Summer in Toronto: What is Simcoe Day?

Summer in Toronto: What is Simcoe Day?

Retail signs have started to go up announcing hours for the Civic Holiday on Monday of this upcoming long weekend.  Some people in Toronto refer to this holiday as Simcoe Day.  I love my work so long weekends don’t really get me excited but I was curious about the reason for this holiday. 

This mid-summer holiday is recognized in some but not all provinces.  In Ontario, the holiday has different names based on municipality. In Toronto, it is officially Simcoe Day.  For instance, here are some other names for the Civic Holiday:

Colonel By Day in Ottawa,

George Hamilton Day in Hamilton,

Joseph Brant Day in Burlington,

Founders' Day in Brantford,

McLaughlin Day in Oshawa,

Alexander Mackenzie Day in Sarnia,

James Cockburn Day in Cobourg,

Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough,

John Galt Day in Guelph,

So who was Simcoe and why does he merit a holiday? Simcoe Day was named in honour of John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor for Upper Canada (now Ontario).  Simcoe influence on Ontario and Canada was remarkable. 

As Lieutenant Governor and British Member of Parliament, he was known to support the abolition of slavery before coming to Canada, supported the Act against Slavery in the 1793.  This meant that slavery was abolished in Ontario decades before all other colonies in the British Empire. 

Simcoe was also responsible for moving the capital of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) to York (now Toronto).  At the time, Toronto was severely underdeveloped and Simcoe’s decision began the development of the city.  Two main streets were built at this time through Upper Canada – Yonge Street and Dundas Street.           

In July 1796, Simcoe return to England due to ill health and never return to Upper Canada.

So, this weekend, enjoy time with friends and family and be grateful for Simcoe for putting Canada on the forefront of slavery abolition.

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

Your Home, Your Investment: Preparing your home for summer vacation!

Your Home, Your Investment: Preparing your home for summer vacation!

It’s summertime and you may be planning to get away to the cottage, the beach or across the country to visit family and friends.  If you are planning to be away longer than 3-4 days, you will want take specific steps to prepare and protect your home for while your away.  There are several checklists available on the topic.  Here is the one we use for preparing and protecting your home room by room.

General:

Home Monitoring: Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to check on your house every 3 days.  Investigate installing a security system to monitor your home more closely.

Social Media: Do not communicate beyond a trusted group that you will be away.  Avoid posting photos on social media while you are away.

Pets: Arrange for care of pets, if necessary.

Home Insurance: Review your home insurance policy to make sure you comply with insurance company requirements.

Yard and Driveway:

Flowers: Arrange to have summer annuals watered daily.

Lawn: Arrange to have lawn mowed if away longer than 2 weeks.

Flood Lights: Install motion-censored floodlights outside your home.

Windows: Close and lock all windows.

Vehicles: Leave vehicles parked as normal, be it in the driveway or in the garage, if possible.

Entry:

Additional key: Have an extra key made for a trusted neighbor or friend.

Mail: Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect your mail if you have an outdoor mailbox.

Newspaper: Discontinue the newspaper while you are away.

Air Conditioning: Set temperature 4-5 degrees Celsius higher than normal to save electricity.

Living Room and Bedrooms:

Lamps: Turn on one indoor lamp near a window during the evening hours using a timer or a web application.

Electronics: Unplug all small electronic while you are away to save electricity. 

Kitchen:

Perishables: Remove all perishables from your refrigerator that will go bad before your return.

Garbage: Remove all garbage from your inside home.  Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to put out on Garbage Day.

Recycling: Remove all recycling from inside your home. Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to put out on Recycling Day.

Compost: Remove all compost from inside your home.  Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to put out on Recycling Day.

Dishwasher: Run and empty dishwasher.  Leave dishwasher open while you are away.

Basement/Laundry Room:

Laundry:  Wash and dry laundry. Make sure last minute dirty items are dry.

Water:  Shut off water supply if away longer than 2 weeks.  Adjust hot water heater setting to vacation setting, if possible 

Relax and enjoy your summer vacation!

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

Canada’s 150th Birthday

As you celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday, you may wonder how Canada got started and what we are marking. 

First, let's review Canadian history.  Back in 1867, following a series of proposals and conferences (Quebec City and Charlottetown), what is now Canada with 10 provinces and three territories was started.  The federation, a political union of self-governed provinces under a central (federal) government, included Canada West (Ontario), Canada East (Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  These four regions came together and agreed, under the British North America Act, to come together and be called Canada.  While Queen Victoria, the British monarch at the time, signed it into law on March 29, 1867, it came into effect on July 1, 1867.

Additional provinces and territories joined the union over time Manitoba and Northwest Territories in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Yukon Territory in 1898, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905, Newfoundland in 1949 and Nunavut in 1999. 

Beyond the historical milestone, I believe we are celebrating Canadian values and the richness this union brings to our lives.  Although it is somewhat hard to express, you will perhaps view this richness is hinted at through our symbols: the maple leaf, the beaver, the flag or on logos on t-shirts you can buy at this time of year.  They read “True North, Strong and Free”, “No matter where I roam, Canada will be always be home” or the simple “Canadian, eh?” For my part, I am grateful to live in a strong country where I am free and encouraged to practice my religion, speak my candid options and pursue my business goals and dreams.

God Bless Canada!

228 King Edward Ave - David Gharat (RE/MAX All Stars Inc)

Summer in Toronto: Sensational Strawberry Shortcake!

Summer in Toronto:  Sensational Strawberry Shortcake!

What is there not to love about Strawberry Shortcake?  During summer in Toronto, we indulge in a perfectly balanced sweet but not too sweet combination of fresh, red strawberries, sweet whipped heavy cream and light and flaky shortcake. It is red and white, the colours of the Canadian flag. 

This dessert evokes memories in me.  When I taste the cream it takes me back to memories of my first home: India.  I fondly remember drinking fresh cream on my grandfather’s farm near Alibag, a coastal town south of Mumbai in the Raigad district.  When I taste the cream, I think of him and the trips my family made when I was young.  The strawberries trigger memories of summer in my second home: Canada. It brings back the fun of trips to U-Picks across Southern Ontario and the start of the Canadian summer on sunny June days. 

I am told recipes for shortcake either Team Biscuit or Team Cake.  Here is the recipe from The Canadian Living Cookbook we use every time we enjoy this delightful summer dessert!

Classic Shortcake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tbsp      granulated sugar

1 tbsp      baking powder

½ tsp       baking soda

¼ tsp       salt

½ cup       cold butter, cubed

½ cup       sour cream

¼ cup       milk

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Cut in butter finely.  Combine sour cream and milk, add to dry ingredients all at once, stirring with a fork to make a slightly sticky dough.

Gather into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface, knead gently 8 times until smooth.  Roll or pat out as an 8-inch round about ¾ inch thick or cut into 6 individual rounds with a 3-inch cutter.  Place on a baking sheet.  Brush tops lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake in 425-degree oven for 20-25 for minutes for large shortcake or 15-20 minutes for individual shortcakes or until baked through in center and golden brown.

To serve, split in half while warm.  Spoon lightly-sweetened strawberries over bottom half .  

Top with whipped cream and then top with other half.  

Top with whipped cream and more fruit.  Makes 6 servings.

Summer in Toronto.  Enjoy!
www.housecondopro.com

Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Be Prepared and Be Safe!

Do you have the proper number of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home to protect your family?  This question became a priority at our home when the carbon monoxide detectors sounded on a Sunday morning.  Wow! Are those things ever loud! After some frazzled nerves, a 911 call and a visit from Toronto’s finest firefighters, we been reminded about the importance of these detectors and learned more about the requirements.

How many smoke detectors do you need and where should they be placed?  Smoke detectors sense smoke from typically a fire.  Ionization sensing smoke detectors will even detect smolders from the beginning of a fire.  We have even had a smoke detector detect a leak in our roof but that is another story entirely! 

Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. As smoke rises, smoke detectors should be installed on the ceiling or, if necessary with a slopped ceiling, on the top 1 foot of the wall.  Also, avoiding installing smoke detectors near the kitchen or bathroom where smoke or steam can trigger a false alarm. Are you all set from a smoke detector perspective?

How many carbon monoxide detectors do you need and where should they be placed? A carbon monoxide detector is a device that detects carbon monoxide gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless and odorless gas.  Carbon monoxide exposure at certain levels and lengths can lead to deadly poisoning.  Initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches and stomach sickness. As you sleep, you would not be aware of these symptoms. It is known as the “silent killer” as it is undetectable without technology.  Consequently, it is important to have fully functioning detectors installed.

In Ontario, carbon monoxide detectors must be installed outside bedrooms on each level where you sleep.  Having one carbon monoxide detector in a furnace room is not sufficient to wake people in the night.  Is your household protected from the “silent killer”?

Once you have your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed, how do you maintain them?  There are five key steps to maintaining your detectors:

1. Test the units and know how they work. 
2. Replace the batteries at least once a year, less frequently for lithium batteries than can last the lifetime of the alarm.
3. Replace units every 10 years, sooner if it isn’t working. 
4. Regularly dust or vacuum the units. 
5. Keep the unit free of paint, stickers, or other decorations that may prevent it from working properly.

What do you do should an alarm sound?

First, have a fire escape plan that you practice.  Identify two ways out of each room and an outdoor meeting point away from the home. In the case of a fire, once you are out of the house, call 911. For carbon monoxide alarms, if you are not feeling ill first check the battery.  If you are feeling ill and the battery is fine, leave the home and from your meeting point, call 911.  Although you want to avoid false alarms, do not hesitate to contact emergency services. Better safe than sorry.

Be prepared and Be Safe.
David Gharat www.housecondopro.com