http://www.mynorthshore.ca/ MNS Posts en-us 2012-05-11 06:05:12
With experience of almost ten years, REMbrand is the name you can trust for all your real estate marketing and branding needs. We can make your real estate brand stand out from the rest and take your business to the next level. Our rich portfolio includes some of the leading names in BC Canada real estate market. Our complete branding and web solutions for realtors and real estate agents include everything from logo design to print design and from website to SEO. With a long list of satisfied clients, REMbrand has both the experience and expertise necessary to establish your strong brand identity. Our creative and professional team will create something that is unique and belongs only to you, which is the reason why our work often exceeds our clients’ expectations. REMbrand can build your reputation and increase your sales with a consistently memorable brand image. For all your real estate marketing and branding needs, Contact us now at 604.781.4639. ]]> 2012-05-11 05:05:52
With experience of almost ten years, REMbrand offers custom and professional Realtor and Real Estate Agent websites with a difference.  We have created websites for some of the best Realtors and Real Estate Agents of Vancouver and British Columbia (BC). With a long list of satisfied clients, REMbrand has both the experience and expertise necessary to establish a strong brand identity for you online. We can make you standout in your local real estate market. At REMbrand we make best use of our skills to create something that is unique and belongs only to you, which is the reason why our work often exceeds our clients’ expectations. We pride ourselves in exemplary quality of work and unmatched quality of service and as soon as we are done with your website, you will stand taller than the other beside you. REMbrand offers complete branding and web solutions for realtors and real estate agents that include everything from logo design to print design and from website to SEO. To get a custom and impactful website of your own, Contact REMbrand now at 604.781.4639. ]]> 2012-05-11 05:05:15
REMbrand (Real Estate Marketing Brand) offers complete and custom real estate branding and web solutions for realtors and real estate agents that include everything from logo design to print design and from website to SEO. We create sophisticated and professional real estate websites that cut through the clutter and inspire your clients. With ten years experience in BC Canada real estate market, REM Brand has helped establish brand identities and strong web presence for some of the top-selling names in the local real estate market. Tired of having template based website that lacks visual appeal and fails to capture visitor interest, well Rembrand offers great alternative for you. Your own creatively designed custom website that best represents you and your passion for real estate. A website that engages your visitors and helps a great deal in converting visitors to clients. For all your real estate web, branding and marketing needs, call Rembrand now for assistance. ]]> 2012-05-11 05:05:22
Pacific Theatre is bringing Christmas Presence, its favourite holiday tradition, across the bridge and onto the North Shore once again!  Christmas Presence is an evening of storytelling at its best with readings and music that mix the nostalgic with the contemporary, the heartfelt with the comedic.  A casual and intimate performance, Christmas Presence is different every time, with a new crew of performers who get together day-of to create some holiday magic. Featuring Laurell, Garth Bowen, Peter La Grand, Kaitlin Gordon, Erla Faye Forsyth, and Peter Carlone    ]]> 2011-12-05 16:12:01
2025 Gisby Street Altamont West Vancouver Home by Allan Mark Angell Set on a 1/2 acre gated and hedged lot in sought after Altamont is this distinguished classic mansion designed for elegant and comfortable living. Offering 7,847 sf with fine detailing and high-end finishing including extensive millwork, hardwood floor, marble and granite and top of line fixtures. Excellent layout featuring elegant foyer leading to formal living room and dining room, dignified paneled office, stunning well-equipped chef's kitchen with Subzero fridge and freezer, 2 dishwasher's, commercial stove, adjoining large family room and eating area which looks and opens out to the covered porch with built in BBQ and fireplace. Other features include 7 bedroom, 7 bath, rec room, games and media room, wine room, 5 fireplaces. The child-safe rear garden with pool, manicured lawn and children's playgroud is ideal for outdoor gathering. A remarkable estate. ]]> 2011-11-18 11:11:34
For your website, you may need expert and creative web development, and that could include site design, Flash animation or internet marketing techniques like search engine optimization (SEO).  You may want to integrate some print material or video production. You could be considering e-commerce options ranging from online showcases or catalogues to web portals or database driven websites backed by content management systems (CMS). But you know your results depend on great design and expert development. Welcome to Mapleweb Creative Marketing, the Vancouver web design company where you can find web design solutions that will outshine your competitors and inspire your consumers – without breaking your budget. ]]> 2011-08-01 05:08:52
Mapleweb Creative Marketing Mapleweb Creative Marketing is a Vancouver Web Design Company which is known for clarity, innovation and creativity in its website design style, which is backed up with latest technical website development skills and expertise in SEO and Internet Marketing. We have a very diverse clientage ranging from medium to large Businesses in different Business sectors. Our Web Design and Web Development team will help you build your unique identity on the web and Our SEO and Internet Marketing team will help in getting it maximum Search Engine visibility and exposure. We are distinct from our competitors because we thrive on providing the best quality, from design to functionality, from navigation to formatting, and from content to graphics, on every web page, that we design and develop. Since its inception in 2002, Mapleweb Creative Marketing has been leading the industry in Web site Design, Flash Web Design, Web site Development, Graphic Design, SEO and Internet Marketing in Vancouver and rest of British Columbia (BC) Canada, by providing unmatched excellence and quality of service in very affordable price. We are one of Vancouver, Canada's most innovative Web site Design and Web site Development companies which is proven by our long list of satisfied clients. We are serving clients from Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, North Shore, Burnaby, Whistler, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Abbotsford, Langley, Whiterock, Victoria, other cities of Vancouver Island and rest of the British Columbia (BC).   ]]> 2011-08-01 04:08:47
Sechelt Golf and Country Club, from Taylor Way to the Sechelt G&CC parking lot is 70 kilometers. The distance from real life and from the traffic of the city is light years. What makes a good vacation great? No need to do laundry when you come home, no need to haul out those ugly suitcases you have been meaning to replace and no worries about how badly your Visa will be hurt. Playing Sechelt any time of the year means leaving in the morning, being home for dinner, and experiencing a unique one-day vacation.Although Sechelt is only a day trip because of the short ferry ride there and back, you get the feeling of being away from it all. Open all year long this 6,400-yard course (complete with practice range and full clubhouse facilities) is a place where a winter- weary Vancouverite can go to play golf while your sister in Regina is trying to thaw out her pipes. And no need to plug-in your car's block heater either!It opens with a 368-yard par four that is wide open. A cushy way to start your day. But stay tuned! Number 4, to me, is the toughest hole on the course.  It is 429 yards long, dogleg right and slightly downhill. And to spice it up even more there is water skirting the full right side of this fairway. Once you have avoided the water you will see a small green well bunkered down on the left. Yes, that is where your ball is supposed to go - good luck.The number 1 handicap hole is Number 11. I am not sure why this hole got picked; it is tough but not the toughest on the course. It is par 4 measuring 411 yards from the back tees. From tee box to about 175 yards the hole is narrow and comfortably uphill. But from there on it opens up fairly wide and the green is fairly sized. A great hole but number 1?Want a challenge? Try the 227 par three 17th. It is downhill, playing one club shorter because of that fact. It is tough to gauge the distance, the wind, and if you are talented enough to be aiming at pins, just figuring out how far the pin is away on the big green will keep you guessing until its to late.The 18th is a long par four that doglegs hard left with gorse and heather guarding both sides of the fairway and the green is very heavily trapped. From the tee aim at the bunkers out in the distance and remember it is hard to be to far right here.A Player's tip:BC Ferries says reservations on the Langdale ferry are not mandatory but I really suggest that you make reservations.  As for playing the course your pre round practice should be all short game orientated.  The rough is only a few inches tall but once in it you have to break your back to get out. Practice your chipping and running because you will not be able to spin anything from this Velcro-like rough. And if carrying a 7-wood or 9 wood is an option, do so. The long par 3 holes and the glue-like rough almost demand it. A great golf course with spectacular settings all help to make this one little half-day trip feel like a much longer vacation.Tom Cattermole is a freelance golf writer from North Vancouver. Cattrmole@telus.net copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 05:12:40
“Grandpa, what did you used to do?” This question, coming from an inquisitive seven year old, made me pause and reflect.  There was so much I had done - after all I was about eighty years old, “a lot of water under the bridge” as they say.  But what had I done?  Let's see, I had been born in the third decade of the twentieth century.  That was certainly a story in itself.  What a tumultuous time to be born!Living through those early years was something of a feat when considering the miracles of medicine, science and technology of today.  Surviving the war years, marriage, the births of children, the deaths of those close by, the accomplishments and the unusual, these are stories yearning to be told.These stories can come together to form a Life History Book - your life story. The desire to “bring to life” through the pages of a hard cover book, “the history of a life”, has become vital to many people.  Without a written history, the story of a life becomes only a faded memory, and what a shame that is.  So many of us believe that we have lived “ordinary lives.” This just isn't true.  Each life is unique.  The events surrounding birth, the growing through the early years, the losses, the triumphs … they have all happened in uniquely different ways.  What would you like to be remembered for?Life histories are not reserved for celebrities only.   Everyone has a story to tell. This story becomes your legacy.  This story with all its excitement and extensions becomes recorded history. And, ultimately, this story will be there in a beautiful hard cover book full of text and pictures to be reflected upon and enjoyed over and over.Proud accomplishments, stirring events, are allowed to live on.  An actual family heirloom has been created.  Priceless!Today's world has its challenges as did yesterday's.  The events and challenges of another time are fascinating to children.  They want to know what grandpa/ma “used to do”.  What was life like?  Why not tell them in a book?Michael Helesic is a personal historian604.924.9616E mail 2mh@telus.netcopyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 05:12:43
The question as to what are the tax implications when one dies unfortunately comes up far too often.  There is really no simple answer so hopefully the following will give you enough information to know that more questions need to be asked in certain circumstances.When a resident of Canada dies, inventory of their assets on that date are taken and taxes applied depending on the type of asset owned.Principal ResidenceThere are no taxes to pay when you sell your principal residence while alive, and that will continue to your death.  If, however, it takes your estate a while to get resolved, and there is an increase in value between the date of death and the date the house is sold, capital gains may be due.RRSP or RIFThe funds inside these types of investments are after-tax monies and thus will be taxed when withdrawn.  Upon death, you are deemed to have withdrawn all the funds on the date of your death and thus the entire value of the RRSP or RIF will be added to your final tax return and taxed there.GIC or Term DepositsAs these are after-tax dollars, the only tax implication is that the interest income earned pre-death will be taxed on your final tax return whereas the interest income earned after death will be taxed on your estate return.Stocks, Bonds and Mutual FundsThe value on the date of death will determine the proceeds of sale for capital gain purposes.  In other words, you are deemed to have sold all of these items on your date of death and the difference between that amount and what you paid for them will be your capital gain.  50% of this gain will then be added to your income for the year.Rental or Vacation Property or other LandAs with stocks, you will be deemed to have sold the property at the fair market value on the date of death and be subject to taxes on half of the increased value from when you bought the property.  For some, the property may have been in your family for generations, even going back to the days when there were no capital gains or to the days when a husband and wife could each designate a principal residence.  The cost amount could be different than the actual price paid if bought before 1971, if an election was made in 1994 or if the property was inherited.Personal AssetsCars, jewelry, artwork etc. are all classified as personal property and are subject to capital gains taxes if their value on your date of death is more than what you paid for them.  The same capital gains rules will apply as to stock and property.What I cannot stress enough is that the cost of anything you own should always be known to the person you have trusted to take care of your affairs should something happen to you.  If you arrived in Canada with assets such as stock or owned property outside of Canada upon your arrival, your cost is actually the value of these assets on the date you became a resident of Canada.  Too many times I have seen delays causing penalties and interest because we were unable to finish a tax return, as we had to hunt down the cost of an asset.The above rules do not apply to all people who die.  There are provisions that allow a spouse to transfer all assets at death to the surviving spouse at cost and thus the tax implications are deferred until the surviving spouse dies.  There are no inheritance taxes (yet) in Canada but ensuring those who survive you have all the information they need, will ensure that your beneficiaries get their fair share as opposed to the government.  As you can see from the above, there are many rules that apply when you die so make sure you speak to a professional accountant to assist you in these matters.  Planning ahead can sometimes reduce taxes so consult your advisor today!Gabrielle Loren is a Certified General Accountant and partner with Loren & Company, CGA's located in North Vancouver, BC.  She can be reached at 604-904-3807 or at Gabrielle@loren.bc.cacopyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 05:12:17 h of this, too much of that …you might need to exercise a bit to get rid of the excess, not too much though, because you feel sluggish. Last year we did Grouse with Santa, the reindeer and choirs - the whole bit.  Well this year let's do something less or more of a workout - you decide how much you are willing to do.  Let's do Lighthouse Park.Yes I know, we all know it.  But honestly, when were you seen there the last time?  Two of us asked ourselves the question and hmm, it had been a while - actually it had been years!  So let's go and see what's up there now.  To find the spot, drive along Marine Drive into West Vancouver towards Horseshoe Bay.  Past Caulfeild you watch the left side of the road for the sign “Lighthouse Park”.  You turn into Beacon Lane, carefully watching the oncoming traffic, which pops up over a hill.  Follow the signs to the parking lot and find yourselves a good spot.There were maps on the boards when we explored.  Of course we saw them after we had traipsed around the park for about four delightful hours.  So you might want to be smarter and look for one right away.  Before you lock the car, may we remind you again that even on such easy trails you will enjoy the event more with proper footwear, water and food, and a flashlight if, god forbid, you did not quite allow enough time to come home in daylight.If you don't find maps at the board, it is great fun just finding out why the trails have been named after certain plants - like Salal Loop or Arbutus Trail.  The place is very well marked on all trails, so pay attention.  Don't miss the Summit Trail, because the 115 m elevation might get you a bit warmer.  Tracing your steps back from the Summit Trail, try the Valley of the Giants.  Don't miss the Eagle Point view either, a worthwhile little loop.  Then go back onto the Arbutus Trail which leads you to the Valley Trail.  You have a choice here to go to the Arbutus Knoll, East Beach and the Point Atkinson Lighthouse.  There is a lot to explore in this little corner.  Once you've had enough, go back along the Beacon Lane Trail to the parking lot.If you find you are not quite ready to go yet, leave Point Atkinson to go onto the Salmonberry and Songbird meadows for another little bit “up”.  Retrace your steps and follow the Seven Sisters Trail back to the Juniper Loop, then back to the parking lot or another beautiful trail follows the shoreline from West Beach along the Shore Pine Trail (my absolute favourite), which also ends into Juniper Loop back to the parking lot.And then there is a discovery at the end of your exploring when you head for the outhouses.  You are, after all, in the Municipality of West Vancouver - these outhouses have water flushing toilets - wow!Photo Mystery Spot:  (from Oct/Nov magazine)  We hope you enjoyed Cheakamus Lake on a sunny fall day.  Did you find the picture?  If you went all the way to the very end of the trail to the sign “The maintained trail ends here…” then you saw these little waterfalls.Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club.  www.northvanoutdoorsclub.cacopyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 04:12:42
I'm always stuffed after eating turkey dinner at Christmas time. For me, Christmas dinner is like going back to my old family home, it never changes.  The traditional fare is great but there's always room for improvement.  Take stuffing, for instance; there are many great variations on turkey stuffing.  It can be made with bread crumbs, cornbread or even wild rice.  Many flavourful ingredients can be added, such as dried fruit, sausages, bacon, fennel, apples, pecans, hazelnuts, etc.  Following are two different recipes to try.Stuffing can be cooked either inside the turkey cavity or separately.  A turkey will cook faster if unstuffed.  Aromatics such as garlic, onions, fresh thyme and lemons can be added to the bird's cavity to enhance the flavour of the meat.If you prefer your turkey stuffed, there are a few important things to remember to prevent bacteria growth.  A turkey should be stuffed just before cooking.  Loosely pack stuffing into the cavity.  Stuffing must reach 165 degrees F. If the meat is cooked and the stuffing isn't, the roasting time will take longer; this could be the difference between eating moist succulent turkey or the equivalent of white rubber.A roast turkey is cooked when the breast meat registers170 degrees and the thigh 175 to 180 degrees F.Toast pecans in a small dry skillet over medium-heat until lightly brown about 5 minutes.  Set aside.Cover wild rice with boiling water and let soak for 20-30 minutes. Rinse.  In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.  Add onions and leeks.  Sauté until soft about 7 minutes.  Add wild rice, white rice, thyme, bay leaves, chicken stock and water.  Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low; simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 35 minutes.  Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Add dried cranberries, apricots and pecans.  Season with salt and pepper.Wild Rice and Pecans with Dried Fruit DressingServes 123/4 cup pecan pieces1 cup wild rice2 tablespoon butter1 large onion, chopped2 large leeks, chopped1 ½ cups long-grain white rice5 sprigs fresh thyme2 bay leaves3 cups chicken stock1 cup water1 cup dried cranberries1 cup dried apricots choppedsalt and pepperBread Stuffing With Sausage adn ApplesServes 10 - 121 tablespoon vegetable oil1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings     removed and crumbled1 tablespoon butter1 large onion, chopped1 clove garlic, minced3 medium celery ribs, diced2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, seeded   and diced½ teaspoon ground sage12 cups 1-inch cubes French loaf         with crusts½ cup chopped parsley1 cup chicken stock3 large eggs, slightly beaten2 tablespoons melted buttersalt and pepper to tasteBarb Kemp is a cook and facilitator who has been motivating home cooks since 1997.  She writes for the Recipes to the Rescue newsletter. bjkemp@shaw.caCopyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 04:12:35 , the reindeer and choirs - the whole bit.  Well this year let's do something less or more of a workout - you decide how much you are willing to do.  Let's do Lighthouse Park.Yes I know, we all know it.  But honestly, when were you seen there the last time?  Two of us asked ourselves the question and hmm, it had been a while - actually it had been years!  So let's go and see what's up there now.  To find the spot, drive along Marine Drive into West Vancouver towards Horseshoe Bay.  Past Caulfeild you watch the left side of the road for the sign “Lighthouse Park”.  You turn into Beacon Lane, carefully watching the oncoming traffic, which pops up over a hill.  Follow the signs to the parking lot and find yourselves a good spot.There were maps on the boards when we explored.  Of course we saw them after we had traipsed around the park for about four delightful hours.  So you might want to be smarter and look for one right away.  Before you lock the car, may we remind you again that even on such easy trails you will enjoy the event more with proper footwear, water and food, and a flashlight if, god forbid, you did not quite allow enough time to come home in daylight.If you don't find maps at the board, it is great fun just finding out why the trails have been named after certain plants - like Salal Loop or Arbutus Trail.  The place is very well marked on all trails, so pay attention.  Don't miss the Summit Trail, because the 115 m elevation might get you a bit warmer.  Tracing your steps back from the Summit Trail, try the Valley of the Giants.  Don't miss the Eagle Point view either, a worthwhile little loop.  Then go back onto the Arbutus Trail which leads you to the Valley Trail.  You have a choice here to go to the Arbutus Knoll, East Beach and the Point Atkinson Lighthouse.  There is a lot to explore in this little corner.  Once you've had enough, go back along the Beacon Lane Trail to the parking lot.If you find you are not quite ready to go yet, leave Point Atkinson to go onto the Salmonberry and Songbird meadows for another little bit “up”.  Retrace your steps and follow the Seven Sisters Trail back to the Juniper Loop, then back to the parking lot or another beautiful trail follows the shoreline from West Beach along the Shore Pine Trail (my absolute favourite), which also ends into Juniper Loop back to the parking lot.And then there is a discovery at the end of your exploring when you head for the outhouses.  You are, after all, in the Municipality of West Vancouver - these outhouses have water flushing toilets - wow!Photo Mystery Spot:  (from Oct/Nov magazine)  We hope you enjoyed Cheakamus Lake on a sunny fall day.  Did you find the picture?  If you went all the way to the very end of the trail to the sign “The maintained trail ends here…” then you saw these little waterfalls.Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club.  www.northvanoutdoorsclub.cacopyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 04:12:42
I'm always stuffed after eating turkey dinner at Christmas time. For me, Christmas dinner is like going back to my old family home, it never changes.  The traditional fare is great but there's always room for improvement.  Take stuffing, for instance; there are many great variations on turkey stuffing.  It can be made with bread crumbs, cornbread or even wild rice.  Many flavourful ingredients can be added, such as dried fruit, sausages, bacon, fennel, apples, pecans, hazelnuts, etc.  Following are two different recipes to try.Stuffing can be cooked either inside the turkey cavity or separately.  A turkey will cook faster if unstuffed.  Aromatics such as garlic, onions, fresh thyme and lemons can be added to the bird's cavity to enhance the flavour of the meat.If you prefer your turkey stuffed, there are a few important things to remember to prevent bacteria growth.  A turkey should be stuffed just before cooking.  Loosely pack stuffing into the cavity.  Stuffing must reach 165 degrees F. If the meat is cooked and the stuffing isn't, the roasting time will take longer; this could be the difference between eating moist succulent turkey or the equivalent of white rubber.A roast turkey is cooked when the breast meat registers170 degrees and the thigh 175 to 180 degrees F.Toast pecans in a small dry skillet over medium-heat until lightly brown about 5 minutes.  Set aside.Cover wild rice with boiling water and let soak for 20-30 minutes. Rinse.  In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.  Add onions and leeks.  Sauté until soft about 7 minutes.  Add wild rice, white rice, thyme, bay leaves, chicken stock and water.  Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low; simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 35 minutes.  Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Add dried cranberries, apricots and pecans.  Season with salt and pepper.Wild Rice and Pecans with Dried Fruit DressingServes 123/4 cup pecan pieces1 cup wild rice2 tablespoon butter1 large onion, chopped2 large leeks, chopped1 ½ cups long-grain white rice5 sprigs fresh thyme2 bay leaves3 cups chicken stock1 cup water1 cup dried cranberries1 cup dried apricots choppedsalt and pepperBread Stuffing With Sausage adn ApplesServes 10 - 121 tablespoon vegetable oil1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings     removed and crumbled1 tablespoon butter1 large onion, chopped1 clove garlic, minced3 medium celery ribs, diced2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, seeded   and diced½ teaspoon ground sage12 cups 1-inch cubes French loaf         with crusts½ cup chopped parsley1 cup chicken stock3 large eggs, slightly beaten2 tablespoons melted buttersalt and pepper to tasteBarb Kemp is a cook and facilitator who has been motivating home cooks since 1997.  She writes for the Recipes to the Rescue newsletter. bjkemp@shaw.caCopyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 05 - Jan 06 ]]> 2010-12-29 04:12:35