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Type: Row Unit | |
| Style: 2 Storey | |
| Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 2 |
| Heating: Forced Air, Gas | |
| Exterior: Aluminum Siding, Brick |
Canada has captured the global spotlight as a real estate investment destination – and private companies across all industries may be surprised by what that could mean for them.
New EY global research shows continued confidence in the real estate sector, and companies that were once focused on maintaining stability and operational efficiency are now shifting gears, looking for new investment opportunities:
And that’s where Canadian private companies come in. A business based here with the right real estate portfolio might be an attractive target for domestic or international investors looking to broaden their footprint in Canada.
Transactions like this can bring significant benefits. Through real estate IPOs or a sale of some or all real estate holdings, private companies can capitalize on the increased value of their properties. Some Canadian companies have already gone this route. For companies whose main business is not real estate, they gain cash flow while eliminating the costs and responsibilities of managing their various properties.
But, how do you know if a deal like this could be the right step for your company? Start by asking four key questions to help guide your strategy, and then build your plan accordingly.
Question 1: Is my real estate going to be in demand by the public markets?
This comes down to quality. Where are your properties, and what do those areas look like? Are the neighbourhoods in demand? Are values rising? What’s the condition of the buildings themselves, and is the type of property sought-after in the area? Do you have good tenants and management in place? Figuring out whether your holdings are in demand is an important first step, and you want to ensure you have the right support team around you to assess the questions well.
Question 2: Is now a good time, or should I wait a little longer?
Timing is everything. Getting a good understanding of the mitigating factors – what’s going on in the local real estate market, what’s about to come on the market, what inventory currently looks like, vacancy rates, etc. – will help determine whether your holdings are primed for sale now or still maturing, so to speak.
Question 3: Do I want the exposure of being in the public markets, or am I happier staying private?
Going public – in any capacity – is a huge step. Once a deal like this is concluded, private company owners will have a new level of exposure and be vulnerable to public scrutiny in an entirely different way. Your role with the properties won’t end completely if you go this route; you’ll have significant skin in the game, and the new responsibility of answering to a different kind of stakeholder. Knowing your gut – and the company’s culture – and being true to that is an important factor when deciding to jump into the public market, or maintain the status quo.
Question 4: Would a different exit strategy be more appropriate for my real estate portfolio?
Moves like this don’t have to be all or nothing. Just because a real estate IPO transaction works for one company doesn’t mean it’s the only way to unlock some of the capital tied up in your real estate holdings. Selling directly to a third party is another interesting option that allows a private company to ride the wave of optimism around Canada’s real estate market without incurring some of the complexities that an IPO would entail. Regardless of the option selected, you should speak to your tax adviser to understand all of the tax implications and review any tax planning opportunities. Ensure that you explore all the other options available to you, speak to experts, and get a good feel for any additional possibilities before you make a final decision.
Ensure your colour scheming works well every time you decorate with our guide to the basic rules.
Getting the colours you'd love in your rooms to work together beautifully is something you want to do right first time. There are plenty of ways to do it, so you can pick the method you prefer - you might enjoy having a reference like the colour wheel, or perhaps putting together a mood board of sample fabrics, paint colours or wallpapers might suit you better.
A colour wheel of 12 segments is based on the primary colours of red, yellow and blue. The secondary colours of green, orange and purple are created by combining the primary colours, and are also shown on the wheel. The remaining segments of the wheel are made from primary colours mixed with secondary colours, and are named for the combination - for example blue-green.
If you are using a colour wheel to help you decorate, theory tells you that you can create a scheme from just one segment of the wheel - and of course your scheme would be co-ordinated as you'll just be working with one colour.
This obviously isn't a whole room of - for example - blue things from the floors to the walls to the furniture. Use darker and lighter tones of your chosen colour and you'll create variety in the scheme but still know it's co-ordinated.
Alternatively you might choose two or three colours that sit alongside each other on the wheel - for example green, yellow-green, yellow - as these will work equally happily together in a room.
Other options for a co-ordinated room include using colours that are opposite each other on the wheel, or using three colours spaced equally apart on the wheel.
Remember that whichever option you choose, you'll need a break from colour in your room, too. So plan for areas of neutral or white. And don't forget that pattern can still be part of the room, bringing your chosen colours together.
We're all inspired by other people's decorating schemes. If you've fallen in love with a room you've seen on our site or in a magazine your sense of colour will tell you that the colours co-ordinate, but to reproduce the look, do some analysis of how this harmony is achieved.
Look at how much of the total area of the room each colour takes up. If a colour is on the floor or walls, then that's a substantial area, and you can use that sort of proportion in your room.
If a colour's just used on a vase, a rug and a couple of other small accessories, then to get the same effect that's how little of the room you should use the colour in, too.
If you know which colours you want to use in a room, but want to check how they look together, why not have a look at them on your PC screen before you get out a paintbrush?
Dulux's MousePainter allows you to play with Dulux's colours in a room. Choose from a gallery of images the room that's closest to the style of your own. You can then pick a colour, and click and drag it to fill an area of the room.
Repeat until you've filled all the available areas of the room, and until your colours are a harmonious set, not a clashing nightmare.
US site Design My Room also allows you to drag paint colours into a virtual room - as well as flooring, furniture and accessories - so you can check your colour scheming will co-ordinate.
Interior designers and stylists use mood boards to check their colour schemes are working, and if you like to collect samples before you decorate, this is a great colour co-ordinating tool for you.
Start with a plain board to which you can pin and stick samples, and then gather wallpaper, fabric, pictures of the furniture and accessories you want, and use sample pots of paint to create paint swatches.
Then you can lay out all your proposed colours together on the board to check they are co-ordinating perfectly.
For the best guide to what works, try to keep your samples proportionate to each other. For example, if you're painting all four walls in one colour then this would be the largest sample on your board; a flooring sample would also be one the biggest. A piece of the proposed curtain fabric would be smaller, and a colour just used for vases or cushions wouldn't be very big at all. This will give you the most accurate idea of the balance of colour in your completed room.
You're in pain, and ibuprofen just won't cut it. NSAIDs don't agree with your stomach, and you're wary of stronger meds.
Fortunately, you have alternatives for natural pain relief. From herbs that attack inflammation to techniques that leverage the brain's remarkable healing powers, nature offers many treatments for conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and even muscle strains. Here are eight natural remedies that may enhance or replace conventional antidotes, and leave you happier, healthier, and pain free.
As with any new form of treatment, it's important to consult your doctor before you begin to make sure it's safe for you.
Capsaicin
What it does: Reduces pain from arthritis, shingles, or neuropathy
What the science says: An active component of chili pepper, capsaicin temporarily desensitizes pain-prone skin nerve receptors called C-fibers; soreness is diminished for 3 to 5 weeks while they regain sensation. Nearly 40% of arthritis patients reduced their pain by half after using a topical capsaicin cream for a month, and 60% of neuropathy patients achieved the same after 2 months, according to a University of Oxford study. Patients at the New England Center for Headache decreased their migraine and cluster headache intensity after applying capsaicin cream inside their nostrils.
How to try it: Capsaicin ointments and creams are sold in pharmacies and health stores. For arthritis or neuropathy, try 0.025% or 0.075% capsaicin cream one to four times daily; best results can take up to 2 weeks, says Philip Gregory, PharmD, a professor at Creighton University and editor of the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. But research on capsaicin and headaches remains limited--and don't expect stronger versions anytime soon: "Current formulations are better suited for more acute problems, like a sore muscle or an arthritis flare-up, than everyday pain and stiffness," Gregory says.
InflaThera or Zyflamend
What it does: Helps ease arthritis
What the science says: Both supplement brands contain ginger, turmeric (show above), and holy basil, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (a curry ingredient) may be the best: A component, curcumin, eases inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, according to the Methodist Research Institute in Indianapolis. Researchers are now testing Zyflamend in RA patients, but some experts are already sold: "Each herb has its own scientific database of evidence," says James Dillard, MD, author of The Chronic Pain Solution.
How to try it: ProThera, InflaThera's maker, will only sell to health care professionals, so your doctor has to order it for you; that said, it's reportedly stronger (and slightly cheaper) than Zyflamend. InflaThera's suggested dosage is twice daily with food. For the more readily accessible Zyflamend, take one capsule two or three times daily, but avoid it near bedtime--each pill contains 10 mg of caffeine (another version, Zyflamend PM, is reportedly less stimulating). Buy Zyflamend at swansonvitamins.com or immunesupport.com/zyflamend.htm. Or, save money and try curcumin to start: Taking 500 mg four times daily, along with fish oil and a diet low in animal fat, can ease arthritis, says Jane Guiltinan, ND, immediate past president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Acupuncture
What it does: Relieves arthritis; migraines; low-back, menstrual, or post-operative pain
What the science says: When pricked with tiny, essentially painless needles, your body releases endogenous opioids, its natural painkillers—but for reasons scientists are still figuring out, the benefits last longer than the chemicals’ analgesic effect. Recent research has yielded stunning results: people with knee arthritis reduced pain by 40% after 6 months of acupuncture that began as twice weekly sessions and was gradually reduced to once a month, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who also found it can relieve low-back pain. Overseas, scientists in Europe used acupuncture to cut medication use in half among migraine sufferers—and, in another study, ease menstrual pain. Post-surgery patients needed less morphine after receiving the needle pricks, a recent Duke University Medical Center review found.
How to try it: For acute pain, try 5-8 treatments; experts say you’ll need 8-15 sessions for chronic pain (in the UMM study on osteoarthritis, significant improvement took 14 weeks). Nearly half of employers offer health insurance that covers acupuncture, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. Contact your state’s acupuncture board or your insurer to find a licensed practitioner.
Arnica
What it does: Alleviates acute injury or post surgery swelling
What the science says: This herb comes from a European flower (shown above); although its healing mechanism is still unknown, it does have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Taking oral homeopathic arnica after a tonsillectomy decreases pain, say British researchers, and German doctors found that it reduces surgery-related knee swelling.
How to try it: Use homeopathic arnica as an adjunct to ice, herbs, or conventional pain meds, suggests Guiltinan. Rub arnica ointment on bruises or strained muscles, or take it in the form of three lactose pellets under the tongue up to six times per day.
Aquamin
What it does: Relieves osteoarthritis inflammation and pain
What the science says: This red seaweed supplement is rich in calcium and magnesium. A preliminary clinical study showed that the ingredients may reduce joint inflammation or even help build bone, says David O'Leary of Marigot, Aquamin's Irish manufacturer. In a study of 70 volunteers published in Nutrition Journal, Aquamin users reduced arthritis pain by 20% in a month, and had less stiffness than patients taking a placebo.
How to try it: Marigot recommends 2,400 mg a day (two capsules) of Aquamin in tablet form, sold domestically in products such as Aquamin Sea Minerals and Cal-Sea-Um.
SAM-e (S adenosylmethionine)
What it does: Reduces osteoarthritis aches
What the science says: SAM-e is made from a naturally occurring amino acid and sold as capsules. Doctors aren't entirely sure why it tamps down pain, but it reduces inflammation and may increase the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Studies by the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the University of California, Irvine, showed that SAM-e was as effective as some NSAIDs in easing osteoarthritis aches; the California researchers found that SAM-e quashed pain by 50% after 2 months, though it took a few weeks to kick in. SAM-e produced no cardiovascular risks and fewer stomach problems than the conventional meds.
How to try it: Costco and CVS both carry it; a month's supply costs $30 to $60. Guiltinan prescribes 400 to 1,600 mg daily, often with turmeric or fish oil. SAM-e can interact with other meds, especially MAO-inhibitor antidepressants, so it's vital to talk with your doctor before taking it (and avoid SAM-e entirely if you have bipolar disorder). Also, inspect the packaging before buying, advises Gregory: Make sure the product carries a USP or GMP quality seal, contains a stabilizing salt, has a far-off expiration date, and comes in foil blister packs--SAM-e can degrade rapidly in direct light.
Fish oil
What it does: Relieves joint pain from arthritis or autoimmune disorders
What the science says: Digested fish oil breaks down into hormonelike chemicals called prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation. In one study, about 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who took cod-liver oil every day were able to cut their NSAID use by more than a third, Scottish scientists recently reported. People with neck and back pain have fared even better: After about 10 weeks, nearly two-thirds were able to stop taking NSAIDs altogether in a University of Pittsburgh study.
How to try it: Taking 1,000 mg is proven to help your heart, but you should up the dose for pain. For osteoarthritis, try 2,000 to 4,000 mg daily; for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases associated with joint pain (such as lupus), consider a much higher dose of upwards of 8,000 mg daily--but ask your doctor about such a large amount first, says Tanya Edwards, MD, medical director at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine. (The same rule applies if you take BP or heart meds, as omega-3s can thin the blood.) Read the nutrition label carefully: The dosage refers to the amount of omega-3s in a capsule, not other ingredients.
Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM)
What it does: Improves osteoarthritis
What the science says: MSM is derived from sulfur and may prevent joint and cartilage degeneration, say University of California, San Diego, scientists. People with osteoarthritis of the knee who took MSM had 25% less pain and 30% better physical function at the end of a 3-month trial at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. Indian researchers also found that MSM worked better when combined with glucosamine.
How to try it: Start with 1.5 to 3 g once daily and increase to 3 g twice daily for more severe pain, suggests Leslie Axelrod, ND, a professor of clinical sciences at Southwest. Patients in the Indian trial improved on dosages as low as 500 mg three times daily.
Counting out loud
What it does: Soothes brief "needle stick" pain
What the science says: Patients who counted backward from 100 out loud during an injection experienced and recalled less pain, according to a recent Japanese study. None of the 46 patients who counted complained afterward, and only one of them could remember pain from the injection at all (among the 46 who didn't count, 19 said the injection hurt and 10 recalled what it felt like). Recitation might work by distracting the brain from processing the sensation, says study author Tomoko Higashi, MD, of Yokohama City University Medical Center in Kanagawa, Japan. The trick is probably only useful for short or acute periods, she says, adding: "The degree of pain reduction really depends on how well patients concentrate on counting."
Qigong
What it does: Ease fibromyalgia or arthritis
What the science says: Qigong is an umbrella term for traditional Chinese-medicine exercises or techniques that integrate body, posture, mind and breathing to improve the flow of energy, or qi. Women with severe fibromyalgia reported 73% less pain after just 5-7 sessions with a qigong master, according to a Robert Wood Johnson Medical School study, and the benefits continued three months later. "I’ve never seen pain scores change so dramatically," says study co-author Afton Hassett, PsyD, who notes that larger trials need to be conducted to confirm these benefits. In other research, when qigong was combined with meditation, the pair helped patients reduce their pain as well as prescription drugs, according to University of Maryland researchers. And 83% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who practiced qigong for 1-2 hours a day reported greater improvement compared to 57% who received medication, Chinese doctors found.
How to try it: A skilled practitioner can help you reduce your discomfort in 3 to 9 treatments, says Master FaXiang Hou of the Qigong Research Society. Start off with a class or use an at-home video like Francesco Garripoli’s "Qigong Beginning Practice" at least one hour a day, either first thing in the morning or right before bed. Once you’ve got the hang of it, 20 to 30 minutes a day can keep pain at bay, says Kevin Chen, PhD, who led the RWJ study.
Glucosamine and chondroitin
What it does: Protects cartilage from osteoarthritis
What the science says: Glucosamine is a natural compound used in the formation and repair of cartilage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Chondroitin is made from shark and cow cartilage. Both are thought to help build or protect joint-cushioning cartilage—the same material that breaks down in osteoarthritis. The combination can help people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study: 53% of users felt their pain decrease by half.
How to try it: Take 500 mg of glucosamine three times a day alone or with 400 mg of chondroitin sulfate. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database suggests glucosamine sulfate over glucosamine hydrochloride, though many brands contain both.
Toronto is gearing up for a frighteningly fun Halloween season, with all the usual suspects back for another scare. Once again, zombies take to the streets for the annual Zombie Walk, killer clowns stalk the mazes at Canada’s Wonderland and monsters give chase in the Monster Dash.
Fans of the hit production Evil Dead the Musical are in luck, it’s back on stage from October 24 to November 17. Expect this one to sell out fast.
This year’s Toronto After Dark Film Festival returns with a new series of scary screenings and theme nights, including a zombie night (the undead get a discount on tickets) and films featuring creepy crawly insects.
Happy hauntings!
Jean Houston, a teacher and philosopher, talks about how living conditions over the past hundreds of thousands of years have affected the development of the male and female brain in really different ways.
In essence, women spent the majority of their time living in communities with other women and children. Men spent most of their time either on their own or with small groups of other men, hunting and gathering.
As a result, the female brain began to develop better ways to emotionally connect with others and the Emotional Brain is now 25 percent larger in women than in men. This means that women can sense very subtle changes in someone’s mood or emotions, and notice slight differences in facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
This difference in brain structure accounts for a lot of differences in how men and women function, communicate, and relate.
It’s why women spend so much time thinking about relationships and men spend so much time thinking about work and sports (today’s version of hunting and gathering). Yes, we’ve become more balanced in where we place our energy, but the differences still remain and can sometimes get in the way.
Now that you have a better understanding of these differences, let’s talk about how to work with them.
While women embrace emotions, men often fear them. Some men can talk for an hour before showing signs of what I call Emotional Fatigue. Other men can only tolerate a 10-minute conversation. Choose the timing of the conversation wisely and pay attention to when he starts to seem uncomfortable or seems to be shutting down. Women often ramp up at this point because they start to feel dismissed, but these changes signal that it’s time to take a break and return to the conversation later.
If you don’t take a break, a man’s nervous system will literally start to shut down and he will go into fight or flight mode. All of a sudden he’ll be angry or he’ll walk away and you’ll be confused. If this happens repeatedly, he’ll start to avoid conversations. Over time this could lead to emotional distance in your relationship. Remember, he’s not being a jerk. He just doesn’t have the same emotional stamina as you.
I’m not suggesting that you shut down or stop talking, just learn to work with these differences. David Richo, the author of one of my favorite books How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving, says that it’s only reasonable to expect your partner to satisfy 25 percent of your needs in life, so it’s important to be realistic.
In addition to the fight or flight response, women have a third response to stress: connection. We want to talk when we feel stressed. Make sure you have what I call “go to girls” — women you can call for emotional support. One caveat, don’t call the friend who will judge your guy or reinforce the stereotype that there is something wrong with a man if he can’t deal with emotions the way we can. Cultivate friends who help you accept, and even celebrate, the differences between men and women.
This difference in our brains is also the reason why you can tell when something is off with our guy long before it registers for him. Don’t push him for an answer when he is quiet or withdrawn. Most likely that will push the information down further inside of him. Simply say something like, “You don’t seem like yourself today. Is everything okay?” He’ll probably say everything is “fine.”
It’s okay to leave it at that for now. If you give him his space, he’ll most likely come back and let you know what is bothering him, even if it takes a little bit of time. Doing the emotional work for your guy might make you feel better initially but over time you’ll both start to feel a little resentful.
When he does open up, try not to give advice. Even if the answer is clear to you, give him time to figure it out. When he knows he has the space to be himself and that you accept him the way he is, he’ll really let you in over time.
Let’s talk a bit about how our brains react to experiences that make us feel good. Everyone needs serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin, which women crave, makes us feel calm, fulfilled, and happy because it calms our Emotional Brain. Dopamine, which men crave, will energize and motivate us.
Physical affection increases serotonin levels. A little affection results in a little serotonin. A lot of affection results in a lot of serotonin. Add an orgasm and we’re feeling elated, blissed out. The difference is, high serotonin levels will make a man’s testosterone drop. He’ll start to feel physically and emotionally, tired. This is why men fall asleep and loose interest in cuddling after reaching orgasm.
Now he needs to increase his dopamine levels because dopamine increases testosterone. How can he do that? Sports — watching them or playing them. Hanging out with the guys (probably talking about sports), accomplishing something at work, finishing a project around the house, taking physical risks, or watching television. Studies have shown that the bigger the television screen, the more dopamine his brain will produce (guess size does matter).
The problem often occurs when women want to connect and men need alone time or guy time. Instead of thinking about it as time away from you, think of it as time that will make him want you more. As his dopamine levels rise he’s going to start thinking about and missing you. Here is the challenge: learning to encourage his guy time by seeing his time away from you as good for the relationship.
Next time he goes golfing or wants to spend a few hours watching football, try something different. Encourage him to go! Don’t call him while he’s away or try to have a conversation about your relationship during the game. Actually go do something fun yourself and be in a good mood when he gets back. Make it easy for him to share his good feelings with you.
It’s not about changing so that we’re all the same. When couples do that, they get bored and resentful. They wonder what happened to their youth to their dreams. Ultimately what our guys want is for us to be happy. When you can celebrate your differences, you connection will deepen in profound ways.
The Ontario government is set to announce details of a review of the municipal planning and development process Thursday that the GTA building industry hopes will finally help area residents understand the escalating impact of provincial intensification policies.
Two consultation papers — one aimed at streamlining the land-use planning process and the role of the Ontario Municipal Board, the other a review of development charges — are expected to be released this week.
They are aimed at setting the parameters of a public consultation process that the Building and Land Development Association (BILD) says is desperately needed in light of the fact almost decade-old provincially mandated intensification policies now are hitting home with a vengeance.
The shortage of municipally serviced land that’s ready for development across the GTA has become so drastic, builders simply can’t keep up with demand for lowrise housing, said George Carras, president of RealNet Canada Inc., the research firm for the GTA building industry, in a presentation to media Monday.
That’s pushing prices to such sky-high levels — over $1 million for a detached home on a 40-foot lot in many suburban areas of the GTA — that more Toronto workers are being forced to leapfrog over the greenbelt to find a home where they can raise their family.
The new, lowrise home market racked up some noteworthy records as of the third quarter of 2013, according to figures released Monday by RealNet.
The index price of houses — detached, semis and townhouses — climbed to a record $658,869 as of September, up 5.7 per cent year over year. And there were just 8,878 houses sold from January to September, 39 per cent below the 10-year average.
New condo sales were down 22 per cent from 10-year norms as developers held back on new projects, and prices slipped slightly to $432,853 as of September, according to RealNet.
But the gap between the price of a house and a condo hit a record $226,016.
That’s up almost 23 per cent in just a year and a far cry from the mere $75,000 gap that remained fairly constant until about 2011 when the full impact of the province’s Places to Grow intensification policies really started to be felt across the GTA, said Carras.
That growing gap, which Carras likened to “watching your dog run away on the Prairies” shows no signs of letting up. He warned that the GTA risks becoming like Vancouver where lowrise homes have become a rare and valuable commodity and cost, on average, about $700,000 more than a condo.
The index price of a new condo in the GTA actually slipped by 1.5 per cent to about $432,853 in September, year over year. But Carras noted that buyers are also paying more for less, given that the average unit sold in September was 13 square feet smaller than units sold in August.
Just since 2009, the new condo index has shrunk by about 120 square feet, the equivalent of a 10 by 12 bedroom, he added, as developers try to keep average costs down in light of the added impact of the HST on new home purchases.
BILD and GTA developers have been concerned for some time that the dramatic shift in the market — from houses to highrises — has been so fierce and so fast, most GTA residents really have no idea why it’s happening.
BILD president Bryan Tuckey hopes the papers being released Thursday will at least begin a public process of discussion, and debate, about the future of the housing market, especially in the GTA where much of the municipal zoning still favours lower density development, in direct violation of the provincial intensification policies.
While there has been lots of talk about the need for more affordable, midrise housing along major corridors as an affordable alternative for seniors and families, it continues to run into crippling community opposition, notes Tuckey.
Municipal affairs officials declined to discuss Thursday’s announcement, other than to say Minister Linda Jeffrey told the Association of Municipalities back in August that she intends to begin a consultation process “to find way to make our land-use planning system better, to foster better co-operation between municipalities, developers and community groups so they can work together to make those tough decisions.”
Each room in your home likely has a natural focal point. It's the place where the eye first comes to rest when entering the room — making it one of the most important features for the well decorated home. We have tips on creating the perfect focal point, plus photos to show you how the room pulls together around the focal point for a beautiful presentation.
“ONE OF TORONTO’S MUST-SEE EVENTS!”
Toronto After Dark Film Festival is one of the world’s leading showcases of thrilling genre cinema, screening new horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies over nine exciting late October nights in the city, in the run up towards Halloween. Now in its 8th year, the festival has grown to become a signature event in Canada’s largest city, enjoying an annual attendance of over 10,000 enthusiastic film fans and over 100 members of press and industry.The festival has been critically acclaimed as One of the Best Events to Attend in the City by numerous media outlets, including City TV, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Toronto Life, Metro News, Toronto.com and NOW Magazine to name a few. In a poll of local filmgoers, Toronto After Dark has also been voted Runner-Up for Best Film Festival in the City.
For its next edition, Toronto After Dark runs nine thrilling nights, October 17-25, 2013 at the Scotiabank Theatre in the heart of downtown Toronto, and will once again screen a collection of outstanding new feature films and shorts. New for this year the Festival will host two special pre-festival Spotlight Screening Nights showcasing four new feature films on Aug 29 and Sep 26. Beyond film screenings, attendees can also look forward to lively Q&A’s with visiting filmmaker guests, the ever-popular Zombie Appreciation Night where fans who dress up get a discount on tickets and Pub After Dark, the popular nightly after-screening social event where fans get to mingle with filmmakers over drinks. We look forward to seeing you After Dark at our next Festival!
Though one side of your brain is dominant, a few tricks can activate both hemispheres so you can be both creative and logical.
Aman paints with his brains, not with his hands. When painter Michelangelo said this 500 years ago, he did not know how far science would take this idea. The theory of lateralisation says that the human brain is separated into two cerebral hemispheres, the left and the right brain, both of which execute different functions. And painting is to do not just with the brain, but in fact, with the right side of it.
While several theories on the left-brain and right-brain dominance abound, the basics are easy. The right hemisphere controls your body's left side, and vice versa. When you use the left or logical side, you are being analytical, attentive, objective and rational. This is the part you use to process language, facts, science, math and strategies. The right side, however, is driven by feelings, beliefs, imagination and subjective thinking. It is creative, impulsive, intuitive, thoughtful and processes visuals and multi-tasks.
The brain, which works on the 'use it or lose it principle,' has often been likened to a muscle — the more you use it, the better it gets. The fact that we are either left-brained or right-brained makes it important that we improve the less-dominant side. Here are simple ways to improve the balance and the coordination between both sides. Left brain work-outs 1 From crafting the right sentence structure to perfecting spelling and grammar, the process of writing and the planning that goes behind it is one of the best ways to enhance your analytical side and stay sharp. This could mean blogging, and even social networking may not be such a 'waste of time' after all. Tweeting compels you to spruce up your communication as your thoughts are limited to only 140 characters. 2 Logic-fuelled activities such as crosswords, anagrams, Sudoku, tough math problems or a game of chess are great for stimulating the left brain. Try and crack reasoning and aptitude tests that are freely available online to boost your grey cells. 3 Being systematic, it turns out, has more advantages than improving productivity and acing time management. Making to-do lists, organising data, chalking plans for the day or maintaining a diary aid in improving your left brain. 4 Learn a new skill, activity or language. Doing so optimises left brain functions as it is good at being focused and works well with conditioning exercises. 5 READ that book, don't skim. Reading engages your mind wonderfully while skimming content and running your eyes through a page only weakens the left brain in the long run. Right brain work-outs 1 Astute observation plays a key role in developing a photographic memory. Take five minutes off to minutely observe your train station or your deskspace. Remember the details with your eyes closed, and for authentic results, record yourself while at it so you know where you stand. Doing this regularly will strengthen your powers of observation. 2 Word association, doodling and memory games help unlock your right brain's coolest weapon — creativity. If you have shied away from sketching or painting, now is the time to take up that sketch-pen or brush. Experiment...for your brain's sake. 3 Take up an art of your interest; music, painting, dance, theatre or writing, as they are all right-brain activities. Playing an instrument is a guaranteed right brain booster. While humming to your favourite tunes, make up random lyrics that rhyme. 4 Use the Japanese art of Origami to spark up your motor skills. Folding paper into fascinating shapes will push you to be more innovative with each attempt. So will making knick-knacks from junk. 5 Thinking up a strategy, visualising it and then immediately implementing it is the right brain's delight. So when you play sports such as tennis,table tennis or badminton, the right brain is at its peak.