2025: YEAR in REVIEW - April, May and June were about the high rise towers and unhappy residents

By Gazette Staff

January 5th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Contributing editor Ray Rivers summed up how he thought most Canadians felt about the election of Mark Carney as the Prime Minister, albeit with a few seats short of a minority.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/rivers-canadians-chose-merit/

Ontario has been on a drive to have the federal government reform the Criminal Code and make bail requirements tougher.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/province-talking-about-bail-reform-want-those-on-bail-to-pay-for-the-ankle-monitors/

Karina Gould was returned to office for the fourth time; Didn’t make Cabinet this time.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/gould-takes-the-burlington-seat-for-a-fourth-time/

Team heads for Holland to Celebrate  

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

Rory Nisan, Ward 3 Councillor and Council Liaison on the Mundialization Committee

Hassaan Basit, Chief Administrative Officer

Samantha Yew, City Clerk/Director of Legislative Services

Hasan Raza, Chair, Mundialization Committee (volunteer)

Anne Koopman, Chair, Apeldoorn Sub-committee (volunteer)

https://burlingtongazette.ca/103655-2/

Second tower opposite city hall approved – 17 storeys with 25% to be affordable

https://burlingtongazette.ca/same-site-different-owner-the-second-tower-to-rise-opposite-city-hall-goes-to-public-meeting-may-13/

CBC broadcasts Ideas program on Democracy from Public Library 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/burlington-library-leaders-speaking-about-democracy-on-the-cbc-this-evening/

Millcroft demonstration prevented from going on golf course property

https://burlingtongazette.ca/event-community-gathering-location-changed-to-millcroft-mill-on-the-corner-of-country-club-and-upper-middle/

Did Premier get scammed ?

After two years of evidence and reports pushed by Marit Stiles and the Official Opposition NDP, along with community leaders, Premier Ford said that he needs to take a second look at this multi-billion-dollar mega-spa deal.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/103472-2/

It’s now official:  The total tax bill will increase by 5.82% for urban residents and 5.79% for rural residents.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/council-approves-2025-tax-levy-bylaw-forget-to-mention-just-how-much-they-will-have-to-pay-3-have-outstanding-tax-bills/

East end of the football height drops by 9 storeys

It was going to be a 29 storey tower at the east end of the football and serve as the building that would become the “entrance” to the City.

Planner whittled it down to 20.

The revised version would be 20 storeys and there would be no guest parking but there would be seven levels of underground parking.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/height-drops-by-9-storeys-city-looking-for-more-in-the-way-of-concessions/

Expensive   Sunshine list

Of the roughly 1,112 full-time employees, 505 now earn over $100,000 per year.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/what-did-that-sunshine-list-tell-us-about-some-of-the-talent-at-city-hall-that-they-are-expensive/

Aldershot students win

https://burlingtongazette.ca/two-aldershot-high-school-students-take-the-top-award-in-the-samsung-solve-for-tomorrow-contest/

 

MPP’s get pension and pay bump

https://burlingtongazette.ca/pay-bumps-and-a-pension-given-to-mpps/

 

Citizen group dissolved

https://burlingtongazette.ca/brag-is-dissolved-as-a-not-for-profit-corporation/

 

Prime Minister got King to say exactly what he wanted

https://burlingtongazette.ca/prime-minister-carney-had-a-great-day-got-the-king-to-say-exactly-what-he-wanted/

 

Ward boundary changes

The community in North Tyandaga will move from Ward 1 to Ward 3

The Leighland community will move from Ward 2 to Ward 1

The west side of the Palmer community will move from Ward 4 to Ward 3

The Maple Beach community will move from Ward 1 to Ward 2

https://burlingtongazette.ca/ward-boundary-changes-poorly-explained/

 

New OPP station coming – when.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/burlington-to-get-new-opp-offices-where-and-when-not-known-yet/

 

Home prices – different opinions

https://burlingtongazette.ca/housing-experts-suggest-the-minister-of-housing-might-not-have-it-right-they-believe-housing-prices-must-come-down/

 

Is the proposed development at the foot of Brant and Lakeshore dead?

https://burlingtongazette.ca/so-is-it-really-over-detailed-reasons-why-the-olt-refused-the-development/

 

Nate Erskine Smith in and out of  Cabinet faster than he expected.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/nate-erskine-smith-in-and-out-of-cabinet-faster-than-you-could-say-jack-flash-explains-the-reform-act/

 

United Way Campaign led by all female team 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/united-way-halton-hamilton-n-ames-an-all-female-team-to-lead-the-2025-26-fund-raising-drive/

 

Property tax deferral

https://burlingtongazette.ca/council-approves-industrial-property-tax-payment-deferral-program/

 

Mayor goes to Finland to experience a healthier City

https://burlingtongazette.ca/making-burlington-a-healthier-city-mayor-takes-part-in-week-long-workshop-in-finland/

 

Van Koeverden made Secretary of  State for Sports  Gould doesn’t get a Cabinet seat 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/van-koeverden-now-secretary-for-sport/

 

Burlington students do well

https://burlingtongazette.ca/burlington-students-do-very-well-at-skills-ontario-competition-may-5-6/

 

Grid lock

https://burlingtongazette.ca/downtown-traffic-reported-to-be-horrendous/

 

 

Rent levels up 24%

https://burlingtongazette.ca/average-asking-rents-in-canada-have-climbed-28-since-reaching-a-pandemic-low-in-april-2021/

 

Gloria Reid recognized

https://burlingtongazette.ca/volunteer-gloria-reid-recognized-for-more-than-a-decade-of-service-to-the-community/

 

Sound of Music asks the city for more in the way of funding and loan forgiveness

https://burlingtongazette.ca/sound-of-music-has-approached-their-friendly-banker-for-another-loan/of Music back to the banker/

 

Mental health is classroom focus for the Board of Education. 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/mental-health-is-the-focus-today-for-hdsb-during-education-week/

 

Kelly’s forced to move. 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/kellys-bake-shop-is-no-more/

 

Millcroft trees taken down

https://burlingtongazette.ca/city-is-investigating-activity-no-further-comment-can-be-provided-at-this-time-trees-are-being-down/

 

Ford gets Code of Silence award.

https://burlingtongazette.ca/code-of-silence-jury-finds-ontarios-freedom-of-information-conduct-unacceptable/

 

Pool allocation differences come to the surface

https://burlingtongazette.ca/bad-states-the-city-is-using-data-that-is-not-true-provides-evidence-to-support-their-claim-adds-that-the-fight-is-not-over/

 

Devilrays lose out

https://burlingtongazette.ca/use-of-city-pools-contract-finalized-burlington-aquatic-devilray-loses-access-to-swimming-pools/

 

Mayor takes a hit from an outspoken resident. 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/to-the-mayor-specifically-you-wanted-the-spotlight-now-try-leading-like-someone-whos-earned-it/

 

CAO turns in the keys to his office

https://burlingtongazette.ca/city-ceo-sets-sail-for-greener-pastures/

 

Citizens say they are not being listened to

https://burlingtongazette.ca/stern-as-we-see-over-and-over-again-our-elected-representatives-are-not-interested-in-what-taxpayers-have-to-say/

 

Federal government wants  bail reforms

https://burlingtongazette.ca/stricter-bail-conditions-and-sentencing-for-involved-in-organized-crime-human-trafficking-home-invasion-and-car-theft/

 

Hospital spending – eye popping

https://burlingtongazette.ca/what-does-the-hospital-spend-255108371-00-on/

 

United Way impact 24-25

https://burlingtongazette.ca/united-way-reports-on-the-impact-it-has-had-in-2024-25/

 

Millcroft gets a no for an MZO

https://burlingtongazette.ca/municial-minister-turns-thumbs-down-on-the-millcroft-mzo-request/

 

Youth mental health – a major focus for the Board of Education. 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/youth-mental-health-how-bad-is-it-and-what-can-you-we-do-about-it/

 

Measles show up in Oakville

https://burlingtongazette.ca/measles-region-reports-a-new-case-in-oakville/

 

Tariffs  a big automotive concern

https://burlingtongazette.ca/no-tariff-deal-with-the-americans-officials-hold-out-hope-they-can-bridge-the-divide-canadian-ambassador-to-u-s-said-were-not-there-yet/

 

Three students do well at Canada Wide Science Fair. 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/three-burlington-students-achieved-outstanding-success-at-the-2025-canada-wide-science-fair/

 

50,000 homes per year

https://burlingtongazette.ca/500000-homes-per-year-by-2035-just-how-does-that-happen-can-it-happen/

 

Overdue taxes reported as being higher than last year. 

https://burlingtongazette.ca/taxes-overdue-higher-than-previous-years-total-tax-levy-up-by-17-million/

 

Art gallery announcement surprises many

https://burlingtongazette.ca/art-gallery-announcement-surprises-many/

 

Development is being seen differently these days

https://burlingtongazette.ca/councillors-are-seeing-development-a-little-differently-these-days-some-over-development-might-be-something-they-are-prepared-to-live-with/

 

TuckCreek bridge $5 million

https://burlingtongazette.ca/bridge-over-tuck-creek-on-new-street-will-cost-5861310-01/