By Staff

May 16th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

After losing their Executive Director  Food4Kids Halton put together a search team and have found the person they believe will lead the organization very effectively.

Jennifer Sully-Ferraro appointed Executive Director of Food4 Kids

Jennifer Sully-Ferraro brings to the role over 15 years of leadership experience in the non-profit sector, focused on addressing poverty and homelessness. She has been instrumental in building partnerships across community groups, governmental agencies, and private sector entities to foster innovative solutions and impactful programs.

“Jennifer’s commitment to social change and her proven track record in non-profit leadership will be invaluable to Food4Kids Halton as we continue our mission to fight child hunger,” said Terri-Lynn Puckerin, Chair of the Board. “Her innovative approach and ability to unite various stakeholders will enhance our efforts to provide accessible, nutritious food to children across our region.”

Sully-Ferraro has been the Senior Director of Programs and Client Care at Evangel Hall Mission for the past eight years. Before that, she was the assistant director of The Open Door. Jennifer is a graduate of McMaster University and holds an MA in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is the 2023 recipient of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association’s Sybil Frenette Award for Outstanding Leadership.

“Food is a human right and I’m thrilled to join Food4Kids Halton and contribute to the great work that is already being done. Ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food is not just a job—it’s a commitment to fostering healthier futures,” Sully-Ferraro stated regarding her new role. “We know that food insecurity is becoming a reality faced by more and more families every day, and filling the gap when schools are closed is a vital role.”

As Executive Director, Sully-Ferraro aims to expand the reach and deepen the impact of Food4Kids Halton, ensuring that no child in the region goes hungry.

About Food4Kids Halton:
Food4Kids Halton provides packages of healthy food for elementary school students with limited or no access to food each weekend and throughout the summer. Last year, Food4KidsHalton distributed more than 41,000 food packages to over 1,000 children at 100 schools in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville. A Food4Kids bag typically contains breakfast, lunch and snacks for the weekend consisting of fruits, vegetables, bread and other ready to eat easy open products. Our work is made possible by collaborating with schools, volunteers, and community partners. Food4Kids Halton is one of six Chapters across Ontario supporting more than 4,000 children. Visit www.food4kidshalton.ca.

By Pepper Parr

May 16^th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

City sharing tree care tips ahead of May long weekend

The long weekend ahead will see many residents spending time in their yards cleaning up from winter and preparing their lawns and gardens for the summer. The City is sharing tips with residents who are planning on doing tree maintenance in their yard or in front of their home this planting season.

Consistent pruning and proper care produces streets that have this kind of canopy.

Tree maintenance and care

It is against the Public Tree By-law (068-2013) to do any landscaping around the trunk of any City tree that includes large rocks, masonry and tree-surrounds. Stones and bricks placed in and around the base of trees can impact their ability to absorb oxygen and water. This can be damaging to the health of the tree.

“Volcano mulching”, where there is a thick layer of soil in contact with the tree trunk, is prohibited. This can cause bark decay and a root problem called root girdling. The proper way to mulch is in more of a doughnut shape so the tree trunk has room to breathe. The depth of the mulch should be about 5 cm, or slightly less for soils that are poorly drained, like clay.

Storing materials or equipment in the area of a City tree, either above ground or below ground (the root zone), requires an injury permit from the City.

It is against the Public Tree By-law (068-2013) to use any part of any public tree to secure or support an object or structure. This includes nailing, pasting or attaching a sign or poster to a City tree.

Tree pruning

• Pruning or removing a City tree is only to be performed by City staff or a private contractor under the direction of Burlington’s Roads, Parks and Forestry Department. Regular pruning of City trees is done on a seven-year cycle to promote public safety and tree health. For information about the City’s 2024 street tree pruning program, visit: 2024 Street Tree Pruning Program
• Refrain from pruning oak trees until November 1st to minimize the potential spread of oak wilt, a damaging fungal pathogen that can kill oak trees in a number of weeks.

To help guide residents on proper steps to take when conducting work around a City or private tree, the City has created a Guide to Tree Protection. Information about the City’s Public and Private Tree By-law is available at burlington.ca/trees

By Staff

May 15th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

The Ontario government is cracking down on impaired driving by introducing

Legislation that, if passed, would impose stiffer penalties for those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs – including a lifetime licence suspension for those convicted of impaired driving causing death.

After the ignition interlock device is installed in your vehicle, you will need to blow into the device, located near the driver’s seat, before your vehicle will start. If the device detects a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the preset limit of 0.02 the vehicle won’t start. If you are under the preset limit, the vehicle will start and you will be asked to provide breath samples at random times while the vehicle is running. If you don’t provide a sample or if your BAC exceeds the limit, the device will: issue a warning record the event activate specific alarm systems (for example, lights flashing, horn honking) until you turn off the ignition

“Everyone deserves to return home to their loved ones safely at the end of the day,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Too many families in Ontario have had their lives torn apart by the careless and shameful actions of impaired drivers. That’s why our government is introducing tough new measures, including lifetime licence suspensions, that will protect families and keep our communities safe.”

Additionally, the government will require anyone convicted of impaired driving to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and undergo mandatory remedial education and treatment for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences respectively.

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving commends the Ontario government for taking steps to make roads safer and hold impaired drivers accountable,” said Steve Sullivan, CEO of MADD Canada. “Despite progress, too many people are still making the choice to drive impaired, and we need to ensure sanctions hold drivers accountable while focusing on reducing recidivism.”

The proposed legislation would also increase immediate roadside licence suspensions for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences and clarify police authority to stop vehicles and/or administer sobriety tests for drivers on or off the highway.

In response to increasing instances of cannabis-impaired driving, the government will also work to provide additional tools and training to help police officers detect drug-impaired driving and launch a province-wide campaign to highlight the dangers of drug-impaired driving, with a focus on cannabis and young drivers.

The facts set out just how serious the DUI is:

In Ontario, one in three roadway fatalities involves impaired driving.

A 2022 roadside survey found that one in five drivers tested positive for drugs, alcohol, or both.

The percentage of drivers killed while under the influence of cannabis more than doubled between 2012 and 2020.

Ignition interlocks are in-car alcohol breath screening devices that prevent the vehicle’s engine from starting if it detects alcohol in the driver’s system.

For alcohol and drug-related offences, the province is proposing to increase the first and second-time roadside licence suspensions from three and seven days to seven and 14 days, respectively.

To keep communities safe, the Ontario government is also cracking down on auto theft by introducing legislation that, if passed, would suspend driver’s licences for people convicted of the crime. •

By Pepper Parr

May 15^th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

The local Liberal Party organization may not have gotten the memo yet but the people at head office have said (not announced yet) that the party will soon open nominations for candidates in ridings across Ontario for the 2026 election.

Bonnie Crombie has to hit the road again, looking for strong candidates, raising money for the next election and figuring out what went wrong during the by-elections. Her number 1 wish would be for the RCMP to make an announcement. That would take the wind out of the Doug Ford sails

The word was put out during a meeting at which Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie spoke about how the Liberal’s would react to the loss of two seats during the recent by-elections.  The Milton seat was seen as one the Liberals could win.  They didn’t.

Zee Hamid, formerly a Liberal – now the PC member for Milton is going to have to make nice with the PC Caucus once he is sworn in.

Zee Hamid, formerly a Liberal was talked into running for the Progressive Conservatives (was there a promise made) and with the support of every Tory they could find to cover the riding they surprised a lot of Liberals who thought they had the seat in the bag.

The Toronto Star reports that “Hamid’s nomination had rankled some Tories given his Liberal past, but Ford was convinced that would help the PCs in a close race. Liberal sources have also said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s slide in the polls is not helping the provincial party.”

In the meantime, Crombie said she will continue travelling the province, meeting with Liberals and local media to become better known in advance of the next provincial election campaign two years from now.

Burlington now has to begin their candidate search and hold a nomination meeting.

There is a potential candidate out there that could beat Natalie Pierre, the current MPP.

Would the local party organization live with her?  They didn’t want to the last time around.

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