Ontario Active Life - February 12, 2022

Ontario Edition Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

travel & leisure | home & garden | technology & finance | beauty & wellness

INSIDE:

SPECIAL REPORT: OUTLOOK 2022

COBOURG: ONTARIO’S FEEL-GOOD TOWN THRIVING IN ITS ELEMENT

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BLUE MOUNTAIN

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COLLINGWOOD

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CRAIGHURST

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HORSESHOE VALLEY

georgiancommunities.ca

FEB. 12–APR. 9, 2022

CONTENTS COVER STORY

22 GEORGIAN COMMUNITIES LIVE REMARKABLY

6 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

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26 IN THE LEAD

8

46 24 Simply Tech Cleave: The most comfortable, ergonomic keyboard on the planet

Editor’s Note Defying the odds

10

Contributors

12

Active Life Online Catch up between issues at nexthome.ca and enjoy these popular stories

14

18

In The Spotlight

19

Big Brothers & Big Sisters

28

Finance

32

Special Section Outlook 2022

Legally Speaking

38

Does being vegan mean better health?

20 In The Garden Gardens a link to nature

A hidden gem in the heart of Mississauga

42 Kingswood Townhomes Limited collection of executive townhomes coming soon to Cobourg

What is a reverse mortgage?

36 Destination Ontario

Fitness Advice

40 Evergreen Retirement Commnunity

26 Advertorial

Housing supply undermined by outdated forecasts; more news on pages 15 and 16 Should you add your kids to the title of your home?

COMMUNITIES

44 Advertorial Parkland Lifestyle Residences redefining ‘downsizing’ for seniors

Cobourg

Real Estate Pro Municipalities must do their part for housing affordability

46 Travel Remarkable Portugal

49 Home Finds

LOCATOR MAPS AND AMENITY CHARTS

54 Locator Maps 58

Amenity Charts for 400+ Adult Lifestyle Communities

Design ideas and products to love this season

nexthome.ca 7

EDITOR’S NOTE

DEFYING THE ODDS

WAYNE KARL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Active Life Magazine

EMAIL: wayne.karl@nexthome.ca TWITTER: @WayneKarl

+ get social 8

Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

There’s just no keeping the Ontario housing market down. Year in, year out, and into a second year of a pandemic, the numbers – namely sales and price growth – continue to defy the odds and outperform all expectations.

In the GTA, for example, the new home market saw continued strong sales in November, the highest for this month in more than two decades, according to the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). Total November new home sales of 5,042 were 29 per cent above the 10-year average.

The benchmark price for new single-family homes hit $1.67 million in November, up 33 per cent over the last 12 months. Condominium units, meanwhile, increased 7.8 per cent over this period to $1.08 million.

On the resale side, the GTA achieved record highs for both sales and average price, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Tight market conditions pushed the average selling price to an all-time high of $1.09 million – up 17.8 per cent compared to the previous record of $929,636 in 2020.

“Housing affordability driven by lack of supply has become a critical issue in the GTA with broad societal implications,” says Justin Sherwood, senior vice-president of BILD. “Housing affordability will be a significant issue in the 2022 provincial and municipal elections.”

So, how does the year ahead look, given the supply issue, the pandemic, the economy, interest rates and other influences?

“We have a very optimistic outlook for 2022, despite the ongoing and ever-changing measures related to COVID,” Mike Parker, vice-president of sales and marketing at Georgian Communities, told Active Life. Georgian specializes in the very kind of communities and homes that active adult buyers are searching for (see page 22).

“Our community development and homebuilding focus remains in our own backyard – the Simcoe and Grey County regions. These areas continue to defy market expectations, as people from the GTA find the prospect of comparably more affordable real estate coupled with a more relaxed and enriched lifestyle.”

With economic challenges, the prospect of rising interest rates, and the persistence of COVID, even for active adult homebuyers, research, preparation and purchasing readiness have never been more important.

Everything points to that, in a year from now, we’ll again be writing about another record year – though hopefully the pandemic part will be over.

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CONTRIBUTORS

GARDENING | BEN AND MARK CULLEN Mark Cullen is a Member of the Order of Canada, and provides gardening advice to more than two million Canadians each week.

Ben Cullen’s specialty is food gardening. markcullen.com; Facebook @MarkCullenGardening and Pinterest @MarkCullenGardening.

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Jacky Hill, jacky.hill@nexthome.ca EXECUTIVE MEDIA CONSULTANT

Michael Rosset

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – NATIONAL REAL ESTATE

Susan Legge, susan.legge@nexthome.ca EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – GREATER TORONTO AREA

Wayne Karl, wayne.karl@nexthome.ca MANAGING EDITOR

Rise Levy, rise.levy@nexthome.ca TECH | GREG GAZIN Greg Gazin is a syndicated tech columnist, blogger, podcaster, and contributes to canoe.com, Troy Media and Active Life magazine. gadgetguy.ca

GARDEN EDITOR

Mark Cullen CONTRIBUTORS

Ben Cullen, Sara Duck, Greg Gazin, Bruce Kirkland, Barbara Lawlor, Ben McCabe, Agnes Ramsay, Jayson Schwarz, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, SALES, NEXTHOME

Hope McLarnon 416.708.7987, hope.mclarnon@nexthome.ca

TAKE TWO | BRUCE KIRKLAND Bruce Kirkland’s career spans more than four decades, working as a film critic for The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Journal and for 36 years at The Toronto Sun. bruce.kirkland@hotmail.com

SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS

Amanda Bell 416.830.2911, amanda.bell@nexthome.ca Natalie Chin 416.881.4288, natalie.chin@nexthome.ca VICE-PRESIDENT, MARKETING – GTA

Leanne Speers

SENIOR CLIENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST – GTA

Sonia Presotto

REAL ESTATE PRO | BARBARA LAWLOR Barbara Lawlor is CEO of Baker Real Estate Inc. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of new home and condominium developments in the GTA, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal, and internationally in Shanghai. baker-re.com

MANAGER CUSTOMER SALES/SERVICE

Marilyn Watling

SALES & MARKETING CO-ORDINATORS

Gary Chilvers, Vi Nguyen

HOME SHOW MANAGER & NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION – GTA

Josh Rosset DISTRIBUTION

distributionteam@nexthome.ca ACCOUNTING INQUIRIES

accountingteam@nexthome.ca

FITNESS | AGNES RAMSAY Agnes Ramsay is a Registered Nurse, Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach who specializes in Electric Muscle Stimulation Training. agnes.ramsay@xbodyworld.com

DIRECTOR OF PRINT MEDIA

Lauren Reid–Sachs

VICE-PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION – GTA

Lisa Kelly

PRODUCTION MANAGER – GTA

Yvonne Poon

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ASSISTANT MANAGER

Alicesa Pullan

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR

Hannah Yarkony

LEGALLY SPEAKING | JAYSON SCHWARZ Jayson Schwarz LLM is a Toronto real estate lawyer and partner in the law firm Schwarz Law Partners LLP. He can be reached by visiting schwarzlaw.ca or by email at info@schwarzlaw.ca or phone at 416.486.2040.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Johannah Lorenzo, Mike Terentiev

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ONLINE Catch up between issues at nexthome.ca and enjoy these popular stories

INSIGHT

3 real estate disruptions we all need to prepare for Growing digitization, household debt and aging demographics are changing the economic landscape – and disrupting the real estate market. Well-known Canadian economist Ted Tsiakopoulos explains..

DEVELOPMENT

Shelter Cove – luxury lakeside living Experience a well-deserved lifestyle living lakeside at Shelter Cove, on the shores of Lake Erie, adjacent to the Forests of Selkirk Provincial Park.

PERSONAL FINANCE

What you need to know about buying a home with family If you’re thinking about helping a family member buy their first home, there are certain dos and don’ts you need to be aware of.

FITNESS

Why we can’t live – or function – without a good night’s sleep Why we can’t live – or function – without a good night’s sleep. Follow these six tips to dreamland, courtesy of our fitness expert, Agnes Ramsay, a registered nurse, personal trainer and wellness coach.

GARDENING

How to turn your leaves from yard waste into valuable resource No one loves raking leaves, but gardening guru Mark Cullen explains you how you can turn them from yard waste into a valuable resource.

NEW COMMUNITY

One Fonthill condominium collection by Mountainview Building Group launches Phase Two One Fonthill condominium community in the town of Pelham in Niagara, is now selling Phase Two of its collection of three luxury midrise residences!

Visit nexthome.ca Or check us out on 12 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

GREATER TORONTO AND HAMILTON AREA HOUSING SUPPLY UNDERMINED BY OUTDATED FORECASTS A new report conducted for the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) by Smart Prosperity Institute says that inaccurate and outdated Growth Plan forecasting has contributed to housing supply and affordability challenges in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton (GTAH) and surrounding communities. The report covers the areas where BILD and the West End Home Builders’ Association (WEHBA) have members.

“Forecasts of population growth and housing completions are the foundation on which municipalities base their projections of future housing requirements,” says Dave Wilkes, BILD president and CEO. “The Growth Plan seeks to manage growth by determining how much housing gets built, where it gets built and how dense it is. If the forecasts that inform the plan are inaccurate or not up to date, then the housing supply that comes to market in the future may not match demand.”

Smart Prosperity’s report found that over the last seven years, forecasts have underestimated population growth and overestimated housing completions. This means that municipalities have been planning for growth using inaccurate or outdated assumptions and, predictably, ending up with a shortage of needed infrastructure and a shortfall in housing to support new residents.

The annual housing supply shortfalls have compounded, leaving the region with a structural supply deficit.

“The entire GTAH is facing unprecedented housing supply challenges, and achieving balance with the present demand will require roughly 30 per cent more new housing units per year,” says Mike

14

Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Collins-Williams, chief executive officer of WEHBA. “In the absence of that, more people, and in particular young families looking for room to grow, will continue leaving more expensive cities to look further afield to find housing they can afford.

The phenomenon of drive until you qualify is spreading the GTAH supply and affordability challenge across southern Ontario.”

When this structural housing deficit is combined with the region’s lengthy building approval processes and the significant level of government fees, taxes and charges on new homes, it’s no wonder so many GTAH residents struggle to find the housing options they need at prices they can afford.

“Getting it right is critical, as there are implications if we overbuild housing, and if we underbuild,” says

Dr. Mike Moffatt, senior director, Policy and Innovation, for Smart Prosperity Institute. “We should all recognize that developing accurate long-run forecasts in an environment of rapid policy changes is a Herculean task. It illustrates the need for more regularly updated forecasting, along with uncertainty built into existing forecasts.”

The report makes several practical recommendations on how to improve the forecasting that informs the GTAH’s planning, including one set of common and agreed-upon data, updating that data regularly and revisiting forecasts when there are major policy changes, especially around immigration targets. It also recommends building in contingencies within the planning models to account for variations over time.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PRICE GROWTH CONTINUES ACROSS CANADA WITH ONTARIO, GTA LEADING THE WAY The aggregate price of a home in Canada increased 17.1 per cent yearover-year to $779,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Markets across the country have sustained another year of record prices, as strong buyer demand continues to outpace supply coast to coast, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey.

“Like a bad dream that disrupts your sleep for months on end, we ushered in 2022 with a fresh round of pandemic restrictions designed to combat a new wave of infections” says Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage.

“Asked to stay away from the workplace and unable to travel even locally for entertainment, thousands of Canadians have been redirecting their growing savings into improving living conditions, as the family home doubles as an office, restaurant and schoolroom. It has been a busy winter in the housing industry, and a very busy spring looms ahead.”

Broken down by housing type, the national median price of a single-family detached home rose 21.1 per cent year-over-year to $811,900, while the median price of a condominium increased 15.8 per cent to $553,800. Price data, which includes both resale and new build, is provided by Royal LePage’s sister company, RPS Real Property Solutions.

“The shortage of homes available for sale or rent is one of the major social and economic challenges of our times,” says Soper. “Policy makers at all levels of government may take comfort from 2022’s very modest improvement in the supply of available properties relative to demand, yet we see home prices rising at double-digit levels again this year.”

Canada’s chronic housing shortage pre-existed the pandemic, and with growing household formation and more newcomers to Canada adding

to demand, affordability threatens to erode again.

“Everywhere, in our largest urban centres, and in the nation’s small and medium-sized towns and cities, new homes are not being built fast enough to satisfy growing demand,” says Soper. “In addition to the slow and expensive regulatory processes that burden builders, construction has been hampered by pandemicspecific challenges, including labour shortages and the increased cost of construction materials as suppliers struggle with supply chain issues.

Some developers have been hesitant to commit to new projects.”

Canada’s inflation rate reached an 18-year high at the end of 2021, driven by increased costs to consumer goods, including gasoline and food, and significant delays in the supply chain. The Bank of Canada is expected to begin increasing its overnight lending rate incrementally later this year, which could result in higher mortgage rates.

“Many industry watchers expect the inevitable rise in borrowing costs will abruptly end the current seller’s market with its characteristic rising home values,” Soper says. “We are experiencing the first expansionary housing cycle, which began in the second quarter of 2020, since the introduction of the federal mortgage stress test. Buyers have had to qualify

for a loan at a rate much higher than what they will actually pay, creating a significant buffer before they reach their capacity to manage larger payments.”

While rising interest rates slow house price appreciation, higher borrowing costs will be coming off historical lows and the increases may not be enough to offset the significant upward price pressure from Canada’s housing supply crisis.

GREATER TORONTO AREA

The aggregate price of a home in the GTA increased 17.3 per cent year-over-year to $1.12 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Broken out by housing type, the median price of a single-family detached home increased 22.4 per cent to $1.42 million, while the median price of a condominium increased 14.8 per cent to $665,400.

In Toronto, the aggregate price of a home increased 8.1 per cent year-over-year to $1.14 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. During the same period, single-family homes increased 12.5 per cent to $1.58 million, while condominiums rose 13.8 per cent to $711,200.

Royal LePage forecasts that the aggregate price of a home in the GTA will increase 11 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to the same quarter in 2021. nexthome.ca 15

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

GTA HOME SALES AND AVERAGE PRICE REACH RECORD HIGHS IN 2021 The resale market in the GTA continued its torrid pace in 2021, achieving record highs for both sales and average price, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board.

A record 121,712 sales were reported through TRREB’s MLS system in 2021 – up 7.7 per cent from the previous 2016 high of 113,040 and up 28 per cent compared to 2020. Record demand last year was up against a constrained supply of listings, with new listings up by 6.2 per cent – a lesser annual rate than sales. The result was extremely tight market conditions and an all-time high average selling price of $1.09 million – an increase of 17.8 per cent compared to the previous record of $929,636 in 2020.

“Despite continuing waves of COVID-19, demand for ownership housing sustained a record pace in 2021,” says TRREB President Kevin Crigger. “Growth in many sectors of the economy supported job creation, especially in positions supporting above-average earnings.

Added to this was the fact that borrowing costs remained extremely low. These factors supported not only a continuation in demand for ground-oriented homes, but also a resurgence in the condo segment as well.”

One sales trend that stood out in 2021 compared to 2020 was the resurgence in demand for homes in Toronto. Overall sales in the 416 area code were up by a substantially greater annual rate (36.8 per cent), compared to sales growth for the surrounding GTA suburbs combined (23.6 per cent). The marked recovery in the condominium apartment segment was a key driver of this trend.

“Tight market conditions prevailed throughout the GTA and broader Greater Golden Horseshoe in 2021, with a lack of inventory noted across

all home types,” says TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. “The result was intense competition between buyers, pushing selling prices up by double digits year-over-year.

Looking forward, the only sustainable way to moderate price growth will be to bring on more supply. History has shown that demand-side policies, such as additional taxation on principal residences, foreign buyers, and small-scale investors, have not been sustainable long-term solutions to housing affordability or supply constraints.”

In December, GTA realtors reported 6,031 sales – a strong result historically, but still down by more than 1,000 transactions (-15.7 per cent) compared to the record of 7,154 set in December 2020. Over the same period, new listings were down by

11.9 per cent to 5,174. The MLS Home Price Index Composite benchmark was up by 31.1 per cent year-overyear in December. The average selling price was up by 24.2 per cent annually to $1.15 million.

“On February 3, TRREB will release its latest Market Outlook and Year in Review report,” says TRREB CEO John DiMichele. “The report will include survey results and research that will help us navigate 2022 and beyond. The findings will highlight the latest consumer polling on home buying intentions; joint research with the Toronto Region Board of Trade on the future of employment and work; plus an outlook for home sales, listings and pricing over the next year. This will be a must-read report for members, consumers, housing market watchers, researchers and policymakers.”

GTA RESALE AVERAGE PRICES, DECEMBER 2021 (YR/YR % CHANGE) 416

905

Total

Detached

$1.69M (14.9)

$1.56M (33.3)

$1.59M (28.8)

Semi-detached

$1.34M (15.7)

$1.10M (33.7)

$1.18M (25.6)

Townhome

$997,208 (18.3)

$994,101 (33.2)

$994,690 (29.4)

Condo

$730,792 (16.8)

$667,269 (23.4)

$711,933 (18.5) SOURCE: TRREB

16 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

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ADVICE | LEGALLY SPEAKING

SHOULD YOU ADD YOUR KIDS TO

THE TITLE OF YOUR HOME? JAYSON SCHWARZ, LLM & GREG DUBECKY, JD

As people age, they tend to worry.

And when it comes to real estate, a common concern is what to do about their home. For example, should you leave it to your kids in your will?

Your inclination might be “yes,” but what you may not know is that they would need to pay probate tax on the fair market value. Today, that’s a lot of money.

The process of probate grants or confirms the authority of the Estate Trustee (Executor) to handle the affairs of the estate and is required in most cases for the transfer or sale of any real estate owned by the deceased, that now forms a part of their estate.

When you die, your lawyer applies to the court to issue a certificate.

Subject to where you live, probate applications can take anywhere from more than a month to more than a year before the courts issue a certificate. The worst part is that there is a 1.5-per-cent tax payable up front with the application on the value of all estate assets exceeding $50,000. On a $1-million home, that’s $15,000.

Now, if you add your kids to the deed and you die, they still have the house. Will that work? It sounds like a good idea, because if you registered as joint tenants, whomever is left owns the property without tax. But nothing is that easy.

First of all, when you die, your principal residence has no capital gains when it goes to your kids. If you add someone, the portion that belongs to them attracts tax as the

18 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

value goes up after they were added.

Clearly, this is not ideal.

Secondly, if you add your children, they are real owners and could make your life difficult. If you want to sell or take out a mortgage, for example, they could interfere. Also, their problems become yours, in cases of divorce, or adding an in-law suite, for instance.

Thirdly, it might not even be your child you’re dealing with in such instances. While it is not a scenario any parent wishes to consider, you should think through what happens if a child added to the title should predecease you or become significantly disabled.

Depending on several factors, including how they have structured their affairs, you may not simply receive full ownership back, and could instead find yourself negotiating with someone acting under a Power of Attorney or the Trustee of a deceased child’s estate, their spouse, sibling or your grandchildren.

As much as you’d like a clear answer to these questions and scenarios, there really isn’t one. There is no universal panacea. With record high valuations of real estate relative to the incomes of many people, the planning considerations that go into transferring

one’s real estate requires you to consult the appropriate professionals to get an accurate overview of your options. Every person’s situation is different, and usually requires a specific approach.

Initial steps would be to holistically review your estate situation and come up with a plan to minimize tax and maximize any benefits. Sometimes, it is as easy as selling the house to the kids and taking back a life interest; as simple as doing nothing; or as complicated as setting up an estate plan involving freezes, rollovers and other considerations.

The bottom line is – take your planning seriously. Consult experts and make decisions that provide peace of mind and security that you have taken care of your family the best you can.

Jayson Schwarz, LLM and Greg Dubecky, JD, are with Schwarz Law Partners LLP. To suggest topics for future columns or ask questions, visit schwarzlaw.ca or email info@schwarzlaw.ca.

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ADVICE | FITNESS

DOES BEING VEGAN EQUAL BETTER HEALTH?

AGNES RAMSAY

Before I try to answer this question, let me stress that I am not a doctor or registered dietician, and that any major change you make to your activity level or diet should be discussed with an appropriate medical professional.

However, I have been in the health and wellness industry my entire life, from nursing to personal training and wellness coaching. I also have a sports-specific nutrition background.

In all that time, I’ve had difficulty in finding research that does longitudinal peer reviewed studies on whether it’s healthier to be either vegan/vegetarian or omnivore.

Many advocates would argue that man in ancient times was herbivore (strictly vegetarian) and that our bodies resemble plant-eaters, not carnivores. However, in the end, the overwhelming data I’ve been able to accumulate supports that we are generally omnivores.

To clarify, the definition of omnivore is “generalized feeder.”

We’re considered to be adaptive eaters in that we are opportunistic feeders, eating and nourishing our bodies with whatever is available.

In less affluent parts of the world, people have had to exist on whatever is either cheap or easy to grow, and in first world wealthy countries, many of us enjoy a land of plenty where your choices are limited only by your wants.

Food is big business, and business doesn’t always have your best interest at heart.

The industry throws around terms such as “all natural,” “organic”

and “healthy” like an enormous tossed salad. Often all show, not a lot of substance, and with no consideration of the actual health benefit of said product. For example, just because something is all organic, that doesn’t mean it’s not full of bad fats and sugars.

Marketing power words are used that meet the flavour of the day – ancient grains, chia, antioxidants, added vitamins and now, more than ever, plant-based and vegan.

This is because “eating less meat” is more popular than ever. Why? And why, in my 60th year, have I made the decision to become a flexitarian? (See sidebar) There are several excellent reasons to eat less or no meat, and my reasons include some of each listed below.

It is important that if you decide to make this change, do it in a healthy way.

For example, many products that are coming on the market as meat substitutes are full of oils and very high in sodium and/or sugar to make taste like meat. Read your labels.

To meet your nutritional needs, choose plant-based foods such as whole fruits (not juiced), vegetables (especially dark, leafy greens), legumes and nuts and whole grains.

In the end, I also believe in enjoying life. I have never promoted nourishing yourself with foods you don’t enjoy! If you force yourself into something that you do not enjoy, you’re less likely to stick with it.

Part of my enjoyment of eating is knowing that what I put into my body provides me with good health and energy. And that from a personal standpoint, in some small way, that I am doing something good for the planet as well.

WHAT IS IT FLEXITARIAN? A person who follows a primarily vegetarian diet, but occasionally eats meat or fish in small quantities.

WHY DO IT? • It can be difficult to meet all your nutritional needs with “real” foods when consuming no meat, such as vitamins B12, D, calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, iron and zinc.

• I don’t like what I call “frankenfoods,” which are unnaturally created, often concentrated forms of protein such as soy, peas, eggs or milk.

• It is well studied that too much red meat, for example, can increase the risk of several diseases, such as strokes and cancer.

• Animal cruelty in factory farming (buy locally farmed meats).

• It takes approximately 100 times more land to feed beef or lamb compared to using land for plant-based alternatives – however, much of the land used for pasture is unsuitable for agriculture.

• Better health – if done properly

Agnes Ramsay is a Registered Nurse, Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach who specializes in Electric Muscle Stimulation Training. agnes.ramsay@xbodyworld.com

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nexthome.ca 19

Advice | iN THe GARdeN

GARDENS A LINK TO NATURE

mArk And ben cullen

Over the years, we have read about gardening, met and talked with a lot of Canadian gardeners, accumulated years of toil in our own gardens, and this is the conclusion that we have come to regarding the gardening experience: The purpose of a garden is to link us to the natural world around us.

In the microcosm of our personal space, we each see our yard, balcony and garden as something different.

Your definition of that space may be a place to entertain, relax or escape, and you would be right. But, stand 20 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

back from your own personal needs and wants, and you’ll realize what makes the outdoor space around your home different from your indoor space – it’s not yours at all.

Consider the birds, insects and wind that pass through your yard daily. Each holds a free pass to use your place to feed, live, reproduce and, in the case of the wind itself, to just pass by.

What is so exciting about the world of gardening today is the growing realization that we don’t do it alone: Everything we do in our yards and gardens impacts the natural world around us.

Food webs

While we live in a world based on the obvious – what our five senses pick up from day to day, season to season – there is a lot more going

on in our yard than we realize. Take our reference to the food chain, for instance. This linear illustration of how we function within the rules of Mother Nature is an oversimplification of how things really work out there.

Ecologists talk about food webs, not chains.

If we can offer just one thought that might change your vision of what a garden is, let it be this: Gardeners provide an impact that is changing the world. To stand at your kitchen window and gaze at what is there with a view to birds, flowers, a deck or barbecue, and to see nothing more is to rob yourself of the benefits of reality. In the garden, we often see things two-dimensionally. But we can change.

Let us illustrate with this one fact: In a single handful of quality garden

soil, there exists more than four billion interdependent living organisms.

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, insects and a cocktail of other stuff work together to create a support system for the plants that grow in your garden. As a result of this complex system, we impact the natural world every time we dig a hole, pull a weed or place a bird feeder on our property.

ARe you doiNG youR pART?

If you agree that gardeners (and there are more than 20 million of us in Canada) have a vital role to play where ecological preservation and enhancement is concerned, then perhaps you will be interested in learning how each of us can do more to enhance that ecosystem.

HeRe ARe ouR suGGesTioNs:

1. Attract pollinators. Plants produce flowers to attract pollinators.

Exchanging pollen and nectar for sustenance ensures that both the plant and the pollinator have a future. a. Plant lots of flowering plants.

Use plants that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds and yes, even moths, certain types of wasps, and mason bees. Place a “mason bee house” about two metres off the ground and out of the wind. b. Put out birdfeeders, including hummingbird feeders. Squish an over-ripe banana with a fork onto a dish and place it outside to attract butterflies. Mix up your bird food to include peanuts, black oil sunflowers, nyjer seed and quality millet. c. Water. Provide a drink and a bath for visiting wildlife. You will never know the degree to which a bird bath gets used, especially while you sleep.

2. Grow a variety of trees and shrubs and vines. These permanent additions to your garden support the wildlife that frequents herbaceous perennials and annuals through the production of foliage, flowers and berries.

3. Compost. Your soil will improve as you harvest the finished stuff from your composting unit or pile, and it will host small creatures that are all beneficial to your garden.

It always helps to leave your garden a little bit messy. By that we mean, leave your grass clippings on the lawn, let the leaves that fall in autumn remain on your garden, and allow some of your flowering plants to go to seed after flowering. They will provide a quality source of food for songbirds later in the season.

We are relieved that we, as Canadian gardeners, have matured to the point where we no longer fight what happens naturally in the world around us. Instead, we have a new generation of gardeners (and an old one that is learning!) who are

embracing the idea that our gardens are a natural link to the wild world – that is outside of our property lines and inside them as well.

Mark Cullen is a Member of the Order of Canada. He reaches more than two million Canadians with his gardening/ environment messages every week.

Receive his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com Ben Cullen is a professional gardener with a keen interest in food gardening and the environment. You can follow both Mark and Ben on Twitter @MarkCullen4, Facebook @MarkCullenGardening and Pinterest @MarkCullenGardening.

+mOre CONTENT Online nexthome.ca

nexthome.ca 21

COVER STORY

BRAESTONE ESTATES FINAL CHAPTER AT BRAESTONE BARES THE HALLMARKS OF ALL GEORGIAN COMMUNITY PROJECTS – HEART AND SOUL Enter a world unlike any other at Braestone Estates. This unique community tells a tale of connection – with the land, with history and with each other. These are the hallmarks of Georgian Communities, which puts heart and soul into every new home.

Builders of quality homes across southern Ontario, it’s not simply the attention to detail or superior craftsmanship that sets Georgian

22 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Communities apart. Driven by the desire to provide incredible neighbourhoods that embody the timeless values of community, the company strives to build homes in unique locations carefully selected for their proximity to nature and connection to an enriched lifestyle.

Over the past two years, countless families have left the GTA in search of a community in touch with nature, and have found homes with Georgian Communities. Because these are places where families and friendships will grow, and where every resident can live remarkably.

Inspired by the rolling hills and lush countryside of the Oro-Medonte region of Horseshoe Valley, Braestone was designed as a reimagining of the classic Country Estate. The keystone of this community is Braestone Farm, a fully-functional working farm that sets the tone for the entire neighbourhood. Horses graze in

green fields, crops grow year after year, and the beautiful landscape transports you to a simpler time.

Every element of this neighbourhood touches on the inspiration of the farm, from architecture and interiors to amenities – even the street names reflect these values, each chosen for the horses that were so integral to the history of the land.

More than 560 acres of tranquil countryside. Incredible estate lots averaging one acre for every family.

Panoramic views of nature. Combined with the unique character of the modern farmhouse architecture and unparalleled amenities, life at Braestone sounds too good to be true. Yet from planning to production and beyond, it continues to live up to every promise. Its nature has been praised by countless happy homeowners, but also recognized for various awards on an international level, including Best New Home

Community from the prestigious CHBA Awards.

The truest sense of community and connection is built here, where families live together around the berry patches, orchards and nature preserves. Residents of Braestone have access to the neighbouring Braestone Farm and its bounty, with fresh produce and honey available for purchase to make eating locally grown food easier than ever.

Starfall Park brings you closer to the stars, a series of ponds can be enjoyed throughout the seasons, and an extensive trail system invites exploration. These are just a taste of Braestone’s Remarkables, born of the natural landscape to offer residents an enriching lifestyle leagues beyond the experiences that can be found in

The Ktchn Restaurant at Braestone Club

a big city. From a toboggan hill and a Christmas tree farm and beyond, the Remarkables are even bigger than your imagination.

With so much available right at home, residents of Braestone have everything they need, and more.

But not far from the farm are even more opportunities for an incredible lifestyle. Horseshoe Valley and Copeland Forest are just around the corner, with Braestone Club – where an extraordinary new clubhouse and The Ktchn restaurant offer yet another remarkable amenity – only minutes from home. Opportunities to ski, golf, explore and dine are as endless as the horizons, and between Barrie and Orillia, city conveniences are never far.

Many exciting things are happening at Braestone in 2022. This February, perfectly timed for Family Day weekend, a fun family charity event will be held in support of the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.

A resident-based volunteer-run fundraiser, the Braestone Winter Classic is a pond hockey tournament to be held at Braestone Farm with support from Georgian International – parent company of Georgian Communities – and Braestone Farm itself, as well as The Ktchn restaurant.

This will be the inaugural event of a planned annual fundraiser, which displays exactly how the values of community at Braestone have already grown strong in the first phases of the neighbourhood.

As the community continues to grow, Georgian Communities will be releasing the very last phase of Braestone this year. Scheduled for

early 2022, Phase 8 is a uniquely private enclave of just 16 homesteads located on Friesian Court, where it will be separate but also inclusive to the rest of the neighbourhood.

Residents will still have convenient access to all of Braestone’s Remarkables from a short path through the trail networks across the property, yet benefit from a quiet, secluded cul-de-sac.

This will be the grand finale of this incredible community, but its story will live on in every family that calls Braestone home and every beloved memory made here.

To learn more about Braestone’s Remarkables, its beautiful modern farmhouse architecture, and the upcoming release of Phase 8 of Braestone Estates, visit braestone.ca. nexthome.ca 23

ADVICE | SIMPLY TECH

CLEAVE THE MOST COMFORTABLE ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD ON THE PLANET

GREG GAZIN

Are you finding that you seem to be forever living behind your keyboard and more often than not a painful experience? If so, you might want to give the Truly Ergonomic Cleave Keyboard a try. While the name best describes it, it’s designed to allow you to maximize your typing experience with less fatigue and strain on your hands, while improving your body posture.

The layout of a standard keyboard descended from the original typewriter, a design created for speed and efficiency that has more or less remained in place since the 1860s.

We’ve seen keyboards given added 24

Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

functionality, become more rounded and even split into two halves, all in an attempt to be more ergonomic and finger friendly, but with limited success.

The Cleave, designed in Canada, offers a uniquely split symmetrical layout that aligns naturally with your hands. It still incorporates all the standard full-sized keys but in an almost columnar layout. It maintains traditional spacing between keys while using 40 per cent less space.

As a result, you can cover more real estate on the keyboard without having to reach out, minimizing potential wrist and shoulder pain.

In addition to the ability to place your forearms, wrists and hands in a neutral position, a cushioned palm rest keeps your hands comfortable to further lessen the pressure on your wrist.

DIFFERENCES FROM TRADITIONAL KEYBOARDS

To maximize the ergonomics, there are some changes from a traditional keyboard. The more common and important function keys, such as Backspace, Delete, Shift and Enter, are not placed on the perimeter as you might expect, but rather at the centre for quick and easy access and typically where your strongest fingers are.

The individual keys consist of unique optical, infrared mechanical switches, which use infrared light rather than metal or rubber contacts to register the keystroke. This makes the keyboard accurate and effortless while doing away with many of the issues that plague traditional mechanical keyboards.

For many, the feel of the keys is important to them. Different strokes for different folks – if you pardon the

“

Tactile Silent keys are silent yet provide feedback from the keys you can feel.

”

pun. The keyboard is offered with three variant key switches for you to choose from at the time of purchase.

THREE KEY STYLES

Tactile Silent keys are silent, yet provide feedback from the keys you can feel. Tactile Clicky keys generate a click with each keystroke you can hear in addition to feedback for a more traditional typing experience.

The third option is Linear Silent keys, where you don’t feel or hear anything.

Select the option that best aligns with your typing style.

The keyboard itself has a very durable overall design. The body is composed of aerospace-grade aluminum, allowing it to be strong, yet slim and sturdy. It measures 13.6

by 8.8 by 1.25 in., and weighs two pounds (950 grams) including the cushioned palm rest.

Other features include white LED backlight control to suit whatever lighting conditions you like to work in. You can create your own cool backlight effects – something you’d love if you’re a gaming enthusiast and you can even select which keys you want backlit.

It features an innovative advanced nanocoating shield to protect the surface from water, dust and even those pesky food crumbs – because who doesn’t like to eat or snack sitting at their keyboard during those lengthy Zoom calls or YouTube video marathons.

The Truly Ergonomic Cleave Keyboard is a great enhancement for your computer, especially if you’re going to be spending more time than ever before in front of a screen.

And regardless if it’s because of a lockdown, the cold of winter or you just have more time on your hands, you might as well be able to do your computing in comfort.

Admittedly, it does look a little out of the ordinary, although it will certainly create an interesting topic

for conversation. One small item to note is that, like most laptop computers, it doesn’t have a separate numeric keypad. But unless you’re a bookkeeper or an accountant, you’d likely never use it anyway.

Truly Ergonomic Cleave Keyboard is available directly from the manufacturer. It retails for $330, but is currently available for only $249.99 or 25 per cent off, with free shipping to anywhere in North America.

Greg Gazin is a syndicated tech columnist, blogger, podcaster, and contributes to canoe.com, Troy Media and Active Life magazine. gadgetguy.ca

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AdvertoriAl

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF TORONTO -

BIG G PROGRAM Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto (BBBST) is a prevention and intervention mentoring agency that works with youth, families and strategic partners to provide support for at-risk children and youth. It matches “Littles” (aged 7 to 16) with a “Big,” based on mutual experiences and shared interests. BBBST aspires to build thriving communities and empower lives.

BBBST’s “Big G Program” is inspired by the idea of fostering intergenerational relationships between adults aged 55-plus and the youth in Toronto. It matches a young person with a screened and trained older adult, who is looking for ways to engage with their community. The program – funded by the Allan Slaight Seniors Fund through the United Way Greater Toronto – trains volunteers to play an important role in their neighbourhood by leading community activities with their Little, helping them to reach their full potential.

“The most rewarding part of being a Big G is seeing my Little’s smile and hearing him laugh when we do things together. It is soul-warming.” – Brian, a BBBST Big G

26 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Youth mental health remains a growing concern in Toronto. Many young people face adversities in their lives, resulting in toxic stress that can negatively impact their development. Seventy-nine per cent of children are reportedly struggling with COVID-19 related anxieties and 81 per cent feel they are missing important life events. As the pandemic continues and young people struggle to receive the help they need, services such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto are needed now more than ever.

“When we got together in person we did a lot of walking.

We tried to do 10,000 steps each time we got together and my Little was totally up for this. She is as driven and competitive as I am. My Little also does really well in school and loves to get all her homework done or even get ahead of it. I usually pick her up and ask her what “food group” she feels like and we go out for dinner and then to the library to do homework, arts and crafts, just chat or find some books to take out.” – Tina, a BBBST Big G With the help of BBBST’s mentoring programs and volunteers, young people can overcome their adversities and develop the confidence needed to reach their full potential.

Over the past two years, BBBST mentors worked hard to help achieve positive results in their Littles’ lives and support them in all aspects of their life. There is, however, a lot of work left to do. During the pandemic, BBBST experienced a 33-percent increase in demand for mentoring services. Currently, BBBST has about 100 young people across the city waiting to be matched with a caring mentor; a mentor who will stand in their corner; a mentor like you.

BBBST’s mentoring programs are proven to break the cycles of violence, drug abuse, poverty and inequality.

Initiatives such as the Big G Program have the power to effect positive results on young people in all facets of their lives, ranging from personal, academic and professional.

An intergenerational relationship is a special one. It’s a relationship that offers growth, opportunity and wisdom to those who are a part of it. When volunteers such as you join BBBST as mentors, at-risk youth across Toronto experience better and improved mental well-being, education, career opportunities and civic engagement.

“I think my Little feels very comfortable around me. Her mom says she is very quiet and doesn’t say too much.

However as soon as we head out she starts chatting. We are never at a loss for words or activities!” – Tina, a BBBST Big G

you to strengthen the relationship between you and the younger generation, build on your personal and professional development, and gain new perspectives and understandings about your community. Additionally, the Big G Program aims to facilitate connections among older adults, which will allow you to attend regular networking meetings where Big G volunteers can share their experiences and provide support to one another.

“I have been pleased to witness my Little become much more comfortable sharing his thoughts and feelings. We have built a solid bond of trust, I believe. My Little provides me with opportunities to look at events in new ways and find new solutions. In sharing we show each other a “humanness” that allows us to get a perspective on what others are facing and that our feelings are common.” – Brian, a BBBST Big G Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto and Become a Big G Today! For as little as one hour a week, the Big G Program offers you a chance to mentor a young person.

Whether your meetings take place out in the community, in school, or virtually, you can connect with your match on a meaningful level. To protect the community and to ensure the safety of volunteers, BBBST strictly follows public health guidelines (such as vaccination requirements, screening tools for all in-person or virtual services). If you are interested in connecting with a young person in your community and becoming a Big G, visit toronto. bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/volunteer or call 416.925.8981.

However, the benefits of being a Big G are not onesided. As much as your Little will benefit from having you as their mentor, the program will also positively impact and add to your life. Becoming a Big G will allow

nexthome.ca 27

Advice | finAnce

WHAT IS A REVERSE MORTGAGE AND SHOULD YOU CONSIDER ONE? HOW TO USE THIS FINANCIAL TOOL TO GROW YOUR FAMILY’S WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE

BEN MCCABE

As home prices continue to rise, reverse mortgages are gaining in popularity. Tens of thousands of 55-plus Canadians are now utilizing reverse mortgages for themselves 28 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

and their family. Why? Because many older homeowners are realizing that they are over-invested in real estate, and they can afford to unlock a portion of that wealth to live well in retirement.

You might have heard about this type of financial product in the past, but its new iteration makes it an ideal solution for financial flexibility in retirement. Reverse mortgages are becoming increasingly common among seniors who realize there is a

tremendous amount of equity in their current home.

A reverse mortgage can do a lot – provide income in retirement, fund a new home purchase, home modifications to include a secondary suite for a caregiver or family member, accessibility renovations to age-in-place, provide the ability to purchase a second property or even provide a “living inheritance” to adult kids to enter the property market to buy a home of their own.

How does it work?

If you’re more than 55 years of age and own a home in Canada, you are likely eligible for a reverse mortgage.

A reverse mortgage allows you to access tax-free cash from the value in your home, without having to sell. Canadian seniors can access up to 55 per cent of the value of their home, while continuing to own 100 per cent and retaining control.

Unlike a traditional mortgage, a reverse mortgage requires no regular principal or interest payments.

Instead, interest is simply added to the mortgage balance over time.

The loan becomes due when you and your spouse no longer occupy the home.

GivinG A down pAyment to fAmily

Many older Canadians are now taking out a reverse mortgage for what’s referred to as a living inheritance.

This is the increasing common practice of starting the process of helping out children and grandchildren while our clients are there to see their loved ones benefit from it.

This has become more and more common, especially as home prices

have risen dramatically over the past several years – for two reasons: First, 55-plus customers, most of whom entered the housing market decades ago, have more wealth built up in their homes than they ever expected.

Second, their children and grandchildren are finding it harder to break into the housing market themselves. And the longer they must wait to try to save up for an increasing large down payment, the harder it

wHAt cAn you use tHe funds for?

Funds from a reverse mortgage loan are being used for a variety of lifestyle improvements, such as: • Boosting retirement income and overall standard of living • Home renovations • Purchasing a new home or vacation property • Paying off debts • Paying for travel or leisure experiences • Providing a living inheritance to loved ones • Financing health and live-in care expenses With many Canadians now approaching retirement, a popular use of reverse mortgages is for agingin-place accessibility modification to ensure their home is safe for them in the future. Improving lighting, flooring and bathroom features and even elevators are just some of the features being added.

With the cost of living and inflation on the rise, financially savvy older homeowners are using reverse mortgages to fund the construction of secondary suites within their homes. These can be multi-purpose units – for extended family members, short or long-term rentals or even for a live-in caregiver. You control how much and where reverse mortgages proceeds are used. nexthome.ca 29

will be for them to have the same opportunity for wealth creation their parents and grandparents had.

A reverse mortgage is an unbelievable powerful solution here and allows Canadians to assist their kids without compromising their own financial situation or having to move and sell their home.

In most cases, loved ones will inherit their home equity after they pass away anyway. But that could be two, three or four decades from now.

Alternatively, by taking even a small amount of equity out through a reverse mortgage today, and gifting that to a child or grandchild, they can use that for their down payment, add a traditional mortgage of their own, and enter the housing market today.

The best part, this entire process can happen tax-free. Through this manoeuvre, your loved ones could be many times as wealthy after you pass away, then if they were just to receive their full inheritance at that time.

wHAt else cAn A reverse mortGAGe be used for?

Some wealthier seniors are using a reverse mortgage loan as an investment tool for down markets, using it as an alternative source of retirement income when needed, rather than drawing down on investments at deflated values.

Financial advisors now more than ever are recommending reverse mortgages to their older clients for the financial flexibility they provide. wHere cAn you Get A reverse mortGAGe?

There are several reverse mortgage providers in the Ontario marketplace.

Bloom is the newest entrant, providing an easy and seamless online experience. The process can take place over the phone with minimal paperwork required. Speak to your financial advisor to see if a reverse mortgage is right for you, and to read more about the ins and outs of reverse mortgages, visit bloomfin.ca/resources.

Ben McCabe is founder of Bloom Finance Co., a reverse mortgage provider to 55-plus Canadian homeowners. bloomfin.ca

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30 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

SPECIAL REPORT | OUTLOOK 2022

POISED TO BE ANOTHER STRONG YEAR FOR ONTARIO REAL ESTATE

By WAYNE KARL

A year ago when we were preparing our Outlook 2021 coverage, we – and virtually all of the sources we quoted in our report – were beyond surprised at how well the previous year had finished, and how strong the market looked for 2021. RBC went as far as to call 2020 “easily the most surprising year in the history of Canada’s housing market.”

During a pandemic.

Well, here we are again, and the outlook for 2022 is for – if you can believe it – more of the same.

“I continue to be shocked by how hot the new home and condo market has been over the past 18 months,” Ben Myers, president of Bullpen Research & Consulting Inc., told Active Life.

Indeed, as our coverage elsewhere in this issue and within this Special Report: Outlook 2022 illustrates, the economy and housing markets in the GTA and surrounding areas continue to defy the odds and perform remarkably.

Also hard to believe is that it’s all happening – unfortunately, still – during an ongoing pandemic. The 32 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

new home and resale markets continue to perform at staggering numbers, the challenges of COVID notwithstanding.

The market challenges, whether brought on by COVID, policy or supply chain issues, are not to be overlooked.

They are serious, but that further speaks to the strength and resilience of the GTA. Here’s a number of considerations as to why 2022 is poised to be another strong year for GTA real estate – with expert commentary – and some of the challenges to be aware of.

HOUSING AS AN ELECTION ISSUE

The federal election last September proved that housing has rightly become a major concern. All kinds of major bodies, from realty firms to builder associations to economists, have long driven home the point that the issue – lack of supply and deteriorating affordability – needs serious attention. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can no longer ignore the facts, and the Liberals put forth a number of programs to address the matter.

Now comes the opportunity to make the point at the provincial level, on June 2, and in municipal elections, on Oct. 24.

“In the GTA, with housing inventories at near-historic lows, high demand for homes and rapid price escalation, housing supply and affordability will rank alongside COVID-19 recovery as defining election issues,” Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) told Active Life.

“Insufficient housing supply exacerbates inequality, places a drag on economic growth and threatens the collective quality of life in the economic heartland of Canada.”

The broad consensus is that lack of housing supply is driving the GTA’s affordability challenge. The causes of the supply dilemma are multifactorial and complex, but are rooted in constrained land supply, lengthy building times driven by unnecessarily complicated and bureaucratic approval processes, and a tight supply of skilled labour.

Any long-term solution must be firmly rooted in supply, rather than the tax-and-restrict approaches of trying to cool demand for housing, Wilkes says. Past attempts to cool demand have had short-term, muted impacts at best and created more, not less, burdens for prospective new-home buyers.

“Now that we’re in 2022, we should be wary of anyone who claims that adding taxes or other restrictions will increase affordability. Instead, we must be looking for solutions that will increase housing supply by addressing the root causes of land supply constraints and approval times.

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PRESSURE ON PRICES Flato continues to see high demand for the homes and apartments we are building in various communities in Ontario.

We recently advertised a new phase of detached homes, and sold out in just one day. This shows a continued appetite for new homes, even as prices continue to rise. There is a high demand for more space and being part of a growing community.

Demand for housing continues to outstrip supply, and we don’t see this ending soon. We expect immigration will rebound in 2022, which will ensure there is a continued demand for homes and apartments.

Continuing supply chain issues in 2022, due mainly to COVID and the new variants, will increase pressure on both materials and labour. Flato, however, is well-prepared, and we are still closing homes on schedule.

Flato does see an increasing interest rate environment in 2022. However, we don’t think that there will be major increases, and banks are still doing mortgage stress tests at higher rates than what homeowners are able to borrow at.

PREPARE FOR RISING INTEREST RATES

A number of experts foresee multiple interest rate hikes in 2022, in part to tame rapid home price growth and inflation, and to quell any instability in the market due to COVID. “Fixed rates have already increased by close to a percentage in the last six months,” says Jesse Abrams, co-founder and CEO of Homewise. “So, looking into 2022, we may see slight increases to fixed rates, and up to a one-per-cent increase to variable rates, if the prognosticators are correct. This is a good time to lock into a fixed rate if you are comfortable with it.

“With home prices rising at uncontrollable levels, rate hikes are an immediate way to attempt to stabilize the market. So, if I were a betting man, I would expect three to four increases in 2022.”

The next rate announcement from the Bank of Canada is scheduled for March 2.

THE RESILIENCE OF THE GTA ECONOMY

SHAUN LEVY Vice President, Finance and Operations Flato Developments

ONGOING APPETITE We have a very optimistic outlook for 2022, despite the ongoing and ever-changing measures related to COVID. Our community development and homebuilding focus remains in our own backyard – the Simcoe and Grey County regions. These areas continue to defy market expectations, as people from the GTA find the prospect of comparably more affordable real estate coupled with a more relaxed and enriched lifestyle.

The imbalance of housing supply and the ongoing appetite for homeownership will likely continue to push home prices higher. Although indicators suggest mortgage interest rates will rise, other economic factors, such as a strong job market and wage growth, will likely offset any real market cooling.

MIKE PARKER Vice-President, Sales & Marketing Georgian Communities

34 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

A strong economy, and the underlying fundamentals, are everything when it comes to real estate and the demand for housing. Economic growth produces job opportunities, which leads to population growth, housing demand and new home development.

And, though it may surprise you, during the pandemic, the economy here has continued to roar along. In fact, according to the Fraser Institute, an independent, Canadian public policy think-tank, job growth in the GTA exceeds the national average. Other parts of Ontario are a little more challenged.

“Given the sheer size of the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding communities, it is easy to miss the economic challenges faced by many other parts of Ontario when looking at province-wide economic statistics,” says Ben Eisen, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute.

In the context of real estate, the GTA continues to be a high performer.

“Investors continue to seek out opportunities in smaller municipalities, and developers are offering more Toronto-style developments in the 905 and even the 519 areas – very small units, lots of amenities and highquality interiors,” says Myers.

“Increases in construction materials and labour, government fees and new planning requirements continue to push up costs at an unprecedented level, leading new condo prices to rise faster than resale pricing. This will ultimately result in a reduction in purchases by investors that intend to hold shorter-term.”

Smaller developers may push back their launches until there is more certainty and stability in terms of construction cost inflation, Myers says, and the Omicron variant may temper some of the 2021 enthusiasm by investors. Lastly, so much product came to market in 2021, that there is not as much in the pipeline for 2022, as many developers concentrate on finishing their existing projects and not stretching themselves too thin.

Bullpen is forecasting a sales year closer to the 10-year average, but continued price growth in the range of four to seven per cent annually.

THE STRENGTH OF ONTARIO REAL ESTATE

Home price growth is expected to continue in Canada this year, with Ontario leading the way. According to the 2022 Canadian Housing Market Outlook Report from ReMax Canada, average residential sales prices across the country will rise 9.2 per cent, thanks largely to the ongoing housing supply shortage, inter-provincial migration and other factors.

“The inter-provincial relocation trend that we began to see in the summer of 2020 still remains very strong and is expected to continue into 2022,” says Christopher Alexander, president, ReMax Canada. “Less dense cities and neighbourhoods offer buyers the prospect of greater affordability, along with livability factors such as more space. In order for these regions to retain these appealing qualities and their relative market balance, housing supply

needs to be added. Without more homes and in the face of rising demand, there’s potential for conditions in these regions to shift further.”

Despite the global pandemic, many Canadians still feel confident in the real estate market. According to a Leger survey conducted on behalf of ReMax Canada, 49 per cent of Canadians believe real estate will remain one of their best investment options in 2022. Additionally, 49 per cent of Canadians are confident the market will remain steady next year.

Market activity across Ontario is expected to remain steady in 2022, with continued average price growth, although at widely varying degrees.

ReMax anticipates average sale price increases in smaller markets such as Collingwood/Georgian Bay (10 per cent) and Muskoka (20 per cent) to be driven by the move-over trend. In larger markets, such as Durham (seven per cent), Brampton (eight per cent), Toronto (10 per cent) and Mississauga (14 per cent), the key driver is likely to be immigration.

HOTTEST MARKETS IN ONTARIO BY FORECAST 2022 AVERAGE PRICE GROWTH MARKET Muskoka Burlington Hamilton Barrie Mississauga Niagara York Region Toronto Peterborough/Kawartha London Collingwood/Georgian Bay Brampton Oakville Durham Region Kitchener-Waterloo

2021 price $624,464 $1.06M $784,054 $770,000 $1.01M $689,648 $1.27M $1.05M $685,298 $633,700 $859,224 $1.08M $1.57M $914,548 $785,607

2022 price estimate $749,356 $1.24M $909,502 $885,500 $1.150M $786,198 $1.40M $1.16M $753,827 $697,070 $940,850 $1.17M $1.69M $978,566 $832,743

% increase estimate 21/22 20 17 16 15 14 14 10 10 10 10 9.5 8 7.5 7 6

SOURCE: REMAX 2022 CANADIAN HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK REPORT

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DESTINATIONS ONTARIO

COBOURG ONTARIO’S FEEL-GOOD TOWN THRIVING IN ITS ELEMENT

by WAYNE KARL

As Ontarians look outside major centres in search of lifestyle, more privacy and better affordability, destinations to the east of the GTA are among the popular choices. Durham Region, Clarington and other smaller cities and towns might be the first to come to mind, but there’s another choice location you should learn more about: Cobourg.

You may have seen signage for the town as you drive along Hwy. 401 east of Toronto, near Port Hope and the exits for Peterborough, but beyond that, Cobourg may not immediately register as an active adult locale.

But perhaps it should – because the secret is out.

ACCLAIMED COMMUNITY

Located on the shores of Lake Ontario about 95 kms east of Toronto and 62 km from Oshawa – roughly halfway between Toronto and Kingston 36 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

– Cobourg has been recognized multiple times by MoneySense Magazine as “One of Canada’s Best Places to Live” with populations of less than 25,000. It has also received the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Communities Award, accolades from the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, and multiple heritage, environmental and community event awards.

This acclaimed lakeside community boasts all of the day-to-day amenities you’d look for in an active adult community. Nearby healthcare and leisure options such as a heritage marina one block from shopping, dining and entertainment, manicured parks for leisure and sports, and a spectacular beach on the shores of Lake Ontario.

And, for those still with kids at home or families visiting, there’s plenty of local educational

options, and an abundance of childcare options.

The downtown and surrounding residential area is designated as a Heritage Conservation District, with a well-preserved traditional small-town main street. Victoria Hall, the town hall completed in 1860, is a National Historic Site of Canada.

Year-round attractions – COVID restrictions permitting, of course – include the Canada Day Waterfront Festival, summer concerts in Victoria Park, theatre productions and an award-winning Sandcastle Festival.

And from spring to winter, there’s the ever-popular Farmers’ Market.

Cobourg is also home to Canada’s oldest drive-in.

All that, plus a serene lifestyle, picturesque landscape, gorgeous waterfront promenade, historical buildings and a heritage marina…

These are among the characteristics

behind Cobourg’s “Ontario’s FeelGood Town” slogan.

Through the late 1980s and 1990s, the Town invested in property along the waterfront and began beautifying the area. A boardwalk was developed to connect the harbour and large sandy beach, while further pathways were created to encompass Victoria Park and the historic downtown.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

But Cobourg doesn’t just cling to the past. Indeed, it is modernizing for the future with, among other initiatives, Venture13, an innovation and entrepreneurship centre.

The facility represents the evolution of the two-storey 30,000-sq.-ft. post-war brick Building 13 of the Northam Industrial Park on D’Arcy St., the centre of what in the 1950s was the headquarters of No. 26 Ordnance Depot of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps. The station was closed and decommissioned in 1970 and housed various tenants until 2017 when the Town, in partnership with Northumberland CFDC and with the support of FedDev Ontario, transformed the building into a thriving centre for entrepreneurship and innovation. And, with a nod to Cobourg’s past, Building 13 was named Venture13.

Today, Venture13 boasts a network of leaders from Spark Centre, Fleming College, Durham College, Ontario Tech University, the Impact Centre at the University of Toronto and Ontario Centres of Excellence, all working together to advance entrepreneurship and innovation in Northumberland and the wider eastern Ontario corridor.

32.9 per cent year-over-year to $744,600. Townhome/row units rose even more – 37.1 per cent to $559,500, compared to a year earlier.

Compare these prices to what you might pay in Toronto or elsewhere in the GTA, and you begin to understand the appeal of Cobourg.

“Our current market is being driven by a large number of buyers moving from the Toronto and Durham areas,” Erin Brown, president-elect of the Northumberland Hills Association of Realtors told Active Life.“ This area is also considered commuting distance to the GTA by many. We are also seeing record low housing inventory, which is continuing to drive prices up. Many people are recognizing the benefits this area offers and that it is a great place to live.”

In new homes, a number of developments are underway in town, from singles and semis to townhomes.

Notable among them is Mason Homes’ Kingswood, an infill neighbourhood at the corner of King Street East and Orchard Avenue in the heart of Cobourg, offering 30- and 40-ft. townhomes.

Other developments in the area include East Village, Parkview Hills, West Park Village and Brook Meadows.

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Located in southern Ontario, 95 km east of Toronto and 62 km east of Oshawa; population 19,440

KEY LANDMARKS • Port Hope Drive-In • Sifton Cook Heritage Centre • The Cobourg Waterfront Festival • Victoria Park Beach

RESIDENTIAL APPEAL

Then there’s the cost of housing, quite often one of the reasons people leave Toronto. But like much of Ontario, homes are proving exceptionally popular in this area, and with limited supply, prices are on the rise.

The benchmark price for singlefamily homes in Northumberland County in December 2021 climbed nexthome.ca 37

ADVICE | REAL ESTATE PRO

MUNICIPALITIES MUST DO THEIR PART FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

BARBARA LAWLOR

We hear and read a lot about the housing affordability crisis in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Developers and builders of new homes and condominiums get unfair negativity when the subject is covered. They want to sell homes, and raising prices hamper potential purchases. It is important that people understand where these price increases come from.

For example, did you know that municipalities, which continually require more for development charges, keep incredible amounts in cash reserves paid through taxes on new housing? BILD commissioned Altus Group to conduct a study of 16 municipalities across the GTA. The result was that these municipalities collectively had more than $5 billion in cash reserves on hand at the end of 2019. Toronto alone had $2.6 billion in reserves.

These amounts of money come from a variety of development charge elements, including cash contributions and facilities that provide some compensation to communities for increased density and/or height. The City has collected far more than it has spent, yet continues to hike rates and, in turn, new home condo prices.

How to spend these cash reserves is the choice of municipalities. At the very least, they could reduce or, as BILD President and CEO, 38 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

David Wilkes, says, “at least cap” development charges on new homes and condos to “make a dent in the housing affordability challenge the region is facing.”

Municipal fees and charges are the biggest component of taxes on new homes and condos, making up 22 to 24 per cent of their costs. The potential for municipalities to help alleviate the current housing price challenges are enormous.

The escalating cost of new homes and condos is not a case of developers and builders raising prices out of greed. Consider the fact that the costs of materials, labour, administration, architectural services and marketing services go up every year, as well.

And to be fair, new home construction, along with the professional renovation industry, creates thousands of well-paying on- and off-site jobs and contributes billions of dollars to local, provincial and national economies. Now that housing has reached national prominence in Canada with a new housing minister, it is time for the other levels of government to do more

to solve the supply and affordability dilemmas we find ourselves in.

Our current situation is also a testament to the resilience of the new home industry and new-home buyers in the face of rising costs, the pandemic and the challenges it has brought. With ongoing immigration, the demand for new homes and condominiums will continue to rise along with the prices. Developers and builders take a lot of heat in the media, but they are doing all they can to cope in these difficult times.

We need more accountability and transparency on the part of our municipalities when it comes to how they collect and spend development charges. As the saying goes, the ball’s in their court.

Barbara Lawlor is CEO of Baker Real Estate Inc. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of new home and condominium developments in the GTA, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal, and internationally in Shanghai. baker-re.com

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NEW HOME COMMUNITIES

EVERGREEN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY A HIDDEN GEM IN THE HEART OF MISSISSAUGA Located in a beautiful setting in the heart of Mississauga, Evergreen Retirement Community is a hidden gem offering the best in senior living. With multiple dining options, chef-prepared meals, excellent views of the city and an extensive activities program, Evergreen offers a fun and luxurious resort-inspired lifestyle.

Evergreen is conveniently located only 25 minutes from downtown Toronto, with easy access to all major highways and Pearson International Airport. The elegantly appointed retirement community offers a full range of lifestyles to suite your needs: Independent Living, Independent with Assistance, or Assisted Living, making it the ideal place for inspired senior living.

You will settle in quickly to your beautiful new home with your newfound friends and friendly, caring staff who make this senior living community so special. This is retirement living as it is meant to be.

VERVE: INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING

Evergreen is part of the Verve Senior Living Family. Verve Senior Living has a rich history of success. Fueled by 40

Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

some of the most passionate people in the industry, Verve has been, and continues to be, recognized as the gold standard in retirement living. The residence has won numerous awards, including the Canada Award for Excellence in Quality five times in Evergreen’s 42 years of service. Excellence is displayed in every aspect of a Verve community, from the design and construction to the exceptional care offered by the staff.

DINING

Stylish and sophisticated dining rooms, local and fresh ingredients, professional chefs, and servers who

get to know you and your preferences or nutritional requirements. Culinary teams are chosen for their exceptional attention to detail, friendly smile and level of dedication to their craft. Everyone is welcomed with open arms and good food and keeping in mind the tastes and preferences of both guests and family members alike is a pleasure. Fussing over loved ones is a joyful part of creating a memorable meal. At Evergreen, the culinary team takes care of everything, so you can enjoy your time with friends and family. They are quite literally at your service.

SUITES

Your new home should feel like your own with a style and setting that is distinctly yours. Personalize your suite at Evergreen Retirement Community so it feels as special and warm as your former home – you can bring your treasured antiques and furry loved ones, too. They take care of everything else so you can spend time planning your next adventure – you’ve earned it!

Evergreen offers a choice of elegantly appointed studio, alcove, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den or twobedroom suites. Each suite includes individual thermostatcontrolled heat and air conditioning, window coverings, a personal mailbox, a kitchenette with fridge, microwave and sink and some include a private balcony. At Evergreen, you will find the perfect fit for your retirement lifestyle.

living here. A 24-hour concierge and 24-hour emergency response system are just the beginning. All staff are trained in specific safety and security procedures, which means your safety isn’t treated like a job – it’s woven into everything these professionals do.

LIFE ENRICHMENT

Just because you are aging doesn’t mean you should stop living an active and vibrant lifestyle. Your dreams, passions and hobbies are as unique as you are. Evergreen is a place where you can continue to be you and continue to grow as an individual by being socially connected, and challenged in spirit, body and mind.

There is never a dull moment at Evergreen, as the life enrichment team publishes a calendar of events every month. Activities include weekly live entertainment, fitness classes including walking club, dance classes and Tai Chi. Holidays and notable events are celebrated in style, with entertainment, themed meals and games. Fun will be had by all!

Evergreen Retirement Community exemplifies inspired senior living that celebrates and honours the amazing seniors who live rich fulfilling lives. You will enjoy a vibrant, active life, waking up each morning feeling excited and inspired. For the passionate and caring staff at Evergreen Retirement Community, this is not a job, it is a calling, and they do whatever they can to create a community where spirit, body and mind flourish every single day.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Good health is the state in which you are at your best, when your physical, mental, and social well-being are flourishing – this is what it means to live with Verve.

At Evergreen, the highly skilled group of healthcare professionals are available 24/7 to help residents who require medication, bathing assistance, secure environment or skilled medical care. Staff does whatever they can to ensure all your health and wellness needs are met.

verveseniorliving.com

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Evergreen is a place you can call home, and not because it’s where you wake up every morning, but because you’re surrounded by peace of mind and warmth from people who genuinely care about your well-being. The staff believes you should feel safe and reassured when nexthome.ca 41

NEW HOME COMMUNITIES

KINGSWOOD TOWNHOMES MASON HOMES OFFERS A LIMITED COLLECTION OF EXECUTIVE TOWNHOMES COMING SOON TO COBOURG Mason Homes is pleased to welcome you to Kingswood, a charming new infill neighbourhood that is the latest addition to the company’s awardwinning portfolio of exceptional communities in south-central Ontario.

Coming this spring to the corner of King Street East and Orchard Avenue in the heart of Cobourg, Mason Homes invites you to “live royally” within this highly desirable address where Cobourg’s small-town charm and renowned waterfront 42 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

come to life amidst many of the area’s most sought-after amenities and attractions.

Available in Mason Homes’ award-winning classic designs, these exceptional 30- and 40-ft. residences will feature distinctive Arts & Crafts styling, which is reflective of Ontario’s early history.

Each Kingswood townhome – of which there will only be 27 available – will feature professionally designed exterior colour palettes highlighting

the warmth of clay brick, with accents of stone and low maintenance vinyl siding, and inviting covered front porches.

Design highlights are many and include recessed front garages that are integrated into the facade of each townhome, creating a much more attractive and inviting streetscape.

Within, whether you choose a classic two-storey or a popular bungalow plus loft, great care is taken to ensure that your new home

complements your lifestyle. Flowing, open-concept interiors set the standard with sun-filled, bright and spacious interiors with endless design highlights found throughout.

Quality features and finishes include: two-, three- and fourbedroom layouts, nine-ft. main floor ceilings with soaring vaulted ceilings in select designs, convenient main floor master retreats with spa-inspired ensuite baths, gourmet-inspired kitchens with every convenience close at hand, inviting Great Rooms with available gas fireplaces, direct access single- and double-car garages, main floor laundry rooms, and available finished basement and loft options.

Close to cottage country and just minutes from the many amenities and attractions that Cobourg has to offer, this is the perfect location for those looking to get the most out of their lifestyle.

Celebrating more than 60 years of excellence in development, design and new home construction, awardwinning Mason Homes remains one of Ontario’s most successful and forward-thinking new home construction companies.

Located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, halfway between Toronto and Kingston, Cobourg has been recognized multiple times

by MoneySense Magazine as “One of Canada’s Best Places to Live” in populations of less than 25,000.

An award-winning community, Cobourg has received the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Communities Award, accolades from the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, as well as multiple heritage, environmental and community event awards.

In Cobourg, Kingswood townhomes will continue to deliver

affordable luxury by combining cutting-edge building products and technology – something that has earned Mason Homes numerous past industry accolades, including the Peterborough & Kawarthas Home Builders’ Association’s Builder of the Year and Green Builder of the Year. And, as with every new Mason home, each residence is built to Energy Star standards, offering many homeowners more comfort, lower energy consumption, and total peace of mind for today and the years ahead.

Kingswood townhomes range from 1,584 to 2,249 sq. ft. For more information and to register, visit masonhomes.ca and follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for Kingswood updates as they become available.

cobourg.ca nexthome.ca 43

AdvertoriAl

Parkland Lifestyle Residences redefining ‘downsizing’ for seniors savings on dining, wellness and entertainment, and with one monthly bill and no long-term contracts, Parkland is a unique and affordable option with a premium lifestyle and priceless peace of mind.

The term downsizing is often used to describe the process of trimming one thing in favour of a smaller version: companies, cars, and property.

According to a recent poll, 96% of Ontario seniors over the age of 55 plan to stay in their house or apartment for as long as possible. But for many seniors, the benefits of homeownership can wane at a certain stage in life. A range of factors related to property maintenance, finances, changes to relationship status, or simply wanting a lifestyle change can inspire a discussion about what’s next.

Since 1988, Parkland has been helping seniors remain independent by creating vibrant and safe communities where team members listen and go the extra mile.

Residents enjoy thousands of square feet, unparalleled amenities, restaurant-style dining, daily wellness and fitness programming and beautifully designed suites.

Live life your way At Parkland, residents remain independent, worry-free and have more time to do what they love. The only thing being downsized is the to-do list.

Residents choose their level of carefree living with flexible packages to meet all dining, housekeeping and transportation needs.

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Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Where neighbours become friends Parkland is more than a home – it’s a community. Parkland prioritizes social connectivity through common areas like dining rooms, game rooms and outdoor gathering spaces. Parkland is where residents spend time laughing with neighbours, enjoying evenings with friends and staying healthy with daily activities and programs through a variety of events such as live entertainment, wine and cheese socials and scheduled outings.

A lifestyle for less than you think When it comes to comparing current expenses with the cost of Parkland, residents have the freedom and flexibility to add what they need, when they need it. Many residents experience monthly

Peace of mind at Parkland Now, more than ever, we understand that safety is a top priority for residents and their families. With hospitality and healthcare professionals on-site and available 24/7, the Parkland team is dedicated to keeping residents safe.

With move-in protocols and a vaccination policy for all team members, residents can arrive and enjoy their new home worry-free.

Take a tour

A place that feels like home At Parkland, home extends past the door of residents’ private suite. Residents have exclusive access to services and amenities, all designed to provide comfort, safety, security and enjoyment. Each Parkland location features multiple dining venues, a spa, fitness centre, movie theatre, games room, library and more!

Make it yourself:

Parkland’s Signature Seafood Chowder Nothing quite says home like enjoying a delicious meal. We are excited to share the recipe for Parkland’s famous seafood chowder - a daily staple on the menu at every Parkland community. Prepared fresh daily with high-quality Maritime seafood, you can enjoy this tasty recipe all year long!

This recipe serves 10 - We promise you’ll want leftovers!

Exceptional dining At Parkland, every meal is a social occasion.

Whether residents enjoy a delicious three-course meal in one of the restaurant-style dining rooms, cooking in their suite or hosting loved ones in the exclusive private dining room.

Parkland’s talented, in-house executive chefs prepare residents exciting culinary creations and traditional favourites prepared exactly the way they like.

With locations in Mississauga, Etobicoke and locations coming to Ajax in 2022 and Ancaster in 2024, Parkland is a place you’ll be proud to call home.

Ingredients

Method

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1. Add seafood, along with water, simmer 20 mins. Remove cooked seafood and keep cooking liquid.

2. In another pot render bacon then add celery and onions, do not brown.

3. Add butter, melt then add flour. Add cooking liquid to pot, stir until thickened.

4. Add in dairy and bring to a simmer, then add diced potatoes. Cook 15 mins.

5. Stir in cooked seafood and dill, season to taste.

6 oz. baby shrimp 6 oz. broken scallops 12 oz. haddock 3 oz. lobster, broken 275 ml water 3 oz. clams with juice 3 oz. bacon 3 oz. celery 2 oz. green onion 1 oz. butter 45 ml flour 360 ml each 2% and 35% milk 11 oz. potatoes Dill as needed, salt and pepper to taste

1-877-742-6639 experienceparkland.com/activelife Etobicoke | Mississauga | Ajax (coming soon) | Ancaster (coming soon)

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TRAVEL

Funchal twinkles on a night walk to the cliff nests of Zino’s Petrels.

Below: Spotted Dolphin soars by on a Moby Dick-Tours outing from Ponta Delgada.

PORTUGAL MADEIRA & SÃO MIGUEL

by BRUCE KIRKLAND photos by RACHEL SA AND BRUCE KIRKLAND Travelling for pleasure during the pandemic requires a little courage, a lot of patience and a full range of research. These approaches emboldened my wife, Rachel Sa, and I to go to the Portuguese islands of Madeira and São Miguel in 2021.

While fraught with coronavirus worry and spiked with extra costs for PCR tests required for the round trip from Toronto, the journey became 46 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

a stunning success. We remained careful, stayed safe and had a wonderful time.

Portugal is among the world’s most highly vaccinated countries.

That was a lure – and the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores have fared even better than mainland Portugal. The two archipelagos in the North Atlantic Ocean also have different pandemic

This thatched-roof Santana house sits in the Madeira Botanical Garden.

Inset: Black Espada at the Funchal Mercafo.

rules from the mainland and each other. Those rules will change with conditions. Check in advance, and don’t go if you are unvaccinated.

Following the 2021 restrictions let us immerse ourselves in Portuguese culture, food, language and nature outings on land and water. The bonus was taking in the striking vistas of mountainous Madeira, including a trip up to Monte on the cable car (Teleferico do Funchal), with a side-trip to the gorgeous Madeira

Rachel and Bruce take the Funchal cable car.

Botanicals Garden. The lush green hill country of São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores, is a fascinating contrast to Madeira. Don’t miss the volcanic crater lakes of Sete Cidades, which harbour a mythical story.

A quick geography lesson is helpful. Madeira, the main island in a small archipelago, sits 530 kms west of Morocco. It enjoys a mild, subtropical climate. São Miguel is one of nine main islands, plus islets, that comprise the Azores. They are situated approximately 1,400 km west of Lisbon and enjoy a mild temperate zone climate because of the Gulf Stream.

The easiest way to access both regions from Canada is to fly into Ponta Delgada, the largest city in São Miguel, on Azores Airlines. You can explore that island and fly or ferry to other Azorean locales (which we did not do this time). Azores Airlines then has flights from Ponta Delgada to Funchal, the capital of Madeira.

Let’s talk about food. Fabulous!

Not a single bad meal on the trip.

For me, the culinary discovery was fresh black espada (or scabbard fish). Dubbed a pillar of Madeiran cuisine, the fish is a primitive, deepwater, monstrous-looking spectacle when laid out in Funchal’s famous fish market inside the Mercado dos Lavradores. Prepared in five different ways (I ate them all), it is delicate and delicious. Rachel’s food highlight was a steak cooked on a heated stone at our table as staff pampered us in the Hotel Talisman’s restaurant in Ponta Delgada.

Both islands allowed Rachel to practice her Portuguese language nexthome.ca 47

On a clear day, enjoy the Sete Cidades Lakes on São Miguel.

studies. People in the hospitality industry speak fluent English but enjoy hearing visitors try their language. That also gave us more insight into local customs and culture in Funchal and Machico, the two cities where we stayed in Madeira, and in Ponta Delgada and Furnas, where we stayed in São Miguel. We booked Airbnb stays in Madeira (the eccentric Modern and Recycled House in Machico is a stand-out); we booked high-end hotels in São Miguel (Hotel Talisman and Terra Nostra Garden Hotel).

Brightly painted doors on old buildings teased us while exploring back streets on both islands.

Portuguese are creative people. On the streets of the Madeiran fishing village of Câmara de Lobos (where they specialize in black espada), we found a giant art exhibit of sea animals crafted from plastic and pop cans rescued from the ocean. The display was beautiful and disturbing, as the ecologists who engineered it intended.

On São Miguel, the parish of Furnas beckoned. Here, volcanic steam heats water for the healing pools of the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. Steam also heats the earth in designated spots where locals prepare cozido das Furnas. This is a regional specialty simmered by burying large pots in the ground for six hours.

48 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Rachel and I are also nature nuts and bird geeks (me more than her, but she is indulgent). On Madeira, that meant engaging naturalists Hugo Romano and Catarina CorreiaFagundes from Madeira Wind Birds (madeirawindbirds.com). Hugo led a day trip looking for endemics such as Madeira Firecrest and Trocaz Pigeon.

Both Hugo and Catarina led us on a night tour to the mountaintop nesting area of the rare Zino’s Petrel.

It is a ghostly white seabird that flies into its cliffside burrows only in darkness, but we saw them soaring in brilliant moonlight above the clouds.

Then, for seven hours each day for three days, Hugo and Catarina co-helmed a zodiac tour searching for seabirds. Targets included the Zino’s as well as Fea’s Petrel, Cory’s Shearwater and Bulwer’s Petrel.

On São Miguel, we hired the colourful Dutch-born, Azorean birding guide Gerby Michielsen (gerbybirding.com) to help us find the rare and endangered Azores Bullfinch. It took four hours – with other birding treats along the path – but Gerby did it. We had our life Azores Bullfinch in view!

In the end, the entire experience of both Madeira and São Miguel was so enriching, so stimulating, and so much fun we have decided to do it again in 2022. Bon voyage – if you can find your version of paradise this year.

The fruit section of Funchal’s Mercado beckons, but watch out for scams.

Venture inside the Church of Our Lady of Monte, where the AustroHungarian Empire’s last emperor is buried.

INSPIRATION |

home finds

HOME etc.

by SARA DUCK

Design ideas and products to love this season

Stockholm 2017 SOFA in Sandbacka dark blue. $2,000. ikea.ca

Fabric LAND

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Leather, velvet and bouclé are some of the most popular fabrics in design for 2022.

1. Gideon green velvet OTTOMAN. $549.cb2.ca 2. Route leather chocolate PILLOW with feather-down insert. $130. cb2.ca 3. Anja ivory bouclé swivel CHAIR. $2,299. cb2.ca

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Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore’s colour and design expert, shares three inspiring ways to bring the best of the outdoors inside

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2

Embrace

imperfection

CHOOSE EARTH TONES

One of the most impactful ways to bring a sense of the outdoors into your space is through colour. “Consider a hue like October Mist CC-550 (pictured above), our colour of the year for 2022,” says Grech. “Inspired by the stem of a flower, this colour is the perfect support for other hues in a room and is an inspiring and soothing colour that looks beautiful with a variety of styles.”

Not ready to repaint a full room? Repainting a piece of furniture such as an accent table or just the legs of your dining table or desk with Advance interior paint can help bring subtle hints of colour to a more neutral space.

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1. Linen-blend THROW in light beige. $70.

2. Washed linen CUSHION COVER. $15.

All from hm.com

GO ORGANIC To bring a true feeling of nature into any room, look for ways to bring organic touches into your space.

“Simple arrangements of greens can be a striking and stylish way to add colour,” suggests Grech. “As a bonus, greens can be a much more affordable alternative to traditional bouquets that focus on blooms.” When you’re furnishing a space inspired by the outdoors, choose materials that evoke nature like wood, wicker and rattan.

3 50 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Taking inspiration from nature gives us permission to be comfortable with the imperfections in our homes.

“Give any room a natural and relaxed feel by choosing textiles like linen that look their most inviting when creased,” suggests Grech.

1. Wood and glass PLANTER. $99. | 2. Rattan and hammered glass CART. $499.| 3. Wood and rattan BENCH. $499. All from zarahome.com

Coloured

sofa + pattern rug Freshen up your living space for spring by pairing a coloured sofa with a patterned rug in similar tones.

Sven velvet SOFA in pacific blue. $1,979. article.com Hillsby Oriental Blue/Orange area RUG by Mistana. From $79. wayfair.ca

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Check mate!

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Eve LOVE SEAT in aspen mist. $2,049. eq3.com Tofino RUG in multicolour. From $500. eq3.com

From apparel to decor, black and white checkerboard print is cool and confident – a design you’ll be noticing this year.

Fany tufted three-seater SOFA in purple and pink. $699. structube.com Koweit RUG in pink. structube.com

1. Black and ivory checkerboard RUG. $15. simons.ca | 2. Ren large PILLOW. $99 | 3.

POUF. $199. article.com| 4. Checkerboard SLIP-ON, women by Vans. $70. simons.ca.

Mushroom moment

Earthy fungi are having a design moment and we can see why. With the rise of forest bathing, foraging and all things biophilia, people are connecting with nature more than ever before. We’ve seen the trend of plants (I’m talking about you, Monstera!) and wildflowers for a while, so, it’s no surprise that mushroom motifs are trending. The variety of mushroom shapes and colours make them an interesting design detail on wallpaper, cushions and wall art.

Mushroom garden WALLPAPER. Starting at $12. mooseaccents.com | Mushroom punch needle PILLOW. $25. lushandfound.com

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Very Peri

PANTONE’S 2022 COLOUR OF THE YEAR

3

“As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue colour family, encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same with its violet red undertone, Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyus attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.

– Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute 1. 600 thread count Egyptian cotton four-piece SHEET SET in dusty purple. $250-$290. thebay.com | 2. Cordless IRON with non-stick sole by Black + Decker. $60. thebay.com | 3. Ball animal 2 pro upright VACUUM in purple by Dyson. $700. bedbathandbeyond.ca

SUSTAINABLE CUSHION OPTIONS These pillow covers are handcrafted, sustainably sourced and come in a variety of muted shades.

Pretty in pink Moroccan woven PILLOW COVERS. From $64. westelm.ca 52 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

Le Creuset introduces shell pink as the latest hue in its colourful palette of enamelled cookware. “We felt Shell Pink to be the perfect shade of pink,” says Sarin Keusseyan, commercial director at Le Creuset Canada. “Continuously among our most in-demand hues, we knew this would be the colour Le Creuset fans would surely appreciate. lecreuset.ca

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54 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

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nexthome.ca 55

HOT PROPERTIES | GOLDEN HORSESHOE

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nexthome.ca 57

FEATURE FINDER

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME Complete guide to adult lifestyle communities PO

ON MAP

TEN

F

NI S

L GO

) OR DO UT E /O OR ENTR DO C (IN ITY UN MM CO

PRICE FROM

LE STY ES VI C SER CE E S AN EN OFFIC I NT L MA IONA ITY L ESS FACI OF PR CARE EM T H SYS ALT HE ITY UR I NG SEC DEN R GA

OL

COMMUNITY NAME & CONTACT NOVA SCOTIA Fox Harb’r – 1.866.257.1801

Inquire

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$730K $670K Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Mid $500K Mid $300K Resale Inquire $3,415/mo. $600k Inquire Inquire $520K Inquire $830K $3,200/mo.

Low $500K Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Low $600K $3,400/mo.

Inquire $3,695/mo.

Mid $600K Low $300K Mid $400K Inquire Mid $300K $4,775/mo.

Inquire Inquire Mid $500K Low $500K

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GREATER TORONTO AREA 42 Mill St., Amico – 42millst.com Affinity Condo, Rosehaven – affinitycondo.com Amica The Balmoral Club – 416.927.0055 Amica Bayview – 416.977.3177 Amica Bayview Gardens – 647.286.7935 Amica Brampton – 905.460.0080 Amica Bronte Harbour – 905.842.8167 Amica City Centre – 905.803.8100 Amica Erin Mills – 905.816.9163 Amica Georgetown – 905.702.1555 Amica Newmarket – 905.952.0505 Amica Oakville – 905.842.8167 Amica Pickering – amica.ca Amica Swan Lake – 905.201.6058 Amica Thornhill – 905.886.3400 Amica Unionville – 905.947.9990 Amica Whitby – 905.665.6200 Ashgrove Meadows, Picture Homes – 905.985.0808 Axess Condos, Liberty Hamlets – axesscondos.ca Ballantrae Golf & Country Club – 905.640.1055 Bradgate Arms, Revera – 416.968.1331 Canterbury Place, Verve – 416.227.1643 Cape Cod Villas, Kaitlin – kaitlincorp.com Chartwell Grenadier Ret. Res – 416.769.2885 Chartwell Scarlett Heights – 647.846.7007 Connectt, Briarwood/Gilbach – briarwoodhomes.ca Court at Brooklin & Pringle Creek – 905.655.7718 Courts of Canterbury, Geranium – courtsofcanterbury.com Credit River Retirement, Verve – 905.812.9191 The Davis Residences, LCL Builds/Rose Corporation – thedaviscondos.com DelManor Elgin Mills – 905.770.7963 DelManor Glen Abbey – 905.469.3232 DelManor Northtown – 416.225.9146 DelManor Prince Edward – 416.233.0725 DelManor Wynford – 416.331.9797 Edge & Oro Towers, Solmar – edgetowers.ca Evergreen Retirement, Verve – 905.502.8882 Forest Hill Place, Revera – 416.785.1511 Four Elms, Verve – 905.738.0905 Gallery Condos + Lofts, Carriage Gate Homes – gallery condominiums.ca The Gardens by Maranatha – 905.581.6154 Glengrove on the Park – 905.640.7571 Glynnwood, Revera – 905.881.9475 Harbourview Grand, Kaitlin – 905.987.9871 Hazelton Place, Verve – 416.928.0111 The Kensington, Revera – 905.844.4000 Kensington Place, Sienna – 416.636.9555 King George School Lofts +Towns, The Rose Corporation – 905.235.6566 King’s Landing, Stockworth – stockworth.ca

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GTA 1 GTA 2 GTA 3 GTA 4 GTA 5 GTA 6 GTA 7 GTA 8 GTA 9 GTA 10 GTA 11 GTA 12 GTA 13 GTA 14 GTA 15 GTA 16 GTA 17 GTA 18 GTA 19 GTA 20 GTA 21 GTA 22 GTA 23 GTA 24 GTA 25 GTA 26 GTA 27 GTA 28 GTA 29 GTA 30 GTA 31 GTA 32 GTA 33 GTA 34 GTA 35 GTA 36 GTA 37 GTA 38 GTA 39 GTA 40 GTA 41 GTA 42 GTA 43 GTA 44 GTA 45 GTA 46 GTA 47 GTA 48 GTA 49

On-Site Amenities: ◆ = On-Site Facilities ■ = Facilities Nearby ● = Facilities Planned Legend: Style Legend: A = Apartment B = Bungalow C = Condominium D = Detached F = Freehold FO = Fractional Ownership L = Life Lease LH = Leasehold M = Mobile/Modular MH = Manufactured Home R = Rental S = Semi-Detached TH = Townhome 58 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

LE STY ES V IC SER NCE S ENA FFICE O INT L MA NA SIO ILITY FES C PRO RE FA A TEM HC SYS ALT HE ITY UR I NG SEC DEN R GA

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Leslie and Wellington, Vermilion – vermiliondevelopments.ca Lakebreeze, Kaitlin Corp. – 607.302.2490 Leslie and Wellington, Vermilion – vermiliondevelopments.ca The Meadows of Aurora – 905.503.5560 Milton’s Bronte West Condos,– 289.851.0701 Modo, Kaitlin Corp. – modolife.ca Nautique Condos, Adi Dev. – 289.337.0766 Orchard East, Picture Homes – 905.419.6800 Palermo Village, Verve – 905.582.0395 Parkland on Eglinton West, Shannex – 416.997.2647 Parkland on the Glen, Shannex – 905.820.8210 Pinnacle Uptown: Amber & Perla – 905.568.9000 Port Credit Res., Verve – 905.274.6864 Prince George Landing, Stockworth/RoseWater – 905.655.6060 The Renoir, Revera – 905.853.6400 Richmond Hill Retirement, Verve – 905.770.4704 The Roxborough, Verve – 905.853.4573 Royal Bayview, Tridel – tridel.com St. David’s Village – 416.267.2737 Seasons Clarington – 905.697.9992 Seasons Milton – 905.864.6888 The Shores of Port Credit, Verve –905.821.1161 Southbrook, Rice Dev. – 905.456.2764 Stouffville Creek, Verve – 905.642.2902 Streetsville Centre, Dunpar – 905.318.9112 Sunrise Senior Living of Aurora – 905.841.0022 Sunrise Senior Living of Burlington – 905.333.9969 Sunrise Senior Living of Erin Mills – 905.569.0004 Sunrise Senior Living of Oakville – 905.337.1145 Sunrise Senior Living of Richmond Hill – 905.883.6963 Sunrise Senior Living of Unionville – 905.947.4566 Tapestry at village Gate West – 416.777.2911 The Watford, Watford Group – 416.218.5542 Thorne Mill on Steeles – 905.731.4300 Toronto Street Boutique Condos – maplebrookhomes.ca Valera Towns, Adi Developments – adidevelopments.com Villa Da Vinci, Sienna – 905.264.9119 VIVA Mississauga – 905.566.4500 VIVA Oakville – 1.888.984.8482 VIVA Pickering – 905.831.2088 VIVA Thornhill Woods – 905.417.8585 VIVA Whitby Shores – 1.888.984.8482 Westview Condos, Devonleigh – devonleighhomes.com White Cliffe Terrace, Verve – 905.579.0800 Wilmot Creek, Rice – 1.800.994.5668

L GO

R) DOO OUT OR/ RE NDO CENT L (I Y POO UNIT M COM

PRICE FROM

COMMUNITY NAME & CONTACT

Mid $900K $400K Inquire $530K $560K $470K $600K Low $600K $3,500/mo.

Inquire Inquire $720K $3,500/mo. $400K Inquire $3,795/mo. $3,550/mo. $1.2 Million $698/mo. $3,360/mo. $3,195/mo.

Inquire Inquire $3,546/mo. $890k Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire $740k Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Mid $400k $3,401/mo.

Inquire

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ONTARIO Allora Condos, Urbandale – 613.822.2190 Amica Bearbrook Court – 613.837.8720 Amica London – 519.657.7096 Amica Quinte Gardens – 613.966.5815 Amica Riverside – 519.948.5500 Amica The Glebe – amica.ca Amica at Westboro Park – 613.728.9274 Arbour Village, Wilson Dev. – 1.800.963.7546 Aura By The Lake, Kaitlin Corp. – kaitlincorp.com Batawa livebatawa.com Blue Bay villas at Cobble Beach & Georgian Villas Custom Homes – 1.877.781.0149 Bluepoint Lookout, Allan Dev./valour – bluepointlookout.com Bluewater Country, Parkbridge – 519.542.7800 The Bluffs at Huron, Parkbridge – 519.955.6780 Bob–Lo island 519.736.1111

GREATER TORONTO AREA

ONTARIO

GOLDEN HORSESHOE

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COTTAGE COUNTRY nexthome.ca 59

FEATURE FINDER

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME Complete guide to adult lifestyle communities PO TEN

F

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Inquire $380K Inquire Inquire $380K $360K Inquire Inquire Inquire Low $300K $545/mo.

Inquire $370K $470K Inquire Inquire $200K $390K Inquire Inquire $3,614/mo.

Inquire Custom Inquire Inquire $300K $470K Inquire Inquire Low $400K Mid $300K Mid $200K $420K $380K $370K High $500K Inquire High $300K Inquire $530K Low $100K Inquire Inquire $560K Mid $400K $2,420/mo $390K $700K $370K $230K Inquire Mid $200K $3,295/mo

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The Brealey Homes & Suites – nirvana.ca Brighton By The Bay – 1.800.418.6918 Burnham Meadows, Picture Homes – 705.742.1212 Carolina Suites, Nautical – 613.267.7000 Clarence Crossing, EQ Homes – 1.866.829.3117 East City Condos, TVM Group – 705.876.0817 East Riverside Square, Elm Dev. – eastriversidesquare.com East Village Cobourg, Stalwood – 289–252–1961 Eden Park Clarington – 647.668.3695 Eastside Horizons – eastsidehorizons.ca Elliot Lake Retirement Living – 1.800.461.4663 Empire Crossing, Esprit – 1.800.932.3043 Encore at Port 32, Marshall – port32.com eQuinelle Community, eQ Homes – 1.866.829.3117 Fairways at Seven Lakes, Gintar – 519.252.0419 Frontenac Shores – 1.866.240.5194 Gallipeau Centre – 613.284.9916 Gibbard District Condos – 613.308.9190 Grand Cove Estates, Rice – 519.238.8444 Hamilton Woods, Gordon Tobey – 613.475.0618 Harbour Hill, Nautical Lands – 1.888.991.6548 Hastings Estates, Batavia Homes – bataviahomes.ca Haven On The Trent, Sifton – 1.855.305.7963 illusions, Kaitlin Corp. – kaitlincorp.com Kingswood Cobourg, Mason – masonhomes.ca Kokomo Beach Club, Wastell – kokomobeachclub.com Lakeside Village in Port Hope, Mason – 1.877.880.6565 Lakewoods, Lakewoods Resort Dev. – 1.888.990.9120 Lilacs Retirement Village – 705.742.3338 Loyalist Country Club, Kaitlin – 1.800.353.2066 Luxury Waterfront at Picton Harbour – portpictonhomes.com Meneset on the Lake, Parkbridge – 519.440.1465 New Amherst in Cobourg – 1.866.528.9618 Ninth Avenue Estates – 519.371.5228 Orchard Gate Estates, Stalwood – 905.372.4179 Orchard Hill Country Towns – 1.877.548.4455 Palisade Gardens – 905.372.1150 Parklands & The Arbour Condo Villas, Mason – 1.866.443.7900 Perthmore Glen – 1.800.267.4218 Picton Harbour Lofts – 613.902.1433 Pinery Bluffs – 519.317.9931 Quinte Gardens Retirement – 613.966.5815 The Redwoods – 613.828.8540 The Residences of Cobble Beach, Reid’s/Sherwood Homes – 1.877.781.0149 Residences of Sawmill Creek – 519.336.7560 The Richmond, Verve – 613.966.4407 River Terraces at Greystone II, eQ Homes – 613.569.3043 Riverbend Estates, Ambria – riverbendestates.ca RiverBend Golf Community, Sifton Properties – 519.657.4333 Riverview Meadows, Parkbridge – 519.297.3130 Riverstone, Brennan Custom – 1.844.211.1818 Sandbanks Summer Village – 613.476.5286 Seasons Amhertsburg – 519.736.7557

PRICE FROM

LE STY ES VI C SER CE E S AN EN OFFIC I NT L MA IONA ITY L ESS FACI OF PR CARE EM T H SYS ALT HE ITY UR I NG SEC DEN R GA

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COMMUNITY NAME & CONTACT

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C/TH F/B B/D R C/TH/B C C/TH/S C/TH/S/B/D F/B/D C R R B/TH C/B D FO C C B/D F/B/D R B/D B/D C/TH/D F/TH C/B FD/FB LOTS C/B/TH TH/B TH/S/B/C L/M TH/S/B/D L/TH S/B/D C/B/TH R/C TH/S/B/D/CB A/TH/D C Lots R R B/TH C/B R C B/D Villas/D B/C/TH C/TH B/R R

ON MAP ONT 16 ONT 17 ONT 18 ONT 19 ONT 20 ONT 21 ONT 22 ONT 23 ONT 24 ONT 25 ONT 26 ONT 27 ONT 28 ONT 29 ONT 30 ONT 31 ONT 32 ONT 33 ONT 34 ONT 35 ONT 36 ONT 37 ONT 38 ONT 39 ONT 40 ONT 41 ONT 42 ONT 43 ONT 44 ONT 45 ONT 46 ONT 47 ONT 48 ONT 49 ONT 50 ONT 51 ONT 52 ONT 53 ONT 54 ONT 55 ONT 56 ONT 57 ONT 58 ONT 59 ONT 60 ONT 61 ONT 62 ONT 63 ONT 64 ONT 65 ONT 66 ONT 67 ONT 68

On-Site Amenities: ◆ = On-Site Facilities ■ = Facilities Nearby ● = Facilities Planned Legend: Style Legend: A = Apartment B = Bungalow C = Condominium D = Detached F = Freehold FO = Fractional Ownership L = Life Lease LH = Leasehold M = Mobile/Modular MH = Manufactured Home R = Rental S = Semi-Detached TH = Townhome 60 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

GOLDEN HORSESHOE

LE STY ES V IC SER NCE S ENA FFICE O INT L MA NA SIO ILITY FES C PRO RE FA A TEM HC SYS ALT HE ITY UR I NG SEC DEN R GA

ONTARIO

F

GREATER TORONTO AREA

NI S

GOLDEN HORSESHOE Amica Dundas 905.628.6200 Amica Stoney Creek 905.664.8444 Arbour vale, Pinewood 905.397.8616 The Bench Beamsville benchcondos.com Cannery District, Winzen winzen.ca Century Condos, Homes By DeSantis centurycondos.ca Coast Road, River Rock Const. coastroad.ca Davis Heights, Lucchetta Homes lucchettahomes.com Deerwood Lane, Southport – 905.658.3554 Dickson Hill, Jackson Homes – dicksonhill.ca Dover Coast Phase 2, Stockworth – 519.583.2049 The Dover Wharf – doverwharf.com Edgewood Suites, FLATO® – edgewoodsuites.ca Elora Mill Condominiums, Pearle – eloramillcondos.ca The Flats at Black Creek – 519.583.9009 Grand Bell, Lakeview Dev. Hldgs. – grandbellsuites.com Grimsby Waterfront, Losani – losanihomes.com The Harbour Club, SDR Group – theharbourclub.ca Harbour Heights – 519.754.6772 Harbourtown village, Silvergate Hardy Terrace, Verve – 519.484.2431 Harvest Retirement Village – 519.688.0448 The Jacob, Emshih Living – 905.563.3322 Kayak Urban Towns, Kingwood – kingwoodhomes.ca King’s Park, LJM Dev. – kingspark.ca Lakeside Landing Wellington, Royalcliff, lakesidelandingwellington.ca Legends On The Green, Silvergate Homes – silvergatehomes.com Lincoln Park Retirement – 905.309.0055 The Manse, Homes By JBR – 905.692.1052 Meadowlands – 905.304.1968 Metcalfe Gardens, Verve – 519.631.9393 The Oaks at Six Mile Creek, Blythwood Homes Townhomes at the Oaks in Ridgeway – blythwoodhomes.ca

TEN

Seasons Belle River – 519.727.0034 Seasons Brantford – 519.752.5477 Seasons Owen Sound – 519.371.5115 Seasons Royal Oak Village – 519.966.5475 Sherbrooke Heights – 705.243.4564 Stone & South, CaraCo – 613.875.2524 Sunrise Senior Living of Windsor – 519.974.5858 Tall Ships Landing, Fuller Grp. – 613.498.7245 The Walton Residences – 416.99.9851 Twelve Trees Waterfront Condos, Royalcliff Homes – 613.969.2044 Twin elms, Parkbridge – 519.245.3300 Valleyview Estates – 705.696.1600 Victoria Retirement – 905.377.1555 Views Prince edward County, Cosmopolitan Homes – lovetheviews.ca Vintage Green in Ilderton – 519.666.2094 VIVA Barrhaven – 1.888.984.8482 VIVA Waterside – 613.653.2010 Waterside, Viva – 613.253.2010 Wellings of Corunna, Nautical – 226.455.0505 Wellings of Picton, Nautical – 613.707.0431 Wellings of Stittsville, Nautical – 1.888.643.6548 Wellington Bay Estates & Abbott Lane Towns, Sandbank – 1.800.353.7823 West Five, Sifton – sifton.com Westlinks, Rice Dev. – 1.888.ASK.RiCe Whispering Pine, Sifton – sifton.com Wood Haven Luxury Condos – 519.842.9090 Young’s Cove, Briarwood – 1.866.962.5264

L GO

R) DOO OUT OR/ RE NDO CENT L (I Y POO UNIT M COM

PRICE FROM

COMMUNITY NAME & CONTACT

$3,490/mo $3,375/mo $3,045/mo $3,560/mo Inquire Low $500K Inquire $600K Inquire Mid $400K $90K $140K $1,795/mo Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire Inquire $1,995/mo $3,295/mo $1,995/mo Inquire Inquire Low $400K Inquire $380K $480K

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Inquire Inquire Low $900K Mid $300K Inquire High $300 $460K $800K $490K $860K $560K $370K Inquire Inquire $590K $320K Inquire $500K Mid $200K

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R R C/B/TH C C/TH C C/TH B/TH B/C/TH C/TH B/C/D/TH C R C F/C/B C C/TH C C/TH

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ON MAP ONT 69 ONT 70 ONT 71 ONT 72 ONT 73 ONT 74 ONT 75 ONT 76 ONT 77 ONT 78 ONT 79 ONT 80 ONT 81 ONT 82 ONT 83 ONT 84 ONT 85 ONT 86 ONT 87 ONT 88 ONT 89 ONT 90 ONT 91 ONT 92 ONT 93 ONT 94 ONT 95 GH 1 GH 2 GH 3 GH 4 GH 5 GH 6 GH 7 GH 8

COTTAGE COUNTRY nexthome.ca 61

FEATURE FINDER

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME Complete guide to adult lifestyle communities PO TEN

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) OR DO UT E /O OR ENTR DO C (IN ITY UN MM CO

Odyssey, Rosehaven – odysseylife.ca One Five Central, Aiva – onefivecentral.com Panorama Condos, Kalar – 289.271.4950 Park Lane Place, Park Lane Homes 905.382.8857 Passages on the Canal, BW – mypassages.ca Pine Meadows– 226.821.1688 Piper’s Grove Condos, Reid’s – 226.751.5250 Portside at Woodway Trails – huroncreek.com Portview estates, Silvergate – silvergatehomes.com Queensview Retirement Comm. 1.888.436.6534 Riverside at Hunters Pointe, Lucchetta Homes – 289.820.8600 Royal Port, Rankin – 1–833–ROYAL–51 Royal Ridge, Royal Oak Prop. – royalridge.ca Ryan’s Grove, Lucchetta Homes – lucchettahomes.com Shelter Cove – 1.866.416.8848 The Shores, Marz Homes – 905.894.7873 South Hill, Thomasfield – 519.766.5060 South Port, Rankin Const. – southpt.ca The Spencer at Dundas Peak, Sage – spencercondo.com St. Elizabeth Mills, Zest – 905.574.8178 Stonecroft by Carey Homes – 1.866.278.7577 Trailside at Grey Silo Gate, Activa – 519.742.5800 Victoria & John, Solmar – 905.688.3010 Upper Vista Condos, Evertrust – 1.866.418.8936 Village Creek, Park Lane Homes – 905.382.8857 The Village on Prince Charles, Carey Homes – careyhomes.ca Village On The Twelve, Silvergate Homes – silvergatehomes.com Villages of Sally Creek, Sunlight Heritage Homes – 226.289.2943 The Vines, Four Mile Creek, Blythwood Woodcastle Homes – 647.531.8463 The Vintages at Four Mile Creek, Blythwood – 905.657.2977 Vista Ridge & Vibrant, Losani – losanihomes.com Viva On The Lake, Losani – losanihomes.com Waterview Condos, LJM – 1.855.500.1215 Welland High Garden, Dennis – wellandhighgarden.ca Wellings of Waterford – 1.800.996.9885 Westwood Trails, Sinclair Homes – 226.476.2227

PRICE FROM

LE STY ES VI C SER CE E S AN EN OFFIC I NT L MA IONA ITY L ESS FACI OF PR CARE EM T H SYS ALT HE ITY UR I NG SEC DEN R GA

OL

COMMUNITY NAME & CONTACT

$540K High $200K $330K Mid $400K Inquire Resale $360K Mid $300K $1 Million + $2,395/mo.

Low $500K Mid $800K $600K $760K Low $200K High $300K $420K $360K Inquire $370K $670K Low $400K Inquire Low $500K Mid $400K Low $400K High $600K Low $400K $570K Mid $500K $300K Inquire Low $400K Inquire $1,295/mo. $360K

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ON MAP

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COTTAGE COUNTRY Amica Little Lake – 705.722.9191 Aquavil, Royalton Homes – aquavil.ca Ashton Meadows, Briarwood – ashtonmeadows.ca Beaverton Common, Armour Heights Developments – armourhd.com Blue Vista, Royalton Homes – bluevista.ca Braestone Horseshoe Valley, Georgian international – 705.727.5656 The Bungalows at Peaks Ridge – 416.399.6546 Captain’s Cove, Remington – 1.800.640.2309 Chalets at Georgian Shores – georgian–shores.ca Fenelon Lakes Club – 705.887.5440 Forest Heights, Democrat Homes – 705.835.0354 Friday Harbour Resort, Geranium/Pemberton – 647.351.0991 Georgian Sands, Elm Dev. – georgiansands.com Gryffin Bluffs, Gang of Five Inc. – gryffinbluffs.ca Harbour Pointe, Batavia – 705.355.0363

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On-Site Amenities: ◆ = On-Site Facilities ■ = Facilities Nearby ● = Facilities Planned Legend: Style Legend: A = Apartment B = Bungalow C = Condominium D = Detached F = Freehold FO = Fractional Ownership L = Life Lease LH = Leasehold M = Mobile/Modular MH = Manufactured Home R = Rental S = Semi-Detached TH = Townhome 62 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

LE STY ES V IC SER NCE S ENA FFICE O INT L MA NA SIO ILITY FES C PRO RE FA A TEM HC SYS ALT HE ITY UR I NG SEC DEN R GA

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Harmony Living, Mamta – mamtahomes.com

Inquire

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Hedge Road Landing, Alliance – 905.596.2200

Inquire

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Highcrest Muskoka, edgewoodmuskoka.com

Inquire

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$3,250/mo.

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Homes on the Bay, Rose Water – rosewatermanagement.com

Inquire

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Hometown Creemore, Alliance – hometowncreemore.ca

$590K

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Holland Gardens, Verve – 905.775.6020

The Këmp, Fortress – 905.787.9266

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High $500K

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Kingsmere Retirement, Sienna – 705.434.4600

Inquire

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Kingsview on Balsam Lake, Kaitlin – 1.866.514.3573

Inquire

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Lākhouse Lakefront Residences, Aalto Developments – lakhouse.ca

$470K

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Lakepoint village, Alliance – 705.323.9768

$260K

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Kings Landing, Dreamland Homes – 905.657.4663

Lakeside Muskoka, lakesidemuskoka.ca The Landing at Little Lake – 705.719.9909

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Lora Bay: The Cottages & The Masters, Sherwood Homes – 1.877.696.8984

Mid $600K

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Beachway Crossing, Stonebridge Building Group -stonebridgebg.com

Mid $600K

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$380K

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Matchedash Lofts, Oakleigh Dev. – 647.502.5255

$430K

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The Meadows of Creemore, MDM – 705.466.5246

Mid $200K

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Markdale Highlands, Sunfield – sunfieldhomes.com

Monaco Condominiums – 1.855.666.7007

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$580K

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Muskoka Bay Resort, Freed Developments Ltd. – 1.866.321.2004

High $300K

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Mountain House at Windfall, Georgian International – 705.293.0954

Low $300K

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Mountaincroft, Grandview Homes – 1.866.775.0333

$470K

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Muskokan Resort Club – 1.866.960.9016

Inquire

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Oak Bay, Eden Oak – 705.538.0303

$520K

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Red Maple, Alliance/Consar – 705.293.1374

$370K

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Residences at Five Points, AT Dev. – atdevelopments.ca

$420K

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Riverway, Centurion Homes – 647.478.9050

Residences on McMurray, Unexus – 705.646.2333

Mid $500K

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Royal Windsor at Balmoral Village, Sherwood Homes – 1.877.887.3437

Mid $300K

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Sandycove Acres, Parkbridge – 1.800.348.7161 Sea Shell Bay, Calibrex – seashellbay.ca

Inquire

Seasons on Little Lake, Hanson – 1.888.990.9120

Mid $300K

Simcoe Gardens, Mamta – mamtahomes.com

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Sophie’s Landing – sophieslanding.ca

Low $500K

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The South Shore, Fortress – 905.476.6400

Mid $500K

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$540K

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The Tom Studio Suties, Greystone – 705.773.8833

$280K

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$330K

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Stonebridge By The Bay, Stonebridge Building Group – 705.422.0880 The Summit, Truelife – thesummitmuskoka.com

The Villas at Wasaga Meadows, Parkbridge – 705.429.5996

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Thornbury Meadows, Telfer Homes – thornburymeadows.ca

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$360K

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Treetops at Hidden valley, Club Leisure Corporation – 1–855–784–9990

$370K

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The viC Condos, AT Dev. – atdevelopments.ca

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Timberline, Batavia Homes – bataviahomes.ca

Valley Lodge at Horseshoe Resort – 1–844–845–6343

Low $300K

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Vistas Hillside Briar Hill – 705.435.5503

Mid $400K

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Waterstone Modern Townes, Nexus – waterstonetownes.com The Waterways of Muskoka – 705.645.5533 White Pines, Mattamy Homes – 705.645.6448 Windfall Phase 2 in Blue Mountain village, Georgian International – 705.293.0954

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Woodland Creeks, Briarwood – woodlandcreeks.ca

Mid $500K

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Wyldewood Creek, Brandy Lane – 1.800.315.HOME

Low $300K

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COTTAGE COUNTRY nexthome.ca 63

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@blackanddeckerca nexthome.ca 65

TAKE TWO

LOVING FILMS

BRUCE KIRKLAND

After 36 years as a professional film critic and a lifetime of watching movies, I find myself intensely thinking and talking about cinema even now, in my retirement.

While I don’t make my living from film journalism anymore, my version of an “active life” is forever stimulated by cultural experiences, past and present. This includes films, TV spectacles, art, music, theatre and opera. Who I am is defined by how I process these influences. Vigorous debates can quickly arise as I encounter people with different views and tastes.

That is why I find myself falling into conversations about films, and the arts in general, while sitting in a cafe in an alley in Machico, Madeira.

Or at a communal dining table at my favourite birding lodge, Rancho Naturalista, in Costa Rica. Or while feasting on various delights at the Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul. Or while surveying the Maasai Mara in Kenya from a Land Cruiser.

But, the truth is that the idea for this column was sparked while I was shovelling snow off the sidewalk in front of my house in the Upper Beaches of Toronto. A neighbour I like and respect (she is an animator) stopped for a chinwag. Almost immediately, she lamented that: “They don’t make good movies anymore!”

Arrrrgh! I have heard that every year since I became a full-time film critic in 1980. Often, intelligent people

66 Active Life | Feb. 12–Apr. 9, 2022

spout this nonsense. They are always wrong. A former editor-in-chief of The Toronto Sun would harangue me on this topic at least once every year, ordering me to write about “the death of good movies.” I never did. One year, he found another writer to do it for him. Her column was hilariously wrong, too.

Creative people are always making great films. It is also important to remember that hacks have always been making bad films simultaneously. If you pay attention to the dreck, you can find a lot of it from 1939, which is often cited as the most remarkable year in cinema history. The concentration of great films remains astounding: Gone With the Wind (still great, as cinema, even if discredited as racist), Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (still relevant to today’s U.S. Congress), Wuthering Heights, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dark Victory and many more.

Yet the worst list for 1939 is just as long: Jamaica Inn (Alfred Hitchcock’s debacle), Zenobia (Laurel & Hardy without Laurel equals disaster), Blondie Brings Up Baby (the Bumstead’s are bummers), and many, many, many more.

The difference now in 2022 is that the great ones are harder to find, especially during the pandemic. But they exist. Traditional movie theatres are faltering. You just have to search for the gems amid the clutter of streaming services and downloads while waiting for the occasions when the greats do show up at your local bijou.

Right now, a long list of great awaits you (if you have not found them already): The Year of the

Photo: Rachel Sa

GREAT ONES ARE OUT THERE, IF A LITTLE HARDER TO FIND

Dog, Judas and the Black Messiah, Nomadland, West Side Story, The Lost Daughter, Drive My Car, The Father, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Supernova, Shiva Baby, Beans, Flee, Licorice Pizza, and even popular entertainment vehicles such as No Time to Die (Daniel Craig’s swansong as James Bond) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (another re-invention that thrills superhero fans). I could mention others, too, but I am running out of room.

So, no good movies anymore?

Ridiculous!

Bruce Kirkland’s career spans more than four decades, working for The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Journal and finally, as the senior film critic, for 36 years at The Toronto Sun. bruce.kirkland@hotmail.com

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