Monthly Archives: January 2018

Unforgettable Ways To Spend Time with the Family…On Family Day!

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Family Day Activities

With the upcoming Family Day weekend, many people in Ontario are looking for something fun to do on one or more of the days of the long weekend.

Whether you’re in the Toronto area, outside of the GTA, or looking to travel elsewhere, there are a ton of places to go and things to do:

Great Wolf Lodge – Although some find it expensive, I know a lot of people like going to the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. What better way to spend the weekend than right down at the falls, enjoying the view and making a splash? It’s perfect for people of all ages…after all, who doesn’t enjoy a good waterpark? Alternatively, there’s the Fallsview waterpark in Niagara Falls! Whichever you choose, book early! There is a good chance are that both of these options will be busy on weekends… especially the long weekend.

Rochester, New York – I absolutely love visiting Rochester. They have an amazing outlet mall, and depending on what time of year you go they have a fantastic hockey team or Triple-A baseball team. There’s a great waterpark, lots of restaurants, an amazing children’s museum (Strong Museum of Play) and the George Eastman Museum dedicated to photography and film. I like staying at the Hyatt because there’s an indoor pool, and if it’s a weekend, generally the rate is a bit lower.

Deerhurst Resort – You could always escape to a northern resort like Deerhurst in Muskoka, where they have skating, fat biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. They also accommodate kids, of course. To truly enjoy the winter wonderland that is northern Ontario, I suggest you and your family head up to Muskoka!

Snow Valley – I’ve written about this place before, after visiting it for an afternoon of snow tubing. While I personally had a great time tubing, you can also try your hand at skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. There are smaller hills for kids and those who are just starting out, as well as lessons for first-timers. Snow Valley has a small chalet where you can warm yourselves up by the fire and grab something to eat before hitting the slopes.

Skating Rinks – There are many skating rinks across the province…both indoor and outdoor. Here in Toronto, there’s a new outdoor skating trail that runs under the Gardner Expressway around June Callwood Park to the east of the Fort York Visitor’s Centre. Unlike your typical skating rink, this is a trail, where skaters can skate between the pillars that hold up the highway, so it’s a little different than skating in circles. They also have regular entertainment throughout the week, if you want to take a break from the blades.

Indoor Activities – If you don’t want to be outside, there are lots of indoor swimming pools that are heated! In addition, if indoor activities are more your forte, go to an art gallery or museum. Have you tried trampolining? Hit up your nearest SkyZone and watch the kids have a blast, while you get in a great workout! I would also suggest Ripley’s Aquarium, where you can explore the deep sea while staying dry at the same time. That said, be forewarned that there are usually long lines at the aquarium during the weekend or on holidays.

Whatever you choose to do, have a safe and enjoyable Family Day weekend!

 

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Imagining a Great Movie Going Experience!

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Photo of the interior of an Imagine Cinema

As always, the holiday week between Christmas and New Years’ was filled with lots and lots of family activities, eating, going out, and just generally having fun. One activity that I always look forward to is catching up on the long list of movies that I never seem to get around to. This includes older movies that I never managed to see and of course, hitting the theatre and seeing the new releases.

As part of this year’s movie going activities, I checked out a new theatre that I learned about, from of all people…my daughter.

For many years, there’s been a movie theatre at the Promenade mall…known as Rainbow Theatres. The facility has recently been re-branded as Imagine Cinemas, and renovated….for the better!

All the seats are now very wide recliners, lazy boy style, which allow you to lean back, with the front popping up so that you can put your feet up, as well. The seats also have cup holders for your drinks and plenty of space for you to lounge in. All the old seats have been replaced with these new ones, so each theatre now only has about 40 seats. You get way more privacy, space and to top it off, it’s super comfortable to watch a movie.

In addition to the comfy seats, the tickets there are also less expensive than other theatres, with children costing $8.00 and adult tickets costing $11.00. The concession snacks are also a little less expensive than other theatres.

Finally, I found the employees to all be super friendly, polite, and professional. During my visit, they were always cleaning, restocking, and hustling around.

Overall, my first visit was an excellent experience, and the movie (Coco – if you haven’t seen it, run to your nearest Imagine Cinemas!) was great as well.

I highly recommend checking out the theatre for a reasonably priced outing and a comfy movie experience!

Imagine Cinemas
Promenade Mall
905-886-7464
https://imaginecinemas.com

 

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The Running Room: A Company Running with Great Customer Service!

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People Cheering for the Running Room at an event

Over the last few weeks, I’ve written about some of the challenges facing the retail industry, and highlighted some retailers that are changing the way they do business. Recently, I’ve come across another company that really seems to capture the essence of customer service, as it clearly comes from the top down.

As anyone who knows me well can tell you, I really have a difficult time finding shoes that fit me. While I’ve frequently gone to The Running Room for my daughter’s shoes, I never seem to find anything that works for me, so an employee suggested I go online for a wider variety of their shoes. They told me that there are no shipping fees or returns fees involved.

I thought I’d take a shot at it and (of course) immediately ran into an obstacle when the one pair of shoes I really liked were not available in my size. They had every other size except mine! Throwing up my hands in frustration, I decided to put The Running Room to the test and I contacted their head office. Their head office phone number is answered by a recorded greeting of their founder, John Stanton, and includes an option of hitting a button to speak directly to John. I wasn’t expecting to speak to someone, but to my surprise, he immediately answered.

I had a lovely chat with John, told him my problem, and without hesitation, he offered to find someone to help me and said I would get a call back in just a few minutes. Not fifteen minutes later, one of John’s colleagues called me up, asked me some questions about my needs, did some research, and found me some options for shoes that would work for me.

While I was given the option of picking the shoes up from the store, it was easier to have them delivered to my house and within a few days, I had a pair of shoes that fit and easily returned the others that I chose not to keep.

It’s rare to find a company that goes above and beyond to keep customers happy, and it’s even rarer to have a President who is as accessible as John is (answering his own phone). Clearly, The Running Room gets it. Thanks to John and his team, I now have a pair of running shoes that fit my needs….and my feet!

The Running Room
1-800-419-2906
https://www.runningroom.com/hm/

 

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Awards to the Awards People at North York Trophies:

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Some Trophies available for purchase from North York Trophies

In all the time I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve neglected to mention a supplier to SQM, and one of my favourite companies to deal with.

For many years, long-serving employees at SQM achieve a special acknowledgement when they hit milestone anniversaries, such as the five and ten-year mark. To celebrate these occasions, the employees not only receive a special gift, but we’ve also awarded them a plaque for being with us for five years, and an engraved crystal for ten years of service.

SQM has been in business for 24 years and since the beginning, I’ve looked no further than North York Trophies for all of my awards needs. In fact, my relationship with them precedes SQM, when I was involved in several sports leagues where athletes would periodically receive awards.

I still remember one of my first visits, when the employee took down the information, asked me about the player, and called me when it was ready. At the time, I had someone else go and pick it up for me, but then a few days later, it dawned on me that I never actually paid for it. When I called the store, the employee told me he had no way of contacting me but was confident that I’d call back to settle up.

Putting aside the quality of their merchandise, the trust factor that they extended was the beginning of a great relationship! I’ve always enjoyed working with companies who put the customer’s needs first, instead of focusing on getting a deposit or being paid upfront. Since that first visit, they’ve always been more concerned with meeting my needs and dealing with the payment after.

Though a few people have changed over the years, thankfully, most things at the business have remained the same. I’m not sure the name does them justice, as they have a lot of variety when it comes to products, their prices are competitive, and the workmanship is of high quality.

And the winner for outstanding trophies and awards goes to……….. North York Trophies!

North York Trophies
905-886-2900
www.northyorktrophies.com

 

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