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August 29th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
They have been operating as a cultural organization for more than 20 years. They hold an
which takes place Saturday September 9th at the Holiday Inn. 
Resident reminds city hall that climate change has to be factored into the leaf collection schedule,
August 28th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Fred Crockett, a Burlington based real estate broker and a man with a quick word when he is unhappy. And last fall he was unhappy, very unhappy with the way the city handled the fall collection of leaves. He wrote saying he was looking forward to a return to sanity on the way the city decides to collect al those leaves. Climate change got the best of city hall – and we saw equipment out on the streets with nary a leaf to be found.  Climate change didn’t get factored into the leaf collection schedule. The leaves had decided to cling to their stems for just a little longer. Tough call for the city – how do you know when the leaves are going to fall – they certainly didn’t follow past practices. No word yet if the city has learned anything from the experience last year. Crockett refers to “last year’s debacle” as something the city might want to try and avoid.
August 28th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
There is something about the planting of a tree – no matter what your age the tree you plant is likely to be on this earth longer than you. Experiences like this are important to young people who are just beginning to fully appreciate the role trees play in the life we live. The climate change we are experiencing didn’t just happen – our behaviour is what brought it about and it is our behaviour that is going to heal the environment – if we are lucky.  A lot of bending when trees are planted. Students will be back in school on Tuesday – think about making Saturday of next week the day you get them outdoors and planting a tree. They will never forget the experience and many will return to that spot to look at the tree they planted and perhaps show off their work to their children. Conservation Halton is looking for 100 community volunteers to help plant 500 native trees and shrubs on Saturday, September 9. The Fall Trees for Watershed Health Community Tree Planting is taking place at Courtcliffe Park, 159 Carlisle Road in the village of Carlisle.
We welcome all individuals, families, and small groups to participate. No prior planting experience is required. Space is limited and pre-registration is mandatory, visit www.conservationhalton.ca/trees-for-watershed-health for more details and to find registration information.
August 28th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Police have arrested a 17 year old for setting four fires in the Palmer Drive – Newlands Crescent part of the city. On August 27th 2017 at approximately 4:00am, members of the Halton Regional Police Service and Burlington Fire Department responded to a series of deliberately set fires in the area where fired had been intentionally set to several items stored outside four different homes.  Fire truck responding to a fire in the Palmer Drive part of the city previously. The smell of smoke was initially detected by a homeowner after a decorative wreath was set on fire. The wreath was displayed on the front door of the house. There was minor damage sustained to the house as a result of the fire. At nearby homes, fire also destroyed a ski-doo and damaged a fence as well as miscellaneous other property items. Four homes, in total, were involved. The person arrested, a 17 year old Burlington resident, cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The youth is currently accused: • Arson (damage to property) (4 Counts) The youth was held in custody and is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on August 28th at the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton. Anyone who has information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Scott Feddema at 905-825-4747 ext. 2372. Tips can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers; “See Something, Hear Something, Say Something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.crimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
August 28th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Dominating is the word that best describes a baseball performance that moved the Barrie Baycats one win from a fourth straight Intercounty Baseball League title.
Barrie leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 and can clinch Tuesday in Kitchener. Panthers starter Sean Ratcliffe (1-2) took the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits with five walks and three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Future games
August 28th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Police are seeking witnesses to an incident that occurred downtown Burlington in the early morning hours of Monday August 21st 2017 when a 24-year-old Burlington man seriously injured after jumping from moving car.
One of the men started an altercation with three unknown males near City Hall. After the altercation was quickly broken up, the two original men continued to their car and began to drive either west on Ontario Street towards Maple Avenue, or possibly south on Locus Street towards Elgin. Shortly after the car began to drive away, the 24-year-old male that started the altercation, jumped out of the passenger side of the moving car and struck his head on the roadway surface. The male was knocked unconscious. The driver of the car, and the three men involved in the earlier altercation, placed the injured man back into the car so he could be driven to Joseph Brant Hospital. The man remains in hospital at this time with a serious head injury. The incident was reported to police August 26th. Police would like to speak with the three men who helped the injured party into the 4-door black Nissan and to any witnesses that may have observed the incident, or any businesses that may have captured the incident on security cameras. Anyone with information is requested to contact Detective Constable Chris HEFFERNAN of the Halton Regional Police Service Collision Reconstruction unit at 905-825-4747 extension 5420. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
August 27th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
It must have been quite a party.  Cleaning crew failed to show up? With no one around to clean up and a case of beer that was too warm to drink when it was found. Who used the space? Who forgot to clean up?  Whoever used the site made good use of all the space.  Quite a bit of beer was left for anyone passing by. No word on what our photographer might have done. Parks and Recreation will be making phone calls Monday morning about this one. The space was being used legally wasn’t it? Paletta Mansion is a city owned property that has always been a financial drag on the city. There was the potential for a long term lease with a Hamilton restaurateur but that fell though when details on upgrades to the kitchen couldn’t be agreed upon. Geraldo’s, in LaSalle Park is another city property that does exceptionally well for the city – as does the Discovery Centre that is now managed by Spencers on the Waterfront. The Paletta operation hasn’t been given the care and attention it needs. The rooms are lovely and are used for receptions and conferences from time to time. A major high-end auto show takes place on the grounds each year.
August 27, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
If you are putting together your schedule for the week don’t forget RibFest – Friday September 1st through to Sunday September 3rd, 2017 – 11AM – 11PM Monday September 4th – 11AM – 7PM Sponsored by the Lakeshore Rotary club – a sixty strong membership that makes the event happen every year. This time they have made some changes to the model – not the menu.  Burlington’s Ribfest – If you looked around there was still some sitting room. The weather was close to perfect and the music was good – great way to bring a summer to a close. The event is the major fund raising initiative for the Lakeshore Rotary. In 2014 – the year of the flood – the Rotary used the occasion to raise funds for those families that had been wiped out by the flood. It was successful enough for the Association to look for new ways to serve the community. This year the focus is on the Carpenter Hospice which is in the process of close to doubling the size of the facility.  VIP tent – open to the public Sunday afternoon and evening. A VIP tent has been set up, courtesy of Carriage Gate Homes, that will be open to the public Sunday afternoon and evening. Your ticket, available on line, gets you a spot at the front of the line to buy your selection of ribs and then saunter over to the VIP tent and enjoy the chow where the beverage selection is a little more varied – includes some specialty cocktails. This is a Sunday only occasion – the tent is open to the public. It is a space that is sheltered, has a great site line to the stage and a bar that has an upscale selection of beverages. And, an upscale biffy. More details on the ticket offering for this can be found HERE. The event will serve up the same ribs people in Burlington have been enjoying since 1996 when there were less than ten ribbers offering a food that was new to many. While it rained most of the one day event in 1996 – it was successful enough financially for the Rotary to make a long term commitment. That commitment has resulted in the raising of more than $3 million – nothing shabby about that number.
August 27th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Students returning to school next week will bring with them stories of their summer holiday experience. A time that is care free, less demanding than days when classrooms are open – it is a rest time, a time to grow and have new experiences.  Exploring, growing – reflecting – summer vacation. There will be some really nice stories told about adventures and perhaps some travel. It will not be this way for all the students that show up for class on the 5th of September. Some students live lives that are a lot different; sometimes close to tragically different. Michael, a high school student is being raised by the one parent –his Dad Jim. Michael’s mom is incarcerated. Jim has to work two jobs to make ends meet so that he and his son will not have to go into a shelter. Dealing with the emotional fall out of having a parent in jail is tough enough. Keeping a household together is another burden. Jim has not purchased any new clothes or non-essentials for himself for several years so he could ensure Michael was taken care of.
Funds from the Foundation will allow Michael to purchase new shoes, gym clothes and school supplies that his Father just isn’t able to provide. Those Learning Foundation funds come from the generous support of people in the Region who provide the dollars needed to fill in the gaps that some parents can’t manage. When the Foundation comes looking for financial support – be there for them so that they can be there for others; people like Michael, the high school student going through a very difficult time. You can help: A click away.
August 27th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
That there is a place for semi-pro baseball in this province – there is no doubt.  Barrie Baycat’s batters did this more often than any other team in the InterCounty Baseball league – the team lost just two games in the regular season. More than 1,200 fans packed the Jack Couch Park and saw the Barrie Baycats take a two-game lead in the IBL final with a 13-4 win over the Kitchener Panthers Saturday night. Game 3 is Sunday night in Barrie.  Limited seating at the Nelson ball park. Can you imagine that many fans showing up for a game in Burlington? The ball park at Nelson could hold – perhaps 300. We don’t know how many Burlington baseball fans are taking in these IBL final games – we do know that if there are any they are seeing great baseball. Thrilling. Future games
August 25th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Police in Burlington are seeking assistance from the public to identify one person responsible for forcing entry into a vehicle, stealing items including a wallet and later using stolen credit cards at several businesses in the Hamilton area. Overnight between August 12th to 13th 2017, the suspect forced open the driver’s door of a vehicle on Angus Court, in Burlington to gain entry. Once inside, the suspect rummaged through the glove-box and removed the vehicle owner’s wallet. Shortly after 8:00 AM on August 13th 2017, the suspect used the stolen credit cards at a Pioneer Gas Station near Woodward Avenue and Barton St in Hamilton. Suspect: white male, 25-35 years of wearing a New England Patriots baseball cap, black t-shirt and black shorts.  Someone is going to recognize this young man – Hopefully it will not be his Mother.  Close up of the suspect. Theft from autos continues to be a concern in Burlington and police would like to remind the public to ensure their vehicles are locked and avoid leaving valuables inside and/or in plain view. Police also encourage citizens to report any suspicious persons. Anyone who can identify this suspect are encouraged to contact Detective Constable Tyler Freeman of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Residential Crime Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2363. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
August 25th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional police thought that most of the scams took place in Oakville but decided to cast the net a little wider and are asking Burlington residents if they have had any dealings with a male who was arrested and charged with: Fraud Under $5000 x 9 Fraud Over $5000 x 1
Police are investigating one known occurrence in the City of Burlington and believe there may be more victims who paid for contractor services they did not receive. Bowler generally targeted older adult home owners in Halton Region. The arrest was the result of a seven month fraud investigation involving a male posing as a handyman. On multiple occasions this male retained cash deposits for the promised jobs which he failed to complete. This male generally targeted the older adult population. On August 23, 2017 Elwood BOWLER (54 years) from Toronto was arrested and charged. Anyone who may have information pertaining to this investigation is asked to please contact the Elders Investigator, Detective Constable Tim Nichols at 905-825-4747 ext. 2214.
August 25th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
They are changing the model – not the menu. And it isn’t a big change but significant nevertheless. The Rotary decided that since they donate all profits to charities anyway, why not partner up front with meaningful, significant Burlington charities. Carpenter Hospice holds a special place in the hearts of Rotarians and for most Burlingtonians. So, The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore chose Carpenter Hospice as it’s organization of choice for this year’s VIP event. The Rotary Clubs in Burlington were the force behind the original capital campaign to build Carpenter Hospice. Fundraising for the hospice began in 1999 when the four Rotary Clubs of Burlington committed a pledge of $250,000 toward the development of the Hospice, kicking off the Rotary Community Hospice Project. The legal name of the Hospice remains the Burlington Rotary Community Hospice. Local philanthropist, Len Carpenter, donated $500,000 to the project, earning him the right to choose the name for the hospice which continues to operate as “Carpenter Hospice”. The Hospice is launching their “Make Room” campaign coinciding with Ribfest. This also brings some more awareness to the good works of the Hospice. Putting on the biggest chow down in the area and raising big bucks that get plowed back into the community is what the Lakeshore branch of the Rotary operations in Burlington has always been about. Sixty + strong the Burlington Lakeshore Rotary brought the Ribfest to the city in 1996 – while it was a risk at the time it proved to be the smartest thing they have ever done.  John Thorpe John Thorpe and Bob Peeling were assigned with the task of creating a new fundraising event for the organization in the mid-sixties. Thorpe, who was heavily involved in the cycling community, had heard of a race in Ohio called the Ribfest Race, where the finish line of the cycling event had a big BBQ party, the Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest.  Bob Peeling Bob and John visited the race in 1995 and thought it’d make a great fundraiser for their Club, it was a unique concept at the time. The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore launched the event at Spencer Smith Park over a weekend in mid-September to tie into an Art Gallery of Burlington event. It moved to Labour Day weekend in its second year, becoming a four day event, and has since become known as the end of summer celebration for the people of Burlington and surrounding areas. Canada’s Largest Ribfest was a success even in its first year. Despite raining almost the entire weekend, there was a steady line up of people waiting for their authentic southern barbeque experience. There were only six “ribbers”, compared to the 19 “ribbers” now, four of which came up from the southern States where barbequing events were very common. Two of those “ribbers” have been participating ever since.  Rib fests were a southern American states cultural event. The Lakeshore Rotary imported the idea into Burlington – and it worked. There was a small stage with blues and country performers at that first event; 22 years later there is a full schedule of entertainment. The Rotary Club set a three year fundraising goal and decided that if they could not reach the goal they would dis-continue the event. Despite only raising $800 in the first year, the Club was ahead of their goal to break even. By the second year, the three year fundraising goal had been met.  Thorpe and Peeling – a moment to celebrate Twenty two years later Canada’s Largest Ribfest has raised $3 million dollars and is still a giant barbeque party. The VIP tent is located close to the Lake and gives a great sight line to the WORD stage. The focus for Linda Davies is that Saturday event – where the objective is to raise funds for the Carpenter Hospice. She would like to see a couple of more tables filled. She had a live one – a company she was pretty sure she could sell a table to – she’s done it before. But there was a problem – the Saturday was the birthday of the wife – who didn’t fancy spending the special day at Ribfest no matter how nice the view. The offer of a big birthday cake didn’t do it. Ticket price is $150/person or Reserve a Table of 10 for $1,500 Davies wants you to Kick back and relax – enjoy the experience Canada’s Largest Ribfest in the comfort of the Exclusive Carriage Gate VIP Lounge. In light of The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore crucial role in the birth of the Hospice, this is a fitting “full circle” connection as they launch their “Make Room” campaign.  Carpenter hospice – The 14-year-old care facility, for people in the last stages of their life because of a terminal or chronic illness, is getting a new residential wing as well as renovating the existing structure. Carpenter Hospice is a 10-bedroom facility that offers residential-based palliative care in a home-like setting, and also community-based programs for people dealing with grief or a life-limiting illness. The $3.7-million project, dubbed Making Room, will be done in two phases. The first will involve the building of an addition to house the current capacity of 10 residents. The new room’s amenities will include enhanced access to the outdoors through larger doors, balconies for each room and private space for families.  Rained most of the weekend in 1996 when the first Ribfest was held. The evening (Saturday, September 2nd) is a special “all you can eat” catered Rib Dinner with a selection of award winning Ribs from 3 “best rib” winners. An upscale fancy bar with some signature drinks is provided. One of the real perks for those who have attended Ribfest before are the dedicated VIP executive washrooms. That alone is worth the price of a ticket. A $90 charitable receipt available.
August 25th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
It is going to be an interesting playoff series. The Barrie Baycats took game 1 of the best of seven but they needed 10 innings to do it. The Kitchener Panthers hung in and took the game into that tenth inning where it was lost 4-3 It is going to be an exciting series. The Burlington Herd got taken out of the series at the quarter finals level.
Sunday, Aug. 27
August 25th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
He has a team of 12 people; all with the title of Superintendent and an Executive Director who heads up the Human Resources department. While the recommendations that come from the board staff are under the signature of Stuart Miller, Director of Education, these are staff decisions.  Director of Education -Stuart Miller Parents unhappy with the decision to close Bateman and Pearson high schools tend to go after Miller. He doesn’t take to the criticism all that easily; he takes it home with him. But it is for the most part a team decision. The Board announced earlier this week that Colette Ruddock has been appointed Superintendent and will oversee the north Oakville family of schools with additional responsibility for the student health portfolio. Colette’s began her career with Halton in 1993 and has worked as a Vice-Principal and Principal in seven different schools. She has also served in the role of Education Officer with the Ministry of Education where she played a key role in Teacher Performance Appraisal processes, New Teacher Induction programs as well as School Board hiring practices. She is proficient in French with numerous experiences in a French Immersion settings and has taken a leadership role in our recent elementary French Immersion delivery model transition planning. She is a student-focused leader who has strong instructional leadership skills and recently received the EQAO Bette Stephenson Recognition of Achievement Award for the use of data and evidence to improve school achievement at E.J. James Public School. Ruddock is an addition to the team of Superintendents that deliver on the direction Stuart Miller provides. She is the newest member of a team that has had a full calendar year – and it isn’t over yet.  David Boag Miller is backed up by David Boag, who is the Associate Director responsible for Student achievement, School operations and school accommodation and program viability. Boag is a softer personality than Miller His task is to ensure that the quality of the programs offered is maintained and grown. He has to follow the direction given by Miller who is the Chief Educational officer. The bulk of the team of Superintendents are focused on the academic side with Gerry Cullen handling the physical side of the schools buildings.  The Board of Education doesn’t get a lot of attention – until there is an issue that reaches into every household – then the public turns out with questions. The Board of Education doesn’t get a lot of public attention. It is seen as a quiet operation that runs smoothly for the most part. But, Miller will tell you that the Board is the largest employer in the Region and is a part of every community. The Board is literally a part of every household that has children.  Joey Edwardh, who holds a doctorate and runs the Community Development Halton organization with Stuart Miller, Director of Education. These two could be collaborating much more than they do When the weather is iffy – it is Stuart Miller who is up at 5:00 am talking to the team that he works with and deciding if schools are going to open. He is very much a hands on personality – sometimes to his detriment. He has been an educator all of his professional life which is one of the problems the Board has to contend with. The administrative offices for the Region wide Board are in Burlington on Guelph Line. Being “in touch” with every community is not a simple matter. The Halton District school Board has organized its Superintendents so that the workload is spread amongst all of them – when they gather as the team that oversees what happens in the schools there is representation from men and women who are in daily contact with the schools in Halton Hill or Oakville. Each of the Superintendents came up “through the system” they know the schools they are responsible for like the back of their hands.
 Terri Blackwell Terri Blackwell is one of the 12 Superintendents of Education. She reports on and oversees the School Councils, Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), Research in schools and is responsible for: Elementary schools: Alexander’s, Alton Village, Brant Hills, Bruce T. Lindley, Burlington Central Elem, Central, CH Norton, Charles R Beaudoin, Clarksdale, Florence Meares, Kilbride, John T Tuck, John Wm Boich, Lakeshore, Orchard Park, Paul A Fisher, Pauline Johnson, Rolling Meadows, Tom Thomson. Secondary schools: Burlington Central HS, Dr Frank J Hayden SS, MM Robinson HS, Nelson  Gerry Cullen Gerry Cullen is the Superintendent of Facility Services. He isn’t an educator – his role is to ensure that the facilities needed to get the educating done are operational on a daily basis. Cullen will oversee the merging of the Bateman student body with that of Nelson high school where he will go through a budget of $12 million making changes to Nelson so that school can accommodate the students from Bateman once it closes. Cullen’s workload includes:  Rob Eatough Rob Eatough is the Superintendent of Education who handles equity programs, Communications (Internal/External) He oversees: Elementary schools: Dr Charles Best, Frontenac, Mohawk Garden, Pineland, Ryerson, Sir Ernest MacMillan, Tecumseh. Secondary schools: Robert Bateman HS, Lester B Pearson HS. With the planned closing of those two high school in the next two years Eatough will be looking at some re-assignment.  Julie Hunt Gibbons Julie Hunt Gibbons, Superintendent of Education oversees Secondary curriculum and school program; Student success and pathways destinations. That puts the program at Bateman high school on her desk – one of the more delicate tasks this Board now faces. She is responsible for: Elementary schools: Brookdale, Eastview, Gladys Speers, Oakwood, Pine Grove, WH Morden. Secondary schools: TA Blakelock HS  Jacqueline Newton Jacqueline Newton is a Superintendent of Education who opened the Hayden high school in Alton. Her focus is Innovation/Ingenuity in schools. During the PAR – Program Accommodation Review process the board completed in June, many thought that Newton was going to be a leader in thinking through some of the innovative ideas the PAR committee thought were possible to keep Pearson and Bateman open.  The PARC wanted to look for innovative ways to keep their schools open – the problem was that the public and the Board staff didn’t see innovation through the same lens. Public sector and private sector people have different perceptions as to just what innovation is. What the public didn’t understand was that Newton’s focus was on innovation within the educational structure. Her role was not to look for innovative changes to the structure; a significant difference. Members of the PARC saw innovation from a private sector perspective where the demands for change have an impact on the profitability of a corporation. Profitability is a foreign concept for educators. Our schools are paid for out of tax dollars that are collected – those tax dollars aren’t earned. Newton oversees: Elementary schools: Anne J MacArthur, Boyne, Brookville, Bruce Trail, Chris Hadfield, Escarpment View, EW Foster, Hawthorne Village, Irma Coulson, JM Denyes, Martin Street, PL Robertson, Robert Baldwin, Sam Sherratt, Tiger Jeet Singh, WI Dick. Secondary schools: Craig Kielburger SS, Milton District HS  John Pennyfather John Pennyfather, Superintendent of Education oversees School health protocols, Social justice and the Our Kids Network He is responsible for: Elementary schools: Abbey Lane, Capt R Wilson, Emily Carr, Falgarwood, Forest Trail, Heritage Glen, Joshua Creek, Montclair, Munn’s, Oodenawi, Palermo, Pilgrim Wood, Post’s Corners, River Oaks, Sheridan, Sunningdale, West Oak. Secondary schools: Abbey Park HS, Garth Webb SS, Iroquois Ridge HS, White Oaks SS  Scott Podrebarac Scott Podrebarac is a Superintendent of Education and is a different man today than he was when he was asked to lead the PAR last October. He is a very genial man who found himself working with a process that was new and over time found to be flawed. He didn’t create the process – but he had to work with it. He was given a group of parents that never managed to coalesce into a group working as one. The parents representatives from the seven Burlington high schools chose to defend the turf of the schools they represented. They were a group that knew very little about each other and brought more agendas into the PARC process than there were schools.  This wasn’t what Scott Podrebarac, on the left, expected from the public when he took on the task of shepherding the PAR process. It would be interesting to see what a report from Podrebaac on the PAR process the Board went through would look like. The Ministry of Education that created the process came to the realization that the process was flawed and decided that it would not be used going forward. That decision was made 22 days after the Halton trustees decided to close the two high schools. Podrebarac oversees the Early years/Kindergarten program and the Safe schools programs. He is responsible for: Elementary schools: Centennial, Ethel Gardiner, George Kennedy, Glen Williams, Harrison, Joseph Gibbons, Limehouse, McKenzie-Smith Bennett, Park, Pineview, Robert Little, Silver Creek, Stewarttown. Secondary schools: Acton HS, Georgetown District HS.  Tina Salmini Tina Salmini is a Superintendent of Education who oversees the Elementary curriculum and school program; New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP), Leadership training and Library Services. There is a lot more to that work load than meets the eye. The changes in the way libraries work today is massive – technology now drives so much more of it. Salmini is respobsible for: Elementary schools: EJ James, James W Hill, Maple Grove, New Central Secondary schools: Oakville Trafalgar HS  Gord Truffen Gord Truffen Superintendent of Education oversees Information Services (IT); International students and is responsible for: Elementary schools: Aldershot (elem), Glenview, King’s Road, Maplehurst Secondary schools: Aldershot HS. It doesn’t look like much of a workload – which is a little misleading. Truffen is probably the Superintendent most in touch with what takes place in the private sector. Given a little more rope and a mandate to pull more private sector practices into a system that lives in a bit of a bubble Truffen could make the Halton Board considerably different.  Mark Zonneveld Mark Zonneveld is a Superintendent of Education who is responsible for Special Education/Student Services. He oversees the Syl Apps school and Section 23 programs. Section 23 programs serve students who require their educational needs to be met outside of the regular school system, in specialized settings. A student in a Section 23 Program is a client of an agency funded by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services that provides services in one of the following categories: Care – hospitals, maternity homes; Treatment – children’s mental health centres and group homes. Corrections – open custody and closed custody situations. More importantly he is handling the transition of students from Bateman into Nelson and the movement of the International Baccalaureate program from Bateman to Central. It is a job that calls for compassion and sensitivity – something many of the Bateman parents didn’t feel existed at the Board level. Zonneveld’s challenge is to show that both exist in the operation he runs. Superintendent Cullen has to build the space that will be needed at Nelson for the Bateman students; Zonneveld has to tailor programs for those students.  Lucy Veerman Lucy Veerman is the Superintendent of Business Services. She is the Board’s “bean counter”. The PAR process was a bit of a rude awakening for Veerman. Parents, especially those from Centreal high school were looking at the numbers very closely and they didn’t like a lot of what they saw. Veerman had to defend numbers that make sense to educators but not a lot of sense to parents who are not familiar with public service accounting. Veerman is responsible for Accounting, Budget, Planning, Purchasing and Transportation.  Debra McFadden Debra McFadden is the Executive Officer, Human Resources. She oversees the hiring and development of the teachers. She is the Board’s Chief Negotiator and is responsible for all Labour Relations including Human Resources Strategy and Policy That’s the team that is going to take the system of high schools in Burlington through a very difficult phase in the next two years. It is a young team – there are not a lot of people who are going to be retiring soon; just a couple. The strength of the high school system and how well it serves the needs of the public is critical. Good high schools attract families to a community. There was a time when parents would lie about where they lived to get their children into one of the elementary schools in the south east part of the city – it’s reputation was that good. The leadership of a school can make a huge difference. The leadership of a Board administration can make a big difference. And the leadership from the trustees can and should make a difference. Corporations that are looking for a new location or the setting for an expansion want to know that a community has a solid educational system. One can’t say that the high school system in Burlington isn’t solid – one has to say that it is going through a process of transition – which we all hope they get right the first time. The first reaction we are going to see from the public will be in the 2018 election – just over a year away. Has the Board of trustees understood what the public that put them in office wants? Part of the answer to that question is – which public put them in office? With the voter turnout as low as it has been in Burlington one has to ask – who elected these people?
August 24, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
The southbound lane on Brant Street, just south of Victoria Avenue, will be closed on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for excavation work. Southbound traffic will be detoured west on Baldwin Street, south on Locust Street and east on Blenheim Street. The northbound lane will stay open. Signs and barricades will be up and Halton Regional Police Services will be on site to help with the detour. You will still be able to access businesses and homes along Brant Street.
April 24th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
There is a reason media tend not to pay attention to news releases that get sent to us. For the most part they are filled with information that stretches the truth and stays miles away from the issues. They seldom answer the questions people have on their mind.
The team got taken out of the playoffs at the quarter final level with just the one win. Thank you. You made this season special. You increased average attendance by 26%. You made the Barn (Nelson Park) one of the most amazing atmospheres in the league. You are the reason our staff loves what they do and work so hard to make the Herd what they are. Our 2018 season starts today and we have some big events and announcements planned for next year. Which is why we are already planning improvements to the ballpark, recruiting our roster, updating our ticket plans and more for the Intercounty Baseball League’s 100th season. We are overwhelmed with the number of new fans we met this summer that have become hooked with Burlington Herd Baseball that we have decided to take season ticket deposits! I can promise you that our owners and staff are 100% dedicated to making Nelson Park and Burlington Herd games the most unique and fun experience in the region. What does one say to that?
One can say that someone has to be last. Guelph saw that coming their way and suspended operations for the season. IBL players do not get paid a salary and there are serious limits on what they can accept in the way of gift money. They do get travel money. Revenue for the teams comes from ticket sales, sponsorship’s, food and beverage revenue. Anyone owning a baseball team has an expensive hobby. A good team will draw a local audience – and a good team is a winning team. The Barrie Baycats lost just two games during the regular season and there is every reason to believe they will take the finals in four games straight. If that happens this will be the fourth year they have done just that.
What came to Burlington as the Twins in 2011 later became the Bandits and then became the Herd. No word yet on if the coaching team is going to be invited to return.
August 24th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Cindy (not her real name) is a woman of about forty with a winning smile and a full head of long brown hair. She has been working at minimum wage jobs for many years, often juggling several jobs at the same time. You have to be tough to survive in today’s world of precarious employment and Cindy is a survivor. A few months ago while talking about her present life and her struggle to make ends meet, Cindy was asked what it would be like to make $15 an hour. “That would be awesome,” she replied matter-of-factly. “That would be pretty sweet, I think.” [1] Isabella Daley is another woman in her forties, well educated and highly articulate, with a wry sense of humour. She knows how tough it is to raise her children (and her condescending cat) while employed at minimum wage jobs. In a candid video produced for Living Wage Hamilton she imagines how her life would change if she were paid a living wage, currently $15.85 per hour in Hamilton. Not only would she be able to pay the rent and utility bills, she could do something for her toothache before it became unbearable, and let her daughter have a friend come for dinner. Isabella knows well what it is like to be one of the “working poor”. [2] The Ontario Government’s proposed legislation, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017, includes raising the minimum wage to $14.00 in January, 2018 and to $15.00 a year later. It will be warmly welcomed by Cindy and Isabella and hundreds of thousands of other people as roughly 30 percent of Ontario’s workers are paid less than $15.00 an hour. [3] The government is also legislating that part-time workers be paid the same as full-time workers, and is allowing employees two paid emergency days and five unpaid ones each year. As expected, the business community, represented by the Chambers of Commerce, is sounding the alarm about catastrophic job losses and dire effects on the economy. One recent study [4] predicts that approximately 185,000 jobs will be put at risk across the province. However, job losses on this scale are, literally, unbelievable as there is abundant evidence from past experience in the US and Canada that minimum wage increases have almost no effect on overall employment. A recent article in the Toronto Star [5] cites research in the US that examined 22 federal minimum wage increases between 1938 and 2009. It found “no correlation between those increases and lower employment levels.” A similar Canadian study [6] covering the years from 1983 to 2012 “found almost no evidence of any connection whatsoever between higher minimum wage levels and employment levels in Canada.” So, who benefits from keeping the minimum wage low? First, executive officers and shareholders of large corporations—the source of about half of minimum wage jobs in Ontario. For example, the Weston family’s conglomerate, Loblaw Companies Ltd. which includes Loblaws, No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart, estimates that raising the minimum wage to $15 will cost $190 million in additional wages. But last year the company paid shareholders $1.1 billion, almost 6 times the cost of the wage increase. [7] It looks as though the business community is asking Cindy and Isabella to accept “poverty wages” in order to make the executives and shareholders a bit wealthier. Secondly, let’s consider the case of small businesses such as restaurants and independent retailers. The owners may respond by laying off employees or reducing their hours, or by raising prices, all of which have consequences for the successful running of their businesses. Alternatively, they may be able to absorb some of the cost of increased wages, or will eliminate jobs through automation. In any event it is very unlikely that the owners will feel much hardship from having to adjust their business models. Corporations and small business owners should also be aware that when their employees receive fair wages they tend to be more productive, have better morale and better health, and are less likely to leave for another job. Businesses may also benefit from the fact that minimum wage workers spend almost all their wages locally. Thus the debate on raising the minimum wage comes down to a straightforward choice: significantly improve the lives of Cindy and Isabella and thousands of other people like them, or maintain the financial returns of shareholders, executives and business owners. Fortunately the Liberal Government is in no doubt about what is the right thing to do.
Sources: [2] Isabella Daley video, What a living wage would mean to me, on youtube.com [3] Why politics drives a minimum wage wedge, Martin Regg Cohn, Toronto Star, May 31, 2017 [4] Bill 148 causing greatest chaos among business community in over a decade: chamber president, Kathy Yanchus, Burlington Post, August 17, 2017. [5] Minimum wage hike won’t bring ‘doom and gloom’, economists say. Open letter by 40 Canadian economists endorses proposed provincial wage increase. Sara Mojtehedzadeh, Toronto Star, July 4, 2017. [6] Wage Mythology. The minimum wage and the impact on jobs in Canada, 1983-2012, by Jordan Brennan and Jim Stanford. Report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, October 2014 [7] Yes, Mr. Weston, you can afford a living wage, Angella MacEwen and Cole Eisen, Hamilton Spectator, August 14, 2017
August 24th, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
The 99th IBL league final kicks off Thursday night at Coates Park in Barrie as the pennant-winning Baycats play host to the second-place Kitchener Panthers. The Baycats set a number of records en route to their sixth first-place finish since 2001. They started the season 26-0 to set a record for most wins to open a season, they went 33-3 for the best winning percentage (.917) in league history and tied the record for the most wins. They are also very tough at home, going 18-0.  Looks like the ball and the bat are going to click. Kitchener Panthers are no slouch either and this is truly the marquee match-up for the IBL. The Panthers cruised to a second-place finish with a 28-8 record, three wins better than the third-place London Majors. The Panthers were pushed to six games by the Hamilton Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs but had little trouble with the Majors, going just five games in the semifinals. The Panthers also finished the regular season with an 8-2 run and are 8-3 in the post-season. Both teams have some serious star power.
On the mound, Claudio Custodio had the league’s lowest ERA at 2.29 and had six wins. Emillis Guerrero led the league in both wins and strikeouts with nine and 80 and hasn’t given up a run in the playoffs. Kitchener’s Sean Reilly posted perhaps the best single-season performance in league history. He led the league in batting average at .447. He also led the IBL in home runs with 19, which was 11 more than the three players who were next at eight and just two fewer than his own league record of 21 in 2013. He also had a stunning 56 RBI, which was 16 more than Barrie’s Jordan Castaldo. and just four off his own league record. He is just the third player to win the IBL Triple Crown and the only player to do it twice (2015.) Noel Entenza, a right-hander from Cuba, led the Panthers on the mound with seven wins and Jasvir Rakkar has three wins in the playoffs and a league-leading 32 strikeouts and 2.60 ERA. Game one Thursday night is a 7:30 p.m. in Barrie. Barrie is going for its fourth straight championship while Kitchener has not won the championship since 2001. While the Burlington Herd didn’t do very well – it has been a very exciting baseball season for the IBL. They go into their 100th year in 2018 – as auspicious as that occasion will be – it is going to be tough to come up with some of the really breath taking games seen during the 2017
August 23rd, 2017 BURLINGTON, ON
Might be time to have a bylaw enforcement officer patrolling the trail through the Beachway. Seniors are complaining about the speed at which cyclists roar along the trail.  For the vast majority it is a very pleasant walking trail. It is a focal point for the annual Terry Fox run. Many regular trail walkers…are wondering if bikes will still be allowed on the Beachway trail once the road bike lanes are complete – road work is being done now.  There are bike lanes in place on the newly paved and rebuilt Lakeshore Road that is now the entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital. A local resident advised the |Gazette that comments from seniors this morning was that they have the fear of death every time they take their walk. The cyclists seem to feel they own the trail. One gentleman said he has been yelled at to get himself and his dog off the trail. Another senior said: “I know!!!! I have almost been run over many times!!! Its scary!!!” What are the rules for the trail? With bike lanes going in – should bikes be banned from the trail? What do parents out with a youngster just learning to use a bike – do they want their child on the road with transit buses and trucks passing by? The man to get your concern in front of is the ward Councillor – Rick Craven. You can email him at: rick.craven@burlington.ca
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Registration and check-in will begin at 9 a.m., with planting scheduled to start shortly after 9:30 a.m. A barbeque lunch will be available at the end of the planting. Volunteers are reminded to dress according to the weather, wear waterproof boots and bring a shovel. The event will happen rain or shine, unless conditions are deemed to be unsafe for participants and staff.
Claudio Custodio tossed a complete-game one-hitter, and the Baycats’ batters pounded out 19 hits in a 15-0 win over the Kitchener Panthers Sunday night at Coates Stadium.
Sometime between midnight and 3:00 am on the 21st, two Burlington men were walking to a vehicle parked on Ontario Street just west of Brant Street,
When the school Michael attends became aware of the family situation and the impact it was having on Michael, they were able to turn to the Halton Learning Foundation for help.
Future games
We got the following from the Burlington Herd, Burlington’s entry in the InterCounty Baseball League.
No mention of who did well for the team. No mention of the better players and no humbleness whatsoever on the really poor performance during both the season and the playoffs.
David Goodings was born in Toronto and studied mathematics and physics at University of Toronto and Cambridge. He was a Professor of physics at McMaster University for thirty years and has been a resident of Burlington since 2001. He is an active member of Poverty Free Halton and Living Wage Halton. Married to Judy for 37 years which may be why his favourite piano piece is: Ain’t Misbehavin’ by Fats Waller.
Ryan Spataro hit .447 to lead the Baycats while Kevin Atkinson was third in the league in RBI.