Fun New Year's Eve Events in Kitchener - Waterloo

Looking for something to do in Kitchener Waterloo to ring in 2013?








 

KITCHENER

This year we are closing down King Street to make this year an even bigger event!

Downtown Kitchener is the place to ring in the new year! Kitchener City Hall (200 King St. W.) is hosting a free evening of Blues music from 8:00 pm - 12:30 am.

There will also be fun for children and families between 4 pm - 6 pm featuring popular children's entertainer Erick Traplin!

• Arts and crafts inside City Hall
• Free hot chocolate
• Children's performers from 4 pm - 6 pm
• Kiddie countdown at 6 pm inside the Rotunda
• Free ice-skating on Civic Square
• Free Face Painting
• And other special performances throughout the event!

Please note that Kitchener Minor Baseball will be on hand during the event to collect gently used winter clothing to assist those less fortunate in the area this holiday season.

At 7 pm the Rotunda gets transformed into Club Rotunda! Live DJ featuring Attila, dance floor, music, VIP lounges, flat screens, gaming stations, open drink bar (non-alcoholic) and more guarantee to make this a memorable New Year' Eve party!

The King Street Main Stage features live Blues artists starting at 8 pm and is headlined by Lumberjunk!

• Cheryl Lescom (8 pm)
• Loco Zydeco (9:30 pm)
• Lumberjunk (11 pm)

Looking for something to do New Year's Eve DAY?Lions Arena is offering a family friendly public skate!
December, 31 from 10.a.m to 11 a.m.
Lions Arena, 20 Rittenhouse Road, Kitchener
Public skating rates apply.
 

WATERLOO

WATERLOO PUBLIC SQUARE FAMILY CELEBRATION EVENT
75 King Street South
6-10 p.m.

• Free Hot Chocolate
• Children's activities and entertainment
• Face Painting
• DJ Skate Party
• Special early New Year Celebration at 9 p.m. featuring FIREWORKS!

WATERLOO MEMORIAL RECREATION COMPLEX
101 Father David Bauer Drive
519-886-1177
FREE admission (limited capacity)

7-8:30 p.m. Public Swim at the Swimplex
7-9 p.m. Family Skate on the Sunlife Arena

MANULIFE FINANCIAL SPORTSPLEX & HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE AT RIM PARK
2001 University Ave East
519-884-5363
FREE admission (limited capacity)

7-9 p.m. Public Skate on the Pillers and Optimist rinks

How to Dispose of Your Tree in Waterloo Region...

 

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo will pick up discarded, natural Christmas trees to be composted. To ensure curbside collection of your Christmas tree:

• Remove all plastic bags, decorations, tinsel and stands.

• Place your tree out to the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day.

• Cut large trees in half.

• Do not place your tree on top of or behind snow banks.

The Regional curbside 2012/2013 Christmas tree collection schedule:

• Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo: Christmas trees will be collected from December 31, 2012 to January 5, 2013 (please note that there is no collection on January 1, and collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week) and January 7 to 11, 2013 on your regular collection day.

• North Dumfries: Residents receiving weekly blue box collection will also receive curbside Christmas tree collection from January 3 to 5, 2013 (please note that due to the January 1 holiday, collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week) and January 9 to 11, 2013 on your regular collection day. Refer to your Township calendar for more information.

• Wellesley Township: Residents receiving weekly blue box collection will also receive curbside Christmas tree collection on December 31, 2012 and January 2, 2013 (please note that there is no collection on January 1, and collection is delayed by one day) and January 7 and 8, 2013 on your regular collection day. Refer to your Township calendar for more information.

• Wilmot and Woolwich Townships: Residents receiving weekly blue box collection will also receive curbside Christmas tree collection from December 31, 2012 to January 5, 2013 (please note that there is no collection on January 1, and collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week) and January 7 to 11, 2013 on your regular collection day. Refer to your Township calendar for more information.

Trees placed out for collection before or after these dates will be collected as garbage.

Regional residents can also bring their Christmas trees to either the Cambridge or Waterloo transfer stations for chipping/composting. Please call our customer service line at 519-883-5100 or visit our website at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/waste for more information.

 

For more information, please contact:

Dave Johnstone, Supervisor, Contracts and Service, djohnstone@regionofwaterloo.ca or

519-883-5100 ext. 3208

Home Maintenance Schedule - Checklist

With the Holidays here and the New Year around the corner, everyone is making their checklists and checking them twice.  Here is an important checklist for your regular home maintenance to help you protect your largest investment - your HOME.

Print it off and start using it - that's one New Year's Resolution! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone ....


 Regular Maintenance is the Key

Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment in your home. Whether you take care of a few tasks at a time or several all at once, it is important to get into the habit of doing them. Establish a routine for yourself, and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later.

By following the information noted here, you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live.

If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, for example a ladder, you may want to consider hiring a qualified handyperson to help you.

Seasonal Home Maintenance

Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months. Over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof.

While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year-round:

	Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
	Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
	Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
	If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
	Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.

Timing of the seasons varies not only from one area of Canada to another but also from year to year in a given area. For this reason, we have not identified the months for each season. The maintenance schedule presented here is, instead, a general guide for you to follow. The actual timing is left for you to decide, and you may want to further divide the list of items for each season into months.

Fall

	Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace, and every year for an oil furnace, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
	If you have central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted in the furnace plenum is draining properly and is clean.
	Lubricate circulating pump on hot water heating system.
	Bleed air from hot water radiators.
	Disconnect the power to the furnace and examine the forced-air furnace fan belt, if installed, for wear, looseness or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup.
	Check chimneys for obstructions such as nests.
	Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust.
	Remove the grilles on forced-air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
	Turn ON gas furnace pilot light (if your furnace has one), set the thermostat to “heat” and test the furnace for proper operation by raising the thermostat setting until the furnace starts to operate. Once you have confirmed proper operation, return the thermostat to the desired setting.
	Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
	Check to see that the ductwork leading to and from the heat recovery ventilator is in good shape, the joints are tightly sealed (aluminum tape or mastic) and any duct insulation and plastic duct wrap is free of tears and holes.
	If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean the filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.
	Check to see that bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods are operating properly. If possible, confirm that you are getting good airflow by observing the outside vent hood (the exterior damper should be held open by the airflow). See the About Your House fact sheet CMHC Garbage Bag Airflow Test for a simple way to estimate the airflow.
	Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
	Clean portable humidifier, if one is used.
	Check sump pump and line to ensure proper operation, and to ascertain that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks.
	Replace window screens with storm windows.
	Remove interior insect screens from windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass and to allow more free solar energy into your home.
	Ensure windows and skylights close tightly; repair or replace weatherstripping, as needed.
	Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Replace door weatherstripping if required.
	If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.
	Cover outside of air-conditioning units and shut off power.
	Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not drain into your basement.
	Clean leaves from eavestroughs and roof, and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
	Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close interior valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the hose bib (exterior faucet), unless your house has frost-proof hose bibs.
	Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.
	If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied before the spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.
	Winterize landscaping, for example, store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect young trees or bushes for winter.

Winter

	Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
	After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, drain off a dishpan full of water from the clean-out valve at the bottom of your hot water tank to control sediment and maintain efficiency.
	Clean humidifier two or three times during the winter season.
	Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
	Vacuum fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning.
	Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers, and empty and clean drip trays.
	Check pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers; recharge or replace if necessary.
	Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware, and lighting around outside of house; ensure family has good security habits.
	Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
	Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels — for example, condensation on your windows, which can cause significant damage over time and pose serious health problems — and take corrective action if necessary. Refer to the About Your House fact sheet Measuring Humidity in Your Home.
	Check all faucets for signs of dripping and change washers as needed. Faucets requiring frequent replacement of washers may be in need of repair.
	If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
	Clean drains in dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs and shower stalls.
	Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they are working and to prevent them from seizing.
	Examine windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air leaks. If found, make a note to repair or replace in the spring.
	Examine attic for frost accumulation. Check roof for ice dams or icicles. If there is excessive frost or staining of the underside of the roof, or ice dams on the roof surface, consult the About Your House fact sheet Attic Venting, Attic Moisture and Ice Dams for advice.
	Keep snow clear of gas meters, gas appliance vents, exhaust vents and basement windows.
	Monitor outdoor vents, gas meters and chimneys for ice and snow buildup. Consult with an appropriate contractor or your gas utility for information on how to safely deal with any ice problems you may discover.
	Check electrical cords, plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety; if worn, or if plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately.

Spring

	After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck. Caution: This test may release hot water that can cause burns.
	Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
	Have fireplace or wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.
	Shut down, drain and clean furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
	Switch on power to air conditioning and check system. Have it serviced every two or three years.
	Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, if applicable.
	Check dehumidifier and drain — clean if necessary.
	Turn OFF gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.
	Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.
	Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
	Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens. Check screens first and repair or replace if needed.
	Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed.
	Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required.
	Ensure sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in. Ensure discharge pipe is connected and allows water to drain away from the foundation.
	Re-level any exterior steps or decks that moved as a result of frost or settling.
	Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats and squirrels.
	Check eavestroughs and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.
	Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.
	Repair and paint fences as necessary — allow wood fences to dry adequately before tackling this task.
	Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.

Summer

	Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to maintain relative humidity below 60 per cent.
	Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
	Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping and, if necessary, take corrective action; for example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.
	Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
	If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, for example, a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
	Deep clean carpets and rugs.
	Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
	Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer, and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.
	Check security of all guardrails and handrails.
	Check smooth functioning of all windows, and lubricate as required.
	Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes of older houses, and replace if needed.
	Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.
	Lubricate door hinges, and tighten screws as needed.
	Check for and replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house. See the About Your House fact sheet Attached Garages and Indoor Air Quality for more information on preventing garage-to-house air transfer.
	Lubricate garage door hardware, and ensure it is operating properly.
	Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, and ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
	Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter your house, and make sure there is no water leakage into the house along the electrical conduit. Check for overhanging tree branches that may need to be removed.
	Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.
	Remove any plants that contact — and roots that penetrate — the siding or brick.
	From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
	Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.
	Repair driveway and walkways as needed.
	Repair any damaged steps.

Teachers on Strike in Waterloo Region Today - Something to do With Your Children...

What to do during the Teacher's Strike in the Region Of Waterloo?
 

With the teachers' strike on Tuesday December 18 2012 for the Public Elementary Schools (High Schools and Catholic Elementary Schools will not be effected), some parents may be wondering what they can do with their children.

If you are home with your children on Tuesday December 18th I suggest heading to the Kitchener Market.  They are having Kids Hop With Santa and Erik Traplin

Kids’ Hop – with a special visit from Santa!

Dec. 18, 11am - noon
- Bring your kids to dance up a storm with a free concert by Erick Traplin
- Santa will visit and receive a free photo with a donation to the Waterloo Region Food Bank
http://kitchenermarket.ca/events.aspx?cid=70219

You can also check out The Museum in Downtown Kitchener which is currently hosting the Avatar exhibit http://www.themuseum.ca/main.cfm

If you have any other ideas, please post them here!

 

Is Home Ownership Right for You?

With the New Year around the corner, many renters are deciding that 2013 will be the year they purchase a home.  After all, the joys of family and friends in your own home is a wonderous experience over the holidays.

So, you’ve finally decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and buy your own home… how exciting! But, are you ready to fulfill your dream of having a place to call your own?

Buying a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you'll ever make. Prepare by learning about the process of homebuying and the responsibilities of homeownership. The differences between renting and buying a home are vast, and there's a long list of pros and cons for both options. And, remember — there is no one best decision for everyone. Before moving forward, though, here are some questions to consider.

• Do you have the necessary financial management skills?
• How financially stable are you?  Find out how to improve your credit score HERE
• Are you ready to take on the responsibility of all the costs involved in homeownership, including mortgage payments, repairs, and maintenance?
• Are you able to devote the time required for home maintenance?

There are pros and cons for both renting and buying. Everyone must make his or her own best decision. Buying a home is not for everyone. Take a moment to think through the advantages and disadvantages of both owning and renting.

If homeownership is for you, you must be both financially and emotionally ready. Buying a home isn't only about money. You should listen to your heart… and take an honest look at your lifestyle.

Contact me today for a free Home Buyer's Toolkit or to chat about real estate.

The Hobbit - From a Real Estate Point of View. Is "The Shire" Your Type of Neighbourhood?

“In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a Hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

-The Hobbit, Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party

It’s hard to believe but its been nearly 9 years since we last saw the lovable little hobbits, wise wizards and stoic elves of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in theaters. With a worldwide box office take of almost $3 billion for the three films, there are more than a few “Ringers” (Lord of the Rings super fans) eagerly anticipating the December 14th release of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”.

Courtesy of Fan Pop

Part of the magic of the Lord of the Rings films can be credited to how magical and beautiful the Director made “Middle-Earth” look. Besides the lush green fields and mountains, some of the homes and villages were very, very awesome. So to commemorate the soon to start “The Hobbit” trilogy, we’ll dedicate our own series of blog posts looking at some of the homes you’ll see featured in the movies. To start, let’s head over to a tight-knit community where their homes literally have deep roots.

The Shire is an area almost exclusively inhabited by Hobbits. You’ll remember Hobbits as being the really little guys with big feet (Frodo and Samwise Gangee were hobbits). The pace of life that Hobbits enjoy there is as slow and as peaceful as one would expect life in the country to be. As an avid consumer of breakfasts, I personally love how Hobbits find it important to have “second breakfast” as often as possible.

Courtesy of: LOTR Wikia

To the uninitiated, the Shire was modeled after the small villages of the Mid-Western part of the English countryside. Surrounded by lush vegetation and rolling hills, Hobbits of the Shire tend to live in a hole in the ground. No, really, a hole in the ground…and they’re lovely. These underground homes are environmentally friendly, cool and extremely roomy as well. Although Hobbits are said to grow to be no more than 4 feet tall, their underground bungalows surprisingly fit much larger visitors quite comfortably, like Gandalf the Great.

The main Hobbit home we see in the original LOTR movies and in “The Hobbit”, is ‘Bag End’ – the home of Bilbo Baggins. The spacious property features an inviting circular green door, a ton of rooms with eye-catching round windows, solid wood decor throughout and a charming garden out back. Judging by their height (or lack of it), I’m guessing Hobbits hate stairs. So like most homes in the Shire; Bag End was a ranch that came with all the amenities a reasonable middle-earthling would want; including unobstructed views of the garden and meadows that lead down to a pond. Take a look below at some more pictures of Bag End and the Shire! Would you mind living there?

Front doors set the tone and say a lot, and this circular green one says, “duck” and “warm/cozy”.

Courtesy of Whodesigntoday

The hallway at ‘Bag End’…truly a view anyone wouldn’t mind having.

Courtesy of Wall Paper Well

Every home needs a floor plan. Look at how spacious Bilbo’s home is!

Courtesy of BioBreak

There’s plenty of space in the dining room at ‘Bag End’ for entertaining interesting company with huge appetites.

Courtesy of The Hobbit

Lovely original woodwork is a consistent theme at ‘Bag End’. On another note, looks like Bilbo’s guests are impatiently waiting for food. He should hurry.

Courtesy of The Hobbit

The rustic feel of the home’s decor makes it feel extra cozy and Hobbity.

Peter Jackson and Bilbo going over lines in the dining room

What do you think of the Shire? Does it seem like the kind of neighborhood you’d want to call home?

 Let me know what you think!

Great Video on How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights on Your Home...

I will admit it. I’ve never hung lights on the outside of my home. I love how holiday lights look on homes across the neighbourhood.

So, when in doubt, I turn to the oracle of problem solving: YouTube.

Fortunately for me, and for all you amateur Clark W. Griswald’s out there, the folks at the Home Depot have a video to help you with your outdoor holiday lighting. From safety tips, to how to arrange them, to ideas on what to do, this quick video has everything you’ll need to make your holidays merry and bright.

Eye-Catching Holiday Centre Pieces that Will Wow Your Guests!

Here are a series of pictures of some great table centre pieces that will impress your guest over the holidays.

http://www.hgtv.com/entertaining/eye-catching-christmas-centerpieces/pictures/index.html

Pre-Qualified or Pre-Approved Mortgage? There is a difference...

Many homebuyers are confused by the terms "pre-qualification" and "pre-approval." A "pre-qualification" is simply a quick conversation with a mortgage loan officer, usually over the telephone, to determine how large a mortgage amount you can afford based on your current income and debt situation. The loan officer takes the numbers you give him or her and uses a calculator or computer program to calculate an approximate maximum loan amount based on the current interest rates for various loan programs. That gives you a realistic idea of how much home you can afford to spend on a house.

A "pre-qualification" is just the first step in the mortgage application process. It is not a guarantee that you will get the loan, it just means that you can qualify for a certain loan amount IF your income and credit report checks out as stated. However, that is not always the case. You may have overestimated your actual income, or more commonly, you may have underestimated your monthly debt payments or your credit rating may not be as good as you thought.

The only way to know for sure that you will get the loan amount that you want is to get "pre-approved" for a mortgage. That means filling out the loan application form and providing all the required documentation to prove your stated income and financial assets, such as paycheck stubs, bank account statements and investment statements.

The most important factor in qualifying for a mortgage is your credit score, commonly called a "FICO score." You can find out how to get your credit report yourself HERE.  The only way to truly know what your credit score is for mortgage purposes is to have your credit report pulled by a bank or mortgage company or to get it directly from the credit score companies yourself. The credit scores that you get from those "free credit report" services are usually inaccurate and never really free.

After pulling your credit report, the mortgage company will run your loan application through a computerized automated underwriting system to get a loan approval based on your income, credit and financial assets on your loan application.

After receiving an automated loan approval, which takes only a few seconds to process after submitting a completed loan application form, the bank or mortgage company gathers the paycheck stubs, bank statements and other documents required by the automated loan approval findings.

Your complete loan file is then reviewed and approved by a human underwriter to make sure it meets the lender's guidelines for the loan program for which you are applying. If everything is in order, you will receive a "credit approval" on the loan. That means you have a written loan commitment based on your income and credit and all you need is a house to go with it.

You can then get a "pre-approval letter" from your mortgage company or bank that your real estate agent can use when making an offer on a home. Home sellers and real estate agents love to work with homebuyers who have been pre-approved for a mortgage. They will take you more seriously when you make an offer, and you will have more bargaining power because you can guarantee that your offer will close. It's the next best thing to being an all-cash buyer. Home sales sometimes "flip" when the buyers fail to qualify for a loan and the seller is forced to put the house back on the market. By relieving the sellers of that anxiety in advance, you may be able to drive a tougher bargain on the purchase price because the sellers know you can close quickly.

So if you are shopping for a home, fill out a loan application as soon as possible and get pre-approved. I know that filling out forms isn't a lot of fun, but it is much easier to complete the loan application process while you are calm and relaxed, rather than stressing out over a purchase offer that you just made on your "dream home." There is plenty of pressure involved in negotiating the purchase of a home without adding the stress of applying for a mortgage at the same time.

Please contact me today if you want to chat about the current market or for a free home buyer's toolkit.

Kitchener - Waterloo is the Shining Jewel in Ontario's Technology Dominance

The province of Ontario is by far Canada's leading region for incubating high-tech industries, according to a new report from the Council of Canadian Academies. The province is also a world leader in training scientists from other countries and linking with tech businesses around the world.
"Ontario can make the case for the strength of science and technology enterprise," says Eliot Phillipson, chair of the committee, which wrote the State of Science and Technology in Canada report. Dr. Phillipson is also a professor emeritus of medical science at the University of Toronto.
The study shows that Ontario, with a third of Canada's population, produces half of the country's technology output – and nearly half of its scientific research papers.
Other key findings of the report include:

• Ontario accounts for almost half of all Canadian R&D expenditures.
• Ontario is the main hub of Canada's collaboration network.
• Ontario is the leading province for Canada's total intellectual property ownership.
• Ontario produces 46 per cent of Canada's bibliometric output (the analysis of peer-reviewed scientific papers).

The practical significance of the findings should be of particular interest to international investors. In sum, the findings define a bedrock of world-class excellence in technology and the sciences. For example, Canada has the third largest video game industry in the world, after the United States and Japan. Ontario alone possesses dozens of game developers, and trains video programmers in colleges from Toronto to Ottawa to Sault Ste Marie.

Dr. Phillipson points out that Ontario is especially strong in two of the six areas of research where Canada excelled in a recent international study: clinical medicine, and information and communication technologies, or ICT (the others are psychology and cognitive sciences, physics and astronomy, visual arts and historical studies).

In both clinical medicine and ICT, Ontario has developed "tech clusters" where strong research programs fertilize a profusion of small technology companies. Some of these grow into large companies, which support increased university research, which in turn lures major foreign investors attracted by the opportunity to set up local affiliates.

Perhaps the most well-known and colourful "cluster story" is the tale of an immigrant family from Turkey whose son studied electrical engineering at Ontario's University of Waterloo. That son, Mike Lazaridis, dropped out in order to bid on a research project. He subsequently levered that contract into the multibillion dollar Research in Motion, the company that created the iconic Blackberry mobile phone.

Within a year of launching the Blackberry, RIM ploughed much of the profit back into the university, setting up the now-world-famous Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, soon followed by the Institute for Quantum Computing. Within a short time Microsoft, Oracle, Google and many other offshore giants set up development offices in Waterloo and its sister city of Kitchener. Kitchener-Waterloo, with a modest population of just over 300,000, is now one of the world's premiere ICT clusters.

Kitchener - Waterloo is the Shining Jewel in Ontario's Technology Dominance

The province of Ontario is by far Canada's leading region for incubating high-tech industries, according to a new report from the Council of Canadian Academies. The province is also a world leader in training scientists from other countries and linking with tech businesses around the world.
"Ontario can make the case for the strength of science and technology enterprise," says Eliot Phillipson, chair of the committee, which wrote the State of Science and Technology in Canada report. Dr. Phillipson is also a professor emeritus of medical science at the University of Toronto.
The study shows that Ontario, with a third of Canada's population, produces half of the country's technology output – and nearly half of its scientific research papers.
Other key findings of the report include:

• Ontario accounts for almost half of all Canadian R&D expenditures.
• Ontario is the main hub of Canada's collaboration network.
• Ontario is the leading province for Canada's total intellectual property ownership.
• Ontario produces 46 per cent of Canada's bibliometric output (the analysis of peer-reviewed scientific papers).

The practical significance of the findings should be of particular interest to international investors. In sum, the findings define a bedrock of world-class excellence in technology and the sciences. For example, Canada has the third largest video game industry in the world, after the United States and Japan. Ontario alone possesses dozens of game developers, and trains video programmers in colleges from Toronto to Ottawa to Sault Ste Marie.

Dr. Phillipson points out that Ontario is especially strong in two of the six areas of research where Canada excelled in a recent international study: clinical medicine, and information and communication technologies, or ICT (the others are psychology and cognitive sciences, physics and astronomy, visual arts and historical studies).

In both clinical medicine and ICT, Ontario has developed "tech clusters" where strong research programs fertilize a profusion of small technology companies. Some of these grow into large companies, which support increased university research, which in turn lures major foreign investors attracted by the opportunity to set up local affiliates.

Perhaps the most well-known and colourful "cluster story" is the tale of an immigrant family from Turkey whose son studied electrical engineering at Ontario's University of Waterloo. That son, Mike Lazaridis, dropped out in order to bid on a research project. He subsequently levered that contract into the multibillion dollar Research in Motion, the company that created the iconic Blackberry mobile phone.

Based upon his success in launching the smartphone revolution, Lazaridis provided personal, philanthropic donations to advance basic research, setting up the independent and now-world-famous Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and spinning off the Institute for Quantum Computing located at the University of Waterloo.   Within a short time Microsoft, Oracle, Google and many other offshore giants set up development offices in Waterloo and its sister city of Kitchener. Kitchener-Waterloo, with a modest population of just over 300,000, is now one of the world's premiere ICT clusters.


With good employment, low rental vacancy rates, and a technology and insurance/finance centre, Kitchener - Waterloo is a great place to live and invest....contact me to find out what the market is like.