Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 leek, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only) 3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 1 tablespoon mild curry powder

1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional) 1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk (light for a healthier option) Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper, to taste 

Prepare the base: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the leeks, garlic and ginger, sautéing until the leeks are soft and translucent.

Spice it up: Add curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander and chili flakes. Stir well for about a minute until the spices are fragrant.

Add veggies: Mix in the carrots and cook for 3–4 minutes. Then add the sugar snap peas and asparagus, cooking for another 5 minutes until they start to soften, but retain some crunch.

Simmer: Stir in the thawed peas and coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat and cook for another 5 minutes. Avoid boiling to keep the vegetables crisp.

Season: Add lemon zest and juice, then season with salt and pepper. Serve over a bed of fluffy quinoa or basmati rice for a complete meal.

This spring vegetable curry is light, zesty and bursting with the flavors of the season. The asparagus, sugar snap peas and fresh herbs bring a crisp, fresh dimension that's perfect for a springtime meal.

Enjoy this delightful dish as a celebration of the season's bounty!

May 1, International Workers' Day: Also known as Labor Day in some countries, this day is a celebration of laborers and the working classes.

May 5, Cinco de Mayo: Commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It's widely celebrated in the United States to honor Mexican culture and heritage.

May 12, Mother's Day: Celebrated on the second Sunday in May, it's a day to honor and celebrate mothers and mother figures.

May 20, Victoria Day: Canadian holiday on which the British sovereign's birthday is celebrated. In 1845, during the reign of Queen Victoria, May 24, the queen's birthday, was declared a holiday in Canada.

May 27, Memorial Day: This US holiday honors military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties. It is also the unofficial start of summer.

After falling more than 2 per cent in January, retail sales in BC were up 1.2 per cent in February and were up 2.6 per cent from the same time last year. In the CMA of Vancouver, retail sales were down 0.2 per cent from the prior month and were up 4.2 from February 2023. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-retail-sales-february-2024-april-24-2024

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

In a small village nestled between a forest and the hills, there lived an old man known for his wisdom. One evening, as the sun painted the sky with hues of orange and purple, he sat outside his quaint cottage with his young grandson, who always yearned for his stories and lessons about life. 

"Grandfather," the boy said, "tell me, what is the most important lesson for a person to learn?"

The man looked deeply into his grandson's eyes and said softly, "The one you feed, my child. The one you feed.

The darkness wolf may seem strong and overpowering at times, and it's easy to feed it with our fears and anger. But the light wolf, though sometimes harder to nurture, has the power to fill our lives with meaning and joy."

Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 2.9 per cent on a year-over-year basis in March, up from a 2.8% increase in February. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, CPI rose by 0.3 per cent in March. The slight uptick in headline CPI was largely due to rising gasoline prices. Excluding energy costs, CPI rose 2.8 per cent year-over-year in March, down from 2.9 per cent in February. Shelter costs remain the major driver of inflation with mortgage interest costs up 25.4 per cent and rent up 8.5 per cent from the same time last year in March. Excluding shelter, consumer prices rose just 1.5 per cent, year over year. In BC, consumer prices rose 2.7 per cent year-over-year, up from 2.6 per cent in February. The Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation, which strip out volatile components, fell to between 2.8 and 3.1 per cent per cent year-over-year in March. 

Inflation ticked slightly higher as expected in March due to rising gasoline prices, however the big surprise in this morning's data was the continued fall in the Bank of Canada's preferred measures of core inflation. Both CPI median and CPI trim were not only down an a 12-month basis but fell to well under 2 per cent when measured on a 3-month basis and to just over 2 per cent on a 6-month basis. Not only is core inflation falling, but it has become more and more clear that inflation in Canada is almost entirely a shelter driven phenomenon. Excluding the rising costs of rents and mortgages, not only is inflation falling, its negative when measured at a 3 and 6-month horizon. If the Bank of Canada is looking for a case to lower its policy rate in June, this report provides ample evidence in support of that move. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-inflation-march-2024-april-16-2024

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Vancouver, BC – April, 2024. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 6,460 residential unit sales were recorded in Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) systems in March 2024, a decline of 9.5 per cent from March 2023. The average MLS^® residential price in BC in March 2024 was up 6.5 per cent at $1.02 million, compared to an average price of $958,051 in March 2023. The total sales dollar volume was $6.6 billion, a decrease of 3.6 per cent from the same time the previous year.  

"March capped off a slow start to the first quarter of 2024," said BCREA Chief Economist, Brendon Ogmundson. "Despite a steep decline in fixed mortgage rates, buyers appear to be waiting on the Bank of Canada to lower its policy rate before jumping back into the market."
 
Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was up 13 per cent to $15.8 billion, compared with the same period in 2023. Residential unit sales were up 6.4 per cent to 15,938 units, while the average MLS^® residential price was up 6.5 per cent to $995,149.  

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Vitamin K, often overlooked yet crucial for health, plays a key role in many ways. It's vital for coagulating blood, preventing excessive bleeding and strengthening bones by regulating calcium. It also shows potential in preventing arterial calcification and reducing heart disease risk.

Rich sources of it are green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach and Swiss chard, as well as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and certain vegetable oils. Smaller amounts of it are found in fish, meat, eggs and dairy. Vitamin K deficiency is rare, but people on blood thinners should monitor their intake carefully.

Consulting a healthcare provider, especially when considering supplements or if on medication, ensures a balanced Vitamin K intake is aligned with overall health needs. Essential yet understated, Vitamin K is a key component of a well-rounded diet and overall health maintenance.

Spring invites us to step outside and shake off the winter chill. Although such traditional activities as jogging and cycling are great, let’s explore some creative and unconventional ways to stay fit this spring.

Nature’s Obstacle Course: Transform a local park into your fitness playground. Use benches for step-ups or tricep dips, swing from low-hanging tree branches for pull-ups or balance-walk along curbs. These fun activities challenge and engage your whole body.

Outdoor Yoga Adventures: Take your yoga mat to different outdoor locations each week—a serene lakeside, a quiet forest or even a scenic mountaintop. The changing environments will add an element of novelty and challenge to your practice.

Wildlife Photography Hikes: Combine photography with hiking for a unique fitness adventure. Trekking to capture the perfect shot of spring blooms or wildlife can turn into a great workout!

The Bank of Canada maintained its overnight rate at 5 per cent this morning. In the statement accompanying the decision, the Bank noted that while the Canadian economy appears to have entered into a phase of excess supply, it expects growth in the Canadian economy to pick up this year and next. On inflation, the Bank cited that inflation is still too high and risks remain, and that shelter inflation is still very elevated. However, both CPI and core inflation have eased in recent months and 3-month annualized measures suggest downward momentum. The Bank will continue to look for evidence that this downward momentum is sustained. 

There is now a widely held belief in financial markets that today's rate hold by the Bank of Canada will be its last before embarking on a series of rate cuts starting in June. There is also mounting evidence that this is the correct course of action. Jobs data from March showed that the Canadian unemployment rate reached its highest level in three years and inflation is well below target once housing costs are removed. Given that housing costs are rising as a function of the Bank's tight monetary policy and its effects on mortgage rates and new home supply, it would be wise for the Bank to look past rising shelter inflation when setting the future course of monetary policy. We expect that the Bank will lower rates 3 to 4 times this year in 25 bps increments with 2.5 per cent as the ultimate destination for the overnight rate by the end of 2025. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/bank-of-canada-interest-rate-announcement-t2jwyc4jb8

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.