The Day and life of a Peterborough Realtor and Selwyn family man. Journal 2

This morning was a pop out of bed at 6am and wake up my kids as they had hockey practice at 7am. My son wakes up without any issues, my oldest daughter fights me every step of the way. I was finally able to get her butt out of bed at 6:35am. A bucket of cold water was coming.

After hockey I finished my morning routine with a walk. I bundled up so the walk was warm enough, but if I had not it would have been quick. I was able to post my Walk and Talk. Subject was Northcrest and the City giving out parking tickets. I seen today as well the Peterborough Examiner picked up on my initial reaction I had on Twitter when I found out Ptbo's parking enforcement was ticketing cars of the participants of this past weekends Atom Tournament.

Off to the office to work on marketing, social media content and studying. Not all that exciting stuff but at least I can keep my eye on what is going on outside.

I took Susan out for lunch at Jim's Pizza and Pasta. As always we had a beautiful lunch. This restaurant has one of the best pizza's in Peterborough. It is nice to have a date lunch with Susan as it is almost impossible to do it in the night with so much kids activities going on.

I did complete my Royal Chat speaking to what I was looking for, what I had to offer. Check out this video.

After lunch I went back to the office and Susan ran to the kids school to help with reading. Then she gathers up all 3 kids and runs to the Y for swimming. After staring at the computer for hours I like to go for a walk to clear the mind and take some pictures. This is what I captured.

After work we all met for dinner then I took My youngest daughter to Sparks. This kid loves Girl Guilds. It sucked I will be honest to leave the warm house to drop and pick her up!

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

The Day and life of a Peterborough Realtor and Selwyn family man. Journal 1

It was kickstart morning for Royal Lepage Frank in Peterborough. Breakfast started at 8:15am. Meeting was at 9:00am with three speakers.  I decided that I would still get up at my regular time of 6am but I would bounce out of bed at that time not lay there in denial for 20 mins like I usually do. Susan got out of bed at 6:45am and woke me up. I did not set the fricken alarm right the night before. Shit. I started my day late.

I did get my daily Walk and Talk out for the morning. Here is the chat!

I have my set of rituals I do every single morning. I rushed my tasks and was in the shower by 7:45am. I asked the kids to get their butts in gear as Susan wanted to come to the meeting as well. That was a mistake. Immediately my oldest went into slow motion mode. I left the house at 8:15am and arrived at Peterborough Golf and Country Club about 20 mins later. Susan, after dealing with the kids did not arrive until shortly after 9am. Keith had us all beat and was at the meeting upon my arrival.

Our Kickstart meeting had three speakers and the one I wanted to hear the most from is a Lawyer named Mark Weisleder. Mark was presenting for an hour about the Cannabis ACT how it affects sales and leases. We also heard from TD’s Albert Breckenridge on market conditions. I find that topic dry but it is useful information. Our last speaker was Phil Hollander from Morris Real Estate Marketing. He spoke about, you guessed it, Real Estate Marketing.

From this meeting I went to the Northcrest to tape tomorrows Walk and Talk. It will be a hot topic that is for sure. I took a look at the outside of the arena. I know what it looks like in the inside but I never paid much attention to the outside. It just looks neglected right from the sign on.

Take a look at this crack on the side of the building. They tried to patch it but the whole wall is pulling apart.

Late the prior night we worked on putting together a deal on my lot that I had listed on Surgarbush Cres. We where able to satisfy both the buyer and seller. I drove out to Lakehurst and flipped my first signs to SOLD for 2019. Nice to get that done. 

After our kick start meeting Susan went back to the office for some more training offered by the Brokerage and to button up paperwork. I came home to work at the home office and wait to get the kids off the bus. I know why I love my office in Peterborough so much, it is hard to get on a roll of anything as the kids ask hundreds of questions every few minutes.

I then made dinner. lol Susan picked up the dinner and we quickly ate. We needed to be out of the house by 5:30pm to do a pickup and play a hockey game.

I got a few shirts made with the Royal Lepage logo. I purchased this in Lindsay at Kawartha Custom Vinyl. I had a RLP pin that I really liked but I lost the darn thing in the washing machine. My hope is to identify my profession when I am out and about.

My daughter played in the Ops arena in City of Kawartha Lakes for a night game. It is an old barn and the ice is awful. The puck literally does not slide on the ice. It sticks like carpet. The Ennismore Eagles and the Lindsay Linx played through the difficulty of the ice to have a wonderful game. Ennismore came out on top 3-2.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

Final thoughts on the Council Self Pay Raise January 2/2019 Walk and Talk from Your Local Realtor Brad Sinclair

Who gets a 79% raise in pay? The only people in this world that would get a 79% pay raise is someone who would give themselves that raise. Is this not just wrong?

 Peterborough County Council has decided they are worthy of much much more pay. Were these councilors not ok with the current pay when they ran for office? Peterborough County Council has decided we need to pay them more. Not one councilor said hey, this is wrong or maybe we should discuss this. Their raise was given without discussion. What would have happen if a 79% raise for County staff came to vote. Would they vote yes on this motion? Of course not. Does Council value their services more then the hard working staff at the county. Looks like it. This raise is said it is about attraction and retention. Really? I had no idea Peterborough Counties Mayors and Deputy Mayors are hard to retain.  

I read a letter to the Peterborough Examiner’s Editor last night by Ron Black. His letter brought even a few more points what made the 79% raise in pay for Peterborough County Council so wrong. Before I get to Ron’s points I want to make one thing clear that seems to be a little misunderstood. The position of Peterborough County Councillor is a part time position working for the County. Two meetings per month and preparation time. This has nothing to do with their pay as Mayors or Deputy Mayors in their own individual townships. One of Ron’s points are these Councillors all ran for their positions for Mayor and Deputy Mayor knowing they will automatically be on Peterborough County Council and the pay for the position. Can anyone remember them running a platform to raise their pay for Ptbo county council? Of coarse not, but this has been one of the very first things they did. Another point that made their rational flawed was they used other municipalities for comparables. None of these municipalities had a deputy mayor but council decided to keep theirs. There was no comparable so they throw him a 37% raise. It was also discussed the Warden was pay was higher then most but since their was a loss in tax relief they were not going to adjust that pay down. So in other words they cherry picked the data and rational of the findings in the research of pay scale.

After writing this show I asked myself, What do I want from this situation? What I want is someone from the council to just speak to us about this situation open and honestly.  If they would just communicate with us, maybe this situation could be healed quickly.

Comments to the reaction I received from the original video

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

Selwyn Council 4 Year vision, I would like to see more. January 2/2019 Walk and Talk from Your Local Realtor Brad Sinclair

Hey everybody , Brad Sinclair here, your local Realtor, Looking to earn your real estate business since 2007 and Welcome to today’s walk and talk.

Selwyn Council and staff has put together a strategic plan and goals document for their current 4 year term.  I reviewed the 7 page document (click here to see document) of the 4 year targets and I am a little disappointed of the lack of vision council has for Selwyn. Most of the targets in this document can be accomplished within one or two years very easily. Quite frankly, some goals should not even be in this document. For example, one of the 4 year goals is to expand the leaf and yard waste pick up in Ennismore and through out the Township. Why is a County of Peterborough program on Selwyn strategic plan? Another silly goal is having name tags for staff and on hold music for the township. Is that really the priority of council in a four year term?

That said there is some excellent goals in this document as well. Council is looking to hold Town Hall meetings for each ward once a year. They are also considering blogging key community decisions. Over the next four years counsel will also review severance policy’s, update and review the official plan and work on natural gas and broadband expansion. 

The questions that jump out at me is: What is councils vision on parks, township properties, roads and fire department over the next four years? What type of financial reserves will we have? What is staffing levels going to look like? What is their vision on major projects and infrastructure will we see in all wards of Ennismore, Smith and Lakefield?

I challenge council to push themselves and have a vision that truly excites the community for the next four years.

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

My thought on what to do with the GE site. December 18/2018 Walk and Talk from Your Local Realtor Brad Sinclair:

After 126 years of business and Manufacturing, GE has closed its doors in Peterborough. So, what is going to happen to this 80 acre property? (Park St and Monaghan St parking lot.) 

Is GE going to do the American thing and board up the buildings and walk away?Maybe leave a skeleton crew on just to say there is current operations? 

My understanding is one of the biggest reasons this plant has closed is the poor condition of the plants buildings. It is also my understanding that the property is extremely contaminated. I don’t think this is a secret by any means. So what do we do? No one will ever be able to clean up this property. It will be a contaminated mess forever. Do you let it just rot? 

Or do we build the OHL and multiplex arena here? Think about this. When OMC left Peterborough they donated their contaminated property to the city and we even named the arena after one of their products. Developers Paved the site to seal the contamination and used the property for recreation. Win win right? So if nothing will ever happen to the GE property by GE why not approach GE to donate the land and a good portion of money for naming rights of a new complex for Peterborough to take over the property. Let’s try to make this loss the best win we possibly can. There is no better site in the city for a new complex and no other manufacturer is going to take over the site and poor condition buildings. 

Having a boarded up 126 year old manufacturing plant will never do Peterborough any good!

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

Cannabis. Opt in or Opt out. Will fear rule here? Further Thoughts on December 18/2018 Walk and Talk from Your Local Realtor Brad Sinclair:

Currently as a resident of Ontario, you can have legal access to Cannabis in three ways.

1. You can purchase from the OCS online
2. Grow plants of your own (Up to 4 plants)
3. Prescription for medical purposes.

Soon storefront operation licences will be available in Ontario. Ontario is allowing Municipalities to choose if they will allow a storefront operation in their community which will be heavily regulated by the government. Municipalities Must make this decision by January 22. If you opt out you cannot opt back in later after you see how other municipalities make out with their storefronts. If you opt in you can opt out later, but opting in provides you with additional funding from the province. Any additional funding is welcome to any municipality.  

As far as I’m concerned this is no more dangerous then LCBO. It’s going to be well regulated and stores can not be located within 150 meters of a school. That’s said just like the LCBO ID will be required to purchase. There is plenty of marijuana use in our township. It can be purchased illegally or legally. Would it not be better to have the benefits of the legal purchases for a Township?

Selwyn Would like to hear what you have to say. There is a survey online for you to fill out which also is used as an education piece. The survey will be open until January 9th, 2019. Here is a link to the survey: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCNRK59

Here is the questions in the survey:

1. Are you a resident of the Township of Selwyn?

2. What age range do you fall under?

3. In completing this survey, are you responding as a... (resident or Business owner)

4. If you were to purchase cannabis, would you prefer to purchase online or through storefront businesses?

5. Retail stores for recreational cannabis will create jobs and benefit businesses in the Township of Selwyn.

6. Are you aware that retail stores would NOT be permitted within 150 metres of a school and would be prohibited from obtaining a licence to sell cannabis even if retail sales are permitted in the municipality (i.e. if the municipality permits retail sales, any retail outlet within a 150 metre (490 foot) radius of a school would NOT be permitted to sell cannabis)?

7. Are you aware that the local police services (OPP and Peterborough Police) will enforce cannabis legislation (road safety and illegal storefronts etc.)?

 8. Both the OPP and Peterborough Public Health suggested allowing cannabis sales in the community as a way to provide local access to a legal product and to potentially curb the illegal market. Do you agree that allowing retail cannabis sales would help curb the illegal market?

9. Which of the following options best reflects your perspective? 

-Cannabis is a legal product and should be marketed at retail stores located in the commercial areas.
-Retail cannabis sales should be allowed, however should be subject to strict regulations and licensing.
-Cannabis is available legally to local residents on line and by growing at home therefore retails shops are unnecessary.
-Even though cannabis is a legal product, retail sales should not be allowed under any circumstances.

I can tell you the older population in Selwyn is scared to death of this. I learned this at the all candidates meeting earlier this year.  Don’t let their fears cost us as a township in the long run. Smoking of marijuana is not going to be allowed in public spaces. It’s not going to cause an epidemic of pot smoking criminals. This will give an opportunity for someone to open a small business in our township as well as provide funding from the province to Selwyn. The council must get this right.

Maps of where potential storefronts can open in Selwyn Township. See yellow highlighted areas

Ennismore

Buckhorn

Bridgenorth

Lakefield

Youngs Point

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

Further Thoughts on December 17/2018 Walk and Talk from Your Local Realtor Brad Sinclair: Municipal Council Pay and Comparisons and National Shortage Crisis

Municipal Council Pay and Comparisons 

Effective 2019 Municipal elected officials lose a 1/3 tax exemption that helped supplement their pay. Because of this loss of the exemption most councils throughout Ontario last year voted to bump up the pay of the next council. City of Peterborough's last council did not do this for some reason. Here is what local councils typically pay.

Peterborough councillor $27,720 (Council is looking for 30% to 40% pay raise)

City of Kawartha Lakes Councillor $48,050

Selwyn Councillor $22,029

City of Kawartha Lakes Deputy Mayor $50,970

Selwyn Deputy Mayor $26,767

Peterborough Mayor $67,703

City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor $111,790

Selwyn Mayor $39,823

National Shortage Crisis

Canada has a new crisis! There is a national shortage of product. What product you ask? Pot.  This national shortage is holding up the licensing process for recreational retail cannabis stores across Ontario. Alberta has stopped allowing new stores to open and Quebec is reducing stores operation hours and days open. The OCS now is working with federally licensed producers to monitor the availability of supply of pot and will continue to urge the federal government to take immediate action to insured licensed producers ramp up production in order to meet the anticipated market demand of their product. So in other words the government is really crappy drug dealer.

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

Further Thoughts on December 14/2018 Walk and Talk from Your Local Realtor Brad Sinclair: Peterborough Petes VS Peterborough Lakers

I have been very vocal on the Peterborough Memorial Center floor issue in the last week. My heart breaks that the Lakers will not have a major arena to play in 2019. (In Peterborough)  Reading media reports there was a solution on the table that would save the Back to Back Mann Cup Winning Lakers season and satisfy the Petes needs by repairing the floor. I been critical of The Petes for pushing The City for a full floor replacement and not a repair. Burton Lee from the Petes and President Dave Pogue reached out to me to further discuss some facts about this issue which had not been well publicized. A few quick facts that we spoke about was the Petes were going to be displaced for a few months as well. The floor would not be complete until November. This would create a number of challenges to over come for the Petes as well. Also the current system also produces poor ice. This can be unsafe for the quick game of the OHL. One other fact we discussed was Mr.Pogue researched every possible angle and spoke to many experts including Dan Craig and no one had another viable option if the floor repair failed in any way.  I am going to meet with Mr. Pogue next week to see the facts and I will be sure to share with you what I find out in this meeting. Maybe I have been right all along, maybe I have been wrong. We will see.

Tomorrow the Lakers executive will meet to start planning what to do for their 2019 season. There was some talk of the Lakers folding for the 2019 season which does not seem like a very good path to take but the numbers are going to have to work for them not-to fold. To be honest with you I’m not sure if MSL would even survive is the Lakers folded for the year. The city has offered compensation for lost ticket revenue but The Lakers wonder if they will have enough sponsorship money without playing in front of the large crowds. Tim Barrie is quoted saying that "the compensation for the one year will not cut it. The City are doing irreparable damage to the Laker organization and if they kill this franchise it will take years to build it back up" Peterborough has offered the Evinrude Centre to the Lakers but that facility seats 750 fans and the current season ticket base is over 2100 fans. Tim Barrie also says the franchise has had other offers from other communities to host the Lakers but would not say who. The Lakers are going to have to be creative. It does sound like the Petes and the city will help where they can for marketing and promotion of the Lakers sponsors. I’m hoping they come up with something that works for them tomorrow.

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca

Peterborough needs to think bigger than the proposed twin pad arena

The proposed new twin pad arena at Trent University sounds like a great complex. The complex would have the following elements:

• a twin pad community arena
• an elevated running track
• off-ice training centre
• sport office and sport storage space
• administrative space
• multi-purpose and meeting facilities
• commercial opportunities
• the addition of a 25-metre, 10-lane competitive pool and a warm up pool is also being considered to be included in the first phase of the arena project.

The projected cost of this arena was announced at $53 million. The land was to be provided by Trent University. At this point what the deal between the City and Trent University to have the land is not clear to me or the public. The land also comes with a few issues including building on wetlands, endangered species and First Nations are not happy about the destruction of the lands as this project impacts treaties. I also hate the location of Trent for an arena. There is no easy access to the arena for opposing teams coming into the city. To get to the arena they would have to travel the Parkway to Lansdowne to Water or through the back roads of Douro-Dummer township to arrive at the rink. Also for tournament purposes there is no accommodations in the immediate area. The only way this location will work is if the Parkway is constructed.

The Rethink Group who was hired by the city for consultation. Rethink says the city is in need: 

So right from the start a twin pad is too small. Why are we not addressing the ice pad need first then adding all these "extras" that are ballooning the costs to build? Rethink projected costs of the twin pad complex at $20-26 million depending on level of finish. A Triple Pad was projected at $27-$36 million again depending on level of finish. To build a twin pad 8 acres of land is required and a triple pad arena requires 12 acres.

Now that the Provincial Government has held back the $18 million promised for this project the City has delayed the project by one year. The city has spent $2.1 million on architectural drawings. What a waste.

That all said I think the city should take the next year and come up with a new plan. The project does not meet the needs of the city. Why go though all this expense and time and build a complex that is too small? I just don't understand. Take this as an opportunity. Find a proper location in the city by the 115. Build a quad ice surface facility that would bring in weekend tournaments but not effect the ice time of teams and leagues not associated in that tournament. For funding, keep working on Federal and Provincial governments for funding but don't be fearful of approaching business and corporate partnerships for further funding.

What are your thoughts?

That is all I have for you today.  

When you are in a need for a Realtor Check me online at www.bradsinclair.ca I would like to have you business.

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell in Selwyn or Peterborough contact me immediately at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Brokerage

Solving Problems and Making Things Happen in Real Estate since 2007

www.bradsinclair.ca

www.royallepagerealestate.com

www.gowaterfront.ca