 By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will kick off the summer event season at its annual Kite Festival on Sunday, June 4 at Brant Hills Community Centre and Brant Hills Park between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
 Next Sunday, June 4 at Brant Hills Community Centre and Brant Hills Park between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Rain or shine Residents are invited to join in the fun, explore their creativity and build a kite for free, while supplies last. Supplies are generously donated by Canadian Tire. Event attendees will fly their kites in the open space at Brant Hills Park all day to help fill the sky with colour.
The Kite Festival is a family-friendly event presented by the Rocca Sisters & Associates, with a variety of vendors and entertainment. Fun activities include face painting, balloon animals and a Canada 150 chain link activity.
The festival will take place rain or shine. Brant Hills Community Centre is located at 2255 Brant St. and Brant Hills Park is located at 2300 Duncaster Dr.
 By Ray Rivers
May 29th, 2017
BURLINGTON,ON
It never fails. Leave the country for a week and…
The Conservative Party of Canada held its leadership vote and, as I had suggested could happen, it delivered an upset victory. Andrew Sheer, a 30 something career politician from Saskatchewan and former House speaker, is the new leader of Canada’s grand old party. Using a ranked ballot, also referred to as preferential or single transferable, Sheer snuck past front runner Maxime Bernier in the last elimination round, and snatched the prize by less than a single percentage point.
 Andrew Scheer, 38 year old leader newly elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. One could not be faulted for seeing Sheer as a mini-me, a younger Stephen Harper. After all Sheer, like Harper, is a ‘social conservative’, a label some consider synonymous with right wing or reactionary views. One can’t help but get the feeling that he wants to turn the clock back to the time Mr. Harper ruled the roost – and that the recent period of Liberal government is just an inconvenient stop on the highway to a more conservative Canada.
And like Harper, the new leader is anti-choice when it comes to a woman’s body. Though Mr. Harper was careful to avoid re-opening the legalization debate, which former Conservative PM Kim Campbell has so skillfully brought to a conclusion. That Sheer has played the abortion card in this contest should be a red flag to all potential voters who value freedom of choice.
Other than that we will have to wait and see how progressive his leadership of the former Progressive Conservative party will be – or not. And that may determine the party’s chances of sliding in between the two parties on the left and centre, and forming government come 2019. Sheer, as a novice leader, will be facing a still-popular Justin Trudeau, who will argue for the opportunity to complete what he had begun in his first term.
And the New Democrats will also be showcasing a new leader, which may lead to more of a three way race than in 2015.
Speaking of three way races, there is B.C.’s recent election. Typically a two party province, there hasn’t been a minority government there since the 1950’s,. But that luxury has come to an end after the Green Party elected three members to the legislative assembly. And the B.C. Liberal Party, arguably more conservative than its name, had barely eked out a two seat lead over the opposition NDP.
 B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark is one seat shy of being able to form a government. Photo credit – THE CANADIAN PRESS/ CHAD So the Libs are one seat short of a majority. And while they could claim the right to form government, given their first place finish, it is unlikely they’d survive the first non-confidence vote. The Greens are tired of sitting in the wings and are hungry for power. So they are looking to bed down with either one of the other parties, a coalition or contract for a one-term-stand as opposed to a marriage of convenience.
Regardless who they sleep with, the result will mean a fresh look at resource projects, like the recently approved Kinder Morgan oil pipeline. And in a province which has built its economy in large part upon its rich endowment of natural resources, there will be fireworks – and possibly new tensions with the federal government. It is expected that a deal will be negotiated by mid-week, so we’ll soon see how this plays out.
And the real sticking point in these coalition discussions is the matter of electoral reform. B.C. in recent years has twice conducted a referendum for electoral change. And both of these – the one for proportional representation and the other for voting by a single transferable (ranked) ballot – have failed. So the Greens are saying ‘to-hell’ with referendum – let’s just do it. But the NDP and Libs are reluctant to wear the blame for defying the results of those previous polls.
The Greens want to introduce proportional representation, a system which does offer more effective representation and is better designed to accommodate minority situations and political coalitions. And that would be a life-line for the longer term survival of their party.
Though had the previous Liberals been able to convince the public on the merits of a preferential ballot when they were in power, similar to the approach the federal Conservatives used last weekend, they might have been returned to office with a majority and the Green Party left out in the cold. There is a lesson in this for our federal leaders.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington in 1995. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
CPC Leadership – More CPC – Even More CPC – B.C Election – Minority Consequences –
 By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It took the Brantford Red Sox five games to pick up their first win of the season, and it came against another win less team – the Burlington Herd who have gone six games without a win.
Dan Jagdeo’s solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Red Sox to an 8-7 victory over the Burlington Herd Saturday afternoon.
Brantford is 1-4, and Burlington is 0-6.
 Ricky Murray had three hits and drove in a run and scored once for the Red Sox. Chris Dennis and Nic Burdett each had an RBI and run, while Benjamin Bostick singled twice, scored twice and had an RBI.
Brandon Dailey had two hits and two runs, and Cody Mombourquette drove in a pair.
Tyler Soucie (1-0) earned the win, giving up a run in one inning of relief. He walked one and struck out one. Tanner Guindon tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for his first save.
Starter Justin DAmato went 3.2 innings and allowed five runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
For Burlington, Justin Gideon went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Canice Ejoh also had three hits, two RBI and a run. Cooper Lamb had two RBI, and Grant Okawa had two hits and scored twice.
Kyle Symington (0-1) took the loss, giving up a run on two hits in an inning. He struck out one.
Starter Brad Smith gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out one.
 By Pepper Parr
May 27, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite having to make close to last minute changes to the venue – forgetting about a performance under canvas and moving to inside a church hall, the 3rd Annual Lowville Festival pulled it off.
The “The hall at St. George’s was packed to the rafters Friday night” and with Liona Boyd on the playbill little wonder.
Saturday night:The Second City Comedy Troupe doing their Canada: The Thinking Man’s America is going to sell out. If you want to try and get a ticket – call BobMissen at 289-260-1109
Sunday, May 28; 2pm – St. Georges Anglican Church – Motus O Dance Theatre will be doing “Alice”; the production is a decidedly delightful look at a classic.
 Alice in Wonderland characters with such energy and excitement – they leave audiences breathless. Rich in athleticism and innovative dance and theatre, ALICE is an exhilarating adventure that spins you off into another land. ALICE is an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s whimsical stories, “Alice in Wonderland” and “Through The Looking Glass”. In her search for home, Alice must maneuver herself through this topsy – turvy world. ALICE is a one hour show that brings to life all your favourite characters with such energy and excitement that the audience is left breathless. Part Dance Part Theatre Part Triathlon.
While not intended as a performance for children – the production will widen the eyes of those from 12 to 80.
Growing the business:
The Lowville Festival organizers held their events during the first two years inside church halls and decided they were ready to outgrow those spaces. They were leaving behind some fine performances and wonderful memories but they needed more space.
Lowville Park was a beautiful location but there wasn’t a building they could hold events in. They got creative and decided a large tent – the kind of think travelling circuses used to use – would draw audiences and also add some charm and adventure to an event. The Festival was going to go under canvas.
 The tent was a great idea – but the grounds were too soggy after several days of rain. A venue change was needed. The tent would keep any rain out – but the rain we have experienced this month left the grounds in the park soggy and soaked with water. It just wasn’t going to work.
The Festival organizers had to make changes – and they had to move very quickly which took them back to those tried and true church halls.
Second City this evening; Alice Sunday afternoon – both well worth the price of the tickets – if you can get one.
Saturday, May 27; 1pm to 4pm – Lowville United Church – Free Event!
Sights and Sounds in the Escarpment in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Burlington
Sponsored by: Ontario Trillium Foundation
 By Pepper Parr
May 26th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Town Crier David Vollick gets the announcement meeting off to a good start. For $4.5 million – he really rang that bell. The cheque was just short of $4.5 million but the happy faces at the Joseph Brant Museum this morning were not quibbling.
 Barbara Teatero, Executive Director Museums of Burlington A project that started 22 years ago when the first report was produced and became the life work of Barbara Teatero was made real with the federal government announcement that the renovation – rebuild of the Museum is now funded.
It is going to cost considerably more than $4,479,000 to do all the work that is planned but without the federal money the project was never going to break ground.
 John Doyle  Larry Waldren John Doyle and Larry Waldron wore smiles that came close to lighting up the room that had 40+ people crammed into it while Town Crier Dave Vollick rang his bell and proclaimed the way only Vollick can proclaim that the museum was going to go through a significant change.
Construction schedules are being worked out – tenders will have to be let and scheduling completed.
Allan Magi had to tell city council a number of months ago that he was faced with a very challenging problem – organizing the construction without knowing for certain that the money was in the bank.
The Capital Works department will now be able assemble the internal team and begin with a project that will add another cultural destination for people who choose to visit Burlington.
 Architect’s rendering of what the new Joseph Brant Museum could look like when it opens. The new museum will have triple the space of the existing facility; the hope is that the space will be able to attract top tier travelling exhibits to the city.
While the politicians were doing what they do with words Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven cast a glance toward Doyle and raised an eyebrow and tipped his head – they had pulled it off.
 Those waters were the view that Joseph Brant had each morning when he stepped out of his house that was on what he described as Burlington Bay. That path in the middle of the picture was once a two track railway line into the town. It was a big day – it will take a couple of years to get to the Opening Day – and a fitting one for Joseph Brant who made Burlington his home for the last years of his life.
What will he think when the new Museum is opened?
 By Pepper Parr
May 26, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Weather, weather, weather.
The rain has thrown the Lowville Festival plans into a tizzy.
In the tradition of theatre – the show must go on and it will.
The plans for doing The Second City Comedy Troupe’s production of Canada: The Thinking Man’s America and Alice in Wonderland have had to be changed
 St Georges Anglican Church is at 7051 Guelph Line, ten minutes north of Lowville Park, just north of Derry Road. The performances scheduled for the Festival tent in Lowville Park will now take place in St. George’s Church Hall at 7051 Guelph Line, ten minutes north of Lowville Park, just north of Derry Road.
The affected performances are:
• The Second City Comedy Troupe’s production of Canada: The Thinking Man’s America at 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 27; and
• ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Motus O Dance/Theatre Company at 2 pm on Sunday, May 28 – Fun for the family!
St. George’s Hall has been a venue for festival events since 2015. Liona Boyd and the Lowville Festival Choir perform there on Friday evening, May 26, at 7:30 pm. The Hall will be dry and the indoor space will add a feeling of intimacy to the performances.
Show schedule:
Friday, May 26; 7:30 pm – St. George’s Parish Hall
To Canada with Love: Celebrating Canada 150, featuring Liona Boyd and the Lowville Festival Choir
Saturday, May 27; 1pm to 4pm – Lowville United Church
Free Event!
Sights and Sounds in the Escarpment in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Burlington
Sponsored by: Ontario Trillium Foundation
Saturday May 27th – 7:30pm; St. George’s Parish Hall
Second City Comedy Troupe: – Canada: The Thinking Man’s America
Sunday, May 28; 2pm – St. George’s Parish Hall
Motus O Dance Theatre’s Alice.
St. George’s Church Hall at 7051 Guelph Line, ten minutes north of Lowville Park, just north of Derry Road.
Representatives of the Festival will be at Lowville Park to re-direct anyone who is not aware of the change.
For information, please call: Bob Missen 289-260-1109
By Staff
May 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Yo!
 We wanted to let you know that the ticket price for Sound of Music June 10 Kick-Off Concert is going up on May 29.
Time to purchase if you haven’t already!
Spread the word and let your friends know that seven bands for $60 (plus fee and tax) can’t be beat.
Gates open at 1:00 pm.
Quick peak promo
 By Staff
May 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Over the course of the day watersheds within Conservation Halton’s jurisdiction have received between 30 and 45 mm of rain. While the rain has ceased and further precipitation is not anticipated, water levels within area watercourses are still rising.
Many local watercourses are running at or near bankfull conditions. Near the Lake Ontario shoreline, easterlywinds and high lake levels may result in localized ponding in low areas.
 Water levels in watershed creeks have risen significantly during the day. Caution around the edges of creeks – especially with children. Riverine flooding is not anticipated, however the forecasted precipitation in conjunction with saturated ground conditions may result in higher than normal water levels and flows in local streams.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to stay away from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Lake Ontario water levels are also high. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will be in effect through Friday May 26, 2017. Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will provide updates as required.
 By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The room in the lower level of the Waterfront hotel on Lakeshore Road was packed – standing room only.
 It was standing room only for many of the people attending the Downtown Mobility Hub Visioning Workshop. There was a very slick presentation being given on plans for redevelopment of the land on which the Waterfront hotel now stands.
Many – perhaps most of the people had two questions: How many and how high?
They wanted to know how many buildings did the developer want to build on the site and how high would they be.
They didn’t get an answer – the presentation was all about putting any development in context and relating it to what was already in place in the area.
Roz Minaj a Planning department staffer told the audience that the terms of reference were focused on redevelopment.
Some wanted to see the property purchased and turned into parkland and extending the size of Spencer Smith Park. That is not going to happen.
At one point there were three wharves on the land the Waterfront Hotel sits on today. A lot of fill was added to the shore line which extended the property further out into the lake. The Pier got built and Spencer Smith had many upgrades making it all a prime attraction.
Should the plans for re-developing the existing Beachway community to the west ever get completed that part of the city will become a major attraction for thousands outside the city.
 There was a lot of information on street views and other tall buildings in the area but not a word about how many buildings the developer wanted to put up or how high they might be. When the presentation was done those who chose to stick around were invited into another room to take part in what we now call table work – a time when people gather around a table and write down some of the ideas they have for what should be built.
The results of those ideas will be put into a report which the Planning department will put in front of city council at some future date.
 Is the argument going to be that there are tall buildings in the area so there could be tall buildings on the land the Waterfront Hotel is now on. Last week the Mayor sent out the following informing people that:
Next week, the City of Burlington is starting a study that affects the future of our waterfront and I am asking everyone in Burlington to get involved.
The Brant and Lakeshore planning study commences on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. It will consider what should be located on the property at the foot of Brant Street that is currently home to the Waterfront Hotel.
The owner of the property – Burlington 2020 Lakeshore Inc. — is interested in redeveloping the site. As such, the City’s Official Plan, which is the guiding planning document for Burlington, requires the City to complete a master plan for this area.
This master plan is critically important, as this site is prime waterfront land surpassing anything found in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area in natural beauty and access.
As Mayor, I am very concerned about the impact any redevelopment could have on our waterfront.
I believe an option needs to be considered that converts this property to open space as a natural extension to the existing park for the future enjoyment of all Burlington residents.
Residents frequently tell me public space on our stunning waterfront is important to them and to our community. I agree wholeheartedly. And I believe that redevelopment of this site will not be welcomed.
 City Councillor John Taylor was listening intently to people. The people who share that view were out in force along with people from the offices of many of the developers in the city.
We didn’t see the Mayor in the room but it was packed – he might have been in there somewhere. Councillors Taylor, Dennison and Meed Ward were observed.
Related article:
Development at the foot of Brant Street
 By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
As people think about whether or not they will attend the Meridian Brick information meeting this evening they might want to read over the note that the Mayor posted on his linked In page.
He said:
“After extensive review by staff in several city and regional departments, we have come to understand that Meridian Brick is within its legal rights and that the Province of Ontario, not the City of Burlington, has jurisdiction over this matter.”
 Site of the third shale pit that the brick company wants to begin mining. He appears to have washed his hands of this issue; those in the Tyandaga community are on their own.
The Meridian meeting is at 7:00 pm at the Crossroads Centre at 1259 North Service Road just west of Kerns Road.
Related article:
What is the issue behind the mining of shale for brick manufacturing.
 By Staff
May 24, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
City of Burlington loses the Appeal case that the Air Park made to the Ontario Court of Appeals. The matter of what the city will now do with its requirement that the Air Park file a site plan is is something the city is going to have to think through.
The Appeal was made by the Air Park. This is the first of numerous court cases that the city has lost in this matter.
 What does it mean and what, if anything, will the city do next?
One council member is reported to have said that if the city loses the Appeal they will not attempt to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.
By Staff
May 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There will be something in the way of a lasting memory of the graceful, natural looking Gazebo that once rested in a small dip of land at the beginning of the Naval Promenade in Spence Smith Park.
 A view of Burlington that is no more – two majestic willow trees were cut down and the gazebo razed for something more accessible. The two willow trees that were planted there more than seventy years ago by the man who the park was eventually named after were deemed to be unsafe and were cut down in 2016.
All was not lost – several hundred saplings were taken and the thick tree trunks were cut into smaller pieces, planed and then kiln dried and are now ready for use by people who like and know how to work with wood.
Starting in June, the city will offer wood chunks for creating artwork and for souvenirs, saplings for planting and wood boards to be finished into furniture or art objects.
Saplings: The city grew more than 200 cuttings from the willow trees in a greenhouse this past fall and winter. The young trees will be ready in early June for people who are interested in growing a piece of history on their own properties. Weeping willows are very large trees and don’t suit everyone’s property and preferences. Please carefully follow the city’s instructions on where and how to plant them.
A limited number of saplings is available at:
Branches of Burlington Public Library, starting June 6
Ireland House Museum, starting June 6
Lions Park, 471 Pearl St., June 9 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. during Chat and Chew in Ward 2
 Trunks of the weeping willow trees taken out of Spencer Smith Park are cut to plank length sizes, planed and then kiln dried. wood will be available in June. Wood chunks: Great for artwork or small pieces of furniture, wood chunks are available for pickup in the parking lot of the Burlington Lions Club at 471 Pearl St. from June 9 at 5 p.m. until June 11 at 5 p.m.
Wood boards: Local companies Arborwood Tree Service Inc. and Exotic Woods donated their services to prepare wood from the willow trees for future use. They planed, milled and then kiln-dried the wood from six large logs to make boards that can form a table, chairs or other furniture.
More information will soon be available about how to apply for those pieces of wood.
Tribute in Spencer Smith Park: The city is working with Halton Region to plan a lasting tribute to the willow trees in Spencer Smith Park. Stay tuned for more details.
For more information, visit www.burlington.ca/willowtrees. For questions about the wood, please email communications@burlington.ca.
By Staff
May 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
On Tuesday May 23rd, officers from the Services three District Response Units teamed up for a third time this year in order to focus on a variety of traffic complaints throughout the City of Burlington. A large number of traffic complaints received by police relate to drivers exceeding the posted speed limits.
Project Safe Commute was developed in response to concerns expressed by Halton residents about aggressive driving, particularly during the morning and afternoon commutes. The first phase of the initiative was completed in Milton and Halton Hills in late March, while the second phase took place in Oakville in April.
 Police targeting cars exceeding the speed limits. Officers targeted those driving behaviours that place road users at the greatest risk namely distracted driving, aggressive driving and driving while impaired by either drug or alcohol.
Officers dedicated a combined total of 98 hours of enforcement to 15 identified high traffic complaint areas within Burlington. As a result of police presence at these various locations, police arrested two impaired drivers, impounded two vehicles for 7 days, took out of service three commercial motor vehicles due to violations, issued over 28 warnings to drivers and handed out 138 Provincial Offence Notices to drivers.
The charges ranged from distracted driving, speeding, stop sign and red light infractions, license suspensions, and impaired operation of a motor vehicle.
 Sgt. Jared McLeod of the 3 District Response Unit commented, “Drivers need to remember that their actions behind the wheel may have consequences on others. Several drivers stopped for speeding were doing 40km over the posted limit. Speeds like this, can escalate the chances of a serious motor vehicle collision. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We all play a role in changing driver behaviour to ensure safer roads for all.”
Halton Police would like to remind drivers that community safety is a shared responsibility and that each individual driver plays a key role in ensuring that their next commute is a Safe Commute.
Project Safe Commute and others are part of the Service’s broader Community First policing philosophy that focuses on incorporating the four pillars of (community) safety and well-being into service priorities: Emergency Response, Risk Intervention, Prevention, and Social Development.
If any citizen would like to report a traffic concern they can do so by visiting our website and submitting an online traffic complaint,
https://www.haltonpolice.ca/services/reporting/trafficcomplaints.php
 By Pepper Parr
May 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Steve Armstrong is an engineer by training working in the field of software development.
He hasn’t gotten much of his day job work done recently – he has become consumed by the machinations and the flow of information that has taken place during the public discussion of whether or not high schools in Burlington should be closed and if so, which schools and for what reasons.
 Steve Armstrong Last week Armstrong and Denise Davy met with “policy advisors at the Ministry of Education and had a good discussion with a few people. Afterwards we also met up with couple of NDP MPPs, Monique Taylor (Critic, Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities and Critic, Children and Youth Services) and Peggy Sattler (education critic).
Monique and Peggy both suggested keeping the heat up on our MPP, Eleanor McMahon.
Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon and Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter have been closely following this process and apparently have had meetings with a number of Board people.
Armstrong said he was told “the province won’t intervene at this time because a decision hasn’t been made, and they want to respect the process”, BUT they do agree it’s better for everyone involved if the correct decision gets made in the first place. Since that lies with the Trustees at this point we need to keep informing them of facts in play.
“What I would like to see is Eleanor and Mitzie facilitating a meeting with the Trustees to allow some reasoned voices to talk to gaps in the process. Perhaps this could be the PARC members in direct dialogue with the Trustees but either way the Ministry resonated with my concern about a lack of meaningful engagement.”
Armstrong reflects the widely held public view that the first Public meeting in December did not fulfill its goal but rather made things worse….”it was a live survey with poor questions and allowed no dialogue with attendees.”
The PARC meetings went from a focus on decisions about what options to remove early on to finally talking about creative ideas at the last meeting…completely backwards.
 Steve Armstrong with Cheryl DeLught Armstrong maintains that Director of Education Stuart Miller had told students that PARC members would be engaging with them. But that morphed into a survey which PARC members were denied participation in setting up questions that we might want.”
Armstrong adds that “staff were left out of this important process, and although apparently a heavily redacted set of comments have been made available to Trustees that was done after the PARC was disbanded so there was no chance of building on their input.
Armstrong said there has been no meaningful engagement with the city.
He adds that the second and third Public meetings were constructed differently than what the PAR committee had been told would happen.
 Functional breakouts (Finance, Building services etc) in which all Options where present didn’t meet the needs of the parents. “We were told it would be a short presentation up front followed by stations focused on individual options to be interactively discussed with the public.
“Instead they skipped the presentation and went with functional breakouts (Finance, Building services etc) in which all options where present. Overall it lead to a lack of cohesion.”
Armstrong reports that the Ministry was also concerned when it learned that not all Trustees have visited the schools in play. “I’m lead to believe” said Armstrong “that there has been discussion with the four Burlington Trustees and the Ministry/MPP but think all 11 need to be reminded of their duties and expectations with regard to engagement.”
It is time for the trustees to step up to the plate and be responsible and accountable to the people that elected them. At the last Information session of the Board we had a trustee with two schools that are in play, with one threatened with closure asking questions of Board staff about a school that wasn’t even in her ward.
Another trustee was in the que for asking questions and when it came to her turn she had forgotten what her question was.
 Amy Collard eye-balling Stuart Miller This is irresponsible behavior from people who are desperately needed to act on behalf of their constituents and not be so cozy with the Director of Education. He is accountable to them, something that Stuart Miller fully understands and will respond to – the trustees have to set the bar – they have yet to do so.
The exception is Ward 5 trustee Amy Collard – she has been relentless with not only Miller but every other staff member she has put questions to.
The other trustees can learn about what it means to hold staff accountable.
The Board will continue the meeting that was recessed last week on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be live webcast. Steve Armstrong thinks he just might drop in.
By Pepper Parr
May 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
We published a statement about meetings Director of Education Stuart Miller was said to have had with Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon.
No such meetings took place.
Miller did have conversations with McMahon, by telephone and they lasted a five or so minutes. McMahon had questions about the process.
We have already apologized to Director Miller and will make our apologies to MPP Eleanor McMahon. There were extenuating circumstances – it was a long holiday weekend and people were not available. That doesn’t excuse the error we made.
The information we were given was false, and known to be false by people working to keep Bateman open. One, a former journalist, knows better than to make comments that she knew or should have known were false.
The other person the information came from was described in the article as a less than reliable source.
Stuart Miller said he and his staff changed their recommendation when they learned the full Central high school story and that their information came from the information that came out during the PARC process and documentation the Central parents made available to the board.
The Central enrollment, while not as high as the Board would like it to be, is understood to be stable.
“To close Central and have 600 students on buses every day would seriously jeopardize the educational experience these students would have and add close to $500,000 a year to transportation costs that they board already knows are going to increase” said Miller
“Closing central would not have done anything to enhance the educational experience.”
The projected Central enrollment was seen as stable. “And we did not make any allowance for whatever intensification might do for either Central or Aldershot: said Miller.
“We changed the recommendation when we learned the full Central high school story.”
 By Staff
May 23, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Liona Boyd performance is close to sold out. The Liona Boyd event, part of the Lowville Festival that runs Friday night and is heading towards a sellout.
There are still a few tickets for the two shows taking place in the tent in Lowville Park.
People can order online at Snapd Burlington or at Different Drummer, and through Bob Missen at 289-260-1109.
Comedy under canvas – Canada: The Thinking Man’s America Show schedule:
Friday, May 26; 7:30 pm – St. George’s Parish Hall
To Canada with Love: Celebrating Canada 150, featuring Liona Boyd and the Lowville Festival Choir
Saturday, May 27; 1pm to 4pm – Lowville United Church
Free Event!
Sights and Sounds in the Escarpment in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Burlington
Sponsored by: Ontario Trillium Foundation
Saturday May 27th – 7:30pm; Lowville Park – Festival Tent
Second City Comedy Troupe: – Canada: The Thinking Man’s America
Sunday, May 28; 2pm – Lowville Park- Festival Tent
Motus O Dance Theatre’s Alice
By Pepper Parr
May 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
In 1972
Paul Henderson scores the “goal of the century”
The World Hockey Association begins
Global Television begins broadcasting in Ontario
Heritage Canada is established
Lester B. Pearson dies.
Average Cost of new house $27,550.00
Average Income per year $11,800.00
Average Monthly Rent $165.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 55 cents
Richard Nixon announces he will resign
In 1972 the province of Ontario issued a license to remove shale for brick making from lands in the western part of the city
The Tyandaga Environmental Coalition Inc. (TEC) is a group of concerned residents opposed to a planned expansion of that quarry for the purpose of shale extraction.
The Tyendaga community and its neighbour – three quarry sites. The TEC has been slugging this one out for a number of years. They incorporated as a not for profit, created a web site, put up an on-line petition – 1,850 to date and now they get ready for another community meeting at which the brick making company will explain what they plan to do next.
That next is expected to be the cutting down of something between 6,000 and 10,000 trees on the 34 acre property.
While TEC does its best to prevent the mining of shale for brick making – which will require the cutting down of at least 6000 tress Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven Congratulates and thanks IKEA and “Tree Canada” for their recent initiative in Kerns Park where over 60 IKEA volunteers planted about 300 new trees in the park.
The irony is painful.
TEC made the comment that: “In the light of your support for the “Tree Canada” project we would also respectfully point out that just as important as the planting of saplings (for the future generation) is the saving of those trees that have already been planted and have survived all the elements both man-made and natural – trees that are now enormous contributors to our clean air, healthy lifestyle (for the current generation), and our overall well-being.
The TEC people say the “… need, at a minimum, to have the MNRF decision (to issue the original quarry license) to be re-evaluated in the light of the ‘HERE and NOW – 2016’. We appreciate that the MNRF does not have a history of reviewing their decisions but in this case we believe that the area under question has undergone such a dramatic change in the last FORTY-FOUR YEARS with the enormous growth in industry, schools, residences, traffic, etc. that it would warrant an exception to their rule.
They add that “There is also reason to believe that there are endangered species that were not identified in the original quarry request. Essentially, Forterra has become an urban quarry in a pristine area of Burlington.
 As many as 9000 tress will be cut down so that the shale can be mined for brick making. Meridian Brick (formerly Forterra Brick) plans to clear-cut approximately 40 acres of prime forest to expand its commercial shale quarrying operations (the east cell) beside the residential Tyandaga neighbourhood in Burlington, Ontario.
TEC urges the Honourable Kathryn McGarry (Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry), and, the Honourable Glen Murray (Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change), to revoke Meridian Brick’s permission to quarry their east cell.
By revoking the permission to quarry this land, the government would demonstrate strong leadership in correcting planning oversights that were made decades ago, long before an understanding of fair and just environmental principles emerged in Ontario law and before the possible health hazards associated with quarry operations were fully appreciated.
Cancelling the 44-year old “sleeper” permission to quarry land held by Meridian Brick would save an important and healthy forest, protect habitat for all species, flora and fauna – including those that are at-risk and endangered and help protect Ontario’s watershed and residents’ health.
TEC is fighting an uphill battle.
In an Information document made prepared for members of council and made available to the public the city’s view point is set out. Brick making is a big industry in Burlington.
The Information document explains that: “There is considerable background relating to the quarry including but not limited to the relationship to the nearby Tyandaga subdivision, land use planning matters and details regarding the quarry licence and operation. To this end, this document will serve as a background paper that offers a summary of the key facts.”
Three areas in North Aldershot are licenced for shale extraction under the Aggregates Resource Act (ARA) – West, Centre and East. The Aldershot Quarry has been in operation since the 1920’s and was first licenced under the Pits and Quarries Control Act in 1972 and then subsequently under the ARA in June, 1990.
Under the Aggregate Resources Act, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry:
Oversees the rules governing aggregate management
Inspects aggregate operations and responds to complaints
Enforces compliance
Ensures rehabilitation is carried out on sites
Extraction operations are governed by a site plan approved as part of a licence that was finalized in 2010 under the Aggregates Resources Act.
The quarries are designated as Mineral Resource Extraction in the Burlington Official Plan and zoned MRNA (Mineral Resource North Aldershot).
Licenced extraction areas are protected by the Provincial Policy Statement and are permitted to continue without the need for an Official Plan or Zoning By-law amendment or development permit.
Forterra Brick owns and operates the three clay brick plants and four shale quarries within the City. Forterra Brick (under various previous names and ownership) has owned and operated brick plants and quarries in Burlington since 1956.
Forterra Brick manufactures an estimated 55% of the clay brick produced in Canada and 45% of that is made in Burlington.
Currently the Aldershot plant uses shale from the west quarry and the Burlington plant (Dundas Street) uses shale from the centre quarry. The west quarry is reported to have approximately 3-5 years of shale reserves while the centre quarry has approximately 6-8 years of reserves. Times depend on demand for brick.
Both the west quarry and centre quarry were mined by National Sewer Pipe dating back to 1929. Hanson Brick has operated in both quarries since the late 1990’s. Until 2005, operations in the centre quarry were periodic and since then, the operations have been continuous. There has also been limited excavation in the east quarry. The West quarry is still operational, but with limited life.
 Three quarry sites This is a shale quarry site which produces Queenston shale for brick making. Queenston shale is the only type of shale used for brick making in Ontario today. Much of Ontario’s remaining Queenston shale is no longer accessible due to urban development in southern Ontario.
Shale extraction does not involve explosives. It’s a mechanical process where the topsoil and vegetation is stripped away (using bulldozers and tree chippers) and the underlying clay is left to weather. As the quarry deepens, piles of weathered shale are excavated by front end loaders and trucked away.
The excavated material from the Aldershot quarries is trucked away to the Aldershot brick plant south of the west quarry and to the Burlington quarry located on Dundas Street, east of Appleby Line.
The material is transported using the North Service Road with approximately 110 truckloads per week. The quarry does not operate on weekends.
The site plans for the approved licence show three operational cells (quarries). In the near future, operations at the site will open a new cell within the existing approved licence area – known as the east cell (quarry). This is not a new licence area or a licence expansion. The remainder of the quarry is active and quarry operations were found to be in compliance when inspected by the Ministry in 2015.
East Quarry: In 2015, the City was notified by Forterra of its intention to start preparing the east quarry for extraction.
The east quarry is 16.4 hectares in size and approximately 10.8 hectares will be disturbed.
Clearing the land is the first step in preparing for shale extraction. Tree clearing was scheduled for the winter of 2016-2017 for the east quarry; however, a mitigation plan for endangered species is required which may delay the timing of the tree clearing.
Quarry Rehabilitation: The entire east quarry will be rehabilitated in accordance with the Greenbelt Plan to 100% forest cover. The rehabilitation requirements of the Greenbelt Plan were incorporated into the site plan finalized in 2010 under the Aggregates Resources Act.
Westhaven Drive Subdivision: Houses on Westhaven Drive were constructed well after the quarry property had been licenced for aggregate extraction.
On May 12, 1997, City Council approved the Westhaven Drive subdivision, adjacent to the east quarry.
The application was appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by residents on Forestvale Drive and it was approved with some minor amendments on May 25, 1998.
At the time the subdivision application was made in 1995, Dust Assessment and Noise Control studies were submitted to the city for the future east quarry to demonstrate compatibility.
These studies were reviewed and approved by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy who stated in a letter dated, October 24, 1996 that it “is satisfied that the land use compatibility issues raised earlier have been addressed.”
All purchasers are informed of the following warning clause registered on title:
“The purchaser acknowledges the presence of a future extractive industrial land use to the west and that extraction may take place during the daytime only.”
The Tyandaga Environmental Coalition Inc. (“TEC”) has been formed to represent a number of families residing adjacent to the proposed quarry. The TEC did contact the city to request confirmation that certain OMB Minutes of Settlement conditions were fulfilled relating to a site plan, noise and dust matters. The city confirmed that the conditions had been cleared by staff.
Neighbourhood Meeting: On September 22, 2015, at the request of Councillor Craven, Forterra held an information session with local residents to explain their plans and to answer questions. At the meeting, the neighbours were invited to form a committee that could meet with Forterra Brick to discuss the concerns of the neighbourhood. The September 22nd meeting was attended by Councillor Craven, approximately 50 members of the public and planning staff. An optional tour of the west quarry took place prior to the meeting and was attended by approximately 9 residents.
Ministerial Review: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry was asked to comment on a request for a ministerial review of the licence granted to Forterra Brick and we are advised by Eleanor McMahon, MPP that there is no process under the ARA for a ministerial review of an approved licence.
Regular inspections of an operating quarry are conducted by the Ministry and the Forterra quarry operations were found to be in compliance when inspected by the Ministry in 2015.
Forterra Brick is holding a meeting for anyone who wants to talk to them Thursday evening at the Crossroads Centre on the 1259 North Service Road just west of Kerns Road.
The overriding question for the community and city hall is this; which is more important mining shale to make bricks or the 6000 – 9000 trees that will have to be cut down to mine that shale.
Think climate change as you muse about this one.
By Staff
May 23, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Canada 150 Mosaic project brings together 150 communities and thousands of participants to create community murals that celebrate Canada’s unique history and culture. Burlington’s mural will be made of 400 tiles.
 This work is not part of the Burlington effort – it was in the painting room where people could get some ideas. During the weekend literally hundreds of young people and their parents were at the Art Gallery taking part in what is going to be a national visual celebration of our 150 years as a nation.
Burlington residents were invited to paint their own tile that will become part of the mural.
When there is an open event that focuses on young people we get to see the Art Gallery at its best. The regular high brow art shows are fine – we do get to see some exceptionally good work.
What the kids bring is energy, enthusiasm and awe.
 Leslie Page runs the Children’s program at the Art Gallery The art program for the younger set is guided by Leslie Page who was swamped with the turnout on Monday afternoon when she had to tell some people that the gallery was going to close soon – they could take one of the 400 blank tiles home, paint it and bring it back.
It was that kind of day.
 It was a “master piece as far as this young boy was concerned – the girl wasn’t as certain. Everyone was welcome – they weren’t expected to be an artist to participate. The limited number of mural tiles were handed out on a first come, first served basis.
There was a painting set up at the Burlington Mall; the Gazette covered the event Monday afternoon at the Art Gallery
The finished product will be unveiled on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at the Burlington Music Centre on New Street at 10:00 am
 Burlington’s contribution to the 150 different murals that are being created to celebrate our sesquicentennial The Canada 150 Mosaic project is led by internationally recognized artists Lewis Lavoie, Paul Lavoie and Phil Alain. It is a mammoth undertaking.
On July 1st, Canada will turn 150 years old. It is a country that has welcomed the world through its borders.
To celebrate this birthday, the Mural Mosaic team is launching a bold undertaking. Over a two year span, the trio plan to create a mural including all provinces and territories, over 80,000 paintings and 150 individual murals that when united will form one gigantic mural mosaic. The mural, if ever connected would be over 365 meters wide (4 football fields) x 2.5 meters high (8 feet).
 Two local artists look over the hundreds of tiles painted to make up the mural: Donna Grandin and Dominique Prevost seem to approve. The mural will represent a cultural mosaic, a time capsule, a visual portrayal of history, an art masterpiece from the soul of the nation. An art piece that fifty years from now, may inspire another generation, who will in turn be able to celebrate through the mural, and maybe take it upon themselves to add to this memory
Like the first settlers to come to the country, this project is full of ambition, adventure and the desire to trail blaze into new exciting frontiers. It will also face great challenges and obstacles. But, if history proves itself correctly, the trio of art explorers, Lewis Lavoie, Paul Lavoie and Phil Alain will find their way and en route will meet up with like-minded art explorers and something remarkable will be born.
 Every tile was an individual effort – this artist is thinking through what she wants to say with her tile. Each province and territory will have only 5-15 individual communities who will be selected to represent the province and the nation. Each community will host an event inviting participants from far and wide from their region to participate and create their own community mural, which will then connect to the nation.
Upon the completion of the entire Canada 150 Mosaic, each community mural will reside in the town or city where it was created as a reminder of the 150th anniversary, and the pride of the community and the nation.
By Staff
May 24, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Herd is still looking for that first game win this season.
They play Hamilton in Burlington on Thursday, May 25 at 7:15 pm
On Friday, May 26 they travel to London and play at Labatt Park – 7:35 pm
By Pepper Parr
May 23th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There were errors in an earlier version of this article. Corrections have been made. A link to the circumstances that led to the errors appears at the end of this article. The Gazette regrets its mistakes.
Some of the back channel meetings that are reported to have taken place are beginning to come to the surface.
Ontario’s Minister of Education Mitzi Hunter has managed to make time for two lengthy meetings with delegations from Burlington.
 Denise Davy Denise Davy and Steve Armstrong met with the Ministry officials last including two policy advisors last week and a representative from the office of Burlington MP Eleanor McMahon. That meeting lasted about an hour.
Cheryl deLught and Steve Armstrong Davy works with the Bateman parents, Armstrong was a member of the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) Committee representing Pearson high school.
Closing both schools is part of the revised recommendation Director of Education Stuart Miller sent to the trustees.
More than 50 people delegated to the trustees earlier in the month. The trustees are now in the “information” stage – the last step before they meet June 7th to make their decision. The information session, a meeting where the trustees get to ask questions of the Director and his staff took place last week; that meeting was recessed until Wednesday of this week. They were not able to complete their questions before 11:30 pm when everyone just wanted to go home.
The final decision is made by the 11 trustees.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting with Davy and Armstrong and the Minister of Education was a reported request for a “cleaner, scandal free process”. Both parents wanted to get the Bateman and Pearson arguments before the Minister of Education and point out to her that they felt the whole PAR process was flawed.
Flawed it may be – but the decision making power is with the elected trustees and that process has to follow its natural course.
It is clear now that the trustees are struggling with the recommendation that was sent to them by the Director of Education.
Where things get interesting is with the meetings that took place in March when Central high school parents trooped to Queen’s Park and demonstrated in front of the Legislature.
 Marianne Meed Ward at a Queen’s Park media event with Leader of the Opposition Patrick Brown Brown. Meed Ward then held a press conference with leader of the Opposition standing beside her while she complained about the flawed PAR process.
Meed Ward then had a lengthy meeting (reported to have lasted two and a half hours) with the Minister of Education and Burlington MP Eleanor McMahon.
Managing to get two Ministers into the room for a lengthy meeting is not easily achieved.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon. When the Director of Education changed his recommendation – he hasn’t given a reason for the recommendation change – the Bateman parents began to mobilize and tell their story.
The obvious argument for closing Bateman is that it is 1.9 km from Nelson. There is much more to the Bateman story than its distance from Nelson.
Many had serious concerns over the appointment of Meed Ward to the PARC. If the expectation was that she would deliver for the Central high school parents, she appears to have done so.
Many Bateman parents refer to a comment from a Central parent who said: “We continue to believe that Central is not the problem; the problem lies in the southeast end of the city where Nelson and Bateman have significantly overlapping catchments, 1.9 kilometres apart on the same street, and Bateman has declining enrolment….”
One of the reasons for the PAR being held was that there were too many empty seats in six of the seven high schools – with the seventh, Hayden high school, operating at 130% + capacity.
Many argue that the building of Hayden is the reason the problem of all those empty seats exist.
The decision to build Hayden was made in 2008 when Peggy Russell, a perennial NDP candidate, was a Halton District school Board trustee.
 Peggy Russell former NDP candidate and a Halton District School Board trustee – she served as vice chair for a period of time. Russell, who says she was never a push over for Staff, said she felt a need to speak out, saying “you know there is a great deal more to this whole picture than meets the eye and staff are not the ones you should be looking at here, nor should they be vilified in this manner, the individuals who set all this in motion should not be allowed to become a Hero in this whole debacle, it is really very simple.”
The Gazette was not able to actually speak to Ms Russel – the communication was via email.
Did Miller meet with MPP McMahon? He did not. As the MPP McMahon would want a briefing from the Director of Education.
 Stuart Miller during a Q&A that took place on-line. Did McMahon influence Miller so much that he changed his recommendation? She did not.
Miller has said in the past that the recommendation to close some of the high schools in Burlington should have been made years ago – today he certainly wishes that had been done.
Has Meed Ward delivered for the central parents? – most certainly. Has that accomplishment hurt her desire to become the Mayor of Burlington? – only time will tell.
The issue right now is ensuring that the 11 trustees have all the information they need and that they have the wisdom to decide what is best for the city of Burlington.
Related article link
Gazette erred.
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