 By Pepper Parr
May 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The squeeze is on – everywhere.
Gas prices are sucking up more of the budget than usual and it doesn’t sound as if they is going to change for a while.
Food prices are higher – you see that every week when the cashier ask if that is debit, credit or cash?
Households that usually picked up an extra jar of peanut butter or cans of salmon, peas or corn don’t do that as frequently
 This crew just showed up one day with a vehicle full of food asking – where do we put it? The drop offs at the Food Bank are not as frequent.
What hasn’t changed is the need from those less fortunate or those whose employers are still coping with Covid19 restrictions.
Things were approaching the normal we all wanted – then food and gas prices reached new highs.
The war in Ukraine has something to do with it – most people don’t understand just what the link is.
The Ukrainian community is out fund raising as well – and if anyone needs some help – the Ukrainians certainly do. That war is one we cannot lose
 All the food that comes in has to be put through COVID19 procedures – then onto shelves where it gets picked to be put in hampers that go to households. It runs pretty smoothly by volunteers who have everything down pretty pat. All this cascades on to Robin Bailey, Executive Director of the Burlington Food Bank, who has to find that balance between what comes in as food donations and what he has to buy with his very limited resources.
Bailey thinks there might be an opportunity to involve students in the drive to get food into the shelves at the food bank ready for distribution.
Giving is natural, people just give – Bailey hopes there is an opportunity to involve students who may donate as little as a can of peaches – it has to start somewhere.
Let’s see how that idea pans out. It certainly has merit.
 By Staff
May 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Rocca Sisters have been on the front line of residential property sales for at least a decade.
They monitor and analyze each market in Burlington and present updated data every month.
Their Market Insight Report for residential properties documents what has taken place – it has been a wild ride.
During April 2022 for Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, and Greater Hamilton, the market has continued to change.
Understanding how to navigate this transition to get the best results whether selling or buying is crucial.
The Rocca Sisters have the real estate market transitioning from an overheated market to currently a Sellers market and what is a balanced market on the horizon.
Inflation continues to be high, interest rates continue to rise, our province has moved into a new world of “normal”, people are living, travelling and rethinking their plans. The unrest of what will happen in the world with Russia and Ukraine is still looming over us, which puts most people in a questionable state. What we know is that there are still great opportunities for Sellers and finally options and opportunities for buyers.
During the month of April, we have continued to see a shift in the market. The average price for a freehold property in Burlington was $1,510,482 last month and was $1,476,711 at the end of April, however still 18% higher than April 2021 when we saw the average price at $1,248,805 and year over year average sale price is still up 23%. During the month of April, properties sold for 106% of the listed price down from 116% last month and in 8 days, on average, up slightly from 6 days last month, but down year over year from 10days in 2021. Inventory has increased 53% from March to April, which of course plays a role in this adjusting market, regardless, we are still ahead year over year.
During the month of April, the average price for a condo apartment in Burlington was $739,000, down from $797,000 last month, however up 21% from $609,000 the same month last year. The price per square foot was down in April at $770, compared to $791 last month, however up almost 22% from the same month last year. In April, properties sold for 105% of the listed price, down from 111% last month. Days on market are up slightly from 8 to 11 days but down from 14days year over year. Like the Freehold market, the condo market has begun to shift. Although, like all markets, inventory levels still lend to a Sellers market, the condition and results show we continue to transition into a balanced market, but are still in a strong Sellers market.
What Does All of This Mean
This month we have witnessed bigger changes in the marketplace, however when we put it all into perspective and analyze it as a whole, we are still in a very strong market. One where Sellers can still capitalize on values we would have never seen 2 years ago, let alone 12 months ago.
 Buyers are finally getting a break with inventory options – and although we have 4x more inventory then we did a couple of months ago, the inventory levels still dictate a Sellers market. What is happening and what is going to happen you ask? Well, we all knew our overheated market was not sustainable, this was to be expected.
The market is transitioning and of course there are several factors playing a hand in this as well; interest rate increases, the unrest of the looming War, high inflation, and of course the media which has made some people pause and question what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. We are reaching new levels of “normality”, people are being called back to the workplace, and of course with the market changes, some buyers are reconsidering where they are going or what they are doing for the interim.
What we must all keep in mind is that Sellers still are farther ahead today then a year ago, they are still in a great Sellers market, and one that will definitely continue to transition with time so capturing that now is key. For Buyers, well I don’t know any Buyer that tried to time the market and was successful, if it happens organically great, but the reality is that Buyers are in a way better position with more options, less competition and possibly a bit of negotiating power than they were a couple months ago. Why wait — one thing we know for sure is that historically, when our marketplace shifts, it is typically 60days on average before it begins to upswing. We may see some ironing out between now and mid-late summer, but the opportunities for buyers are now.
 By Staff
May 10th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Frank Meyers took to photography a number of years ago. He happened to have a good eye and taught himself how to fram what he was looking through his view finder. There were some surprising results.
This year he decided he would enter some of his work in major exhibitions. Frank had grown beyond the Burlington market
He has four prints in the Forms, Faces and Spaces juried exhibition. It’s an official venue of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
A production of Studio by Design, the show is located in the parish hall, 16 Adamson St. S., Norval, Ontario.
Hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4:30pm until May 29.
If you’re looking for one of those nice drives in the country – this will be one of them.
 Part of a juried juried exhibition. It’s an official venue of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
 By Staff
May 9th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Service Burlington, currently located at 426 Brant St., will temporarily move to a new location on the third floor of 390 Brant St. beginning Wednesday, May 11.
 390 Brant, better known as the Sims building; the city bought it a number of years ago. It is right across the street from the Queen’s Head – a spot where an Adult Beverage can be enjoyed. The new location at 390 Brant St. is directly beside City Hall (to the south) and can be accessed by customers from the entrance off of Elgin Street. (See map attached).
The relocation of Service Burlington is being made to limit the disruption experienced by customers visiting the Service Burlington counter during the construction currently underway at City Hall. Service Burlington is closed to walk-in customers on Monday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 10 in order to complete the move, with the exception of marriage license and commissioning appointments.
During the move, it is still easy to connect with the City by calling 905-335-7777 or emailing city@burlington.ca to receive service. Many City service payments are also available online at burlington.ca/onlineservices.
Additional services and meeting updates
Individuals wishing to submit nomination papers for Burlington’s 2022 municipal election can do so by appointment only. Appointments can be made by contacting the Office of the City Clerk at 905-335-7777 or clerks@burlington.ca. The location of appointments to file nomination papers will temporarily move to the third floor of 390 Brant St. More details will be shared by the Office of the City Clerk when appointments are confirmed.
Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 426 Brant St remains open to the public for Committee and Council meetings.
Burlington City Council has implemented hybrid Council meetings and members of the public have the option to participate in or observe Council meetings in person at Council Chambers or remotely. For more information, please visit burlington.ca/delegate.
 Angela Morgan, Strategic Lead – Customer Experience Angela Morgan, Strategic Lead – Customer Experience is the person having an experience of how own striving to get a new approach to serving the people of the city and at the same time be in a location where everything doesn’t have to be dusted every day and staff don’t have to wear ear muffs.
“Moving the Service Burlington counter to the building beside City Hall will ensure that we can continue to offer customers a positive experience when they come to visit us. We sincerely apologize for the disruption and look forward to seeing our customers soon at our new temporary location on the third floor of 390 Brant St.
We will continue to update the public about when Service Burlington will move back to City Hall.”
 By Pepper Parr
May 9th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Every reporter strives for accuracy – they listen hard to what people are saying – waiting for that quote that just makes the story.
Accuracy matters – not as easy to get as people think.
Technology has made a big difference; it allows a reporter to capture what a person said and then transcribe it and use it in the copy being written.
As everyone knows – the technology can bite your bum.
The people best at getting what is said down perfectly are the Court reporters – they have a device that lets them capture what is said and instantly read it back
A number of years ago the City employed what would be the equivalent of a court reporter to capture what was said at Council meetings.
 A Court Reporter with the transcribing equipment The transcript produced was something the Gazette was very interested in getting a copy of.
We asked if we could have a copy.
We were told we couldn’t have the document which we thought was a public document.
We asked if we could buy a copy of the transcripts.
No the city wasn’t interested in doing that either.
We asked for the name of the company doing the work. We thought we could buy the transcripts directly from them.
No – the city was not prepared to give us the name of the company that was doing the transcribing.
 Kwab Ako-Ajei.,Director of Communications All this back and forth was done by email with the Director of Communications Kwab Ako-Ajei. Director of Communications for the city. Kwab reports directly to the City Manager.
Someone somewhere at city hall made the decision that the Gazette, a credentialed online newspaper, operating for more than ten years (longer than the people who have their fingers on the flow of news information to media have held their jobs), that the Gazette was not to be given access to the data they need to do their job effectively.
Council talks about the importance of media in the process of engaging the public. At one point the Mayor of the city publicly praised the Gazette for the job it was doing.
We may have done the job a little too well for some.
What to do?
Folks, Burlington is your city, your home. You elect the government you get and they appoint the administrative leadership.
We push for better transparency – your job is to demand it.
Part 1 of the series
Part 2 of the series
By Staff
May 9th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 2: Caregivers.
This Community Lens, the second in a two-part series on caregiving, will draw from the findings of a 2021 survey on the impacts of COVID-19 on caregivers.
The survey was carried out by the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) deep into the second year of the pandemic, between September 24th and October 12th, 2021.
Released in November 2021, entitled, ‘Spotlight Report, The Impact of COVID-19 on Caregivers: Year Two’ , it is the second pandemic caregiver survey undertaken by the organization. Its first pandemic survey, ‘Spotlight on Ontario’s Caregivers COVID-19 Edition’, was released in December 2020.
 Former Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon speaking with seniors at a meeting in the Library. The OCO defines caregivers as “ordinary people who provide physical and/or emotional support to a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour”. Funded by the Government of Ontario, the OCO is a nonprofit that was created in 2018 “to support Ontario’s estimated 3.3 million caregivers”.
In publishing this Community Lens, CDH intends to raise awareness of the experiences of caregivers, in our view, an increasingly important, but often overlooked, area of life for many people and families across Halton.
COVID-19 Impacts on Caregivers
Since the OCO’s first pandemic survey in December 2020, the findings from the 2021 survey indicate that many of the negative and difficult personal caregiver experiences deteriorated further. There were 801 “self-reported caregivers” aged 16 years and older who participated in the online survey between September 24 and October 12, 2021. As part of its research, the OCO also conducted a series of ten in- depth interviews alongside the online survey.
In the second year of the pandemic, caregivers reported increases in “feeling tired, anxious, overwhelmed, trapped, frustrated and unappreciated”. In fact, according to the 2021 survey findings, caregiver burnout was at record high levels.
While one in three caregivers in the 2021 survey reported that they had “no one to ask for help” if they needed a rest or if they became sick.
The climate of heightened anxiety around COVID-19 transmission, among other factors, impacted caregivers and care recipients, with 56% of caregivers reported worrying about “managing care recipient’s anxiety due to Covid-19”.
COVID-19 caused significant service and care support disruptions, which would have been felt disproportionately by caregivers who were already overstretched, such as those with smaller family and friend networks.
 Mary Alice St. James talking to seniors during an election campaign. The increased pressure on the healthcare system during the pandemic impacted 75% of caregivers who were required to take on “responsibilities that would otherwise go to a personal support worker or nurse”. Overall, caregivers reported that more time was spent caregiving during the pandemic, “61% say the hours they spend providing care has increased”. According to the 2021 survey, almost one in five carers (18%) were “caring for more than one person”. The pandemic not only created additional complexity for that group, but for many caregivers, 59% of whom said their responsibilities were more difficult in 2021 “than before the pandemic”.
The top three reasons that caregivers gave were:
“Being at home all the time, the care recipient is unable to get important social interaction (38%) Difficulty accessing the doctors and/or other healthcare professionals (36%)
Delayed/cancelled appointments require more time and effort in rescheduling (33%)”.
Enhanced health and safety protocols in hospitals and long-term care facilities, introduced to keep the most vulnerable safe from COVID-19 transmission, were nonetheless difficult experiences for many caregivers and recipients, particularly those that were already isolated and lonely pre-pandemic. Due to enhanced COVID-19 health and safety rules, “26% [of caregivers in the 2021 survey] had to send the care recipient to the hospital alone”.
Canadian caregivers also reported worse personal pandemic impacts than their global counterparts. A survey by Embracing Carers, released in 2021, found that, “70% of Canadian carers say that the pandemic has worsened their emotional/mental health, compared to 61% of the 12-country average” and “61% of Canadian carers say that the pandemic has worsened their physical health, compared to 46% of the 12- country average”.
 Burlington has a very strong network of seniors who have clout that spreads throughout the Region of Halton. This crowd was focused on transit while the MP, Karina Gould and then ward 2 Councillor, now Mayor Burlington, Marianne Meed Ward look on. Post-Covid Financial Pressures: Rising Living Costs to Impact Caregivers
Financial hardship exists among caregivers, just as it is experienced by individuals and families across our communities. The OCO 2021 survey reported that, “20% of caregivers took out a loan or a line of credit to help pay for the expense [of caregiving], up from 17%” in the 2020 survey. 9 It found that 45% “experienced financial hardships [in 2021], compared to 41% in 2020”, an increase of 4% during the two pandemic surveys. Perhaps a more concerning trend was that the 45% of caregivers experiencing financial hardship in 2021 was up 13% (from 32% in 2019). Moreover, the 2021 level of self-reported financial hardship (45%) is more than double the 22% reported in the 2018 survey.
The current rise in living costs being witnessed across the country will only serve to increase the financial hardship of many caregivers. In “January 2022, Canadian inflation surpassed 5% for the first time since September 1991”. 10 In February 2022, national average prices climbed further. Canada’s inflation level for February 2022 sat at 5.7% (12-month average, compared with February 2021).
Staple food items are increasing faster than the 5.7% inflation level. In February 2022 (compared with February 2021), fresh or frozen beef prices were up 16.8%, chicken was up 10.4%, and “dairy products and eggs were up 6.9%”. These macro economic price trends support the personal reflections of caregivers in the OCO 2021 survey: 47% of whom said that “there have been more costs related to providing care” during COVID-19.
 Councillor Sharman has held two public sessions with Senior’s as part of his effort to understand their needs and develop policy that Council can put in place to serve this vital community. Caregivers fortunate enough to have access to a motor vehicle are experiencing much higher price increases than the 5.7% inflation level. In February 2022, Canadians “paid 32.3% more at the pump compared with February 2021”. 14 Such fuel price increases are likely to put caregivers under increasing financial pressure, disproportionality impacting more rural and isolated caregivers and those with inadequate access to public transport. The associated tasks around providing caregiver support, some of which are heavily reliant on transport, such as attending doctors’ appointments, prescription runs, buying medical and care supplies, are now more expensive post-Covid.
Conclusion
This Community Lens showed that the negative experiences of caregiving during COVID-19 were exacerbated by a pandemic that affected service provisions, contributed to increased anxiety and burnout, impeded crucial social interactions, and increased financial pressures on caregivers.
Unfortunately, the post-COVID economic climate is unlikely to offer much respite for struggling caregivers in the months ahead. Gas and essential food item prices are fast outpacing Canada’s 31-year inflation high of 5.7%, which was announced for February 2022. 15 These post-COVID price increases, caused in part by higher “input prices and heightened transportation costs,” come on top of already increased costs that were associated with caregiving, as reported in the 2021 OCO survey.
If there is to be a positive takeaway from the pandemic it may be, as the CEO and board chair of the OCO put it in their opening remarks to the 2021 survey, “the expanded understanding of what caregivers do and why they are essential partners in care”. We hope this Community Lens series has contributed, in a small way, to this understanding, and helps shine a light on the role that an “estimated 131,624 Halton caregivers” play in supporting families, friends, and the wider healthcare and social system.
Further Resources for Caregivers
If you are a caregiver, or know someone who is, and would like further information around resources and support, we recommend visiting the Ontario Caregiver Organization website: https://ontariocaregiver.ca
As always, if you have any feedback about this Community Lens or about any of our other social policy and planning work, please reach out to data@cdhalton.ca
 Community Lens is prepared by Community Development Halton to disseminate and interpret important community data as it becomes available. For more information please contact us at data@cdhalton.ca or 905-632-1975
Community Development Halton 3350 South Service Road
Burlington, ON L7N 3M6
905-632-1975 www.cdhalton.ca
Caregivers: Part 1
 By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Today is the kind of day the boaters would have been out washing down the decks of their boats and preparing for the launch. Will there be a launch this year – not something anyone can be really certain about.
 The LaSalle Park Marina with a rendering of the wave break in place. Jim Thomson delegated before a Standing Committee and gave Councillors some background on the problems with insurance coverage for the LaSalle Park Marina.
 Jim Thomson – asks a lot of questions Thomson is not a boater, he is not a member of any of the associated clubs.
His only involvement with the marina was a complaint he made back in 2016 when he had a complaint about smells coming from the docks which in those days were hauled out of the water every year. The shellfish had accumulated – he called the city – got nothing and decided to call the health department – guess what – the city responded.
Jim was just as direct with Council. Thomson knew that the law suit that was impacting the renewal of an insurance policy was something the city knew about the day the claim was made – the city was originally a party to the claim.
Somehow the city got themselves removed from the claim but that doesn’t detract from the fact that they knew..
 Slip and falls tend to be in the $10,000 to $40,000 range – how do you spend $97,000 on legal fees and still not have a settlement? Thomson believes that the claim – a slip and fall event, has eaten up $97,000 in legal fees.
The only people who know who filed the claim is the LPMA Board and of course city hall.
Thomson said that slip and fall claims tend to be between $10,000 and $40,000 with few being at the high end.
The slip and fall claim was served early in 2019 – the most recent operating agreement with the city was signed later in the year.
Thomson wonders was the matter of the insurance was not brought up at that time – where is the proper due diligence Thomson asks.
If the city was able to get itself off the claim that would suggest the accident took place on one of the links between the rows of boat slips.
 Is this a pace city hall can work at? A lot of questions – not many answers at this point.
 City manager Tim Commisso – commenting during the Marina delegations. Thomson has an interview being set up with City Manager Tim Commisso – no date yet. It will be a telephone interview; tough to present an argument that way.
Thomson had an issue with an item being on the agenda with no report that people could read before taking part in the meeting. Burlington is at a point in its pandemic evolution where people can delegate in person. Thomson was very much in person.
He told Council it needed to “act instantly or boaters will lose their season.
He told Council that “Staff doesn’t know what’s to be done” and that “Staff has no idea of the problems”.
Thomson also said: It’s hard to delegate on a report that arrives late on the agenda adding that “a verbal update” doesn’t leave any room for community comment at the committee stage.
Where, Thomson wanted to know is where was ” the transparency we’ve all been hearing so much
Thomson filled in some of the information holes:
LPMA Claims history has caused current insurer to cancel.
Rick Craven, a former ward 1 Councillor identified two outstanding claims as slip-and-fall lawsuits.
Are there other claims that have been settled? Has the City reviewed the claims history?
 Is this where the slip and fall took place? Are the docks un-safe?
Do they need modification to reduce slips/falls?
Thomson quoting the the Burlington Boating and Sailing Club Commodore Scott Lowell: “It is now imperative that the City of Burlington assume direct management of what in the end is their marina (they own the wave- break and the docks) and move quickly to open the marina,”
Thomson doesn’t buy the imperative argument. “There is significant cost to the city running the marina; Not something the City should be rushing into
He added that the the City is in possession of a report on running the marina that would result in an operating loss of $196,750 for the year 2022
The data in the 2019 report assumed the city would already have been operating the marina for two years. It also assumed that the city would have about 9 month to plan the take-over.
Thomson left City Council with these thoughts”
 Is all the data, background information and history coming together to form a perfect storm? The lease on LaSalle Park is up at the end of the year.
What happens next year?
The City needs a Master Plan for LaSalle
If the City wants a Marina do it right
Council and staff need to stop improvising
A lot more to come on this file.
Stay tuned.
 By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Social media is one of the communication channels that gets a bad wrap.
The politicians will complain loud and publicly that social media is misused and abused and then do just that – exploit what can be done with Twitter and a Facebook account.
 These boats will stay where they are until the 17th – while the city scrambles to find a way to put insurance coverage in place. Former American president Donald Trump was an artist with the way he manipulated messages and created a following of millions until he was banned from Twitter.
Last week the city was presented with a really messy situation at the LaSalle Park Marina. Boats could not be put into the water because required insurance could not be put in place.
Burlington’s Mayor is heavily invested in the marina issue. She chose to support the installation of a needed wave break and convinced the rest of council to go along with pulling $4 million out of the Hydro Reserve Fund to pay for the wave break.
The insurance problem was something someone should have been on top of – but that is spilled milk
The boaters need a fast response which may not be something the city bureaucracy can deliver – municipal government just doesn’t work that way.
Mayor Meed Ward put out a note on social media saying:
 Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith needs all the help he can get in his re-election bid. The Mayor will support him – returning the favours he has done for her. That Tweet didn’t quite square with the recommendation that was debated at Council. Someone at city hall has put out a more moderate message.
 A more moderate message was posted about an hour later. What the public doesn’t need is politicians exploiting a serious problem.
Director of Parks Recreation and Culture Chris Glenn did a good job of managing the issue during the debate.
Staff from Legal set out what the insurance problem is and what will have to be done to get insurance coverage in place.
There is a very real chance that the boaters may lose their boating season.
There are reports that some members of the LPMA have pulled out and are looking for a place to locate their boat. The problem with that is – there isn’t that much capacity in the immediate area.
There are a lot of view points out there.
 By Pepper Parr
May 7th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A Gazette reader wrote:
“Hi I’ve been looking down Green Street for more than six years hoping I’ll see a Window to the Lake pop up.
“I know Burlington doesn’t complete projects at the same pace as say Dubai.. But the pace on this project is glacial. I’ve heard all of the reasons high water, Canada 150 funding; I suppose now it’s COVID.
“I’d like to know if my neighbours are getting this long proposed park during our lifetime? Or will we be visiting Sweetgrass park learning about the Medicine wheel first? “
Our reader makes a good point. The Green Street Window on the Lake sort of got lost in the frantic shuffle that saw land along the edge of the lake shift from the hands of the city to three property owners who paid peanuts for the property and enhanced the value of their lots considerable – very considerably.
 This is the view the three families bought – it was once public property The blame for this crime and it was a crime does not rest with the people who bought the property. They saw an opportunity and went for it and out manoeuvred the city’s efforts which were pathetic.
There was a time when the city actually had a Waterfront Advisory Committee. One of the tasks they took on was to survey all the Windows on the Lake to determine just how many there were and what condition were they in.
 Gary Scobie, far right, was a member of the Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory Committee which was sunset by the city last December. Scobie went on to sit on the Ad Hoc Waterfront Committee. Nick Leblovic is on the right. Our reports on that work by a bunch of diligent volunteers appeared in the Gazette.
The Chair of the Advisory Committee at the time was Nicholas Leblovic, a friend of then Mayor Cam Jackson.
A lawyer by profession and said to be an expert in his field which was the leasing and ownership of aircraft and oil rigs.
These assets were often owned by investors and leased to oil drillers or air lines. Big business done at an international level and very lucrative.
Nick no longer practices law – he didn’t last all that long as Chair of the Waterfront Advisory Committee.
The Mayor wasn’t happy, some members of Council weren’t happy – a Staff report was ordered up and the conclusion was that the Advisory Committee should be sunset.
Leblovic is a political junkie – he loves the game and always wants to be at the table. He is reported to be a part of Mayor Meed Ward’s re-election committee.
 The St. Paul window above and the Market Street Window on the left.  The work the Advisory Committee did however worked its way into the agenda and in time a report came to council with some commendations on what to do wit two of the Windows on the Lake – they were at the bottom of Market Street and St. Paul
The options were:
Do nothing
Develop the Waterfront Trail a little further or
Sell the property.
It was never clear just who signed off on the report and let the Sell the Property be an option.
 All the land inside the yellow border was public. The city sold the piece in the middle and in the process took from the people of Burlington a gem. The option was just enough for the three property owners along the edge of the property to make an offer which was accepted and the land was then in private hands. It was owned jointly by the city and a provincial ministry.
 Peter Rusin did a superb job for the three property owners who bought up what was going to be part of the Waterfront Trail The family’s hired Peter Rusin, who went on to run for the office of Mayor, but before that put together a document that set out in considerable detail an argument for selling the property.
All that was sold was the land between the Windows on the Lake.
Today those two windows are publicly accessible and a really nice place to sit and read and while away part of a day.
Our Gazette reader wants to see the same thing happen to the window at the bottom of Green Avenue.
Be careful what you ask for
 By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This is an unfortunate situation that could have and should have been looked into some time ago.
City Council and senior staff are working diligently to solve the problem – some comments and background at a later date.
 LaSalle Park – these boats might be stuck on the site for some time. The boat launch which was to take place on the 15th is now delayed – a new date has yet to be determined.
The delay is due to insurance renewal issues. The City is aware of the LaSalle Park Marina Association’s (LPMA) expired liability insurance and difficulties finding a replacement insurer. The City is working closely with the LPMA to find a short-term and a long-term solution to open the marina.
At the May 5 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee meeting, City Council gave a staff direction which includes doing due diligence to identify and fully address the financial, legal, human resource and operating risk exposures to the City in order to operate the LaSalle Park Community Marina on an interim basis for the 2022 season based on a target date for opening of no later than June 15.
A key component is the interim Marina operation must be at no cost to the taxpayers of Burlington inclusive of City reserve funds. Early in this term of Council they approved taking $4 million out of the hydro reserve fund to pay for the wave break that was desperately needed.
City staff will report back to City Council on May 17, 2022 and at the June 9, 2022 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee.
The community marina is a key feature that the City values and wants to keep open, as is evident by the $4 million investment in the floating wave break that was installed in 2020. Proper insurance is required for operation and options are being explored. The closure of the marina also means the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program cannot operate from the marina and the boat launch will remain closed.
About the LaSalle Park Community Marina
Through an agreement with the City, the marina has been has operated by the LPMA for 41 years. The City owns the wave break and the marina.
The wave break is in place – now insurance issues will keep the boats out of the water. The Marina is in a decent location. Parking is an issue and the site could use a decent restaurant. Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a new floating wave break that was installed in 2020.
The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.
Without a solution the marina will not be able to open. As it is many of the boaters will want to look for a new location – and there aren’t many of them in the immediate area.
This could end up being a black day for a lot of people.
 Chris Glenn: Director of Parks and Recreation and Culture. Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture said during the Standing Committee earlier this week that: “The City of Burlington is committed to working with the LPMA to find a short-term and a long-term solution to keep the marina open for residents and tourists. We know the marina is a key feature for many people. We are exploring multiple options to get it open for the 2022 boating season and beyond. Until a solution is found, the marina and boat launch will remain closed and further update will be shared with the public as available.”
By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Service Burlington counter that was on the main floor of city hall was moved to the second floor due to main level construction has now been closed ass of noon today.
Too much noise from the construction work.
  The city does have a heart – Service Burlington appointments booked today for marriage licenses will take place. If you have any questions, please call 905-335-7777.
A reminder that many service payments are available online at burlington.ca/onlineservices.
 More information about the temporary closure to walk-in customers will be provided early next week.
City Hall Modernization Project
The construction at City Hall is happening as part of the City Hall modernization project. The project is one of 22 recommendations from the Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force report and will create a more open, customer-facing area on the first floor of City Hall.
 By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is about to receive a very generous donation in the way of funding for us recreation and park infrastructure amenities that will be managed by the Parks and Recreation department.
The gift to the city is from the Patrick J McNally Foundation,.
 The McNally Foundation contributed to the development of this parkette. The City of Burlington and the Patrick J McNally Foundation have worked together in recent years and have partnered on the design and construction of various recreational facilities throughout the City.
In 2018, the Foundation funded a water service and splash pad for Bolus Park as part of the KABOOM! community project. They also financed a new water service for the Francis Road community garden.
Most recently the Foundation financed the reconstruction of Valley Inn pedestrian bridge and 100 sheets of artificial ice. Both contributions support year-round outdoor recreational opportunities. The artificial ice provided a much-needed outdoor activity during the pandemic.
The Foundation has now committed to donating $1.125 million over 2022 and 2023 for the design and construction of new park amenities.
2022 Projects
Central Park
$150,000 Accessible multi-user swing This multi-user swing will accommodate mobility devices and up to four people at once. No wheelchair transfer will be required. This will be the first in Ontario.
Sweetgrass Park
$60,000 Medicine Wheel/Healing Garden To coincide with the renaming of the park, work will include a park identification sign and interpretive signage. Details and scope of this project will be determined in consultation with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
 Leighland Park
$450,000 Ball hockey/basketball combination court
Fitness equipment loop
Shade structure w/picnic tables
The park amenities included here will be added to the larger park renewal project that is currently underway.
All these additions are requests from the public but could not be accommodated within the park capital program.
2023 Projects
Lansdown Park
$400,000 Splash pad
New water service This splash pad will be a new feature to the park and designed/constructed as part of the larger park renewal.
 Port Nelson Park Port Nelson Park
$65,000 New water service
Drinking fountain with bottle filler This feature will support this lake-side park and users of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, supporting active transportation.
The Foundation’s wanted to have the work done within the next 6 to 15 months. Current staff workload and the risk of building new park amenities without associated operating budget, the approach for the current funding is to enhance already active park revitalization projects. The new park amenities will have a positive community impact and associated operating budget can be captured in the 2023 budget process.
Staff considered other parks and needs in the community but given timing and existing workloads, it was decided to focus efforts on park projects currently underway to have most opportunity for success.
Staff also considered the option to not accept the donation. However, with a willing donor and strong community interest in parks and park amenities, staff felt it was important to pursue this opportunity.
Total donation to the City is:
• $660,000 in 2022
• $465,000 in 2023
Except for the proposed work at Sweetgrass Park, all of the proposed donations will be included in the larger capital revitalization projects currently underway.
Human Resources
Additional staffing is required to operate and maintain these amenities; particularly, the expansion of assets at Leighland Park. This work will require two seasonal staff, one temp and one student, which amounts to $46,500.
Utilities
The $30,000 listed for utilities is specifically related to the splash pad at Lansdown Park to cover this service.
Labour/Materials/Purchased Services
With new assets being installed, additional costs to maintain these items through the year are required. This includes work such as required inspections, litter/debris pickup, infrastructure repairs, keeping surfaces clean/safe, grass cutting/trimming and regular annual seasonal-specific maintenance.
Source of Funding
These estimated operating impacts will be phased in over the 2023 and 2024 budgets as the associated assets are slated to be completed. The City’s multi-year budget simulation will be updated to reflect these estimated impacts.
So who was Patrick McNally and where did the money come from? That is a separate and remarkable story that you can read HERE
By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
With life getting back to normal you will want to know what is open and what the hours are.
The Freeman Station on Fairview has become a go to place, especially for parents with children who want to take them to places that are fun.
The display in the basement of the building, called a diorama, tells the story and the roll rail played in the city’s growth.
Parents will learn even more than the kids.
Related articles:
The model set up in the basement of Freeman Station
By Staff
May 5th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The provincial election that began officially yesterday is about climate change.
Your life and the quality of the life you live in the next three to five years is going to be decided on who you elect on June 2nd.
Stop the Sprawl a group working across the province is doing there best to set out the issues and give you a chance to take part in this vital exercise. Send them your thoughts: Stop Sprawl Halton – stopsprawlhalton@gmail.com
On April 14th 2022, Bill 109, the More Homes for Everyone Act hurriedly received royal assent a scant two weeks after it was introduced. Bill 109 formalized a provision that would allow the Minister to refer Official Plan Amendments to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) if the Minister is not satisfied with the submission.
 Beausoleil, the structure on the left in this rendering was approved at the Ontario Land Tribunal level – city council was not in love with this one. This is an unacceptable shift from the long-standing process whereby provincial and municipal planning staff work collaboratively to achieve consensus on Official Plan submissions. Simply pitching submissions to an arbitrator that allows a single individual the authority to accept or deny Official Plans converts municipal planning to an adversarial process that will unnecessarily cost municipal taxpayers millions of dollars.
Official Plans and local autonomy threatened
In November 2021, Hamilton City Council voted to accommodate all expected future growth within its current urban boundaries, rather than sprawling outward onto precious farmland, woods and wetlands because the mandated market-driven housing mix CAN be accommodated.
It is unacceptable, therefore, that Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark stated in the legislature that Hamilton’s refusal to expand its urban boundaries was unacceptable to the Ford government, and that he was considering referral of the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a decision. Hamilton’s approved plan was in compliance with all provincial policies.
In February 2022, Halton Regional Council also directed their staff to prepare an Official Plan with no urban expansion for the next 20 years, recognizing they have enough vacant land within the current urban boundary to accommodate all mandated growth to 2041. Halton also elected to delay approving its plan for accommodating growth to 2051 until the province reveals its response to the Affordable Housing Task Force Report. Halton fully intends to be compliant with Provincial legislation once the new rules are known.
Many other municipal councils are still completing their Official Plans. Will their deliberations be subject to the Minister’s whims too?
Referral to the OLT: double jeopardy for Councils and taxpayers
 The problem in the Region of Halton is the same problem Hamilton is fighting. The threat of referral to the OLT, with its significant price tag, will surely influence decision- making as councils struggle with the cost of a potential OLT court case. Councils understand that there is always the threat of going to the OLT to defend their decisions from challenges from land speculators. But they should not have the province also threatening the same challenge. What, in effect has happened is that the challenges expected from speculators will now be paid for by the people of Ontario via the Province’s intervention.
It is an affront to democracy to reject the planning decisions made by elected councils, when they have followed provincial legislation and made their decisions following due process, consistent with local priorities.
Ontario’s Stop Sprawl Coalition calls on the Province of Ontario to repeal sections of Bill 109 that deal with referrals to the OLT.
We have a climate emergency: plan for it!
 The climate has changed – the sudden floods in 2014 caused this flooding in Burlington Ontario’s Stop Sprawl Coalition supports:
• Ending exclusionary zoning to allow for gentle density in existing neighbourhoods
• Growth through sustainable, more efficient use of land
• Ending sprawl as a means of accommodating new population
• Designing complete, walkable, transit-supportive mixed-use communities
• Saving farming, not just farmland
• Rethinking employment areas for efficiency of land use
• Protection of natural assets, including watersheds, water sources, sensitive lands and biodiversity
• Broad community consultation including Indigenous voices
The Places to Grow Act (PGA) was introduced in the Province of Ontario in 2005. This provincial legislation provided new guidance for how municipalities accommodate growth. It was introduced specifically to address the alarming loss of prime agricultural farmland in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) and the negative consequences of sprawl such as increased commute times, traffic congestion on provincial highways, loss of productivity, increased greenhouse gas emissions and the unsustainable increasing costs to the taxpayers for servicing sprawling growth.
The PGA for the first time forced all municipalities in the GGH to reduce their reliance on converting farmland to subdivisions and introduced mandatory intensification targets within built- up areas of the communities.
The Ford government updated the legislation in 2019 by walking back the intensification targets and by introducing a goal that would effectively require municipalities to approve more sprawl to accommodate growth. The key new requirement was to accommodate the future market for single family dwellings.
Since late last year, Stop Sprawl organizations have sprung up across the GGH in response to these changes which move the province in a backward direction. Municipalities have other priorities that will be thwarted if they simply comply by approving sprawl.
How we must grow during climate breakdown
 The Green space we have left. In Burlington the Escarpment is protected – will a second term PC government keep that protection in place. Ontario’s remaining green spaces are precious. They mitigate climate change and provide future food security. We applaud municipal councils that have chosen to accommodate growth within their existing urban areas and are diligently working on policies that will increase the supply of single-family dwellings without an urban expansion. They have chosen to grow by focusing intensification along higher order transit corridors and in commercial nodes. They have chosen to provide more opportunities for affordable housing to be built near services. They have chosen to plan for growing vibrant walkable, less car-dependent neighbourhoods. They have chosen to grow in a more financially viable way in contrast to accepting the escalating cost of growth through continuing expansion of their urban boundaries.
Stop Sprawl Ontario supports sustainable growth that integrates responsible land management , more efficient use of land, and focuses on creating walkable, livable, healthy communities for all residents in harmony with nature.
By Staff
May 5th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This is not a good news story.
After using more than $4 million of Hydro reserve funds to complete the installation of the floating wave break.
The Marina operation has learned that they cannot get the insurance they need to open their operations.
The options are not all that good.
The option the LaSalle Park Marina Association hopes is chosen through the Environmental Assessment due March 2013. Community Marina.
Both LaSalle Park Marina Association (LPMA) and Burlington Sailing and Boating Club (BS&BC) have advised their members that LPMA is unable to get insurance for the upcoming boating season and that the opening of the Marina will be delayed as they look for options.
 These boats may not be able to use the marina as there base this season. Since the boat storage area takes up the parking spaces reserved for boat trailers, the public boat launch will remain closed for trailered boats until this situation is resolved.
Canoes, kayaks, and other smaller portable items can still be launched.
Strategy/process
Staff are assessing a short-term option to open the Marina this summer which will allow staff and other stakeholders time to develop a long-term sustainable operating model for the Marina in the future.
Short-term options are high level and general in nature as staff are in the process of refining them. Staff will provide members of Council with a verbal update at the Committee meeting on May 5, 2022.
Options Considered
1. LPMA Operates the Marina:
If LPMA’s broker can secure insurance, the Marina will operate as usual. To date, the broker has not been able to secure coverage for the operation of the Marina.
2. BS&BC Operates the Marina:
Staff approached BS&BC about this option. BS&BC’s current insurance provider did not offer extended coverage for the operation of the Marina.
3. Other Marina Operators:
Staff reached out to the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority and Town of Oakville to see if they would consider taking over the operation of the Marina as part of their current marina operation. Staff have not heard back at this time.
 Boats may not be hoisted into the water and be able to operate out of the Burlington marina. They will have to look for another place to dock their boats, 4. City Operated:
Staff had initial discussions about taking over the operation of the Marina for this year and spoke to both LPMA and BS&BC to get an understanding of the operation. The City’s insurer has confirmed that insurance for the Marina can be included in our coverage.
5. Marina Closed for Season:
If LPMA is unable to secure insurance or another viable option cannot be found, the Marina will not open this season.
Related news story:
That hydro money used to complete the marina upgrade
Construction of wave brake to start
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
While it may be that the battle for saving the land that the Waterfront Hotel sits on the area that is known as the “football” is still very much at risk.
Nick Carnicelli put together plans for a structure that is nice enough from an architectural point of view – some just thought it was inappropriate for that space.
The site is at the eastern end of the football and would become the entrance to the downtown core – not something this council is prepared to do at this point.
 The city doesn’t feel design is appropriate for the location and they have not had a chance to prepare a staff report. Good arguments but will they be heard at the OLT The Carnicelli development went to the Ontario Land Tribunal for lack of a decision from the city. At the time the Urban Growth centre was put under an Interim Control bylaw which put a halt to all development in the UGC.
Council went into a Closed Session this afternoon to discuss this and then came out and delivered not only the address of the property they were talking about but what some of the issues were.
After that some of the council members chose to clap themselves on the back for making the change in the way they report out on Closed sessions.
The big big issue on how this development is treated at the OLT is the impact it will have on the football.
 Ignore the subject site notation. The development in question is at the right hand side of that football shape – where Old Lakeshore Road and Lakeshore Road meet. That land has not had the benefit of any really progressive thinking – the developers spotted the opportunity six years ago – bought up the land and came back with incredible developments. That use of the word incredible was not meant as a positive statement.
 This is a model of what the CORE Development Group wanted to build. There development is to the immediate west of the Carnicelli site – which is not shown in this model. Meed Ward based her first campaign on saving the waterfront. She hasn’t done all that well with Spencer Smith Park and the Waterfront Hotel site – perhaps she will pivot to the football and set out to save that.
By Pepper Parr
May 4th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Things are definitely getting back to normal.
Bingo is coming back.
The games will be played at the Polish Hall.
 Polish Hall – new home for regular bingo games It took city council hours of listening to deletions from two bingo game operators, who both wanted the Burlington market, which was described as prime by one of the bingo game operators.
When there is more time to write we will explain the complexities of bingo game operations – which are charity based.
A bingo operator must have sponsors from the charitable sector.
How much do they charities get – they get 45% of the proceeds.
By Staff
May 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Community members needed to join the Mountainside Pool Revitalization Public Art Steering Committee
The city’s public art program is looking for community members to join the Steering Committee for the Mountainside Pool Revitalization Project public art mural.
 Rendering of what the pool and the shade area would look like The Steering Committee will provide input into project goals and themes, create a shortlist from the applicants and the winning artist.
The public art program is commissioning a professional artist to paint a mural as part of this project. This revitalization will create a new attractive, fun and welcoming multi-use outdoor swimming pool. The goal is to revitalize the Mountainside Pool so it is inviting and encourages participation through swimming and water play while fostering an active and healthy lifestyle.
Three artists will be shortlisted to create preliminary design concepts for the public review and comment. The community Steering Committee will evaluate the public feedback plus the technical proposal to select the winning artist.
 The pool is heavily used. Steering Committee Roles & Responsibilities
• Attend a project start-up meeting (online) to brainstorm project goals and themes
• Review and score artist proposals to select a shortlist of three artists
• Review design proposals and public feedback of three short-listed artists to select winning artist
• All scoring can be done remotely using an online submission system. Jury meetings will be held via videoconference
Honorarium
Steering Committee members will be given an honorarium of $200 as a token of appreciation for their time commitment and participation in the project.
Time Commitment
• Three meetings via videoconference
o Project Start-up: one hour
o Select Shortlist: two hours
o Select Winning Proposal: two hours
• Review and score artist submissions: this task can be done remotely using an online review system (approximately five hours)
Project Timeline
Deadline Activity
May/June 2022 Meeting #1: project start-up meeting (videoconference)
September 2022 Review and score artist proposals (online)
October 2022 Meeting #2: Select shortlist (videoconference)
January 2023 Public consultation
February 2023 Review and score shortlisted design proposals and public feedback (online)
March 2023 Meeting #3: Select winning artist (videoconference)
May/June 2023 Artwork installation and unveiling
 Some art work would certainly help this entrance How to Apply
Interested applicants should send:
1. Their name
2. Contact Information
1. address
2. phone
3. email
3. And a brief statement outlining why they are interested in joining the Steering Committee (250 words maximum)
Applications should be submitted to Kim Selman at kim@cobaltconnects.ca or at burlingtonpublicart.com/get-involved/jury-roster/ before Friday, May 6.
For more information, please visit www.burlington.ca/publicart.
 Councillor Sharman speaking to Angela Paparazzo Angela Paparizo, Manager of Arts and Culture explains what this initiative is all about.
“Not only is this a great opportunity for an artist to design and create a beautiful mural for the revitalized Mountainside Pool, it is also an exciting opportunity for residents to join the steering committee to help us select the right artist for this project. I welcome anyone who is thinking about applying to contact us with any questions.
Residents are encouraged to submit their applications before May 6. It is my hope that Burlington residents will get involved in this opportunity to choose an artist and evaluate the mural submissions for Mountainside.”
By Denis Gibbons
May 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Folks in the Bay Area remember Bob Chambers as a superb photographer with The Hamilton Spectator, who covered world events like the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.
Few, though, know of another of his many talents – creating miniature displays, sometimes known as dioramas.
 A steam locomotive pulls up in front of the miniature Burlington Junction station. Photo by DENIS GIBBONS A huge replica of the hamlet of Freeman in the 1920s, and specifically the old Burlington Junction railway station, now occupies the basement of the historical Freeman Station on Fairview Street.
Freeman was located at about the intersection of Brant Street and Old Plains Road.
 Retired Teachers of Ontario members presented the Friends of Freeman Station with a grant of $4000. Left to Right: Ron Danielsen, FOFS President; Ruth Miller, RTO Project Sponsor; Penny Hambly, RTO Awards Committee; Carolyn Hilton, RTO Awards Committee; and Claudia Stewart, RTO-District 15 President. Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) provided $4000 to fund a computer control system for its historic model railway educational exhibit. The money was used to purchase the central “brains” of the museum-quality model railway diorama depicting life in the village of Freeman.
Chambers constructed the model in the basement of his home. Gates Bisson contributed other items like a replica of the old fruit-processing plant and Supertest gas station and historian Bob Miller created a cattle pen.
Gary Thompson also donated a circus train, which will be used when children start arriving on field trips. The train often passed through Burlington many years ago on its way to set up in Hamilton.
Miller and KenTaylor, members of the Friends of Freeman Station, operate the model railway setup, which covers 660 square feet.
Miller recalls that before the layout was set up in the basement, the group set up a smaller model railway display at the library and included a Thomas the Train engine, from the popular TV show for children.
“Thomas’ headlights showed up as little eyes,” Miller said. “The kids just loved that.”
 Two miniature locomotives approach the junction carefully. Photo by DENIS GIBBONS The focus is the illuminated Burlington Junction station, which until 1988 stood on the railway line just to the southwest of the intersection of Brant Street and Old Plains Road.
Near the station is the actual junction of two lines – one which ran all the way from Montreal through Toronto and Burlington, then split at Hamilton allowing passengers to travel as far as either Chicago or New York.
 Visitors took lots of photos of the miniature layout. Photo by DENIS GIBBONS The other line, which started at the village of Allandale near Barrie, ran south to Burlington, then down the Beach Strip to service cooling units for frozen fruit grown in the area.
Because it eventually re-connected with the main line at Stoney Creek, it also was a quick bypass of the clogged lines in Hamilton.
The display includes a video describing how a steam locomotive works.
Burlington was once known as the fruit basket of Canada.
Dried fruit, particularly melons grown in farms along Plains Road, were shipped from the station around the world. Later canneries opened in this area.
 A child in period costume was part of the crown on the re-opening of Freeman Station. Photo by Denis Gibbons
Queen Elizabeth and Canadian Prime Ministers from Sr. John A. MacDonald to Lester B. Pearson travelled along the main line, as did NHL teams moving from Montreal and Toronto to Detroit, Chicago and New York.
More than 1.000 service men left the station to defend their country in times of war and peace. Marching bands and hundreds of their fellow citizens walked with them to the station to bid them farewell.
After the Second World War, many emigrants from Europe arrived at this station to make a new life in Burlington.
 By Staff
May 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
One Burlington, the group that celebrates faith, culture and embraces diversity. is hosting a fund raising concert for Ukraine
The event will take place at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church on Saturday, May 14, 2022 – 2:00 pm
The funds raised will go to the Canada Ukraine Foundation.
 Members of the Ukrainian community filled Civic Square awhile ago – things in their country have not gotten any better. Continued support is badly needed. A suggested donation of $20 per person would be appreciated. For those who might want to donate in advance the CU Foundation website A tax-receipt will be issued.
Several professional artists are donating their talents for this important cause.
 Charles Cozens has more than 150 CD’s in circulation. Jeff Madden, tenor, will be performing uplifting material from the American musical theatre songbook. Mr. Madden starred as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Kevin in the ensemble cast of Come From Away.
Charles Cozens and Colin Maier are the duo, JoyRide.
Cozens is a renown accordionist, Maier plays numerous instruments in this dynamic duo.
Andrea Battista is a violinist with the Burlington Symphony Orchestra and Chair of the Burlington Arts and Culture Council of Burlington. She will accompany Jeff Madden and entertain us with a solo performance on the piano.
There are several performances by local groups as well
GuZheng Group presents young people on the Chinese Zither, a harpsichord-like instrument. Dressed in traditional costumes, this ensemble is amazing to watch.
Several Ukrainian churches have pulled together a choir to perform. .
A Bandura duo will perform on this traditional Ukrainian lute-like instrument. The closing act will be a presentation by the young company of the Tyrsa Ukrainian Dancers.
 Tyrsa Ukrainian Dancers. Fabulously dressed in embroidered shirts, bright red skirts and pants and ribboned caps, these young people will raise spirits and smiles as well as funds!
One Burlington is organizing this event in co-operation with the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God.
One Burlington has been presenting events since 2017. It is dedicated to bringing people together to learn more about each other to create understanding and acceptance. Their website is at oneburlington.net
There is a desperate situation in Ukraine – they need our help now – be as generous as you can.
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