The Car is an Aphrodisiac, New Study Finds

More than a third of Canadians report driving a sexy car makes them feel more attractive

TORONTO, May 23, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Step aside chocolates and oysters, a new survey reveals the car may be our new aphrodisiac. More than one in three Canadians (36 percent), including almost 40 percent of women and close to 50 percent of young Canadians under 35 report driving a sexy car makes them feel more attractive.

Findings from the new study were released today, and came from The CarCourting Report, commissioned by autoTRADER.ca and conducted among Angus Reid Forum panel members across Canada.

"Canadians really didn't hold back in this study, showing us that although choosing a car might seem like a wholly rational decision, emotion and even social implications are a major influence on Canadian car buyers," said Ian MacDonald, Director of Marketing, Trader Corporation. "We discovered that people not only judge others on the type of car they drive, they also internalize their choices - cars appear to be a key part of how we identify ourselves personally."

Case in point: a full 61 percent of Canadians admitted they would even walk away from purchasing the car of their dreams if it wasn't the right colour! Moreover, 41 percent believe people should drive cars that match their personality. This figure jumps to 47 percent among young Canadians under 35 years of age for whom image is clearly a more important consideration. One in five Canadians even go as far as agreeing that people should drive cars that match their appearance.

Based on such personality matching, survey respondents assigned the following cars to some of our most-loved Canadian celebrities (based on the most popular vote):

...Ryan Gosling would be a macho Ford Mustang
...Shania Twain would be a stylish BMW 3 Series
...Wayne Gretzky would be an active Subaru Forester
...Pamela Anderson would be a status-seeking Porsche 911
...Alanis Morissette would be an environmentally-friendly Toyota Prius
...Michael Bublé would share the limelight with Ms. Twain as a stylish BMW 3 Series

Canadians looking for their own perfect match can test-drive autoTRADER.ca's new Facebook app, dubbed 'The autoLYZER', which is launching today. This unique app helps Canadians discover three automobiles which are for sale on autoTRADER.ca at that moment in time, best suited to their personality and social life. The app analyzes real-time data via Facebook, looking at an individual's lifestyle, interests, social activities, and Facebook friends' opinions via existing posts, to help narrow down which cars would be the best fit for him or her personally. All in a matter of seconds!

"This study confirmed our hypothesis that the car-buying process is a very social and emotional one today," said MacDonald. "Sixty-four percent of Canadians said they would seek out advice from friends and family when car shopping; our new autoLYZER app leverages the latest technology to assist in that exact need - to give Canadians that kind of advice and present them with real cars for sale from autoTRADER.ca's 389,000 current listings."

When it comes to finding the true love of our lives in automobiles, sadly, this country falls short. More than 7 in 10 Canadians polled (71 percent) said they were not in love with their current ride. But by no means are we a country of quitters! When it comes to courting cars, the majority of Canadians (58 percent) report being polygamists - admitting they would test drive many different makes and models before settling on the car they like best. AutoTRADER.ca's new autoLYZER app may help them curb those wild ways, by narrowing down their selection process, so they can ultimately unite with their true automobile love.

From May 2nd to May 3rd 2012 an online survey was conducted among 1,524 randomly selected Canadian adults who are also Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.51%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current census data on age, gender, region and education (and language in Quebec) to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About autoTRADER.ca

AutoTRADER.ca offers The Most Cars in One Place™ with the largest online vehicle inventory in Canada. The autoLYZER is part of autoTRADER.ca's commitment to delivering faster, more seamless ways for users to find the right vehicle, by incorporating the most advanced technology and latest innovations into its offering. AutoTRADER.ca's mission is to help Canadians buy and sell cars quickly, easily, and with confidence through digital platforms such as web, mobile and tablet.

BOATsmart! Awareness Week May 14-18

Educating Canadians from coast-to-coast on the importance of safe boating

TORONTO, May 15, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - With boating season just around the corner, BOATsmart! is urging Canadians to boat with confidence this year by getting their Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) before taking to the water. In the days leading up to the Victoria Day long weekend, the second annual BOATsmart! Awareness Week focuses on boating safety awareness and education for the whole family.

BOATsmart! Awareness Week is the official kick-off to a seasonal campaign to encourage Canadian boaters and their families to get PCOC-certified. Boaters can get certified in time for the upcoming season by going to www.boatsmartexam.com, completing the complimentary online study course, and taking the exam.

"We believe that all members of the family should get their Pleasure Craft Operator Card because safe boating is important at every age and for all passengers," says Cameron Taylor, President of BOATsmart! "By certifying the entire family, you can ensure the watercraft is always under the control of a certified boater."

Approximately 100 Canadians die in accidents on the water every year, with another 6,000 suffering non-fatal injuries - with the majority of these accidents being preventable. As the country's leader in boating safety, and the number one provider of the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) - commonly known as a boating license - BOATsmart!, is urging families to get PCOC-certified now.

The May long weekend is just the beginning of the boating season and thousands of families across the country will be heading to the cottage to enjoy Canada's waterways. In order to minimize risk and accidents on the water, the BOATsmart! Team will be out in full force this season to provide education and access to proper certification.

Beginning May 17, and throughout the summer, BOATsmart! Safe Boating Teams are making stops at Canadian Tire stores and community events across the country to educate Canadians on safe boating and offer onsite PCOC exams.

BOATsmart! strongly recommends the following to families planning to head out on the water this boating season:

...Make safe boating part of your cottage routine

Canadian winters can be long, so families should review water safety rules together at the beginning of each season, and each time they hit the water. The BOATsmart! Study Guide, available online and at participating Canadian Tire locations, contains crucial information that every family needs to boat safely and with confidence.

...Wear a personal floatation device (PFD) at all times

Data shows that more than 86 per cent of those who drown while boating were not wearing a PFD. It should be worn by all boaters in and around the water—not just when operating or riding in a vessel.

It is strongly recommended that small children wear PFD's at all times when in close proximity to the water.

...Never mix drinking with boating

Alcohol is a factor in more than 40 per cent of boating related fatalities so officials remind us to never consume alcohol prior to, or while boating.

...Get certified—it's the law

Any individual operating the boat must obtain a pleasure craft operator card (PCOC), which is their proof of competency to operate a pleasure craft. It is recommended that each family member obtain his or her PCOC so the watercraft is always under the control of a certified boater. Failure to present a PCOC while operating a powered vessel can result in a minimum fine of $250. Once obtained, the PCOC is good for life.

BOATsmart! provides the Pleasure Craft Operator Card at a discount for families, available at www.boatsmartexam.com. The official BOATsmart! Study Guide is available at participating Canadian Tire stores and is a valuable resource to refresh the entire family's boating knowledge prior to each season.

About BOATsmart! Canada

BOATsmart!® educates and certifies boaters for their Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Accredited by Transport Canada, our mission is to promote the safe, enjoyable and environmentally friendly use of Canada's waterways.

Canadian Golf Legend Mike Weir makes exclusive visit to Predator Ridge for Opening of Hockey Canada Log Cabin

Hockey Canada COO Scott Smith, left, along with Canadian golfer Mike Weir
were on-hand at Predator Ridge Resort for the official opening of the resort's
new Hockey Canada branded log cabin on Thursday May 10th, 2012.
photo credit: Jeff Bassett/ Predator Ridge (CNW Group/Predator Ridge)

KELOWNA, British Columbia, May 11, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Great Canadian golfer Mike Weir was on-hand yesterday at Predator Ridge to inaugurate the resort's new Hockey Canada branded log cabin. The official opening took place during his two-day visit where he was joined by Hockey Canada COO, Scott Smith for the unveiling celebration.

"This is just the first of many events that we look forward to attending at Predator Ridge," said Scott Smith. "With the alignment of Canadian heritage and sport, we see this partnership quickly evolving into something more strategic."

Weir and Smith took part in the grand opening of the heritage building that was rebranded as the Hockey Canada Log Cabin. The new branding is part of a recent partnership between Predator Ridge and Hockey Canada.

"I always enjoy my time at Predator Ridge," says Mike Weir. "It's great to see old friends and after every visit I leave with new ones."

The event is the first since the partnership was announced earlier this year. Having Mike Weir and Scott Smith on-hand legitimizes the future potential for the partnership.

“At Predator Ridge we pride ourselves on giving Canadians the ultimate golf lifestyle experience,” said Brad Pelletier, Vice President of Okanagan Region at Wesbild Holdings. “Hockey Canada is not only one of our country’s most beloved national brands but a valued partner, so it was wonderful to have such a respected Canadian athlete like Mike present and supporting the official opening.”

During the visit, lucky Predator Ridge members and homeowners also had the opportunity to watch Weir in action and engage in a question and answer session with the award-winning golfer.

About Predator Ridge

Located near Kelowna, BC, Predator Ridge Resort is an exceptional place to vacation or to call home. The 1,200-acre award-winning development boasts 12 kilometers of natural wooded trails ideal for hiking and biking. Two critically-acclaimed golf courses are steps away – the legendary Predator Course, and SCORE Golf Magazine’s 2010 ‘Best New Course in Canada’, The Ridge Course. A full-service Clubhouse, golf academy, state-of-the-art fitness centre with a 25m indoor pool, outdoor pools, luxurious accommodations and a selection of events and activities offer guests a variety of options on the resort in addition to its convenient access to lakes, ski hills and wineries. Just minutes away, Sparkling Hill is a preferred affiliate of Predator Ridge. Wesbild Holdings Ltd. owns and operates Predator Ridge Resort. For more information, visit www.predatorridge.com

Waterloo Region Welcomes the Golf World

From June 20-24, Waterloo Region will welcome the world to the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. As a worldwide leader in financial services, Manulife Financial is proud to shine a global spotlight on our community.

Waterloo Region is home to Manulife Financial's Canadian headquarters and over 4,000 of our employees. Giving back to the communities where we do business is important to us and we are very excited about the many benefits this world-class sporting event will bring to the region.

...Positive economic impact: The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic will inject tens of millions of dollars into the local economy over the next three years - benefiting restaurants, hotels, and many other businesses.

...Harnessing our community's spirit: Manulife Financial has made promoting volunteerism across Canada our signature cause and we are thrilled this tournament will bring together more than 1,200 community volunteers.

...Giving back: A significant portion of the tournament proceeds will support Waterloo region's own St. Mary's General Hospital volunteer program and cardiac care centre.

Please join all of us at Manulife Financial in welcoming the world's top female golfers to Waterloo region as they compete at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic this June.

About Manulife Financial

At Manulife Financial, we provide some of the very best financial protection and wealth accumulation products backed by the financial strength and security of a global leader.

To help prepare you and your family for the future, Manulife Financial offers a strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking approach that you can turn to for those big financial decisions. Our high quality investment portfolio, diverse business platform and prudent risk management practices are a few of the reasons why you make the right choice when choosing Manulife Financial.

Reusable Water Bottle Tracks How Much Plastic You Keep Out of the Trash

photo credit: © Fernd van Engelen

from TreeHugger.com by Alex Davies - Design / Sustainable Product Design

There's a good shot that if you're reading this, you use a reusable water bottle. You know that it keeps a lot of plastic bottles out of the dump, but how many is hard to tell. That's no longer the case, thanks to the 999Bottle, which has three numbered rings to let you count how many times you fill it up- and how many plastic bottles you don't buy.

The 999Bottle is the work of Fernd van Engelen at Artefact. It's a smart, simple way to make the impact of a reusable water bottle more tangible; putting a number on it makes it more of an accomplishment. To take things further, van Engelen created an iPhone app to convert your number into things like how much oil you've saved:

...You've saved 117 bottles! That's equivalent to the amount of oil KITT needs to tubro boost 50 yards with the Hoff and a damsel in distress on board.

...You've saved 1,063 bottles! That's equivalent to the height of the Eiffel Tower. Oui, oui!

It's a conversation starter, too, not to mention that the bottle itself looks great, made of stainless steel with a rubberized base. To get it to market, van Engelen has started a Kickstarter campaign, and already raised nearly $16,000 of his $99,999 goal. Here's his pitch:

It's a worthy cause, especially if you don't own a reusable water bottle. If you do, I urge you not to buy another- but maybe you can contribute anyway!

Yosemite Time-Lapse Video of Landscapes and Stars Is Unbelievable

photo credit: Shawn Reeder/Video screen capture

from TreeHugger.com by Jaymi Heimbuch - Science / Natural Sciences

You can't go through life not having watched this video created by Shawn Reeder. That's all there is to it. It's spectacular.

And if you don't feel some level of humble appreciation for the grandeur of nature after watching it, you might want to check that your heart is still beating.

As Brent Rose says, "Go full screen HD or go home." Learn more about the project and photographer, Shawn Reeder, from our pals at Discovery.

New Resource Supports Youth Concussion Care and Awareness

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia May 3, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) and stopconcussions.com are proud to be among the more than 20 supporters who have joined together to support education concerning brain injury in youth.

Media conferences were hosted today in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Toronto, Ontario announcing this initiative and revealing supporting partner organizations. The initiative is led by Dr. Stan Kutcher, Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, and is conducted in collaboration with a team of international experts. Together the team developed two comprehensive brain injury guides, one for youth and a companion guide for coaches and parents.

"We are fulfilling a need for engaging, easy-to-understand information that is based on the most recent scientific studies about brain injury," explains Dr. Kutcher. "Young people who suffer a concussion during their adolescent years may have difficulties in various aspects of their lives, not only right after the injury but even up to thirty years or longer. The best way to prevent traumatic brain injury is to recognize it when it occurs, know what to do if a concussion happens and ensure that we do not unwittingly act in a way that can make the problem worse."

Concussions are traumatic brain injuries that can often go unnoticed by young athletes, coaches and parents. Like most injuries, victims think they will heal over time; however, brain injuries can have much stronger affects on individuals. Their impact can be life-altering, especially to an adolescent who is still growing and developing. Until recently, we had not realized how serious even a mild or moderate concussion could be to the health and well-being of teenagers.

The Toronto event, held at the Hockey Hall of Fame, was supported by a number of NHL alumni including Ron Ellis, Keith Primeau and Wayne Primeau. Remarks were also given by Catherine Fife, President of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association and Dr. Ian Dawe, Chief-of-Staff at Ontario Shores.

As a specialized mental health care centre, Ontario Shores understands the long-term impacts of acquired brain injury. Ontario Shores is also working with Dr. Kutcher to enhance mental health literacy in Ontario schools through training and advocacy. The introduction of these guides is one more tool to help provide better mental health care for youth.

"Concussions can have a significant impact on the life of a young person," says Dr. Dawe. "As with any mental health issue, early identification, treatment and a recovery plan are vital. This educational resource along with the Ontario Shores Adolescent Mental Health Literacy Program in Ontario high schools will be instrumental in supporting the well being of our youth."

The two resource guides are designed in simple terms to assist with signs, symptoms, treatment, prevention and support: Understanding Brain Injury in Adolescence, which is designed for the adult in a young person's life (parent, coach, teacher, etc.) and the Brain Injury Guide for Youth, specifically designed for youth.

Several leading sports and health organizations have agreed to support and use these guides.

"The more people understand about brain injury, the better chance health professionals have for early detection, which may prevent further worsening of the injury and ensure those who need it receive the right treatment," emphasizes Dr. Kutcher.

The guides have become a catalyst for a series of partnerships with sporting organizations and other brain injury advocates across Canada. They're part of an initiative brought on by stopconcussions.com to bring concussion-related resources into organizations across Canada.

"These guides are crucial in educating everyone on this very serious issue," says Kerry Goulet, Director of stopconcussions.com. "The information is so important in the battle against this invisible injury. We are ecstatic to be partnering with Dr. Kutcher and his great team."

Baseball Canada has also taken the step to have these materials available to national teams and provincial organizations across the country.

The guides and more information can be downloaded for free at the education/schools section at http://www.ontarioshores.ca/education/highschoolandelementary/ or the resource section at teenmentalhealth.org. Copies of the guide can also be purchased in print version from the website and delivered directly to the purchaser.

The creation of the Brain Injury Guides was made possible through the support of Sun Life Financial, T. R. Meighen Family Foundation, Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation and the Kathryn A. Weldon Charitable Foundation.

Majority of Canadians have less money to spend after paying for necessities

Spending power slows in February and March

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 30, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today Walmart Canada released the Walmart Canada Income Tracker for the month of February and March. The average Canadian household had $11 less per month in spending power in February 2012, compared to February, 2011, and $3 less per month in March 2012 (vs March 2011). Spending power has been negative for nine months straight, beginning in July of 2011.

...After paying taxes and living costs, the average Canadian household had $11 less per month spending power in February 2012 vs February 2011, and $3 less in March 2012 vs March 2011

...Spending power growth has remained negative for nine straight months

...Regional break-out in March shows that residents of Atlantic provinces, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia see an increase in spending power while residents in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba see a decline.

The Walmart Canada Income Tracker compares average household income with the key financial obligations facing Canadian households each month, including taxes, shelter, transportation, cost of utilities, and food. Spending power is the money available after these obligations are met to save or to spend on discretionary items (e.g., toys, clothing, furniture) or experiences, (e.g., movies, sports events, restaurant meals).

In February, on average Canadian household income rose by 2.5 per cent. Household financial obligations which rose in February at a faster rate than income include transportation costs, which rose 6.9 per cent in the month compared to a year earlier, shelter costs (up 2.8 per cent), food (up 3.9 per cent), and medical (up 2.6 per cent).

In March, increases in wages (up 2.7 per cent) and a drop in the cost of utilities (down 1.8 per cent) helped offset higher costs for food (up 4 per cent) shelter (up 4 per cent) and transportation costs (up 6.9 per cent).

While March saw a decline in spending power on a national basis, the data shows significant regional differences in spending power. Atlantic provinces saw an increase in spending power of $57, Alberta of $59, Saskatchewan of $29and British Columbia of $48. Spending power decreases come in the two largest provinces— Quebec saw the largest decrease in spending power of $54 and Ontario of $17—as well as Manitoba, down $45. Mo< The Walmart Canada Income Tracker reports monthly on Canadian household spending power.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 333 stores, employs over 85,000 Canadians and serves more than one million customers each day. The company is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada's top 10 corporate cultures. Since 1994, Walmart has raised and donated more than $150 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations. Additional information about Walmart Canada can be found by visiting www.walmart.ca.

The Walmart Income Tracker has been developed to track spending power of Canadian households using publicly available income, cost of living and consumer price index statistics compiled nationally by Statistics Canada on a monthly or quarterly basis.

The Walmart Income Tracker is developed by Fusion Retail Analytics and leverages Statistics Canada's national income and expenditure accounts (released quarterly), personal expenditure on goods and services (released quarterly), labour income (released monthly), labour force estimates (released monthly) and the consumer price index (released monthly) as well as additional proprietary Fusion Retail Analytics data sources. The Walmart Spending Power Tracker is updated monthly and updated each quarter with the most recent Statistics Canada revisions.