 By Staff
April 10th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Tourism Burlington released their 2019/2020 edition of “The Official Tourism Burlington Visitor Guide” today. They printed 50,000 copies.
 This year’s guide cover was taken by Michael Lyons, a local photographer. Al Pettman of Just a Click Photography, William Tam and Robert Todd of Todd Images have contributing work inside the Guide.
The Visitor Guide will be distributed throughout Burlington and across Ontario to encourage visitors to come to the Burlington area. The annual visitor guide features Burlington attractions, things to see and do, dining experiences, accommodations, shopping and family activities.
It also includes an extensive events listing and detailed Burlington maps. Special features on What’s New in #BurlON, Culinary Experiences and Adventure Awaits. New this year a Sweet Treats section. The new guide has also been uploaded to the Tourism Burlington website for paper-less viewing.
Copies of the official visitor guide are available at Ontario Travel Centres throughout the province and locally at key attractions, recreation facilities, libraries, golf courses, hotels and motels and included in welcome packages for events and conferences.
Pick up copies of the Burlington Visitor Guide by stopping at the Tourism Burlington Visitor Information Centre at 414 Locust Street in Downtown Burlington which is open 7 days a week.
 By Pepper Parr
April 10th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Council chamber was packed.
They were sitting in the foyer and in the room next door to the council chamber.
They were there to express their concern with a development proposal that stunned most people when it was made public.
 The council chamber was filled – the foyer outside the chamber had people watching the proceedings on monitors and the room next to council had people watching. Largest meeting Burlington council has seen in close to a decade. The re-development of the Lakeshore Village Plaza in the east end of the city has a long history. The city has been involved with the developer since 2014.
What started out in November of 2015 with a visioning exercise where people were enthused, excited and optimistic turned into really sour feelings when the drawings of what was proposed by the developer.
The meeting last night was the required Statutory Public meeting at which the Planning department sets out what they have been given by the developer.
There were 14 registered delegations and another ten that were walk-ups.
The Gazette will report on those in depth.
Council listened carefully, asked good questions and were very aware that they were facing a public that was not happy.
 Lucy Belvedere gave a strong, detailed delegation on what was wrong with the development and where the public had not been properly engaged. Frank Towes, a resident of Admiral’s Walk, across the road from the proposed development made the point very well when he said to Council: We elected you last fall to be the gatekeepers – keep developments like this outside the gates.
 By Staff
April 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The 46th annual Good Friday Road Race on Friday, April 19, 2019, will result in road and lane closures.
Streets will reopen as soon as possible following the completion of the final race. Vehicles parked illegally in the event area will be tagged or towed to allow emergency access.
 Same route and road closures as 2018. Road closures
• 8 to 11:30 a.m. – Fairwood Place, in the area directly in front of Aldershot School will be closed to traffic with local access to residences maintained, subject to race delays.
• 9 to 11:30 a.m. – North Shore Boulevard West from Fairwood Place to Unsworth will be closed to through traffic.
• Local access to residents within the closed area will be maintained, subject to race delays. Through traffic on North Shore Boulevard West will be detoured at LaSalle Park Road and at Plains Road West.
Traffic lane closures
All other streets on the race route will have one lane open for local access.
Resident access
Urgent access assistance: residents can get access to or from their homes to cross the race route, subject to race delays, by contacting the road marshal from the race committee at 289-795-7391 in advance or on race day. An escort vehicle will be sent to escort your vehicle through the closed section of the course, subject to race delays.
Emergency Services access will be maintained at all times along the event route.
Supervision and route management
Halton Regional Police Service will direct traffic at major intersections and event marshals will help runners and motorists at multi-residential driveways and on side streets.
 By Joey Edwardh
April 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
On March 13, quietly, almost silently, local democracy in Ontario receded further into history. The Ontario government’s Special Advisers on Regional Government in Ontario announced an open consultation on their deliberations to review governance, decision-making and service delivery in eight two-tiered regional governments along with Simcoe County. They will report to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing by the summer.
The “open consultation” amounts to six weeks via an online survey and submission of briefs within that period as well. This is strikingly limited in scope and time frame for a governance review impacting 5.4 million Ontarians living in 82 municipal jurisdictions across the province.
It has been 50 years since the regional government system in Ontario was put in place. It is worth noting that it was done with careful and deliberate action over a 10-year period from 1965 to 1975. The Regional Government of Hamilton-Wentworth was one of the last created in 1974. Sure, at that time there was much political and community resistance to the merging of many towns and cities into larger municipalities within a regional structure. But, the process allowed for the time, energy and accessibility for all voices to be expressed, even if not everyone was satisfied with the outcome.
When all the smaller municipalities in Hamilton-Wentworth were amalgamated into the City of Hamilton in 2001, there was resistance from the smaller suburban communities to the loss of their local governments.
Even the provincially imposed and highly controversial amalgamations in Hamilton and Toronto were announced by the Harris Government more than a year before being implemented, a time frame that allowed local councils in Metro Toronto to conduct the polling of their own residents via plebiscites (76 per cent opposed) and community mobilization through Citizens for Local Democracy.
We have seen, however, today’s provincial government acting unilaterally and undemocratically with its interference in the 2018 municipal election in Toronto by cutting the ward system by half in midcampaign. Other policy initiatives in health and education are also getting short shrift when it comes to public input.
Clearly, this regional government review is only giving lip service to public consultation. All reports indicate that the special advisers themselves, Michael Fenn and Ken Seiling, are highly respected, knowledgeable and experienced in regional government. And, they have been holding private meetings for several months for input from selected municipal officials and “stakeholders,” read the business community. The offer of a mere six weeks for input from the general public via an online survey that assumes familiarity with what each of the existing two tiers of regional government actually do will be an exercise in futility.
If this were a serious government initiative with an honest wish for public input and ideas on how to structure effective and efficient local democracy, it would give the special advisers terms of reference that would allow them to hold open public consultations in all the affected communities over a reasonable period of time, at least through this calendar year, before issuing a report. Instead, it is clear that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is just looking to check the “public consultation” box on his path to imposing predetermined plans for creating larger single-tier municipalities, regardless of the implications for local voice in decision-making.
Finally, another opportunity is missed in this review. Restructuring for better governance and decision-making should be more than just about the number of elected officials and how they are organized into smaller or larger municipal bodies. Local democracy should also be about how community members can actively participate in the democratic process beyond just elections in ways that are recognized and seriously considered by elected representatives in their decision-making. The narrow scope of the current review precludes that discussion and denies a chance for civic engagement and affirmation of core democratic values and principles.
There is little hope that the special advisers will produce any recommendations that will deter the government from doing what it intends to do anyway. It will be up to citizens and community groups to organize and build political support for the kind of local democracy they want.
 Joey Edwardh is the Executive Director of Community Development Halton.
 By Staff
April 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Now this is a goodie.
Long and McQuade should be swamped with entries.
They are calling it the Free ‘Bird Contest!
 The Gibson Firebird Show them your best guitar pose for a CHANCE TO WIN a Gibson Firebird (valued at $1,299)!
Step 1>
Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/LongMcQuade
Step 2>
Take a photo of yourself showing us your best guitar pose. Don’t own a guitar yet? No problem! Use a broom, a tennis racket or anything else you use to rock out when no one else is watching.
Step 3>
Share it on Facebook using the hashtag #GibsonFreeBird and tag Long & McQuade (@LongMcQuade) in your post.
All valid entries will be included in a random draw to win a Gibson Firebird Studio valued at $1,299.
Contest open to residents of Canada.
Submissions accepted from April 8-22.
One submission per social media platform per person permitted. Valid entries must include tags and hashtags stated above. Contestants must be following Long & McQuade on the social media platform on which they entered. Winner will be randomly drawn from a list of valid entries and will be announced on April 25.
Winner must be able to receive direct messages on their social platform so that further information can be communicated between both parties if necessary.
#LongandMcQuade #GibsonMonth #Gibson #GibsonGuitar #Guitar #Contest #Giveaway
Image may contain: one or more people, people playing musical instruments and guitar
By Staff
April 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Ward released the following report earlier today:
 The first of four targeted focus group sessions took place Monday (April 8) afternoon as the Mayor’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force initiative continues. Monday’s session was open to small business owners in Burlington and, since space permitted, took place in the Mayor’s Boardroom at City Hall from 2-3:30 p.m.
Attendees represented a range of industries including retail (clothing and food), marketing and consulting, and safety training businesses. Joelle Goddard-Cooling attended as owner of Joelle’s and Jeff’s Guy Shop, as well as an active member of the Burlington Downtown Business Association. Maria N. Thornton, owner of Flour Child Bakery, and Steven Hewson, owner of La Crème de la Crème Creamery attended, as did Kathryn Davies, Lead Instructor & Safety Consultant from Life’s Emergency Training, Maroun Naser, owner of VideoTube.ca, and Chantelle Misheal, City Program Coordinator of BurlingtonGreen.
Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith were in attendance, as was Anita Cassidy, Acting Executive Director of the Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC).
These business owners varied from spending 20-plus years running a successful small business here in Burlington, to those who are just celebrating their one-year anniversary. Many of them indicated the reason they chose Burlington as the place for their business was a combination of living here and calling it home, loving the people and culture around them, and the great amenities we have like the lakefront and all our festivals and events.
 First of a series of meetings the Mayor held on the issue of red tape. Similar to what was discussed at the broader town hall on March 28, the group shared stories of the origins of their businesses, why they chose to locate in Burlington, and what challenges they have faced over the years in growing their business here. The smaller group session, with many having similarities in size and scale, were able to focus their conversations on issues that are more common to small businesses in our City, and build on one another’s comments and learnings.
Some of the highlights of the discussion included the following:
• Access to qualified young labour. Factors that play a significant role in that challenge are a) the high price of living in Burlington and b) the difficulty in commuting here by anything other than a personal automobile, which many don’t have. Trying to recruit skilled employees from surrounding trade schools/colleges/universities is difficult when they find out how expensive starter townhomes or condos are here. With the often bus-train-bus experience most would have to partake in should they decide to commute from a neighboring community with potentially more affordable real estate options, the length of time of the commute becomes too prohibitive. Bottom line: more needs to be done to allow young people to live and/or work here, whether it’s through more affordable housing options or better/faster transit options.
 • Red Tape. Many examples were given of challenges before a business could open, and the labyrinth of approvals and expenses that came along the way. Reference was made to needing engineering approvals on storefront signage (a reasonable request to ensure they’re safe and won’t fall on anyone) but there was a lack of understanding of whether the $800 engineering fee was reasonable, or whether more could be done to educate new business owners about alternative options that may be more affordable. Other examples were given about starting down one path of approval, only to be told later in the process that additional items were needed and additional expenses would have to be incurred that they had not budgeted for. Answers given by City Staff were referenced as sometimes being inconsistent with one another, leading to confusion. Overall, many spoke about a lack of support through the process. Those who had been around for 20+ years made reference to having strong and experienced mentors and using their own hard work and ability to pull in experts to advise them on things from accounting to networking and beyond.
Some attendees had no idea if they belonged to their local BIA (or whether they even could), and most did not know about support that could be provided to them through partner organizations like the BEDC. Many wished they could give advice to new businesses setting up shop and better inform them of whether the location they are choosing is appropriate for their business model to help them avoid failure, and whether landlords and real estate agents can better help facilitate that evaluation for likelier long-term success. Bottom line: Can a smarter welcome package be created for those exploring starting a new small business in Burlington – one that outlines all the steps needed before opening, the demographics of different neighborhoods, and clearly directs people to the other resources available to help them get there? Can our staff be well-trained to provide a supportive and welcoming “red carpet” experience when new businesses reach out to start the process?
• Parking. While this is more of an issue for small business owners south of the QEW, such as in Aldershot or Downtown Burlington, it is a known challenge and source of frustration. When discussing Free Parking in December…business owners referenced abuse by people who already have parking passes elsewhere like their condos (but find street parking more convenient), and those who are employees of local businesses and drive to work that month since they can now get free parking. Neither option helps paying customers find additional spots. It was generally felt that there were too many confusing rules around parking in general (paid during the day but not after 6, but free in December, but still no parking anywhere for longer than 3 hours although there are some lots with exceptions to that, etc…). Bottom line: we need to think about the initiatives we are implementing around parking and whether they are supporting the goal they were intended to support.
• Foot Traffic. With many businesses dependent on foot traffic, weather plays a significant role in deterring people from coming across their business unless it is nice outside. There is a history of vacancies in areas due to past landlord decisions that didn’t feel supportive to the surrounding economy, and with new high-rise developments coming, people are worried about more empty storefronts due to potentially high rents. Bottom line: While it was understood the City doesn’t control the weather, or the decisions of landlords, discussion turned to what more we could do to encourage residents from all over town to visit popular events (via shuttle buses, for example) and if we could create more events that take place in varied neighborhoods rather than always downtown.
Next up on the focus group list this week is a session with City Staff and Partner Organizations, so we will have that newsletter out as soon as we can compile the insights and comments.
The Gazette’s take: Not a word, apparently, on the downtown core intensification.
 By Staff
April 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Art in Action is an organization that assists artists towards becoming entrepreneurs, by encouraging a social community for artists within Burlington. As well, Art in Action provides exposure for the artists within the Burlington community. Art in Action organizes and promotes a weekend Burlington Studio Tour on the first weekend of November, where juried participants showcase their work to the public in their own studio locations.
 This self-guided tour is free for the public to come and enjoy. Other events include a gallery exhibit with work from all the artists in early fall. For more information check out our community sponsors and our artists at www.artinaction.ca
Annual Scholarships:
In 2012, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Art in Action we initiated an annual scholarship to encourage young artists in Burlington pursuing a post secondary education in the fine arts. We were able to offer 2 scholarships of $1000.00 each to two Burlington students. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 we presented one Scholarship of $1,500.00, and in 2016, 2017 and 2018 we presented one Scholarship of $1,000 to a talented student.
The $1000.00 scholarship is to be awarded to the most deserving student and presented at the school’s commencement ceremonies. The student is invited to participate in an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the fall, the Burlington Studio Tour the first weekend of November and will receive media attention.
 From the left: Karen Hartman ( Principle ), Hannah Doherty ( Art in Action Scholarship Winner ), Hershell Thompson and Lori Fyfle ( Visual Arts Teacher ). Criteria:
The student must graduate from a Burlington High School in the school year 2018/2019, and intend to pursue a future career in the Arts, studying at the post secondary level in an arts focused program. The jurors are looking for originality, creativity, concept and execution.
Past Scholarship winners can be found at: https://artinaction.ca/scholarships/
For more information contact: Darlene Throop scholarship coordinator for Art in Action at darlene.throop@gmail.com 905 332-0348
 By Staff
April 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
If you’ve taken your golf clubs out and are getting ready for the season – make a note of the Willow Foundation’s annual golf event.
 The Willow Foundation raises funds annually to support several ongoing programs at Halton Region’s Long-Term Care homes and Adult Day Programs in these locations:
Allendale—Milton
Post Inn Village—Oakville
Creek Way Village—Burlington
Adult Day Programs—Milton, Georgetown
Tournament takes place at Crosswinds on May 16th.
 Crosswinds
 By Lucy Belvedere
April 8th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
How has the community been engaged in the redevelopment of the Lakeside Village Plaza ?
 Staff with a resident at a Visioning exercise for the Lakeside Village Plaza. in November of 2015 Our first inkling of the redevelopment of the Plaza came at the Community Visioning Workshop held November 24th, 2015. A summary of key fears listed from this event repeatedly included: fear of too much density and height, numerous concerns for intensified traffic congestion and lack of safety, and that it will take too long to redevelop, to name just a few.
We only learned of the actual proposal in the summer of 2018 with open house sessions in the afternoon and evening—July 18th and August 8th. It was appalling because what was presented appeared to totally ignore residents’ fears expressed in 2015.
The July Open House session provided limited information since no formal presentation was made and proved to be disappointing with angry, worried residents milling about trying to get answers, but in truth we were all stunned with what we were facing.
 This is the look of the plaza from Lakeshore Road – if the development is approved. At the August Open House some new charts were created for us. One summarized comments from July and are worth noting here. Under land uses it listed support for revitalization, for new tenants, for a range of housing and rental units. However, the rest on the chart was not as positive and echoed the same fears from the initial workshop with criticizing the proposal’s height and density and generally being overdeveloped. Concerns with traffic impacts, congestion and insufficient parking were listed.
 The Plaza as it stands today. Few shops. Apprehensions about lack of public green spaces with trees, and connection to the parks were recorded. Under design and construction appeared that a better design for seniors be considered and worries about construction and phasing were noted. It’s safe to say that all residents’ first fears were simply stressed once again.
The August Open House also produced a new timeline: that community input would be assessed and a community meeting would be held in January with a statutory meeting held in March. This was encouraging and gave us hope that our voices from the open house events would be heard. Sadly, our hopes evaporated in January when we were unexpectedly notified by the City of the February 12th Statutory Meeting. The proposal remained the same at that time.
Inclement weather cancelled that meeting. Now it is set for Tuesday, April 9th.
Has a revised proposal been presented to Council? If there are any revisions, they are unknown to residents the day before the Statutory Meeting. Our delegations for the Statutory Meeting have been prepared based on the original proposal.
 Residents who took part in the Open Houses last July and August were not impressed with the size and scope of the proposed development, What happened? I quote from page 29 and 30 of the developers proposal under the heading of Public Consultation: “…We anticipate that a local community meeting will be held following the application submission…to present a master plan and engage the community for comments and input…We will summarize all public input through the community engagement process and identify how community input has been addressed with updates and changes…The consultation strategy described herein will ensure that members of the public are given an opportunity to review, understand and comment on the proposal.” Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Obviously, that didn’t happen!
It seems that developers’ proposals always sound fantastic on paper, but they don’t put it into practice in reality. Residents have been locked out with this very limited, almost meaningless engagement process. The developer’s planners spent 3 years engaging with the city planning staff, making presentations to Council and convincing all involved at City Hall that it was the most fantastic, enlightened plan for this property. The developer’s planners were so effective in this regard that they were able to shape the new Official Plan policies for the Neighbourhood Centre designation to perfectly suit and allow their proposal amendments. The numerous amendments they request are mind-boggling with many bylaw modifications needed. The proposal mixes policies from the present Official Plan in effect regarding zoning, but presents plans that apply to the Neighbourhood Centre policies in the new Official Plan now under review. It is very confusing. The original proposal for this relatively small site—3.84 hectares represents over-development on steroids!
 Wendy Moraghan will be delegating on Tuesday – she was a candidate for the ward 5 seat in the October election. Where do the neighbourhood residents’ concerns fit into the picture? Why have we not had an official community meeting where we have the opportunity to have the proposal presented and the opportunity to ask questions? How disheartening! What surprise awaits us at the Statutory meeting? Will there be a revised proposal to show that residents input is taken into consideration? We shall see.
Related new stories:
Part one of a two part series on the Lakeside Village Plaza development.
Part two of a two part series on the Lakeside Village Plaza development.
By Staff
April 8th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Ian Green on piano and Ryan Scott on the recorder at A Different Drummer on Sunday April 14 – 3.00 pm
 Two nationally acclaimed performers, Ian Green and Ryan Scott, rendering in their marvelous piano and woodwind a wide-ranging, bountiful concert, featuring Bach, Debussy, stirring Celtic pieces, sublime original compositions and more.
Refreshments, and a chance to meet the artists, happen right after the performance.
Tickets are $15, $10 for students.
To reserve, please contact us at 905 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com. Thank you!
By Staff
April 6th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
With the transformed Joseph Brant Museum getting ever closer to an official opening day the Museum Foundation is searching for a Development officer who will attend the monthly meetings of the Burlington Museums Foundation, build new and maintain current donor relations with the support of board members and Museums Staff.
This is a permanent part time contract position, reviewed annually.
Applications have to be submitted no later than Thursday, April 18, 2019
The Foundation raises funds for Joseph Brant Museum and Ireland House at Oakridge Farm.
 The opening of the transformed Brant Museum later this year will create a need for funds. A membership and fundraising development officer will be needed. Tasks & Responsibilities:
Develop and manage fundraising strategies supporting the financial goals of the Burlington Museums Foundation.
Carry out prospect research and develop a comprehensive database that captures all relevant information, as well as handling all administrative aspects of fundraising.
Plan and organize impactful events related to donor and volunteer appreciation events, announcements, tours and milestone celebrations to motivate increased and continued support.
Monitor donor records and donor commitments.
Be responsible for the Foundation’s website and related social media.
Develop a membership program.
Create a regular bi-monthly newsletter to share with donors, partners, and supporters.
Adheres to all Foundation policies and procedures regarding the integrity, security and appropriate use of information in keeping with the wishes of all donors and stakeholders and relevant privacy legislation.
Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders at the Foundation and the Museums of Burlington on required projects, including campaigns, special events and stewardship initiatives.
 Ireland House is one of the historical surprises in Burlington. Well run, great programs for the most part. Qualifications:
A degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in a relevant field, including fundraising or special events planning would be ideal.
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation considered an asset.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in fundraising.
Strong communication and research skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills with a strong sense of diplomacy and demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies that strengthen long-term relationships with major donors and/or clients.
Understanding of current and emerging best practices in stewardship and donor engagement.
Ability to work independently, rise to new challenges, find creative solutions, and prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
Exceptional organizational skills with a demonstrated ability for accuracy and attention to detail.
Computer proficiency in using the MS Office suite.
Experience with a donor relations digital database an important asset.
Applicants are invited to apply by email to: jmdgroup48@gmail.com no later than April 18, 2019. Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single document and include your name and “Development Officer Position” in the file name.
Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
By Pepper Parr
April 6th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The two pictures below tell the story – the first is what is in place today in the eastern part of the city. A plaza that has been allowed to deteriorate to the point where more than half of the units were empty.
The second is the first version of what the owners of the property showed the public at open houses last August. The people who live in the neighbourhoods are up in arms.
A drab rundown property on Lakeshore Road in the eastern reaches of the city might get a huge makeover if the developer can convince the planners and then city council that their idea is beneficial to everyone.  Massive in scale, overwhelming in scope – but it does go some distance to meeting the intensification targets. The city went to considerable lengths to pull in feed back from the public. Two packed meetings took place at which the public had a chance to look at drawings and ideas put together by the Planning Department.
 The public had hours to go over drawings and talk through ideas with city hall staff. Why is it that the ideas never seem to be reflected in the proposal the developers put forward?  The room was packed – the public interest was there. Few if any of those ideas made it to the plan the developer brought forward in July and August.
A required Statutory Public meeting is to take place on Tuesday evening at city hall.
City staff will present a report to provide background information for the statutory public meeting required under the Planning Act for Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications. The report provides an overview of the proposed applications, an outline of the applicable policies and regulations and a summary of technical and public comments received to date.
There is a chance that the developer will have heard some of what the public had to say and maybe moderate the size and scale.
 Some of the early thinking about development ideas for the site had the city contributing the arena and the parkland on the north to a project that would pull together the area, the plaza and the Burloak Park to the south. The original design put together when the idea of getting something done to the plaza pulled together the park-arena on the north side with the upgraded Burloak Park on the south side. Some of the original design work done then appears below as well.
 Carrie DeMunck Carrie De Munch, a resident in the eastern part of the city who was active in one of the ward 5 election campaigns said: “Lakeside Plaza is a huge concern for all of the east end of Burlington, particularly for our senior friends who reside in the immediate area. The redevelopment of this plaza will impact all of the south of Burlington, and those from southwest Oakville that utilize our corner of Burlington, and also those beyond our western borders who commute along Burlington Lakeshore daily at all hours to get to their workplaces and back.
This development is not part of the area covered by the Interim Control by law that has frozen development in the downtown core.
 By Staff
April 5th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
With good security cameras people suspected of criminal activity can be easily identified. If the person in the photograph is someone you know – the police would like to hear from you.
Detectives from the Halton Regional Police Service 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau are seeking the identity of a male responsible for multiple daytime break and enter incidents. The entries occurred at apartment building storage areas at multiple locations across the region.
On February 12, 2019 the lone male suspect was observed on security camera entering an apartment building in the city of Burlington, by prying open the front door. Once inside the building, the male stole coins from a coin operated laundry machine.
On February 27, 2019 the same male suspect was observed inside two different apartment buildings in the Town of Oakville, where he also targeted coin operated laundry machine and a storage locker.
On March 1, 2019 the suspect targeted three separate apartment buildings in the Town of Milton, where he again targeted coin operated laundry machines.
 Suspect – Male, olive complexion, 25-35 years of age, slim to medium build, 5’10 – 6’3 with dark hair and dark facial hair.
He was wearing grey coloured pants, a unique black coloured bomber style vest/jacket with a white cursive written logo on the middle back and the word ‘FETL’ over the heart on the front, black shoes with white trim and dark coloured gloves with white writing on the back of the hand.
The suspect was also observed wearing a New York Jets toque during one of the occurrences.
Police are asking the assistance of the public in identifying the male and also looking for assistance in identifying the unique logo ‘FETL’ on the vest/ jacket.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact 2 District, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Detective Omar Nadim at 905-825-4747 ext. 2278.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
By Staff
April 5th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Parents can now plan some of their off-season travel plans – the Halton District School Board has released the Professional Activity (PA) days for the 2019-2020 school year. There will be seven of these days for the school year that starts next September.
The list was approved by the Board of Trustees last week and, subject to provincial approval, this is what the schedule will be:
The school year calendar is developed with input from the School Year Calendar Committee consisting of representatives from interested and affected groups, including parents/guardians. The 2019-2020 school year calendar is aligned with the Halton Catholic District School Board calendar, to save resources on school bus transportation, which is shared between the boards.
The calendar outlines the Professional Activity days (P.A.) for staff when schools will be closed to students. Note that two of the P.A. days will take place on Mondays (September 16, 2019 and April 27, 2020).
 By Staff
April 5th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The transit people aren’t going to give up on getting your attention.
Burlington Transit is looking for feedback from the public about significant transit changes proposed to take effect in September 2019. Transit riders and non-riders are invited to share their feedback at an upcoming open house session on April 8, 9 and 11, or online at www.getinvolvedburlington.ca until Friday, April 19.
 Has anything changed? Funding has certainly improved. At the drop-in sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to share feedback on proposed changes that will help Burlington Transit move toward a grid network that operates buses along the city’s most-travelled roads in an east-west and north-south direction.
Some of the proposed changes include:
• the relocation of all transit stops at the Burlington GO station to the south side, off Fairview Street
• the introduction and expansion of weekday 20-minute service on routes, including 1, 10 and 25
• the discontinuation of routes with low ridership, including 15, 40, 83, 300, 301 and 302, to improve frequency on grid network routes.
Open House Dates
• Monday, April 8 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Central Arena, 519 Drury Ln
• Tuesday, April 9 – 3 to 6 p.m., City Hall, 426 Brant St.
• Thursday, April 11 – 6 to 9 p.m., Tansley Woods, 1996 Itabashi Way
A series of drop in sessions in March held at three different locations didn’t get much in the way of a response from Gazette readers.
Two readers had these comments:
Let’s see how this next drop in session woks out. They are being held at the same locations – which are accessible by transit,
There has been a significant change on the part of city council and the amount of money they are prepared to spend on transit to meet what they believe is going to be a much needed change in the way people move around the city.
Now it is up to the residents to look over the ideas and comment – dialogue runs in both directions.
Charles Stolte, Transit Operations Manager explains that: “Establishing a grid network to meet the mobility needs of the city’s population over the next 20 years is not something that will happen overnight, but there are improvements to our current transit service that we can make in the short term that will help lay the stepping stones of what is to come. In making these improvements, we need the thoughts and ideas of transit riders and non-riders to learn more about what’s important to them.”
 Over the next 20 years, the City of Burlington will grow in its urban areas, with 193,000 people expected to live in the city by 2031. As the population grows, ensuring people can move around the city easily and conveniently, whether by foot, car, bicycle or Burlington Transit, is important.
In the last two years, the city’s budget has made investments to enhance public transit, including $1.9 million in the 2019 capital budget and $1.55 million in the 2018 operating budget.
The free transit service that will start in June and run from 9:30 to 2:30 Monday to Friday is part of a pilot program to see if people will use transit if there is no fare to pay.
By Staff
April 4th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Provincial government announced in January that there would be a review of eight regional municipalities (including Halton), Simcoe County and their lower-tier municipalities to ensure they are working effectively and efficiently, and to assess whether the two-tier structures should continue or whether amalgamations are recommended.
 Is this the future for the four municipalities that make up the Region of Halton? Where are the benefits? A potential outcome is the amalgamation of Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills into the City of Halton.
There are people in Oakville and Burlington who aren’t all that keen on seeing this happen and have organized “We Love …” groups in Oakville and are in the process of putting one together in Burlington. They are looking for your support.
We Love Burlington – STOP Amalgamation has created a mailing list – touch base with them at weloveburlingtonasis@gmail.com.
They are a group of Burlington residents concerned about the Province of Ontario’s regional government review and the distinct possibility of the amalgamation of Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills into the City of Halton.
They are Oakville counterparts (We Love Oakville – STOP Amalgamation) who are a strong citizen-led group focused on the same issue and with identical goals. The Burlington “chapter” has just been formed but, with the help of our Oakville colleagues, has hit the ground running. We just opened our Facebook page and already we have 150 followers, 675 page views and we have reached almost 2,500 people.
 What would Burlington be in the City of Halton? We have a twitter account WeLoveBurlington, and will be regularly issuing email updates such as this. Unfortunately, we have limited time, limited resources and need your help and support. For a start:
• please order a lawn sign by responding to this email with your full contact particulars (direct donations are most welcome to defray our costs). Signs will be available soon.
• write a letter to our MPPs Jane McKenna and Effie Triantafilopoulos, with copies to Premier Doug explaining why you are against amalgamation.
• watch and “like” our Facebook page for regular updates and news: https://www.facebook.com/weloveburlingtonstopamalgamation/
• share our posts with your friends and colleagues
 Would Oakville become the “rich” part of the city of Halton? The Burlington group will be meeting with Ms. Jane McKenna, Burlington’s MPP at Queen’s Park on April 18. Ms. McKenna was unable to meet with us at her constituency office until late June, so we will travel to Queen’s Park instead. We will also seek a meeting with Oakville/North Burlington MPP Ms. Effie Triantafilopoulos.
It is worthwhile to note that Ms. Triantafilopoulos has already met, together with Oakville MPP Mr. Stephen Crawford, with the We Love Oakville group.
 Most people don’t even know amalgamation talks are taking place – order a lawn sign – help spread the word. We Love Burlington has registered to delegate to the regional government review advisors on May 17th at the Halton Regional Meeting being held specifically for consultation on the review.
 Halton Hills, the smallest of the four municipalities has significant potential for growth in the next decade. On February 13, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr sent a letter to Premier Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, signed by all four Halton Mayors declaring “A change to the structure in Halton by the Province would be disruptive and wasteful given the Province would be trying to fix something that is not broken.”
On February 25, Burlington City Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the current two-tier municipal government model in Halton and stating that Burlington residents value the distinct identity of their community and do not wish have their voices diluted within a larger and less directly accountable municipal governance structure. The other three Halton mayors passed similar resolutions.
 Milton was at one point the fastest growing municipality in the province -probably the country – that was until Premier Ford pulled the plug on the idea of a university setting up shop in the town. Many believe that the review process is also seriously flawed. There is a lack of transparency with respect to the Province’s mandate and intentions; the study involves two individuals looking at 82 municipalities with vastly different circumstances, issues and challenges, in a period of only six months, which does not allow for a fulsome and detailed inquiry, assessment and analysis; and there is a lack of meaningful public consultation. A survey the Province has prepared does not go nearly far enough to inform the public and gather their feedback.
 By Staff
April 4th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the third Celebration event for the Halton Hamilton United Way since its reorganization.
 It was a full house with congratulations handed out to hundreds of people. Photo by Alecia Korkowski They announced that they has raised more during the 2018 drive than the new organization had ever raised before: $10,875,000.
The hall at the Burlington Convention Centre was full, and at times really, really noisy with everyone chit chatting at once. Chris Mei, the man from the Weather Network, who served as Master of Ceremonies, showed how to get the noise level down in some very imaginative ways.
200,000 people were helped through the 80 community agencies that the United Way supports and that one in every four people get some form of help from the United Way every year.
The evening was the occasion to recognize the corporate donors and the individuals and organizations that make the United work the way it does.
There was one slightly jarring event – one of those Oh Dear situations. At different points in the evening, people were asked to stand and be recognized: volunteers were asked to rise from their seats; people who had taken on leadership roles were also asked to rise – much applause.
The MC had mentioned earlier that one in every four people had either been helped by the United Way or were close to someone who had been helped.
When the MC asked those in the audience who had been helped by the United Way in the past to rise; a couple of seconds of silence and then one or two people rose, they looked around and then others began to rise but it wasn’t anywhere near that one in four number.
There were politicians on hand from Milton, Oakville and Halton Hills – not a soul from Burlington.
 By Pepper Parr
April 4th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
They are sometimes referred to as “unintended consequences” and that appears to be the kind of hole that the very successful Molinaro development on Fairview next to the Burlington GO station has fallen into.
 Towers 1 and 2 when they were under construction. The development is going to be a five story project with building 1, 2 and 3 clearly visible on the city’s skyline.
The structures are bold and have been selling very well.
The development was planned as one that would be completed in phases.
The company is now ready to begin the final phase – the last two building that will front on Fairview.
When the Interim control bylaw was dropped on the development community with no notice everyone assumed the Molinaro project would not be included. They were well past the site plan approval stage which was the cut off stage.
Ed Fothergill, the planning consultant who spoke for the firm on Tuesday, explained that complex projects that are approved in principle go through several site plan approvals – partly because as a project is built some things change – mostly minor in nature but the kind of thing for which approvals are required.
 Layout of the five tower Paradigm project on Fairview. The size, nature and scope of the Paradigm project meant there would be several site plan approvals. One would like to believe that the intention was not to shut down everything that moved on a construction site in the Urban Growth Centre while the city figured out just what it wanted to see done with the land within those boundaries.
The Paradigm has been described as the largest residential property development the city has ever done and may well be the largest for a some time.
When it was first taken to the public the Molinaro’s met with the area residents; they listened carefully and went back to the drawing boards and made some significant changes.
As developers they have set the standard for listening to the public.
Because of the way the development was structured the approval of the site plan for the last two buildings was on hold – there weren’t any problems with the development – it was always understood that there were to be five towers and that the site plan approval for the final two towers would get taken care of when the company was ready to begin construction.
 A massive concrete barrier had to be built between the development and the GO train tracks. Much of the infrastructure for the final two towers is already in place – that work was done when the three towers on the north side was being done.
But – the Interim Control bylaw is clear – if the site plan of a project has not been approved the project cannot go forward.
The ICBL was put in place for very good reasons – no one fully understood what this would do to the Molinaro’s.
Mayor Meed Ward didn’t have all that much to say about the implications on the Molinaro’s at the Standing Committee meeting yesterday afternoon and there wasn’t a word from Lisa Kearns, the ward council member.
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith made it very clear that he understood what was happening and that he would do everything he could to correct the situation.
The Molinaro’s are getting ready to put together the marketing plan for the last two towers and expected to be able to begin work on those two towers next year.
 Marketing campaigns don’t get written on the back of an envelope over a weekend. Marketing plans don’t get put together on a weekend. They are carefully crafted using the most recent data to ensure that the product they are going to market meets the needs of those buying condominium units.
There are additional issues. The actual registration of the condominium units gets held up as well.
City planner Heather MacDonald didn’t appear to be all that sympathetic to the problem.
The new city council had very solid reasons for putting a pause on the rate at which developments were flooding into city hall.
The Councillor for ward 2 said she has had conversations with people who are thinking in terms of towers that are in the 50 storey range – and along the GO station mobility hub this kind of intensification might make sense.
Burlington was seen as the place to make a killing in development; firms with cash and the kind of in-house expertise needed to put projects together quickly couldn’t get to the city fast enough.
The Molinaro’s aren’t a Toronto based operation – they built most of what we have on Lakeshore Road and have plans in the works for developments on Brant street north of Prospect where many felt high rise construction should take place.
There is a solution to the Paradigm predicament – the brain power in the Planning can find it. It may include an exemption.
By Pepper Parr
April 3rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It is now close to crystal clear that there will not be any exemptions to the Interim Control bylaw that froze all development in the Urban Growth boundary in downtown Burlington for one year and possibly two.
It is also crystal clear that when the Mayor is angry – she lets you know just how angry she is. That was something Cindy Prince learned yesterday afternoon at a Standing Committee meeting where the matter of allowing exemptions to the new bylaw was debated.
There are not going to be any exemptions approved by this council at this point.
None – even though there is at least one that has to be given a hard look if developers are to be treated fairly. The Molinaro development on Fairview has run into a snag related to site plan approvals for its five tower Paradigm project.
 Site location: an awkward piece of land that was made usable when the co-op to the east was acquired. Project looked great – until the interim control bylaw froze everything within the Urban growth boundary – the development is on the very western edge, Cindy Prince spoke for Amica, the retirement home operator that wants to build a rather large retirement home on the North Service Road where it intersects with Hwy 403 – right across from the Joseph Brant Hospital.
 Amica made what they described as generous offers to the owners of the co-op units – that offer may not close. The plan has been in the development stage for more than three years and started when Amica made an offer for the 56 residents at the co-op that is presently on the site.
The deal, which Prince described as a “premium + + +” offer to the residents over the market value at the time was to expire on May 17th. Amica is also reported to have paid the co-op residents a non-refundable deposit.
 One resident called it a “warehouse” for older people”. Amica doesn’t want to close on that deal unless it can be assured that city council is going to give them an exemption from the bylaw that has frozen development.
The owners of the co-op units just want to get on with their lives and have the deal close. Amica said they were prepared to make changes and that they had been meeting with the Planning department.
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo B asked if there were any drawings to show just what any changes might look like. No one seemed to be able to say that there were renderings of possible changes.
There was considerable public comment on the size of the development – one Burlington resident called it a “warehouse” for older people”.
Based on what the mood of Council was on Tuesday no one is going to get an exemption.
 Mayor Meed Ward – not the lady you want to attempt to mislead. Mayor Meed Ward was close to scathing in her comments. She said she felt Amica should not use the co-op owners as hostages while the the corporation works to get an exemption.
Meed Ward also took issue with the way Amica made statements in the Planning Justification report they provided when they found them useful and then changed direction when they found that the comments no longer served their purpose.
It has been some time since Burlington has heard very direct and pointed comments about both a development and the people behind the development.
If there is ever a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of a retirement home on the site – don’t expect the current Mayor to be a participant.
Councillor Sharman pointed out that the development freeze is highlighting a serious problem for the city. There is a serious shortage of space for seniors to live in when they get into their late retirement years. Sharman said that “intensification is not the issue” – the lack of space for seniors accommodation is the issue for the city. It is coming at us and we are not prepared.
Council was meeting as a Standing Committee where they voted 6-1 to take a pass on any exemptions. The matter goes to a city council meeting at the end of the month.
By Staff
April 1st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It wasn’t THE event in the city today.
First couple of hours – a relatively short line up to purchase the legal cannabis.
What more is there to say?
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I went to one session and felt it was the same old public meeting. Handed a number of dots to put on various maps. Little interaction. No vision or sense of urgency. No mention of a Master Transit Plan – due Sept. What was the point again?