Artificial Intelligence is a powerful tool, but the quality of the output depends on the quality of the prompt. Clear instructions help AI produce more accurate, useful, and professional responses.

Specific prompts work best. Instead of asking AI to “write about taxes,” ask for “a  400-word overview of tax deductions for small business owners.” The more detail you provide, the better the result.

It also helps to give AI context. Prompts like “You are an experienced marketer” or “You are a CPA” help shape the tone and expertise of the response. Defining the audience matters too. You can ask AI to write for beginners, business owners, or industry professionals.

You can even tell AI what to avoid, such as jargon, storytelling, or overly casual language.

AI works best when treated like a tool that follows direction.

The clearer the instructions, the stronger the results.

Helping others does more than strengthen communities. Research shows volunteering can also reduce stress, improve mental well-being, and create a stronger sense of purpose. Scientists say the greatest benefits come from regular, face-to-face volunteer work that connects people with those outside their everyday circles.

Even with these benefits, relatively few people volunteer consistently. Many say they simply do not have enough time. Yet studies comparing volunteers and non-volunteers have found little difference in how much free time they actually have. Often, the biggest challenge is taking the first step.

Interestingly, many volunteers say they considered getting involved for years before finally doing it. Once they started, however, they discovered the experience was rewarding in ways they never expected.

Surveys also show more people would volunteer if opportunities were easier to access through workplaces, schools, and community programs. Making volunteering part of everyday life could benefit not only communities, but also the health and happiness of the people giving their time.

Nighttime leg cramps affect nearly 60 percent of older adults and are often triggered by dehydration, low potassium or magnesium, prolonged sitting, muscle fatigue, or certain medications such as statins and water pills.

Simple habits may help reduce the pain. Stay hydrated in the evening, stretch your calves and hamstrings before bed, and keep moving throughout the day to improve circulation. Potassium-rich foods like bananas, spinach, avocados, and sweet potatoes may also support healthy muscle function.

If cramps happen often or become severe, talk to your doctor. Persistent cramping can sometimes be linked to kidney or thyroid problems or medication side effects.

Dust is a constant part of indoor life, no matter how clean your home looks. It builds up from fabric fibers, pet dander, skin flakes, and microscopic dust mites that naturally collect inside homes year-round. Even everyday activities like making the bed, walking across the floor, or opening windows can stir dust back into the air.

Indoor air quality matters because most people spend the majority of their time indoors. Dust can contribute to allergy symptoms and asthma flare-ups, especially in the bedroom where people spend many hours each night.

The good news is that a few simple habits can help reduce dust and create a fresher, healthier space:

• Clear clutter to reduce surfaces where dust collects

• Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly using a vacuum with a HEPA filter

• Wipe furniture and surfaces with a damp cloth instead of dry dusting

• Keep closet doors closed to help limit airborne particles

• Wash bedding regularly in hot water to help eliminate dust mites

• Place stuffed animals or delicate fabric items in sealed plastic bags and freeze them overnight to reduce dust mites without washing

Clean the charging port regularly. Dust and pocket lint can quietly build up and block charging connections. A careful cleaning can solve many charging problems instantly.

Protect it from drops and scratches. A sturdy case and screen protector can prevent expensive damage and help your phone keep its resale value.

Install software updates. Updates improve security, fix bugs, and help your phone run smoothly. Turning on automatic updates is one of the easiest ways to keep your device healthy.

Holding onto your phone for an extra year or two can save you hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars over time. Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.

In a world filled with texts, posts, and notifications, National Good Neighbor Day on September 28 is a reminder that some of the most important connections are right next door.

Being a good neighbor does not require grand gestures. Sometimes it starts with something simple: a smile, a wave, or a friendly hello. Welcoming a new neighbor with a homemade treat or offering a helping hand can turn strangers into friends.

Good neighbors also help create safe, welcoming communities. Keeping yards tidy, controlling pet noise, and respecting shared spaces all make a difference. Small acts of consideration can improve an entire neighborhood.

This day is also a great opportunity to check in on elderly neighbors, offer help with yard work, or simply let someone know you are there if they need assistance. Communities grow stronger when neighbors look out for one another.

As fall arrives, consider hosting a cookout, planning a neighborhood gathering, or organizing a Fall Harvest event for local families. Good Neighbor Day is more than a celebration. It is a reminder that kindness close to home can have a lasting impact.

Yellow jackets become much more active in the fall as their natural food supply disappears, sending them in search of sweet drinks, barbecue foods, and trash bins. That is why they are a common sight at outdoor gatherings this time of year.

Unlike bees, yellow jackets can sting multiple times. Most stings cause temporary pain and swelling, but some people may experience serious allergic reactions, including breathing problems or dizziness. They are also known for their fast, darting flight patterns and bright yellow and black markings.

To avoid trouble, keep food covered, seal trash containers, and stay calm if one flies nearby. With a little caution, you can still enjoy the fall season without unwanted stings.

Dreaming of bright blooms and a welcoming front yard next spring? Early fall is the perfect time to get started. September and October offer cooler temperatures and warm soil, creating ideal conditions for planting bulbs and shrubs before winter arrives.

Classic spring favorites like crocuses, tulips, and daffodils thrive in most well-draining soils and reward gardeners with some of the earliest color of the season. When planting bulbs, pay attention to their shape. Teardrop-shaped bulbs should be planted with the pointed end facing up and the wider end down. Not sure which side is which? Plant the bulb sideways. Nature usually finds a way.

Planting depth matters, too. Bulbs planted upside down often use too much energy trying to reach the surface, which can reduce or prevent blooming. After planting, give them a healthy start with bulb fertilizer to encourage strong roots and vibrant flowers.

If your daffodils produced leaves this year but no blooms, overcrowding may be the culprit. Over time, bulbs multiply underground and compete for nutrients and space. Fall is the ideal time to dig them up, gently separate the clusters, and replant them with more room to grow.

Another common reason bulbs fail to bloom is cutting foliage back too early. Those green leaves are more than just leftover growth. They collect sunlight and store energy for next year’s flowers. Allow foliage to yellow naturally or wait at least six weeks after flowering before trimming it away.

Fall is also one of the best seasons to plant new shrubs. Cooler weather reduces stress on young plants while roots continue developing underground. For best results, plant shrubs at least six weeks before the first hard frost so they have time to establish before winter settles in.

A little effort this fall can transform your landscape into a colorful, thriving garden next spring.

Thousands of years ago, ancient Egyptians sealed jars of honey inside tombs built for pharaohs. According to one famous story, archaeologists later uncovered some of that honey and found it still edible. While historians debate whether that exact discovery ever happened, the science behind it is completely real: Honey is one of the few foods on Earth that can last for centuries.

What makes honey so remarkable is that nature designed it to protect itself. It contains almost no water, which means bacteria and microorganisms cannot survive inside it. Honey is also naturally acidic, creating another barrier against spoilage. Even the bees contribute to its preservation. As they transform nectar into honey, enzymes in their bodies produce compounds like hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid, both of which help stop bacterial growth.

That same chemistry made honey valuable long before modern medicine existed. Ancient civilizations used honey to treat wounds and burns because it could help prevent infection.

Sumerian records from 1900 BC even mention honey as a healing treatment, showing that people recognized its value thousands of years ago.

What makes honey fascinating is not just that it lasts, but why it lasts. Its strength comes from every element working together with precision and purpose.

There is a lesson in that. The things that endure are rarely loud or complicated. They are built on strong foundations, protected at their core, and designed to stand the test of time.

Canadian employment declined from the previous month, with the economy losing nearly 42,000 jobs (-0.2 per cent) to 21.173 million in August. The employment rate fell 0.1 points to 60.8 per cent, while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.4 per cent. Average hourly wages rose 2 per cent year-over-year to $37.02 in August.
           
Employment in B.C. decreased by 0.2 per cent to about 2.949 million, with the provincial economy losing about 5,500 jobs in August. Employment in Metro Vancouver rose by 0.7 per cent to 1.719 million. The unemployment rate in B.C. rose by 0.3 points to 6.5 per cent, while Vancouver's unemployment rate rose by 0.5 points to 6.5 per cent in August. 

August’s jobs report gave back some of the employment gains recorded over the previous three months, demonstrating the volatility that has challenged the labour market over the past few quarters. Despite relatively consistent drawdowns across different sectors in August, the Canadian economy still added over 50,000 jobs on a cumulative basis over the summer, climbing into positive territory year-to-date with July’s strong report. Resilience in the labour market since February and a resurgent second-quarter economy are biasing toward eventual rate hikes from the Bank of Canada, which has held its policy rate at 2.25 per cent since October 2025. Further, the persistence of the Iran conflict and its oil price shock along with new bilateral tariffs with the US cast inflationary pressure on the economy. Taken together, we expect monetary policy to remain unchanged this year, before the Bank raises its policy rate in 2027 toward its neutral level of 2.75 per cent.

Canadian real GDP rose by 0.3 per cent in June, after growing by 0.3 per cent in May. Goods-producing industries contracted by 0.1 per cent, offset by 0.4 per cent growth in service-producing sectors. Sectoral growth was led by wholesale trade (1.7 per cent), retail trade (1.4 per cent), and manufacturing (0.6 per cent). Meanwhile, the biggest detractor to growth was the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector (-0.6 per cent). Output for the offices of real-estate agents and brokers rose by 0.6 per cent month-over-month. Preliminary estimates suggest that real GDP by industry was largely unchanged in July.
     
Real GDP increased by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, registering an annualized growth rate of 3.3 per cent. Growth was driven by a resurgence in exports, which rose by 3.6 per cent, the largest increase since Q1 2023. Household consumption continued to strengthen, rising by 0.8 per cent in Q2, driven by higher spending on investment services that outpaced drawdowns in gasoline and food expenditure. Growth in total capital investment (1.5 per cent) was largely attributable to strong business investment growth (2.3 per cent). Looking deeper, investment into both residential and non-residential structures rose by 2.5 and 2.9 per cent, respectively. The household savings rate rose to 3.7 per cent, as disposable income growth outpaced nominal spending growth by 0.4 percentage points on the back of wage increases and higher government transfers. 

Canada’s economic performance in Q2, coupled with an upward revision to growth in the previous quarter, will dispel previous fears of a prolonged technical recession. Annualized quarterly growth reached its highest level since Q3 2024, outperforming the Bank of Canada’s projection of 2.5 per cent. Sharp export recoveries spearheaded growth, as exports to both the US and the rest of the world have steadily risen over recent months. Household spending remained resilient, while business investment comfortably outpaced a decrease in government investment. Taken together, final domestic demand grew by 1 per cent in the second quarter, the largest quarterly increase since Q4 2024. 

Looking ahead, economic headwinds continue to intensify, as seen by recent trade escalations and new tariffs between Canada and the US. Moreover, a breach in the Iran ceasefire at the end of July means continued inflationary pressure as oil prices remain significantly elevated. Altogether, the Canadian economy will have to continue demonstrating similar resilience in Q3 to reach or surpass the Bank’s projection of 1.5 per cent growth. Overall, we expect the Bank to hold its policy rate through this year. However, this report, along with encouraging signs in the labour market, is slightly biasing toward eventual rate hikes in 2027, which markets continue to expect.

For more information regarding British Columbia’s GDP growth, please visit our Nowcast for an estimate of economic activity throughout the province:

BCREA Nowcast - British Columbia Real Estate Association