Sasha Speak's

13 Strange Canadian Laws You Never Knew Existed

04/07/2013 00:17:00

13 Strange Canadian Laws You Never Knew Existed

A Toronto businessman found that to sell edible underwear in his ‘Adult Entertainment’ store, he’d need a food license.

It's Illegal To Whistle in Petrolia, Ont. A Petrolia city rep says this unusual law simply aims to limit excessive noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., but according to Article 3, 772.3.6 on the town’s website, “Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing is prohibited at all times.”

Keep Your Booze At Home. According to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (which dates back to the time of prohibition and bootleggers), you can only legally move a bottle of booze from one province to another with the permission of the provincial liquor control board. The situation changed on May 28th, 2012, allowing you to legally move wine, but little else.

It's Illegal To Attach a Siren To Your Bike in Sudbury, Ont. Since 1973, the only noise-makers Sudbury cyclists can attach to their bikes are bells and horns. Breaking noise bylaws in Sudbury can lead to fines up to $5,000.

It's Illegal to Skinny Dip in Bancroft, Ont.

According to Canada’s Currency Act of 1985, there are limits to the number of coins you can use in a transaction. If it’s nickels, vendors can say no to any purchase over $5, while the loonie limit is $25.

Taxi Drivers Can't Wear a T-Shirt in Halifax, N.S. According to Halifax’s Regional Municipality Bylaws for Taxis and Limousines, number 42 a) stipulates drivers must wear shoes and socks, keep their attire in neat and tidy condition at all times, and absolutely cannot wear a t-shirt.

It was illegal for non-dark soft drinks to contain caffeine. Sprite, Mountain Dew and other non-dark soft drinks couldn’t contain caffeine, but that all changed in March 2010 with the advent of “energy drinks” like Redbull. Now you can have caffeine in soft drinks like orange and grape soda, however there is a limit, and it’s still lower than colas.

It's illegal to build big snowmen in Souris, P.E.I. A local law warns residents against building monstrous snowmen. If you live on a corner lot it’s against the law to built a snowman taller than 30-inches.

Thanks to lobbying by dairy farmers it was illegal to sell butter-coloured margarine in Ontario until 1995. In fact, margarine was altogether banned in Canada from 1886 to 1948 (there was a brief reprieve during WW1).

Keep Out of the Water in Toronto Harbour. According to the Toronto Port Authority, you can’t swim anywhere in the harbour that hasn’t been designated a swimming area by the City of Toronto.

Keep Your Comics Clean. The way Canadian law currently stands, “Everyone commits an offence who… (b) makes, prints, publishes, distributes, sells or has in his possession for the purpose of publication, distribution or circulation a crime comic.”

Clotheslines Were Banned. Many Canadian communities long restricted the use of clotheslines because they just didn’t like the look of them. Now because of increased energy consciousness the provincial government has stepped in with a ruling that overrides neighbourhood regulations.

Keep Your Kids at Home in St. Paul, Alta. St. Paul residents don’t have to worry about their kids sneaking out late at night. It’s against the law for anyone 15 or younger to loiter in a public place without supervision of a parent or guardian between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m.

And you thought we had it bad!!!

Crowsnest Pass Making History

04/05/2013 01:42:00

A home-owner, here in the Crowsnest Pass, is making history. He is apparently the first ever person to sell a home, for an online currency called Bitcoin. Taylor More has listed his two-bedroom Coleman bungalow for approximately $405,000 in equivalent Bitcoins. Bitcoin's current exchange rate in Canada puts Taylor More's property cost at about 5786 Bitcoins.

You can see his "for sale by owner" ad here: Crowsnest Pass home for sale

This is a virtually untraceable online digital currency typically used for all kinds of small online purchases. It has also been used to make purchases, in person. There are a few stores in the US, that accept the currency, in store.

Pizzaforcoins.com made headline's in 2012 when a man ordered and then payed for his pizza using Bitcoin. It is also being accepted by a Toronto office space rental company.

Bitcoin was created in 2009 and is now quite a popular currency. Bitcoins are a futuristic concept, foreign to many people. It is a crypto-currency that exists only electronically. To explain it better, you can 'mine' Bitcoins using your computer as part of the network that supports them. When a transaction happens on one part of the network, it gets sent to a person on another node and they can verify that. They then collect a small transaction fee which creates new value of Bitcoin.

In turn, you can use these Bitcoins to buy goods and services, without using paper money.

For more information on Bitcoin, you can check out this link: Bitcoin

Taylor More, who inherited the Coleman family home, plans on using his Bitcoin for future planned projects. He mentions that even if someone wants to partially pay in Bitcoin that would be alright too. He is currently accepting offers and also making history.

Who will buy his house and have enough Bitcoin to do so. Stay tuned Crowsnest Pass, I'm sure we have not heard the last of this.

One must wonder though, is this Bitcoin our future in the making?? It is likened to the currency used in Neal Stephenson's 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. Though it seems moreover "a peer-to-peer electronic currency uncontrolled by central bankers or politicians and a perfect object for the anxieties and enthusiasms of those frightened by the threats of inflation and currency debasement, concerned about state power and the surveillance state, and fascinated with the possibilities created by distributed, decentralized systems".

However, it makes me think that this just may be more of a start down the path to our own Brave New World.

Municipal Inspection set to begin in the Crowsnest Pass

03/17/2013 03:36:00

Well, folks it's official. The Municipal Inspection is set to begin.

Russell Farmer & Associates Consulting Ltd. has been appointed to conduct the inspection of our Municipality. They will be inspecting the management, administration, and operations of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.

Look out council!!

The inspection process is expected to take a couple of months. A number of consultants with the firm will be conducting the inspection. As well as inspecting the operations of the Municipality, they will also be conducting interviews with people around the community. In particular, key representatives of various groups and interested community members.

Russel Farmer was quoted as saying that anyone wishing to send them information or documents they feel relevant to the inspection, or anyone wishing to be interviewed, can email them at inspection@rfconsulting.ca

You can read the full story in Crowsnest Pass Promoter here: Inspection Set to Begin

The Ratepayers Association will be holding a General Public meeting onThursday March 21st, at 7:00 pm in the Coleman Legion. They will be discussing numerous topics including:

Medican
Logo Issue
P/R people
Fire Plan
Inspection update
Open Discussion

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Introducing: The NEW Improved Crowsnest Pass

01/31/2013 22:43:00

I attended the new Crowsnest Pass Branding Unveiling Public Open House, tonight at the Elk's Hall (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm).

It seemed to be a very quiet affair. There were a few councillors milling around the room and several key Municipal higher-up's. I did not see the Mayor. He must have been gone by the time I got there, at 6:30 pm. Other than that, in the time that I was there, I could count on my two hands the number of the general public who turned out for the event.

Is this a sign of indifference or apathy? Or is it a sign of something bigger? Are people around here just finally fed up with how things are going!?!? Do they just not give a damn? Or are they protesting in their own way by not attending? The event was advertised, so I know it was not because they did not know it was happening.

Of course, you know that the Municipality media will put a very different spin on things. "It was a tremendous turnout!! Very well attended!!" -- Just you wait and see!! The pictures will show lots of people there. But those pictures will most likely be of the pre-public Gala. Key members of our community were invited before-hand for a very special Wine & Hor d'oeuvres Presentation.

If you didn't get a special fancy invitation, then you were not important enough.

I must say that the new Brand looked interesting enough.

The graphic is unique but fairly simplistic.The explanation behind it does make sense, in it's own way. I have posted a picture of it below this post. The Catch Phrase is appealing. I am sure some people will love it.

However, I must say that by the time I got home, I had forgotten what it was. It was a good thing I bought home the printed material because I have had to refer to it a couple of times, to remind myself what it is. In fact, as I sit here writing this post, I had to glance at it again to refresh my memory. That can not be a good sign. Either I am getting old and losing my memory or the slogan they picked just isn't catchy enough.

Maybe it's a bit of both.

Well, I'll let you decide. Have a peak below. Soon enough it will be everywhere and on everything Municipality related. It is our New BRAND!!! It is "Naturally Rewarding".

For more information on the new branding go here

OR: Click on Picture's Below to Enlarge and read explanation.

Monthly Ratepayer's Public Meeting

01/22/2013 20:52:00

Monthly Ratepayer's Public Meeting

Wednesday January 23rd, at 7:00 pm

Location: Coleman Legion - Upstairs

Everyone welcome.

New members encouraged to attend. Memberships will be available for $5.00.

Topics of discussion:

Update on Crowsnest Pass Municipal Inspection
December 21st Meeting with CAO Myron Thompson
Contractors & Consultants Costs
Municipal Master Fire Plan
Open discussion and Q & A to follow

Bill C-45 Explained

01/14/2013 20:02:00

This is a good explanation of Bill C-45. Click on the photo below to see it enlarged.

Is Coal Mining Coming Back to the Crowsnest Pass??

01/08/2013 16:37:00

Article in Lethbridge Global News regarding the sale at Grassy Mountain and the subsequent potential coal mining:

http://www.globallethbridge.com/new+crowsnest+pass+mine+to+create+jobs/6442784331/story.html

Fiscal Cliff Explained

01/04/2013 23:02:00

“Fiscal Cliff” put in a much better perspective.

Lesson #1:

* U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000

* Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000

* New debt: $1,650,000,000,000

* National debt: $14,271,000,000,000

* Recent budget cuts: $38,500,000,000

Let's now remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:

* Annual family income: $21,700

* Money the family spent: $38,200

* New debt on the credit card: $16,500

* Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710

* Total budget cuts so far: $38.50

Got It ??

.......

OK now....

Lesson # 2:

Here's another way to look at the Debt Ceiling:

Let's say -

You come home from work and find there has been a sewer backup in your neighborhood....

and your home has sewage all the way up to your ceilings.

What do you think you should do ......

Raise the ceilings, or remove the crap?

My Wish For Everyone Is A Healthy and Very Happy New Years 2013!!

01/01/2013 05:19:00

- Sasha

Wishing Everyone a Very Merry Christmas!!

12/27/2012 01:00:00

Hoping your Holidays with your Family and Friends is a Healthy and Happy one.

May all the Blessings of the Season be upon you!!

Merry Christmas!!

- Sasha