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8/6/2019 Muchmor Magazine Issue 51
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issue 51
muchmoMuchmormagazinemuchmormagazine.com
We chat to Singer SongwriterMarie-Jo Therio about her new
album “Chasing Lydie”
Whale watching in Quebec
La Main the soul of Montreal
Meet the Mayor: Marc Bureau,
Ville de Gatineau
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follow your passion, live your dream...
For more information about Hastings County please contact:
Andrew Redden, Economic Development Manager: [email protected]
✓ Reaching from the Bay of Quinte to
Algonquin Provincial Park
✓ Ontario ̓ s Artisan Cheese Region
✓Double the national average of artists & artisans ✓ One of the top 15 places visited in Ontario (Statcan)
✓ We ̓ re “Rurban” - rural with an urban flair
✓ 90 minutes to Toronto, 2 hours to Ottawa
MUCHMOR MEDIA 17 Woody Woodward LaneCorbyville RR1Ontario, K0K 1V0Canada
Tel: 1 613 396 5531Fax: 1 613 396 3463
Advertising: [email protected]
Editorial: [email protected]
M u c h m o r M a g a z i n e i spublished by Muchmor Media.
All rights reserved in all media.No parts of this publicationcan be reproduced in anyform, cop ied o f s to redelectronically for commercial
use without prior permission in writing from thepublisher. Storing for personal use is acceptable.
Muchmor Media relies on information suppliedby external sources and this publication issupplied on the basis that it believes this to becorrect and accurate at the time of publication.Muchmor Media does not however warrant itsaccuracy or completeness and to the full extentof the allowed by law excludes liability for anyloss or damage sustained by readers arising fromor in connection with the supply or use of thisinformation. If errors occur and are brought to
our attention it is our policy to correct any errorsof fact whenever we can.
Muchmor Media does not endorse anyadvertisers or content providers. The opinions ofreaders and contributors are not necessarily theopinions of Muchmor Media, and we cannot beheld responsible for their comments.
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Well, it is back down to earth this
month after our anniversary
celebrations. Thanks to everyone
for thei r good wishes and
comments about the new look
website and magazine.
In this issue we have several
features about Québec, the main
one being about a wonderful
singer who calls Québec her home - Marie-Jo Therio. This amazing woman has justreleased her third album, her first English-language album and she tells us of her
journey into the music business and what this latest album means to her and her
family. We also speak to Marc Bureau, Mayor of Gatineau, Québec to find out about
his likes and dislikes and what makes him tick.
Still on the Québec theme, we take a look at the Whale Route on the north shoreline
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is one of the best places in Canada to view over adozen species of whales. But if whales aren’t your thing, then how about trying out
the cultural activities that Montréal has to offer?
Also in this issue we also talk to the Draper family who moved from the UK to
Canada in 2006 and have made Prince Edward County, Ontario their home. We find
out how they made their big move and their trials and tribulations since arriving. We
also talk to Deepshikha Brar, an Indian-origin immigrant who has proved to be a
formidable business woman in Calgary, Alberta.
We hope you enjoy the May issue of Muchmor and as always if you have a story to
tell, or know someone who does, please get in touch. We would love to hear from
you. Enjoy…..Jane Toombes Editor
This months Cover. Marie-Jo Therio
EDITORS MESSAGE
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THE CONTENTS
PEOPLE
14 18
PLACES12
MUCHMOR PLACES
MUCHMOR PEOPLE
MUCHMOR LIFESTYLE
06
14
24
Making waves in Calgary Meet the Mayor
La Main, the soul of Montreal
The Whale Route, Quebec
La Main, the soul of Montreal12
Voice over: Deepshikha Brar makes waves inCalgary
18Meet the Mayor: Marc Bureau, Ville de GatineauQuebec
Invest in cheese please
25Canada the preferred destination of UK expats
26Jobs, 10 simple tips for success
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FEATURED
38
IMMIGRATION30
MUCHMOR IMMIGRATION
MUCHMOR FEATURED
MUCHMOR SPOTLIGHT
30
38
44
The Drapers real life story of life in Canada
Real life story: Still on a high since landing inCanada. The Drapers story of life in Canada
We spoke to singer, song writer Marie-Jo Therioabout her debut English-language album “ChasingLydie”
Financial advice: How to pay your bills and investtoo.
THE CONTENTS
MUCHMOR MAGAZINE - WWW.MUCHMORMAGAZINE.COM
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MUCHMOR PLACES
The Whale Route, QuebecBy Jane Toombes
© MTOQ / Bouchard, Claude ; Lavoie, Jean-Guy
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As with most Canadian locations
Quebec has an abundance of
wildlife. But one of the most amazingand certainly the largest creature to
be observed is the whale.To see a whale breach the water,
swimming within meters of the boat youare on is a truly unforgettable
experience.
Thirteen species of whale can be
viewed including belugas, humpbacks,
fin and the largest mammal ever to live
on the earth - the blue whale. Whalewatching can be experienced at many
locations in the province between May
and October. Most require you to get on
a boat and travel to where they
congregate, but you may also be lucky
enough to be able to view whales from
the safety of the shore.
The Whale Route (Route des baleines) is
an area running along the north
shoreline of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
where all thirteen species of whale can
be viewed. The Route stretches over
900 km (560 miles) and encompasses
forests, beaches, campgrounds, townsand villages. There are sections which
are accessible for cyclists as well as
offering opportunities for water sports
enthusiasts.
The start of the journey is Tadoussac
which sits on the banks of theSanguenay F iord. C lose by is
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
which offers some of the best whale
watching opportunities in Canada from
both land and water. The fjord creates
very deep water that the whales love
meaning some can be seen within a fewmeters of the shoreline. But if you want
the true whale watching experience you
need to get on a boat and go to them.
The Marine Park is one of the national
marine conservation areas of Parks
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Canada. This means that although the
tourism industry is very important to the
area, the wildlife is protected. A code of
ethics has been in place for many years
to help protect the whale species in
their natural habitat whilst at the same
time allowing visitors to view them.
Although the whole route offers great
whale watching opportunities there are
some areas which stand out. We
mentioned Tadoussac, this is one of the
main departure points for boat tours.Further down the coast, Les Escoumins
is another village offering many boat
tours.
If you want to get a true insight into
whales and other mammals then you
should visit the Mingan Island Cetacean
Study (MICS). You can book visits here
lasting from one day to two weeks
where you will engage in the study of
whales alongside world-renowned
marine biologists.
Sessions usually start in April and
extend to mid September and range in
price depending on the type of session
booked and of course the duration.
They do however , i nc lude a l l
accommodation and food and transportduring the session.
Not only is this route excellent for whale
watching, it is also an area of
magnificent natural beauty. Don’t just
confine your trip to wildlife viewing, take
© MTOQ / Lavoie, Jean-Guy
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in the stunning scenery and other interesting locations along the route. One example
would be Baie-Comeau where you can view the The Daniel Johnson Dam which is
the largest buttressed multiple arch dam in the world. Pointe-des-Monts has a
beautiful lighthouse dating back to 1830. It incorporates a large exhibition with
entertainment and restaurant.
Booking a whale watching trip
When deciding to go whale watching you need to decide a few things to make
sure you book the trip that is right for you.
•How long do you want the trip to last?
•What size boat do you want to travel on?
•Do you want to be part of a small or large group?
•What language do you prefer?
•Does the trip offer underwater acoustics so you can hear the whales?
•Do you require wheelchair accessibility or other special requirements?
•Is food provided or can you provide your own?
•Does the boat have a washroom?
•Does the boat have storage facilities for your bags etc?
•Are there specific species you want to see?
•What safety equipment is on board i.e. navigation, lifejackets?
•Does the boat have a covered area?
You should also make sure the company you book your trip with respects the whales
and their environment. Do they follow the code of ethics? Are the guides on board
trained and qualified? What are the safety measures on board - do they follow the
Canadian Coast Guard Regulations? Check for references and testimonials from
others when selecting.
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Remember that no trip organizer will ever
guarantee that you will see whales, after
all they are free spirits that come and go
as they please. Some companies offer
either free or discounted future trips if nowhales are seen. Adverse weather
conditions also need to be take into
account. Always check the terms and
conditions before booking.
When you are on the trip you will need to
take certain things with you, after allonce you are on the boat you will not
have the opportunity to get anything you
have forgotten. A camera is a must, but
also remember to take spare batteries,
film, lenses etc. However warm it is on
land, it is often cooler out on the water so
wear layers and take warm clothing witha hat or tuque. Make sure you have
comfortable footwear that is not too
slippery. Flip flops and similar footwear is
not recommended. Sunscreen and
sunglasses are a must. Depending on the
type and duration of the trip you may
want to take food and drinks with you.
Above all enjoy the experience. Few
people have the opportunity to see these
magnificent mammals in their natural
habitat, so never take this for granted.
Photo: © MTOQ / Tscherter, Ursula
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La Main: the Soul of Montréal
Unabashedly forward, delectable and hip, it keeps the Sabbath, eats Greek,
dances Salsa and shouts Forza Azzurri. Boulevard Saint-Laurent, known as “the
Main” to aficionados, is a city within a city. Numerous communities—Jewish,
Italian, Greek and Portuguese, to name the principal ones—are found in this true
cradle of diversity in Montréal.
Often associated with the establishment and development of ethnocultural
communities, Boulevard Saint-Laurent has
been the gateway to Québec for thousandsof immigrants searching for a better future.
In 1996, the government of Canada
designated this grand boulevard as a
n a t i o n a l h i s t o r i c s i t e , t h e r e b y
commemorating it as a sign of hope and an
essential passage for newcomers. Eleven kilometres long, the Main crosses
practically every important street, avenue
and boulevard in Québec’s largest city.
Running north-south and dividing the city
into East and West, Montréal’s principal
thoroughfare draws droves of people in
search of its intense cultural life, hiprestaurants, and friendly urban lifestyle. Also
treasured by the artistic community, it has
inspired such major writers as Mordecai
Richler and Michel Tremblay, in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and Sainte-
Carmen de la Main, respectively.
By Tourisme Québec
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Warm and welcoming, it is home both to essential services and to entertainment
venues. In bygone days, it boasted a large concentration of places for a good time.
From loose women to impossible love stories, the Main has always had a libertine
reputation. As a part of town known for vice, where erotic shows, houses of
debauchery, clandestine gaming houses and places to smoke all sorts of illegal
products were established, it earned Montréal the nickname of “Sin City”. Today, the Main is also a delightful dance floor and outdoor market. When summer
comes, it is a sure sign that great rejoicing and revelry are just around the corner.
With the Grand Prix on the “Main”, Club “Main” and Mix’Arts, there are plenty of
opportunities to celebrate the uniqueness of Montréal’s queen of thoroughfares. Every year, from Rue Sherbrooke to Avenue du Mont-Royal, streets are blocked offto make way for “unmotorized” traffic. For all Montrealers, it is a true celebration!
Music, food from all corners of the world, happy people and united colours—worthy
of a Benetton commercial. The stage is set! Now for the merchants, giving their
sales pitches like Romeo crying out his love for Juliette. There’s the sound track! To
play the roles, all that’s missing is you!
Visit http://www.bonjourquebec.com for more information about visiting Quebec.
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MUCHMOR PEOPLE
14
Voice Over. Deepshikha Brar makes
waves in Calgary By Peeyush Agnihotri
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There are two types of people in this world —
followers who tread a set path and leaders, who
carve a niche for themselves and inspire other to
follow. Deepshikha Brar, an Indian-origin immigrant
to Canada, falls in the latter category.
This lady from North India is an inspiration to many. An All-India Radio (AIR) announcer, who came to Canada nearly 10
years ago, with many dreams worked hard to realize them.
Today, she owns a string of diverse businesses that include
an ethic media production house, cosmetics clinic and an
education plan agency. Deepshikha plans an electora
debut, now.
A popular face in the South Asian community, this Alberta
Centennial Award winner, 2005, is seeking nomination as an
MLA from one of the Calgary north east constituency on the
Wildrose Alliance ticket.
“Since childhood, I was keen on co-curricular activities. My
leanings towards poetry and writing brought me into media.
hosted my first radio show in India in 1996. Three years later
we (me and my family) moved to Edmonton, Canada, and to
Calgary in 2003, she recalls.
The move didn’t come with many surprises as she and her
husband were pretty ready to face the Canadian way of life.
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“We were prepared, supported each
other and are now where we are,” she
says and adds her husband has been a
pillar of strength despite being from a
diverse religious leaning. “My husband
has always inspired and encouraged me
in pursuing my dreams. We are more of
fast friends rather than a hubby-wife
duo,” she says.
Once in Canada, after hosting live
community radio shows, Sandli Paidan
and Chanan de Vanjare, Deepshikhamoved on to the national television. Co-
hosting with a couple of other media
personalities gave her the needed
exposure and she started her own
production company, Pravaas TV, which
drew huge response from the public.
The programmes highlight many socialissues of immigrant’s concerns.
Currently, she hosts Aagaz, a pan-
Canada TV programme on social and
cultural aspects (Vision TV) targeting the
South Asian community, besides Hard
Talk and Deepshikha Live on ethnicradio. She also owns a cosmetics clinic
and an education plan (RESPs) agency.
All this was possible as she studied and
worked hard in Canada to make a mark.
A commerce graduate, she honed her
media skills as also worked towards
getting credentials in the fields of RESP
and cosmetology. And is she dabbling
successfully in all these diverse
sectors? The trophies and community
awards that adorn the room say it all.
Her success mantra? “Know your worth
and always wear that what’s-my-worth
tag up your sleeves. Never compromise
and sooner or later you will get into the
field of your choice. Work passionately
to achieve the goal and opportunitysure will knock your door,” she advises.
Miffed by the non-use of the vast
immigrant talent that Canada has,
Deepshikha says: "It costs hundreds of
thousands of dollars to educate a
doctor, engineer, or other professional.We have thousands of highly educated
and experienced professionals working
in other sectors. We can easily get rid of
the problem of shortage of doctors and
nurses, and many others, if we
accelerate and streamline the process
of recognition of their educational andprofessional credentials,” she says.
She already is creating (air) waves in
Calgary. Will her political foray be able
to create some more ripples? We’ll soon
find out!
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Elected Municipal Councillor for Hull for the first time in 1999 and
Councillor for the new city of Gatineau in 2001, Marc Bureau (55) became
Mayor of Ville de Gatineau, Quebec's fourth largest city, in 2005. He also
holds the post of President of Développement économique – CLD
Gatineau and the Commission conjointe d'aménagement de l'Outaouais.
He sits as a member of the Big City Mayors Caucus of the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities, of the executive committee and the board of
directors of the Union des municipalités du Québec and of the Conférence
régionale des élus de l'Outaouais.
Meet the Mayor
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Marc Bureau, Ville de Gatineau, Québec
By Jane Toombes
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As an entrepreneur, starting in 1982, he
also served as acting director of
recreational services for Rouyn-
Noranda. As an active member of his community,he was the founding member and vice-
president of the “Association des gens
d'affaires de Hull” and vice-president of
the executive committee of the
“Commission scolaire des Portages-de-
l'Outaouais”. Born in Abitibi, Mr. Bureau is married to
Christiane Gourde and father of four
children: Eloï, Audrey, Chloe and
Chanel. He has a Bachelor's degree in
recreation from the Université du
Québec à Trois-Rivières and a
certificate in administration from the
Université de Montréal.
Always close to citizens, Mr. Bureau
promotes t ransparency , sound
management o f pub l i c f unds ,
maintenance of basic quality services,
de ve lo pm en t o f a sa f e l i v i ng
environment for all, affordable housingdevelopment and promotion of a
dynamic economic development in
Gatineau. The environmental protection
and sustainable development are at the
heart of the actions of Mr. Bureau, who
wishes to make Gatineau a city always
greener, one city that stands out for its
quality of life.
Mr. Bureau gave his time to answer
our questions so that we can find out
a little more about him.
Q: What was the first car you ever
owned?
A: Honda Civic
Q: If you could own any vehicle what
would it be and why?
A: The new Nissan Leaf. A 100%
electric car, with zero emission, that will
be available this fall in Canada
Q: What has been your most
embarrassing moment and why?
A: When I tore the Achilles tendonduring an election campaign. It was a
long walk to victory!
Q: What is one thing people would be
surprised to find about about you?
A: I dance Salsa!!!
Q: If you could change anything
about yourself what would it be?
A: Be able to let go off work more easily.
Q: What do you most value in other
people?
A: Respect and loyalty.
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Q: Mac or PC?
A: PC.
Q: Where has been your most memorable travel destination and why?
A: Japan. It is a beautiful country that impressed me for its culture and the technology.
Q: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
A: Do not laugh, but it would be here in Gatineau! It is a beautiful city which combines
the urban and rural environments. No wonder that the Gatineau-Ottawa region is the
best place to live in the country according to a study for MoneySense.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Gandhi with Ben Kingsley.
Q: What was the last book you read, or are currently reading?
A: Detour from James Siegle. An excellent thriller!
Q: What sports do you support and/or play?
A: I love tennis, skiing and walking.
Q: What hobbies do you do to relax?
A: Being close to several rivers, I love to relax with fly fishing in the summer.
Q: What has been your best moment since becoming Mayor? And your worst?
A: Best: Without doubt, the Québec Games in Gatineau last summer (2010) which
coincided with the opening of new Sports Centre, a world-class building that became
the home of the men's team of Volleyball Canada. Worst: I haven’t found one yet.
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MUCHMOR LIFESTYLE
Ever wonder how cheese is made...ever wonder,.. how to become a cheese
connoisseur. Well now is your chance! Hastings County's Economic Development Department has joined forces with
3 fellow Eastern Ontario Offices in order to make it happen. The four Eastern Offices
are Frontenac, Prince Edward County, Lennox & Addington, and Hastings County.
The goal is to expand Eastern Ontario in the Cheesemaking industry by educating
the public. They have expanded this to a new iPad application that will soon be
available to the public.
HOW TO START A CHEESEMAKING BUSINESS IN EASTERN ONTARIO is a new
informative information iPad application that will soon be available to the
public. This is a great opportunity to learn about the craft of cheesemaking, and the
steps that are involved. It contains all the information from what animal's milk to
choose, and the pros and cons for each choice. Every reader is encouraged to
participate in workshops before jumping into this trade. This is a trade that allows you to be creative and make money all at the same time,
but is a full-time job! The information states that according to the Expansion
Strategy 2009, current cheese-makers are not interested in expanding their
businesses. This leaves a large expansion rate for new cheese-makers. With Sales
expected to rise by 25% in the next decade this leaves room for another 25-50 new
cheesemakers, with a sale of $2-4 million dollars.
Keep your eye open on this blog for new information on the new iPad Application
named: HOW TO START A CHEESEMAKING BUSINESS IN EASTERN ONTARIO.
Don’t miss out on daily blogs http://www.communitieswithopportunities.com/and
tweets (HastingsCounty), for all up to date information.
24
Invest in Cheese Please... By: Lesley Galloway
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Canada the preferred destination for
UK expatsIt seems the pull of the beautiful Rockies, the Mounties and the marvelous taste of
maple syrup is a real sticking point for British expats.’ Canada has the best quality of
life for British expats who have voted its resources, natural beauty, peaceful attitude
and fairly administered judicial system as the best in the world. Canada tops the
fourth annual NatWest International Personal Banking Quality of Life Index with 92%
of expats rating its working environment as very good or excellent and 90%
regarding their financial security in a similar vein.
The majority, 92% rated Canada, as the best for its diverse environment,
natural beauty and resources, while 94% said its peaceful nature was a real
draw. Expats from around the world now account for more than 70% of the
whole Canadian labour force growth.
Canada leads the G7 in terms of the safest place to live and conduct business with
the most fairly administered judicial system. It was the leading performer among the
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hard-hit G7 developed economies
during the global recession, helped by
its sound banking system and the fact it
avoided the property crash seen in the
United States and much of Europe.
In second place is New Zealand,
followed by Australia, France and South
Africa. Making up the rest of the top ten
is Portugal, Spain, the United States,
the Uni ted Arab Emirates and
Singapore.
As well as the country’s natural beauty
and peaceful reputation, Canada’s
healthcare system is also well regarded
by expats living there and was rated
high by 90%. Furthermore high
standards of education are enjoyed by
expats in Canadian Schools andUniversities. Canada has the highest
percentage of individuals achieving at
least college or university education
among the top 50 countries surveyed
by the Wor ld Compet i t i veness
Yearbook, 2009.
‘This is the second year Canada has
topped the tables of the NatWest IPB
Quality of Life Index. Its excellent
working conditions, financial security
and peaceful reputation have pushed
Canada into this year’s pole position. It
seems the pull of the beautiful Rockies,
the Mounties and the marvelous taste of
maple syrup is a real sticking point for
expats,’ said Dave Isley, head of
NatWest Internat ional Personal
Banking.
’As a member of the Commonwealth,
Canada offers Brits common values and
goals shared with the UK, helping
British expats settle into the country
and feel at home,’ he added.
The booming economy in Canada also
makes the country more attractive.
Canada‘s recent expatriate intake has
been double those of the United States,
with priority given to highly skilled
workers.
Financial assets in Canada are up 6%
from last year’s levels. Household
finances improved in the fourth quarter
of 2010, and net worth is rising to
record levels. Household net worth per
cap i ta i ncreased to $181,700,representing the highest level on record.
Canadian household net worth grew by
2.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010 to
$6.2 t r i l l ion. The ga in pushed
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Canadians’ net worth to a new record high, 4.1% above the pre-recession peak
seen in the second quarter of 2008 and 14.6% above the recessionary trough seen
in the first quarter of 2009.
‘UK expats say they are living a more fulfilled lifestyle abroad, whilst also benefiting
financially. This is particularly true for UK expats in Canada who not only say theybenefit from financial security, improved cost of living and a happier working
environment but a better work life balance and equal opportunities,’ explained Isley.
For the wider expat community, living and working abroad enables them to earn and
save more despite the current economic downturn. More than half of those living
and working abroad earn between £50,000 and £100,000. Expats based in Hong
Kong have the highest salaries with close to half earning more than £100,000 a year.
The factors that influence individuals’ decisions on where they pursue their careers
are many, but a key factor is the powerful link between earning capacity and the
ability to build a nest egg. Some 74% of respondents claim to have increased
disposable income since becoming expats.
Top 12 Expat Destinations:
1. Canada
2. New Zealand
3. Australia
4. France
5. South Africa
6. Portugal
7. Spain
8. U.S.
9. United Arab Emirates
10. Singapore
11. Hong Kong
12. China
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While the popularity of online job boards puts millions of jobs at one’s fingertips, it has
also made the job applicant pool that much bigger. For this reason, national job
search sites and the Internet as a whole have gotten a bad rap from some industry
professionals as an ineffective job seeker tool; on the contrary, the Internet actually
can be a great resource for job seekers — they just need to know how to use it.
10 simple tips for success:
1. If you build it, they can come.
Instead of simply posting your résumé on a Web site, take it one step further and
design an easily-navigable Web site or online portfolio where recruiters can view your
body of work, read about your goals and obtain contact information.
2. Check yourself to make sure you haven’t wrecked yourself.Google yourself to see what comes up — and what potential employers will see if they
do the same. If you don’t like what you find, it’s time to do damage control.
3. Narrow your options.
Many job boards offer filters to help users refine their search results more quickly. You
should have the option to narrow your job search by region, industry and duration,
and, oftentimes, you can narrow it even more by keywords, company names,experience needed and salary.
4. Go directly to the source.
Instead of just applying for the posted job opening, one of the best strategies to
finding a job is to first figure out where you want to work, target that company or
industry and then contact the hiring manager. Also, many employers’ career pages
invite visitors to fill out candidate profiles, describing their background, jobs of
interest, salary requirements and other preferences.
5. Find your niche with industry Web sites.
Refine your search even more by visiting your industry’s national or regional Web site,
where you can find jobs in your field that might not appear on a national job board
More and more employers are advertising jobs on these sites in hopes of getting a
bigger pool of qualified applicants.
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6. Try online recruiters.
Recruiters will help match you with jobs that meet your specific skills and needs. Not
sure where to start? Sites such as recruiterlink.com, onlinerecruitersdirectory.com
searchfirm.com and i-recruit.com provide links to online headhunters for job seekers.
7. Utilize video résumés.Video résumés are just one more way to stand out to employers. Intended as
supplements to — not replacements for — traditional résumés, video résumés allow
job seekers to showcase a little bit of their personalities and highlight one or two
points of interest on their résumés.
8. Run queries.
You run searches on everything else, from your high school sweetheart to low-fat
recipes, so why not jobs? Enter a query that describes the exact kind of job you’re
seeking and you may find more resources you wouldn’t find otherwise (but be
prepared to do some sorting).
9. Utilize job alerts.
Most job boards have features that allow you to sign up to receive e-mail alerts about
newly available jobs that match your chosen criteria. Or go a step further and arrange
an RSS (really simple syndication) feed from one of these job sites to appear on your
customized Internet homepage or your PC’s news-reader software.
10. Get connected.
How many times have you been told that it’s not what you know, but who you know?
Thanks to the emergence of professional networking sites like LinkedIn.com, job
seekers no longer have to rely on the old standby of exchanging business cards with
strangers. These sites are composed of millions of industry professionals and allow
you to connect with people you know and the people they know and so forth. (A word
of caution: When you sign up for online social networking sites, you are in a public
domain. Unless you are able to put a filter on some of your information, nothing is
private, and it can be difficult to erase once it is posted.)
Search for your perfect job
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MUCHMOR IMMIGRATION
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Still on a high since landing in
Canada. The Draper’s story of life
in Canada By Jane Toombes
As one of British Airways’ youngest
pilots, Steven Draper and his wife
Caroline and young son Callum had a
good life in the UK. They owned a
Jacobean farm house with over 60 acres
of land and stables which they rented out
to people wanting to ride and graze their
horses. Caroline managed this enterprise
having given up her career as a college
lecturer after having their son.
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Their aim was to renovate the house and add to their chickens and goats to become
completely self-sufficient. However, because the property was Grade II listed the
renovations they needed to do had to abide by strict standards which increased the
cost substantially. Also at this time British Airways (BA) decided to centralize their
operations from Heathrow Airport in London, meaning that Steven would have a very
long commute and possibly a pay cut. It would mean the couple would have to
remortgage and Caroline would have to find a job to help pay for everything, if they
decided to stay in the property.
The decision was made to sell the house and find somewhere new. But if they
were going to sell and move they would look at moving outside the UK.
“We were very sad and reflected on everything and decided that enough wasenough and that the UK was based on a pyramid scheme with everyone
sinking everything into their houses - which meant that a boom and bust was
not gonna be far away again.” says Caroline, “I said lets leave and look at New
Zealand.”
They dreamt of opening a spa on North
Island or a vineyard in the Nelson region
on South Island. But they soon realized
that the reality of such a move would be
too much.
“Steven would still be working for BA but
flying from New Zealand,” explains
Caroline, “Also our parents weren’t getting
any younger and to expect them to travel
such a great distance to visit would be too
much for them. So we decided New
Zealand wasn’t for us after all.”
They then looked at Canada as both had
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relatives in the country and Steven could still continue to work for BA. In fact he
could get a work permit allowing them to move to Canada relatively quickly and then
apply for residency once there. They decided to put their house up for auction and
sold it within a week. The next thing was telling relatives about the impending move.
Caroline recalls breaking the news. “My parents took it very bad as we had their only
grandchild and they were, and still are, very upset that we took him away from them.
They said everything under the sun to me: about how bad I was, how they would
never forgive me, how I've broken their hearts, etc. Sadly they still feel very much the
same. They hate Canada on principal and it hurts me to talk about what we do here
with them. But I know that I am not alone in that response from parents after having
spoken to many expats its fairly common, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
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So, the couple decided to move to Nova Scotia as it reminded them of Scotland.
Steven got his work permit and they moved in April 2006 buying a house in Bear
River.
Whilst in Nova Scotia Caroline became pregnant with their second child. When she
went into labour they had to travel two hours to the hospital. This was a big shock tothem as there were very few community hospitals and fewer local doctors to take
care of such things. However, despite everything she gave birth to a healthy son
Orson.
It was during this time that Steven began feeling unwell. They put it down to his job.
After all he was constantly travelling and commuting to England every four weeks
from Halifax. Steven’s health continued to decline and he became very sick withtonsillitis and was on various IV drips for nearly a month. He was told by doctors that
he could not go back to work for several months and that they would continue to do
tests to find out the cause of his ill health. After six months he was still off work and
feeling no better with no end in sight.
Eventually he was diagnosed with Hypersommnia. This is a condition which means
the sufferer has reoccurring episodes of sleepiness which can occur any time of the
day. The constant need for naps meant that his much loved flying career was over.
He would not be allowed to keep his flying licence even with medication as this too
was incompatible with regulations.
This was a huge blow to the family as suddenly they had no income coming in and
knew they would have to find work. Both Steven and Caroline felt it was very
important that she be at home for the boys and so it was down to Steven to find
work. He decided to look to his second love - photography.
Since moving to Nova Scotia he had been a keen photographer and some of his
work had appeared in newspapers etc. They decided that if he was going to make
his photography business work they would need to move closer to Toronto. They
decided to go on a trip to look at different areas and stayed in a B&B in Stirling in the
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Quinte region of Ontario. The landlady there suggested that they should look at Prince
Edward County or PEC as it is known locally.
“She said it was a great place for kids with vineyards and farms for sale and that it
was a great place for artistic types like us.” says Steven. “We drove over the bridge to
the island and felt at peace for the first time in a long time.”
This was in early 2008 and they soon found a house they loved and bought it. Soon
Caroline found out she was pregnant again and Aaron, their third son was the first
New Year’s baby to be born in Picton Hospital in 2009.
Whilst in Nova Scotia Callum their oldest had been home schooled for two days and
in French Immersion for three days, but by now he wanted to go to “proper” school.
They enrolled him in a local school which he loves.
“It is a totally different school to both UK and NS.” says Caroline, “No fences, wide
open playing fields, and a school based
on common sense. It is a small school
of just over 200 children and the
teachers know all of the children and
most of the parents by first names.”
In 2010 their fourth child Eric was born,
yes another boy!
We asked the couple what they liked
and disliked about Canadian life and if
they missed anything about the UK.
“We love the fact that we feel part of the
community here in PEC,” says Caroline.
“We try to get involved in things and it
pays off with friendship, work opportunities and lots of things do do locally.
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“We love the fact that there are fewer people in Canada with wide open spaces. Theroads are easier to travel along, not so much congestion, even in Toronto.”
Steven continues, “People here seem to be more relaxed and have a sense of
community. People seem to apologize for everything and tend to ‘beat-around-the-
bush’ rather than tell you as it is. This is not always a good thing as difficult decisions
cannot always be made.
“Although it is colder here for much longer periods, everyone knows how to handle
the weather and gets by fine.”
They say the UK was much busier with no one having time for anyone else. There was
more noise and pollution, including light pollution. They also had a sense of unease
and never feeling really safe and having to ‘keep up with the Jones’. House prices
were also very high making it very hard to progress up the property ladder.
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They do however say they miss unspoiled rural rolling countryside and traditiona
English pubs. They also miss Sunday football on TV (real footie), as well as cricket.
They find food was cheaper in the UK and alcohol was also cheaper and of better
quality than here in Canada. There have been some shocks to the system too.
“The cost of living in Canada is expensive especially when you have to earn in dollars
not stirling. Many people in UK look to here and convert with stirling but that is only
good if you are living on a UK pension and exchange rates are in your favour.”
explains Caroline. “We have also been shocked by the state of health care in Canada.
Many people still do not have family doctors, but once you find one the process does
seem quicker here than the UK.”
Steven continues, “There can be a lack of things for families and children to do in the
winter other than hockey. After all not everyone is a fan of hockey. There also seems
to be a lack of indoor swimming pools compared to the UK.
“We love being here and would not move back, but do miss the traditional history and
sense of place that the UK has from years of being invaded that has moulded the
streets, countryside and ancient castles etc. That sense of history is really missed
along with rolling english countryside.”
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MUCHMOR FEATURED
With the new double album Chasing Lydie, Marie-Jo
Therio has broken out from her Francophone world
and released her debut English-language album.
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Born in Moncton, Marie-Jo Therio grewup with a musical mother and three
musician brothers; by the age of 10 she
was studying piano and at 16 started
performing her own songs. When she
was 17, she moved to Montreal to study
literature at the Université de Montréal
and attend the Conservatoire d’artdramatique, while performing at boîtes
à chanson. It was around this time
playwright Michel Tremblay auditioned
her for his romantic opera Nelligan;
d i rec t o r C laude B rassa rd was
impressed, casting her as Nelligan’s
younger sister. Then came roles in LesMisérables and three years in the Télé-
Métropole series Chambres en ville,
playing a mixed-up teenager.
All the while she performed her music at
assorted shows and festivals, and in
1995 released her debut album Comme
de la musique. A year later she received
the first Fondation Félix-Leclerc prize
awarded by the FrancoFolies de
Montréal, and played Place des Arts. In
1997, she opened for Georges Moustaki
at the Casino de Paris, and won the PrixSentier des Halles. She also won a
Jutra Award as best supporting actress
for the film Full Blast (1999).
She teamed up with avant-garde
guitarist-producer Bernard Falaise for
her second album, La Maline (2000),
and the musical theatre creation Arbre à
fruits, which both gained Marie-Jo yet
more plaudits. By 2004, she had moved
to France to finish Les mat ins
habitables, becoming the first Canadian
to record for the highly regarded Naive
label, selling 50,000 copies (gold) and
winning the 2006 Félix Award for best
contemporary folk album.
And now, with the new double album
Chasing Lydie, Marie-Jo Therio has
broken out from her Francophone
world and released her debut
English-language album.
The inspirations behind the album are
twofold and intertwined, family, travel,
and her family’s travels.
Marie-Jo Therio “Chasing Lydie”
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“In 1927, Rosalie and Grégoire LeBlanc, my great maternal grandparents and their
11 children, had already left the farm in Memramcook, New Brunswick, to live in
Waltham Massachusetts for a hope of a better life.” Says Marie-Jo, “Most of them
first found work at the Waltham Watch factory (famous for its clocks and watches).
“I remember from my childhood in Acadie, the frequent visits of the relatives ‘from
the states’ (la parent des états). The rare mention of my great aunt Lydia (on the
maternal side): an adventurous and wild woman it appeared, who chose to be a
singer in the 3O's and 40's, was the trigger of an intense curiosity in me.
“Chasing Lydie is a quest and an adventure that started as an attempt to know more
about my great aunt Lydia, her family, and the story of those who immigrated to the
states in the days of New England's industrial boom. It soon became apparent that
40 Photo Credit: Muchmor Magazine
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the adventure itself was taking center
stage. Chasing Lydie is also a reflection
on time, on memory passed on, on the
celebration of those things which seem
small but can be so hugely important,on the urgency of being fully alive.”
Having spent her entire career
singing and performing in French,
Chasing Lydie was to become Marie-
Jo’s very first English-language
project, she explains.
“Although it was unsuspected at first, it
soon became apparent that in order to
celebrate the intimacy of the project and
to get closer to it's emotional core, I had
to embrace the language that the
LeBlancs who left for ‘the American
Dream’ learned upon arrival to the
states. It is what felt truer to the project.
The songs came naturally in English and
were never thought of in French at all.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the theme
of Chasing Lydie, Marie-Jo has a strong
yearning for life on the road and astrong sense of wanderlust. Since
leaving her hometown of Moncton at
age 17 and basing herself in Montreal (a
city she still calls home), she has
travelled the world as a performer,
visiting France, Spain, Bosnia, Russia,
Senegal, Madagascar, Mali, Vietnam,
China, El Salvador, Haiti, Burkina
Faso…and many more. Not one to
name favourites she gains inspirationfrom, and holds everywhere she visits in
high regard with a respect and
appreciation of alternative beliefs and
lifestyles.
“Travelling has always been deeply
connected to the creative process for
me. I suppose this in some way could
be related to my Acadian roots. There’s
no doubt that Acadians have been,
either by choice or not, big travellers
through time.”
The album itself is a wonderful mix of
many musical genres that come
together to create a musical journey that
is almost cinematic.
The musical colors of the album very
much obey the convergence between
the physical road of the present – the
sound of voices on the way / the soundof windscreen wipers sweeping away
the rain ahead – and the archived
sounds of the past, or of an imagined
past, celebrating its joyous clichés and
sweet melancholy.
Photo Credit: Rex Roof
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“Chasing Lydie is a "film sonore", a little movie that progresses kind of like an
awakened dream, with sound only, but allowing many images to surface. It invites a
real moment of listening in time and space.” explains Marie-Jo.
Once the album was finished Marie-Jo felt there was only one way to road test the
new material: to play the music to the people who inspired it.
“One of the very important moments on an intimate level was to go back to Waltham
with ‘Chasing Lydie’ (the finished album) and to listen to it with some of my
American relatives. At that moment, I felt that this adventure and the music that had
emerged from it was something that had an echo in them.”
It must have been nerve-wracking for an artist to introduce their family to a workthey themselves inspired; would they like it? Would it do them justice? Would the
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story come across OK? These concerns were almost instantly swept away by an
overwhelming moment of appreciation and emotion and the reaction to the playback
couldn’t have gone better for Marie-Jo, who describes the moment as simply,
“memorable.”
Not only has the feedback from her own family been positive, the English-speaking
media reviews have been rapturous, including descriptions such as ‘a stunningly
beautiful work of popular art, utterly amazing’ and ‘(throughout Chasing Lydie)…
Therio holds the listener in the palm of her musical hands’, while the French media
have also been overwhelming in their reviews and support. So does all this mean
Marie-Jo will be recording another English album?
“Songs are songs. Poetry is poetry: you will not be surprised to hear me say that it’s
not about making an album in English, in French or in Spanish but it is to allow an
inspiration inside, and to release that inspiration from any
restriction whichever it may be. There are so many different ways
and paths and I suppose the result of this work has its content of
surprise for me. We may make a perfect plan but hey! Life, and the
roads chosen, have their own propositions to make.”
And on that suitably mysterious cliffhanger our interview is over. As
life’s journeys are yet to satisfy Marie-Jo’s wanderlust we hope her
travels will one day bring her to the rest of Canada on tour so we
can all have the chance to witness this wonderful album performed
live.
At the time of going to press tour dates are yet
to be confirmed but will be announced at
http:// mariejotherio.net/.
Chasing Lydie is out now on
Dare to Care Records.
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MUCHMOR SPOTLIGHT
There’s no doubt about it, making ends meet is tough. And getting ahead? – well, formany Canadians, that’s a desperate dream for tomorrow when every day brings the
reality of mortgage payments, car loans, lease payments, large credit card balances,
and other demands on your hard won earnings.
Sure, you’d like to start an investment program or add to the small investments
you’ve already made, but there just never seems to be anything left over once
you’ve taken care of the essentials. And in a world that runs on credit, it’s too easy
to carry too much debt in too many places.
If you’re staying awake at nights trying to map a way out of the dreaded debt spiral,
to say nothing of stretching your income to cover an investment program that could
help you realize your dreams for the future, debt consolidation may be just the ticket.
Debt consolidation can increase your ability to invest
Debt consolidation simply means paying off a number of higher interest rate loans or
other high-cost debt by taking out a single loan for a consolidated overall lower
monthly payment. You can choose to consolidate such unsecured debts as medical
bills, car payments, education loans, credit card payments or lines of credit and the
benefit is a single, more affordable monthly payment, that is usually much lower than
the many monthly payments you were making previously. It’s an effective way to
regain control of your finances, ease your cash management, generate savings andreduce stress as well as establishing a repayment plan that will move you beyond
simply servicing your balances to actually eliminating them.
If you own a home, you can consider consolidating your debt using a home equity
loan. Your loan is secured by your home and there’s no doubt you’ll be paying a
much lower interest rate than you do on your credit cards which can range from 19
44
How to pay your bills and invest too!
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Peter Martin BA,CFP Senior Financial Consultant Investors Group Financial Services Inc
Call us: (905) 529-7165
Email: [email protected]
45
percent to over 28 percent for a retail card. By keeping your amortization period the
same, but with a lower interest rate, you’ve created additional cash flow that can be
used towards other financial goals.
An easy investment strategy that works
Once you’ve got your debt under control, it’s time to bring discipline and
consistency to your investment life. An easy way to do that and enjoy long-term
investment growth is through dollar cost averaging. This simply means making
regularly scheduled investments for a set amount of dollars. It’s a trouble-free
investment plan that delivers some powerful benefits:
Your investments are automatic you choose an amount that is debited from your
bank account and invested on your behalf on a regular basis, such as each month.
You are free from scrambling to buy lump sum investments at irregular intervals in
an attempt to ‘buy low and sell high’, your automated investments take place on a
regular basis.
You are able to acquire a greater number of mutual fund units when the price is
lower and a lesser number when the price is higher.
Over the longer term, your average cost per unit may be lower.
Dollar cost averaging is a great way to ramp up your RRSP nest egg and, along with
debt consolidation, is one of the many personal financial solutions that can make
your dreams for tomorrow realistically achievable through the actions you’re taking
today. We can help you gain control of your financial life and improve your prospects
for the future.
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Photo Muchmor Magazine: Toronto Eaton Centre
Experience Sensational: REAL ESTATE • CAREERS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• EDUCATION • HEALTHCARE • TRANSPORTATION
VISIT US ONLINE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION:
www.immigratetosmithsfalls.ca613.283.4124 ext. 184
We invite you to make Smiths Falls your new home.