by Shawn Lackie You know the saying, yes? “The more they stay the same.” In 1988, I decided I needed a change from the Toronto rat race, especially in the television field. I was running Communications for CBC Sports and really wasn’t looking forward to spending 6 weeks in Korea, for the Olympic Games. So I packed it in and came back to Port, to hook up with my Father-In-Law in his business. That was around the time the economy was doing a bit of a dive (tank?), so it was fr

by Geoffrey Carpentier In my last two columns, I spoke about the mechanics of migration – how do birds migrate? What tools do they have to make these perilous journeys? What can go wrong when they lose those tools or use them improperly? Today let’s finish the story and see how the environment itself can cause catastrophic challenges. I mentioned last time that small errors in the chosen migration route will be magnified each time the bird deviates from course. Gradually, the

by Shawn Lackie Many years ago, when we first started our home-owning journey, we looked in a number of areas in Toronto. For us at the time, the main criterion was: could we afford this? Even if it meant living in what would now be called a scuzzy neighbourhood (is scuzzy even a word?). At any rate, we looked everywhere and settled on a place we could afford. That was the main thing. We could afford to buy the place, and that was all that mattered. Well, it seems that’s not

By Shawn Lackie Lately, I have been seeing more and more of AI (Artificial Intelligence) articles being posted. Note, I didn’t say written, as these travesties are far from written pieces of work. They are computer-driven cliched pieces of junk, with absolutely no soul and definitely no feel for the topic being discussed. Here’s a sample: “Allowing Canadians to reflect on the diverse and vibrant nation they call home. With its stunning array of four seasons and rich cultural.

by Tina Y. Gerber-McCurley It's certainly been a challenging year for my husband and I. We both look forward to a fresh start with hope and anticipation. Consequently, as believers, we focus our eyes on Jesus. Many people see an older person as broken, and they somehow need to be fixed! I will admit our bodies do change, sometimes suffer, and their parts no longer work like they once did! Most seniors seem to begin to disappear into the background, and this is a growing probl

by Shawn Lackie If you have been in this business, for any length of time as an agent, you probably get asked, “When is a good time to buy a number of times?” The answer? Who knows. Especially in the last three plus years. This whole market is like playing with stocks. The old adage used to be, 'Buy Low and Sell High' and to a certain extent that still carries some weight. The trick is in figuring out the timing. 2016- 2019 put an entirely different spin on things. When the p

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley My husband has always been an inspiration to me. He handles his health issues, and difficulties with grace, mercy, and dignity bearing the cross he was given. Over the last four years, we both have come to understand, the Blessing is, we are considered worthy enough to carry those burdens. We are a vessel for God, allowing God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, for whatever purpose God has for us. I am still struggling with my health issues from Dec

by Lauren Walker I am certainly not one to beat around the bush, so let's get to the point. We all make decisions every day which either help or hurt our wellness. Poor lifestyle choices lead to poor health, there's no way around it. You cannot fix years of ill health in a few months. Choices, choices, choices... it all comes down to choices people! Let's do the Math Over the years, I've come across the same issue over and over again. Bad habits are often easier to invest in

by Lauren Walker Complacency is the enemy of creativity. It's no different in my profession as a personal trainer. When I worked in a gym, I used to watch people do the same routine over and over and never get anywhere. They became comfortable, but the problem is they never got any stronger. If you are locked in a predictable routine, then how will you get any stronger as an artist? Shake it Up Many years before becoming an artist, I was locked into a pattern I didn't like. I

by Shawn Lackie Every time I driver by the unfinished mess known as Kings Landing, it evokes memories of a certain movie that references Real Estate. That, in turn, led me to think about other films that have something to do with buying and selling properties. First things first. Glengarry Glen Ross features a soliloquy by Alec Baldwin which is really one for the ages. The film features an All-Star cast, but Baldwin steals the show. I will spare the details, but it's pretty h

by Shawn Lackie Have you ever heard the saying, “Old Habits die hard?” It still resonates to this day. Except, some old habits are making a comeback, especially in the Real Estate (RE) world and for some, these “old Habits” have never left. Take Dan Maundrell, for example. Dan has been a veteran of the RE wars for almost 35 years, and to this day, he still carries out some of the traditions which were his calling card all those years ago. The operative word is Calling. Dan is

by Tina Y. Gerber It has been a trying time as we began the journey to move. It can be especially difficult with medical concerns, and as you age, things don't always go as smoothly as hoped for. What's awesome is, we sold our home within a week! The market has been slow and very unpredictable, over the last few years. Yet, if you are open, you can see, God always has something for you. It may be a key for solving problems, a light for when you feel the darkness creep in or a

by Lauren Walker "Don't let the old man in" is a famous quote from Clint Eastwood. It got me thinking recently about the ups and downs which go hand in hand with growing older. Mental attitude, physical activity and social engagement help to keep the mind and body moving as you age. Mental Attitude What does it mean to face the day with positivity? My 92 year old clients insists that, "If you don't have a sense of humour, you have nothing." Not everything works as it once did

by Lauren Walker For the Love of Movement Why do I love to move my body? I've always had an excellent relationship with exercise because it's always been a part of my life. It's normal and natural, like breathing to me. My mom was always active when I was little, so in my mind, it was normal to move. It still is! Move Because You Can In my line of work, I spend time with people who aren't capable of doing basic tasks. I also spend time at local long-term care homes and meet p

by Shawn Lackie For the last few years, we have heard non-stop about the need for affordable housing. And with good reason. Developers roll into town and put forward a development plan for the local zoning people to approve. Almost all of them include some form of affordable housing. They get approval and start their build. But a funny thing happens between the planning stage and the actual implementation. All of a sudden, those affordable townhouses disappear and up pops mor

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley A good life is not having everything you want. Many people don't have this peace and abundant life which God plans for us. Life is good because God is good. Stop chasing happiness, success, fame or comfort and start finding joy in the one who never changes. Every giant in the Bible was defeated by someone who believes God is bigger. God never forgets a heart which prays, even in silence. ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ 1 P

by Shawn Lackie We have been hearing ad-nauseum, recently, about “housing affordability.” Ok folks, I get it. Times are strange for sure. When we bought our first house in Toronto it was for less than a deposit adds up to these days, and that was for the whole house. We couldn’t afford to move back to Toronto these days. The gap between the haves and have-nots has become very wide indeed. Sure, people will tell you, salaries these days are far ahead of what was being paid out

by Shawn Lackie Real Estate is a funny business. Funny ha ha and funny not so ha ha. Just ask anyone who has been at it for any length of time. As a full-time business, not some side hustle, all too prevalent these days. When things die off, like they have the last few years, it’s interesting watching all the wanabees scramble out of the madness. Speaking of madness, a lot of a sales persons reputation depends on their innate ability to satisfy a buyer (or seller’s) expectati

by Tina Y. Gerber-McCurley We all face challenges of hardship, disappointments, and setbacks. My hubby calls this, "The corner of hardship and perseverance." More seniors are experiencing some kind of profound and heartbreaking challenge, such as social isolation, physical limitations, financial barriers, mental health challenges, or addiction to name a few. Most seniors have an increased risk of falls, unmanaged chronic conditions, depression, malnutrition from skipping mea

By Shawn Lackie Imagine, for a second, going into a fast food place and ordering a cheeseburger. You pay for it and they deliver it to you wrapped up. However, when you open the wrapper, there it sits, just the burger and whatever toppings you ordered. No bun. Nada. That’s kind of like what the condo market morphed into the last 20 years or so. It’s no wonder that market is in free-fall right now, and justifiably so. For years, the deck was stacked in favour of the condo deve