port credit village times

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PORT CREDIT VILLAGE TIMES Volume 07 • Issue 02 • April / May 2013 Putting Port Credit First! www.portcredit.com Fun, Fresh & Fabulous! www.impressionablegifts.ca 74 Lakeshore Road East ~ 3 Blocks West of Highway 10 Port Credit ~ 905-271-8999 ~ Est. 1998 Impressionable Gifts-Mississauga. continued on page 05 IN THIS ISSUE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER Caring Volunteers 02 Sanctuary at the Centre 06 Green Award 07 Small Business Profile 09 Community Corner 10 The Ultimate Escape 11 Mississauga Symphony 12 Streetscape Mississauga 13 What Goes Round 15 Earth Day 16 Healthy Eyes 17 World’s Finest Vineyards 18 Gratifying Harvest 19 The Port Credit BIA Offers Continued Support for 2013 Initiatives: Promoting, Upgrading and Maintaining a Successful Village By Lindsay Howe The allure of the beautiful waterfront, accompanied by a downtown feel, makes Port Credit the most sought after loca- tion in Mississauga. Port Credit is famous for their renowned restaurants, bars and patios, along with their highly antici- pated annual festivals and events. In keeping with their slogan: Always On, Always Electric, Port Credit is a lively village that never sleeps. How does Port Credit maintain such energy? Many don’t realize how much The Port Credit BIA (Business Improvement Area) contrib- utes to the success of the businesses, the beautification of the streets and landscape and overall livelihood of the village. The Port Credit BIA promotes, upgrades and maintains the village for its residents and merchants. All BIAs have the same goal: to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase economic health in their business area. The BIA acts as a unifying body for its members – working to make Port Credit a “destination” not only for retailers and restaurants but for professionals as well. General Manager, Ellen Timms and Business Development Coordinator, Bea- trice Moreira conduct the day-to-day operation of the Port Credit BIA. Karen Cecy is the Farmers’ Market Manager and Busker Fest Producer. Nick Marcinkiewicz, the BIA’s Maintenance and Logistics Manager can be seen on the street every morning doing his rounds.

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Page 1: Port Credit Village Times

P O R T C R E D I T

VILLAGE TIMESVolume 07 • Issue 02 • Apri l / M ay 2013

Putting Port Credit First!

www.portcredit.com

Fun, Fresh & Fabulous!

www.impressionablegi f ts.ca74 Lakeshore Road East ~ 3 Blocks West of Highway 10 Port Credit ~ 905-271-8999 ~ Est. 1998

Impressionable Gifts-Mississauga.

continued on page 05

IN THIS ISSUE

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER

Caring Volunteers 02

Sanctuary at the Centre 06

Green Award 07

Small Business Profile 09

Community Corner 10

The Ultimate Escape 11

Mississauga Symphony 12

Streetscape Mississauga 13

What Goes Round 15

Earth Day 16

Healthy Eyes 17

World’s Finest Vineyards 18

Gratifying Harvest 19

The Port Credit BIA Offers Continued Support for 2013 Initiatives:Promoting, Upgrading and Maintaining a Successful VillageBy Lindsay Howe The allure of the beautiful waterfront, accompanied by a downtown feel, makes Port Credit the most sought after loca-tion in Mississauga. Port Credit is famous for their renowned restaurants, bars and patios, along with their highly antici-pated annual festivals and events.

In keeping with their slogan: Always On, Always Electric, Port Credit is a lively village that never sleeps. How does Port Credit maintain such energy? Many don’t realize how much The Port Credit BIA (Business Improvement Area) contrib-utes to the success of the businesses, the beautification of the streets and landscape and overall livelihood of the village. The Port Credit BIA promotes, upgrades and maintains the village for its residents and merchants.

All BIAs have the same goal: to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase economic health in their business area. The BIA acts as a unifying body for its members – working to make Port Credit a “destination” not only for retailers and restaurants but for professionals as well. General Manager, Ellen Timms and Business Development Coordinator, Bea-trice Moreira conduct the day-to-day operation of the Port Credit BIA. Karen Cecy is the Farmers’ Market Manager and Busker Fest Producer. Nick Marcinkiewicz, the BIA’s Maintenance and Logistics Manager can be seen on the street every morning doing his rounds.

Page 2: Port Credit Village Times

The Port Credit Village Times is printed on 100% recycled fibre. Please recycle. www.rjentpub.com

Toby Gardiner | Publisher | [email protected]

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Caring volunteers with big hearts

Being involved in the village, I have come to realize just how many people it takes to run community events, the planning involved and the volunteer hours given. Just thinking back over the last six months and looking ahead to the next six, it is astonishing to actually watch these events emerge from mere ideas into the real deal on the day of the event. The hours involved in preparing, scrutinizing, debating, formulating and implementing these memorable events cannot be measured! Many of the village’s events and festival committees are made up of local business owners and residents. These volunteers plan and implement for more than one year beforehand, leading up to the events. The groups meet on a monthly basis and many committed people unselfishly give of their time to make sure these events are as good as or better than the year before to create memories for the village. This issue, I say Thank you to all the people involved in the upcoming festivals and events. You not only give back to the community by providing countless hours of volunteer time creating local events for the residents to enjoy, but also you are legacy makers who create lasting memories for many years to come. Cheers!

Port Credit Village TimesPort Credit’s Community Newspaper

Volume 07 | Issue 02

Bi-monthly Publication ~ Circulation 25,000Delivered by Canada Post

For advertising information, please contactToby Gardiner at 416-875-1409 or by e-mail

at [email protected]

The Port Credit BusinessImprovement Association

105 Lakeshore Road West Port Credit, ON L5H 1E9

Tel: 905-278-7742 • Fax: 905-278-8864 Email: [email protected]

www.portcredit.com

Editorial Contributors:Julie Knox, Emma Cosgrove

and Lindsay Howe

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Page 4: Port Credit Village Times

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Page 5: Port Credit Village Times

Port Credit BIA offers supportcontinued from front cover

5

The Port Credit Business Association (BIA) held its annual general meeting on March 20th to approve a 2013 operating budget of $675,000.00. The budget covers programming including regular maintenance, landscaping, improved streetscape and cultural programs, special events and promo-tions and municipal partnership.

Ellen Timms, BIA General Manager said, “We are excited about 2013 and feel we have some strong programming in place to continue to support our local busi-nesses and residents. It’s going to be a fantastic year.” At the annual general meeting, the BIA highlighted their key initiatives for 2013. The initiatives focus on promotion, cleanliness and beautification. With the onset of spring, the BIA is working to spruce up the village by planting shrubs and flowers, including 50 additional flower planters to be placed along the side-walks. In an effort to keep the streetscape beautiful and well lit, new decorative banners and refurbished street lighting will be added. Additionally, the village will undergo landscaping maintenance, including regular litter cleanups. Nothing beats a patio by the waterfront on a sunny, spring or summer day. With the onset of warmer weather, the patios across Port Credit village are about to come alive. The BIA is working to add more patios to the restaurants and pubs in an effort to draw larger crowds, creating additional business. The BIA wants to give Port Credit residents the engaging experience of socializing outdoors, enjoying a great view, and lively atmosphere. The Port Credit BIA continues to support the festivals and event in the village. Without the BIA’s function of planning, marketing, and promoting for these events, not to mention their financial contributions, these community events would not be as successful, or cease to be carried out altogether. The BIA is

working to build a stronger Busk-erFest, Farmers Market and Art Show. These festivals and events, along with The Mississauga Wa-terfront Festival, Paint the Town Red Canada Day Celebration and the Southside Shuffle are some of the most popular and celebrat-ed events in Mississauga. These events bring people from across Mississauga and the GTA to Port Credit, thereby boosting the vil-lage’s profile. Newcomers who get a taste of what Port Credit has to offer will continue to return to the village for their shopping and dining needs, as well as to take pleasure in the breathtaking waterfront and surrounding parks. The BIA works hard to promote the village and its initiatives, gaining as much publicity as possible for its members. A new Port Credit bus wrap, featuring a wraparound advertising banner can be seen throughout Mississauga. The Port Credit BIA recognizes and supports local businesses, providing merchants with the provision and assistance for their business to continue to grow and thrive. The BIA also provides business owners with social media strategies and training. Businesses receive membership education through networking meetings and seminars. A special thanks to our village BIA for the vital difference they make within our community. The Port Credit BIA is working for you! Port Credit is Al-ways On, Always Electric. For more information visit portcredit.com or contact Ellen Timms at 905-278-7742 or [email protected].

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June 14-15-16, 2013

Visit www.themwf.com for more info

• Checkmate Performance on the River

• Sandbox Treasure Hunt

• Life-size Board Games

• Interactive Family Culinary

Demonstrations

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Monster Rock Orchestra Laser Show

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Memorial Park • Port Credit

Sanctuary at the CentreBy Melissa Motyka

Whether it is through a patient ear, a non-judgmental perspective, or a place of solace, the women of My Life Centre provide young women with the comfort and support they need to channel their inner strength. My Life Centre, a long-time Lakeshore enterprise, has been a source of consola-tion for young women coping with the pressures of adolescence, self-esteem issues, pregnancy and relationships for two decades. Recently celebrating their 20-year anniversary, they not only find a sense of fulfillment in their achieve-ments as a business, but in the confidence and strength of the young women who enter their doors. Connecting with clients over snacks and shared experi-ences not only encourages open discussion amongst the centre, but the devel-opment of long-lasting friendships. Cynthia Logiudice, the centre’s Outreach Coordinator, recognizes the need for unquestioning love and assurance in the lives of young women. Having battled issues with self-esteem at a young age, Cynthia identifies with her clients and shows a brilliant spirit in her work. “I know there are girls out there who are alone and suffering in silence,” says Cynthia. “That’s what drives me and gives me the passion I have to connect with girls on a level they understand.” Providing services that are accommodating to a wide range of young women and obstacles makes My Life Centre a true source of renewal and guidance. Fos-tering positive and healthy body images through open and honest discussion programs such as Girl Talk Café, Choose2Know, and various pregnancy and teen mom support services, the centre extends more than a helping hand. “The best thing I can do is show them that I’m there for them, and that I’m there to listen. I give them the love that they need,” says Cynthia about mentoring young women, a job that sometimes proves heartbreaking. “We just try to en-force looking on the positive, and don’t focus on the negative.”

The encouraging and optimis-tic character of My Life Centre is not only obvious to its clients and staff, but friends of it as well. After their 20th anniversary celebration on February 23rd, Melodie Padula, a volunteer and participant of a drama show-casing the work of the centre, experienced the overwhelming impact its staff has on young women. “The drama was exception-ally effective,” says Melodie. “It seemed to really strike people’s emotions, and everyone was able to see how My Life Centre genuinely changes the lives of young women.” While it is beyond question the centre fosters sincere friend-ships, trust and positive changes for young women, its employees remain the cornerstones of its foundation.

With the wholehearted work of compassionate, caring and dedicated staff, it is no wonder young women find refuge within the walls of My Life Centre.

Page 7: Port Credit Village Times

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Ward 1 Receives ‘Green’ AwardBy J. Knox

On Friday, March 22, 2013, Mississauga Ward 1 residents were treated to a free ice-skating party and Living Green Fair at the Port Credit Memori-al Arena for achieving the most participation during the Let Your Green Show, Phase 1, ‘Eat Local/Grow Local’ challenge that took place between July and October of 2012. Let Your Green Show is a public awareness campaign developed by the City of Mississauga and The Region of Peel, that aims at promoting positive environ-mental behaviors in this region. Ward 1 Councillor, Jim Tovey and Charles Sousa, MPP Mississauga South, were on hand during the ice-skating party to congratulate residences and to help kick off Phase 2 (of three) of the Let Your Green Show challenges, ‘Use Less Water’. The ‘Use Less Water’ challenge runs until August 31, 2013. Among some of the Living Green Fair Exhibitors were the Credit Valley Con-servation, Mississauga Forestry, Peel Environmental Youth Alliance and the Toronto and Region Conservation, all present to provide information and helpful tips on how we can all do our part for the environment and how best to meet the challenges presented to us by Let Your Green Show. For more information on Let Your Green Show and how you can participate please visit letyourgreenshow.ca.

Credit Landing Shopping Plaza 224 Lakeshore Road WestOpen 8:00am – 10:00pm

PAWS-itively the best espresso, cappuccino and desserts in Port Credit!

NOW OPEN!

Page 8: Port Credit Village Times

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Page 9: Port Credit Village Times

The Guilty Dog Coffee House located at 224 Lakeshore Road West opened up last month in Port Credit.

Denis Porlier and his wife Nicole took over Café Chocolata, improving and up-grading the coffee house to better serve the Port Credit community. Residents of Port Credit are buzzing about The Guilty Dog: the new and improved café in the village. Whether you are looking for an exceptional espresso, a carefully crafted cappuccino, or a delicious latte, The Guilty Dog has the beverages that will keep you coming back for more. What’s more, they feature 100% locally baked goods that are absolutely delicious. The verdict is out: The Guilty Dog is Pawsitively the Best Coffee House in Port Credit! The Guilty Dog Coffee House, formally known as Café Chocolata, was a Second Cup years before that. When Denis and Nicole Porlier took over the coffee house, they saw an opportunity to improve and upgrade the café, making it more fun, bright and inviting. Renovations to the shop are part of an ongoing improvement project. Even before Café Chocolata officially became The Guilty Dog, Porlier was hard at work enhancing the shop. They brought in freshly-baked, locally-made desserts from artisan bakers like Amy Smith of Mon Petit Latte, and began upgrading the fixtures and décor. Porlier’s vision for The Guilty Dog Coffee House was to create a clean and cozy environment for coffee lovers in the village. All of the changes were done to im-prove the business, and better serve and connect with the community. A fresh, new décor will be added this month to give the shop a more fresh, fun and lively ambiance. The finishing touch will be the paint job, including a paw print stencil border around the shop. The Guilty Dog’s mission is to create the best coffee experience possible. Un-like their chain store competitors, the coffee at The Guilty Dog is unique, with an outstanding flavour. The Guilty Dog offers an array of premium quality cof-fees including espresso, cappuccino, lattes and specialty coffees. In addition to gourmet teas, The Guilty Dog also offers delicious house-blended cold drinks like favored iced lattes and Italian sodas. As we head into some warmer spring and summer weather, you will definitely want to try one of these refreshing iced drinks! The fine beans used to create The Guilty Dog’s unique coffee blends are sourced from a local coffee importer Reunion Island Coffee, located just outside of Clark-son. While drinks are The Guilty Dog’s specialty, the coffee shop is also receiving recognition for their delicious, freshly baked, single portion desserts and snacks. These tasty locally baked goods will compliment your coffee famously. Porlier

The Guilty Dog: Pawsitively the BestCoffee House in Port Credit!By Lindsay Howe

9

SMALLBUSINESSFOCUSSMALLBUSINESSFOCUS

believes his food selection should enhance customers coffee experience. When asked about where the name The Guilty Dog came from, Porlier responds, “We were looking for a fun and unique name; something memorable that peo-ple would want to connect with and relate to. The name makes people smile or laugh, inspiring their curiosity to go and check out this new café with a funny name.” With a new name comes a new slogan, Porlier shares the catchy new phrase he is trying out: “The Guilty Dog is Pawsitively the Best Coffee House in Port Credit!” Like its lighthearted name and slogan, The Guilty Dog represents an easy-going atmosphere for residents to go socialize and relax. While the coffee shop located at 224 Lakeshore Road West has undergone a name change and a face-lift, customers can depend on the same outstanding quality and personal service they received at Café Chocolata. Expert barista Fraser Jamieson continues to oversee the high quality of the coffee program, and the duos of qualified baristas Kristina Mansfield and Rachel Marszalek have stayed on and continue to serve their loyal customers. The Guilty Dog’s inde-pendent and highly skilled staff is very experienced, creative and best able to re-spond to customers needs. The service is personable and attentive; everything at The Guilty Dog is personalized and caters to their customer’s needs. Not only is Porlier looking to create a buzz in the village with The Guilty Dog Coffee House, he is equally looking to reach out and connect with both the resi-dents and surrounding businesses. He aims to promote and serve the business community of Port Credit, working with them to expand their mutual customer base. “Port Credit is such a great place to live and work. There’s a real sense of community here, amongst both residents and businesses. We’re proud to be a part of it” The Guilty Dog Coffee House is located at 224 Lakeshore Road West. Join their Face-book page or follow on Twitter @GuiltyDogCoffee. Contact The Guilty Dog Coffee House at 905 271-7804.

Turtle Creek Books - Still in Port Credit(Paraphrasing Mark Twain, “rumours of our demise are greatly exaggerated”)By Denise Choppin We booksellers are in the trade of ideas and wisdom of ages. Masterfully constructed tales that inspire hope and provide solace. We trade in enter-tainment and humor to lighten the ravaged soul. We broker exotic theories and simple universality in being human.

We’re selling Voltaire, Twain, Dickens, Vonnegut, Huxley, Darwin, Dawkins, Orwell and Danielle Steel. People come when they want to learn about solar en-ergy, build a canoe, save money for retirement or delve into the infinite mysteries of the cosmos. We sell time, hopefully well spent. Time that heals, teaches and that fosters dreams. We sell dreams. Think on it. One chain in the link. Writer, publisher, wholesaler, retailer, dreamseller.

We alleviate boredom on a bus-ride home from work. We assist in the miracle of a child at play. We help an older woman find memories long forgotten that are welcomed back with the blush of coy youth. We sell to a man down on his luck, the strength to continue, an idea to better his lot.

To the uninitiated, we sell initiation. To the unloved, love. To the uninspired, inspiration. To the collector, the collectible. To the unwanted, a sense of belong-ing. And to those who thought they couldn't dance again, we’ve sold “Happy Feet”. Sometimes, we give them away, free. Sometimes we make good money from these ideas, these dreams. But most times we make just enough to get by. We are rich in books.(Dennis of Oregon R.I.P. – Thank you) You can contact us: By appointment at our office at 34 Lakeshore Road East (same building where the store was)Telephone 905 271 9179Email [email protected]

Page 10: Port Credit Village Times

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Cloverleaf Garden Club upcoming eventsCloverleaf Garden Club annual Plant Sale, Saturday, May 25, 8:30 – 12:00 noon at the Carmen Corbasson Community Centre (formerly known as the Cawthra Community Centre) parking lot, 1399 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga, ON. Perennials and shrubs offered at great prices, grown by members and friends of the club: groundcovers, rose of Sharon, bleeding hearts, columbines, daisies, sweet wil-liam, black eyed susans, ferns, and hostas, hostas, hostas! Contact: Edel Schmidt, [email protected], 416-953-1031. Visit www.CloverleafGarden-Club.org for updates and further details. Cloverleaf Garden Club 48th annual Garden Tour, Sunday, June 23, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Visit private gardens in an area south of the QEW, east and west of Cawthra Rd. in Mississauga, ON. Tickets $15 per person, available at Sheridan Nurseries, Mississauga. Contact: Elaine dos Santos, [email protected]. Visit www.CloverleafGardenClub.org for updates and further details.“With Stars in Your Eyes” - Mississauga Choral Society

On Saturday, April 27, 30 at 8.00pm the Mississauga Choral Society Chorus will participate in a massed choir (over 100 voices) performance of inspirational clas-sic and popular repertoire at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 921 Flagship Drive, Mississauga. Tickets are Adult $22, Seniors $18, youth to 18 $10.For more infor-mation call 905-278-7059 or visit www.mcs-on.ca.

Canadian Cancer Society’s 8th Annual Spring Garden Tour 2013Explore Beautiful Gardens of Lorne ParkHomeowners in the Lorne Park Neighbourhood have graciously agreed to open their picturesque gardens to the public for viewing on Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to support the fight against cancer.

Paul Zammit an award winning gardener who is currently the Nancy Eaton Di-rector of Horticulture at Toronto Botanical Garden, and has appeared both on television and in print, will enlighten garden tour visitors at Benares Historic House. As well, to further enhance our visitors’ experience, local musicians will perform instrumental music in some of the gardens throughout the day.

For further information please contact the Canadian Cancer Society, 2227 South Millway, Suite 202 Mississauga, ON. L5L 3R6. (905) 608-8411 Pam Kiez ext.3857 or email [email protected]. Advance Ticket price is $15.00. Ticket price on Tour Day is $20.00 All proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Mississauga DishcrawlOn April 3rd 2013, come be part of the Mississauga Dishcrawl event launch! Dishcrawl is a food crawl where for one filling evening, you’ll get to meet fellow foodies, sample specialty dishes at four secret restaurants, and meet the chefs and owners that work behind the scenes! Since it is our launch event expect some special perks throughout the night for ticket holders! Visit www.dish-crawl.com/portcredit for more information, and to buy tickets!

Spring Concert at First United Church ~ Friday April 12 at 7:30 pmJoin in a delightful evening of music from classical to show tunes with special guest artists Ursula and Voltr Ivonoffski.

Ursula is a world renowned soprano and has performed with orchestras in Eu-rope and across Canada. A sensitive interpretive artist, gifted with a beauti-ful natural voice, her Recital programs are noted for their charm and for their vibrant vitality. Audiences are invariably touched by the warmth and beauty which she conveys through the music.

Voltr, born in Canada, is a product of the Vienna Academy of Music and has con-ducted orchestras throughout Europe. Voltr has the distinction of being the founding Musical Director for the North York Symphony Association, and later, accepted the position of Music Director/Conductor for the Cosmopolitan Opera in Toronto. He has been Music Consultant for the Province of Ontario, Music Of-ficer with the Ontario Arts Council. He now divides his time between guest conducting, consulting and.....being married to Ursula.

Tickets are $20. For tickets contact Christine in the church office at 905-278-3714 or by email at [email protected].

COMMUNITY CORNER

Historic meeting for the Mississauga Credit Valley Lions ClubThe Mississauga Credit Valley Lions Club hosted a meeting on Monday March 25, 2013, at the Port Credit Arena that brought four clubs together including the Rotary Club, Civitan and KIN club. The meeting focused on discussions how all four can work together to achieve similar philanthropic goals. This was a first ever event bringing all four groups to one meeting with the sole purpose of finding cooperative ventures.

Port Credit’s Outdoor Art Show Celebrating 15th Years By: Lindsay Howe The 15th Annual Port Credit Outdoor Art Show takes place Friday July 12th to Sunday July 14th. The event is located at the beautiful Waterfront setting of the Credit Village Marina. Artists from all over southern Ontario will showcase a variety of media. The participating artists exhibit and sell original works of art made from various medians including: painting, glass, photography, jewellery, wood mosaic, metal and mixed media. In celebration of 15 successful years, Port Credit’s Outdoor Art Show will be big-ger and better than ever before! This year new elements will be added to the Art Show, including a community collaborative painting. On this weekend in July residents of Port Credit and people across Mississauga will gather to celebrate local artists and support their outstanding work. Come out and enjoy this weekend long art event featuring live musical entertainment right on the boardwalk at the Credit Village Marina The 15th Annual Art Show takes place at the Credit Village Marina located at 12 Stavebank Road. The Port Credit Outdoor Art Show is sponsored by the Port Credit Business Improvement Association (BIA).

Stay tuned to portcredit.com for more event details and a list of participating artists.

Get ready Port Credit! The Port Credit Farmers’ Market is returning on June 15th! The market will once again pro-vide the finest produce at the corner of Elmwood Ave. and Lakeshore Road East.

Page 11: Port Credit Village Times

Thinking of a vacation property overseas? Here are some things you’ll need to know. For many of us, the idea of owning a vacation property overseas is a dream we’d love to see come true. HGTV shows us each week a glimpse of what it could be like. It could be a sun-drenched villa in the tropics or a quaint little cottage nestled into the countryside of France. It represents a different way of life –one that promises peace and tranquility. Whatever your dream is, I can help you navigate the complicated process of purchas-ing real estate in another country.

When it comes to buying real estate – you know the three “L”s – Location, Lo-cation, Location. When it comes to buying real estate overseas, you’ll want to remember the three “R’s – Research, Research, Research.

1. Be aware and buy with care

The internet is a very handy tool for almost any kind of research. Almost. You can find a great deal of information on the destination you want or the types of property available, the internet is your friend. However, when it comes to familiarizing yourself with the location, the laws and the current market condi-tions that you are buying in, it’s critical that you plan to visit the country of your choice. This will give you first-hand knowledge as well as a feel for where you are buying. As with any big purchase, it’s always wise to ‘try before you buy’.

2. Proceed with caution

There are many things to know about purchasing property in another country so you’ll want to approach the decision with caution. Make sure you look at all of your options and closely evaluate every detail of your purchase. Ask friends and experts for advice as often as necessary. It’s important to ask a lot of ques-tions to make sure that you are properly informed. This will help you to avoid any traps or pitfalls in the process.

3. Find a realtor you can trust

Finding a realtor that knows the area, the laws and the market conditions is a critical step to a successful purchase. Like buying a home where you live, you’ll want to find someone who is knowledgeable and trustworthy. They will help you by answering your questions, providing helpful advice and acting as your connection to lenders and lawyers who will assist you in the buying process. Finding a qualified real-estate agent is a worthy investment. There are local Re-altor’s with a designation called I.R.E.S. and Life Rich Designations. These Real-tors have an inept knowledge of properties around the world and the process that you will go through to purchase internationally.

4. Advice you can trust

Finding advice you can trust can be tricky -especially in a foreign country that you are unfamiliar with. When you decide you’re ready to seek a lawyer or any legal advice, a good rule of thumb is to select someone that is independent of anyone else involved in the transaction. Make sure that they will only represent you. That way, you can feel at ease knowing the advice and information you are being given is in your best interest only.

There are five more tips to ensure you are making the right decision to purchase an international property so to learn more download the free guide at www.powertomoveyou.com.

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To view International properties and to find Realtors with the designation in any state or province go to www.castlesandestates.com

Do a Vacation Home location checklist

If you are purchasing the property for your own enjoyment, you’ll want to con-sider doing aChecklist to help you decide where to buy. Consider the following while you decide:Do you prefer a place in tow n or the country?Do you prefer inland or coast?Do you want to be isolated or right in the heart of it?If you want isolation – how far of a travel time to the closest town?How much outdoor space do you want?How close do you want to be to your neighbours?How close do you want to be to amenities like shopping and dining?What’s the nearest public transportation? How often does it run and time does it end?How far is the beach or water?How close is the nearest airport or train station?How far is it to sports facilities like golf, tennis, etc.?How good are the local health and social services?What’s available for arts and entertainment in the area?How close is the nearest hospital?

If you have any additional questions, contact Theresa Baird today! [email protected]

The Ultimate Great EscapeBy Theresa Baird, Keller Williams Realty Solutions

Page 12: Port Credit Village Times

M I S S I S S A U G A

S Y M P H O N Y

O R C H E S T R A

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 8 pmHAMMERSON HALL at the LIVING ARTS CENTREConducted by John Barnum, soprano Lesley Bouza and the MSO serenade you with Joseph Canteloube’s hauntingly beautiful “Chants d’Auvergne”. The evening also showcases dance music from Isaac Albeniz and Manuel de Falla.

Call 905.306.6000 or visit LivingArtsCentre.ca

Discounts for seniors/students.Just $80 for a family of 4!

SONGS FROMTHE AUVERGNE

MississaugaSymphony.ca

Mervin William Fick, Artistic Director

With Stars in Your EyesA four-choir concert... more than 100 voices

Parry - I was Glad, Glick - The Hour Has Come, Winter - Missa Gaia, & more

Saturday, April 27, 2013, 8:00 pm

St. Patrick's Church921 Flagship DriveMississauga, ON

Adult $22, Senior $18, Youth (up to 18) $10905-278-7059 [email protected] mcschorus.ca

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Songs from the Auvergne

The Mississauga Symphony with Interim Music Director John Barnum, Conductor and Lesley Bouza, Soprano. Join the Mississauga Symphony for a night of magical fire as Maestro John Barnum takes the podium for our season finale, “Songs from the Auvergne”.

Maestro Barnum has created a program showcasing three composers whose music celebrates the songs and dances of the Spanish and French countryside. Isaac Albeniz was a Spanish pianist and composer who spent many years in London, where he wrote operettas in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan, and in Paris, where he created a salon to encourage other young Spaniards like Manuel de Falla. His Triana is a stirring piece with passionate melodies and syncopated rhythms that reflect the colours of the Gypsy quarter of Seville.

Joseph Canteloube was a French composer who shared Albeniz’s passion for preserving regional culture. Maestro Barnum’s special guest Lesley Bouza, a member of the Elora Festival Singers, will perform Canteloube’s beautiful Chants d’Auvergne, a haunting arrangement for soprano and orchestra of Auvergnat shepherd tunes and folksongs, sung in the Occitan language. Manuel de Falla’s El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-cornered Hat) began as a stage play about a magistrate’s attempt to seduce the young wife of a miller.

Diaghalev commissioned it as a ballet. The orchestral suite from this ballet is a delightful combination of lively folk dances that will set your blood racing and your toes tapping! John Barnum was the conductor and artistic director of the MSO for 34 years, a well-known and beloved figure in Mississauga and highly esteemed in the broader music community across Canada. This season he has continued to guide us as Interim Music Director while our search for a new conductor con-tinued. On May 11th, Maestro Barnum will hand over the baton to that person. Don’t miss the opportunity to be in the audience when the new conductor is introduced and the next season is revealed. For more information about the Mississauga Symphony Concerts and Events go to MississaugaSymphony.ca or call 905.615.4405.

Page 13: Port Credit Village Times

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Lorne Park Hockey to host Provincial Championship at VJCC

Lorne Park Hockey Association and the Ojibwa Midget Senior A Hockey Club will be the host team at the Midget A Provincial Championship Tour-nament held April 11th to April 14th, 2013. All games will be played at the renovated, state of the art Vic Johnston Community Centre. The hockey club is honoured and extremely excited to host this great hockey event. The OHF Championships take place at the conclusion of every hockey season for all the major age groups and levels during the second weekend of April. Five teams participate at the OHF Championships; the Minor Hockey Member Partner Championship teams from the Alliance, GTHL, NOHA, OMHA and the host team. The weekend will kick off with a banquet that brings all five teams together to hear key note speaker Toronto Maple Leaf commentator Paul Hendrick. Open-ing Ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, April 12th at 6:30 pm. Dignitaries from across the city will be on hand to welcome participants to the 2013 Champion-ship. During the weekend a mini Tyke Super Six Tournament will also take place. Young players starting their minor hockey career will be able to share the week-end with the Midget A contenders. The Lorne Park Midget Senior A Hockey team has been together since rebuild-ing after championship seasons in Minor and Major atom. The team personifies what the minor hockey experience should be with players and parents forging strong friendships over the years and this event will be a great final chapter for the team.

The roster includes: Nikil Arora, Nicholas Constandinou, Bradley Cose, Robert DiClemente, William Eddie, Joseph Fantin, Jacob Gardiner, Stefan Iwankewich, Patrick Kucharzak, Dante Labog, Zachary Louch, Nicholas Magnone, Geoffrey McCann, Conor McKenna, Fraser Molgat, Macleod Munro, Patrick Proborszcz, Alexander Sadakhom, Head Coach Tony DiClemente, Trainer Toby Gardiner, As-sistant Coach Ron McKenna and Manager Charles Eddie. Please join us on April 11th – 14th and cheer these boys on in their final minor hockey experience! If you are interested in being an event sponsor please contact Event Chair – Toby Gardiner at 416-875-1409 or [email protected].

Charles Sousa, MPP

Our office is here for you.

We’re open Monday to Friday

from 9 am to 5 pm.

Constituency Office:120 Lakeshore Road West, Unit 1 & 2

Mississauga, Ontario L5H 1E8Tel: (905) 274-8228 Fax: (905) 274-8552

[email protected]

Mississauga South

Streetscape Mississauga

Streetscape Mississauga is Missis-sauga’s first, annual, city-wide garden and beautification contest for resi-dents and small businesses.

Established as a working partnership between the City of Mississauga and the city’s four horticultural societies, Streetscape was introduced in 2009, as a component of Mississauga In Bloom, and is now an independent program. Created and delivered entirely by volun-teers, with City staff support, the contest has been an unqualified success, with new classes and new features added each year. 2012 marks the introduction of a residential class for alternative gar-dens and a brand new contest for small businesses.

The contest is designed to encourage beautification and conservation, raise public awareness of innovative and ecofriendly gardening practices and to rec-ognize those residents and businesses who, through their efforts, contribute to a greener and more livable community.Streetscape continues to work towards creating an environmentally responsible and more beautiful city; supporting the ideals, expressed by thousands of residents, that shape Mississauga’s Living Green Master Plan.

As of 2012, Streetscape now offers two contests, one for residents and one for small businesses.

For entry form visit www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/streetscapemississauga

Page 14: Port Credit Village Times

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THE S

TREETSVILLE FOUNDERS

BREAD AND HONEY FESTIVAL

THE S

TREETSVILLE FOUNDERS

BREAD AND HONEY FESTIVAL

Streetsville Founders

Friday, May 31stSaturday, June 1stSunday, June 2nd

Memorial ParkStreetsville

HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2013Join Us To Celebrate 41 Amazing Years! A Blast From The Past!

www.breadandhoney.ca [email protected]

Page 15: Port Credit Village Times

Every day I have patients coming into my office suffering from headaches, strain and blurred vision that comes and goes. They’ve gone their whole life with-out glasses but now, by the end of the day, they can’t seem to hold their focus. What’s my first question to them? I ask them how many hours a day they spend on the computer. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a common eye condition that describes vision problems and ocular discomfort due to extended periods of time in front of the computer. There is an increasing number of people who work in office environments that require them to sit at a computer for over 6 hours a day. When the eye views a computer screen at near, our focusing sys-tem is forced to work harder by adjusting the eye muscles to meet the visual demands. Prolonged computer use results in eye fatigue, eventually leading to a number of symptoms. Patients suffering from CVS often complain of head-aches, eye strain, dry eyes and occasional blurry vision.

Although the main cause of CVS is the amount of time spent in front of a screen, there are other factors that may contribute to the severity of the symptoms. Having a small uncorrected glasses prescription can cause difficulty focusing at the computer, even though it may go unnoticed when looking into the dis-tance. Also, poor eye coordination abilities, the aging eye, and improper view-ing distances can all result in eye strain. So what to do when we experience CVS? The 20-20-20 rule was developed as a quick temporary fix for computer vision syndrome. It recommends that every 20 minutes we should take 20 seconds to look away from the computer and give our eyes 20 good blinks. A visit to your optometrist will help determine the main causes of your CVS. The optometrist may recommend glasses to be worn just at the computer or some exercises to strengthen the focusing system. If CVS is left untreated, it can lead to the dis-tance vision becoming blurred as well. Many of us can’t avoid working on our computers all day but a few simple changes can make it easier on the eyes!

Dr. Justine Fung is an optometrist located at 102 Lakeshore Road East and offers comprehensive eye exams for adults, children and infants.

The Facts About ComputerVision SyndromeBy: Dr. Justine Fung, O.D.

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As I stated in previous articles, vinyl records are making a comeback. I was worried that it might just be a fad and a last gasp effort by the major record companies to make some money.

The worries were somewhat unfounded with almost all companies/labels get-ting back into the market. At the moment there are so few pressing facilities that line ups are becoming common. A case in point, the Beatles catalogue re-issue campaign took so much time and effort that the much anticipated Led Zeppelin box set was delayed and missed the past Christmas selling season. Beatles vs. Zeppelin, a pretty hard choice for many. New releases by current bands like Mumford & Sons, Black Keys and oth-ers occupy the top sales positions. In the CD era (80’s & 90’s) there was little build up to new releases; consumer ex-citement was non – existent. Back in the 60’s we would be at the store first thing in the morning to get the anticipated new release that was hyped by the radio stations ( anyone remember the Chum chart and the humdinger). On April 20 the 6th annual International Record Store Day takes place. This is a celebration of independent record stores like mine, chain stores are not allowed to participate. The record companies are manufacturing lots of super limited edition releases for this day and people are already calling/emailing (line up ?) asking me to reserve titles ( which I can’t). The excitement is coming back around and it’s con-tagious. It’s time to get back and really enjoy music; the convenience of CDs is taking a back seat. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s masterpiece “Dark Side of the Moon”.

This album ran 741 consecutive weeks on the Billboard album chart when it was first released. With the 2006 re-issue hitting the charts again, the cumulative total rose to 1500 weeks.

Do yourself a favour and pause for an hour (actually just shy of 43 minutes) and re-acquaint yourself with the album in its entirety. You’ll be glad you did! On another note (pun intended) I would like to apologize to the residents of Port Credit for not having the skating rink in Memorial park. Although we did have a cold winter (is it done yet ?) it seemed that every time we flooded the ice the following few days rose above 0 and melted what we worked at.

I started this rink to show the city that there was demand for skating (if not on, at least near) the Credit river. My goal is to get a refrigerated skating path the whole circumference of Memorial park. I mean if Brampton has Gage Park and Etobicoke has Samuel Smith paths, then why can’t we? I would love to go for a skate ‘round the path, I’m hoping that what goes ‘round comes around….

What goes round, comes roundBy Ric Cooper

Page 16: Port Credit Village Times

Think Globally, Act LocallyEarth Day takes place on Monday, April 22. Each year on Earth Day people all over the world are challenged to make positive changes to their daily habits. We all share the same planet and are each responsible for what we use and how we us it. When we use less natural resources, we help to ensure there are enough resources to go around, therefore future generations won’t run out of essential things such as clean water, air and soil. While Earth Day happens only once a year, we should cel-ebrate our Earth on a daily basis and treat everyday as though it were Earth Day.

Making Earth-Friendly ChoicesEarth Day is the time to start making more environmentally conscious choices to keep our planet clean and fix some of the damage that has been done to our environment. Easy Earth-friendly changes include: switching to energy efficient light bulbs, using less water, walking or cycling more and buying local produce and foods. Avoid bottled water by buying and using a reusable water bottle. Recycling is a simple yet important way to reduce the pollution caused by waste. When we recycle we save energy, reduce pollution and preserve our natural re-sources. By creating a compost pile for our food scraps we reduce the amount of trash that goes into landfills. Composting also helps create rich soil for garden-ing. A popular Earth Day experience for all ages is planting trees. Not only do trees improve biodiversity and provide habitats for wildlife, trees also help keep the air clean by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Another way to get involved is to join a community initiative to pick up litter, helping to keep the environment free of contaminants. Be A Part of the SolutionEarth day serves as a reminder to think about how we can help resolve environ-mental challenges by taking action to protect our planet. It is our responsibility to learn about biodiversity and take measures to help preserve the plants and animals around us. It is imperative that we rethink the way we use things and make it our objective to use less. The lifestyle choices we make are most often based on habit and convenience. We all have bad habits to break when it comes to living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Something as simple as leaving reusable grocery bags in your car so you don’t forget to bring them to the grocery store can go a long way to help erase your carbon footprint. We can all do our part to help ensure a healthy planet for generations to come.

Celebrating Our Earth: Earth Day 2013By Lindsay Howe

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Marion Klinnert, Owner259 Lakeshore Road East, Port CreditOPEN MONDAYS • 905-278-8055www.privatemoments.ca

est. 1985

28TH ANNIVERSARY SALE!25% off Entire Inventory

APRIL 6TH –13TH BALLOONS • CAKE • PRIZES • GIFT WITH PURCHASE

A SALE-A-BRATION NOT TO BE MISSED!!!Please feel free to Bring a friend

It’s so nice to see more and more people out and about and being active again and inhaling some fresh air. It seems everyone is enjoying a little bit of their Vitamin D intake. The Vitamin D has super power making people feel better, but there are some basic foods that are not only good for you, but they are great for your eyes. Next time you go to the grocery store, think about adding some of these to your shopping cart: 1. Dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach and Swiss chard are high in lutein. Lutein helps prevent eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. 2. Cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, herring and sardines) are loaded with omega-3. Omega-3 prevents plaque formation in the eye, which can form into macular degeneration. It can also improve the quality of your tears and improve dry eyes. 3. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprout, bok choy and cauliflower can help decrease inflammation in the eye and encourage de-toxification. 4. Teas such as black, green and oolong are very beneficial in the prevention of cataracts. They have also been shown to prevent the growth of new blood ves-sels in the retina, which can lead to macular degeneration. 5. Avocados These are not only loaded with healthy fat but con-tain a variety of vitamins and minerals such as lutein, beta-carotene, vitamins C, B6 and E. Combined, avocados can help prevent macular degeneration, cataracts and can improve dry eyes. Take care of yourself and your eyes. You only have two of them! If you have any questions regarding this article, or if you’d like to see a specific topic discussed, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Queen Spectacle is located at 102 Lakeshore Road East in Port Credit and has locations in Streetsville and The Kingsway for your added convenience.

Springtime can be a beautiful refreshing time as new plants push their way out of the warming soil and the air is fresh, warm and light enough to take a comfortable stroll in the early evenings. Spring can also be the harbin-ger of nasty surprises, once hidden and now revealed in the melting snow and ice on our streets, sidewalks and curbsides. To help brighten up the season, we have complied some tips, tricks and resources to clean up Port Credit in time for the warmer weather. Piles of cigarette butts, doggy doo and unidentifiable bits of plastic and coffee cups linger on our public walkways. This litter is often underfoot and hard to ignore, especially for shoppers and pedestrians spending their spare time in our lovely town. Recently a by-law came into effect in Mississauga which restricts smoking with-in 9 feet or 30 meters of city owned buildings. This will provide a welcome relief from exposure to second hand smoke and cigarette butt litter for children and residents in arenas, community centers, libraries and other public places. Ac-cording to a press release from the Region of Peel, 156 people are hospitalized every year from smoke-related illnesses and at least 88,000 people in the Re-gion have attempted to quit smoking in the past year! Hopefully increasing the number of smoke-free areas will help those who are trying to kick the habit by reducing their exposure to others smoking. For those of you, who do smoke, please help do your part and throw your ciga-rette butts in the receptacles provided along the streets. If you are a resident and you’re grossed out by piles of cigarette butts in front of storefronts, restau-rants or bars, make sure you mention it to the manager. They may just need the reminder to sweep up! Doggy doo landmines-many of us are guilty of this suburban no-no! Perhaps you are in a hurry or forgot your doo bags. But the truth is that dodging these sidewalk piles is tricky. This is true both for the city and for disgruntled prop-erty owners who find these not so little surprises on their lawns. Ultimately, pet owners have a legal responsibility in Part VII of the Mississauga Animal Care and Control By-Law, which is appropriately titled

“Excrements”. Pet owners must pick up after their dogs immediately, no matter which property the dog is on. If you don’t pick up-beware! You can be fined and other penalties may be imposed. Although it might not be helpful in stopping someone in their tracks, if you see someone repeatedly violating a by-law you can contact the Mississauga Compliance and Licensing Enforcement office by dialing 311 or by e-mailing [email protected]. Recently several young people in the Port Credit area were arrested on graffiti charges for tagging surfaces with spray paint. Much to the dismay of property owners (removing graffiti is costly) they are the ones who are responsible for keeping their properties graffiti free under the Property Standards By-Law 654-98, section 15. Join the Graffiti Awareness Campaign! The people of Port Credit can help the town and property owners –take a photo, make a note of the loca-tion and e-mail to your Ward Councillor Jim Tovey at [email protected]. The warmer weather will soon be here and long walks are in our imminent future-please taken care of our lovely town and local parks.

Healthy Eyes start at the Grocery store!By Silvia Yeomans, Queen Spectacle & Kingsway Opticians

Spring Cleaning in Port CreditBy Leah Simeone, Local Resident andBeautification Advocate

Page 18: Port Credit Village Times

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Washington State is a premium producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now America’s second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world’s top wine regions. With 30,000+ acres planted, Washing-ton State has excellent conditions for growing premium wine grapes. Primar-ily grown on their own rootstock, the vines produce strong vintages year af-ter year. While focused on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites (like Pinot Gris) and reds. Washington’s terroir (the combination of soil, climate and geography) makes the wines truly distinct from any others. The Brew Cellar offers a variety of pre-mium and super premium wine kits made with grapes from Washington State. In addition to kits made with Washington State grapes we offer a great variety of kits from around the world and to help you get ready for summer we are of-fering a 25% discount on any in stock Island Mist alternative wine based bever-age when you make any Premium or Super Premium wine during the month of April. Now is the time to get your cellar ready for the summer entertainment season. Because brewing wine from a concentrate isn’t as difficult as you think, you too can make award-winning wine at the Brew Cellar. In fact, anyone can brew really great wine in just 4 weeks. When you come to the Brew Cellar to make your own wine or beer, we try to make your visit with us not only educational but also fun. If you ever have a question about a wine or beer - or maybe you want to know if a step in the process is really necessary - give us a call or send us an email. We’re happy to share our love of great wines and beer... Seniors always get a discount and monthly specials are available. Great wines are yours for the making and our 100% satisfaction guarantee en-sures that you enjoy a great winemaking experience every time. Let the BREW CELLAR help you create YOUR CELLAR. We are located at 860 Lake-shore Rd. East, just east of Cawthra Rd., on the south side. Please stop by for a visit to talk wine or beer. We look forward to seeing you! Tel (905) 274-2337 (BEER) or (905) 274-9463 (WINE)

Hot off the press, the Budget 2013 announced on March 21, brings more restrictions than tax breaks to individuals. The government clearly places more emphasis on “closing tax loopholes” than on introducing new tax in-centives. Let’s start from the positive side, however. The lifetime capital gains exemption will increase from $750,000 to $800,000. This pertains specifically to sales of small private corporation shares or farm and fishing property. You will be able to shield a new increased amount from capital gain on disposition of such property beginning in 2014 tax year. The adoption tax credit will be enhanced by allowing parents to claim expenses from before the year in which the adoption was finalized. This will pertain to adoptions com-pleted after 2012. There will be an incentive to donate to charities for those who have not done so since 2007, as additional tax credit of 25% is introduced beginning in 2013. Now, brace yourself for some bad news. The owners of small businesses who pay themselves dividends to take advan-tage of preferential tax rates will notice their tax benefits dwindling. The new calculation of dividend tax credit will lower tax break for small corporations’ dividends by about 3%. Labour-Sponsored Venture Capital tax credit will be phased out by 2017, with federal tax credits going down from 15% to 0% over the next 4 years. If you pay for safety deposit box at your local bank, you will no longer be able to claim a deduction for it starting in 2013 tax year. There are a lot of talks about curtailing aggressive tax planning. Charitable do-nation tax schemes are one of them. The Budget proposes that Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will have the right to collect amounts owing even if the taxpayer filed an objection to the assessment. Bigger emphasis will be placed on Foreign Income Verification Statement. This pertains to a rather obscure question on the first page of your tax return: “did you own or hold foreign property at any time (in a year) with a total cost of more than $100,000?” If yes, and if this is a property that generates income you should fill out additional form on your income tax return. Many people ignore this question, and CRA feels that it may miss on some taxing opportunities in this area. Financial institutions will be required to report International Electronic Funds Transfers over $10,000. Please note that the Budget will have to be enacted before taking full effect. The above changes will take place in 2013 tax year at the earliest. You can still use the existing tax laws to your advantage in the current tax year! Eva Kupiec, CMA & Beata Kurpiewski, CGAPrincipals of Professional Accounting Office at 3461 Lake Shore Blvd. W.www.beaccounting.ca

From the World’s finest Vineyards…..By Bill Walters

Budget 2013

Page 19: Port Credit Village Times

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The Gratifying Harvest JournalEfficient Wealth Management has created a new coaching program called The Gratifying Harvest. The program helps you enjoy your future by carefully har-vesting cash flow from your lifetime of savings or preparing you to do so. We thought a column devoted to this pleasing idea would be great.

Perfectly Flawed in IsolationThis week I had two great reminders about the importance of securing a finan-cial plan before proceeding with any investment strategy. We were approached by two different couples for two different reasons and I was surprised both times.

The first couple approached us to do their income tax returns. We were referred by a financial planning client who knows our firm does tax returns with our spe-cialty being investors, seniors and US filers. As I am collecting and helping them assemble their tax information, I become aware of a few things. First, they came to us primarily because they are new landlords and have never filed a return with rental income. As it turns out, they are not just new landlords; they are also relatively new market investors. They have recently sold their city home and, not being ready to move to their newly acquired retirement home for another two years, they have rented it. They are living in a rental apartment for now. The proceeds of the city home have been used to top up their RSPs and invested for the long term. The RSP deposits were very large, given they had used little of their room available in the past. The new investment plan is great. A low cost ETF portfolio from a broker that is charging a competitive monthly fee (still too high though).

The tax situation was another matter. First, the RSP deposits are so large that all of the amount contributed should not be deducted in a single year. If they did, they would find themselves in the lowest tax or no tax bracket. Clearly, some of the contributions should be held back for use in future years. HOWEVER, this

couple is going to be retired in less than two years and will be unable to use the contributions efficiently before their incomes drop to much lower levels. In this case, they will likely be withdrawing the money from the RSP in the future at a tax rate higher than the rate applied to the deduction. They will be paying CRA for the pleasure of putting money in their RSP. Second, TFSAs were not effectively used. All amounts not fitting into the RSPs were invested in a standard taxable investment account. Third, this is all made worse (tax ways) by implementing the same standard portfolio in both the registered and the non-registered account.

There are both equities and income producing ETFs in all accounts. It would have been a simple change to think of the portfolio as a whole and allocate the income producing investments to the registered accounts and the equities to the non-registered. Doing so would reduce the overall tax bill each and every year.

To make my week even brighter, another couple shows up the next evening for some financial planning advice. They were seeking a fee for service planner (we call it advice for a fee), having lost trust in the use of commission driven agents. Before they continued further with more investing, they wanted to feel comfortable they were doing the right things. What brought them to us was their investments and legitimately so, since the investments were mostly high MER mutual funds. As the discussion ensues I am struck by how the MER problem is the simplest problem in front of me. They own and operate a small business. The business is incorporated and is the largest source of wealth for the family. This important source of wealth is treated as an outsider and not integrated to the family’s future wealth building plan. Tax planning opportuni-ties have not been addressed. Improved wealth building ideas have not been implemented. Their accountant has certainly never had a conversation with their investment advisor (I don’t care if the advisor’s card reads financial plan-ner if no planning is evident) and it shows. What has begun as a search for a more trusted opinion on investments has resulted in a complete review of the possibilities for wealth building and tax savings with better use of the corpora-tion.

The conclusion I am trying to lead you to, is that dealing with investments in isolation from the family and personal situation can lead to very flawed outcomes. Financial considerations, tax situations and investment implemen-tations are best executed in conjunction with each other, not separate from each other. Most financial professionals involved with investments make their money off the investments. Is it a wonder that the other non-income produc-ing issues get ignored?

As is our practice, I would like to extend an invitation to Meet the Columnist and join in an open discussion at the Port Credit Retirement Residences (33 Hurontario north of Lakeshore, indoor parking available) on Wednesday, April 17th, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. or 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Being April, we will of course talk about taxes and how to pay less of them. Invita-tions are very limited so please RSVP as soon as possible to Jean at 416-410-9809 or email us at [email protected].

Gordon is the Vice President – Financial Plan-ning at Efficient Wealth Management Inc., a leader in cost efficient financial planning. He has taught at local colleges in both Financial Services and Accounting areas. He is also a fre-quent guest on television and has written nu-merous articles on investing and financial plan-ning. See our ad “the Harvest is under way!” in this issue.

We are money coaches. We created a new coaching program called The Gratifying Harvest. The program helps you enjoy your future by carefully harvesting cash flow from your lifetime of savings or preparing you to do so. The Gratifying Harvest is an advanced program that takes every-thing to a much higher level and is only available from Efficient Wealth Management.

FINANCEm

Nurture your wealth

Sleep well every night

Enjoy your After Party

to the fullest

ENJOY YOUR FUTURE BY CAREFULLY HARVESTING CASH FLOW FROM

YOUR LIFETIME OF SAVINGS

Page 20: Port Credit Village Times

Please visit www.portcredit.com or contact 905.278.7742

Port Credit BIA

Mississauga Marathon 2013 / May 3 – 5Registration Port Credit Memorial Arenawww.mississaugamarathon.com

Farmers Market Saturdays / June 15 – October 12Select from the finest produce right here in Port Credit, weekly cooking demos, live entertainment and crafters at the corner of Elmwood Ave. & Lakeshore Rd. E.www.portcredit.com

The Mississauga Waterfront Festival / June 14 – 16This award-winning event will feature 3days of exciting inter-active and experiential entertainment and culinary extrava-ganzas for family and friends. www.themwf.com

“Paint the Town Red” Canada Day Celebration & Parade – July 1Celebrate Canada Day! “Paint The Town Red” with a Town Parade, Giant Birthday Cake, live entertainment, family fun trivia and Fireworks at Port Credit Memorial Park. www.paintthetownred.ca

Sunset Concert Series / Sundays July – SeptemberEnjoy live music by the water all summer at Port Credit Memo-rial Park Sunday evenings 6:30 p.m. to sunset. www.mississauga.ca/culture

Rotary Movies in the Park / Fridays July - AugustBring your family and friends to movies under the stars! Movies will be shown at Port Credit Memorial Park. www.rotarymovienights.com

Port Credit Outdoor Art Show / July 12 – 14Artist from all over southern Ontario showcase and sell a variety of media in the beautiful Waterfront setting of the Credit Village Marina, live entertainment!www.portcredit.com

Port Credit’s Busker Fest 8 / August 16 – 18Enjoy an eclectic cast of characters, circus-style entertain-ment on the street with an “Xtreme Finale” at Port Credit Memorial Park. www.portcreditbuskerfest.com

Port Credit’s In-Water Boat Show / August 23 – 25Climb on board New and used Power and Sail boats on display at Port Credit Harbour Marina. On-shore exhibitor booths with all types of marine products.www.portcreditboatshow.ca

Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival / September 6 – 8Canadian and international acts perform at the 4 Stages in Port Credit Memorial Park. Enjoy the Trinity Street Shuffle Saturday on Lakeshore Road.www.southsideshuffle.com

2013 Calendarof Events