Paul Lioukras, AMP

With innovative and fresh approaches to create more affordable rental housing in the country, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, announced the winners of the Innovation Fund Student Challenge. Three teams have been selected as winners earning the full award of $10,000: The Beaver York University Compact Homes: Innovative Solutions Solving the Affordability Challenge Queens University The Jetty: An Affordable Housing Cooperative Dalhousie University The Beaver York University Michael Kenny, Bria Hamilton, Allison Evans, Helen Lam, Jane Bae The Beaver Co-op is a proposed 12-story affordable rental apartment building that incorporates an innovative building technique and cost-saving measure through the use of mass timber construction in affordable housing, which is still relatively new to the sector. Passive design and green technology are incorporated to minimize waste and energy usage. The financial innovation stems from the multi-stakeholder community development approach that aims to generate financial support via community bonds, union pension funds, and credit unions. Compact Homes: Innovative Solutions Solving the Affordability Challenge Queens University Lindsay Allman, Andrew Eberhard, Gabrielle Snow, Peter Huan The Compact Homes project proposes an innovative Tiny Home Community that seeks to leverage existing programs and lands to produce single occupant, rent geared to income units, and can be constructed to meet stringent accessibility and environmental efficiency requirements. The Jetty: An Affordable Housing Cooperative Dalhousie University Juniper Littlefield, Mitch Gold, Lina El-Setouhy, Chloe Espiard The Jetty Affordable Housing project proposes a housing cooperative operated in partnership with local post-secondary institutions, targeting the student population with recycled shipping container apartments, as well as providing additional housing for seniors, singles and families. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/media-newsroom/news-releases/2018/student-challenge-winners-bring-innovative-ideas-creating-affordable-rental-housing-canada

(NC) From turkey prep to the table settings, Thanksgiving can be a big undertaking for even the most experienced entertainer. To the rescue is lifestyle expert Pay Chen, who shares her tips on making holiday entertaining a breeze. Create a schedule. With multiple dishes to prep and heat, its easy to lose track of time. Use a schedule to ensure that youre staying on track. Start at the meal itself and work backwards. And dont forget that you want to give the turkey time to rest and be carved, so have the cooked turkey out of the oven an hour before you want everyone to sit down and eat. Set the table early in the week. Time flies on the big day and setting the table can sometimes be an afterthought. But according to Chen, the table sets the ambiance for the evening. Since theres nothing time-sensitive about table setting, she suggests getting everything prepped and polished a few days in advance and letting it sit ready until guests arrive. Bonus? Youll spot any unforeseen stains in your linens with plenty of time to have them cleaned. Outsource dessert.The less time you spend in the kitchen, the more time you have to be with your family, says Chen. If youre strapped for time, dont be afraid to look for simple, pre-made solutions. Store-bought doesnt have to mean a compromise in quality. For example, theres a new collection of fresh-from-frozen treats from Chudleighs, an Ontario apple farm. Their scratch-made, single-serve Apple Blossoms can be reheated in the oven or microwave in minutes. Finish the plate with a small scoop of ice cream and enjoy some well-deserved rest at the end of the meal. Embrace the kids table. Thanksgiving is about bringing family together, but it doesnt have to be about wrangling squirming kids into place for a long meal. A kids table is a welcome way to keep little ones entertained throughout dinner. Cover the surface of a small table with kraft paper and set out crayons for kids to draw or play tic-tac-toe, says Chen. The best part? Clean-up is a cinch. Prep for leftovers. Many people consider leftovers the best part of the meal, but not if youre not prepared for them. Chen suggests cleaning out your fridge a few days before to free up space. And dont be afraid to share the wealth. Pick up a cheap and cheerful set of Tupperware that you can use to send leftovers home with your guests. A parting gift of turkey and mashed potatoes? Thats something everyone will be thankful for. Find more information online at chudleighs.com. http://www.newscanada.com/en/Tips-and-tricks-for-a-trouble-free-Thanksgiving-92950