Convert your garage back to its original purpose

Garages are coveted by homeowners across the country, offering a space to park a car and protect it from the elements.

But many people do not park a car in their garage, since it tends to become the official catch-all of a home. When an item cannot be crammed into a hiding space elsewhere, it often ends up dumped into the garage, where it joins the long list of other abandoned items.

It can be easy to let garages become a wasteland because everything put inside a garage is behind a closed door. That mess can quickly build up, and reclaiming your garage requires energy, time, organization and a plan.

Go through your items and sort into three piles: Garbage, donate and keep. After all of the trash and donations are removed from the premises, you can then look at what is remaining and begin planning out a more organized storage system.

There may be things in the “keep” pile that are simply out of place in the garage and may be better stored elsewhere.

Think about which items can be moved to a basement or attic because of their infrequency of use, such as holiday decorations, suitcases and collectibles. You may prefer to move lawn and garden items out of the garage and into a shed in the backyard.

To maximize the amount of space you have as a work area or a place to park your car, invest in as many tools as possible to utilize vertical space.

Shelving, hooks and cabinetry will take things off of the floor, while storage units with doors can hide items that lack aesthetic appeal.

Rolling tool caddies and cabinets can keep all tools neat and in organized drawers.

Think about how the garage will appear from the curb when the door is raised and create a design that will be functional and neat.

When putting items back into the garage, label where everything is stored. This way you’ll be able to find everything easily.

Real estate investors snap up medical office buildings as boomers age

The Canadian health system and the aging population may make medical real estate recession-proof.

By: Alexandra Posadzki The Canadian Press, Published on Wed Nov 25 2015

As aging baby boomers fuel growing demand for health-care services, investors are increasingly turning their attention to medical office buildings — a niche within the real estate market that some argue is recession proof.

“Doctors are paid by the government in Canada, so they’re pretty secure tenants,” says Huy Lam, a broker at Colliers International who specializes in the health-care real estate space.

Lam says demand for medical office buildings in Canada has been on the rise in recent years — a trend he expects to continue as the number of seniors in the country balloons.

Ownership in the space is fragmented — everyone from institutional investors such as pension funds to real estate investment trusts to wealthy individuals — making it difficult to quantify how much money is flooding in.

However, Colliers forecasts more than $211 million in medical office building sales in Ontario alone this year. That compares with $126 million back in 2011, according to data compiled by the commercial real estate brokerage.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announced in August that it was taking its first steps into the health-care property space, teaming with a U.S. real estate investment trust to invest in a portfolio of medical office buildings in California worth a total of US$449 million.

“Demographics in certain countries make (health-care) very attractive as a long-term investment,” said Peter Ballon, head of CPPIB’s real estate investment in the Americas.

“We do think that there’s going to be growing demand for health-care real estate, and we believe that pricing is relatively attractive right now for certain health-care assets.”

One of the features that makes the space attractive to investors is the fact that it’s insulated from most economic turmoil and is unlikely to be threatened by disruptive forces such as e-commerce.

“Demand for health care is not driven by how the economy is doing,” says Chris Potter, a partner at PwC Canada.

In its recent emerging trends in real estate report, the consulting firm noted that while U.S. investors have been eagerly snatching up health-care properties for some time, Canadians have been slow to embrace the sector. That, however, is beginning to change, according to the firm.

In addition to being an essential service, health-care typically often requires an in-person visit, making it immune to the e-commerce pressures facing traditional retailers.

“You can’t go and get your teeth looked at online,” says Potter.

One of the challenges for investors looking to snatch up health-care real estate is lack of available supply.

In Canada hospitals are publicly owned, which leaves investors restricted to purchasing buildings that contain doctors’ offices and other complementary services such as labs, pharmacies and physiotherapy treatment centres.

Construction of such buildings in Canada has been fairly stagnant recently, says Lam.

“It’s very expensive to build them and generally you need more land to build medical buildings because of the parking requirements,” he said.

NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT (TSX:NWH.UN), a Toronto-based company that specializes in the space, has been looking beyond Canada to markets such as Germany, Brazil and Australia for investment opportunities.

After building out its portfolio of medical office buildings, including 73 such properties in Canada, the REIT is now looking to snap up more fundamental assets such as hospitals — something it can’t do on its home turf, according to company CEO Paul Dalla Lana.

“Our health system is very specific, so some specific opportunities aren’t available in Canada,” he says.

Adnan Hashmi realtor working with Wolf Realty inc as Broker of Record..........

Free real estate seminars promise big profits but CBC News Investigations reports different!

 using testimonials from past participants, some of which were filmed before any money was actually made. 

Promotional testimonials from clients praising his methods are a key part of his marketing campaign, but CBC News has learned that at least four of the people featured in the testimonials have requested they no longer be used because they're not accurate. 

The Black Eyed Peas blast from the speakers. A tanned Californian says just $3,500 US can change your life, at a November seminar hosted by Kozlowski's company, At Will Events.

Participants are told they can get rich with no money down and no credit by buying cheap houses from desperate Americans.

The free seminar at a Vancouver hotel is one of four that CBC News attended where a charismatic speaker tries to recruit students for Marco Kozlowski's three-day training course. Each time, video testimonials from clients who say they cashed in big time are played.

One video features Kirpal Bhogal.

A still image from Kirpal Bhohal's video testimonial played at Kozlowski's seminar. (MarcoKozlowski/youtube)

"On the second day of Marco's training, we purchased a property for 5,000 and sold it for 62,000," says the Toronto area man, attesting to the apparent profit he made with Kozlowski's guidance.

The well-dressed man at the front of the room, Lance Robinson, stops the tape and asks who is ready to "invest" in the next step of the course.

"We're gonna surround you with multi-millionaires at a three-day event," he says.

Several people pay the tuition, having no idea that Bhogal's success story wasn't completely true.

Testimonial filmed before deal closed

A CBC News investigation has discovered that Kozlowski is using testimonials by Bhogal and at least three other students who say they are not accurate.

This testimonial appears in brochure handed out at free seminars in Vancouver and Toronto in November 2015, despite Kirpal Bhogal's request it not be used. (At Will Events Brochure)

Bhogal has confirmed to CBC that he more than once requested his testimonials not be used.

"This video was recorded just after signing the contract but before closing," wrote Bhogal in a post on Kozlowski's YouTube channel, which features one of two video testimonials Bhogal shot.

Marco Kozlowski, left, with Lance Robinson, who spoke on behalf of Kozloski at free seminars to recruit students for Kozlowski's $3,500 US course, in Vancouver. (Ron Usher)

"The deals did not close; No profits were materialized."

In a statement to CBC News Nov. 14, 2015, Kozlowski said he was not aware one of Bhogal's deals had fallen through.

But an email suggests Kozlowski knew months ago that Bhogal was unhappy with his experience.

"Despite my verbal request and email earlier, my testimonial recorded at your office, is still being widely publicized," wrote Bhogal to Kozlowski, May 15, 2015.

When CBC inquired why Bhogal's testimonial was still being used, Kozlowski emailed this response.

"The testimonial is not entirely inaccurate. Mr. Bhogal made money on his first transaction," wrote Kozlowski.

Bhogal questions whether he made any profit on that transaction, because Kozlowski applied the proceeds toward Bhogal's tuition fees for advanced training.

"I have now instructed that his testimonial not be used in any form," said Kozlowski. 

Despite that assurance, a printed version of Bhogal's testimonial was still being distributed at a seminar in Toronto two days later. 

'It's not my testimonial'

Another former student who paid to attend Kozlowski's weekend course in Toronto was shocked to see her face on one of Kozlowski's ads in August of 2014.

A woman who never made an offer on a home was shocked to see her photo used in a testimonial, claiming a $132,000 profit. (Facebook)

"It was ... saying that I made a $132,000 profit," says Shauna Walker, furious her photo was shown beside a photo of a cheque.

"It's not my testimonial and I never made a dollar," she told CBC News.

Montage of advertisements showing what appears to be the same cheque for $150,329.92 used in three different testimonials. (Natalie Clancy)

"I emailed him and said this has to stop," she said. 

Kozlowski replied, "Seems an eager marketer put your head on someone else's deal. That cheque and profit was from another Shauna."

Three months later, her ad appeared again in a newspaper, prompting her to complain once more.

"I'll break some heads. Sorry. Never happen again. Pinky promise," wrote Kozlowski, Nov. 5, 2014. 

An image of the same cheque appears beside other testimonials in ads published in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Walker's ad has not reappeared.

'Many red alerts'

"I've attended the seminars," says Ron Usher, a lawyer who has been tracking Kozlowski's advertisements. 

"There are many red alerts for people," says Usher, who tried to warn Vancouver investors to stay away from a recent seminar before Kozlowski's staff asked him to leave.

Lawyer Ron Usher has been tracking what he calls misleading advertising and unrealistic promises made at seminars to recruit students. (cbc)

He says if Kozlowski has helped so many students, as he claims, why would he use a discredited testimonial?

"I just wonder why you would need to do that if there are so many successful stories?"

CBC News put that question to Marco Kozlowski, who responded, "We have many success stories ... and there is no need to to use Mr. Bhogal's testimonial."

Kozlowski was asked to provide contact information for such students, but has not done so yet. 

CBC News did speak to six Kozlowski seminar participants who said they had no complaints about their experience, including one who appeared in a testimonial. 

Testimonials altered for different markets

A review of several advertisements shows other discrepancies. Testimonials from three people list them as being from different cities. 

For example, "Steeve R"  is listed as living in Markham in a Toronto paper. The same photo and testimonial appears in a Montreal paper listing him as from Montreal. In other ads, he's listed as living in Surrey and Edmonton. 

Montage of ads with testimonials from Steeve R. who is listed with various home towns in several different newspapers. (cbc)

Mistakes blamed on marketing company

Kozlowski says the discrepancies were made by a firm that has since been fired.

"The ads were the responsibility of the marketing company and neither I, nor my staff reviewed their work," said Kozlowski.

'Suspicious' ads could lead to penalties

Brenda Pritchard, a lawyer specializing in advertising, says any advertiser who uses false or misleading testimonials could be prosecuted criminally or civilly under the Canadian Competition Act and face fines up to $10 million.

"It does look extremely suspicious, if you have one person's name and picture pretending to live in different jurisdictions," Pritchard said.

Advertising lawyer Brenda Pritchard says the Canadian Competition Bureau can prosecute companies that use false testimonials. (cbc)

"It's whether or not these people actually used the service, got their results that they are representing here … all of these things have to be true and currently true."

When asked about whether his advertising could be in violation of Canadian laws, Kozlowski wrote, "I have every intention of complying with all federal, provincial and local laws and regulations."

Provincial support exceeds Canada's Syrian refugee target: immigration minister

Premiers across the country have indicated how many Syrian refugees their provinces will commit to taking in, and the total exceeds the federal government's goal of 25,000, Immigration  John McCallum said Friday.In Ontario alone, the goal is to welcome 10,000 Syrians by the end of 2016.

"A commitment doesn't mean those people's feet on Canadian soil, but it's an immensely good start to have such enthusiasm, not only in words, but in numbers," McCallum said.

The minister was speaking at an event in Toronto hosted by Humanity First, an international humanitarian relief organization, where he was joined by other speakers with expertise in the topic of refugee resettlement. All proceeds from the event will go toward assisting with the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Canada..

Vancouver real estate magnate offers up building for  refugee

Vancouver property developer Ian Gillespie is refurbishing and furnishing a 12-unit property in the city's West End in order to provide temporary accommodations for Syrian refugees.

Gillespie, founder of Westbank Developments, has offered the building to the Immigrant Services Society to be used as first-stop housing for refugees waiting for permanent homes in B.C.  

Fearful? Grow up

Gillespie said he has been disappointed by some negative reactions over the arrival of the refugees.

"Some of the dialogue you're hearing isn't particularly Canadian," he said, "I think a lot of people need to show some leadership and turn the conversation into a positive.

"We had a well-earned reputation for being good citizens. I think we lost some of that and have lost the concept of [us all] being immigrants. We are one of the most multicultural cities in the world."

Gillespie said we all have a responsibility to help, and that he hopes his company will be able to do more.

"And to those who might be fearful," he said, "grow up."

20 interesting facts about Canada!!!

1. At 9 984 670 sq km and comprised of 6 time zones, Canada is huge!
2. Canada is also home to the longest street in the world. Yonge Street in Ontario starts at Lake Ontario, and runs north through Ontario to the Minnesota border, a distance of almost 2000 kilometres.
3. While we’re talking ‘longest’, here’s another record: Canada has the world’s longest coastline at 202 080 km.
4. A bear cub named Winnipeg was exported from Canada to the London Zoo in 1915. A little boy named Christopher Robin Milne loved to visit Winnipeg (or Winnie for short) and his love for the bear cub inspired the stories written by his father, A.A. Milne, about Winnie-the-Pooh.
   
   

   It’s thanks to a little bear from Canada called Winnipeg that A.A. Milne invented Winnie-the-Pooh for his son Christopher.
5. The Canadian motto, A Mari Usque ad Mare, means “From sea to sea.”
6. Toronto’s Rogers Centre (formerly known as the SkyDome) is home to the largest Sony big screen in the world, measuring 10 m x 33.6 m.
7. The Blackberry Smartphone was developed in Ontario, at Research In Motion’s Waterloo offices.
8. The Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario is the world’s largest coin. It is a huge reproduction of a 1951 Canadian nickel and measures 9 meters in diameter.
9. Canada has twice been invaded by the USA, first in 1775 and then 1812.
10. Actor Leslie Nielsen is Canadian and his brother Erik was theDeputy Prime Minister of Canada for two years, from 1984 to 1986.
    
    

    Leslie and Erik Nielson, even when you become deputy Prime Minister you can still be upstaged by your brother wearing a dress.
11. Canada holds the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Winter Olympics, since taking 14 Golds at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
12. Sandy Gardiner, a journalist with the Ottawa Journal in the 60’s coined the term ‘Beatlemania’ while he was writing a story about the Beatles.
13. Canada basically got its name by mistake. When Jaques Cartier, a French explorer, came to the new world, he met with local Natives who invited them to their ‘kanata’ (the word for ‘village’. The party mistakenly thought the name of the country was “Kanata” or Canada.
14. The Mounted Police were formed in 1873, with nine officers and in 1920 merged with the Dominion Police to become the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which today has close to 30 000 members.
15. Canada is home to about 55 000 different species of insects.
16. Montreal is home to many beautiful churches and is often called The City of Saints or City of a hundred bell towers
17. Ontario is believed to be home to the world’s smallest jail, which measures only 24.3 sq metres.
18. The Hotel de Glace in Quebec is built every year using 400 tons of ice and 12 000 tons of snow. Every summer it melts away and every winter it is rebuilt.
    
    

    This ice hotel in Quebec is rebuilt every year to open for three months. It takes 50 workers a month and a half to construct.
19. Canada’s only desert in British Columbia is only 15 miles long and is the only desert in the world with a long boardwalk for visitors to walk on.
20. Famous Canadians include Pamela Anderson, Leonard Cohen, Avril Lavigne, Keanu Reeves and Jim Carrey.