Michele Sponagle

Toronto businessman’s support ensures top-notch children’s care for generations to come
At age 4, Gerry Bloch was diagnosed with a congenital heart murmur by doctors at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); then at age 6, they reset his broken arm. It was the beginning of a meaningful and multigenerational relationship between Bloch, his family and this world-renowned institution.
Fast forward almost 70 years and Bloch, a successful Toronto businessman, feels fortunate to have had excell...

Although office vacancy rates in Canada rose to an all-time high of 17.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022 – according a report from CBRE Group – commercial real estate insiders are optimistic the office market will rebalance, as lease options become more flexible, subleases from new sectors increase and more people return to the office.
The report shows that currently, there is an estimated 195,000 square metres of space sitting empty, waiting for tenants.
“We’re seeing people returning...

A shortage of tradespeople in Canada’s construction industry continues to worsen in major urban centres from coast to coast. Developers are looking at cancelling projects, costly delays and new tactics to secure a reliable supply of skilled workers.
Rob Ramsay, executive vice-president and national lead project and development services at JLL Canada, says the shortage is affecting “a heated construction market.”
“It further reduces supply, causing incrementally higher contractor pricing,” he ...

Content management for Vacations magazine, fall 2022 issue, published by Ensemble Travel.

In June 1981, the very first cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported in the United States. What followed over the last four decades has been filled with heartache and hope. Today, people with HIV can live dynamic lives because of the great advancements in treatment and prevention.

Attracted by opportunities for advancement, diversity and inclusion, Canadians are discovering the growing insurance sector’s ample opportunities
Have you thought about a career in insurance? And no, it’s not a punchline to a joke. The insurance sector has an abundance of excellent job opportunities available to Canadians. But unfortunately, some have outdated ideas about the industry. They may believe it’s boring and one-dimensional. Times have changed.

The buzzword of the last two years was “pivot.” For 2022, it is “metaverse,” often seen in news headlines. Though some feel the metaverse is primarily about virtual reality (VR) headsets and augmented reality eyewear, it goes beyond that. It marks a major shift in the way that technology will impact how we connect, create, think and look after our health. Older adults are ready to reap the benefits of the metaverse.

Freda Labianca was no stranger to the challenges of diabetes. She watched family members struggle with the disease throughout her life. But when the busy mother of two and blogger from Hamilton, ON was diagnosed with it herself 11 years ago, it still came as a shock. She was just 32 years old.

Fall fun in Ontario should include a good corn maze. We’re all ears when it comes to finding ones that pose a challenge and include other activities in the mix. Check out these corny picks—truly outstanding in their field throughout the province.

Potato chips and other salty snacks continue to be the go-to nibbles for Canadians, but will supply issues and rising costs ruin the fun?
Given the choice between salty or sweet snacks, salty ones continue to rule. According to Statista data, they are the most popular type of snack food in Canada, with annual sales hitting more than $2.53 billion, based on the 52-week period ending July 2021. When Loblaws and Frito-Lay went to war over pricing and stock in the grocer’s snack aisles dwindled i...

When you want to take the plunge with an underwater adventure, Canada has plenty of diving experiences to offer, from encounters with aquatic wildlife in the north to clear lakes dotted with historic shipwrecks.
Around Baffin Island, scuba divers and snorkellers are transported into an underwater world where they can join seals, whales and narwhals in clear, cold waters and explore the sculptural contours of ancient icebergs.
It’s a magical place that is often under the radar, but not for Gra...

Canada's love affair with cheese shows no sign of waning. Over a 10-year period (2010 to 2020), consumption increased by 15% with the average Canadian enjoying 12.5 kilograms per year—with gains in the last couple of years, according to Statista. Its data shows Canada sits in the fifth spot among cheese-nibbling nations. In 2022, unprocessed cheese sales in Canada are expected to hit US $3,38 million, and processed cheese sales will earn another US $801 million, with several factors driving m...

Canada is home to an estimated 80,000 species of animals, from jellyfish to caribou, and there’s no shortage of ways to experience wildlife spotting – whether you’re hiking through Jasper National Park or heading out by boat to view Newfoundland’s population of cute-as-a-button puffins.
Most people are familiar with the concept of going on safari, but it’s typically associated with destinations in Africa where travellers seek the Big Five (black rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and African buff...

Reports of a “retail apocalypse” don’t tell the whole story about what’s happening in Canadian shopping malls. The truth is more complex, with wins and losses leading to a revolution in retail.
Malls were already feeling the pressure before the pandemic. Foot traffic among Canada’s top shopping complexes was down 22 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018, according to Deloitte’s report, The Future of the Mall. Developers and owners were already aware that changes were necessary as more Canadians b...

The charcuterie trend—particularly, the artfully arranged boards featuring a mixed variety of high-quality snackable meats and cheeses—has been growing since 2017, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed that growth into the stratosphere, as working from home turned many consumers into grazers. Peaking at an 80% volume increase in the second quarter of 2020, pre-packed charcuterie is now up 40% over 2019 in the United States, according to IRI POS Syndicated Data.

“Several trends in food culture are ...