In the spirit of holiday cheer, it was revealed on Wednesday that Canada played an indispensable role in facilitating and hosting the United States and Cuba on their road to restoring their diplomatic relations after a 50 year rift.

The first face-to-face meeting Canada hosted was in June 2013 and the series of meetings lasted until this past November. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama outlined some steps his administration will take to normalize full diplomatic relations with Cuba, which is the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades. "These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked,” he said, referring to the sanctions and travel bans the US had imposed on Cuba.

As Obama spoke, Cuban President Raul Castro addressed his own nation from Havana. He said that while profound differences remain between the two nations in such areas as human rights and foreign policy, they must learn to live with those differences "in a civilized manner."

While this is great progress for the US, what was once a haven for Canadian tourists may soon be overcrowded and overpriced for the already 1 million Canadians who travel to Cuba every year..."There are enough resorts and hotels to accommodate our one million Canadians, but it is a big country and it is really lacking in infrastructure… hopefully they're not going to let people go in there and bulldoze things down…hopefully they try to preserve the old buildings and preserve some of the culture," says the travel expert from this news article.

So, that’s it for this year (there won’t be a WOTS next week). It’s hard to believe another year will soon be behind us and that means, among other things, that I'm a year older (and so are you). Looking ahead in 2015, my terrific Associate, Noushin, and I will once again enjoy helping you in any way we can to secure and enhance your future.

Many of you reading this are long-time clients, friends and family and some of you recently made the decision to trust us with your financial investments and estate & tax planning. Regardless of how long we have been together, you no doubt have seen the difference we can make in your world. So, as you greet the holiday season and visit with colleagues, friends and family, think about the value we might add to their lives and if you think that we could add value, please do not hesitate to introduce us to a few of them in 2015 – it would be our privilege to extend our care to those you care most about.

Wishing you and those you love all the best for the happiest of holidays.