VBNF Blog

This is a month-long series of exciting and delectable events in Alberta and British Columbia.

For the first time in Vancouver, the ITALIAN WINE AWARDS will be presented with guests of both the industry and public tastings voting for their favourite Italian red and white wines. The winning wines will be displayed and promoted throughout selected Liberty Wines stores in Vancouver and the awards will be presented at the Dine Italia event at Federico’s Supper Club on November 28th.

We are also proud to announce a MONTH-LONG “FLAVOURS OF ITALY” IMAGE PROMOTION in 50 selected BC Liquor Stores – check out some of the best-selling Italian labels in our Province!

DINE ITALIA – EXCLUSIVE “FLAVOURS OF ITALY” REGIONAL WINE-PAIRING DINNERS at some of Vancouver’s most renowned Italian restaurants with regional menus specially created by the chefs, all of whom have already been awarded (or who will receive next year) the Authentic Italian Hospitality Seal Award – “Ospitalita’ Italiana”.

The dinners will take place over the month of November and will feature regional specialties paired with wines exclusively from those regions with insights from both chefs and winemakers on the evening’s unique fare:

• Monday Nov. 7 – Dine LOMBARDIA at Cibo Trattoria (Sold Out)
• Tuesday Nov. 8 – Dine VENETO at CinCin (Sold Out)
• Thursday Nov. 17 – Dine SICILIA at Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca
• Thursday Nov. 24 – Dine PIEMONTE at Quattro al Centro
• Monday Nov. 28 – Dine ITALIA at Federico’s Supper Club

We look forward to seeing you, buon appetito! Get your tickets now: http://www.cmymall.com/products.php?cid=21

Canadian Aboriginal & Asia Pacific Import & Export Trade Development Seminar & Workshop

Date: Friday& Saturday, December 2 – 3, 2011 (New Date from Nov 19 – 20)
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 p.m. Daily
Place: The Maritime Labour Centre, Boardroom, #3-1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Free parking available. Limited Seats available. First come first served.

RSVP at: http://www.vbnf.com/contactus.php or Please download the Complete Brochure and registration form.

Canada’s First Nations possess land reserves totaling nearly three million hectares. This land base represents an economic asset that will make a major contribution to enhancing and advancing the quality of life and standard of living of First Nations people and communities throughout Canada.

Indeed, there has been an explosion of First Nations entrepreneurship on and off-reserve as First Nations have opened casinos, shopping centres, industrial parks, golf courses and residential developments; they own trust companies, airlines, trucking firms, fisheries, sawmills and oil wells.

There is a lot for us to learn about Canadian Aboriginal people, including their values, standards, constitutions and leadership competencies. VBNF is fortunate to work with Wineexs Business Development & Management (WBDM), a registered and leading 100% Canadian Aboriginal owned and operated company located at Vancouver, BC, to create new and viable business opportunities relating to natural resources such as fishing, forestry and mining.

As such, WBDM has set-up an inaugural 2-day import and export trade development seminar and workshop to teach others how to do business with First Nations. This ground-breaking seminar and workshop will bring together Aboriginal and Asia Pacific community stakeholders and leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, industry experts and investors who exemplify best practices in their particular field to collaborate on the development of a new and unified import and export trade model and business network. Any business people or groups that who would like to do business with First Nations should attend.

In the course, you will learn:

• Who are the First Nations bands and organizations we are working with;
• How they want to do business with you;
• What kind of products and services are available;
• What products and services they need;
• When the products become available;
• How to create business opportunities with First Nations; and,
• Learn about the VBNF connections and investment opportunities.

Delegates Include:

• Canadian Aboriginal community stakeholders and leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, industry experts and investors;
• Asia-Pacific community stakeholders and leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, industry experts and investors;
• Local, regional, provincial, national and international social and economic development, management, leadership and stewardship professionals; and,
• Personal and professional development professionals.

Seminar Highlights Include:

• Discover and learn about the ground-breaking H.O.W.A.R.T. Model;
• Access invaluable, leading-edge technology, information and tools;
• Learn about the advances in First Nations import and export trade;
• Collaborate with Canadian Aboriginal and Asia-Pacific business leaders;
• Contribute to the development of a new import and export trade model;
• Meet and network with top business executives and industry professionals;

This year boomers started turning 65. Ten million of them, representing one third of the entire Canadian population, will reach retirement age over the next 15 years. Since they are the largest and wealthiest segment of the population, what they plan to do will have a strong impact on the economy, especially in the housing market.

Studies by several major banks have looked at the trends for boomers and have found that 39 per cent of boomers who plan to retire in the next three years still have a mortgage on their home, but two-thirds of boomers say they will retire mortgage-free. Forty per cent of boomers say they plan to move and of those, 41 per cent say they won’t need a new mortgage for their new home.

This is the generation that saw the value in their homes grow exponentially and this increase in value has formed a large part of their retirement savings plans. While saving money from a weekly pay cheque is still part of an overall saving strategy, home equity has also been a part of the strategy.

This will have a definite impact in the housing market. While it’s still a good time for first time home  buyers, many of the mortgage rule changes earlier this year has made it more challenging for this segment to get into a home, especially with shorter amortizations and the end of zero down payment programs.

While economists have predicted a stable, balanced market over the next year with the Prime interest rate staying where it is until the end of 2012, variable rate discounts have disappeared and fixed rates are gradually increasing, which may impact first time buyers. The market may see a small surplus in homes resulting in more muted price appreciation as boomers down size. Prices may make it more affordable for first time home buyers and the move-up market.

A CIBC report also suggests that younger Canadians – those aged 25 to 34 – believe they will be able to retire based on savings they will accumulate over their working life. But boomers aged 55 to 64 are not so sure.

This same report suggests that many Canadians getting closer to retirement are relooking at the retirement savings goals they’ve set for themselves and are making adjustments. With interest rates low, coupled with a relatively stable economy, it may be a good time for boomers who have built equity in their homes to look at other mortgage options such as reverse mortgages.

These findings also demonstrate the importance of having a plan in place and making progress toward your goals every year, to give you the flexibility to make choices about how and when you retire.  Whether you’re reaching retirement or just starting out, speaking to a mortgage agent should be part of a family’s overall retirement planning along with a financial planner. There are a number of strategies and options for paying down a mortgage and building a retirement nest egg.

Today, I bumped into Mayor Wayne Wright of New Westminster who was getting on the Skytrain to go to a meeting on low Income housing meeting at UBC.  This is something I applause the Mayor as this is just something very important to all British Columbians as well as the whole Canada. I am very pleased to hear that the government is listening and is taking action to resolve the housing issues across Canada.

 As VBNF has been promoting Low Income housing for the last few months, and the technology was picking up steam from different directions in the US, Canada, Asia and South America. It is about time, our government would start seeing the need and actually doing something about this.

Mayor Wayne Wright is a very busy man and he has been working very hard to bring new developments in New West. Just take a look at the waterfront area near the New West Skytrain station, the waterfront park development next to the Front Road. This will change the look of New West and will make it an attractive place to visit. I can’t wait to see it grow.  I would like to see the modernized part of New West to bring new visitors and residents to improve the city. I live in New West and I like it here. The broad walk is a very nice and beautiful place for a stroll. Some people do fishing there for enjoyment. Dogs and kids were having fun running around with their adults.

Yet during this election time, he would take the time to attend meetings like this to take care the low income people across the country. He does care. Mayor Wright is not a young fellow but yet he is so energetic and so enthusiasm into public services. I admire him. I wish I have the same energy like him when I get to his age. 

Mayor Wright did the right thing about the Head Tax for the Chinese. He took trips to China to bring more business into the City, to set up sister cities with China and bring more future to New West. I think he deserves another term so he can finish off what he started. Go with Mayor Wright. He is the Right man for the job. I am for sure to vote for him in the coming weekend. I hope you do too. I want him to finish up what he has been working so hard for.

During the summer, we have more fire work than other cities. Although it is a smaller scale but good enough for us who do not want to get into traffic jam in Vancouver to see the competition. New Westminster is a great place to live. Don’t believe me? Just stop by the Quay and take a walk on the broad walk, then ask anyone there. They will tell you the truth.

Low Income Housing for New Westminster

Since there is not a whole lot of land, the best way is to build multi-level building. During the train ride, I was able to give him a brief on the Murchtech technology and its saving and advantages to the Mayor. He likes it. He will study more and share the information with people he was going to meet at UBC. I will surely help him learn more about the Murchtech products and all the cost and time savings from traditional housing materials.

MurchTech Presentation Links:

* MurchTech Low Cost Housing Solution (Canada)

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/MurchTech-Low-Cost-Housing-Solution.pdf

* Housing Solution for Earthquake, Tornado, Hurricane, Tsunami or other natural disaster areas

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Housing-Solution-or-Earthquake-and-other-Natural-Disasters.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/Housing-type-Comparison-Chart.xls

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Durabode-Home-Building-System-Brochure1.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Murchtech-Business-Proposal-for-Low-Cost-Housing2.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Murchtech-Home-Brochure.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Murchtech-Materia-specifications-and-test-Results-b.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Murchtech-Recommendations.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Sample-Houses1a.pdf

http://www.vbnf.com/pdf/Sample-Houses2a.pdf

For more information, please contact us.

Today, VBNF attended the dinner gathering to say farewell to one of our Chinese leader in Vancouver, Mr. Shugen Liang, whose term is up that he will be going back to Beijing for another important job. The Consul General is a well liked leader/friend in both the Chinese business and social communities, not to mention that he is also leader representing China to other countries in Vancouver. He is a very, very busy man indeed.

He provided endless support to all the Chinese people living in Vancouver regardless where they come from, business or social needs. The Chinese loves him very much.  I bet he must have been invited to many farewell functions by different groups during the last few weeks.  While we are sorry to see him go.  We have to admit that all good things will go to an end somehow and new good things will come again. We wish him well, get some rest and get a better job so he can help us more in the future.

Here is the link to see the photo show for the event.
https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=6bdcc5bb23398478&page=play&resid=6BDCC5BB23398478!404

Thanks to CCBDA for arranging the meet up party with the delegates from Jiangmen City of Guangdong Province from China. We were so excited to meet with old friends who took great care of us when we went for a Trade mission to China in Nov. 2009. At the party we also meet up with Mr. Dang of the Consul General office of China, Vancouver, John Yap, MLA Richmond, Richard Lee, MLA Burnaby and Catherine Yuen, Principal Consultant of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Canada, Vancouver and many old friends who went to China during the 2009 tour.

Jiangmen has grown so fast and it became a city district from a town. Many manufacturing facilities are located in Jiangmen. One of the largest developments is the LED market. LED lighting saves energy consumption as well LED displays are very effective for outdoor large screen size. Otherwise the car industry is also very large as they produce lots of parts for the automobile industry.

Of course, there are many art and crafts products in Jiangmen too. We had a great time and got invitation to visit Jiangmen whenever we are ready to go.

Jiangmen has most of the production set up but will need high tech stuff to help them improve and increase efficiency and quality. VBNF will find out exactly what they need and source them out from Canada to bring the products there. They also are interested in seafood and wood logs from Canada. VBNF will surely work closely with them as we have the resources here in BC.

See photo slides from the event.

This is a try to translate what I got from my friend from China. I think we need to examine our educational system and learn from the Japanese experience on how we should deal with unexpected disasters. This is something Japanese should be proud of themselves and that is something we all should learn. We should learn how the Japanese teach our children and how they are so un-selfishly handle big disaster like that with dignity and without fear.

日本得體抗災 中國網民讚歎 學校成避難所勾起川震回憶·作者：明報

雖然遭受地震海嘯重挫，但日本人昨天仍不失團結、守禮、守紀律和尊重互助的價值觀。東京地鐵站和便利店都是長長人龍，每個人靜靜地等候，沒有打尖、沒有搶劫、沒有互相指駡。學校禮堂是災民的安心避難所，抬頭可見堅固瓦樑，沒有人會懷疑是豆腐渣。遠方的中國網民目睹裂開的日本，為3年前的四川感慨之餘，亦不禁為災難中仍然挺直腰板顧全大局的日本人，舉起拇指讚好。

Although suffered from earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese still stays unity with respect and discipline the value of helping each other. The subway stations and convenience stores were lined up with people who were patiently waiting for their turn without fighting, arguing, or looting. School hall is a safe haven for the victims, solid beams of the structure can be seen, no one doubts the quality of the structure. Chinese Internet users see the distant crack of Japan and the way the Japanese handle the situation, raised their thumbs on Japan. Three years ago, Sichuan’s disaster was devastating.

日本經歷世紀大地震之後處處人龍。鐵路在地震後停駛，大批人無法回家，東京站新幹線和JR線的攤位外，打蛇餅排著數百人靜靜等候買車票，人龍中聽不到抱怨怒哮。記者向一名女士查問班次，她很平和、耐心地解釋已取消。日本羽田機場內的長龍，同樣安靜有秩序，數十人排隊累了坐在樓梯兩側，中間是一條暢通道路供人上落。

After the earthquake, the subway was no servicing. Many people cannot go home, hundreds of people lining up to wait for their turn to buy the ticket. No one was complaining. A reporter asked one old lady waiting at the line up about the schedule. She quietly answered that the service was cancelled. At the airport, people lined up and many sit on the sides of the stairway to allow others to pass through.

餐廳派咖喱飯 汽水機一按有飲品

Free Curry rice and Pops at the restaurants and Pop machines.

東京車站沿線多間學校自發開放，供無法回家的上班族暫住，內有足夠上千人用的毛氈食物擺放井然有序。旅館不單沒有坐地起價，更換個招牌變身「避難所」供免費住宿。此時此刻商店都將「搵錢發財」拋諸腦後，仙台倖存者之中，廚師留守食店煮免費咖喱飯、電器店東提供免費手機充電，汽水機一按就彈出飲品、公眾電話一按就打通。

Many schools along the transit line of Tokyo voluntarily opened for the public for those who were not able to go home. The schools provided over thousands of blankets in a orderly manner. There is no price hike at the Hotels, They even change their sign to “sanctuary” for free accommodation. Stores owners did not think of making more money but having the restaurant chefs stay and cook free curry rice, electrical appliance shop offers free mobile phone recharge. Soda machine are free and the public telephone are free for all calls.

日本網民在地震後留言：「一定要協助不會說日文的外國人避難，就算你只會說『Hello、OK』都行」網民又互相提醒：「特別要照顧長者婦女，你的鄰居是獨居嗎？記得去敲門」、「請告訴回不了家的朋友，以下地方可以免費留宿……」

Japanese Internet users leave a message after the earthquake: “We must assist the evacuation of foreigners who do not speak Japanese, even if you only say『 Hello, OK 』would do. Internet users remind each other: “To care for the elderly women in particular, ask them if their neighbor is alone? Remember to knock on the door, “” Please tell your friends who are not able to go home, tell them the free accommodations at the following places… ”

「避震完畢，地上沒有垃圾」

早前的新西蘭基督城地鎮，災後曾出現趁機搶掠、商戶大幅抬高物資價格的情况。相比下，同樣屬發達國家，東京並未出現這些情况。當然，東京並非重災區，也未有因災陷入治安崩壞的狀態。有中國網民目睹日本人逃難，於網上寫道：「幾百人在廣場避震完畢，整個過程，無一人抽煙，商店服務員跑來送上毯子、熱水、餅乾。男人幫女人拿東西 、駁收音機，3個小時後，人散，地上沒有一片垃圾、一點也沒有。」

“Earthquake stopped and no rubbish on the ground”

After the disaster in Christchurch, New Zealand, there have been looted, business substantially raise the prices of goods. In comparison, both as a developed country, Tokyo did not show such cases. Of course, Tokyo is not the hardest hit, so they did not collapse into a state of law and order disaster. Chinese Internet users witnessed the Japanese flight, on-line wrote: “hundreds of people waited in the square suspension when earthquake stopped. For the whole process, no one smoking, the store attendant came to send blankets, hot water, biscuits. Men help women carry things, turn on the radio, after 3 hours, the people scattered, the ground has no waste or rubbish. ”

一名在日本便利店打工的中國人留言：「我媽問我：『有無趁地震加價？』沒有啊。我在7-11打工，食物飲料免費提供，沒有人哄搶。人們拿了免費食物，都會排隊到收銀台來說一聲謝謝。」也有內地網民想起2008年的5．12四川大地震：「學校啊學校，日本的學校是避難所、是最堅固的，這就需要我們學習。中國人的學校啊……」

A Chinese worker who works at the convenience store in Japan left a message: “My mother asked me:『 whether the store increased the fare to take advantage of the earthquake? 』 “Not ah. I work at 7-11, free food and drink, no looting. People took free food will thank you for the queue at the checkout.” “Mainland netizens (people who go on the Internet) also remembered the 5.12 2008 Sichuan earthquake: ” School ah school, for Japanese schools is the most solid haven, which requires us to learn. Chinese school … ah … ”

張宏艷﹕日本人顧全大局

曾在日本留學的前新聞主播張宏艷，1995年親身採訪神戶7.2級大地震，當年已體會日本人面對災難的人文素養。張宏艷認為，日本民族宗旨是「顧全大局」，「日本人每做一件事，也會考慮對其他人的影響，例如人們不會在地鐵講電話。日本人顧全大局的心理質素久經訓練，在天災中發揮了關鍵作用，除了自救，亦不忘救人。」她認為，因為日本人「顧全大局」，世人才看到他們在災難面前不屈並守望相助的光輝人性。

Zhang Hongyan: Japanese knows how to look after the whole picture
News anchor, Zhang Hongyan, who studied in Japan, personal experienced the 1995 magnitude 7.2 Kobe earthquakes. She remembered the quality of the humanities in Japan when facing disasters. Zhang Hongyan believes that the Japanese looks into the “big picture”, “Everything the Japanese do, they, will consider the impact of others. For example, people do not talk on the phone in the subway. For natural disasters, Japanese were well-trained with high mental quality of well being that played a key role on how they function without fear and undisciplined. In addition to self-help, they also did not forget to save others’ lives. ”

In her view, because the Japanese pays attention to the “big picture “, the world can see their talents and glorious humanity from their help to each other in the unyielding face of disaster.

Ronald Leung will get another crack at the Burnaby-Douglas MP seat after the Conservative Party’s riding association confirmed his nomination Monday.

Minister Jason Kenny, MP Richmond – Alice Wong and many supporters were there to kick off the start of the campaign.

Leung lost to incumbent New Democrat MP Bill Siksay about 800 votes in 2008.

This time around Leung will be up against the NDP’s Kennedy Stewart and the Liberals’ Ken Low.

Leung, married with two children, has lived in North Burnaby for more than 20 years.

He has a PhD in chemistry from Simon Fraser University and is well-known in the ethnic Chinese community as a current affairs commentator for Fairchild Radio.

Most recently, he has served as the special assistant to the ministers of agriculture, public safety, international trade and Pacific Gateway and citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism. Leung is a former director of the Vancouver Christian School Association and of Carver Christian High School in Burnaby. He is currently a director of Seton Villa seniors home.

“I wish to give the constituents of this riding a voice in Ottawa that for too long has been misrepresented,” Leung said in a press release.

“I look forward to returning the focus on the economic concerns of Burnaby families rather than the NDP’s personal agenda of the special interests.”

VBNF knows Ronald quite well. He is a gentleman and a true scholar who has the heart to work for the people. People who know Ronald all gave him a thumb up. Good luck Ronald, I am sure you will do well in the next election.

Last Monday, VBNF was invited to visit the Fraser Surrey Docks. My last visit to the FSD was over 30 some years ago when one of my uncles (a sea captain) docked his ship at the Fraser Surrey Docks. Since then I used to go there to buy fresh seafood as there were fishing boats docked nearby there during the weekends. But that was a long time ago.

This time, it is totally different as now I know more about docks and ports, and shipping. My last trip to a Dock was a few months ago when I took a Chinese delegate from Fujiang to the Delta Port nears Robert Banks.

Thanks to Mr. Bill Wehnert, VP, Sales and Marketing who gave me a tour for the whole site. I then realize that the Fraser Surrey Docks is the only dock in the lower mainland that provides the shipping facilities for all shipping material including Agricultural products (under construction), General Cargos, Steel, Lumber, Containers, and Log Loading.

FSD Fraser Surrey Docks is a multi-purpose terminal, with six berths accommodating ships with a draft up to 11.7 meters. Our terminal has four container cranes and 30,654 square meters of covered storage with considerable potential for expansion. It is supported by advanced intermodal freight services and our 10,000 feet of track within the Fraser Surrey Docks yard. We are also in close proximity to two main highway routes that are located away from heavy city traffic. It facilities are well designed to provide Rail Car Handling, Truck Transfer and Warehouse and Transfer. A new area is now under construction for agricultural products.

Its location is quite central in Vancouver, close to HWY 1, and the Fraser River and the Rail road. I believe it would save loading and transportation time for shipping goods to other Canadian cities by truck, by rail and by sea.

A guide for B.C. familes and individuals to prpare for surviving a major earthquake.

We should well prepare for this if anything happens. Seismic experts say we can expect a major destructive earthquake in British Columbia. We don’t know when this will happen. But we do live in a region where some of the largest earthquakes in the world occur.

 http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/prepare_now/prepare.html