The news you need. The fun you want. October 2012

Saying Goodbye to the Alaska Hotel

The Alaska Hotel has been part of the Dawson Creek downtown my whole life. In fact it was one

of the oldest buildings in town and the old running business. And now it’s gone. Sadly, the Alaska Hotel burned to the ground on Friday, September 14, 2012. Brass Scissors Hair Studio was also lost in the same fire.There are countless photos of the fire to be found online as the nearby streets and sidewalks were filled with shocked onlookers. The social media sites were buzzing with firsthand accounts of the blaze.As the manager of the Tourism Dawson Creek Visitor Centre, I speak with visi-tors from all over the world, and the

Alaska Hotel was without a doubt a well-known landmark and one that folks were eager to see in person when visit-ing our city.I decided to do a bit of digging into the history of the hotel and spoke with Mr. Day Roberts, a long time reporter for the Peace River Block News and past president of the South Peace Historical Society.I learned that Alaska Hotel was built by the Michaud family in 1931 at the same time the railway came to Dawson Creek. It was originally 6 guestrooms, a lobby and a restaurant and was called the Dew Drop Inn. The hotel got a liquor license in 1936 and was the only pub in Dawson Creek for many years.With the bustle of thousands of American troops and civilians coming to town in 1942 for the construction of

the Alaska Highway, a top floor was built with an additional 6 guestrooms.

My father was one of the civilians who came to Dawson Creek to work on the highway and he remembered men build-ing fires in barrels during the winter to keep their hands warm while they were waiting in line to buy a beer. Once in the bar, they were allowed to drink their one beer and then had to leave out the back door and go around to line up again for the next. Mr. Roberts told me that the American soldiers could have all the American beer they wanted from their quartermasters, but many preferred the stronger Canadian brew.

The Alaska Hotel continued to be a popular gathering spot and watering hole for many years.

Continued on page 3

Submitted by Joyce LeeManager, Visitor ServicesTourism Dawson Creek

2 The Flipside October 2012

Interesting Words

It’s a Wonderful Life!Do You need a Gratitude Adjustment? By Sue Stark

Thanksgiving day is this month and I am sure you will all agree there can never be too many

days devoted to giving thanks. I think every day should be a day for giving Thanks – and I know that many believe that too, maybe this note can be a reminder to us all that our Thanks should never be tied up in just one day.One of the simplest and most powerful tools we possess is locked up in grati-tude. I know that many of you out there think as I do on this one simple truth, what we put out we get back, and wow what we get back when we are grateful not only for what we have, but what is on its way to us, well therein lies the magic of stirring up the Universe in your favour. I know I know, how can I be grateful when nothing is going right? My favor-ite response to that, is compared to what? How bad is every little thing in your life? Compared to what? When we look at what others are suffering with, sometimes what we are whining about just really doesn’t matter any-more and instead we think wow, I am so lucky.Remember that, compared to what?

But the most important part of that is when we really look at what we have, we find that we truly are blessed, you know what I am talking about, this shift, this compared to what, is what I like to call a Gratitude Adjustment.When things go wrong, or things seem hopeless, or it doesn’t seem like you can do anything more, or when all else fails, the solution is always to have a change in Gratitude. Yes we need to change the way we look at things, but that starts with Gratitude. This gratitude adjust-ment is a simple thank you for all we have, but the power in it, is nothing short of miraculous. So this month I encourage you to raise your awareness, by making every day Thanks giving. Put a sticky note on your desk , on the side of your computer screen, on the mirror in the bathroom. 2 words. Thank you. Have a gratitude adjustment, no matter what it is, instead of complaining about it/them/yourself be grateful, find the gratitude in all you do, and wow watch and see what hap-pens !!! Here’s to your Wonderful Life …Happy Thanksgiving friends XO

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and the butcher is just locking up when a man begins pounding on the front door.“Please let me in,” says the man des-perately. “I forgot to buy a turkey, and my wife will kill me if I don’t come home with one.”“Okay,” says the butcher. “Let me see what I have left.” He goes into the freezer and discovers that there’s only one scrawny turkey left. He brings it out to show the man.“That one is too skinny. What else

you got?” says the man.The butcher takes the bird back into the freezer and waits a few minutes and brings the same turkey back out to the man. “Oh, no,” says the man, “That one doesn’t look any bet-ter. You better give me both of them!”

The day before Thanksgiving

pea-souper(pee’ soo’-pur) n. a heavy thick fog.jument(joo’-ment) n. an animal, espe-cially one used for transporting loads or doing other heavy work; a beast of burden.aglet(ag’-lit) n. a tag or sheath, as of plastic or metal, on the end of a lace, cord, or ribbon to facilitate its passing through eyelet holes.comity(kom’-it-ee) n. a: friendly social atmosphere; social harmony. b: a loose widespread community based on common social institu-tions.vigorish(vig’-er-ish) n. a: charge taken (as by a bookie or gambling house) on bets, also the degree of such a charge. b: interest paid to a mon-eylender.quotidian(quote-tid’-ee-an) adj. 1: occur-ring every day. 2: belonging to each day; every day. 3: common-place; ordinary.Dubiety(doo-bye’-et-ee) also, dubiosi-ty (doob›-ee-oss›-it-ee) n. a feel-ing of doubt; a doubtful matter.petitio principii(peh-tish’-ee-oh prin-sip’-ee-eye) n. a logical fallacy in which a premise is assumed to be true without warrant, or in which what is to be proved is implicitly taken for granted.kyte(kite) n. (chiefly Scottish) stomach; belly.pawky(paw’-kee) adj. artfully shrewd; canny.katzenjammer(katz’-en-jam’-ur) 1:hangover. 2: distress; depression.catchpenny(katch’-pen’-nee) adj. designed especially to appeal to the ignorant or unwary through sensationalism or cheapness.

Thanksgiving is beyond the turkey and the feast, It teaches us to find reasons

to smile and bond with our loved ones!Happy Thanksgiving Day!

October 2012 The Flipside 3

“I'm never too busy for your referrals"

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101, 9711 - 100th AveFort St John

250-785-5520

charlotte@remaxaction.ca

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“The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.”

Continued from front page.

Charles and Heidi Kux-Kardos began their relationship with the Alaska Hotel in the 1970s when they ran the very popular Alaska Café. When the oppor-tunity to purchase the hotel came up in 1989, they jumped on it. Their vision was best described by a sign on the wall that stated “The spirit of northern adventure combined with the charm of a Paris café.” Every nook and cranny of the building was filled with wonderful antiques and original paintings that rep-resented four decades of collect-ing. The loss of all that irreplaceable treasure is very sad indeed.Another collection of note was the esti-mated thousands of dollars in auto-graphed bills stapled to the walls of the bar, each bill representing a personal Alaska Hotel story or memory.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Mike Malcolm and our local artist Shelly Mowatt collaborated to paint the hotel and it was transformed into an artistic

masterpiece which garnered recognition worldwide. The hotel became the colourful and interesting subject of

countless photographs taken by people from all around the globe. The loss of the Alaska Hotel and the hair studio next door has left a big empty space downtown. Added to the loss a year ago of the Wild Cat Video building on the corner, which those of us who grew up here remember as the old Woolworths store with its lunch counter, the block looks empty.It’s going to take a while to get used to the look of the street without the Alaska Hotel. I know I am not the only one who hopes something spe-cial is built there. Only time will tell.

(NC) Minutes can mean the difference between life or death when an unex-pected fire starts in your home.Under your roof reside your loved ones and belongings. No home is fireproof, but if you build or remodel using the right materials, your home will have a far better chance at withstanding a fire. These materials may even result in a few extra minutes to get out safely.Time is also vital for firefighters. Building or renovating with fire resis-tant materials may result in firefighters having more time to help save people and reduce building damages. Do your research and consider using fire-rate products or ones that can act as a fire

barrier such as mineral wool insulation from Roxul. In comparison to other insulations, this mineral wool choice is made from stone that resists tempera-tures up to approximately 1177° C (2150°F) and it also will not develop smoke or promote flame spread even when directly exposed to fire. Retailers tell us that Roxul insulation will help delay the spread of fire from room to room, providing valuable extra minutes to save people, property and reduce environmental damages.Fire Prevention Week 2012 will be observed from Sunday, October 7 through to Saturday, October 14. Learn more about how to be safe and prevent fires at www.fiprecan.ca.

Fire resistant building materials give you more time to escape

(NC) As most Canadians turn back the clocks on November 4, here are some timely smoke and carbon monoxide safety tips:• You have less than three minutes to escape a fire. So when smoke alarms sound, everyone must know what to do and where to go. Having and practising an escape plan is essential.• Install one smoke alarm on every sto-rey and outside bedrooms. Install inside

bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed.• Ensure all smoke alarms are fully powered. Never take out batteries or remove an alarm from ceiling due to a false alarm.• If your home has any fuel-burning devices such as a gas furnace, gas water heater, gas appliances, or an attached garage or carport, install at least one CSA-approved carbon monoxide out-

side all sleeping areas. One per storey is recommended.• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years, and CO alarms every 7-10 years (depending on manufacturer) whether battery operated or hardwired into your home’s electrical system.More home safety resources can be found on the www.safeathome.ca web site.

“Fall back” to smart home safety

4 The FlipSide October 2012

Sept. Answers

TV Trivia

Do you remember this weekly sitcom?If you are stumped on this we’ll tell you in the next issue.

Last Issue: The Beverly Hillbillies

Music TriviaName the Artist Answers

1. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson2. Every Breath You Take - The Police3. When Doves Cry - Prince4. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye5. I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts6. Don’t You Want Me? - The Human League7. Tainted Love - Soft Cell8. Like a Virgin - Madonna9. The Message - Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five10. Beat It - Michael Jackson11. Sweet Dreams - The Eurythmics12. Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns n Roses13. Call Me - Blondie14. Celebration - Kool & the Gang15. Super Freak Part I - Rick James16. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen17. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC18. Walk This Way - Aerosmith19. Whip It - Devo20. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cindi Lauper

A man is recovering from surgery when the Surgical Nurse appears and asks him how he is feeling.“I’m O. K. but I didn’t like the four letter-words the doctor used in surgery,” he answered.“What did he say,” asked the nurse. “Oops!”

A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, “This is the dumb-est kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.” The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, “Which do you want, son?” The boy takes the quarters and leaves. “What did I tell you?” said the barber. “That kid never learns!”Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store. “Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?” The boy licked his cone and replied, “Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!”

The Game

Across1. Earn, as money5. Violent10. Lupino and Cantor14. “I’ll take Potpourri for$200, ___”15. Branch of learning16. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” starCarter17. Lawbreaking motorist19. Roosevelt’s dog20. “Reuben, Reuben” star21. Jewelry with charms23. 10 million of them equal ajoule26. Comical Feldman andIngels27. “Sweet’ lady of the song32. Fancy vase

33. Super Bowl XXXIII MVP34. Carpenter, often38. ___ & Chandon(champagne brand)40. Weather balloon42. ____ -majeste43. Hydra, e.g.45. In ___ (unborn)47. Sheep’s bleat48. Snapshot holder51. Anti’s advice54. Locale55. Nome natives58. ‘50s bomb tryout62. Fr. Miss63. “Porgy and Bess” setting66. Anc. Scot’s ally67. Slightest68. Mimi’s “mine”

69. Period in Cong.70. Doo-wop woodwinds71. Singer k. d. ___Down1. Fem.’s opposite2. Big name in dog food3. Trenchant4. Phillips ___ Academy5. Serling or Stewart6. “Cakes and ___”7. Complete flop8. The Munsters’ pet bat9. Energetic worker10. Devilish11. Started a hand12. Court zone13. Blinds, essentially18. Solemn song22. Crow calls24. Gerard and Hodges25. Led to the door27. Hanks role28. Suffix for switch29. “The ___ lama, he’s...”:Nash30. African language family31. Painter Albert Pinkhamand family35. “Dragnet” star36. Isaac and Rebekah’sfirstborn37. Paper buy39. Composes41. “Able was I ___ saw Elba”44. “Shocking” color46. Scouts take them49. Works with another50. Devastating51. Bara, et al.52. Politico North53. Bath powders56. Out-of-this-world org.57. Legendary Memphisrecording company59. Bombeck, the columnist60. In a while61. Little branch64. Dues65. They, to Gigi

October 2012 The Flipside 5

In Fort St. JohnA & W Angelic Light B & M Glass Burgers & Brews (Northgate Inn)BMO Cecil Lake Store Credit Union Esquires Coffee House Fort St. John Hospital Waiting AreasFort St. John Medical Clinic WaitingFort City Chrysler Humpty’s Family RestaurantLone Wolf (Taylor) Mondos Mama Panda Restaurant Mile 54 Cafe Masterpiece Framing Northern Grand Northern Star On the Rocks PubOn the Rocks LiquorRazors EdgeRedwood Esso (Taylor) Rogers Trucking Royal Bank Rudy’s Car & Truck Wash Systems Secure Stonebridge Hotel TD BankThe Shed (Taylor) Tim Hortons (North & South) Quiznos Urban Thredz Whole Wheat & Honey

Places to findThe Flipside

In Dawson CreekAurora InnCIBCDawson Creek Visitor CenterDays Inn Lobby Dr. Fletcher’s OfficeEljen ClinicFarmington Store George Dawson LobbyGeorge Dawson CaféHospital MainHuskyLees RestaurantRockwells Stuie’s DinerSubwayThe LodgeTD Bank White SpotTubby’s Car Wash

APPLESBATSBLACK CATBROOMSTICKCANDLECANDYCEMETERYCOFFINCOSTUMEDRACULAFRIGHTENING

FULL MOONGHOSTSGHOULSGOBLINSGRAVEYARDJACK O LANTERNMASKMUMMYNIGHTPUMPKINSCARECROW

SCARYSCREAM SKELETONSKULLSPIDERSTOMBSTONEVAMPIREWEREWOLFWITCHESZOMBIE

A woman whose husband often came home drunk decided to cure him of the habit. One Hal-loween night, she put on a devil suit and hid behind a tree to inter-cept him on the way home.When her husband came by, she jumped out and stood before him with her red horns, long tail, and pitchfork.“Who are you?” he asked.“I’m the Devil!” she responded.“Well, come on home with me,” he said, “I married your sister!”

Bubba and Johnny Ray, two good ole boys from North Carolina, were sitting’ on the front porch drinking beer when a large truck hauling rolls and rolls of sod went by.“I’m gonna do that when I win the lottery,” said Bubba.“Do what?” asked Johnny Ray.“Send my grass out to be mowed,” answered Bubba.

It’s a hot summer day and Jake and Harry are in a ditch digging away. Meanwhile, Ralph is up under the shade of a tree sipping on a cool drink. Jake asks Harry, “Why are we down here digging in the hot Sun while Ralph is be-ing cool up there?” Harry says, “I don’t know, I’ll go ask him”. Harry goes up and asks Ralph, “Why are you up here in the shade drinking a cool drink and Jake and I are in the ditch digging in the hot sun?” Ralph says, “’cause I’ve got smarts”. “What’s that? Asks Harry. Ralph puts his hand in front of the tree and says, “Hit my hand as hard as you can”. Harry swings his fist at Ralph’s hand, Ralph moves his hand and Harry hits the tree, hurting his hand. Ralph, says “I knew to pull my hand away, that’s called hav-ing smarts”. Harry goes back in the ditch and Jake asks, “What did he say?” Ralph says, “Its cause he has smarts.” “What’s that? Asks Jake. Harry puts his hand in front of his face and says. “Hit my hand!”

6 The FlipSide October 2012

Apple Crisp Cups Dog Obedience Training Tips

“Pass the Turkey please.” “Uh-Oh, here comes the puppy!” “Oh no, I dropped my drumstick on the floor!” “Quick, grab that before the puppy gets it!”Have you ever had a little scavenger in your house at Thanksgiving time? I’m sure most of us have, dogs are scaven-gers by nature and will steal food, whenever possible. It’s unsafe for dogs and puppies to ingest cooked turkey or chicken bones. Since the Holidays are close, I thought I would share this quick little note. I am a Certified Dog Obedience Trainer, with some words of advice.“The best way to train your dog to repeat a behavior, is to reward it inter-mittently. The very fact that the dog is seldom rewarded, is one reason it still steals food.”“If I keep trying, sooner or later I will be rewarded”, is what your furry friend says.Please keep unsafe food items away from dogs and puppies at dinner time. Put food items out of stealing reach of them. Dogs and puppies should be put in a safe place while his/her family eats, to eliminate the choice for scavenging or begging.There is also another popular Holiday in

October. Kids get excited to dress up and go trick or treating. With Halloween, comes some safety tips to be aware of. Some people take their dogs out on Halloween, and also dress them up. Be sure to socialize and practice putting on their costumes.Safety factors include: vehicles, the dark as well as other people. That’s why it is important to restrain your dog on a leash, as many things are going on around you.The idea of putting reflec-tive buttons and flagging straps is a good precaution, so drivers can see you and your dog. Pet stores even sell light-up collars and leashes which can glow in the dark. Reflective buttons can be located at your local SPCA.The risk is more apparent in dark colored dogs like brown or black. It’s always a shame to hear about accidents with dogs and cars, when they also might have been able to avoid by preventative measures of safe-ty.

Have fun and stay safe this Holiday month.

Submitted byMelissa PrangeObedience TrainerFort St John, BC

Ingredients3 large McIntosh apples - peeled, cored, and chopped1/4 cup water2 tablespoons white sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste 2 cups all-purpose flour2 cups rolled oats1 1/2 cups brown sugar1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)1 1/2 cups butterDirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 4 12-cup mini-muf-fin tins.1. Mix apples, water, white sugar, and

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon together in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occa-sionally. Simmer until apples are partially cooked, about 5 minutes; remove from heat.

2. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl; cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Place a heaping tablespoon of the crust mixture into a mini muf-fin cup, and press it into the cup so that it covers the bottom and pushes up the sides of the cup. Make the crust go all the way to the top of the little muffin cup, and patch any holes with more crust mixture. There will be crust mixture left over. Place about 2 teaspoons of apple filling in the crust. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of the remaining crust mixture on the filling.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

We will be adding aFREE CLASSIFIED

section in ournext issue.

Send your info toclassifieds@flipsidenews.ca

(NC) Halloween isn’t just for kids. Pets are joining the festivities too by dress-ing up in fabulous costumes. For the upcoming Halloween season, here are tips on how to dress your pet for spook-tackular success, and keep them safe and happy during the celebration.

Devilishly Cute Dress Up

Before you begin shopping for your pets’ Halloween costume, here’s a run-down of some of this year’s cutest options:

• Top Trends: some pet parents like to outfit their pets in the same looks that are popular amongst adults and kids. This year, pet’s costumes run the gamut from superheroes such as Spiderman and Wonder Woman, to rock stars like Bret Michaels and childhood favourites like the sock monkey.

• Something for everyone: combining style, quality and fun, you can style your pet with looks from Martha Stewart Pets, Marvel Comics and the Bret Michaels Pets Rock, which can be found at PetSmart. Each collection includes adorable options such as Wonder Woman, Superman, an enchant-ing dragon, spooky spider, devilishly

cute skeleton and a classic bumblebee costume.

• Cool cats: Cats can join the fun with adorable character hats, like the jester and princess.

• Time to shine: Show off your pet at PetSmart’s annual Howl-O-Ween pet parade on October 20 at your local store or in the online Monster Cute photo contest powered by Greenies at www.facebook.com/PetSmart from September 10 through October 24.

Costumes, toys and more ideas for Halloween fun for your pet can be found at PetSmart or www.petsmart.com.

Spooktacular Halloween fun for pets

(NC) With Halloween almost here, it’s time to get prepared and ready to “out-ghoul” your neighbours. Take a look at these tips and trends to make this Halloween your best ever. Look to the movies for this year’s big-gest costume trends:• For kids, action heroes like Spiderman, Batman or Merida, the red-haired archer from Brave will be popular.• For adults, the roaring twenties will certainly inspire many as we await The Great Gatsby.Choose treats made in a peanut-free facility:• If you have a lot of children trick-or-treating in your neighbourhood, con-sider getting involved with Nestlé’s “Paint The Town Red” program. Peanut allergies are a real concern for many parents on October 31st . By placing the recognizable red box of Nestlé Assorted snack-sized candy bars in your window or front door, parents and kids will know you are handing out treats made in a peanut-free facility.• To get your whole neighbourhood involved, you can also make a pledge at www.yummymummyclub.ca for a chance to win a red box for your whole neighbourhood – up to 50 households.Give your Jack-o-Lantern a facelift• Rather than carve a regular face on your pumpkin, you can easily find many stencils online to trace a unique face or pattern. Get creative and make sure to get the kids involved scooping out the seeds.

Halloween countdown tips

October 2012 The Flipside 7

Threading is an ancient tradition origi-nating in India and Middle Eastern cul-tures and has made its way to Canada. I personally was happy to try this since waxing has always made me leave the salon with huge weird hives all over my forehead….gross. No one likes hives…nevermind having their skin ripped off from wax that was too harsh for their skin type or getting those nasty in-

grown hairs or break outs under their brows. Threading is the opposite. It is done with 100% cotton thread and leaves your skin barely red and much less irritated when finished. This process is done by rolling twisted pieces of cotton thread over the untidy hairline and plucks out the unwanted hair. Threading has several advantages over other methods of hair removal. My personal favorite is I don’t break out in hives, but also like I said, it doesn’t cause in-growns, it doesn’t remove chunks of your skin while removing hair and let’s face it, it’s a pretty cool skill to watch. I’m not going to lie, it doesn’t feel any better than waxing but once it’s done, you will be happy with the results. The practitioner holds one end of a cot-ton thread between their teeth and the other piece in their hand. The middle part of the thread is looped through the index and middle fingers of the other hand. They pull the one thread that’s in their mouth and that’s the one that removes the selected unwanted hairs. Very cool…Its fast and doesn’t use any chemicals on your skin. I have had it done and I have seen it done many times, I am definitely a fan! Why should you like it? You may have

to try it for yourself to find out because describing it doesn’t do it much justice, but from a cosmetologist’s point of view, I certainly recommend it! Waxing pulls your skin, that, plus the hot temperature of the wax being applied to the sensitive areas on your face….I think that in itself is worth try-ing an alternate method. Don’t get me wrong, I am not completely against waxing, we offer both in my salon, but in my opinion, threading is a great alter-native (especially if you have sensitive skin) and is worth trying out at least once. You might even get hooked.

Chemical- free hair removal? Yes please!By Chelsea ToewsDiamond Cherry Beauty Bar

Chelsea Toews

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sun-shine he sees all day.

(NC) Pay yourself first. Don’t spend more than you make. The basic rules of money management are simple, but recent stats show that Canadians aren’t living by them.

According to Statistics Canada, for every dollar of income, the average Canadian owes $1.52 and saves only $0.04. Compared to 1990, when we owed an average of $0.93 cents per dol-lar and saved $0.13 for every dollar, this trend is going in the wrong direction. In Ontario alone, less than three in 10 people achieve a passing grade for their knowledge of money management, according to a recent study by Investor Education Fund (IEF), Canada’s lead-ing authority on financial literacy edu-cation and research.

“Everyone’s financial situation and bar-riers to money management are differ-ent, but the principles of financial plan-ning are universal,” said Tom Hamza, president of IEF. “Following these basic

rules in your everyday life can help you reach your financial goals, such as sav-ing money and paying off debt sooner.”

Here are IEF’s Universal Money Truths:

• Know your money personality. The first step in achieving a financial goal is to understand your attitude toward money, level of financial knowledge and your tolerance for investment risk.

• Know what you’re saving for and have a plan to get there. Whether you’re saving for a vacation or paying off a mortgage, the best way to reach a goal is to make a specific plan to achieve it.

• Know your cash flow. A budget helps you track where your money goes, keeps your spending in check and finds ways to save more money. Use a budget tracker and update it at least once a year.

• Shop around to get the best value for your money. Whether you’re look-

ing for a new credit card or choosing a financial advisor, look at all your options and choose the product or ser-vice that gives you the best deal.

• Care more about money than any-one else does. It’s up to you to decide how you invest your money, so play an active role in the process.

• Be a saver, not a borrower. It’s better to earn interest through your investments than pay it through debt repayments. Borrowing is a fact of life, but balance it out by saving as much as possible.

• Understand when it’s too good to be true. Know how to recognize and avoid an investment scam.

• The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be. It’s never too early or too late to save money.

More information is available online at www.GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca.

Live by the Universal Money Truths

(NC) If you were in the Class of 2012, it’s been nearly six months since you finished college or university. Now that the novelty of working life has worn off and real-life obligations are sinking in, it’s a good time to make sure your financial goals are on track. Investor Education Fund, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to financial lit-eracy and education, has four tips to help you get started:

• Make sure your current and long-term financial goals are realistic. Do you want to move out or live at home and save? If you have student loans,

how quickly can you pay them off? The last thing you want is more debt, so make sure your money needs versus wants balance out.• Create a plan to pay off your debt. In Ontario, you have a six-month grace period before you start to pay back your student loans. Use IEF’s student debt calculator (web location below) to compare different options and decide how much you can afford to pay each month. The larger the payment, the less interest you’ll pay over  the  life  of  your  loan.  •Create a budget and stick to it. Following a strict spending plan can help you stay on top of your regular expenses, pay off

debt sooner and save for your financial goals. To get started, use IEF’s detailed budget worksheet, which will help you account  for  all  major  expenses.•  Set aside at least $20 every month. No matter your financial situation, everyone needs a safety net. Over time, even small amounts add up thanks to compound interest. Use IEF’s compound interest calculator to determine how quickly your savings can grow.

More financial tools and calculators and answers to your money questions are available online at....

www.GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca.

Financial reality check for recent grads

8 The Flipside October 2012

(NC) Today’s mobile phones can send e-mail, browse the web, and keep you in touch with friends and colleagues via voice or text message. Tomorrow’s cell phones will add even more to the menu offerings.

While it’s exciting to get the cell phone with the latest technology, remember that a sale can also lock you into a two or three-year cell phone contract. It’s important to take the time to carefully read any wireless services agreement before you enter into one. Choose your provider carefully and always shop around for the deal that offers you the services and goods you want, at the best price.

Ensure you fully understand the terms, restrictions and services you’re paying

for. Add-ons or out-of-country services can quickly result in “cell shock” when the bills arrive. So too can trying to can-cel a contract.Consumers have rights and cell phone providers have responsibilities.• Misrepresentation is illegal. Vendors cannot make false, misleading or deceptive representations about what you have agreed to buy.•  Read the fine print. Cell phone agreements must disclose all details of what you are buying. While many agreements are negotiated orally with a salesperson, you should insist on your right to a written copy of your contract which outlines the terms and costs of the services you negotiated. And when you get your bill, check it carefully

against your contract to ensure you are only being billed for what you agreed to.

• Know your cancellation rights. Depending on how you entered into the contract, (online, in person or by tele-phone) you may have additional cancel-lation rights. For example, you can cancel within one year of entering into a contract via telephone if it doesn’t include required information such as an accurate description of the phone you’ve agreed to buy or the date your service is to start. Check out your rights by visit-ing the Ministry of Consumer Services website at www.ontario.ca/consum-erservices.

New legislation has been introduced by the McGuinty government to make cell

phone consumer protection laws in Ontario even stronger. If passed, the proposed Wireless

Services Agreements Act, 2012 will benefit consumers by:

• Capping cancellation costs.

• Requiring companies to use clear and plain language in their agreements so consumers understand what they are getting into.

• Allowing consumers to walk away from fixed-term contracts for a modest fee.

By fully understanding your rights, you can get the best value for your money.

More information is available online at www.ontario.ca/consumerservices.

Protect yourself before signing a cell phone contract

(NC) As fall approaches, we can expect temperatures to drop as old man winter prepares for his return. As homeowners get their houses ready for the frigid weather, it’s important not to overlook two main areas where cold air can seep into your home: windows and doors. Use the following tips to ensure your entrances and exits are properly weath-erproofed this cold weather season.

Accessorize  –  and  Prevent  Cold Air LeaksAdd some flair – and block out the win-ter chill – with curtains. Hang (and close) drapes in a heavy fabric to help prevent cold air from seeping in through your windows. For doors, a fabric-cov-ered bottom that slides between the door and the threshold will prevent the

frosty air from entering your home. Retailers often suggest the Duck brand Double Draft Seal since it’s easy to install and provides two layers of pro-tection against drafts.

Use Seals to Combat the ChillWhen you close and lock your windows and doors, there’s often a crack between the top and sides and the frame or threshold. Opt for seals to place along the inside perimeter of your windows and doors to prevent drafts from enter-ing. For the easiest installation, choose seals that are self-adhesive. Popular options for this are the Duck brand Heavy-Duty Weatherstrip Seals, made of durable EPDM rubber, or Self-Adhesive Foam Seals. Both are good choices for blocking drafts and they

won’t freeze or crack in low tempera-tures.

Add Film to Block the FrostSince windows can be found in almost every room, it’s worth giving them some extra attention. Use a clear film to create another layer of insulation on your windows. Simply tape a product like Shrink Film Window Kits (also from Duck brand) to the window edges and then give the film a once-over with a hair dryer to seal the plastic and make it tight. For even easier set up, use the Roll-On Window Kits. They come with a pre-taped edge for the simplest install.

Stop Drafts with a Storm DoorFor an added barrier between the inside of your home and the winter weather, make sure you have a storm door

installed. This extra amenity will pro-vide an additional level of protection from the frigid temperatures of the cold weather season, allowing you to keep your thermostat, and your heating bill low.

Weatherproof windows and doors to keep winter drafts out

(NC) The Parliament of Canada passed a new anti-spam law in December 2010, which is expected to come into force next year.Once this legislation is in force, it will:• Help reduce unwanted emails from appearing in consumers’ inboxes by requiring companies to gain their consent to receive commercial elec-tronic messages; and• Protect businesses and consumers alike by helping deter the most dam-aging and deceptive forms of spam or other electronic threats from

occurring in Canada.When the new law is in force, it will prohibit:• Sending commercial electronic messages, including messages to email addresses and text messages to a cell phone, without the recipient’s express or implied consent;• Installation of computer programs on another person’s computer sys-tem without the express consent of the owner of the computer system or its agent, such as an authorized employee;• Use of false or misleading elec-

tronic representations in the promo-tion of products, services or business interests;• Collection of personal information through accessing a computer sys-tem in violation of federal law (e.g. the Criminal Code of Canada); and• Collection of electronic addresses by the use of computer programs or the use of such addresses, without permission, a practice known as address harvesting.The federal government has set up a website, www.fightspam.gc.ca. This site posts information about spam

and other electronic threats, includ-ing definitions, frequently asked questions about the law, and tips for protecting your computer and email accounts.

Businesses need to know about Canada’s new anti-spam law