The Executive September 2012 Final Copy

We welcome you to the beginning of a journey of self-discovery. As

Publications Managers, one of our main goals for this year that we hope

accomplish with The Executive is to provide relevant resources that you, the

students, can utilize. With these tools, we hope to assist you in making your

university experience as exciting, unforgettable and inspirational as possible!

We are committed to publishing articles that include relevant

information that will �t your needs, which is why our issue focuses

on ways to save money. We understand and recognize the �nancial

burden that entails the life of a post-secondary student. In this

issue, we had the opportunity to acquire professional expertise

with individuals from Kijiji, Sunlife and Scotiabank. With their

advice, we hope that you will be inspired to make a change for

yourself to succeed in this journey you are about to embark on.

We not only hope that you will discover �nancial know-how, but

we encourage you to make your UTSC experience memorable.

This issue introduces aspects that will help you in starting your

school year right and keep you updated about upcoming

events such as Nuit Blanche, CA Facts Night and much more.

On this road of discovery, we encourage you to make

a di�erence in your life and the life of others. We hope

these tips will not only be applicable to school but also

in your daily life. What will you make of your future?

Hi everyone! Welcome to

the start of another school year

that is bound to be successful

and �lled with opportunities,

friendships, and passion. If you

are just beginning your university

career here at the University

of Toronto Scarborough,

congratulations! You have

chosen a wonderful place

that will give you the foundation and tools to succeed in your

future endeavours. To all returning students, as we continue

on our path to completion of this life stage, remember to

enjoy your time here. Even through times of stress and the

increasing workloads, our time here is only �nite and we should

challenge anything that comes our way with zest and fervour.

I am incredibly humbled and honoured to serve as the President

of the Management and Economics Students’ Association (MESA)

this year. MESA is the o�cial Departmental Students Association

(DSA), which means the Association represents over 3,000

students in all the Management and Economics programs. As the

MESA team strives to continue achieving the levels of excellence

and professionalism displayed in the past, we will also continue

to work diligently to provide new and relevant opportunities

for students in all areas of study throughout the year. Our vision

this year is three-fold, and is based upon student engagement,

resource o�erings, and building external awareness and

recognition of UTSC’s programs and of MESA. Ultimately, MESA is

here to work for you and we value any feedback throughout the

year. As we are representative of the student body, our Executives

work towards the betterment of your undergraduate experience.

We welcome you to get involved, participate, and voice your

opinions with us so we can collectively succeed this year.

This month, MESA is hosting many exciting events including our

annual Launch Party, which is taking place on September 10th

from 3PM to 7PM. Launch Party is your o�cial Management

Orientation, where you will be sure to enjoy the food, activities,

and friendships you will make. After, on September 14th, join

us at Grand Baccus for our annual CA Facts Night. This is an

important event for those who are interested in pursuing their CA

designations. It provides a great opportunity for all students to

network with representatives from all of the top �rms. These are

just two examples of the many events and initiatives that MESA

provides. I sincerely hope that you take the time this coming year

to seek out and participate in any opportunities that interests

you. If you are unsure of your passion or speci�c calling in the

large domain of business, I encourage you to diversify the types

of events you attend. MESA hosts events for all streams of study,

and these initiatives may help you better understand your path of

pursuit. Simply put, your university life is whatever you make of it.

Do not underestimate how quickly these years will pass by so seize

opportunities that are available now in order to optimize the value

of these four years. If you take a look around campus, I have no doubt

you’ll �nd a club or activity that interest and fuel your passions.

Let us have a dynamic, engaging, and ful�lling year

together. I hope to see you around campus very soon.

Wesley ChanPresident, MESA

President’s Message

Again this year, I have the honour

and pleasure of welcoming all of our

new students and welcoming back our

returning students to Management.

Last year was a series of �rsts for

Management. We moved into our

new home in the Instructional Centre,

we opened up a new, state-of-the art

Finance Lab, we launched our new

Management in International Business Program, and it was

my �rst year as Chair of Management. Along with these very

visible activities, we continue to engage in a lot of work behind

the scenes to enhance our fantastic department and improve

the learning experience for our students. You have all seen

the banners in the building that express Management’s new

vision and philosophy of “Experience to Lead”. You might even

have read about our vision on our website, where it states that:

“Our students join us with an open mind and a desire to learn.

We challenge our students to take part in a unique curriculum

designed to test their assumptions, question their ideas, expand

their minds, learn how to lead, and leave with the knowledge and

experience to become the next generation of business leaders.”

Let me tell you what this means for all of us. The Department has

been hard at work to ensure that we are providing you, our students,

with the experiences you need to become the next generation

of organizational leaders. Of course, one of the key pillars of the

Management Program is co-op. Our co-op students are given the

opportunity to apply their knowledge in organizations around the

world. Our new Management in International Business program

has attracted some of the brightest and best students who will

be embarking on truly life-changing learning experiences in

countries across the globe. But, co-op doesn’t tell the whole story.

Another key strength of our program is t he curriculum. The

faculty and sta! have been hard at work reviewing every

aspect of our curriculum to ensure that your education is at

the forefront of knowledge in all areas of Management. In

the upcoming months, you will see new courses coming

on stream, new specializations being developed, and a

new emphasis on experience-based learning across every

discipline and in every course we teach in Management.

The faculty and sta! have also been developing new programs

and services for students to help you apply your knowledge

and develop your skills in Management. We have a number

of new and ongoing programs in place to help you learn skills

in Excel and Bloomberg, to conduct e!ective presentations,

and to engage in advanced �nancial modeling. In addition, we

will be holding a number of workshops to help all students in

their job searches, manage the transition from school to work,

choose the right career path, and to seek out help with their

courses and coursework. We are committed to your success.

MESA is the best Departmental Student Association on this

campus (and anywhere). As always, the faculty and sta! are excited

to support all of MESA’s terri�c initiatives, events, and of course,

the LIVE conference. I encourage all Management students to get

involved with all of the great things MESA does throughout the year.

As I have said before, we are all very proud of our Management

students. We hold you to high standards and you exceed them. We

o!er you opportunities to play with knowledge, to experiment

with ideas, to search for solutions, and to become e!ective

leaders. Together, we are creating the experiences you need to

lead. On behalf of the faculty and sta! in Management, I wish you

great success in all of your endeavours in this new academic year.

David ZweigChair of the Department of Management

Welcome Message from the Chair of Management

Bobbi McFarlaneEvents Coordinator,

Coop Programs in Management

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are

here again! Has it been four years already?

I am continually amazed at the discipline,

dedication and determination of the

athletes who take part in this coveted event.

Amid all the pageantry and applause, it’s

important to remember that each has his

or her own story to tell, about the awesome

journey that led to this moment. And at

THIS moment, awesome student, I can’t

help but think about the journey that it is

just beginning, or beginning again, for you.

Whether you are just starting out as

a Management / Management Co-op

student, or are a ‘seasoned’ member of

the BBA class, you can be sure that each

academic year will bring opportunities for

growth, change and success. It’s up to you to

reach for these chances as they come, and

make them your own. The UTSC Campus

has a multitude of activities and student

organizations (like MESA) literally waiting

for you to get involved! Just joining other

people who are passionate about learning

the ins-and-outs of business, teamwork,

networking etc., will reward you with strong

friendships, and energize you on your path.

Regardless of the race you are running

(academic, track & �eld, securing a job,

etc.), remember to discipline yourself to set

goals. Having benchmarks along the way

keeps the journey interesting, especially

when you achieve them (and even when

you don’t)! They also keep your focus from

shifting when challenges arise and help

to ensure that you’re staying true to what

you really want. And ‘training together’, or

sharing your goals with a trusted peer or

colleague can only aid in moving you both

towards greater standards of excellence.

Like athletes, who sometimes change their

routine, why not make ‘innovation’ a part of

your journey, and involve it in all that you

do? As a university student, continuous

improvement is probably already a part

of your philosophy (or hopefully will be

after today. Not only will this attitude

help you to bring fresh ideas to each

classroom discussion, but you just might

‘spread’ that energy to other students,

thereby helping them to take their ideas

further. This cycle of positive growth and

change could begin with someone else,

but it could also start right now, with you.

The Olympian knows, that practice makes

perfect, and in order to get better, it’s vital

to keep going. So when incorporating

some (or all) of these ideas into your daily

existence, it is more than o.k. to start

slowly. Medal winners didn’t get to the

podium after their very �rst attempt on

the �eld, so give yourself time to evolve

at your own pace, knowing that mistakes

are part of any process. Indeed, Olympic

winners are few; yet, I believe all who

participate have earned the right to say

that they gave it their very best. As you

continue on your university journey, do

recall vividly your many ‘victories’ along the

way, in order to maintain your momentum.

These are just a small sampling of the

many ways that your journey resembles

that of a world-class athlete. And make

no mistake, your instructors, mentors

and Co-op Sta� are here to motivate and

guide you while you train alongside us,

and your future / current friends. Also,

did I mention? Fostering such friendships,

and making them an essential part of your

travels, is a key part of this journey; for

they will be the ones running alongside

you and waiting for you at this particular

�nish line. Such an exciting time to be

a BBA student! And with that, I say…

Welcome to the start of your 2012

academic year! Is it September already?

The Journey is Your Gold Medal

Bobbi McFarlaneEvents Coordinator,

Coop Programs in Management

he 2012 Summer Olympic Games are

here again! Has it been four years already?

I am continually amazed at the discipline,

dedication and determination of the

athletes who take part in this coveted event.

Amid all the pageantry and applause, it’s

important to remember that each has his

or her own story to tell, about the awesome

journey that led to this moment. And at

THIS moment, awesome student, I can’t

help but think about the journey that it is

just beginning, or beginning again, for you.

Whether you are just starting out as

a Management / Management Co-op

student, or are a ‘seasoned’ member of

the BBA class, you can be sure that each

academic year will bring opportunities for

growth, change and success. It’s up to you to

reach for these chances as they come, and

make them your own. The UTSC Campus

has a multitude of activities and student

organizations (like MESA) literally waiting

for you to get involved! Just joining other

people who are passionate about learning

the ins-and-outs of business, teamwork,

networking etc., will reward you with strong

friendships, and energize you on your path.

Regardless of the race you are running

(academic, track & �eld, securing a job,

etc.), remember to discipline yourself to set

goals. Having benchmarks along the way

keeps the journey interesting, especially

when you achieve them (and even when

you don’t)! They also keep your focus from

shifting when challenges arise and help

to ensure that you’re staying true to what

you really want. And ‘training together’, or

sharing your goals with a trusted peer or

colleague can only aid in moving you both

towards greater standards of excellence.

Like athletes, who sometimes change their

routine, why not make ‘innovation’ a part of

your journey, and involve it in all that you

do? As a university student, continuous

improvement is probably already a part

of your philosophy (or hopefully will be

after today. Not only will this attitude

help you to bring fresh ideas to each

classroom discussion, but you just might

‘spread’ that energy to other students,

thereby helping them to take their ideas

further. This cycle of positive growth and

change could begin with someone else,

but it could also start right now, with you.

The Olympian knows, that practice makes

perfect, and in order to get better, it’s vital

to keep going. So when incorporating

some (or all) of these ideas into your daily

existence, it is more than o.k. to start

slowly. Medal winners didn’t get to the

podium after their very �rst attempt on

the �eld, so give yourself time to evolve

at your own pace, knowing that mistakes

are part of any process. Indeed, Olympic

winners are few; yet, I believe all who

participate have earned the right to say

that they gave it their very best. As you

continue on your university journey, do

recall vividly your many ‘victories’ along the

way, in order to maintain your momentum.

These are just a small sampling of the

many ways that your journey resembles

that of a world-class athlete. And make

no mistake, your instructors, mentors

and Co-op Sta� are here to motivate and

guide you while you train alongside us,

and your future / current friends. Also,

did I mention? Fostering such friendships,

and making them an essential part of your

travels, is a key part of this journey; for

they will be the ones running alongside

you and waiting for you at this particular

�nish line. Such an exciting time to be

a BBA student! And with that, I say…

Welcome to the start of your 2012

academic year! Is it September already?

Here are some tips and guidelines to ensure that you will be able

to make the most out of the event.

Be sure to bring the following items: » CAFN Ticket

» Name tag (provided upon arrival)

» Business Cards

» Pen or pencil

» Positive attitude, passion and interest

» Your brightest smile

» Skills&knowledge acquired from Networking Prep Session

IT IS TIME TO NETWORK!Networking is just as important as getting the job itself. You

need to WORK to build strong networks. The following are useful

tips in helping you WORK towards being a successful networker.

Before CAFN:

» Research about the companies attending

» Prepare a list of questions to ask recruiters

» Prepare business cards

» Practice networking whenever you can – CAFN

Networking Prep Session!

During CAFN:

» Make an entrance and introduce yourself

» Be aware of your body language

» Ask open-ended questions

» Broaden your networks and speak with multiple recruiters

and representatives

» Look, Listen and Learn

» Be you, be genuine and be authentic

» Be memorable and remember to smile!

After CAFN:

» Follow up with

a brief email after the

event

» Expand your

connections on

LinkedIn

BUSINESS ETTIQUETE Another important aspect of networking is etiquette. Here

are some elements of professional business etiquette:

1.) How do I enter a group?It is common to feel uncomfortable standing as

an outsider where a group which deep in

conversation. It is simple, all you have to do is

ENTER. Try "nding someone you may know in

the group, stand beside them and ask to enter

the group. Once your are in the group, try and "gure

out where the conversation is headed and provide your input.

2.) How do I introduce myself?Once you have made your way into the conversation, take a moment

to simply say “Hello, my name is ____, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Then a "rm but not overbearingly forceful handshake will do.

3.) How do I leave a conversation?When appropriate (no one is speaking or someone has just

"nished speaking), speak up. Say something along the lines of

“Thank you very much Mr./Mrs. _____ for taking the time to talk

to me, I really appreciate everything that I have learned so far.”

Then hand a business card to the networker and be on your way

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS 1.) Only interested Accounting students should go attend CAFN.CA Facts Night is open to all students and is the perfect

opportunity to practice your networking skills. You can

bene"t greatly by attending CA Facts Night irrespective of

your stream. CA Facts Night is a great place to openly network

with business professionals, faculty and other students.

You can never have too large of a professional network.

2.) Only upper years should attend.By attending CA Facts Night, it allows you to explore a potential

career path in Accounting. Recruiters and CAs will share their

knowledge regarding their experiences and suggest the next

steps students need to take in achieving their career aspirations.

3.) If you attend CA Facts Night, you are guaranteed an interview. This is false, by attending CA Facts Night you are taking your "rst

step in gathering information about potential employers. It is

the perfect opportunity for students to learn more about each

"rms’ organizational culture and become more familiar with their

application process. An interview is not guaranteed but it is your

chance to create long lasting "rst-impressions.

Vanessa Ha

Events Director, MESA

Serene ChanPublications Manager, MESA

We’ve all used this excuse at least once in our lives: “I

really want to work out but I just don’t have the time!” If there

is one thing I know that most of you can relate to, it’s that

life is BUSY! Whether you’re studying as full time student or

completing a work term, it can be di�cult to �t exercise into

a hectic schedule. When getting one more paper turned in

on time or studying for an exam upcoming up is at the top

of your to-do-list, exercise is usually the last of your priorities.

A busy schedule is no excuse to neglect physical wellness.

Even if you’re eating properly prepared foods, that’s only

half the journey toward achieving a healthy lifestyle.

Exercise is the other primary component of the equation.

Learning how to balance between your studies and your

health is essential as a student. The following are three tips

on how to �t exercise into a busy schedule to assist you in

your journey towards a more con�dent and active lifestyle.

Tip OneMany people are under the impression that working out

suggests sacri�cing a signi�cant part of their day. In reality, a

short workout can actually be just as e"ective as an extended

one! Try to delegate just 30 minutes aside every day for vigorous

exercise. The key is to get your heart rate up on a consistent

basis for a lengthy duration of time.

This requires doing exercise that

will get you out of breath and

sweating for a good 15 minutes.

Try doing exercises that

involve more energy and

less time, such as burpies,

light jogs, or cycling. You can share

work out ideas amongst friends

or even �nd them on YouTube

for inspiration. Exercise that gets

your heart rate up increases the

circulation of blood, which leads

to more nutrients delivered

through your body. Not only

will you feel healthier after

just 30 minutes, this also

increases circulation of oxygen within the brain

and leads to a higher level of concentration!

Tip Two Whether you prefer doing a yoga class, joining a dancing

club, or signing up for the dragon boat team, joining

organizations around campus that center around being active

can bene�t your body. Scheduled classes are particularly

good at �tting a full body workout in a set timeframe.

Exercising side by side with others is also a great motivation

for pushing personal boundaries and achieving goals.

Encourage yourself to take just 20-30 minutes at least 3

times a week to experience various workout classes. UTSC

o"ers great workout programs for inexpensive prices and

provides a variety of sports teams that you can join, which

can be found at: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~athletics/

schedules.html. Remember that you paid for these facilities

within your student fees! Not only does it encourage you

to work out on a regular basis, you also get the chance to

meet new people working toward the same healthy lifestyle.

Tip ThreeIt’s understandable that the workload of a student can

be demanding and roadblocks may arise at any given

time. It’s also important to remember that you can pretty

much make a workout out of anything! As you go about

your normal tasks, �nd as many ways to include exercise.

Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking a bit

farther away than you usually do, or ride a bike to school. If

you’re at home, try incorporating exercise in your everyday

chores. Carefully observe your day for possible exercises

you can do, and it will be likely that you will �nd many more.

The reality is that anyone can get active. It doesn’t require

eliminating your social life, neglecting your studies, or

avoiding your job. However, it does require you to take charge

of your life, creating a schedule for

yourself, and holding yourself

accountable for staying on track.

If you want to be healthy

and active, it’s all up to you.

Despite the stress of being a

student, there are many perks of

being in school which can be friendly

on our wallets. Although tuition

for a post-secondary education

can leave quite the impact in our

bank accounts, it’s important to

realize and recognize the bene�ts

it entails. With this knowledge,

you can derive and make use of

the value from all the money that

you are paying for your tuition.

Health planFor those students who are not

covered under a health or dental

plan from their parent or guardian,

do not fret! At UTSC, our tuition

includes a health and dental

plan at a great rate. The health

plan covers partial to full costs,

including prescribed medications,

visits to the chiropractor, contact

lenses and much more. You can

visit http://scsu.ca/services/health-

dental-plan/ for more speci�c

information in regards to the plan.

Student DiscountAs a student, there are countless

discounts that we are eligible for.

Some of these discounts include

the Student Price Card (SPC) , which

is a highly popular discount

card that entitles students to

immediate and exclusive savings

at di"erent retailers o"ering a 10-

15% discount. Other retailers that

o"er student discounts amongst

the many out there include a

10% o" discount Bulk Barn on

Wednesdays and a 10% student

discount Loblaw o"ers on Tuesdays.

Facilities on CampusOn campus, we are surrounded by

an abundance of helpful resources.

We have access to a gym, library,

study space, and walk in clinic. The

gym fee we each pay as a part of

our tuition is less than a regular

gym membership. We also have the

convenience of a walk in doctors

clinic as well as a dental clinic on

campus. So if we are ever feeling

unwell or in need of teeth cleaning

it’s just a few steps from your class!

Between the stress and freedom

of being a student, there are many

things that we should enjoy and

make use of. Hopefully, you can

make use of the tips suggested

above! Share with us any other

perks of being a student that you

are informed about at http://www.

mesa.ca/publications/the-blog/.

Carmen ChanPublications Manager, MESA

With each September that rolls around, many

students embark on a new school year. It is important

that with any new beginning that you are equipped with

the right tools to be as successful as possible. This applies

to many things in life such as starting a new job, moving

into a new house, and our focus in the beginning of a new

school year. I hope that you will �nd the following tips use-

ful and will assist you in getting through the year with ease.

AttitudeYour attitude towards tackling any task is a strong

predictor of the outcome and your success. As Theo-

dore Roosevelt once said, “Believe you can and you’re

halfway there.” Having a positive attitude a!ects the

way you challenge an obstacles. It can also in"uence

the type of people you will attract who in turn may be

those you surround yourself with. No matter if a task is

challenging, easy, ambiguous or straight-forward, having

a positive winning attitude makes you fun to be around.

People enjoy surrounding themselves with positive

energy; it is no fun being around a Debbie Downer all

the time. Despite how hard an assignment or a class may

be, being positive and having a great attitude makes

the task a tad bit easier just by simply changing the way

you look at it. Many of our feelings, attitudes and behav-

iours stem from individuals that we spend time with.

Having great people around you that motivate and inspire

you can greatly a!ect your take on many things in life.

Find a good

mentorBe it an upper year

student, a professor, or

an individual working in

the �eld you aspire to be

in, it is very important to

have a great mentor. These

individuals have been

through what you are going

through now and can give

you invaluable advice. As a

third year student, there are

many things I wish I would’ve

known back in my �rst year

at university. I can provide

this knowledge to a �rst year student to improve their

university experience. A good mentor not only

guides you, but provides you with support that many

fellow classmates or parents may not be able to give.

Be open-minded & look aheadUniversity is very di!erent from high school, which is why it is

important to be open-minded in a new environment.

Things will be done di!erently and it is simply a learn-

ing experience. Keeping a list of goals with you will help

you look ahead into the future and give you a direction of

where want to be. It is easy to get �xated on a career goal

entering university, but be careful not to jump into a

decision too quickly. It is important to be open-minded to

diferent opportunities. Gaining insight and experience will

also help you in deciding your career. You can do this by

talking to individuals who are in the �eld you’re interested in

or getting a coop or internship to gain hands on experience.

Get enough rest!It is easy to fall behind in classes and I admit that I have

experienced this numerous times! During midterm and

�nal seasons, it can be so easy to lose sleep since there

may be a lot of material to catch up. Students may feel

the need to be extra prepared for an exam in hopes of

scoring high. Each of us has a unique and di!erent sleep

requirement depending on genetic and physiological

factors. Ensure that you are giving your body enough down

time and supply it with nutritious foods to keep it going!

Ca!eine is not a substitute for sleep,

meaning a good night’s rest cannot be

mimicked by ca!eine. However

it is understandable that when

there is no time to sleep, ca!eine is

acceptable when taken in moderation!

These tips are not only

applicable to a new school year,

but can be applied in many other

situations in your personal, working,

or social life. Let us know if you have

any methods of combatting a new

beginning. Share you thoughts at

h t t p : / / w w w . m e s a . c a / p u b l i c a -

t i o n s / t h e - b l o g /

Carmen ChanPublications Manager, MESA

Since you were once a student yourself, what did you do

in school to set up for your future �nancial success? It started with my parents’ teaching, and it was: don’t

spend what you don’t have. I will say that it is best to be

prepared for the unexpected. Certainly things happen, such

as emergencies. Always have that in your plan that you

never want to be at a zero base line. If you make ten spend

ten you’ll have no debt, but you’ll also have no reserve.

In our day, there were no cell phones; there were no

blackberries, iPhones. Whereas now, it’s almost like it’s

mandatory. So that’s added expense. So I didn’t have a �fty

dollar a month user fee that I had to pay. It’s like exercise,

and if you make it a priority, and discipline yourself, then

you can see it through. When you’re training yourself not to

spend beyond X percent, I think the bottom line is discipline.

How can students start practicing budgeting? Do you think

it’s okay for students to spend a little more on something

and compensate for it later?

They always say that there are your must haves,

need to haves, and nice to haves. I would start

with your must haves. That’s a hard when

you’re accountable to yourself. Say there’s a new iPhone 4S

out, iPhone 5, and they have a 4. And you upgrade it,and

switch it which is going to cost you $600. So where is that $600

going to come from? Are you going to eat $600 less of food?

Is it really worth it? So it comes back to the person. They have

to be honest and quantify it and put an evaluation on it.

What are some of the dangers that students can avoid in

order not to get into too much debt?

It is very powerful for students, for anyone, to realize,

recognize and acknowledge where there might be holes

that they could possibly plug. For example, your Starbucks

co!ee at three or four dollars each; is it necessary? If you

have that three four dollar co!ee once, twice a day, now

you’re up to $70 a week. And now you’re up to $300 a

month, and that goes up to almost $4000 a year. So you see,

and that’s just co!ee. Now it starts to have impact. People

sort of fool themselves into that routine that it’s only a few

dollars, it’s only a few dollars. But once you do the math

and push the number out, and then compare it to that.

Are there any ways that Sun Life can help students budget?

Don’t spend what you don’t have and save for the future

because you never know. Sunlife’s whole business is built

on the future, the long term horizon: retirement, unforeseen

events, and usually life altering or life ending events. Pay now

for something in the future. It’s Sun Life’s mantra in terms

of saving today for tomorrow because you never know; and

expect the unexpected because it usually happens. When

students hear it sometimes, ‘it’s like yeah, yeah, yeah.” At your

age, it’s very hard sometimes to project out 10, 20, 30 years.

It’s habitual. Better to start younger to get into that habit.

Interviewed by Serene ChanPublications Manager, MESA

As a highly popular art festival, what

is so unique about Nuit Blanche that

di�erentiates it from other displays of

art?

Since the event lasts for just one night

it makes the event inevitably unique

and di�erent. With the accompanying

darkness that descends onto the city it

provides a wonderful atmosphere. The

nature of this event helps and guides the

selection of work that is chosen as well

as the location. Nuit Blanche transforms

the audiences’ perception of the city

encouraging them to stay up late and

explore places they would not normally

inhabit during early hours of the morning.

For some art installations, its appearance

at Nuit Blanche might be it’s only display

and opportunity for an audience to view.

In the short duration, what artists can

display challenges them and adds to the

festival pieces of art that are restaged.

How is Nuit Blanche di�erent this year

compared to previous years? This year, Nathan Philip Square and City

Hall will be used to present a collection of

15 di�erent projects instead of displaying

one large scale project as it did in previous

years. Artists will be recreating a museum

for the end of the world at City Hall

and viewers will be able to explore the

Council of Chambers itself. Nuit Blanche

will be commissioning 63 projects which

is a substantial increase from last year and

presenting nearly 100 projects within the

independent program. Trisha Brown’s Dance

Company who has not been to Toronto in over

12 years will be making an appearance at Nuit

Blanche presenting a dance called Planes.

What are some interesting pieces of art

you would recommend students to see

who are new to Nuit Blanche?With the diverse array of pieces that

will be on display during Nuit Blanche

it gives the audience a sneak peek of

what is happening in the contemporary

visual art scene. There are far too many

pieces to pinpoint certain pieces that are

fantastic but there is absolutely something

for everyone. You can !nd more information

online at http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.

ca/ where the event guide can be found.

Additional CommentsIn order to supplement the audiences’

ease with getting around the city, Nuit

Blanche go-ers can buy an all-night TTC pass

allowing them to make as many journeys

as they wish. Additional GO Trains along

the Lakeshore corridor will be running

as well. You also have a choice of staying

downtown where a variety of fantastic

hotel packages are available. All those

who book a travel package will be

automatically invited to an exciting

preview event on Friday September 28th.

To read the full interview visit

http://www.mesa.ca/publications/the-blog

Interviewed by Carmen ChanPublications Manager, MESA

How can students start practicing budgeting? How does Scotiabank help students save money when they have a limited income?

Budgeting is an organized way to plan your spending and your income. People like to spend; if they earn one dollar, they like to spend two dollars. They always tend to overspend. I have some clients that make pretty good money, however they still cannot make the ends meet. It’s all about the financial plan. My piece of advice to students is to have a financial plan with the bank or the financial advisor. Scotiabank follows six-step procedure to complete the financial plan:

1.Understand your financial situation, needs, and goals2.Identify gaps and opportunities3.Develop appropriate strategies4.Present you with a written plan5.Help to implement your plan6.Refine and update your plan

One of the most important steps for budgeting is to have a cash flow analysis. Based on an individual’s limited income, I figure out how they can save on a regular basis towards their goals. With Scotiabank, we have many programs to support that. For example, we have a free student banking advantage plan that includes a free chequing account and a savings account and a fantastic service called “Bank the Rest”; both of which can be found at http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,404,00.html. You save as you spend, making it a very good strategy with a very limited budget.

You can also get the Scotia Scene Visa that includes no annual fee and 250 points free scene points. For credit cards, the most

important thing is to make your payment on time. If for some reason you’re running out of cash and you cannot fulfill the whole payment, that’s fine. As long as the minimum payment is made before or on the due date, your credit score won’t be hurt.

So it’s never too late to start the budgeting. When you grow older, you’ll need to budget for your family and your career. You need to have a plan, have a goal, and stick to the plan and revisit that on a regular basis.

Would you advise students to invest a tax-free savings account or investments?

Yes, definitely. Tax-Free Savings Account can be used for various purposes. For example: emergency fund or fund for a specific goal. But it is not meant to be a day to day banking account, as it is registered with Canada Revenue Agency. Underneath the Tax-Free Savings Account, there is also a wide variety of investment options. Based on the investment objective, time horizon and risk tolerance, I will advise student client accordingly.

How much money should students start saving? Does saving a few dollars really matter?

It depends. If the people are coming in to us with a tight budget, they can join the “Best the Rest” program. So when you spend two dollars in Tim Hortons, you can save up a few cents towards your savings. Don’t ignore the effect of the few cents, because it adds up. For a whole year you can accumulate maybe a few hundred dollars, which is good enough for a trip! We have this fantastic tool that gives you a visual picture of how much you

Interviewed by Serene ChanPublications Manager, MESA

should save over the years called the Money Finder Calculator, which can be found at http://cgi.scotiabank.com/cgi-bin/Scotiabank/Calculators/CashFlowCalc.cgi.Think about how you spend your money and your income coming in. Plug in your inflows and outflows, and the calculator can figure out what your spending habit like. With this, maybe you’ll realize that you tend to spend too much money on clothes or eating out. This way you can cut that out a little bit and save towards your long-term goal.

When should students start putting money in their RRSP and why?

A few students have come to me before wanting to save for their RRSP, but I always tell them “HOLD ON”. They might have part time job, for example at the Pets Smart or Canadian Tire as an intern for a summer job. Even then, their income is still very low. Their whole year’s income might be $6000 from a few months working. So if they buy their RRSP, they don’t get much tax refund back. I tell these students that the wisest thing to do is to save the RRSP contribution limit until you have a full time job, therefore you can maximize your tax refund from CRA. Students may want to work along with a financial advisor and get a tax free savings account, which can be good for a medium or long term investment.

As an investment advisor, what do you enjoy seeing/ doing the most?

There are so many. The most that I enjoy in my job is the fulfillment I get from my clients. When they come in with a problem, I often compare myself as a financial doctor. They trust me so much because there are so many sensitive and private things that they have to share with me. Their investments, their pension, their debts; there’s so many private stuff. But they trust me and it creates a relationship. When I give them my advice and they follow through, I can see their problems getting better and improving. They become very healthy financially and they ultimately reach their financial goals , which makes me feel extremely fulfilled.

Find a plan that is right for you

Specialty plansRegistered Education Savings Plan (RESP) - You’ll benefit from tax-deferred investment growth plus the potential to receive up to $9,200 in government bonds and grants.Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) – Money saved within the plan can be enhanced by tax-deferred investment growth and as much as $90,000 in government assistance.

Savings plansTax Free Savings Account (TFSA) - It’s a personal savings account that allows you to invest and enjoy tax free returns.Non-Registered Plans- You can save for short- and long- term goals with no contribution limits and no strings attached.

Retirement PlansRetirement Savings plan (RSP) - You can save for retirement with tax deductable contributions and the opportunity to earn tax-deferred returns on your investment.Retirement Income Fund (RIF) – When you retire, your RSP is converted into RIF and you begin to draw income, while continuing to benefit from tax-deferred growth of your investment.

1.How does Kijiji let their users know that their

site is safe place to buy, sell and trade?We involve the community in helping us ensure the site is a

safe place to buy, sell, and trade. Community members are

asked to provide us with their feedback and each ad includes

a “report this ad” link that gives the community the power to

report suspicious ads.

2.What are some safety rules that you follow when

using your buy or sell online?It’s important to carefully assess the deals and opportunities

– does this pricing make sense? Do the details check out?

People need to do their homework to help inform their

decisions. Ultimately, it’s important to use common sense. If

you’re not comfortable having someone come to your home

to buy an item, choose a busy spot to meet them. Don’t accept

o!ers that ask you to pay online - all transactions should be

completed in person.

3.What are some interesting consumer spending

habits that you have noticed during your

experience working at Kijiji?Kijiji is a trading platform, helping buyers and sellers connect.

We don’t track consumer spending habits because all

transactions are completed in person.

4.What is the most popular purchased item on

Kijiji? Can you share your own experience of

purchasing items online?Electronics are extremely popular on Kijiji. We have a lot of

posts for iPads/iPhones, as well as computers. Other popular

sections include autos and pets. A little over a year ago

we bought a 1988 Dodge Aries, aka the K-Car, via Kijiji. We

wanted a vehicle for some of our community activities and it

only made sense to buy it through our site! The team took a

little road trip to Stou!ville to pick it up from a family there. It

was in great condition for its age!

5.What selling tactics would you give users who

are trying to sell things on Kijiji?Take good, clear pictures of your items and take multiple

pictures from di!erent angles. It really helps people get a sense

of what you are buying. Think about the types of questions

you would ask someone if you were buying the item and try

to list out the information in bullets to help answer those

questions. Also, some categories get more posts than others,

so it can be worth the money to pay to promote your ad, if it

has been bumped o! the #rst two pages.

6.Have you ever experienced scam while

purchasing items online? How does the company

deal with scams claiming to be associated with

Kijiji? I personally have not. We do our best to pull any ads that are

suspicious and we have a number of safety measures in place

that scan for keywords and phrases to pull down suspicious

ads. As I mentioned before, community members are asked

to provide us with their feedback and each ad includes a

“report this ad” link that gives the community the power to

report suspicious ads.

Interviewed by Serene ChanPublications Manager, MESA

Shawn McIntyre is Community Relations Manager at

Kijiji Canada, where he has been on the Community

Relations/Support Team for four years, making him

one of the �rst members of the Kijiji.ca team. Following

the launch of Kijiji.ca in 2005, Shawn joined the team

with a focus on developing an innovative Community

Support Model to deliver a fun, safe online classi�eds

experience for Canadians.fun, safe online classi�eds

experience for Canadians.

If you weren’t a professor, what would you be or do?I would be in radio because I like to talk

and a bene�t would be that no one

would have to see me! It’s kind of cool

to have a radio personality and work for

a station that plays music that I enjoy.

Secondly, I would be a professional

athlete. I would probably run.

What is one thing that students would be surprised to know about you?

I do a disproportion amount of chores

around the house. My wife works full

time at UTSC. She works with very high

leveled people and the work around

the house has to be done. So I certainly

try to do my part; in fact do more than my

part because my wife’s working hours are

very constrained and it’s my house too.

I think students would be surprised to

hear that the other day I pulled out my

lunch and students asked me, “Did your

wife make that for you?” I just fell over.

What made you go into teaching?I realize that I probably enjoy my students

more than I enjoy my subject. I think what

made me go into teaching was partly

the experience of helping students

�nd their way, consolidate their

knowledge and make their own

success. And a bit of it is sort of sel�sh.

It’s by living vicariously, repeating

the experiences I had as a student.

What was your least favorite subject in school?My least favorite subject was, oh dear,

biology. The reason I didn’t like

biology was because it seemed like a

huge collection of things to remember

with not a lot of substance. I didn’t like

memorization. But I found later in life

that knowing something in biology,

particular human biology, can be useful.

What would you do if you had a million dollars?First thing would be to not do much

for a while; just think about things.

Second thing is to put that money into

somewhere secure. I would decide how

to spread it amongst my wife’s family

and my family. If there is anything left,

pay o" the mortgage. As a working adult

with a child, you’d be surprised how fast

money disappears. I don’t even see it!

With a million bucks, it’s not like you can

say, “Shucks, I can retire.” If you said 10

million bucks, that would be di"erent.

What was your dream as a student?If I had to answer that, I would say

mathematician. I guess as far as career

wise, I really love my subject. You’ve heard

of this term “geek”? Well they were around

during the 80s when I was a student and I

was one of those. I really loved my subject

and so one of my goals was to see more of it.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given to you?It’s certainly applicable in school and it’s

applicable in life. It’s applicable especially

when things are really awful.. The best

advice my dad gave me was that in a

particular situation, especially if it was

bad, that this too will pass. Everything

passes. Both my parents reminded me

that the sun will come tomorrow and it

will be a di"erent day. There are so many

great things that are still going to happen.

Interviewed by Serene ChanPublications Manager, MESA

Serene ChanPublications Manager, MESA

“I wanna be a billionaire so frikin’ badBuy all the things I never had”

Bruno Mars seems to understand how most of us wish we

could splurge as hard as a celebrity could. With hundreds of

millions, some celebrities buy the most unnecessary things.

The following are outrageous purchases of the rich and famous:

Rihanna has become a huge trendsetter

when it comes to hairstyles. Style

doesn’t come cheap, which might

explain why she spends a staggering

$23,000 every week on a personal hair

stylist. That’s more than $1.1 million

on hair a year! Looks like Rihanna is

the only girl who will never bad a hair day.

Have you ever heard of the song sung by Marilyn Monroe,

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”? This song seems

to be certainly true for Akon! He likes his diamonds so

much; he bought his own diamond mine in South Africa.

You know how some people played dress up as a kid? It must

be Tom Cruise’s baby girl’s favorite game since her wardrobe

consists of $25,000 tiaras, $750 Armani gowns, and a $6,000

princess Halloween costume. This little girl is running around

town with a child-sized Ferragamo handbag worth more

than what we spend on a month’s rent!

Suri Cruise is not the only little girl who

showers with luxuries. Beyonce’s daughter

Blue Ivy literally showers in a $5,200 pink

Swarovski crystal covered tub. This infant

may be just a few months old, but she has

accumulated more expensive gifts than

most people will receive in a lifetime.

Lady Gaga might terrify

some people with her

outrageous out�ts. But

when it comes to �ghting

her own fear, the singer

spent $50,000 on ghost

detecting equipment,

including electro-magnetic

�eld meters to tackle the

supposed spirit named Ryan

that follows her everywhere. Rumors suggest Gaga does a spirit

check at each venue she plays to chase away the bad energy.

As university students, we know

how much we should value sleep.

Daniel Radcli�e must understand

the true importance of beauty sleep.

At 11 years old, he spent $17,000

on a custom Savoir mattress after

cashing his �rst pay check from the

“Harry Potter” series.

Looking at his $38 million debt and his decision to buy two white

Bengal tigers, the former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson has been

known to pour money down the drain with his lavish spending.

He seemed to have taken the saying a little too literally when

he purchased a $2 million bathtub for his ex-wife Robin Givens.

It’s rather ridiculous how the extravagant spending habits

of some very wealthy celebrities come from those who

often seem to have more money sense. If you had as much

money as these celebrities, what would you spend it on?

1 The CN TowerAt 1,815 feet the CN Tower

attracts millions of tourists from all over the world, giving the

visitors a bird’s eye view of Toronto and the surrounding areas.

If looking down on the city from the glass observation deck or

walking on the edge of the main pod is not your thing, you can also

dine at the towers top-�oor restaurant with a breathtaking view.

2 The Distillery DistrictThe Distillery Historic District in downtown Toronto is a pedestrian-

only village is dedicated to promoting arts and culture and has

fabulous heritage architecture. With a wellness centre, plenty

of cafés, restaurants and pubs, it is de"nitely a place to visit!

3 YorkvilleYorkville is a charming anomaly in the midst of Toronto’s high rises

and shopping malls. The old-fashioned Victorian architecture

houses dozens of boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. .

Various celebrities have been spotted strolling the sidewalks of

Yorkville, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival.

4 Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)The AGO is the 10th largest art museum in North America and

houses an impressive collection of over 40,000 pieces of work.

The AGO is housed in a striking Frank Gehry building and features

masterworks from around the world from 100AD to present

5 St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market o$ers shoppers a variety of shops

and co$ee houses in a unique atmosphere making it one

of the top places to relax in Toronto. It is located west of

Jarvis Street between King Street East and the Esplanade. A

perk of the St. Lawrence market is that the admission is free.

6 HarbourfrontAs a neighbourhood on the northern shore of Lake Ontario,

the Habourfront area is developing rapidly and becoming

one of the busiest pedestrian zones in Toronto. Harbourfront

Centre is a non-pro"t cultural organization providing renowned

programming in arts, culture education and recreation.

it attracts approximately 12 million visitors every year.

7 Toronto IslandsOnly a 10-minute ferry ride from the foot of Yonge Street, the Toronto

islands o$er a panoramic view of the city’s skyline. The largest

and outermost island is called Centre Island and o$ers miles of

parkland with beaches, barbecues and picnic tables, boat rentals,

bicycle paths, a children’s farm, and even an amusement park.

8 Allan GardensAllan Gardens is one of the oldest parks in Toronto that’s open every

day of the year with free admission. You will be able to "nd a Botanical

Conservatory, playground, and two fenced o$-leash areas for dogs.

9 Air Canada CentreThe Air Canada Centre is a state-of-the-art arena that is home

to the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is a

multipurpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street.

10 Rogers Centre (formerly known as Skydome)Famous for its retractable roof, the Rogers Centre

is home to the Toronto Argonauts football

team and the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.

Carmen ChanPublications Manager, MESA