Discover woodstocknow.com site
Currently there are 401 reasons to invest in the Woodstock area with your manufacturing industry.
Firstly, Woodstock is home to Toyota and its 2,000 employees, who are manufacturing the RAV4 sports utility vehicle at a plant which opened in 2008. Just this past week, Toyota announced it is hiring 400 more employees to work at the TMMC facility.
The other 400 reasons to consider Woodstock is the available acreage the City currently has in its inventory, with much of it already serviced for industrial / commercial / manufacturing uses.
"At the crossroads of Highway 401 and Highway 403, Woodstock offers an unequaled opportunity to invest for your next business project," said Woodstock Development Commissioner Len Magyar via a press release earlier this week. "With no development charges on industrial construction the time to build in Woodstock has never been better.
"Over 400 acres of vacant industrial land is available for lots of all sizes both in municipal and private ownership. More than 160 acres are fully-serviced and ready now for development with other lots readily serviceable."
Magyar adds that many existing buildings could also meet the needs for industry -- to locate or relocate to Woodstock.
"You can (also) choose from a selection of buildings ranging from 3,000 to 300,000 sq ft that are available and move-in ready."
Learn more about available real estate in Woodstock at www.woodstocknow.com/documents/2012_RealEstateNewsletter_Email.pdf
You may also contact:
Len Magyar
Development Commissioner
City of Woodstock
City Hall, 500 Dundas St
Woodstock, ON N4S 0A7
(519) 539-2382, x 2112By the way, after talking to Len Magyar, be sure to call me to discuss everything available in Woodstock from new homes to Victorian heritage houses to income property and smaller commercial leases.
Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty
(519) 539-2070, office; 539-4319, home; 539-5619, page; 537-1553, cell & textwww.marksells.ca royallepage.ca wesellwoodstock.com
www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com http://www.royallepagetriland.com/
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com Twitter: markroyallepage
Friday, 30 March 2012
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Toyota to add 400 more in Woodstock
More great news for The Friendly City.
Toyota announces today officially that the Woodstock auto plant, which builds the RAV4 (Great car . . . as I drive one), will be investing about $80 million in its plant here that opened in 2008, and thereby add 400 more employment positions.
If you're thinking about a move to Oxford County, call me at (519) 537-1553 or email mschadenberg@rogers.com
Thanks Toyota for the great great news !!!
This is the Canadian Press story, which quotes Toyota Canada chairperson Ray Tanguay.
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The Canadian Press
WOODSTOCK —Toyota’s Canadian manufacturing arm announced Wednesday it will invest $80 million to increase production at its Woodstock, Ont. assembly plant, a move it says will create some 400 new jobs.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. said it will ramp up production of its RAV4 crossover vehicles to 200,000 vehicles at the plant by early 2013, an increase from the current annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.
The Woodstock facility currently employs about 2,000 workers.
Toyota has faced production problems due to last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan and massive flooding in Thailand that cut parts supplies and slowed down their global output, even in Canada.
But sales have begun to spring back recently, with Toyota Canada reporting sales rose 31 per cent year-over-year in February with 12,384 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles sold.
"We are optimistic that the market is coming back and we’re grateful for the strong sales of the RAV4 in the North American market, which has created this increase in production and jobs," said TMMC chairman Ray Tanguay said.
Ontario has seen traditional Detroit Three carmakers — GM, Ford and Chrysler — cut tens of thousands of jobs in the last decade as their parent companies restructured in the United States. But Toyota and Honda have expanded their operations in Ontario, Canada’s manufacturing heartland.
The company has already announced plans the first Toyota electric vehicle to be built in North America, the RAV4 EV, would be made in Woodstock beginning this year.
Canada’s Minister of Industry Christian Paradis lauded the company, saying the move will help to strengthen Canada’s automotive industry.
"Our government welcomes the news of increased production at Toyota’s Woodstock plant, and congratulates the company on the success of the RAV 4," he said in a statement.
"Together, Toyota’s Canadian plants represent one of the company’s largest, most successful manufacturing operations in the world, leading to jobs and growth in those communities and for Canadians."
Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid said the investment will result in more jobs for Ontario auto workers.
"This is great news for the auto industry in Ontario and shows the strength and diversity of the sector in the province. This expansion demonstrates that Ontario made the right decision by supporting the development of Toyota’s manufacturing presence here in Ontario."
Toyota began its Canadian operations in 1986 in the southwestern Ontario city of Cambridge.
It currently employs about 6,500 Canadians at two plants in Cambridge and one in Woodstock, where the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Toyota RAV4, and the Lexus RX 350 vehicles are manufactured.
Toyota announces today officially that the Woodstock auto plant, which builds the RAV4 (Great car . . . as I drive one), will be investing about $80 million in its plant here that opened in 2008, and thereby add 400 more employment positions.
If you're thinking about a move to Oxford County, call me at (519) 537-1553 or email mschadenberg@rogers.com
Thanks Toyota for the great great news !!!
This is the Canadian Press story, which quotes Toyota Canada chairperson Ray Tanguay.
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The Canadian Press
WOODSTOCK —Toyota’s Canadian manufacturing arm announced Wednesday it will invest $80 million to increase production at its Woodstock, Ont. assembly plant, a move it says will create some 400 new jobs.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. said it will ramp up production of its RAV4 crossover vehicles to 200,000 vehicles at the plant by early 2013, an increase from the current annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.
The Woodstock facility currently employs about 2,000 workers.
Toyota has faced production problems due to last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan and massive flooding in Thailand that cut parts supplies and slowed down their global output, even in Canada.
But sales have begun to spring back recently, with Toyota Canada reporting sales rose 31 per cent year-over-year in February with 12,384 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles sold.
"We are optimistic that the market is coming back and we’re grateful for the strong sales of the RAV4 in the North American market, which has created this increase in production and jobs," said TMMC chairman Ray Tanguay said.
Ontario has seen traditional Detroit Three carmakers — GM, Ford and Chrysler — cut tens of thousands of jobs in the last decade as their parent companies restructured in the United States. But Toyota and Honda have expanded their operations in Ontario, Canada’s manufacturing heartland.
The company has already announced plans the first Toyota electric vehicle to be built in North America, the RAV4 EV, would be made in Woodstock beginning this year.
Canada’s Minister of Industry Christian Paradis lauded the company, saying the move will help to strengthen Canada’s automotive industry.
"Our government welcomes the news of increased production at Toyota’s Woodstock plant, and congratulates the company on the success of the RAV 4," he said in a statement.
"Together, Toyota’s Canadian plants represent one of the company’s largest, most successful manufacturing operations in the world, leading to jobs and growth in those communities and for Canadians."
Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid said the investment will result in more jobs for Ontario auto workers.
"This is great news for the auto industry in Ontario and shows the strength and diversity of the sector in the province. This expansion demonstrates that Ontario made the right decision by supporting the development of Toyota’s manufacturing presence here in Ontario."
Toyota began its Canadian operations in 1986 in the southwestern Ontario city of Cambridge.
It currently employs about 6,500 Canadians at two plants in Cambridge and one in Woodstock, where the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Toyota RAV4, and the Lexus RX 350 vehicles are manufactured.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Consumers not happy with multiple offers in GTA
Consumers must remember that 'market value' can be defined as the amount someone is willing to pay for a property. Based on location, size of the house and its perceived condition, the sky is almost the limit right now in many areas of Toronto.
A bank will qualify a buyer based both on their credit record and total debt service ratio. In other words, as long as interest rates are very low, a family earning (combined) over $100,000, for example, in a year can -- in theory -- afford a very expensive home. I won't do the math for you here, but even in Woodstock there are buyers for homes priced well over $400,000.
In Toronto, you really don't buy much of a house for $400,000.
No matter how much interest there is on a property, buyers must hire a qualified inspector. It's more than just peace of mind, it's good sense.
Buyers must also hire an experienced Realtor to help them weigh all the pros and cons -- market knowledge, depreciation of a home's elements, and costs for modest updates.
Read this story from The Toronto Star and be glad that the Oxford County market is realistic.
Thinking about buying in the near future, contact me (519 537-1553; mschadenberg@rogers.com) -- 13 years of full-time experience in real estate with Royal LePage.
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Bidding wars spark complaints from homebuyers, says Real Estate Council of OntarioBy Susan Pigg Business Reporter, The Toronto Star, March 27, 2012
The Real Estate Council of Ontario is feeling the heat from Toronto’s hot housing market with a surge in calls from potential homebuyers upset they’ve lost out — or won — high-stakes bidding wars.
About 30 per cent of the 15,000 inquiries the council has had in the last year are from house hunters overwhelmed by the multiple bids process, says Bruce Matthews, deputy registrar in charge of complaints for RECO, the regulatory body for Ontario’s 58,000 Realtors.
What’s most worrisome is how many homebuyers have waived home inspections in a desperate bid to win the house of their dreams, only to end up with a nightmare of costly repairs and upgrades later, says Matthews.
The concerns and confusion around multiple offers, which have spiked across the GTA in the last six months in particular, are part of the reason the council is launching a new education campaign this week.
The ads on public transit and YouTube are meant to encourage house hunters to do their homework before making the biggest purchase of their lives — and look beyond whether the home is in the best neighbourhood or school district.
"We’ve had numerous circumstances brought to our attention where a buyer, even against the advice of their Realtor, has waived home inspections or conditions around financing when they found out there were other offers on the property," says Matthews.
"Unfortunately in bidding wars, reason and rational thought are often replaced by emotion and haste. We can’t legislate human behaviour, but we’re trying to put more of the emphasis on information and knowledge in advance (of going to open houses and putting in offers) to prevent these kind of situations."
The council has seen some homebuyers walk away from hefty deposits, or end up in costly court cases, because they waived financing conditions to get a leg up in multiple bids. Some couldn’t close because they were rejected for financing or the bank felt they had paid too much, says Matthews.
Others found out too late that the house had knob and tube wiring or structural damage that would have been discovered in a home inspection.
Some of the calls have come from house hunters angry that they lost out to a lower bid.
"With the current supply and demand issue, a lot of power is with the seller," says Matthews.
Sometimes a seller will choose a lower bid because the buyers can close at a specific time, have kids or don’t plan to raze the house: "We don’t regulate the buyers or sellers themselves," says Matthews.
The council has a website and a host of information brochures meant to educate buyers, and sellers, about the ins and outs of bidding wars, the legal obligations when you sign a contract with a Realtor, issues around mortgage fraud. It also has a complaints line and email address: 1-800-245-6910or complaints@reco.on.ca
The council also stresses safety and recommends that sellers put personal photos, valuables and medicines out of sight during open houses. The photos, for instance, can tip would-be thieves off to the fact you live alone or travel a lot.
Realtors are required to alert all potential bidders that multiple offers have been registered against a property. The council has had what Matthews calls "sour grapes" calls from house hunters who believe those numbers are being exaggerated to drive up emotions and house prices.
RECO has the power to investigate so-called "phantom bids" which are prohibited under the code of ethics in the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act which regulates Realtors.
Even some Realtors are becoming concerned at how high emotions are running in the Toronto market right now, fuelled by low interest rates that have no where to go but up. Last week ReMax reported that some 50 per cent of homes in the "coveted" $600,000 to $900,000 range in prime Toronto neighbourhoods have been selling over asking.
But bidding wars are also emerging in Winnipeg and a number of other resource-rich areas of Canada, it noted.
"We want people to really think about what they’re doing," says Tom Wright, president and CEO of RECO. "Buying a house is the largest transaction most of us are ever likely to make and it stays with you for years."
A bank will qualify a buyer based both on their credit record and total debt service ratio. In other words, as long as interest rates are very low, a family earning (combined) over $100,000, for example, in a year can -- in theory -- afford a very expensive home. I won't do the math for you here, but even in Woodstock there are buyers for homes priced well over $400,000.
In Toronto, you really don't buy much of a house for $400,000.
No matter how much interest there is on a property, buyers must hire a qualified inspector. It's more than just peace of mind, it's good sense.
Buyers must also hire an experienced Realtor to help them weigh all the pros and cons -- market knowledge, depreciation of a home's elements, and costs for modest updates.
Read this story from The Toronto Star and be glad that the Oxford County market is realistic.
Thinking about buying in the near future, contact me (519 537-1553; mschadenberg@rogers.com) -- 13 years of full-time experience in real estate with Royal LePage.
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Bidding wars spark complaints from homebuyers, says Real Estate Council of OntarioBy Susan Pigg Business Reporter, The Toronto Star, March 27, 2012
The Real Estate Council of Ontario is feeling the heat from Toronto’s hot housing market with a surge in calls from potential homebuyers upset they’ve lost out — or won — high-stakes bidding wars.
About 30 per cent of the 15,000 inquiries the council has had in the last year are from house hunters overwhelmed by the multiple bids process, says Bruce Matthews, deputy registrar in charge of complaints for RECO, the regulatory body for Ontario’s 58,000 Realtors.
What’s most worrisome is how many homebuyers have waived home inspections in a desperate bid to win the house of their dreams, only to end up with a nightmare of costly repairs and upgrades later, says Matthews.
The concerns and confusion around multiple offers, which have spiked across the GTA in the last six months in particular, are part of the reason the council is launching a new education campaign this week.
The ads on public transit and YouTube are meant to encourage house hunters to do their homework before making the biggest purchase of their lives — and look beyond whether the home is in the best neighbourhood or school district.
"We’ve had numerous circumstances brought to our attention where a buyer, even against the advice of their Realtor, has waived home inspections or conditions around financing when they found out there were other offers on the property," says Matthews.
"Unfortunately in bidding wars, reason and rational thought are often replaced by emotion and haste. We can’t legislate human behaviour, but we’re trying to put more of the emphasis on information and knowledge in advance (of going to open houses and putting in offers) to prevent these kind of situations."
The council has seen some homebuyers walk away from hefty deposits, or end up in costly court cases, because they waived financing conditions to get a leg up in multiple bids. Some couldn’t close because they were rejected for financing or the bank felt they had paid too much, says Matthews.
Others found out too late that the house had knob and tube wiring or structural damage that would have been discovered in a home inspection.
Some of the calls have come from house hunters angry that they lost out to a lower bid.
"With the current supply and demand issue, a lot of power is with the seller," says Matthews.
Sometimes a seller will choose a lower bid because the buyers can close at a specific time, have kids or don’t plan to raze the house: "We don’t regulate the buyers or sellers themselves," says Matthews.
The council has a website and a host of information brochures meant to educate buyers, and sellers, about the ins and outs of bidding wars, the legal obligations when you sign a contract with a Realtor, issues around mortgage fraud. It also has a complaints line and email address: 1-800-245-6910or complaints@reco.on.ca
The council also stresses safety and recommends that sellers put personal photos, valuables and medicines out of sight during open houses. The photos, for instance, can tip would-be thieves off to the fact you live alone or travel a lot.
Realtors are required to alert all potential bidders that multiple offers have been registered against a property. The council has had what Matthews calls "sour grapes" calls from house hunters who believe those numbers are being exaggerated to drive up emotions and house prices.
RECO has the power to investigate so-called "phantom bids" which are prohibited under the code of ethics in the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act which regulates Realtors.
Even some Realtors are becoming concerned at how high emotions are running in the Toronto market right now, fuelled by low interest rates that have no where to go but up. Last week ReMax reported that some 50 per cent of homes in the "coveted" $600,000 to $900,000 range in prime Toronto neighbourhoods have been selling over asking.
But bidding wars are also emerging in Winnipeg and a number of other resource-rich areas of Canada, it noted.
"We want people to really think about what they’re doing," says Tom Wright, president and CEO of RECO. "Buying a house is the largest transaction most of us are ever likely to make and it stays with you for years."
Monday, 26 March 2012
Brian Burke is not building a winner
Nanos Research talks to Leafs fans
Not sure why a research company would bother spending its resources on determining how successful the Toronto Maple Leafs rebuilding process has gone since the hiring of Brian Burke.The answer is simple: The Toronto Sun paid them.
In fact, I am always more concerned with polls conducted to see how the general public thinks about -- perhaps -- the new leader of the federal NDP party or how the provincial government has dealt with the Ornge medical helicopter fiasco.
However, Sun Media hired Nanos to interview hockey fans by phone to ask them: "Thinking about Brian Burke’s term as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, do you think the team is on the right track or the wrong track?"
When the NHL is the discussion, winning is important, but the Leafs continue to spiral in no direction. For a sports diversion, read this item:
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By DON PEAT, QMI Agency TORONTO - Leafs Nation is restless.
Less than one quarter of the city think the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the right track, according to a new Nanos/Toronto Sun poll.
The exclusive poll finds Torontonians aren't impressed with the Leafs and the leadership of embattled general manager Brian Burke.
The telephone poll asked 501 Toronto residents March 17-18: "Thinking about Brian Burke’s term as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, do you think the team is on the right track or the wrong track?"
The results were as bad as the Leafs current nine-game home-ice losing streak.
"We get disappointment, confusion, malaise, all of those emotions when we ask that question," Nik Nanos, president of Nanos Research, told the Sun.
A stunning 47% — almost half the city — were "unsure" what track the team is on, 30% of Torontonians think the Leafs are on the wrong track and only 23% of those polled thought the team was on the right track.
The poll was done a week before the Leafs racked up a 4-3 shootout loss against the New York Rangers Saturday night.
Nanos, a long-suffering Leafs fan himself, said the poll results are "not a very good endorsement of Brian Burke and the direction (of the team)."
"Only about 23% think things are moving in the right direction," Nanos said. "I think this speaks to the frustration Torontonians have related to the team.
So who are the 30% of Hogtown residents who see the Leafs as being on the wrong track? Are they Montreal Canadiens fans?
"I hope not, I don’t think (Toronto) is that red," Nanos said.
"I would say that 30% of the city is probably designed to always complain about the Toronto Maple Leafs going in the wrong direction."
He suggested the Buds may be better off writing off the naysayers — like they’ve written off this NHL season — and focusing on the almost 50% of the city who aren’t engaged in the Leafs "progress."
"Maybe the (Leafs) should start from the assumption, ‘you know what three out of every 10 Torontonians are going to gripe about what we do anyways, we’ve got one out of four in the bag, let’s focus on the rest that are up for grabs,’ " Nanos said.
That’s the good news for Burke — if there is any these days — that almost 50% of Toronto isn’t even paying attention to how bad the Leafs are doing.
"At least there is an opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization to engage the city, put forth a plan and provide, yes, hope for the future," Nanos said.
"If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan you’ve got to have hope. That’s all we’ve had since 1967."
Nanos said it’s clear from the poll most fans aren’t even looking for a Stanley Cup win, just some sort of plan.
"What most fans are looking for is not a guarantee as to performance but an idea of what direction that the team is going in, what is the plan and how he (Burke) is going to achieve that," Nanos said.
"I don’t think there is a sense of that at this particular time."
The poll is considered accurate plus or minus 4.4%, 19 times out of 20.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Does Money Sense magazine poll make sense
Woodstock ranked 68th among Canadian cities to live in
Money Sense magazine (moneysense.ca) is receiving a lot of free press across Canada this week -- and rightfully so.
The current edition includes quite a thorough discussion on this country's best cities in 2012 to live in.
Money Sense, which is part of the Rogers family of publications, lists Woodstock as No 68 in a standing of 190 communities from coast-to-coast.
Taking last place, by the way, is New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Ottawa is No 1 for the third year in a row. The second and third from the top are also in Ontario -- Burlington followed by Kingston. Moving quickly into the top 10 are Regina at 4 and Halifax at 5. The largest leap from the previous poll is Red Deer, Alberta, as it moves up to 9 from 96.
Others in top 10 are: 6. Brandon, 7. Fredericton, 8. Edmonton, and 10. Winnipeg
Anyone living in the centre of Oxford County in our community of close to 40,000 would wonder why Woodstock was at 68 -- only 2 positions higher than Stratford with its obviously over-priced real estate market. What is the methodology . . . the criteria . . . the scorecard . . . the barometer . . . the number crunching formula?
Many aspects of lifestyle were considered including affordable living and whether or not you could ride a bike to work. The spectrum included educational opportunities, average family income, crime rates, the weather, the number of doctors per capita, and even how many people drove new cars. There were 22 categories considered, so a low score in one area could be off-set by a much higher ranking elsewhere.
The standing of all categories can easily be seen in the full chart published online, but it would appear Woodstock scores quite well in growth and population growth, but very low in the availability of doctors. The medical question could be answered with the fact that many living locally seeking a specific specialist would easily travel to very large London hospitals, whereas someone living in Sudbury would require a specialist to be in Sudbury.
Anomalies always jump of the page in such surveys. For example, why is Woodstock 82 for weather but Stratford is 155, Kitchener 98 (75th overall ranking), Brantford 26 (32 overall), Hamilton 45 (77 overall), Cambridge 130 (117), Ingersoll 77 (119), Tillsonburg 91 (150), London 128 (36th overall), and Burlington 2nd in weather (2nd overall). By the way, Oakville was No 1 ranked for weather. Should the weather vote have Leamington or Windsor in top spot? Should these weather numbers not be all very close in the poll's scale of 1st to 190th. If London had a higher score than 128th in weather, would their overall score be in the Top 20?
As a sports guy, I'm also a stats fanatic so these discrepancies jump off the page.
At the end of the day, any poll or study such is this is food for thought. Woodstock is almost ranked in the top one-third and that's a good score.
If you're considering a move, and you've stumbled upon this blog, call me anytime and I'll quickly give you more than 20 reasons why Woodstock is a great place to live.
Money Sense magazine (moneysense.ca) is receiving a lot of free press across Canada this week -- and rightfully so.
The current edition includes quite a thorough discussion on this country's best cities in 2012 to live in.
Money Sense, which is part of the Rogers family of publications, lists Woodstock as No 68 in a standing of 190 communities from coast-to-coast.
Taking last place, by the way, is New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Ottawa is No 1 for the third year in a row. The second and third from the top are also in Ontario -- Burlington followed by Kingston. Moving quickly into the top 10 are Regina at 4 and Halifax at 5. The largest leap from the previous poll is Red Deer, Alberta, as it moves up to 9 from 96.
Others in top 10 are: 6. Brandon, 7. Fredericton, 8. Edmonton, and 10. Winnipeg
Anyone living in the centre of Oxford County in our community of close to 40,000 would wonder why Woodstock was at 68 -- only 2 positions higher than Stratford with its obviously over-priced real estate market. What is the methodology . . . the criteria . . . the scorecard . . . the barometer . . . the number crunching formula?
Many aspects of lifestyle were considered including affordable living and whether or not you could ride a bike to work. The spectrum included educational opportunities, average family income, crime rates, the weather, the number of doctors per capita, and even how many people drove new cars. There were 22 categories considered, so a low score in one area could be off-set by a much higher ranking elsewhere.
The standing of all categories can easily be seen in the full chart published online, but it would appear Woodstock scores quite well in growth and population growth, but very low in the availability of doctors. The medical question could be answered with the fact that many living locally seeking a specific specialist would easily travel to very large London hospitals, whereas someone living in Sudbury would require a specialist to be in Sudbury.
Anomalies always jump of the page in such surveys. For example, why is Woodstock 82 for weather but Stratford is 155, Kitchener 98 (75th overall ranking), Brantford 26 (32 overall), Hamilton 45 (77 overall), Cambridge 130 (117), Ingersoll 77 (119), Tillsonburg 91 (150), London 128 (36th overall), and Burlington 2nd in weather (2nd overall). By the way, Oakville was No 1 ranked for weather. Should the weather vote have Leamington or Windsor in top spot? Should these weather numbers not be all very close in the poll's scale of 1st to 190th. If London had a higher score than 128th in weather, would their overall score be in the Top 20?
As a sports guy, I'm also a stats fanatic so these discrepancies jump off the page.
At the end of the day, any poll or study such is this is food for thought. Woodstock is almost ranked in the top one-third and that's a good score.
If you're considering a move, and you've stumbled upon this blog, call me anytime and I'll quickly give you more than 20 reasons why Woodstock is a great place to live.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Competition Bureau making missteps
When government is the topic of conversation, often taxpapyers quickly agree that some policies appear to look as if the right hand is not talking to the left hand.
Why do we have so much strong legislation about the importance of maintaining Privacy -- everything from opting in to spam (email newsletters from friends, but we continue to receive billions of junk from off-shore computers) to the do-not-call list.
At the same time, the Competition Bureau wants to deregulate the real estate industry to let everyone know instantly (for free) how much your house sold for and and who bought it.
I'm confused.
The Competition Bureau should be going after other industries, if they think something is not fair for consumers. I will not display my suggested list.
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Competition Bureau Threatens to Dismantle Privacy Safeguards of Home Sales 75% of Ontarians Opposed TORONTO, March 14, 2012
75% of Ontarians believe that personal information such as name and final sale price should be kept confidential by REALTOR® professionals. Commissioner Aitken wants to release this information.
70% of homeowners do not want their personal contact information released to the public. Commissioner Aitken wants to release this information.
67% of Ontarians oppose any measure to make personal contact information such as name and address available to others who are not subject to a professional code of conduct. Commissioner Aitken wants to release this information.
The Competition Bureau is taking action that would force TREB to abandon the safeguards in the MLS® System and make personal information publicly available on the Internet, threatening the privacy and safety of GTA consumers.
If the Competition Commissioner gets her way, consumers’ private information, which is currently protected on our secure MLS® System, would become freely available on the Internet, including:
Seller’s name and address
Property floor plans
Sensitive Property access information
Negotiated sale price
Mortgage details
If Commissioner Aitken gets her way, Ontarians won’t. Privacy matters. TREB is standing up for GTA consumers. Visit www.ProtectYourPrivacy.ca for more information. – Today, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released the results of an Angus Reid Vision Critical poll. The vast majority of Ontarians clearly expressed their opposition to abandoning the privacy safeguards of the current MLS® System.
When asked about the consequences of the Competition Bureau’s actions, Ontarians expressed concern:
Why do we have so much strong legislation about the importance of maintaining Privacy -- everything from opting in to spam (email newsletters from friends, but we continue to receive billions of junk from off-shore computers) to the do-not-call list.
At the same time, the Competition Bureau wants to deregulate the real estate industry to let everyone know instantly (for free) how much your house sold for and and who bought it.
I'm confused.
The Competition Bureau should be going after other industries, if they think something is not fair for consumers. I will not display my suggested list.
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Competition Bureau Threatens to Dismantle Privacy Safeguards of Home Sales 75% of Ontarians Opposed TORONTO, March 14, 2012
70% of homeowners do not want their personal contact information released to the public. Commissioner Aitken wants to release this information.
67% of Ontarians oppose any measure to make personal contact information such as name and address available to others who are not subject to a professional code of conduct. Commissioner Aitken wants to release this information.
The Competition Bureau is taking action that would force TREB to abandon the safeguards in the MLS® System and make personal information publicly available on the Internet, threatening the privacy and safety of GTA consumers.
If the Competition Commissioner gets her way, consumers’ private information, which is currently protected on our secure MLS® System, would become freely available on the Internet, including:
Property floor plans
Sensitive Property access information
Negotiated sale price
Mortgage details
If Commissioner Aitken gets her way, Ontarians won’t. Privacy matters. TREB is standing up for GTA consumers. Visit www.ProtectYourPrivacy.ca for more information. – Today, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released the results of an Angus Reid Vision Critical poll. The vast majority of Ontarians clearly expressed their opposition to abandoning the privacy safeguards of the current MLS® System.
When asked about the consequences of the Competition Bureau’s actions, Ontarians expressed concern:
Monday, 12 March 2012
Cedar Creek & Southside Park
Pond Or River Both?
This is the opinion / letter to the editor I wrote to The Woodstock Sentinel-Review after attending a public meeting last week asking for opinions about possible solutions and long-terms plans from concerned citizens after AECOM consulting presented its many options.
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This is the opinion / letter to the editor I wrote to The Woodstock Sentinel-Review after attending a public meeting last week asking for opinions about possible solutions and long-terms plans from concerned citizens after AECOM consulting presented its many options.
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Is it time for a major facelift to Southside Park?
I attended a public meeting last week dealing with long-term plans and proposals for Southside Park and its Cedar Creek.
The jewel of Woodstock’s parks is now more than 100 years old and the dams and other controlled waterway features are likely more than 80 years old. This jewel may need a polish.
Is it time for a 2012 solution – a complete environmental assessment -- to water control and quality? It would not be the intent to create water with the pristine potability of a spring-fed brook in a secluded part of northern Ontario, but rather to simply improve the Cedar Creek and its pond in Southside Park. There are many culprits to water quality, including downstream farms, golf courses, pollution seeping from roads (the stream does run under the 401), and naturally rain.
The public meeting posted several possibilities as presented by environment consultants AECOM. The display featured as many as 25 placards on easels -- all depicting ideas or options at an open forum held on the second floor of the Woodstock museum.
One proposal removes the island in the pond, while another idea eliminates the pond completely to create only a river through the park, and another keeps the pond as a storm-water management (SWM) feature to fill into this new (proposed) river only during high water times.
Another suggestion was to construct an underwater dam (below usual water levels) about one-third of the way into the pond. The function of this dam – it would appear -- would be to make future dredging (and more often) easier as excavation would only be needed in this south section of the pond. This so-called 'digging out' of silt and contamination (Dirt removed would not be suitable topsoil) would require lowering the water level for a required length of time.
Certainly lots of ideas. I believe, something nearing status quo is a good bet, but with some serious dredging to remove silt built up over the past 20 years since the previous excavation. The underwater dam, as I describe it, may allow for better monitoring.
AECOM, which is a worldwide company, but with offices based in Kitchener and London, obviously has a lot of background dealing with both the Grand River and Thames River systems in densely populated areas, and is the firm conducting the study for the City. Input from the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) also assists in the process, and that agency may have the most say at the end of the day. City Council in Woodstock will, of course, have final decision on dredging the pond, adding dams and bridges, or removing dams and bridges.
With municipal budgets part of the bottom line, taxpayers are interested in the updates, especially a couple I talked to who reside on the border of the park on South Street.
Water quality is the main issue.
The corollary issue is the creek itself as it eventually leaves Southside Park near the intersection of Finkle and Henry streets, and continues to flow along Park Row and McIntosh Park (across street), . . . across the street from the bowling alley . . . and toward Ingersoll (Beachville Road) Road and then reaching the Thames. Inside the park, it would appear the creek’s stone retaining walls are due for renewal, renovation or replacement.
Southside Park is integral to Woodstock, whether it be for picnics in a pavilion, leisurely walks, swings and slides, sledding on snow, splash pads or pools, lawn bowls, ball diamonds, cricket, the skateboard park, or the annual Victoria Day Weekend midway or August Cowapolooza music fest.
The park's history includes the removal of dozens of trees after/during the 1979 tornado.
Southside's present and past is recognized by the recently re-built First World War Memorial archway (originally dedicated around 1925) on Old Wellington Street.
The park's heritage also includes a small zoo, bicycle races, soapbox derbies and outdoor concerts for all music genres.
Some things never change. Water quality has seemingly always been an issue as the '100 Years Of Southside Park' publication from the City in 2009 noted when the park was originally established: “Cedar Creek . . . Its water was blackish and smelled – many said because of a local tannery located upstream. . .”
Times don’t really change, do they?
However, from the same City park centennial publication, a later Mayor, Benjamin Parker, would say: “The Board of Park Management has done splendid service in transforming a swamp into the beautiful Southside Park.”
I'm not an engineer or an arborist or even a canoeist, but as chair of the Woodstock Recreation Advisory Committee, I firmly believe the direction this creek takes (pun intended) is an important issue to follow locally.
Consultants I talked to from AECOM said the report depicted at last week's meeting would be posted on www.city.woodstock.on.ca. It’s now there. From the City’s home page, see: Cedar Creek / Southside Pond PIC 2.
Mark Schadenberg
Woodstock
Friday, 9 March 2012
Tax Time About Moving
Moving For Employment Purposes?
If you are relocating more than 40 km for work purposes, many tax deductions could benefit you the next time you submit to Revenue Canada. Here's a story from http://www.moneyville.ca/ (Toronto Star), talking about the connection between mortgage payout penalties and moving for a new job.
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http://www.moneyville.ca/blog/post/1142854--your-mortgage-penalty-may-be-tax-deductible
If you are relocating more than 40 km for work purposes, many tax deductions could benefit you the next time you submit to Revenue Canada. Here's a story from http://www.moneyville.ca/ (Toronto Star), talking about the connection between mortgage payout penalties and moving for a new job.
()()()()()()
http://www.moneyville.ca/blog/post/1142854--your-mortgage-penalty-may-be-tax-deductible
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