I’m adding edge-to-edge UI support in Redwood. My code asks the host platform how much of the screen is consumed by system bars and notches and things, and it returns us a measurement like ‘40 pixels at the top + 10 pixels at the bottom’.

The iOS code to handle this is simple:

class RedwoodUIView : UIStackView(cValue { CGRectZero }) {
  init {
    this.setInsetsLayoutMarginsFromSafeArea(false) // Handle insets manually.
  }

  override fun safeAreaInsetsDidChange() {
    super.safeAreaInsetsDidChange()
    handleNewInsets(safeAreaInsets)
  }
  
  private fun handleNewInsets(safeAreaInsets: CValue<UIEdgeInsets>) {
    ...
  }
}

But writing the test was difficult. It took me two days to figure this out.

  @Test
  fun testSafeArea() {
    val redwoodUIView = RedwoodUIView()
    val viewController = object : UIViewController(null, null) {
      override fun loadView() {
        view = redwoodUIView
      }
    }

    val window = UIWindow(
      CGRectMake(0.0, 0.0, 390.0, 844.0), // iPhone 14.
    )
    window.setHidden(false) // Necessary to propagate additionalSafeAreaInsets.
    window.rootViewController = viewController

    viewController.additionalSafeAreaInsets =
      UIEdgeInsetsMake(10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0)
  }

To populate safeAreaInsets on a UIView:

• The UIView must be in a UIViewController. There isn’t a direct way to manipulate its safeAreaInsets.
• That ViewController must also be in a visible UIWindow. The UIViewController won’t propagate insets unless it’s in a view hierarchy with a visible window.

I spent so long trying and failing to get it working with a standalone UIViewController. That was so frustrating! Eventually I found this StackOverflow sample that happened to have a UIWindow, and I tried that and it worked.

func test_presentationOfViewController() {
  let window = UIWindow(frame: CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 300, height: 300))
  window.rootViewController = sut
  window.makeKeyAndVisible()

  ...
}

Well, it kind of worked. It worked locally. But when I pushed my test to run on GitHub actions, it failed hard:

:sample:iosSimulatorArm64Test: Test running process exited unexpectedly.
Current test: testSafeArea
Process output:
  Child process terminated with signal 5: Trace/BPT trap

What the heck is a Trace/BPT trap?! I couldn’t find more details on what broke.

With more grinding and experimentation I found that my tests pass on CI once I replaced window.makeKeyAndVisible() with window.setHidden(false).

The whole exercise reminds me that I value testability, and that the iOS platform engineers... don’t.

A colleague who knows iOS better than I do read this post and shared a simpler solution. Override the superview’s safeAreaInsets() function and request a layout:

  class InsetsContainer : UIView(cValue { CGRectZero }) {
    var subviewSafeAreaInsets = cValue { UIEdgeInsetsZero }
      set(value) {
        field = value
        setNeedsLayout()
        layoutIfNeeded()
      }

    override fun safeAreaInsets() = subviewSafeAreaInsets
  }

  @Test
  fun testSafeArea() {
    val insetsContainer = InsetsContainer()
    val redwoodUIView = RedwoodUIView()
    insetsContainer.addSubview(redwoodUIView)

    insetsContainer.subviewSafeAreaInsets =
      UIEdgeInsetsMake(10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0)
  }

Yay!

Are there any guarantees of future prosecution? I would say no there aren't.  The thing is politics which runs everything including our justice system one way or the other (just look at the U.S. Supreme Court with Donald Trump's idiot appointments) .  Don't fret we too in Canada are stupid enough to let politicians make judicial appointments and we wonder why we get occasional idiots behind the bench (think Robert Reilly).  Just to be specific yes I am talking about corruption prosecution in regards to the gross failure of the public interest being first and foremost in the decision making of our municipal, regional and provincial politicians surrounding the non-cleanup of our Elmira/Woolwich ground and surface water in addition to of the downstream Canagagigue Creek. Is it possible that at some point in the future there will be the political will to bring these corruption charges?

The last two days I've been discussing a letter sent to Tiffany Svensson (TRAC) from Luis Almeida (GHD) ostensibly answering five questions that TRAC have. Now as much as I have criticized TRAC for being too deferential and refusing to step up and verbally lay down some rules of engagement such as less lying from Lanxess and friends; I will say this. They are not totally oblivious to some of the issues being swept under the rug. Often times they will express concerns (as Sebastian has) and some times they will follow up. Unfortunately they have never drawn a line in the sand hence Lanxess, MECP and GHD have no respect for them.

Monday's Blog Post here went to TRAC plus some Woolwich Council members. Yesterday's Post went to TRAC, Woolwich Council and Waterloo Region Council. I didn't bother sending anything this time to the K-W Record or to the Woolwich Observer. I expect that today I will be looking at Luis Almeida's response to TRAC's  Question #4 which is about DNAPLS . Whether I continue with the other questions is unlikely as I still have to comment on last week's allegedly public TRAC meeting. 

So called professional consultants (GHD) only write such drivel and nonsense when they are assured that serious and knowledgeable critics are not allowed the opportunity to straightforwardly address their inaccuracies.

Nov. 19/24

FURTHER COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS REGARDING LUIS ALMEIDA'S SOMEWHAT HOPELESS NOV. 14/24 LETTER TO TIFFANY SVENSSON

In TRAC Question 1, TRAC requested topography information and flow path info for historic waste management units. The first effort by GHD was pathetic whereas the second was mostly non-existent. Let me advise Luis thusly: Good ground surface contour lines, i.e. topographical information is required to confirm/prove flow paths of rainfall, liquid toxic wastes etc. These topographical lines show the flow direction via gravity flow. Your provided map is crap! It fails to show all the east boundary/border topographical lines i.e. from north to south along the property line/border. You have focused on contour lines only at the south end of the site despite leakage and migration from the most northern pit (RPE-1) plus all the rest (RPE-2-5) based on Region of Waterloo and GRCA topographical maps which you have used in your past reports. Secondly some of your contour lines are not identified by elevation and others have soil sampling locations inconveniently placed on top of contour elevation numbers making them illegible. Finally of the contour lines I can read not all match the ones that I used several years ago from your published maps labelled as Region of Waterloo or GRCA sourced.

Luis suggested that there was a ditch or swale on the west side of the pits parallel to the Creek. While I don't dispute that some of the overflow, spillage etc. from the east side pits may well have found it's way into that ditch/swale unfortunately you have not indicated where that miraculous and helpful ditch/ swale starts or stops. Also just because liquid wastes are overflowing from all five east side pits doesn't mean that it all flowed out of the west side of the pits and found your ditch/swale. These five pits were partially in ground and partially above ground by your own maps and figures. Liquid contents overflowed in all directions including onto the Stroh farm. Contour lines indicate that the pits were higher than the Stroh property the length of the property line and liquids would flow eastwards not just westwards. Finally your wonderful ditch/swale did NOT run directly into either GP-1 or GP-2. It ended north of the two gravel pits at the swampy area that already had standing water/liquids in it. From there any flow in the west side ditch/swale spread out and again gravity flowed via ground surface contours south-east through the so called ”Gap” area and onto the Stroh farm where it met other migrating liquids that had flowed almost due south on the Stroh property. The 1983 Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm (SDDB) was built for two purposes namely to drain the swampy area on both properties and secondly the Berm was to weaken the force of the flooding Canagagigue Creek which had been eroding contaminated soils from a very low lying area slightly further east on the Stroh property where much of the migrating toxic liquid wastes settled.

Luis keeps referring to the Gap area as topographically high. Ridiculous! The name “Gap area” refers to Chemtura/Lanxess intentionally failing to take soil samples in 2015 at the LOW LYING former swampy area immediately north of where the north-west to south-east diagonal ridge of high ground sits. Then when soil samples were actually heaven forbid taken on the Stroh farm at an amazing depth of 15 cm. or 5.9 inches in 2018, the 2015 stupidity (?) of taking soil samples on the entire perimeter of the Uniroyal/Lanxess east side property EXCEPT for the one low lying area that many of us toured, saw and walked on in 2019 was rectified via the addition of SS20 and SS21. Now of course even then Lanxess had to play games by including parts of the high ground at the southern end of SS20 leading to the high ridge of ground. Hence “the GAP” is merely a 2015 sampling gap and failure of Uniroyal/Lanxess that Luis and others have appropriated in an attempt to undermine finding higher concentrations of dioxins and DDT compounds by intentionally sampling the high ground exactly where everybody knows flowing liquids would not have travelled over.

By the way aerial photography actually did expose part of the flow path from the Uniroyal property to the Stroh property . It was both the 1955 and 1968 maps in a March 2012 CRA Report regarding the Gravel Pits that showed an arc if you will of bare ground running through the LOW LYING GAP from Uniroyal over to the Stroh property exactly where the SDDB was later built to join up with Martin Creek and then the Canagagigue Creek. I notice that Luis failed to mention the 1968 aerial map which a generous person would not call an intentional lie. My generosity however failed me after about the 137th lie from Uniroyal/CRA or wait a minute was it the 371st lie? This is another advantage of delay. Memories tend to weaken. Good news however Luis did mention a 1955 map which however like the rest he mentioned was not shown.

Luis really is confused. He claims that soil sampling locations S-17 (02) and SS09-15 are within the Gap area. They are not! Also he claims that previously mentioned SS20 is within the Gap area when only the most northern part of that specific area is. Furthermore his Table 1 shows a TEQ (i.e. Total dioxins) criteria of 99 pg/g or parts per trillion (ppt.). Now it turns out that this TEQ criteria is based upon MECP Table 2 criteria whereas most of the time we use MECP Table 8 criteria. I checked the 2017 and 2020 Canagagigue Creek Soil and Sediment reports and indeed Table 8 was used likely due to the samples being taken within 30 m. of surface water. Perhaps Luis would like to amend his criteria for soil samples taken within 30 m. of the Stroh Drain, Ditch & Berm (SDDB). When it comes to the soil samples along the Uniroyal eastern property line they all appear to be based upon Table 2 criteria which is likely O.K. for the further north soil samples but not appropriate for soil samples taken just across the property line from the constantly flowing SDDB.

One other small problem for Luis is that he's gotten his soil units wrong. DDT compounds (i.e. DDD & DDE as well) have always been in units of micrograms per gram or parts per million. He's got them in his personal Table 2 as picograms per gram which is parts per trillion. This basically is saying that all the DDT compounds are one million times smaller than they actually are by CRA/GHD earlier reports.

Again Luis somewhat oddly is claiming that the former gravel pit investigation included the Gap area. Well if he persists in believing that the high ground at the south end of SS20 is part of the GAP area (it isn't) then maybe he might also want to claim that Uniroyal Chemical contamination did not leak off-site because Uniroyal secretly bought the Stroh farm fifty years ago. See where I'm going with this? Professional have an answer for everything. Oh and just to upset Luis a tad more the “...surface water drainage area located at 6670 Line #86” is both a surface water drain as well as a groundwater drain. The groundwater is upgradient on the Uniroyal/Lanxess site and is somewhat diverted by the below ground surface SDDB (P.S. It's deeper than it looks and intersects shallow groundwater!)

Luis also talks about an independent Elmira community member who collected soil/sediment samples. That also is in error. There were two Elmira community members of which you know both and of which I am but one. Is Luis taking a shot here at SSA by inferring that he isn't independent or did he not know? Secondly we did not collect soil /sediment samples we collected soil samples properly, logged them, and sent them for analysis. I have seen other GHD reports claiming that our samples were soil/sediment which certainly is no more bizarre than so much of what they claim. I wonder why however they would not simply have asked the question? Ah yes I forget. I'm on mayor Sandy's, Lanxess, MECP naughty list. It really is unconscionable for any commoners without certified brown nosing credentials (i.e. cleared by Sandy, MECP, Lanxess) to offer opinions contrary to those bought and paid for by our world class polluters.

Moving along in increasingly better humour I must also add that of the lowly, miserable and cheap, minimal sediment sampling in the SDDB two hits stand out. DDD was significantly above the Table 8 health criteria and dioxin TEQ was found at a concentration of 24.4 parts per trillion (ppt) with a Table 8 (within 30 m. of surface water) criteria of .85 ppt. That is about 36 times higher than the criteria yet all the Queen's's men and all the Queen's horses couldn't get their crap together and decide that an honest, full investigation was required. Afterall you could still upgrade three roads on the west side of Elmira for a truck bypass while cleaning up the Stroh and Martin contamination on the east side.

You know there are still four more questions ahead of us but as a senior, senior citizen I'm getting ready for my nap. Congratulations to all the dishonest and corrupt parties over the decades who have stalled and delayed so successfully for so long. Some of the original citizen critics such as Esther Thur and Pat Potter are dead and others are suffering the ravages of time. Continue to keep me from speaking on an equal basis with others so far less knowledgable and competent and soon I too will be no longer capable.

Alan Marshall Elmira Environmental Hazards Team plus numerous others still vertical

When facing overwhelming debt payments, mounting pressure from debt collectors, or struggling with high-interest credit cards and loans, many Canadians consider using their RRSP savings to pay down debt. While using retirement savings to clear debt might seem like a straightforward solution, it’s crucial to understand both the immediate and long-term implications of this decision.

While you can use your RRSP to pay down debt, it’s often an expensive solution that could leave you worse off financially. Here are the consequences you need to understand:

The government requires banks to hold back a portion of your RRSP withdrawal:

• 10% on amounts up to $5,000
• 20% on amounts between $5,001 and $15,000
• 30% on amounts over $15,000

This means you’ll get much less than you expect. For instance, if you withdraw $10,000, you’ll only receive $8,000 in hand.

Your withdrawal gets added to your annual taxable income. If you’re working, this could push you into a higher tax bracket. Depending on your tax rate, you might end up owing an additional 20-30% in taxes when you file your tax return, on top of what was already withheld.

Taking money out of your RRSP means losing years of interest income and tax-free investment growth. A $10,000 withdrawal today could cost you $30,000 or more in retirement savings, depending on your investment returns and years until retirement.

When you withdraw from your RRSP, you permanently lose that RRSP contribution room. Unlike a Tax-Free Savings Account, you won’t be able to replace these funds in the future, limiting your ability to rebuild your retirement savings.

Your RRSP is protected in a bankruptcy. In a consumer proposal, you keep all assets, including retirement savings. If you cash out your RRSP and then need debt relief later, you’ll have lost this protection unnecessarily. Many people drain their RRSPs only to find out they could have kept their retirement savings intact while still dealing with their debt.

Instead of immediately using your RRSP, consider these alternate solutions:

If you have savings in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or regular savings account, consider using these funds before touching your RRSP. TFSA withdrawals don’t trigger any tax penalties, and the contribution room is restored the following year, so you can rebuild your TFSA when your finances improve. This makes them a much better option than using your RRSP.

By combining multiple debts into a single loan with a lower interest rate, you can reduce your monthly payments and pay less interest overall. This might be through a debt consolidation loan, a low-interest balance transfer credit card, or, if you own a home, a home equity line of credit.

Both consumer proposals and bankruptcy offer legal protection for your RRSP. A consumer proposal can reduce your debt by up to 80% while letting you keep all your assets. If you’re facing overwhelming debt, bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts, including credit card debt, payday loans and even tax debts. Both options stop collection calls immediately and give you a clear path to becoming debt-free while protecting your retirement savings.

If your debts feel overwhelming and you’re considering using your RRSP as a last resort, speak with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee first. They can show you how to keep your retirement savings intact while still dealing with your debt. The consultation is free, and you’ll get expert advice about immediate steps you can take to stop collection calls and protect your financial future.

Book a FREE consultation

The post Should I Use My RRSP to Pay Off Debt? appeared first on Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc..

You’re already aware of the incredible advancements that deep learning has brought to the field. Programming frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Caffe can save you a significant amount of time by simplifying the complexity of learning algorithms.

In this article, we will discuss the concepts and paradigms of machine learning, transitioning from rules-based coding to using data and labels to train a neural network to infer rules. we’ll learn what the machine learning paradigm is and how we use data and labels and have a computer infer the rules between them for us. We will look at a very simple example where it figured out the relationship between two sets of numbers.

Coding has been the backbone of development since the early days of computing. Traditionally, developers break down requirements into composable problems and then write code to solve them.

For example, if you’re developing a stock analytics application, you might write code to fetch values from a data source, perform calculations, and return the results.

Similarly, in game development, you define rules for the game such as “if the ball hits the brick, the brick should vanish and the ball should rebound.”

These rules are implemented in a programming language, with data sourced from local variables or databases.

In the traditional coding paradigm, the process can be visualized as:

• Input: Rules and Data
• Output: Answers

Machine learning fundamentally shifts this paradigm:

• Input: Answers and Data
• Output: Rules

Instead of developers writing the rules, machine learning leverages examples and lets the computer figure out the rules. This approach is particularly valuable for complex problems where defining the rules manually is impractical.

Consider an example of activity recognition. If you’re building a device to detect whether someone is walking, you might initially write code based on speed:

If the speed is within a specific range, classify it as walking. For running, you might adjust the speed threshold. However, this simplistic approach quickly breaks down with more complex activities like golfing.

Furthermore, speed alone is an unreliable metric since people walk and run at different speeds based on various factors.

With machine learning, we use labelled examples to teach the computer:

• Input: Examples with Labels (e.g., data showing walking, running, biking, golfing)
• Output: Rules inferred by the machine

This paradigm shift allows us to handle complex data patterns and variances, providing previously infeasible solutions.

The neural network, the workhorse of pattern recognition in machine learning, is at the heart of this new paradigm.

Neural networks are a more advanced implementation of machine learning, known as deep learning. Despite their complexity, coding neural networks can be surprisingly straightforward.

Let’s start by learning the basics of creating a neural network using TensorFlow. We’ll start with a simple “Hello World” example to demonstrate how everything fits together. Then, we’ll move on to more advanced applications, such as computer vision, all within just a few lines of code.

Now, it’s time to get hands-on and write the code. You don’t need a dedicated development environment for this; you can use Google Colaboratory or Colab. If you’re familiar with Jupyter Notebooks in Python, Colab will feel very familiar.

Colab is an online environment that runs in the browser, allowing you to run, edit, and inspect your Python code. It’s a fantastic tool for learning and experimenting with machine learning.

To illustrate how easy it is to get started, here’s a simple example:

import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np

# Create a simple dataset
X = np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0], dtype=float)
y = np.array([2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0], dtype=float)
# Define a simple neural network model
model = tf.keras.Sequential([
    tf.keras.layers.Dense(units=1, input_shape=[1])
])
# Compile the model
model.compile(optimizer='sgd', loss='mean_squared_error')
# Train the model
model.fit(X, y, epochs=500)
# Make a prediction
print(model.predict([10.0]))

1. Import Libraries:

import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np

This block imports TensorFlow and NumPy, essential libraries for creating and manipulating neural networks and arrays.

2. Define the Neural Network:

model = tf.keras.Sequential([
    tf.keras.layers.Dense(units=1, input_shape=[1])
])

This code defines a simple neural network with one layer, one neuron, and one input value.

3. Compile the Model:

model.compile(optimizer='sgd', loss='mean_squared_error')

The model is compiled using the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimizer and the mean squared error loss function. These help the neural network make guesses, measure performance, and improve over time.

4. Prepare the Data:

X = np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0], dtype=float)
y = np.array([2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0], dtype=float)

We define our dataset with known X and y values, which will be used to train the model.

5. Train the Model:

model.fit(X, y, epochs=500)

The model is trained for 500 epochs, where each epoch involves making a guess, evaluating performance, and adjusting based on the optimizer.

During training the neural network, it ‘learns’ the relationship between the x’s and y’s is in the model.fit() call.

This is where it will go through the loop: making a guess, measuring how good or bad it is (aka the loss), using the optimizer to make another guess etc. It will do it for the number of 500 epochs we specify.

6. Make Predictions:

print(model.predict([10.0]))

Finally, we use the trained model to predict the output for an input it hasn’t seen before. In this case, 10.0.

As the model trains, observe the loss value on the right-hand side. Initially, the loss is high, indicating poor guesses. However, as epochs progress, the loss decreases, signifying that the neural network is learning the pattern.

By the end of 500 epochs, the loss is minimal, showing that the model has closely figured out the relationship between X and y.

By the end of 500 epochs, the loss is minimal, showing that the model has closely figured out the relationship between X and y.

When we predict the output for 10.0, the model gives a value close to 19.0, demonstrating its learned relationship. We expect the result to be exactly 19, But it ended up being a little less.

The reason is that neural networks work with probabilities. So given the data that we provided, the model calculated that there is a very high probability that the relationship between x and y is y=2x-1, However, with only 6 data points, the model can't be 100% sure. That's why the prediction for x=10 is close to 19, but not exactly 19. sure.

As we work with neural networks, we will almost always be working with probabilities, not exact answer.

Happy coding!

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Deep Learning(Part 1): Building Your First Neural Network with TensorFlow was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What: Learning and Solidarity: A Dialogue on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
When: Noon to 1:00pm, Wednesday 20 November 2024.
Where: ♦Civic Hub Waterloo Region
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener (but use the Duke Street entrance). Map
Register: Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApduuuqzkjHNLN65C-tyc8RoVV6S-_kGvV
Contact: Dr. Ritika Shrimali (She/Her) civichub@waterlooregion.org

Join us for an afternoon of Learning and Solidarity: A Dialogue on Transgender Day of Remembrance at our next Civic Hub exchange lunch on November 20th.

Our guest speaker for that day is Milo Tia Hansen (they/them). They are a transgender, queer, disabled, advocate for solutions to homelessness, Indigenous sovereignty, and queer liberation, with lived experience and knowledge in activism of being homeless intergenerationally, extreme poverty, queerness, and disability.

Milo will talk about a few definitions and the history of the day (Starting 1999 honouring Rita Hester’s death in 1998), bring it into contemporary issues (current state of affairs in Canada, critical lens in regards to race) and why we need to continue commemorating those who have been lost to gendered violence. They also hope to share experiences they have had with losing loved ones to all kinds of violence in the wake of election results, considering our current political climate, as well as hold space for those lost in the last year. They will then open the floor to questions.

If you are planning to attend the lunch in person, or online, please register on Zoom for the event.

This is a hybrid event. Light meal provided.

♦

What: Vigil for the Trans Day of Remembrance 2024 ♦
When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Wednesday 20 November 2024
Where: Waterloo Public Square
Location: 75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario Map
Online: ourspectrum.com/2024/11/19/trans-day-of-remembrance-2024/

On November 20th from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Spectrum will be hosting a candlelight vigil at Waterloo Town Square (75 King St. S.), to honor transgender lives lost. This event is open to the public. Please read more about the event at SPECTRUM Trans Day of Remembrance 2024.

• 6:30 – Candle lighting / settling in the space
• 6:40 – Welcoming drum song / thanksgiving address from Willow River Centre
• 6:50 – Land Acknowledgement
• 6:55 – Introduction / moment of silence
• 7:00 – 8:00 – Main Speakers
• 8:00 – 8:25 – Open microphone for the public to honor their loved ones
• 8:25 – 8:30 – Closing / second moment of silence

Keep in mind this agenda is fluid, and depending on the length of speakers the evening may end earlier than 8:30 PM.

Personal bankruptcy in Canada is a legal process that eliminates overwhelming debt, and while it offers a fresh financial start, there are consequences to filing for bankruptcy in Canada. There may be an alternative to bankruptcy and a better debt relief option for your personal financial situation. In this article, we will explore what it means to file bankruptcy and compare this to other debt solutions.

Bankruptcy involves surrendering non-exempt assets and making monthly payments in exchange for eliminating most unsecured debts. In Canada, personal bankruptcy applies to individuals and small businesses, while business bankruptcy is reserved for incorporated companies.

Bankruptcy must be filed through a Licensed Insolvency Trustee in Canada, who oversees the process and ensures compliance with legal requirements.

One immediate benefit of bankruptcy is the automatic stay of proceedings, a legal protection that stops all creditor actions, including wage garnishments, collection calls, and lawsuits.

Bankruptcy deals with unsecured debts such as credit card debt, student loans, payday loans, and tax debt, but it does not cover secured debts like mortgages or car loans.

For a first-time filer with no surplus income requirements, personal bankruptcy typically lasts nine months. However, if your income exceeds the federal government’s threshold, the bankruptcy period extends to 21 months. For those with significant surplus income or at risk of losing valuable assets, a consumer proposal may be a preferable alternative.

The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act defines a second legal option available to individuals needing debt relief: a consumer proposal. Today, roughly 80% of all personal insolvency filings in Canada are a consumer proposal. It is now the #1 alternative to filing bankruptcy for Canadians struggling with debt. A consumer proposal offers a legal framework to reduce and restructure debt without declaring bankruptcy. Through this process, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee helps negotiate an agreement with creditors to repay a portion of your debt, often extending payments over a period of up to five years.

As a government debt relief solution under federal bankruptcy law, a consumer proposal provides the same creditor protection from legal action as bankruptcy.

Your proposal can reduce your debt while allowing you to keep your assets. To qualify, your total debts must be no more than $250,000 (excluding your mortgage).

Key Differences From Bankruptcy:

• Keep all assets under your control
• Fixed monthly payments with no surplus income requirements
• Maximum five-year repayment period
• Shorter credit impact (3 years after completion vs 6-7 years for bankruptcy)
• No requirement to report monthly income

In Canada, a consumer proposal often represents the most viable bankruptcy alternative. For those with debts exceeding $250,000, a Division I proposal provides similar benefits but with different voting rules and consequences if creditors reject the proposal. Your Licensed Insolvency Trustee can explain these differences and help determine which option best suits your situation.

In addition to formal insolvency proceedings, several options exist for managing overwhelming debt in Canada. Here are some other bankruptcy alternatives.

Book A Free Consultation

Debt consolidation combines multiple debts into one new debt consolidation loan, often at a lower interest rate. The result is a single monthly payment and sometimes faster debt repayment. Consolidation options include a consolidation loan from a bank or credit union or refinancing existing debts through a second mortgage or home equity line of credit. A debt consolidation loan can help individuals pay off their debts while avoiding the negative consequences of bankruptcy, such as damage to your credit score and potential loss of assets.

When considering debt consolidation, any potential lender will consider your credit score and current debt levels. You’ll need to qualify for a new loan at an interest rate low enough to make consolidation worthwhile. If you have a low credit score, you may be denied a consolidation loan, in which case a consumer proposal may be a good alternative to restructure your debt payments.

Key Differences From Bankruptcy:

• You maintain complete control over assets, although your assets may be at risk if put up as collateral for a secured consolidation loan
• Debt consolidation can be better for your credit than bankruptcy, but only if you pay down your balances.
• A significant drawback of a debt consolidation loan is that there is no debt reduction. In fact, continuing to use your credit cards to pay for living costs can result in more debt.

Consolidation works best when you have a steady income,  can repay your debt within 3-5 years, and your total debt payments don’t exceed about 40% of your take-home pay.

A debt management program is a structured repayment plan to help you repay your debts. You work with a non-profit credit counselling agency to negotiate lower interest rates and consolidate debts into one monthly payment. However, participation by creditors remains voluntary, and you’ll need to repay the full amount borrowed. Unlike Licensed Insolvency Trustees, credit counsellors cannot provide legal protection from creditors or reduce the principal amount you owe.

Key Differences From Bankruptcy:

• No legal protection from creditors, so a DMP can’t stop garnishments or lawsuits
• You must repay the full debt amount plus fees
• Creditor participation is voluntary, meaning some collection calls may continue
• There is no government oversight of the process
• Not all credit counsellors are accredited debt consultants

Credit counselling works best for individuals who can afford to repay their debts in full but need help with budgeting and interest rate relief. The most significant advantage lies in receiving professional guidance to develop better financial habits.

Debt settlement involves negotiating with creditors to accept less than the full amount owed, typically through a lump-sum payment. While this might sound appealing, private debt settlement carries significant risks and provides no legal protection during negotiations.

Consumer proposals offer a safer, legally binding alternative to private debt settlement. Both options can result in paying less than the full amount owed, but consumer proposals provide legal protection and guaranteed creditor participation once approved.

Key Differences From Bankruptcy:

• No automatic stay of proceedings
• You must negotiate with each individual creditor
• Informal debt settlement has a low success rate
• There is the potential for continued collection action
• You may still face legal action during the process

Warning signs of debt settlement scams include upfront fees, guarantees of debt reduction, and pressure to stop communicating with creditors. Always work with licensed professionals when seeking debt settlement arrangements.

Each debt solution affects your credit report differently. Any structured repayment plan or insolvency proceeding will affect your credit rating.

• Bankruptcy remains on your credit report for 6-7 years after discharge for a first bankruptcy.
• Consumer proposals show for 3 years after completion or six years from the start, whichever comes first.
• Credit counselling programs typically appear for 2-3 years after completion.
• Debt consolidation through traditional lending can actually help rebuild credit if payments are made on time. However, missing payments on a consolidation loan damages your credit score just like any other credit default.

Your debt situation and the type of debt you carry heavily influences which option will work best. Credit card debt, typically with high interest rates, may be manageable through consolidation if your credit score allows for a lower-rate loan or you have sufficient equity in your home. Student loans require special consideration, but they are discharged by bankruptcy after seven years of leaving school. Payday loans often signal severe financial distress and may require immediate legal protection through bankruptcy or a consumer proposal.

Consider these factors when evaluating your debt situation:

• The amount of debt you carry and your ability to repay
• If you need protection from creditor actions
• What assets do you own and want to preserve
• Your timeline for becoming debt free and its impact on future financial goals

The severity of your financial problems will guide your choice. The key is to build a payment plan that resolves your debt. For debt help, talk with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee about your restructuring options.

Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc. is not a bankruptcy firm – we are a “fresh start” organization. We know that bankruptcy is not your only option. When you call us for help with overwhelming debt, we explain all the alternatives to bankruptcy in Canada. You might be surprised to know that less than 10% of the people who contact us for help actually file for bankruptcy. Let us help you explore your options.

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What is the most popular form of bankruptcy in Canada? Consumer proposals are the most common debt relief option in Canada, with eight in ten Canadians choosing this bankruptcy alternative.

When is filing bankruptcy the best option? Bankruptcy is often the last resort most people consider. Paying off debt without bankruptcy can help you maintain a good credit score and avoid bankruptcy, but it may also require a significant amount of time. If you have large unsecured debt balances, can’t pay those debts within five years, barely make your minimum payments or face creditor actions (including wage garnishments and collection calls), bankruptcy may be the best option to gain a fresh financial start.

Is credit counselling a viable option for avoiding bankruptcy? Credit counselling helps many Canadians avoid bankruptcy through budgeting assistance and debt management programs. However, a credit counselling agency can only help when you can afford to repay your full debt amount over time. If you need a fresh start, it’s best to work with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee.

Can I borrow from family to avoid bankruptcy? While family loans can help avoid bankruptcy, consider the relationship impact and create clear repayment terms. Document the loan and ensure it won’t create hardship for family members.

When is filing bankruptcy the best option? Bankruptcy often works best when you have significant unsecured debt, cannot pay your debts within five years, barely make your minimum payments, face creditor actions, or need immediate legal protection from creditors.

The post Top Alternatives to Bankruptcy in Canada appeared first on Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc..

What: Festival of Neighbourhoods Summit♦
When: Noon to 3:00pm on Sunday 24 November 2024
Where: Kitchener City Hall Rotunda
Location: 100 King Street West, Kitchener Map
Online: festivalofneighbourhoods.ca
Contact/RSVP: Heather Majaury heather@waterlooregion.org
Register: www.eventbrite.ca/e/2024-community-summit-connect-the-dots-tickets-1067786049819 (Free!)

Trends in rapid neighbourhood change across Kitchener. Greater vulnerability of residents in underserved areas. The rise of homelessness. Intensification and infills with the high pace of developments. All of this has called for a thoughtful response from our Festival and we have been learning a lot. We are taking careful consideration about our role in our civic future. Now it’s time to hear from you.

♦

• Registration
• Meet & Greet
• Light Refreshments

• Welcome
• Opening Remarks
• Presentations
• Interactive Roundtable Discussions

♦
KWGC's Learn to Curl program includes a demonstration of game play. It is so much easier to tell the teams apart in their colourful T-shirts donated by Food4Kids Waterloo Region – Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope! Thank you!!

Our ‘Artsfols 2024 Gesprek Indie Folk Discovery’ playlist is here. The sheer size of our new playlist, with 554 video tracks from hundreds of indie folk artists, might seem too much for even the most devoted indie folk fan to take in. So this year, we provide three ways to access our playlist:

• two audio versions, on Spotify and Youtube Music, respectively,
• our main video performance playlist on Youtube.

To access the audio playlist on Spotify, search using keyword ‘Artsfols’, select ‘Playlists’, and then select the ‘Artsfols 2024 Gesprek Indie Folk Discovery’ playlist from the search results.

To access the audio playlist on Youtube Music, open the Youtube Music Player, search for ‘Artsfols’, and then select the ‘Artsfols 2024 Gesprek Indie Folk Discovery Audio’ playlist from the search results. Make sure that the playlist name contains the word ‘Audio’.

The audio playlists download fairly easily on a good Internet connection, and I tend to play these lists on shuffle throughout the year, for an ongoing voyage of musical discovery.

We still prefer the video performance playlist overall. You can access our performance discovery playlist on youtube right here …

Alternatively, search youtube on your computer, home theatre or television app using the keyword ‘artsfols’ and then choose ‘Artsfols 2024 Gesprek Indie Folk Discovery’.

All the playlists are arranged alphabetically by artist, so that you can find your favourite artists. The playlist is restricted to video performances released since November 2023.

Later in December our panel will once again rate and release the much shorter “Best” performances list.

This year the Discovery playlist includes:

• a Bastille song, aboard the GreenPeace flagship,
• long awaited Bon Iver tracks,
• the return of Iron and Wine, and Joanna Newsom,
• a number of live performances by a very active Gracie Abrams,
• acoustic tracks from Billie Eilish, Freya Ridings and Ed Sheeran,
• a recent live performance of Passenger’s 2 1/2 billion plays song, Let Her Go,
• a capella band The Harvard Opportunes’ riveting performance of Lizzy McAlpine’s Erase Me.
• an impromptu collaboration between Lake Street Dive and Lawrence,
• and many others for you to discover including:

Abby Girl, Adrianne Lenker, Áine Deane, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Alan Doyle, Alan Power, Alex Cuba, Alice Merton, Alice Phoebe Lou, Alisa Amador, Amy McDonald, Amythyst Kiah, Anaïs Mitchell and Dónal Finn, Andrew Bird & Madison Cunningham, Andy Shauf, Angus & Julia Stone, Anna Tivel, Annabel Laura, Aoife O’Donovan, Arcadian Wild, Arooj Aftab, August Charles, Aurora, Aysanabee, Aysanabee, Allison Russell, BALTHVS, Basia Bulat, Bastille, Bea and her Business, Beach Bunny, Bear’s Den, Becky Hill, Beharie, Béla Fleck, Bella White, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Ber, Big Thief, Billie Eilish, Bird Song, Black Swan, Bleachers, Blind Pilot, BLØF, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Bryn Bliska, Cactus Blossoms, Camila Cabello, Cara Dillon, Cat Burns, Catey Shaw, Cengiz Özsu, Charley Crockett, Charlotte Cardin, Charm Of Finches, Choir! Choir! Choir!, Chris Thile, Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk, Clare Doyle, Cody Fry, Colin Hay, Daisy the Great, Dan Tyminski Band, Darlingside, Dave Gunning, David Francey, David Gilmour with Romany Gilmour, David Myles, Delicate Dark, Della Mae, Desirée Dawson, dodie, Dominique Fricot, Don Ross, Drew Holcomb, East Nash Grass, Ed Sheeran, Eefje de Visser, Elephant Revival, Emily Scott Robinson, Eric Slick, Fai Baba & Amour sur Mars, Fancy & The Gentlemen, Faouzia, Faye Webster & Julia Jacklin, Feist, FINNEAS, Foy Vance, Frank Turner, Frazey Ford, Freya Ridings, Freya Ridings ft Tors, Gabe Dixon, Gillian Welch, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings play a three, Gracie Abrams, Gregory Alan Isakov, Güngör Coşkun, Guy Sebastian, Hamzaa, Hannah Georgas, Hans Theesink, Harvard Opportunes, Hazlett, Hermanos Gutiérrez, hey, nothing, Hollow Coves, Holly Carter, Hoodoo Tones, Hozier, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Ibrahim Maalouf, Imagine, Iron & Wine, Isabel Pless, Ismay, Jacob Banks, Jacob Collier, Jacob Collier & AURORA, Jacob Collier and dodie, Jadea Kelly, Jake Bugg, Jake Vaadeland, James Bay, James Blunt & Frank Steijns, Jamie xx, Jenny Lewis, Jeremy Dutcher, Jill Barber, Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, Joan As Police Woman, Joanna Newsom, John Butler, John Butler Trio, John Grant, John Legend, John Smith, Joni Mitchell, Joseph, Josh + Bex, Josienne Clarke, Joss Stone, Joy (Anonymous), JP HOE STRING TRIO, JP Saxe, JP Saxe, Carla Morrison, Jule Malischke, Jule Malischke & Don Ross, Julian Lage, Julian Taylor, Julien Baker, Jungle, Kacey Musgraves, Kaïa Kater, Kate Rusby, Katherine Priddy, Katie Costello, Katie Pruitt, Keyon Harrold, feat. Malaya, Korby Lenker, Kristalis Sotomayor and Latin Breeze, Kruger Brothers, Kygo, Ava Max, Kygo, HAYLA, Lake Street Dive, Lake Street Dive ft. Lawrence, Laufey, Laufey, dodie, and Jacob Collier, Laura Marling, Lauren Daigle, Lawrence, Lebanon, Leonie Biney, Let It Be, Lexie Carroll, Leyna Robinson, Lindi Ortega & Jack Barksdale, Little Quirks, Liv-Margrethe Muren Ulvund, Lizz Wright, Lizzy McAlpine, London Grammar, Lucius, Luke LeBlanc, M83, Madi Diaz, Madison Cunningham, Maggie Rogers, Mari Rosehill, Marianne Neumann, Mark Knopfler, Mavis Staples, MEAU, Melt, Metric, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Michael Kiwanuka, Middle Kids, Moira Smiley & The Rhizome Quartet, Molly Tuttle, Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Morgan Harper, Mountain Grass Unit, Mumford & Sons ft. Jon Batiste, mxmtoon, My Brightest Diamond, Myles Smith, Natalia Lafourcade, Nathaniel Rateliff, Nick Mulvey, Nickel Creek, NIKI, Noah Gundersen, Noah Kahan, Oisin Leach, Old Crow Medicine Show, Olive Klug, Oliver Wood & Katie Pruitt, Olivia Barton, One Voice Children’s Choir, Paolo Nutini, Paris Paloma, Passenger, Philip Labes, Phillip-Michael Scales, Phoebe Bridgers, Rachael Kilgour, Rachel Cousins, RAYE, Rhiannon Giddens, Ringdown, Romany & David Gilmour, Rose Cousins, Rufus Wainwright & Madison Cunningham, Ruth B. & Dean Lewis, Ruth Moody, Ruthie Foster, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fischer, Sam Smith, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Sarah Jarosz, Sheherazaad, Sidney Gish, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, Slow Pulp, Sons Of The East, Sophie Laurens, Steep Canyon Rangers, Steernvanger, Stephanie Struijk, Stick Season, Strange Boy, Swamp Dogg, Talisk, Teddy Swims, Tennessee Freedom Singers, Terra Spencer, The 502s, The Brother Brothers, The Cactus Blossoms, The Cat Empire, The Decemberists, The Head And The Heart, The Heavy Heavy, The Hives, The Hound + The Fox, The National, The Paper Kites, The Secret Sisters, The Staves, The Strumbellas, The Tallest Man On Earth, The The, The Twins of Franklin, The Warning, Tiny Habits, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Tom Odell, Tom Odell, Zaho de Sagazan, Tom Rosenthal, Tones And I, Tors, Trampled by Turtles, Travelin’ McCourys, Trousdale, Twisted Pine w/ Jerry Douglas, Victoria Canal, Voces8, Voices of Scandinavia, Vulf, Walk Off the Earth, Watchhouse, Wilco, Wild Rivers, Yeemz, Zach Hood, ROSIE, Zaz, Zero8, Zoe Clarke

The post Waterloo Region Luxury Market Report | November 2024 appeared first on Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent - The Deutschmann Team.

Have you heard of the 80/20 rule, or the Pareto Principle? It says that roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

When I learned about the 80/20 principle, it blew my mind. Incorporating the principle into my work helps me focus on what matters, reduce burnout, and stop wasting time.

Below are my favourite ways to use the 80/20 principle at work.

What 20% of clothing items/makeup/jewelry/accessories make you feel the most confident?

Look at your wardrobe and your beauty counter. Do you use all these items? Do they contribute equally to your confidence at work?

If you’re honest with yourself, the answer is probably “no.”

What clothes make you feel the most powerful? This could be a tailored blazer, a leather jacket, or a silver necklace. (For me, it’s my blazer and silk scarf.)

If you’re going to a job interview or a presentation, now you’ll know what to reach for.

What makeup makes you feel the most put together? This is especially helpful if you’re in a rush. (And if you don’t do makeup, no judgment, just disregard this!)

No worries if you feel 80% put together with mascara and lipstick and you’re running late. Just swipe on those two products and you’re good to go.

Which 20% of your meetings are the most productive? For the remaining 80%, cancel them or make them shorter. Stop wasting your time!

Look at your upcoming meetings and identify the 20% most impactful — maybe your boss wants you there, or you’re presenting key insights to the team.

If an upcoming meeting won’t be impactful or productive, cancel it, shorten it, or ask someone to catch you up afterward.

I was initially intimidated and thought I had to attend all the meetings I was invited to. However, once I got over my fear, I found that declining meetings had many benefits. Nothing bad happened, I got time back in my day…and coworkers respected and valued my time since they knew I had competing projects.

If you feel awkward declining meeting invites, try these scripts:

• “Thank you for inviting me. Unfortunately, I have a time conflict. Please let me know if you need my input, and we can connect by email.”
• “Thanks for the invite. My main priority is the XYZ project right now, so I’m afraid I don’t have time to attend. I will touch base with Bella afterward for updates.”
• “Hi, I’m afraid I can’t attend the whole meeting due to conflicts but am happy to attend the first 15 minutes if that would be useful. Please let me know if that works.”

What 20% of stressors cause 80% of your work anxiety?

Track what’s causing your work stress. You can do this through journaling, keeping a notebook at your desk, or asking your friend or partner what you complain about the most. Look for patterns.

Once you have a list of stressors, consider the 20% that cause most of your work anxiety. Are any of these within your control? You may be surprised.

For example, I was annoyed by constant interruptions at work. Coworkers stopped by my office to interrupt me several times an hour, even if my door was closed.

I tackled this issue in several ways:

• Wearing headphones when engaged in deep work.
• Communicating with my office mate about when I needed to focus.
• Leaving the office to work in a separate space for privacy.
• Being honest and setting boundaries with coworkers — e.g. “I’m in the middle of something right now, that’s why my door is closed. Can you email me instead?”

Instead of tackling every stressor I experienced, I saved time and energy by focusing on what made me the most anxious.

Your primary stressor may be a project deadline or a repeating unproductive meeting. Whatever it is, tackle that first. Can you move back the deadline? Can you cancel the unproductive meetings?

Be warned: this may require asserting boundaries. If you have difficulty setting boundaries, I highly recommend The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free by Melissa Urban, which provides hundreds of scripts for handling tricky work and life situations.

What 20% of relaxation methods lead to 80% of my stress reduction?

Everyone has different preferences for how they want to relax. Some people feel most relaxed during yoga. Others may prefer getting a lash lift, reading a magazine, talking with a friend, playing ultimate frisbee…the list goes on and on.

What helps you feel the most relaxed? Be creative!

Try incorporating your relaxation habit into your workday. For example, I feel most relaxed when I’m outdoors, so I take a walk outside every day at lunch.

What are the 20% of tools will lead to 80% of your career growth?

There’s no need to learn every coding and data visualization platform—that’s a surefire way to feel overwhelmed, burned out, and inefficient.

Instead, think about what tools will help you most in your career. You can clean data in Python, build databases in MySQL Workbench, or analyze data in Power BI. Focus on the one thing you think will improve most.

Ask yourself:

• Which tools will help me the most in my day-to-day work?
• What platforms am I already using? Can I master the core functions for those?
• Which tools are necessary for the next stage in my career?
• What tools do I need to be able to put on my resume?

I’ve used the Pareto principle in many ways at work, not just the ways I’ve listed here. Be thoughtful and honest with yourself.

Ask yourself:

• Which 20% of learning methods yield 80% of my improvement as a data scientist?
• What are the 20% of coworker boundaries that, if set, would alleviate most of my anxiety?
• Does this new request align with my 20% of impactful activities? If not, can I decline it?
• Am I wasting time being a perfectionist on the less impactful 80% of tasks? Can I focus on the most impactful 20% of tasks, and not try as hard on the rest?

I hope the 80/20 principle helps you as it has helped me: to reduce work stress, overcome perfectionism, and create more time for the things that truly matter (and let’s be honest — that’s not work).

The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free, by Melissa Urban

Maven Analytics Learning Data: How to Stop Being a People Pleaser at Work: A Data Analyst’s Guide by Margaret Efron

Career Contessa: 10 Signs You’re a Chronic People Pleaser — and How to Stop

Towards Data Science: How To Say No to Useless Data Science Projects and Start Working on What You Want

Forbes: 10 Ways to Stop Being a People Pleaser at Work

Chill Out at Work: Reduce Stress by Applying the 80/20 Principle was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Meet Gina! She is a participant with Out and About Waterloo Region. Together, with her Local Community Connector (LCC), Gina was able to secure a new volunteer position at Retail Therapy KW Thrift and Consign. Gina has been volunteering in her local community for many years and recently decided to offer her expertise with Retail Therapy. Along with being a great place for anyone to shop, they also facilitate free shopping experiences for local survivors of domestic violence where they get to pick out items from the store for their new safe homes.

When Gina was asked how she felt about volunteering at Retail Therapy Gina’s smile beamed and she said, “I’m so happy here. Everyone has been so nice and I like that they challenge me with sorting different things.” From sorting clothing, CD’s, books and cards, Gina was welcomed with open arms by both staff and fellow volunteers, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Allyson Dasilva, Gina’s LCC reports that, “Overall, It has been such a positive environment for Gina to work in. I am so happy to see Gina thrive and be such a valued member of this team. This opportunity for Gina at Retail Therapy allows her to be a part of a bigger cause and to work alongside passionate individuals dedicated to making a difference. I highly recommend this volunteer position to anyone looking to give back to their community while gaining invaluable experience and connections.”

Gina would like others to know that, “More people should come and volunteer here!” 

The post Meet Retail Therapy’s Newest Volunteer: Gina! appeared first on KW Habilitation.

For several months, I’ve been heads down on a project. It’s been an intense period of focus, organizing my calendar to create pockets of time to get into flow to build a college course for my first-semester students.

It’s been a creative exercise, a research exercise, and an exercise in discipline and time management. The first phase was intensely creative, designing the course outline and producing half a semester of content. It was a push to the finish, where I worked evenings while on my family vacation to hit my first deadline. (Ugh!)

After delivering the first set of content, I intentionally took a break, giving myself a week to step away from the project, focus on other work, and rest.

The second phase ramped up slowly. After being deeply engaged for that first push, my creative resources were tapped out, even after my hiatus. Noticing this, I gave myself space to find my groove again. I scheduled time in my calendar and forgave myself if I couldn’t sustain four or six-hour work periods as I’d done in the first phase.

After a few weeks of working and reflecting, I wasn’t nearly as productive as in that first phase. I still had a deadline to hit, so it was time to try something new.

Fortunately, my friend and fellow coach Marta returned from her wedding vacation, allowing us to restart our twice-weekly body-doubling sessions after a month’s hiatus.

We join a video call two mornings a week and work independently together. Does that sound like a contradiction? As someone who’s benefitted from the arrangement for several months, I assure you it’s not.

Body-doubling is a practice that has come out of the ADHD community. There is little research on the concept, but it appears to work through the mechanism of “externalizing motivation [which] is a long-standing, evidence-based mechanism for managing ADHD,” according to Billy Roberts, the clinical director of an ADHD-focused counselling practice in the US.

The participants engage in reciprocal accountability by partnering with someone (or several folks) to participate in focused work time. While I don’t identify as having ADHD, I have found body-doubling incredibly helpful.

In our sessions, Marta and I start by sharing our intentions for the work period, have a stretch break mid-way through, and in the final 5 minutes, we check in to reflect on what we’ve accomplished during our 2 hours together. And we’ll typically set an intention for the rest of the day before signing off.

In the past, I’d focused on tasks related to building my coaching practice (like blogging!). For these sessions, I shifted the focus to the second phase of my course development project.

Counting on two 2-hour blocks weekly to make progress was a game-changer for me. I felt my confidence return while seeing the content come together again, checking each session's milestones — a lesson plan here and a slide deck there.

After finishing my sessions, I usually took a short break, but I always ensured that I set up my next task before leaving my desk. Another friend calls this strategy “The Sarah-Beth Method.”

Last month, I published the final modules of my course. I celebrated immediately by shutting down my computer and (literally) running downstairs to watch a murder mystery show on my couch.

The next couple of weeks found me catching up on the assignment grading I’d set aside during the final push of my project. Now, here I am, in a body-doubling session, blogging and looking ahead at building out coaching content.

Having this time available for a different form of creative work or even the administrative tasks that go into running my practice feels invigorating. Body-doubling is even making me look forward to bookkeeping and troubleshooting my scheduling software.

I can’t stop thinking about how impactful body-doubling could have been while I was managing a team. Meetings filled my calendar, and interruptions were frequent. Setting aside an hour to work with another manager to complete our administrative tasks could’ve prevented so much overwhelm or tasks encroaching on my evenings.

What administrative tasks are you unable to find time for?

What projects are you struggling to make progress on because you can’t get into flow?

Consider trying body-doubling. Find a friend or colleague, or consider paying for a service that helps connect you to partners, and see if virtual or in-person body-doubling gives you the boost you need to make progress.

If you try body-doubling, I’d love to hear about your experience.

Did it work for you?

Are you looking for other options to help shift how you do your work or accomplish your goals? Let’s chat! Book a discovery call to see if coaching can help you identify other new approaches and unblock the progress you’re seeking.

Why Working Together Is Better: The Power of Body-Doubling was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

♦

Kick off the festive season at Kitchener Market’s all-new Winter Artisan Night Market on painting, surprise characters, and free activities for the whole family. This night market is just the beginning—join in every Saturday from November 23 to December 21 for more artisan vendors, festive treats, live music, and holiday fun! Don’t miss out on the magic of this exciting new holiday tradition under the stars!
www.kitchenermarket.ca/en/whats-happening/winter-artisan-market.aspx

Get into the holiday spirit and start your shopping early! Browse handmade crafts, original artwork, and unique gifts from local vendors. Enjoy a bake sale, door prizes, and more. Light refreshments will also be available for purchase. Don’t miss this festive event!
The Rockway Christmas Market

Join us for a fun and relaxed afternoon of cornhole! This free, low-impact sport is the perfect way for adults to connect, unwind, and enjoy time with others in the community. Drop in Saturdays, September 21 – December 14, from 3:00 – 5:00 PM.
Drop-in Cornhole 

Click here – Activity search | Active Kitchener – to see what’s happening at the Chandler Mowat Community Centre

Click here – Activity search | Active Kitchener – to see what’s happening at the Country Hills Community Centre

Click here – Activity search | Active Kitchener – to see what’s happening at the Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre

Looking for fun ways to get Out and About in Waterloo Region? Beyond your neighborhood association, there are tons of exciting activities and events to explore!

Did you know… there is a free podcast studio open to anybody with a Kitchener Public Library Card?

KPL’s state-of-the-art production hub! Whether you’re a podcast enthusiast, a music producer, or just looking to experiment, our sound-treated recording studios are packed with top-notch gear like professional mics, instruments, MIDI keyboards, and more.

From laying down your next track to launching your dream podcast, the possibilities are endless—and it’s all free with your KPL library card!

Recording Studios – Kitchener Public Library

 Kitchener Rangers vs. London Knights
Tuesday, November 19
7:00PM
The Aud – 400 East Avenue, Kitchener

Catch the thrilling OHL action as the Kitchener Rangers face off against the London Knights! Grab your tickets online or at The Aud Box Office and join the excitement!
explorewaterloo.ca/event/kitchener-rangers-vs-the-london-knights-4/

Seniors Social Hour
Tuesday, November 19
10:30AM – 11:30AM
WPL – 500 Fischer-Hallman Road North, Waterloo

Join the fun at the Seniors Social Hour, where you can sharpen your mind with card and board games, unleash your creativity with art, and make new friends in a welcoming atmosphere! This engaging drop-in series is perfect for enjoying some laughs and connecting with others.
Seniors Social Hour – Waterloo Public Library

Euchre Night at TWB
Friday, November 20
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
TWB Brewing – 300 Mill St, Unit 1, Kitchener

Join TWB for a lively night of Euchre, fun, and new friends at TWB! Check in at 6:45 PM (or come at 6:30 PM to learn!)—games kick off at 7:00 PM sharp. The night’s winner scores a $20 TWB Gift Card!
explorewaterloo.ca/event/euchre-night-twb-7/

St. Jacobs Market Food Tour
Thursday, November 21
9:30AM – 11:30AM
St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market – 878 Weber St N, Woolwich

Discover the flavors of the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market on this guided food tour! Savor Mennonite food traditions, learn about local food history, and enjoy samples from some of the market’s best vendors.
explorewaterloo.ca/event/st-jacobs-market-food-tour-2/2024-11-21/

Flow in Phase – An Immersive Yoga Experience
Friday, November 20 & 21
6:30PM – 7:30PM
THEMUSEUM, 10 King Street West, Kitchener

Join The Attic Yoga for an immersive yoga session in THEMUSEUM’s digital gallery, inspired by the phases of the moon to reconnect with your inner rhythms. Space is limited to 18 participants, so reserve your spot and bring your own mat!
explorewaterloo.ca/event/flow-in-phase-an-immersive-yoga-experience-2/2024-11-20/

Globe Studios Fall Art Show and Open House
Friday, November 22
4:00 PM
141 Whitney Place, Kitchener

Explore a diverse collection of artwork by talented local artists at Globe Studios’ Fall Art Show! Join us for two days of creativity, meet the artists, and discover the perfect gift for the holidays. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the latest creations and learn about the artistic process!
www.eventbrite.com/e/globe-studios-fall-art-show-and-open-house-tickets-1048919124337?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Holiday Sip & Shop
Sunday, November 22 & 29
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market – 878 Weber Street North, St. Jacobs

Get into the holiday spirit at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market’s Sip ‘n Shop event! Enjoy a unique shopping experience with handpicked vendors, festive beverages, and one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list. Whether you’re shopping for a special gift or indulging in some retail therapy, this event is the perfect way to kick off the season!
www.stjacobsmarket.com/sip-n-shop

Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night
Sunday, November 22
6:30 PM
Downtown Cambridge – 50 Dickson Street, Cambridge

Join thousands of participants for Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night, a modern twist on caroling! Walk through downtown Cambridge while enjoying over 30 light installations and the music of Phil Kline played along the route.
www.cambridge.ca/en/parks-recreation-culture/phil-kline-s-unsilent-night.aspx

Kitchener Rangers vs. Windsor Spitfires
Sunday, November 22
7:00 PM
The Aud – 400 East Avenue, Kitchener

Catch the thrilling OHL action as the Kitchener Rangers face off against the Windsor Spitfires! Get your tickets online or at The Aud Box Office.
explorewaterloo.ca/event/kitchener-rangers-vs-the-windsor-spitfires-3/

Christmas in the District
Saturday, November 23
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Gaslight District – 64 Grand Ave South, Cambridge

Celebrate the season at Christmas in the District! Enjoy festive vendors, free meet-and-greets with Santa, outdoor movie screenings of Home Alone (3:00PM) and Home Alone 2 (7:00 PM), and live carolers. Plus, shop unique gifts, take photos with Santa, and enjoy holiday fun with family and friends!
Events

Taylor Swift Style
Saturday, November 23
1:00PM
KPL – 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener

Attention Swifties! Join fashion writer Sarah Chapelle at the Kitchener Public Library for a fun discussion about her new book, Taylor Swift Style! Discover the inspirations behind Taylor’s iconic looks and enjoy a book signing afterward. Don’t forget to wear your best era outfits!
Sarah Chapelle: Taylor Swift Style | Kitchener Public Library

Ongoing Holiday Events:

St. Jacobs Sparkles
November 14-17 & 21-24
Times and places vary (check site)
St. Jacobs Village

Experience the magic of the holiday season as St. Jacobs transforms into a sparkling wonderland! Enjoy extended shopping hours, festive savings, live music, visits with Santa, and strolling carolers. Don’t miss the Fire Fighter Burn Barrel and other seasonal surprises throughout the village!
www.stjacobsvillage.com/sparkles

Winter Ice and Lights
November 18 – January 1
5:00PM – 11:00PM
FREE
Central Park – 615 King Street East, Cambridge

Explore Cambridge’s Central Park as it transforms into a winter wonderland with stunning light displays! Take a self-guided walk with friends, family, or solo, and don’t forget to snap photos and share with #cbridgewinterfest.
explorewaterloo.ca/event/winter-ice-and-lights/2024-11-18/

Cambridge Celebrates ‘Winterfest’ (seasonal events)

November 15 2024 – January 1 2025
Various times
FREE
Various places
www.todocanada.ca/city/kitchener/event/christmas-in-cambridge-festival/

Check out these ongoing groups and events:

Coffee and Cornhole

Every Saturday in November
3:00PM – 5:00PM
FREE
Centreville-Chicopee Community Centre – 141 Morgan Avenue Kitchener
www.eventbrite.ca/e/coffee-and-cornhole-tickets-1033886521417?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Jack Astor’s Trivia

Tuesdays
7:30PM – 9:00PM
FREE
Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill – 2960 Kingsway Drive #15A Kitchener
www.eventbrite.ca/e/jacks-tuesday-night-trivia-kitchener-free-tickets-696244384697?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

Happy Gang (55+)

Tuesdays, September 3 – June 24
12:45PM – 4:00PM
FREE
Forest Heights Community Centre – 1700 Queen’s Boulevard, Kitchener
Activity detail | Active Kitchener (activecommunities.com)

Buddy Choir at Our Studio

Monday Evenings
6:30PM – 8:00PM
FREE
Our Studio – 109 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener
Home | Our Studio (ourstudiokw.com)

Open Space at Fairview Mall Food Court

Thursdays
1:00PM – 3:00PM
FREE
Extend – A – Family, Fairview Mall food court – 2960 Kingsway Drive, Kitchener
Events Archive – (eafwr.on.ca)

Crescendo Choir

Wednesdays
10:00AM – 11:00AM
FREE
Glencairn Church, 725 Erinbrook Drive, Kitchener
Crescendo Choir – Getting ready for September? We are!… | Facebook

Mill Courtland – Walking Group

Tuesdays starting September 10
9:00AM – 10:00AM
FREE
216 Mill Street – Mill Courtland Community Centre
www.mcna-hscg.com/walking-group.html

**If you would like your event or activity featured in our What’s Happening In Your Neighbourhood post, please reach out to us at connecting@outandaboutwr.ca**

The post November 18, 2024: What’s Happening in Your Neighbourhood? appeared first on KW Habilitation.

When discussing data engineering, conversations often lean heavily toward the “engineering” side, neglecting the role's core: data. Many of us explore various tech stacks, hoping they’ll give us an edge.

Here’s a secret: you don’t need every tool in the box to succeed.

Instead, focus on strategies that enhance data integrity, availability, and accessibility and on ways to integrate their variety to build a solid foundation for engineering rigour.

In the first project of this series, we’ll explore web scraping, a versatile and underutilized tool for data availability. I like to think of it as the “Extract” in ETL. Web scraping is crucial in data engineering, especially for smaller teams without massive data infrastructure.

Our project example handles Feature Classes (a GIS software data format) alongside APIs and ethical considerations for a comprehensive approach to data sourcing. By learning how to source data directly from web pages and APIs, you’ll see how web scraping can enable efficient data extraction even when specialized software (like GIS tools) isn’t accessible.

Remember, all data engineering and science projects begin with sourcing data; they form the foundation for analyses, insights, and recommendations. Unlike tech giants with proprietary data pipelines, many industries—such as Oil and gas, Defense, Policy, and Automotive Research—must collect petabytes of data from diverse sources continuously and often face challenges. With or without APIs, web scraping provides robust solutions for acquiring data across many formats and sources.

In this project, we make this approach invaluable for accessing complex data types like Feature Class Layers using REST APIs, assuming that the data handler has minimal interest in or access to the required GIS software to process this data.

A Feature Class is a collection of geographic features used in 2D and 3D GIS applications (e.g., points, lines, polygons). While GIS software is excellent for analysis, direct integration with engineering stacks is limited. Web scraping provides a workaround to extract only the data you need without complex GIS software.

By the end of this project, you’ll have a well-rounded skill set in both web scraping and API data sourcing, along with practical knowledge of ethical data practices. Here’s what you’ll gain:

1. Conceptual Understanding: The role of web scraping and APIs in data engineering.
2. Tool Selection: Criteria for choosing between scraping and API calls based on data and project requirements.
3. Practical Application: Hands-on practice with Requests, Scrapy, and REST APIs, focusing on geospatial data sourcing.
4. Best Practices: Effective and ethical data sourcing practices for quality and compliance.

Web scraping involves programmatically extracting data from websites and capturing information embedded in HTML, JavaScript, PHP, and other formats. However, REST APIs offer a more precise and efficient alternative for structured data sources — such as GIS feature layers. Combining web scraping with APIs, particularly REST APIs, allows you to streamline your data extraction workflows, especially for complex data like feature classes in GIS.

REST APIs deliver structured data in formats like JSON or XML, providing a reliable alternative to traditional web scraping, which often involves parsing unstructured HTML.

REST APIs allow users and applications to interact with ArcGIS services. REST stands for Representational State Transfer and uses HTTP requests to perform functions like creating, reading, updating, and deleting records. This functionality makes them ideal for directly accessing and querying feature class data.

• Requests: For straightforward data extraction from REST API calls.
• Scrapy: For handling multi-page workflows, pagination, and data organization.

• Web Scraping with Requests and Scrappy: You can fork this GitHub repository, which includes detailed scripts for both Requests and Scrappy. These scripts guide you through ethical and efficient scraping. The setup process is straightforward and will be handled seamlessly as you follow along.

• Using REST APIs for Feature Class Data: There are many ways to access REST APIs, and one effective method is by visiting the ArcGIS REST Services Directory. To work with the script example, the AirNow map hosted on the EPA GIS publication site, browse through the list of available services to find one that aligns with your project requirements.
  Pay close attention to the detailed documentation provided for each endpoint and data structure, as this will help you understand how to interact with the API effectively. It’s important to understand the general structure of a REST API URL. A typical REST API URL follows this pattern:

<base_url>/<service>/<resource>/<method>?<parameters>

Where:

• Base URL: The root address of the API service.
• Service: Specifies the particular service or module within the API.
• Resource: Identifies the specific data or functionality you want to access.
• Method: Defines the action to perform (e.g., GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
• Parameters: Additional query parameters that refine the request (e.g., format, filters).

Understanding this structure allows you to construct and modify API requests based on your needs. For example, our API endpoint might look like this: api.example.com/arcgis/services/FeatureLayer/Query?where=1%3D1&outFields=*

#Project sample code 

#STEP 1
#define url variable
url = 'www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/92e772c4f65a4848a29bcc24c8f61bab/data?f=json'
response = requests.get(url)
if response.status_code == 200:
    json_response = response.json()

• Organizing and Integrating Sourced Data: Effective data organization is crucial for maintaining a clean and efficient workspace. To manage your projects efficiently with version control, consider using Git and platforms like GitHub. For more detailed guidance on organizing and integrating sourced data with Git and GitHub, refer to this comprehensive guide.

Example: Suppose you need to collect boundary data from a public environmental map site. The tribal data is stored in a Feature Class, but you don’t have access to GIS software to download or analyze it directly. You will collect tribal boundaries and Air Quality Index data to answer some research analytical questions. With a combination of web scraping and REST API requests, you will access and integrate this data into your ETL pipeline.

Important to Note: Many map sites and public repositories now offer REST APIs that allow targeted access to data such as Feature Classes. However, for some map sites or public databases, web scraping is the only option for extracting data. Using scraping tools like Requests or Scrapy, you can capture:

• Coordinates or boundary details directly from map elements displayed on a web page.
• Basic geographic data embedded in HTML or JavaScript.

Web scraping in this context enables you to access visible elements and geospatial details without needing specialized GIS software.

As data engineers and scientists, it’s essential to conduct data sourcing responsibly. Here are some ethical guidelines to follow when scraping data:

• Respect Robots.txt: This file outlines which pages and data a website can scrape. Always respect these permissions. The Scrapy framework already integrates tools to monitor and ensure that this is enforced, unlike other libraries where you must ensure a 200 get() response.
• Avoid High-Frequency Requests: Excessive requests to a site can overload servers, violating terms of service and risking IP bans.
• Scrape Publicly Available Data: Avoid accessing or scraping data behind paywalls or authentication layers unless explicitly permitted.
• Attribute Data Sources: Always credit the original data source and understand its terms of use to avoid intellectual property issues.

Now, you are ready to dive in. Visit my GitHub repository or Portfolio to access scripts, detailed documentation, and project resources. The repository includes two examples: one applying Scrapy due to site pagination and the absence of a REST API, and the other using requests() with a REST API, making it a comprehensive guide for adapting these techniques to your own projects.

Mastering web scraping with tools like Requests and Scrapy equips you with the essential skills to handle the “Extract” phase in ETL processes. This expertise allows you to overcome data collection challenges and build robust data pipelines. Additionally, this project not only enhances your technical abilities but also broadens your understanding of data-sourcing strategies applicable across various industries.

Stay tuned for Project 2, where we’ll explore data-wrangling solutions as the next step in this series. If these weekly projects inspire you, consider following, engaging or subscribing to receive updates on each new release. Let’s build together, handling the full spectrum of data challenges in data engineering!

References

[1] pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/geodatabases/overview/feature-class-basics.htm

[2] developers.arcgis.com/documentation/glossary/arcgis-rest-apis/

How to Leverage Web Scraping and APIs for Data Sourcing in Data Engineering. was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Tell me it isn't so. I've just gotten through in a letter to TRAC  describing Lanxess's  appreciation of the MECP's service to the cause of sham cleanups. Now in the MECP's November 8/24 letter to Lanxess I see a tad of coincidence in that the MECP are asking TWO questions in a row about DNAPLS.  I described the first question in last Thursday's post about residual DNAPL admitted to by Lanxess in former, on-site landfill M2.  Today's post is about the second question by the MECP asking Lanxess why contaminant concentrations in CH-75B reacted conversely to each other starting in 2019. Apparently NDMA concentrations started dropping significantly then whereas chlorobenzene concentrations began rising significantly. 

So is the MECP legitimately wondering or are they just advising Lanxess to do a better job in clarifying the non-existence of free phase DNAPLS preferably both on and off-site? To a non bought and paid for fellow travellor  of  Lanxess the answer is relatively obvious. W4 had been both containing and slowly dissolving the free phase DNAPL found 100 feet below ground at OW57-32 almost beside W4. Afterall why do you think the twits put the pumping well (W4) there in the first place but to deal with the non-admitted free phase DNAPL CRA inadvertently found in the first place. 

Concentrations of chlorobenzene dropped significantly after years of pumping so in 2017 Lanxess quit pumping W4. Lo and behold the chlorobenzene then happily migrated under the pumping of well W3R. Along the way it also went past CH-75B where sampled concentrations began rising. No surprise at all. 

I guess it all helps when everybody is on the same team doesn't it? That was certainly the take away I was left with when Mark Bauman, Scot Hahn and Sandy Shantz all skated on proven allegations, complaints and even formal Municipal Elections Act (MEA) charges. They skated because there was no will or backbone to actually apply the law as clearly written. All three grossly violated the MEA and other than the court of public opinion giving them a slap on the wrist, they got off unscathed. One point I especially appreciated was the idiot out of town prosecutor Frasier Kelly actually blaming me for alleged technical errors in the filing of the charges. Duh and why do you think all those charges had to go by the perusal and supervision of a Justice of the Peace you twit? It was the JP who decided whether the charges were properly written up and laid, not me the complainant. Yes with friends like that in high places corrupt politicians may just as well keep on ignoring inconvenient (to them) election laws and maybe any others they don't care for such as provincial laws detailing municipal behaviour around closed meetings, allowing Delegations and so much more such as Procedural By-Laws and Codes of Conduct. My experience is that by far the worst behaviour and violators are councillors and mayors not citizens.   

Today's K-W Record has an article by Michael Tutton titled "Watchdog says Tim's card brouhaha shows electoral officer needs power to levy fines".  Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch has stepped into the debate about a Conservative idiot campaign manager in Nova Scotia handing out free Tim Horton cards  (for one coffee) during a campaign visit by his candidate. Clearly the alleged bribe was very small but it nevertheless is clearly contravenes elections laws. Mr. Conacher advises that cases like this can "...drift on for months and end up being abandoned." He recommends a sort of parking ticket style of fine for the lesser corrupt practices under the Elections Act. 

The point is clear. Laws that are not enforced are ignored (especially by politicians?).  So it is the duty of citizens to step in when our authorities are too busy or too friendly with the law breakers to do their jobs. Woolwich politicians are warned: fly straight or pay at least the consequences of public shaming.

What: Rally Against F-35 ♦
When: 1:00pm on Saturday 16 November 2024
Where: PCC Aerostructures’ Centra
Location: 24 Cherry Blossom Road, Cambridge, Ontario Map
Online: armsembargonow.ca/F35

PCC Aerostructures’ Centra in Cambridge makes parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel to bomb Gaza and Lebanon.

Come protest outside this factory, stand against building weapons components in our community, and demand an ARMS EMBARGO NOW!

♦ November 16, 1:00pm
♦ 24 Cherry Blossom Road, Cambridge (near Sportsworld Crossing, Kitchener)
♦‍♦‍♦‍♦ Bring your family, friends and signs

More info at Action Network.

♦

♦
Come out Saturday, 16 November 2024 at 1:00pm to hear from Dr. Yipeng Ge at the Rally Against F-35!

Raised in the Waterloo region, Dr. Ge is a physician based in Ottawa. He spent time in Gaza earlier this year working in primary care clinics in Rafah, and has seen firsthand the impact of F-35s:

“These fighter jets have contributed to the killing and maiming of innocent children and civilians, some of whom were the patients I looked after when I was in Gaza.”

Weapons components used to build F-35s, which are then used by Israel to bomb Gaza and Lebanon, are being built right here in our community. On Saturday we’ll let our MPs know we won’t tolerate Canada’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide.

Join us to hear from Dr. Ge as we stand together on this national day of action. Together we can make our voices heard.

Dealing with debt during divorce is often more complex than dividing assets. While you may agree on who will pay what debts in your divorce agreement, your creditors may have different ideas. Understanding how debt affects your divorce, and vice versa is crucial for protecting your financial future.

You are not legally responsible for your spouse’s debts unless you have taken them on jointly as a co-borrower or co-signer on the account. This applies whether you are legally married or in a common-law relationship.

For any joint debts where both spouses’ names appear on the account, you are “jointly and severally liable.” This means each spouse is 100% responsible for the total amount, regardless of who made the purchases or why. Creditors can pursue either spouse for the entire balance, even if your divorce agreement assigns the debt repayment to your ex-spouse.

Individual debts remain separate by law. Debts in your partner’s name remain their responsibility. Common examples include student loans, bank loans, and credit cards, which are in their name only.

The concept of marital or family debt can complicate matters during divorce proceedings.

Debts incurred during your marriage might be considered marital debt, even if they’re only in one partner’s name. This could include various types of debt like credit cards used for household expenses, lines of credit for home renovations, or car loans for a family vehicle. Your divorce agreement might divide family debt between you, but this doesn’t change creditors’ rights to collect. This is because, legally, debts are either joint or individual.

The obligation to repay debt cannot be legally transferred through a divorce or separation agreement without the consent of your creditors.

If your ex-spouse fails to pay joint debts assigned to them in the divorce agreement:

• Creditors can still pursue either spouse for joint debts
• You may need to pay the debt and then seek reimbursement through family court
• Your credit rating can be affected even if the agreement says your ex is responsible

Your divorce agreement might divide debt repayment responsibilities between you, but this doesn’t change creditors’ rights to collect. You are getting divorced from your spouse but not your bank.  They are not a party to the divorce, so just because your separation agreement says that your ex-spouse is assuming the joint debt unless the lender agrees to it, it’s not legally binding.

In a divorce, the obligation to repay credit card debts and lines of credit you owe cannot be legally assigned by a divorce agreement like assets. Who is responsible to pay credit card debt after a divorce depends on the type of card:

Supplementary Cards: These are cards where one spouse is the primary cardholder, and the other is an authorized user. Generally, only the primary cardholder is legally responsible for the debt. Responsibility for payment cannot be transferred in a divorce decree. It is better to remove secondary cardholders from your accounts during separation.

Joint Credit Cards: If both names appear on the statement or you were co-applicants, both spouses are fully responsible for the entire balance. This includes charges made by either spouse. Cancelling the card doesn’t eliminate responsibility for existing debt. Even if your divorce agreement assigns the debt to your ex-spouse, the credit card company can still pursue you for payment. It is wise to cancel joint credit cards as soon as you separate and get new cards in your individual name.

Remember: Credit card companies aren’t bound by your divorce agreement. If you have a joint credit card and your ex-spouse fails to make debt payments as agreed in your divorce, the credit card company can still demand payment from you if you are the primary cardholder or if it is a joint card.

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Secured debts like mortgages and car loans present unique challenges during divorce because they’re tied to specific assets. Both the debt and the asset must be dealt with together. Even if one spouse keeps the asset, both remain responsible for the loan until it’s refinanced. The lender can seize the asset if mortgage or loan payments aren’t made, regardless of who’s living there.

If you transfer secured assets in a divorce, try to remove your name from any secured loans for assets your ex-spouse is keeping. Get the asset refinanced in one name only if possible. If you can’t refinance, consider selling the asset and splitting the proceeds.

Remember: Until a secured loan is refinanced or paid off, both spouses remain legally responsible for the debt – even if your divorce agreement says otherwise. Missing payments could result in asset seizure.

Tax debt in divorce can be complicated when more than simple employment income is involved. Generally, you’re not responsible for your spouse’s personal tax debt to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), even during marriage or divorce. However, there are important exceptions you need to understand.

• Be cautious when transferring assets during separation. Under Section 160 of Canada’s Income Tax Act, if your spouse transfers property to you at less than fair market value to avoid paying taxes, the CRA can hold you responsible for their tax debt.
• If you own property jointly with a spouse who has tax debt, the CRA may place a lien on the property. However, this lien only affects your spouse’s share of the equity – your portion remains protected.
• Finally, while the CRA considers tax debt to be individual, family law may view it differently. If tax debt arose during your marriage from income or decisions that benefited your family – like tax deductions that reduced family tax payments or business income that supported household expenses – your divorce court might consider this a family debt to be divided between spouses. This doesn’t change your relationship with the CRA, but it could affect how the value of assets and debts are divided in your divorce settlement.

Business debts affect divorce differently depending on how the business is structured. For sole proprietorships, business debts are considered personal debts. Corporate debts generally remain with the corporation unless you personally guarantee the loans. While you may not be liable, these debts will affect the value of the business.

Be particularly careful with personal guarantees on business loans. If you signed as a guarantor on your spouse’s business debt, you remain responsible for this debt even after divorce unless the lender agrees to remove your guarantee. This obligation continues even if you have no ownership interest in the business after divorce.

Joint bank accounts require special attention during a divorce. Even after separation, both parties have full access to joint accounts until they are closed. You’re both responsible for overdraft repayment, regardless of who spent the money.

It may be a good idea to freeze shared bank accounts to prevent unauthorized withdrawals and open new individual accounts at a different bank.

Any new credit cards, loans, or lines of credit opened after separation typically remain the responsibility of the borrowing spouse.

If one spouse continues to use joint debt credit accounts after separation, you will still be responsible for any new balances. That is why all joint debts should be cancelled upon separation to ensure one spouse does not rack up balances without the other’s consent or knowledge.

If you are getting divorced with debt, you can talk to your bank before you sign the separation agreement about getting two separate loans in each of your names to pay off the old joint debt. Your bank probably won’t remove your name from the account if there is an existing balance. They will want to be sure they can collect despite your divorce. If you have good credit, you can each borrow your share to pay off the full balance.  Once the old accounts have been paid off and balances transferred, close the pre-divorce credit accounts.

Good debt management practices are important before, during and after divorce. Take these steps to protect your personal finances during divorce:

1. Make a list of every joint account, credit card, and loan
2. Consider freezing or closing joint credit cards
3. Consider refinancing secured loans if the assets are transferred to one spouse
4. Set up bank accounts and apply for new credit in your name only
5. Monitor your credit report regularly
6. Keep detailed records of all account activity
7. Notify creditors of your separation in writing, change your address
8. Ask about options to remove your name from joint accounts

Remember: Your credit score doesn’t care about your divorce agreement. Late payments or defaults will affect both parties on joint accounts. If your ex-spouse stops paying debts they agreed to pay, you may need to make the payments yourself to protect your credit rating and seek reimbursement through family court.

Bankruptcy and divorce add another layer of complexity to an already challenging financial situation. If your ex-spouse files for bankruptcy, any joint debts you share become your full responsibility.

The timing of bankruptcy versus divorce matters significantly. Filing for bankruptcy before finalizing your divorce can impact how assets are divided and which debts remain. Conversely, if your divorce agreement is already in place when your ex-spouse files for bankruptcy, you might find yourself responsible for joint debts that were originally assigned to them.

It is also important to know that support payments, including child support and alimony, cannot be discharged by a bankruptcy or consumer proposal.

If your financial situation makes debt repayment difficult, you may need to explore debt relief options like consolidation, a consumer proposal or bankruptcy. Given these complexities, it’s crucial to speak with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee before finalizing your divorce.

Debt problems during divorce can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. At Hoyes Michalos, our Licensed Insolvency Trustees can help you understand your options and make informed decisions about your financial future. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your situation and learn about solutions that could work for you.

Book a FREE consultation

The post What Happens to Debt When You Divorce? appeared first on Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc..

In photo (L to R): Robin Heald (Executive Director at CWC), Aislinn Clancy (MPP for Kitchener Centre), and Rebecca Heibein-Kursikowski (Partnership Coordinator at CWC)

On Wednesday, November 13, local MPP Aislinn Clancy met with Child Witness Centre (CWC) representatives and partners to celebrate a $161,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in the spring of 2023.

"Congratulations to Child Witness Centre on receiving this generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help them develop their volunteer capacity,” said Aislinn Clancy, MPP for Kitchener Centre. “Volunteer engagement is not only essential to the sustainability of organizations like CWC, but it also provides an opportunity for fulfillment and growth for the volunteers who offer their time to this wonderful cause. I am thrilled this funding will allow CWC to expand its capacity, reduce the waitlist and provide more young people with the timely, trauma-informed support they need."

The grant allowed the agency to bring in a Special Projects Manager to focus on redeveloping their framework to bring in volunteers to combat the overwhelming need for background support, thereby allowing staff to focus on what matters most – supporting young victims of abuse and crime, and their families. By connecting with various community partners, they’re reaching a larger audience and attracting more volunteers.

“The impact of this OTF grant is an incredible gift for our organization,” said Robin Heald, Executive Director for CWC. “We have been able to enhance our capacity and service delivery with increased volunteer engagement. These changes will bring us closer to finding balance with our grassroots beginnings when we were volunteer based. The return of this treasured part of our past will help us better serve our clients with trauma-informed specialists.”

The OTF grant came at a time when the charity is experiencing high demand for their services and stretched resources – resulting in a waitlist since late 2022, which they are driven to overcome. The funding is helping them to build capacity and sustainability to move forward with more optimism. Last year alone, their team of professionals helped over 1,000 child and youth victims, and their caregivers, in Waterloo Region, Guelph, and Wellington Country – fostering hope, wellbeing, and resiliency. But over 300 young survivors had to spend time on their waitlist. CWC is committed to pursuing their goal of providing immediate supports to everyone who comes their way for help. They're also dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, safe, and accepted.

“When children and youth are supported at the time it’s critically needed, trauma is reduced. We are grateful for the partnership of OTF towards a safer and healthier community for everyone”, said Robin.

Child Witness Centre believes every child and youth who has been hurt and harmed should be supported through the criminal justice system – and not have to journey alone. That's why they walk closely with them, and their caregivers, from the time of investigation through to a court resolution. This non-profit organization began in the community in 1981 and has been passionately serving local young survivors and families since.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

The post OTF Grant Helps Support Young Victims first appeared on Child Witness Centre.