Protect Your Privacy.

Why Privacy?



..Privacy matters. TREB and its Member REALTORS® have helped create the MLS® system, which ensures the highest-quality real estate system in the GTA. Some material on MLS® is publicly available through REALTOR.ca, however TREB safeguards personal information as guided by privacy legislation to protect the privacy rights of Ontarians.



The Competition Bureau is taking action that would force TREB to abandon the safeguards in the MLS® system and make personal information publicly available on the Internet. Seller’s name and address, floor plans, sensitive property access information, negotiated sale price, and mortgage details could all become available.



REALTORS® have an obligation to protect consumers’ personal information. So TREB and REALTOR® Members are fighting back for the privacy rights of consumers.



Privacy matters. TREB is standing up for GTA consumers.

The Importance of Pre-approval

The Importance of Pre-approval



Pre-approval can be a very valuable step towards purchasing a home. Many home buyers get pre-qualified for a home loan early on, and then become pre-approved before beginning a serious home search. By completing your mortgage application prior to choosing a home, you can get a pre-approval letter stating how much home you can afford.


Your pre-approval letter lets you know exactly how much you can spend, and it shows home sellers and real estate agents that you're serious about buying a home. This may give you leverage in the negotiation process. Many sellers actually prefer to work with pre-approved buyers, especially in hot real estate markets.


To find a mortgage professional and get started with your pre-approval for a loan, please call or email me. My goal is to provide you with practical information as you consider your next move, and I look forward to working with you.

Why Would you get Pre-Qualified for a Home Loan?

Know Your Borrowing Power


When shopping for a home in the GTA/Mississauga you can save yourself a lot of time, energy, and disappointments by taking time to find out how much borrowing power you have. With that knowledge you can focus your search on homes you can afford. In addition, if you get lender confirmation of your purchase power you can negotiate with increased leverage and confidence. Thus, a smart move on your part is to determine your financial qualifications for a loan before you even begin to look at homes. How can you do that? Get pre-qualified and/or pre-approved.



Get pre-qualified



This process will give you a general idea of what you can afford. It is an estimate based on a surface review of your income and debt. You can pre-qualify yourself or you can have either a real estate agent or mortgage lender handle this for you. If you choose to pre-qualify yourself, you can use one of the many online mortgage calculators designed for this purpose. Most mortgage lenders have these calculators available on their web site.



When lenders pre-qualify you they ask questions about your income, total debt, monthly payment obligations, current employment, payment history, and any negative factors such as bankruptcies. Generally, they do not perform an analysis of your credit report. They rely on you to provide accurate financial information. There is typically no cost for a pre-qualification analysis nor is there a commitment by either you or the lender with respect to a future loan.



Get pre-approved.



The pre-approval process is more detailed and thorough than pre-qualification. You will be asked to complete a mortgage application, and some lenders charge an application fee. The lender verifies all of the information on your application and reviews your credit report. If you qualify, you will receive a written commitment – a pre-approval letter – for a loan up to a specified amount subject to certain terms and conditions. This commitment is still not a guarantee that your loan will be approved when you do settle on a home to purchase. Your loan commitment is finalized after information about the property, including an appraisal, is submitted and approved.



Even though pre-approval is not a loan commitment, it offers a number of advantages during the home buying process. You know the maximum amount you can spend so you don’t waste time looking at homes that are beyond your price range. You are also more attractive to sellers because you already have financing squared away. This is really to your benefit in a sellers’ market in which the home of your dreams might have multiple competing offers. In any market, pre-approval strengthens your negotiating position because you come to the table with the money to back your offer.



Pre-approval can be particularly helpful for first-time buyers as well as self-employed persons or those paid on commission. If you are a first-time buyer in competition with similar buyers who have already demonstrated their ability to meet a monthly mortgage payment, you may find your offer in a weaker position in the eyes of a seller. Sellers may also have doubts about your ability to get financing. Self-employed buyers or those working on commission sometimes do not have the financial documentation or “paper trail” of salaried persons. Some sellers see this as a red flag. A pre-approval letter in either of these circumstances helps because it demonstrates that a lender has already considered your financial situation and is ready to proceed with the loan.



Regardless of the approach you take, ask your mortgage lender to clearly explain what is involved in each process and any fees, commitments, terms, and conditions that apply. Then let the search for your ideal home begin.

For information on all your real estate needs. Give me I call. I would be happy to help you.



Lisa Portolese, Sales Representative
Royal LePage Kingsbury Realty, Brokerage
30 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Bus (905) 568-2121

Email LisaMovesYou@Rogers.com

Website http://www.lisamovesyou.ca/

Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Wee Irish Mice

Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Mice




When you’re experiencing the pitter-patter of little feet and it’s not a walking, talking bundle of joy standing on two legs, you may have a furry intruder in your home that needs attention. Hiding in a kitchen cabinet or tucked away in the corner of a shed, mice find ways to enter the cleanliest of homes, apartments, and other human dwellings. When the thought of using poisonous bait or inhumane traps is too much to bear, consider the following home remedies before resorting to other tactics.


Signs of a Mice Problem [1]

A mouse is a nocturnal creature, meaning they do their dirty work when the sun has set and the lights are out. Mice are rarely spotted during the day unless a heavy infestation exists. Usually, a mouse problem is detected with one or more of the following signs:


•Droppings: Mouse feces are moist, soft, shiny and dark, becoming dry and hard within a few days. Old droppings will look dull and grayish in color.

•Little Holes: When small holes with chewed edges appear on items, such as cereal boxes, this is a dead giveaway that a critter is gnawing away at your packages. Scan your pantry and look for tooth marks and shredded paper.

•Sound: At night, you may hear unexplainable movement, as well as gnawing or scratching in the walls or an attic.

•Odor: Mice can cause a musty odor to infiltrate your home.

•Nests: Hidden in boxes, mice will use chewed paper and cloth to create a nest for themselves in basements, attics, sheds, and drawers

Mice Home Remedies

When it comes time to get rid of mice, many people wish to repel and drive out critters before clearing away traps, locating dead carcasses hidden in walls, and shelling out the money to hire an exterminator. If you are looking for home remedies to get rid of mice, consider the following suggestions:


a) Peppermint and Peppermint Oil:

In just about every home remedy circle, you will hear that mice cannot stand the scent of peppermint or peppermint oil. Soak a cotton ball in the oil of peppermint and place it at a suspected entryway.


b) Remove Food Supply:

While mice enjoy a nice meal of cereal grains and crumbs, they will also adapt to anything else they can sink their teeth into. If you remove their food supply, most mice are forced to look for other places to eat. Remove edible temptations from low kitchen cabinets. Place cereal and other boxed items in glass containers and plastic Tupperware.

c) Mint:

Keep new mice from entering your residence by adding mint plants to the foundation of your house. If you are already battling a mouse problem, sprinkle mint leaves in the parts of your home that the mice like to frequent. Mint is known to repel mice in most cases, but you must remember to replace old leaves with fresh ones on a regular basis.


d) Bay Leaves:

Some people have been successful in keeping mice away by sprinkling bay leaves in their kitchen and about the pantry.


e) Mothballs:

Mice have a reputation for setting up shop in a shed or garage for the winter season. If you place mothballs around your garage, mice will look for other places to live. In the house, mothballs are used to deter mice from kitchen cupboards, drawers, and other storage spots.



f) Steel Wool:

Mice enter your home in the most creative manner, but once you have pinpointed an access point, use steel wool to block their way. The material is much harder for mice to gnaw through than other options, like wood and newspaper.



g) Onions:

The smell of onions has helped some individuals solve their mouse problem, as they say the odor is offensive to the pests.



h) Baby Powder:

When you are having a problem locating the point of entry of your uninvited guest, use baby powder (or flour) to check for tracks. Scatter a small patch on the floor along a wall or other frequented places. Some people like to bait a mouse by placing a cracker with a bit of peanut butter in the middle of the patch. Hopefully, you can locate their access point or at least, determine the direction in which they originate.



i) Ammonia:

Some people have driven away their mouse by leaving small bowls filled with ammonia in the places they like to frequent. It is said that the scent repels mice.



j) Peanut Butter:

Are you looking for an effective bait to lure your unwanted visitor? The next time you lay traps, use peanut butter as bait – a treat that a mouse cannot resist. Since the peanut butter is sticky, he or she is unable to swipe it before setting off a trap [2].

Don't sell your house, clean it (awesome tips to make your home happier) : ) Music Included!

1.Cool Organizing Secrets and Spring Cleaning Tips

 Make Your Rooms Multitask


In a small house, each room can serve more than one purpose, says Peter Walsh. Take his guest room/TV room/office. The couch—a pullout that's perfect for guests—faces a flat-screen TV that Walsh and Greenblatt watch alone on quieter evenings.



To create a cozy home office, Walsh removed the closet doors, installed a desk and shelving, and added venetian blinds from Ikea that he can pull down to hide the workspace when visitors arrive.



Even Walsh's furniture serves more than one function: This ottoman, a handy footrest and coffee table, moonlights as storage for Walsh and Greenblatt's DVD collection, leaving the room's media console clutter-free.



2. Focus Your Fridge



Walsh uses clear plastic trays to separate cheese from condiments from baking supplies. When he's grilling outside, he simply grabs the entire condiments tray (ditto the cheese tray). Bonus: No need to scrub dried maple syrup from the far corners of his fridge.



3. Use Easy Counter Canisters



To keep the dried lentils, beans, quinoa, flour, and other ingredients you use for healthy summer meals readily available, store them in a set of stainless steel canisters (Organize.com). This way you always knows what you have—and friends can easily pitch in with the cooking.



4. Rethink Your Linen Closet



To store uniform white sheets, fold fitted sheets, top sheet, and extra pillowcases inside a pillowcase of the same set. Needless to say, you’ll never have to ransack the closet for an elusive match.



5. De-Junk Your Junk Drawer



Instead of being jammed in a kitchen drawer, household necessities like rubber bands, pencils, and glue are stacked in clear, labeled boxes of varying sizes (

Clear containers make it easy to see what needs replacing. Even better, their labels discourage the stashing of miscellany. "They don't allow you to overload your junk drawer with junk," Walsh explains



6. Establish a Free-Money Box



Inspired by the sheer dollar amount of unused gift cards and rebates he finds stashed in others' homes, Walsh corralled his various coupons, gift certificates, free gym passes, and vouchers into this brightly colored box

7. Standardize Your Food Storage


To avoid accumulating a drawerful of mismatched plastic containers in ten colors, Walsh uses just one brand of food storage container so lids will always fit (OXO LockTop set; Organize.com). He stacks just a few sizes in a cabinet for easy access. "Most people only really use three or four of these containers anyway," says Walsh. "There's no need to keep hundreds."


Read more: http://www.oprah.com/home/Peter-Walsh-Organizing-Secrets-Spring-Cleaning-Tips#ixzz1niW4UyIf


However, if you still want to sell your house, follow these tips to make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Want more tips or need to find an agent in your area? Follow me at # LisaMovesYou or just pick up the phone.  Farther below you will find some music to soothe your soul or get you in the mood for a change!

Yes, it is Idol night.

Lisa Portolese, Sales Representative
Royal LePage Kingsbury Realty, Brokerage
30 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (close to Toronto)
Bus (905) 568-2121
Cel (416) 953-9714
Email LisaMovesYou@Rogers.com
Website http://www.lisamovesyou.ca/ 

Music to Soothe you, Beside you by Tal Bachman

Sheryl Crows a Change will do you Good

Old School Hedley

Great song for tax time!

SONGWRITER IN THE ROUND CONCERT

INTRODUCING ... WESTACRES PUBLIC SCHOOL FIRST EVER


SONGWRITER IN THE ROUND CONCERT

Friday, February 24 * 7:00 – 9:00 pm

$10 for Adults(18 yrs & older)$5 for Children (recommended age 9+)Children must be accompanied by an adult inside the auditorium

World-renowned songwriters Matt Dusk, Liz Rodrigues, Christopher Ward (plus one other special guest!) perform their songs and tell you the stories that helped create them … songs you have heard on the radio!

Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with these incredibly talented songwriters!

Open to all Westacres Families and Friends

Concert to be held at the Westacres PS Auditorium

Light snacks and beverages will be sold during Intermission


Tickets are limited!

When will this stop?

When will this stop?

I just reviewed the stats from the Toronto Real Estate Board. TREB reported that in January, there were 4,567 sales for the month in the Greater Toronto Area which is approx 9% more sales than reported during January 2011.

At the end of January there were only 11,009 homes for sale in the GTA. This number is very low compared to the 12,109 for sale at this time last year and represents a 9% DROP from last year. Contrary to what I was expecting, inventory is NOT climbing meaning the market is “hotter” than I would have guessed. MORE sales and LESS inventory. In general terms, The Law of Supply and Demand has tilted even more in the favour of Sellers.

What does my crystal ball say? My Answer: It looks like the Spring Market may be a little “hotter” than most people thought (including myself). We simply can’t get enough homes listed in the popular areas and price ranges to quench the thirst of the buyers out there waiting to pounce on them. I do feel however that we will see more downward pressure in some higher price ranges and country properties.

Click this link http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1128392--census-2011-milton-fastest-growing-community-growth-outpaces-some-infrastructure-like-hospitals-and-schools?bn=1#.TzPI06M_F14.facebook for an interesting article on the development & growth of communities in Canada. Milton is the fastest growing community in Canada.

Whether selling OR buying, the key to taking advantage of current market conditions is working with the right realtor. When you hear of anyone who may want to buy or sell, please contact me at the office. I promise you that I will take care of them, do a great job and provide them with the best customer service. If you would like any more information, I’m here to help.



Lisa Portolese, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Kingsbury Realty, Brokerage

30 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Bus (905) 568-2121

Cel (416) 953-9714

Email LisaMovesYou@Rogers.com

Website www.lisamovesyou.ca

Stuff worth Shouting About(the word from our satisfied clients)

I have over 20 years industry experience and 100% success ratio of residential listings SOLD and 99.9% of Buyers represented personally by me have won the home of their choice...I say "won" because in the last few years there have been bidding wars, but sometimes "terms" NOT price will dictate who has the accepted offer. A good strategy can help you. I always say that even in this age of technology there still remains a few well kept secrets........


A referral is sending someone you care about to someone you trust, I am NEVER too busy for your referrals.  A job well done means alot to me, so please if you have worked with me, email me a referral in your own words. I don't like to write them myself because although it is great to know what I have done well, it is also great to know, how I can improve my service.

Below are some actual testimonials now on my website. Please email me at LisaMovesYou@Rogers.com


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It was not easy to find the right house. At times I had 3 different agents trying, but none compared to Lisa. Her friendly enthusiasm and energy made a great result possible. She determined my exact needs, organized a specific search in the right area, pre-cleared prospects to save me time, and finally found the perfect house. She helped develop a winning bidding strategy against competitors while meeting my price limitations. With her help, I was successful. But it did not stop there! Even after the closing, and during the move, her service continued to be exceptional. I did not know Lisa before this. But I have no reservations in giving her the highest possible recommendation.



Donald R



BaSc, MBA, P.Eng.


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Lisa was a great asset to our family during the search for our new home. She was tireless and full of energy from the start of what became a rather involved trek, to the 'finish line' at negotiation time. During this whole experience, Lisa maintained an air of professionalism while always keeping up a great sense of humor.



Her skills and efforts during the search and especially at the negotioiating table paid off as we were able to acquire the home we had targeted at the price we could afford.



Lisa has earned our respect as an agent and more importantly as a new friend.



We highly recommend Lisa.



Dan & Tess McDougall



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"It was a pleasure to work with Lisa...... she was completely sensitive to our needs as we searched for just the right home for our family......... she has a ton of energy! "


Jo-Ann Lemieux



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"My wife and I were grateful to meet Lisa. We were fairly new to Canada and had met many other realtors. Within one hour Lisa taught us more about buying a home than all the other realtors combined. She was also very pleasant, accurate and efficient. We felt at ease because of her many years experience in the field of real estate. Her networking was excellent and the team she assembled for us saved us lots of money in legal fee’s and interest rates. Anyone that works with her will get the best service and save time and money."


Cezar and Michaela G


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Being first-time homebuyers, we were somewhat apprehensive about the process and potential problems, but we found ourselves in 2004 in excellent hands with Lisa who patiently answered every question and guided us calmly and with confidence through every step.



Lisa's skill at listening to her clients and finding out their priorities was paramount to our finding the house we now love. Her knowledge of the real estate market was evident when after three actual days of house-hunting we found the perfect home for us at a price we were comfortable with in a neighbourhood we love; we were so happy with her expertise and knowledge that we recommended her to a family member who promptly sold her condo in less than three weeks for more than she expected.



Lisa's talent and personality shine, and we are glad she has become a friend. We highly recommend her to anyone in need of an agent who really cares and works hard for her clients.



Karen & Phil Martin

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"Lisa is a very special and unique Realtor. On her list of priorities, you will see “Clients Needs” right at the top! She really is one of the few realtors I know who really puts the needs of her clients above all else. She is patient, kind and knowledgeable and works harder than anyone I know."



Ravi Niles

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year! Today marks the Chinese New Year, heralding the start of the Year of the Dragon.

The symbol of the dragon is the most powerful sign in the Chinese zodiac, being highly revered and associated with power and wisdom.

It appears once every 12 years and is considered to be very lucky.


"This is a water dragon, and that pertains to more calm, basically things calming down after heating up," said CNN's Stan Grant. "What they'll be looking for is economic news, China is going into a bit of a slowdown right now, the GDP is coming off a little."


Although it's commonly called "Chinese New Year", the lunar new year is also celebrated by Koreans and the Vietnamese.

Below are some Chinese New Year events in the GTA:


•CIBC Lunarfest

•Chinese New Year celebration - Scarborough Civic Centre (Jan. 29, 2-4 p.m.)

•Chinatown Foodies Walk - Hosted by Shirley Lum (Jan. 23, 29 & 30; Feb. 5, 6, 12-14; 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)

•Chinese New Year celebration - Chinese Cultural Centre, Scarborough (Jan. 22, noon-3 p.m.)

•Year of the Dragon banquet - Chinese Cultural Centre (Jan. 29, dinner at 7 p.m.)

•Year of the Dragon events at Pacific Mall - New Year's Eve countdown (Jan. 22, 10:30 p.m.), New Year's Day (Jan. 23, 3 p.m.) and lion dance performances (Jan. 28, 12:30 p.m.)

Consumers don’t know skills of Realtors – survey

Of the more than 120,000 Ontarians who used a Realtor to buy or sell a home last year, many did so without fully understanding the expertise and skills Realtors provide, says a new Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) survey. Conducted by Leger Marketing, the survey says only 10 per cent of Ontarians who have used a Realtor know that Realtors are trained in environmental issues, and even fewer (six per cent) are aware that family law is part of a Realtor’s education.

Barbara Sukkau, president of OREA, says, “Most clients do not realize that Realtors are aware of family law issues when selling a family home during a divorce, or that Realtors can advise about home inspections based on our knowledge of building construction in the province.”

Even though people who have used a Realtor in the past were not aware of specific areas of a Realtor’s education, they do recognize the ethical integrity of the profession as 70 per cent of respondents knew that Realtors must abide by a code of ethics. Also, 50 per cent knew that Realtors must continue their education when they begin practicing to stay informed of changes in the industry.

OREA has produced a video about what a Realtor can do for them, available at http://bit.ly/OREARealtor.

Royal LePage Predicts Further Home Price Appreciation in 2012- Canada

Royal LePage Predicts Further Home Price Appreciation Contrary to Recent Talk of Decline


National real estate price correction not likely until 2013 at the earliest

TORONTO, January, 2012 –The Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast released today showed the average price of a home in Canada increased between 3.6 and 6.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the previous year. Royal LePage expects average price growth to continue through 2012 and predicts national average prices to increase by 2.8 per cent by the end of the year.



Despite calls in some quarters for Canadian house prices to soften in 2011, the market proved resilient as demand created by low interest rates and a relatively stable national economy created upward pricing pressure for all housing types surveyed. Further, recent high profile reports forecasting significant house price declines in 2012 are not supportable. Nationally, consumer confidence in the housing market was high in the fourth quarter as real estate brokers witnessed an unusually high quantity of multiple offer situations, including over the holiday season, compared to same period in previous years.



In the fourth quarter, standard two-storey homes rose 4.2 per cent year-over-year to $375,427, while detached bungalows increased 6.1 per cent to $344,392. Average prices for standard condominiums increased 3.6 per cent to $234,680.



“In the recovery period following the 2008-2009 recession, I found myself repeatedly speaking of ‘irrational exuberance’ in the Canadian housing market,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive of Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “Expectations were too high and the pace of expansion unsupportable. With this report, I find myself in exactly the opposite position. Widespread calls for a major real estate correction in 2012 simply can’t be justified. The industry has significant momentum entering the year, and buoyed by the stimulative effect of very low interest rates, we expect the market to continue to expand – albeit at a slower pace.”



While 2011 was a very strong year for price growth, over the past five years, including the recessionary period, Canada’s average home prices have grown by only 3.5 per cent compounded annually, well below the long term average rate of appreciation. Canada’s GDP has also grown modestly over the same period and the economy is expected to expand by approximately two per cent in 2012. While unemployment remains stubbornly higher then pre-recession levels, sustained employment at today’s levels in a low interest rate environment can be expected to support continued average house price appreciation across the country.



Canadians remain confident in their real estate investments. Throughout 2011, buyers took advantage of low rates to enter the housing market or move-up to homes that better suited their family’s needs or wants. All regions included in the Royal LePage Market Survey Forecast anticipate positive average price growth in 2012. This includes the relatively expensive Toronto and Vancouver regions, where rising home prices have consistently out-paced the other urban centres.



”We believe calls for falling prices and more affordable housing in 2012 are unlikely to materialize,” said Soper. “While this will comfort the seventy per cent of Canadians who are homeowners, there is cause for concern when house price growth outpaces increases in wages and salaries for an extended period of time. Coupled with more restrictive mortgage regulations that have made it more difficult to obtain financing, those who aspire to own a home may find it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market and, in some regions, it may leave people out entirely.”



Regionally, Royal LePage expects to see cities with commodity-based economies, such as Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg, outperform larger urban centres such as Toronto and Vancouver. Royal LePage has forecast Calgary’s average house prices to climb 3.6 per cent in 2012. In 2011, the largest average price increase was seen in Regina, where average prices for standard two-storey homes rose 19.5 per cent year-over-year.

Regional Market Summaries

In Halifax, strong consumer confidence and low interest rates led to healthy year-over-year price appreciation for all three housing types surveyed. Average price gains ranged from 4.5 to 6.7 per cent for the housing types surveyed. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Halifax are forecast to be 3.4 per cent higher than 2011.
First-time buyers and consumer confidence helped push Montreal’s prices up in the fourth quarter of 2011. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Montreal are forecast to be 1.3 per cent higher than 2011.


A strong local economy and low interest rates resulted in healthy year-over-year price appreciation in Ottawa with gains ranging from 5.0 to 6.7 per cent. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Ottawa are forecast to be 3.3 per cent higher than 2011.

Lack of inventory in Toronto produced strong year-over-year price appreciation in 2011. Average price gains ranged from 3.4 to 7.2 per cent for the housing types surveyed. Migration and low interest rates also continue to drive real estate prices. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Toronto are forecast to increase 2.6 per cent over 2011.

Immigration and low interest rates produced healthy year-over-year price appreciation in Winnipeg’s real estate market with average price gains ranging from 3.7 to 5.0 per cent. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Winnipeg are forecast to be 4.2 per cent higher than 2011.


Lack of inventory and strong demand drove average year-over-year price gains in Regina. Price appreciation ranged from standard condominiums posting a 7.9 per cent gain to standard two-storey homes posting a 19.5per cent gain, the largest gain among housing types surveyed across Canada. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Regina are forecast to be 5.0 per cent higher than 2011.

Calgary witnessed modest year-over-year price gains in two housing types – standard two-storey homes and standard condominiums, while the detached bungalow rose 6.2 per cent. Lack of inventory for detached bungalows was cited as the reason for the increase. Edmonton, posted modest gains for all three housing types surveyed, which ranged from 1.3 to 3.2 per cent. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Calgary are forecast to increase 3.6 per cent, while Edmonton house prices are expected to increase by 2.6 per cent compared to 2011.


Vancouver continued to experience some of Canada’s largest year-over-year price increases ranging from the standard condominiums rising 10.7 per cent to detached bungalows rising 14.1 per cent. At the end of 2012, average house prices in Vancouver are forecast to be 2.3 per cent higher than 2011.

About the Royal LePage House Price Survey

The Royal LePage House Price Survey is the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind in Canada, with information on seven types of housing in over 250 neighbourhoods from coast to coast. This release references an abbreviated version of the survey, which highlights house price trends for the three most common types of housing in Canada in 80 communities across the country. A complete database of past and present surveys is available on the Royal LePage Web site at www.royallepage.ca. Current figures will be updated following the complete tabulation of the data for the second quarter. A printable version of the fourth quarter 2011 survey will be available online on February 10th, 2011.

Housing values in the Royal LePage House Price Survey are Royal LePage opinions of fair market value in each location, based on local data and market knowledge provided by Royal LePage residential real estate experts.

Canadian Housing Trends - Royal LePage 2012 Market Survey Forecast



About Royal LePage

Serving Canadians since 1913, Royal LePage is the country’s leading provider of services to real estate brokerages, with a network of 14,000 real estate professionals in over 600 locations nationwide. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, dedicated to supporting women's & children’s shelters and educational programs aimed at ending domestic violence. Royal LePage is a Brookfield Real Estate Services Inc. company, a TSX-listed corporation trading under the symbol TSX:BRE.

Second-Best Year on Record for Sales (Toronto Real Estate Market)

Second-Best Year on Record for Sales!






January 5, 2012 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,718 transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in December 2011. The December result capped off the second-best year on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. Total sales for 2011 amounted to 89,347 – up four per cent in comparison to 2010.






“Low borrowing costs kept Buyers confident in their ability to comfortably cover their mortgage payments along with other major housing costs,” said TREB President Richard Silver. “If Buyers had not been constrained by a shortage of listings over the past 12 months, we would have been flirting with a new sales record in the Greater Toronto Area,” added Silver.






The average selling price in December was $451,436 – up four per cent compared to December 2010. For all of 2011, the average selling price was $465,412, an increase of eight per cent in comparison to the average of $431,276 in 2010.






“Months of inventory remained below the pre-recession norm in 2011. Very tight market conditions meant substantial competition between Buyers and strong upward pressure on selling prices,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.






“TREB’s baseline forecast for 2012 is for an average price of $485,000, representing a more moderate four per cent annual rate of price growth. This baseline view is subject to a heightened degree of risk given the uncertain global economic outlook,” continued Mercer.


If you would like more detailed information. Email me to request a PDF file of Market Watch or my preferred client update can be mailed right to your door.

Whether selling OR buying, the key to taking advantage of current market conditions is working with the right realtor. When you hear of anyone who may want to buy or sell, please contact me at the office. I promise you that I will take care of them, do a great job and provide them with the best customer service. If you would like any more information, I’m here to help.

New Website http://www.lisamovesyou.ca/

Click to follow me:                         

www.twitter.com/lisamovesyou



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I'm sweet on you-Dedicated to some Athletes at Wilfred Laurier.

Easy Recipe dedicated to some Atheletes at Wilfred Laurier University.

Small oatmeal raisin cookies are loaded with fibre and rank high on the hunger-busting scale.




Ingredients



1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked rolled oats

3/4 cup(s) whole-grain wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup(s) regular butter, softened

1/4 cup(s) sugar

1/2 cup(s) packed brown sugar

1 large egg(s)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup(s) raisins, chopped



Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF





In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and both sugars until incorporated. Add egg and vanilla; mix thoroughly. Add oat mixture and mix until just combined; fold in raisins.





Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto 2 ungreased cookie sheets, about 1-inch apart each. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies or 11 to 12 minutes for crispy cookies. Remove from oven and let cookies rest on cookie sheets for about 2 minutes; remove cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Yields 1 cookie per serving.

Get out your Grater!!! Low Carb Zucchini Pancakes for Dinner.

My Mom and I are very careful these days with our diet and after we shared a Pizza by Doctor Oetker(the one with the Funghi) , we were still kind of hungry.

Pizza is not really "dinner" when you are Italian and actually, if it were not the fact that I am only half Italian, well, I couldn't really get away with actually serving a baked frozen pizza.

I am sure it is one of the cardinal sins. Pizza is more like a snack. I recently started Weight Watchers because it is the one method of weight loss I had never tried. I had 8 points left, what’s a girl to do?

I made these awesome pancakes that are only 3 points a serving. I have no idea what that is in “Dog Calories” but my Mom (pickiest eater on earth next to my niece) well she LOVED them.

So here is the recipe…..

Ingredients



2 medium uncooked zucchini, coarsely grated

1/2 small uncooked onion(s), coarsely grated

1/3 cup(s) dried plain bread crumbs

2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp pine nuts, finely chopped

1 large egg(s)

1 large egg white(s)

1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste

1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

Stir together all ingredients; mix well.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium heat. Spoon batter into skillet to form 3-inch pancakes. Fry on each side until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining batter. Yields 2 pancakes per serving.


Here are two of my favourite "picky" eaters xoxo

Feng Shui for Newbies and Tonights Hockey game

Earlier this morning, I had a visit from a nice young couple from Thunderbay, they have flown in just to see the Toronto Maple Leafs play Winnepeg tonight. 

When they walked into my home, I could feel the energy "shift". They had good feng shui. 

I was telling them that I need more chi or zen !  I also told them about  watching Steven and Chris the other day, they interviewed an awesome Feng shui consultant Laura Morris.  She made sense. I loved what she did with simple items like art boxes and fluff furry pillows.  

I have decided that I seriously need to Feng Shui and I would like to do this in time for my Moms Birthday, which is January 23rd, it coincides with Chinese New Year.  I think Positive Thoughts create good feng shui, so tonight I am thinking Positive-for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I must take care of the corners in my home and in my office, possibly even my car.(I'm a newbie, so maybe you cannot feng shui a car)

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui can be more personalized when using your Kua Number, make sure you use a Chinese Calendar and not your western birth.  Using the iPhone App is the most accurate way.

My Number is 7.  Feng Shui is based on the 4 corners of your home or office.  So I am arranging some things to see if I can get the Leafs to score 4 goals tonight in 3 periods. Add the 4+3-7(my number) If that works-Then I think I should buy a lotto ticket on Friday.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy and system designed to help you live more harmoniously with your environment. Feng shui literally translates into wind-water and is believed to help improve our lives by bringing us positive qi (chi) or energy. We could all use a little more positive energy in our lives. : )

In my search to find the best (aka easiest + cheapest) ways to add a little feng shui style to my home, I found three basic ways of finding that harmony but I am searching for more, so please if you have info, send me a message. : )

1) De-Clutter. This is the easiest of the three steps, and the one that will provide the most noticeable and immediate effect. Less clutter equals less stress. Get rid of anything you don’t need, use, or love. (Better yet, donate it to a good cause.)

When deciding what to keep in your space, try to avoid excessive use of overhead lighting and anything with sharp corners. The general goal is to create spaces that are balanced, as in the yin and the yang. Your home should make you feel relaxed, stimulated, or energetic without feeling lethargic, depressed, or anxious.

2) Define your spaces – making at least one space a relaxation area. On Zimbio.com, feng shui expert, Ken Lauer, states, “As the threshold between your home and the outside world, you want to bring a bit of the natural world into your living room using Feng Shui colors.”

3) Introduce the five basic elements of feng shui into your home. There are five basic elements in feng shui design – wood, fire, metal, earth, and water. Each element is associated with different benefits, and is represented by corresponding colors, shapes, positions in the home, and symbols. The directions in the chart below indicate a good positioning for the element for general harmony.

When you begin decorating, start small so none of the elements become overwhelming. (Another great way to start is by simply adding A Buddha, which always brings good energy into your home.) The elements you introduce should “get along” with the other aspects of the home, and be represented in every area of your home for the fullest benefits. To make the most impact, focus on color first, shape second and material third.

Placing the elements in different positions of the home will result in different effects. This is actually quite interesting so I plan to learn alot more about this philosophy. I don't think I would hire a home stager for one of my sellers unless they understood the philosophy behind various cultures. To me, it is all a matter of respect.

Feng shui is an ancient art with many interesting aspects, which we will explore further in this blog. Feel free to comment with your own feng shui decorating ideas and experiences. I would love to hear about the effects it has on your life!

The Steve and Chris show which aired January 2nd, 2012 included some additional info.

I am gonna "borrow" some photos,

The Elements
Here's how to make a 5 ELEMENTS ARRANGEMENT for your home:

First, choose a vessel that appeals to you. This could be anything from a glass vase, tabletop mirror or a clay dish.


Then add something from each of the 5 Elements.

1. WOOD

Wood is represented in things like: bamboo, fresh flowers, silk flowers, fruit - lemons and limes work great!

Water items: crystals, mirrored surfaces, glass stones, glass vases and you guessed it, water!

Metal is found in: gold (i.e. gold coins or gold stones) or even simple pennies!
 
 

Earth items can be: stones, sand, a clay bowl or a porcelain plate as your vessel

Fire can be represented with candles or even seashells.




Laura says, "Make it your own. Use things you like and that you find pleasing - this is going to enhance your energy so have fun and be creative."

Colours Associated with the Elements

Wood - greens


Fire - reds, oranges (some purples)

Earth - yellow, ochres, browns

Metal - white, metallics

Water - black, dark blue




•Plants are always growing so they stimulate chi in any room. You should avoid large plants in the bedroom where you need to sleep and rest. They also take oxygen out of the air at night and produce carbon dioxide.

•Keep dried flowers no longer than a few weeks. It's like having a graveyard in your house. It's dying, deteriorating chi.

•Make sure they are always healthy. Get rid of bug infested plants and sick or dead plants right away.

•A thorny cactus plant or any spiky plant like yucca and mother-in-law's tongue, emits loads of cutting chi and symbolically indicates a dry, hostile environment so light, airy plants with rounded leaves are always favoured.

Have a great day everyone! Let me know how this works for you. 

Lisa

Happy New Year- Buyer's Beware

Buyer's Beware


Julie’s story is a great example of what not to do. She and her husband, looking at cottage properties in the Muskoka area, had made appointments with several realtors.



“The agent pushed a form across the desk that said `buyer agreement’ on it. She told us she could not take us to the first showing until we had signed this document,” Julie said.



“We drove in our car, following the agent in her car, to four properties. At most 1.5 hours later, we said goodbye.”



Only when they returned to Toronto did they read what they had agreed to. They were locked into an exclusive relationship for six months, covering any properties in the Muskoka area.



The broker of record at the firm offered to assign a more experienced agent to work with them, but refused to rip up the document.



The couple waited until the agreement expired to look in Muskoka again, not wanting to deal with a firm that abused their trust by filling out forms without consulting them.



“We went on a blind date and turned out to have signed a marriage license,” Julie complained.



Bill Johnston, president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, has heard such stories before. As a lawyer and a realtor, he knows that buyer agreements can cause confusion and stress when not used properly.



“It’s an outrage,” he says about an agreement covering a six-month period when the buyer and agent have just met each other.



“You can have a trial marriage for a week to 10 days to see if it works out. That serves the client’s interests as well as the agent’s.”



He’s also concerned about agreements that cover too wide an area.



“Market knowledge is critical. Residential real estate people are localized in our expertise,” he adds.



Filling out a form that specifies an exclusive relationship for any properties in the province of Ontario — which he’s seen — is also outrageous, he says.



Let’s go back a few decades to see how the relationship between buyers and real estate agents has evolved.



In 1983, the Federal Trade Commission in the United States did a study showing that three out of four buyers believed the agent they worked with represented their interests.



In those days, agents working with buyers were under a legal obligation to get the highest price for the seller. They couldn’t put a buyer’s interests first (though many still did).



The FTC report led to changes on both sides of the border. Starting in 1995, the Canadian Real Estate Association said agents had to disclose in writing how they were acting for buyers.



The disclosure rules were adopted by the Real Estate Council of Ontario, a public agency formed to regulate the industry and protect consumers.



Buyers now have a choice. They can sign a buyer representation agreement, confirming an exclusive relationship for a period of time with a realtor firm committed to make best efforts on the buyer’s behalf.



They can also sign a buyer customer service agreement, acknowledging that a broker has explained agency relationships (such as sub-agency, buyer representation, multiple representation and customer service).



The Toronto Real Estate Board has created YouTube videos and a website, www.BRAfirst.ca, to give the benefits of a buyer representation agreement. Here’s how Johnston sees it.



“I’m investing a lot of time and effort, using my expertise, negotiating on your behalf. I’m obliged to show you any properties that meet your search parameters. I bring a lot of valuable services to the table.



“There needs to be some reciprocity. I need to know you’re serious. Otherwise, it’s like a lottery.”



Here are the best practices he recommends to avoid confusion with buyer representation agreements.



Introduce the agreement at the outset of a relationship. Talk about signing it for a week or 10 days. If that works, go up to a month or two.



Limit the agreement to a specific address or neighbourhood. Don’t write “the city of Toronto.”



Tell buyers they can sign a representation agreement or refuse to sign it. They have a choice.



Provide a written service guarantee, agreeing to release buyers from an agreement if they’re dissatisfied (as long as they pay commissions on any property shown by the agent if purchased later).



Never give buyers a representation agreement to sign — without explaining it — just before they submit an offer on a home.



“That’s unethical behaviour and shouldn’t happen,” Johnston says

Starting a Dinner Party Club for Singles!

I have no idea how to do this. I think this is a great idea to get your favourite people together to socialize while not being forced to go to bars to meet other singles...Please if you have ideas...contribute. Here is what I found out so far.

Ideas for Starting a Dinner Club


If you think about it, a dinner club is not much different than a bridge club, a needlepoint club, or a bowling club. Each of those clubs revolves around a group of people who enjoy a similar pastime, and food is usually involved in some capacity. Dinner clubs simply revolve around people who primarily enjoy food and good company. So all that's really required to start a dinner club is a group of people who are willing to regularly gather for conversation, entertainment, and, of course, dinner (or some variation thereof). If you need some ideas to get your efforts underway for your own dinner club, these five tips are for you:



Set a regular date that's easy to remember. Starting a dinner club means meeting regularly—whether it's monthly, bi-monthly, or even quarterly. Pick a night that works for everyone on your guest list—say the first Thursday of every month—and then set it in stone so it becomes a regular feature on people's calendars. Set your schedule far in advance (for the year if possible), with designated hosts for each event.

When determining your guest list, start small. As you start to assemble your participants for the dinner club, be realistic. It's unlikely that most of the people on your list can host a dinner party for 75. Unless you and your friends live in mansions, your dining rooms, dining room tables, and china sets probably accommodate 12–16 people at the most, so keep your group to that size or smaller when you're getting started. Besides, hosting a grand event for a large number of people may intimidate some of your dinner club members into simply bowing out if it becomes too much of a burden.

Think about how your group will "mix." We all have fabulous friends, but if you're choosing among them for the most logical eight to join your dinner club, think about their backgrounds, how they interact, if they get along, and if they have anything in common to discuss over a lengthy dinner and evening of conversation. Also, be sensitive to those in your group who are married, single, or have children. Just as a single friend may not want to join you, your spouse, and three of your closest couple-friends for dinner each month, a married couple with children may feel out of place among a table full of childless single people.

Set the tone for the dinner club by kicking things off at your house. Offer to start the dinner club by hosting the first event at your home. Plan for an evening that is comprised of much more than just food. Besides an amazing menu of your choice, plan for ambiance. Your dinner plans can be formal or informal—let the only rule be that there are no rules. If you're going formal, set your table with your finest china, silver, and glassware, and create or buy a stunning centerpiece that compliments the formality of your meal. Use menu cards to announce the meal, placecards to seat your guests, and your finest linens at each place setting. Have background music playing when your guests arrive, and plenty of candles scattered throughout the living and dining areas. Finally, send each guest home with a small favor—a chocolate, knick-knack, or small plant to remind them of the evening.

Be creative as your dinner club builds momentum. As things get rolling and your dinner club participants start to get the hang of it, encourage your group to think outside the box. Have your guests choose and focus on a theme for their event—from Asian Fusion or Italian to Hawaiian Luau or Vegetarian. Suggest that your participants share their recipes by having recipe cards printed for each guest to take home at the end of the evening.

And here's one final thought: As you near the holidays, when everyone is busy, plan for a traveling dinner club, where each person plays the host for a portion of the meal. Start with appetizers and cocktails at one home; then travel to the next home for salads; move on to another home for the entrée; and, finally, travel to the last home for dessert and coffee. This makes it less burdensome on any one host to provide an entire meal, and you'll get to see the holiday decorations at each home. Or, if your group just doesn't have it in them to plan and throw yet another holiday gathering, choose that month to meet at a restaurant and let someone else do all the work.

Swedish Chocolate Buttercream Cookie Recipe

Old Fashioned Swedish Chocolate Buttercream Cookies

Makes 16-20



Cookie/ Macaroons:

200 g almonds

200 g powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)

2 egg whites



Chocolate Buttercream:

100 g unsalted butter, softened

90 g powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)

1 egg yolk

2 tbsp cocoa powder



To glaze:

100 g dark chocolate



Blanch and peel the almonds. Let it dry, and grind it finely in an almond mill. Mix with the powdered sugar to a grainy mass. Beat the eggwhites (just a little) and mix them with the almonds and sugar to form a smooth paste. Spoon rounded dollops of paste onto baking sheets lined with baking paper. (Use a piping bag if you want them to look neater.)



Bake the cookies at 200°C for about 10 minutes. They should just color slightly. Remove from the oven. Carefully slide the baking paper off the baking sheets, and run cool water over the sheets to cool them down. Place the paper, with the cookies, back on the sheets, and let them cool. They should peel off easily.



Beat all the ingredients for the buttercream until smooth, and then spread this liberally on the completely cool cookies. Spread it on the bottom of the cookie, which is now the new top. Place the cookies in the fridge or even in the freezer for a while, as this makes them much easier to dip in chocolate.



Melt the chocolate and temper it if you want to. Dip the buttercream quickly. This is easiest if you have the chocolate in a small, deep bowl. Set them on a plate to firm up.

Bon Appetit!

GTA real estate market continues to be a safe haven!

November 4, 2011

 

I just reviewed the stats from the Toronto Real Estate Board. TREB reported that in October, there were 7,642 sales for the month. October 2010 there were 6,504 sales so we have experienced an approx 17% INCREASE in the number of sales compared to last year.

At the end of October there were only 17,794 homes for sale on the Toronto Real Estate Board, compared to 18,305 at the end of October 2010. So inventory is shrinking slightly and the sales are picking up year over year. 

Buyers continue to have limited choices in many areas of the GTA requiring them to act quickly when they see something they like. What we traditionally see is that many people delay their decision to list their homes over the next 2 months which will cause the inventory to decrease even further. Between now and the end of the year will be a VERY good time for new Sellers to come on the market as competition will decrease and there will still be a back-log of buyers out there looking for a home.

So the question I always get is  .... “What will happen to the market?” Answer: Much more of the same. 

The market will continue to be very strong well into 2012. Prices should remain stable. Inventory levels will likely increase in the new year, however in most areas and price ranges, conditions will still favour Sellers.

The global economy continues to be real concern and we’ll see some changes over the next few months. Even with this distraction, indicators seem to point to our economy not taking much of a hit and we’ll continue to be in pretty good shape. Our real estate market will continue to be a safe haven. I’ll keep an eye out on this for you.

Whether selling OR buying, the key to taking advantage of current market conditions is working with the right realtor. When you hear of anyone who may want to buy or sell, please contact me at the office. I promise you that I will take care of them, do a great job and provide them with the best customer service. If you would like any more information, I’m here to help.

Yours Truly,

Lisa Portolese, Sales Representative

(905) 568-2121

The 14th annual Canada’s Walk of Fame

Burton Cummings is the only individual to be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame two times.


The class of 2011 includes seven new inspiring and celebrated Canadians who have excelled in their fields and are a part of Canada’s legacy.

The 14th annual Canada’s Walk of Fame will add the following Canadian icons to its current list of 131 inductees:



>> Burton Cummings

>> Dr. Roberta Bondar

>> Daniel Nestor

>> Sandra Oh

>> Russell Peters

>> Ryan Reynolds

>> Mordecai Richler



“Each one of our inductees has made their mark on Canada’s colourful landscape and helped define to the world what it means to be Canadian,” said Peter Soumalias, President and Founding Director, Canada’s Walk of Fame. “We are thrilled to honour and celebrate our inductees’ dedication and passion to both their craft and community at this year’s ceremony.”



Joining the 131 existing inductees, the 2011 honourees will be added to Canada’s Walk of Fame, which annually recognizes individuals for their achievements in various fields, including music, sport, film and television, science and innovation, in addition to the arts: literary, visual and performing. Commemorating the 2011 inductees, the Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards will feature special guest performances and celebrity presenters.



“Canada’s Walk of Fame truly champions Canadians and their pursuit of excellence across all disciplines, and Shaw is a proud supporter of this important cultural initiative,” said Barb Williams, Senior Vice-President, Content, Shaw Media. “We look forward to our 3rd consecutive broadcast on Global and Slice™ highlighting another exemplary list of inductees this fall.”



Once again, one of this year’s inductees will be honoured with the Canadian Legends Award, sponsored by Cineplex Entertainment This year’s recipient is acclaimed author and screenwriter, Mordecai Richler. The Legends Award is given posthumously to Canadian pioneers in film and television, music, sport, arts and innovation. Cineplex Entertainment is proud to sponsor the Legends Award as well as Canada’s Walk of Fame.



Potential candidates of Canada’s Walk of Fame must have been born in or spent the totality of their creative or formative years in Canada. A minimum of 10 successful years is required to qualify, as well as a recognized body of work that has had a significant influence on our cultural heritage.



“As a sponsor for a third consecutive year, RBC Visa Infinite Avion is proud to be a partner of Canada’s Walk of Fame and its commitment to allow Canadians to share and celebrate the achievements of those talented individuals that continue to inspire us all.” said Karen Leggett, SVP, RBC Cards & Payment Solutions.



The 2011 Inductees



Dr. Roberta Bondar O.C., O.Ont, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRSC Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON

As the world’s first neurologist in space, Dr. Roberta Bondar has been globally recognized for her pioneering contribution to space medicine research. As an author, educator and celebrated landscape photographer, Dr. Bondar has also earned a reputation as a leading speaker and consultant within the medical and scientific communities, and in the field of corporate social responsibility as well as the environment. Recently created, The Roberta Bondar Foundation aims to help people see their environment in a positive light. Some of her numerous accolades include the Order of Canada, Order of Ontario, the NASA Space Flight Medal, Honorary Patron for Canada of UNESCO’s International Year of Planet Earth, and inductions into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame. Dr. Bondar has received 24 honorary doctorates from Canadian and American universities, and in 2003, TIME magazine named her among North America’s best explorers. Dr. Bondar served two terms as Chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. She is also an Adjunct Faculty Member in Trent’s Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program.



Burton Cummings Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Few artists have achieved the level of success and critical acclaim that Burton Cummings has enjoyed in a dazzling career spanning more than 40 years. Whether as lead singer and songwriter with the Guess Who or on his own, Burton Cummings has amassed more hit records than just about any other Canadian performer in history. “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” “American Woman,” “Share The Land,” “Clap For The Wolfman,” “Stand Tall,” “My Own Way To Rock” and “You Saved My Soul” all bear Burton’s distinctive stamp. As a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Canada’s Walk of Fame with the Guess Who, Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, Prairie Music Hall of Fame, six-time JUNO Award winner, recipient of the Order of Canada, the Order of Manitoba, the Governor-General’s Performance Arts Award, 22 SOCAN Awards and several BMI (Broadcast Music Industry) Awards for over 1 million airplays of his songs, Burton Cummings is one of the most celebrated rock artists in Canadian music history. He earned the first US platinum album by a Canadian artist with the Guess Who, and on his own, the first quadruple platinum Canadian-produced album. Altogether Burton has earned some 80 platinum and gold record awards. Recently, the bestselling book The 100 Top Canadian Singles ranked “American Woman” the greatest Canadian single of all time. His most recent album, 2008’s critically-acclaimed Above The Ground, was his first ever to feature all original songs. Canadian rock music royalty, Burton Cummings remains at the top of his game as an unrivaled singer, songwriter and recording artist with the extraordinary gift for entertaining and delighting audiences the world over.



Daniel Nestor Hometown: Toronto, ON

Born in Yugoslavia, Daniel Nestor moved to Toronto in 1976 where he proudly became a Canadian citizen. Today, this Canadian tennis player is recognized as the third most decorated doubles champion in tennis history, winning multiple titles over the span of his epic career. Nestor has won 73 ATP Tour doubles titles, including 7 Grand Slam events, 2 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, not to mention 3 Masters Cup Doubles titles. Nestor proudly represented Canada at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, bringing home Gold at the Sydney Olympic Games. His continual athletic success has made him the only player in tennis history to win all four Grand Slams, all of the Masters Series events, the year-end Masters Cup and an Olympic Gold medal in doubles at least once. Ranked number one in the world in 2002, 2004 and 2008, Nestor continues to impress, recording his 800th career victory at the 2011 French Open.



Sandra Oh Hometown: Ottawa, ON

Born and raised in our nation’s capital, Sandra Oh is a life-long performer, appearing in her first play at the age of 10 and kick-starting her professional career at the age of 16 in television, theatre and commercials. After only three years at the National Theatre School of Canada, she landed the coveted title role in The Diary of Evelyn Lau, earning her a Gemini nomination for Best Actress, as well as a 1994 Cannes FIPA d’Or for Best Actress. Her career then continued to soar, as she won, the Screen Actor’s Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for the Fox Starlight film, Sideways. Further awards include two Genie Awards, a Cable Ace award for Best Actress in a Comedy, a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe, Screen Actor’s Guild Award and five Emmy nominations for her role as ‘Dr. Christina Yang’ on the hit series Grey’s Anatomy. With numerous awards and outstanding performances under her belt, Oh continually showcases her ability to shine both on-stage and on-screen. Although she can be seen in various award-winning feature films and television series, including Rabbit Hole and HBO’s Six Feet Under, she never strays far from her theatrical roots, starring on New York stages in Dogeaters, Stop Kiss and Vagina Monologues.



Russell Peters Hometown: Toronto, ON

Russell Peters is a global comedy rock-star and internet sensation. His Youtube clips have been viewed over 60 million times and he has performed to sold-out crowds from Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, to New York’s Madison Square Garden, to the Sydney Opera House to London’s O2 Arena where he established a new attendance record. Over the course of his 20-year career, he has headlined comedy festivals throughout North America and has performed sold-out arena tours worldwide. Peters has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, HBO, the CBC, BBC, CTV, CNN, TBS, CBS, ABC and NBC. His DVD releases, Outsourced and Red, White and Brown have sold in excess of 300,000 units. In 2009 and 2010 he was listed on the Forbes list of top earning comedians in the United States along with Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld. His first book, Call Me Russell was a number one bestseller and his new DVD / special, The Green Card Tour LIVE from the O2 Arena is in stores now.



Ryan Reynolds Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Ryan Reynolds commenced his acting career at the age of 12 in the series, Fifteen. In 1993, Reynolds landed his first feature film role in the Canadian made Ordinary Magic (1993), for which he was nominated by the Young Artist Foundation for Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Cable Series. After working on several television shows including Serving the Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Reynolds landed his breakthrough role, co-starring on the hit sitcom, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. This series landed him the lead role in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder (2002), for which he earned an MTV Movie Award nomination for Breakthrough Male Performance and a Young Hollywood Award for Next Generation-Male. Since then, he’s become a sought-after Canadian actor and big-screen regular, starring in movies such as Definitely, Maybe (2008) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). His starring role in The Proposal(2009) earned him two MTV Movie Award nominations including Best Comedic Performance and People’s Choice Awards nominations for Favourite Movie Actor, Favourite Comedic Star and Favourite On-Screen Team. Reynolds has also been recognized by the Teen Choice, Goya, Saturn, and Scream Awards, and won People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010. His success continues with his latest lead role in Green Lantern (2011).



Mordecai Richler Hometown: Montreal, QC

Mordecai Richler was a controversial writer who penned the truth as he saw it. His work included numerous novels, essays, short stories, children’s books and hundreds of journalistic articles published in Canada, the U.S. and Britain. His most successful novels include The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1959); St. Urbain’s Horseman (1971; Governor General’s Literary Award), Solomon Gursky Was Here (1990; Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize) and Barney’s Version (1997; Giller Prize for Fiction, Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humor). Richler wrote several screenplays and his adaptation of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974) earned him an Academy Award nomination. Richler’s popular children’s book Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang (1975) received Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award and the Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award. Richler was working on a script forBarney’s Version when he died and the film premiered in 2010, winning seven Genie Awards. Richler was made a Companion of the Order of Canada shortly before his death on July 3, 2001.



About Canada’s Walk of Fame

Established in 1998, Canada’s Walk of Fame (CWOF) aims to educate, inform, and inspire through the permanent celebration of achievements in Canadian music, sport, film and television as well as the literary, visual and performing arts, and science and innovation. In 2010, CWOF expanded to include a four-day festival of music, comedy and film featuring some of Canada’s most popular and iconic performers. The annual celebration culminates in a televised awards special that honours Canada’s finest stars from the worlds of arts, entertainment and sports. Each inductee is immortalized, their names forever cemented into the sidewalks of Toronto’s Entertainment District. To-date, 131 Canadians have been honoured, including Margaret Atwood, Howie Mandel, Steve Nash, Michael J. Fox and Blue Rodeo. A complete list of inductees along with more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame can be found at www.canadaswalkoffame.com.