 By Gazette Staff
April 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
An exclusive production run of Avro Arrow models will be limited to approximately 800 pieces. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum suggests this will inevitably be a collector’s item.
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Reg. $299.99 SALE $249.99
Sale pricing ends May 31. Pre-order now for November/December delivery. Free shipping in Canada.
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This high-quality 1/72 scale diecast replica comes finished in the markings of Avro CF-105 Arrow #202.
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- All markings are pad printed for superb results
- Fully assembled
- Display with the landing gear retracted or extended
- Canopy can be displayed in the open or closed position
While the images displayed are of the actual product, the markings have been digitally altered to represent Arrow #202.
After only 2 weeks, we are already 50% sold out!
 By Gazette Staff
April 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The FIFA World Cup 2026 community event will take place at Spencer Smith Park on Thursday, July 9.
The event is expected to be free but that is what Toronto thought when their community event was announced.
Burlington has set aside $160,000 to cover the cost of the event,
City Council meets on Tuesday – more information should be available at that time.
The illustration set out below was provided by FIFA
 The rendering was provided by FIFA. Quite why something so generic was released is hard to understand.
FIFA will be holding these events at 26 communities across the country, featuring “live match viewings, football-themed activations, cultural programming, music, food, and moments of national pride”.
The event will bring football fans together for live match viewings, football-themed activations, cultural programming, music, food, and moments of national pride.
FIFA uses the word football to define what we know as soccer.
 By Gazette Staff
April 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that the Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook issued on April 15, 2026 has been extended. Over the past 96 hours, total rainfall of 30-65 mm has been measured across the watershed. Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement forecasting 10-20 mm of rainfall Saturday morning through Saturday afternoon with the risk of a thunderstorm that could increase this amount. As a result, saturated ground conditions will increase water runoff from this rainfall and contribute to further elevated water levels in creeks within our jurisdiction.
 Rushing creek water is not where children should be playing. Widespread flooding is not anticipated, however, fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas, natural floodplains, and areas with poor drainage may be expected.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts, and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and cold water temperatures, combined with slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook message as conditions warrant.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook will be in effect through Monday April 20, 2026.
 By Pepper Parr
April 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The people representing Indwell met with the Aldershot community.
I think it is safe to say that most people left the room after a meeting that went well.
 Megan Tregunno Megan Tregunno, President of the Burlington Community Foundation got the meeting off to a start, explaining how the evening would proceed. Indwel people explained various parts of the program.
There were stations around the perimeter of the East Plains United church hall with information on the organization and where the development was in terms of actually building something.
Determining just who the residents will be is not as clear as it needs to be.
During my time with the community, one Aldershot resident, who is a church volunteer, told me that her view was: Aldershot residents come first, then Burlington people and then others.
 Aldershot residents had a lot of questions. A rendering of the development is explained to a couple. Right now, the list of people who will qualify is managed by the Regional HATCH ( Halton Access to Community Housing) staff. They cover the Region, which includes Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
This will get worked out over the next couple of months.
While figuring out where the residents are going to come from the Indwell people who handle the construction of new housing are working with the city of Burlington to get the paperwork done needed for the Planning department to be in a position to issue a building.
 It was an attentive audience. There was more than a decent audience that was attentive and had good questions. One would be pressed to have heard anything negative.
The city, to the surprise of many, has moved with considerable dispatch in getting this project to shovels in the ground.
A building permit is expected to be available by the end of the year or very early in 2027.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2029 and residents will be moving in early in 2029.
Indwell has done work like this in 20 municipalities across the province. It is a first for Burlington and at this point the project is on target.
By Pepper Parr
April 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The following appeared on the city Bids and Tenders web site page.
This request is for information only.
No award will be made based on this submission.
 The City of Burlington is undertaking a review of potential town hall solutions to meet evolving communication needs.
While the City presently utilizes an existing product, we are seeking to better understand the range of telephone town hall solutions available in the market, including features, service models, and potential value and assess alignment with our organizational needs and preferences. The information provided by interested suppliers will assist the City in determining next steps with regard to its needs in this regard.
Vendors wishing to participate in this process must contact the individual listed below to request a copy of the Request for Information (RFI) document:
Tricia Gammon Holness, CPPB, PMP
Specialist, Procurement
City of Burlington
E-mail: tricia.gammonholness@burlington.ca
A number of people have expressed concerns about the way City Town Hall meetings take place. Many think the system is rigged to allow people favourable to the current city council and administration to choose who gets to call in and ask questions.
The city has yet to release the name of the current supplier – media can’t ask questions as to how these systems are set up.
One Gazette reader sent us the following:
What would residents want to see in a new platform?
– the ability to queue up at a virtual microphone without questions being prescreened, with all participants able to see the queue, the first initial and last name of the other people in the queue.
– the ability to ask questions in a chat window that all meeting participants can see.
– The mayor/staff answering questions in sequence without the ability to cherry-pick easy questions.
Will the city move to a more transparent and less stage-managed format for town halls, or will they become more scripted than they are today?
By Gazette Staff
April 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
glamjulz and Halton Food for Thought announce they are partnering to raise funds for Student Nutrition Programs across Halton.
 Launching today, April 16, is the glamjulz Teacher Bracelet Collection complete with Halton Food for Thought and red apple charms. Bracelets can be purchased as a gift to a teacher to say thanks for all they do at school each day – or grab one for yourself and friends to show your support of Halton Food for Thought.
Bracelets are now on sale on the glamjulz website: https://glamjulz.com/product-category/teacher-bracelet/ at a cost of $30 each plus tax. Bracelets can be shipped directly to home (shipping is included, please allow two weeks to receive your order) or can be picked up at the glamjulz store on June 24 from 11am – 6pm in time for the end of the school year.
“When Monica approached us about bringing back her teacher bracelet, the entire team jumped at the opportunity to partner with her once again,” said HFFT Executive Director Aliya Khawari when asked about the collaboration. “Monica is a wonderful community partner and her jewelry is exceptional. We are grateful for the opportunity to create a unique piece with her to help us raise awareness and funds as well as for her on-going support of our work.”
Proceeds from bracelet sales will be donated to Halton Food for Thought to support the delivery of Student Nutrition Programs across the region. With each handmade bracelet purchased, two children in Halton will receive a healthy breakfast — and thanks to the ongoing commitment of glamjulz and their owner Monica Graves, over 5,000 meals have been donated to Halton students to date through previous Teacher Bracelet campaigns.
Together, we are excited to share what has been created this year and the ability to collaborate to raise vital funds for the strength and stability of Student Nutrition Programs across Halton.
About glamjulz
glamjulz is a Burlington based jewelry store, created by Monica Graves who designs these pieces because she wants you to feel confident and happy so you can achieve your hopes, your dreams and inspire others to do the same. Celebrating 25 years in business, Monica is a passionate community partner who believes that good nutrition is the foundation for student success. Beyond fundraising, Monica actively supports local youth by welcoming Halton high school students into her studio for co-op placements and volunteer hours, mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Check out the glamjulz website for more information and to see the beautiful one-of-a-kind designs: https://glamjulz.com/
About Halton Food for Thought
Halton Food for Thought has been feeding Halton students since 1997.
Started by a grassroots group of parents who noticed that not every child at school had food in their lunch box or that many kids had food that didn’t contain enough nutrients to fuel their minds and bodies for learning.
Halton Food for Thought has partner programs in 157 Halton schools – and growing! We provide over 96,000 Halton students with access to nutritious food at school. Our programs are facilitated by over 1,500 volunteers who work with Halton Food for Thought staff and partner schools to feed students in their communities. To learn more about the work of Halton Food for Thought visit our website: www.haltonfoodforthought.com
By Gazette Staff
April 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Early data from Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) suggests that having midwives on staff at small community hospitals could be a game changer provincially and nationally, with improvements including: more vaginal births and lower Cesarean section rates; fewer interventions like vacuum-assisted deliveries; and shorter hospital stays that help bring down health-care costs.
 Data showing such benefits was collected by West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) in Grimsby. This small community hospital, which is part of HHS, handles low-risk pregnancies and births, and C-sections. WLMH launched its Hospitalist Midwifery Program in 2024, making it one of the first hospitals in Ontario and Canada to employ midwives as hospital staff.
Data shows improvements for patients, teams and the hospital since the addition of hospital midwives, who work with obstetricians, family physicians and community-based midwives.
A new addition to the WLMH family
Midwives are professionally trained and licensed to provide care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. While hospitalist midwives are fairly new to WLMH, community-based midwives with hospital privileges have been delivering babies there for more than 25 years.
WLMH currently has four full-time, two part-time and seven casual part-time hospitalist midwives on staff who work 12-hour shifts, providing 24/7 coverage for labour and birthing, and postpartum care.
The vast majority of WLMH newborns are delivered by doctors and community midwives, with obstetricians and several local family doctors delivering about 70 per cent and community midwives delivering 30 per cent.
WLMH’s hospitalist midwives don’t typically deliver babies. Instead, their role includes assessing patients and ordering any needed tests, medications, or ultrasounds, and overseeing part of labour. They keep doctors and community midwives informed of patients’ progress, and call on them to attend when needed for labour and delivery.
This frees up these providers, who are on-call, to focus on other clinical needs, like caring for other patients, until closer to delivery.
After births, hospitalist midwives work with nurses to support the mother and baby, including running a postpartum clinic where families return for care in the days after going home, and well-baby checks.
The “what” vs. the “why”
 Stephanie Skeldon, clinical manager of obstetrics and newborn services at WLMH. While data suggests improvements since hospitalist midwives joined the WLMH team, reasons for these positive changes are still being explored. Stephanie Skeldon, clinical manager for obstetrics and newborn services and outpatient services at WLMH, believes a streamlined approach to care, with hospitalist midwives’ niche expertise supporting nurses, doctors and community midwives, is driving improvements for pregnant patients and the teams caring for them. This includes improved patient flow and a reduction of burnout among on-call doctors and community midwives.
“Our Hospitalist Midwifery Program could serve as a model provincially and nationally for other smaller hospitals caring for low-risk pregnancies and births,” she says.
Lowering C-section rates
Of the 500 births at WLMH in 2025, 400 (80 per cent) were vaginal and the rest were C-section. That compares to 2024, when 306 of 413 births (74.1 per cent) were vaginal; and 2023 when 326 (72.6 per cent) of 449 births were vaginal.
Vaginal birth is considered best for both mother and baby whenever possible. C-sections are higher risk and more costly to the health-care system. Mothers having C-sections tend to stay in hospital longer, have more pain and longer recovery times, and are at higher risk of complications like infection. Having a C-section can increase risks in future pregnancies, such as a higher incidence of a condition called placenta accreta, where the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of the uterus and doesn’t separate easily after the baby is born.
 Hospitalist midwife Pilar Chapman, “The most effective way to bring down C-section rates is to help more mothers have vaginal births,” says WLMH hospitalist midwife Pilar Chapman, adding that this is where hospitalist midwives play a key role. Chapman is site lead for the hospital’s midwifery program.
Hospitalist midwives have improved staff’s confidence in encouraging position changes and movement during labour, says Chapman.
“Small interventions, like encouraging patients to walk through labour or use a peanut ball when they have an epidural can help reduce the chance of the patient having a C-section.” This peanut-shaped support is placed between a labouring patient’s legs, especially with an epidural, to help keep the pelvis open and encourage labour to progress.
A second chance
“We used to believe, ‘once a C-section, always a C-section,’ when discussing how someone with a previous C-section would delivery future babies,” says Chapman, adding that for many women, planning a vaginal birth after a previous C-section can be a safe option, depending on their health, and type of scar from their previous C-section, or other potential complications.
Midwives have expertise in supporting future vaginal births for these patients, which showed in the data.
In 2025, 37 WLMH patients who had a previous C-section qualified to try a vaginal birth. Of those, 57 per cent tried and 81 per cent were successful. For other community hospitals in Ontario of the same size, 33 per cent per cent of patients tried and 75 per cent per cent were successful. For all Ontario hospitals, regardless of size, the attempt rate was 31 per cent, with a 73 per cent success rate.
“We’re averaging higher than comparable hospitals, as well as Ontario hospitals as a whole,” says Skeldon.
Fewer interventions
In 2025 at WLMH, very few babies born vaginally were vacuum-assisted deliveries – just under five per cent. This low rate is in stark contrast to the provincial average for community hospitals, where it was 13 per cent.
“We’re not sure why we have such a low vacuum rate, but we’ve seen a decrease since hospitalist midwives were added to the team,” says Chapman. “Perhaps it’s the midwives’ influence in encouraging patients to adopt various positions during the pushing place that’s having an impact.”
Shorter stays
Data shows that WLMH mothers and their newborns have been going home sooner, and patient surveys have also shown overwhelming praise for this new option of an early supported discharge.
Before hospitalist midwives joined the team, it was standard practice to keep mothers and their newborns in hospital for at least 24 hours so babies could undergo routine screening tests. But hospitalist midwives opened a clinic to provide these tests, allowing parents to be discharged sooner and return to visit the clinic with their newborns for screening. In 2025, 47 per cent chose to return home within 24 hours, and then visit the clinic.
“One of the things that makes early discharge safe is having the ability to return to the hospital easily, without having to go through the emergency department,” says Skeldon, adding that the outpatient clinic provides this support.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work our team is doing,” adds Skeldon. “Our unique approach is bringing changes for the better, and I believe that’s reflected in the data we’re seeing.”
By Gazette Staff
April 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a Toronto story – given the number of people who travel to Toronto for work or family reasons you will want to know how to get around town,
It is also a mammoth construction job.
The Ontario government has officially started tunnelling the Ontario Line, marking a major milestone in the province’s plan to protect Ontario by building fast, reliable and affordable public transit. With construction underway across the full length of the line, supporting 4,700 good-paying jobs annually, the Ontario Line will put nearly 230,000 people within walking distance of modern rapid transit while connecting more people to jobs, relieving gridlock and cutting travel times across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
“The start of tunnelling is a historic milestone for the Ontario Line which, once complete, will help cut travel times for commuters across Toronto by 40 minutes,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Our government will continue to fight gridlock and keep workers on the job by leading the largest expansion of public transit in North America.”
 This is how big tunnels are created. Two tunnel boring machines are digging twin tunnels from Exhibition Station toward the Don Yard near the Don Valley Parkway and Lakeshore Boulevard, as deep as 40 metres below the surface. At the Don Yard, Ontario Line trains will emerge from the tunnels and continue east above ground across the Lower Don Bridge. Once complete, the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will run from Exhibition Place to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road, with 15 stations and more than 40 transit connections.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we’re getting the Ontario Line done to tackle gridlock and increase access to fast, reliable and affordable transit for millions of people across the GTA,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “This major milestone moves us another step closer to delivering world-class transit for people across the GTA while supporting thousands of good-paying jobs.”
Major construction is also underway at Exhibition Station, where crews are building platforms and station entrances on both sides of the track. Exhibition Station will connect riders to GO Transit and bring subway service to the fast-growing Liberty Village neighbourhood, putting thousands more people within walking distance of transit and supporting more than 17,000 nearby jobs. During rush hour, more than 12,000 people are expected to use the station, including more than 6,000 transferring between GO Transit and the Ontario Line.
Major progress is also being made at several downtown stations, with excavation complete at King West, Moss Park and Distillery District, and nearing completion at Chinatown.
“The Ontario Line will help to transform the GTA, making it faster and easier for residents to reach home, school or work,” said Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. “By working together, we are building the first new subway line in Toronto in decades, and we are thrilled to see progress continue.”
Ontario is investing nearly $70 billion in public transit, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history with the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
 By Gazette Staff
April 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
United Way brought the community together last night for an inspiring night of impact, recognition, and celebration at this year’s Evening of Celebration, themed Waves of Impact. The annual event honoured donors, volunteers, workplaces, and community partners, from across Halton and Hamilton, who helped raise $12 million in last year’s campaign. Funds that will directly support critical programs and services for individuals and families across Halton and Hamilton.
All the people at the event celebrated YOU, the people who sent in the donations and took part in fund raising events.
The Evening of Celebration highlighted the collective generosity and commitment of a community that continues to show up for one another. From workplace campaigns to individual giving, every contribution plays a role in strengthening the network of support that so many people rely on.
 Raising $12 million is a very big achievement – they deserve the recognition. “Tonight is a powerful reminder of what happens when a community comes together,” said Brad Park, Interim President & CEO of United Way Golden Horseshoe. “Because of that collective effort, the $12 million raised last year in Halton and Hamilton will go directly into local programs that help people access food, housing, mental health supports, and other essentials. These are not just numbers, these are lives changed, barriers reduced, and opportunities created.”
This year’s celebration comes at a time when demand for social services continues to rise. Across the region, more individuals and families are facing complex challenges, making the support provided through United Way-funded programs more critical than ever.
“As we look ahead, this moment is about more than what we’ve achieved. It’s about what’s possible,” Park continued. “As United Way Golden Horseshoe, we are building on that momentum. By coming together in collaboration across our region, we are better positioned to support more programs, work alongside more agency partners, and create even greater impact in the communities we serve.”
During the event, United Way recognized outstanding contributions from individuals and organizations whose leadership and generosity continue to drive meaningful change.
The evening also featured powerful stories of impact, showcasing how donor support is helping people move forward and build more stable futures.
 Carrie Fletcher, Campaign Cabinet Chair. “It has been an incredible privilege to be part of this year’s campaign,” said Carrie Fletcher, Campaign Cabinet Chair. “What stands out most is the generosity of this community. People who continue to step up, give back, and support one another. Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this campaign a success and helping create lasting impact for people across Halton and Hamilton.”
As United Way looks to the future, the organization remains focused on strengthening partnerships, responding to evolving community needs, and ensuring that no one is left behind across the Golden Horseshoe.
About United Way Golden Horseshoe
United Way Golden Horseshoe (UWGH) brings communities together to respond to the social challenges that affect people’s ability to live with stability and dignity. Across Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, and Niagara, we focus on the issues that matter most and help connect people to the support they need. We help build a strong, connected network of wraparound support by bringing together community partners, local organizations, donors, and volunteers. Alongside fundraising, we strengthen the social services people rely on through capacity building, research, and advocacy that support better coordination and long-term solutions. By working together across the Golden Horseshoe, UWGH helps ensure communities are supported today and better prepared for tomorrow. What’s raised locally stays local, creating impact close to home.
Related news story:
United Way creates a new organizational structure
By Gazette Staff
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Commercial uses at-grade and 66 residential units in the storeys above. The applicant is proposing to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit a 6-storey mixed-use building consisting of 183m² of commercial uses at-grade and 66 residential units in the storeys above.
A total of 94 parking spaces are proposed at-grade and within 2 levels of underground parking.
Vehicular access is proposed along Plains Road East. The proposal also includes a total of 45 bicycle spaces, including 9 short-term spaces at-grade and 36 long-term spaces underground.
There is 1,620.8m² of amenity area proposed, comprised of indoor amenity spaces consist such as a fitness centre and multi-purpose amenity room and outdoor amenity spaces such as at-grade outdoor spaces, private balconies, private terraces on the 6th floor, and roof top outdoor area accessible to residents.
The development is under review. No public meetings are scheduled.
By Gazette Staff
April 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Fifteen-minute service on the weekends returns to the Lakeshore West GO service on May 2nd.
 Improved weekend Lakeshore West service to start May 2nd. On Wednesday, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced that 15-minute weekend service will return to the Lakeshore West and Lakeshore East lines as of May 2.
Metrolinx explained that “crewing constraints and the need to rebalance resources” were the reasons weekend service on Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West lines had been reduced to every 30 minutes since November 2025.
“As always, we will continue to monitor ridership and service demand, adjusting as needed,” Metrolinx said.
 By Lucy Roberts
April 16, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
In 2026, 29Black Casino stands out for offering one of the most generous new player welcome bonuses out there, which eligible players should all know about, especially if they are currently looking for somewhere new to play.
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We will also be giving a few pointers on how you can maximize any other online casino bonuses that you decide to claim this year.
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Maximising your 29Black welcome bonus involves understanding its terms, knowing your bonus’s specific details, ensuring device compatibility, and adhering to time limits.
By following these guidelines, you can look forward to a far more rewarding experience and make the most out of the generous offers available online today simply by remembering these simple guidelines.
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 By Tom Parkin
April 16, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario Liberal polling numbers may be more a halo from Carney than a reflection of their own momentum.Ontario Liberal fundraising faulters
Fundraising results, Q1 2026
The headline Ontario polling story shows the PCs’ support has fallen, now at 39 per cent, with the leaderless Liberals at 31 per cent and Marit Stiles’ Ontario NDP at 21 per cent, according to to an Abacus poll released last week.
But first quarter fundraising was dismal for the Ontario Liberals, suggesting their polling pop may be more a halo from the Carney Liberals than reflective of their own momentum.
It’s a topic tackled in this week’s Left East to West podcast, which includes a feature interview with Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender.
OLP ran fourth in Q1 fundraising
The only independently verified fundraising numbers come from Elections Ontario, but they only include donors who have given $200 or more during the calendar year.
In the first quarter of 2026 the Ford PCs took in a massive amount, as usual. They are perfecting the cash-for-access system, a sort of policy-for-rent approach to governing, and it is paying off in power and cash.
The Liberals were nowhere close. They weren’t even second. Or third. In Q1, among the $200 plus donor crowd, the Ontario Liberals ran fourth, behind the Greens.
Among donors who have given $200 or more, the Ontario NDP raised just under $99,000 and the Ontario Liberals just below $69,000, according to Elections Ontario.
That weak result does not track with a party at 31 per cent support. And nor does their self-reported total of all donations, regardless of size.
While the Ontario NDP reported total Q1 fundraising of $750,000, the Ontario Liberals say they brought in just $423,000.
The OLP press release blamed the low numbers on Doug Ford’s new, higher fundraising caps saying “it isn’t just about fundraising numbers, it’s about fairness.” Yes, but it is also about their fundraising numbers.
The Ontario NDP statement just said “Doug Ford answers to insiders, Marit Stiles answers to people”.
Weak OLP leadership race also undercuts polls results
And this fundraising data isn’t the only contraindicator to the polling numbers. The Liberals have been weirdly unable to attract a leadership candidate other than Nate Erskine-Smith.
Erskine-Smith is the federal Liberal MP who finally made it to cabinet in the dying days of the Trudeau government, only to get bounced by Carney just a few months later. On the way out he took some very public shots at the PM. So he’s not in the big tent with the cool kids.
Now an unhappy backbench MP, Erskine-Smith has announced he wants to be nominated as the Ontario Liberal Party candidate in a Scarborough by-election as a step toward becoming Ontario Liberal leader. Erskine-Smith’s current federal seat is not in Scarborough.
And after the Ontario Liberals’ 2025 candidate said she wants to seek the nomination again, Erskine-Smith said she should back off so he could be acclaimed. That conflict has turned public with “he-said-she-said” accusations and personal attacks on Nate Erskine-Smith from other candidates.
But no one else has said they want the job of OLP leader. And that also does not track with a party polling at 31 per cent.
How much halo?
No doubt there’s some halo effect from Carney, and it’s impossible to say how much. But whatever the size, that halo is an opportunity to grab onto.
But the evidence of bad fundraising results and a weak leadership race suggests the Ontario Liberals are too disorganized to be able to seize it.
By Gazette Staff
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
An application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit the development of eight (8) 3-storey townhouse units arranged within a single building block.
Two visitor parking spaces are provided for the entire site, while each townhouse unit includes a private two-car garage.
 A pretty tony part of town  Site location  Councillor Angelo Bentivegna – is he ready for what is likely to be a controversial development in his ward. With an election coming up it is the last thing he needs. Vehicular access to the development is proposed via Headon Road.
It will be interesting to see how this one works out. Potential for a strong case of NIMBY to occur.
Ward Councillor is Angelo Bentivegna. Is he looking at another Millcroft disaster?
By Gazette Staff
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Community Development Halton continues to offer courses that help the not-for-profit sector work more efficiently and effectively.
Teaching the sector how to negotiate funding agreements is something that has been needed for some time.
This in-person working session, designed for CEOs/EDs, CFOs, Fund Development team members, Board Chairs, Grant Writers, and those involved in the funding of your organization at a leadership level, Benjamin Miller will guide you through the who, what, when, where, and why of funding agreements.
$140 for CDH Members | $195 non-members
Lunch provided
Register HERE
By Pepper Parr
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
A tragic 1911 fire that resulted in the deaths of 146 workers in the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York, that occupied the top three floors of a nine-storey structure was the subject of a play that Central High School students will perform at the Region National Theatre School Drama Fest in Gravenhurst was on stage for the community to see last night.
30 of the women jumped to their deaths when they found the exit doors were locked.
 It was sew, sew, sew. The pace was relentless. Most of the workers were Jewish who came to America to find a new life. Their hopes and dreams were part of their lives in a sweatshop where they were cajoled and bullied to improve their production.
Excellent choreography got that message across.
 The owners of the company were always in the room. The workers didn’t get breaks. Sew, sew, sew was a refrain as the women acted out the making of the shirtwaists.
When the fire was discovered, the owners, who were on-site supervising and bullying, fled.
It was not an easy production to perform.
The chatter amongst the women shifted when they realized there was a fire and that there was no obvious escape.
The play was adapted by the students, a student directed the play. Lighting was done by students; creating the sense that the scene was that of an out of control fire was a challenge. The choreography called for controlled, precise movements throughout the performance
 Drama teacher Marty Chenette with school principal Trish Clark, talking to one of the performers. The Central High auditorium was close to full. Drama department director Marty Chenette explained that the students chose the play they wanted to put on stage. “Some years, different drama groups pitch potential plays; this year, there was just the one.
Nelson, MMR and Central high schools are taking performances to the National Theatre School Regional level competition.
By Gazette Staff
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that over the past 48 hours, total rainfall of 15-45 mm has been measured across the watershed. Environment Canada is currently forecasting showers with the risk of thunderstorms this afternoon through Thursday night. As a result, saturated ground conditions will increase water runoff from additional rainfall and contribute to further elevated water levels in creeks within our jurisdiction.
 Creek water levels are higher. Widespread flooding is not anticipated, however, fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas, natural floodplains, and areas with poor drainage may be expected.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts, and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and cold water temperatures, combined with slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook message as conditions warrant.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook will be in effect through Sunday April 19, 2026.
 By Pepper Parr
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
A recent survey done by Ignite Digital, a digital marketing agency, gives a glimpse of how the Small Business sector is dealing with a very wobbly economy. 600 Canadian small business owners found that it’s even worse than we thought, and many are in the battle of their lives.
 Nationally, asked if they ‘believe their business will survive long enough to sell so they can retire,’ a combined (73.17%) Canadian SMBs showed a clear crisis of confidence with 21.50% saying ‘no,’ 20.00% saying ‘kinda,’ 16.00% saying ‘I have no idea,’ and 15.67% saying ‘I really hope so.’
Canadian SMBs are fighting for their lives:
Nationally, when asked how many months they could survive ‘if business dropped by 25% tomorrow,’ nearly a third of Canadian small business owners soberly said 3-5 months (30.17%), 21.00% said 6-11 months. 11.17% admitted that ‘they can’t even think about it!’ and 6.5% sadly said ‘less than one month.’
Regrets … They’ve had a few:
Bluntly asked if they regretted starting/buying their business, a combined 45.84% of national Canadian SMB owners said yes, with 38.17% saying ‘sometimes,’ 5.17% saying ‘often,’ and 2.5% saying ‘constantly.’”
There is more information on the survey HERE.
Other B.S. beating down SMBs:
 It is going to take more than promotional advertising to improve Small Business growth. Nationally, Canadian SMB owners say their biggest business beefs are currently:
Rising costs like (rent, inputs and shipping) (63.67%)
Cash flow week-to-week (38.33%)
Tariffs – (USA actions) (37.67%)
Taxes/compliance burdens (31.17%)
Customer demand falling (26.33%)
Getting paid late/bad clients (26.00%)
Finding/keeping staff (24.33%)
NOT made in the USA …
Nationally, finding non-USA suppliers has cost Canadian small business owners serious money this year! A combined 60.17% of SMBs report that it costs them significant money (34.67%), or ‘kinda’ costs them significant money (24.89%).
The customer (isn’t) always right …
Nationally, which client behaviour is the most damaging to their businesses? Canadian SMB owners said: Late payments (43.17%), unrealistic timelines (36.83%), abuse/harassment of staff (32.00%), chargebacks/disputes (31.17%), and slow decision making (27.00%).
By Pepper Parr
April 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Indwell development planned for a site on the west side of Waterdown Road just north of Plains Road has Council members asking questions.
The property was bought by the city for $7 million and will be leased to Indwell for up to 50 years.
What does Indwell plan to do with the property and where will the residents come from?
Just who is Indwell?
Indwell is a permanent supportive housing provider that brings interdisciplinary health supports into the buildings that we operate. We operate over 14 150 units of permanent housing today across southern Ontario. We are focused on seeing our tenants grow in their health, wellness and belonging.
This means that we hire staff who work in our buildings and programs focused on growing our tenants social determinants of health, whether that be supporting their ability to stay housed by coaching them on activities of daily living, providing health supports and referrals into the community, connecting our tenants with employment and volunteer services or helping grow in food security on a limited budget, we also help tenants with family members birthday parties in their building spaces.
The individuals that we hope to house in our programs are your neighbours already. They are neighbours whose income makes it impossible for them to find and keep housing in Burlington at the moment, people on Ontario Disability Support Program are individuals who have been told they cannot work because they have a health condition, and these individuals are receiving $599 for rent on a monthly basis.
 Megan Tregunno, President of the Burlington Community Foundation. A number of organizations want to be part of it. Megan Tregunno, President of the Burlington Community Foundation spoke earlier in the day FIX on their views of the development. That led Councillor Kearns to ask
“Thank you very much for joining us Megan, and for your advocacy on housing for all. One of the things on your website, and from when you did the launch of the Housing Support Fund, you identified two recipients. One thing I did not hear from your delegation, and is a concern for me, is the fundraising abilities of Indwell to wholly fund the build. Am I hearing that Burlington Community Foundation will be one of the financial sponsors of this project”
Megan: It’s not confirmed. We do extend our full support in helping to raise awareness around the initiative and learning more about what exactly the funding needs are, which we are aware of, and working with donors and fund holders to make them aware of the opportunity. So whether it be through our granting that Indwell will be eligible for, just like any other organization, to apply for annual granting in addition to individual generosity and philanthropy from individuals across the city.
Kearns: Okay, thank you for the insights.
Leah Logan and Sylvia Harris from Indwell then did their delegation; this being at least their third conversation with Council.
 Leah Logan and Sylvia Harris delegating for Indwell. Leah Logan did most of the talking with Sylvia Harris watching very carefully.
My name is Leah Logan. I’m here on behalf of Indwell family of companies regarding the proposed lease agreement of Waterdown Road lands that we’re working to develop in partnership with the City of Burlington. For those in the in the community who might not be aware of Indwell is a permanent supportive housing provider that brings interdisciplinary health supports into the buildings that we operate. We operate over 14 150 units of permanent housing today across southern Ontario. We are focused on seeing our tenants grow in their health, wellness and belonging.
The individuals that we hope to house in our programs are your neighbours already. They are neighbours whose income makes it impossible for them to find and keep housing in Burlington at the moment, people on Ontario Disability Support Program are individuals who have been told they cannot work because they have a health condition, and these individuals are receiving $599 for rent on a monthly basis.
It is impossible to find housing for that rate in Burlington at this time. Folks who cannot work to help because of health struggles are becoming are being put in conditions of abject poverty. What we want to do is ensure that, at the very least, they have a home in their community. Today, you will receive information on the intended land lease agreement with Indwell.
We took Council’s concerns and suggestions from phase one of the land lease agreement process into our conversations with city staff, with a proposed lease agreement at hand. Items that we discussed included that the land lease will be contingent on in dwells ability to source support from both Halton Region and the federal government under build Canada homes, we also discussed we that we will work with access Halton access to community housing wait list, the hatch wait list, which is the housing system in place to offer those in need of affordable housing options in the city of Burlington. We also discussed that we are focused on building no more, no less, than 70 units of housing, recognizing that there is need in this community.
Having participated in a mayor and council town hall meeting last week, we heard that vacant land was posing a problem for neighbours in this community. This project is compelled to be built in a timely manner under the requirements through the Housing Affordable Fund (HAF) affordability fund timelines and well is focused on meeting finally outside of the lease agreement end.
Indwell is committed to being a good neighbor, focused now on connecting with the community our new neighbors. We are eager to do so. Last week, I spoke to a new neighbor that was interested in preserving the streetscape of Waterdown Road. We understand that interest and are focused on designing a building that complements the aesthetics of the community around us. We are intent on being transparent about our work, educating about our model, and seeking input from the community that we are excited to be a part of. We remain steadfast in not only being good partners to the city of Burlington, but good neighbours within the Aldershot community as well. We look forward to the next steps within this process, and we’re happy to answer any questions. You might have
 Kearns: “Is it high acuity, mid, low. Can you give us some more information? Because I think that’s really the source of some of the push back, and I think this is a great forum to clear that up.” Kearns: My question to you is this, one of the pieces of information that I think hasn’t been fully explored across the community, while we respect the livelihoods of all of our neighbours, is who exactly will we be welcoming into the new housing opportunities that are being built here.
Leah: We will be welcoming individuals who are currently on the HATCH list ( Halton Access to Community Housing) wait list looking for affordable housing.
Kearns: Is it Burlington only?
Leah: Men, women, everybody.
Kearns: Is it high acuity, mid, low. Can you give us some more information? Because I think that’s really the source of some of the push back, and I think this is a great forum to clear that up.
Leah: For us, anyone on the HATCH wait list has the opportunity to decide the community that they want to live in, and so we’re presuming that with a hatch list, those that want to live in Burlington will be those that are sent our direction in the intake process, in terms of the acuity of the individuals that we serve, we are still understanding what that looks like. The program has not been defined, and yet we know that it’s individuals who need two things. They need deep affordability in their housing, and they want support as part of their housing and so for us that will be housing individuals that want support from staff in our buildings.
 Stolte: “that’s a very different concept than what I thought we had talked about, which is ensuring that the Burlington dollars and Burlington taxpayer dollars are used for Burlington residents, existing Burlington residents.” Councillor Stolte: I’m curious about the response to Councillor Kern’s question. I know that one thing we talked about the last time we had this question, this conversation in Chambers was about the focus on making sure that the Housing Accelerator Fund, which is meant to be for Burlington residents was used for Burlington residents. It sounded in your response when you said that it’s going to go to the hatch wait list for people who choose Burlington. So they very well may not be Burlington residents, and the reality is, is that they may not be choosing Burlington. They’re choosing to get housing, and if the housing exists and is offered in Burlington, they will move to Burlington to get the housing, which I don’t blame them for. That’s a very legitimate thing, but that’s a very different concept than what I thought we had talked about, which is ensuring that the Burlington dollars and Burlington taxpayer dollars are used for Burlington residents, existing Burlington residents. Can you clarify that?
Leah: Yes. One thing I need to name is that this is a conversation I need to have with Halton Region staff as well, and those are some of the preliminary conversations that we’re having about who the referrals will be from the hatch wait list. And yet, I think we have seen in all of our programs, through any coordinated wait list, that the people that want to live in our communities are folks that are already in our communities. And so it’s a very natural progression in the intake process that those that are considered are those that actually are in the in the community, and want to be part of the community, so it’s, it’s not something, yeah, that that’s what I would say to that. If that makes sense.
Stolte: When we had had this conversation before, I thought there was some assurance that that conversation had already happened with the Region. Are you now saying that that conversation is not clear with the region as far as how the hatch wait list will be dealt with.
Leah: In terms of the process for this project, we first come to the city of Burlington, and with the approval, we then start conversations with Halton Region. We are in those stages of conversations, just at the beginning of looking at a how we get support from Halton Region and the regulations around that support as well, which tends to be around the hatch wait list and their expectations.
The City is moving with considerable dispatch to have a Building Permit in the hands of the Indwell people before the end of the year.
No conversation yet on what the building might look like. There are some designs, but nothing definitive.
 By Sadie Smith
April 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
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 The pace is typically quick, so taking time to read the on-screen labels and limits can reduce confusion during early sessions. Because the round structure is repetitive, most learning comes from repetition and getting familiar with the display: where wagers are placed, how the totals are shown, and how the result is announced. The pace is typically quick, so taking time to read the on-screen labels and limits can reduce confusion during early sessions.
Alawin Casino interfaces often present the main wager areas and running totals in a clear layout, making it comfortable to settle into the rhythm of the game.
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