Oakville & Burlington Real Estate Blog - Dan Cooper » Community

Giving where you live begins with local organizations

Dan Cooper — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:53:46 +0000

Featured in the photo: Margaret Anderson, Paula Gardin, Chris John, Dan Cooper

My team and I support a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

One of the most rewarding organizations I have had the pleasure to be connected with is the Ian Anderson House. The cancer hospice is playing a critical role in our society by offering a quality of life and dignity for those who are terminally ill. It is Ontario’s first in-resident cancer hospice and offers without charge, quality end-of-life palliative care by trained medical professionals.

Last month I sponsored the Fill The House benefit concert at Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts which featured vocal impressionist Chris John and jazz vocalist and Oakville native Paula Gardin. The fundraiser provided a fantastic evening and I thank the generosity of those who attended for supporting this very worthwhile cause.

Located on the Oakville and Mississauga border, the hospice has six large private bedrooms with ensuite washrooms and large windows, each with an attached bird feeder and overlooking the garden and grounds.

Residents have access to the entire house, which includes a large country kitchen, living room, sun room and covered patio. In addition, the House was carefully designed to ensure that beds and wheelchairs can be taken out on the patio and to the garden.

The Sanctuary Garden, at the back of the property, has greatly enhanced the grounds of the hospice and is much enjoyed by residents, families and visitors alike. The garden features paths for wheelchair and bed access, seating areas, a gazebo, a pond and a Memory Wall. Joshua’s Creek runs through a ravine along the back of the Garden.

Residents at Ian Anderson House receive round-the-clock individualized programs of care in partnership with the Community Care Access Centre which augment the hours of nursing and support provided by the hospice’s trained professional staff.

True to the philosophy of hospice, Ian Anderson House offers care to its residents without charge. Their operating cost, which allows them to provide the high quality 24-hour care that is necessary at the end-of-life, is currently $1,800 per day. In order to offer the medical care and the number of staff that is expected and necessary in a hospice environment, they must currently raise an additional $600,000 a year for annual operating costs.

In order to continue to offer their exemplary care and support, without charge, they rely on the generosity of individuals, service clubs, foundations, local businesses and on fundraising events such as the Fill The House benefit concert.

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as the Ian Anderson House. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

For more information about Ian Anderson House, visit their website www.ianandersonhouse.com.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Public service is a commitment to giving back to the community

Dan Cooper — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:08:27 +0000

Featured in the photo to the left: Kevin Flynn & Dan Cooper. Featured in the photo to the right: Tim Hudak & Dan Cooper.

Congratulations to Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn on his re-election in the provincial election last week, as well as the first-time election of Progressive Conservative Jane McKenna in Burlington. I don’t know Jane, but I’m confident she will do well for her riding. I know Kevin and he is a strong representative for Oakville. I also know members of the other parties, including PC Leader Tim Hudak, and they are good people.

What these people have, regardless of their party affiliations, is a strong conviction to serve; to embrace the responsibility of being a citizen. It can be a thankless job at times, it can be challenging and long hours, and I’m certain there are many rewarding moments. But above all, it is a commitment to fulfill a civic duty that goes beyond what many of us are prepared to give.

Their service is admirable, and yet, we need to remind ourselves that we can all contribute to make our community a better one. That involves taking the time to vote, which we did last week, to ensure we have an MPP who will represent us best. But, our obligation to our community goes far beyond simply casting a vote of course. It also means supporting local causes, giving back to the community and taking a stand on political and environmental issues that impact our way of life.

We have a very vibrant community and there are so many opportunities for everyone to get involved in some fashion and at any level. Whether it’s giving your time, donations or both, we need to follow the lead of our elected officials and give something of yourselves to help make ours a better society. My team and I have chosen a number of wonderful local causes to support; everything from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, the Oakville Hospital Foundation, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and, more recently, Ian Anderson House to name a few. It’s all about “giving where you live” and I encourage everyone to get involved – maybe not at the level of our elected officials, but certainly enough to help improve your community.

There is much work to be done in the Oakville and Burlington areas. On the provincial level, we have two strong members who belong to the governing party and that means our voices will be heard at Queen’s Park. Again, congratulations to the successful candidates, and for the rest of us – let’s keep working to make ours a better community.

Filling the house in support of Ian Anderson hospice

Dan Cooper — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:31:34 +0000

Featured in the photo: Margaret Anderson, Paula Gardin, Chris John, Dan Cooper.

Update:

There are only a few tickets remaining so you will need to act fast. To purchase tickets please click on the Oakville Centre link below or call the box office at 905-815-2021 in support of this most worthwhile cause.

http://www.oc4pa.ca/boxoffice.htm

It’s going to be a great night for a great cause at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Saturday. If you are in the mood to be entertained by world-class performers and, at the same time, help a very worthy local non-profit organization, then order your tickets now. They are going fast.

The headliners are vocal impressionist Chris John and jazz vocalist and Oakville native Paula Gardin.
With the uncanny ability to mimic a wide variety of voices, Chris honed his talents for impersonation through years of training and performing on stage, film and television. His credits include, leading roles in A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, Grease and Leader of the Pack. What sets Chris apart is his unique ability to mimic a wide variety of artists. It’s truly amazing.

Paula’s powerful voice and passionate performing style have engaged many audiences whether it be live theatre or smoky jazz clubs. As a songwriter she has been able to communicate her life experiences to an even wider audience through several genres of music which include jazz, pop and Latin. Her debut album A Little Rain Must Fall evokes emotional responses from all walks of life.

Tickets are only $55 for what will be a lively evening of entertainment and fun. The cause is the Ian Anderson House. If you are unfamiliar with the very valuable work this terrific organization is doing, let me fill you in. Ian Anderson House is one of the most rewarding organizations I have been connected with and I am proud to be the lead sponsor and one of the organizer’s for Saturday’s concert. The cancer hospice is playing a critical role by offering a quality of life and dignity for those who are terminally ill. It is Ontario’s first in-resident cancer hospice and offers without charge, quality end-of-life palliative care by trained medical professionals.

Located on the Oakville and Mississauga border, the hospice has six large private bedrooms with ensuite washrooms and large windows with attached bird feeder and overlooking the garden and grounds. Residents have access to the entire house, which includes a large country kitchen, living room, sunroom and covered patio. In addition, the House was carefully designed to ensure that beds and wheelchairs can be taken out on the patio and to the garden.

Building a stronger community means supporting great causes such as the Ian Anderson House. My team and I support a number of organizations, everything from minor sports teams to major campaigns that will have a significant impact on the quality of life we enjoy here in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

A giving and caring spirit makes our community stronger – a place in which we can all be proud to live and raise a family. How we treat those in need, how we support charities and organizations that are making a difference, shape our community’s character and reputation. Today we enjoy one of the most desirable locations in Canada in which to live – because we have built a safe and caring community. I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

For more information about Ian Anderson House, visit their website www.ianandersonhouse.com.

Surpassing the 100th sale despite a challenging housing market

Dan Cooper — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:29:04 +0000

The Dan Cooper Team is proud to have achieved a significant milestone recently – we surpassed 100 homes sold so far this year. Despite the uncertain economic times of the past few years, we have maintained a consistent record year after year.

Reaching this level of sales so quickly is a testament to our ability to sell homes quickly in the Oakville and Burlington areas and the primary reason we are the Number 1 Team in Canada for Royal LePage.

In fact, we have been the Number 1 team for seven of the past 10 years. This is an accomplishment that does not happen by accident, but rather by design. Our dedication and commitment to selling your home, along with superior marketing strategies, have time and time again helped our clients sell their homes for top dollar.

As a home seller you will be working with a broker who has developed innovative and carefully selected methods of showcasing your home for optimum exposure. Exposure, after all, is the key to selling your home. The more people who view your property, the higher number of bona fide prospects you will attract. It’s simple math and it works.

That’s why I have developed one of the strongest advertising programs compared to any broker in the Oakville area. My listings are in numerous publications that I have personally selected for their market penetration and I have developed innovative online strategies. I am using the internet more creatively than most brokers. For example, both my main website dancooper.com and my unique dancoopertv.com website are bringing properties to life through a video-based platform. I’m proud to be one of the first to tap into this exciting form of marketing to provide you with a competitive edge when selling your home. These websites are also linked with countless retailers throughout Oakville, providing a reach unlike most others.

Social media is critical and I have embraced Twitter and Facebook and I am among the first to begin utilizing the Quick Response or QR code, which is the hottest marketing tool today. Look through any magazine and you will notice a small black and white box on articles and in the ads. That’s a QR code. You simply download a QR code reader app onto your smartphone and when you click on a code, it takes you to a particular web page for more information. In real estate, I can take a potential buyer to my website or a particular listing. It’s fresh and cool and just one more example of the innovative thinking of The Dan Cooper Team.

Besides superior exposure for your home, there are a host of other benefits when dealing with The Dan Cooper Team, such as complimentary home staging consultation; instant access to our team of lawyers, home inspectors, mortgage brokers, appraisers and contractors; ongoing updates and progress reports as part of our in-depth communications; and being served by a team of multi-disciplined professionals with more than 40 years of combined experience.

Combined with my own 20 plus years in the Oakville and Burlington markets, the choice is clear – Dan Cooper of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage. Whether buying or selling, The Dan Cooper Team is ready to serve you.

Dan Cooper is an award winning Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Does growing sales volume mean the housing market is heating up?

Dan Cooper — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:47:42 +0000

We are now at the halfway mark for the year and the housing market has been quite interesting to say the least. After a slow start in the first few months, the market appears to be steadily improving with the volume of sales making double-digit gains.

The number of homes sold in Oakville increased by 16.8 percent in June. This followed an 11-percent increase in May and heralds a strong market for resale homes, according to the Oakville Milton and District Real Estate Board. “Sales have increased for the second month in a row,” says Jack McCrudden, President of the real estate board. “At the same time, prices are moderating, encouraging more buyers into the market.”

Meanwhile, the number of new listings, those homes being put on the market, is relatively consistent. So we have the number of homes being sold outpacing the number of homes being listed. McCrudden, however, says there is still room for sellers wanting to attract interested buyers. “If interest rates stay as they are, the Oakville, Milton area can anticipate a healthy market over the next few months, with opportunities for both buyers and sellers.”

That’s certainly good news for anyone wanting to sell their home, but also signals the importance of selecting a broker who truly knows the market and is able to market your home effectively. Carefully check the broker’s credentials – how long have they been established in this market, how are they marketing their homes, how efficient are they, and what are their results?

What’s happening with prices? In Oakville, the average price of a home dropped 3.5 percent to $599,504 in June compared with June last year. In Milton, the average price increased three percent.

For the first six months of the year, however, the average price in Oakville increased by seven percent, and in Milton it increased by four percent.

The statistics for Burlington had not been released as I was writing this column, but Burlington has typically been on par with Oakville, so I suspect the story is much the same there.

For Greater Toronto, home sales were up a whopping 21 percent in June compared with June 2010. This number represents the third best June on record – behind 2007 and 2009. “This strong June result capped off an interesting first half of 2011,” says Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. “The pace of sales was a bit sluggish at the beginning of the year, but rebounded in May and June. Because of the positive affordability picture, homebuyers remained confident in their ability to purchase and pay for a home over the long term.”

The average price for June transactions in Greater Toronto showed a 9.5 percent increase.
As we see the market continuing to rebound, I have to emphasize how important it is to select an effective broker; someone who will ensure you sell your home for the best price possible. Are they using the best print options, how effectively are they using the internet, on what websites and how often is your listing going to be profiled, are they utilizing new technology such as QR codes? The Dan Cooper Team is proud to being doing all of this and more. Our track record speaks for itself – top team in Canada for Royal LePage in seven of the past 10 years. It’s an accomplishment we are proud of and one that our clients have appreciated when we sold their homes quickly and for top dollar.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Team approach is more than simply selling homes

Dan Cooper — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:20:31 +0000

A good real estate broker offers superior service and a proven track record for selling homes quickly and for top dollar or helping to negotiate a sound investment purchase. An outstanding broker, however, takes your real estate experience to a whole new level – offering a team of professionals who will help you achieve your goals with confidence and peace of mind.

The Dan Cooper Team is such a brokerage. If you go to http://www.dancooper.com/partners.php or simply visit my website and click on Preferred Partners, you will find a valuable resource of professionals, government and community services, charitable organizations, local business connections and much, much more. After more than 20 years in the Oakville and Burlington markets, we have amassed an impressive network of key professionals who can help you sell your home for more money, build your dream home, design and furnish your new home or help you get settled into the community.

We are not simply in the business of selling homes – we work with our clients to get the very best deal they can. Whether that is securing a favourable mortgage, assisting with legal matters or staging your home to ensure it will sell quickly and for more money. The Team in Dan Cooper refers to more than experienced sales representatives and a professional and friendly administrative staff – our team includes architects, designers, mortgage brokers, lawyers, builders, furniture and lighting specialists and many more.

Occasionally a client will want to build a home. Approaching a real estate broker is often overlooked as a resource for securing an architect or a builder. And yet, why not? We know the market, we know the ideal locations, we know where good building lots are located and we can introduce you to the right architect and builder whose styles match your personal preferences. I sell a good deal of new and custom homes, so I have an excellent relationship with a number of award-winning architects and builders in this area.

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions count. That’s why it is critical that the small details be addressed to ensure you will get the most return on your home. We offer valuable complimentary tips based on our years of selling experience, but home stagers can work magic. They will suggest colour schemes and will bring in new furnishings and accessories if necessary. It’s important to remove as much of your personality so a potential buyer can see themselves in your home. Professional stagers can recreate a living space that you wouldn’t even recognize, and provide that needed “wow” factor.

Often, small home repairs and improvements are required. My resource catalogue includes a number of home repair and home improvement specialists who are reasonable and above all can be trusted. We also have an excellent relationship with a number of home inspectors, another trusted partner who will help you to confidently make informed decisions about a real estate purchase.

Our job is to help you make the best choices – with confidence, working with trusted professionals and securing the best deal possible.

And when it’s all done and you have successfully settled into your new home, treat yourself to dinner at one of the area’s many fine restaurants. Here again, you will find some of my personal favourites on my website.

Shaking up the roofing industry with an eco-friendly product

Dan Cooper — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:04:28 +0000

I often come across interesting home products and when I do I like to share these finds with my clients – especially if I believe they can help a homeowner increase the pleasure or value of their home. These treasures can range from landscape products to home automation to furnishings and art.

An exciting product I discovered recently has great potential in the Oakville and Burlington areas. The Enviroshake is a composite roofing product that has the authentic look of cedar with lifetime performance. I say it fits right into the housing styles of our area because the cedar shake look is a popular choice here.

Traditional cedar shakes add beauty and rustic charm to a home’s exterior, but nature’s elements can exact a heavy toll, requiring a homeowner to replace the roof every 10 to 15 years. With Enviroshake, you can now get a lifetime of curb appeal with a cedar shake style and never have to invest in another roof again.

Enviroshake Inc. has been developing composite blends and formulations for more than a decade to create durable, attractive and premium-quality roofing products. Its signature line is the long-lasting alternative to cedar shakes – Enviroshake, which replicates the size and appearance of a natural cedar shingle. In fact, through special engineering, the shingle actually lightens to a grey colour in three to nine months just as a natural cedar shingle would. But while Enviroshake takes on an aged appearance, it stands the test of time. Guaranteed not to peel, separate, flake, rust or rot, the roof is warranted for the lifetime that the original purchaser resides in the home. If you sell, the warranty is transferable and non pro-rated to the new owner or owners for a 50-year period from the date of manufacture. How many other roof systems guarantee a lifetime or at the very minimum, 50 years?

What truly impresses me is that this incredible system can been installed for the same cost as cedar and yet it provides increased durability, UV protection and resistance to mould, mildew, rot and insects. Enviroshake is made with 95 percent reclaimed products, including post-industrial plastics, recycled rubber elastomers and cellulose fibres. Even the scrap materials in manufacturing are recycled back into the system. And the finished product itself is recyclable. For those of us who are ever-conscious about how we treat the environment and concerned about our carbon footprint, supporting recycled products and responsible manufacturers simply makes sense.

So next time you are looking to replace your roof and you want the wow factor of cedar shakes without the worry of rot or damage or the cost of replacing real cedar shakes, look into Enviroshake. The company has achieved a number of green certifications and has appeared in numerous publications for its innovative roofing solutions. You can find out more about the company and their products at www.enviroshake.com.

A pleasant way to raise money for the community

Dan Cooper — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0000

Top row from left to right – Kevin Andrews, Matt Dunigan, Keith Costello, Kevin Smellie, Dan Ferrone
Bottom row from left to right – Dan Cooper, Brenden (Little Brother), Tim Scrinns (Grown-Up Little), Bill Demytruk (Big Brother)

I enjoy a good round of golf and when I can combine my passion for the game with a great community fundraiser, well, that’s just a perfect day. I had the pleasure of doing just that last month with the Oakville Community Foundation’s Marathon of Golf and the Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton.

Both these events raised thousands of desperately needed dollars to support the tremendous work they are doing in the community.

Despite inclement weather, 35 golfers came out to the OCF tournament, played 100 holes and raised over $188,000, which was $10,000 over the 2010 total. This money goes toward supporting the Foundation’s community initiatives. OCF plays a critical role as a conduit – matching necessity with resources, challenges with opportunities. Support from the Marathon of Golf annual fundraiser will allow the OCF to develop two new community initiatives in response to identified community needs: Poverty and Community Engagement and Awareness.

In its 12-year history, the Marathon has raised close to $2 million. That’s an incredible accomplishment and speaks volumes about the caring and giving community in which we live. It’s the kind of community I am proud to call my home.

I am also immensely proud to have been host to the second annual Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Glen Abbey on May 19th in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton. Grassroots charities such as the BBBSH are preventative in focus, helping children in the early stages by providing mentorship that has a positive impact that lasts a lifetime with these kids of all ages. Our young people are our future leaders and it is critical that we provide all the support we can to ensure they develop into good citizens, business people and community leaders.

The person I need to acknowledge as the driving force and tireless organizer for this tournament is Jules Graham-Hood, who, as the Executive Director of BBBSH, was not only behind this event 100 percent, but did an absolutely brilliant job in helping to bring celebrities and sponsors together to make this fundraiser an outstanding success. Putting together a professional and successful golf tournament is no easy task, and Jules’ energy and connections were instrumental in creating one of the best local fundraising events of the season.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and the approach of The Dan Cooper Team when it comes to donations and giving back to the community

Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Oakville Community Foundation, United Way, Salvation Army and a host of other charitable bodies help to build a strong community and a brighter future for all our citizens. I encourage you to get involved in your community – with your time, your money or both.

Dan Cooper launches new homes and lifestyle magazine

Dan Cooper — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:15:48 +0000

Some of you will have received my new magazine Lakeshore Living, a publication about fine homes and fine living. Our area is one of the most desirable locations in the country and Lakeshore Living explores some of the secrets that make this a great community.

The magazine allows us to feature exciting homes, spectacular interiors and some of the most talented professionals in our midst. I have been selling real estate in the Oakville and Burlington areas for more than 20 years and I am constantly amazed and energized by the creative people I have the pleasure of meeting. Their passion is inspiring and so I wanted to launch this magazine as a means of telling their stories, to introduce you to some of the influential and talented people who work and live in our community.

Our area has some of the most beautiful homes in the country and I’m excited by the prospect of giving you a peak into these gorgeous properties. While 30,000 of the printed magazine were delivered by Canada Post through south Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington, you can now view it online on my website www.dancooper.com.

Using the latest technology, this click-through online publication is one more example of how I am maximizing traditional and electronic marketing vehicles to sell homes. In addition to taking prime locations in carefully selected publications, I have maximized use of the web by posting our listings on dozens of websites and creating www.dancoopertv.com and the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on www.dailywebtv.com. Posting Lakeshore Living online is just another example of the innovative and proactive approach by The Dan Cooper Team.

In our inaugural issue we feature beautiful new exquisite multi-unit and condominium developments by Matas Homes, award-winning luxury developments in south-west Oakville by HUSH and a stunning interior design feature by Regina Sturrock Design, one of the area’s best known designers. There are also five pages of luxury home listings.

And last, but not least, a feature on Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada as we spent a day with him as he visited some of his favourite shops in Oakville.

I encourage you to visit my website to check out this new publication, I think you will like what you see.

And while you are on my site, take a look at some of the great homes we have listed. Spring has finally arrived and if you have thoughts of moving, there is no time like the present to browse some of the tremendous investment opportunities that are available today.

Sales have been soft in the past few weeks, mostly due to the dreary weather, according to the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board. In their May release President Jack McCrudden said, “The unusually rainy spring has slowed the usual increase in listing, but the higher prices and good weather should bring more sellers into the market next month. Meanwhile, buyers attracted by historically low interest rates remain enthusiastic about homeownership, so spring could see in upswing in sales.”

If you are planning to sell or buy, turn to The Dan Cooper Team. We’re ready to help you with all your real estate needs.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

International survey pegs Hamilton and Mississauga as prime for investment

Dan Cooper — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:43:30 +0000

There is an interesting survey that is getting a fair bit of media attention these days – the Cities of the Future. It is a ranking that was released recently by Foreign Direct Investment Magazine. So, why is there such a buzz about it in our area? Toronto, Mississauga and Hamilton have all made the top 10 in their categories.

For an area that has suffered through a long recession, this is good news. It means a spotlight has been placed on the Golden Horseshoe for potential domestic and foreign investment. The listing by British-based FDI Magazine has local leaders rubbing their hands and mapping out new strategies to gain the attention of global companies looking for promising new locations for their operations in North America.

The magazine, which is owned by the prestigious Financial Times Group, targets financial leaders around the world who have been credited with creating more than three million jobs in 2008. With that kind of pedigree, it is easy to see why our local leaders are giddy with anticipation.

This is what they had to say. “Mississauga is well positioned to foster international business growth and expansion. [We] will continue to build Mississauga’s international profile as a sound business decision and return on investment,” Larry Petovello, the city’s director of economic development, said in a news release issued last week. “This clearly calls for a new strategy to sell the city. We have a lot of potential to grow here, so I’m going to sit down with our economic development staff to work out a strategy to unleash that potential,” Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina told local media.

“This is just the kind of information that companies go looking for when they’re trying to judge an area. They’re looking for anything that will help make that decision and an independent survey like this helps to make them more accepting of the information,” according to Demetrius Tsafaridis, chairman of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

The ranking examined 405 cities throughout North and South America. Cities could score a maximum of 10 points under each individual criterion, which were weighted by importance to give the overall category scores. The infrastructure category, for example, looked at such factors as number of airports, port size and environmental performance. Toronto was in the Major Cities category, which was topped by New York City, and Hamilton ranked ninth in the Large Cities category.

Situated next to these targeted centres, Oakville and Burlington are bound to gain from the international attention. When you have economic growth there is also a demand for housing. Burlington and Oakville are among the best places in Canada in which to live, so there is little question any good fortune that besets Hamilton and Mississauga will have a spill over effect.