Monday, 12 January 2015

Hockey, poutine, toques & Gowan

TSN sets audience record during world junior hockey championships
By Mark Schadenberg

Canada is all a-boot hockey and poutine! Right? Wrong?
There are many other unique traditions, sayings, appetites, and other preferences which make Canucks genuinely Canadian. A knitted winter hat, for example, is a toque.
As a sports fan, there are also some traits of spillage from the U.S., which I don’t like. For example, Canadian university sports (I realize the top-end athletes are in the U.S. on attractive scholarships) receive almost zero press, but the NCAA basketball tournament and its brackets are followed by many. Today, is the U.S. college football final, but I prefer the Vanier Cup in November.
Canada loves hockey and the championship game of the world juniors set a new record for viewership on a specialty channel with 7.3 million calculated viewers (story link below).
“Team Canada’s gold medal performance at the World Juniors has once again inspired fans across the country, and this massive audience demonstrates that fan engagement in the tournament has reached staggering new heights,” said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. “Everyone at TSN is so proud to showcase the drama and excitement of this incredible tournament for viewers in Canada and around the world.”


Canada is about wearing a toque and shovelling snow, but in the summer it’s about camping and enjoying the great outdoors.
There’s a Reader’s Digest link below which discusses Canadian traits, sayings and menu choices.
Canada has very unique heroes and many are specific to our country led by Terry Fox, but also including Paul Henderson, Chris Hadfield, Roberta Bondar (pictured), Romeo Dallaire, and Rick Hansen.
 We have significant historic figures, which do not get the fame they deserve. For example, this past weekend was Sir John A Macdonald's 200th birthday (See previous post). 
There are many recording artists who are hugely popular in the northland, and not so much in the U.S. On that list, I would lead off with Roch Voisine, but I would also continue scribbling out names such as Lawrence Gowan, Rankin Family, Terri Clark, Jann Arden and Bruce Cockburn.  

Canada has better beer and a much better healthcare system than the U.S. Take it from someone who has had a hip replacement due to deteriorating quality of life. Would I have been able to afford that surgery if I lived in the U.S.?
On a related matter, I am bewildered when folks on Facebook chat about how much they saved and how many dollars they spent on a holiday shopping trip to Buffalo or the Port Huron area. Everyone takes trips to the U.S. and I’m on that list, (Burch Run and Frankenmuth) but since a vast majority of our population lives so close to the border, it seems ‘Canadian’ to invest in the U.S. economy. Let’s spend locally – and when I say locally, I mean in Oxford County.
I love Canada. I love the diversity from coast-to-coast. I enjoy poutine and prefer the CFL to the NFL. I watch Corner Gas in re-runs and admit to reluctantly not jumping on its bandwagon when it was in first run.
Canadians could almost support an all-curling TV network, but having said that it’s not easy to get Canadians to attend sporting events in gigantic numbers like 100,000 would flock to a college football game in Michigan, but 4,000 attend a Mustangs football game in London. Curling – to complete my thought – has evolved into being a made-for-TV event unless it’s the national men’s playoffs at The Brier.
Some things we may think are predominately Canadian, are not really. Smarties are great chocolate candy not for sale in the U.S., but you can find the Nestle product in many countries, according to Wikipedia -- United Kingdom,  Australia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Netherlands,  France, Italy, Greece, the Nordic countries, and South Africa.
Canadians are a hearty group by personality, and while walking through a large group our favourite sayings are ‘Sorry’ and ‘Excuse Me’.
Instead of writing more, it’s time to insert my ear buds, turn on my Ipod, and listen to Ian Thomas, April Wine or Trooper.
Later on, I’m watching the Leafs game -- a road game tonight from the hockey hotbed of Los Angeles.


LINKS:

Mark Schadenberg, sales representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

(519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
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Sunday, 11 January 2015

Happy Birthday to Sir John A Macdonald

Canada's first Prime Minister would have been 200 today
Significant role also as one of the Fathers Of Confederation

By Mark Schadenberg
On Jan 11, 1815, one of the greatest Canadians ever was born.
Sir John A Macdonald was not only one of the Fathers of Confederation, but he is also Canada's first Prime Minister and second longest serving PM, and even though he was born in Scotland, he grew up in Kingston and is certainly one of this country's most important figures ever.
Macdonald (PM from 1867–1873, 1878–1891) is currently receiving a modest amount of well-deserved recognition across Canada as our nation remembers his 200 birthday.


The City of Kitchener marked the occasion last week by introducing a new statue at the Memorial Auditorium complex arenas. Artist sculptor Ruth Abernethy of Wellesley created the work and the Region Of Waterloo is energetically attempting to have similar works created to recognize all former Canadian prime ministers and to have the completed displays unveiled in time for Canada to mark its 200th birthday in 2017.
Ontario Hockey League players will wear a crest marking the occasion as well.

Naturally, in Macdonald's hometown of Kingston there has been quite a celebration planned to mark the bicentennial, but the fireworks for last night were postponed due to high winds.
It would appear Canadians are more subdued in throwing a huge coast-to-coast series of events to honour Macdonald. I know there are no parades planned in Woodstock.
In the Kingston of then Upper Canada, Macdonald grew in prominence as a local lawyer and alderman. The so-called House Of Assembly for Upper Canada was in Kingston, so Macdonald would soon represent his hometown 'riding' at that level.
In Kingston today (Jan. 11), the bicentennial is recognized with a birthday cake at Memorial Hall. Mayor Bryan Paterson will officially mark the occasion at 2:45 p.m.
For Sir John A Macdonald, who died in 1891, there will be no gigantic Atlantic-to-Pacific party, so let's hope Canada as a nation does a much better task at marking our 150th year in 2017.
By the way, on this Jan. 11 we also celebrate the 81st birthday of Jean Chretien -- Canada's 20th prime minister. He held the post for about 10 years.


LINKS:
www.cityofkingston.ca
http://www.thewhig.com/2015/01/09/sir-john-a-behind-the-talk-of-nationhood
http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/ohl-supports-sirjohna2015-project/165332
http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/article/pm-harper-attends-frontenacs-game/165383



Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
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Saturday, 10 January 2015

Founded in 1959, important Woodstock agency is building an addition

WDDS is expanding its facility to better assist its clients  
By Mark Schadenberg

WDDS is truly one of the great organizations in Woodstock.
Woodstock District Developmental Services has the mandate to assist in housing, training, employment (Job Links, ARC Industries, lawn and garden care, catering, etc), family support, and activities for mentally delayed adults living within the community – usually in a group home in your neighbourhood.
WDDS began in 1959.
Jumping many years forward, in 2015 the local association is completing quite an addition at their offices at Lansdowne Avenue and Bysham Park Road (Address: 212 Bysham Park), and coinciding with that project has began a $1.5 million fundraising drive.
The Woodstock Sentinel-Review (see link) published a terrific story back in December, but I waited to pen my promotion of this capital improvement until after the holiday season. 
“Raising $1.5 million dollars will not be easy, but we are confident that when the community sees our personal level of commitment and the far-reaching benefits of the campaign, we will be successful in our endeavors to make this vision a reality,” said Kathy DeWeerd in the S-R piece.
My affiliation with WDDS goes back to the several years I enjoyed volunteering on the committee for the (now discontinued) Woodstock Sports Celebrity Dinner, which was an annual event for 25 years that gained not only important funding for WDDS and its activities, including funding summer camp participation for its membership, but I always said the free public awareness WDDS received was priceless.
The WDDS building’s addition will include an expansion of the kitchen for the group’s in-house catering services, plus more meeting rooms and learning spaces.
Remember WDDS when your thoughts are on charitable donations for 2015 as the association is a non-profit charitable organization and while many of their programs receive funding from upper tiers of government, a lot of their on-going programs require assistance through fundraising efforts of the board.
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WDDS is a non-profit charitable organization that has been providing opportunities and support for people with developmental disabilities in Oxford County since 1959. The organization . . . began when a group of caring and dedicated people had a vision that people with developmental disabilities should be welcomed and included in their community. These founding members began an organizational culture that recognized the importance of volunteerism and community partnerships that have continued to grow and develop over the years in response to the needs and wishes of people with a developmental disability.

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On their website (www.wdds.ca), look on the left side for the tab ‘Make A Donation’, you can also research about the group and discover whether you may also want to become a volunteer. WDDS has many fundraising events throughout the year, including a Christmas silent auction, penny sale, and tea in late November, plus a curling bonspiel, and the annual Flowers Of Hope campaign in May.
The board’s past president now is Nancy Springstead and I’ve certainly said this before ‘you will never find a better person than Nancy’. I truly mean that. The WDDS staff is also comprised of many dedicated and purpose-driven people with a common goal of assisting their clients.
Contact WDDS today at 519 539-7447 or 537-8036, or a general email to info@wdds.ca.


LINKS:
www.wdds.ca
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/12/15/fundraising-campaign-begins-for-15-million-project



Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
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Friday, 9 January 2015

Local real estate board reveals final stats for 2014

WIDREB announces lower final total of sales compared to 2013
Best-year ever was 2005 as historic totals tell their tale

By Mark Schadenberg

Since baseball is a game about stats, I like to use major league baseball as an analogy for 2014 real estate final stats in WIDREB.
Due to the horrendous winter, sales were extremely slow in January, February and March of 2014 and the final totals for the year were never able to fully recover.
The MLB pennant comparison could be that if a team started out with a 7-20 record in April, they would likely have to be about 83-52 over the rest of the schedule to qualify for the playoffs.
In 2014, the first three months included 204 sales in the Woodstock-Ingersoll District board (WIDREB) trading area, which also includes Innerkip, Sweaburg, Norwich, Beachville, Embro, Hickson and all points in-between.
Let’s look back at recent years for the first 90 days of the calendar therefore.
2014: 204
2013: 272
2012: 253
2011: 287
2010: 285
2009: 164 (Auto-driven recession)
2008: 264
2007: 313
2006: 293
2005: 277
Stats are always proven or averaged over a longer length of time, so I always go back at least to 2005 as it was in March and April of that year it quickly became very apparent (poorly kept secret) that Toyota was assembling a massive land purchase to build a new manufacturing facility in  Woodstock. In my opinion, prices went up about 20% over night for residential re-sale and building lots with the announcement, and you can easily see the surge in sales as 2005 started out modestly with 277 sales in the first three months, but ended up with the highest ever number of 1473.
Also, note how low the final total for 2009 was during the recession.
Look at the year-end numbers below:  
2014: 1180
2013: 1252
2012: 1066
2011: 1158
2010: 1216
2009: 1080
2008: 1176
2007: 1359
2006: 1278
2005: 1473
Average for past 10 years: 1224
If we pretend that 2005 was not a safe sample number to include due to the rare significant increase in totals, then you must still use the last 9 years as your divider.
Average for past 9 years: 1196
Any way you spin the numbers, it’s easy to say that 2014 was just below average.
WIDREB board president William Cattle, who is also with Royal LePage Triland, commented as follows in the press release:
“For 2014 overall, the combination of a slow first quarter followed by a relatively healthy remainder of the year put the annual sales figures roughly in line with both its 5-year and 10-year average.”
Cattle added that the average sales price is up – now just over $240,000 or up 4.4% over 2013.
As I have mentioned previously in earlier writings, when you interview a local Realtor be sure to ask them some basic questions about how strong the local market is and when the peak years were.
You should hire a Realtor that fits into all these categories:
- Knowledge of local market
- Knowledge of local community
- Full-time
- Experienced
- Employed with an Oxford office.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

GTA Summary

Canadian Real Estate Wealth is a collection of online news releases – mostly followed by Realtors – which tracks stories from across the country pertaining to the economy in construction, and population growth and all real estate trends (commercial and residential).
Here is an item from Jan. 7 and in this case the story originated from the Toronto Star, so the link is below:
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Toronto sees 46 per cent increase in $1 million condo sales
There was a 46 per cent rise in the number of condos selling for $1 million or more in the Greater Toronto Area last year. A new report from Sotheby’s shows that sales of all homes above $1 million increased by 38 per cent to 7,527. The realty firm says that the kind of bidding wars more commonly seen for detached houses are becoming more frequent for luxury condos. Toronto is becoming more popular with foreign investors as prices are still lower than Vancouver, which saw a 25 per cent increase in luxury sales last year, and downsizing baby boomers are also driving GTA sales, the report says.
Elsewhere, Montreal’s higher value home sales increased 21 per cent and Calgary saw a rise of 16 per cent. 

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If you would like the full version of the Toronto Star story, there is a link below:

LINK:

http://woodstockingersolldistrictrealestateboard.com/pages/NewsEventsContent/2014DecemberPressRelease.pdf
http://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2015/01/07/1_millionplus_home_sales_surge_38_per_cent_in_gta.html
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2015/01/08/prices-for-farmland-levelling-off




Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Thursday, 8 January 2015

Will microscopic interest rates continue through 2015?

Attractive times currently to borrow to buy a house
By Mark Schadenberg

Interest rates continue to hover around microscopic percentages (1.0 - Bank Of Canada), which should entice all possible home buyers (especially those considering an upgrade in homes) to buy buy buy in 2015. Right?
When you factor in a 25-year amortization chart and realize a good portion of your required every-other-week payment is making the principle evaporate rather quickly (versus a much higher interest rate), the amount of home you can afford has never been higher.
If your employment record is strong and your credit cards are under control, you should be buying bricks and mortar.
We all want to be optimistic about these low rates continuing for forever, but we realistically know it will not be the case.


I found a terrific blog (posted below), which discusses five variables which could see interest rates be on the upswing. These factors most certainly include world economic factors, such as the stresses seen currently in China, but the list continues with the rapidly improving U.S. economy and the reduction in the cost of a barrel of oil on the world scene.
I always tell folks who are considering a real estate purchase to talk to their lender (whomever she/he may be – bank, credit union, mortgage broker, etc) to guarantee at minimum a 90-day rate (or 120 days) which will not change, so you're ready to leap if you fall in love with a house you would like to call home. At the same time, and even though a mortgage person at a bank is not a qualified economist (neither am I certainly) they know what is happening within their four walls, so discuss the differences between a variable rate and fixed rate. If your bank is suggesting a fixed rate, that could be your best indicator rates are going to rise.

Dave Larock – Dave The Mortgage Planner – presents a good summary below, but so do many other scribes.
A CBC story below includes a forecast from a prominent TD bank staffer:

         ()()()()()()()()
TD economist Leslie Preston says her bank is still sticking to its prediction of a rate hike in October (2015). Commodities are notoriously difficult to forecast, Preston says, and she agrees that if economists' oil price forecasts are wrong, then there is a risk the Bank of Canada would delay interest rate hikes.
But Preston says oil prices could find a bottom in the first half of the year and start gradually heading back up.
Meanwhile, Canada's economy had a fairly decent year in 2014 with around 2.4 per cent growth, she says, with forecasts for 2015 at 2.3 per cent growth. Unemployment is also expected to hold steady and Canada should benefit from the U.S. economy growing at a very strong pace.
"It's good to have disagreement," Preston says. "I find we economists here in Canada, it's frequently tough to find disagreement between the various shops. Or the disagreement is very minor."

         ()()()()()()()()

I also located an old story from Global TV, which could be best described as a Q-and-A or a glossary explanation.

()()()()()()()()

How does the Bank of Canada rate affect borrowing rates from the bank?

Lenders set their prime rates, or the minimum interest they charge their customers, based off the BoC’s key rate. “The big banks peg their prime rate against that rate, and that prime rate is the best rate a bank will lend their best customers,” says Kelvin Mangaroo of  www.centum.ca , a site that tracks consumer borrowing rates.
LINKS:
http://www.integratedmortgageplanners.com/blog/
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/interest-rates/
http://globalnews.ca/news/1716835/is-2015-the-year-the-bank-of-canada-finally-raises-its-key-interest-rates/
December of 2014 stories:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bank-of-canada-holds-rate-steady-at-1-1.285876
http://globalnews.ca/news/1705431/bank-of-canada-expected-to-maintain-its-one-per-cent-interest-rate/

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
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Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Budget time is now for new Woodstock city council

'Group Of Seven' have many decisions to make; numbers to crunch
By Mark Schadenberg

As every community prepares to welcome its share of good news in 2015; each also worries about negative factors possibly on the horizon.
Every city in Ontario wants to have a net gain in employment and business growth over the next few months.
As I have noted in a previous post, Woodstock’s economy will hit the highway in top gear to start the calendar with the opening of Woodstock Nissan – a car dealership at 1201 Dundas.
Toyota also announced that sales of the Woodstock-built RAV4 continue to increase. (http://www.1047.ca/news/local-news/new-sales-record/)
Among the challenges, is to maintain a modest growth or increase in municipal taxes. Last fall’s civic election gave The Friendly City a new mayor in Trevor Birtch (pictured). Among the new names around the council chamber is actually an old name in Connie Lauder (pictured) as she returns after losing her post in the previous election. Lauder’s position is important – in my opinion – as she is retired from the city’s tax department, and will represent guidance and comprehension. Birtch is now a former finance department member of Oxford County administration. You factor in the experience of Sandra Talbot and Deb Tait with this duo and I believe budget deliberations will be fine. New faces Todd Poetter, Shawn Shapton and Jerry Acchione must be the counter-balance of opinion in conservative fiscal spending and the genuine need and requirement for levels of service and infrastructure upgrades.

The budget game is not really a contest, but better calculated as a five-year rolling flow chart. The previous council’s 2014 budget would have chiseled in items for 2015 – 2018 years as well, and now those numbers all advance one year, unless the new ‘group of seven’ move up, push back or completely eliminate projects that have been pencilled in before the ink arrives in their actual year of investment.
As a member of the recreation advisory committee, for example, I have seen drawings from the parks department’s Chris Kern for a brand new park in the quickly growing Havelock Corners subdivision and that is slated for arrival in 2015.
I like the idea of expanding Woodstock’s transit system in two ways – one more bus route and longer hours. I rode a city bus just before Christmas – not as an exercise in monitoring the system, but rather as a necessity as my hip operation does not permit me to ‘operate heavy machinery’ (car) as of yet.
City buses will not make a profit – they will always be subsidized, but if the added revenue is somewhat equal to the added expenses I think it’s a gamble worth rolling the (wheels) dice on.
The one major city project which must go forward is the Woodall Farm recreation complex. I have written about this item many times and will not overly repeat myself here, but Woodstock has at least 4 ball diamonds currently that adults utilize for slo-pitch (or fastball) that should be either eliminated due to their size and for safety, or should be earmarked for a re-focus to minor baseball. The planned Woodall complex should have 5 new lit diamonds there immediately with future phases possible for a swimming pool, free expansive splash pad, outdoor regulation-size basketball court, community gymnasium, hockey arena (to replace Civic Centre), satellite library and other facilities over the next 15 years or so.
 
 
Woodall is at the east end of Devonshire -- immediately east of the French school Ecole Marguerite Bourgeoys. 
In the January edition of What’s On Woodstock (WOW) magazine, new mayor Birtch outlined some of his thoughts leading up to budget talks.

“We are learning firsthand the difference between needs and wants. We have to fund the City’s needs. If we are fiscally responsible we may be able to fund some of our wants.”
Woodstock is financially in a terrific position with a minute overall debt (per capita and compared to other communities) and a 1996-built community complex which is just about paid for in the world of debenture and borrowing for major capital construction.
Public input is one area that Birtch campaigned on.
My thought is that firstly, the public must be given an opportunity to properly comment on an issue (Selling hydro utility, building any type of recreation complex, deciding on the future use of hospital property, modifying the transit system, expanding a service such as the library, art gallery or museum, etc, etc.), but at the same time whatever the resounding sentiment happens to be, the council of the day should listen to the voters as that is the definition of a democracy. However, on the flip side, I have also been present at many public meetings myself which have been poorly attended, so it’s also each citizens responsibility to be involved and not complain later.
I like the way Birtch describes in WOW about receiving advice from the public.
“I want to thank everyone who has approached me since my election. Your advice and encouragement is greatly and gratefully appreciated, a sentiment that is shared by all of council. We want to hear from you. We need to hear from you. As for the criticism, as much as they may, at times, be painful to hear, we need to be aware of those as well.”
Birtch can be reached at 519 539-1291 or at mayor@city.woodstock.on.ca
My contact info is below. Call me when you are seeking info on Oxford County real estate.

 

LINKS:
http://www.1047.ca/news/local-news/new-sales-record/
www.cityofwoodstock.ca
www.cometothecrossroads.com

 
LINKS LOOKING AT 2015
London
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/01/04/london-is-still-dragging-its-feet
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/01/05/concert-hall-project-still-has-life-leader-insists
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/01/01/addition-to-heritage-normal-school-gets-nod
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/01/01/new-brew-echoes-heritage
Sarnia
http://www.theobserver.ca/2014/12/29/ubiquity-solar-has-plans-to-build-full-scale-plant-on-transalta-site-down-the-road
http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/01/06/former-wheel-manufacturing-plant-sold-to-local-investors-sarnias-mayor-says
Brantford
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2014/12/28/brant-faces-difficult-year-says-mayor-ron-eddy
Hamilton
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/building-blocks-for-a-new-hamilton-already-in-place/article22279390/?click=sf_globe
Barrie
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2015/01/02/barrie-mayor-urges-residents-to-get-involved-in-2015
Owen Sound
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2014/12/29/mp-mpp-look-ahead-to-2015
 
Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
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Friday, 2 January 2015

Wildcats girls' hockey tourney begins 2015

Annual Woodstock tournament features 55 teams at 4 arenas
By Mark Schadenberg

The popularity of girls’ hockey continues to grow and it’s seen in every community from coast to coast, most certainly including Woodstock.
The Woodstock Wildcats girls’ hockey association is hosting its 3-day tournament this weekend (Jan 2-4), so the local economy will be receiving an infusion of enthusiastic hockey players at hotels and restaurants.
I remember about 20 years ago when the local association was formed by Guy and Nancy Bradford. It was their early dedication that truly assisted in setting the framework for the group today.  
 
This past off-season, the Wildcats introduced a new logo, but kept the essential colour scheme they have utilized since day one – teal, white and black.
Although I don’t believe she ever donned a Wildcats jersey, Kelly Paton of Woodstock (growing up with boys’ Junior Navy Vets and girls’ London Devilettes programs) is one of Canada’s best-ever women hockey players as she was a runner-up for the NCAA top player award (Patty Kazmaier Award) a few years ago as a star with the University of New Hampshire. There is no doubt that if Kelly was taller than her 5’2” stature she would have been on Canada’s national team at some point. Paton has coached Mercyhurst college in Erie and is currently an assistant coach with the Western Mustangs women’s team, and is fitness coach for Team Canada U18.
 
On the world stage, Canada won the first eight championship tournaments, and has won gold as recently as 2012, and has never finished lower than second place. Our nation has also claimed four consecutive Olympic gold medals.
As for the Woodstock event, the tourney is now large enough to use four arenas for the preliminary rounds – all three in Woodstock and the Embro community centre. The Wildcats have attracted 55 teams to the tourney at both competitive and house league levels.

 
LINKS
www.woodstockwildcats.com
http://wt.goalline.ca/page.php?page_id=72343
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2015/01/01/the-woodstock-wildcats-will-host-their-19th-annual-girls-hockey-tournament-jan-2-to-4
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/06/12/kelly-paton-has-gone-full-circle-from-being-a-successful-hockey-player-to-coaching


Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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