Are You Ready to Face the Rigours of Winter Driving?

OTTAWA, November 25, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Transport Canada would like to remind Canadians to be prepared for winter driving and to drive safely throughout the coming season. Ice- and snow-covered roads can be a challenge for drivers, so give yourself every advantage by preparing yourself and your vehicle before setting out on Canadian roads this winter.

You can reduce the chance of collision and help improve road safety by following these Transport Canada safety tips:

...Install winter tires on all wheels for winter driving. Winter tires provide better traction, give you better control over your vehicle, and increase stability in slippery and snowy conditions.

...Make sure that tire valves are equipped with caps to keep out snow and ice.

...Check tire pressure at least once a month, preferably after the vehicle has been parked outside overnight because tire pressure decreases as the temperature drops.

...Clear the snow and ice off your vehicle so you can see properly while driving.

...Be prepared for black ice, which occurs more often in shaded areas and is difficult to see.

...Be cautious on bridges and highway overpasses, which freeze quickly and remain frozen longer than other sections of the road.

...Give yourself extra distance to stop, as roads may be icy.

...Do not use cruise (speed) control in slippery conditions.

...Check weather conditions before setting out on extended trips and allow for extra travel time when weather is bad.

...Don't drive impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue — you need to be fully alert to drive safely.

...Dress properly — wear warm clothing.

...Carry a winter emergency kit.

...Bring a cell phone for emergency purposes but never use it while driving. Stay focused on driving and avoid other distractions as well.

For more information on winter driving, please visit the Transport Canada website here

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/news and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

Canadians make 5 trips to the mall and spend 11 hours holiday shopping, according to PayPal Canada survey

PayPal Escape the Mall Web Site Launched to Help Canadians Save Time and Money by Shopping Online this Holiday Season

TORONTO, November 23, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadian shoppers will go to great lengths finding the perfect present for everyone on their gift list this holiday season. According to a recent survey conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of PayPal Canada, the average consumer plans to take five trips to the mall and spend 11 hours shopping for family and friends.

The survey also reveals that instead of shopping, one third of Canadians (34 per cent) would prefer to spend their time with family, while others dream of relaxing (29 per cent) or baking and decorating their home for the holidays (26 per cent).

Not surprisingly, 54 per cent of Canadians will be avoiding the holiday squeeze at the malls by doing at least some of their shopping online. That number rises to 74 per cent amongst Canadians who are 18 to 34 years old.

Canadians report that their biggest holiday shopping peeves include:
Crowds and lines (49 per cent)
Not being able to find a unique gift (14 per cent)
Finding out the item you want is not carried or is sold out (10 per cent)
Getting carried away and exceeding budget (10 per cent)
Looking for parking (7 per cent)

"Canadians who want to escape the mall this holiday season can save time and money by shopping online," said Nicky Mezo, head of marketing, PayPal Canada. "Time-crunched Canadians know that online shopping lets them easily compare prices to find the best deals and get their shopping done faster so they have more time for what the holidays are supposed to be about - sharing time with family and friends, relaxing and celebrating."

To help Canadians find great deals and get their holiday shopping done quickly, PayPal Canada has launched the Escape the Mall microsite at www.paypal.ca/escapethemall. The site will help Canadians find great holiday deals with some of Canada's top online retailers, learn how to send money online as a great last-minute gift and receive a chance to win the perfect gifts in the PayPal Escape the Mall contest.

'Tis the Season to Spend: Canadians Break the Bank before Santa's Arrival

MasterCard Canada survey reveals who's naughty, who's nice, and how few Canadians check their budgets twice during the holiday season

TORONTO, November 15, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - With less than six weeks until the holidays, the stores are filled with eager shoppers, and enthusiastic bargain hunters. But according to a new survey by MasterCard Canada, nearly half (48%) of Canadians admit they have gone over their holiday budget before the holidays have arrived. Only one in ten (11%) Canadians start budgeting during the first half of the year, and another seven per cent confess they prepare their budgets only after the shopping is done.

"The holiday season can be the most expensive time of year, and to help make it through the season on track, Canadians need to make their budget and lists early, and check them twice," said Julie Wilson, Director, Public Affairs, MasterCard Canada. "The season is busy enough with shopping, decorating and hosting holiday parties, that budgeting often falls far down on the list of priorities. Start early, and save a little each month to make it through the season on budget, and even with a little extra to treat yourself."

The list goes on

...According to the survey, Canadians spend on average $1,100 during the holidays, and one-quarter admit they spend between $1,000 and $5,000 during the holidays.

...When asked how much they spend per person, nearly one-third (29%) of shoppers report they plan to spend between $21 and $50 per person.

...Surprisingly, women are not the big spenders during the holidays. Almost twice as many men (27%) than woman (16%) dish out over $100 for each person on their gift list.

...More shoppers over 50 (27%) also plan to spend over $100 compared to those ages 18 - 29 (12%) and those in the 30 - 49 age category (20%).

"It's never too early to think about next year's shopping list. Even if you're heading over budget, track your spending closely and you'll have a realistic idea of how much you truly need to stay on budget," added Wilson. "For the few Canadians who manage to resist the season's sales and come in under-budget, put aside your winnings for the year ahead and you'll have more reason to celebrate next year's holiday season."

Before you head to the mall, or reach for your mouse, consider the following to stay balanced this holiday season:

...Set a budget. Only one-third (38%) of Canadians say they create a budget for the holidays. Without a budget you may spend more money than you intend. Create a holiday budget in January and stick to it throughout the year.

...Know your limitations. Beyond setting a budget with a certain dollar figure in mind, decide how much money you should spend on gift giving and each person on your list; decorations; holiday parties; and the unexpected. This budgeting technique will keep you in line and make sure you're not over budget before the holidays start!

...Make a shopping list. Record everyone on your gift list and how much you can afford to spend on each person. According to MasterCard Canada, one-third of Canadians spend between $21 and $50 per person. A shopping list will help you stay on track even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping.

...Shop with a friend. MasterCard Canada reports that only one-quarter (27%) of Canadians can say they don't go over budget. For everyone else, it's wise to shop with your spouse, friends or family members who can help limit your spending and keep you company during stressful shopping days.

...Plan for the party. Just because you are hosting a holiday party doesn't mean you need to pay for everything. Ask guests what they can bring - whether it's food, drinks, decorations or games. Everyone will be more than happy to chip in for a potluck celebration.

About the survey:

The survey was conducted by Environics Research Group between September 29 and October 3, 2010. A total of 1,000 Canadian respondents 18yrs+ were interviewed by telephone. The margin of error is +/-3.10% at 95%.

About MasterCard Worldwide

As a leading global payments company, MasterCard Worldwide prides itself on being at the heart of commerce, helping to make life easier and more efficient for everyone, everywhere. MasterCard serves as a franchisor, processor and advisor to the payments industry, and makes commerce happen by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, governments, businesses, merchants, and cardholders worldwide. In 2009, $2.5 trillion in gross dollar volume was generated on its products by consumers around the world. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network - the fastest payment processing network in the world - MasterCard processes over 22 billion transactions each year, has the capacity to handle 140 million transactions per hour, with an average network response time of 140 milliseconds and with 99.99 percent reliability. For more information, visit www.mastercard.com. Follow on Twitter: @mastercardnews.

Canadian War Museum Launches Online Naval History Exhibition

OTTAWA, November 11, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian War Museum is marking the 100th anniversary of Canada's navy with a dynamic new online exhibition that brings Canada's rich naval history to life. Canada's Naval History ( www.warmuseum.ca/navalhistory) is a compelling and substantial resource offering online access to an extraordinary range of evocative photographs and art, rare artifacts, fascinating archival documents, and educational materials.

"Canada's Naval History explores the wide range of this country's naval experiences over the past century, making this a valuable addition to the Museum's online offerings," said Mark O'Neill, Director General of the Canadian War Museum. "This online exhibition is both an innovative means to preserve and share Canada's naval history with all Canadians, and a wonderful way to mark the Canadian navy's centennial."

This new online exhibition allows users to explore Canada's naval history from its origins to today. The exhibition showcases about 750 items in a contemporary, visually engaging format that will help to tell the story of the country's naval history and highlight the experiences of the men and women associated with it. The exhibition will appeal to a wide range of visitors from across Canada and around the world, who can navigate the site to explore highlights from Canada's naval collections, research the past and use a variety of educational resources.

The War Museum is committed to the continued development of freely accessible, bilingual information through web initiatives, and to presenting Canada's unique history by preserving and providing access to a nationally important collection of artifacts, artworks, and archival material collected over the past 125 years. Past collaborations have led to the creation of the online exhibition Canada and the First World War, and the digital archive Democracy at War: Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War.

The Museum is also marking the navy's centennial with a travelling art exhibition. The Navy: A Century in Art opens at the War Museum in Ottawa on Remembrance Day, November 11, and closes on March 20, 2011. It has been presented at The Military Museums in Calgary and at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. Already, more than 85,000 patrons have viewed the exhibition.

Canada's Naval History is funded in part by the Department of Canadian Heritage, and draws on a wide selection of material from the collections of the Canadian War Museum and its partners, including the Department of National Defence, the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, the Naval Museum of Alberta, and the Naval Museum of Quebec.

The Canadian War Museum is Canada's national Museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada's military history in its personal, national and international dimensions.

About the Online Exhibition

The Canadian War Museum's new online exhibition, Canada's Naval History, provides a fascinating and extensive overview of the country's naval history in war and peace over the past century. The exhibition's launch takes place during the centennial year of Canada's navy, which was created in 1910.

Visitors to the online exhibition will discover almost 750 historical objects, photographs, artworks and archival documents that have been photographed and digitized specifically for this project. Each item can be examined in detail and is accompanied by an extensive caption.

Drawn from the collections of the Museum and its partners, the Department of National Defence, the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, the Naval Museum of Alberta, and the Naval Museum of Quebec, these artifacts present Canada's unique naval heritage, including the experiences of Canadians at sea and ashore, and the navy's roles in war and peace.

Empire Theatres Announces Opening of New Theatre Complex in Waterloo, Ontario

New theatre presents the first-ever "Empire Extra" movie-going experience

HALIFAX, November 1, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Empire Theatres, a Canada-wide film exhibition company, will open a new, state-of the-art, 10-screen theatre complex, including one Empire Extra auditorium, in Waterloo, Ontario this Friday, November 5, 2010.

Empire Theatres Waterloo is located at the new development "The Boardwalk", near the corner of Ira Needles Boulevard and University Avenue. The new theatre is approx. 41,000 square feet and blends entertainment with technology in a contemporary and unique design. Its convenient location provides easy access to residents of Waterloo and surrounding areas, and features plenty of well-lit, free parking.

"Bringing a new state-of-the-art entertainment experience to moviegoers in the Waterloo community is very exciting for us at Empire Theatres," says Dean Leland, Vice President of Studio & Media Relations. "We are thrilled to be able to open another theatre in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and look forward to having residents experience this great facility because it appeals to everyone, including local businesses that can benefit from its corporate rental offerings. It's a must-see theatre complex."

The ten auditoriums feature curved screens for that perfect picture; Dolby Digital Surround Sound for optimum sound; stadium-style seating for unobstructed viewing; comfortable, wide, rocker-style, high back Greystone seats with lots of leg room. It has 100% integrated DLP Digital Cinema Projection providing crystal clear images, as well as RealD 3D capability in five auditoriums.

For the first time ever, Empire Theatres is pleased to launch "Empire Extra", which will provide guests with a heightened sensory experience in a special auditorium designed to offer dynamic sound, screen and seat quality. Empire Extra boasts custom-designed Multi-Channel Sound System for the ultimate audio experience; stunning digital presentation on a massive, wrap-around screen; and reserved seating in comfy, high back rockers.

"We're excited to unveil our first Empire Extra experience to movie goers in Waterloo," says Leland. "Our multi-channel, custom sound system, unique to any movie experience in the world, creates an immersive experience….it puts you right IN the movie. Empire Extra is the ultimate movie going experience."

Empire Theatres Waterloo also features an expansive lobby with a lounge and leather seating; an arcade; 9 Automated Box Offices; and large rooms that will be used for guest, community and corporate use. An expanded refreshment offering includes traditional theatre fare like fresh, hot popcorn, plus Pizza Pizza, Pretzelmaker and Swirls, Empire's very own brand of soft serve. Guests will also be able to purchase their tickets at refreshments for one-stop shopping. The opening of this new complex has provided both full time and part time employment opportunities to the Waterloo market and will employ over 80 staff once it opens.

The first phase of the The Boardwalk development includes Empire Theatres, Walmart, and Lowe's. The second phase will include banks and restaurants. This is the largest multi-use development in the region and will be under construction for many years.

"We're thrilled to have Empire Theatres as part of our Boardwalk family", says Steve Voisin, Construction Manager for The Boardwalk. "When the site has been fully built, customers will be able to enjoy a great evening out with shopping, dinner, and a movie... all along The Boardwalk."

Empire Theatres has a neighboring theatre at Gateway Park Drive in Kitchener, which recently underwent extensive renovations to provide a more comfortable and convenient movie going experience to the Kitchener community.

Guests can view showtimes, purchase tickets and access additional information on Empire Theatres Waterloo at www.empiretheatres.com.