By Pepper Parr
July 22nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Calderbank: “Council and the City have the power to fix this.”
In an opinion piece yesterday, Kimberly Calderbank, the volunteer president of Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD), said: “Council and the City have the power to fix this.”
BAD also has the power to fix this.
They have engaged legal counsel to represent them should this matter get to a Courtroom.
This is the time to get the matter before a judge. First, by asking for an injunction which would stop the city from doing anything, not that they have done all that much so far.
And then asking a Superior Court Judge to hold an expedited Judicial Review of just what took place – and just where the unfairness lies.
Calderbank is quite right – the time needed to set up programs for the fall is slipping away.
Swimmers don’t know which club they are going to be members of.
Certainly not a Burlington Swimming Club.
Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) have said on numerous occasions that they are not a Hamilton Club. Perhaps not, but they are certainly not a Burlington swimming Club.
While incorporated as a not-for-profit club, the GHAC business model is to acquire as much pool time wherever they can and to charge fees that exceed anything asked for by BAD.
Council is not scheduled to meet again until mid-August. They can meet at the call of the Mayor, which Meed Ward has done in the past. We understand that she needed a nudge from a member of Council to make the decision to call a Special Meeting of Council.
The seven members of the current Council were elected to represent the people of Burlington. If they won’t get on with resolving this issue, then put it before someone who can resolve it.
Some say that pool time should be available to anyone. On what basis would that decision be made?
On numerous occasions, the city will put out a call to artists to provide their work, which the city will display. On occasion, and not just a few, the call is limited to Burlington residents only.
Burlington swimming pools were built for the residents of Burlington.
Background:
The timeline
Penny the City and Council could and should have walked away per the Terms and Conditions that were issued in the City’s completely flawed process.
Then the city employees and council members could have convened meetings perhaps with assistance a mediator with the parties to arrive at a solution in the interests of Burlington citizens. I expect knowledge, accountability and prompt action from well-paid civil servants.
Lawyers and litigation should be and has always been the very last resort my 35 years of commercial work
A rather useless, ineffective group of autocratic do-nothings on the taxpayer dime. Canada is full of them at every level of government.
Has anyone looked into the rentals for other city facilities?
I would hazard a guess that not all are Burlington only teams.
If indeed the GHAC has been given a signed contract then that should be honoured.
If it results in a lawsuit by BAD that is something that the city needs to deal with.
Don’t think it is up to council to be involved.
Editor’s note:
Actually city council has a role to play. Lisa Kearns wanted to put a motion on the table asking that the city auditor look into what took place. Somebody other than the two swimming organizations needs to look into this. The auditor reports to Council.
Hopefully Kearns will get over the “willie nillies” and move on this one.
I wonder Ms.. Hersh if you feel the same way about the Convention Centre cancelling a contract with a fundamentalist Islamic Group, or the current situation in Millcroft (don’t those original purchase agreements count)? Or how about TEC or the Nelson Quarry? Seems to me that Council has been involved, often heavily, in all.
A matter of perspective and personal context, I think.