It may seem a little early, but if you plan on mailing greetings and gifts to international destinations for the holidays, the deadlines are fast approaching. Here are the holiday mail deadlines recommended by Canada Post for sending cards and parcels to international destinations to be sure they make it in time for the holidays.

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If you've already made up your mind how you're going to vote in the federal election, then you can take advantage of the advance polls. Advance polls will be open for three days, beginning Friday October 3, 2008. If you're not yet on the voters list, you can register to vote at the advance polls too, as long as you show valid identification proving your identity and residential address.

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If you're planning on shopping on U.S. Web sites and having goods shipped to Canada, don't let hidden costs catch you by surprise. Shipping charges and exchange rates are usually fairly clear, but you still have to consider duties, taxes, and customs brokerage fees. Here are the ins and outs of shopping and shipping across the Canadian border.

More on Goods Crossing the Canadian Border:
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In World War I, Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie, Commander of the Canadian Corps, was reluctant to send Canadian troops into the Battle of Passchendaele. He was horrified at the sight of the battlefield, which a destroyed drainage system and the worst rains in 30 years had turned into a sea of mud. Currie predicted that the number of casualties would approach 16,000, and he was right. These historic pictures of the Battle of Passchendaele show the horrendous conditions of the battlefield on which more than 15,000 Canadians were wounded or killed. Many of them drowned in the mud.

Photo: Canadians Lay Trench Mats Over the Mud at Passchendaele
William Rider-Rider / Canada Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-002156

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