Become more Earth Savvy: Detoxify your life and keep more of your money in your wallet.

Event 100By Staff

March 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON
An ecofriendly non-profit will be meeting at East Plains United Church in Burlington (375 Plains Rd East) starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 to talk about Detoxifying Your Life.

Organic cleansingEarth-Savvy Living: will start with the screening of the short film “Story of Cosmetics” (8 minutes).
Mariah Griffin-Angus of Environmental Defence will lead a discussion on some of the toxic chemicals that we are exposed to in our daily lives and how they can influence our personal and environmental health.

Participants will then learn some easy ways to reduce exposure to these chemicals by making their own personal care and cleaning products through a demonstration led by the Program Coordinator of Halton Green Screens, Heather Govender.

The event will focus on greenwashing, marketing, and easy changes individuals can make to decrease exposure to toxic chemicals.

Each participant will go home with some products that they will make themselves. Participants are asked to come with two small jars and one spray bottle or squeeze bottle.

The event is free and refreshments will be provided.

The evening was made possible through the efforts of East Plains United Church, Hamilton-Burlington KAIROS, Greening Sacred Spaces, IDEA Burlington, and Halton Green Screens.

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Premier meets with Mayors - Mayor Goldring has yet to tell us what happened at the

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

March 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The Premier of the province, Kathleen Wynne met with the Mayors and Chairs for what her office called the first provincially convened GTHA Mayors’ Summit”

You may recall the difficulty Premier Wynne had in getting a meeting with the Prime Minister, after more than a year she finally got to meet with the Prime Minister who was in Toronto to watch the Canada – Russia world junior hockey tournament – the two held a tête-à-tête before the game.

Goldring, Karmel & Wynne

Mayor Goldring meeting with then Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne. Karmel Sakran was the Burlington Liberal candidate at the time.

The municipal sector is much more interested in talking to the Premier about transit and infrastructure than the Prime Minister was.
“Today” said the Premier in a statement released by her office, “I met with Mayors and Chairs from municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for the first-ever GTHA Mayors’ Summit hosted by Ontario.

“Our province is built on the strength of its communities, so strengthening the GTHA is integral to building a stronger Ontario. But we need to work together. Leaders across the region have shown a commitment to greater collaboration with the province and with one another, to address shared challenges and capitalize on shared opportunities.”

“Ontario’s partnership with municipalities has been crucial to initiatives like expanding regional transit through Metrolinx, planning for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, and developing the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”

Did the Mayor manage to mention our first responder salary problems to the Premier while she was in town last Saturday?

Mayor Golding meeting with Premier Wynne during a Rib Fest event.

“Together, we have agreed to focus on three key issues: solving gridlock and improving transit; planning for growth and infrastructure; and promoting economic growth across the region. These issues are all interconnected. Improving transit helps drive productivity and economic growth, while improving everyday life for people across all parts of the GTHA.

“Addressing these issues requires a collaborative, cross-government, holistic approach. That’s why Ontario and Mayors and Chairs across the GTHA have committed to meet regularly to continue our progress in these areas. Ministers will continue to join us at the table and participate in any discussions that pertain to their portfolios.

“I believe that a new era of deeper co-operation is unfolding across the GTHA and that subsequent meetings will provide opportunities to build our partnership and reinforce its importance. I look forward to working together with municipalities to deliver concrete results for the people of this region.

“Our government is committed to building opportunity and security across every community in Ontario. Our success as a province depends on one another.”

All good stuff.

Premier Wynne is respectful, direct and listens carefully to people - but she doesn`t have the almost intimate one on one touch that McMahon works from.

Premier Wynne campaigning with candidate Eleanor McMahon at Martha’s Landing.

Premier Wynne has a bit if a soft spot for Burlington. She personally recruited Eleanor McMahon to be the Liberal candidate in the last election and was in town on several occasions campaigning with her.

She and the Mayor appear to have a reasonable relationship – but we have no idea what the Mayor has to say about the meeting – we assume he attended – because his office has not made any statement, there is nothing in the Mayor’s blog.

Calls from the Gazette to the Mayor’s office have not been returned for the past few months. Apparently we said something the Mayor didn’t like and rather than meet and talk through his concerns the Mayor has decided to behave like a petulant little boy.

It wasn’t always this way of course – but things do change.

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Free breakfast Saturday if you get to the library on time and talk about your transit experiences.

News 100 greenBy Staff

March 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Now that travelling transit is about to experience a sharp increase in ridership – heck the Mayor takes the bus to work now – Burlington’s Friends and supporters of Transit (Bfast) wants to pull together people who have used transit and hear what they have to say about the service.

Bfast meeting March 28-15This is the third public meeting Bfast has held – their purpose has been to focus attention on transit in a city that hasn’t taken to that mode of transportation.

Bfast has had the view that city council isn’t really transit friendly – the Transit Advisory committee was shut down and some of the gas tax money the city gets from the province got put into infrastructure repairs rather than transit.

A newly formed transit will be known as Bfast - they intend to inform the debate on transit and insure the issue of transit service doesn't get lost in the Official Plan Review

The first Bfast event had Paul Bedford, a former chief planner for Toronto and a strong transit advocate spoke about Transit from an overall GTA wide Lets-Just-Get-On-With-It point of view.

The second session was a Panel Discussion with a City Councillor Rick Craven,
a VP from Metrolinx, MPP & Legislative Assistant to the minister of Transportation, Mike Colle, Burlington Green, and journalist Lorraine Sommerfeld

If there was ever a place to locate a transit terminal - that would be John Street where the only terminal in the city is now located.  Transit department is recommending it be removed and tickets sold at city hall.  Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward isn't buying that business case

There was a point during the last term of council that the city looked seriously at the idea of closing the small ticket office – that led many to wonder how serious the city is about transit. If there was ever a place to locate a transit terminal – that would be John Street where the only terminal in the city is now located.

This third public meeting they are attempting to shift the discussion to make it user focused. Bfast wants to be able to take the experiences of those who attend the meeting and work them into a set of Good, Bad, Ugly bits that we can then package up into recommendations for how to improve Burlington Transit.

There are 50+ registrations including the Mayor, and Councillor Paul Sharman plus the city’s MPP Eleanor McMahon.

Share your experiences and what it is like for you riding the bus with Burlington Transit

Share your ideas for improving transit and special transit

Register at electronically or by phone –  905-632-4774.

Complimentary continental breakfast provided.

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East Way Bake Shop on New Street robbed by bandit with a handgun.

Crime 100By Staff

March 24, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Armed Assailant Robs Burlington Bakery

On Monday March 23rd 2015 at approximately 5:35 PM, a lone male suspect armed with a black handgun, entered the East Way Bake Shop located at 4047 New Street in Burlington.

The suspect demanded money while pointing the handgun at an employee who then turned over an undisclosed amount of money.

The male suspect fled the store and was last seen running westbound along the plaza.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 30’s, 5’9″ to 5’10” tall, wearing blue jeans, blue plaid shirt, red toque and black sunglasses.

Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in identifying him are encouraged to contact Det. Phil Vandenbeukel – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Robbery Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2343 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).

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Mayor gives certificates of appreciation to boys and girls who raised a record 281,878 pounds of food.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

March 24, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Boy with red hair Giving back

The red hair and a comb don’t appear to have met very often – but he made his parents proud when he accepted his certificate for taking part in the Gift of Giving Back to the community program that has collected more than 1 million pounds in the past nine years.

In the world of politics it is all about being seen in the right situation at the right time – and if you can control that situation, so much the better.

Kissing babies has always worked – handling out awards to bright faced boys and girls who are playing sports is a very close second.

Last night Mayor Goldring got a chance to hand our certificates to hockey players who took part in the Gift of Giving program that pulled in a record 281,878 pounds of food that is given to local organizations – Salvation Army, Carpenter Hospice, Halton woman are among the recipients.

Boys at Giving Back presentation

While one boy accepts his certificate, a boy in the first row reads what he was given by the Mayor.

The November 2013 total 273,571 lbs of food.

Included in the groups that pulled in all this food were:

Eagle Rep hockey team
Barracuda,
Burlington Firefighters
Cougars
Ravens
And Nelson High school students

BarracudasLogo cougars logo Eagles - hockey teamravens logoIn the past nine years the Gift of Giving Back to the Community program has topped one million pounds of food.

Some of the boys and girls who were to get certificates were not able to attend.  When the first name got called out with no one responding – there was a short awkward silence; when additional names were read out and no one came forward both the boys and the girls chanted in unison “not here” – they came close to taking the show away from the Mayor.

Mayor Goldring proudly handed out certificates to the boys and girls who trooped into the Council chamber to accept their certificates.

Goldring pointed out that there are 14,000 people (10% of the population) who live below the poverty line.

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Conservation Authority offering courses for new Canadians with foreign trained environmental backgrounds.

News 100 greenBy Staff

March 24, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

People new to Canada hear the phrase all the time or see the words printed in advertisements – Canadian experience necessary.

When that happens we lose the opportunity to have access to people with skills and talents this country needs.

For a third straight year, Conservation Halton is offering, a training, engagement, and networking opportunity for foreign trained environmental professionals in Halton Region, starting in April.

Halton escarpment - long view up slope

The Region has a geography that is hard to match anywhere else in Ontario. A great place for environmentalists trained in other countries to get experience.

The New Canadians Conservation Course is a six-week certificate workshop series being offered by Conservation Halton for New Canadian immigrants. It is designed to help participants gain valuable, introductory knowledge and enhance their employment, volunteer, and engagement opportunities in the Canadian environmental management sector. Expert speakers will deliver a weekly workshop on topics such as:

• Planning and Environmental Management
• Local Ecology and Biodiversity
• Forestry Management
• Natural Hazards Management and Source Water Protection
• Recreation Management and Risk Assessment
• Governance, Communication and Social Media
• Environmental Education and Outreach

“This is more than just a formal course, it offers a forum to exchange ideas and compare notes on ‘what worked back home’ and what commonality we have between conservation issues and practices here and around the globe. Judging from past experience, there will be no shortage of ideas, networking opportunities, or people with PhDs, who now call Halton home, and are looking to contribute to conservation in Ontario” said Hassaan Basit, Director of Strategic Planning and Communication for Conservation Halton.

Escarpment in the summer - green green

The Region is probably one of the best places in the province for environmentalists to get experience on a wife variety of forests.

“The course also has a second, equally important objective”, continued Basit, “it promotes Conservation Halton’s environmental and recreation programs and services to new and ethnically diverse residents within the watershed.”

Former course participant Junyan Zhang commented, “The Course offered me a broad overview of the various departments at Conservation Halton and what kind of work they do. It introduced me to great people as well as to a variety of conservation topics, regulations, legislation, and Acts I had no clue that existed. It helped me essentially for better career planning and advancement. Thank you!”

Escarpment - outcropping of rock

The Halton Conservation Authority has legislated responsibility for large parts of the Region as well as stewardship of outstanding views.

Spaces in the New Canadians Conservation Course are limited and interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter by Tuesday, April 7, 2015 by e-mail to the course coordinator at course@hrca.on.ca, or by mail: New Canadians Coordinator, c/o Conservation Halton, 2596 Britannia Road West, Burlington, ON L7P 0G3.

The course is free except for a registration fee of $15 for candidates who are admitted to the course. Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion at a formal graduation ceremony during the Conservation Halton Awards of Excellence on June 23.  Click for more details: 

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City manager and his dog are expected to do a tour of fire hydrants in his part of town.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

March 24, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Our new city manager James Ridge is beginning to settle in. He and his wife drove across the country with their dog and have begun to settle into their new home.

The three cats are being flown into town today.

James Ridge Day 1 - pic 2

James Ridge – city manager – chose not to speak during his first council meeting. He wasn’t asked any questions either.

One can expect to see James walking his dog in the morning as the pooch tests all the fire hydrants in the area.

He will no doubt check in with Tracy Burrows, the bylaw enforcement officer, and get the drill on the bylaws related to off leash areas.

James Ridge Day 1

City manager James Ridge and his wife are empty nesters with a dog and three cats – what’ not to like about a guy like that?

Ridge appeared at a city council meeting – sitting in the middle of the horse show with Clerk Angela Morgan and an assistant.
Mayor Goldring introduced James Ridge – said that he had come from the University of British Columbia but made no mention of Ridge’s extensive municipal experience.

Ridge didn’t say a word all evening.

Perhaps we have a man of few words heading up the administration of the city.

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Pop up Patios to appear on Brant Street May 1st - expect some colour and decent dining curb side.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

March 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

This is a great new story.

Have you ever heard of a Pop Up Patio?

Get ready – there is going to be a patio on Brant Street that will be out on the street and occupy two parking spaces.

Yellow umbrellas Toronto waterfront

The City of Toronto sets out these umbrellas along the edge of the lake opposite the Toronto Islands. Something similar coming to Burlington?

It will be in place from May 1st to October 1st as a one year pilot.

The Test Kitchen – which is one of the best meal deals in town – is piloting with the city on this one.

Finally – there just might be some colour and pizazz on the street.

The idea came out of the Planning department where Jody Wellings, Special Business Area Coordinator, beavers away at making the downtown core what it could be. It has been a struggle.

Wellings is quick to point out that she can’t take credit – “the idea actually originated in San Francisco, and has been used extensively there and in NYC. More locally, St. Catherine’s, Port Credit and Barrie have all tried the concept in various forms”

Test Kitchen - between the trees Pop Up

The first Pop Up Patio restaurant in Burlington will be outside the Test Kirchner on Brant Kitchen. City is looking at other locations. The patio will occupy the two parking spots shown

At this point there is just the one Pop Up planned but the city seems approachable to others – and not just on Brant Street.

There will be a wooden deck patio built on the road that will be flush with the sidewalk and will extend out onto the road.

Test Kitchen Pop Up from other side st

Location of the Pop Up Patio outside the Test Kitchen. Two parking spots outside the restaurant will be used – the Kitchen had to pay for the spots. The cost should be put on the tab of the Director of Finance when she shows up for lunch.

It will be fenced off – ideally with nice green shrubbery – and safe from passing traffic because there will be cars parked at each end of the patio.

It is this kind of imaginative idea that just might make Brant Street Burlington’s hub bub of a Street.

But it isn’t always good news is it?

The two parking spaces that will be unavailable for vehicles- what about the lost revenue? Not to worry the bean counters are “leasing the spaces to the Test Kitchen. Alex Mickalow will be paying leasing for seven days even though parking is free on Saturday.

Mickalow was thinking in terms of painting the wooden deck black – it tied in with his corporate colours.

Sugar Beach Toronto

Toronto took an unused wharf in the harbour, dumped several truck loads of sand and called is Sugar Beach because it was next to the Redpath sugar refinery. Close to impossible to get a deck chair. Burlington has an opportunity to open up parts of the water front even more. What would something like this look like along the pier?

Can’t do that said the city – we want a consistent look – so much for artistic expression.

What will not be bland or plain is the food – the Test Kitchen serves up a fine meal at a dynamite price with staff that aim to please and always hit the target.

Mickalow saw the Pop Up idea in Oakville – brought it back to the city last October and took it along to Brian Deans at the Burlington Downtown Business Association (BDBA) – the two of them took it along to Jody Wellings at city hall and she got it through the various hoops.

Open May 1 – expect a line up.

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James Ridge brings sunshine to the city - will warm weather and good cheer follow and will it seep into city hall?

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

March 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

James Ridge may have arrived at city hall at least an hour before most staff people show up for work. A large part of his background was in the armed forces – military police – and those guys show up early.

Ridge will work on the sixth floor where the one General Manger we have on staff works. In the past City managers have worked on the eighth floor just across the hall from the Mayor’s office. Jeff Fielding, the most recent full time city manager we had, started out on the eight floor but moved to the sixth floor to be, as he put, “in the trenches with the troops”.

Ridge is starting on the six floor – he will want to be close to the team he is going to have to build.

M~ SUN0117N SLID E.jpg

Newly minted city manager James Ridge takes the helm on a nice sunny day. Maybe he brought the weather with him from Vancouver.

James Ridge comes to Burlington from Vancouver where the hockey team was not an ongoing embarrassment that has announced it will need the next five years to build a team that at least has prospects.

Ridge doesn’t have five years to build his team – and right now he really doesn’t have the bench strength he is going to need to get a team together that can take Burlington to where it can go – all we need is a vision, leadership and above average administration – people who can execute on the plan they are given.

The corporate structure might undergo a change in the hands of James Ridge – but at this point in time we have a single General manager and eight Directors and two Executive Directors
Of the directors:

Mike Spicer – Director of Transit
Cathy Robertson – Director Roads and Parks Maintenance
Nancy Shea Nicol – Director of Legal Services and city solicitor.

Joan Ford – Director of Finance
Bruce Zvaniga – Director of Transportation
Chris Glenn – Director Parks and Recreation
Sheila Jones – City Auditor
Christine Swenor – Director of Information |Technology Services
Bruce Krushelnicki – Director Planning and Building – his retirement has been announced.
Alan Magi – Capital Works and Roy Male Human Resources, serve as Executive Directors.

The consensus seems to be that none of the Director level staff are ready for promotion to general manager – which means Ridge will have to look outside the corporation for the talent he needs.

His first task is going to be to interview all the senior staff as well as the members of council and get a sense of what he has to work with and what they key issues are.

Fortunately – there is enough money in the bank to pay the bills and Ridge will have a Director or Finance who will keep him up to date on how the spending and tax collection is doing.

Expect Ridge to be slightly stunned when he realizes just how many Master Plans there are floating around out there and how far behind the city is with the upkeep of its infrastructure.

Will he become part of the conspiracy to hoodwink the tax payers when the special tax levy put in place to raise the $60 million the province said we had to come up with to pay for the hospital re-build continues to be collected after the $60 million has been raised?

An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital whch will now face the lake.  The entrance will be off LAkeshore Road with the new parking lot just to the west of the hospital.

The special tax levy to pay for the re-development of the hospital will end once we have raised the $60 million. Will the new city manager insist that the public have some say as to whether or not the levy stays in place and gets used for infrastructure repairs?

The financed people have already earmarked those dollars for infrastructure work that we are millions of dollars behind on.

Or will James Ridge prove to be the kind of civic administrator who demands that the public be informed and involved in critical decisions. Only time will tell.

One of the more pressing issues is going to be the Air Park and the problem with getting them to submit a site plan for work that has already been done – or face some serious consequences.

Ian Blue, the lawyer the city hired to fight the two court cases over whether the city had the right to require the Air ark to submit a site plan – Blue won in both instances – is back on the payroll which means something is in the works.

Air Park entrance uly 2013

The Air Park and its failure to deliver a site plan to the city is a major issue – it will be interesting to see if city manager James Ridge gets along with Ian Blue, the lawyer who won two court cases for the city, as well as former city manager Jeff Fielding did.

The Air Park is reported to have hired a new lawyer. Having a good lawyer is always useful – having a good case would be better.

A city manager sets the tone for the administration of a city. His corporate values are the driving force.

Jeff Fielding goosed the enthusiasm at city hall to levels it had not seen in some time. Staff were excited; great things were going to get done – and some good things were done.

Some staff were not all that keen on the Fielding approach and his sudden departure hurt a number of staff. It also brought to the surface a number of problems that could come back to take a bite out of the city.

City manager Jeff Fielding doesn't win every time.  Joe Lamb, negotiating for the Seniors' Centre basically took Fielding to the cleaners with the deal he talked the city into.

Joe Lamb, on the left, did the negotiating for the Seniors’ Centre and basically took then city manager Jeff Fielding to the cleaners with the deal he talked the city into. Will James Ridge get pulled into the same trap?

The Seniors at the Seniors’ Centre are hoping that Ridge will be as generous as Fielding was – he gave them more than the proverbial kitchen sink.

James Ridge has walked into a city where people at city hall are not that keen on getting excited again. He has some sales work to do. Let’s see what he gets done in the next month.

Fielding wanted his senior people out on the street once a month for part of a day meeting people, telling the city’s story and listening. That idea apparently didn’t go down all that well with senior staff.

What will Ridge do to show the direction he will take and what kind of an administrator he is?

Goldring selfy

Certainly not the best photo op he’s done – Mayor Goldring’s selfie – the one he sent the day he took the bus to work.

Perhaps he will take the bus to work – if he happens to live in the same part of town as the Mayor they can sit beside each other and take selfies of themselves.

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Burlington's federal Liberals move into campaign mode - hitting the streets and knocking on doors.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

March 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It wasn’t the nicest day to be out on the streets knocking on doors but Burlington’s federal Liberals and their candidate Karina Gould roamed the streets in the Cavendish – Melissa part of town.

They had 50 volunteers doing what MPP Eleanor McMahon did to win the provincial seat as a Liberal for the first time in 70 years – knock on doors and get to know people.

Gould sees the work as part of her listening to people.

Gould Karina H&S

Karina Gould flashing one of her smiles to a volunteer.

The next federal election is scheduled for October but there are some who think it could be called much sooner than that. There is certainly the sense that a battle is brewing and that there is a Prime Minister who has a fight on his hands.

The Trudeau name has always been a draw – but a Trudeau has never had to go up against anyone as crafty and as strategic as Stephen Harper.

Gould left her job as Trade and Investment Specialist for the Mexican Trade Commission in Toronto to become a full time candidate  .

Wallace doing a sound check at Memex

Mike Wallace waiting to do his part in a federal funding announcement for a local corporation.

Earlier in the week the sitting MP for Burlington Mike Wallace took part in two events that had cheques being handed out to local corporations. Good photo op for the MP – Gould just wishes Wallace was doing more of this. “The federal government has more than $137 million in economic development funds that it has not handed out. She would like to see more of that funding coming into the Region.

In her campaign work Gould hears of the difficulty single parents have with day care costs and they wonder why Quebec has a program that doesn’t cripple households financially. Many want to see the federal government deliver on the old promise to create a national day care program.

She hears stories about students who can’t handle the crushing cost of a university education and then the difficulty they have finding a job when they do graduate.

Gould is working at getting a sense as to what the issues are for the city she was raised in and where she has spent most of her life.

A university graduate with several degrees: a joint Honours degree in Political Science and Latin American Studies from McGill and a Master’s degree in International Relations at the University of Oxford in England.

Her work now are to gain the widest possible understanding of the constituency and its needs. When the election is called she expects to have covered every street in the city and have a solid grounding that she can work with as she campaigns to become the member of the House of Commons for Burlington.

The campaign team is made up of quite a few young people, several who are already in close to full election mode
The campaign manager is a college colleague who said she “knew Karina was going to run for public office when we were students together at McGill University”.

While those doing the door to door work are out on the street, there is another team working the telephone – two teams are on the telephones getting a clearer sense of where the population is in terms of what they think and what they want their federal government to do.

Gould - Claite -Kyle - Fed Liberals

Karina Gould, on the right with her campaign team going over the numbers for the day.

Last weekend was a Day of Action for Liberals across the country. Other weekends – it’s Karina Gould and her team going door to door.

They meet at a local pub for coffee then head out in their cars to different parts of the city and return four hours later for updates, pizza and political chit chat.

The fifty people who were out last Saturday were a combination of older people who have been Liberals most of their lives and a healthy number of young people who have energy and ideals that still shine.

Eleanor McMahon used the door to door approach to win the provincial seat. She was fortunate enough to have Premier Kathleen Wynne join her on a few occasions.

Does that mean Burlington might see Justin Trudeau walking door to door sometime in September?

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Traffic police scoop up four people with illegal drugs and a wad of cash - court date for these four.

Crime 100By Staff

March 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

There is one sure way to attract the attention of police – drive faster than the limit on a heavily used road.

On Saturday March 21st 2015, uniformed officers pulled over a vehicle on the North Service Road, Burlington that was travelling at a high rate of speed.

During the traffic stop officers observed drugs within the vehicle.

As a result, four occupants of the vehicle were placed under arrest.

A further search of the vehicle revealed the following items:

8 cellular telephones
$1215 in cash
Cannabis marihuana
Oxycodone tablets
Cocaine
Other prescription drugs

The following parties were charged:

Michael BACON (21 year of Oakville)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and Oxycodone. BACON will appear in Milton Court on April 21st 2015.

Stefan KOBLI (22 years of Oakville)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, Oxycodone and marihuana. KOBLI will appear in Milton Court on April 21st 2015.

Kristofer BURNSIDE (21 year of Burlington)
Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana). BURNSIDE will appear in Milton Court on April 21st 2015.

Paola PASQUALINI (21 year of Oakville)
Possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone). PASQUALINI will appear in Milton Court on April 21st 2015.

These four were either making a delivery to a needy customer or they were using what the police arrested them for having in their possession.

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Public to get a first look at what the city thinks a Beachway Park could look like - might be a noisy meeting.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

March 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It is going to be a tough meeting.

The city will give the public a peek at what they have in mind for the Beachway Park at a meeting on April 7th at the Art Gallery of Burlington – start time is 6:30 pm

This is the location of the 30 homes the Regional government would like to at some point buy and demolish and turn into a park.  They have a fight on their hands even though the Region won the first round.

This is the location of the 30 homes the Regional government would like to at some point buy and demolish and turn into a park.

The challenge the city faces in designing a park for the Beachway part of the city is – how long are the houses going to be in place?

How does a landscape designer put together a plan without knowing if a piece of land is going to be available or not?

The landscape planner on the Beachway file did most of the work for the City View Park on Dundas at Kerns Road. It is a very well designed park – Burlingtonians don’t get to use it all that much because of its location and will get to see almost none of it during the Pan Am Games this summer – it is being used for soccer practice by teams and there is no public admittance.

The challenge for the planner is – how does she put together a design that covers the park when 26 homes are still on the property?

Beachway June-12 Older guys with maps

These Beachway home owners got to see drawings with houses on the maps – some of the design maps apparently don’t have houses shown. They assume a clean slate.

The thinking that is reported to dominate the people doing the design is that the homes are not going to be there for all that long. There is a view that the Region should just get on with it and buy all the homes now and complete the destruction of that community.

The fight to keep the homes as part of a vibrant community was lost when Burlington wasn’t able to convince their municipal colleagues on Regional council that there was real merit to maintaining the homes the way the city of Toronto did with the Islands.

It was a long hard battle to keep a community on the Toronto Islands but the residents eventually won and today it is a quaint, safe livable community.

Burlington appears to have missed out on the opportunity to preserve something that is a part of both its history and its heritage.

Beachway residents looking at early maps

At previous public meetings the discussion was about what the community could look like – the discussion this time around does not include a community – just a park.

At least one of the maps that will be shown will not have any of the houses on it – that will be used to show what the park could look like if all the houses were gone.

There are, we understand, plans to make the canal a bigger feature in the design.

The Regional government has consistently taken the position that there is a willing buyer – willing seller situation – any buyers that might have been out there are going to give up on the idea of living in that community once they see the plans.

That leaves those people who own homes sitting there like apples in a barrel waiting for someone to spear them and eat them.

The Region had “guestimated” that they would have to spend something between $300,000 and $400,000 to acquire each property.

Beachway 1011 sold for $600k

Sold for $600,000 + with the seller staying in the house under a two year lease.

The most recent sale went through at more than $600,000. With the region prepared to pay what some say are more realistic prices and the plan for the park available to the public – it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that current owners will take what money there is on the table and call it quits.

There will be a couple of hold outs – that’s when expropriation will be used.

Expropriation has already been thoroughly discussed at the Staff level – it’s a tool that in this instance has political ramifications.

That isn’t going to make any difference to Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven. He no longer talks to the Gazette so we can’t tell you what he has to say.

Laura Gillespie points out the part of the Beachway that affects her the most - the spot where her house is located.

Laura Gillespie points out the part of the Beachway that affects her the most – the spot where her house is located.

He is on record as not being a fan of keeping the homes in the park. Expect him to speak about the plan in glowing terms and as being the best thing for the city and the Region. That it is seen as a disaster for the people who live there and are his constituents does not seem to matter to the Councillor.

The Beachway has always had a bit of a down market cast to it. Many of the homes that were in place when the rail line went through were summer cottages that had been upgraded – usually not to the building code.

It had a sense of community to it but it also had a reputation. Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster once told her colleagues that in her day “nice girls did not go to the Beachway’. We are not sure if that was before or after Ms Lancaster was made Miss Canada.

1064 Lakeshore Rd. This cottage was demolished in 1994.

Demolished in 1994

Kilbride house

Demolished in 1990. The Region bought up the leases and tore down every last one of the houses that were on the lake side of the railway tracks.

There are some ideas floating about that could make the Beachway more of a destination but Burlington requires more in the way of leadership vision for anything different or unique. Ideas need champions, people prepared to educate and lead a public.

Burlington doesn’t have enough of that around the council table. These things take time.

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Cardinal rules aren't being adhered to; standards are slipping - shoddy values setting in. We are better than this.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

March 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

There are a couple of cardinal rules in the way people in positions of some authority must conduct themselves.

One of those rules is that you cannot have a personal relationship with a person that you have or can be thought to have some authority over.  Another is that one cannot be abusive in their behaviour to people that report to them

Council while VW speaks Aprol 7-14There is a situation on city council where the first cardinal rule has not been observed. At the least it calls for a discussion between the member of council and the city solicitor on what the rules are and how they are to be observed.  Some have asked: Is there not a code of conduct?  Apparently not – quite why one needs a code to regulate decency is beyond me.

A staff member’s integrity has been compromised and perhaps the trajectory of their career shortened.

The public looks for integrity and character from their elected leaders.  We expect them to reflect the values of the community.

When they don’t there does not appear to be any redress.

There is a situation at the Seniors’ Centre where the behavior of a volunteer has and is making life close to intolerable for city staff.

The public has a right to expect nothing but professional service from the people employed by the city. There are very few instances of unprofessional behavior – those that do crop up are dealt with quickly and expeditiously.

Seniors CentreThe city administration doesn’t have the same authority with volunteers. Investigations can take place and copies of reports made available to the offending party. But it is up to the members of the Seniors’ community to police themselves and set out the standard they want to see met.

If you don’t like what you see – stand up and say something.

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Persian artist, new to Canada, will exhibit and do his art work at the Art Gallery of Burlington

Event 100By Staff

March 20, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Hamed Naseri’s, a geologist from Tehran, in Canada less than a year will be both exhibiting and working on his bold, heavily detailed ink paintings. The detail is quite extraordinary.

Rumi Nebula 2014 AGB

Hamed Naseri’s art is bold, almost daring in its use of colour and at the same time as detailed as the innards of a Swiss watch. Naseri will be exhibiting and doing his work at the Art |Gallery of Burlington.

Naseri draws his inspiration from his life and the world around him. Nature, figures, architecture and the concept of ‘home’ are explored in imaginative realms in his works.

Persian poems are often incorporated into his paintings, occasionally appearing as part of the design. These fine details add to the painting’s narrative, combining traditional stories with vibrant images.

Naseri seeks to immerse viewers in his imagination – to feel the fire, wind and waves. This exhibition marks the one year anniversary of his artistic career.

Hamed Naseri AGB

Hamed Naseri will be doing his art at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Photo Credit of Artist: Chuck Burdick, 2015

A graduate of Geology from Tehran University, Hamed Naseri travelled throughout Iran studying the flora and fauna of the country’s many landscapes. He also observed the kind hospitality of local residents, which lead to his artistic exploration of the question ‘what is a home’?

The artist brought his passion of ink painting to Canada in December of 2014. For Naseri, creating his paintings in public spaces allows him to observe the nature of the city and spaces around him.

As part of the exhibition, he will be working on new pieces in the gallery.

Winds & Waves is at the Art Gallery of Burlington from March 20, 2015 – April 19, 2015 in the RBC Community Gallery

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Spring will have arrived at 6:35 pm - Earth Hour gets celebrated next Saturday - will the Mayor take to a skate board again?

News 100 redBy Staff

March 20, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

At 6:35 this evening – spring will have arrived – and while there might be one last bit of a winter blast – the season has changed and we can begin to prepare for summer. Two-four time will be here soon enough; that’s the weekend the gardeners come out in force – not the weekend the hockey fans head for the Beer Store – no reason for Maple Leaf fans to make a weekend of it.

Snow plows 2 Spring 2015

These snow plows are parked for the summer – they certainly got a work out this winter – as did all of us.

One of the first things we get to do in the new season is celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28, 2015. The City of Burlington is encouraging residents and local businesses to participate in Earth Hour by turning off all non-essential lights and appliances for one hour at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.

Now in its eighth year, the annual lights-out event, organized by the World Wildlife Fund, brings together more than 7,000 communities from around the world to symbolize their commitment to the planet by switching out the lights for one hour.

Ward Councillor Blair Lancaster and Mayor Rick Goldring put their political repitations on the line and stand on skate baords.  Is there one foot on the ground there?

Ward Councillor Blair Lancaster and Mayor Rick Goldring put their political reputations on the line and stand on skate boards.  Will the two of them try that again now that it’s Spring.

“I encourage residents and businesses to take the challenge and power down during Earth Hour,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “Earth Hour is a great reminder about how our actions impact the environment. Through its Corporate Energy Management Plan and Community Energy Plan, the city is committed to looking at how energy is used and generated in the community and where conservation and efficiency measures can be put in place.”

“In 2014, Burlington City Council endorsed the city’s first Community Energy Plan, developed with community groups, agencies and businesses. The plan is a holistic view of how energy is used, conserved, generated and distributed with a focus on how community partners can work together to improve and integrate community energy systems.”

Nice corporate statement – but not much about what the city has actually done in the past year

“The city has been working to put in place an energy management program aimed at saving energy and reducing costs for city facilities. In 2013, the city was awarded the Community Conservation Award by the Ontario Power Authority for its commitment to conservation.”

Commitment is about all we have on the Corporate Energy Management Plan

The people over at the fire department pass along some safety tips to keep in mind if you are one of the people that get into the Earth Hour idea.
When turning off lights in support of Earth Hour, consider these important safety tips:

• Test all smoke alarms to ensure they are working
• Consider using LED candles
• Keep candles away from curtains and decorations, and place in a sturdy container that contains the flame
• Always keep lighters and matches out of reach from children
• Never leave the room when a candle is burning.

The Gazette will drive some of the streets in the city on Saturday to see if the message is getting through.

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Guns and Niqabs and Tongue-In-Cheek - Premier goes on the offensive to defend his government - there is an election in the air.

Rivers 100x100By Ray Rivers

March20, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It’s not new – this debate about that piece of face-cloth some women have to wear when they leave their domiciles. Canada’s immigration minister had ordered up veil-free citizenship services a couple of years ago, but a court had overruled him. So while the federal government is appealing the ruling, our PM has jumped in with both feet, calling the ‘niqab’ anti-woman, baiting the opposition, and driving up the volume as we move forward to this year’s election.

Muslin full head covering - niqabs

Is this an acceptable form of identification?

And why was this ever such a big deal? Isn’t becoming a citizen a prelude to being able to hold a Canadian passport? As with a drivers’ licence or a health-care card, don’t passport requirements include a full-face photo. That means that if the new citizen wants only to be able to travel, she’d need to drop her veil at least twice – once to get the photo and again to board the plane, so what is the big deal at the citizenship office.

On the other hand there is no longer a debate in France. Wearing the ‘niqab’ (or the even more extreme ‘burka’) in public places was banned outright a few years ago. And Quebec’s PQ government was ready to follow that European country’s lead before they were toppled by the provincial Liberals last year. Banning the public display of a cultural icon might be seen as racist under most definitions of the term, but the French law has withstood scrutiny by the European Commission.

While I’m pretty cool with how anyone decides to dress, I’d be a little uncomfortable boarding a plane knowing that another passenger boarded without a confirmation of her facial identity. So perhaps the PM came to the right conclusion but for the wrong reason.

Elections Canada raiding Tory offices

Election Canada official raiding the Conservative Part offices in Ottawa – just politics?

Or maybe he’s just playing politics. And who could blame him for looking for diversions. First of all he wants to extend the ISIS mission, even into Syria, and that smells like an invasion. But even worse, this decision is being made just as we’re putting to rest one of our own – a military trainer – supposedly not involved in direct conflict, but who was killed while serving on the front line.

And then, having jumped the gun and announced an income-splitting tax break for the wealthy, the PM now finds himself unable to afford it. His promised election year balanced budget is evaporating faster than the price of oil and the Canadian dollar are falling. So the PM is stalling, hoping and waiting for a miracle.

But Harper doesn’t need a miracle, he is a shrewd tactician and knows that there is no defence like an offence. And what could be more offensive than attacking new Canadians for their little cultural niceties which most of us don’t really even want to understand. If the ‘niqab’ is anti-woman, what does that say about the person wearing the garb?

Harper in chair - Star photo

Prime Minister Stephen Harper expounding on a policy.

And then there is this recent gun narrative in which the PM seemed to be telling folks to go ahead and use your guns instead of waiting for the police. If this was a message to his base, or a call for funding from the gun organizations and companies, you can bet it worked. And then just to placate those nervous 905’ers, he now claims he was mis-interpreted. It’s an old trick, and he is performing it brilliantly.

Had his new anti-terrorist act, Bill C-51, been the law of the land, the recent terrorist scenarios we experienced would still have taken place The bill is a Trojan-horse, an excuse for the government’s security failures. It is disguised as an anti-terrorism weapon, but is really just another roadblock to freedom of expression and the curtailment of other civil liberties. The right-wing generally sees itself as a strong advocate of free speech… but then it really depends on what is being said, doesn’t it?

So what is next on the PM’s offensive agenda. So far he has stayed away from capital punishment and a woman’s right to choose. Indeed he has been consistent in dodging these topics, despite the pressure he must be getting from some of the really regressive members of his party and caucus.

Skinny models

The French banned skinny models appearing at fashion shows – they also banned certain types of head dress. Is Canada going to restrict what people can wear at public events? Should a full face be revealed for the purposes of identification when boarding an aircraft or appearing in a court room?

So perhaps he might want to try something completely different. The French seem to have settled on going after super-skinny models for their next social mission. Banning them from fashion shows and off the runways until they ‘fatten-up’. Of course this might just be a ploy to reduce the huge quantity of surplus French agricultural produce. I wonder if that would also work here to help out oil-depressed Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Rivers-direct-into-camera1-173x300Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.

Background links:
Passport Requirements    French Ban     Harper’s Rant

More Harper’s Rant      Harper and Guns      Super-Skinny

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Spring equinox gets suitably celebrated by the residents of Lowville; first performance of the hit song - Lowville’s Favourite Spring Things

Event 100By Pepper Parr

March 19, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Revised: video included

If you were driving north on Guelph Line Wednesday night just a little after sunset you would have passed 30 or more people walking along the side of the road with flaming torches in their hands.

Given that this is Lowville – and Bronte Creek runs through the village and one never knows exactly what’s in the water – there was every reason to wonder what these people were doing out on the road.

Lowville Rickli with torch

Lowville sculptor Walt Rickli leads the citizens of Lowville on a celebration of the Spring equinox with torches blazing

The event was to celebrate the arrival of the Spring equinox – that time of the year when daylight hours are equal to dark hours.

The idea came out of the ripe, supple mind of Lowville sculptor Walt Rickli, who clearly had nothing better to do.

The idea took on a life of its own when neighbor Cathy Cole bumped in Rickli’s friend Janet – they decided a song was necessary and went looking for someone with a guitar.

Rickli sent invitations out to everyone in Lowville and some of his Burlington friends. The publisher of the Gazette got included in that list.

Lowville equinox - on the road - group of torches

Torches lit the way as the world moved to the point where the darkness was equal to the light and spring could poke its nose out.

He thought it was a news release and quickly put together a story on the event. Literally minutes after the story was published Rickli and Cathy Cole began getting emails from friends – saying great idea – I’ll join you.

This wasn’t what Rickli had in mind – so he dashed an email along to the Gazette – asking us to take the story down – the event was for the people of Lowville only.

The story came down but not before a decent number of people read about it – proves the power of what the Gazette sets out to do.

Lowville Equinox Kathy and Janet  - rough

Janet and Cathy relax after their performance of   – an event that will not make it into the summer program at the Performing Arts Centre.

Lowville’s Favourite Spring Things

With the sun set and the Spring Equinox underway – the kerosene soaked torched were brought out – lit – and the walk began. Out on to Lowville Road, across a bridge over the Bronte Creek, across “Mary’s front lawn” – everyone knew who Mary was and along a drive way until they got to Guelph Line, south on the Line to Lowville Road and into the room with the rum soaked punch.

Were there bylaws broken?  Probably.  Were permits obtained?

Lowville singers

The Lowville Singers – with an interloper from Burlington to give the sound some depth.

Then the entertainment – Cathy Cole, Janet and a few others did the first public performance of a song that will be sung just once a year – unless Walt Rickli decides to hold a winter solstice event.  Sung to the tune of Sound of Music – the rendition heard in Lowville will not make it to the stage of the Performing Arts Centre.

Lowville’s Favourite Spring Things

Fiddleheads in forests we all love to pick
Peepers are peeping and the leaves they get thick Signs that there’s life in Lowville in spring
These are a few of our favourite things.

Lowville equinox - lady with torch

If you lived between the two Lowville “gates” – you were probably on Lowville Park Road with a torch in your hand as the Spring equinox arrived.

The river starts running, the trout start to jump The doggies of Lowville they all start to hump Park staff returns and they all start mowing These are a few of our favourite spring things.

When the ice jams, when the creek floods And Cathy’s feeling sad
We simply remember our favourite spring things And then we don’t feel so bad.

Sonny’s on his tractor and Kim’s back in town There’s Simon with Cindy, she’s in her nightgown Walt’s garden’s alive and the sculptures running These are a few of our favourite spring things.

People start running the steps up to Highville Barbeque smoke wafting up from the park grills The Bistro’s now open six days so we sing These are a few of our favourite spring things.

Birds are back singing and Ben’s outside tagging Judy’s with Penny her tail is a wagging
The Powell wagon gets covered, a sure sign of spring These are a few of our favourite things.

Lowville spring equinox 2015 group with torces

Lowville torch bearers preparing the march through the community to celebrate the arrival of the spring equinox

When the bugs bite, when the weeds grow And we’re feeling mad
We simply remember our favourite spring things And then we don’t feel so bad.

A fun evening in a community that certainly has its act together.

The song can be heard on YouTube – Click here – not to be missed.

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Bruce Krushelnicki, city planner, to retire; most erudite staff member at city hall.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

March 20, 2014

BURLINGTON, ON

Careers come to an end; the time to take off the harness and have it placed on the shoulders of someone who can build on the work you’ve done is one every professional faces.

That day for city planner Bruce Krushelnicki has been reported to the Gazette by a usually reliable source. Bruce will leave city hall sometime in May.

At some point all the data and all the public input gets placed in front of Burlington's Planner, Bruce Kruselniiki - who will issue a report and city council will make decisions.  Creating the downtown the city wants and needs has not been an easy process for Burlington.

A good listener, city planner Bruce Krushelnicki also explained difficult concepts better than most people.

Krushelnicki made significant contributions to the design of the city – there are, one can be sure decisions Krushelnicki made that he would not make again – but on balance Burlingtonians have been well served.

For young people wanting to develop careers as planners the opportunity to listen to Krushelnicki speak was like being in a classroom – they would slip away from their desks to hear someone who knew the field inside out.

He was the most erudite member of the city staff – he also knew the best tailor in town: Krushelnicki looked well outfitted in the pair of jeans he wore on casual Friday’s

When asked what form he thought the Strategic Plan released in 2011 should take he said, without cracking as much as a smile “A single page and in Latin.”

Krushelnicki has written a text on the workings of the Ontario Municipal Board and he may well return to that organization.

He would be very welcome as a lecturer in almost any school of architecture in the country.

The unfortunate part of his departure is that a number of important files come off the front burner. The Roseland Character Study gets put on hold; the development of the Official Plan slows down.

The Indian Point Character study was dead – there was to be a report on the lessons learned from that exercise – it may never see the light of day now.

The Gazette once asked Krushelnicki what he wanted to do when he retired and he said he would like to drive one of those large pieces of construction equipment.

We expect Bruce to aspire to more than that.

Drewlo-ramp-to-underground-garage-300x140

The ramp at the Drewlo development on Plains Road: there were supposed to be five of them, there are just four. City planner Krushelnicki pulled their building permit.

With some luck we will manage to do a final interview with Krushelnicki – expect to read some of the pearls of wisdom the man has to offer – he might even explain what is meant by a “top of bank” and why it is important – or how he brought the Drewlo development on Plains Road to a grinding halt when he pulled their building permit.

Polite, considerate, patient to a fault – but a tough nut when he had to be.

 

 

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Male held for a bail hearing- charged with threatening death

Crime 100By Staff

March 19, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Things got very nasty Wednesday in the 2300 area of Walkers Line when the Regional police arrived in response to a threatening incident.

The suspect in this matter was known to the victim. Based upon information received from the victim both uniform officers and tactical officers responded in an effort to locate the suspect.

The suspect was located and arrested without incident. The investigation is ongoing at this time. There was no threat to public safety and no injuries were received at any time during the incident.

As a result of the investigation into this incident a 26 year old Burlington resident has been charged with several Criminal Code offences.

Anthony BEAUDRY has been charged with:

1) Uttering a Threat to Cause Injury to an Animal
2) Uttering a Threat to Cause Death or Bodily Harm
3) Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
4) Fail to Comply with a Probation Order (2 counts)

The male party has been held for a bail hearing on March 19, 2015 in Milton Court.

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Mike Wallace helps federal Minister deliver cheques for $899,093 to innovative Burlington corporations; is there an election coming?

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

March 19, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The federal election is expected to take place in the fall – the campaigning has already started.

Wallace at Memex

Burlington MP Mike Wallace prepares for the federal funding announcement at the offices of Memex on Harvester Road.

MP Mike Wallace was in town with FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear talking about the funds they had made available to two Burlington corporations – Memex Automation, a publicly traded company and Adflow, a very smart technology company that many Gazette readers see and use regularly.

Memex - Wallace - Goodyear - McPhail - CTO

Dave McPhail on the right explains that the piece of equipment others are holding is the device that captures information executives can use to fully understand what is happening on the shop floor of their plants. Mike Wallace, Burlington’s MP admitted that he didn’t fully understand the stuff but was fascinated. Federal Minister Gary Goodyear explained the intricacies to Mike Wallace.

The funds distributed were part of a federal Business Innovation initiative. The funds are repayable and are aimed at strengthening the innovative eco-system of south-western Ontario; a part of the province that took a huge economic hit in 2008 when world financial systems looked like they were going to melt down completely.

Adflow - Wallace - Brady - Davies

Mike Abbott, on the left explaining the intricacies of Adflow to MP Mike Wallace while Catherine Brady takes the Minster through e screen that Adflow created and monitors for a client.

Memex was loaned $800,000 and Adflow was loaned $99,093. Why that wasn’t rounded up to the next logical number only a bureaucrat somewhere can explain.

Both companies are rather small but clearly leaders in their fields – Memex has 22 employees – they expect to hire an additional sixteen people with the funds received. while Adflow has 28 employees and will use their funds to expand into larger space.

The Gazette will do full length features on both companies in the near future.

The take away message from the $899,093 the federal government spread around today was that the federal election is beginning to heat up.

Is there more federal money to come?

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