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V9N7 - Dec. 20 - Jan. 19, 2011:

 

Spotlight feature:
Eleanor Dorst
Winnipeg, Manitoba

One in a Million

By Eleanor Dorst

Eleanor Dorst

It happened December 13th 2009 (No, it was not a Friday, but, for me it may as well have been). I did what I normally did on a weekend – went to the gym and occasionally, when feeling really full of energy I walked back home. Today was no exception, even with the -30° temp. I remember thinking about buying a facial scrub at the store. I didn’t have much on my agenda and I thought I might ‘kill’ an afternoon before I would look for a subbing (teacher) job for the next day. For some reason I remember the name of the facial scrub and moisturizer – “Dead Sea Scrolls” – how appropriate I thought now looking back.

I made my purchase and walked out the store as I had done a hundred times or more. No big deal. I remember putting the items in the top of my purse and for some reason noticed the time 3:28 p.m. on the sales receipt. I started to walk across the parking lot for less than a few minutes… I just remember falling in ‘slow mo’. The rest is a blackout and snippets of water coloured memories. Then from deep in my belly I felt the warm ooze of blood coming into my mouth. I remember looking at my bloody white gloves and feeling the pain in my right side where I fell. I couldn’t move. I heard voices, but, I didn’t think I was dead just in another zone or something. I do remember calling these people angels because if I was dead, I hoped I went to heaven.

One guy said, “Lady, if you knew me, you wouldn’t call me an angel.” The voices all seemed far away in the distance. Like a bad tape that needed amplification and honing.

Some woman’s voice kept saying, “What’s your name?” “Where do you live?” She definitely was persistent. I said my name and even berated her when she said it incorrectly. I guess I wanted it right for the obituary. Soon my son and ex-husband were there at the emergency. I saw their solemn faces and I wanted to comfort them. My son bowed his head to hide his sorrow. I knew in my heart and my gut I was not going to die.

I recall being in the ambulance and some paramedic cutting off all my clothes with large scissors. I argued with him, but, my protests went in vain. I couldn’t move and I was at the mercy of these people attending me – an experience that I would have to get used to. I didn’t like it one bit!

Some young doctor said, “Well you have a broken wrist, broken ribs, punctured lung, lacerated liver, broken pelvis, blood in your abdomen, bruises and contusions, facial lacerations and slightly broken nose. And the thing that I hated the most was those ghastly raccoon eyes. The pain was riveting and scary. I was put in another ambulance and was told I would be sent to HSC trauma centre. Two paramedics were next to me. They tried to comfort me, but, I was in total shock and disbelief. As the ambulance went over bumps and snow hills on the road I felt every inch of pain. I winched with fear and trepidation like never before. I never was so close to death in my life.

At the HSC centre they did so many tests and I literally was treated like a meat carcass on the gurney. Lifting me this way, doing this and that. Poking and pricking me with a myriad of needles, tubes, and any other invasive procedures. The pain on the right side where I fell was unbelievable. Every time they moved me I screamed out. I couldn’t believe how obtuse and uncaring their faces looked. Like I meant nothing. I cringed when they came near me. I wanted to see my son and ex and I cried out many times, but, they never appeared.

Hours went by after numerous tests and procedures. I longed for water, but, the medical staff stuck to their guns and refused me any. Same story, “You will be operated on in the morning and no fluid or food can go in your system.”

Eleanor in the hospital with multiple injuries.

“Please, oh, please, give me something to drink.” My pleas went unaided and unresponsive. I felt all my rights and privileges as a human being were removed. But the pain and inability to move were unbearable.

They gave me morphine and pain killers, which didn’t do much and I heard the screams of the others around me.
I was now in that “Gone with the Wind” scene where Scarlet is surrounded by the army dying right before her eyes and she does not know what to do or who to help first. I was in shock.

Always being the comedian, I did ask for a priest, rabbi and protestant to come to my aid and talk to me. I didn’t really think these people would show, but, they did. Of course, they could not give me the answers I so wanted to hear. Like why me?… why would God do this to me?…
am I evil?… etc.

I didn’t really let the flood gates of emotion pour out ’til I saw the extent of my injuries and had to recover from my surgery. My arm in the cast was enormous. I wasn’t used to being an invalid and I hit my head on the cast numerous times. Things like going to the bathroom, washing, eating and grooming were so difficult. I never knew how in life we take so much for granted and how we never thank God for just doing the simple mundane things without having to ask for permission or help. I didn’t ask for this hell, and to succumb to this at Christmas was so emotional.

Those countless carols and songs echoing through my brain, over and over – “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells” and “Oh Holy Night.” I know it was a joyful time for others, but to me it was like they were playing the Volga Boat song. The tears welling up in my eyes and the vacant draped cubicle, I lay without another soul to comfort me. Some nurses and orderlies were a bit kind, but, I soon realized if you were in accident and look relatively healthy you are not given top priority. I didn’t want to be babied, it was just the loneliness and boredom of lying in your own body waste and suffering .

The only amusing thing when I was in the hospital was when I tried to get something out of my purse and I had my good hand full of black and white ooze. The Dead Sea Scrolls beauty items had exploded on impact. Comforting to know, as I was on the bed pan at the same time.

The boredom, the pain, the pity and the self loathing became my constant companion. I must have memorized every tile in the ceiling a thousand times. Some people came to visit and I wanted to hang on to their presence longer. Some form of recognition, some warmth some comfort. My constant forms of mobility were now reduced to wheelchairs, walkers, canes and some pulleys I used to sit me up or get me out of bed.

About two weeks into my first hospital stay I was told by the police officers briefly how the accident occurred. A young person making a wrong turn hit an on-coming car that spiralled out of control and hit me in the Fort Richmond parking lot. Apparently I went through two windshields and was airborne for awhile across Pembina Hwy. There were witnesses but, I have to say I remember nothing upon impact.

My source of inspiration through all this was that lady, who was one of the many, I was told, who stopped to put blankets on me. She just

Eleanor’s painting titled, “Send in the Clowns.”

happened to be a nurse as well. One lady even took off her coat and lay it over me. I wish I could talk to them and thank them personally. Anyways that ‘nurse lady’ went the extra mile. She came to my hospital with a large basket of food, snacks, treats, etc. on Christmas day. How many would do that? So disheartened and physically grotesque I refused to meet with her. I asked my nurse for her to come back next week. She did just that. She also bought me the most beautiful art books. I am one of the artists of “Art from the Heart.” She must of have Googled my name to find that out. I was so taken with this display of caring and goodness. It made me want to get better that much more. I met her the next week.

She was a true angel.

I also was inspired by my constant physical activity and walking before the accident. I knew I was in pretty good shape for a woman my age. I just was so determined never to lie in a hospital bed, have to rely on wheelchairs, walkers, and canes anymore. I wanted my freedom and mobility back. The nurses and physiotherapists all said you have to keep your body mobile; however, the riveting pain and broken bones tell you otherwise. About a month later I was out of the hospital. Dead of winter and trying to get back to normal. I pushed my recovery to the limit. Got to get out and move. Walkers, canes, crippled body – here I come world.

Got to see the sun again!

The months of recovery are a bit of blur now, and as I write this I still see the physiotherapist, chiropractor and psychologist. They have been very good and helpful to me. I still ask, “Why me, why me?” I constantly wrap up my arm (just in case) when I go out walking and I still do the long walks. I am super cautious. My eyes darting around like some wild animal in case it happens again.

I remember the nurse who happened by coincidence, I remember the nurses, the surgeons, the police, paramedics, countless orderlies, physiotherapists, counsellors, etc.

My life has been changed forever. It’s now mine for whatever I want to be. I may be of senior age but, I am not of ‘old age’ mentality. This recovery thing is a lot of mental stuff as I soon found out. I confess I got hooked on those ‘Rocky Balboa’ motivational tapes. You keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!

I refused to be disabled. I am determined to make this super negative experience into something good. I am still physically and mentally adjusting to it. But, if I truly am the ‘One in a Million,’ (as the police officer said in the hospital) to survive this, I want to make something of my second chance. So I am still out walking today!

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


Fraud Prevention:

The Impact of Fraud

Fraud has victims, millions of them. While many people who’ve had their savings accounts or credit cards hacked are quickly reimbursed by banks and credit card companies, not everyone is so lucky. Sometimes, the money is lost for good and the damage is permanent. Life savings, retirements savings, homes and businesses have all been lost to fraud.

Financial hardship can lead to high levels of family stress, which can lead to marital break ups, spousal abuse and psychological and physical harm to children. People who’ve lost everything are sometimes so devastated they commit suicide. The following fraud case was reported to the police and the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre during the past year:

“At 82, my father is slowly losing both his hearing and his best friend, my mother, who is well into the second stage of Alzheimer’s. Dad’s isolation and lack of critical thinking have made him a prime candidate for mass marketing fraud. For months, he’s been receiving more than 50 pieces of mail each day – offers that appear to guarantee him millions of dollars in exchange for a mere $20 to $35 processing fee for each returned piece of mail. While he doesn’t respond to every contest offer, I’ve since learned that my dad was paying as much as $50 postage to Europe to get some entries returned before the deadlines. The enclosed contest rules are always in fine print and are often hard to find – some are even printed on the inside of the envelope. Upon closely inspecting one offer, which depicted a prize cheque made out to my father for several million dollars, I discovered the actual prize was only $100.

Because I have Power of Attorney and joint access to my father’s bank accounts, I was called by his bank manager who alerted me that my parents’ joint chequing account was about to exceed their overdraft protection. He called to ask permission to release money from my mom's personal account to cover cheques my dad had issued. The shock from this initial call lead to several aftershocks, one of which was discovering that my dad's MasterCard and bank line of credit were just about at their maximum – a combined total debt in the tens of thousands.

I now screen all mail addressed to my father before forwarding it to him. Over four months, he received more than 1,500 pieces of mail and even now, we’re intercepting hundreds of pieces of mail each week. Even after this intervention, my dad still believes the promised jackpot money will be forthcoming. A university graduate and a retired senior manager, he trusted these "companies" to deliver prizes and money and we naively thought it was just a few silly contests.

Over the past year, my father has not received a penny from any of the offers to which he responded, yet he’s paid tens of thousands of dollars in registry and processing fees. With what little pension money remains, he will now begin what maybe a lifelong task of repaying, with interest, the money swindled from him by these criminals.”

www.antifraudcentre.ca

Submitted by Cst. Ben Doiron
Winnipeg RCMP
Commercial Crime Section

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


 

Financial Planning:

Foreign Pension Transfers

Prepared by The Investors Group Advanced Financial Planning Team

BRIAN G. KONRAD CFP, Financial Consultant

Canadian residents who have previously worked in a foreign country and have “superannuation or pension benefits” from this employment often find the concept of transferring the pension to Canada an attractive alternative. Benefits of these transfers include a deferral of Canadian taxation, greater control over investments, and increased ease of administration from the owner’s perspective. However, there are some potential pitfalls including taxation in the country of origin and restricted transferability from the foreign country.

This article outlines the major issues involved with the transfer of a foreign pension to Canada, but because of the potentially significant tax consequences individuals should always seek independent accounting advice and contact the pension plan administrator.

Definition and Rules

Section 56(1)(a)(i) of the Income Tax Act states that foreign pension income will be taxable income in Canada if it is considered to be a “superannuation or pension benefit”, unless a tax treaty with a foreign country specifically states that the income is non-taxable. A “superannuation or pension benefit” is generally considered to be a payment from a plan in which contributions have been made by an employer on behalf of an employee in consideration for services rendered by the employee or by a government and these contributions are used to provide a periodic payment on or after the employee’s retirement in consideration for employment service.

A traditional US Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is the lone exception to this in that even though it does not meet the definition of a “superannuation or pension benefit”, section 56(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act makes a specific provision in which the benefits from a traditional IRA are taxable income in Canada. Payments from a Roth IRA are not considered to be taxable income in Canada according to Article XVIII of the Canada-US tax treaty.

Canadian taxpayers are allowed to transfer a foreign pension benefit to their RRSP without affecting their contribution room. Under section 60(j)(i) of the Income Tax Act individuals can claim a deduction to offset the income inclusion of the foreign pension benefit. To utilize this rollover the benefit can either by transferred directly to their RRSP or a contribution can be made within 60 days of the end of the year in which the payment was made. The rollover is also available when payments are made as a death benefit to a surviving spouse or as part of a divorce or separation agreement. A pension transfer by an individual who has turned 71 in a prior year will not be eligible for the rollover.

Issues for consideration

Although the rollover provided for in the Canadian Income Tax Act appears to make the transfer of a foreign pension plan a relatively simple matter, there are many issues which make this decision quite complex.

To begin with it needs to be determined if the pension plan is transferable. Some countries prohibit the transfer of pension plans and transfers in other countries are often restricted at the pension plan level. It should also be determined if the entire plan can be transferred or only a portion of it. If a transfer is allowed, are there any restrictions in terms of the type of plan or benefits that must be provided from the plan it is transferred to. In most cases these questions can be answered by the pension plan administrator.

The next item of consideration should be the tax consequences in the country of origin of the pension plan. Individuals should work with a tax advisor with expertise in the tax laws of the originating country to determine the amount of foreign withholding taxes if the plan is transferred. Any penalties for the transfer of the plan should also be taken into account. If the plan is left in the foreign country, the tax implications of this decision should be considered.

Finally, the Canadian tax implications should be considered. Will there be any foreign tax credits available to the individual on their Canadian tax return? If there are, will they be able to completely offset the foreign taxation or only partially offset it? If the plan is left in the country of origin, what will the Canadian tax consequences be?

US pension transfers

Due to the close proximity of Canada and the US there are many Canadians who may be interested in transferring amounts from a US pension arrangement such as an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) to Canada.

The most important consideration is that a transfer will be a taxable event in the US, as there is no rollover recognized for US tax purposes. US citizens, US residents, and green card holder are required to file a US tax return based on their worldwide income and the entire pension transfer amount must be included in income in the year of transfer and will be subject to US tax at their marginal tax rate. Since the US tax system does not recognize an RRSP contribution as a deduction, double taxation would result from this transfer. Therefore, in most cases a pension transfer is usually not in the best interests from a financial perspective for these individuals due to the fact that if the plan is left in the US it will continue to grow in a tax sheltered environment in both Canada and the US.

There may be some cases in which an individual may wish to pursue a transfer even if they are a US citizen, US resident or green card holder. For example, if their account was small or they felt they were receiving poor service from the plan administrator. If this is the case the plan should not be transferred to an RRSP as double taxation would result, but rather to a non-registered investment.

If the individual is not a US citizen, US resident, or green card holder than there will be non-resident withholding taxes of up to 30% on the transfer to an RRSP. There may be foreign tax credits available on the Canadian tax return to offset the US withholding tax, but in order to fully utilize the foreign tax credits the individual must have Canadian tax payable in the year of transfer equivalent to the amount of the US withholding tax. For this calculation the Canadian tax payable does not include any income from the pension applied to the RRSP.

An age penalty of 10% will be applied by the US to any individual who is under the age of 591/2 on the date of the transfer. This age penalty is not recoverable by the individual due to the fact that a foreign tax credit cannot be claimed on it.

UK pension transfers

UK pensions can be transferred to financial institutions that are recognized by the UK pension authorities as “Qualified Recognized Overseas Pension Schemes” (QROPS). Investors Group has a locked-in RSP plan, an unlocked RSP plan, and a LIF plan approved as QROPS. Other conditions required for a transfer are that at least 70% of the transferred funds will be used to provide income for life and the UK taxation authorities are advised when the individual starts to receive benefits.

The taxation issues of a UK pension transfer are not always clear due to the fact that the Canada – UK tax treaty does not comment on the non-resident withholding tax rate on lump sum transfers, although withholding taxes on lump sum transfers to QROPS are not currently imposed.

Pension payments from the UK that are considered periodic are not subject to non-resident withholding taxes. Therefore, the individual should seek advice from the UK pension administrator regarding the withholding tax that would be charged before a transfer is initiated.

As long as the pension funds are transferred to a QROPS there are usually no penalties associated with a UK pension transfer.

Summary

Foreign pension transfers are legitimate options in the right circumstances, but individuals should consider all factors involved in the transfer before taking any action. It is extremely important to attain independent accounting advice and to contact the pension plan administrator before initiating a transfer. Contact your Investors Group Consultant for further information.
__________________________________

BRIAN G. KONRAD CFP
Financial Consultant
brian.konrad@investorsgroup.com
(204) 489-4640 ext. 246
100-1345 WAVERLEY STREET
WINNIPEG, MB R3T 5Y6
1-888-205-4828

This report is intended as a general source of information only, and is not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell specific investments, nor is it intended to provide tax, legal or investment advice. Clients should discuss their situation with their Investors Group Consultant for advice based on their specific circumstances.

™Trademark owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.

“Foreign Pension Transfers” ©2009 Investors Group Inc. (03/2009) MP1568

Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


 

Some Tips To Make Winter Driving Safe and Even Fun

By Scott Taylor

When it’s December in Winnipeg, it’s the moment of truth: You are driving slowly in the midst of a snow storm and you are approaching an intersection. You feel you have it under control and then along comes that sinking feeling.

You know what it is. The rear end of your car starts to drift to your right. You can feel the car turning sideways. You aren’t going very fast, but you no longer have control of your automobile.

You are about to hit the back end of an SUV. So what do you do?

Most Manitobans know instinctively how to handle this type of situation, but when you’re in the midst of a skid, you’ve lost control and you appear to have no hope, many drivers – seniors or otherwise – tend to panic.

So to get an answer to what we should do, we contacted a guy who deals with these types of skids every week – in the summer!

Stock car driver Greg Cybulski drives on dirt tracks all over the Midwest. At every corner the back end of his car, tends to slide around to his right side.

“The first thing to do when you lose control on an icy road is take your foot off the gas,” Cybulski said. “If you’re still moving straight ahead, pump the break. Do not break hard. Softly pump the break until the car comes to a stop. If you’ve given the car in front of you the proper distance for the speed you’re going, you will have no problem stopping in time.

“If you’ve already lost control of your back end, take your foot off the gas and turn into the skid. In other words, if the back end is pulling out to your right, turn the wheel to your right. If it’s coming out to your left, turn the wheel to the left. Then look for a patch of snow, even if it means driving into the curb. You’ll have a much better chance of stopping on snow cover than on glare ice.”

It’s that time of year again, folks. It’s that time of year when we all have to venture out onto bad Manitoba roads covered in ice and snow. The roads in this province are already in lousy shape, but when you cover them with snow and ice, you have a disaster waiting to happen.

Now, driving in winter conditions in Manitoba is never easy, but in an effort to prepare and then maintain for a winter on Manitoba’s icy roads, we contacted Brian Smiley, the Media Relations Co-ordinator for Manitoba Public Insurance. Brian gave Senior Scope a list of things we should all do to prepare for winter driving, then continue to do until the roads thaw and dry up in the spring.

“Frankly, this list isn’t just for seniors,” Smiley said. “It would be great if your readers turned this list into a check list, because the tips on this list work for everybody.”

• Prior to winter, ensure that your tires are in good shape. (IE: enough tread).

• A full set of winter tires can provide more control in winter conditions than regular all-season tires.

• A set of four matching tires is recommended to ensure uniform handling characteristics through acceleration, stopping, and steering – which results in control and stability.

• Look for tires marked with a snowflake/ mountain image that indicates they meet winter traction performance standards.

• Motorists are wise to educate themselves about the benefits of snow tires. While all-season radials are excellent, some drivers might want to check into winter tires.

• Check the power level of the engine's battery.

• A safety kit is a wise investment. A number of excellent kits are available. Motorists are encouraged to check out the one which best suits their needs.

• Buy a membership in the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). It’s the best investment you can make if you are out on winter roads this year.

• Prior to departing on a trip, tell someone where you're going, and when you expect to arrive. That way, if you don’t show up on time, someone will look out for you.

• If at all possible, have a cellphone with you during the trip and don’t be afraid to invest in a good GPS device. Some cell phones now come equipped with GPS capabilities.

• Daytime driving is highly recommended for seniors; winter storms are very difficult to drive through in the darkness.

• Drivers are encouraged to get a good night's rest the night prior to departure. Driver fatigue, especially on a cloudy day with little else but a white background staring back at you as you drive, can be very dangerous.

• If a driver becomes disorientated, he or she should remain on a main highway. The RCMP regularly patrol main highways.

• If the vehicle stalls/breaks down, remain in the vehicle. Do not begin walking in frigid weather or in a winter storm. Hypothermia can set in quickly, especially among older people. Make sure you have plenty of extra warm clothing in the vehicle to go with your safety kit.

“Now, there is one other thing we need to consider,” Smiley said. “Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for winter driving when you leave your home. Make sure your leave early and while your engine is warming up, make sure you take the time to do the following...”

• Brush or scrape any snow or ice off windshield, windows, headlights, taillights, license plates and side rear view mirrors.

• Clear the loose snow off the hood as well. That's because loose snow blows into the vents when the car starts to move and instantly fogs up the inside of the windshield.

• Remove snow from the bottom of your boots before getting in the vehicle. You don't want your foot to slip off the brake pedal when you need to stop.

• Once under way you may have to open the windows slightly for better ventilation. It also helps to select fresh, not re-circulated air.

• Start off slowly and test your braking and steering to get a feel for the road surface. At the first intersection you reach, break slowly and get a feel for the road conditions.

“And don’t forget to get an immobilizer for your car,” Smiley added. “It might be winter, but car thieves are still roaming the streets.

“In fact, check out our website at www.mpi.mb.ca/english/autotheft/AutoTheft.html for all the information you need on immobilizers and how to defeat car thieves.”

Winter is here and there are plenty of things you can do to be ready for bad road conditions and lousy weather.

Sorry, we can’t help you with other drivers who don’t signal their intention to turn when they approach an intersection or those selfish drivers who refuse to allow you to change lanes or merge at construction areas. However, we can get you ready for the worst driving conditions in the world.

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


New Government? Big Flood? The NHL's Return

Our Informed Predictions for 2011

By Scott Taylor

Construction on a new football stadium for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the University of Manitoba Bisons will not only be underway in 2011, but almost completed.

Regardless of the outcome, it looks as if there will be a new government over on Broadway and we just might find out which National Hockey League franchise is coming to Winnipeg.

People will continue to cry about high taxes and crumbling infrastructure and complaining about (a) lousy roads and then (b) the gridlock that is created when the city tries to repair those roads.

Oh yeah, and think about investing in telecommunications technology and popular social networks. They are going to grow at an alarming rate this year.

These are just a few of the predictions we’ve received here at Senior Scope from prominent folks all over the province of Manitoba.

There is a lot going on right now in our province, especially in Winnipeg, and there will certainly be much more happening in 2011. Banks will be strong, the telecommunications industry will be strong and all three levels of government will be driving it.

So on the eve of the New Year, let’s takes a look at the comments from some prominent “aging” Winnipeggers about what we should expect in 2011.

Their answers were candid and sometimes, quite surprising:

Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg and Owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball ClubSam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg and Owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club:

Our 59-year-old mayor is a happy guy these days. In 2010, he got the police helicopter he was after, he won re-election in a landslide, became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Leah Pasuta, just won a huge vote at City Council (by a 14-2 margin) to get a new stadium built for the Winnipeg Football Club and got his own professional team, baseball’s Winnipeg Goldeyes, into a bigger, better and stronger league.

However, despite all of his good fortune in 2010, there are still a few good things the Mayor expects to see happen in 2011.

“I’m convinced right now that there will be a new indoor water park in Winnipeg, for both Winnipeggers and visitors to our city to enjoy,” Katz said.

“And I’m going to cover all my bases here and predict that the Winnipeg Goldeyes will win an American Association championship in 2011.

“But I think the most important thing for the city is that we’ll start getting a larger, more appropriate share of growth revenues from the province. Growth revenues is a nice way to say, “PST.”

We spend the most within the province and pay the largest chunk of taxes and yet we don’t get our share in return. I believe we will start getting our share in 2011 and it will help make Winnipeg a stronger city.”

Despite his optimism, there is one thing that does cause him concern – the rising Red River. It was high when the freeze came this year and it is expected to be well above average in the spring. Flooding could be a problem, even with the floodway operating at full capacity.

“We’re monitoring the river,” Katz said. “There is no cause for alarm, but we’re always concerned when the river is high in the fall.”

Marty Gold, Winnipeg Sun columnist and freelance broadcasterMarty Gold, Winnipeg Sun columnist and freelance broadcaster:

He is outspoken and unafraid to say anything that’s on his mind. He’s also the newest columnist at the Winnipeg Sun.

A guy who has lived three or four lifetimes in his 50 years on the planet, Marty Gold (AKA: Martin Boroditsky, Marty Goldstein), has been a professional wrestler, a wrestling promoter, a TV producer, cab driver, corporate whistleblower, radio host and writer.

He’s also been a defender of the little guy and an advocate for the people who don’t have a voice in our community.

Marty has four specific predictions for civic and provincial politics in 2011:

1) The first stadium cost over-runs will be announced.

2) City councilor John Orlikow will once again apologize for voting for a walk-on item at City Council. He voted for traffic circles when that item was walked on to a city council agenda in 2010 and he had to apologize for that. In 2011, he will eventually apologize for voting for the stadium plan which was also walked-on to council.

3) At least three provincial cabinet ministers will not run for re-election this fall. I’m certain Theresa Oswald (Seine River) is done, Diane McGifford (Lord Roberts) won’t run again, and at least one other, maybe two others, will just head off into the sunset.

4) The city of Winnipeg will be humiliated by the plaintiffs in the Assiniboine Bike Lane lawsuit. You’re going to see the city get spanked by the court for this one. Falling for the Bike Lobby’s shenanigans is going to get the city in a load of heat in 2011.

Jim Bell, President of the Winnipeg Blue BombersJim Bell, President of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers:

If there is one guy in Manitoba who agrees with David Asper’s assessment of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it’s club president Jim Bell.

In fact, Bell is looking ahead to 2011 with more optimism than he did the day in 2010 that he took over from Lyle Bauer as the president and CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club.

When we release our financial statements in April, I believe we will have some good news,” Bell said last week. “Right now, I’m reviewing the books and I believe we will be looking at some black ink – not red ink – this year. I’m starting to get a feel for where we’ll be in 2011 and I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Despite the fact the teams was 4-14 in 2010, Bell is convinced the team is going in the right direction.

“Given our record on the field in 2010, the fact that we will turn a small profit this year is a testament to out loyal following,” Bell continued. “We want to win more games in 2011 and I believe we will win a lot more games, but the important thing this year is that despite all the changes we made to the organization, our fans are telling us that we’re going in the right direction. They’re telling us to play better, but they believe we’re doing the right things.

“In 2011 we’ll be a much better team on the field and we will be marching toward a June 2012 opening for our brand new stadium at the University of Manitoba.”

Bell is also convinced the Canadian Football League will have a strong year in 2011.

“I don’t think our league’s business model has ever been better,” he said. “This year we’ll hear more about the Ottawa situation and we’ll hear more about expansion to places like Moncton, Quebec City and Halifax. If there is one thing I’m confident of heading into 2011, it’s that our business is solid and our future is bright.”

Hugh McFadyen, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of ManitobaHugh McFadyen, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba:

Because it’s an election year, McFadyen is going to be quite busy in 2011, but while he was not prepared to predict the outcome of the fall election, he was prepared to predict the immediate future of his favorite football team.

“You will see the Bombers on the rebound in 2011,” McFadyen said. “I won’t say, they’ll win a Grey Cup but I will guarantee that a team that was 4-14 this past year will make the playoffs next year.”

While he’s pleased with the direction the Bombers are taking, he’s a little worried about the Red River Valley.

“Spring flooding will be out of our control. I just hope the floodway is in full operational mode,” he said. “We have four months to make sure it’s working at full capacity and we’ll need it at full capacity because as far as I can see there are concerns throughout the Red River Valley.

“We went into the winter with not only saturated ground but with standing water and then the snow came. Winter came with more ground water than we had before the 1997 flood. The flood experts I’ve been speaking with are very worried that if we get a quick thaw in the spring, we could be facing some serious problems.”

Shawn Coates, Director of Marketing and Communications, U of W and Owner of Shawn Coates PhotographyShawn Coates, Director of Marketing and Communications, U of W and Owner of Shawn Coates Photography:

According to Coates, downtown Winnipeg will never be the same. In fact, Coates knows first-hand that there will be a number of announcements that will change the look and feel of Winnipeg’s aging downtown region.

“The first thing that will happen is an easy one for me,” he said. “The University of Winnipeg will open the new Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex. We will open the building at Portage and Furby in September of 2011 and
it will Canada’s most innovative and comprehensive science complex.

“Before the building opens, just down the street and Portage and Memorial, the old Greyhound Bus Depot will be no more and a new University of Winnipeg complex will rise like a Phoenix. The revamped bus depot will include a new quality bookstore, a new restaurant and pub, a pharmacy and a walk-in clinic. The bookstore will be the first quality bookstore in the downtown region since McNally-Robinson pulled out of Portage Place in 2008.

“And then, there will be the new-look Hudson Bay across the street. The Bay has already moved Zellers into its basement and it has refurbished two more floors and will be announcing that a number of retail businesses will be moving in. That old building is going to get a new life.”

It also doesn’t hurt that the university itself has become more vibrant and more populated in the past five years. There are now almost 10,000 students at the U of W, and according to Coates, the Wesmen athletic program will be adding men’s and women’s wrestling this year and “one other sport,” that will be announced in January.

“I know we’re getting more sports,” said Coates, “because the coaches are already out recruiting athletes. Our athletic program is growing more rapidly than any other program in Canada.”

And as the university and its athletic program grows, so too does construction in downtown Winnipeg.

Marnie Strath, Winnipeg Businesswoman and Event Planner and ManagerMarnie Strath, Winnipeg Businesswoman and Event Planner and Manager:

Strath, 57, was the longtime marketing director of the Winnipeg Free Press, before setting out on her own as an event planner and manager. Her husband, Bob, owns an automobile dealership and she spends most of her time around the city’s movers and shakers.

For Strath, there will be two big events in Winnipeg in 2011.

“I believe Winnipeg will be told when we’re getting an NHL franchise and what team it will be,” she said. “I can’t guarantee that a team will be playing in Winnipeg in 2011, but I’m certain we’ll get a commitment from the league that a team will be moving here.

“And, you know, despite everything that has gone on in Phoenix, all the work the league has done to save that franchise, I still think the Coyotes could wind up in Winnipeg. I just can’t believe that something won’t go wrong with that deal. I can tell you, Winnipeg came extremely close to getting a franchise in 2010. I’m convinced that in 2011, we’ll at least get word from the NHL that we’ll be getting a franchise.

“I also think we’ll have a change in government on Broadway. I believe the only reason the NDP hung on as long as they did was the love affair this province had for (Gary) Doer. Greg Selinger is a good guy, but if there is a fall election, I think people will show that they’re ready for a change.”

David Asper, President, Creswin Properties and U of M law professorDavid Asper, President, Creswin Properties and U of M law professor:

The 52-year-old Winnipeg businessman, lawyer and law professor, has never been short of energy or opinions. The man who freed David Milgaard is also the man who made the original proposal to build a new football stadium in Winnipeg.

A prominent member of Winnipeg’s influential and philanthropic Asper Family, David knows one thing will definitely happen in 2011: “There will definitely be a football stadium under construction in 2011 and the construction will be quite visible in 2011.

“In the meantime, the city is going to have to decide what it wants to do with rapid transit. That’s going to be a big one. It will be interesting to see what the city does.”

A former chairman of the Blue Bombers board of directors and a former member of the board of Canwest Global Communications, Asper has his finger on the pulse of Canadian business, media and sports and he believes 2011 will be another year of uncertainty in this country.

“I really believe that with a provincial election coming in October and with a federal election getting more likely every day, it just creates uncertainty in the business community,” Asper said.

“I think 2011 will be another year in which we aren’t sure whether or not an economic recovery is on the way. So much depends on government. In Manitoba especially, massive amounts of money is being spent and massive projects are all being driven by government. In fact, in Manitoba, just about everything is being driven by government.”

Despite all the uncertainty, Asper does feel confident about a couple of things.

“Our banks will continue to be strong and their strength will play a major role in the overall stabilization of the country,” he said. “If you’re looking at places to invest your money you can’t go wrong with our banks and you can’t go wrong with the technology that the telecommunications industry is creating. The telecommunications industry is exploding all around us.

“And I do know the Bombers will be a better football team. If you take out all the rookie stuff and bad luck that were a big part of this season, and all that stuff will be eliminated next year, and you’ll have a much better football team.”

When we ask this question again in 2011, we’ll probably be asking it from a different perspective. This might be a very different city and province by the end of the coming year.

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


FOR THE HEALTH OF IT:

How Sweet It Is - might be making you very ill.

By Steven Denault

Many of us believe that we’re not eating too much sugar.

The numbers say otherwise; the average North American adult is eating 160 lbs of it per year or more. That is way up from around 8 lbs per year for our great grandparents.

So how is it getting into your diet?

The fact is, it’s in just about every processed food you have ever eaten. It might be listed as sugar, fructose or any one of about 40 to 50 other names, most of them you won’t recognize as a sugar. For instance did you know that barley malt is a form of sugar? Included in this long list would be many fake (synthetic) sugars. The fake sugars are hundreds of times more sweet and proving to be much more damaging than regular refined sugars.

So it’s not just the sweets, desserts or the sugar in your coffee, it’s in each and every processed food on the shelf. All processed foods are usually high in carbohydrates and or sugar.

So what’s the big deal with sugar and carbohydrates?

When we eat processed carbohydrates and sugars our pancreas produces insulin (a hormone) in an attempt to balance your blood sugar levels. Under normal circumstances that is its primary function; to produce just enough insulin to balance your blood sugar levels.

As you will see ‘normal’ is a pasted term in this situation. We eat way more carbohydrates and sugars now and this causes the pancreas to produce much more insulin than what our body really needs.

In such a situation, insulin will trigger fat (energy) storage and when our bodies store fat it doesn’t give it up easily. In fact its unnatural for our bodies to use up that stored energy.

The insulin trigger is one of our basic survival tools. When humans were hunters and gatherers, we didn’t know when the next meal was coming so our bodies stored any amount of fuel it could with the intention of holding on to it until the next food shortage.

Today we rarely experience a food shortage so this over eating of sugars and carbohydrates is causing fat storage at a fast pace. As long as we continue to over eat sugars and processed carbohydrates, we will continue to store fat.

Ironically we would fare much better if we totally eliminated sugar and drastically reduced our intake of processed carbs.

In case you are wondering ‘why didn’t our great grand parents have the same problem’ it’s because most, if not all, of their foods were whole, natural and not synthetically altered. Everyone had access to chemical-free produce (veggies), our meats were raised without the use of hormone or drug injections and all the grains they ate were 100% whole grains.

We on the other hand are living primarily (2/3 of the plate) on carbohydrates and most of those carbs are from processed foods. Insulin is a master hormone which tells our body what to do in many situations; if it is not in balance then the messages and commands it sends will not be the right ones and THINGS WILL GO WRONG.

Steven Denault
River Heights Good and Natural
Weight Loss Clinic
1102 Corydon Ave., Wpg.
204-415-1308
steved@goodnnaturalweightloss.com

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


MADS - Men Against Drunk Shopping

By Willian J. Thomas
Humour Columnist

I really enjoy watching infomercials on TV. They’re like dramas written by Stuie King, Stephen’s older brother who works full-time driving a recycling truck.

You got your villain, the star of the infomercial whose role it is to sell you something you don’t need or want. And the secondary characters in the audience oooh and ahhh like their hometown boy just won an Olympic medal or the homecoming queen successfully bought back and destroyed her sex tape. They gasp when the pie comes out of the oven. They actually applaud when Swivel Sweeper cuts a clear swath through the carpet’s dirt and grime. Whenever I see an infomercial audience give a standing ovation to an ultra-absorbent tea towel,
I think somewhere there’s a theme park in Florida missing its seal trainer.

But the infomercial drama could never work and the ads themselves would die a quick death if it was not for the dumb schlep on the couch at home, the victim of the drama.

The typical purchaser of these too-good-to-be-true products is not very bright, lonely, naïve … What? Okay, so I bought a damn Slap Chop while watching the infomercial on TV. Sue me!

It was Boxing Day and I was in the den at a family gathering having a glass of wine by myself in order to avoid children. And this guy Vince comes on and he’s chopping carrots and slicing tomatoes …Wham! Bam! … Slap Chop style. Vince is having way too much fun than a man is supposed to have in the kitchen by himself.

“Slap, slap, slap your troubles away.” Set to some really cool music, Vince is hammering this little round, plastic guillotine. One slap and potatoes become home fries, fruit becomes salad and when Vince whacked the mushroom, the green onion and ham three times, there was an omelet awaiting only the eggs.

I didn’t love his nuts as much as Vince said I would, but everything else from the strawberries that topped the ice cream to the onion that shed its own skin made one wonder where Slap Chop had been all my life. Oh yeah, Vince could sell Bibles to Al Qaeda.

If you’ve ever watched an infomercial on TV you’re going to be amazed that the Slap Chop, for all its wondrous applications was not $59.99, not $49.99, not $39.99. No, basically Vince gave it to me for the cost of shipping and … and I got Graty – the gourmet cheese grater at no extra charge. Graty not only grates cheese, it … no, that’s pretty much it, cheese.

But like the Slap Chop, Graty comes apart in seconds for easy cleaning. Not that that’s a big deal for me because I already own Streak-Free, “the next generation’s cleaning cloth” as well as Didi Seven, “the worlds’ greatest stain remover in a tube.”

In fact, I sometimes use Grill Daddy to clean my George Foreman Grill which I purchased late one night after I jotted the toll-free number down at the Belmont Hotel. Did you know you can also cook salmon fillets in the George Foreman Grill?

Once I made a mistake and used Spotless Paw to clean my Compact Showtime Rotisserie & BBQ Oven which came with a free recipe booklet and stainless steel pick for only $59.99 plus shipping. “Set it and forget it” – this thing could roast a pig if I could find one small enough.

I bought the easy-to-assemble rotisserie oven after a Robbie Burns single malt tasting I hosted a few years ago and … is there like a pattern developing here, or what?!?

Now there’s a ton of complaints on the internet that the Slap Chop is a piece of junk that you have to cut stuff with a knife to make it small enough for Slap Chap to cut it, blah, blah, blah.

I know nothing about this because the fact is I have never taken Slap Chop or Graty out of their respective boxes. After the holidays I realized that chopping vegetables on a cutting board while watching the six o’clock news is a mindless pleasure at the end of my day. Plus it’s a good idea to have a big knife in your hand when whackos like Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingram come into your kitchen at night.

So the Slap Chop has triggered calls for the screening of products sold on TV and performance inspections and I could care less about any of that stuff. You know that breathalyzer device the police are pitching, the one that would not allow you to start your car if your blood alcohol is over the legal limit? Yeah, well I want one of those things adapted to my telephone.

If I’ve had more than one glass off wine, my Bell Breathalyzer feature would not allow me to dial any toll-free number in North America. If somehow I was able to trick it, any conversation that included the words “As seen on TV” would be automatically terminated.

Looking back, I think I got off easy buying just the Slap Chop and Graty. If there had been a CD with the theme song “Slap Chop Rap” or a video of Vince “making America skinny, one slap at a time,” I’d have bought them too.

For the record, no, I have not purchased Shoe Dini, the shoehorn on a stick that helps old people put their shoes on. And the Pocket Fisherman has been temporarily out of stock for months. The Bell Breathalyzer. I hope to star in the infomercial.

For comments, ideas and copies of The True Story
of Wainfleet, go to www.williamthomas.ca

(Read more in the Dec 20 - Jan 19/2011 issue of Senior Scope)


   


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Senior Scope
Publisher: Kelly Goodman
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