Canada is surrounded on three sides by oceans.
To the north, the Arctic Ocean borders Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Off the west coast of British Columbia is the Pacific Ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean, meanwhile, sits to the east of Canada’s Maritime provinces, which include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Dear Mr. Casio,
I am writing in response to the letter I received this morning. First of all, I would like to tell you that I’ve enjoyed living in Minto Heights this past year and would like to stay another year. However, your letter says the new rent will be $1,500 a month. This is a big increase from the $1,100 I have been paying. Could we come to an agreement that both of us can accept?
My online research tells me that the rent increase is legal, but the price is unusual. A similar apartment (two bedrooms, 1,300 square feet, 5 years old, one underground parking spot) typically rents for $1,000 per month. This is less than what I’m paying now. In fact, most similar apartments include air conditioning, but mine doesn’t. I read in the newspaper that 4.1% of city apartments are empty this year and 4.4% will be vacant next year. This isn’t surprising, as there are currently 200 new condominium buildings under construction in the city. Good tenants are valuable and hard to find. That’s why I think you should charge the same rent next year. If you raise the rent, you might find someone willing to pay $400 more. However, it is equally possible that you will have an empty apartment earning zero income. I feel that I am the type of tenant you would like to keep. I have always paid my rent on time. I haven’t damaged the apartment. I don’t smoke or play loud music, and I follow the "no pets" rule. I have always shovelled the snow off my balcony, as required in the lease. In addition, I have shovelled the front walkway, even though I’m not required to. This has helped to keep your other tenants safe.
If you agree to renew my lease at the current monthly rate, I will pay the first 3 months’ rent in cash right away and the remainder in postdated cheques. Could you kindly let me know before May 1st if this is acceptable?
Sincerely,
Deborah Perrault

A.2015 was a big year for all of Canada. Toronto hosted both the Pan American and the Parapan American Games. The Games are one of the largest multi-sport events in the world, along with the Olympic Summer Games and the Asian Games. The Pan American Games (also known as the Pan Am Games) offer opportunities for thousands of top-notch athletes from North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean to compete in a variety of summer sports. The Parapan American Games welcome athletes with physical disabilities. The Games offer great pageantry, excitement, and sportsmanship to sports fans and residents alike.
B.The Pan Am Games started in 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first Parapan Am Games were held in Mexico City in 1999. The Games have grown in size with each passing year: participation has increased from 2,500 athletes representing 14 nations at the first competition to over 6,000 contenders from 41 countries at the last games. Both the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games take place every four years, in the year before the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. Thirty-six sports (eight more than the official Olympic sports) are now featured at the Games. Pan Am sports not found at the Olympics include bowling, karate, baseball, and squash.
C.The celebration of the Pan American Games features such rituals and emblems as its own flag, torch, and anthem, in addition to opening and closing ceremonies. Each event also has a mascot—an animal or human figure representing the cultural heritage of the host country. This helps to create a distinct identity and promote the Games. The official mascot of the Toronto Games was Pachi the Porcupine, an animal native to Canada. His depiction was created by a group of eighth grade students from Markham, Ontario. Four friends put their heads together, spent two months perfecting their porcupine, and won the highly competitive Mascot Creation Challenge.
D.The 2015 Games were not the first for Canada; Winnipeg, Manitoba, has welcomed renowned athletes from the Americas twice in the past. The most recent Pan Am and Parapan Am Games brought in over 10,000 athletes, coaches, and delegates, along with as many as 250,000 visitors who came to cheer them on. This major international event created immense opportunities for all Canadians, helping to showcase Toronto and Ontario to an international audience, as well as attracting tourists, developing jobs, and encouraging new business investment. Beyond 2015, the Games will provide housing, transportation, educational, and recreational legacies for decades to come.
E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a constructive means for an employer to provide an underperforming employee with the opportunity to regain good standing in the company. A PIP outlines measurable criteria for improved performance and sets deadlines for meeting said criteria. It also presents actions the employer will take to support the employee in reaching the PIP targets.
Nonetheless, not everyone views PIPs as well-intentioned. According to David Brown, HR manager at a leading recruiting agency, “PIPs might as well be called ‘first step toward firing plans.’ Employers use PIPs as a tool to initiate an employee’s dismissal. In effect, companies shield themselves from liability by creating a paper trail of evidence that can be used against an employee in the case of termination. If you have been given a PIP, the company has made up its mind. It’s time to polish your resumé and start job hunting.”
Jane Doris, a seasoned corporate manager, disagrees, emphasizing that PIPs clearly demonstrate a company’s commitment to an employee. “If your management has grounds for terminating your contract, they usually simply carry out that decision. If instead they invest their time in a PIP, they likely want to give you a chance.” In some cases, the problem is caused by the individual’s lack of training or by a lack of transparency regarding the employer’s expectations. Doris goes on to say that this is where the solution lies. “By simply clarifying performance requirements, employees on PIPs are given time to prove themselves.”
Those who are determined to succeed after a PIP may want to heed the advice of Demi Vazquez, CEO of KC Hiring Solutions: “At the outset, you should make sure your PIP goals are transparent and free of any ambiguity. Then, ask about resources like coaching or literature that could help you achieve your PIP goals. You might also consider asking your overachieving colleagues about their secrets for acing their daily responsibilities. Finally, track your progress daily and share it with your manager in regularly scheduled meetings.”