality housing translated into extraordinary price appreciation across the country—with 62 per cent (10 markets) experiencing increases in excess of 100 per cent since 2000.

"While a number of external variables were also behind the exceptional gains, revitalization—amid an aging housing stock—and newer construction are largely underestimated factors supporting Canadian housing values," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "The trend is expected to continue for years to come as investment in residential real estate through renovation, infill, and redevelopment ramps up across the country. City planners, builders, developers, and homeowners have only just begun."

The report found that the unprecedented sum funneled into housing has effectively changed the landscape of Canada's major centres. New home construction has advanced suburban sprawl, giving rise to new sought-after pockets in virtually every centre across the board.

Infill continues to redefine neighbourhoods, particularly in areas where the value of existing structures have not kept pace with escalating land values. The trend was evident in all centres, but had the greatest impact in large metropolitan cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.  Bungalows on large lots are prime targets, making way for custom builds that transform working-class subdivisions of yesteryear into up-and-coming upper-end pockets. Infill is also maximizing land potential, often replacing one, two or several tired structures with a block of townhomes or mixed-use residential, even high-rise apartments.

"Renovation has also had a tremendous impact on housing throughout the decade, so much so that it's emerged as, arguably, Canada's next national past time," says Polzler.  "Residential renovation spending has been gaining momentum year-over-year since the early part of the decade and now exceeds $60 billion annually."

The trend has not been limited to single-family homes—although that activity has been nothing short of remarkable.  Canada's cities have also mounted ambitious renewal of their own, particularly in the heart of most major centres—the urban core. Strategic smart growth plans are altering cityscapes, challenging our concepts and perceptions—including our purchasing patterns—and creating partnerships that are working to escalate our markets to world-class status. Non-residential construction, including infrastructure spending has had a positive secondary impact, in turn boosting spending on the residential side.

"The past decade has also marked the rise of the condominium—moreover, its undeniable acceptance as an attractive option as opposed to a secondary compromise," says Polzler.  "Toronto, for example, has become the largest condominium market in North America.  Yet, it isn't just gaining traction in large centres like Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver, but also in smaller cities such as Kelowna, London and Halifax—to name a few.  Running the gamut from entry-level units to upscale, luxury suites,  condominiums have gained widespread appeal with aging boomers, looking for lifestyle and low maintenance; young professionals, attracted to trendy locales; and first-time buyers, looking to get their foot in the door to homeownership."

Condominiums have changed the urban landscape, driving residential neighbourhoods up, instead of out, and bringing to market a bevy of new options from mixed-use residential, live-work studios, lofts, townhomes, and condo bungalows. Townhomes, in particular, have experienced a serious rise in popularity, bridging the gap for empty-nesters and retirees not yet ready for apartment-style living.

With construction of rental product few and far between in many Canadian centres, it's no surprise that investors have also been particularly active in the condominium market, especially in college/university towns or where vacancy rates remain tight.

Redevelopment holds the greatest potential for cities on the cusp of exciting rejuvenation.  While former brownfields can present challenges, many have opened up and revitalized entire areas.  The Barrel Yards Development in Kitchener-Waterloo, for example, is expected to change stagnant industrial land into a bustling residential, commercial and retail hub.  Past successful transformations include Garrison Woods in Calgary, the Hamilton Beaches in Hamilton and Bishop's Landing in Halifax, with countless projects planned nationwide in the years to come.  Conversions also continue to breathe new life into existing structures with good bones, while supporting the move to higher-density and the introduction of affordable options.

"Greater sustainability overall, keeping the urban lifestyle attainable, livable and attractive at all price points, depends on redevelopment," explains Polzler.

Lastly, population growth has been a key factor making housing evolution possible.  Since 2000, Canada's population has experienced double-digit growth of 11 per cent.  By 2031, over 42 million people are expected to call Canada home.

"There's no question that population growth will continue to support investment, propping revitalization and new construction in the years ahead, and by extension raising the bar and prices in real estate markets even further," says Polzler.

To find out how your immediate area has appreciated, email me at info@asifkhan.ca or call us at 905-888-6222.

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Fall Back This Weekend!

It's that time again.  You'll be getting an extra hour of sleep this Sunday as we get ready to turn the clocks back one hour on Saturday night.  This is also a great time to change the batteries in your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Time Change in the Fall
On the first Sunday in November daylight saving time ends and the clocks "fall back" one hour. This happens at 2am, so you should turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday evening. Daylight Savings Time takes place this Sunday and for next year it will be on November 4th.

• Sunday November 6, 2011
• Sunday November 4, 2012

Don't Forget to Change the Time on Your:

• Alarm clocks
• Wall clocks
• Watches
• Desk clocks
• Kitchen appliances (microwave, coffeemaker, etc)
• TV/VCR
• Car Stereos or Clocks

Most Cell Phones, Blackberries, iPhones, Cable Boxes will change themselves.  Double check before making an adjustment. :)

Daylight Savings Time will stay with us until the Spring.  Enjoy the extra daylight, and make a note that March 11th is when you'll be changing the clocks ahead one hour.  Again, it is good practise to change the batteries in your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors at this time.

Time Change in the Spring
On the second Sunday in March daylight saving time begins and the clocks "spring forward" one hour. This happens at 2am, so you should change your clocks by moving the time one hour ahead before going to bed on these Saturday evenings in Spring 2012 and Spring 2013.

• Sunday March 11, 2012
• Sunday March 10, 2013

Asif Khan, ABR

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Re/Max Hall of Fame

Google me: Asif Khan ReMax

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Day One - Starting To Show Already!! http://t.co/1h1Gssn5

Check out Team Mo Bros at http://ca.movember.com/mospace/791864/ and help us reach our goal in supporting Men's Health. It's a great cause, Prostate Cancer kills many men around the world each year and takes away fathers, sons, uncles and grand fathers from happy families. Let's do what we can and help find a cure!! Even $1 helps, visit our page to donate.

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

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