From Chutney to Maple syrup....our move to Canada.

Back from India

2012-01-31T15:40:00.000-08:00

Just back from a five week trip to India which was strange because my trip was initially supposed to be only three weeks. What happened?

Well, my PR card as well as the kids PR cards had expired in October 2011. We applied for new ones saying that we were travelling to India mid December. Our new cards arrived with dates to pick them up in January and February of 2012!! So we left for India, without our PR cards, thinking we would just apply for one way re-entry visas to come back into Canada.

Once in India, we applied for our visas, but because of the Christmas holidays, they told us that it would take instead of the usual five days, anywhere from ten to fifteen days. We were booked to leave India on the 9th of January and thought we would get our visas in time. Well, the day after we applied, a huge cyclone hit Chennai city which shut down offices across the city. Not sure if this had anything to do with our visas, but we never got them in time and had to change our tickets from the 9th to the 17th. Then...................

On the 14th of January, we get a message saying our passports have come to the nearby VFS office and that we could go and have them picked up. We go to the office and sign that we have received the passports and immediately scan through them to take a look at the visas. Guess what...none of our passports had visas in them.

Panic sets in......what on earth is going on! Then we see a letter underneath the passports that says they need a letter from my husband authorizing my travel with the kids to Canada as he was not one of the applicants for a visa. (His PR card was still valid and therefore he didn't have to ask for a visa)

So he makes a letter, sends that in to the embassy along with all our passports, change our tickets to the 26th of January...and wait.

January 23rd we get our passports....look inside....they have the visas...........yea!!!

Can't tell you how relieved we were. In the meanwhile, our kids had missed two weeks of school. I had emailed and telephoned both schools from India to tell them about the delay. Our sons high school was so accommodating and allowed him to write his missed exams after coming back to Canada and our daughters middle school eased in her with a little extra work everyday to catch up on everything she missed.

All is well that ends well as they say! Of course our family back in India were happy we were there those extra weeks. Now........back to work, school and of course winter! So far it has been really mild though, with hardly any snow and many days with above zero temperatures which is not normal for this time of the year.

Give me a week to get back to routine, clean the house, get some cooking done etc and I'll start blogging regularly again.

Thanks to all my readers who emailed me...sorry if I have not replied yet. Have a safe winter everyone!!

Will start updating

2011-12-09T04:28:00.001-08:00

Have been so busy with moving house, changing both kids schools and getting used to a new part of the GTA. Moving from Brampton to Mississauga has been a great move as far as High School is concerned. More about that in another post. Keep checking this blog...will have some new updates by Dec 12th.

What a wonderful Summer...and now back to school......

2011-09-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Can't believe that it is already September and tomorrow is the first day of the new school year. The kids spent the last two months playing with friends, watching a lot of t.v, extra trips to the library for summer reading, swam at the community pool and rode their bikes to the park. We also spent a week in Brechin, near Lake Simcoe for a mini vacation where we rode horses, went boating, fishing and got time to just relax!

Oh, in the middle of all this, we also shifted houses!! We had to, because our son was moving from 8th grade (last year of Middle School) to 9th grade (First year of High School) and we were not happy with the High School that was in our zone. So with the help of the Frasers Report, that ranks the schools in Ontario, we were able to find another house in a bettter school zone and moved in August. The last month we have been settling down in the new house, registering the kids in both their schools (our daughter is in the 6th grade which is the first year of Middle School), getting used to the new area and enjoying the last of the summer vacation.

In my next post I'll write about the High School orientation and what to get for school so your child goes prepared.

My email id is on top of the blog so please write to me if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading!

School re-opening and what to do if you are new to Canada

2011-08-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

Immigrating to a new country can be quite exciting and stressful at the same time. Families immigrating with children often have double the hurdles and red tape to get through, regarding immunizations, school registrations and getting the little ones used to a completely different culture.

Here are some tips for you:

1. Make sure you bring a completed immunization card with you for each child. This card is compulsory for registering your child in school.

2. To register in school, you need three things: PR Card, immunization card and proof of residence. (Whether rental or owned)

3. Proof of residence includes your rental agreement or ownership papers, a utility bill or anything from the federal government or anything sent from your bank with your name on it and sent by post to your address. You have to bring at least 2 of these things to the school office. If you have just moved to Canada, remember to get these things done quickly if you want your child to start school when it re-opens. (September 6th, 2011 for most schools in Canada)

4. Again, if you are brand new, go to one of the Welcome Centres first. They will give you all the information you need. Their website is: http://www.welcomecentre.ca/

5.Most stores have their 'Back to School' sales from the month of August till the mid of September. Pick up what you need for the year as you won't get better prices later in the year. Talk to a neighbour or someone from the school or welcome centre on things you should buy if you get confused.

6. Once you rent or buy a home, check and see which school comes within the home boundary. Remember your child has to go to the school that falls within the specific school boundary lines. If you have a school in mind (looking at the ranking and the fraser report) then you have to find a home within the boundary lines of that school.

The Fraser Report is one of the ways of finding out the top schools in each area. Normally the top 100 is considered to be in the 'good' bracket. Remember, the better the school zone, normally the higher the rents and prices of homes.

http://www.compareschoolrankings.org/Index.aspx

7. Overall, children love the schooling system here where they learn through creativity and play. They are not burdened with too much homework or studying until High School and College. Get your children to join clubs, take part in the activities of your community centre, learn how to swim, ice skate etc and enjoy being in Canada!!

The Walk-in Clinic experience

2011-08-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

I know, I know..........it has been far too long between my posts! We just shifted and moved from Brampton to Mississauga. Our new home is still full of boxes and things all over the place. Hopefully can wake up to a neat and organized home by this weekend. The main reason we shifted is because our son is just starting grade 9, which is the first year of High School. This means, moving to the High School from the Middle School that is within the boundaries of your home. The problem was that, even though we were happy with the middle school, the High School was way below on the ranks. The only way to switch schools was to switch homes!! So after looking for nearly 6 weeks we finally found a home in our budget and within the boundaries of the High School we liked.

So come September, our son starts grade 9 and our daughter moving from Elementary to Middle school, starts grade 6.

The label of this post about the Walk In.................let me explain:

Yesterday, we went to the Walk-In Clinic (which is what they call the clinics here that you go to with your Health Card) to see a Doctor about a skin cream for an infection. The nurse immediately took us to one of the examination rooms...so we thought, 'Wow, that was fast!'. But then we ended up waiting for about half an hour before the Doctor finally came to see us. Anyway, he writes the prescription which we take to the pharmacy next door. The attendant looks at the prescription and says, 'I can't read this. I'm going to fax this back to the Doctor, and he'll have to fax me the prescription again so that I can read it. Can you come back after 20 minutes?'

A lot of people ask how the Health Care system is here...well, most immigrants will tell you that it is slow, painfully slow...............the ambulance will take you in an emergency to the Hospital in five minutes flat, but then once there, chances are you will see a Doctor only after three or four hours......sometimes five or six! It just doesn't make any sense!

Anyway.......back to my unpacking...........will check around and post new happenings in and around the GTA soon. We took a trip to the Niagara Falls a couple of weeks ago with a guest who was visiting from the U.K, and the 'Maid of the Mist' ride to the edge of the falls just never ceases to amaze us. If you visit Canada or come here to live or study, one of your very first sight seeing trips should be the Falls.

Have a good weekend!!

IIFA AWARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NORTH AMERICA..RIGHT HERE IN TORONTO!!!

2011-06-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yes.........the IIFA (International Indian Films Academy) of 2011 is in Toronto this year!! Major excitement and hype has been building up the last couple of months here in Toronto, with visits from Anil Kapoor and Bipasha Basu and various song and dance shows spread across Canada. Coinciding with the Year of India in Canada, the IIFA awards committee couldn't have picked a better venue than the Rogers Centre.

The 2011 IIFA Awards, officially the 12th International Indian Film Academy Awards ceremony, will be held June 23-25th with Canadians being trained in Bollywood dancing to take part in the show too.

The Awards will take place at the Rogers Centre and the Music & Fashion Extravaganza at the Ricoh Coliseum.

For tickets please go here:

http://www.ticketscanada.com/IIFA-Tickets?gclid=CNOhl5C6s6kCFUMUKgodiWCMMg

Ontario Universities Fair 2011

2011-06-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

If you have a child or know anyone who is going to University next year, this may be of interest to you:

Check out this link:

http://www.ouf.ca/

Be sure to check the links on the website as well as keep an eye on the dates in October for the fair in the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto.

Latest job rates in Toronto for Immigrants - report from the Globe and Mail

2011-06-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Please check this link (cut and paste) for details on the article about the latest job rates in Toronto for immigrants:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/jobless-rate-up-for-toronto-immigrants/article1825182/

Taken from the above article:

"Nearly one in five recent immigrants in Toronto is jobless – the highest November since Statistics Canada started collecting the data in 2006.
The labour force survey results paint a worsening unemployment picture for the city’s newcomers that stands in sharp contrast to that of Canadian-born residents, whose jobless rate dropped this month."

There are also 3 video links to watch and articles relating to the Citizenship test.

Latest news on OHIP - Canadian Health board to Immigrants

2011-06-08T08:14:00.001-07:00

Just read this article this morning and thought I'd share it with you:

From the CBS News website:

Toronto's board of health is calling on the province to give landed immigrants health coverage as soon as they arrive.
Currently, there is a three-month waiting period before newly arrived landed immigrants can get coverage under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
The board says eliminating the waiting period would allow timely diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases.
Toronto health officials say they see about 300 cases of tuberculosis a year, many of them in individuals who come from countries where the illness is widespread.
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care notes that since 2004, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis is available to all people in the province, regardless of medical insurance coverage.
The ministry says others exempted from the three-month waiting period include newborns born in Ontario, certain adopted children under 16 and some refugees.
New Brunswick recently eliminated its waiting period, leaving Ontario and B.C. as the only provinces that have a comprehensive waiting period for newly arrived landed immigrants.
Quebec recently introduced a waiting period, but has a number of exemptions, including the diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases.
"Newcomers to Ontario who have already spent time and money securing landed immigrant status should not have to wait three months for OHIP — especially when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases," said Dr. David McKeown, medical officer of health for Toronto.
"Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial," McKeown said Wednesday. "We know that newcomers without coverage are hesitant to see a doctor, which puts their health and the health of others at risk."
Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal attract the most immigrants to Canada every year, according to Statistics Canada.

Keep in mind though that all immigrants have to go through the health examination and testing process before landing in Canada.

In case you are wondering what that 3 month difference makes: We had to take our son for an immunization shot after we got a notice from the health board. Not taking your child for the immunization shot will mean reminder notices and or eventually the school having to stop your child from attending classes. So we took our son to the clinic and as we had our health cards, both the Doctors visit and the injection were free. But another family, who had arrived from the Middle East with three children, had to give each child 3 shots (to catch up with the Canadian immunization calendar) and didn't have their health cards yet. The father listened in shock as he was told that he would have to pay $150 per child for their shots. Not sure what he decided to do, as we were called in to see the Doctor at that time.

Some people do take private insurance to cover those 3 months. Do all your homework before you land and be safe!

Spring is here!!

2011-06-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

After a very long winter, spring finally arrived in Canada! The weather is just perfect for boating, hiking, going on picnics, fishing, camping and touring different attractions.

Boating at Lake Kelso

Leaves back on the trees.....Canada is an absolutely beautiful country!

Sign at the Hilton Falls conservation park

Hilton Falls in the Milton area

Swampy area on the trail to the falls...one of my favourite places!

Amazing walking trails........

These are just a few of the places that you can visit when you visit or live here. More to come! So keep reading my blog and I'll let you know more places that you can see.

Thanks to all my readers and your emails plus Spring Events

2011-06-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

The past couple of months, I have been receiving on an average about 10 emails daily from all around the world, of people immigrating or thinking about immigrating to Canada. Keeping up with the emails and replying to each and every one of them has been a learning experience for me as well, trying to get the right information out and answering questions as honestly as possible.

Spring has officially started and you see kids and adults of all ages out trying to enjoy the sun while it lasts.

There are TONS of events going on in and around the GTA. Yesterday we drove through Streetsville in Mississauga where the 'Bread and Honey' festival was going on. In Mississauga, the Carasauga festival is also going on (June 3, 4 and 5th), with 160 nationalites taking part in the cultural and food events organized for the public to enjoy. The carnival atmosphere and wonderful weather gets people out in droves to enjoy the experience.

http://www.carassauga.com is the website to check for next years dates and events.

Other events coming up are:



Canada Day Canada Day Events in Toronto, Ontario. Of course you have to wear something red and white to celebrate the 144th Canada day! Canada Day Concert and Fireworks Held at Mel Lastman Square, with a live musical concert starting at 8pm and spectacular fireworks for a fun Canada Day family party. Also check out Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square for another good fireworks display. World’s Fare: Celebration of Food and Culture Venue: York Quay Centre. Enjoy global food and culture from five continents and an Eastern European experience!

Beaches International Jazz Festival The Beaches Jazz Festival has been running for many years, and it's a great place to relax and enjoy a nice evening by Lake Ontario. Some of the finest jazz musicians in the world gather here. A great mix of other types of music can he heard during the Beaches Jazz Festival, including jazz, blues, world beat, Cuban, Latin music and dance. This jazz fest is one of the largest of its kind in Canada and should not be missed if you are in Toronto. Almost one million people will be entertained this year, and you could be one of them. Beaches International Jazz Festival Week Check their web site for schedule information

Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Toronto's largest annual fair with a great concert lineup and big ticket performers and bands. Tons of amusement rides, Ferris wheels, roller coasters and candy cotton , the CNE (known simply as the 'Ex" to Torontonians) is an annual tradition for locals and tourists alike. Tip: Combine your trip to the CNE fair with a visit to Ontario Place, which is located directly beside the CNE fairgrounds. Ontario Place is open all summer and has indoor and outdoor activities geared towards kids. Get wet with a wild water coaster, bumperboats, or stay dry and check out indoor exhibitions and events. Also, keep an eye to the sky for the Canadian International Air Show on Sept 4,5,6. The Canadian National Exhibition is located near the heart of downtown Toronto on the shore of Lake Ontario. Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Please check the website for dates of events. www.theex.com

Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival North America's largest Ukrainian street party is held every summer in Toronto's Bloor West Village. Enjoy fabulous Ukrainian food, traditional music, dance and crafts. A parade makes its way through the streets with colourful floats, marching bands and costumes. The festival showcases Ukrainian culture and shows how it has become part of the fabric that is Toronto. The Bloor Street West Ukrainian Festival takes place right on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street West, between Jane and Runnymede. If you're taking the TTC, travel to either Jane or Runnymede subway stations on the Bloor-Danforth line. Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival Check the web site for more info

Events planned by the TSE ( Toronto Special Events :is a full-service Section of the City of Toronto's Economic Development & Culture division.)

Samsāra

Toronto welcomes the International Indian Film Academy with a celebration of South Asian music, dance and fashion.
Saturday, June 25, 2011

Canada Day

Live musical performances and fireworks at Mel Lastman Square
Friday, July 1, 2011

Summerlicious

Prix Fixe restaurant promotion
July 8-24, 2011

Fresh Wednesdays

Live music and fresh food at Nathan Phillips Square
July 13 - August 31, 2011

Tasty Thursdays

Live music and food hot off the grill at Nathan Phillips Square
July 14 - September 1, 2011

Sunday Serenades

Dance to live music at Mel Lastman Square
July 10 - August 21, 2011

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

Toronto's free all-night contemporary art event
Saturday, October 1, 2011

Cavalcade of Lights

First Lighting Celebration at Nathan Phillips Square
Saturday, November 26, 2011

Just do a google search for any of the above and you will find more details. Have a great Spring everyone!!

Trees in Winter

2011-03-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

Taken last month...................

Same trees after a windstorm............

First week of Spring..and we have a snowstorm here in Toronto!

2011-03-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

Launch of fantastic website and blog for visitors to India!!

2011-03-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Coinciding with the 'Year of India in Canada', the ministry of tourism Canada - Govt of India and Indigo Marketing Solutions launched the, 'Travel Companion India' guidebook on January 24th in a glittering ceremony in Toronto.

This wonderful, colourful, informative book covers everything from the types of tourism, cuisine, culture and tourist attractions in every state and union territory. If you are planning a visit to India or are just curious to know what India is all about, check this link:

www.travelcompanionindia.com

and the blog that goes with this site is:

www.travelcompaionindia.blogspot.com

I'll keep you informed of the other activities this year for the year of India in Canada and links to the events as well.

Monthly living expenses in Canada

2011-03-15T09:05:00.001-07:00

Was looking at the RBC website today, where they have listed average monthly expenses in Canada. Many potential immigrants have asked my recently about the monthly expenses and so I thought I'd put it here for everyone to get some idea. Remember, the amount you finally spend or save, depends on your lifestyle.

Expenses in Canada: What to Expect

Canadians overall enjoy a relatively low cost of living with a high standard of living. Inflation in Canada has averaged less than 3% a year for the past 10 years. Canadian cities have been ranked as some of the most desirable places in the world to live.
When you move to Canada, your expenses may be different from those you are accustomed to. This section lists some of the common expenses that Canadians budget for. Keep in mind that Canada is a very large country, and costs can vary significantly depending on where you live.

Housing
Paying for a place to live is likely to be your biggest expense. Accommodation and related expenses may account for one-fifth to one-half of your total income.
Many people rent their home for their first few years in Canada, which usually costs less than buying a home. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Canada in 2005 was $731 per month. This ranged from a low of $472 in Saguenay, Quebec, to a high of $1,052 in Toronto, Ontario.
The average cost of buying a residential home in Canada, as of March 2007, was $299,998. Prices ranged from a low of $140,549 in Regina, Saskatchewan, to a high of $554,941 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Generally speaking, housing is less expensive outside of cities, whether you rent or buy.

Utilities
If you rent your home, the cost of some or all utilities may be included in the amount you pay every month. If it’s not, or if you own your home, you will need to set aside money in your budget to cover these essential services.
• Heat — Most homes in Canada are heated by natural gas, oil or electricity. Household heating costs for a family of four in Canada in 2005 averaged $142 per month. (Less in the summer more in the winter)
• Electricity — Your home will also require electricity to power lights, electronic equipment, appliances and air conditioning units. Average monthly household spending on electricity was $92.00. (More in the summer due to the airconditioning.)
• Water — If you live in or near a city, the municipality will charge a fee for providing water and sewage services.

Communications
Telephones — Land-line telephone service for Canadian homes is supplied by one of several communications networks. The most basic service starts at around $20 a month, and includes unlimited local calls. You can buy your own telephone, or rent one from the telephone company.
Average monthly household spending on telephone services was $57.00.
Cellular phones — Many Canadians have a cellular (cell), or mobile, phone instead of or in addition to a land-line. Cellular service (also known as wireless service) is available from several providers and you can choose from a wide range of plans. You will need to purchase a phone and pay for the monthly phone service.
While prices can start as low as $10 a month for a basic prepaid plan, the average monthly household spending on cell phones was $34.00.
Cable or satellite television — There is no charge to own and use a television if you are picking up a signal with an aerial antenna. If reception is poor in your area, you may need to purchase cable or satellite service, which will provide better picture quality and a much wider range of channels. There is a monthly fee for such service, and it usually varies depending on the provider, the scope of the package and the options you choose.
Some companies offer basic cable TV packages starting at just under $30 a month. A package that has movie channels, childrens channels and sports channels is normally about 50 to 60$ a month.
Radio — There is no charge to own and operate a radio. However, some cable and satellite services may offer more radio stations and a clearer signal.
Internet — Many Canadians subscribe to an Internet service, which allows them to surf the web or send emails from their home computer. You can purchase Internet service from most cable or telephone companies. Computers with Internet access may be used for free at many public libraries. Some cafes and restaurants provide free wireless Internet access as a service to patrons who bring laptop computers.
The average monthly household spending on Internet services was $20.00. From personal experience, a family that has two or more people spending time on the internet at home, spends much more than this. 20$ to me sounds very conservative.

Education
Education is important to Canadians, and attendance is mandatory for children between the ages of six and 16. All children are eligible to receive free elementary and high school education through the government-funded public education system.
Alternatively, you may choose to send your child to a private school. These schools charge tuition and often require that students wear uniforms, which must also be purchased. Most public schools do not require a uniform. However, you should check with the school.
You may also need to budget for additional expenses such as school supplies, some books, sports equipment and musical instruments.
If anyone in your family is attending post-secondary school (college or university), budgetable expenses also include books and supplies, and possibly residence and meals, in addition to tuition.
Canadian university students enrolled in undergraduate programs paid an average of $4,347 in annual tuition fees for the 2006/07 academic year. International students paid an average of $13,205.

Medical Expenses
Canadian residents enjoy a healthcare system that is publicly funded. That means that many health services are paid for from taxes and are free to all residents of Canada who hold a provincial health card.
However, not all medical expenses are covered. Depending on the province in which you live, you may have to pay for services such as:
• Dental care
• Eye examinations and prescription eye wear
• Treatment provided by psychologists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, dietitians and naturopaths
• Cosmetic or elective surgery
Average monthly household spending on healthcare expenses in 2005 was $150. We personally have spend money on all medications. The Doctor's visit may be free...but you still have to pay for medicines. So keep this in mind when budgeting for misc expenses that could crop up. If you take any regular medications, it is better to bring a few months supply along with a prescription from your Doctor abroad. The same medications may not be available here in Canada under the same names, and you will have to come here and see what replacements they have, after consulting a Doctor here.

Shopping
You will need to budget for necessities like groceries and household cleaning products. Government statistics show that Canadian consumers spend just over 10% of their personal disposable income on food.
Remember to account for personal-care items and clothing. The Canadian climate ranges from very hot in the summer to extremely cold in winter. To be comfortable year-round, you will need several wardrobes. (Heavy coats, thermals,mittens, mufflers, capsand boots in the Winter, lighter jackets, shoes and long sleeve shirts during Spring, short sleeves, sandals and shorts or lighter clothing in the Summer and back to light coats and thicker shoes/light weight boots for Fall)
Average monthly household spending on food in 2005 was $594 and on personal care was $91. Spending on clothing averaged $215 per month.

Transportation
If you plan to live in a city and will not have a car, you should budget for public transportation. Public transportation in Canada is reliable and safe, and very reasonably priced. You can usually purchase individual fares or a monthly pass. The average price of a monthly transit pass (based on fares in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Halifax) was $80.
If you will be buying a motor vehicle, you will need to budget for gasoline, maintenance, and repairs and automobile insurance, as well as the cost of the vehicle itself.
You must have a valid driver’s license to drive a motor vehicle. There is usually a fee to take the driving test to qualify for a Canadian driver’s license.
You do not need a license to own or ride a bicycle, but in many areas wearing a helmet is mandatory.
Overall transportation spending for Canadian households averaged $756 a month in 2005. The cost of gasoline alone accounted for just over $167 of the average monthly household budget.

Insurance
Canadians purchase a number of different types of insurance. Some are required by law and some are purchased to provide financial security. Some of the most common types are
• Automobile insurance (required to drive a vehicle)
• Property insurance (to protect your home and your belongings from theft or damage)
• Medical insurance (to supplement provincial health coverage)
• Life insurance (to protect your family if anything should happen to you)
• Creditor’s insurance (to cover outstanding debts if you are unable to work)

Discretionary Spending
Many Canadians also include a certain amount in their budget for discretionary spending. This includes entertainment, such as going to a movie theatre or a concert, as well as dining out at restaurants. You should also consider whether you wish to allocate funds for reading materials (newspapers, magazines and books), DVD rentals, club or gym memberships and school expenses such as school supplies, field trips etc (public schools are free but you still pay for misc things in the school, such as pizza day ($2), socials (2 to 6$), etc).

Hope this gives you some idea of what your expenses will be like in Canada. Thanks to RBC where I got this data from.

Blizzard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning to what looked like a foot of snow on our front door step. We had to get our high winter boots out to shovel the snow off of the driveway and sidewalk. Snow looks so pretty and light as it falls to the ground...but believe me...it can be really heavy!!

My kids are happy since there is no school today, the first 'snow holiday' that we have seen in the two and a half years we have been here. The great thing is that the Canadian Government and the City Councils are so organized that the highways were already clear by the morning rush hour traffic and most of the main roads already salted and shovelled. As I am writing this blog, I'm looking out of my backdoor and watching the snow come down again. More shovelling later!!

The temperature is -10 and wearing my thinner leather gloves were not enough to warm my hands. So half frozen I came back into the house to change into my heavy winter gloves. All this makes such a difference here, which is hard to imagine when you lived in an Asian country all your life.

Have been getting so many letters recently from families around the world, all waiting to land here in Canada. We recently went for the Panorama India show for India's republic day celebrations. There were thousands of people there, with the different State associations performing dances and songs. There was also Indian food and a great chai stand, with wonderful masala tea for sale. If you are in the Toronto area, look out for the Panorama show next year.

Coming up is also the IAFA awards, this year being held at the Rogers Centre here in Toronto. That should be fun! This year is also the Year of India in Canada. Will give you a link in a couple of weeks for the website which will give you more details on the different celebrations slated for the year.

Incredible India has also come out with a fantastic book, (in which I was one of the editors!!), which is in print now. Anyone wants a copy...please let me know....$25/- with postage for the hardcopy, or you can look at the pdf on www.indigomarketingsolutions.com. You'll see a blue box with Incredible India, just click on that and take a look at the book! Let us know what you think.

Advertisers for the book can contact www.indigomarketingsolutions.com
........they are looking at anyone in the travel, hotel or airline industry. The french version of the book is coming out as well. The book and CD version of the entire book with ads is going to be given out to thousands of Canadians this year.

Waiting for spring....and getting out of wearing all these layers!!
We were in India for a month in December and the weather was just so perfect! The kids are back to school and enjoying it. My ten year old is going on a school ski trip next week and both the kids (13 and 10) had a rock climbing activity in school for two weeks. Besides learning math, english and science, I love the fun they have doing so many other things too.

Will blog on High School options in my next post. Let me know what else you would like me to blog about.......anything about Canada you would like to know??

Have a great day wherever you are!!!

Nal

A reminder of what Summer looks like.....pictures taken at Halton, of the Hilton Falls, Ontario

2011-01-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

Snow and what you need to know :)

2011-01-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all my readers ..old and new! Hope that 2011 is a good year for all of you.

Been away for a month, and now am back in good old Canada.......surprised when I landed yesterday to wonderful weather, no trace of snow anywhere and no need of thermals!!

Just went through all my mail and got a nice letter to all residents of Brampton from the Works and Transportation department. Thought I'd share the info with you so that if you are in Canada, or planning on coming here during the winter months, you may find this helpful.

Snow and what you need to know:

A heavy or continuous snowfall may extend to 48 hours or more. The City uses detailed weather reports and 24 hour road patrols to quickly respond to winter weather conditions.

Before a storm, a liquid salt brine mix is put on primary roads to prevent the snow from sticking to the surface of the road to make it easier to plow.

Local residential streets and courts are cleared after primary roads are complete. They are treated with sand/salt mix and plowed only when there is more than 7.5 cm of snow.

Streets with schools are cleared continuously.

You can help by:

Not parking on the street during or immediately after a snow storm. This is in fact prohibited by law.

Clear snow from fire hydrants in front of your property. Owners of homes are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in from of or beside their property by 11am the day after the end of a snowfall.

Shovelling snow onto the road from private property poses a driving hazard and is prohibited.

Qualified seniors and physically challenged homeowners can ask for Financial Assistance for hiring someone to remove the snow for them.

Did you know?

The City is not responsible for damage to plants, driveway curbs or other items that property owners have placed within the City's right of way.

Recreation facilities are designated as safe haven locations. In case of a declared emergency, City residents can seek shelter or visit the facility when in need of assistance.

State of the art, environment friendly equipment and technology is used by the City to manage snow removal.

Allow work crews sufficient time to remove ice and snow.

Check www.cp24.com for the latest updates on the weather, school closures and school bus services.

Have a safe winter and let me know if there is any other information you would like me to write about.

Thanks and have a wonderful year!

Nal

Letter from Sam and the job market

2010-11-30T07:04:00.000-08:00

I received a post from Sam who wanted to know about the job market in Canada.

Sam, I'm copying your post here so that my readers know what this is in regard to,

"Hello Nalini,

I was just curious to ask that is there anyway to arrange for employment before coming to Canada. I mean me and my husband both are software professionals are thinking of relocating there. But without a job is a little scary. Also what what kinds of job do software professionals get there when they come and search for employment. Is there any website there where you can search for a job? like in india we have monster, Naukri etc to apply for. A little information would be of great help.

Thanks and Regards,
Sam"

Sam, sorry I don't have your email id, or else I would have replied to you directly, but anyway......your post is something a lot of readers ask me about, so I'm replying to it here :)

1. Yes, you can try to secure a job before landing, but I'm telling you straight that this is a very one out of ten thousand kind of chance as 99.999% employers want some Canadian experience.

2. The first couple of years, unless you are again one of the .00001% who gets a good job faster, you must be willing to take any job, nothing to do with your qualification or experience, just to get that 'Canadian Experience'. From working at McDonalds, to a gas station or as a store clerk........you may have to take what you can get. Remember that for every job available, there are 100's of people applying...so even those kinds of jobs may not be as easy to get as you think. On an average, many new immigrants don't get a job for the first six months. You should bring in enough money to get you through at least nine months to be on the safe side.

3. Websites here that you can look at for jobs are:

monster.ca
jobsincanada.com
bestjobsca.com
allstarjobs.ca
jobbank.gc.ca
mycanadajobs.com

You can also try www.immigration.ca

Basically, I don't want to paint a rosy picture about the job market here. We know MBA's from the IIM's who are looking for jobs even six months after landing. Most do find jobs eventually, especially after working in some 'low level' job to get the Canadian experience first. I said, low level, meaning what you would call certain jobs in India.....but by NO WAY am I inferring that these jobs are Low Level here in Canada. All jobs here are done with dignity and integrity, no matter what it is. So don't think that by working in a Tim Hortons or McDonalds that you are doing something beneath your qualifications. You will learn so much about Canadian culture just working even for a month in one of those places. This kind of experience will carry you a long way!

Hope this helps!

Toronto News Headlines - CanUs News

2010-11-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Toronto News Headlines - CanUs News

For the latest on what is happening in Toronto, check this out!

Santa Claus is here!!

2010-11-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Santa is making his first stop before Christmas in Ontario!! Saturday evening he will be a part of the Brampton Santa Parade down Main St, and then on Sunday he will be in Toronto as part of the Toronto Santa parade!!!

Here is a write up on the Brampton Parade from the Brampton Board of Trade :)

Join in and celebrate 25 consecutive years of the Brampton Board of Trade Santa Claus Parade!

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010
Start time: 5:00 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown Brampton, ON (Sproule Drive and Main Street North, heading south on Main Street to Elgin Drive)

The Brampton Board of Trade Santa Claus Parade lights up downtown Brampton on Saturday, November 20, 2010. The parade is the largest single day event in Peel Region and Ontario’s grandest nighttime parade.

Giant inflatable floats will help mark the 25th Anniversary of the parade in celebration of the major sponsors: Rotary, the Brampton Downtown Development Corporation and 407 ETR, as well as, the Brampton Board of Trade – event host organization.

This not-to-miss holiday treat features unique floats decorated with thousands of lights, a record number of bands and performing groups, over 200 costumed characters, and, of course, Santa Claus and his elves.

So grab a chair and a thermos of hot chocolate and come enjoy a special evening for all ages. Don’t forget – along the route, letters to Santa will be collected by the Brampton Guardian Elves and non-perishable food items will be collected by the Progress Club for their food drive.
The Toronto Santa Parade:

Toronto tradition for more than 100 years, the Santa Claus Parade returns to put smiles on the faces of families all across the city. The parade has come a long way since it first began in 1905, when Santa first walked down the streets from Union Station to the Eaton Centre, waving to chidren along the way. Today the elaborate celebration consists of more than 25 different-themed floats, 22 bands, 100 celebrity clowns, more than 1,500 volunteers, and the big man himself, Santa.

The parade route starts at Bloor Street West and Christie Street, moves East to Avenue Road, south to Queen's Park, and along University Avenue, east on Dundas to Yonge Street, and continues south to Front Street. From Front Street it turns east and ends at Front and Church streets. For information about where to park, check the official Santa Claus Parade website

http://www.thesantaclausparade.ca/

Taking place at Yonge Dundas Square as a prelude to the parade is the President's Choice Financial Santa Claus Parade Breakfast, with complimentary breakfast and coffee. The breakfast includes a pre-parade show with jugglers, balloon artists, face painting, and celebrity clowns.

Many of the jugglers and clowns will start their morning with a visit to Sick Kids, Toronto to put a smile on the faces of all those little children.

I'll be going for the Brampton Santa Parade myself with my family. I'll put pictures up next week.

Have a wonderful weekend where ever you are!

Long time!

2010-11-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

Wow...I know it's been a long time since I updated my blog....but I've been crazy busy with work and it has been hard squeezing in the time.

Summer and Autumn feel long gone, with temperatures already hitting the minus. So far we've reached -2 degrees here in the Toronto area. So boots, coats, gloves and hats are already out...and some people love it while others don't!

Kids are trying to play outside when they can, Tuesday is supposed to be a sunny 11 degrees, so I'm sure a lot of people will be out for that 'one more day of warmish sun'. Work goes on as usual. We've met quite a lot of people who have come in from India recently, all highly educated but still finding it hard to get good jobs. The main catch is not having any Canadian work experience. So many of them are finding themselves in restaurants and gas stations, working those night hours and weekends to get some 'Canadian Experience', that will pave the way for better jobs.

The joke here is that the best place to have a heart attack is in a taxi cab, because there is a very high chance that the driver had been a Doctor in another Country until recently!

Diwali was great! We saw the Indian stores full of people buying sweets and crackers. The night sky was full of colour and the temples were thronged with families celebrating the festival of lights.

Housing prices are still sky high here, and there have been recent articles in the newspapers about the ridiculously high prices and why this is not good for the economy. We have a friend who bought a home in the U.S, on a one acre plot with a 4000sq.ft house, and paid 275000/- US dollars. In the GTA region, that same house would be easily 800,000 to a million dollars! There is just NO comparison. In the 340,000 region, you are looking at a 1800sq.ft plus home, three bedroom with one or two garage parking in Brampton. This will give you some idea of prices here. Of course you get 30 year loans and pay installments of about 1300/- a month with a minimum down payment (you'll have to check different banks for exact numbers) and of course everything depends on your credit history. Hopefully this story changes soon, and housing becomes more affordable.

New Immigration Reforms

2010-09-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

In the Globe and Mail today, page A12, there is an interesting article about new immigration reforms taking place, and how some changes may be made soon regarding the kinds of immigrants being allowed to come in so easily into Canada.

For example: A person may go through the immigration process and get through the interview. When he gets his PR visa, he also applies for his aging set of parents. Now, for the one eligible working immigrant coming in to Canada, he is bringing two non-working immigrants who will live on the contributions to the Government coffers. (Not having previously contributing anything to the Canadian system this does not seem right.)

The website that you can go to for more information on this is:

http://immigrationreform.ca/

If you are Canadian and reading this, please do write to me with your views on what you think. With immigration offices in other countries calling out to immigrants to immigrate to Canada to increase the number of the labour force here, it would be interesting to know what 'Canadians' think of this and how it affects them in everyday life.

Dressing up for Winter

2010-09-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways of learning how to dress for Winter is to watch and learn from seasoned Canadians who through the years have learned to wear layer upon layer and still look great!

Here is some advice on what to buy in the next month or so before Winter starts. Waiting till the last minute can mean getting stuck with left over stock and not getting the right size. Ask the store clerks to help you out. Once they know that you are new, they will give you all the relevant advice and help you need in putting together your first Winter outfit.

Stores like Zellers and Walmart are great for the budget conscious, and for those who are looking for more upmarket brands try Sears and The Bay. You also have stores like Winners, Old Navy, Suzy Shier, Le Chateau and Fairweather. The Childrens Place and Siblings are great for kids.

Invest in a good coat and pair of boots. This can mean the difference between being comfortable in Winter ...and getting seriously sick!!

Here is a cute image from the International Students Ambassadors blog about dressing up in layers.

Probably the one question I get most often this time of the year from new immigrants and visitors coming to Canada in the near future is....what kind of clothing should they buy for Winter?

First of all, check the weather history of the place in Canada that you are visiting. Up North you will have weather extremes that you won't have further South. With temperatures going down sometimes to -30 and -40 (in Ontario) with wind chills added to it....you are talking mighty COLD temperatures.

The first time those - 20 winds hit you, it takes you by surprise. I never knew that 'cold' could really hurt. Wearing the wrong boots to pick up my daughter one day, I came back home with nearly frozen feet and I had to stand over our heating vent for twenty minutes or so, until my feet stopped hurting!

To start out with:

1. Get some thermal underwear (men, women and kids), leggings / stockings (women and girls) and long socks.

2. Wear the thermals or long underwear under your pants or jeans. Wear the long socks and overlap the bottom of your thermals. On top, you can wear thermals, a tank top, sleeve less vest or sleeved vest under your t-shirt or shirt.

3. Wear a sweater over your shirt, or a sweat shirt. Then when going out, wear a heavy coat that is padded enough to keep the wind from hitting you.

4. Don't forget....you also need a good pair of boots, gloves, scarf and or muffler, winter hat and even ear muffs.

5. Put chap stick on your lips and moisturize your skin. Dry skin is very common in Winter and you'll end up with cracked lips and itchy skin if you are not careful.

The colder it is..the more layers you need. Once you get to where you are going, you can remove the layers depending on how cold it is. It is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. Don't take a risk, especially with children.

Once Winter gets on its way and you go through a couple of weeks..you will start to notice how other dress up and put outfits together. You will see amazing styles and fashions in and around Canada. Putting together fashionable Winter outfits can be fun!

For those moving to Edmonton, here is a link to how to dress there:

http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/uai_current/winter.cfm

Let me know if you have any questions or comments to add to this post!

Starting to get cold ~ brrrrrrrrrrr !!

2010-09-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Was really hoping that Summer would drag itself out longer...but looks like Autumn decided to sneak in early! Even our tree in the front yard is already changing colour and is starting to look like a combination of light green and yellow.

This past week it has been rainy and temperatures down to 22C on average. This coming week, Thursday is going to be 16C. Somehow when you think of how long Winter is, you try to really enjoy Summer and try to be outdoors as much as possible.

Stores: Already out with Halloween costumes and candy!! Marketing at its best I guess. Crazy when you think that Halloween is on October 31st and we still have so many days to go. Back to school sales are over with a blink of an eye and now they target your wallet with the next seasonal holiday.

Will update you later today on more of what is going on in Canada..............until then..have a great week!!

Answer to Carlos from Equador

2010-09-06T11:39:00.001-07:00

This past week I received many emails to which I've replied personally. A reader from Ecuador, by the name of Carlos (I'm not mentioning his last name for privacy reasons) commented on one of my posts and asked me a few questions. Since I don't have his email id, I'm replying to his questions here since they are relevant to anyone moving to Canada.

"I want to ask you if you remember the time when you landed; what did they ask you for? Was it difficult? How did you feel? Did they ask you for the proof of funds in cash? And also would like to know more about the schools." ~ Carlos

When we landed the first time in September 2006 (if you read my first posts, you'll see that we landed and went back to India after a month and then moved later), at the airport immigration centre they ask you how much money you are bringing in and in what form.

This information is from the settlement.org website regarding everything to do with bringing in funds at the time of landing.

You can bring money into Canada in different forms. When you arrive in Canada, if you are carrying more than C$10,000, you must tell a Canadian border official when you arrive in Canada.

If you do not tell a border official, you may have to pay a fine and/or face other penalties.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for border services (port-of-entry services), customs and enforcement of some immigration laws in Canada. You can find detailed information about importing goods and funds on the CBSA website.

You can also speak with your bank or financial institution for information about laws and regulations in Canada and in the country you are leaving.

Bringing Money Into Canada

Declaring Funds

There is no restriction on the amount of money that you can bring into Canada. However, if you bring more than C$10,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) into Canada when you arrive, you need to declare this. If you do not, you may need to pay a fine and/or face other penalties. Find more information about crossing the border with C$10,000 or more on the CBSA website.

To declare your funds of C$10,000 or more, you can fill out this form: Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report — Individual (E677).

You are not taxed on the money you bring with you when you land.

How to Bring Money into Canada

You can bring money into Canada in the form of:

Cash
Securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
Negotiable instruments in bearer form (for example, bank drafts, cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders)

Here are some other ideas about how to bring or transfer money into Canada:

Find out if your current bank has a "correspondence" or relationship with a Canadian bank and set up an account to transfer your money between banks. Your own bank might even have a branch office in Canada, which can help to transfer or access funds once you are here. Ask your bank if they have offices in Canada. Find information about Canadian banks and foreign banks with offices in Canada.

Industrial Credit and Investment Corp. of India (ICICI) has a "Hello Canada" account for people moving to Canada from India, Dubai, Bahrain or the United Kingdom. The account allows you to open a Canadian bank account from overseas and transfer funds to Canada before you land.
Arrange with your bank to transfer your funds to a Canadian bank once you have arrived here. You might have to maintain your current bank account in your country of origin for a short time and then transfer the funds to your new account in Canada.

You can get a bank draft from your current bank. A bank draft is a cheque drawn on the bank itself against a cash deposit. Confirm with your local bank what their requirements are for such transactions prior to your departure. You could then bring enough money with you to get started (in the form of cash or travellers' cheques). Once you are here, open a Canadian account and have the rest of your money transferred from your country into your new account. You should tell your current bank about your plans now, and find out what all the necessary procedures are. You can also bring the money in securities in bearer forms (for example: stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills).
It is possible that a Canadian bank might have a branch office in your country. Some major Canadian banks are: Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust (TD Bank), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) or Bank of Montreal. Once located, they might be able to help you set up a Canadian account and transfer your money.

When you arrive in Canada to become a permanent resident, prepare to tell the border services officer about funds that you have to settle in Canada. The border services officer may ask you about your funds, or ask you to show documents that prove you have enough money available to settle in Canada.

You can find detailed information about bringing money and goods into Canada on the CBSA website: Settling in Canada: Information on importing goods for people intending to settle in Canada.

It is important to get professional advice about financial laws and regulations. Please contact your bank or financial institution for detailed information and advice. Or, contact the CBSA for more information about bringing money into Canada.

Exporting Money From the Country You Are Leaving

It is important check if exporting money from the country you are leaving is restricted. You need to find out about the financial and banking laws in the country you are moving from. Please get professional advice from your bank or financial institution.

According to the CBSA, "Some countries limit the amount of money you can take out of the country. You should check with your banker, lawyer, or financial adviser. If you can prove that the money you wish to take out of that country has been restricted, you can claim a special provision that gives you up to three years to purchase household goods in the country from which you emigrated and to ship them to Canada duty and tax free. This provision waives the usual rule on previous ownership, possession, and use of your goods."

If you are not sure about what your local regulations are, you need to speak with a representative of your bank of financial institution before you come to Canada.

Carlos, as long as you have all your papers in order and are able to answer all the immigration officers questions clearly, you will not have a problem with your landing. As for your question on schools, take a look at my posts just before this one.

Hope this answers your questions :)

We Welcome the World Centres

2010-09-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

'We Welcome the World Centres'

This year, you can visit one of three locations of the 'We Welcome the World Centres'. These centres help families settle their children in schools and get help with any other 'new immigrant' issues they may have.

From their website:

The Peel District School Board's We Welcome the World Centres, are making it easier for newcomer families to register their children for school and access a variety of supports for a smooth transition to life in Canada. There are two welcome centres in Mississauga, and one in Brampton.

At the welcome centres, staff provide assistance and information about free services in many languages. In addition to school registration, the welcome centres offer wrap-around services for the entire family. Some key services include:

childminding (while parents/guardians use services at the centre)
computer access to Peel resources
connections to community services
information about employment, housing, and health care
Internet access
interpreters (available upon request)
links to adult education and English classes
information about Ontario's education system

We Welcome the World Centres are located at 25 Kings Cross Road in Brampton, 100 Elm Street in Mississauga, and 3131 Morning Star Drive in Mississauga. The centres are open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round. To book an appointment, call the We Welcome the World Centre at 905-366-8791 or toll free 1-800-668-1146.

In addition to the new welcome centres, the Peel board's multilingual website has been expanded to include 40 languages spoken by families in Peel. The expanded website will be ready just in time for the new school year.

We Welcome the World Centres are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The link to the above website is:

http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/media/news2002/090825a.htm

There are so many centres and help and information places available to new immigrants. Most of them have someone there who will speak your language and help you to settle down in your new home.

If this post has been of any help to you, please let me know.

Thanks,
Nal

2010-09-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here is an updated school calendar for schools in Ontario. If you are planning on moving to Canada with school age kids, it is a good idea to move during the holidays, so that your children attend the first day of the school year, or the first day of a term.

Ontario Schools Calendar Year with Holidays 2010 / 2011 / 2012

School Year	2010-2011	2011-2012
Total number of school days available (Sept. 1 - June 30)	196	196
Minimum number of school days required by regulation	194	194

Ontario Schools Holidays 2010 / 2011 / 2012

School Holidays	2010-2011	2011-2012
Labour Day	Sept. 6	Sept. 5
Thanksgiving Day	Oct. 11	Oct. 10
Christmas break (inclusive)	Dec. 20-31	Dec. 19-30
Family Day	Feb. 21	Feb. 20
Mid-Winter break (inclusive)	March 14-18	March 12-16
Good Friday	April 22	April 6
Easter Monday	April 25	April 9
Victoria Day	May 23	May 21

Note: A School Board may modify school calendar dates with prior approval of the Ministry. Please contact your board to see if their School Holidays have been modified.

Schools also have PD (professional development) holidays which will be given to the kids during the first week of school. Normally the first PD day is within the first two to three weeks of the school opening date. The teachers may re-arrange the classrooms during this time.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to email or leave a comment.

Have a great new school year!!!!

New School Year

2010-09-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Today is Labour Day in Canada, a public holiday. All banks, most malls and other services are closed. For something to do, consider going to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). Today is the last day and they are ending the show with a spectacular Air Show.

For more details, check their website www.theex.com

Today is also a nice day to go for a movie, out for a meal or just to stay at home and get ready for the first day of school, which is tomorrow!!

Sept 7th is the first day of the new year of school here in Canada.

I have received several emails regarding the school system here. So for those of you who asked, and those of you who want to know..........here is the information.

There are three kinds of schools:

Private - These are privately run and are very expensive. Many work out to fees of between 8000 to over 10,000/- dollars a year.

Catholic - If at least one parent is a baptized Catholic, your child can go to a Catholic school for Elementary school. In high school, you can be of any denomination. You can approach Catholic schools and talk to them about admission in lower grades even if both parents are not Catholic. Some schools do give admission, but this is purely on a case to case basis.

Public - The majority of students go to school in the public school system. These are government funded and not to be compared or confused with the corporation schools in India! These schools have excellent infrastructure, syllabus and well trained teachers. The curriculum is a mix of American and European.

Within these schooling systems, you also have the French immersion students. These students learn all their subjects and have their education in French. Some people opt for this so their kids finish school bi-lingual.

Your child’s age at the end of the year (December 31st) determines the grade that they will normally go into, though this may be adjusted somewhat if your child's circumstances require it. Children begin school in the year they become five. Use the table below as a starting point for determining which grade your child will be in.

Age at Dec 31st	Grade
5	Kindergarten
6	1
7	2
8	3
9	4
10	5
11	6
12	7
13	8
14	9
15	10
16	11
17	12

These schools normally go by grades:

Kindergarten to Grade 3
Ages 5-8
Elementary School
Grade 4 to 7 (ages 9-12)
Secondary (High) School
Grade 8 to 12 (ages 13-17)

Some areas have Middle Schools for Grades 6-8. In these areas the students transition between Elementary and Secondary school via the Middle school.

If you are coming in to Canada, look at www.fraserinstitute.org/reportcards

This site has listings of most of the schools and their ranking. Also the area the school is in. The schools not mentioned here are either new or not open for the number of years required to get on the fraser report. You can also look at:

www.tdsb.on.ca

This is the Toronto School Board site.

For schools in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon check this site:

www.peel.edu.on.ca

Remember: The school your child goes to depends on WHERE YOU LIVE. So if you want your child to go to a particular school, you can find a home in that zone and then get admission. Call the transportation department of the board and tell them the home address. They will confirm the school names to you.

If you live nearby, you will have to drop your kids. If you live a certain distance away, your child will be 'bussed'' to school. To know if your child is eligible for the bus this year, and what school your child is supposed to go to in the Peel Region, check this website:

https://businfo.stopr.ca/

Bus delays and cancellations can also be checked on the same link.

The 2010-2011 Peel board school calendar link:
http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/documents/HolyDaysHolidayscalendar2010.pdf

For other regions and areas, do a google search for the name of that area and school busing. You should be able to find some information.

If you have any questions....please feel free to ask.

Job Opportunities for South Asians!!

2010-08-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Was just browsing through the Toronto International Center website and came across an interesting show coming up on September 8th, 2010.

It is the South Asian Job Fair. The website for this show is:

http://www.southasianjobfair.com/

This will be at Hall #5, from 11am to 7pm at the International Centre in Mississauga.

If you are looking for a job I would strongly suggest going for this Job Fair and checking out what they have to offer. Please pass the word around to anyone you might know who would be interested!

If this is of any help to anyone, please let me know!!

Thanks,

Nal

Ottawa and Kingston

2010-08-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

This summer we decided to take a trip to Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It is a four hour drive from downtown Toronto. Half way there, we stopped at a place called Kingston for lunch, which is a nice stop on its own.

Click on the picture, to take you to the album. Ottawa is a beautiful city and is definitely worth seeing. We also drove into Quebec which borders Ontario. You know you've crossed the border when all the signs suddenly turn into French from English!

In Ottawa you can see the Parliament buildings, the Canadian Royal mint, vaious museums like the museum of civilization, museum of nature and the army museum.

In Kingston you can visit the 1000 islands, Smiths Falls and Fort Henry.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!!

Hilton Falls

2010-08-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the pictures that we took at the Hilton Falls in Milton. Worth a trip and make sure to pack a picnic lunch!

Punjabi couples first months in Canada

2010-08-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Been some time since I updated this blog. With the kids at home for their summer holidays, we have been busy with trips to the library, swimming pool, day trips to visit new places and a week trip to the capital of Canada, Ottawa. (pictures and details about Ottawa to come soon!)

About a month ago, I met a young Punjabi couple who have just moved into the basement of the house next door. They have a four year old daughter, and immigrated to Canada just three months ago.

The Lady speaks decent enough English, but her husband doesn't speak at all. So the Lady got a job first at an Indian accounts office and is quite happy there, while the husband was at home initially to take care of the daughter and look for other opportunities.

This is when we met them and advised the husband to first go for English classes as this was the only way he was going to be able to do anything here. He joined a night class for adults, went the first day and then his job agent called to tell him about a job opening at a factory. He took the job, which was a 11pm to 11am job, and had to quit his language classes. Now he is in a dilemma. He sleeps all day, works all night and has no time for anything else. This is just one story out of thousands.

Now they have to get their drivers licenses, get a car, put their child in school (schools reopen in September) and try to learn English in the process. Not easy!! Their little daughter of course speaks only Punjabi as well and gets so annoyed because the other kids don't understand her and vice-versa.

All the best to them and to all the others like them who have landed in Canada!

India just celebrated its Independence day here in Canada, and had a huge parade of floats in Toronto. The float from 'Goa' came in first place and 'Kerala' second. With Indian music blasting from Dundas square with sweet stalls and Indian dancers....it was wonderful to watch.

Will post the pictures of Ottawa and Kingston soon.

Working in Canada with foreign qualifications

2010-07-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

This is a question I am asked everyday by many readers. 'I have a degree from India/Pakistan/Srilanka/etc , is it valid in Canada?

For the most part, the answer, I am sorry to say is, 'No'. You will probably have to get your credentials assessed and see how it meets the Canadian standard. Then you will have to either get extra training, education or Canadian work experience.

The Government of Canada's new Foreign Credentials Referral Office provides helpful information to immigrants coming in from overseas.

In Canada, there are two kinds of professions:

1. Regulated Occupations

The regulated occupations are those that have a set standard of practice. These include health care, financial services and engineering. The set standard is to ensure that immigrants have had sufficient amount of practice and have the competence to handle the jobs in these fields.

If you want to work in a regulated occupation you MUST HAVE a license or a certificate or be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation IN THE province or territory where you plan to work.

2. Non-regulated Occupatioins

These are jobs where you don't need a license, certificate or registration to work. But the requirements for employment can depend greatly on your employer. He may ask for specific experience or references from previous employers.

TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR PROFESSION IF REGULATED AND TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SAME:

VISIT

www.workingincanada.gc.ca

In some professions you may have to have advanced knowledge of French or English:

www.cic.gc.ca for more information on that

or

www.credentials.gc.ca

for information on finding jobs, education and academic credentials, work related documents, information on job descriptions, wages, skills etc.

I got all the above information from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada brochure on 'Want to work in your profession in Canada'.

Hope this helps!!

The Conservation Parks at Milton (Halton Region)

2010-07-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

On our way to the conservation park - Kelso.

One of the many picnic spots at the Kelso park.

Wow, what an amazing weekend! When you think of Canada and the beauty of its natural landscapes...you should not miss out on the conservation parks in Milton. About a half hour drive from where we live, is the Kelso conservation park at Milton. Totally there are six areas that you can visit. They are:

Crawford Lake, Mountsberg, Rattlesnake Point, Hilton Falls, Kelso and Mount Nemo.

Their website is:

http://conservationhalton.on.ca/index.cfm

When you take an annual membership, you can visit any of the six places whenever you like! If you like cycling, camping, going on picnics, rock climbing,

boating or just a park atmosphere to trek or read a book...the membership is worth it. You can even fish here! For fishing you have to get a permit. The form is available for downloading right from their website.

If you don't want an annual membership, you can buy a day ticket.

The place is huge!! They have a number of picnic sites, each with its own tables and bathroom. You have to book the tables in advance for parties.

For reserving a picnic table, cut and paste this link:

http://conservationhalton.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1075

The rates are:

2010 daily park entrance fees

Kelso, Hilton Falls, Rattlesnake Point (Recreational Parks)
Daily Entrance (includes mountain biking at Kelso & Hilton Falls)	2010 Fees	2010 Fees Effective July 1st 2010 Including 13% HST
Adult (15-64)	$5.50	$6.25
Senior (65 & over)	$4.75	$5.25
Child (5-14)	$4.00	$4.50
Child (4yrs & under)	Free	Free

2010 Annual Pass Rates

Annual membership (Valid at CH Parks for one year from date of purchase)
Memberships	2010 Fees	2010 Fees Effective July 1st 2010 Including 13% HST
Annual Family Membership	$115.00	$129.95
Annual Individual Membership	$90.00	$101.70
Corporate Annual Family Membership	$100.00	$113.00
Corporate Annual Individual Membership	$80.00	$90.40
Senior Membership (65 and older)	15% discount	15% discount
Replacement Membership	$10.00	$11.30

Picnics

Picnic Booking (Excludes park entrance fee)
Picnic Site	2010 Fees	2010 Fees Effective July 1st 2010 Including 13% HST
No service	$40.00	$45.20
Shelter only	$100.00	$113.00
Shelter, water, electricity and washroom	$200.00	$226.00
Administration fee for cancellation* or booking changes	$10.00	$11.30
*Three (3) weeks notice is required to be eligible for a refund less administration fee

Camping

Camping
Camp Site	2010 Fees	2010 Fees Effective July 1st 2010 Including 13% HST
Small (price includes five (5) campers) - Accomodates up to 20 campers	$40.00	$45.20
Medium (price includes 12 campers) - Accomodates up to 50 campers	$100.00	$113.00
Large (price includes 18 campers) - Accomodates 50+ campers	$150.00	$169.50
Each additional camper	$8.00	$9.04
Administration fee for cancellation* or booking changes	$10.00	$11.30

The pictures of Kelso park where we went just does not do justice to the beauty and magnificance of the place. You have to make a visit to see why thousands of Canadians make it a point to go there every summer.

If you do visit any of these places, please let me know and write about your experience! Would love to hear from you!

New Visa Laws for Immigrants

2010-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

A lot of immigrants in Canada who have left everything in their home country after all the paper work, English tests, medical exams, huge fees to consultants etc - have come here and found it very difficult to get any kind of work. Forget work in the field of education or interest. I'm talking any kind of work!

Now it looks like there are some changes being made to the kinds of job categories being given PR visas. There are many cuts in the list, including jobs like IT managers, head nurses, univ Profs etc.

Here is a link where you can get more information on this:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/so-the-new-noc-list-is-out-here-is-a-list-of-whats-in-and-whats-out-t45691.0.html

Before you give any money to consultants, please make sure that you are in an eligible category. Or else you may not get your money back after they tell you later on that your job category is now knocked out of the list.

In case you get more information on the above subject, please let me know...especially if you are in India. There may be more news about this there than here.

Organizing School Supplies / Homework Area

2010-07-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

You can pick up these shelves from most box stores or home stores. Everything stays neat and in one place for your child/children to do their homework, school projects and art work. This helps your child to be more independent, instead of asking you every five minutes for a pencil! This will also give you more time to do other things, then helping them to look for paper or markers.

Kids and summer time in Canada

2010-07-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Summer Vacation is Here!!!!!

Trips to the park can be fun. Take frisbees, balls, bikes, skates and maybe even a kite.

Take trips to the beach. Nothing like family time during the summer. Let the kids play and learn around their natural environment. Take lots of sun block, water and toys to play with.

Take your kids to the library. Reading is one of the best hobbies that they can pick up. Your local library may also have a reading club for the summer.

Tennis coaching is available at different courts. There are classes for different skill levels, and age groups. Tournaments for beginners are available, and during the winter months some courts have the bubble tops and are heated.

Soccer, or football as it is called in other parts of the world is very common here. Many children learn the sport and participate in matches.

There are classes for different levels of swimming. So even if your child knows how to swim, see if they can learn more skills in the advanced classes.

The bike that is used for BMX, or extreme stunt riding is small and light weight.

This is a bmx rider going through the paces. The classes teach students using low ramps, gradually moving them to higher ones.

Roller skates are skates with two wheels in front and two in the back.

Inline skates - have the four wheels in line with each other.

Besides going away on a trip or visiting relatives, there are literally hundreds of things that your kids can do during the summer.

For newcomers - In Canada there are many organized classes from sports to different dances to activities like swimming and inline skating, that continue all through the Summer.

Just go to your local community centre and they will give you a booklet that has all the activity timings, prices and dates. You can sign up for the activities at the centre and ask questions if you have any.

Most classes are once a week for half an hour or one hour, depending on what the lesson is for. The classes start and end on the dot, so be on time!

If your children are going to be outdoors, make sure they wear a lot of sun lotion to protect their skin from the high UV rays. Also, to educate them on drinking lots of liquid and wearing caps or hats.

You can also take your children to the Science Centre, Museums, Art Galleries, beaches, parks and picnic areas. This blog has many other places that I've visited and talked about, like the Scarborough Bluffs and the Lion Safari.

Then there is the Niagara Falls, Theme parks and even bowling.

You can also use the long summer vacation to learn multiplication tables, practice handwriting, reading and other academic skills. This will help them when they go back to school in September.

Happy Holidays!!

Back to School .....in July??

2010-07-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

'Back to School' sales are in most stores already. Save money by doing your 'homework' before you leave the house!!

Summer Vacation and Back to School already!!

2010-07-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Wow...just walking around the shopping malls or big box stores makes you feel like going back to school again.

Even though it is still Summer vacation, you can see all the stores completely stocked with backpacks, pencils, erasers, crayons, paper, calculators etc etc..the list goes on and on. Kids just walking by, do a double take and scream...'I want that!'

What do you do as a parent? School supplies are not cheap and they add up with every single addition.

Some advice:

Before leaving your home with the school supply list:

1. Check and see if the old backpack can still be used. You don't HAVE to run out and buy a new bag just because it is something you have always done. If your child wants a new bag and you would rather use the old one...go to the Michaels Art and Craft store and pick up some fabric paints, or iron ons (for cloth bags). You can re-design the old bag..for the fraction of the price of a new one.

2. Collect all pencils, paper, rulers and colouring materials from around the house and put them all in one place. Make a list of what you have already. If you still have a dozen pencils from last year, buy one box less this year. Rulers, working calculators and markers can be used again.

3. Buy things in bulk only if you KNOW that it will be used. I saw a Lady picking up at least 10 huge packs of paper for her two kids in elementary school. You don't need that much!!! I picked up three packs last year for two kids and we still have a whole pack left. So this year, I'm buying just one more pack.

4. The best advice: Shop without the kids! Go to the store by yourself......with kids, you will be picking up the pink, sparkly Hannah Montana $30 pencil case, when you could have just picked up the $2/- one that does the same job!!

5. Have a place at home for all your homework supplies. If your kids have seperate study desks, divide the supplies so that they are reponsible for what is theirs. If you have a common area, like a kitchen table, put all the supplies in a drawer set or shelves with everything in seperate containers. It makes things easier to find. I have all our supplies (will post a picture) in a roller set of drawers from Walmart. Cheap and does the job!

6. School lists tend to have more than you really use. You know your kids best! Look at prices in different stores or check online before you leave home. Crayons might be cheaper at one store, but have more expensive pencils. You have six more weeks to shop......and the chance of you going to the different stores at least once is high.....so write down the prices and compare.

Happy Shopping!

Summer time!! List of things to do and see in Toronto!

2010-05-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

The Ontario Science Centre

2010-05-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Ontario Science Centre

2010-05-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

It is 31 degrees Celcius today......the hottest in history for this day in Toronto! With the humidity and the high level of UV rays......it can feel like you are literally baking in the sun. Not a good feeling!!

Going outside, you see the differences in how people deal with the sun. Asian woman like me....covered up with hat, sun glasses and a shawl...trying to retain our 'colour'. Canadians (meaning Whites) - out with spaghetti tops, shorts and the men with no shirt at all...........trying to get sun tanned. We stare at them, and they stare at us :) both thinking the other is nuts!

It was the long Victoria Day weekend on May 24th and we decided to visit the Ontario Science Centre, something we had been meaning to do for some time now. The kids are a great age....13 and 9, and we also had a good deal for a year family membership discount.

Where is it?

The science centre is located at 770 Don Mills Road in Toronto.

The website:

http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/

We opted for the family one year membership and payed for it online. Then taking the print out of the authentication number with us, we drove to the centre which took us about 40 minutes from Brampton.

Because we were members, parking was only $4, as against $8 for non-members. Members get 50% off of parking and 20% off of the food court inside the centre.

We entered the building and got in after showing our membership proof. If you are just visiting for the day, you can buy day tickets at the entrance. The first thing that strikes you when you enter is that the place is HUGE!! Six floors of fascinating aspects of anything to do with Science.

We just managed to see the 6th and 5th floors............and that too after we walked past half the exhibits rushing to see the ones we thought looked interesting. (Most of them were!!) They had the Human Body section, Harry Potter exhibition going on right now, and the IMAX showing interesting movies on space and the Hubble. Now that we have the year membership, we can go anytime we want and as often as we want without paying for entrance tickets again. The IMAX and the special temporary exhibits will be 50% off for members.

We saw a man made Rain Forest, a tornado that you could put your hand through and tons of fun hands on experiments and explanations. From a real Elephants heart to an ancient Chinese compass.....you can see things you never would have imagined........and learn in five minutes what you could not have learned in five months sitting in a classroom.

Was it worth it?

Yes! Take your kids, get membership if you live in the GTA area and enjoy learning, exploring and experiementing!!

Moving to Canada Essentials

2010-04-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

You got your PR card and you're moving to Canada. Congratulations!! Here are some things you should know before you leave your present country of residence.

When you travel to Canada, you will need to have the following documents with you:

a Canadian immigrant visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence for each family member traveling with you;
a valid passport or other travel document for each family member traveling with you;
two copies of a detailed list of all the personal or household items you are bringing with you; and
two copies of a list of items that are arriving later.
Prescription for all the medication you are carrying.

Note: The lists should state how much your personal and household items are worth.

You must also bring with you enough money to cover living expenses such as rent, food, clothing and transportation for a six-month period. You may be asked to show proof of your funds.

Do not pack your documents in a suitcase. You will need to have them available to show to immigration and customs officials.

Once you land in Canada, within the first three days of landing..you must apply for your Health card and your SIN card:

Health Card:

Health-care services covered by medicare include:

examination and treatment by family doctors;
many types of surgery;
most treatment by specialists;
hospital care;
X-rays;
many laboratory tests; and
most immunizations.

Health-care services not covered by medicare, and for which you will have to pay, include:

ambulance services;
prescription drugs;
dental care; and
glasses and contact lenses.

These services are sometimes covered by workplace benefit packages.

Your health insurance card is mainly for use in the province where you live. If you are visiting another province and have a medical emergency, you can use your card. However, if you move to another province, you will need to apply for a new card.

All members of your family, even newborn babies, must have their own card. You can get an application form from the provincial ministry of health office, any doctor’s office, a hospital or a pharmacy. The immigrant-serving organization in your area can help you fill out the form. To apply for a health card, you will need your birth certificate, passport and PR card. (They may ask for one or all of these depending on the person)

Some provinces give you the health card right away...but the province of Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Quebec take three months. It is a good idea to take private insurance for these three months in case of any health emergencies. You can find many insurance companies listed in the yellow pages, or ask your friends or neighbors.

SIN card or SIN number

To work in Canada, you must have a Social Insurance Number. This is a nine-digit number that you will need to look for a job and to receive government benefits. Sometimes, you will hear people call it the SIN number. You can get a SIN application form through the Human Resources Centre near you. These centres are run by the federal government. You can also get a form through your local immigrant-serving organization or from the post office, or on the Internet at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/sin/index.shtml. The SIN card will be sent to you in the mail. There is a small fee for processing the application.

You can find all this information and more at this website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

*Also remember:

Your life in Canada will be different than in your home country. You may have to take a job with lower pay while you upgrade your skills or get experience working here. That means your financial status could change. Even if you earn a higher salary in Canada than you were earning in your home country, the cost of living here may be higher than you are used to.

April 22 - Earth Day!!

2010-04-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

It is earth day today..and the schools have 'walk to school Wednesdays', the government has 'clean your park weekends' and the television programs are all aimed at educating everyone to keep their environment clean.

My daughters school started a 'Walk to School Wednesdays', encouraging kids on that day to walk to school instead of being dropped off by car. Many kids live withing walking distance of the school, but come by car anyway. So this is a good idea to introduce the art...of using ones legs!

In Toronto, many of the spring and summer places are opening up; Wonderland Theme Park, The Maid of the Mist at Niagara and Water Parks.

Go to www.toronto.com for more info on what is happening here.

Happy Earth Day!

Agent who can help you find a place

2010-04-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

So many readers have emailed me in the past couple of weeks, asking if I could name someone who could help them find a home or apartment in Toronto.

A good friend of mine, suggested a person who helped her find a nice apartment in a good area for their budget. He was very professional and knew the areas well.

Please email me if you would like his contact information. I didn't want to give it here on the blog before getting his permission! So until then, you can always write to me.

Seems to be re-roofing season. Everywhere I go, I see work men on top of roof's, putting up new tiles or shingles. Scary! Some of them don't seem to be using safety cords.

Lots of immigrants moving to Canada in the next couple of months. Many writing to me from India and the Gulf. Many in the IT industry and hoping for a change of life here in Canada. All the best to all of you!!

Regards,
Nal

April and everbody's enjoying the start of Spring

2010-04-15T14:00:00.001-07:00

If you are already in Canada, you will know what I'm talking about when I say, "Yea, Spring is finally here!!!"

After months of snow, early sunsets and wearing layers and layers of clothes and carrying around gloves, hats and scarves.......it is time to put all of that away and take out shorts and t-shirts. You can see the general up swing in the mood of everyone around you, bikers and cyclists are out on the streets and the stores are full of swim wear and lighter clothing.

With the start of Spring and Summer, we as a family look forward to receiving our copy of the 'Recreation Program Guide' for our area. This booklet gives us all the information on the activities in Brampton (you can get this for any area that you live in). From lessons for Ice skating, tennis, swimming, roller skating, musical instruments and dance to hiking trips, adventure camps, rock climbing and clubs, you can sign up your kids or your selves for various activities. Some of them are free, but most have a nominal fee that you pay at your local Community Centre. We have signed up our kids for Ice Skating, In Line roller skating classes and tennis. If you live in Ontario, go to your local Community Centre and get the guide. You can also get their schedule for using the Swimming pool (if you already know how to swim), using the Ice Arena or the library.

Kids in school are also happy to be out playing and learning field sports. My son has been playing badminton this month and my daughter is learning how to play soccer. Both are going on field trips this month and working on projects in Science.

This is a wonderful time to go on drives, to check out the new leaves and the budding flowers all around Toronto. Stunning colours of green everywhere! Horse riding is available at local stables for those who are interested as well as Motor Cycle lessons for those who want their two wheeler license.

For those of you planning a trip to Canada, this is a great time to visit. Good weather and you can actually get to see places without worrying about snow or ice on the roads!

Lots of emails coming in from people all around the world planning on moving to Canada. The job front is looking up.

For those who are here: Look in the local newspapers for Job Fairs. Also, register yourselves at the Community Centre near your home, with the settlement worker. They will help all newcomers with their resume, getting starting jobs and learning new skills.

For now.......I'm clearing out our closet of jackets and coats and shopping for Spring!

Keep writing :)

Spring just around the corner!!

2010-03-07T15:44:00.001-08:00

It is March, and for the first time in ages, we can feel the warmth of the sun and walk outside without all those layers!! The bikers are out, in their leather gear and loud engines, the snow is melting and people are out in t-shirts. What a drastic change in just three days.

In the news for the last week has been the Canadian National Anthem, and should the Government change some of the wordings in it. During the Winter Olympics, Canada won 14 gold medals, which means that the anthem was played that many times. Later, people wrote in to newspapers saying that their young daughters wanted to know, why the anthem mentioned 'sons' and not 'daughters'. The offending line was “in all thy sons command”, and they wanted it changed to "in thou dost us command”. But after many debates, angry letters and loud opinions on television, Prime Minister Stephen Harper tabled the idea.

Other than, the housing market seems to be on a high here in Canada, with a 77% increase in home sales compared to last year at the same time. The average price of a home is also up by 19%.

Next week the schools close for Spring Break. Tons of activities going on around the city at that time, from ice skating classes to tennis lessons and soccer camps. Also, daylight savings time!!

More next week. Let me know if there is anything in specific you would like to know!

Nal

Go Team Canada - Go Canada Go!!!!!!!!

2010-02-28T19:22:00.000-08:00

It has been an amazing two weeks of an extremely successful Olympics for Canada, I must say!! From screams of 'Go, Canada Go' to people everywhere wearing Red and White colours, to 'Canada' written all over any kind of clothing........the spirit, patriotism and pride of a Country was practically in your face for two weeks. And what a glorious two weeks it has been!

Canada finished third in the overall ranking, behind the US and Germany, but if you ask any Canadian, they will tell you that after beating the US in BOTH women's and men's hockey, that they came out the winners!

14 Gold medals, more than any other host country for any Winter Olympics before 2010. That is just awesome! Today, most of Canada was sitting on the edge of their seats, watching the men's hockey finals. At one point, the US and Canada were both neck and neck with two goals each, and then at the last second possible, Sidney Crosby scored the third goad for Canada. The entire Country erupted in unision..........screaming with joy....that the impossible had finally become possible. (Like India playing Pakistan in a cricket finals!!)

It is late, just watching the Closing ceremony. Will fill you in tomorrow and add some pictures at this spectacular finale of a truly memorable Winter Olympic Games!

We're up to 7 golds and counting!! Canada in fourth place right now.

2010-02-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

The Olympics took a back seat this week for many Canadians who got hit with two days of continuous snow, and another three more days to go. So instead of watching the Olympics on t.v or reading the newspaper, most people were out shoveling snow and cleaning their car windows! Also, driving anywhere took longer because of the slippery roads and iced road conditions.

Canada is doing pretty well considering the odds when they first started. In fourth place, ahead of Russia is something to cheer, although the US seems to be way ahead in the medal tally. Doesn't look like there are enough medals left now to catch up!!

The biggest medals left now are of course the men's and woman's hockey finals. The woman's team made the finals and will be playing the US. The men still have to qualify. I'll keep you posted on what is happening.

One really interesting piece of news that I'm sure every Indian knows already is that Sachin Tendulkar became the first person to get 200 runs in a one day international cricket tournament!!! It was so awesome to see him cross that line and get that run.....then to have him later dedicate it to the Country. Congrats Sachin from all Indo-Canadians too!!

Canada is up to Four Golds!!!

2010-02-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Jon Montgomery

We have a new hero in Canada today!!!

Jon Montgomery claimed victory in the men's skeleton event on Friday night. He says his gold is "Canada's medal." Jon is a 30 year old used car salesman from Manitoba, Canada.

Jon's win is the second straight victory in men's skeleton for Canada at the Winter Games. Duff Gibson won the event at the Turin Olympics four years ago.

Canada is in fourth place with four gold medals, three silver and one bronze.

First Canadian Woman to win a Gold Olympic Medal on homeland!!

2010-02-17T18:54:00.000-08:00

Canada's Maelle Ricker - Gold Medalist 2010 Olympics!!

Canadian Maelle Ricker won the first ever Gold Medal by a female athlete during a winter Olympic games on Canadian soil for Snowboard Cross!!

It was really exciting to watch and the expressions on the faces of the spectators was just priceless when they realized that she had won.

Keep reading this blog for updated information on how the Canadian and Indian athletes are doing.

Moving to Canada? Start reading my blog from the July 2008 posts.

2010-02-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

Many readers keep asking me about the schools, how to find a house, and other questions relating to things I've written all about in my earlier posts. If you are moving to Canada, I suggest you start reading the posts, basically 'backwards', starting from July 2008.

If you see the right hand side of the blog and scroll down, you will find the calendar year and click on 2008. Then click on July. You will find information on everything from what you need for school admissions, school rankings and what to look for when buying or renting a house.

This month I know of four readers who are moving and making the final 'landing' to Canada. I wish them all the best and hope they like it here as much as we do!

Medals so far

2010-02-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

Day five of the Olympics and so far the medals table looks like this:

USA 2 gold 2 silver 4 bronze

Germany 1 3 1

France 2 0 2

Canada 1 2 1

Switzerland 3

With many more events to go, we'll keep watching the scoreboard closely to see if Canada can rise up the ranks. (Which I'm pretty sure they'll do!!)

Discovered on YouTube and showcased to the world during the Olympics!

2010-02-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

Shane Koyczan

Shane until the Olympics was an ordinary guy who wrote poems. Then he was discovered on YouTube and asked to say his poem during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It was the highlight to many Canadians, and with that, Shane became an over night sensation! Here is his poem:

A transcript of Shane Koyczan's poem, "We Are More," as delivered during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games:

"Define Canada

You might say the home of the Rocket

Or The Great One

Who inspired little No. 9s and little No. 99s

But we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

Off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

And some say what defines us

Is something as simple as 'please' and 'thank you'

And as for 'you're welcome,' well, we say that, too

But we are more than genteel or civilized

We are an idea in the process of being realized

We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry

And the design is what makes us more than the sum totals of our history

We are an experiment going right for a change

With influences that range from A to Zed

And yes, we say 'Zed' instead of 'Zee'

We are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy

We dream so big that there are those

Who would call our ambition an industry

Because we are vineyards of good year after good year

We reforest what we clear

Because we believe in generations beyond our own

Knowing now that so many of us

Have grown past what we used to be

We can stand here today

Filled with all the hope people have

When they say things like 'someday'

Because we are more

Than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

More than hills to ski

Or countryside ponds to skate

We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait

We are first-rate greasy spoon diners and healthy living cafes

A country that is all the ways you choose to live

A nation that can give you variety

Because we are choices

We are millions upon millions of voices

Shouting, keep exploring

We are more

We are the surprise the world has in store for you, it's true

Canada is the 'what' in 'what's new'

So don't let your luggage define your travels

Each life unravels differently

And experiences are what make up

The colours of our tapestry

We are the true North

Strong and free

And what's more

Is that we didn't just say it

We made it be"

Canada wins its first ever Home Won Gold!!! Bilodeau makes history!!

2010-02-15T06:49:00.000-08:00

Alexandre Bilodeau carved his way into Canadian history Sunday at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The 22-year-old from Rosemère, Que., became the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal at home, finishing first in the men's moguls skiing final at Cypress Mountain.

No Canadians won gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal or the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. Over 500 Canadian athletes had missed reaching the podium's peak on home soil and Canada had been the only multiple Olympic host never to win gold at home. So you can imagine the pressure that Vancouver was under!!

Until Bilodeau won gold yesterday!!

The opening ceremony opened with a bang leaving everyone who watched with wonderment and excitement over what was to come. Well let me tell you, that the pas two days of events like the ski-jump, luge and the 10km Cross Country has been nothing short of exhilarating to watch!

Skiing - a sport that has speed, tremendous expertise, skill and sometimes even spills.....adds to the thrill of watching a sport like that either live or on t.v.

The day before, all of Canada watched as the country just missed it's first Olympic gold on home ground. Jenn Heil came in second on the short downhill ski run, winning the Silver medal while her American rival, Hannah Kearney won the Gold.

So with the first Gold won, it can only go uphill from here on the medal tally.....

Go Canada!!

Feb 13th at the Winter Olympics

2010-02-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

Spectacular opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics that started Feb 12th 2010

The Medals of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics

The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics

Yesterday, at 6pm Pacific time, the Opening Ceremony started with the singing of the National Anthem of Canada in front of 60,000 people at the indoor stadium, and millions watching on t.v.

The opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics began on a somber note Friday night as members of the delegation from Georgia mourned the loss of one of their fellow athletes, who died earlier in the day, in an accident at the Luge site where he was practicing for his event.

The seven-athlete delegation, wearing black armbands for 21 year old Nodar Kumaritashvili, entered the stadium to a standing ovation.

"The whole Olympic family is struck by this tragedy, which clearly casts a shadow over these Games," International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said.

The ceremony then went on to lively performances from Canada's indigenous people, who danced throughout the lengthy introductions of the delegations from the 82 competing nations.

A high-flying snowboarder opened the ceremonies by jumping through a giant set of Olympic rings, prompting roars from the crowd inside the domed stadium -- a first for a Winter Games.

The crowd erupted when Canadian speed skater Clara Hughes, carrying the Canadian flag, led her team into the arena. The Canadians hope to top the medal tally at these games, and count on winning gold in both men's and women's hockey, the country's favorite sport.

After a tribute to the athletes, sung by Canadians Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado, the ceremony turned into a technological spectacle celebrating the country's diversity and natural beauty. More than 100 screens around the stadium projected video and images to turn the venue into a re-creation of Canada's constellations, oceans, rivers and forests.

Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, a British Columbia resident, sang as members of the Alberta Ballet danced among holographic images of the huge trees of an old growth forest.

There was a mechanical glitch when four Canadian sports legends tried to light the Olympic cauldron. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, speed skating hero Catriona LeMay Doan, NBA star Steve Nash and alpine ski star Nancy Greene each were supposed to light one beam of the structure and then watch the flames rise to meet in the cauldron. But one beam failed to emerge from the floor of BC Place, the first indoor arena to host the opening ceremony.

A second cauldron, near Coal Harbour, was lit because the indoor caldron was too hot for a closed arena.

It is going to be exciting to see which countries win those medals. Keep reading my posts for the latest!!

The Winter Olympics is finally here!!

2010-02-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

Part of the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver!

The Official 2o1o Olympic Logo

The Ilanaaq (stone carving meaning 'friend') after which the Olympic Logo was made.

The three Olympic mascots of the 2010 Winter Games

The 2010 Winter Olympics logo was unveiled on April 23, 2005, and is named Ilanaaq the Inunnguaq. Ilanaaq is the Inuit word for friend. The logo is based on the Inukshuk (stone landmark or cairn) built for the Northwest Territories Pavilion at Expo 86 and donated to the City of Vancouver after the event. It is now used as a landmark on English Bay Beach.

The mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games were introduced on November 27, 2007.Inspired by traditional First Nations creatures, the mascots include:

Miga — A mythical sea bear, part orca and part kermode bear.
Quatchi — A sasquatch, who wears boots and earmuffs.
Sumi — An animal guardian spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty Thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear.
Mukmuk — A Vancouver Island marmot.

Miga and Quatchi are mascots for the Olympic Games, while Sumi is the mascot for the Paralympic Games. Mukmuk is considered a sidekick, not a full mascot.

The Torch from Turin, Italy 2006 Winter Olympics

Todays events:

Feb. 12, 10:00- Ski Jumping - NH Individual Qualification Round

Feb. 12, 18:00- General - Opening Ceremony

Feb. 13, 9:45- Ski Jumping - NH Individual 1st Round

Medal Event

Feb. 13, 10:45- Ski Jumping - NH Individual Final Round

Everybody knows about the Summer Olympics in countries like India and the Middle East, but don't realize that there is also a Winter Olympics just for winter sports in countries like the US, Canada and parts of Europe.

Infact, only after going through the list of athletes did I come to know that Indians and Pakistanis were taking part in the Winter Olympics too!!! Did you know that? There are more details on the three Indians taking part later in this post.

Like the summer Olympics, the winter Olympics is also once every four years and has exactly the same extensive planning and importance.

In 2003 the IOC awarded the 2010 Winter Olympics to Vancouver, thus allowing Canada to host its second Winter Olympics. With a population of more than 2.5 million people, Vancouver will be the largest metropolitan area to ever host a Winter Olympic Games. Vancouver is a low-altitude, seaport city with a relatively mild oceanic climate. Most of the venues will be located in the Vancouver metropolitan area, with the exception of the alpine, Nordic, and sliding events, which will be held in Whistler.

Trivia: Did you know that Canada has never won a gold medal in Canada? The Govt. has spent 118 million dollars for this Olympics, to study each event in order to give Canadian athletes a scientific advantage. Let's see what happens!

The events that you will see are:

Alpine Skiing
Biathlon
Bobsleigh
Cross Country skiing
Curling
Figure Skating
Free style skiing
Ice Hockey
Luge
Nordic Combined
Short track
Skeleton
Snowboarding
Ski Jumping
Speed Skating

Countries represented include Russia, Switzerland, Canada, USA, France,India, Pakistan, Sweden and about 20 others.

For all the information on dates, events, schedules and all about every single Country and Athlete taking part, take a look at the official website:

www.vancouver2010.com

The 3 Indian Athletes taking part in the 2010 Olympics are:

K. P. KESHAVAN Shiva

Sport:Luge

LUNDUP Tashi

Sport:Cross-Country Skiing

NAMGIAL Jamyang

Sport:Alpine Skiing

Good luck to all the athletes!

The countdown clock is ticking and it will be so exciting to see who wins Gold at these Olympics!!!

Go Canada!

Shoveling the snow

2010-02-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

All about shoveling snow and what to use:

Snow shovels

Electric snowblower

Man using the snowblower

Snow Plough used to clear the roads.

Snow can be both beautiful as well as a big pain to anyone who has a driveway, walkway and or sidewalk in front of their home.

Doctors and physiotherapists across Canada are seeing more patients than usual due to snow related injuries.

Chiropractor Steve Riggleman says poor shoveling technique and falls are major issues in the winter.

You should use the legs and arms more by keeping your back straight and bending at the knees. Push the snow forward and when lifting, straighten the knees.

Also, using a shovel that has a Teflon coating keeps the snow from sticking.

Avoid twisting and throwing while holding the weight of the snow as the turning motion can strain the back.

"You shouldn't lift you should push it forward but the problem with this snow is it's so heavy and wet you can't so you have to take little bites but if you pick it up, bend your knees, use your upper body, shoulders and muscles to lift it, you have less chance of an injury," said Riggleman.

Shoveling can be made more difficult by the weather. Cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body. There also is the risk for hypothermia, a decrease in body temperature, if one is not dressed correctly for the weather conditions. Make sure you dress in layers to help keep your body heat trapped in between the clothing.

It can be dangerous to shovel snow if you have a heart condition or a bad back. Get someone else to do the hard work if you have any underlying medical condition. Fifteen minutes of shoveling snow is half the exercise you need in a day according to a study done in 1995.

Deciding whether to get a shovel or a snow blower is upto you. If you have a health problem that prevents you from shoveling, or too big an area, then the snowblower would be a better option.

Some people also buy salt that is available in most big stores to put on the driveway and sidewalk. This melts the snow to some extent, making it un-necessary to shovel if you have a very light snowfall. The salt is different from what you cook with, and is big and coarse. See the image below.

Coarse driveway salt

During or after a heavy snowfall you will see snow ploughs (one of the pictures above) on the roads clearing it up immediately. Main roads get cleared first and then the side streets.

Remember, if there is any sidewalk in front of your house, you are responsible for clearing the snow off of that too. If anyone falls and gets hurt because you didn't shovel the walk, you could be fined.

You can a lot more information from this website : www.brampton.ca

Happy winter and safe shoveling everyone!!

What's happening here in Toronto

2010-02-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

All about Canadian Ice hocky, Curling and American Football !!

Ice Hockey - This is the goalie of the Maple Leafs of Toronto

curling

American Football

This was a very exciting weekend, with the Superbowl on Sunday evening. When you move to Canada or if you live here already, to really integrate with your Canadian co-workers and friends, you have to learn something about the games that are played here. Mainly Ice hockey, Curling and American Football.

For Canadian Ice Hockey you can check out this website that will give you more information on the teams and the league.

www.hockeycanada.ca

www.nhl.com (The National Hockey League)

www.mapleleafs.nhl.com (The Maple Leafs is the name of the Toronto hockey team)

For Curling: www.curling.ca - This is a game played on ice in which heavy stones with handles are slid toward a target. This game is also played during the Winter Olympics.

Superbowl: In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL).

www.superbowl.com

Yesterday was the Superbowl for the year 2010 played in Miami, Florida in the United States.

The two teams that played the finals were the Saints of New Orleans and the Colts of Indianapolis. The Saints won the game which was great for the state that got hit by the massive hurricane Katrina a few years ago, and deserved something worth celebrating after so much devastation.

This will give you a head start on learning about these games, the teams and the main players.

My next post will be on the Winter Olympics starting on Feb 12th in Vancouver!!!

Have a good week!!

Schooling in Canada

2010-02-06T09:24:00.001-08:00

When you are moving to Canada with school or university age children, like most Indians, your top priority will be to get them into good if not the best educational institutions.

Every region of Canada has different school boards. Each board is in charge of a number of schools in the district and control the syllabus, teaching staff and anything to do with the students in those schools.

Some of the board sites are:

http://www.cdnsba.org/ This is the Canadian School board association

http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/ This is the Peel board for schools in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/ This is the Vancouver school board site

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/ This is the Toronto school board site

http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/ This is the Upper Canada school board website

http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/ This is the York region school board

For information on rating of the schools:

www.fraserinstitute.org This institute rates schools and will give you an idea of where the top schools are. Don't forget, only the schools that have been in existence for at least five years only will be on the list. Also, a school that has a ranking of 200 may still be one of the top schools considering the number of schools in the region.

Hope this is of some help to you!
Here are some websites that will help you with the different types of schools and admissions processes.

http://www.studycanada.ca/ gives you information on higher studies and institutions.

http://www.schoolsincanada.com/ will give you more information on the same as above.

http://www.schoolfinder.com/ will help you find schools in different parts of Canada

If you have any specific questions please do write to me at the email id mentioned on the home page.

Thanks

Nal

Immigrating to Canada information

2010-02-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

It is -17 C today, the sun is shining bright..and it is just another winter day here in Toronto.

The last month or so, I have been answering the dozens of emails I receive on a daily basis, from potential immigrants to Canada from all over the world. Mostly Indians who live in other countries and in India.

Some of the questions that many have are related to the actual paperwork, documentation and what is expected from the immigration officials on landing. One of the best websites that you can take a look at that gives this information is www.canadavisa.com

www.cic.gc.ca is another website that will give you information on many questions you may have regarding work, getting the different paperwork once you land (permanent resident cards, police check for a job, etc) and the different options you have for further studies.

www.vivelecanada.ca will give you first hand information on problems that other immigrants have faced, which may help you avoid making the same mistakes. Lots of good reading here.

www.garamchai.com/canada is another wonderful website that gives many first hand stories about people who have immigrated. Lots of advice and information here.

All the best to all those who are moving in to Canada this year!

A reminder

2010-01-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Make sure that you are dressed warmly when you go out during the winter months. Don't just check the temperatures, but make sure you also check to see what the Windchill factor is. For example: It may be -5C outside, but then the windchill may be -11 or -15. This means that you must be dressed for the windchill temperature.

In case you have forgotten this very important website, here is a reminder so that you can keep checking the weather reports before venturing out.

www.cp24.com

Your 24 hour channel on the internet and tv. Make sure you check the all day weather forecast before you leave your home. With temperatures dropping suddenly during the day, you don't want to be stuck without your warm jackets, mittens and hats.

Check out this link to see a cute video on how to dress your kids right for the winter. Cut and paste it in a new window and then press enter.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/library_detail.asp?doc_id=1004151

With February being the coldest month in Canada, be prepared for the temperature to drop further and more snow. Winter can be fun if you are prepared! Try a new sport...skiing or snow boarding. Ice skating can be fun for all ages. Go to your local community centre to check out their ice skating class dates and rates.

Parks have ice skating areas that are safe for families and small children. Try the rink at Gage park in Brampton....you can see kids of all sizes skating here. You can enter here from Main Street.

Have fun!

2010 links to things happening in Toronto and the GTA

2010-01-20T10:45:00.000-08:00

If you are visiting or already live in Toronto or the GTA (Greater Toronta Area), here are some website links for you to check out to see what is happening in your city or town.

www.toronto.com

Check the above link out for all plays, theatre performances, restaurants and events in Toronto. There are tons of links to movie tickets, calendar of events through the year and tons of information on things to do.

www.brampton.ca

Brampton - the flower city. Check out the above link for everything that is going on in Brampton.

www.mississauga.ca

Mississauga - leading today, for tomorrow. The catch phrase for this city. Check out the link!

www.oakville.ca

Vision: To be the most livable town in Canada. Check out the link to see what they are doing to achieve this.

www.burlington.ca

Most of these cities and towns have their own network of events and happenings through the year. Go through the websites and links to see what you may be missing out on!!

I'm Back!!

2010-01-20T08:23:00.001-08:00

Yes I am back in good ol'Toronto...........it is -4C today with a windchill of -11. Just three days ago I was in sunny India, 20C......perfect warm weather....and now I can only dream about it!!

The biggest news here right now is the earthquake in Haiti, and how all of North American is helping with money, food, aid and helping hands. The destruction and numbers who have perished in just unimaginable. If you want to help, make sure you give your money to a trusted charity group or the government. The Red Cross, World Vision etc are all good charities that you know will use the money for what it is intended.

The kids are back in school. They didn't seem to miss much even though they missed two weeks of school. If they caught up in just one day.....exactly what is it that they are learning?? My kids are thrilled though..........my son has rock climbing in school for four weeks and for her next field trip my daughter is going skiing and snow boarding. Sounds like fun!!

Guess what? I finally got my Police clearance certificate, allowing me to volunteer at my kids school and the Church. In order to work with kids, you have to get a police clearance report saying that you are not a convicted Child Molester. This is a good thing!!

There were two pedestrians struck down and killed this morning, in two seperate accidents. Please be careful when driving and taking those right turns. You never know when a person is crossing the street.

Just found out that 'Rogers' added a 'On Demand' channel for kids and that it is free!! This works like a library of videos, that you can pick and watch on your t.v. Most of the On Demand channels you have to pay for. So this was a nice change!!

Wish you all a wonderful 2010! Welcome to all the newcomers and hope all of you who moved last year are settling down and are enjoying your new life in Canada.

Will keep you posted on what is happening here in Toronto and the rest of Canada.

Until then,

take care
Nal

Indian traffic

2010-01-11T07:40:00.000-08:00

Lighting crackers for the New Year on New Years Eve.

2010-01-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Back in Canada day after!

2010-01-11T07:33:00.001-08:00

Since we're leaving tomorrow for Toronto, the kids have been playing overtime with all their friends and I have been packing and sorting out all the things we have managed to collect in the one month that we have been here. With Christmas and two birthdays......tons of gifts to carry back!!

It has been so warm and wonderful here and now we dread to go back to the cold! But once we are there, I'm sure we will adjust and get back to our routine of school and work.

Once I'm back, will fill you in on what is going on in Canada and what is new this year.

Until then, take care!

Choice of sauces and pickles at the Raintree at the Taj Connemara Hotel in Chennai

2010-01-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

Saw this interesting cart with an assortment of pickles and sauces at the restaurant during dinner.

View of the restaurant interiors

2010-01-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

The roof was made to almost look like the inside of a houseboat. This is the 'Raintree' restaurant in the Taj Conemmara in Chennai city, India. Very traditional southern Indian food, with a choice of veg, non-veg, spicy or non-spicy. If you are lucky, you will see a live Indian dance. They have a live Indian music playing too. Worth the money and memories!!

Banana Leaf cut to fit inside a plate

2010-01-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

This is what is called an indo-western fusion idea! The banana leaf is something many traditional Indians eat on, as it is clean, organic and easily disposable. No trees were cut for this! The leaf is cut into the shape of the plate in this case, for an upmarket restaurant in Chennai. Looks exotic, doesn't it?

Copper cup and bowl in an Indian restaurant in Chennai.

2010-01-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

One month of no posts...........

2010-01-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

In case you are wondering what happened to me.......I've been in India for the past month, home for Christmas and the New Year.

We are back in Toronto on the 13th and can you imagine .....going from 21C pleasant weather to -14 in 48 hours!! Dreading it after a month of perfect weather and no snow to shovel!!

Will get back to posting once I'm back at home.

Until then, take care and a very Happy New Year to all of you!

November happenings...........

2009-11-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

We are now in the month of November, and the only news still seems to be H1N1 and who is eligible for the flu shot and who isn't.

This last week, announcements were made as to who were in the priority group (pregnant women, children below the age of five, people with respitory problems,health care workers etc) and therefore eligible to get the H1N1 vaccine first. People stood in lines from early morning and finally one van distributing the vaccines made its way to the various centers, delivering one batch only by 11am. One father said he had been waiting there since 5am with his little boy!! They got the 'van' problem sorted out, saying that the company hired to distribute the vaccines used only one van instead of more. Is this a joke??

Then the shortage happens, and many people from the priority group are still waiting for their vaccine. In the mean time, it is announced that star athletes and children in private schools ( and some businesses ) managed to get the vaccine......and no one knows how they cut the line, but they did.

So this week.....they have layed down the law. No matter who you are........you have to wait for the vaccine if you are not in the priority group. Glad they got that sorted out.

Halloween is over..and was fun for the kids as usual. Going house to house dressed up in fun costumes and getting a years supply of candy and chips from strangers?? What could be more fun than that? Christmas!! Yes....Xmas decor is all over the decks, halls and stores..........enticing you to buy your Christmas present NOW before they run out of stock!! Hurry...I think they only have 249,503,394 Wii's left!

Like the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi for huge exhibitions and trade shows, in the GTA area the place to go to is the International Center, Toronto. Tomorrow the Graphics Canada show is starting and should be fun to visit. They also have on going sales there of designer brands, like Locoste, Crocs (did you know that the original Crocs are made in Canada??) and Arrow.

Was a little busy the last couple of weeks and will post more pictures and happenings soon.
Is there anything in particular you would like to know about Canada? Let me know!!

Easy Rasam...made the Canadian way!!

2009-10-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Can you believe I made this in under five minutes?? And yes, it tasted great!

The latest in Canada

2009-10-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

Wow...what a week here in Canada. First of all....every channel you turn on or every newspaper you open...has the same thing.....the H1N1 virus and where you can get the shot for it. One school made it compulsory, while others are waiting and watching. I guess no one wants to be a guinea pig, right? No one wants to get the shot and find out one year down the line about some long term affect...like losing hair...or getting some other disease instead. It is just too new..and how much research has really gone into the side effects of the H1N1 vaccine? Most countries looked like they were in some kind of race to be the first ones to produce the vaccine. Just how much testing did they really do??

At the end of the day....it is up to the individual to decide what they want to do. For now, we are waiting for more information before we take the vaccine or give it to our kids.

They caught a young 23 year old guy driving 185 km per hour on one the main highways a couple of night ago...in a 100km zone. Yes, it turned out he was intoxicated.....got caught...and taken to jail. Not worth it people!!

Talking about the road system here in Canada.........my husband and I were just saying how easy it is to find places here because they are SO organized. The entire road system is made like a grid. All roads go West to East or North to South in relatively straight routes. So there is no one way to get somewhere. When saying an address, you say the intersection of the two streets that cross nearest to the place you are giving directions for. This makes things easy, and once you are familiar with the street names, you will know at once which area they are talking about. For instance, there is a huge shopping mall in Brampton called Shoppers World. If I were giving directions to someone, I would just say, 'intersection of Main and Steeles'. In one second you would know where it was.

Leaves, leaves everywhere!! My kids are enjoying the end of the season, jumping in the huge pile of leaves on our lawn and spreading it around even more! We managed to fill two huge bags with the leaves yesterday and put it out for the garbage collection round this morning. Half our tree is gone..and so we will still have a lot of raking of leaves to do!!

Coming Saturday is Halloween! My kids are going as Dracula and a Witch. My son who is in 7th grade, also has a school dance the same day and has to wear his costume to school. The school normally collects $2 for this as they provide snacks and juice.

My son also attended a Leadership Conference yesterday. They were taken to another place from school to hear a speaker and learn about Leadership skills. He enjoyed it and was inspired to do something to help with the 'Food' program in school. They collect canned food to donate to donation centres. This is a huge help for families in need of extra food especially in these times with the recession hitting so many families.

Job oppotunites and sale of homes seems to be on the rise. Last year I noticed plenty of 'For Sale' signs near homes, but this year I am noticing that there are more and more 'Sold' signs. This is a good thing and means that the recession looks like it is ending.

It has been raining here this week.....yesterday I did a marathon session of cooking.......sambar, fish fry, rasam, cauliflower and potato and for the kids some chocolate cake. The rasam recipe I have is basically a five minute one....literally! Using tomato and tamarind paste, it tastes exactly like the rasam made using other recipes. Send me an email if you would like the recipe.

The Bluff's at Scarborough

2009-10-21T06:46:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to get a better map....but if you look at Toronto on the map above, you will find Scarborough on the upper right. (North East).

Keeping up with our weekend day trips before Winter sets in, this Sunday we drove to Scarborough...to a beautiful place called the 'Bluff's. It was a forty five minute drive, and from the City of Toronto it will hardly take you twenty minutes to get there.

There is a huge parking lot when you get there with free parking after September. (They collect parking from June to September) You don't have to pay anything to see the Bluffs.

Lake Ontario is right there, and you can take a walk around the park and make your way to the Bluffs.

The 'Bluff's are huge cliff side structures made up of clay and mud. They look like stone, until you walk right upto it and touch the surface. Amazing!!

Take a look at the pictures....they speak for themselves!

Sign with some interesting and funny (see #1) info....

2009-10-21T06:40:00.001-07:00

Dunker's Flow explained......

2009-10-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Explanation of the system for cleaning stormwater

2009-10-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sign at Bluffer's Park

2009-10-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

You can see beautiful wild life like this and more. Great place to spend a day.

2009-10-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

I loved these wild looking paths where you could take a walk.

2009-10-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

Kids enjoying the natural surroundings....

2009-10-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Bluffer's Park, Scarborough

2009-10-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

Look carefully.....

2009-10-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

You can see people on top of the Bluff on the left side if you look carefully.
It looked pretty dangerous to me!!

Stunning view of the Bluffs against the Waters' edge

2009-10-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

View of the Bluff

2009-10-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

You can compare the size of the 'mud wall' to the
Gentleman taking a stroll next to the Bluff.

Crack developing....

2009-10-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

A huge crack had developed on one side of the Bluff.
It will probably fall over during Winter, with the weight of
snow.

We saw this bird sitting on the very top of the peak of the Bluff's.

2009-10-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

What an amazing view this bird must have from up here.
We couldn't tell if it was a Hawk or an Eagle. It was a 'big' sized bird
and it looked so majestic sitting up there.

The Famous German Oktoberfest in Kitchener

2009-10-20T15:29:00.001-07:00

Last year we attended the yearly October Festival..called Oktoberfest....in Kitchener. Kitchener is in the Waterloo Region, about 116 km from Toronto. The drive took us about one and a half hours as we took the scenic route and not the main highways.

We saw the newspaper ads for the Festival this year, but could not make it there as we decided to see places that we hadn't seen before. I decided anyway to go back to the posts from last October to see what I had written about it...and guess what? I didn't!! Don't know what I was up to...but I dug out the photos that I had and put them up now. Better late than never right?? And it is still October!

The Festival is basically to showcase the Bavarian heritage. Their music, their food and costumes. There are shows that you can attend to find out about their culture and traditions.

From their website:
" Since 1969, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has developed its own traditions, becoming the largest Bavarian festival in North America with the greatest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Canada. Thousands of visitors celebrate annually in our Festhallen, and by attending one or more of our 40 family and cultural events. Through the celebration of this Spirit of Gemuetlichkeit, the local economy is stimulated and over 70 charities and not-for-profit organizations raise funds to support the high quality of life enjoyed in Kitchener-Waterloo."

You can find out all the details of this wonderful festival at this website:

http://www.oktoberfest.ca/index.php

One more event to add to your calendar if you come in to Ontario. Just the Funnel Cake is worth the trip....trust me!

They also had one street dedicated to the showcasing of historic cars and a huge selection of eateries and fun for the kids. Take a look at the pictures below :)

Oktoberfest at Kitchener

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Outdoor music and entertainment

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Making the Funnel Cake

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German Funnel Cake

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Yes, this tastes as scrumptious as it looks!! Made of a plain vanilla cake that
was warm (almost hot) in the inside, it was topped with ice-cream,
strawberries and chocolate syrup. Yummy!!

Cute sign at an Eatery

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Interesting cars like this one..with a Mafia theme were on display.

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One of the cars on display

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Gentleman admiring one of the historic cars on display

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Entrance to the Kitchener Childrens Museum

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From Chutney to Maple syrup....our move to Canada.

Back from India

Will start updating

What a wonderful Summer...and now back to school......

School re-opening and what to do if you are new to Canada

The Walk-in Clinic experience

IIFA AWARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NORTH AMERICA..RIGHT HERE IN TORONTO!!!

Ontario Universities Fair 2011

Latest job rates in Toronto for Immigrants - report from the Globe and Mail

Latest news on OHIP - Canadian Health board to Immigrants

Spring is here!!

Thanks to all my readers and your emails plus Spring Events

Canada Day

Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)

Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival

Trees in Winter

First week of Spring..and we have a snowstorm here in Toronto!

Launch of fantastic website and blog for visitors to India!!

Monthly living expenses in Canada

Blizzard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A reminder of what Summer looks like.....pictures taken at Halton, of the Hilton Falls, Ontario

Snow and what you need to know :)

Letter from Sam and the job market

Toronto News Headlines - CanUs News

Santa Claus is here!!

Long time!

New Immigration Reforms

Dressing up for Winter

Starting to get cold ~ brrrrrrrrrrr !!

Answer to Carlos from Equador

You can bring money into Canada in different forms. When you arrive in Canada, if you are carrying more than C$10,000, you must tell a Canadian border official when you arrive in Canada.

Bringing Money Into Canada

Declaring Funds

How to Bring Money into Canada

Exporting Money From the Country You Are Leaving

We Welcome the World Centres

Here is an updated school calendar for schools in Ontario. If you are planning on moving to Canada with school age kids, it is a good idea to move during the holidays, so that your children attend the first day of the school year, or the first day of a term.

Ontario Schools Calendar Year with Holidays 2010 / 2011 / 2012

New School Year

These schools normally go by grades:

Job Opportunities for South Asians!!

Ottawa and Kingston

Hilton Falls

Punjabi couples first months in Canada

Working in Canada with foreign qualifications

The Conservation Parks at Milton (Halton Region)

New Visa Laws for Immigrants

Organizing School Supplies / Homework Area

Kids and summer time in Canada

Back to School .....in July??

Summer Vacation and Back to School already!!

Summer time!! List of things to do and see in Toronto!

The Ontario Science Centre

The Ontario Science Centre

Moving to Canada Essentials

April 22 - Earth Day!!

Agent who can help you find a place

April and everbody's enjoying the start of Spring

Spring just around the corner!!

Go Team Canada - Go Canada Go!!!!!!!!

We're up to 7 golds and counting!! Canada in fourth place right now.

Canada is up to Four Golds!!!

First Canadian Woman to win a Gold Olympic Medal on homeland!!

Moving to Canada? Start reading my blog from the July 2008 posts.

Medals so far

Discovered on YouTube and showcased to the world during the Olympics!

Canada wins its first ever Home Won Gold!!! Bilodeau makes history!!

Feb 13th at the Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics is finally here!!

The 3 Indian Athletes taking part in the 2010 Olympics are:

Shoveling the snow

What's happening here in Toronto

Schooling in Canada

Immigrating to Canada information

A reminder

2010 links to things happening in Toronto and the GTA

I'm Back!!

Indian traffic

Lighting crackers for the New Year on New Years Eve.

Back in Canada day after!