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RBC Royal Bank

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….

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: children's charities, RBC Royal Bank, RBC's Believe in Kids Pledge

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.”…

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: #AvionVIP, RBC Royal Bank, TIFF, Toronto International Film Festival

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.

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: RBC Royal Bank, RBC Shoppers Optimum Banking Account, rewards program, Shoppers Drug Mart

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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Instagram post 2199135712100448684_327607838 It’s a well-known fact: if you want to learn the features of your latest tech, ask your kid! 🙋🏼‍♂️Reid is obsessed with the HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Lite and when asked what he loves most, he has a lot to say! The tablet boasts a brilliant 10.1-inch 1080p display so he doesn’t miss a thing while watching his favourite movies or playing games. (And, HUAWEI ClariVu™ technology enhances display brightness and clarity.) The tablet was co-engineered with Harman Kardon, which is music to Reid’s ears! 🎶 The quad-speaker system delivers fine-tuned and precise audio. The best part? It takes less than 3 hours to fully charge the HUAWEI MediaPad M5 lite, and its battery life is loooooong. If you’re looking for the perfect tablet to gift this holiday season, this is it! 🎁 #HuaweiMediaPad #HuaweiM5Lite #HolidaysWithHuawei #Huawei_Partner
Instagram post 2198178178451471340_327607838 We've had a late start to decorating this holiday season, but every few days, we dress down in our comfiest clothes, turn up the Christmas carols and tackle another thing on our list! This past weekend the boys helped me put the finishing touches on our tree. Don't you just love our @UNIQLOCanada loungewear? My #ExtraStretch Long Sleeve Set has all-direction stretch for the ultimate in comfort, and the boys' #ExtraStretch Sweat Sets are their favourite chillin' clothes. (Psst - my #CurlyFleece Room Shoes are currently on SALE and make a great gift!) #LifeWear #UNIQLOCanada #ad
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Instagram post 2196198335807567733_327607838 The holidays are here, and what better way to share in the joy of the season than with a potluck! It’s the perfect way to celebrate togetherness, one dish at a time. Here are my best tips for hosting a fun potluck with friends:

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3. Assign a variety of tastes, textures and flavours. This includes hot and cold appetizers, sweet and savoury sides and of course, make sure someone (or everyone) brings wine!

4. Use gift tags to describe the dishes. I lay out gift tags and a sharpie; as friends arrive, I ask them to write down their name and the name of the dish. Not only does it help at the end of the evening when it comes time to pack off the leftovers, it reduces the inevitable "What is this?" question from fellow guests.

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Instagram post 2194042482895765300_327607838 Experiences, not things. This holiday season, I’ve been focused on gifting experiences that can be shared with my loved ones. From adults-only travel adventures to one-on-one special time with each of my little guys, I’m convinced that the gift of time is the most priceless gift of all. Recently, I had an opportunity to enjoy a Priceless Experience with @mastercardca in one of their Priceless Cities, Miami. We sat at the executive chef's table at @three_wynwood and feasted on a tasting menu curated especially for Mastercard cardholders who book this experience. Visit my blog for all the details on our incredible date night, and information on how you can gift a Priceless Experience to a loved one this holiday season. #StartSomethingPriceless #ad
Instagram post 2192946946914561554_327607838 Each year, since the boys were very young, we've had a tradition: we head to @walmartcanada to choose a piece of holiday decor that gives them joy. It's usually an ornament, candle or stocking holder, but this year, Ryder and Reid both selected Nutcracker figurines. I love seeing the house filled with their beloved choices year after year. And since Walmart has so many seasonal goods at low prices, we never have to break the bank to create lasting memories. Because I always shop with my Walmart Rewards Mastercard, I was able to use my Walmart Rewards Dollars to pay for Ryder's Nutcracker figurine and got it for free! You can't put a price tag on holiday happiness, but our little tradition allows us to spend small and give big—exactly what the season is all about.
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