WITH the annual holiday shopping season under way, retailers across the country are poised to ring up record sales. The recently announced federal tay cuts, high levels of employment and sustained consumer confidence have set the stage for solid gains in the all-important: fourth quarter, the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) reported recently. “There's every indication that Canadians will be acting more like Santa than Scrooge this hol- iday season,” said Diane J. Brisebois, RCC’s president and CEO. “When times are good and people feel positive about themselves and their prospects they want to share the spirit with chen family and friends.” Brisebuis added: “Last November and December, which are the avo kev months of the holiday sales calendar, consumers spent: more than $32 billion on retail purchases. We expect that when the receipts are counted tor this Nevember and December that sales will be three te four per cent higher than in 1999.” What gilts will Canadians be buying this year? To find out, RCC sought answers from its mem- bers across the country. A represenrative sam- pling of more than £20 retailers responded to the question: What do you expect will be your biggest sellers this holiday? An analysis of the dozens of different prod- ucts that were cited shows a number of trends: @ Comfort is in. Think cozy slippers, warm fleece vests, silky foungewear and kniteed sweaters. And for the cocooning-at-home crowd, popular choices include candles, decorative frames, luxury bath soaps, indeor fountains, gar- den statues and Egyptian bed linens. Retro is cool. Among the top music picks is Z — the soon-to-be-released greatest hits CD from the Beatles. Anthology, the Fab Four’s autobiog- raphy, is also picked to click. 3% More contemporary books that will do weil this season include the ever-popular Harry Potter series and, fresh from its Booker Prize wi- Canada’s voiing h WE’RE coming into the home stretch of this year’s federal election. : To get a sense of where we ‘came from as far as the mechanics of federal voting * procedure in Canada, Elections Canada provides this overview of the evolution of dhe federal the provincial Br secre Campaign Office 922-01 22 1573 Marine Drive _ « West Vancouver wwu.janmckay.com — What's likely ta be hot in the holiday season electoral process. The voters lists The first federal enimera- tion took place in 1917, using basis, but it was 1930 before a federal door-to-door enumera- tion process was established. Between 1920 and 1930, provineial voters lists were used e Environment? Canada an environmental feader umph, Margaret Anwood's ‘The Blind Assassin. New albums from U2 and Radiohead will be among the holiday hit parade. B irands ave stars. Tommy Hilfiger pants and shirts, Nautica sportswear, Franco Sarto: shoes. Marilyn Brooks fashions, Isotoner slippers, Wrangler jeans, Christian Dior shirts, Vieian Shyu ladies’ wear, Hush Puppies boots and Levi Strauss denim are among the most-cited brand names making the must-have clothing, and foorwear lists. @ Collectibles are hor. Plates, ornaments and tig- urines from Royal Doulton and) Bradford Exchange remain popular choices, as are Peanuts collectibles and Beanie Babies. fim Carrev’s Grinch movie will spur sales of Dr. Suess plush characters and) collectibles. A number of giit stores pegged Snow Buddies figurines as big sell- ers. @ Digital is in demand. From cell phones and pagers to DVDs and cameras, digital is every- where this season. Other high-tech toys making the list include Sony Playstation 2, Gameboy, and computers and computer upgrades, @ Sporting goods get active. From scooters to archery equipment to all manner of golf clubs and accessories, Canadians Jove their outdoor activities. Bieveles remain favourites, as do skis, skates, snowboards and watersports gear. RCC’s poll also uncovered a number of sur- prises. One retailer put slide-rules on its holiday best-seller list. Another selected Swedish Erotica vibrators. And those wanting, to eseape the holi- day mania altogether can take comfort in know- ing shat sea cruises and Zen garden stress relief kits are also expected to do well. The Retait Council of Canada has been the voice of retail in Canada since 1963. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association whose more than 8,500 members embrace all retail formats, including department, specialty, discount, inde- pendent and online stores. More than 90 per cent of RCC’s members are independent store- istory for federal elections. An attempt to develop a permanent voters list in 1934 was abandoned in 1938 after being used for the election of 1935. The technology of the time was insufficient to over- come the logistical obstacles. voters fists as a See election following page STARS ne CTS SEY EASES Four paragraphs. That's all the Reform/ Alliance platform offers Canadians on its plans for the environment. No plan for clean water. No clean air agreements. No endangered species discussion. No vision. Just platitudes. “In this tight race, your environmental voie may be decisive. Make it count!" says lan McKay. lan wants to work to make in the world. On November 27, make your environmental vote count. lan KicKay A bright new voice for B.C. Y Agent for lan McKay - West Vancouver-Sunshine mines) we a ve ci hoto Cindy Goodman Digging in. GWEN Miller was one of many neighbours who gathered to mark the opening of Sunrise Park on Sunday. 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