Muchmor Magazine Issue 51

8/6/2019 Muchmor Magazine Issue 51

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issue 51

muchmoMuchmormagazinemuchmormagazine.com

We chat to Singer SongwriterMarie-Jo Therio about her new

album “Chasing Lydie”

Whale watching in Quebec

La Main the soul of Montreal

Meet the Mayor: Marc Bureau,

Ville de Gatineau

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follow your passion, live your dream...

For more information about Hastings County please contact:

Andrew Redden, Economic Development Manager: [email protected]

✓ Reaching from the Bay of Quinte to

Algonquin Provincial Park

✓ Ontario ̓ s Artisan Cheese Region

✓Double the national average of artists & artisans ✓ One of the top 15 places visited in Ontario (Statcan)

✓ We ̓ re “Rurban” - rural with an urban flair

✓ 90 minutes to Toronto, 2 hours to Ottawa

MUCHMOR MEDIA 17 Woody Woodward LaneCorbyville RR1Ontario, K0K 1V0Canada

Tel: 1 613 396 5531Fax: 1 613 396 3463

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Muchmor Media relies on information suppliedby external sources and this publication issupplied on the basis that it believes this to becorrect and accurate at the time of publication.Muchmor Media does not however warrant itsaccuracy or completeness and to the full extentof the allowed by law excludes liability for anyloss or damage sustained by readers arising fromor in connection with the supply or use of thisinformation. If errors occur and are brought to

our attention it is our policy to correct any errorsof fact whenever we can.

Muchmor Media does not endorse anyadvertisers or content providers. The opinions ofreaders and contributors are not necessarily theopinions of Muchmor Media, and we cannot beheld responsible for their comments.

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Well, it is back down to earth this

month after our anniversary

celebrations. Thanks to everyone

for thei r good wishes and

comments about the new look

website and magazine.

In this issue we have several

features about Québec, the main

one being about a wonderful

singer who calls Québec her home - Marie-Jo Therio. This amazing woman has justreleased her third album, her first English-language album and she tells us of her

journey into the music business and what this latest album means to her and her

family. We also speak to Marc Bureau, Mayor of Gatineau, Québec to find out about

his likes and dislikes and what makes him tick.

Still on the Québec theme, we take a look at the Whale Route on the north shoreline

of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is one of the best places in Canada to view over adozen species of whales. But if whales aren’t your thing, then how about trying out

the cultural activities that Montréal has to offer?

Also in this issue we also talk to the Draper family who moved from the UK to

Canada in 2006 and have made Prince Edward County, Ontario their home. We find

out how they made their big move and their trials and tribulations since arriving. We

also talk to Deepshikha Brar, an Indian-origin immigrant who has proved to be a

formidable business woman in Calgary, Alberta.

We hope you enjoy the May issue of Muchmor and as always if you have a story to

tell, or know someone who does, please get in touch. We would love to hear from

you. Enjoy…..Jane Toombes Editor

This months Cover. Marie-Jo Therio

EDITORS MESSAGE






THE CONTENTS

PEOPLE

14 18

PLACES12

MUCHMOR PLACES

MUCHMOR PEOPLE

MUCHMOR LIFESTYLE

06

14

24

Making waves in Calgary Meet the Mayor

La Main, the soul of Montreal

The Whale Route, Quebec

La Main, the soul of Montreal12

Voice over: Deepshikha Brar makes waves inCalgary

18Meet the Mayor: Marc Bureau, Ville de GatineauQuebec

Invest in cheese please

25Canada the preferred destination of UK expats

26Jobs, 10 simple tips for success



FEATURED

38

IMMIGRATION30

MUCHMOR IMMIGRATION

MUCHMOR FEATURED

MUCHMOR SPOTLIGHT

30

38

44

The Drapers real life story of life in Canada

Real life story: Still on a high since landing inCanada. The Drapers story of life in Canada

We spoke to singer, song writer Marie-Jo Therioabout her debut English-language album “ChasingLydie”

Financial advice: How to pay your bills and investtoo.

THE CONTENTS

MUCHMOR MAGAZINE - WWW.MUCHMORMAGAZINE.COM





MUCHMOR PLACES

The Whale Route, QuebecBy Jane Toombes

© MTOQ / Bouchard, Claude ; Lavoie, Jean-Guy



As with most Canadian locations

Quebec has an abundance of

wildlife. But one of the most amazingand certainly the largest creature to

be observed is the whale.To see a whale breach the water,

swimming within meters of the boat youare on is a truly unforgettable

experience.

Thirteen species of whale can be

viewed including belugas, humpbacks,

fin and the largest mammal ever to live

on the earth - the blue whale. Whalewatching can be experienced at many

locations in the province between May

and October. Most require you to get on

a boat and travel to where they

congregate, but you may also be lucky

enough to be able to view whales from

the safety of the shore.

The Whale Route (Route des baleines) is

an area running along the north

shoreline of the Gulf of St. Lawrence

where all thirteen species of whale can

be viewed. The Route stretches over

900 km (560 miles) and encompasses

forests, beaches, campgrounds, townsand villages. There are sections which

are accessible for cyclists as well as

offering opportunities for water sports

enthusiasts.

The start of the journey is Tadoussac

which sits on the banks of theSanguenay F iord. C lose by is

Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

which offers some of the best whale

watching opportunities in Canada from

both land and water. The fjord creates

very deep water that the whales love

meaning some can be seen within a fewmeters of the shoreline. But if you want

the true whale watching experience you

need to get on a boat and go to them.

The Marine Park is one of the national

marine conservation areas of Parks



Canada. This means that although the

tourism industry is very important to the

area, the wildlife is protected. A code of

ethics has been in place for many years

to help protect the whale species in

their natural habitat whilst at the same

time allowing visitors to view them.

Although the whole route offers great

whale watching opportunities there are

some areas which stand out. We

mentioned Tadoussac, this is one of the

main departure points for boat tours.Further down the coast, Les Escoumins

is another village offering many boat

tours.

If you want to get a true insight into

whales and other mammals then you

should visit the Mingan Island Cetacean

Study (MICS). You can book visits here

lasting from one day to two weeks

where you will engage in the study of

whales alongside world-renowned

marine biologists.

Sessions usually start in April and

extend to mid September and range in

price depending on the type of session

booked and of course the duration.

They do however , i nc lude a l l

accommodation and food and transportduring the session.

Not only is this route excellent for whale

watching, it is also an area of

magnificent natural beauty. Don’t just

confine your trip to wildlife viewing, take

© MTOQ / Lavoie, Jean-Guy



in the stunning scenery and other interesting locations along the route. One example

would be Baie-Comeau where you can view the The Daniel Johnson Dam which is

the largest buttressed multiple arch dam in the world. Pointe-des-Monts has a

beautiful lighthouse dating back to 1830. It incorporates a large exhibition with

entertainment and restaurant.

Booking a whale watching trip

When deciding to go whale watching you need to decide a few things to make

sure you book the trip that is right for you.

•How long do you want the trip to last?

•What size boat do you want to travel on?

•Do you want to be part of a small or large group?

•What language do you prefer?

•Does the trip offer underwater acoustics so you can hear the whales?

•Do you require wheelchair accessibility or other special requirements?

•Is food provided or can you provide your own?

•Does the boat have a washroom?

•Does the boat have storage facilities for your bags etc?

•Are there specific species you want to see?

•What safety equipment is on board i.e. navigation, lifejackets?

•Does the boat have a covered area?

You should also make sure the company you book your trip with respects the whales

and their environment. Do they follow the code of ethics? Are the guides on board

trained and qualified? What are the safety measures on board - do they follow the

Canadian Coast Guard Regulations? Check for references and testimonials from

others when selecting.





Remember that no trip organizer will ever

guarantee that you will see whales, after

all they are free spirits that come and go

as they please. Some companies offer

either free or discounted future trips if nowhales are seen. Adverse weather

conditions also need to be take into

account. Always check the terms and

conditions before booking.

When you are on the trip you will need to

take certain things with you, after allonce you are on the boat you will not

have the opportunity to get anything you

have forgotten. A camera is a must, but

also remember to take spare batteries,

film, lenses etc. However warm it is on

land, it is often cooler out on the water so

wear layers and take warm clothing witha hat or tuque. Make sure you have

comfortable footwear that is not too

slippery. Flip flops and similar footwear is

not recommended. Sunscreen and

sunglasses are a must. Depending on the

type and duration of the trip you may

want to take food and drinks with you.

Above all enjoy the experience. Few

people have the opportunity to see these

magnificent mammals in their natural

habitat, so never take this for granted.

Photo: © MTOQ / Tscherter, Ursula



La Main: the Soul of Montréal

Unabashedly forward, delectable and hip, it keeps the Sabbath, eats Greek,

dances Salsa and shouts Forza Azzurri. Boulevard Saint-Laurent, known as “the

Main” to aficionados, is a city within a city. Numerous communities—Jewish,

Italian, Greek and Portuguese, to name the principal ones—are found in this true

cradle of diversity in Montréal.

Often associated with the establishment and development of ethnocultural

communities, Boulevard Saint-Laurent has

been the gateway to Québec for thousandsof immigrants searching for a better future.

In 1996, the government of Canada

designated this grand boulevard as a

n a t i o n a l h i s t o r i c s i t e , t h e r e b y

commemorating it as a sign of hope and an

essential passage for newcomers. Eleven kilometres long, the Main crosses

practically every important street, avenue

and boulevard in Québec’s largest city.

Running north-south and dividing the city

into East and West, Montréal’s principal

thoroughfare draws droves of people in

search of its intense cultural life, hiprestaurants, and friendly urban lifestyle. Also

treasured by the artistic community, it has

inspired such major writers as Mordecai

Richler and Michel Tremblay, in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and Sainte-

Carmen de la Main, respectively.

By Tourisme Québec

http://www.bonjourquebec.com/fileadmin/Image/medias/articles/pretpublier/DSCN0065_g.jpg





Warm and welcoming, it is home both to essential services and to entertainment

venues. In bygone days, it boasted a large concentration of places for a good time.

From loose women to impossible love stories, the Main has always had a libertine

reputation. As a part of town known for vice, where erotic shows, houses of

debauchery, clandestine gaming houses and places to smoke all sorts of illegal

products were established, it earned Montréal the nickname of “Sin City”. Today, the Main is also a delightful dance floor and outdoor market. When summer

comes, it is a sure sign that great rejoicing and revelry are just around the corner.

With the Grand Prix on the “Main”, Club “Main” and Mix’Arts, there are plenty of

opportunities to celebrate the uniqueness of Montréal’s queen of thoroughfares. Every year, from Rue Sherbrooke to Avenue du Mont-Royal, streets are blocked offto make way for “unmotorized” traffic. For all Montrealers, it is a true celebration!

Music, food from all corners of the world, happy people and united colours—worthy

of a Benetton commercial. The stage is set! Now for the merchants, giving their

sales pitches like Romeo crying out his love for Juliette. There’s the sound track! To

play the roles, all that’s missing is you!

Visit http://www.bonjourquebec.com for more information about visiting Quebec.

http://www.bonjourquebec.com/



http://www.bonjourquebec.com/fileadmin/Image/medias/articles/pretpublier/04394h_g.jpg

http://www.bonjourquebec.com/fileadmin/Image/medias/articles/pretpublier/04394h_g.jpg

http://boulevardsaintlaurent.com/?page_id=4270&lang=en










MUCHMOR PEOPLE

14

Voice Over. Deepshikha Brar makes

waves in Calgary By Peeyush Agnihotri



There are two types of people in this world —

followers who tread a set path and leaders, who

carve a niche for themselves and inspire other to

follow. Deepshikha Brar, an Indian-origin immigrant

to Canada, falls in the latter category.

This lady from North India is an inspiration to many. An All-India Radio (AIR) announcer, who came to Canada nearly 10

years ago, with many dreams worked hard to realize them.

Today, she owns a string of diverse businesses that include

an ethic media production house, cosmetics clinic and an

education plan agency. Deepshikha plans an electora

debut, now.

A popular face in the South Asian community, this Alberta

Centennial Award winner, 2005, is seeking nomination as an

MLA from one of the Calgary north east constituency on the

Wildrose Alliance ticket.

“Since childhood, I was keen on co-curricular activities. My

leanings towards poetry and writing brought me into media.

hosted my first radio show in India in 1996. Three years later

we (me and my family) moved to Edmonton, Canada, and to

Calgary in 2003, she recalls.

The move didn’t come with many surprises as she and her

husband were pretty ready to face the Canadian way of life.



“We were prepared, supported each

other and are now where we are,” she

says and adds her husband has been a

pillar of strength despite being from a

diverse religious leaning. “My husband

has always inspired and encouraged me

in pursuing my dreams. We are more of

fast friends rather than a hubby-wife

duo,” she says.

Once in Canada, after hosting live

community radio shows, Sandli Paidan

and Chanan de Vanjare, Deepshikhamoved on to the national television. Co-

hosting with a couple of other media

personalities gave her the needed

exposure and she started her own

production company, Pravaas TV, which

drew huge response from the public.

The programmes highlight many socialissues of immigrant’s concerns.

Currently, she hosts Aagaz, a pan-

Canada TV programme on social and

cultural aspects (Vision TV) targeting the

South Asian community, besides Hard

Talk and Deepshikha Live on ethnicradio. She also owns a cosmetics clinic

and an education plan (RESPs) agency.

All this was possible as she studied and

worked hard in Canada to make a mark.

A commerce graduate, she honed her

media skills as also worked towards

getting credentials in the fields of RESP

and cosmetology. And is she dabbling

successfully in all these diverse

sectors? The trophies and community

awards that adorn the room say it all.

Her success mantra? “Know your worth

and always wear that what’s-my-worth

tag up your sleeves. Never compromise

and sooner or later you will get into the

field of your choice. Work passionately

to achieve the goal and opportunitysure will knock your door,” she advises.

Miffed by the non-use of the vast

immigrant talent that Canada has,

Deepshikha says: "It costs hundreds of

thousands of dollars to educate a

doctor, engineer, or other professional.We have thousands of highly educated

and experienced professionals working

in other sectors. We can easily get rid of

the problem of shortage of doctors and

nurses, and many others, if we

accelerate and streamline the process

of recognition of their educational andprofessional credentials,” she says.

She already is creating (air) waves in

Calgary. Will her political foray be able

to create some more ripples? We’ll soon

find out!



http://www.immigrationsudbury.ca/immigration



Elected Municipal Councillor for Hull for the first time in 1999 and

Councillor for the new city of Gatineau in 2001, Marc Bureau (55) became

Mayor of Ville de Gatineau, Quebec's fourth largest city, in 2005. He also

holds the post of President of Développement économique – CLD

Gatineau and the Commission conjointe d'aménagement de l'Outaouais.

He sits as a member of the Big City Mayors Caucus of the Federation of

Canadian Municipalities, of the executive committee and the board of

directors of the Union des municipalités du Québec and of the Conférence

régionale des élus de l'Outaouais.

Meet the Mayor



Marc Bureau, Ville de Gatineau, Québec

By Jane Toombes



As an entrepreneur, starting in 1982, he

also served as acting director of

recreational services for Rouyn-

Noranda. As an active member of his community,he was the founding member and vice-

president of the “Association des gens

d'affaires de Hull” and vice-president of

the executive committee of the

“Commission scolaire des Portages-de-

l'Outaouais”. Born in Abitibi, Mr. Bureau is married to

Christiane Gourde and father of four

children: Eloï, Audrey, Chloe and

Chanel. He has a Bachelor's degree in

recreation from the Université du

Québec à Trois-Rivières and a

certificate in administration from the

Université de Montréal.

Always close to citizens, Mr. Bureau

promotes t ransparency , sound

management o f pub l i c f unds ,

maintenance of basic quality services,

de ve lo pm en t o f a sa f e l i v i ng

environment for all, affordable housingdevelopment and promotion of a

dynamic economic development in

Gatineau. The environmental protection

and sustainable development are at the

heart of the actions of Mr. Bureau, who

wishes to make Gatineau a city always

greener, one city that stands out for its

quality of life.

Mr. Bureau gave his time to answer

our questions so that we can find out

a little more about him.

Q: What was the first car you ever

owned?

A: Honda Civic

Q: If you could own any vehicle what

would it be and why?

A: The new Nissan Leaf. A 100%

electric car, with zero emission, that will

be available this fall in Canada

Q: What has been your most

embarrassing moment and why?

A: When I tore the Achilles tendonduring an election campaign. It was a

long walk to victory!

Q: What is one thing people would be

surprised to find about about you?

A: I dance Salsa!!!

Q: If you could change anything

about yourself what would it be?

A: Be able to let go off work more easily.

Q: What do you most value in other

people?

A: Respect and loyalty.



Q: Mac or PC?

A: PC.

Q: Where has been your most memorable travel destination and why?

A: Japan. It is a beautiful country that impressed me for its culture and the technology.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

A: Do not laugh, but it would be here in Gatineau! It is a beautiful city which combines

the urban and rural environments. No wonder that the Gatineau-Ottawa region is the

best place to live in the country according to a study for MoneySense.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Gandhi with Ben Kingsley.

Q: What was the last book you read, or are currently reading?

A: Detour from James Siegle. An excellent thriller!

Q: What sports do you support and/or play?

A: I love tennis, skiing and walking.

Q: What hobbies do you do to relax?

A: Being close to several rivers, I love to relax with fly fishing in the summer.

Q: What has been your best moment since becoming Mayor? And your worst?

A: Best: Without doubt, the Québec Games in Gatineau last summer (2010) which

coincided with the opening of new Sports Centre, a world-class building that became

the home of the men's team of Volleyball Canada. Worst: I haven’t found one yet.





http://investincheese.ca/



MUCHMOR LIFESTYLE

Ever wonder how cheese is made...ever wonder,.. how to become a cheese

connoisseur. Well now is your chance! Hastings County's Economic Development Department has joined forces with

3 fellow Eastern Ontario Offices in order to make it happen. The four Eastern Offices

are Frontenac, Prince Edward County, Lennox & Addington, and Hastings County.

The goal is to expand Eastern Ontario in the Cheesemaking industry by educating

the public. They have expanded this to a new iPad application that will soon be

available to the public.

HOW TO START A CHEESEMAKING BUSINESS IN EASTERN ONTARIO is a new

informative information iPad application that will soon be available to the

public. This is a great opportunity to learn about the craft of cheesemaking, and the

steps that are involved. It contains all the information from what animal's milk to

choose, and the pros and cons for each choice. Every reader is encouraged to

participate in workshops before jumping into this trade. This is a trade that allows you to be creative and make money all at the same time,

but is a full-time job! The information states that according to the Expansion

Strategy 2009, current cheese-makers are not interested in expanding their

businesses. This leaves a large expansion rate for new cheese-makers. With Sales

expected to rise by 25% in the next decade this leaves room for another 25-50 new

cheesemakers, with a sale of $2-4 million dollars.

Keep your eye open on this blog for new information on the new iPad Application

named: HOW TO START A CHEESEMAKING BUSINESS IN EASTERN ONTARIO.

Don’t miss out on daily blogs http://www.communitieswithopportunities.com/and

tweets (HastingsCounty), for all up to date information.

24

Invest in Cheese Please... By: Lesley Galloway







Canada the preferred destination for

UK expatsIt seems the pull of the beautiful Rockies, the Mounties and the marvelous taste of

maple syrup is a real sticking point for British expats.’ Canada has the best quality of

life for British expats who have voted its resources, natural beauty, peaceful attitude

and fairly administered judicial system as the best in the world. Canada tops the

fourth annual NatWest International Personal Banking Quality of Life Index with 92%

of expats rating its working environment as very good or excellent and 90%

regarding their financial security in a similar vein.

The majority, 92% rated Canada, as the best for its diverse environment,

natural beauty and resources, while 94% said its peaceful nature was a real

draw. Expats from around the world now account for more than 70% of the

whole Canadian labour force growth.

Canada leads the G7 in terms of the safest place to live and conduct business with

the most fairly administered judicial system. It was the leading performer among the



hard-hit G7 developed economies

during the global recession, helped by

its sound banking system and the fact it

avoided the property crash seen in the

United States and much of Europe.

In second place is New Zealand,

followed by Australia, France and South

Africa. Making up the rest of the top ten

is Portugal, Spain, the United States,

the Uni ted Arab Emirates and

Singapore.

As well as the country’s natural beauty

and peaceful reputation, Canada’s

healthcare system is also well regarded

by expats living there and was rated

high by 90%. Furthermore high

standards of education are enjoyed by

expats in Canadian Schools andUniversities. Canada has the highest

percentage of individuals achieving at

least college or university education

among the top 50 countries surveyed

by the Wor ld Compet i t i veness

Yearbook, 2009.

‘This is the second year Canada has

topped the tables of the NatWest IPB

Quality of Life Index. Its excellent

working conditions, financial security

and peaceful reputation have pushed

Canada into this year’s pole position. It

seems the pull of the beautiful Rockies,

the Mounties and the marvelous taste of

maple syrup is a real sticking point for

expats,’ said Dave Isley, head of

NatWest Internat ional Personal

Banking.

’As a member of the Commonwealth,

Canada offers Brits common values and

goals shared with the UK, helping

British expats settle into the country

and feel at home,’ he added.

The booming economy in Canada also

makes the country more attractive.

Canada‘s recent expatriate intake has

been double those of the United States,

with priority given to highly skilled

workers.

Financial assets in Canada are up 6%

from last year’s levels. Household

finances improved in the fourth quarter

of 2010, and net worth is rising to

record levels. Household net worth per

cap i ta i ncreased to $181,700,representing the highest level on record.

Canadian household net worth grew by

2.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010 to

$6.2 t r i l l ion. The ga in pushed



Canadians’ net worth to a new record high, 4.1% above the pre-recession peak

seen in the second quarter of 2008 and 14.6% above the recessionary trough seen

in the first quarter of 2009.

‘UK expats say they are living a more fulfilled lifestyle abroad, whilst also benefiting

financially. This is particularly true for UK expats in Canada who not only say theybenefit from financial security, improved cost of living and a happier working

environment but a better work life balance and equal opportunities,’ explained Isley.

For the wider expat community, living and working abroad enables them to earn and

save more despite the current economic downturn. More than half of those living

and working abroad earn between £50,000 and £100,000. Expats based in Hong

Kong have the highest salaries with close to half earning more than £100,000 a year.

The factors that influence individuals’ decisions on where they pursue their careers

are many, but a key factor is the powerful link between earning capacity and the

ability to build a nest egg. Some 74% of respondents claim to have increased

disposable income since becoming expats.

Top 12 Expat Destinations:

1. Canada

2. New Zealand

3. Australia

4. France

5. South Africa

6. Portugal

7. Spain

8. U.S.

9. United Arab Emirates

10. Singapore

11. Hong Kong

12. China



While the popularity of online job boards puts millions of jobs at one’s fingertips, it has

also made the job applicant pool that much bigger. For this reason, national job

search sites and the Internet as a whole have gotten a bad rap from some industry

professionals as an ineffective job seeker tool; on the contrary, the Internet actually

can be a great resource for job seekers — they just need to know how to use it.

10 simple tips for success:

1. If you build it, they can come.

Instead of simply posting your résumé on a Web site, take it one step further and

design an easily-navigable Web site or online portfolio where recruiters can view your

body of work, read about your goals and obtain contact information.

2. Check yourself to make sure you haven’t wrecked yourself.Google yourself to see what comes up — and what potential employers will see if they

do the same. If you don’t like what you find, it’s time to do damage control.

3. Narrow your options.

Many job boards offer filters to help users refine their search results more quickly. You

should have the option to narrow your job search by region, industry and duration,

and, oftentimes, you can narrow it even more by keywords, company names,experience needed and salary.

4. Go directly to the source.

Instead of just applying for the posted job opening, one of the best strategies to

finding a job is to first figure out where you want to work, target that company or

industry and then contact the hiring manager. Also, many employers’ career pages

invite visitors to fill out candidate profiles, describing their background, jobs of

interest, salary requirements and other preferences.

5. Find your niche with industry Web sites.

Refine your search even more by visiting your industry’s national or regional Web site,

where you can find jobs in your field that might not appear on a national job board

More and more employers are advertising jobs on these sites in hopes of getting a

bigger pool of qualified applicants.

http://www.muchmormagazine.com/12-2/






6. Try online recruiters.

Recruiters will help match you with jobs that meet your specific skills and needs. Not

sure where to start? Sites such as recruiterlink.com, onlinerecruitersdirectory.com

searchfirm.com and i-recruit.com provide links to online headhunters for job seekers.

7. Utilize video résumés.Video résumés are just one more way to stand out to employers. Intended as

supplements to — not replacements for — traditional résumés, video résumés allow

job seekers to showcase a little bit of their personalities and highlight one or two

points of interest on their résumés.

8. Run queries.

You run searches on everything else, from your high school sweetheart to low-fat

recipes, so why not jobs? Enter a query that describes the exact kind of job you’re

seeking and you may find more resources you wouldn’t find otherwise (but be

prepared to do some sorting).

9. Utilize job alerts.

Most job boards have features that allow you to sign up to receive e-mail alerts about

newly available jobs that match your chosen criteria. Or go a step further and arrange

an RSS (really simple syndication) feed from one of these job sites to appear on your

customized Internet homepage or your PC’s news-reader software.

10. Get connected.

How many times have you been told that it’s not what you know, but who you know?

Thanks to the emergence of professional networking sites like LinkedIn.com, job

seekers no longer have to rely on the old standby of exchanging business cards with

strangers. These sites are composed of millions of industry professionals and allow

you to connect with people you know and the people they know and so forth. (A word

of caution: When you sign up for online social networking sites, you are in a public

domain. Unless you are able to put a filter on some of your information, nothing is

private, and it can be difficult to erase once it is posted.)

Search for your perfect job






MUCHMOR IMMIGRATION

30



Still on a high since landing in

Canada. The Draper’s story of life

in Canada By Jane Toombes

As one of British Airways’ youngest

pilots, Steven Draper and his wife

Caroline and young son Callum had a

good life in the UK. They owned a

Jacobean farm house with over 60 acres

of land and stables which they rented out

to people wanting to ride and graze their

horses. Caroline managed this enterprise

having given up her career as a college

lecturer after having their son.



Their aim was to renovate the house and add to their chickens and goats to become

completely self-sufficient. However, because the property was Grade II listed the

renovations they needed to do had to abide by strict standards which increased the

cost substantially. Also at this time British Airways (BA) decided to centralize their

operations from Heathrow Airport in London, meaning that Steven would have a very

long commute and possibly a pay cut. It would mean the couple would have to

remortgage and Caroline would have to find a job to help pay for everything, if they

decided to stay in the property.

The decision was made to sell the house and find somewhere new. But if they

were going to sell and move they would look at moving outside the UK.

“We were very sad and reflected on everything and decided that enough wasenough and that the UK was based on a pyramid scheme with everyone

sinking everything into their houses - which meant that a boom and bust was

not gonna be far away again.” says Caroline, “I said lets leave and look at New

Zealand.”

They dreamt of opening a spa on North

Island or a vineyard in the Nelson region

on South Island. But they soon realized

that the reality of such a move would be

too much.

“Steven would still be working for BA but

flying from New Zealand,” explains

Caroline, “Also our parents weren’t getting

any younger and to expect them to travel

such a great distance to visit would be too

much for them. So we decided New

Zealand wasn’t for us after all.”

They then looked at Canada as both had



relatives in the country and Steven could still continue to work for BA. In fact he

could get a work permit allowing them to move to Canada relatively quickly and then

apply for residency once there. They decided to put their house up for auction and

sold it within a week. The next thing was telling relatives about the impending move.

Caroline recalls breaking the news. “My parents took it very bad as we had their only

grandchild and they were, and still are, very upset that we took him away from them.

They said everything under the sun to me: about how bad I was, how they would

never forgive me, how I've broken their hearts, etc. Sadly they still feel very much the

same. They hate Canada on principal and it hurts me to talk about what we do here

with them. But I know that I am not alone in that response from parents after having

spoken to many expats its fairly common, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”



So, the couple decided to move to Nova Scotia as it reminded them of Scotland.

Steven got his work permit and they moved in April 2006 buying a house in Bear

River.

Whilst in Nova Scotia Caroline became pregnant with their second child. When she

went into labour they had to travel two hours to the hospital. This was a big shock tothem as there were very few community hospitals and fewer local doctors to take

care of such things. However, despite everything she gave birth to a healthy son

Orson.

It was during this time that Steven began feeling unwell. They put it down to his job.

After all he was constantly travelling and commuting to England every four weeks

from Halifax. Steven’s health continued to decline and he became very sick withtonsillitis and was on various IV drips for nearly a month. He was told by doctors that

he could not go back to work for several months and that they would continue to do

tests to find out the cause of his ill health. After six months he was still off work and

feeling no better with no end in sight.

Eventually he was diagnosed with Hypersommnia. This is a condition which means

the sufferer has reoccurring episodes of sleepiness which can occur any time of the

day. The constant need for naps meant that his much loved flying career was over.

He would not be allowed to keep his flying licence even with medication as this too

was incompatible with regulations.

This was a huge blow to the family as suddenly they had no income coming in and

knew they would have to find work. Both Steven and Caroline felt it was very

important that she be at home for the boys and so it was down to Steven to find

work. He decided to look to his second love - photography.

Since moving to Nova Scotia he had been a keen photographer and some of his

work had appeared in newspapers etc. They decided that if he was going to make

his photography business work they would need to move closer to Toronto. They

decided to go on a trip to look at different areas and stayed in a B&B in Stirling in the



Quinte region of Ontario. The landlady there suggested that they should look at Prince

Edward County or PEC as it is known locally.

“She said it was a great place for kids with vineyards and farms for sale and that it

was a great place for artistic types like us.” says Steven. “We drove over the bridge to

the island and felt at peace for the first time in a long time.”

This was in early 2008 and they soon found a house they loved and bought it. Soon

Caroline found out she was pregnant again and Aaron, their third son was the first

New Year’s baby to be born in Picton Hospital in 2009.

Whilst in Nova Scotia Callum their oldest had been home schooled for two days and

in French Immersion for three days, but by now he wanted to go to “proper” school.

They enrolled him in a local school which he loves.

“It is a totally different school to both UK and NS.” says Caroline, “No fences, wide

open playing fields, and a school based

on common sense. It is a small school

of just over 200 children and the

teachers know all of the children and

most of the parents by first names.”

In 2010 their fourth child Eric was born,

yes another boy!

We asked the couple what they liked

and disliked about Canadian life and if

they missed anything about the UK.

“We love the fact that we feel part of the

community here in PEC,” says Caroline.

“We try to get involved in things and it

pays off with friendship, work opportunities and lots of things do do locally.



“We love the fact that there are fewer people in Canada with wide open spaces. Theroads are easier to travel along, not so much congestion, even in Toronto.”

Steven continues, “People here seem to be more relaxed and have a sense of

community. People seem to apologize for everything and tend to ‘beat-around-the-

bush’ rather than tell you as it is. This is not always a good thing as difficult decisions

cannot always be made.

“Although it is colder here for much longer periods, everyone knows how to handle

the weather and gets by fine.”

They say the UK was much busier with no one having time for anyone else. There was

more noise and pollution, including light pollution. They also had a sense of unease

and never feeling really safe and having to ‘keep up with the Jones’. House prices

were also very high making it very hard to progress up the property ladder.



They do however say they miss unspoiled rural rolling countryside and traditiona

English pubs. They also miss Sunday football on TV (real footie), as well as cricket.

They find food was cheaper in the UK and alcohol was also cheaper and of better

quality than here in Canada. There have been some shocks to the system too.

“The cost of living in Canada is expensive especially when you have to earn in dollars

not stirling. Many people in UK look to here and convert with stirling but that is only

good if you are living on a UK pension and exchange rates are in your favour.”

explains Caroline. “We have also been shocked by the state of health care in Canada.

Many people still do not have family doctors, but once you find one the process does

seem quicker here than the UK.”

Steven continues, “There can be a lack of things for families and children to do in the

winter other than hockey. After all not everyone is a fan of hockey. There also seems

to be a lack of indoor swimming pools compared to the UK.

“We love being here and would not move back, but do miss the traditional history and

sense of place that the UK has from years of being invaded that has moulded the

streets, countryside and ancient castles etc. That sense of history is really missed

along with rolling english countryside.”



MUCHMOR FEATURED

With the new double album Chasing Lydie, Marie-Jo

Therio has broken out from her Francophone world

and released her debut English-language album.



Born in Moncton, Marie-Jo Therio grewup with a musical mother and three

musician brothers; by the age of 10 she

was studying piano and at 16 started

performing her own songs. When she

was 17, she moved to Montreal to study

literature at the Université de Montréal

and attend the Conservatoire d’artdramatique, while performing at boîtes

à chanson. It was around this time

playwright Michel Tremblay auditioned

her for his romantic opera Nelligan;

d i rec t o r C laude B rassa rd was

impressed, casting her as Nelligan’s

younger sister. Then came roles in LesMisérables and three years in the Télé-

Métropole series Chambres en ville,

playing a mixed-up teenager.

All the while she performed her music at

assorted shows and festivals, and in

1995 released her debut album Comme

de la musique. A year later she received

the first Fondation Félix-Leclerc prize

awarded by the FrancoFolies de

Montréal, and played Place des Arts. In

1997, she opened for Georges Moustaki

at the Casino de Paris, and won the PrixSentier des Halles. She also won a

Jutra Award as best supporting actress

for the film Full Blast (1999).

She teamed up with avant-garde

guitarist-producer Bernard Falaise for

her second album, La Maline (2000),

and the musical theatre creation Arbre à

fruits, which both gained Marie-Jo yet

more plaudits. By 2004, she had moved

to France to finish Les mat ins

habitables, becoming the first Canadian

to record for the highly regarded Naive

label, selling 50,000 copies (gold) and

winning the 2006 Félix Award for best

contemporary folk album.

And now, with the new double album

Chasing Lydie, Marie-Jo Therio has

broken out from her Francophone

world and released her debut

English-language album.

The inspirations behind the album are

twofold and intertwined, family, travel,

and her family’s travels.

Marie-Jo Therio “Chasing Lydie”



“In 1927, Rosalie and Grégoire LeBlanc, my great maternal grandparents and their

11 children, had already left the farm in Memramcook, New Brunswick, to live in

Waltham Massachusetts for a hope of a better life.” Says Marie-Jo, “Most of them

first found work at the Waltham Watch factory (famous for its clocks and watches).

“I remember from my childhood in Acadie, the frequent visits of the relatives ‘from

the states’ (la parent des états). The rare mention of my great aunt Lydia (on the

maternal side): an adventurous and wild woman it appeared, who chose to be a

singer in the 3O's and 40's, was the trigger of an intense curiosity in me.

“Chasing Lydie is a quest and an adventure that started as an attempt to know more

about my great aunt Lydia, her family, and the story of those who immigrated to the

states in the days of New England's industrial boom. It soon became apparent that

40 Photo Credit: Muchmor Magazine



the adventure itself was taking center

stage. Chasing Lydie is also a reflection

on time, on memory passed on, on the

celebration of those things which seem

small but can be so hugely important,on the urgency of being fully alive.”

Having spent her entire career

singing and performing in French,

Chasing Lydie was to become Marie-

Jo’s very first English-language

project, she explains.

“Although it was unsuspected at first, it

soon became apparent that in order to

celebrate the intimacy of the project and

to get closer to it's emotional core, I had

to embrace the language that the

LeBlancs who left for ‘the American

Dream’ learned upon arrival to the

states. It is what felt truer to the project.

The songs came naturally in English and

were never thought of in French at all.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the theme

of Chasing Lydie, Marie-Jo has a strong

yearning for life on the road and astrong sense of wanderlust. Since

leaving her hometown of Moncton at

age 17 and basing herself in Montreal (a

city she still calls home), she has

travelled the world as a performer,

visiting France, Spain, Bosnia, Russia,

Senegal, Madagascar, Mali, Vietnam,

China, El Salvador, Haiti, Burkina

Faso…and many more. Not one to

name favourites she gains inspirationfrom, and holds everywhere she visits in

high regard with a respect and

appreciation of alternative beliefs and

lifestyles.

“Travelling has always been deeply

connected to the creative process for

me. I suppose this in some way could

be related to my Acadian roots. There’s

no doubt that Acadians have been,

either by choice or not, big travellers

through time.”

The album itself is a wonderful mix of

many musical genres that come

together to create a musical journey that

is almost cinematic.

The musical colors of the album very

much obey the convergence between

the physical road of the present – the

sound of voices on the way / the soundof windscreen wipers sweeping away

the rain ahead – and the archived

sounds of the past, or of an imagined

past, celebrating its joyous clichés and

sweet melancholy.

Photo Credit: Rex Roof



“Chasing Lydie is a "film sonore", a little movie that progresses kind of like an

awakened dream, with sound only, but allowing many images to surface. It invites a

real moment of listening in time and space.” explains Marie-Jo.

Once the album was finished Marie-Jo felt there was only one way to road test the

new material: to play the music to the people who inspired it.

“One of the very important moments on an intimate level was to go back to Waltham

with ‘Chasing Lydie’ (the finished album) and to listen to it with some of my

American relatives. At that moment, I felt that this adventure and the music that had

emerged from it was something that had an echo in them.”

It must have been nerve-wracking for an artist to introduce their family to a workthey themselves inspired; would they like it? Would it do them justice? Would the



story come across OK? These concerns were almost instantly swept away by an

overwhelming moment of appreciation and emotion and the reaction to the playback

couldn’t have gone better for Marie-Jo, who describes the moment as simply,

“memorable.”

Not only has the feedback from her own family been positive, the English-speaking

media reviews have been rapturous, including descriptions such as ‘a stunningly

beautiful work of popular art, utterly amazing’ and ‘(throughout Chasing Lydie)…

Therio holds the listener in the palm of her musical hands’, while the French media

have also been overwhelming in their reviews and support. So does all this mean

Marie-Jo will be recording another English album?

“Songs are songs. Poetry is poetry: you will not be surprised to hear me say that it’s

not about making an album in English, in French or in Spanish but it is to allow an

inspiration inside, and to release that inspiration from any

restriction whichever it may be. There are so many different ways

and paths and I suppose the result of this work has its content of

surprise for me. We may make a perfect plan but hey! Life, and the

roads chosen, have their own propositions to make.”

And on that suitably mysterious cliffhanger our interview is over. As

life’s journeys are yet to satisfy Marie-Jo’s wanderlust we hope her

travels will one day bring her to the rest of Canada on tour so we

can all have the chance to witness this wonderful album performed

live.

At the time of going to press tour dates are yet

to be confirmed but will be announced at

http:// mariejotherio.net/.

Chasing Lydie is out now on

Dare to Care Records.

http://mariejotherio.net/




















MUCHMOR SPOTLIGHT

There’s no doubt about it, making ends meet is tough. And getting ahead? – well, formany Canadians, that’s a desperate dream for tomorrow when every day brings the

reality of mortgage payments, car loans, lease payments, large credit card balances,

and other demands on your hard won earnings.

Sure, you’d like to start an investment program or add to the small investments

you’ve already made, but there just never seems to be anything left over once

you’ve taken care of the essentials. And in a world that runs on credit, it’s too easy

to carry too much debt in too many places.

If you’re staying awake at nights trying to map a way out of the dreaded debt spiral,

to say nothing of stretching your income to cover an investment program that could

help you realize your dreams for the future, debt consolidation may be just the ticket.

Debt consolidation can increase your ability to invest

Debt consolidation simply means paying off a number of higher interest rate loans or

other high-cost debt by taking out a single loan for a consolidated overall lower

monthly payment. You can choose to consolidate such unsecured debts as medical

bills, car payments, education loans, credit card payments or lines of credit and the

benefit is a single, more affordable monthly payment, that is usually much lower than

the many monthly payments you were making previously. It’s an effective way to

regain control of your finances, ease your cash management, generate savings andreduce stress as well as establishing a repayment plan that will move you beyond

simply servicing your balances to actually eliminating them.

If you own a home, you can consider consolidating your debt using a home equity

loan. Your loan is secured by your home and there’s no doubt you’ll be paying a

much lower interest rate than you do on your credit cards which can range from 19

44

How to pay your bills and invest too!



Peter Martin BA,CFP Senior Financial Consultant Investors Group Financial Services Inc

Call us: (905) 529-7165

Email: [email protected]

45

percent to over 28 percent for a retail card. By keeping your amortization period the

same, but with a lower interest rate, you’ve created additional cash flow that can be

used towards other financial goals.

An easy investment strategy that works

Once you’ve got your debt under control, it’s time to bring discipline and

consistency to your investment life. An easy way to do that and enjoy long-term

investment growth is through dollar cost averaging. This simply means making

regularly scheduled investments for a set amount of dollars. It’s a trouble-free

investment plan that delivers some powerful benefits:

Your investments are automatic you choose an amount that is debited from your

bank account and invested on your behalf on a regular basis, such as each month.

You are free from scrambling to buy lump sum investments at irregular intervals in

an attempt to ‘buy low and sell high’, your automated investments take place on a

regular basis.

You are able to acquire a greater number of mutual fund units when the price is

lower and a lesser number when the price is higher.

Over the longer term, your average cost per unit may be lower.

Dollar cost averaging is a great way to ramp up your RRSP nest egg and, along with

debt consolidation, is one of the many personal financial solutions that can make

your dreams for tomorrow realistically achievable through the actions you’re taking

today. We can help you gain control of your financial life and improve your prospects

for the future.

mailto:[email protected]





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Photo Muchmor Magazine: Toronto Eaton Centre

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