You are stuck in the house and have time to assess all those niggling things that need fixing. But where do you go to get them repaired?   Fix R Us is a handy and friendly West Island neighborhood fix-it shop with 30 years of experience under their belt.

They offer free estimates and here’s an idea of some of the magic these guys with golden hands can perform:

Jay at Talon Tire taught me that the state of your tires is one of the things that might save your life in a quick stop situation. Since this is quick stop season, or skidding or spinning season, make sure the ones on your car are the best you can have.

Talon Tire is an independent tire dealer which has been in business since 1971, and specialize in quality tires for passenger cars, SUV’s, vans and light trucks. It is one of the few tire shops that has been approved by the consumer watchdog organization, the Automobile Protection Association.

They are not just order takers – their staff has knowledge of a wide range of tire applications, and monitors the latest technological developments and trends in tire manufacturing. They can answer and questions about tires to help you make the right choice.

Some of the good reasons to buy your tires from them:

– Wheels are fastened on your car by first hand-threading the nuts and then hand-torquing them to manufacturer’s specifications. When needed, you will be able to remove the wheels without frustration – No warped brake rotors or stripped threads or marred wheels.

– Even if they install only one tire, they check and adjust all your tire pressures.

– Their repairs on flats are permanent and safe, since they use only quality chemical patches applied from the inside of the tire. Repairs done from the outside, without inspecting for internal damage, are only temporary, and can result in an eventual blowout.

– Their tire and wheel balancing is state-of-the-art. It’s so uniquely accurate that consumers residing several hundred kilometers away go there to resolve their vibration complaints and leave with a smooth comfortable ride.

– Your “Mag” wheels are safe with them, as they use only the highest quality nylon-coated balancing weights. They won’t change the plastic finish of your wheels or cause corrosion like regular lead weights.

Special tires can be bought here too. Talon Tire sponsors and supports grass roots Motorsports in Canada, and offer a wide range of competition tires. To help keep a cherished classic car on the road they stock over 20 sizes of hard-to-find vintage tires.

– There is no commission, so their staff won’t propose a more profitable tire when it’s not the right choice.
– There are no hidden extras in their price.
– Their road hazard guarantee provides a replacement tire based on the price you paid, and NOT on a higher suggested retail price which increases every year with inflation.

They offer a two month or 1,500 mile / 2,000 kilometer free trial period for every tire that they recommend for your car and driving needs. If you don’t like them, they’ll refund you 100% of the purchase price.

Talon Tire makes buying the right set of tires easy.

Location: 2607 Diab St. Ville St-Laurent, QC H4S 1E7
corner: rue Bois Franc
Tel: 514-337-0833
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6
http://www.talontire.com/

Back by popular demand Mega Vente D’Entrepot‘s huge bedding and outerwear Sale.

Their famous bamboo sheet sets are always available  ($22 and $29 all sizes; comparable to $199 and $249), or shop smart and take advantage of their special  5 sets for only $99, with comforters starting at $59. Plus many other linens and houseware items (comforter sets, pillows, mattress pads, etc).

They are selling a huge inventory of brand name snowsuits from baby sizes right up to sizes 2 to 18(-30 or-35 degrees) , including all sizes in between. The starting price is $59 up to $129, compared to the regular price of $249 . Coats for girls and boys :-30 degrees. $ 59 and $ 69, comparable to $ 119 regular price. For the ladies and men, they will be selling coats and jackets, starting at the low price of $69, with brands such as: Slide, Pinzel, Justyle, Exploration, Ellabee. There is even a large selection and vast range of styles and sizes ( XS-5X)and + 5 x. Regular price up to $ 499. They are fully stocked and are offering an additional $10 off all outerwear starting at $59.

Amidst the incredible selection of winter wear, there will be Calvin Klein underwear, boxer shorts, briefs for men and for boys. All sizes available and priced at $6 for boys and $10 for men and their reg price is up to $46.

Men’s designer brand name shirts – full selection of all  size ranges and styles (sizes 14.5 – 18.5; or XS to XXL). Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, Horst at $20 each. Compare at up to $89 reg price.

Locations: 6 Locations throughout the city: 120 Boul. St. Joseph, Lachine QC H8S 2L3 (514-637-1116); St-Leonard, 8235 Boul. Langelier (514-223-0510); Greenfield Park, 3259 boul Taschereau (514-226-1497); Vaudreuil, 3100 Rte Harwood J7V8P2 (450-566-5266) Centre d’Achats Hudson, 232 rue St. Charles, unit 170, Ste Therese, J7E 2B4 (579-630-3180);  11857 Boul. Pierrefonds-#M2 (next to Super C) H9A 1A1, (514-984-3180).
Hours: Vaudreuil: closed Tues, Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8
Rest of stores: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
www.megaventemontreal.com

At Fresh Home Fashions (formerly Distributors Iann), a landmark Chabanel building spot, you can shop for a mixture of mostly home items but also some intimate wear for women and men. This is the secret place for soft Italian wool long underwear or Canadian made long underwear.

While you’re there, you can keep warm at night with fleece or polar sheets or buy Martex brand or bamboo and even crib sheets. There’s comforters, mattress and pillow protectors, towels for bath and kitchen, bath mats, and embroidered tablecloths. Ready-to-hang curtains are popular, then there’s shower curtains. Ladies can look for nightgowns while for men there’s pajamas, socks and undies. You can even score some well priced luggage and hard-to-find table protectors.

Location: 111 Chabanel O., suite 102
corner: Reims
Tel: 514-383-1589
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5

The best part of cold winter is the excuse to have many more delicious cups of coffee. West Islanders are lucky to have a specialized coffee emporium right in their midst.

Coffee imported from Italy is sold at La boutique du café Tazza di Mattina in Roxboro. You can purchase ground, beans or capsule coffee from Gloria, Caffé Harmonia, Dolce Vita, Caffé Barbera, Caffé Moreno, Caffé Lollo. Italcaffé, Caffitaly, Miscela D’oro and many more.

If you love real coffee and live on the western side of the island, you do not have to fight the construction traffic to buy real coffee, coffee makers and  supplies. They carry Saeco, La Pavoni, Avanti, Jura, Caffitaly, Rancilio espresso and cappuccino machines, and coffee.They have a selection of accessories for coffee as in frothers and cups of different sizes in glass and ceramic. Various cleaning products for all coffee and cappuccino makers are found as well.

If you want to buy a more traditional Italian stove top coffee makers, they’re here too. You’ll have a choice of many different sizes in brands Vev, Bialetti & Laila. Pretty colorful lines of accessories of home and tableware by Guzzini, Verdici and Bugatti are available to dress up your table.

This is also a local repair depot; They can fix your machine on site if it breaks – no more lugging it all the way downtown.

Location: 5 Commercial Ave, Roxboro QC, H8Y 2N9
corner: boul Gouin
Tel: 514-684-6161
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-5:30, Sat 9-4
www.tazzadimattina.ca  FB: http://on.fb.me/1eNfNva

You can find the very best that Canada has to offer within Parks Canada parks and sites. When you visit, you learn the stories of where we came from and who we are, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, along with Parks Canada’s Honourary Guide for Families, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, announced that admission for youth 17 and under is free for all national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas.

By making admission free for youth under 17, Canada is celebrating families and the importance of our protected areas. They are hoping that by connecting with nature, youth will gain a better understanding of our urgent need to not only protect it, but maintain it for future generations.

While youth will enjoy free admission beginning in 2018, Parks Canada is returning to fee-based admission for adults and seniors to national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas, including lockage at historic canals. The 2018 Parks Canada Discovery Pass is now on sale and is a great value, providing access to these national treasures all year long.

The Parks Canada Discovery Pass is the ideal way to discover nature and connect with Canada’s history. For information on purchasing the 2018 Parks Canada Discovery Pass, please visit the Parks Canada website: http://www.pc.gc.ca

When I inherited a giant flat screen TV and needed someone to install it, I knew to call Radio St-Hubert for help. They’ve been selling televisions for over 50 years and nowadays, this is a great go-to place when setting up a sound system. They are the center for Bluetooth compatible equipment – speakers, music systems, re-chargeable speakers, headphones, etc.

Top of the list is Sonos which is a smart system of HiFi wireless speakers and audio components. One app unites your digital music collection which you can then control from any device. Music comes to life with crystal-clear fidelity with zero dropouts.

You can buy Canadian by ordering Bryston amplifiers and speakers made right here in Peterborough, ON. Not only are you supporting our country’s workers but they are guaranteed 20 years.

For speakers you can buy Paradigm, Klipsch, Monitor Audio, Epos, Totem, Dynaudio, as well as sound equipment by Sonos, Pioneer Elite, Cambridge Audio, Anthem, Creek, Yamaha, Cyrus, Sunfire and Sugden. For TV’s it’s Samsung and Panasonic. Look for Tivioli radios and Illico digital boxes.

Buying electronic equipment these days is so confusing. So why not go to a friendly small business where the salespeople are there to answer informatively any questions you may have. Radio St-Hubert is a family business which for over 50 years is still going strong, despite the big box stores that have opened. This audio, TV, video business has survived with old-fashioned, patient good customer service and sales people who have been there a long time. Installation can be provided, and there’s a friendly in-house service department.

Location: 6278 rue St-Hubert, Montréal H2S 2M2 / Google Maps: http://bit.ly/26dK537
corner: Bellechasse
Tel: 514-276-1413
www.radiosthubert.com
Hours: Regular hours, closed Sunday

It’s hard to find clothes for the big guy in Montreal; This family-run business’s 92 year commitment to ending the struggle of dressing the hard-t0-fit man makes it the destination to shop the latest in men’s big & tall fashion.

From underwear to outerwear, they make it easy for you with their vast assortment of name brands. Fashions to fit any occasion you can find everything, including suits (to 70), in famous brand names like Chaps, Nautica, Report, Arrow, Pelle Pelle, Tommy Hilfiger, Hathaway, Axis and Columbia. They sell running suits, jeans (to size 78), dress and sports shirts (to size 8XL), dress pants (to size 80), corduroys (to size 66), belts (80), swimsuits and winter coats (to size 8XL)..

Now’s the time to hurry in to M.H. Grover because regardless of height, shape or particular clothing requirements, M.H. Grover will have you looking great in comfortable and stylish clothing with the best prices around.

Location: 4741 Wellington St., Verdun QC H4G 1X2
corner: 3rd Ave
Tel: 514-769-3771
Sale dates: until Jan 28, 2018
Metro Stop Station Verdun / Station de l’Eglise
www.groversbigandtall.com

So you’re stuck in, in freezing weather. You have lots of time on your hands, so perhaps it’s a good moment to get excited about a small reno project – perhaps re-finishing a piece of furniture? Circa 1850, is  small local shop which has been in the paint and varnish business since forever.

I went shopping for a bra at  Jelena Styles Lingerie (JSL) in Decarie Square because the personalized service makes it so pleasant and the sales people actually help you to figure out what is best for your body type.

So I was delightfully surprised to find out that they also sell bathing suits. At this time of year it’s hard to find them in Montreal. It’s a win win situation because if they know how to fit bras, they certainly can help you with bathing suits too. And they know their brands really well.  Tyr is really popular for women who like to swim for exercise as it is   chlorine and salt water resistant. With Amoena breast forms can be fit in.  Alia and Nygard offer suits with tummy control, and some even have flirty skirts  There’s some tankinis with either bikini bottoms or shorts or skirts. The saleswomen can show you how to take those flowing cover-ups and tie them in different ways.

Of course, when you return to Montreal from your beach vacation, and it’s freezing, they can sell you Merino wool pantyhose or stockings to keep your very very warm.

The rest of the little shop is chock full of an extensive bra collection including names you know along with exclusive lines. The certified fitters offer very personalized service. It’s a good idea for women considering breast reduction, augmentation or reconstruction to make an appointment for a fitting prior to surgery.

Jelena Styles Lingerie (JSL) sells high quality European lingerie at affordable Canadian prices. All the designs are produced with excellent fabrics and offer you comfort and elegance, bringing joy to every woman. JSL also carries in stock: bridal bra collections and bra for nursing mothers. Bras range in size from 30A-44 H, with or without underwires.

Location: 6900 boul Decarie ( Carre Decarie ) Suite 218 H3X 2T8 / Google Maps: http://bit.ly/21jRg65
corner: rue Plamandon
Tel: 514-303-1911
Hours: Regular plus Sunday
Metro: Station Snowdon, Station Plamondon, Station de la Savanne
www.jelenastyleslingerie.com
email: info@jelenastyleslingerie.com