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When You Believe in Kids, They Can Do Anything

October 31, 2013 By Lena 21 Comments

Sometimes, I’m reduced to tears. While I’d hardly call myself the emotional type, my breakdowns are normally limited to Titanic-esque moments – few and far between. So I’m finding it really interesting that the following video (about hockey, of all things!) made my eyes well up with emotion. Yes, I may have had a quivering lip. And yes, it may have been Thomas’ sweet accent that did me in.

I suppose when it comes down to it, the sheer power of the message stems from the fact that children are our future: for our economic prosperity, the health of the planet and the hope of humanity. Kids need and deserve our complete commitment so they can be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

That’s why I’m proud to support RBC’s Believe in Kids Pledge; a five-year, $100 million commitment to improve the well-being of at least 1 million kids and youth.

The funds will be distributed among projects such as:

RBC Children’s Mental Health Project: Since 2008, the RBC Children’s Mental Health Project has helped hundreds of organizations dedicated to providing early intervention, increasing public awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness.

RBC After School Project: Since 1999, the RBC After School Project has supported community-based organizations that provide children with a safe place to develop knowledge, social skills and self-esteem.

Sports: RBC has been a strong supporter of sports from the playground to the podium since 1947 because they know healthy, active youth contribute to great communities….

There are VIPs… and there are #AvionVIPs

September 22, 2013 By Lena 7 Comments

It was years and years ago. Our household had just welcomed the latest in technology – a VCR! – and I went on a recording spree, taping every movie that appeared on TV, regardless of the genre. A few romantic comedies here, a few action thrillers there. For the most part, I was building my “movie collection”, with three movies to a 6-hour tape at a time.

Somewhere along the way, I recorded a whimsical tale of love and betrayal, action and adventure. I was hooked from the minute it began to the moment it ended; I pictured myself as the beautiful damsel in distress, waiting to be saved by her knight in shining armor. And the knight ? Oh yeah, incredibly hot. Even by my 12-year old standards.

It was the movie that started my love affair with films. I watched it over and over until the VHS tape started to lose integrity. To this day, I can recite every line by heart.

This is the movie. Chances are, it’s one of your all-time favourites, too.

Fast forward to 1999.

It was a late summer afternoon. The time was 3:15pm and I sat in ECN 202, the dreaded macroeconomics for business students. Outside, I could hear the low buzz of voices; I could feel the quiet anticipation. It was smack in the middle of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and, being a Ryerson student meant that I was just steps away from the famed Ryerson Theatre.

A fellow student leaned over and whispered that she couldn’t make that night’s screening – would I like her ticket? That night, I watched American Beauty – a movie that went on to win five (5) Academy Awards.

TIFF is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Today, and after Time Magazine noted in 2007 that the festival had “grown from its place as the most influential fall film festival to the most influential film festival, period”, the event draws in actors and celebrities alike. And, if you haven’t heard, TIFF has a reputation for screening Oscar-winning films – American Beauty, Ray, The Wrestler, Black Swan, Slumdog Millionaire, Precious, The King’s Speech and Argo all premiered at the festival.

RBC was once again an Official Sponsor of the world’s top public film festival:

“As the premier bank for the Canadian film industry, RBC works with many talented filmmakers, actors, directors, screenwriters, production companies and distributors to help them create their vision and achieve success in the movie business. Investing in the arts is a longstanding priority for RBC, and we recognize the vital role the arts play in enriching the lives of Canadians. By supporting arts and culture, from music and dance to theatre and visual arts, we pay particular attention to helping emerging artists such as dancers, painters, musicians, filmmakers and singers, develop and progress along their professional careers.”…

Paper or Plastic? RBC & Shoppers Optimum Unite!

May 6, 2012 By Lena

I’m one of those gals who never carries more than $8 in cash at any given time. So used to whipping out my debit and Visa card, I rarely remember to carry “emergency money” (as my husband calls it) and often find myself struggling to find an RBC ATM, because I flatly refuse to pay avoidable banking fees. However, I always remember to tote along my loyalty cards (like Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Points) because I fully believe in the shop-and-reward-yourself system. In fact, I’m not averse to doing a little more shopping to reap a few more rewards. It’s a win-win, no?

And so the NEW RBC Shoppers Optimum Banking Account suits me to a tee!

RBC and Shoppers Drug Mart have partnered to launch a Canada-wide program that makes it more convenient for Canadians to bank and earn rewards at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations across the country. The program features a co-branded RBC Shoppers Optimum banking account and debit card with enhanced Shoppers Optimum rewards.

This news rocks! If you’re a frequent customer of SDM, you benefit in so many ways:

I love that you can exchange RBC Rewards points for Optimum points, making redemption for SDM goodies so much easier! And since many Canadian families depend on Shoppers Drug Mart for all their health and beauty, baby and household needs, it’s a match made in heaven.

So, you know that I rarely carry cash and protect my loyalty cards like they’re my offspring. Where do you fit in? RBC and Shoppers recently conducted a poll examining how Canadian men and women are using cash versus debit. Here are some of the key findings:

– Three-quarters of Canadian women (76%) typically carry $50 or less in their wallet compared to 66% of men.
– To keep cash in their wallets, men tend to use a bank machine up to twice a week (41%), compared to 33% of women (I cringe when I my husband uses a non-RBC ATM. Seriously, I scream at him).
– Almost three-in-ten women (28%) say they rarely or never withdraw cash, compared to 22% of men.
– Nine-in-ten women (89%) are part of a rewards program, slightly more than men (80%).

I can’t say I’m surprised at the findings – even though my husband holds two loyalty cards, I rarely see him whip them out, whereas I often hand over my loyalty card with my payment so I don’t forget to grab my points. With the new RBC Shoppers Optimum Banking Account, life just got a little more rewarding!

Disclosure: I was sent a gift card as a thank you for sharing details about the program. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.