Barrie, ON – February 27, 2009 – Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice, joined by the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, and local member of Parliament Patrick Brown, announced today the second group of projects under the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund.
“We're investing in projects that will help to ensure a healthy future for Lake Simcoe. The lake is a key part of Canada's natural environment, and is also an important resource that provides safe drinking water for eight municipalities and generates more than $200 million a year for the local economy through recreational activities,” said Environment Minister Jim Prentice.
Initiatives funded by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund are designed to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe. Twenty-six projects will receive a total of $4,732,031 as part of an overall investment of $30 million over five years, which was announced in February 2008.
This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Clean Water, which includes projects like the Health of the Oceans initiative to protect Canada’s three oceans, the cleanup of Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour, and action on pollution in Lake Winnipeg.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Youth Haven, Barrie Purchases New Location
What: Youth Haven, Barrie to open new facility
When: June, 2009
Where: 20-22 Wellington Street East
Youth Haven, Barrie is proud to announce the approval from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the purchase of a larger facility at 20-22 Wellington Street East. This location will be used as a larger facility to meet the growing demands for a larger youth shelter in Simcoe County. As the sole youth shelter for teens between the ages of 16-21 in all of Simcoe County, we have experienced a significant increase in the number of youth accessing our services every year for the past three years. In 2005, we helped over 300 homeless and abused teens with emergency and transitional shelter and in 2006 we helped over 400 teens; in 2008 we have already provided over 500 homeless and abused teens with the integral supports that they need in order to become independent members in our society. This influx of needy teens has meant that for the past two years Youth Haven has operated over capacity, forced to turn away at least 5 pleas a night for beds due to lack of space.
Thankfully, after a two year application process, Youth Haven received approval for the purchase of the new location and officially closed the deal on the new location February 12th, 2009. With 11 bedrooms and large kitchen, storage and office space, the new location will allow us to house 20 youth a night with the space needed to meet the growing needs of the youth in our community. Officially scheduled to open in June, 2009, Youth Haven will host a grand opening ceremony to celebrate our new journey. Representatives from CMHC, the Provincial and Federal government and our major sponsors will be in attendance to show their support of our home.
We truly appreciate the support of our community members, church groups and service clubs throughout this process and invite you all to visit our new location in June. We would appreciate any gently used furniture donations or monetary support to help prepare our home for our official opening in July.
For more information, please contact:
Denise Ummels
Executive Director
(705) 739-7616
denise.ummels@youthhavenbarrie.com
When: June, 2009
Where: 20-22 Wellington Street East
Youth Haven, Barrie is proud to announce the approval from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the purchase of a larger facility at 20-22 Wellington Street East. This location will be used as a larger facility to meet the growing demands for a larger youth shelter in Simcoe County. As the sole youth shelter for teens between the ages of 16-21 in all of Simcoe County, we have experienced a significant increase in the number of youth accessing our services every year for the past three years. In 2005, we helped over 300 homeless and abused teens with emergency and transitional shelter and in 2006 we helped over 400 teens; in 2008 we have already provided over 500 homeless and abused teens with the integral supports that they need in order to become independent members in our society. This influx of needy teens has meant that for the past two years Youth Haven has operated over capacity, forced to turn away at least 5 pleas a night for beds due to lack of space.
Thankfully, after a two year application process, Youth Haven received approval for the purchase of the new location and officially closed the deal on the new location February 12th, 2009. With 11 bedrooms and large kitchen, storage and office space, the new location will allow us to house 20 youth a night with the space needed to meet the growing needs of the youth in our community. Officially scheduled to open in June, 2009, Youth Haven will host a grand opening ceremony to celebrate our new journey. Representatives from CMHC, the Provincial and Federal government and our major sponsors will be in attendance to show their support of our home.
We truly appreciate the support of our community members, church groups and service clubs throughout this process and invite you all to visit our new location in June. We would appreciate any gently used furniture donations or monetary support to help prepare our home for our official opening in July.
For more information, please contact:
Denise Ummels
Executive Director
(705) 739-7616
denise.ummels@youthhavenbarrie.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
FLAVOURS OF ONTARIO’S LAKE COUNTRY – GREAT FOOD AT GREAT VALUE
Ontario’s Lake Country, ON: Ontario’s Lake Country and restaurants in the region are working in partnership to present Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country. The two-week event will run from Sunday, March 1 to Saturday, March 14, 2009.
Residents and visitors to the area will have the opportunity to experience a diversity of culinary delights from Ontario’s Lake Country restaurants. Building on the success of the Winterlicious Festival in Toronto, and the Barrielicious Festival in Barrie, Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country is an exciting new promotion for the region. A three-course mouth-watering fixed price dinner menu will be offered at each of the participating restaurants. Each restaurant in the program will offer a choice of an appetizer, soup or salad plus an entrée and dessert for the amazing price of $20.10. Alcohol and gratuities will be extra.
“We are pleased to be working with Ontario’s Lake Country in the development of this initiative”, says Terry McNaughton of Ossawippi Express. “It is an opportunity to encourage new and existing patrons to experience the true taste of great food in Ontario’s Lake Country at an affordable price.”
A wide variety of the area’s independent restaurants will be participating, including Abbott’s of Craighurst, Bounty Fish & Chips-Orillia, Brewery Bay-Orillia, C & C Roadhouse & Grill-Lagoon City, Champlain Landing at the Harbour Inn-Lagoon City, Echo’s Dining Lounge at Bayview Wildwood- Port Stanton, The Grape & Olive Wine and Martini Bar-Orillia, Just Eddie’s-Orillia, La Mezzaluna-Orillia, McCabes-Orillia, Marias-Orillia, Mill Street Bistro-Coldwater, Settler’s Ghost Restaurant-Horseshoe Valley, and the Ossawippi Express Dining Cars-Orillia.
Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country will give patrons the opportunity to experience the flavours that local chefs create. Although sticking to a budget to produce menus for $20.10 is challenging to the chefs, they are thrilled to be participating and are busy planning select menus that are both delicious and exciting.
Ontario’s Lake Country is the Destination Marketing Organization for Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Rama, Ramara, and Severn. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, the area is filled with beautiful lakes, clean waters, fascinating waterways, and rolling hills. In this region, major Ontario resorts offer premier four-season recreation and getaway experiences. A world class casino, hotel, and entertainment complex are just around the corner from a charming city, where visitors can discover fascinating shoppes, enjoy showcase theatre, superb dining, and historical sites. The organization works in partnership with Casino Rama.
For further information and telephone numbers for the participating restaurants, visit the flavours website. Reservations for Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country can be booked by calling the restaurants directly.
Residents and visitors to the area will have the opportunity to experience a diversity of culinary delights from Ontario’s Lake Country restaurants. Building on the success of the Winterlicious Festival in Toronto, and the Barrielicious Festival in Barrie, Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country is an exciting new promotion for the region. A three-course mouth-watering fixed price dinner menu will be offered at each of the participating restaurants. Each restaurant in the program will offer a choice of an appetizer, soup or salad plus an entrée and dessert for the amazing price of $20.10. Alcohol and gratuities will be extra.
“We are pleased to be working with Ontario’s Lake Country in the development of this initiative”, says Terry McNaughton of Ossawippi Express. “It is an opportunity to encourage new and existing patrons to experience the true taste of great food in Ontario’s Lake Country at an affordable price.”
A wide variety of the area’s independent restaurants will be participating, including Abbott’s of Craighurst, Bounty Fish & Chips-Orillia, Brewery Bay-Orillia, C & C Roadhouse & Grill-Lagoon City, Champlain Landing at the Harbour Inn-Lagoon City, Echo’s Dining Lounge at Bayview Wildwood- Port Stanton, The Grape & Olive Wine and Martini Bar-Orillia, Just Eddie’s-Orillia, La Mezzaluna-Orillia, McCabes-Orillia, Marias-Orillia, Mill Street Bistro-Coldwater, Settler’s Ghost Restaurant-Horseshoe Valley, and the Ossawippi Express Dining Cars-Orillia.
Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country will give patrons the opportunity to experience the flavours that local chefs create. Although sticking to a budget to produce menus for $20.10 is challenging to the chefs, they are thrilled to be participating and are busy planning select menus that are both delicious and exciting.
Ontario’s Lake Country is the Destination Marketing Organization for Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Rama, Ramara, and Severn. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, the area is filled with beautiful lakes, clean waters, fascinating waterways, and rolling hills. In this region, major Ontario resorts offer premier four-season recreation and getaway experiences. A world class casino, hotel, and entertainment complex are just around the corner from a charming city, where visitors can discover fascinating shoppes, enjoy showcase theatre, superb dining, and historical sites. The organization works in partnership with Casino Rama.
For further information and telephone numbers for the participating restaurants, visit the flavours website. Reservations for Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country can be booked by calling the restaurants directly.
READY, SET – BUILD!
Construction on Royal Victoria Hospital’s Phase 1 Expansion Project is about to begin.
The ambitious redevelopment – the largest in Simcoe Muskoka history -- has reached its final, major milestone before construction can begin. Royal Victoria Hospital and Infrastructure Ontario have achieved Financial Close with the chosen contractor Vanbots, a Division of Carillion Construction Inc.
Financial Close signifies that all necessary steps, including a fixed price of $258.5million and a set completion date have been determined. Work crews will begin to mobilize on RVH property almost immediately. Construction of the new addition and cancer centre is expected to be completed in fall 2011 and the significant renovations to the existing hospital by spring 2013.
“Royal Victoria Hospital is going to be a very busy place over the next three to five years, and this is truly cause for this region to celebrate,” remarks Janice Skot, RVH President and CEO. “This project will double the size of the existing hospital and allow RVH staff, physicians and volunteers to provide exceptional care to patients from throughout Simcoe Muskoka. In these extremely tenuous economic times, the project will be a tremendous boost to the region’s economy in direct jobs and spinoffs, but even most importantly, will bring quality, accessible care closer to home.”
The expansion will add 101 new inpatient beds; two additional Patient Care Units with 64 beds for future expansion; a dedicated coronary care unit, expanded Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging and Emergency departments; two new operating rooms and the jewel in the crown, the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.
“This is an exciting time for RVH and an achievement for which our region can be very proud,” says Steve Blanchet, Chair of the RVH Board of Directors. “The hard work and dedication of RVH staff, volunteers, and physicians, teamed with the tremendous community support has taken this project from a dream to a reality.”
That support has come from people right across Simcoe and Muskoka with contributions of a staggering $34 million towards RVH’s $35 million “I Believe” capital fundraising campaign. RVH’s Auxiliary jump-started the efforts with a $5 million pledge – which the volunteers have already met, three years ahead of schedule. Additionally, the commitment of $52.5 million from the City of Barrie and $20 million from the County of Simcoe helped to put this project on the fast-track for approvals from the provincial government.
The expansion will not only create hundreds of direct jobs but also create significant spin-off benefits, which will provide a huge boost to the region during this present economic downturn. When complete, RVH will have added 1,200 skilled health professionals to their payroll.
As a result of the construction, there will be some access changes beginning the first week of March for patients, visitors and staff coming to the hospital. The second floor or ‘main entrance’ will be closed to all but emergency vehicles or patients coming to the Emergency Department. All other patients, visitors and staff will now enter the hospital via the lower level, or ‘Outpatient’ entrance. Signage will direct the public to the appropriate entrance.
The ambitious redevelopment – the largest in Simcoe Muskoka history -- has reached its final, major milestone before construction can begin. Royal Victoria Hospital and Infrastructure Ontario have achieved Financial Close with the chosen contractor Vanbots, a Division of Carillion Construction Inc.
Financial Close signifies that all necessary steps, including a fixed price of $258.5million and a set completion date have been determined. Work crews will begin to mobilize on RVH property almost immediately. Construction of the new addition and cancer centre is expected to be completed in fall 2011 and the significant renovations to the existing hospital by spring 2013.
“Royal Victoria Hospital is going to be a very busy place over the next three to five years, and this is truly cause for this region to celebrate,” remarks Janice Skot, RVH President and CEO. “This project will double the size of the existing hospital and allow RVH staff, physicians and volunteers to provide exceptional care to patients from throughout Simcoe Muskoka. In these extremely tenuous economic times, the project will be a tremendous boost to the region’s economy in direct jobs and spinoffs, but even most importantly, will bring quality, accessible care closer to home.”
The expansion will add 101 new inpatient beds; two additional Patient Care Units with 64 beds for future expansion; a dedicated coronary care unit, expanded Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging and Emergency departments; two new operating rooms and the jewel in the crown, the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.
“This is an exciting time for RVH and an achievement for which our region can be very proud,” says Steve Blanchet, Chair of the RVH Board of Directors. “The hard work and dedication of RVH staff, volunteers, and physicians, teamed with the tremendous community support has taken this project from a dream to a reality.”
That support has come from people right across Simcoe and Muskoka with contributions of a staggering $34 million towards RVH’s $35 million “I Believe” capital fundraising campaign. RVH’s Auxiliary jump-started the efforts with a $5 million pledge – which the volunteers have already met, three years ahead of schedule. Additionally, the commitment of $52.5 million from the City of Barrie and $20 million from the County of Simcoe helped to put this project on the fast-track for approvals from the provincial government.
The expansion will not only create hundreds of direct jobs but also create significant spin-off benefits, which will provide a huge boost to the region during this present economic downturn. When complete, RVH will have added 1,200 skilled health professionals to their payroll.
As a result of the construction, there will be some access changes beginning the first week of March for patients, visitors and staff coming to the hospital. The second floor or ‘main entrance’ will be closed to all but emergency vehicles or patients coming to the Emergency Department. All other patients, visitors and staff will now enter the hospital via the lower level, or ‘Outpatient’ entrance. Signage will direct the public to the appropriate entrance.
Cultural Grant Writing Workshop Offered Again
(Barrie, ON) The City of Barrie’s Department of Culture is encouraging the arts community to learn more about grant writing by attending another workshop by William Moore, the creator of the Barrie Arts Grants program.
Artists can register for the workshop being offered March 7, 2009 from 9:00am-4:00pm at City Hall in the Sir Robert Barrie Room (lunch and refreshments will be included). Topics covered in this workshop will include: eligible applicants, essential information to be included in the application, and tips on how to receive the most from grant writing. This workshop will provide artists and art organizations with the tools necessary to maximize funding.
This workshop has been designed specifically for local not-for-profit arts organizations or individual artists who require additional support. The session will specifically focus on applying for City of Barrie grants; however, the intention is that skills learned in this workshop will be transferable to other grant applications. You can register today by calling Onnie Groves at 739-4220 Ext. 4794 or email her at ogroves@barrie.ca.
Applications for the Cultural Grant Program are now available and posted on the City’s website, www.barrie.ca. The application can be found on the main page by clicking on the “Arts and Culture” icon and by clicking again on the “Cultural Grants 2009.”
Artists can register for the workshop being offered March 7, 2009 from 9:00am-4:00pm at City Hall in the Sir Robert Barrie Room (lunch and refreshments will be included). Topics covered in this workshop will include: eligible applicants, essential information to be included in the application, and tips on how to receive the most from grant writing. This workshop will provide artists and art organizations with the tools necessary to maximize funding.
This workshop has been designed specifically for local not-for-profit arts organizations or individual artists who require additional support. The session will specifically focus on applying for City of Barrie grants; however, the intention is that skills learned in this workshop will be transferable to other grant applications. You can register today by calling Onnie Groves at 739-4220 Ext. 4794 or email her at ogroves@barrie.ca.
Applications for the Cultural Grant Program are now available and posted on the City’s website, www.barrie.ca. The application can be found on the main page by clicking on the “Arts and Culture” icon and by clicking again on the “Cultural Grants 2009.”
Monday, February 23, 2009
Taxes can be social? Connecting online makes filing taxes easier…and can be free!
Back in 1993, the average Canadian would never have dreamed dream of doing their banking or shopping on the Internet. Even a few years ago, getting a date or reconnecting with old friends online was something reserved for the pocket-protector crowd.
But things have changed, and the Internet is now the de facto resource for almost everything even doing your taxes. Web-based tax software, such as QuickTax Online, is gaining popularity as an easy solution that can be used to prepare and file taxes on virtually any operating system with a Web browser.
Any Canadian with a simple tax return, regardless of income level, can now prepare and file taxes this year with QuickTax Online Free. The free version is an easy, online tax preparation solution for Canadians who have income from employment or pensions. And that goes for most students, as well.
Those who need to connect with out-of-town dependents, such as a child off at college or university, also benefit greatly from online tax software, especially since it eliminates the burden of mailing tax forms back and forth ahead of the April deadline.
One user noted his personal reason for switching to online tax software: “My son uses the tax software to file his taxes while at school, and when he gets to a point where he needs help, he shares his password with me, and I just go in and fill out the rest. It’s been a great solution even though we’re 2,000 kilometres apart.”
Another big Internet phenomenon in recent years has been the growth of online communities. Today, everyone is communicating online, whether it’s a quick note to friends on Facebook, trolling Craigslist for deals on a snow blower, and posting a reply on the Dachshunds Owners Group.
Now, that online community spirit is even appearing in the unlikeliest of places: tax preparation.. Tax forums are springing up all over the Web with people seeking and offering advice on every type of tax-related question.
QuickTax even offers a Live Community section built right into the software, where much of the Q&A content is created by the users. Canadians can connect and ask the types of questions traditional FAQs rarely address, such as “We took custody of my wife’s son in April. How do we claim this for the tax year?” or “Which province do I file under if I moved?” or “I forgot to claim a charitable donation last year, so can I claim this year?” and thousands of other situational questions that people from coast to coast have experienced.
“Online communities give people immediate access to information. Often the quickest and most compelling answers come from like-minded Canadians,” said Chris Davey, product marketing manager for QuickTax. “The Live Community gives taxpayers a way to connect with each other, search a database of questions people have already asked, and get answers to questions that address their individual needs.”
To connect with other Canadians on Live Community, visit www.quicktax.intuit.ca
But things have changed, and the Internet is now the de facto resource for almost everything even doing your taxes. Web-based tax software, such as QuickTax Online, is gaining popularity as an easy solution that can be used to prepare and file taxes on virtually any operating system with a Web browser.
Any Canadian with a simple tax return, regardless of income level, can now prepare and file taxes this year with QuickTax Online Free. The free version is an easy, online tax preparation solution for Canadians who have income from employment or pensions. And that goes for most students, as well.
Those who need to connect with out-of-town dependents, such as a child off at college or university, also benefit greatly from online tax software, especially since it eliminates the burden of mailing tax forms back and forth ahead of the April deadline.
One user noted his personal reason for switching to online tax software: “My son uses the tax software to file his taxes while at school, and when he gets to a point where he needs help, he shares his password with me, and I just go in and fill out the rest. It’s been a great solution even though we’re 2,000 kilometres apart.”
Another big Internet phenomenon in recent years has been the growth of online communities. Today, everyone is communicating online, whether it’s a quick note to friends on Facebook, trolling Craigslist for deals on a snow blower, and posting a reply on the Dachshunds Owners Group.
Now, that online community spirit is even appearing in the unlikeliest of places: tax preparation.. Tax forums are springing up all over the Web with people seeking and offering advice on every type of tax-related question.
QuickTax even offers a Live Community section built right into the software, where much of the Q&A content is created by the users. Canadians can connect and ask the types of questions traditional FAQs rarely address, such as “We took custody of my wife’s son in April. How do we claim this for the tax year?” or “Which province do I file under if I moved?” or “I forgot to claim a charitable donation last year, so can I claim this year?” and thousands of other situational questions that people from coast to coast have experienced.
“Online communities give people immediate access to information. Often the quickest and most compelling answers come from like-minded Canadians,” said Chris Davey, product marketing manager for QuickTax. “The Live Community gives taxpayers a way to connect with each other, search a database of questions people have already asked, and get answers to questions that address their individual needs.”
To connect with other Canadians on Live Community, visit www.quicktax.intuit.ca
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR BEATS YAHOO!, DIGG & AOL AT THEIR OWN GAME
Brisbane, Australia -- 23rd of February, 2009 --When David beat Goliath with a single stone from his sling, the odds were stacked pretty heavily against him. But even greater were the odds when 23 year-old Brisbane-based entrepreneur Leon Hill embarked on a journey to create an online business that would be fighting against multi-million-dollar social bookmarking giant Digg.com, as well as the multi-billion-dollar juggernaut that is Yahoo! Inc. And although he was flying solo with no outside help, he fought them both -- and won.
uSocial.net (http://usocial.net/) is the brainchild of Hill and is an online traffic generation business that takes advantage of flaws in the systems of social bookmarking sites like Digg, Yahoo! Buzz, StumbleUpon and AOL's Propeller.
"The best way to get a huge amount of traffic to your site is to have it listed on the coveted front page of one of the large social bookmarking sites," says Leon. "The thing is, it can take hundreds of votes in a short period of time to get there which is extremely difficult to attain. But if it does happen, you can expect sometimes hundreds of thousands of people to your site in as little as one day. And for that to happen to a small-business owner, can mean serious cash."
With only his computer, little capitol and a tiny amount of knowledge about how social bookmarking sites work, Leon set out to best several online empires at their own game, including Yahoo!, second only to Google in terms of online might.
After some trial-and-error, Hill figured out a way to seriously increase the amount of votes a page would receive -- up to 1,000 in as little as 24 hours -- which meant that a website would sometimes be placed in front of millions of online web-surfer's eyes in a day or less. This meant immense traffic and for any business owner with a website, immense interest in their product or service.
"When using uSocial, the real winners are small business owners. I personally know people who were paying more than $2 for a single visitor through conventional means. With uSocial.net, we've had people spend as little as $200 and have more than 100,000 people to their site in less than 24 hours," says Leon. "There is literally nothing that compares with what uSocial can do in terms of sending quality traffic to a business' website."
Digg has always claimed the systems they had in place were unbeatable, but now Hill has proved them wrong. "What uSocial is doing is not illegal, it's just that the social bookmarking sites don't like it. I've even tried to contact [Digg CEO] Jay Adelson for his thoughts, but I never got a reply," says Hill. "These online giants said their systems couldn't be beat, but I proved them wrong."
So even in this crazy modern world, David really can beat Goliath.
uSocial.net (http://usocial.net/) is the brainchild of Hill and is an online traffic generation business that takes advantage of flaws in the systems of social bookmarking sites like Digg, Yahoo! Buzz, StumbleUpon and AOL's Propeller.
"The best way to get a huge amount of traffic to your site is to have it listed on the coveted front page of one of the large social bookmarking sites," says Leon. "The thing is, it can take hundreds of votes in a short period of time to get there which is extremely difficult to attain. But if it does happen, you can expect sometimes hundreds of thousands of people to your site in as little as one day. And for that to happen to a small-business owner, can mean serious cash."
With only his computer, little capitol and a tiny amount of knowledge about how social bookmarking sites work, Leon set out to best several online empires at their own game, including Yahoo!, second only to Google in terms of online might.
After some trial-and-error, Hill figured out a way to seriously increase the amount of votes a page would receive -- up to 1,000 in as little as 24 hours -- which meant that a website would sometimes be placed in front of millions of online web-surfer's eyes in a day or less. This meant immense traffic and for any business owner with a website, immense interest in their product or service.
"When using uSocial, the real winners are small business owners. I personally know people who were paying more than $2 for a single visitor through conventional means. With uSocial.net, we've had people spend as little as $200 and have more than 100,000 people to their site in less than 24 hours," says Leon. "There is literally nothing that compares with what uSocial can do in terms of sending quality traffic to a business' website."
Digg has always claimed the systems they had in place were unbeatable, but now Hill has proved them wrong. "What uSocial is doing is not illegal, it's just that the social bookmarking sites don't like it. I've even tried to contact [Digg CEO] Jay Adelson for his thoughts, but I never got a reply," says Hill. "These online giants said their systems couldn't be beat, but I proved them wrong."
So even in this crazy modern world, David really can beat Goliath.
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