By Deborah Wolfe, World Vision

As immigrants to Canada, my brother and I learned a lot about our new country through retail catalogues. I remember our first Christmas so clearly. In the bright pages of the Sears Christmas Wishbook, every child had a present, no matter what the colour of their skin.

By Deborah Wolfe, World Vision

A poll for World Vision Canada indicates that 63 per cent of Canadians plan on giving to charity this holiday season. But many also want to buy gifts for loved ones. Learn how you can do both at the same time -- even with limited funds.

Anita Colley of LaSalle, Ontario, is a retiree living on a fixed budget. And she's no stranger to need.

Whether as a present for a loved one or a personal indulgence over Boxing Week, electronics are always a popular gift during the holiday season. Sometimes all the hype about new features and tech advances can distract us from thinking about what to do with the gadgets hiding in our basements, closets and drawers.

By Britt Hamilton

Do you find your creativity flows when you're stuck in traffic? After hearing Bob and Doug McKenzie's Twelve Days of Christmas on the radio last week, I challenged myself to come up with a "charity version" by the time I reached the off-ramp...

Showing your loved ones that you care by making a charitable gift in their name resonates with the true holiday spirit of giving. It also ensures your gifts won't be returned, left unused, or re-gifted. But with so many options to choose from, where do you start your search for the right charity?

While the incidence of fire increases during the holiday season due to greater use of natural Christmas trees, decorations and electric lighting, Canadians are taking further risks as more than 29 per cent of homeowners admit they don't have a fire extinguisher in their home, according to an RBC Insurance survey.

TORONTO (November 16, 2012) - The 2012 edition of The GATE's Holiday Gift Guide series launched today, and as is tradition, The GATE kicked it all off with some suggestions for charities you and your family can support.

This year, The GATE selected Plan Canada as our feature charity, and purchased the motorcycle ambulance gift from their Gifts of Hope program.

Tired of the same ill-fitting gifts? The busy malls and the race for that last parking spot? Want your gifts to stand out this year? Then leave the mall behind and give a gift from the heart. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

[ALT: Spring Heating Up at Blue Mountain Village]

April 30th, 2012 --- While many of us are still wondering what happened to winter, Blue Mountain Village has got Spring in full bloom with a diverse slate of events to take you from Victoria Day straight through to Canada Day.

May Long Weekend & Fireworks
May 19-21
Kick off the season with the official patio-opening long weekend. Enjoy family fun each day with free face painting, scavenger hunts, live music and guided hikes. PLUS Saturday night fireworks!

Tax season is something few of us look forward to. The time and "math" are not ideal -- but something we all look forward to is the refund.

One way to ease the pain of tax season and start focusing on planning for what to do with your refund is by filing taxes online, using a quality tax software program and NETFILE. Math skills are not required, the cost is minimal and many Canadians are even eligible to file for free.

Here are 3 tax tips to make your life as easy and rich as possible: