Spending time outside and enjoying the long, lazy evenings of pleasant weather is one of the best parts of summer. The right lighting can make all the difference in an outdoor haven, whether it’s a patio or a large garden or other such space.

Lighting provides function, ambiance and security. Here are the best solutions for this summer:

String Lights
A classic because of their versatility and the cosy environment they create. String lights, which are also sometimes called fairy lights, can vary in shape, size and style. Hang them up across trees, around pillars or above furniture.

Recessed Lights
This is a great way to keep a space well lit while still looking fashionable. Recessed lighting is installed directly into beams, walls or other hardscapes. They are particularly useful in areas when you can benefit from more illumination, like outdoor cooking or eating areas.

Bollard Lights
Bollard lights are an elegant way of lighting up a path or garden. They look like posts with lights on top, without any cover, so they spread the illumination equally in all directions.

Step Lights
As the name suggests, step lights help illuminate staircases. They can shine from either the front or the side of the step. They’re helpful for both showing the pathway and reducing trip hazards.

Directional Lights
These types of lights showcase specific elements that you focus the direction of the light on. They can point upwards to illuminate trees or point downwards to show off something else in the garden.

Floodlights
Floodlights are a great security measure, especially if they are motion-sensor lights. Any movement in the garden will set the lights off, flooding the area with brightness and deterring potential burglars.

In provinces across Canada right now, “blind biding” is the default practice when there are multiple offers on a home for sale. In essence, it means that potential buyers make their bids and compete to offer the most attractive offer without knowing the dollar amount of the bid they’re competing against.

However, a new pilot project and proposed regulation updates may change this.

The federal government announced plans to ban blind bidding in April of this year as part of the proposed 2022 Federal Budget, making it part of the promised Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights. The bill is not finalized and would still need to go through several approval stages before being implemented.

Other political parties, like the Green Party, also support the idea of banning blind bidding.

Just one day before the federal government’s proposed ban, the Canadian Real Estate Association announced a new pilot project to facilitate transparent bidding. Using real-time tracking, homebuyers can see all the offers on a property as they come in.

The full impact of this pilot project and possible ban on blind bidding remains to be seen if the proposal is approved. Analysts have differing predictions of what this will mean for buyers and sellers.

The argument for implement transparent bidding is that it will help cool down Canada’s hot real estate market. Bidders will have more information to make an offer and sellers will be able to give an “open offer” – they won’t be limited to selling their property through a closed or traditional system.

The counter argument, however, points to countries where a transparent system is in place – countries like Australia, Sweden and New Zealand. In these cases, evidence suggests that it may lead to higher house prices. However, there are other differences in these countries that may be causing the higher prices like home sales via live auction and bids that are not legally binding.

If the proposal passes, it will undoubtedly have an impact on both buyers and sellers one way or another.

The Glenora neighbourhood in west Edmonton is highly regarded and considered one of the most desirable areas in the city by many. It is one of Edmonton’s oldest and most historic neighbourhoods with a history dating back to 1869. The first major developments began a few decades later in the early 1900s.

Nowadays, the area is a mixture of beautiful historic homes and newer residential developments. The tree-lined streets are a great place to walk around for those who enjoy architecture.

The area also boasts several schools, parks and views of the river, as well as commercial and shopping spaces. It is bounded on the east by Groat Road, on the north by 107 Avenue, on the west by 142 Street and on the south by the river valley and the MacKinnon Ravine.