Friday, 5 December 2014

Toyota is significant segment of Woodstock's strong economy

Automobile sector accounts for more than 50% employment locally

By Mark Schadenberg

Thanks to TMMC, it's likely safe to say Woodstock has a stronger manufacturing economy – per capita – than most cities in Ontario.
However, and this is just a minor however, did you know that a City of Woodstock created pie chart indicates 56% of the city's employment is automotive related, and obviously Toyota (TMMC) and Ingersoll's CAMI (General Motors) are main reasons why that percentage has been created as there are several auto-related second-tier and most certainly also third-tier car career possibilities here.
Toyota is celebrating it's 50th anniversary in Canada in 2014. (http://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/company-info/fiftieth-anniversary).


Often, Woodstock folks forget about Hino (Toyota as well) building trucks (cube vans and larger) in the Pattullo park because they employ only about 60 in assembly.
I think about the gigantic Vuteq plant, which is easily seen along Parkinson Road, plus logistics firms to delivery the part 'just-in-time' such as Transfreight, along with other middle-tier producers including Toyota Boshoku, TRW (Kelsey-Hayes), Firestone, ArcelorMittal, and North American Stamping Group, . . . and even steel products recycling in a large scale with Tsusho on Beard's Lane. With its many recent expansions and more than 25 years of operations in Woodstock, Vuteq appears to be leading the way in secondary employment numbers behind TMMC.
It was Dec. 4, 2008 that the Woodstock plan officially opened to roll out the popular RAV4 SUV on its massive assembly line.

Part of the 50th birthday party for Toyota was 'The Great Canadian Journey' as a RAV 4 travelled from Newfoundland to British Columbia on a cross-Canada trek, which ended in October. There is a Facebook link below with many photos of the sojourn.
Toyota's website notes it has 24,000 employees in Canada with its $9 billion investment and more than 6,000,000 cars produced. Those numbers not only include Woodstock and Cambridge production facilities, but also related companies in Stratford, Elmira and Simcoe, but further also includes a cold-weather testing facility near Timmins (which opened in 1998).
With its 401 and 403 intersection, Woodstock is an obvious hub for transport truck companies, including Laidlaw, Contrans, Ottaway (OME), Transfreight, Kinsdale, Magic Transportation, Road Freight, Day & Ross, Earl Hardy, and . . .
The centre of Oxford County and its arteries in all directions was one of the main reasons General Motors set up its parts distribution centre here many years ago.  
Woodstock – as with many communities certainly – lost more than a fair share of industry over the years with the departure or disappearance of Thomas Bus, Gardner-Denver, Timberjack (John Deere), King-Seagrave fire trucks, Hobart Brothers, and sectors (including, but not limited to) such as wood furniture, stacking chairs, socks and pianos.
The area has its many huge success stories outside of the automotive industry: such as Hyd-Mech, Haas, Maglin, Uvalux, Execulink, Riley, Cornell, Harvan, Pow, Brant Form Teck, Easy Way Cleaning, and Timberland. This is not meant to be an absolute thorough and comprehensive list, but Woodstock certainly has a strong cross-section of industry – small, medium and large. You certainly can't say Woodstock's eggs are all in one basket.
Riley's Manufacturing (www.rileymfg.com) could be a complete story for another day as they are very active in the world of sports, including hockey nets (Megg-Net), plus a new innovation in the building of the dasher boards to surround ice surfaces, and the magnetic-release bases since at ball diamonds everywhere.
As they say, history is in the past, so let's keeping moving forward living in and promoting a vibrant Friendly City – Woodstock.



LINKS:
http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/obr/2012/05/woodstock-where-the-past-and-the-future-meet/

OLDER LINKS:
2008
2005


Selling homes in Woodstock; always promoting Woodstock
Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Woodstock's connection to important baseball award

Justin Morneau wins Tip O'Neill Award as Canada's top player in MLB

By Mark Schadenberg
Tip O'Neill was a professional baseball star from Woodstock and among the inaugural inductees in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1983, along with George Selkirk and three others.
James O'Neill had two nicknames -- Tip and the Woodstock Wonder. In 1887, with the St Louis Browns he batted .435, which is the second best average ever for one season. That year was notorious though as walks were counted as hits, so some archives list O'Neill with a .495 average that year with the Browns. He is considered the first Triple Crown winner in MLB, and also led the league in doubles and slugging percentage that year.
The Woodstock Wonder could certainly fit the description as he made his pro debut in 1883 as a pitcher, but arm injuries soon transformed O'Neill into an outfielder. His lifetime batting average was .326 in more than 1,000 games.
In Woodstock, the baseball diamond in Southside Park is called the Tip O'Neill Sportsfield.


JUSTIN MORNEAU
Today (Dec. 3), the Canadian ball shrine, which is a non-profit organization and certainly seeks donations from baseball fans to keep it successful -- based in St Marys -- announced Justin Morneau as this year's recipient. Morneau won the National League batting title (.319) with the Colorado Rockies, and will be recognized at a Rockies home game early in the 2015 campaign.


Morneau, who also won the award in 2006 (AL MVP with the Twins with 34 home runs and 130 RBIs and .321 average) and 2008, has recovered from a concussion in 2010 and a neck operation as well to relieve pinched nerves. In 2011 with the Minnesota Twins he played in just 69 games, hitting only .227 with 4 home runs.
Baseball is a game that certainly relies on reflexes and Morneau lost his quick step and bat speed. Read this diagnosis from a Sports Illustrated story:
           ()()()()()()
"What's most likely to happen in baseball is a concussion that goes onto post-concussion syndrome," say Dr. Robert Cantu, a sports concussion expert at the Boston University School of Medicine. "The symptoms don't clear up quickly....When you have post-concussion syndrome, when you're still symptomatic and still haven't completely healed, very commonly reaction times are slow [and] your eyes do not track with the same coordination and speed."
           ()()()()()()
By reading the Canadian ball hall press release, it's terrific to see that Morneau gives back to the community in so many ways as well and has been nominated three times for the Roberto Clemente award for charitable efforts.
A great rejuvenated career from a great Canadian baseball player -- now with 1,438 career games, 238 homers, 945 RBIs and a lifetime .281 batting average.

LINKS:
http://baseballhalloffame.ca/news/feature/justin-morneau-wins-canadian-baseball-hall-of-fames-tip-oneill-award-2/
http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/06/02/justin-morneau-colorado-rockies
 
 
A full-time Realtor; part-time baseball fan
Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Twitter: markroyallepage
Phone: (519) 537-1553
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, 1 December 2014

Inauguration of next terms for city council

Brand new municipal worlds on the horizon today

By Mark Schadenberg
Welcome to the beginning of a brand new world !
Well, that may be over-stating reality, but Dec. 1 does mark the inauguration of all the new city council rosters across the province.
Woodstock's new mayor is Trevor Birtch. His site is www.tbirtch.com and in the photo below I wanted to note that Trevor is promoting local business by buying lunch from Todd Ellerby (Todd's Dogs) at the Downtown Market (Woodstock BIA) on a Thursday afternoon.


London's new mayor is Matt Brown from Woodstock.
A Tory is the new mayor of the GTA as John Tory was previously a Tory MPP.
Always lots of important decisions will arrive on the agenda and dockets over the next four years, and many issues will surround recreational facilities.
As a long-time member of the Woodstock recreation advisory committee (I have officially submitted my application to continue in that role), we have been among the strong supporters of creating a new park at the Woodall Farm location on Devonshire Avenue (across street from new Catholic church). It's almost 100 acres and Woodstock is way behind the times in building a legitimate ball diamond complex with proper dimensions of today -- to not only attract tournaments, but create a safer environment for the current leagues bulging at the seams playing on inadequate ball diamonds.


Two more topics for discussion in Woodstock over the next four years will be replacing the ancient outdoor Lions Pool, which was built in 1947. Also, a concern with the Civic Centre Arena and its soon-to-be-needed major refurbishment. Woodstock needs three arenas, so where would you build the third arena to replace the Civic Centre ice box? Likely not at the fairgrounds as that is not Woodstock-owned land.
A current needs assessment study report is being researched (Full input received from user groups) studied and penned by an outside consulting firm to answer many of those questions. Budget deliberations by city council will see how quickly items evolve.

Shifting To Sarnia
Down the highways about 90 minutes to Sarnia, is an interesting scenario where that city is discussing the strong possibility of eliminating one arena as they may have too many as demographics are dictating smaller families. Read the link below.

SARNIA LINK:
http://www.theobserver.ca/2014/11/30/public-meeting-on-consultants-first-report-slated-for-wednesday
WOODSTOCK LINKS:
Trevor Birtch interview on Rogers show: Daytime
http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?rid=15&lid=237&gid=218853
http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?rid=15&lid=237&gid=218854


Mark Schadenberg, sales representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty 
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
(519) 537-1553
Twitter: MarkRoyalLePage



Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Holiday Train returns to Woodstock again on Dec 1

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

He’s making a list and checking it twice, and for the second year in a row the CP (Canadian Pacific railway) (Santa Claus) Holiday Train will be making a stop in Woodstock – Monday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 pm at the Canadian Pacific station yard at the corner of Winniett Street and Ingersoll Avenue, which is essentially behind Holy Family French Immersion School. 
Get there early ! 

When you attend with your family, be prepared to bring non-perishable food items or a monetary donation for The Salvation Army of Woodstock. All local donations on this Santa trek stay local. The Salvation Army also suggests bringing daily-use items such as toothpaste.
I took my children to the seasonal show last December. I call it a Christmas show as one of the train cars will open up and a stage with a band will appear to sing Christmas carols. I have included a link to the story published in The Sentinel-Review as the local police will be closing three intersections that day around 5 p.m. for safety. Last year, there was a very large crowd, so plan on arriving early to be standing along the caution tape (front row) line. 
From The Sentinel-Review:
()()()()()()()()
The purpose of the holiday train is to raise money for local food banks and last year CP Rail made a donation of $4,500 to the Woodstock Salvation Army.
That money is used to help local families with Christmas hampers, buying gifts for the angel tree, stocking shelves at the food bank throughout the year and other programs.
Vanessa Giuliano, director of community and family services with the Salvation Army in Woodstock, said she always looks forward to the holiday train’s arrival.
In 2013 they collected 3,800 pounds of food and a further $600 donation from local residents.
()()()()()()()()

 A CP spokesperson notes that since 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised close to $9.5 million and 3.3-million pounds of food for local food banks along the route.
Immediately after its stop in Woodstock, the train departs for a London stop at the tracks on Richmond Street. 
LINK: http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/11/26/safety-first-as-holiday-train-chugs-into-town

Mark Schadenberg
Sales Representative
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Call me anytime: (519 537-1553
Twitter: markroyallepage

Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Important research dollars to continue studying heart disease

Rogers foundation donates $130 million to heart research

By Mark Schadenberg

Medical research is very necessary and very expensive – that is a given fact, but since one family (or company) has given a significant monetary donation to a cause, so many more research projects can be funded.
Renowned businessman Ted Rogers died from a heart condition in 2008. He was the man behind the gigantic corporation Rogers Communications, which includes cell phones, fibre-optic high speed internet, high definition cable television, TV stations, important community (access) television, radio stations (CHFI in Toronto was is believed to be first stereo FM station), magazines (Today's Parent and Maclean's, etc) and other publications, Toronto Blue Jays baseball, Rogers Centre stadium, and so much more. In massive companies there is always ups and downs, but about the only venture likely not to succeed in the Rogers conglomerate was Toronto’s arena football team.
This past week, the Rogers family donated $130 million to heart research. Read many of the links below for even more background, but this sum of money will be combined with the time, facilities (labs, etc), knowledge and dollars of the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, the University Health Network, and the University of Toronto to create the Ted Rogers Centre For Heart Research. 
There are alarming stats about heart health in Canada. For example, according to www.tedrogersresearch.ca, one in five over the age of 40 are at risk to developing a serious heart condition, and 50,000 new cases each year of heart failure are diagnosed in Canada.
I’m part of those numbers as my Dad died of a heart attack when he was just 52.
WOODSTOCK
It is interesting to note that one of the key large-scale donations received to assist in building Woodstock’s new hospital was $1 million from Ted Rogers in the fall of 2008. Later that same year – Ted Rogers passed away. The Rogers family made that significant contribution because Ted’s mom Velma grew up in Woodstock. There are two internet stories attached below on that topic.
RESEARCH
The press conference on Thursday, Nov. 20 not only unveiled how this funding system will work, but also introduced the website, and described some of the already important clinical studies on-going in both heart disease and stroke prevention. I liked the following online quote:
()()()()()()()

We will push the boundaries of scientific discovery, through innovation and unprecedented collaboration to address and eradicate the significant heart health issues that endanger the lives of children and adults today.
We will challenge the next generation of heart specialists and health technology innovators to think beyond what is possible today to set a new landscape for heart health in Canada and around the world.
We will bring hope through exceptional clinical care drive by world-leading research that will build a new future each and every day and change lives forever.


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

Also in the past, the Rogers family has made significant donations to both Ryerson and the University of Toronto to improve educational facilities in broadcasting, engineering and business.
Consultant and business journalist Robert Brehl assisted in writing the Ted Rogers autobiography titled Relentless: The True Story of the Man Behind Rogers Communications, which was also released in late 2008.
As a part-time broadcaster for Rogers TV on London Knights games, I'm proud to be a Rogers employee.
 

 
 
LINKS:
http://tedrogersresearch.ca/
http://www.sickkids.ca/AboutSickKids/Newsroom/Past-News/2014/historic-gift-from-the-rogers-family-to-establish-the-ted-rogers-centre-for-heart-research.html
http://www.macleans.ca/society/rogers-family-donates-130-million-to-heart-research/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rogers-family-announces-canadas-biggest-ever-heart-research-donation/article21666930/
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2008/09/05/ted_rogers_to_donate_1_million_to_woodstock_hospital.html
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2008/08/23/ted-rogers-donates-1-million-to-woodstock-hospital

Mark Schadenberg, sales rep
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553
Posted by at No comments:

Add this Winchester side split to your shopping list

Imagine the convenience of living across the street from your children's school

By Mark Schadenberg

149 Winchester St, Woodstock
MLS: 74191
Asking $224,500
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, Nov 23, 2-4.

Families most certainly want to live near schools, parks and shopping, and always desire a home on a quiet street, which is hopefully relatively near shopping too.
Check out this 4-bedroom 4-level back split ! Your search is over.
Two Schools
In Woodstock, there is just one public-board French immersion school, and it's found about three blocks from 149 Winchester. The Roch Carrier school is K-8.
If your children are to attend a K-8 school, Winchester Street (go figure ?) Public School is even closer – across the street. The Winchester school also features a gigantic schoolyard for kids, many recent renovations and an addition to create a terrific education facility.
The front of the house creates both privacy and shade.

 


The Winchester side split features several amenities for your family, including an eat-in kitchen with a peninsula (new countertops) and newer patio doors to a large wood deck. The current owners installed the patio door where a window once existed and built the 20' x 18' deck. The gazebo and its awnings would also stay with the home. The fridge would certainly be included, but the high-end stove can be negotiable.
 
 
The hardwood flooring in the front living room and in the three upstairs bedrooms was refinished also by the present owners.
The main bathroom is a nice selling feature with its jetted tub, light in the tub's ceiling, along with newer flooring and newer vanity.
Another important improvement is the lower recroom which was taken back to the original foundation and then re-insulated and new drywall installed. The lower 2pc bathroom is also updated. Also, as the home once had a hair salon by the back door, the fourth bedroom still has plumbing in the walls which could be used to create your indoor spa, or one of many work-at-home uses.
The lowest level includes the mechanicals such as the forced air gas furnace, but also includes the laundry and a ton of storage space with steel shelving that will stay with the home. You could build another recroom here as well since a steel I-beam creates open space.
Other highlights include a security system, many newer windows and a second driveway thanks to a sidewalk cut-out off Warwick Street. The lot has 82 feet of frontage with unique lot dimensions (see below).

 

 
 



 
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
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, 17 November 2014

Conrad Black lists a building lot for $7.2 million

Bridle Path area in Toronto is exclusive and opulent 
By Mark Schadenberg
Sometimes real estate terms are over-used such as unique, one-of-a-kind, opulent, spectacular or perhaps even the 'best-of-the-best' property.
What happens, therefore, when the best building lot in Toronto does become available? No matter the asking price, the value could be apparent as market value truly is defined as what someone is willing to pay for a parcel of land.
Currently, famed Canadian businessman Conrad Blank has listed a lot in his neighbourhood and it adjoins his private residence.
Black always seems to be in the limelight, including a current media book tour to promote his latest called: “Rise to Greatness: The History of Canada from the Vikings to the Present.” His history prose takes the reader back to the days of Samuel deChamplain and up to present time.


Globe And Mail photo
Black, who was born in Montreal and is now 71, was convicted of fraud in the U.S. back in 2007 and served more than three years in prison.
Besides his other ventures, Black has worked on severing off 2.8 acres from his Bridle Path property in Toronto. He will certainly retain the remaining 6.5 acres (approximately) and his Georgian-style mansion there.
Still known also as Baron Black of Crossharbour thanks to his position in Britain's House Of Lords (non-affiliated member), the Conrad Black 'building lot' property on Park Lane Circle is listed for a mere $7.2 million.
If you wander through www.realtor.ca in the GTA, you will quickly see several stunning (I think it's a correct description) homes, including three links I've included below in this Bridle Path enclave (another word I don't like). Recently, according to the Toronto Star story also attached here, one Bridle Path (Just south of the 401, and east off Bayview Avenue, but west of the 404 – or Don Valley Parkway) home sold recently for over $14 million.
A listing at 46 Park Lane Circle has an asking price of $16.9 million. I read the listing and the amenities are staggering, for this French chateau style 2-storey including 10 bathrooms, an 8-car garage, and found on a 4-acre lot with a ravine setting.
Everything is relative when analyzing GTA real estate and its buyers and sellers.
You must remember, at one time about 20 years ago, Black had controlling interest (Hollinger International) in over 400 publications.

LINKS:


REALTOR.CA

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
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)