Here’s some exciting news for you who like to spend winter hibernating away from the cold, but still like to enjoy the occasional Big Mac; McDonald’s Canada, as reported earlier this week by CTV, is exploring the options of adding at-home delivery to their service, in addition to mobile app ordering, table service and even curb service!

McDonald’s already offers at-home delivery in other Asian countries, like Singapore, China and South Korea, and they have experimented with third-party at-home delivery options, but they’re hoping to shift the responsibility of delivery to entirely be McDonald’s Canada’s, so they’re the one’s that stand to profit in the increasingly competitive fast-food/restaurant industry.

McDonald’s is also looking to add mobile app paying to their service, meaning you could place your order ahead of time so that you can skip the lineup at the counter, or even skip the lineup in the drive-thru to have your order delivered to your car. Now that’s a service.

McDonald’s also said that they would be looking to add table service to their Canadian customers, but there is still no firm date for any of these much talked about updates.

Click here to find the nearest McDonald’s Canada to you (though you may soon not have to!)

My world was absolutely shook when I discovered the life hack of hulling strawberry stems by using a plastic straw. I thought I would never feel as silly and relieved as I did that day for having wasted so much of my life nibbling around the pulpy stems of strawberries, but then I learned about another untapped resource that could be saving me hours, and I mean literally hours, of wasted time; that resource was Netflix Canada’s secret genre codes.

There is actually a website dedicated to this seemingly mythical idea, and once you try it out, your Netflixing game will never be the same. These secret codes are basically made up of four or so numbers that specify exactly what kind of category you may be looking for. 10005? Religious documentaries. 8195? B-horror movies. The specificities get so detailed that you can actually limit your search to differentiating between Supernatural Horror Movies – 42023 – or Supernatural Thrillers – 11140.

I suggest using the site, as it allows you to search for your weird categories and then click on it and be redirected to that category on Netflix. If that doesn’t work for you though, you can simply copy and paste the numbers from the categories below and just add it to your browser’s search; for example, to get to ‘Quirky Romance’, as shown above, you’d simply type into your browser: www.netflix.com/browse/genre/36103.

Here’s a roundup of all the sub-categories that you can find using your secret Netflix codes:

A

Action and Adventure: 1365
Action Comedies: 43040
Action Sci-Fi and Fantasy: 1568
Action Thrillers: 43048
Adult Animation: 11881
Adventures: 7442
African Movies: 3761
Alien Sci-Fi: 3327
Animal Tales: 5507
Anime: 7424
Anime Action: 2653
Anime Comedies: 9302
Anime Dramas: 452
Anime Fantasy: 11146
Anime Features: 3063
Anime Horror: 10695
Anime Sci-Fi: 2729
Anime Series: 6721
Art House Movies: 29764
Asian Action Movies: 77232
Australian Movies: 5230

(more…)

The Canadian Press has reported that the minimum wage in B.C. will be increased by 50 cents per hour this September, raising the hourly rate to $11.35 from it’s September 2016 adjustment of $10.85.

While increasing the minimum wage is a move that is usually celebrated, it appears that this adjustment will still leave some of B.C.’s workers living below the poverty line.

During last year’s increase, Irene Lanzinger, the president of the B.C. Federation of Labour,  explained that the increase to $10.85/hour would still leave 500,000 workers earning below $15 an hour, which is still poverty level wages.

In addition to the overall minimum wage hike, the ministry of B.C. has also said that there will be an increase of 50 cents to liquor serving jobs, putting their hourly earning at $10.10 an hour.

There are still more details to come about other industries and how their minimum earnings will be affected by the changing hourly wage, including seasonal workers, caretakers, and camp leaders.

By comparison, B.C.’s minimum wage increase will make it the third highest minimum wage in the country; Alberta’s is currently the highest.

• Alberta: $13.60 (effective Oct. 2017)
• B.C.: $11.35 (effective September 2017)
• Manitoba: $11 (effective 2016)
• New Brunswick: $11 (effective April 2017)
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $11 (effective Oct. 2017)
• Northwest Territories: $12.50 (effective 2016)
• Nova Scotia: $10.70 (effective April 2016)
• Nunavut: $13 (effective 2016)
• Ontario: $11.40 (effective Oct. 2016)
• P.E.I.: $11 (effective Oct. 2016)
• Quebec: $11.25 (effective May 2017)
• Saskatchewan: $10.72 (effective 2016)
• Yukon: $11.07 (effective April 2016)

Click here to learn more about the minimum wage across the country, or here to learn more about B.C.’s wage increase.

Value Village Canada has a new great one day sale! Save 50% off clothing, shoes, accessories, bed & bath and much more! Not valid on red tags.

This Value Village sale is valid in-store Sunday, March 5, 2017 for Club Members (pre-sale) and valid Monday, March 6, 2017 for all customers in Canada only.

Click here for more details about Value Village Canada sale

Who hasn’t looked at an old photo and thought “wow, I looked much younger!” Well, Clarisonic Canada has a new device that could help! The NEW Smart Profile Uplift Device target the signs of aging with its 2-in-1 cleansing and micro-firming face massage device Uplift signs of aging on your face, neck and décolleté. Smart Profile Uplift Device costs $429 and delivers skin changing sonic cleansing plus next-level micro-firming massage. Click here for further information on this new device.

Clarisonic offers FREE shipping on every order of $70+ and risk free 90-day money back guarantee.

Click here to shop at Clarisonic Canada!

The other day, we talked about how Subway Canada’s chicken was found by CBC Marketplace to be less than 50% chicken, and after allowing the dust to settle a bit from the investigation, Subway has decided to come out in a defence of their product.

After the story about Subway’s chicken being more soy than chicken reached worldwide recognition, Subway came out and asked that CBC retract the story, claiming in a report that it was “absolutely false and misleading.” CBC Marketplace has shot back and says that they completely stand by their findings, and have gone the lengths of even releasing the findings from their DNA analysis of Subway’s chicken.

Subway refused to comment to the CBC about their product, but sent an email to the news station listing the ingredients they use in their chicken sandwiches, which they still claim are made with 100 percent white chicken meat and seasonings. The ingredient list included:

• Chicken strips: Boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, water, soy protein concentrate, modified potato starch, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, salt, maltodextrin, yeast extract, flavours, spices, dextrose, onion powder, carmelized sugar, paprika, chicken broth, vinegar solids, paprika extract.
• Chicken patty: Chicken breast meat, water, seasoning (sea salt, sugar, chicken stock, salt, flavours, canola oil, onion powder, garlic powder, spice, chicken fat, honey), soy protein, sodium phosphates.

CBC has come out to clarify their results a bit more so that people understand when they say that Subway’s chicken was found to be 50 percent chicken, that does not indicate an exact ratio but more of a representation. When they asked experts from the University of Guelph about their findings they agreed that DNA results “cannot be taken as exact mass ratios in the product,” but the results are a good indicator of how much soy is in Subway’s chicken.

CBC Marketplace also did a video about tasting fast food chicken that you can check out here, and you can read the CBC’s original article that has garnered so much attention here.

Toys R Us Canada has a great FREE Family Events in March each Saturday including fun make and takes, product demos, giveaways and more.

Visit your local Toys“R”Us store to take part in the exciting promotions and activities your kids will love. All events are offered In-store only. While quantities last. Giveaways and make and takes are limit to one per child. Events recommended for children ages 5 years and up.

Today: Saturday, March 4, 2017  from 11am – 1pm

• Imports Dragon Giveaway, FREE giveaways from Imports Dragon! Choose from:
  • The Grossery Gang or
  • Shopkins Season 7 mystery foil bags.

Here’s the upcoming event every Saturday morning at 11am:

Saturday, March 11, 2017 from 11am – 1pm

• Mega Construx Halo Make And Take
• Build and take home a MEGA Construx HALO ship!

Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 11am – 1pm

• Beyblade Burst + Play Doh Demo & Crafts
• Kids test their skills and challenge other participants at our Beyblade battle for the burst event.

Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 11am – 1pm

• Beauty and The Beast Event Make and Take
• Kids can Build and take home a LEGO Mini Cogsworth and create and take home a Play-Doh Rose.

Click here to view the Toys R Us flyer.

Click here to get more information on this event.

Cineplex Canada has released their new schedule. The Cineplex Canada Family Favourites Movies include:

• Today, Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 11am the film Nine Lives, Comedy, Family, is the Family Favourites for $2.99 (1h 27m).

Here’s the upcoming movie every Saturday morning at 11am for Cineplex Family Favourites at $2.99 each:

March, 2017:

• Saturday, March 11, 2017: Kubo and the Two Strings. Animation, Family. 1h 41m
• Saturday, March 18 2017: The Wizard of Oz. Family, Fantasy. 1h 42m
• Saturday, March 25, 2017: Space Jam. Comedy, Animation, Adventure, Family, Classic. 1h 28m

Click here to see a list of Cineplex participates in the Family Favourites event.

Click here to get tickets from Cineplex online

Udemy Canada has a new deal starting today! Now you can get all online courses for only US$15. Use the promo code GAMER15 online to get this deal.

Udemy is an online learning marketplace, where over 15 million students are taking courses in everything from programming to nutrition to languages – and much more! There are over 45,000 courses and each one is taught by an expert instructor, and every course is available on-demand, so you can learn at your own pace, on your own time, and on any device.

Click here to start a new course at Udemy Canada!

Bad news for all Costco Canada shoppers! Costco Canada (and Costco USA) will be increasing its annual fees. Starting June 1st, 2017. Costco Membership fees will change as follows:

• Costco Canada Gold Star Membership: $60 (up from $55).
• Costco Canada Executive Membership: $120 (up from $110).

Last time the fees were increased was in 2011 and hence this Costco membership fee increase was inevitable.  Costco has over 87 million members who collectively paid more than $2.6 billion US in 2016 for the right to shop at the Costco stores. This is surprisingly more than the company made in profits last year!

Costco has been growing steadily year to year and has become the second largest brick and mortar retailer in the world behind Walmart. The only demographic where Costco performs poorly is amongst millennials who prefer online shopping and click-and-collect options.

How do you feel about these Costco fee increases? Will you still continue to shop there?

I know outside it still has the chill of winter, but before you know it, restaurants will be opening up their patios for the season and you’ll be itching to get off work early on Friday afternoons to hit the beach. And to ring in the soon-t0-be changing seasons, Coca-Cola Canada will be launching a ready-to-drink tea for their Canadian customers, Gold Peak Tea.

Gold Peak Tea is going to be joining forces with Canadian Nestea to make a bigger mark on the Canadian ready-to-drink tea market. In launching Gold Peak in Canada, they will be offering three great varieties: lemon, raspberry, or unsweetened. Gold peak is going to be sold across Canada in grocery stores as 1.75L carafes or 547mL bottles.

They’re going to be running promos to advertise the new product throughout the season, so I suggest you keep an eye on Coca-Cola Canada’s Twitter and Facebook page to see what they’re offering up.

Click here to learn more about Gold Peak Tea from Coca-Cola Canada.

Guess what’s back? Hot Cross Buns!

Hot Cross Buns are back and baked fresh daily at your local COBS Bread. COBS bakery is hosting their Hot Cross Fun Day Event this Saturday, March 4, 2017! Head to your local bakery on March 4th for Hot Cross Bun tastings, kid-friendly activities and family fun!

COBS Bread have three delicious varieties from Hot Cross Bun baked fresh from scratch daily on-site at each bakery. Try all three this spring: Traditional Fruit, Cranberry Orange, or Chocolate Chip. The Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Bun has more than 100 chocolate chips per bun.

Click here to find a COBS Bread Canada near you.

The Home Depot Canada has a new list of workshops that are going on March, 2017! The Home Depot Canada March, 2017 FREE workshop include:

• March 2017:
  • Build a Rain Gauge, Saturday, March 11, 2017 – 10:00 AM to noon
  • Install Moulding and Trim, Wednesday, March 15, 2017 – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  • Install Laminate Flooring, Saturday, March 18, 2017 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

To book your slot at a workshop, contact your local Home Depot location.

Click here to read more about these workshops at The Home Depot Canada.

Click here to get all Home Depot Canada online offers.

In a bold move, the president of Sunrise Records, Doug Putman, announced that the Ontario-based music chain would be taking over 70 vacant lots left empty by the soon-to-be liquidated Canadian music retailer giant, HMV.

Putman says that he plans to take ownership of the retail locations, which are based in malls and across the country, in the springtime after HMV has officially pulled out and pulled down their signs.

Putman told the Canadian Press in an interview that he sees this as “a good opportunity for us to get a lot more stores open.” Despite the fact that online streaming services has risen to 22 billion streams in the past year (up 203%), Putman says that consumers still have a soft spot for having a ‘physical’ piece of the music to hold onto.

“Vinyl will definitely be front-of-store,” he was quoted saying in an interview to CBC. The stores will also continue to sell CDs, apparel and other forms of music paraphernalia.

HMV officially closed down operations in January after trying to make a business work that was said in court filings to be losing $100,000 a day.

But these numbers haven’t stalled Sunrise Records president’s faultless optimism. In fact, the company has plans on reaching out to the thousands of HMV employees who have been left unemployed after the company decided to shut down operations of all 102 stores.

Air conditioning this summer is about to get a little cheaper if you live in Ontario.  This morning, the Premier announced that they are refinancing building and upgrading of power plants along with some of the other costs that attached to our bills.  Admitting that hydro bills are too high for many Ontario residents, there will be an average reduction of 17% on most bills starting with June usage – just in time for those summer cooling bills!  This is on top of the recent savings of 8% by cutting the provincial portion of taxes on bills.

While many bills have arrived with small discounts, the tax reduction only included actual usage and not just billing from January 1st so bills arriving this month should see the full discount.  With most electricity providers moving to monthly billing this Spring as required by the recent decisions on hydro rates, we should start seeing the full 25% discount on bills in July.

It will probably cost us more in the long term, refinancing means it needs to be paid back at some point but for those struggling to pay their bills, it may be a welcome break.  Officials say the maximum amount of interest per year would be $1.4 billion, with those interest costs to be paid by hydro customers in future years – so don’t get used to the discount, it may disappear after the next election!