People in Thompson hone trades skills at free Skills Shop
Skills Shop North offers people in Thompson, Man., opportunities to upskill in a variety of trades, including woodworking and welding, while also giving them a space to work on their own projects on their own time, free of charge.
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Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Wilson Blanchard Management Raises $169,000 at 2025 WB CondoCon in Support of Associa Cares Canada
Oakville, ON, June 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilson Blanchard Management, An Associa® Company, proudly hosted its 3rd annual WB CondoCon Board Education & Tradeshow on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Oakville Conference Centre. The daylong event brought together over 200 condominium board members, 100+ Wilson Blanchard team members, and 52 valued trade partners for a dynamic day of networking, learning, and giving back. This year's event raised an outstanding $169,000 CAD in support of Associa Cares Canada, an organization dedicated to providing emergency assistance to families and communities impacted by natural or man-made disasters. Since 2005, Associa Cares has distributed more than $5.6 million to over 4,200 families across North America and beyond. 'The sheer number of people it takes to organize and execute an event of this scale reaffirms what I've always believed – that Wilson Blanchard has the most dedicated team in the industry,' said Jeff Lack, CPA, CGA, President of Wilson Blanchard Management. 'We're also incredibly grateful to our vendor partners, educational speakers, and especially our client board members whose ongoing participation makes this event possible. It's truly meaningful to see our industry come together not only for education and connection but for a cause as impactful as Associa Cares Canada.' The WB CondoCon Vendor Trade Show has grown into a marquee event for the condominium industry, offering board members the chance to connect directly with service providers while gaining valuable insights from expert-led educational sessions. This year's success highlights Wilson Blanchard Management's continued commitment to strengthening communities and supporting humanitarian efforts through industry collaboration. ### About Associa With more than 300 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for more than 7.5 million residents worldwide. Our 15,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 45 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit About Associa Cares Canada Associa Cares Canada, CRA Business # 7835112502RR0001, assists families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Donations made by Canadian residents and businesses may be tax deductible. Learn more at Since 2005, Associa Cares has distributed over $5 million to more than 3,800 families and communities in need of a helping hand. Funds donated by caring businesses and individuals are used to provide humanitarian aid, often in the form of financial grants, needed by families and communities in the aftermath of such tragedies.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Ottawa considering 'combination of approaches' to 20% military pay hike
OTTAWA — Defence Minister David McGuinty's office says it's considering a 'combination of approaches' to boosting pay for armed service members, including introducing retention bonuses for 'stress trades.' Article content 'This investment represents an almost 20 per cent increase to the overall CAF compensation envelope,' McGuinty's spokesperson Laurent de Casanove said in an email statement to The Canadian Press. Article content Article content 'The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are actively working on how best to implement this investment, looking at options that include a combination of approaches such as retention bonuses for stress trades, increased starting salaries for junior members, and a broad-based salary increase.' Article content Article content While McGuinty's recent public commitment to grant the Canadian Armed Forces a '20 per cent pay increase' won praise within the defence community, it has also led to confusion — and some experts are saying they want to read the fine print. Article content Military pay scales are complicated and are based on rank, profession, deployment and other conditions. There are many ways to roll out a boost in compensation. Article content Charlotte Duval-Lantoine, a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said she thinks this will not amount to an across-the-board pay hike. Article content 'What is clear to me from this statement is that they are looking at all the options,' she said. 'We're still in that big question about what it looks like because a pay raise versus specialty pay versus an adaptation of the compensation package overall — not in salary — are not the same thing.' Article content Article content She said the way the pay pledge was communicated initially was 'risky' since the details were not readily available, and that has led to confusion among military members and expectations of a blanket pay hike. Article content Article content Gary Walbourne, former ombudsman for the Department of National Defence, called McGuinty's promise 'vague at best.' Article content 'There's nothing clear in this message,' he said. 'A 20 per cent increase overall to CAF compensation envelope, what does that mean? Is it coming in benefits? … Is it going be on a cyclical basis? What's the percentage increase? Is it based on seniority, rank, merit?' Article content The former watchdog for military personnel said it sounds like the Liberal government wants to implement a pay boost quickly, but 'the mechanisms that they apply to it is going to complicate it and once the bureaucrats get their hands on it, well, I can see a slowdown coming.' Article content If CAF members don't see a 20 per cent pay bump after the minister's announcement, he said, it will be 'deja vu all over again' for military personnel who have been let down in the past by lofty promises followed by implementation that 'sucks big time.'
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Hidden costs of home ownership that most people forget to budget for
Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew breaks down some of the most commonly forgotten costs of owning a home, so you can budget smarter, plan ahead, and step into homeownership with confidence. (gopixa / Getty Images) Christopher Liew is a CFP®, CFA Charterholder and former financial advisor. He writes personal finance tips for thousands of daily Canadian readers at Blueprint Financial. Are you planning to become a homeowner in the near future? One of the biggest mistakes that prospective buyers make is to focus solely on the estimated mortgage payment, while forgetting about the host of additional ownership expenses that can easily mount up to hundreds of extra dollars per month. Below, I'll break down some of the most commonly forgotten costs of owning a home, so you can budget smarter, plan ahead, and step into homeownership with confidence. It's not just about the mortgage A recent report from Equifax Canada showed that an increasing number of homeowners are missing their mortgage payments. This is something that you really want to avoid if you want to keep your credit in good standing. If you're a first-time buyer who's used to renting where you live, it's easy to start shopping for homes by their estimated mortgage price, the same as you may shop for apartments based on your monthly rental budget. When you make the jump from being a renter to a homeowner, though, you'll be required to take on the full financial burden of many of the same responsibilities that your landlord used to take care of on their dime. Overlooking these expenses can quickly stretch your budget and turn homeownership from a dream into a financial strain, trapping you in a living situation that you find difficult to afford. What is considered a hidden cost in home ownership? Each house is going to come with various associated expenses based on a number of factors, including: How old or new the home is What type of neighbourhood is the house in The property under and around the home The type of dwelling (condo vs house) Some properties are lower maintenance, while others require constant upkeep. With this in mind, here are the potential expenses to watch out for as you begin your home-shopping journey. 1. Home insurance Home insurance isn't legally mandated in Canada, but if you finance your purchase with a mortgage, your lender will nearly always require it, especially if your down payment is less than 20%. This protects their investment until you fully own the property On top of that, if your down payment falls below 20%, you'll also need mortgage loan insurance, often called CMHC insurance when provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It's required by law for high-ratio mortgages (i.e., those with more than 80% loan-to-value) and allows you to borrow up to 95% of the purchase price 2. Property taxes Another inescapable expense is going to be your annual property tax. Failure to pay your property tax can result in your home being taken away by the government. The amount you'll be taxed is usually determined by the current estimated value of your property, which ca fluctuate significantly from one year to the next. 3. Everyday repairs If you live in a recently built home, you likely won't have too many repairs to worry about, and much of the building and appliances may be covered by a limited warranty if a hiccup occurs. However, if you live in an older home, you'll need to budget for maintenance and repairs such as: Plumbing leaks Electrical repairs Roof or window leaks Locks and door hinges Railings, banisters, and stairs If you're a DIY type of person with the tools, time, and knowledge to do your own repairs, you can save a lot of money here. If not, then you could easily find yourself paying $1,000 or more every year in simple household repairs. 4. Increased heating and cooling costs If you're coming from renting a small, well-insulated apartment, you're going to notice a sizable increase in your monthly heating and cooling costs. Larger homes require more power to heat and cool. There are a number of ways you can better insulate your home and reduce energy costs (some of which are also tax-deductible), but this is yet another expense you'll foot the bill for. 5. Roof replacement A classic shingle roof will typically need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. When purchasing a house, it's a good idea to ask the realtor or seller when the last time the roof was replaced. Depending on how big the roof is, replacement can cost anywhere between $5,000 on the low end to $20,000 or more on the high end. 6. Pest control and prevention If you want to prevent a costly infestation, you'll want to periodically treat your home and property for pests. Compared to some of the other expenses on this list, pest control is more affordable. A pest control company will typically visit your home on a monthly or quarterly basis, spray a few pesticides, and be on their way in less than an hour. 7. Appliance upgrades Again, if you have a newer home, you likely don't need to worry about appliance upgrades. However, if you're purchasing an older home with older appliances, you need to weigh the possibility that appliances will need to be repaired or replaced in the near future. Most appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, washers, and dryers have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years when well cared for, but each can cost upwards of $500 or more to replace with a brand-new unit. Finding the right home within your budget All in all, between various monthly expenses and building an emergency savings account for major repairs, you could easily end up paying an extra $300 to $500 per month in addition to your mortgage. This means that a home with a $2,500 mortgage could really end up costing you $3,000 or more each month, skewing your annual budget by $6,000 per year. Unlike renting, where you can easily downgrade and move to a cheaper unit at the end of your lease, you're stuck with your home and all of its expenses unless you want to go through the tedious and lengthy process of selling your home. To ensure you don't end up with more home than you can afford, create an estimated list of expenses for each home you're considering, and then add that to the estimated mortgage price. More from Christopher Liew:
