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A land of vast lengths and rich natural resources, Canada turned a self-governing dominion in 1867 whilst holding ties to the British crown. Economically & technologically the country has developed in parallel sustaining the US, its neighbor to the south diameter an unfortified edge.

Canada is the world’s second-biggest country by total region, occupying most of northern North America. Extending given by the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean & northward into the Arctic Ocean, Canada shares land borders by having the United States to the south & to the northwest.

Inhabited first by Aboriginal peoples, Canada was founded as a union of British settlements, occasionally of which one had been French settlements. Canada gained independence derived from the United Kingdom in an incremental process that began in 1867 and ended in 1982.

Canada is a federal constituent monarchy and parliamentary democracy, consisting of ten provinces & 3 territories, & defines itself as a bilingual and multicultural nation; both English and French are official languages. A technologically progressed & industrialized state, its diversified economy relies heavy on an abundance of natural resources and on trade, especially with the United States, by owning which Canada has had a long & mix relationship.

Canadian culture has historically been to a great extent influenced by English, French, Irish, Scottish & Aboriginal cultures and traditions, & over time has been greatly shaped by American civilization due to its propinquity and the interchange of human capital between the two countries. Many forms of American media and entertainment are popular, if not dominant in Canada conversely, Numbers of Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful in the US and worldwide. Numbers of cultural products are now commercialised toward a unified “North American” market, or a global market generally.

The creation & preservation of distinctly Canadian culture has been partly determined by federal government programs, laws & institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

As Canada is a geographically vast & ethnically various country, there are cultural variations and differentiations derived from territory to territory and region to area. Canadian civilization has also been greatly acted upon by more recent immigration of people caused by all across the world. Numbers of Canadians value multiculturalism, so a select few see Canadian civilization as being inherently multicultural. Multicultural inheritance is shrined in Section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms.

National symbolisations are acted upon by natural, historical, and First Nations seeds. especially, the use of the maple leaf, as a Canadian symbol, dates backwards to the early 18th century & is depicted on its current & previous flags, the penny, and on the coat of arms. Other prominent symbols admit the beaver, Canada goose, common loon, the Crown, and the RCMP.

Canada’s official national sports are ice hockey (winter) & lacrosse (summer). Hockey is a national pastime, and is by far the virtually all popular spectator sport in the country. It is also the virtually popular sport Canadians play, with 1.65 million active participants in 2004.Canada’s six biggest metropolitan areas – Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton – have franchises in the national Hockey League (NHL), and there are additional Canadian players in the league than from all More countries compounded.

Additional popular Canadian spectator sports let in curling & Canadian football game (especially the Canadian football game League). Golf, baseball, skiing, soccer, volleyball, & basketball are wide played at youth and amateurish levels, but professional leagues and dealerships are not as widespread. Canada will server the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, & the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.

1. Canada is the only country in the world which borders three oceans

2. Vancouver is regarded as one of the most livable cities in the world and is rated the tenth cleanest.

3. Yonge Street in Toronto is the longest street in the world and the city’s CN Tower used to be the tallest building in the world

4. Canada has more cars per person than any other country in the world

5. The Chateau Frontenac located in the city of Quebec is the most photographed hotel in the world

6. Edmonton has the largest shopping mall in the world

7. There are 15 million cattle in Canada

8. The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883

9. Montreal is the second largest French speaking city after Paris

10. 8.4% of Canadians suffer from asthma

11. Calgary means ‘cove garden’

12. The longest highway in the world is the Trans Canada Highway

13. 41% of Toronto residents were born outside of Canada

14. Montreal’s sister cities include Manila, Bucharest, Paris, Shanghai, Hiroshima, Algiers and Lyon

15. The worlds smallest jail at 270 square feet is located in Rodney, Ontario

16. The LG2 in Quebec is the largest underground hydro-electric power plant in the world

17. The board game, Trivial Pursuit, was first published in Canada

18. On average Calgary has thunderstorms for more than 22 days a year

19. Edmonton is known as the City of Champions due to its success in both team and individual sports

20. Canada is over 40 times the size of the UK

21. The city of Quebec is one of the oldest European settlements in North America

22. The port of Montreal is the largest inland port in the world

23. Toronto born cartoonist Joseph Shuster created Superman along with American writer Jerry Siegel

24. Located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world

25. Despite having an average temperature of around freezing point during part of the winter, Vancouver still has palm trees

26. Quebec means ‘where the river narrows’

27. Ottawa has 850 parks

28. A Canadian, Louise Poirier invented the Wonderbra in 1964

29. The band, The Crash Test Dummies hail from Winnipeg

30. 25% of films produced by Hollywood are filmed in Toronto

Make no mistake, moving into a new apartment can be tough – there’s a new part of the city to get used to (or a whole new city entirely!), new roads and bus routes to learn, figuring out where all of the different stores are … It’s hard enough to do when you’re by yourself, but when you bring kids into the equation, moving can become an even greater challenge.

Changing schools, leaving behind friends and classmates, giving up familiar routines, and living in a brand new environment can be very difficult for many children. Before moving with kids into your new Ottawa apartment, we’ve put together a quick moving checklist to help make your move into a new apartment as smooth as possible – both for you and your children.

Before the Move:

Tell your children about the move as soon as you can. The more time they have to get used to the idea of moving, the easier it will be for them when the big day finally arrives.

Involve your kids as early as possible. If you give them specific tasks to do early on in the moving process, you can help your children have a sense of control over this potentially scary situation. As an example, you could let them participate in the apartment-hunting process by getting their opinions on the pros and cons (from their viewpoint) of the different apartments / neighbourhoods that you look at.

Take a tour of the new neighbourhood. Before you move in, take your children to your new apartment and explore the new neighborhood together. Let them see the nearby parks, schools, stores, etc., as knowing about these places ahead of time will help ease their fears of the unknown (and possibly even make them look forward to visiting these cool new places on a regular basis once you’re all moved in!).

Put together a friends list. When moving with young children, leaving behind their old school and friends is perhaps the hardest part of the entire process. To help ease the transition, help your children prepare a list of phone numbers and email addresses of all of their close friends and relatives. Knowing that they can stay in touch with the important people in their lives, even when they’re in the new apartment, is a very important part of a successful move.

During the Move:

Involve your kids in the packing. Packing can be a tedious process at the best of times. To make the whole exercise a little more fun for everybody, you can have your kids decorate the boxes containing their things. As an added bonus, doing so will also make finding their things easier once you’re at the new apartment!

Don’t pack up everything. It’s important that you don’t pack away everything before the big move. Special items such as blankets, stuffed animals, books, etc., should be placed in a separate container that can be taken in the car with the kids. This way, the kids get peace of mind knowing that their favourite things won’t get lost or left behind.

Stay positive. When moving with children, it’s very important to stay as upbeat and calm as you can, as your own mood will greatly impact the mood of your children – if you hate moving, chances are they will, too.

After the Move:

Don’t spend all of your time unpacking. Yes, you’ll need to get all of those essential items out of the boxes as soon as possible, but try to spread the unpacking process out over a few days, if possible. For most kids, unpacking is boring – they want to explore! It’s important to put down the boxes and take the time to really explore your new neighbourhood and spend time with your family. Go for a walk, check out the nearby stores and restaurants, relax at the park … how you spend this time is up to you.

Ask for your child’s input. Give your children a chance to pitch in some ideas when you’re settling in to your new apartment. Openly ask for their ideas, especially when choosing items for their rooms or deciding on the layout of the apartment. If they feel that they’ve helped “create” the new apartment, your kids will be more inclined to think of it as their new home instead of a scary, unknown place.

Try to maintain daily routines. While children are adjusting to new homes, neighborhoods, and schools, parents can provide some comfort by keeping some things the same. For instance, having the same morning and bedtime routines, meal times, etc. might be extremely comforting, especially for younger children.

Above all, listen. Regularly ask how things are going for them at the new apartment. Some kids have a hard time opening up – spending some relaxed time together may help them to bring up whatever is on their minds.

Remember, it takes time to make a new apartment feel like a home … but with your understanding and patience, you should be able to make the transition fairly easily. After all, as the old saying goes, home is where the heart is.

As a university or college student, finding an off-campus student apartment can be an extremely exciting, but often overwhelming, experience. Paramount Properties wants all of Ottawa’s students to find the best possible student apartment – that’s why we’ve put together a quick checklist of all the things you should look out for while you’re getting the grand tour of your possible new apartment.

What to Look For:

·        Are there three-pronged electrical outlets in every room? And more importantly, are there enough outlets for all of your computers / video games / cell phone chargers / lights / etc.?

·        Do all the apartment appliances work? Remember to check the freezer and whether the elements on the stove heat evenly.

·        Are the doors and locks in reasonable condition?

·        Don’t forget to check the plumbing. Test out the taps and showerheads for hot water and water pressure, and be sure to check the sinks and tubs for cracks, leaks, rust or water damage.

·        Remember to check the windows, too. Do all of the windows fit properly, or is there a draft? If so, how will your apartment heating costs be affected? Is there proper ventilation? Do all the windows in the unit open? Are there locks on the windows that are at street level?

·        Is there enough storage space? If there is a locker in the basement, find out who has access to that area and what kind of lock is on the door.

·        If possible, visit the apartment at different times of the day to see what the noise levels are like. A seemingly quiet student apartment during the day could actually be a noisy headache at nights or on weekends.

·        How many bus routes run close to the apartment? Do they go where you need to get to?

·        If laundry facilities aren’t provided, where is the nearest laundromat?

Questions to Ask the Landlord:

·        Are there any other students living in the building?

·        Have there been any major repairs or renovations done in the past year? Are any major repairs anticipated in the near future?

·        Who will be responsible for apartment repairs (even small, minor ones) – you or the landlord?

·        Can the landlord or superintendent be reached at any time during the day in case of emergency?

·        How is the rent to be paid – by mail or directly to the landlord? Cash or cheque?

·        Who pays for heat and other apartment utilities?

·        Is a parking space included in the rent, or will it cost extra?

·        Do you have to sign a lease? If so, for how long?

·        Are the washers and dryers shared with any other people?

·        What appliances are included in the apartment rental?

·        Can the apartment building handle cable/Internet?

·        Are you allowed to repaint the walls?

·        Are pets allowed? If so, which types of pets?

Yes, it’s a lot to pay attention to as you’re touring a possible new apartment – especially when you’re focused on the bigger questions such as “how many bedrooms” and “how much rent”. But, if you try to ask most of these questions as you’re looking around, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to make the best decision about which apartment to rent.

Looking through the apartment listings can be a pretty confusing experience. Just what are the differences between a junior one-bedroom and an alcove studio? A convertible three-bedroom and a flex two-bedroom? Knowing the layout of each type of apartment and what features each type contains will greatly improve your chances of finding the perfect apartment rental for your needs and lifestyle.

Walk-Up Apartment / Low-Rise Apartment

A walk-up or low-rise apartment is located in a building that does not have an elevator (which means it might be a bit more difficult when you’re moving in). Walk-ups are usually older buildings that are less than five storeys high and may not have a lot of amenities such as laundry rooms, storage lockers or wheelchair accessibility. Generally, monthly rent for a walk-up is less expensive than the monthly rent for a high-rise apartment.

High-Rise Apartment

A high-rise apartment is found in a building that is generally six or more storeys tall. High-rise apartment buildings have elevators and often have onsite laundry facilities, pools, fitness centres, comprehensive fire alarm systems, and security systems to monitor tenant entry and exit. In addition, many high-rise apartment buildings feature onsite management staff to assist you in the event of an emergency.

Bachelor Apartment / Studio Apartment

A great choice for students, a bachelor apartment (also called a studio apartment or an efficiency apartment) is a small one-room apartment with a separate bathroom. The one room serves as a bedroom, dining room and living room and is usually connected to an open kitchen. Bachelor apartments can range from very small (just big enough for a sofabed and a desk) to very large (with enough room for a king-size bed and a separate sitting area and dining area).

An alcove bachelor (also called a convertible bachelor or convertible studio) is usually configured in an L-shape with a distinct area or nook for dining or sleeping.

1-Bedroom Apartments

A one-bedroom apartment consists of a living room, kitchen, bathroom and a separate bedroom equipped with a built in closet. Occupancy may often be limited to two people.

A junior one-bedroom usually implies an extra-large studio apartment that is large enough to section off a separate sleeping area or bedroom.

2-Bedroom Apartments

A full two-bedroom apartment has two separate bedrooms in addition to a living room. It may or may not have a separate kitchen. Bedroom sizes can vary widely, from a baby’s room or small office to an extra-large master bedroom suite.

A convertible two-bedroom apartment (sometimes called a “flex 2”) is actually a one-bedroom apartment, but it is large enough and laid out in such a way that a wall could be put up to create a second bedroom. Similarly, a convertible three-bedroom (or “flex 3”) is a two-bedroom apartment that can be converted into 3 bedrooms.

A wing apartment usually has two bedrooms as well as a small common area such as an eat-in kitchen, but no living room. These apartments are ideal for students or roommates who don’t require much in the way of common living space.

Loft

A loft can be classified as a big, open space with few internal walls. Usually the result from a commercial building having been converted into residential units, lofts generally have very high ceilings, extra-large windows and often have exposed plumbing pipes and columns.

Penthouse Apartment

A penthouse is an apartment on the top floor of an apartment building, usually featuring extra balconies or a rooftop deck. A penthouse is normally considered to be quite luxurious and is an extremely desirable (albeit expensive) place to live.

Basement Apartment

As the name implies, a basement apartment is located in the lowest storey of a building and is partially below ground level. Windows and proper ceiling height are enforced by city codes. This type of apartment can also refer to the basement on a house that has been converted to an apartment. This type of basement apartment may have its own separate entrance and may have its own bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and heating system separate from the rest of the house.

Duplex Apartment

A duplex is an apartment with two levels. This could include a true bi-level apartment with an enclosed upstairs and downstairs, or it could also be an open space with an extra-high ceiling and a loft or mezzanine.

Railroad Apartment

In a railroad apartment, there is no hallway. This type of apartment consists of a series of rooms that are connected to each other in a straight line (just like cars on a train), meaning a tenant will have to walk through each room to get from one end of the apartment to the other.

Balcony / Terrace

The terms balcony and terrace are often used interchangeably to indicate a railed platform extending from the outside of the apartment. It can be small enough to accommodate one or two people standing or large enough for a picnic table, lounge chairs and plants.

The insurance adjuster is asking me for information and wants to meet, why?

Plant Quinn Thiele LLP – Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyers

Think meeting the insurance adjuster wihout a lawyer is a good idea?  Think again.  Why do they want to meet?

It is the insurance adjuster’s job to find ways to reduce your case or get rid of it entirely. The more documents they have the more chances they will find something to hang their hat on to deny or reduce your claim.

Insurance adjusters much prefer dealing with injured persons who don’t have a lawyer. Why do you think they call you the same or day after you are injured? They want to get to you before you know your rights and interests and BEFORE you speak to a lawyer who can offer guidance to you in relation to your rights and the claims process. They want to control the file, and more importantly, control the evidence. They are not your lawyer and have no duty to you. Their business card says “Adjuster” for the insurer, not lawyer for you. They represent the opposing party’s insurer, not you! Their job is not to give you legal advice, but to investigate the accident. Adjusters know how to manipulate you. The moment you retain an experienced PQTLaw personal injury lawyer, that manipulation stops.

Don’t believe us? Try this. When the adjuster calls to meet with you and obtain a written statement and authorization to obtain information from your doctors and your employer, ask them if you can meet with the owner of the property where you fell or the driver that hit you so you can ask them questions and obtain a written statement. The answer will be – are you crazy? No way. It’s a one way street.

The less an adjuster pays on a claim, the better for their career.  Insurers make millions and millions of dollars in profit every year. They are corporations who’s primary focus is profit, profit and profit. The longer you don’t know your rights and interests, the more serious damage can be done to your claim.  Insurance adjusters receive training and have experience in assessing and investigating claims.

Our experience is that by the time the insurance adjuster is willing to make an offer to settle your claim, given the admissions you may have made, they offer pennies on the dollar.

Why? You dug your own grave – you provided the insurer with a written statement or recorded statement – you provided the insurer with access to all your records, medical, financial or etc – you took no steps to preserve your evidence – you took no steps to obtain your own witness statements – you took no steps to obtain a lawyer to know your rights, interests and risks – and so on… Your case has been destroyed. By the time an offer is made, if one is even made, the insurance adjuster has potentially harmful documents, information and tons of reasons to justify making no offer or making a ridiculously low offer.

Call us at 613-563-1131, Marc-Nicholas Quinn, Plant Quinn Thiele, LLP – OttawaPersonal Injury Lawyers

www.pqtlaw.com   — mquinn@pqtlaw.com

At Paramount Properties, we’re dedicated to providing the best possible Ottawa apartment rental experiences to our tenants. With great locations, top quality service, and exceptional value, it’s easy to see why our apartments for rent in Ottawa are the best in the city. But don’t take our word for it – just have a look at this letter of one of our Downtown Ottawa apartment tenants:

Dear Paramount Properties;

I’m sending you this email just to say “thank you” for helping me finally find the student apartment I was looking for. I’m a student at the University of Ottawa, and ever since I first came to Ottawa I’ve been looking for a great student apartment that would not only get me close to my classes, but get me close to everything else in Downtown Ottawa, too. After living in a couple other apartment buildings this past year, let me just say that I’ve finally found the exact student apartment I was looking for – and then some!

First of all, I couldn’t believe my luck when I found one of your great apartments in Downtown Ottawa – it’s called Centretown Place, and the location is better than I could ever imagine! The apartment is just a few blocks away from everything I love about Ottawa – the Byward Market, the Rideau Centre, all of the stores on Bank Street … pretty much everything I need in the downtown core! It’s even located right on the Transitway, so I can get to my classes in just a couple of minutes, or take the bus across town quickly and easily to meet up with friends in Westboro, at Algonquin College, or wherever!

While the location is excellent, I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable a Downtown Ottawa apartment could actually be. And not only is the rent affordable, but it also includes a whole bunch of additional services and features like the pool, sauna, air conditioning in my room … I really feel like I’m getting the most value for my rent every month at my new apartment. Oh yeah – I really like the smart card laundry machines! It’s so nice not have to keep a collection of quarters on me at all times!

I’ve recommended Paramount Properties to a bunch of my friends, as I know they’re all looking for a great student apartment in Downtown Ottawa. Like I said, I’ve lived in a couple other apartment buildings in the city, but I can definitely say that renting a downtown apartment from your company really is the best choice for students like me.

Thanks again for everything!

The rental market in Canada is getting tighter – especially in Ottawa. But if you know where to go and what to look for, you can still get an excellent apartment in the nation’s capital. Here’s the rundown on the latest rental market conditions, based on a study conducted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Overall, rental demand increased in Ottawa as a result of higher homeownership costs, weak rental construction markets and increased immigration and youth employment. These changes caused the vacancy rate (the percentage of apartments that are unoccupied and immediately available to rent) to drop to 2.3 percent from 3.3 percent in 2005. Meanwhile, across the river in Gatineau, the vacancy rate climbed to 4.2 percent, up from 3.1 percent one year earlier. This increase can be credited to the fact that homeownership is still more affordable in Quebec.

Vacancies by Neighbourhood

If you’re looking to rent an apartment in some of the “trendier” areas of the city, you might want to consider acting early and putting yourself on a waiting list. An empty apartment is rather rare in the Westboro / Britannia area, where the vacancy rate is a mere 1.3 percent. The Glebe and Old Ottawa South also had very low vacancy rates, sitting at 1.4 percent for 2006. In comparison, the Gloucester / Cumberland area had the highest vacancy rate in Ottawa at 4.6 percent – just one of two areas in the city to see an increase in vacancies compared to the previous year.

One-bedroom suites are the toughest type of apartment to find, with availability rates (the percentage of units that are vacant plus the ones that will be considered available as the existing tenant has not signed a new lease) the lowest in the city at 4.1 percent. Larger families will have an easier time finding a place to live, as the availability rate for a three-bedroom unit was 6.2 percent.

Availability Goes Down, Rent Goes Up

As a result of the tighter rental market, rent in Ottawa has increased. The average two-bedroom apartment rent went up by 3 percent in 2006. The highest rental rates can be found in newer buildings (because of their superior condition and amenity mix) and in larger buildings with 200 units or more.

Broken down by location, the highest rent in Ottawa, on average, is in the Sandy Hill / Lowertown area ($930). In comparison, the lowest rent could be found in Vanier, where tenants paid an average of $713 each month. Overall, the average rent in Ottawa was $844.

Rental Market Outlook for Ottawa in 2007

Vacancy rates are expected to move even lower in 2007 to an estimated 2.1 percent, making it even more difficult to find an apartment in the city. Rent will also rise by a similar amount to 2006 – experts predict that the average rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ottawa to be approximately $960 in 2007.

Canada-Wide Statistics

The average apartment vacancy rate in Canada decreased slightly in 2006 to 2.6 percent, down 0.1 percent from the year before. The highest vacancy rates were found in Windsor (10.4 percent), Saint John (6.8 percent) and St. John’s (5.1 percent). Meanwhile, the lowest vacancy rates were primarily found out west, with Calgary (0.5 percent), Victoria (0.5 percent) and Vancouver (0.7 percent) being the cities with the least amount of available apartments.

Compared to the other major cities in the country, Ottawa, at 2.3 percent vacancy, ranks slightly behind Toronto (3.2 percent) and Montreal (2.7 percent). Ottawa does fare better than Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton, which scored a 1.2 percent vacancy rate.

Canada’s highest average monthly rents for a two-bedroom apartment were Toronto ($1,067) and Vancouver ($1,045), followed by Calgary ($960) and Ottawa ($940). The lowest rents in the country were found in Quebec in Trois-Rivieres ($488) and Saguenay ($485).

The Ottawa Advantage

So, what do all these numbers mean for people searching for an apartment for rent in Ottawa? Well, they say that Ottawa is about middle of the road in terms if vacancies, availabilities and rent prices – that is, it isn’t as hard to find an apartment in Ottawa as it is in the western provinces, but there are less available units in the city than there are elsewhere in Ontario. However, even though there are fewer vacancies, the rent is actually cheaper than it is in Toronto. Combined with all of the great amenities and attractions already found in the National Capital Region, Ottawa is still a very attractive destination for renters in Ontario.