Friday, June 28, 2024 3 Brooklin Town Crier Brooklin's Community Newspaper Proud to be a Brooklinite Since 2000. Published 24 times per year. Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com • Circulation 8000 • Delivery via Canada Post Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, July 26, 2024 Deadline: Friday, July 19, 2024 Brooklin TOWN CRIER.com The recent market volatility has affected just about everybody's financial and investment situations - so, if you were planning to retire soon, will it still be possible? Of course, the answer depends somewhat on your employment situation. With so many people's jobs being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, your retirement plans may also have been thrown into confusion. But assuming your employment is still stable, what adjustments in your financial and investment strategies might you need to make for your retirement? Here are a few areas to consider, and some questions to ask yourself: Retirement goals Now is a good time to review your retirement goals and assess your progress toward achieving them. You may want to work with a financial professional to determine if the current environment has materially affected your goals or if you need to make modest adjustments to stay on track. Retirement lifestyle You probably created your investment strategy with a particular type of retirement life-style in mind. Perhaps you had planned to become a world traveler when your working days were over. Of course, in the near term, extensive travel may not be possible, anyway, but once we move past the pandemic, your freedom to roam will likely return. But if your investment portfolio is not where you thought it might be, can you (or do you want to) adapt your lifestyle plans? And can you accept the same flexibility with your other lifestyle goals, such as purchasing a vacation home, pursuing hobbies, and so on? Tradeoffs Based on your retirement goals and your willingness to adjust your retirement lifestyle, you'll want to consider your options and tradeoffs. For example, would you be willing to work more years than you had originally planned in exchange for greater confidence in your ability to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle? By working longer, you can continue adding to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) or similar retirement plan, and you may be able to push back the date you start receiving CPP/QPP and/or OAS to receive bigger monthly benefits. You might also review your budget for opportunities to reduce spending today and potentially save more toward your retirement goals. CPP/QPP and OAS You can file for CPP/QPP benefits as early as 60, but the amount you receive will be higher the longer you wait. The standard age to take CPP benefits is age 65 but can be deferred until age 70, with each month of deferral resulting in an increased benefit. Similarly, OAS claims can be deferred beyond age 65 to benefit from higher payments. As you created your retirement plans, you likely also calculated when you would take CPP/QPP and OAS, but you may need to review those choices. If you postpone retirement a few years, what effect will that have on when you choose to make your claims and, consequently, the size of your benefits? You won't want to make a hasty decision, because once you start taking CPP/QPP and/or OAS, you can't undo your choice. This is certainly a challenging time to be entering retirement, and you'll have some questions to answer. But even in the midst of uncertainty, you still have many choices. Consider them carefully and make the decisions that work for you. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones. Nearing Retirement? What questions should you ask? by Brian Evans, Financial Advisor THIS ARTICLE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT 20 Broadleaf Avenue, Unit B108, Whitby Office: 905-620-1439 Cell: 905-431-1898 brian.r.evans@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.ca Howard the Turtle was from Kinsale, near Brooklin. The puppet character, star of TV's "Razzle Dazzle," was the brainchild of puppeteer John Keogh who designed it and was its voice during its run from 1961 to 1966 Keogh gained prominence for his work with the CBC beginning in 1952 when television first came to Canada. He started puppeteering at the age of 12 alongside his parents, David and Violet Keogh. Together, they crafted large marionettes and staged numerous productions, including collaborations with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at venues such as the Canadian National Exhibition and Massey Hall. Ballet helped In the 1930s, John and his wife Linda trained with his parents, preparing to carry on the family legacy of creating musical marionettes. Linda, who had danced with the Volkoff Ballet, and John, who had also trained in ballet, found that their physical discipline from dance enriched their puppeteering skills. After World War II, during which John served in the RCAF, the couple boldly launched Canada's sole professional puppet show, despite a declining interest in puppetry. They named it The Canadian Puppet Theatre (1945-1968), performing extensively in department stores and at trade shows, continuing the legacy started by John's parents. In 1951, they purchased a farmhouse on 20 hectares of land in Kinsale, a few kilometres west of Brooklin, and had a large theatre constructed with a revolving centre stage. Adults and children from other communities came to watch shows presented in the puppeteering style used in the Keoghs' television programs. Modified stage Backstage, a narrow runway, 10 feet above the stage, accommodated John and up to four assistants who synchronized their movements with sound tapes recorded at CBC studios in Toronto. Linda and their daughter Nina joined him and others in manipulating the puppets. Linda was also involved as a puppet sculptor. A circus-style tent behind the theatre offered snacks, while a courtyard provided seating for the audience after the show. Overhead, a large hot air balloon, with a puppet character inside, floated above, making it visible from a distance. The couple toured extensively under sponsorship from Shell Oil. Their productions, primarily mar- Canada's Puppeteering Star By Jennifer Hudgins continued on page 4