Britannia Youngstown is a residential neighbourhood in west Edmonton that is bounded on the west by Mayfield Road, on the north by 107 Avenue, on the east by 156 Street, and on the south by Stony Plain Road.

It became part of Edmonton in 1964 when the Town of Jasper Place was annexed by growing Edmonton. Although most of the building was done in the 1950s, the neighbourhood has undergone considerable change in the form of commercial and residential development and intensification. It has a community hall, basketball courts, outdoor rink and a tennis court.

Inflation is on the rise in Canada. In May 2021, according to Statistics Canada, the rate of inflation hit 3.6% which is the highest level in a decade.

On the one hand, that means the cost of living is going up – housing, gas, food, consumer goods and all the other necessities of life will cost more relative to income.

But for investors, there is another layer of concerns to fear.

High inflation, if it continues, could require the Bank of Canada to act decisively to contain it. The Bank of Canada Governor recently requested more authority from the Prime Minister to run the economy hot.

The Governor may focus on labor-market metrics or putting more emphasis on the Bank of Canada’s allowable range for inflation beyond the 2% target. That could give him some more flexibility to address under-performance in the economy at a time when other central banks are doing the same.

The options that the Bank of Canada could be considering include: maintaining the status quo – keeping prices stable and keeping inflation within a range of 1% to 3% as much as possible – or adding explicit labour-market metrics or language into the mandate to shift the focus to a full labour-market recovery.

Any changes along those lines could mean the end of the low interest rates that have supported the purchase and investment in stocks, bonds and property.

The future of inflation is currently unclear. Most experts continue to say there is nothing to worry about and point to the fact that central banks have consistently over-forecast inflation and under-shot their inflation targets over the past decade. Jumps in inflation are usually transitory.

But, on the other hand, the rising rate of inflation is without doubt something for investors to keep an eye on as it will have reverberating impacts on borrowing rates and investing options.

If there’s one good thing the pandemic has left us with is a newfound appreciation of outdoor spaces – a must, in the time of social distancing – and that is shifting residential trends. Canadians don’t just want to hang out in parks and other public places, although those have skyrocketed in popularity since COVID-19. They want privacy, but outside.

A place to cook, eat, exercise and hang out. And with travel down because of the pandemic, people are spending more time in their homes which fuels their desire the make it a pleasant pace to be.

A recent study by Fixer interviewed 48 top experts in the home construction industry. Eighty-five percent of them said that homeowners are more willing to invest in outdoor living spaces than before the pandemic.

Personal, private outdoor spaces like yards and patios are IN right now. Here are some of the hottest trends for outdoor living spaces.

Outdoor kitchens are the most desired addition to outdoor living spaces in 2021. COVID-19 brought a renewed interest to both cooking and outdoor spaces, which is why purchases like barbeques have shot up. For those chefs really invested in a backyard kitchen, the options are endless from islands to countertops to topnotch grill set-ups.

Fire pits follow in close second for the most popular trends of 2021. They make a great focal point of a gathering, bringing warmth and light on those slightly chillier nights, and create a cozy atmosphere. Options range from gas or propone fueled, electric, or wood burning.

Covered patios are the third most popular choice this summer, according to the experts interviewed. That’s because it’s versatile, protecting the inhabitants from both the harsh sun and rainy, damp days.

In terms of design, having both a patio and a porch is the most popular set-up right now. Almost half of the experts interviewed listed this as the perfect combination compared to other options like a patio and a deck, or just a deck, or just a patio. That’s because with a patio and a porch, you get both curb appeal and privacy.

And, finally, three quarters of those surveyed said that the best way to connect indoor and outdoor spaces is with a sliding or folding door. It gives the illusion of more space from inside your home and creates a seamless experience between the two locations.

Jamieson Place is in the west of Edmonton, bounded to the north by Callingwood Road, to the east by 184th Street, and to the southeast by Lessard Road. It’s a relatively new area with construction beginning a few decades ago in the early 1980s and steadily continuing since then. Jamieson Place was named after Frederick Charles Jamieson (1875–1966), a prominent lawyer and politician who arrived in the Edmonton area in 1895.

Nearly 95% of the residential units here are single-detached homes, with a series of loops and cul-de-sacs linking it all together. Almost all of those units are owner-occupied, with only about 3% being rental units. It’s a lovely place to settle down and raise a family.