Extracts from 24H (Boxing Week)

"Only a few people outside the Royal Canadian Mint and parliamentary circles have seen new Loonies and Toonies - which have yet to be approved for circulation. Government officials predicted the new $1 and $2 coins will cost $15million less to produce annually. The government, whose sittings were interrupted by the federal election, hasn't made a ruling on the steel-hearted coins switchover for $1 and $2 coins."


"The NDP marked its highest high before it received a desvastating blow in 2011. In the May 2 election, the NDP shocked observers and achieved its greatest political feat in its 50-year history: Winning 103 seats and claiming official Opposition status from the Liberals. The social savvy Jack Layton was at the centre of the party's success. His death on Aug 22 was an emotional blow to the country.."


"Where will you be when the clock hits midnight? Now the Christmas has come and gone, it's time to think about New Year's Eve. Thousands of people are planning to travel to New York, Boston, Edinburgh or closer to home, Niagara Falls for some of the world's biggest celebrations.."

Extracts from Metronews: Toronto

(1) A woman, Teresa Johnson, in her thirties, a toddler and an infant plunged from the fourth floor of an apartment building on Scarborough Golf Club Road. 27 year old man faced three counts of attempted murder.


(2) The University of Toronto is stepping up security in its garages and parking lots after a woman was seen being forced into a car last week.

Extracts from Metro News 17th October 2011 Monday

(1) Global Occupation
Several hundred protesters supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement were arrested. The arrests were mostly peaceful. They were protesting against Wall Street's role in the financial crisis and other grievances about economic injustice. The protests started in New York. Protesters also turned out in Europe, Australia, Asia and South Africa and of course in Toronto (Bay Street/Dundas).


(2) Torstar boosts stake in Metro
Torstar Corp. the parent company of Toronto Star has boosted its interest in Metro News. It has paid $51.5million to increase its stake to 90% in Free Daily News Group which publishes Metro in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and London.

Related News - US Dollars

(Reuters) - The United States lost its top-notch AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's on Friday, in a dramatic reversal of fortune for the world's largesteconomy.

S&P cut the long-term U.S. credit rating by one notch to AA-plus on concerns about growing budget deficits.

U.S. Treasuries, once undisputedly seen as the safest investment in the world, are now rated lower than bonds issued by countries such as the UK, Germany, France or Canada.

The outlook on the new U.S. credit rating is negative, S&P said in a statement, a sign that another downgrade is possible in the next 12 to 18 months.

News Pick from Toronto Metro Wednesday August 3 2011

(1) A Kevin Murray was killed at the Carribean Carnival on Saturday (incidentally, my Japanese colleague happened to be there with her friends too). The incident happened because a male caught two other males robbing Carnival revellers.


(2) A 47-year old woman was stabbed to death and a 50-year old man believed to be her husband, was shot dead by police at the Cottonwood Court home, near John Street and Don Mills Road. Reportedly, the couple were from Middle East. They had lived in their 3-storey home for about 2 years with their two daughters.


Parks accessible by Transits:
(1) High Park - Highway subway, walk south
Playground, swimming pool with slides, hiking, biking, Grenadier Pond for fishing. Pretty plants like Butterfly Weed. Small zoo with bison, deer llamas, peacock, highland cattle.


(2) Dufferin Grove Park - #29 bus, one stop north of College, three stops south of Bloor or Dufferin subway station or walk or catch the Dufferin bus going south.
Wading pool, shoot hoops, children's garden, butterfly garden, kitchen gardens. local theatre troupes, art festivals.


(3) Sunnybrook Park - Leslie Street #51, Eglinton East #34 or Lawrence East #54. 15 minutes walk from the bus stop.
bike trails, open spaces for soccer, football, nature and plant life, riders on horses

News Pick from Toronto Metro 21st July 2011

"The federal government intends to revoke the citizenship of at least 1,800 people who allegedly used fraudulent means to become Canadians. According to Immigration Minister Jason Kennedy, most of the targeted individuals were counselled by three or four crooked immigration consultants on how to concoct fake proof of residency in Canada....The consultants marketed their services to people living primarily in overseas tax havens or in certain Middle Eastern countries, where Kenney said a Canadian passport holder can earn double the salary."


"The City of Toronto issued an extreme heat alert yesterday with humidex values expected to reach up to 40C or higher all over southern Ontario."

News Pick from Toronto Metro 20h July 2011

The first of the new six-car trains (the new Toronto Rocket subway trains) officially goes into service from Downsview station tomorrow sometime after the morning rush. The $1-billion cost of the new 70 new trains is being covered by all three levels of government.


The new models will be delivered between now and November 2013. The new subway cars accommodate 10 per cent more TTC riders or 199 standing up. They also have open gangways similar to an articulated bus that will allow riders to see from one end of the train to the other and more easily find room to sit or stand. New light up maps, ceiling mounted displays  and an improved public-address system will assist riders. An anti-microbial coating on the poles in the trains will help reduce the spread of germs.

News Pick from Toronto Metro 19h July 2011

Federal Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver holds the view that oilsands (in Alberta) can be developed in a sustainable way. He wants to do it in a socially and environmentally acceptable way, for the benefit of Canadians. Meanwhile, a group of environmentalists took out a full-page ad in The Globe and Mail newspaper, asking if the meeting would be "All Hat, No Cattle" - a metaphor for empty talk.

News Pick from Toronto Metro 18h July 2011

Immigration drops by 25%


2010 was a banner year in immigration, welcoming 280,000 permanent residents, the highest in 50 years. In 2009, 265,000 immigrants were granted permanent status. 


Canada let 25 per cent fewer immigrants into the country in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2010.

China and USA - Who gets the Preferential Treatment?

The following is an extract from The Epoch Times dated July 14, Thursday:


<Baird will visit China even before the United States, describing the move as a sign of importance of the relationship. "This is basically an early signal that we value the relationship and want to take it to the next level," Baird told reporters in a teleconference Wednesday.>


John Baird is the newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister in Canada.

Popular Names

FIDO - telephone 

ROGERS, BELL, TEKSAVVY - internet 

BLOOR, SHEPPARD-YONGE, EGLINTON, DUNDAS, SPADINA, ST CLAIR - subway

METRO, NO FRILLS - supermarkets

TORONTO STAR, TORONTO SUN, HAMILTON SPECTATOR -newspapers

When you come to Toronto, these are some of the names that you will grow used to saying. 

Enjoy Toronto, it's natural..you can truly be yourself here cos no one is going to be bothered about how you dress, what shoes you wear or what watches you wear. Of course, in every society, elitism is present. But as far as I have been here, I don't sense any elitism. This is why I feel good where I am. This is a place of true character. Toronto, you are amazing!

Who Says It Was Easy?

Seriously, if you so decide to come to Toronto, you must be prepared for challenges ahead, challenges that will toughen your resolve. Seriously, among the people I've met, doctors from China, Brazil, engineers from Iran, HR personnel from Venezuela, backstage crew from Manchester, accountants from Peru, workers from Trinidad, aestheticians from Cayman Islands, managers from Italy, administrative managers from Mexico and many others from many other parts of the world, we all have something in common. We all didn't have it easy when we first started. Somehow, along the way, for survival, each of us learnt to be flexible, adaptable and we learnt to let go of things we stubbornly held on to previously. Many of us gave up so much to come, wanting and thinking of a better life. Many of us, who are here longer, feel that the first winter was the worst and the first year was really not easy. Soon enough, we all get used to it and soon we get fully integrated into the whole society naturally, with so much in Common, so much Canadian, so much Character of Strength and Forbearance. Toronto is a safe place, a wonderful home. The struggles that each of us go through only make us stronger and more resolved by the day. If you think you like what you have read, carry on reading, I'll fill you in with more of amazing Toronto.

Everyone The Same

Here in Toronto, almost  everyone is an immigrant. Although the "Canadian experience" is very much talked about, I personally feel that it is the "immigrant experience" which is common to all. Everyone here is pretty much going through the same thing. Everyone is humbled through the job search, everyone knows how difficult it is to gain employment  here. Everyone here has to learn to develop a positive mindset. One needs to be emotionally detached yet socially amicable to survive. I like it this way, as this will help to "toughen" a person and help the individual appreciate small successes in her journey in Toronto.

National Anthem of Canada

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Essentially, a pledge of freedom to all without discrimination

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Economics

Being exposed to Canadian dollars is part and parcel of moving here. I understand that the volatility of CAD against S$ dollar is relatively low, which affects the yield of a CAD/S$ pairing. I understand that the Canadian economy is doing relatively well. The property prices are healthy, although some believe that it has been overbought. The CAD is also directly affected by oil prices. When oil prices move up, CAD moves up. It is basically an oil-related currency. Crossing the border and going over to the United States to shop is a palatable choice, given the strength of the CAD against the greenback. The weaker dollar has made US goods cheaper. The rise in demand should produce more jobs. Unfortunately, from the look of it, the job situation still looks pretty weak in the US.


One of the web pages I visit regularly is http://finance.yahoo.com. Pretty accurate and up-to-date..The 52 week range of CAD/S$ has been in the range of 1.2527 - 1.3484.

Brands

Back in Singapore, you have Kopi Roti, Ya Kun. Here in Toronto, you have Tim Hortens, a Canadian version of coffee shop. The donuts are sweet and I mean, really sweet. In Singapore, we have M1, Starhub and Singtel. Here in Toronto, you have Bell, Rogers and Fido etc..In Singapore, you have Far East Organization, Capitaland and here in Toronto, you have Tridel and Madison. In Singapore, you have Giant and NTUC. Here in Toronto, you have Metro and Dollarama. Getting to know Toronto is also getting to know its brands..

A First Glance at Toronto

What defines Toronto? From my first three weeks in Toronto, I discover that it is a city of diversity. It is actually a bigger version of Singapore, where Chinese, Malay, Indians, Filipinos, Burmese, Indonesians and other minority groups function harmoniously together. Here in Toronto, so far, I have already met people from Peru, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Philippines, Manchester, Scotland, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, India, France, India, just to name a few. Almost everyone here is an immigrant. Everyone comes here for a reason, some to escape from their war-torn zones and some come here to seek a better future. The weather is good as it is summer now. The sun may be shining brightly, but you don't feel the heat as it is very much dissipated by the wind, which makes it such a pleasure to walk along the streets and parks. Jobs seem to be quite an issue as there are some barriers to cross before an immigrant can be accepted into the workforce.