Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort lets Canadians tee it up all winter with unlimited golf package in The Bahamas

TORONTO – Nov. 24, 2009 – Instead of catching snowflakes on your tongue and simply dreaming of hitting the golf course this winter, Canadians can swing their clubs under the toasty Bahamian sunshine with the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort’s Unlimited Golf package, which offers:

- Luxurious room accommodations with private balcony

- Starting rates at $320 (taxes and resort fee included)* per room, per night (based on double occupancy) until Dec. 23, 2009

- Unlimited golf and cart - no “replay” fee/no cart fee at Cable Beach Golf Club
The package is available from Nov.1, 2009 until March 1, 2010; advance reservations are required and prices vary dependant on trip timing. [i]

After finishing the course, guests can return to the resort to relax and enjoy an array of amenities and dining options. Situated on a 1,000-foot stretch of one of Nassau’s spectacular white sand beaches, the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is set on seven exquisite acres of stunning waterscape, including three freshwater pools with flowing waterfalls, a swim-up bar and oversized whirlpools nestled among tropical landscaping. The resort includes six restaurants and lounges serving a variety of island specialties and international cuisine.

The 694-room Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort offers rooms equipped with high-speed Internet access, LCD flat-screen televisions and the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed – a multi-layered creation adorned with voluptuous down pillows, sensuous cotton sheets and a signature blanket and duvet.

The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is 15 minutes from Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport, which is serviced by a number of domestic and international carriers from Canada.

For more information and/or reservations on this offer, please call 1-877-782-0149 or visit www.sheraton.com/nassauoffers

1: The Ultimate Golf Package at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is valid for stays until March 1, 2010 and requires a two-night minimum stay. Replay rounds at the Cable Beach Golf Club are subject to availability. A stay is defined as one or more consecutive nights paying a qualifying rate that are spent in the same hotel regardless of the number of check-in or checkouts. Basic room rates do not include additional per room per night charges that may be imposed. A limited number of rooms may be available at these rates and additional restrictions and blackout dates run from Dec. 24 2009 – Jan. 1, 2010. Offer not applicable to groups or with other special offers. Advance reservations required. Low Season and High Season rates apply (Low Season: starting at $320 CDN Nov.1, 2009; High Season: starting at $429 CDN Jan.1, 2010). Bellman gratuity will be added: One time fee of $6.00 per person for guests 18 years and older. Triple/Quad: Add $100 per person, per night for low season. Triple/Quad: Add $120 per person, per night for high season. Single occupancy rates available.

*Note: Canadian prices subject to change dependant on daily conversion rates

GRAYCLIFF BOUTIQUE & SMOKING DIVANS OPENS IN NASSAU’S SIR LYNDEN PINDLING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

-- A Luxurious, Relaxing Space for Travelers --

NASSAU, Bahamas (November 16, 2009) – Starting this week, travelers in the Bahamas have an elegant, relaxing way to spend their airport time with the grand opening of the Graycliff Boutique & Smoking Divans at Nassau’s Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport.

The new 1,200 square foot lounge, which features both smoking and non-smoking areas, is designed in a tropical yet modern, warm and elegant style. There are comfortable designer chairs and couches with subtle lighting. Strategically placed flat-screen televisions – built in to the wood paneled walls – allow guests to keep up with the news or their favorite sports. A state of the art ventilation system ensures the cleanest atmosphere possible in the smoking room.

By paying a $10 entrance lounge fee, guests can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or other beverage. In addition, a menu of light dishes will be available for purchase shortly.

A Graycliff Boutique offers Graycliff Cigars, cigarettes, Graycliff Coffee and Chocolates and various gift items.

“As a frequent traveler myself, I’ve been frustrated by the lack of a luxurious, relaxing place to unwind, have a bite to eat or catch up on emails at our airport,” says Paolo Garzaroli, president of Graycliff Cigar Company, which owns the boutiques. “It’s very rewarding to have made this dream come true.”

“As luxury hoteliers, our expectations for style and comfort are quite high,” said Graycliff’s Chairman and CEO, Enrico Garzaroli. “The new boutique is unlike anything currently available in the region. We’ve raised the bar, now they’ll all have to catch up to the Bahamas!”

The new Nassau lounge joins two existing Graycliff Boutique & Smoking Divans, located in the B and C terminals at Nashville International Airport, as well as one at the Graycliff Cigar Company and one at the Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant.

GARDINER MUSEUM ANNOUNCES 2010 EXHIBITION LINEUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GARDINER MUSEUM ANNOUNCES 2010 EXHIBITION LINEUP
Presents international and contemporary Canadian art and a new collection of Japanese porcelain

TORONTO (November 25, 2009) – The Gardiner Museum announced its 2010 exhibition schedule today featuring contemporary work by international and Canadian artists and a spectacular collection of Japanese and Japanese influenced European porcelain gifted to the Gardiner by Toronto residents Bill and Molly Anne Macdonald..

According to Executive Director Alexandra Montgomery the Museums 2010 exhibition schedule provides a contemporary perspective on historic material and underlines the Museum’s increased commitment to contemporary Canadian art. Montgomery continued to say that the Museum is extremely proud to present two significant exhibitions originated by Chief Curator Charles Mason: For Castles and Courtesans featuring the Macdonald Collection and Breaking Boundaries including work by Toronto artist Shary Boyle and others.

“Charles has brought an intellectual curiosity and scholarship to the Gardiner Museum that has allowed us to develop an exciting and diverse exhibition schedule that will engage visitors and encourage both debate and thoughtful introspection,” Montgomery explained. “Under his curatorial leadership, the Gardiner Museum is moving beyond the vision of its founders.”

Before coming to the Gardiner Museum in 2007, Mason was Chief Curator and Curator of Asian Art at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida in Gainesville. While he specializes in Asian art and has expertise in Chinese, Japanese and Korean ceramics, Mason is also knowledgeable about 18th and 19th Century European porcelains and early 20th Century American art pottery.

Following is the 2010 exhibition schedule:
February 4 to May 9 From the Melting Pot into the Fire: Contemporary Ceramics in Israel
The inaugural exhibition of the 2010 season, From the Melting Pot into the Fire is an exhibition of conceptual work by Israeli ceramic artists that explores the issues of land, identity and home in contemporary Israel. The labels that accompany each work were written by the artist and provide an intensely personal response to the complex issues addressed. The intimate and personal nature of this exhibition provides visitors with an individual rather than a political perspective of the issues that have and continue to shape life in contemporary Israel.

Curator: The Ceramic Artists Association of Israel (CAAI) and the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, North Carolina. (The CAAI is a non-governmental professional organization that supports ceramic artists in Israel.) The on-site curator is Charles Q. Mason.


June 3 to September 12 For Castles and Courtesans: Japanese Porcelain of the Edo period
This exhibition reveals the splendour of Edo-period culture and showcases painting, prints, textiles, lacquers and metalwork and porcelain to illustrate the significant impact Japanese porcelain from this period had on other art forms as well as on European taste. It will transport visitors to 17th Century Japan – a world of courtesans, emperors and samurai. This exhibition showcases the Macdonald Collection of Japanese and Japanese-influenced European porcelain which has been recognized by scholars as the best of its type in Canada and one of the best of its type in the world.

Curator: Charles Q. Mason
October 7 to January 30, 2011 Breaking Boundaries: Four Young Canadian Artists
Breaking Boundaries features the new work by Shary Boyle from Ontario; Marc Courtemanche from Saskatchewan; Carmela Laganse from Quebec and Brendan Tang from British Columbia. Four Canadian visual artists under the age of 40 whose work illustrate a cross-disciplinary approach to contemporary art and push the limits of ceramic art.

Curator: Charles Q. Mason


In addition to the larger shows, the Gardiner Museum is also hosting two smaller exhibitions in its second-floor Focus Gallery: Family Matters: Love, Marriage and Maiolica in the Italian Renaissance (January 18 to July 4) and Hot Commodity: Chinese Blue and White Porcelain and Its Impact on the World (July 12, 2010 to January 9, 2011). Family Matters is curated by Karine Tsoumis, a graduate student at the University of Toronto who completed an intership at the Gardiner Museum.

ABOUT THE GARDINER MUSEUM
The Gardiner Museum offers an intimate look at one of the world’s oldest and most universal art forms -- ceramics. The collection spans continents and time, giving a glimpse into the development of ceramic processes, decoration and form. Year-round the Museum mounts special exhibitions, events, lectures and clay classes to complement its permanent collection.

The Museum also features a café that serves delicious local fare prepared by Jamie Kennedy Kitchens as its executive chef, and the Gardiner Shop, which specializes in artist-designed, artist-made merchandise. More information about the museum and its exhibitions can be found online at www.gardinermuseum.com

Members of the media can register to access the Gardiner Museum’s online media room (www.gardinermuseum.com/mediaroom) where they may review and download images and additional media materials.

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For more information, contact:
Mary-Margaret Jones
PUNCH Canada
416.360.6522 ext. 241
marymargaret@punchcanada.com

Danna Barak
PUNCH Canada
416.360.6522 ext. 240
danna@punchcanada.com

Fabutan’s Ray of Hope campaign raises over $500,000 for breast cancer research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fabutan’s Ray of Hope campaign raises over $500,000 for breast cancer research

CALGARY (November 24, 2009) -- Fabutan’s national Ray of Hope campaign will help shed some light on the fight against breast cancer thanks to the $95,000 it raised last month.

For the past eight Octobers, Fabutan Sun Tan Studios has asked its customers to give a Ray of Hope to the one-in-nine Canadian women who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. For only $10, Fabutan customers can add 125 minutes to any tanning package. In turn, Fabutan donates $10 to the Vitamin D Society for breast cancer research.

“Fabutan is proud our franchisees, employees and customers rallied together so strongly to raise $95,000 for breast cancer research,” enthused Fabutan President Doug McNabb. “We exceeded our fund-raising goals for 2009 and we are confident that in 2010 – our 30^th anniversary year – we will surpass our previous records.”

McNabb personally challenged each of the 147 Fabutan Sun Tan Studios across Canada to sell as many Ray of Hope packages as possible during October. The winning studio in London, Ontario received a visit on November 15 from McNabb who dressed in a Pink Panther costume and cleaned the studio’s tanning beds for the day.

Fabutan has contributed over half a million dollars to breast cancer research through the Ray of Hope campaign to date.

About Fabutan Sun Tan Studios

For over 29 years Fabutan has encouraged a balanced, moderate approach to indoor tanning. Educating our customers to maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks of too much or too little UV exposure, along with a strong emphasis on avoiding overexposure and sunburn, is the core foundation of Fabutan’s “Smart Tanning” philosophy.

Fabutan Sun Tan Studios is part of the International Smart Tan Network, committed to the research and education of responsible and moderate sun tanning, Fabutan is Canada’s largest indoor tanning company, with 147 franchises and over 700 employees. Please visit www.fabutan.com to find out more about Fabutan.

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For further information, please contact:

Dora Urban

Fabutan Sun Tan Studios

(403) 640-2100

urban@fabutan.com

Mary-Margaret Jones

PUNCH Canada

(416) 360-6522 ext. 241

marymargaret@punchcanada.com

Emirates airline offers up to $3,000* in savings from Toronto November 24-25

Travel the World in Luxury Aboard the Emirates A380
Airline offers up to $3,000* in savings from Toronto November 24-25

Beginning midnight tonight, Emirates Airline is reducing its prices at emirates.com/ca for 48 hours for First and Business Class travel on all flights departing from Toronto (YYZ). Travelers who book online at emirates.com/ca from November 24-25 will enjoy a discount of up to $3,000* on First and Business Class fares departing from Toronto aboard the Emirates’ A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

The offer includes a $3,000 discount on First Class roundtrip airfare and up to a $1,000 discount on a Business Class roundtrip airfare. Terms and conditions apply. All tickets must be purchased by Nov. 25, 2009 for travel on or before October 28, 2010.

This is an excellent time to take advantage of Emirates’ award-winning service and to fly aboard the luxurious A380 featuring the Onboard Lounge, First Class Shower Spas, multi-course meals, fine wines and a 1,200-channel on-demand entertainment system.

First and Business Class passengers can also make use of Emirates’ complimentary Chauffeur-drive service, available in 43 markets worldwide. Also, travelers can also earn up to 100% bonus Skywards Miles with the most current Skywards offer.

Emirates provides three-times weekly flights from Toronto non-stop to Dubai. It serves 100 cities around the world, with a young and technologically advanced aircraft fleet. All passengers flying on Emirates are privy to the airline’s award-winning 1,200-channel entertainment system and attentive service. Business Class passengers can also take advantage of additional amenities such as lie-flat beds, use of Emirates airport lounges and complimentary Chauffeur-drive service, while First Class passengers enjoy all of these luxuries plus private onboard suites and dine-on-demand service.

For more information about this promotion visit www.emirates.com/ca.
*Savings of $3,000 are applicable off roundtrip First Class fares, savings of $2,000 are applicable off one-way First Class fares, savings of $1,000 are applicable off roundtrip Business Class fares, savings of $500 are applicable off one-way Business Class fares sold only via emirates.com/ca. between November 24, 2009 at 12:01AM (ADT) and November 25, 2009 at 11:59PM (PDT). Fares valid only when utilizing scheduled Emirates® non-stop transatlantic service (Emirates® flights EK 241 and EK 242) to and from Toronto (YYZ). Discount is applicable to all destinations serviced by Emirates. Travel must commence by October 28, 2010. No Blackout dates apply, Fares quoted include applicable discounts.

Canadians Asking: Vitamin D, Where are you?

TORONTO - November 16, 2009 – Thousands of independent studies in the past three years have revealed a strong connection between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk for a variety of serious illnesses including as many as 22 forms of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis, as well as common colds and flus.

This is especially critical to Canadians since as many as 97 per cent of us are vitamin D deficient at some point during the year. Limited sun exposure at northerly latitudes requires that we turn our attention to obtaining sufficient amounts of this essential hormone for good health.

Here are some easy tips to follow to ensure that your vitamin D levels are adequate year round:

Get It Checked! Ask your doctor for a routine vitamin D blood test. Almost every Canadian will be vitamin D deficient in the winter, so getting your D tested is critically important. Vitamin D scientists now recommend that your vitamin D blood levels measure 100-150 nanomoles/litre in concentration. You need a “calcidiol” test to measure this. Once you achieve this level, you may require 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily or more to maintain optimal vitamin D status. Ask your doctor for a vitamin D “calcideiol” test or for a home vitamin D test go to www.GrassRootsHealth.net.

Know where you get your ‘D’. Supplements are helpful, but UVB exposure from sunlight is by far the most abundant and natural source of vitamin D. Most supplements don’t come close to reaching the vitamin D levels achieved naturally through summer sun exposure and since vitamin D experts are now recommending levels that can only be naturally maintained with regular exposure to the sun, exposure in a non-burning fashion should be considered. The UV index must be above three and your shadow should be shorter than you – ideally around noon – in order for the skin to produce vitamin D. This is why October through March in much of Canada is often referred to as “Vitamin D Winter” -- sunlight during that time is too weak to produce any vitamin D at all.

Be judicious with sunscreen. Sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8 or greater will block UVB light that produces vitamin D. Sunscreen should only be used when sunburn is possible or you will be blocking vitamin D production without reason.

Take a vitamin D supplement daily. GrassRoots Health’s “D-action” panel – 30 of the world’s leading researchers on vitamin D – recommend a supplement of up to 6,000 IU daily or the amount required to increase vitamin D blood levels to 100-150 nanomoles-per-litre.

Ensure regular intake of vitamin D-rich foods. Among the most vitamin D-rich foods which range from 100 to 1,000 IU are: fish liver oils, salmon, mackerel, sardines, shrimp and tuna. Fortified sources such as milk may have up to 100 IU in an 8-ounce glass.

Consider responsible use of suntan beds. Canadians with skin that can suntan can viably use tanning beds to increase vitamin D levels, especially from October to March when UVB light outdoors is weak. A full-body suntan can make 10,000-20,000 IU of vitamin D; however, the key is to avoid sunburn. Research shows that indoor tanners have adequate vitamin D levels as a result and have 90 percent higher vitamin D levels as compared to non-tanners.

November is Vitamin D Awareness Month in Canada. For more information about the benefits of vitamin D visit:
www.vitaminDsociety.org
www.GrassRootsHealth.org
www.VitaminDcouncil.org

Fly Emirates to exotic Africa in luxury onboard A380

Fly Emirates to exotic Africa in luxury onboard A380
Airline offers up to $3,000 in savings from Toronto November 3rd and 4th

TORONTO – November 2, 2009 – Beginning midnight tonight Emirates Airline is reducing its prices for 48 hours for travel to 12 destinations in Africa from Toronto. Travelers who book November 3rd and 4th will enjoy a discount of up to $3,000* on First, Business and Economy Class fares aboard the Emirates’ A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

This is an excellent time to take advantage of Emirates’ award-winning service and to fly aboard the luxurious A380. Enjoy the onboard Lounge, the First Class Shower Spas (First Class only) multi-course meals, fine wines and a 1,200-channel entertainment system.

The offer includes a $3,000 discount on First Class round trip airfare and up to a $300 discount on an Economy Class round trip airfare. Terms and conditions apply. All tickets must be purchased by Nov. 4, 2009 for travel any time.

Emirates provides thrice-weekly flights from Toronto non-stop to Dubai. It serves 100 cities around the world, with a young and technologically advanced aircraft fleet. All passengers flying on Emirates are privy to the airline’s award-winning 1,200-channel entertainment system and attentive service. Business Class passengers can also take advantage of additional amenities such as lie-flat beds, use of Emirates airport lounges and complimentary Chauffeur-drive service, while First Class passengers enjoy all of these luxuries plus private onboard suites and dine-on-demand service.

For more information about this promotion or to book your adventure to Africa please visit www.emirates.com/ca.

*Discount is included in quoted fare at time of booking.


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