Need a Holiday?? Here’s how to afford it!!

By: Jessica Hiebert

The holidays can be hard for students. You have to worry about finals and gathering money for a possible practicum. And you have to prepare for that trip home for Christmas. Where in all of this, can you find a few bucks to hit the slopes?

I sat down with Derrick Weisbeck, Financial Advisor at Scotia McLeod to find out how to enjoy the holidays without emptying your pockets. First things first. You MUST plan for stuff like this in your budget. Me-time and money is important, and you should plan for it. Weisbeck says, “Always when you set up a budget, try to include all major expenses.”

 Travelling to the mountains for skiing fun can be very expensive. Derrick suggests checking out some Edmonton locations. “You don’t have to hit Jasper or Banff or Lake Louise. You can pick cheaper locations. I know that some of the in-city or local hills don’t offer the same allure, but they would simply be much, much more affordable to students on a restricted budget.”

Now if cold and snow are not your idea of a fun winter vacation, there are a few budget-friendly places you can go. Derrick says that Vegas can be a great place to go for a cheap winter vacation. If you go during the week, you can get your flight and accommodations for less than six or seven hundred dollars.

If you want to go a bit further south for your holidays check out travel sights online. Many airlines look to fill up last minute empty seats and you can take advantage of this. Derrick warns to be careful which country you choose. “Some countries require a VISA over and above a regular passport. “ Getting away for the holidays can be tough, but with the right budget it’s completely possible.

Movember Alternative

by Jacqueline Spiller

What is Movember? Formally known as November, this is a month dedicated to raising money and awareness for prostate cancer by growing a moustache.
This is a great opportunity for men, but if you’re a woman, your options are limited. Woman can still partake in what’s known as a Mo Sista, a woman who recruits men to participate in Movember or donates to the cause. This isn’t a very fun or interactive way for woman to raise awareness for really anything but me.

December 3rd Sports Update

by Taylor Smith

The Edmonton Oilers face off tonight in Detroit as they kick off a five game road trip. The struggling Oilers have only won two of their last 10 games. The Oilers are second in the league with 105 man games lost to injury. Head Coach Pat Quinn talks about the good play of young players in times of injury trouble.

“A coach’s job is to try and give a style of play that maximizes the skills that your players have and we’ll want these young men to have opportunities to finish their checks and play good defense. I have no complaints whatsoever about the young men that have been considered our development kids or fringe kids. They’ve come in here, and they’ve done terrific work.”

No-Homework Contract

by Taylor Smith

Imagine going through school with no homework. That’s the case for one family in Calgary.

Concerned parents in Calgary have signed a no-homework contract with their kids’ school. The Milley family wanted to cut down on their children’s homework time so they would have more time to focus on extracurricular activities, and focus on being a kid. Jane Sterling of The Edmonton Public School Boards says this type of deal should be treated on a case by case basis.

What’s Hot this Christmas??

by Melissa Affleck

NR92 went to Kingsway Garden Mall to find out what the hottest gifts are this season for kids and adults.

Christmas shopping is always tough, but it helps to know what the hottest items are for the season. In past years we have seen children’s toy crazes like: cabbage patch dolls, furby’s, Pokémon, and Nano’s. This year according to Assistant Manager of Zellers Kingsway Doreen Gratton there are some new toys that are flying off the shelves. One of these toys is an electronic Hamster, which is very popular amongst children this Christmas.

You Don’t Need a Cape to be a Hero

by Lance Fabiosa

We tried our best but mother nature has finally taken its toll on this winter season. We’re fortunate enough to be able keep warm; however, the homeless community isn’t as lucky. Peter Gerber, the media relations of Hope Mission, says that they have created a unique program to solve this problem.

Get ready to paint the town red!

by Jenica Hagan

The 2010 Olympics are approaching fast and the City of Edmonton is busy preparing for their involvement in the months leading up to the event! The Olympic torch will be making its way through Edmonton on January 13, 2010, and a media launch was held this week at City Hall to outline the festivities planned for that monumental day.

The announcement was also made of who would be carrying the torch for the last part of the Edmonton leg of its journey. Mayor Stephen Mandel broke the big news:

“We couldn’t have asked for a better candidate to represent Edmonton on this journey than former Olympic athlete Doreen Ryan. It will be this amazing individual who will carry the Olympic torch the final 300 metres to the podium on January 13.”

Ooks First Half

by Taylor Medak

The Mens NAIT Ooks will be wrapping up their first half of the 2009-2010 hockey season this weekend.  The Ooks currently sit at 7 wins 7 losses.  They wrap up  the first half against Augustana who swept the Ooks in the season opening 2 game series in October. 

The Ooks will be either 9 and 7 or 8 and 8 or, hopefully not, 7 and 9.  I think it’s okay that I grade the team two games early.  The Ooks are second in the league in scoring and boast two solid scoring lines.  Leading the way has been team captain Chevan Wilson, former WHL’er Jeff Topilko and European Jiri Prochazka.  Topilko along with second liner Brett Peppler lead the team in goals, 12 and 10 respectively. Wilson is tied for first in league scoring, with 26 points and Prochazka’s 23 points lands him in the top 5 in the ACAC.  “We’ve been able to put the puck in the net,”  Wilson says.   You’d think by only seeing these stats that the Ooks would be high up in the league standing.  But they have had some difficulties defensively.

Greatest Game Ever Played – Real Life

by Lance Fabiosa

Edmonton is one of the newest cities introduced to FourSquare: described as 50 per cent friend-finder, 30 per cent social city guide, and 20 per cent nightlife game.  Andrew Vilcsak, an iPhone developer and FourSquare user, explains that FourSquare is not to be compared to other networking tools.

“It’s just a different concept, I don’t think FourSquare is meant to compete with either Twitter or Facebook,” says Andrew Vilcsak.

When Love Comes To Town…

by Jonathon Hechter

A major event is happening in Edmonton this weekend, which looks to attract a wide variety of people, even some that you might not expect to show up.

The Taboo Naughty But Nice Sex Show is preparing to open its doors this weekend at the Agricom, showcasing products and activities for Edmonton consumers to later use behind their own closed doors.

At the conference, people can see product demonstrations and displays to spice up their love lives, as well as attend educational workshops.