Will start updating

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......

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

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

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!!!

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

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

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

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!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Snow and what you need to know :)

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