As the days shorten and the temperature drops, many people start feeling the effects of the "winter blues." Although experiencing less energy during this season is common to some people, simple self-care practices can help you stay positive and maintain your mental health.

Soak Up Natural Light: Because a lack of sunlight can affect your mood, try to be outside during daylight hours, even for a short walk. If that’s difficult to do, then consider using a light therapy lamp indoors to mimic natural sunlight.

Stay Active: Physical activity boosts endorphins, which help improve your mood. Even a gentle indoor workout, yoga session, or brisk walk around the block can make a big difference.

Eat Nourishing Foods: Incorporate mood-boosting foods into your diet, such as leafy greens, nuts, and foods rich in Omega-3s. These nutrients can help stabilize your mood and energy levels.

Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing. These practices can reduce stress and help you stay grounded and focused on the present, rather than letting the winter blues overwhelm you. 

Stay Connected: Talk with friends and family, even for only a quick chat. Social connections are key to maintaining a positive mindset during the colder months.

With these self-care tips, you can navigate the winter months with a positive outlook and keep the blues at bay. Small daily habits can have a big impact on your mental well-being!

Make Christmas morning extra magical with these fun and unique ways to show your kids that Santa really made his visit!

Santa’s Footprints: Use flour or powdered sugar to create “snowy” boot prints leading from the door or fireplace to the Christmas tree. Your kids will love following Santa’s path through the house!

Santa’s Magic Key: If you don't have a chimney, leave a special "magic key" by the door for Santa to use. In the morning, the key can be left behind with a sprinkle of glitter and a note from Santa saying he used it to enter the house.

A Text from Santa: Schedule a personalized text or email “from Santa” to arrive on Christmas morning. It could say, “I just left your house! Thanks for the cookies! Enjoy the presents! – Santa.” Your kids will be amazed that Santa can text!

Santa’s Wrapping Paper: Wrap a couple of gifts in special “Santa” paper, and leave a scrap near the fireplace or tree, as if Santa accidentally left a piece behind during his late-night delivery.

Santa’s Lost Hat or Glove: Place a red glove, Santa’s hat, or even a black belt under the tree or by the fireplace. Let the kids discover it and say, “Looks like Santa was in such a hurry, he left this behind!”

Get into the fall spirit with these fun and healthy lite bites bursting with flavor and sweetness!

Ingredients:

2 large sweet potatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

Mini chocolate chips or raisins for decoration

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Prepare the sweet potatoes:

Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.

Season and bake:

In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato rounds with olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until evenly coated. Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet.

Bake:

Bake the sweet potatoes for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are tender and slightly crispy on the edges.

Make the topping:

While the sweet potatoes are baking, mix the Greek yogurt with honey or maple syrup in a small bowl.

Decorate:

Once the sweet potatoes are done and slightly cooled, add a dollop of the yogurt mixture on each round. Use mini chocolate chips or raisins for extra sweetness!

Canadian employment rose by 0.2 per cent from the previous month, growing by 51,000 jobs to 20.647 million in November. The employment rate remained unchanged at 60.6 per cent, while the unemployment rate rose 0.3 points to 6.8 per cent. Average hourly wages rose 4.1 per cent year-over-year to $35.68 last month, while total hours worked were up 1.9 per cent from November of the previous year.

Employment in B.C. was largely unchanged, slightly rising to 2.830 million, with a gain of 1,400 jobs in November. Employment in Metro Vancouver fell 0.2 per cent to 1.603 million in November. The unemployment rate in B.C. fell by 0.1 points to 5.7 per cent in November. Meanwhile, Vancouver's unemployment rate rose by 0.1 points from last month to 6.3 per cent.

November's employment statistics are highlighted by the largest monthly increase in the unemployment rate since January 2017 (excluding 2020 and 2021 due to COVID). In addition, employment gains were largely driven by public sector growth (+1.0 per cent), while private sector employment remained relatively unchanged. Weaknesses in overall hiring activity, along with a sharp escalation in the unemployment rate, demonstrate that the Canadian labour market is cooler than the Bank of Canada had anticipated at this stage. Coupled with an underperforming quarterly GDP report last week, most signs point towards another jumbo cut by the Bank of Canada to close out 2024. As we move into the new year, the Bank hopes to reignite the economy and labour market through heightened consumer and business spending.  

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

In quiet moments, it softly speaks,

A whisper that warms, a touch on the cheek.

It’s found in the simple, the small, the unseen, In mornings that glow and nights in between.

It lives in the laughter, the tears that we share, In kindness exchanged, in how much we care.

It’s the hand that we hold, the light in our eyes, The comfort we feel beneath endless skies.

It’s the pause in the chaos, the breath that we take, The joy that we find in each little mistake.

It lives in the rain, in the chill of the air,

In moments we pause, in the love that we bear.

It’s waking to sunlight, or stars in the night, A feeling that carries us, gentle and light.

For every small wonder, for each silent grace, Gratitude shapes us, leaves time in its place.

In a world that moves quickly, it slows down our pace, And teaches us softly to cherish each space.

To view the full interactive BCREA Commercial Leading Indicator, click here.
To view the full Commercial Leading Indicator PDF, click here.   

The BCREA Commercial Leading Indicator fell 0.2 points to 145.6 in the third quarter of 2024, while the six-month moving average also fell to 145.7. Compared to the same quarter in 2023, the index was up 0.3 per cent.

Third Quarter Highlights

The economic activity index declined in Q3 by 0.2 points. Contraction in this index was broad-based, with inflation-adjusted retail trade (-0.3 per cent), wholesale trade (-0.7 per cent), and manufacturing sales (-0.3 per cent) falling from the previous quarter.

Office employment (financial, insurance, real estate, and professional services) fell by 3.3 per cent in the third quarter, while manufacturing employment increased by 0.8 per cent. The overall employment component declined by 0.6 points from the previous quarter, contributing negatively to the index.

The financial component of the index increased in the third quarter by 0.7 points. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) prices rose by 10.2 per cent, pushing the component up. Conversely, interest rate spreads increased from the previous quarter, indicating more perceived short-term risk in the economy. However, this effect only partially offsets the strong increase in REIT prices, leading to a net positive impact on commercial activity for the overall component.

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Canadian real GDP rose by 0.1 per cent in September, after being largely unchanged in August. Goods-producing sectors fell 0.3 per cent, while service-producing industries were up 0.2 per cent. Mining, quarrying and the oil and gas extraction sector (-1.4 per cent) and manufacturing (-0.3 per cent) were the main drivers of downward pressure on growth, and were offset by gains in retail trade (+1 per cent), wholesale trade (+0.9 per cent), and construction (+0.4 per cent). Finally, output for the offices of real-estate agents and brokers grew by 3.0 per cent month-over-month. Preliminary estimates suggest that real GDP by industry also increased by 0.1 per cent in October.

Real GDP growth in the third quarter of 2024 registered at 1.0 per cent at an annualized rate from the prior quarter. Household spending grew by 0.9 per cent, leading to a 0.2 per cent increase in per capita household expenditures. Growth was also driven by broad-based government spending (+1.1 per cent). Conversely, business investment in machinery fell by 7.8 per cent in the third quarter, strongly attributed to lower spending on aircraft and transportation equipment. Housing investment rose by 0.8 per cent, largely due to higher ownership transfer costs (+4.9 per cent) that arise from resales. However, renovation spending and new construction declined by 0.4 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively. Despite higher household consumption, household savings rates reached a 3-year peak at 7.1 per cent, as disposable income grew at nearly double the rate of spending (in nominal terms). On a per capita basis, GDP was down 0.4 per cent in Q3 and marked a sixth consecutive quarterly decline.

Canada saw modest GDP growth in the third quarter, which fell short of the Bank of Canada's most recent quarterly projection of 1.5 per cent growth. The main discrepancies between this report and the Bank's projection are found in lower-than-anticipated business investment and household spending, signalling reluctance among firms and consumers due to more difficult borrowing conditions. In addition, Canadian GDP per capita continues to struggle amidst rapid population growth. This comes in the context of inflation moderating towards the midpoint of its target range, with price appreciation being largely driven by high shelter costs. The labour market remains at cooler levels, with unemployment steadying at around 6.5 per cent. Considering weaker than expected growth, a second consecutive 50-point cut from the Bank seems more likely as they hope to ignite expenditure moving into 2025.

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

For more information, please contact: Gino

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