It’s hard to believe it, but spring is here! While we’re just starting to say goodbye to the frigid temperatures of winter, warmer weather will be here before you know it. But before you pull out the grill and dust off your lawn chairs, take some time to make sure your garden is ready for the coming season. From weeding to pruning and even planting some hardy vegetables, here are a few things you can do to prepare your garden for spring and ensure it’s ready to grow your plants and produce this year. Give Your Tools Some TLC: Make sure your tools are ready for the tough work ahead by cleaning and repairing any of your tools that need a little love. Sand off any rust using steel wool; use a sharpening stone to restore your pruning tools; take your gas-powered equipment in for a tune up; and wipe down your tools with penetrating oil to keep them in tip-top shape. Divide Perennials: Right before new growth begins is an ideal time to dig and divide your perennial flowers that are overgrown. Dividing perennials is a budget-friendly way to fill your garden with more plants or share them with your friends to plant in their gardens. Replant the divided clumps immediately and water them well to encourage new growth. Clean Up Your Flower Beds: Clear away dead leaves and any other debris left by the winter storms. You can also take this time to trim back your annuals, pull weeds, groom your trees, and clear away any winter protection—like raised bed covers—that you added last season. Inspect Your Trees for Winter Damage: Those snowy winters can be hard on your trees. Take this opportunity, before the leaves grow back, to inspect your trees for damage. Prune off any broken, dead, or storm-damaged branches and trim back your fruit trees before new buds begin to bloom. Add Fresh Mulch + Fertilizer: One of the easiest ways to make your yard look clean and polished is to add fresh mulch to your garden beds. This can also help the soil retain moisture and can help prevent weeds. While you’re at it, add some fresh fertilizer under the mulch to give your plants some much needed nutrients as the weather warms up. Start Your Seeds Indoors: If you’re planning to add to your garden this year, now is the time to start your seeds! Although growing season is technically still a few months away, many seeds for annual flowers and edibles can be started indoors earlier in the spring. Get Ready to Plant Cool-Season Vegetables: Hardy vegetables like artichokes, peas, potatoes, and some types of lettuce germinate best in cool soil—that means early spring is the perfect time to plant them! Once your soil has thawed, plant them in your garden beds to help set them up for harvest by early summer. Harmony Court Estate in Burnaby offers two large garden courtyards and our Garden Club allows residents to get their hands dirty as they help to spruce up our common walking areas. Our magnolia and cherry blossom trees will be in pink bloom very soon and we encourage you to come by for a tour. Many of our spacious apartment size suites have balconies overlooking either courtyard with an enhanced view of the mountains on the North side and beautiful sunset views from the South. For your personalized tour, please call Joel at 604-527-3323 or email him at [email protected] For a virtual tour visit: www.agecare.ca/tourharmony
0 Comments
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a simple and affordable way to plan for your financial future. The power you give can be limited to a single decision or to unlimited powers.
Why is it so important to prepare POA before something happens to you? As per the Power of Attorney Act, you need to have a mental capacity to do this document, which means if you are in a hospital and can’t communicate, you can’t give power of attorney. Why is it so important to prepare POA with a legal professional? We have had many cases when people came to us with a signed power of attorney, and banks did not accept it. There is a legal and practical side to preparing and signing POA. Even though it is allowed by law to sign POA in the presence of 2 witnesses, banks likely won’t accept it if it was signed without a legal professional. What types of Powers of Attorney exist? With general POA, your attorney can manage your affairs while you are still capable. You can restrict an Attorney's duties, or limit the time period. Be aware of the fact that these powers of attorney expire. With an enduring power of attorney, you can plan for any future incapacity. This type is the most popular, as it doesn’t expire. You can always revoke the powers given. As per law, your attorney must act in your best interests. However, you should understand that there is always a possibility of misusing the trust. So choose wisely. Most people would ask their family member or close friend to act as their Attorney. Sometimes, it can be a Notary Public, or a lawyer. You need to trust your attorney. Confirm that your attorney is able to act for you. Note that your attorney must be at least 19 years old, and live close to you. You still can choose an Attorney who lives out of province, but think about the practical aspects. Consider naming more than one attorney in case your main attorney can’t act for you. It is important to differentiate a power of attorney from will. POA works during your life while your will is used after your death. What happens if you have not appointed someone as your Attorney and you become mentally incapacitated? Without appointing someone with an enduring POA, no one has the legal right to act on your behalf (not even your spouse!). Unless your finances are all held jointly with someone else, your finances cannot be used to pay your rent, utilities and other expenses. If you have assets like a home or a vehicle, they cannot be sold even if you no longer live in the home or drive the vehicle. Of particular importance, a home or land held jointly by two or more individuals requires the signatures of all individuals to sell, mortgage or otherwise deal with. Once an individual has become incapacitated he/she can no longer appoint an Attorney. In this instance the Public Guardian and Trustee will administer his/her affairs. If a family member or friend would like to take control of a loved one's affairs he/she must hire a lawyer and apply to the courts for legal appointment called Committee. This is a costly and lengthy process as opposed to giving a POA. Furthermore, the person named as Committee will have to report to the Public Guardian and Trustee as to what decisions they have made and how money has been spent. Most people find the obligations of a Committee onerous and intrusive. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please contact Uptown Notaries for assistance. Guest Blog by Natalya Hanna, Notary Public This Article can not be considered legal advice. More than 75,000 people in Canada filed fraud complaints in 2021, many of them in the senior population. As an SRES® designee, it is important to be aware of current scams targeting the 55+ community so you can help advocate for them if a need arises. Here are some tips that can help you identify a scam before falling victim.
1. Verify the OrganizationCall them back: Scammers want to build trust fast—preferably in a matter of seconds. They will often pretend to be from a government service agency, like Service Canada or Canada Revenue Agency, or other well known organizations such as Apple, Amazon, or local utilities companies. These imposter scammers often have specific, personal details that make them seem legitimate. Be sure to never give out your credit card or social security details over the phone unless you are the one who initiated the call. SCAM SAFETY TIP: If someone contacts you from an organization you trust, remind them to verify that they are who they claim to be. They can hang up or stop replying, then contact them using information on the organization’s website. 2. Be Skeptical of Urgent Problems or Sudden PrizesIf you receive a call about a sudden problem (a missed bill, back tax, family health emergency) that until now, you hadn’t known about, be alert. Seniors should be reminded to be skeptical of any unexpected prizes like sweepstakes or all-inclusive vacations. Oftentimes, scammers will use these scenarios and ask for a “small fee” to claim winnings. SCAM SAFETY TIP: Be aware of people who present you with a problem or a prize. Never give out personal details or credit card info over email or over the phone during an unexpected, incoming call. 3. Avoid Oversharing Personal Details OnlineScammers are experts at extracting info. Sometimes they will research their targets beforehand. They might call and know your and family members’ names, hometowns, or home purchase prices. This kind of information is available online and is easy for them to access. Having this information also makes it easy for them to win your trust and get more details from you. After purchasing a home, your personal details may be more readily available online. Be alert and avoid sharing personal details. SCAM SAFETY TIP: Keep social media accounts private. Never give someone who contacts you remote access to your computer or device. 4. Always Take the Time to Double CheckIf someone is pressuring you to make an immediate payment, be very suspicious. Scammers expect victims to act fast, before anyone can realize they are illegitimate, so they threaten with losses. If you feel nervous, time-pressured, or afraid of losing benefits during a phone call, it may be a scam. SCAM SAFETY TIP: Even if something is urgent, there is always time for you to verify details online. 5. Pay with Credit CardPay with Credit Card: Scammers often request specific forms of payment. Anytime someone asks to be paid quickly via wire transfer, gift card, or mailed cash, be wary. Most legitimate organizations offer a variety of safe, traceable payment options and let you decide the best form of payment. SCAM SAFETY TIP: Only use protected, traceable methods of payment. Using a credit card means you can dispute payments “after the fact” if a product is not delivered as advertised. BONUS TIPTo opt-out of marketing calls and easily recognize scams, consider registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry at https://lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/en. Within a month of submission, all legitimate businesses should stop calling you. Scammers will still use your number, but you will know that the calls you receive are not legitimate. For more information on scams and frauds, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html March 25-27, 2022 – Poirier Sports Complex, 633 Poirier Rd, Coquitlam BC
The Tri-City Home Show is back at the Poirier Sports & Leisure Complex! The Tri-City’s ultimate one-stop shop for home improvement and building products, services, and advice in one convenient location! The show features 3 big days of demo’s, free samples and expert seminars to inspire. The show is sponsored by the Design Alley Makeover Showcase presented by Hiar Homes Design Alley’s award-winning designer, Ronnie Hough will speaking and inspiring you all weekend on the Show Stage! Seminar Theatre Schedule Hours Friday March 25 – 1:00pm – 8:00pm Saturday March 26 – 9:30am – 5:30pm Sunday March 27 – 10:00am – 4:00pm As always, show admission and parking are FREE to the public. For more details and to see the full Exhibitor List, CLICK HERE to visit our website. |
Author(s)Our Blog articles are shared through our wide network of professionals serving your needs. Archives
June 2023
Categories
All
|