Avoiding Christmas Debt

Holiday sales often pop up before the snow starts to fall, causing some people to pull out their credit cards before their winter jackets. This Holiday season, the National Retail Federation has estimated a 2.3 per cent increase in sales from 2009, a promising forecast for recession-bitten retailers, but troubling news for cash-strapped shoppers.

“Some people are telling us that they’re still paying off last Christmas’s debt,” says Bruce Cran, president of the Consumers Association of Canada. “And they don’t intend to repeat the same mistakes this year.”

According to an October study by Environics Research Group for MasterCard Canada, 48 per cent of Canadians go over their Holiday budget and that’s if they set one at all—one in Read more

Vaughan and Toronto’s Mayoral Race

Campaigns for change carried two of Ontario’s mayoral candidates to political peaks in municipal elections that pulled more people to debate floors and polls in years. The riveting races of Toronto and Vaughan’s mayoralties are perhaps two of the most captivating political dramas of this decade.

VAUGHAN
On Oct. 25th, 2010, Canada’s fastest growing city saw Linda Jackson’s controversial reign come to a heavy halt when she lost her mayoral spot by a landslide to Maurizio Bevilacqua, former Liberal MP.

Bevilacqua, who gave up his parliamentary seat after two decades to dive into Vaughan’s mayoral race late last August, is confident that his transition process, along with a mostly fresh-faced Read more

Vaughan Municipal Election: Will Mayor Jackson Beat it?

Question marks float like buoys in Vaughan’s political waters, where six mayoral candidates tread towards a distant City Hall. Whether or not Mayor Linda Jackson’s campaign bid will be able to transcend a trail of controversy is becoming the crux of conversation. The early stages of the municipal election leave many residents wading in a murky reservoir, probing for a channel of transparency.

“It’s been entertaining, engaging and bewildering. It will be interesting to see if there is a higher turnout in this municipal election,” says Nelson Wiseman, an associate political science professor at the University of Toronto. “What’s gone on is quite unusual, quite out of the ordinary, quite wild in terms of the city and the legal cases and the intensity,” he adds, mentioning that he’s received more calls about Vaughan’s election than any other municipality, Read more

The Stuff Dreams are Made of

For those searching for the ultimate in luxury and comfort, look no further than this four-bedroom, seven-bathroom home in Vaughan, Ontario.

At 8,000 sq. ft., this Gluckstein-designed mansion sits on over one acre of pristine property and is surrounded by iron gates for the privacy you need. Extravagantly finished with marble stone, poplar mahogany flooring and a slate roof, this spacious residence combines classic styling with a modern touch. A heated circular driveway and underground garage offers ease of access all year round, while top-of-the-line appliances furnish the custom kitchen and a 5,000 + wine cellar keeps you fully stocked. Keep your guests entertained with a massive media space; shoot some pool in your billiard room, or throw a party with your outdoor cabana bar. If luxury is what you crave, treat yourself with this Read more

Web Design Store: Surfing for Success

By 2009, there were an estimated 234 million websites. Translation: there is a lot of tough competition out there. So how can a budding entrepreneur or established but out-of-date businessperson compete with their opposition? Enter Web Design Store, a Toronto web development firm with a premise – and promise – to solve all your web design woes with industry expertise and experience. Established by Dolce Publishing Inc. co-founder Fernando Zerillo, Web Design Store is a one-stop shop that makes it simple for business owners and professionals to connect to untapped target groups with the latest technology. “Everyone is using the Internet to gain information, communicate, socialize and purchase,” says web developer Steve Bruno. The question is, which of the 1.73 billion worldwide Internet users are logging on to your website? Read more

The Property Shop’s Tatiana Londono

After a friendly Montreal taxi driver wishes me good luck, I make my way towards Londono Realty Group, which doubles as the set for the national hit show The Property Shop on HGTV. A splash of knowledge and a tidal wave of fun, the show has cameras following big-league realtor Tatiana Londono as she navigates through the cutthroat world of real estate.

The novice broker, who would construct makeshift lemonade stands with her brother as a child, began with four employees and now has 100-plus agents. Londono Realty Group is an empire led by a beautiful empress, similar to the ones we used to see in old Hollywood movies. Add smart and driven to success and you can start to conceptualize Tatiana Londono.

The receptionist is young and inviting, and similar Read more

NuAge Med Spa

In the historic town of Kleinburg rests a rejuvenating venue where innovative treatments boost self-esteem and overall appearance.

As its name suggests, NuAge Med Spa provides its clients with advanced professional services that boast new technologies and procedures in skin care and beauty while delivering the highest level of results. NuAge Med Spa gives visitors the chance to enhance and improve everything from their face, nails, hair and body with procedures like Botox, as well as laser skin treatments to remove fine lines, age spots, sun damage and spider veins.

“I carry only the best products and offer the most-wanted services in the beauty industry,” says Teresa Kavanagh, owner and experienced esthetician of NuAge Med Spa. Kavanagh, who decided to start a new career in the beauty industry with the Read more

The Law of the Land

“I didn’t know if I was going to live – I was almost killed. I was beaten to a pulp. On my face, on my shoulders, I had nothing but scars. I was afraid that I was dying because I was bleeding inside,” says Torontonian Trisha Smith.

Every year, thousands of Canadians travel outside our borders in the hopes of some much-needed rest and relaxation. For the most part, stories about these foreign adventures are filled with sunny skies, blissful scenery and cultural enlightenment. Yet there are rare tales so terrible they resemble a Hollywood drama – stories of detainment, abuse and blatant disregard for personal rights. These horrific circumstances often result from a simple lack of knowledge about local laws and customs. The idea of the law of the land is a very real and powerful concept that still holds true today. Understanding your rights and responsibilities when traveling to Read more

City Life Realty

Posh Condominiums & Towns
Offering everything from a 24-hour concierge, modern-styled party room, library and a fitness centre, Posh Condominiums & Towns fulfills your desire for luxury and modern-day style. Feel right at home in these marvellous Vaughan condos. www.poshcondos.ca

X2 Condos
Contemporary design and urban living collide in magnificent fashion with X2 Condos designed by Cecconi Simone. Combining an awe-inspiring view with the maximum in comfort, “move up” with these fabulous Toronto condos. www.X2condos.com

Signature Developments
Tranquility and luxury are wrapped in nature’s bow at the Triumph Resort Condominiums. Surrounded by nature and Read more

Bill Bass and the Body Farm

A crime scene investigator leans over a dead body at a local train yard. Slowly removing his stylish sunglasses, he crouches down to examine the body more closely. Exploring the pocket of the victim’s jacket, he finds several stray hairs and a ticket stub. “Let’s get these back to the lab for a DNA analysis,” he instructs. Standing and replacing the sleek shades over his eyes, he looks into the camera and says, with all seriousness: “Looks like this guy’s punched his last ticket.” Boom! Television gold.

If you’re a fan of primetime TV, this scene may seem all too familiar – probably similar to some episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Although they are often hyper-stylized for entertainment purposes, these shows are based on real-world science.

Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist, is the head of Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »