 By Staff
January 21st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
After years of really hard work, incredible dedication the city has finally done the right thing with the Friends of Freeman Station.
 The station got moved less than 100 yards from where it was rotting to its new home beside the Fire Station HQ in Plains Road. It was citizen initiative that made it possible. When it became evident the city administration couldn’t find a way to save the station, they weren’t even able to sell the structure for kindling, the Friends of Freeman was formed and, due to the efforts of two Council members – Blair Lancaster and Marianne Meed Ward, they were given the time to come back to Council with a solution.
 The collection of equipment related to railways that will be housed at the Freeman Station grows regularly. Telephone used by the station master. There are a couple of council members who should be hanging their heads in shame – hopefully they will have the grace to not show up when the place is fully operational and the ribbon is cut.
At a budget committee last week council approved a $50,000 grant to Friends of Freeman Station to be matched by $50,000 in fundraising to complete the final stages of Regional water hookup, after a long time sponsor could no longer contribute free services.
Over time the Freeman Station will become a destination and the tens of thousands of model railway types will flock to the city. Tourism will benefit significantly.
The city has contributed $50,000 – Freeman Friends now have to raise an additional $50,00 – get your cheque book out.
 By Staff
January 21st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is life for the Hamilton team in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) who announced the team will be on the field this spring under new – joint – ownership.
 The joint ownership program, modeled after the Barrie Baycats, which has a 20-person ownership group, will breathe new life into the Hamilton team, ensuring the team has the funding and support needed to once again become a competitive baseball club, and make team ownership an exciting and affordable reality for local baseball fans.
 The Barrie Baycats took the IBL trophy in 2015, 2016 and 2017. John Kastner, the Intercounty Baseball League commissioner said “Hamilton has a long history of baseball, but in recent years, maintaining that history and commitment has been in jeopardy. Under this new model, we believe the team is now in a position to be able to continue that history with a solution that will see this team supported in a new and sustainable way.”
Carmen’s Group and the City of Hamilton have both committed to helping facilitate the joint ownership program, and that work is underway. “We are thrilled to help rebuild one of Hamilton’s oldest flagship sports teams,” said PJ Mercanti, CEO, Carmen’s Group. “This is a fantastic opportunity for community funders and baseball fans alike to come together, support the team and experience great baseball, at an affordable price, close to home. There is tremendous potential for community engagement that we have here before us and we anticipate a great deal of interest.”
The City of Hamilton will use existing capital budget dollars to ensure Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium is ready to go for the Cardinals’ 2018 season, and together the IBL, Dean DiCenzo the team’s General Manager, Carmen’s Group and the City are working on a plan to recruit the new owners. As a starting point and in keeping with the proven Barrie model, the group is aiming for 20-25 joint owners at $5,000 apiece. A management board of five or six members will be elected by the ownership group.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger previously met with team representatives and strongly supports rallying behind the team. “The Hamilton Cardinals have a long, 60-year history in this city and I could not be more pleased that they’re getting a chance to resurrect themselves through this new ownership model,” he said. “This team is passionate and resilient, and I look forward to seeing our community come together to support them this coming season, and for many seasons to come.”
To inquire about becoming a joint owner of the Hamilton Cardinals, please contact PJ Mercanti at pjmercanti@carmensgroup.com.
The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is the top level baseball league in Ontario, boasting ex-major league professional and elite NCAA college baseball players. The 2018 season will mark the IBL’s 100th season. The IBL is the fifth longest continually operated baseball league in the world and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff. More than 40 IBL players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the IBL following the their MLB careers. The league is comprised of teams from Barrie, Brantford, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Guelph, Burlington and Hamilton.
 Hamilton Cardinal right-fielder Connor Bowie stretches to snag a fly ball during a 9-4 loss to the Burlington Herd. Founded in 1958, and part of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), the Hamilton Cardinals are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. They are the second oldest sports team in Hamilton and last won the IBL Championship in 1978. Players range in age from 19-35. Many are former major leaguers and minor pro players as well as current and former NCAA/U sports players. Home games are played at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario. For more information, visit www.hamiltoncardinals.ca.
Carmen’s Group is a leading hospitality and entertainment brand in Hamilton, Ontario. Established in 1978, they have created and operate some of the Hamilton region’s most beloved establishments: Carmen’s, the Best Western Premier C Hotel, Baci Ristorante, the Hamilton Convention Centre, The Lakeview, and Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club.
 By Staff
January 21st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It will be a pivotal meeting and it will run for a long time, it might even need an additional day for everyone to be heard.
The delegations will be repetitive which doesn’t work for this city council. They would rather hear something said just the once; they don’t appreciate just how deep the feelings are about what is being done to their city.
Some will make up their minds on how they will vote in the October election based on how they see the current council reacting. Sitting and listening to people in stone cold silence is not going to cut it this time. Should someone offer the results of a survey many will be watching how the Councillor from ward 4 will respond.
 Will the chair of the meeting once again tell the people who pay the taxes that they cannot applaud when they hear something they support and yet have to accept the applause that is given when the Mayor hands out a proclamation or certificate of appreciation.
A citizen has said that: “In my view the City’s communication on the whole OP has been woeful. They are in part the masters of their own misfortune on this issue. They have been completely outplayed by the ECOB group and the no tall buildings crowd. I think part of the issue is that a lot of this is pretty complex stuff with a lot of moving parts. It’s not as simple as do you want tall buildings in the downtown or not. That’s no excuse however for not being able to explain complex concepts to the citizens of Burlington over the last year or so.”
Indeed ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington have kept the focus on the downtown core; others have picked it up and the message has swelled.
Blair Smith said: Quite simply, the Official Plan is too important to Burlington’s future to be rushed to approval. There are still too many pieces that are incomplete or in conceptual form for “The Plan” to be finalized. Regardless of where one stands on the many issues that the new OP raises, I think that it is fair for the people to speak at the polls in October. Although legally it is within the mandate of the current Council to approve a new Official Plan, it would be ethically and morally wrong to do so.
“In 2014 the people of Burlington did not give the current Council a clear mandate to determine the City’s landscape for the next 50 to 100 years. In fact, given a 34% voter turnout in 2014, the people barely gave Council a mandate to exist. I hope that Council will do the “right thing” and defer approval of the Official Plan and establish a clear and unambiguous referendum around the OP as part of the election in October 2018. Then the people can truly speak and be heard.”
Democracy in action is certainly vibrant.
 By Jim Young
January 20th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Yielding to intensive lobbying, delegation and protests from Citizens Groups, Local Businesses and even from Building Developers, Burlington City Council and Staff have pushed the schedule for passing their revamped “Official Plan.” Back to April 2018.
The original December 2017 schedule for Burlington’s most important planning document for the next several decades, was being rushed in order to have the plan adopted before it could become a 2018 election issue. On Tuesday January 23, council will discuss final implementation dates for that plan.
The question now becomes: Will that final vote by council in April still allow Councillors to avoid electoral accountability in next year’s election?
 This New Official Plan is important enough to be a major issue in that upcoming election so those same community groups are now saying very loudly that accountability to citizens can only be served by moving the decision back until a new council is elected. Instead of rushing to avoid electoral accountability, we should spend the time finalizing a Plan that serves all of our city and let the election be a referendum on the plan.
That New Official Plan must be based on the Mobility Hub, Transit and Cycling Plans, which have been promised but not yet completed, begging the question: “How do you build an overarching plan when the building block plans are not yet in place?” These should all be developed and put in place first, with real input from Citizen, Retail and Commercial Groups and with real engagement; not the pseudo consultation that has taken place to date,.
 The Official Plan will rely on and be informed by the Transit plan, the Transportation plan and the finalization of the Mobility hubs. Citizens want council to wait until the other studies are completed before making the Official Plan final. The New Official Plan proposes a radical change to our city. It contemplates massive increases in population, allowing hi-rises on traditional downtown retail and commercial sites with no allowance for preserving the quality of life for residents. The city would have us believe that any negative effects of the Plan will be addressed by Mobility Hub, Transit and Cycling Plans which, as previously stated, are not even in place yet.
As our city moves forward with the revised schedule for its Official Plan, citizens ask our city;
 Jim Young, a frequent delegator at city council. 1. Please do not close off further citizen input and delegation. The legalities of the Official Plan approval process demand citizen input. To date that input has at best been directed by staff rather than real participation by those citizens directly impacted. The best and most attention grabbing ideas so far have come from engaged and active citizens groups, small businesses even city developers and not from the Pseudo Involvement so far undertaken by the city. Let staff and council use this time and this groundswell of engagement to seek real input to improve and perfect the plan.
2. Having accepted that the timeline for the New Official Plan was indeed flawed and reacted appropriately by revising that timeline, we ask that the decision on the zoning amendment for 421/423 Brant Street be revisited and any revisions of that zoning be included as an integral part of the fresh review of the New Official Plan. The parallels between the two issues, Intensification in General, and Specific Downtown Zoning are so similar it seems logical to consider one as part of the other bigger issue.
 Jim Young speaking up for his community. 3. Citizens accept that council are elected and staff employed to provide the best possible planning for our city’s future. We will not always agree on what that planning may look like so we rely on two things to limit city power in such disagreements.
First: The professionalism and qualification of city staff to provide guidance to council.
Second: The underlying accountability that our representative democracy gives us to hold our elected officials to.
So we ask again: Why the rush to pass this Plan? If it truly is the basis on which our city will be built over the coming decades, and if our city fathers truly believe in the plan they have created, why not let council make this New Official Plan the core issue in the 2018 election? Why not let the people speak?
Be assured that citizen groups are paying very careful attention to this issue and council’s responses to their voices. A failure to listen to your citizens now will not go unnoticed in October.
 Jim Young is one of the founding members of ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington. He lives in Aldershot.
By Pepper Parr
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There was one piece of information given out by the Mayor that didn’t elicit much in the way of a response.
He said near the very end of his two hour Reverse Town Hall meeting that the 421 Brant project had been approved by city council and that he didn’t see anything that would change that decision.
 The Mayor was one of two council members that voted against the 23 storey project – he had said he could live with 17 storeys.
 ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington is said to have an appeal to the OMB they are ready to file at city hall but have yet to do so – they apparently need to wait until some certain conditions have been met.
We asked Councillor Mead Ward what the different options are including if the city council procedural bylaw permits the city to change their minds. Her answer was yes and no; it was illuminating.
“Technically, the final decision on 421 Brant has not been made; that won’t happen until the amending bylaws come forward for a council vote. Usually, the bylaws are presented at the same time as the vote on the application, except when community benefits are negotiated. Those are negotiated after council votes on an application, and the benefits come back for final vote alongside the amending bylaw.
“As community benefits are being negotiated for this development, because of the increased height/density, the bylaws and community benefits will come back at a future date (likely in the spring) for council vote. That vote will be the final decision on the matter.
“Council could choose at that time NOT to approve the amending bylaws, which would stop the project. That is unlikely but technically possible.
“The fact that the final decision on this matter hasn’t yet been made is why in December the Engaged Citizens of Burlington could not file an Ontario Municipal Board appeal of the council “decision” on 421 Brant; a decision hasn’t been made until there is a vote on the bylaws, which hasn’t happened yet. The bylaw vote triggers the appeal period to file an appeal with the OMB (or the new Land Planning Appeals Tribunal).
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward chair a Standing Committee meeting. Reconsideration Motions:
“In general terms, council can choose at any time to “reconsider” a vote – (but that doesn’t apply in this case because as explained the final vote hasn’t occurred). A motion to reconsider an item requires a 5-2 vote; You can’t even reconsider a decision unless the 5-2 motion passes.
“If the reconsideration motion passes, council can then discuss/debate the item and make a different decision; a simple 4-3 majority is required.
“Only someone who voted in the affirmative on the original motion can present a motion to reconsider the decision.”
That means either Councillor Taylor, Sharman, Craven or Lancaster could put this matter back on the table. Given that none of the four attended to Mayor’s Reverse Town Hall and didn’t get to hear how angry people are there is little likelihood of anything like that happening.
Councillor Dennison was at the meeting and he did vote for the project. No one made any comment on Dennison.
Of this project is going to be stopped the citizens are going to have to hope that ECoB has a strong argument and can find the funds to fight the case at the OMB.
 By Staff
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On January 18th, 2018 at 2:45pm, Halton Regional Police Service was called to a fail to remain collision which occurred in Burlington. The male suspect then carjacked a dark grey 2005 Acura ATL 4-door sedan with Ontario marker; BBJL781, from an elderly female.
The vehicle was then involved in a short pursuit with police resulting in the suspect colliding with a police cruiser. If members of the public observed this incident, police are still looking for witnesses.
 Stolen vehicle This stolen vehicle has yet to be recovered and police are asking for the public’s assistance if vehicle is observed.
The male suspect has been identified as: Terry Lurch STROME (41 years old of Dundas). (See attached photo of suspect)
 Terry Strome wanted by police – is known to be violent and to resist arrest. He is wanted for several criminal offences including robbery, flight police, dangerous driving and criminal negligence among others. The last known location of the vehicle was entering the 407 westbound at Highway 400 at 7:14pm on January 18, 2018. STROME has a history of violence and known to flee from police.
If a member of the public has knowledge regarding the whereabouts of Terry STROME; they are encouraged to contact police. Personal safety is the #1 priority, please call police and do not approach suspect.
Anyone who may have any information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact the Detective Jared McLeod of the HRPS Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau 905-825-4747 ext. 2385 or Crime Stoppers “See Something, Hear Something, Know Something – Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip 201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
Original news story.
 By Staff
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
That Service Disruption at the Angela Coughlan Pool is going to be extended to Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 for regularly scheduled programs and rentals.
Angela Coughlan Pool will be closed as of 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 due to an unplanned maintenance issue.
Afternoon and evening rentals, as well as the 5:30 p.m. Leisure Swim are cancelled.
The pool is planned to reopen on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 for regularly scheduled programs and rentals.
 By Pepper Parr
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
They gave him a lot to think about.
Their concern was that they weren’t at all certain he knows how to listen.
 The Mayor held a Reverse Town Hall at the Art Gallery – an audience of about 150 came to voice their concerns. The Mayor stressed that he was not there to explain very much – even though he did –he said “this is your meeting, I am here to listen.
He got more than an ear full.
Of the 20 plus people who rose to speak – one was positive about a structure that has citizens close to up in arms – he owns a bar that will benefit from more traffic.
Three of the developers were in the room, the Molinaro Group, New Horizons and Carriage Gate sat quietly together.
Two of the seven members of Council were in the room: Marianne Meed Ward and Jack Dennison and the Mayor. Councillors John Taylor, Paul Sharman, Blair Lancaster and Rick Craven did not make an appearance – all four voted for the 421 Brant development that will see a 23 storey condominium rise opposite city hall.
 Voted for the 23 storey condo – didn’t attend a “face the music” meeting  Councillors Sharman and Lancaster voted for the condo – didn’t attend the Mayor’s meeting.  Councillor Craven voted for the condominium The theme that was consistent was the building was just too much, it was not what the vast majority of those in attendance wanted for their city. Development was not their issue, it was the height that had gotten to people – and they didn’t think high rise buildings were appropriate for the Brant – Lakeshore Road part of the city.
Transit was a concern and parking was another and the rate at which the Official Plan was being “rammed down our throats” was mentioned by several.
The meeting started with the Mayor trying to put some rules in place – he wanted people to be respectful of each other and then suggested that clapping might not be appropriate. He lost that one – people clapped loudly when a good point was made. Larry Griffiths, a 70 year old ward 4 resident said the intensification being done was going to drastically change the city and we are in jeopardy of losing what we have”. Griffith referred to Port Credit that has the feel Burlington residents want to keep.
This is a city wide issue said Griffith’s who wants the Official Plan put to a referendum which the Mayor said was going to be discussed at a council meeting next week – January 23rd.
“What do you want” asked the Mayor. Griffiths had no problem answering that question – “the Official Plan permits 12 storeys, stick to that.”
 Rick Burgess, a past candidate for the Office of Mayor asks the current Mayor to stick with the height limits set out in the current Official Plan Rick Burgess who once ran for Mayor and has served as an advisor for Goldring said he wanted the city to respect the heights set out in the existing Official Plan.
A woman who operates a hair salon on Brant said “we are feeling the pinch and the parking is hurting us”.
The operator of Martini House told the Mayor “we are in trouble” and told the audience that “some people are buying up the visitor spots in the condominiums at $30,000 a spot”.
Commercial rents were a concern. The audience were told that $45 a square foot is what business people should expect.
A New Street resident wanted to know how the Planning department got from putting out Tall Building Guide Lines in March of 2017 and then recommending a 23 storey building in November.
At a number of points during the two hour meeting the Mayor interjected and explained what the city has been doing. He said that 30 years ago the city began investing in the Downtown core with the Discovery Centre and Spencer Smith Park.
He explained that the Greenbelt plan prevents development north of the Hwy 407 – Dundas and that the provinces Places to Grow Plan made it clear that suburban sprawl had come to an end and the communities were going to have to accept some part of the growing population. Burlington is reacting to those two provincial plans.
For reasons that many just don’t understand or accept is the amount of intensification that is taking place on the lower part of Brant Street.
The developers are just reacting to the demand – the condominium units are selling. The Mayor has been known to talk about people he meets who bought a unit and can’t wait to move in.
What disturbs most people is that they feel this just crept up on them – that they weren’t aware and that the city hasn’t communicated with them.
It would be fair to say that residents haven’t been paying close attention. The Gazette has been reporting on the planning department and the Mobility Hubs for more than a year.
 Development was approved at four storeys – developer goes back to Planning department for an additional two storeys. Residents have difficulty with a project, the Saxony, that was approved for four storeys, construction begins and the developer decides to go back to city hall and ask for two additional storeys. The irony with the Saxony development is that they could have gotten five floors but said at a public meeting that they were happy with four storeys.
Ron Parker, a ward 4 resident said he learned about the plans to redevelop the Waterfront Hotel with a friend while playing golf. He said he had no idea that there were plans to redevelop the site. He said “there is no strategy and we don’t know where we are going … we are in damage control stumbling from decision to decision to decision”.
The audience was a mix of people who discovered the city, fell in love with it and moved to Burlington and those who have been here for a long time. One speaker has lived in Burlington for 73 of his 76 years.
One speaker mentioned the five emails he sent the Mayor – didn’t get a response. He wanted to know how people were expected to read and absorb a 2500 page document which another resident said has “No numbers in it”.
 Part of the Reverse Town Hall meeting hosted by the Mayor. People were in the room waiting for answers expecting someone to explain what had happened and why.
It was at that point that Lisa Kearns arrived. She had been at the Engaged Citizens of Burlington ECoB meeting and had a six questions she put to the Mayor:
What is the rush to push forward the Official Plan? Residents find the precinct plans difficult to find, analyze, and understand the impacts in all wards. This is still not clear.
Is the City doing enough to defend Zoning and Official Plan limits? Why are the rules changing and why is Development forcing special considerations – profitability?
What are we gaining in the rush for intensification and what tools are available to keep it in control? Is this the City we want to live in?
Why did the City begin engagement on the Official Plan when the supporting plans are not complete, this is not a complete strategy or Plan? We need to see the impact of the: Transit Plan, Transportation Plan, and Mobility Hubs. What is the rush?
Why is downtown an Area Specific Plan if a Character Study was not done on the neighbouring St. Luke’s Precinct and Emerald Neighbourhood? Have the concerns with specific residents who border on the growth areas been adequately addressed? What about uptown?
Do you want to live amongst tall buildings in your neighbourhood? The City of Burlington is changing the rules to turn into a big city intensified with big tall buildings? This is not a provincially mandated Mobility Hub.
 A staffer from the Mayors office captured everything that was said – expect to see much of it in the Mayor’s blog. Kearns was getting enthusiastic rounds of applause before she finished reading out the questions which the Mayor said he would respond to in his blog.
Many of the people in the room felt that at last there was someone who was speaking for them and was doing something to bring about a change which most of the people listening to the Mayor wanted.
 The Mayor and a Reverse Town Hall participant. One senior resident told the Mayor that he had lost the trust of the people.
A resident wondered if the city could create a model of what their city is going to look like going forward – people wanted to know what was coming their way. The person with this idea said the city might try having a good visual made showing what the streets would look like.
Lisa Kearns asked if what had taken place that evening was part of the record – was it something the city would include in its thinking. No said the Mayor, the evening was his occasion to listen to the people. He did add that members of Council would certainly now be aware of how people feel. How was that possible of four of the seven weren’t even in the room?
The Mayor closed with a remark former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once made when asked how a meeting had gone. “This has been a good meeting” Trudeau is said to have said “Everyone is pissed off, that’s a good place to start”.
We will let the Mayors closing comment stand on its own.
By Staff
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, there will be some temporary road closures and lane closures for the Robbie Burns Road Race. Minor traffic delays can be expected.
Road Closures
7 to 11 a.m. – Baldwin Street west of Hurd Avenue
9:15 to 9:45 a.m. – Baldwin Street from Hurd Avenue to Brant Street
Lane Closures
Locust Street, northbound, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
All remaining streets on race route will have one lane coned-off for runners from 9 to 11 a.m.
For those who don’t know who Robbie Burns was and why there is a celebration – know this.
Robbie Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language. His political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest.
He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.
Addressing the Haggis is a favourite of the Scottish people.
 Robert Burns This particular poem is always the first item on the programme of Burns’ suppers. The haggis is generally carried in on a silver salver at the start of the proceedings.
As it is brought to the table a piper plays a suitable, rousing accompaniment.
One of the invited artistes then recites the poem before the theatrical cutting of the haggis with the ceremonial knife.
Good luck to you and your honest, plump face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.
The groaning trencher there you fill,
Your buttocks like a distant hill,
Your pin would help to mend a mill
In time of need,
While through your pores the dews distill
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour wipe,
And cut you up with ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like any ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm steaming, rich!
Then spoon for spoon, the stretch and strive:
Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,
Till all their well swollen bellies by-and-by
Are bent like drums;
Then old head of the table, most like to burst,
‘The grace!’ hums.
Is there that over his French ragout,
Or olio that would sicken a sow,
Or fricassee would make her vomit
With perfect disgust,
Looks down with sneering, scornful view
On such a dinner?
Poor devil! see him over his trash,
As feeble as a withered rush,
His thin legs a good whip-lash,
His fist a nut;
Through bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his ample fist a blade,
He’ll make it whistle;
And legs, and arms, and heads will cut off
Like the heads of thistles.
You powers, who make mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill of fare,
Old Scotland wants no watery stuff,
That splashes in small wooden dishes;
But if you wish her grateful prayer,
Give her [Scotland] a Haggis!
“Auld Lang Syne”, a piece of verse that is often sung on New Year’s Eve was written by Burns.
 By Staff
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board has Inspire Awards for people who go above and beyond to support students in the School Board.
Everyone in the Halton District School Board community can nominate or be nominated – families, neighbours, related organizations, staff, students and school volunteers.
The Inspire Award is given to an individual or group that is formally or informally associated with the Halton District School Board, who support our students and their achievements through exemplary caring, initiative, innovation and creativity.
Recipients choose where they receive their award, so some choose the monthly Board meeting, while others choose to receive the award at their school or workplace or in the mail, if they wish. This month, three out of the nine recipients chose to receive the award at the January Board meeting while others have chosen to receive it at other locations this month.
 Pictured with trustees and director of education are ( L-R) Brian Vincent and Amy Abbott from TA Blakelock and Juliann Rosizky, itinerant EA and occasional teacher. The following Inspire Awards recipients will have their awards presented at their school or workplace, as requested:
Kyle Kennery, child youth counsellor (CYC) at McKenzie-Smith Bennett PS
CYC at MSB displaying deep caring for students. He ran a floor hockey club, basketball club; always making himself available to students. (Award at MSB)
Lorna Brooks, volunteer at McKenzie-Smith Bennett PS
Lorna has volunteered for many years on the School Council and by helping with the Nutrition Program, always with a friendly smile. (Award at MSB)
Andrew Strachan, volunteer at Ethel Gardiner PS
Volunteered with tremendous support for Hungry Bears Breakfast Program supported by Halton Food for Thought. The program has run five days per week since 2008. (Award at Ethel Gardiner PS)
Marge Anderson, volunteer at Ethel Gardiner PS
Volunteered with tremendous support for Hungry Bears Breakfast Program, supported by Halton Food for Thought. Program has ran since 2008, five days per week. (Award at Ethel Gardiner PS)
Steve Feltz, teacher at Bruce Trail PS
He helps students see the value in striving for success, the benefit of being involved and bringing out the best in his students and helping students gain confidence. (Award at Bruce Trail PS)
Diane Vandenbossche, representative for the Learning Disabilities Association of Halton (LDAH) on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Diane has been the LDAH rep on SEAC for many years, and is a strong advocate and voice for children with special education needs. (Awarded at SEAC meeting).
By Pepper Parr
January 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There were two meetings in town last night.
 Registration table for the ECoB meeting held at Wellington Square United Church. One, a Reverse Town Hall, called by the Mayor took place at the Art Gallery, the other, organized by Engaged Citizens of Burlington, took place at Wellington Square United Church; they drew 70 to 80 people and talked about the “need to change council”.
A new group was formed “from ward 1” who were going to meet again and find a way to replace their ward Councillor Rick Craven.
The ECoB meeting ended at about 8:00 pm. Lisa Kierns, an ECoB founder, left that meeting and zipped along to the Mayor’s meeting and presented him with six questions.
• What is the rush to push forward the Official Plan? Residents find the precinct plans difficult to find, analyze, and understand the impacts in all wards. This is still not clear.
• Is the City doing enough to defend Zoning and Official Plan limits? Why are the rules changing and why is Development forcing special considerations – profitability?
• What are we gaining in the rush for intensification and what tools are available to keep it in control? Is this the City we want to live in?
• Why did the City begin engagement on the Official Plan when the supporting plans are not complete, this is not a complete strategy or Plan? We need to see the impact of the: Transit Plan, Transportation Plan, and Mobility Hubs. What is the rush?
• Why is downtown an Area Specific Plan if a Character Study was not done on the neighbouring St. Luke’s Precinct and Emerald Neighbourhood? Have the concerns with specific residents who border on the growth areas been adequately addressed? What about uptown?
 Between 70 and 80 people attended the ECoB meeting; at least one with a cheque in hand. Some of the participants formed a group to replace the ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven. • Do you want to live amongst tall buildings in your neighbourhood? The City of Burlington is changing the rules to turn into a big city intensified with big tall buildings? This is not a provincially mandated Mobility Hub.
One of the meeting organizers, who asked not to be named said: “It was a great meeting with a lot of questions and answers given.”
The ECoB lawn signs were on sale, expect to see them popping up on snow covered lawns.
By Staff
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
On January 18th 2018 at approximately 2:40pm, a collision occurred at King Road and Plains Road in the City of Burlington.
 Photo of a male suspected of stealing a car from a woman while she was pumping gas into her car. Police photo. The male driver of one of the vehicles fled the collision scene. He ran to a nearby gas station and stole a vehicle from an elderly female who was pumping gas. The female was not injured. The male made good his escape in the stolen vehicle eastbound on Plains Road. Police are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the male.
Anyone who may have any information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact the Det McLeod of the HRPS Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau 905-825-4747 ext. 2385 or Crime Stoppers “See Something, Hear Something, Know Something – Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip 201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Angela Coughlan Pool – Service Disruption
Angela Coughlan Leisure Swim on Thursday January 18 from 5:30-7:30pm has been cancelled due to a maintenance issue.
Angela Coughlan Pool For alternative swim opportunities, please visit www.burlington.ca/play
By Staff
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
When Toronto Global put in their bid to be the location for what is being called HQ2 – the second headquarters Amazon wants to set up mention was made in that document of a piece of land on Upper Middle Road east of Appleby Line – known as Bronte Meadows.
 Part of the bid made had to include the transit infrastructure of the site. The document that Toronto Global submitted a number of possible locations – Bronte Meadows was one of them.
 An aerial view of the 184-acre site on Bronte Road. What is just a little ironic is that the Paletta interests have been trying to get what is defined as employment land changed to a residential designation.
Amazon announced today it had whittled down the list of 238 bidders to a short list of 20. Toronto was the only Canadian city to make the list.
One of the showcased sites in the Toronto Global bid was the Burlington’s Bronte-Meadows, a 184-acre site billed as having “campus-style development” potential.
 Upper Middle Road looking east towards Burloak – prime commercial. The “Toronto Region” lauded in the bid also includes Hamilton. The TO bid document even gives brief shout-outs to local institutions like McMaster University and Mohawk College as well as recreational highlights like our escarpment parks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Amazon is said to be planning to invest more than $5 billion into the forthcoming headquarters and hire 50,000 highly paid employees in the city housing it.
Amazon had stipulated in September that it was seeking to be near a metropolitan area with more than a million people; be able to attract top technical talent; be within 45 minutes of an international airport; have direct access to mass transit; and be able to expand that headquarters to as much as 8 million square feet in the next decade. But Amazon also made clear in that it wanted tax breaks, grants and any other incentives.
The extra space will help the rapidly-growing company, which It had nearly 542,000 employees at the end of September, a 77 per cent jump from the year before. Some of that growth came from Amazon’s nearly $14 billion acquisition last year of natural foods grocer Whole Foods and its 89,000 employees.
 A three dimensional view of the Bronte Meadows site on Upper Middle Road where it curves into Burloak. The process will now shift into a new phase, with Amazon representatives communicating more directly with finalist cities as they prepare to select a winner later this year, and perhaps with cities being even more outspoken about why they should be chosen.
Amazon.com Inc. said it will make a final selection sometime this year.
You can expect this news to work its way into the municipal election campaign that is already underway – all those condominiums along Brant street just might be needed.
 By Staff
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 Burlington Public Library and the Sound of Music Festival are excited to announce a new partnership.
Starting in January, free music and art education workshop series begins. They are called: Taking It to the Streets, designed for kids ages 9 to 12:
Sun January 21: Body Percussion Level 2 with Sheldon De Souza
Create music from nothing to something! Turn a zipper into a scratching turntable. A bottle for a cowbell. Clap, tap or stomp in a pattern. Use multiple voices to layer and create impact.
Sun February 11: Creative Arts with Rosalinde Pecino
 Rosalinde Pecino will show people how to explore the world of imagination and artistic expression. This workshop is an opening into the magical realm of creative arts using a series of exercises focusing on play, discovery, relationship, and expression. Together, with the help of the arts, we explore the world of imagination and artistic expression!
Sun April 8: Body Percussion Level 2 with Sheldon De Souza
Sun May 27: Theme to be announced
Sessions run 1.30-3pm. To register for any one or all of the Taking It to the Streets music education workshops @Central, please visit Sound of Music Festival. Space is limited. Maximum 20 children. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required.
Questions about the workshops? Contact Elizabeth Gomez, Chair, Music Education, Sound of Music Festival, 905.334.2241.
By Staff
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
With all the confusion, all the concern and a deep mistrust on the part of a significant portion of the downtown population the city is going to introduce another layer of information and advice.
The city created an Urban Design Advisory Panel and asked for people who were interested to get in touch with the Planning department. They were seeking architects, landscape architects, urban designers and planners as members for its inaugural term (2018 to 2020).
The mandate of the Burlington Urban Design Advisory Panel is to provide independent, objective and professional urban design advice to the Department of City Building – Planning, Building and Culture on all tall and mid-rise buildings (five storeys or greater) and all public development projects, studies and policy initiatives with the objective of achieving design excellence in the city.
The city “is at a unique time in its history. With very little green space left for the development of suburban-type neighbourhoods, the city can no longer grow out. Instead, it must grow from within its existing urban area.”
 No green space left – so it is build up, build smart and build beautiful. Applications were due by Dec. 22, 2017
Selected candidates were to be contacted in early January 2018 to arrange an interview with city staff.
Joe Gaetan, a Gazette reader wanted to know “who establishes the guiding principles for this panel?” And wondered if “any thought has been given to any form of citizen engagement on urban design, or do we have to wait until all the decisions are made and then react?”
 By Pepper Parr
January 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Engaged Citizens of Burlington, a newly formed group working towards a better Burlington for generations to come is particularly concerned with issues of planning and development.
They operate online and through community meetings to help build awareness on issues affecting Burlington residents and the community as a whole.
 The group planned a Workshop for volunteers that takes place this evening.
Unfortunately, the Office of the Mayor planned an event at the same time and while ECoB said they “applaud the Mayor for taking time to listen to the public” they did think that the Mayor’s office should have been aware of the meeting they had planned and been able to avoid a conflict.
 Rick Goldring during a 2014 election debate when two lightweight candidates went up against him. The 2018 election is going to be a lot different. Former Mayor Mike Wallace has thrown his hat into the ring – others are expected to follow. ECoB said they were under the impression that the January 23rd City Planning and Development Meeting was the time for the Mayor to listen to the public.
Matters got a little difficult for ECoB when the city manager sent them a letter threatening legal action if they did not remove some comments about the city planning department from their web site.
It’s all getting a little messy – there must be something in the water the people at city hall are drinking.
ECob is going ahead with their meeting.
The Mayor is going ahead with his Reverse Town Hall meeting.
They will all be at city hall on January 23rd for a critical Planning and Development meeting.
 Mike Wallace with Connie Smith. The day before – January 22nd, Mike Wallace a former city Councillor and former MP for Burlington will stand up in Civic Square and formally announce his intention to run for the Office of Mayor.
Suddenly everything comes into focus!
Salt with Pepper is an opinion column published from time to time.
By Staff
January 18th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Mike Wallace, five term member of Burlington City Council and three term Member of Parliament for Burlington, will announce his intention to run for the Office of the Mayor of Burlington on January 22nd at 11:30am.
The event will be held in the courtyard in front of Burlington City Hall 426 Brant Street. (They mean Civic Square)
Wallace will have a short speech to make to supporters in attendance and be available for interviews
By Pepper Parr
January 17th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The meeting took place on December the 18th.
It was requested by a group of Aldershot citizens who wanted more information on the developments taking place in their community. Much of the agenda was put together by the then Director of Planning Mary Lou Tanner.
 Planters along Plains Road have given what used to be a provincial highway a much more suburban look. The level and form of development taking place in their community has many concerned. Main Agenda Topics –
1. An overview of Mobility Hubs with a focus on employment-commercial areas (City staff)
2. Overview of employment lands in new Official Plan – Mobility Hub/Aldershot and residential/height mixed use focus (City staff, All)
3. Identification of issues-concerns with employment-commercial space (Tom, Greg, Dayna, Stephen, All)
4. De- commercialization and the loss of walkable necessities of life – inherent contradictions with the plan, and related issues.
5. Encroachment
 Mary Lou Tanner The then Director of Planning, Mary Lou Tanner (she became the Deputy city manager on the 22nd of December) provided the first three agenda items which led at least one person in the group to think there would be “would have a discussion all around, but we did not”.
Six mobility hub planners attended but according to people who were in the room not one of them said a word, except on small items of clarity with few words.
When the “meeting ended they took another way out of the room, avoiding us. There was no mention of a response to our issues and questions.”
The group had questions about
Community feedback;
What is an acceptable retail mix and
Why doesn’t the City enforce a minimum?
Transit integration and “walkability”
New OP
How is growth being measured?
How does that dictate plan direction?
The group was concerned over reports that the city is well over track to meet the region’s goals. What are the population targets for the next 10 years and does this tie in with unit construction?, they asked.
“Is it valid/legal for current planning decisions to be swayed by potential OP changes that are not on the books yet?
“How are mobility hub changes being factored into new OP?”
It was what most of citizens taking part thought was going to be a civil meeting with an open and transparent exchange of ideas.
But there was a bump that changed the tone of the meeting.
At one point, one of the Aldershot residents, appeared to have looked at Tanner in a manner that was uncomfortable to her and she let loose saying:
“Don’t you ever look at me like that again.”
By Deedee Davies
January 17th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
I am saddened to be writing to let you know that the citizens-led volunteer group, Burlington Waterfront, has shut down its operations. I had to step down as Chair of this group to focus more personal time and energy on providing elder support. With our executive members already also deeply involved in the complementary advocacy efforts with other groups to protect our waterfront lands and downtown from unnecessary overdevelopment, none of them were able to take on this role.
 Deedee Davies on the left with Councillor John Taylor and Realtor Linda Davies – the two women are not related. We encourage you to stay involved in protecting public access to our waterfront. Writing to all the Councillors and Mayor with your views on issues is a good start. Mayor@burlington.ca; Ward 1 rick.crave@burlington.ca; Ward 2 marianne.meedward@burlington.ca; Ward 3 john.taylor@burlington.ca; Ward 4 jack.dennison@burlington.ca; Ward 5 paul.sharman@burlington.ca; and Ward 6 blair.lancaster@burlington.ca
As well, there are several advocacy groups operating where you can offer your support, expertise, time, or effort.
 Plan B, a group of downtown residents, want to ensure that the public has better access and sight lines to the waterfront and the pier. They want to be “at the table? when the redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel takes place. Plan B is working with the city planners to develop a better plan than the city’s preferred concept for the redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel lands at the foot of Brant Street. The draft city plan called for two towers of up to 25 and 18 storeys and a large 4 storey podium all on the waterfront side of Lakeshore Road. You can join Plan B in their efforts by getting involved through their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/PlanBwaterfrontHotelRedevelopment/
ECoB (Engaged Citizens of Burlington) is “fighting City Hall” to have overturned the recent approval by City Council for a 23 storey condominium on the north-east corner of Brant and James Streets. This is the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back” and would permit a flood of 20 something storey condominiums into our downtown and line Brant Street from the waterfront up. In fact, city planners already envisage (and are trying to put approval for it in the Official Plan) a 22 storey condo being built at the NE corner of Brant and Lakeshore Road, where the old bank building, now a falafel restaurant is located. This would be directly across from the proposed 22 storey replacement for the Waterfront Hotel and the 22 storey Bridgewater Development already under construction.
This not-for-profit group of citizens are also proposing to delay approval of the Burlington New Official Plan that regulates land use for the next decade so that citizens have proper opportunity to learn about and comment on the sweeping changes being proposed for some neighbourhoods. Find out more on how you can get involved at www.engagedburlington.ca, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecoburlington/ and on Twitter at Twitter.com/EngagedCoB or email them at info@engagedburlington.ca .
 Meed Ward with Mayor Goldring: she is more comfortable with herself as a speaker. Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward who represents the downtown is working tirelessly to try and stop these irreversible events from occurring. She has brought to light new information on the Downtown Mobility Hub and a discrepancy between city and provincial intensification boundaries that could be game changers.
Please read her latest Ward 2 newsletter at www.ward2news.ca or follow on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ward2burlington/ or on Twitter at @MarianneMeedWard to learn more. If you care, please get involved, particularly if you are not from Ward 2.
Burlington Green Environmental Organization believes the City of Burlington is missing a huge opportunity to preserve and add green spaces to the downtown as they finalize the Official Plan. With all the condominiums planned for the core, there are not any park spaces planned for south of James, east of Brant and north of Lakeshore. Where will the children of families living in this neighbourhood play? You can learn more at www.burlingtongreen.org under the Local Issues /Preserve Greenspace tab, or follow them at www.facebook.com/Burlington.green.environment/
Burlington Core Residents is a forum for residents to stay current on the latest news and developments in the Burlington downtown area. Their email address is coreresidents@gmail.com, or follow them at www.facebook.com/coreresidents/
 The developer wants to intensify this property. First Urban Inc is appealing the city’s refusal of rezoning for 143 Blue Water Place and 105 Avondale Court (between Walkers and Appleby Lines south of Lakeshore Road). It will be going to an OMB Hearing at City Hall beginning May 14, 2018 at 10:00. The City and citizens are trying to prevent a development of 35 three storey townhouses and 4 semi-detached units from being built on the waterfront where currently there exist two homes. This development is inappropriate at this location for so many reasons. An association was formed to help the city fight this proposed development. They are called Burlington Lakeshore Residents Association. Their chair, Ben King will be an official Party with legal standing to the OMB Hearings. To become involved, please write to them at lakeshoreresidents@outlook.com or check out their website at www.lakeshoreresidents.com.
 When the city sunset the Waterfront Advisory committee that a former member had set up the Council member for the ward, Marianne Meed Ward, created a citizens advisory committee that would “take a holistic look at what is best for the city”. On behalf of the executive of Burlington Waterfront, I would like to thank you for your interest and efforts in protecting public access to our waterfront and encourage you to continue making Burlington a great city with a great waterfront by staying engaged. And please take time to enjoy our beautiful waterfront, in every season – it is a jewel.
 Former Toronto Mayor David Crombie was a guest at a Waterfront Advisory Committee where he urged Mayor Goldring to listen to what the citizens of the city. Editor’s note: The Waterfront group that has ceased operating had an interesting history. It was what was left of the Waterfront Advisory Committee that was formed by former Mayor Cam Jackson. The city sunset that committee. Both Mayor Golding and Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward said they would form committees to take up the work that both felt needed to be done.
The Mayor did nothing – Meed Ward decided to serve as an advisor to the group she was going to form. While serving as Chair of the committee Davies worked tirelessly and brought interesting information to the public. Think Deedee Davies when you think about who should be nominated as one of Burlington’s Best.
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