Investing in a property south of the border is a dream many of us have. Who wouldn't want to escape our cold, dreary winters to live in a place where you can go swimming, golf or laze about every day? Current economic conditions and the strength of the Canadian dollar have made it easier than ever for […]
Finding bargains can be a time-consuming exercise, be it clipping coupons for groceries, checking flyers for sales, or simply shopping at discount retailers. Knowing where to find deals can save you a lot of time. One of my favourite discount stores is Dollarama. Salim Rossy, who fled Lebanon in the early 1900s and moved […]
Are you ready to retire? How much money do you think you will need? Or do you still have another 20 years or more before retirement? According to the experts, it's never too early to start making retirement plans. Barbara Hawkins, long-time writer for MoneySense magazine, recommends 6 steps to a wealthy retirement. 1. Create […]
(Le Bon Marché, Paris, 1867) Can you picture a world without Walmart, Zellers or The Bay? It's hard to believe that there was a time when people bought what they needed from local markets, small shops and even directly from craftsmen and street vendors. During the Elizabethan age shopping was about acquiring basic necessities, not […]
Let's face it, we've all had to work with people we just can't along with but, take comfort, you are not alone. We don't live in a perfect world so office politics is something all of us will need to deal with at one time or another. According to Vicky Oliver, author of Bad Bosses, […]
I love going to Starbucks, and judging by the statistics so do you! Maybe it's their coffee or snacks or maybe it's just the atmosphere. Whatever it is that attracts us to them, the success of Starbucks has influenced the way we do business and has spawned the publication of many books on various […]
Do you ever wonder how much work it must take to run a restaurant? Being successful in the food-service industry takes a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment but there are many rewards, be it financial, emotional or creative. Many things need to be considered before starting such a business: who is your competition, […]
I recently went to the Art Gallery of Ontario to view the works of art donated to the gallery by Kenneth Thomson. In addition to donating $70 million to the AGO in 2002, Thomson, an avid art collector, also donated more than 2,000 pieces of artwork valued at more than $300 million. Many wealthy […]
(Snow Clouds by Franklin Carmichael, 1938) Collecting antiques has been a hobby of mine for many years. I originally started collecting antiques because I took an interest in a particular period in history and wanted to have some of the objects from that period to display in my home. Many people buy art […]
I visited the new Loblaws at Maple Gardens the other day and was very impressed by how the building was used to create a retail space while at the same time preserving its architectural heritage. Not an easy task. Loblaws has been a fixture in Canada since 1919 when the first store was opened […]