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Lloyd Barker: Piatti Helped Impact Secure Valuable Draw in Salt Lake

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A trip to Utah, home of Real Salt Lake, is a trip that a lot of players dread because of the conditions they face. The difficulty of playing at altitude is not a myth, it’s very real, I’ve experienced it.

This was another big test for an Impact side that has shown it has all the ingredients to compete against any team in the league, but a side that still has multiple glaring weaknesses.

Here are my pros and cons from the Impact’s 1-1 draw with RSL:

Pro: Despite the fact that the Impact gave up a 1-0 lead after 78 minutes, it was certainly not a disappointing draw. RSL remained unbeaten at Rio Tinto Stadium after eight home games but the Impact can boast a five-game unbeaten run. The Impact remained third in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 6-4-7 record, five points behind East-leading New York City FC with three games in hand. Additionally, the Impact has lost only once in the last 10 league matches and has shown it is a team that is difficult to beat. Only two teams in the league — the L.A. Galaxy (three) and Colorado Rapids (two) — have fewer losses than the Impact.

Con: The Impact was only eleven minutes of regulation time away from stealing all three points against a team that plays its home games at an altitude which is difficult for most visitors to overcome. Defender Victor Cabrera and right-back Hassoun Camara were outworked and outfoxed by RSL left-back Demar Phillips, who the pair allowed to slip past them along the end line and into the Impact’s penalty area. Impact midfielder Calum Mallace was trying to clean up the mess with a recovering slide tackle that only managed to make matters worse. Mallace clipped RSL forward Joao Plata’s shooting foot and a penalty was correctly awarded. RSL’s other forward, Yura Movsisyan, dispatched the spot kick to level the match at 1-1.

Pro: Harry Shipp scored his first goal in sixteen appearances for the Impact since he joined the club in a trade on Feb. 13. Shipp’s 87 minutes on the pitch was undoubtedly his best in an Impact shirt. And it wasn’t just because of the opening goal he scored in the eighth minute. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder made a conscious effort to get involved in the decisive phase of the attack, which is precisely how he managed to score his goal.

Con: Referee Ricardo Salazar failed to whistle a blatant foul by RSL defender Justen Glad on Ignacio Piatti on the edge of RSL’s penalty box in the 80th minute. The only thing Salazar and his assistants should have taken into account was the location of the foul. Glad used his hands to pull Piatti from behind as he tried to get past Glad on his way to the goal. Shockingly, no call was made. Glad held Piatti outside the area, then continued into the box. On another day, a penalty would have been awarded and possibly a free kick on top of the box. But the Impact got away with a missed call of their own. In the 84th minute, Laurent Ciman was overly aggressive in a challenge with Movsisyan inside the Impact penalty area and appeared to pull Movsisyan’s waist and hip before the Spartak Moscow loanee went to ground. Ciman had help from Cabrera, which means he did not need to make such a rash challenge.

Pro: Ciman returned from a memorable experience with Belgium at Euro 2016 and had an immediate effect on the game. Ciman’s direct free kick from 35 yards out bamboozled RSL ‘keeper Nick Rimando, who failed to properly deal with the dipping and swerving ball that Shipp pounced on and scored. Ciman’s return coincided with his central defensive partner, Cabrera, playing arguably his best game of the season. Cabrera was credited with eight interceptions, eight clearances, six tackles and four recoveries. The Argentine’s concentration was as high as I’ve seen from him in recent games.

Con: RSL completed 330 more passes than Montreal in the match, held a 69-per-cent possession advantage and forced the Impact to make 31 clearances, compared with only seven for RSL. And yet, even without Didier Drogba, the Impact had a great chance to steal all three points in the 71st minute. Shipp delivered a perfect free kick from the left side, which found an unmarked Camara on the doorstep of RSL’s goal, but Camara mistimed his header and missed the ball completely as the chance went begging.

Pro: Piatti didn’t register a point, but the creative winger was a positive influence for Montreal. As early as the sixth minute, Piatti was a handful for RSL with his powerful drives forward in a bid to break defensive lines with his renowned dribbling ability. Another unsung hero was goalkeeper Evan Bush. He faced 12 shots and made three saves, the most important of which was in the 94th minute. Bush acrobatically palmed away RSL captain Kyle Beckerman’s nearly perfect shot to the top corner to preserve the draw.

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Beauty Week is back at Hudson’s Bay in Toronto and it’s time to get glam

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Beauty enthusiasts rejoice! Beauty Week at Hudson’s Bay is back in Toronto for another year. It’s time to stock up on all of your fall essentials and, maybe discover some new ones. 

From Friday, August 18 to Sunday, August 27, you can expect a truly elevated beauty experience in-store with incredible special offers, limited-time gifts, and exciting activations. 

If you’re a diehard beauty lover, you’ll already know that Hudson’s Bay is the place to shop thanks to its extensive range of over 195 skin and makeup brands from both luxury labels and masstige brands — including Tata Harper, Estée Lauder, YSL, Nars Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, and so much more.

Throughout The Bay’s Beauty Week, visitors can take in some at-counter activations and interactive expert-led tutorials, where there will be chances to get makeup touch-ups from top-tier brands, try a spritz of the most alluring fragrances, and sample tons of new products.

This year’s Beauty Week highlight is the ‘Best in Beauty’ tote, a meticulously-curated selection of 30 deluxe samples from an array of top-tier brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm and Shiseido spanning skincare, fragrance, and makeup — all in a super sleek bag.

The tote, which is valued at over $300, is retailing for just $39 and is a fantastic way to explore new products (without breaking the bank). However, there is a limited quantity, so if you want to get your hands on one, you’ll need to be fast.

Wondering exactly what Beauty Week’s free gifts with purchases entail? If you spend over $95 at Lancôme, you will receive a six-piece set valued at $130. Or, you can get an Estée Lauder gift valued at $170 with purchases over $80. (And that’s just to name a few.)

If you’re a Hudson’s Bay Rewards member, you’ll also get $20 in Hudson’s Bay rewards when you spend over $100 on beauty.

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The Canadian Armed Forces are hiring for several non-combat military jobs

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The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have several non-combat jobs, some of which do not require a college degree or past work experience.

Life in the forces has several benefits, such as paid education plans (college, university and graduate-level programs), 20 paid vacation days, health and dental coverage for you and your family, maternity and paternal leave, and pension plans. You can learn more about the benefits in detail here.

And to make it easier to gauge if you qualify, the listings also include related civilian jobs to see if it’s your ideal role.

Financial services administrator

Related civilian jobs: Financial records entry clerk, financial manager, accounting technician, bookkeeper, budget officer, cashier clerk, business planner technician, and verification manager.

Description: You’ll help budget resources for all military activities besides providing financial assistance.

Education: You need to have completed Grade 10.

Duties: As a financial services administrator, you’ll be responsible for bookkeeping and managing budgets. You’ll also provide support in accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Work environment: Those in this role work at CAF bases, on ships or overseas. You might also be expected to help special operation units, recruiting offices, schools, and medical organizations.

Postal clerk

Related civilian jobs: Mail clerk, mail sorter.

Description: You’ll provide postal services to members and their families at bases and establishments.

Education: Grade 10. No previous work experience or related career skills are required.

Duties: As the postal clerk, you’ll handle mail duties.

Work environment: Besides a postal office, you may work on a ship or a mobile postal van. You might be expected to serve with Royal Canadian Navy, the Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada and abroad.

Dental technician

Related civilian jobs: Dental assistant, dental hygienist.

Description: You’ll be helping dental officers provide dental services to CAF members, their families, and dependents.

Education: Level II dental assisting diploma from an accredited college or a National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) certificate.

Duties: Those in this role will be responsible for various responsibilities, including disinfection and sterilization of dental equipment, applying rubber dams, placing cavity liners, and controlling bleeding. In addition, you’ll assist in laboratory procedures like creating casts, custom trays, and mouthguards.

Work environment: This role will require you to work in a military dental clinic, a Mobile Dental Clinic, an Air Transportable Dental System, or onboard a ship. You might be expected to work on a base in Canada or other operations in other parts of the world.

Human resources administrator

Related civilian jobs: Records administrator, data entry supervisor, receptionist, office manager, executive assistant, payroll clerk, and information management technician.

Description: Provide administrative and general human resources support.

Education: Grade 10. No previous work experience or related career skills are required.

Duties: In addition to human resources administration and services, you’ll be handling pay and allowances, managing automated pay systems, and maintaining personnel records.

Work environment: HR administrators work at all CAF bases in Canada. They also work on ships and overseas to support the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, or Royal Canadian Air Force operations.

Medical assistant

Related civilian jobs: Emergency medical responder, ambulance and first aid attendant, registered nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse, and hospital orderly.

Description: Successful candidates will help treat the sick and injured in CAF units. You’ll be assisting and supporting nursing and medical officers.

Education: Minimum of Grade 11 biology, Grade 10 physics or chemistry, and Grade 10 math.

Duties: You’ll provide initial care and essential life support treatments in trauma cases. You’ll help with health assessments (hearing and vision tests, perform basic lab procedures, etc.) and initiate and manage medical records and reports. You’ll also be expected to provide support and first aid during training exercises.

Work environment: Medical assistants may serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Canadian Army as part of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. Those in this role are exposed to the same risks as the forces they support.

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Porter’s new loyalty program promises to match Air Canada’s Aeroplan status

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Porter Airlines is once again stirring the pot among Canadian airline rivals, now going after Air Canada’s Aeroplan members by offering to match their loyalty status to an equivalent of their own.

The beloved airline, which recently ranked as having the best cabin service in North America, challenged the competition for the second time this year, after previously deploying a similar tactic against WestJet in the spring. 

Earlier in April, Porter presented customers with a limited-time offer to match the loyalty status of WestJet’s patrons with VIPorter levels.

Now, they’re offering Aeroplan members to seamlessly transition to an equivalent VIPorter Avid Traveller status based on their existing membership tier.

Members can then take advantage of an array of travel perks that come with flying Porter, including seat selection, baggage, and flight changes.

For those currently holding an Aeroplan membership, there are two ways to acquire the Avid Traveller status for the rest of 2023:

Status-Based Match:
  • Aeroplan 25K members = VIPorter Venture
  • Aeroplan 35K members = VIPorter Ascent
  • Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite = VIPorter First
Flight Segments-Based Match:
  • 5 flight segments = VIPorter Passport
  • 8 segments = VIPorter Venture
  • 17 segments = VIPorter Ascent
  • 28 or more segments = VIPorter First

Members will have to first submit their applications on Porter’s website. Registration will remain open until September 6, 2023.

In order to maintain their membership level through 2024, customers will have until the end of 2023 to reach the following reduced qualifying spend (QS) targets:

  • Passport = $500 in QS
  • Venture = $750 in QS
  • Ascent = $1500 in QS
  • First = $2500 in QS

Over the past year, Porter has launched an aggressive expansion strategy, including everything from introducing longer flights on newly-purchased jet planes flying out of Toronto Pearson, free WiFi, and a new all-inclusive economy experience.

With Canadians losing both Swoop and Sunwing as WestJet incorporates both into their mainline business, Porter’s direct competition is welcome to keep prices competitive.

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