Happy Hallowe'en!

By 250 News

BOO!

Now that’s a jack-o-lantern!  It was last year’s grand prize winner of the Pumpkin Masters company carving contest.  The one of the cat (below) was the winner in the animals "cat"egory.

As you  get set to  start dishing out all those treats,  here are some numbers (courtesy Stats Canada) to think about,  or to test your co-workers with!

3,987,068 — The number of children in Canada in the prime trick-or-treating demographic of 5 to 14 year olds in 2005.  It was the first time since 1995 the number had dipped below 4 million.

Treat Tid-Bits:

• 57 — The number of establishments in Canada that shipped sugar candy in 2003.
• $259.3 million — The spike in monthly sales of candy, confectionery and snack foods sales at large retailers in October 2005. December, however, was the month with the highest monthly sales in 2005, at $347.6 million. (the  normal monthly sales were  about $206.4 million.)
• 63% — The percentage of people aged 15 and older who went to the dentist according to a 2003 survey
• 2,850 — The number of farms with pumpkin patches in 2001, led by Ontario (1,238), British Columbia (536) and Quebec (474).

Tricks Tabulation:

Crime stats show increased activity in the days around Hallowe’en compared to numbers in the week previous, here is a snapshot:

• 50% - the increase in fires between October 30th and November 1st.  Usually because of candle use
• 36% — During Hallowe’en 2004, the increase from the previous week (i.e. October 24, 2004) in the number of criminal incidents.
• -18% — The percentage decrease in Drug Violations reported to police during Hallowe’en compared to a week earlier

Other  weird notes:

• 4,455 — The number of funeral directors and embalmers in Canada in 2001.
• 37 — The number of establishments producing coffins and caskets made of wood in Canada in 2003.

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