Scentipedia

York Region has a population of over 870,000 people and covers an area of over 1,750 square kilometres. Sitting between Peel Region in the West and Durham region in the east, York Region consists of the Cities of Markham and Vaughan, with the townships of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The two main population centers are the Cities of Markham and Vaughan. Both Cities have average populations with Markham being the largest in the Region with over 220,000. Markham is renowned for being the Hi Tech capital of Canada with several high profile corporate head offices making the city their home. The city is modern with excellent healthcare and schooling. Vaughan has one particular claim to fame in being directly north of Toronto, making them “above” the main city. This too is a rapidly expanding city with great facilities and plenty of new communities springing up.

The York Region is host to over 25,000 businesses which provide 400,000 jobs – a number that is growing by approximately 20,000 per year at current rates. With close proximity to the Pearson International airport and a young, well educated workforce, York Region is one of the fastest growing regions of the GTA and is very popular with Immigrants. The York Region Transit system connects most communities within the Region to each other and the Toronto GO Transit system to give a very effective public transport network.

The Region administers the Healthcare and Education following the Provincial guidelines. The York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board are responsible for the day to day operations of the Region’s schools – all of which can be contacted via these sites.

The Town Of Aurora – With a population of over 43,000, the Town of Aurora is another rapidly expanding town. The population is young and has a high average income (compared to most Canadian towns) of around $110,000 per household. The housing is fairly expensive though with an average price of a single family detached home being over $370,000 two years ago!

There is a large variety of employers in the town and it is also commutable to the Toronto downtown core. This gives a low unemployment level of 4% in 2001 with the majority of employment in management/business, finance and sciences/technology. Manufacturing and retail are the other big areas of employment. To research all the businesses currently operating in the town go to the chamber of commerce site via the towns Economic Development Division page on the Town website.

The town itself is a historical place with plenty of old buildings with lots of character. With close proximity to both the big city of Toronto and the rural areas, Aurora provides excellent recreational opportunities to its residents. This ranges from parks, playgrounds and pedestrian trails to championship golf courses, fine dining and theatre. A full recreational program is offered in the Town which will soon be augmented by a new state of the art Recreation Centre.

The Town Of East Gwillimbury is a semi rural area located only half an hours drive from Toronto. Another historic area with settlement dating back to the 1700’s, the population is now over 20,000 and growing.

Again, East Gwillimbury has an excellent array of recreational facilities including arena’s, trails, play parks and over 135 acres of parkland. There are ice rinks, outdoor sports pitches, the usual golf courses and for the less active a 16 screen movie theatre.

There are a wide variety of employers in the town providing ample employment and the new GO Transit station gives good access to the city. The population also enjoys an above average household income.

The Town Of Georgina is the most northerly area of the York Region and is made up of several smaller communities. Situated on the South eastern shores of Lake Simcoe, the communities of Georgina have plenty of beaches and open space – especially with the area being known as “Getaway Country”.

The lake offers up year round recreation including swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing and ice fishing to name a few. On top of this the great outdoors is all around and the communities have good facilities. Some of the more prominent communities are Keswick, Sutton, Udora, Jacksons Point and Port Bolster.

Most employment seems to be in the local services and tourism sector though full research can be carried out through the chamber of commerce website.

The Township Of King is home to around 20,000 people and is a fairly rural area. Famous for the Holland Marsh – a fertile area that produces most of the Provinces fresh vegetables – most industry is based upon the support of agriculture. There are a lot of Horse breeders in the area along with livestock and dairy farms. There is some light industry and the Seneca College campus is located on the former Easton estate.

As with most Canadian towns, King has good sporting and leisure facilities including golf courses, trails, parks and 3 arena’s. Most facilities are pay as you use – more details can be found on the township website. The Township has a rich history dating back to the aboriginal peoples and then the western settlers in the late 1600’s. A museum is now dedicated to the area’s history and will be well worth a visit.

There are excellent transport links to Toronto and it’s only around 40 minutes to drive to Pearson International airport (south). A prosperous town, the average income back in 1996 was over 97,000 with an unemployment rate of 5%. In the 8 years since I can only see that the average income would rise to over $100,000 per household.

The Town Of Newmarket is another large town with a population of over 73,000 that is growing fairly quickly. Over 70% of the population are under 45 years old. With all the amenities you would expect for a big town, Newmarket is home to the York Region Administrative Headquarters, the Provincial Court and the District 1 Police HQ.

The Southlake regional health centre is a fully equipped modern hospital with plans for expansion. These combine to make local government the highest employer in the area. On top of this, the local business community is growing at over 3.5% each year with retail stores and manufacturing companies having a large presence. Use the links on the town site to go to the Chamber of Commerce site for the full listing of businesses.

For recreation purposes there is a full program of sports and activities with the new Ray Twinney Rec. centre having two arena’s and an indoor pool. There are several other arena’s, pools and rinks in the town as well as a youth centre with a fully equipped skatepark. All the usual outdoor activities are available in the area including hiking, cross country skiing and golf. For the less energetic, the Upper Canada Mall is an impressive 1 million square feet of shops which should pacify even the most hardy shopper!

House prices are reasonable for Ontario with the average in 2001 being $242,000 for a single family detached home. Being located close to Toronto brings obvious benefits with great transport links including the GTA GO Transit system. The York Region Transit system also operates in the town. Highway 404 will direct you to the downtown area of Toronto in around 30 minutes and Pearson International airport is only an hour away. Buttonville airport in nearby Markham is useful for lighter regional aircraft.

The Town Of Richmond Hill is one of the fastest growing large municipalities in Canada and has a population of over 158,000. Situated directly North of Toronto, (between Markham and Vaughan), Richmond Hill is ideally located for commuting and access to the city for recreation or onward travel. As with the other municipalities, Richmond Hill has the York Transit, Toronto Transit Commission and the GTA GO Transit networks providing great options for transport.

Richmond Hill is renowned for its world class high tech manufacturing and research companies with the lowest R

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Ohio has the honor of being the birthplace of many American presidents; thus the nickname Mother of Modern Presidents. The name Ohio stems from the Indian name of the river – Ohio meant beautiful river. Indeed this beautiful river paved the way for the great industrialization of the State in modern times.

Physical Geography and Demographics

Ohio sprawls over some 116,096 sq km or 44,825 square miles which includes 378 square miles of inland water. Another inland square miles of 3,499 of Lake Erie also belongs to state. Ohio then is the 34th largest state in the United States. Ohio has 88 counties, and 61 cities.

Ohio is lucky to have a strategic location. The state links the Midwest regions to the Northeast. Ohio is bounded on the north by Lake Erie, on the south by Ohio River. In the east is Pennsylvania. Michigan occupies the northwest border. Ontario is situated on the northern border and Indiana flanks the west. West Virginia and Kentucky rises on the southeast.

With its population of 11,464,042 in 2005, it ranked 7th in the number of populated states. The population is mix of ethnic races, whites and blacks, Asians, Native Americans and native Hawaiians.

Climate

Ohio is subject to mild to cold winter and warm to hot summers. The climate is also influenced by the cold dry polar air of Canada and the humid air of the Gulf of Mexico.

History

Ohio became the 17th state of the US on March 1, 1803. Prior any foreign settlements were established, native Indians populated Ohio. Ohio was the proverbial hunting ground for beaver pelt. Ohio also played a role in the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Industries

The major industries of the state are agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, mining, manufacturing and real estate.

The major agricultural crops are soybeans, green house grown cash crop and corn. Cabbages, cantaloupes and tomatoes are grown commercially. Maple syrup is also commercially produced. Eggs, dairy products and livestock are the top revenue earners for the state.

The mining industry produces lime and coal. The state is also a commercial producer of crushed stone, sand, gravel, natural gas, lime, petroleum, and salt.

The Ohio real estate industry is an upcoming major industry. Reputable Ohio real estate firms can provide free listings of beautiful homes and acreages. Ohio real estate agents can be counted on to provide efficient service and accurate estimates. Sellers can be assured of fair selling prices and profits, and buyers can be guaranteed accurate estimates. Ohio real estate agents have updated listings of properties up for sale. These real estate properties are situated all over the state. On top of this, Ohio real estate firms can provide information about housing taxes, and mortgages.

Health and Education

Health centers and hospitals with modern facilities have been serving the people of Ohio. Healthcare facilities are also available. In education, Ohio has prestigious colleges and universities. Degrees in education, business, arts and sciences and medicine are offered. For public education, the state has spent $8.928 per student.

Off to Ohio

A blend of the rural and the urban awaits those who wish to relocate or invest in Ohio. Investing in Ohio will be fruitful, considering its many industries and strategic location.

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With the great advances in medical care in recent years, many of them related to early detection of disease, it makes more and more sense for residents of Dallas, Houston, Austin and throughout Texas to take advantage of what is available, Those who do so are more likely to live longer, some experts say.

History supports the idea with at least one example, the death rate associated with cervical cancer. Fifty years ago, cervical cancer was responsible for killing more women than any other form of cancer. When medical science developed the Pap test, which can identify cervical cancer before it starts, the death rate began going down; today cervical cancer is number 15 on the list of cancers that kill American women.

Not every test is perfect, say experts, and that goes for the Pap test. For every five women who have cancerous or precancerous cervical cells, at least one will have a test mistakenly reported as normal, according to the National Institutes of Health. Because this type of cancer develops slowly, a woman’s next test should be a better indicator, but a so-called “false negative” can result in a delay, which could be dangerous when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.

Another common test that can have lifesaving benefits for Texans is the colonoscopy, which is performed by a doctor inserting a flexible, lighted tube into the rectum and guiding it into the colon to look for and remove growths called polyps, the source of most colon cancers.

While the Centers for Disease Control reports a drop in deaths from colon cancer from more than 57,000 in 2000 to 53,580 in 2004, one problem identified by some researchers is that doctors who do the exam too quickly won’t see the full benefit of the screening.

In doing colonoscopies, experience is seen to be a factor. Some experts suggest asking the physician how many colonoscopies are done in a typical morning. Ten is a reasonable number, the experts say.

Another test known to be effective in saving lives is the screening for human papilloma virus. Commonly referred to as an HPV test, the procedure indentifies the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. The HPV test is used with the Pap to screen women over the age of 30, and is used to assess whether they have been infected with any of the 13 HPV types that are linked to the cancer. The HPV test is also suggested for younger women if a Pap test shows there is a possible problem.

Testing for breast cancer includes having a mammogram, one of the more basic methods of screening. While mammograms have generated some controversy, the result of a Danish research study that said there was no good evidence behind its widespread use, both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have since come out in favor of the test for women, starting at age 40.

For women 50 and older, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reports that an annual mammogram cuts the risk of dying of breast cancer by at least 16%. The test does have its flaws, however, including the potential for it to indicate an abnormality when one isn’t really there. While the argument can be made against getting a false alarm, what is more worrisome are surveys showing that, in about 20% of cases where cancer is present, a mammogram doesn’t detect it.

Patients who remain concerned are sometimes encouraged to ask for a double-check of an x-ray. Another strategy is to ask the testing facility about its reading practices. Some experts say that x-rays should ideally be read by two radiologists or scanned by computer-assisted detection technologies which can improve the accuracy of the tests.

Some experts also suggest that women who are at higher risk have an MRI done each year, the idea being that higher detection rates typically come from the MRI versus a mammogram. In a study by Ellen Warner, MD, a medical oncologist at Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre in Ontario, the MRI found 77% of cancers, compared with 36% detected by mammography. At the same time, women at average risk are not encouraged to get an MRI because of a high false-positive rate — it often signals cancer when none is present.

Not all news on the cancer front is good news. One standout point of concern is with melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer that has the distinction of being the only cancer that can be screened for that is on the increase, both in the number of new cases and in the death rate.

The American Cancer Society suggests getting a once-over for melanoma at every checkup. Because melanoma can occur in surprising spots that are difficult to examine yourself, like the eyes, gums, and genitals, experts say a full-body check is the best protection. Patients should take advantage of routine exams by asking their dentist, eye doctor, and gynecologist to look for pigmented lesions or other suspicious changes.

Early detection of cancer can be one of the more effective ways of remaining healthy.

The Midwestern state of Ohio is nothing short of the all-American experience for travel, business or pleasure. Ohio is the center of milestones in United States history, from space flight and presidents to rock and roll and football. Finding your ideal airfare to Ohio from anywhere in the world is always convenient by choosing among Ohio’s six international airports: Cincinnati, Dayton, Port Columbus, Akron-Fulton, Cleveland-Hopkins and Rickenbacker.

Outdoors in Ohio

With its varying borders and waterways, Ohio is both easily accessible and fantastically diverse. Ohio is bordered by Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and Ontario, Canada across Lake Erie. Ohio also enjoys the natural borders of Lake Erie to the north and the Ohio River to the south, providing for a bustling and lucrative trade industry. In the north, Ohio is particularly flat due to glacial activity in the past. The Glaciated Allegheny Plateaus in the northeast, famous for their coal mining legacy, give way to busy waters of the Erie. Moving further south, Ohio is graced with rolling hills and the foothills of the Appalachians, home to many local wineries and booming agribusiness.

The Lake Erie Islands belong to Ohio and are a wonderfully festive and picturesque escape from the seaside hustle and bustle of Cleveland. Private vacation homes, public beaches, amusement parks, and even wineries grace the many different islands. Back on the mainland, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a splendid destination for adventurers and nature lovers. The park is conveniently close to urban centers, but its cascading waterfalls, winding rivers and abundant flora and fauna make this 5th most visited U.S. National Park worlds away. Another popular escape is Wayne National Forest in the southeast.

Ohio’s Opulent Legacies

With major urban centers like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Akron, Ohio has blessed the rest of the United States with constant innovation and culture. Just outside of Akron in Canton is the birthplace of professional American football, as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On the banks of Lake Erie, the world-class metropolis of Cleveland is known as the Rock and Roll capital of the world and home to one of the best collections of art and culture in the United States.

Ohio is also famous as the birthplace of eight U.S. Presidents, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and the fathers of aviation, the Wright Brothers. Ohio also pioneers the space science and flight industry with the NASA Research Center and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Travel to Ohio for a diverse jaunt through modern American culture, Native American History and the condemnation of slavery where the Underground Railroad terminated.

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In a special to CNN, the Mayo Clinic’s mayoclinic.com reported that, “Parkinson’s disease is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time. But although Parkinson’s may eventually be disabling, the disease often progresses gradually, and most people have many years of productive living after a diagnosis.” This would indicate that there may be effective interventions that could perhaps slow the progress of the disease. When we get such a diagnosis, our first reaction might be to withdraw and give up. However, the old adage “use it or lose it” tells us that just the opposite is true. If you have Parkinson’s, you’d likely be best off to use everything your body is, every which way, on a regular basis.

Tai Chi movement’s gentle balance enhancing motions can obviously help the Parkinson’s patient by helping to reduce the gradual loss of balance that Parkinson’s sufferers often experience. However, there may be much more it offers. For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the human body in about 95% of the ways the body can move, when a long form is practiced. This is far beyond what other exercise offers, and in fact the closest would be several swimming strokes, which together would only rotate the body in about 65% of the ways it can move. For Parkinson’s sufferers, or anyone for that matter, this would indicate that by “using” 95% of the body’s possible motion several times a week, the possibility of “losing” the ability to do so diminishes accordingly. This isn’t rocket science, but simple common sense.

Yet, perhaps Parkinson’s patients have even more to gain from Tai Chi. A few years ago I taught several classes at local medical centers. I was continually frustrated because although I’d seen emerging reports that Tai Chi was beneficial to people with Parkinson’s Disease, or arthritis, or chronic hypertension, etc., even though the departments that specialized in those conditions were often just down the hall from my Tai Chi class . . . they might as well have been a million miles away. Because the physicians who ran those departments were either ignorant of or unwilling to refer their patients to the possibilities that Tai Chi offered their lives.

I remember though, that at one medical center a visionary neurologist began to refer patients with balance disorders to my Tai Chi classes and the result was very beneficial for his patients. Another physician actually wrote prescriptions for my Tai Chi classes to treat the chronic hypertension of his patients, who’d seen a significant drop in their blood pressure since beginning the classes weeks before. A clinical psychologist brought me in to teach Qigong (Chi Kung) meditation and Tai Chi to her patient group to enhance their sense of well being and provide effective stress management training. So, even back then some physicians were seeing the potential Tai Chi offered their clients, and even more are now, but the number of physicians who are still not informing their patients of Tai Chi’s direct therapeutic or at the least adjunct therapy benefits to their patient’s efforts to deal with their conditions and life, is increasingly indefensible in this day and age. Given the research that has exposed the many physical, mental, and emotional benefits Tai Chi offers, for physicians to not educate themselves on this and share their knowledge with each and every patient is tantamount to mal-practice. Health educators should likewise be making such therapies part of their medical student education programs as well.

Tai Chi for Parkinson’s is being recommended increasingly by support groups and some progressive medical centers, but until everyone that has Parkinson’s knows about it, then our work at World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is not done, nor is the medical community’s. There are many obvious reasons everyone with Parkinson’s should be doing Tai Chi, but it’s the ones that are not yet obvious that may be the most intriguing. One obvious reason is that Tai Chi is the most powerful balance and coordination enhancing exercise known. In many studies at major universities Tai Chi was found to be TWICE as effective in reducing falls as the other balance enhancing exercises being studied. For people with Parkinson’s, who often see their balance deteriorate as their condition progresses, it is unforgivable for them to not be informed of Tai Chi’s potential benefits at the earliest stage possible while their balance is still good.

Now, regarding the less obvious reasons Tai Chi may benefit Parkinson’s patients. Both my wife and daughter, who co-taught a Tai Chi class together noticed that a young man with severe Parkinson’s tremors . . . completely lost his tremors once he joined the class in flowing through the Tai Chi movements in class. In another class I was teaching an older man with advanced Parkinson’s attended my classes for many months, and he always came in very slow with his walker. Once we began the Tai Chi movements he no longer used his walker, and had learned the entire long form of Tai Chi I taught, which was over 15 minutes of continuous changing forms. His form was unique and tailored for his limitations, but nonetheless a challenging set of exercises he was able to accomplish without the use of his walker. What do these anecdotal experiences portend for others with Parkinson’s? I don’t know, but there should be massive research dollars coming from the National Institutes of Health to find out. Given the promise Tai Chi seems to offer people on so many profound physical, emotional, and mental fronts from preliminary research, the current total research money earmarked for complimentary and alternative medicine’s (CAM) is a mere pittance.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), now in its sixth year, supports more than 300 research projects and has an estimated budget of over $120 million for 2005 (up from $50 million in 1999). Total spending on CAM by all NIH institutes and centers is expanding as well, and is expected to reach $315 million by 2005.

Sounds like a lot? However, $120 million is less than “one half of one percent” of the total NIH FY2005 budget. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges the NIH’s total annual budget for FY 2005 is $28.8 billion (http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/05pch8.htm). Remember, we are talking about only spending much much less than one half of one percent to study an exercise that preliminary research has shown to: n Lower High Blood Pressure (about 1/3 of Americans have hypertension – roughly over 90 million Americans) n Boost Immune Function profoundly (a study sited at drkoop.com indicates that a Tai Chi practicing group was TWICE as resistant to the shingles virus, and researchers believed this would carry over to other viral resistance as well.) n Dramatically reduce falling injuries by about half (complications from falling injuries in older Americans is the 6th leading cause of death for seniors in America)

If Tai Chi only addressed this chronic condition affecting 1/3 of Americans, while boosting the immune system of all practitioners profoundly, and cutting in half the sixth leading cause of death for seniors, without any negative side effects, that would seem to be, for the rational person a reason for pouring massive resources into researching it further. However, Tai Chi’s benefits only begin with the above preliminary findings. We also know that it may very well relieve depression, anxiety, and mood disturbance, as well as reduce ADHD symptoms in teenagers diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. There are indications that Tai Chi may greatly reduce or even eliminate chronic pain conditions, and lessen allergic and asthmatic reactions, and improve overall respiratory function.

My point is, “where is the massive attention this would garner on talk shows, and in health newspaper sections, if this were a drug or surgery that could provide such a seemingly massive breakthrough in health treatment?” Peter Chowka, in a brilliant two part series for Natural Health Line, entitled “Complementary & Alternative Medicine in 2000,” wrote, “Conflicts of interest are not uncommon in most aspects of life. But in medicine, the biggest business in the U.S. (over $1.5 trillion a year constituting over 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, according to the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine report issued January 10, 2001), serious conflicts are particularly well entrenched.” Mr. Chowka wrote of physicians like Dr. Marcia Angell voicing concerns of the “troubling” result massive research money from drug and medical-equipment companies was having on the scientific process. In the New England Journal of Medicine’s May 18, 2000 issue, Dr. Angel wrote an editorial entitled, “Is Academic Medicine for Sale?” She wrote, “As we spoke with research psychiatrists about writing an editorial on the treatment of depression . . . we found very few who did not have financial ties to drug companies that make antidepressants. . .The problem is by no means unique to psychiatry. We routinely encounter similar difficulties in finding editorialists in other specialties, particularly those that involve the heavy use of expensive drugs and devices.”

So, who can make a multi-billion dollar fortune teaching Tai Chi to people? No one can. Tai Chi cannot be bottled, or mass marketed. It is a decentralized labor intensive industry that employees many people, but keeps the profits small and local. Yes, there are videos and DVDs that teach Tai Chi effectively, but ultimately even those who utilize videos are drawn to live class like structures. As I mentioned before with the “anecdotal” experiences of my students with Parkinson’s, Tai Chi seems to offer something profoundly beneficial to the quality of life of Parkinson’s sufferers. It needs further study. We are in a catch 22, where many health professionals feel they cannot recommend Tai Chi because too much of the preliminary research is anecdotal. However, when Tai Chi is jockeying for position to get a crumb of the .5% of total NIH money going to ALL complimentary and alternative medical therapies . . . the result will be many long years of millions of people suffering needlessly from conditions or symptoms of those conditions that Tai Chi could likely safely lessen or even eliminate.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT TAI CHI AND PARKINSONS?

Tai Chi is being recommended by some forward thinking medical institutions already. The Cleveland Clinic of Neuroscience Center encourages Parkinson’s Disease patients to seek out a hobby or activity they can enjoy and stick with such as “Tai Chi” and other activities. The Alexian Neurosciences Institute in Illinois offers a course in their The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center. Also, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association at Stanford University Medical Center, in it’s “Beyond Pills…. Alternative Approaches to Coping with Parkinson’s Disease” program, offered “Tai Chi, The Art for Living with Parkinson’s” by Mwezo & Jane of Kujiweza Healing Arts. (Learn more at: http://parkinsons.stanford.edu/symposium.html). The Parkinson’s Society of Canada recommends Tai Chi for Parkinson’s patients, suggesting “Tai Chi may prevent or at least slow down the onset of degenerative diseases; in the long run, it can reduce need for rehabilitative care.” (http://www.parkinsons.ca/managing.html#taichi)

In the United Kingdom a Parkinson’s Tai Chi study was conducted at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, Cornwall. Their conclusion of the study was such, “Tai Chi training was well tolerated by PD patients in this study, but had no measurable effect on motor performance using UPDRS score or GAG time. There was a non-significant improvement in quality of life scores (PDQ 39). Larger studies would be needed fully to evaluate the value and efficacy of Tai Chi. However our results are encouraging, and provide evidence for its safety and tolerability and would support the feasibility of further study.” (http://www.pdcornwall.org.uk/showarticle.pl?n=30&id=81)

WCHS TV during a news report focusing on Tai Chi’s ability to boost immune system function, also reported that “Tai Chi has also been shown to help illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and arthritis.” (http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/healthyforlife/2177.shtml)

The Neurology Channel reported, “The slow flowing movements of Tai Chi help maintain flexibility, balance, and relaxation. The Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis, which teaches a modified form of Tai Chi, consistently reports benefits achieved by patients in all stages of Parkinson’s.” (http://www.neurologychannel.com/parkinsonsdisease/surgery.s html)

Physicians at the Mayo Clinic recommend Tai Chi for Parkinson’s therapy, under their Parkinson’s “self-care” section for avoiding falls, where they suggest you “Ask your doctor or physical therapist about exercises that improve balance, especially tai chi. Originally developed in China more than 1,000 years ago, tai chi uses slow, graceful movements to relax and strengthen muscles and joints. “

At a popular health website called “RemedyFind.com” viewers can vote on therapies they’ve found benefited their condition, or didn’t benefit it. The rating there for Tai Chi as a Parkinson’s therapy received a rating of 9.8 out of a possible 10. (http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=13945)

A Study at the University of Florida in Jacksonville found that patients who attended Tai Chi classes for one hour each week for 12-weeks were less likely than a group of control patients to experience an increase in the severity of their condition and a decrease in motor function. . . ..[of alternative therapies] the most popular therapies being Tai Chi, yoga, and acupuncture. (http://www.worldhealth.net/p/275,1526.html), (SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 13th November 2002)

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, “Parkinson’s Meets It’s Match in Tai Chi.” In this article they write that Dr. Mark Guttman, director of the Centre for Movement Disorders in Markham, Ontario, recommends people with Parkinson’s do exercises that involve a lot of stretching, similar to the movements of tai chi.

“Tai chi is wonderful; it can help people with disabilities as well as people with Parkinson’s,” he says. He added that studies on animals show exercise induces a change in the brain that prevents the symptom’s of Parkinson’s from emerging.

The Tai Chi teacher for this program, Ms. Embree, spoke of how people with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson’s often attend her classes . . . “Doctors are now sending people here,” adds Ms Embree. (for the entire article, go to: PARKINSON’S MEETING IT’S MATCH IN TAI CHI, April, 13, 2005, http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/0304/lvtaichi7.html )

At the National Parkinson’s Foundation site, Melanie M. Brandabur, MD NPF Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Chicago and Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD NPF Center of Excellence, Shands Jacksonville, wrote, “Most patients derive a great deal of benefit from today’s medications and surgical therapies for Parkinson’s Disease . . . However, benefits of these therapies can be limited. As time goes by, the medications may not seem as effective as they once were. Side effects or unpredictable response may develop. Surgical therapies are not curative and often treat only selected aspects of Parkinson’s Disease. For these reasons, patients may decide to explore other modalities, such as massage therapy, Tai Chi, yoga, or herbal preparations to augment their Parkinson’s medication . . . Many patients with Parkinson’s Disease have become interested in complementary therapies to supplement medications and other traditional PD treatments. These physicians also suggest that as Tai Chi and other modalities benefits are exposed by clinical research, physicians will advocate their use more widely. (http://www.parkinson.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dJFJLPwB&b=238635)

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day joins a growing number of health professionals specializing in fields like Parkinson’s who believe that much more research needs to be done to illuminate the full spectrum of benefits Tai Chi offers all people as well as those specifically with chronic conditions. This will enable more physicians to make Tai Chi a regular prescription written as therapy or adjunct therapy for a host of maladies many are already enjoying the benefits of for their condition, but paying out of pocket for. Ultimately more and more health insurance plans should and will make Tai Chi classes a deductible medical expense for their clients. The end result of this shift may portend the savings of hundreds of billions of dollars annually in saved health care costs as patients are better trained in self care techniques, training the great visionary Thomas Edison referred to as “the care and maintenance of the human frame,” which Edison envisioned would more and more reduce the need for expensive surgeries and life long dependence on medications as human beings maximized their own self healing abilities. Traditional Chinese Medicine has spent centuries developing and evolving self healing technologies like Tai Chi. Now the west can learn about their results, and physicians can prescribe them to their patients and our entire society will be healthier and more abundant for it.

If you enjoy working with people and the idea of helping someone gets back on their feet after an accident or illness excites you, then you may be ideal for a career as a physiotherapist assistant.

What Does A Physiotherapist Assistant Do?

The physiotherapist assistant (typically referred to in the United States as the physical therapy assistant) works with a trained and licensed physiotherapist to implement a plan of care.

Typically, the physiotherapist will see the patient first and establish treatment goals and a plan of care. The plan of care consists of different kinds of exercises aimed at helping patients regain their mobility.

It is up to the assistant to ensure that the plan of care is followed closely and to work with the patient to complete the prescribed exercises or interventions. He/her always works under the close supervision of the physiotherapist.

Physiotherapist assistants may also help physiotherapists by setting up and taking down exercise equipment, cleaning and disinfecting equipment, and getting patients ready for treatments.

Where Does A Physiotherapist Assistant Work?

They may work in many different health care settings including hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. In some instances, they may make visits to home patients.

What Training Does A Physiotherapist Assistant Need?

Training varies depending on location. In the United States, an assistant usually holds an associates degree as a physical therapy assistant. In the UK, there are no specific guidelines and most training occurs on the job, although applicants are ideally expected to have a solid background in science and mathematics.

What Kind Of Person Would Make A Good Physiotherapist Assistant?

No two people are alike, of course, but in general the ideal physiotherapist assistant candidate has excellent people skills and is able to work with many different types of clients.

He/her makes a living persuading people to do things that may feel frightening, uncomfortable, or even flat out painful. Therefore, the physiotherapist assistant needs imagination, intelligence, and an ability to engage even the most challenging patients.

The physiotherapist assistant also requires good communication skills so he or she can act as a liaison between the patient and the primary physiotherapist.

Finally, since the assistant is the person who has the most “hands on” contact with the patient, he or she needs to be observant. Does the patient seem more tired or uncomfortable than usual? Is his or her skin cold and clammy? Does a patient who normally follows requests suddenly not seem to understand what he/her is saying? All of these factors are valuable observations that the health care team needs to know about.

If you are interested in a career as a physiotherapist assistant, start looking for opportunities in the “help wanted” section of your local newspaper. This may be exactly the job you’ve been waiting to find!

Ohio is ranked amongst the 35 largest states in the United States. It is also the 7th according to its population number. The nickname of the state is “The Heart of It All” due to the heart shaped feature of the State in the map. With this, many prominent locations and top-ranking hotels can be found in this region.

Found in the United States, along its Midwest portion is the state of Ohio. The Ohio state has Lake Erie in its north boundary. On its Southern portion, Ohio is bordered by Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania states, along with the Ohio River. Aside from this, Ohio shares its boundaries with Ontario, Canada. This would pertain to the above mentioned Lake Erie.

With regards to its terrain, it is regarded as mainly flat, especially along the state’s northwestern portion, due to its ancient glaciers. As the terrain heads towards the east as well as southeast, going to the Appalachian and Allegheny mountain ranges, it more hills become apparent.

Aside from the Great Lake of Erie and the Ohio River, this state also features a state forest. This is situated in Wayne and its exact location would be within the Cuyahoga Valley. In this area, you will find several National Wildlife Refuges, as well as islands located on Lake Erie. The capital of the Ohio is Columbus, which is situated in the state’s central portion.

Aside from this, Ohio is ranked amongst the 35 largest states in the United States. It is also the 7th according to its population number. The nickname of the state is “The Heart of It All”. This is due to the fact that the shape of the state is similar to a heart. It is also centrally located in the densely inhabited portion of the United States, which contains all the large commercial cities, industries, small towns as well farmlands. This concludes the name given to the state as “America’s Heartland”, possibly referring to its agricultural sector in the Midwest and its industrial base in the Great Lakes.

The following hotels are among the best ranked when it comes to having a relaxing and enjoyable stay in Ohio:

Columbus Hotels

1. The Westin Columbus

Address: 310 South High Street, Columbus, OH, US 43215

The Westin Columbus Hotel is located right in the center of Columbus’ downtown area. It is also a landmark of Hospitality. The hotel is also located several minutes away from Columbus Convention Center. Aside from this, it is near the German Village, Ohio theatres, the majestic Palace as well as the beautifully renovated Southern Theatre.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Business Center
? Bar and Lounge
? Mini Bar
? Pets Allowed
? Parking
? Laundry/Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

2. Embassy Suites Hotel Columbus

Address: 2700 Corporate Exchange, Columbus, OH, US, 43231

The Embassy Suites Hotel Columbus was renovated just recently. It is situated three miles away from the Polaris Fashion Place, then six miles away from the Easton Towne Center. Plus, it is just 11 miles away from the Port Columbus International Airport (CMH).

Providing guests with upscale service, this hotel is located near the famous Ohio attractions such as the Ohio State Capitol, the Ohio State University, the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds, COSI Science Museum, Nationwide Arena, Zambezi Bay Waterpark and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Pool
? Fitness Center or Spa
? Fitness Center or Spa, Free Newspaper
? Business Center
? Bar/Lounge
? Free Parking, Parking
? Laundry/Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Laundry/Valet Services
? Coffee Maker in Room
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? Anheuser Busch
? AT&T
? Atrium Grille -In Hotel
? Bank One
? Battelle Institute
? Bentree Golf Club
? Borden
? Brooksedge Office Complex
? Chemlawn
? Columbus Arts Museum
? Columbus Ballet
? Columbus Chill Professional

3. Concourse Hotel And Conference Center

Address: 4300 International Gateway, Columbus, OH, US, 43219

Concourse Hotel and Conference Center offers 147 rooms in a full service hotel. The convenience of location and amenities include complimentary high-speed Internet access, 25-inch TV and Nintendo games, onsite full service athletic club featuring indoor and outdoor pools, the latest in fitness and exercise equipment- massage- tanning and more. Plus, it has a full service restaurant, lounge and room service available. Furthermore, a business center plus 17 meetings rooms are provided in order to meet all your needs.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Pool
? Free Parking
? Parking
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? Arena District
? CMH-Columbus International Airport
? Columbus Ballroom
? Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey
? Columbus Convention Center
? Columbus Crew Soccer
? Columbus Zoo
? Conference Room A
? Conference Room B
? Cosi Science Center
? Easton Town Center
? Fair Grounds Expo Center

4. Marriott Cleveland Downtown At Key Center

Address: 127 Public Square, Cleveland, OH, US, 44114

This hotel is located in the center of the business district in Cleveland. The Marriot Cleveland Downtown Hotel is situated close by the Quicken Loans Arena as well as the Cleveland Browns stadium. Experiencing the pleasure of staying up to the hotel’s highest floors, one can truly delight in the view of Cleveland in this hotel, most especially with its skyline and Lake Erie.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Indoor Pool, Pool
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Business Center
? Barber Shop
? Beauty Shop
? Outdoor Parking
? Parking
? Valet Parking
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Coffee Shop
? Video Checkout
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? Accenture
? Akron-Canton
? Amtrak
? Ballroom (half)
? Blue Pointe Grille
? Cap Gemini
? Cleveland
? Cleveland Browns Stadium
? Cleveland Convention Center
? Cleveland Downtown

5. Hyatt Regency Cleveland Arcade

420 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH, US, 44114

The Arcade now presents its new top of the line hotel”, the Hyatt Regency Cleveland. Located within on of the famous landmarks, this hotel provides its guests with great shopping activities as well as service center Cleveland’s business district.

The Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade is a new luxury hotel within The Arcade. It features upscale shopping & service centers located in the heart of the business district.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Internet Access
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Free Newspaper
? Business Center
? Bar and Lounge
? Barber Shop
? No Pets Allowed
? Parking, Valet Parking
? Laundry Services
? Valet Services
? Valet Parking
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Shop

Nearby Attractions

? BluePoint
? Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
? Golf
? Great Lakes Science Center
? House of Blues
? Lola’s
? Vivo

6. Intercontinental Suites Cleveland Clinic

Address: 8800 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, US, 44106

InterContinental Suites Hotel Cleveland is suitably placed within the Cleveland Clinic campus. However, it is also conveniently located near famous attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. Moreover, there is free shuttle service going to the museum of the University Circle.

In addition to the hotel accommodations, the Holiday Inn Express also provides accessible facilities which are in line with the American Disabilities Act. Please do contact the Hotel Manager on Duty if facilities needed are not met. To be able to retrieve additional information about the accessible amenities for visitors with disabilities, one can call 1-800-Holiday (Canada and United States of America) or you can contact Holiday Inn Express directly. For those who have hearing impairment, one can call the TDD service (1-800-238-5544 within Canada and United States only).

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? High speed internet access
? Internet Access
? Free Newspaper
? Bar and Lounge
? Parking
? Valet Parking
? Laundry Services
? Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Video Checkout
? Hairdryers Available

Cincinnati Hotels

7. The Westin Cincinnati

Address: 5Th and Vine Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, US, 45202

Westin Cincinnati is a hotel that provides the finest accessibility when it comes to attractions in Ohio. This is since it is conveniently located right in Cincinnati’s downtown central. It is also connected to office towers in the city as well as the Duke Energy Convention Center, through the skywalk system located indoors. It is also a few steps away from the Great American Ball Park, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Paul Brown Stadium, and the Aronoff Center for the Performing Arts, along with the Contemporary Arts Center and the US Bank Arena.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Pool
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Free Newspaper
? Business Center
? Bar and Lounge
? Barber Shop
? Beauty Shop
? Mini Bar
? Pets Allowed
? Parking
? Laundry Services
? Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

8. Millennium Hotel Cincinnati

Address: 150 West 5Th Street, Cincinnati, OH, US, 45202

The Millennium Hotel Cincinnati is known to have received an award for being a top hotel of its class. It is an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy and have a great time in experiencing the prime locations of Cincinnati’s downtown area. Plus, you will be gratified with the superb quality service shown by the hotel’s multilingual staff. Everywhere you go, shopping areas, dining establishments and sporting venues are just found in every corner.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Heated Pool
? Outdoor Pool
? Poolside Snack bar
? High Speed Internet Access
? Free Newspaper
? Business Center
? Bar
? Barber Shop
? Valet Parking
? Laundry Service
? Safe Deposit Box
? Laundry Service
? Coffeemaker
? Hairdryer Inside Room

9. Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

Address: 35 West Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH, US, 45202

The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel is a state of the art hotel. The hotel takes pride in the uniqueness of its design and the ranked excellence their services and provided accommodations have rendered through the years.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Pool
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Free Newspaper
? Business Center
? Bar and Lounge,
? Barber Shop
? Beauty Shop
? Mini Bar
? Parking
? Laundry Service
? Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? Cinergy
? Orchids at Palm Court
? PC Express
? Procter & Gamble
? Room Service
? Sunday Brunch at Palm Court
? The Bar at Palm Court
? The Grille at Palm Court
? Western Southern

Toledo Hotels

10. Toledo Riverfront Hotel

Address: 2 Seagate / 444 N. Summit Street, Toledo, OH, US, 43604

The Toledo Riverfront Hotel has the advantage of being perfectly located near business, meetings, sightseeing locations and shopping areas. This hotel contains 241 rooms. Aside from this, it is duly recognized as a conference center. Its conference room measures about 16,000 square feet, making it the perfect for meeting area and venue for other special occasions. This hotel is an excellent choice for location of weddings, meetings, or special events.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Pool
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Business Center
? Bar and Lounge
? Parking
? Laundry Services
? Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? Bowling Green State University
? Cosi Center
? Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
? Fifth Third Bank
? Murphy’s Place
? Pool
? Primary Airport Toledo
? Reflections
? SeaGate Centre
? St. Vincents
? Toledo
? Toledo Raceway

11. Park Inn Toledo

Address: 101 North Summit Street, Toledo, OH, US, 43604

Park Inn Toledo Hotel is situated near the business districts located downtown. It is overlooking the Fifth and Third Field, as well as the Maumee River. Moreover, going to the Seagate Convention is made easy through the hotel’s indoor connection. It is also situated near Owens Corning and several downtown companies. Entertainment activities, cultural attractions as well as the government centers are also just a short distance away. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle services within a radius of 2 miles from the hotel.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Wireless Internet Connections (situated in public areas)
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Free Newspaper
? Bar and Lounge
? Grab Bars inside Bathroom
? Pets Allowed
? Bus Parking
? Indoor parking
? Recreational Vehicle Parking
? Valet Parking
? Laundry Services
? Valet Services
? Coffee Maker inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? Bowling Green State University
? HCR Manor Care
? Jeep Assembly Plant
? Libbey-Owens Ford/Pilkington
? Mad Mike’s Restaurant
? Mud Hens
? Put-in-Bay
? Seagate Convention Centre
? Toledo Express Airport
? Toledo Zoo
? Valentine Theatre

12. Hilton Toledo

Address: 3100 Glendale Avenue, Toledo, OH, US, 43614

The famous Hilton Toledo is located near the Medical College of Ohio. Aside from this, it is only 12 miles away from the Toledo Express Airport and five miles away from the Amtrak Station.

Amenities and Features:

? Restaurant
? Pool
? Fitness Center
? Spa
? Free Newspaper
? Bar and Lounge
? Free Parking
? Parking
? Laundry Services
? Valet Services
? Safe Deposit Box
? Coffee Maker Inside Room
? Hairdryers Available

Nearby Attractions:

? American Flint Glass Workers Union
? Betco
? Burlington Air Express
? Faurecia, Formerly AP Parts
? FedEx
? Fenner Dunlop
? Franklin Park Mall
? HCR ManorCare
? National Super Service
? Pilkington
? Spartan Chemical

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Canada is such a vast country to visit; it’s hard to know where to begin. Most Canada holidays will need to be concentrated on a certain area. It’s a land of contrast with mountains, prairies, cities and the Great Lakes. The culture is derived from Britain and France and French is spoken as a first language in some quarters. It really is the nation of wide, open spaces.

Ottawa is the country’s capital and the House of Commons and the Senate is situated at Parliament Hill, where visitors can go on guided tours. The Museum of Civilization contains exhibits on the history of the country and there is a children’s museum within the main complex. Children will love the Science and Technology Museum too, which includes some very big train locomotives. Toronto is the largest city in the country and has many attractions. The Art Gallery of Ontario is the largest gallery in Canada and exhibits the largest collection of Henry Moore’s works in the world. The Ontario Science Center is popular with families on Canada holidays and has several interactive displays.

Vancouver is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is not to be missed by those on Canada holidays. For a terrific view of the city, there is a skyride to a viewing area up on Grouse Mountain. The Vancouver Aquarium has an international reputation for marine life research and conservation. This is a good area for winter sports enthusiasts and Whistler Mountain is reputed to be one of the best ski resorts for skiers and snowboarders in the world.

Canada is also famous for the Great Lakes, which traverse both Canada and the United States. It is an area of great beauty, used for recreation and commercial interests. Several National Parks occupy islands on the lakes. The five lakes are Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world and Lake Erie is very popular with sport fishing enthusiasts. Lake Michigan is the one lake that lies completely within the United States and is known for its beautiful beaches.

Nova Scotia, on the East Coast, contains one of the world’s last, true wilderness areas. The majority of the terrain is lakes and woodland. The Cape Breton Highlands National Park is particularly scenic and is home to several wildlife species, including deer. The capital, Halifax, is a pretty town and a popular destination on Canada holidays for people who enjoy strolling around the harbor and the historic streets.

One of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities and home to some of the most inspired attractions, a trip to Toronto, Ontario, provides endless learning possibilities in student group travel.

Leading with a very clear mission, the Ontario Science Center was created to open the minds of visitors to science, and to produce excitement and curiosity in science and technology. Opened in 1969, the museum was one of the first interactive science museums in the world. Rather than presenting exhibits with static displays, the center created exhibits from various elements of science that allow visitors to experience those scientific fundamentals.

Here, you become a part of the science process. For instance, visitors can discover an urban wetland, create a personalized light show, or play a watery musical instrument that’s part water, part piano. More than 800 exhibits are showcased in 13 exhibit halls covering topics such as technology, the environment, space, the human body, and sports. Daily demonstrations illustrate scientific principles of nature, and student groups can also take in a film at the Omnimax Theater.

Another student favorite, Canada’s National Tower, commonly referred to as the CN Tower, is one of the city’s most recognized landmarks. Construction on the CN Tower began in 1973 and it stands at a total height of more than 1,815 feet. Visitors to the tower begin their tour with a ride up a high-speed elevator to the indoor/outdoor observation decks. Here, they can take in views of Toronto and the surrounding area, as well as gain a unique perspective of how high they actually are by looking down through the glass floor to the ground hundreds of feet below.

A 20-minute “The Height of Excellence” documentary provides a look at the engineering marvel that is the CN Tower. The attraction is located on the north shore of the Lake Ontario in the heart of the Entertainment District.

Overlooking downtown Toronto, Casa Loma is a majestic castle, built in the style of European medieval castles. Here, visitors step back in time as they tour the 98-room castle. In addition to the home, Casa Loma includes stables, connected to the castle by an 800-foot underground tunnel, and six acres of gardens.

Constructed by a prominent Toronto businessman and industrialist, more than 300 men worked on the home at cost of $3.5 million. On guided tours, visitors explore elegantly decorated rooms, climb the towers, and enjoy a walk through the extensive gardens. Other highlights include a full-body shower and the grandiose Great Hall.

Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) features various galleries which include the Canadian Heritage Floor Galleries, the East-Asia Gallery, Hands-on Biodiversity, Inco Limited Gallery of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, and Paleontology Galleries, and more. Some of the most popular exhibits include a bat cave, Egyptian mummy, and the newly opened “Age of Dinosaurs,” presenting one of Canada’s largest permanent collections of dinosaurs. On-site educational programs are available at the ROM to provide a more theme-focused visit for student groups.

For those student groups with an interest in sports, SkyDome is home to the Toronto Blue Jay and one of Toronto’s proudest architectural achievements. As the world’s largest stadium with a retractable roof, the SkyDome serves as symbol of the city. During tours of SkyDome, student tours can marvel at the structure’s innovative roof design.

Operated by a computer, the roof panels move to stack up on top of each other along one end of the stadium, leaving all playing surfaces and nearly all of the seats under open sky when the roof is retracted. In addition to Blue Jays baseball games, SkyDome also hosts football games, tennis matches, basketball games, and concerts.

Eaton Centre is one of Toronto’s most popular tourist attractions. Located along Younge Street, the longest street in the world, Eaton Centre features more than 285 shops, restaurants, and services. The three-level mall encompasses a four-block area, providing plenty of diversions for student tours.

Two trademarks of the Eaton Centre are “Flight Stop,” a sculpture by Michael Snow, and rendition of Canadian geese in their migratory patterns, suspended from Eaton’s vaulted glass ceiling. The other is the famous “shooting” fountain located in the Centre Court. On average, the water shoots 85 feet into the air but can reach heights of 120 feet.

Known as one of the most ethnically diverse cities, Toronto is made up of a variety of ethnic neighborhoods, each with their own unique sights and sounds. Two of the city’s most distinctive areas are Chinatown and Kensington Market.

Chinatown is one of the largest Asian communities in North America, made up of people from areas such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and more. Chinatown offers student group travelers a number of authentic indoor and outdoor food markets, clothing stores, herb and medicinal shops, and restaurants. A few blocks from Chinatown, Kensington Market showcases Portuguese, West Indian, and Caribbean culture. Students enjoy the eclectic mix of outdoor food stands and produce shops, unique restaurants and cafe, and vintage clothing boutiques.