The Halton District school Board recently decided that they needed to look at the number of high schools it would operate in the city of Burlington.
The review becomes necessary when the number of students in the school falls below a specific number – 65% of the schools capacity.
The school board staff set out a list of 19 options; the 19th was the one chosen for a review. The decision to do a review is made by the trustees.
Parents packed a meting Room at Wellington Square United Church – they will be doing that frequently in the next nine months.
Last night more than 60 parents met at the wellington Square United Church in a room that was packed and decided what they wanted to do about any possible closure of the Burlington Central High school.
They got an overview of what happened in 200 when Terry Ruff was the newly appointed principal at the high school learned that he might have to close the school. Ruff, a Burlington native, was also a Central high school graduate. They managed to beat back the idea of closing the school then – the community faces that same issue 16 years later.
These parents are not going to go quietly into the night. The meeting was to begin the process o getting themselves organized. They set up four committees:
Executive/Organizing committee: set agendas/meetings; includes Team leaders Strategy Team Logistics team: volunteer intake & assignment; coordinate topic Teams Fundraising/Communications Team (social media, GOFundMe)
The following four people from the high school parent council are:
Michael Kukhta – Neighbourhood Meeting Facilitator/ BCHS Council Chair Lynn Crosby – Neighbourhood Meeting C0-Facilitator/ BCHS Council Secretary Dania Thurman – Neighbourhood Meeting Facilitator/ BCHS Council Vice-Chair David Sykes – Neighbourhood Meeting Facilitator/ BCHS Council Treasurer
Where are they at and what are they up against?
Dropping enrolment and other factors trigger a proposal for a Program & Accommodation Review (PAR) for all Burlington secondary schools.
The HDSB Director of Education gets staff to write a report to which is given to the elected Trustees recommending that a PAR be undertaken. Of the 19 options in the report staff recommended using Option #19 as starting point for discussions.
Burlington central High school was seen as being very close to the point where there are not enough students to justify keeping it open – parents think the numbers the board is using might be suspect.
Option #19 recommends closing Burlington Central High School, and Pearson High School.
Close BCHS; students west of Brant St redirected to Aldershot HS; students east of Brant St redirected to Nelson HS
Close Pearson HS; students redirected to MM Robinson HS, including those in Late French Immersion program
French Immersion eliminated from Dr Frank Hayden SS: FI students north of Upper Middle Rd redirected to MM Robinson HS
New FI program started at Robert Bateman HS: FI students south of Upper Middle Rd attending Hayden SS redirected to Bateman HS; FI students east of Appleby Ln attending Nelson HS redirected to Bateman HS
English program students south of Upper Middle Rd attending Hayden SS redirected to Bateman HS
The parents at Central high school, with very strong support from their municipal councillor Marianne Meed Ward are opposed to closing their high school.
The trustees were given the report on October 5th. On October 19th the trustees vote on whether to undertake a PAR. Assuming they do, a PAR Committee (PARC) Established on December 1st.
That committee will include:
Trustee from outside Burlington Superintendent from outside Burlington Principal or designate from each affected high school Two parents/guardians from each affected high school
Once PARC is formed, municipal councillor or delegate is invited
HDSB staff are available as resources from specific HDSB departments including (not limited to): School Programs, Special Education, Human Resources, and Planning.
The goal the Central high school parents have set out for themselves is to participate fully in the Program & Accommodation Review, including HDSB Trustee meetings (Oct. 19 – vote on PAR; April 18 – public delegation meeting, May 3, May 17 – decision date) and public meetings (Dec. 8; March 2). Final report ready: March 29, 2017
Boiling all this down to the five key points is going to take a lot of work – the parents appeared to be up to the task if their first meeting is any indicator.
Throughout the process they intend to make their case that Central high school should be kept open. They will be collecting their own data and evidence and first-hand knowledge and stories
To build their case they are assigning different topics to research/write/present.
The parents are very concerned about Walkability – their want their children to be able to walk to school. They are firm in their belief that much of the data the school board is using comes from outdated statistics; faulty enrolment projections, and a misunderstanding of downtown growth.
They point to the problem in Alton where a band new high school was opened two years ago and is overenrolled due to multiple families living in the same household. The board staff weren’t aware that multiple families were living in the one house.
The parents are suggesting that the data doesn’t always reflect reality on the ground.
The impact on the feeder schools: Lakeshore, Tom Thompson, Central elementary is a concern.
The audience was told that schools cannot be closed in what are defined as Urban Growth Centres in the Provincial Places to Grow plan,
The audience was told that the staff report is thorough and that the focus of the report is on programs for students; heritage is on the list but it didn’t have much in the way of priority.
Former Burlington central High school principal Terry Rugg explained to parents what had to be done in 2000 when the board o education wanted to close the high school.
The parents seemed to be focused on “community” and the role schools play in the creation of community. Central is the only school in the Region that is a K to graduation school – the parents don’t want to lose that feature of their community.
Because it is an older school there are a lot of scholarships and bursaries attached to the school – what would happen to those were the high school to close?
Admittedly, the school could use some upgrading – it is an old school and it needs some help – bu it certainly doesn’t need to disappear.
In 1975 $100,000 was raised by the community to upgrade parts of the school.
Data available to the parents’ points out that household income for the Central high school catchment area is the lowest in Burlington – how are those low income families going to handle the cost of transportation to Nelson or Aldershot?
They point out that the report doesn’t offer anything in the way of a solution on what will happen to the grade 7 and 8 students should the high school be closed.
This is going to be a very active story and one that is critical to what kind of a downtown core community the city is going to have – these parents are not going to sit still and lose their high school.
There will be a web site with all the data and reports. The Gazette will let you know when it is up.
There is a Facebook page with 1500+ people looking in.
Can the parents convince the Board of Education to keep the school open?
The committee has collected $1750 of the 42500 target they gave – these funds will be used to print lawn signs and pay the rental fees for the space they use for their meetings.
What the parents are going to have to watch very carefully is how the Board of Education chooses to interact with them. Tread carefully was the advice given to the meeting.
Central High school is critical to the kind of downtown community the city has – there is a seperate high school a stones throw away.
What doesn’t exist is a committee where the city and the board of Education meet to thresh out issues. Truth be told – the two organizations don’t get along all that well and tend not to cooperate very well.
The accident now rests with the courts and the regulators but there are a lot of questions being asked about just what went on when that tractor trailer rolled over at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road last week when a reported 48 pigs died.
Fireman tear back the side of the trailer that was transporting 160+ pigs.
Anna Krajnc being placed under arrest.
The driver of the truck has had two Highway Traffic Act charges laid against him and one of the demonstrators was arrested for obstructing police and for failing to comply with all her bail conditions on the mischief charge she is facing for watering pigs that were in a different trailer on a different occasion but at the same location.
Steve Jenkins, an animal rights advocate who says he understands that pork is a product many people eat and enjoy – his prime concern is how the animals we are slaughtering as a food source and treated humanely – and he argues that those pigs in that truck were treated terribly.
Jenkins wants to know where the Canadian Food Inspectors were. He also asks why there wasn’t anyone from the Ontario society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on the site. He expects to lodge a formal complaint with the OSPCA.
Fearmans, he said, just did not know how to handle the situation. While it was not inevitable that a truck would roll over at the intersection – it was surely something Fearmans would do something to avoid and, one would expect, they would have cautioned their live pig suppliers to be very careful.
It is a tight turn and done too quickly the pigs that are loose in the truck would shift and change the centre of balance of the truck.
The accident took place shortly after 7:00 am and it was close to noon before the truck was up righted.
In the meantime many of the pigs escaped from the truck that was laying on its side, were injured and had to be destroyed.
Jenkins believes that those on site who had to listen to the pigs squealing for some time are never going to be the same
The video that follows might be very disturbing to some.
The results of a two-day commercial vehicle (CMV) enforcement blitz held at the Mohawk Raceway in Milton on October 5-6, 2016 indicates that commercial motor vehicle operators, who travel on our roadways or through our region each day, need to be more diligent in complying to rules and regulations to ensure our roads are safe for all users.
Truck being inspected by police officer during a two day inspection blitz.
Police Officers and Inspectors from seven police services and two provincial ministries yielded the following results:
• Total CMV’s Inspected 470 • Total CMV’s taken out of service 179 (38% failure rate) • Total Charges Laid 476 • Sets of plates seized 35
In 2015, out of 472 inspected, 167 were taken out of service; a 35% failure rate. A total of 348 charges were laid in the 2015 blitz.
Of the charges laid this year, the following is the top six offences:
“Results such as those achieved last week are a reminder of the need for continuous enforcement of commercial motor vehicle operators across the GTA and beyond. Given the transient nature of commercial vehicles, identifying an unsafe condition on a truck in Halton could just as likely prevent an injury or fatality in any City or Town where the involved vehicle travels. Commercial vehicle safety, and on a broader scale, the safety of all vehicles on our roadways, is everyone’s concern. Safer trucks equate to safer roads,” said Sgt. Ryan Snow, Traffic Services Unit.
The CMV unit is currently planning a fall open house to continue to work with commercial vehicle operators to ensure our roads and highways in Halton Region are safe. Dates to be determined.
New Street is taking on mythological features – one of those things that happened and no one can really explain why.
It seemed like a good idea at the time – then “things” got in the way.
The Pier – that story is now part of the folk lore of the city – an expensive bit of our history.
Now we are asking the same kind of questions about the “road diet” New Street was put on.
The road diet is the lane pattern on the right.
It was to be a pilot project to find out if cyclists would actually use a main thoroughfare and what reducing the number of lanes of vehicular traffic would have on the flow of cars.
The price wasn’t bad – $210,000. It seemed like an idea worth pursuing.
Then the different interests got into the game – the cyclists, who were well informed and well connected at city hall, kept putting out what appeared to be solid information.
They were opposed by those who will enter the Pearly Gates behind the wheel of their cars.
It was difficult to get a civil dialogue going and the city didn’t help. To the best of our knowledge they didn’t issue one media release.
There is some information on the city web site where the statement is made that: “Currently, 60 cyclists a day use New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line.” That does not square with anecdotal evidence.
To date there does not appear to be anything in the way of measuring equipment in place on New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line to determine if just what the flows of traffic are at different times of each day.
The cyclists report that in a meeting they had with the city’s Transportation department there was detailed discussion about the technology to be used to measure traffic flows.
But nothing in the way of a media release from the city.
We then learn that parts of New Street are under repairs – something to do with grates in the road which apparently is going to limit usage by cyclists.
What?
Road construction is taking place while a pilot program is underway?
Did one department not talk to another?
New Street is a road managed by the Region. The people in Burlington’s Transportation department are in touch with the Region daily.
James Ridge, the city manager, created a Leadership Team that meets once a week to go over what is being done and the status of the various projects. Every Director and Executive Director is reported to take part in those weekly meetings. A pretty good way to manage a city.
Did someone in one of those Leadership Team meetings not mention that the Region was going to be doing some work in the gutters of New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line?
Apparently not.
Transparency and accountability fit into this scenario somewhere. When do we send in the clowns?
As we move into the Thanksgiving weekend teachers in the Region use one of their Professional development days which closes the schools for four days.
Most of us will sit at tables filled with platters of food and enjoy time with our families.
It is weekends like this that keep the volunteers at Food4kids busy – they pack food for kids that go home to a fridge that is pretty empty – no turkey on their plates.
Gayle Kabbash reports that 329 healthy food packages were given to children in Halton and 758 in Hamilton this week. “Our numbers will increase as we are higher at this time of year than last year.”
Food in a bag.
Food4kids is just one organization that helps students in need – there are a lot more of them than most people are prepared to admit.
Sheri Armstrong, with the Learning Foundation reported that just 16 days into the school year there were 80 request for aid; compared with the 40 at the same time last year.
The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) partners with individuals, corporations and community foundations to eliminate financial barriers to education for public school students in Acton, Burlington, Georgetown, Milton and Oakville.
They provide assistance through emergency funds for students-in-need, post-secondary scholarships, and engagement funds that help schools purchase tools and resources to engage students in learning.
With public support, HLF helps ensure that every student of the Halton District School Board has the chance to fit in at school, to have the same experiences as their peers, to be engaged in learning, and to explore possibilities for the future.
The Learning Foundation has provided Eliminating Barriers funds to virtually every school in communities across Halton. The majority of Burlington schools (95 per cent) have received Eliminating Barriers funds to help students in the last two years.
Thanksgiving – food on the table.
The odds are that there is more than one students in the life of your children who are in need of the basics like food or clothing or who are unable to participate in the class trip or other school activities.
We have much to be Thankful for today – hopefully we will find a way to help those that don’t have quite enough.
The Burlington and the Brantford Stamp Club have been persistent in their attempts to get a postage stamp issued that would commemorate the CF 105, better known as the– at least in Canada– famous “Avro Arrow”.
Back in 2007 several Stamp Club members of the Grand River Valley Philatelic Association Clubs decided to approach Canada Post with the request – put the Arrow on a postage stamp. A letter was sent and we were given to understand that a twelve member Stamp Selection Committee recommended stamp subjects in any given year.
The official roll out of a Canadian war plane – described by many as the best aircraft of its times – better than anything the Americans had. It was shown to the public on the same day the Russians launched their first space craft.
We were told the Director of Stamp Services for Canada Post would present our request to this committee.
We are now nearing the end of 2016 and were just informed that the Avro Arrow again did not make the list for the 2017 stamp selections.
Can you honestly see a group of twelve Canadians (they do change them around every 3 years) consistently refusing to select the Arrow, but selecting ghost houses and Zambonis for stamps?
Some of our group had a theory about the influence of the governing party during that period and there may be some grain of truth there. After all, it was John Diefenbaker who swung the axe.
We are told that the government does not influence the decisions made by the Canada Post committee.
There is a full sized replica of the Avro Arrow used in a CBC mini-series about the air plane and its fate. It is currently shrink wrapped in a Mississauga Warehouse because a permanent Museum is nowhere on the horizon, at least in the near future.
In its day the Avro Corporation was a leader in the field of aviation development with a very proud history. The cancellation of the arrow put them out of business.
In our Burlington Stamp Club we have a number of members who had friends and relatives working on the Arrow at A.V. Roe in Malton and have a strong interest in seeing a Canadian stamp issued, commemorating this wonderful aircraft.
Just recently that the Arrow had most of the capabilities the new F-35 replacement for the old CF-18, will have if they ever reach production at a reasonable price
These Burlington stamp club members are part of a wider group of philatelists Included in the Grand Valley Philatelic Association, who have been urging Canada Post for the last 10 years, getting just a slight sign of even a sympathetic ear, to produce/issue such a stamp.
The Canadian Mint produced a $ 20.00 Silver, commemorative coin in 1996, without any political ramifications, making it even more difficult to understand the reluctance of the all-powerful Stamp Selection Committee.
The Mint issued a commemorative coin – the stamp collectors feel they deserve equal treatment.
During the 10 year period, 2007 to 2017, the Stamp Selection Advisory Committee apparently have not even placed this Masterpiece of Canadian Ingenuity on the “Short List” for consideration.
This in spite of numerous letters and communications to the Chairperson of the Committee and the Director, Stamp Services, Canada Post, the Arrow again not even make the short list for that year. 2017 will be the 60th Anniversary of the Memorable Roll-Out of the Avro Arrow.
Another missed opportunity. Presumably we are featuring more haunted Houses for the yearly selection of hundreds of topics by the Selection Committee.
The Arrow preparing to land at what was then called the Malton airport.
The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft designed and built by Avro Canada. The Arrow is considered to have been an advanced technical and aerodynamic achievement for the Canadian aviation industry. The CF-105 (Mark 2) held the promise of near-Mach 2 speeds at altitudes of 50,000 feet (15,000 m) and was intended to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) primary interceptor in the 1960s and beyond.
The Arrow was the culmination of a series of design studies begun in 1953 examining improved versions of the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck. After considerable study, the RCAF selected a dramatically more powerful design, and serious development began in March 1955. Intended to be built directly from the production line, skipping the traditional hand-built prototype phase.
The first Arrow Mk. I, RL-201, was rolled out to the public on 4 October 1957, the same day as the launch of Sputnik I.
Flight testing began with RL-201 on 25 March 1958, and the design quickly demonstrated excellent handling and overall performance, reaching Mach 1.9 in level flight. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney J75, another three Mk. 1s were completed, RL-202 through -204. The lighter and more powerful Orenda Iroquois engine was soon ready for testing, and the first Mk.II with the Iroquois, RL-206, was ready for taxi testing in preparation for flight and acceptance tests by RCAF pilots by early 1959.
There were three Avro Arrows in production before the government canceled the program and ordered that the aircraft and the tools be destroyed. It was a major political upheaval at the time.
On 20 February 1959, the development of the Arrow (and its Iroquois engines) was abruptly halted before the project review had taken place. Two months later, the assembly line, tooling, plans and existing airframes and engines were ordered to be destroyed.
The cancellation was the topic of considerable political controversy at the time, and the subsequent destruction of the aircraft in production remains a topic for debate among historians and industry pundits. This action effectively put Avro out of business and its highly skilled engineering and production personnel scattered – many ended up working on the American space program.
The stamp collectors believe this part of our aviation history should be celebrated with a postage stamp.
Portions of this article were copied from other sources.
There are people in Burlington who don’t know just where the Freeman Station is now located – it’s right beside the Fire Station HQ on Plains Road – and last Saturday more than 800 people toured the station – it was the first time since 1988 this historic building was open to the public
The Grand Trunk Railway station first opened in 1906 and was the spot on the railway line where fruit and farm produce was shipped out of Burlington to locations around the world.
It took years but the Freeman Station finally found a home – now it needs the last piece of its funding to complete the restoration.
The station has had at times a tortured history – it was saved from the wrecking ball when a group of citizens refused to let their city council sell what was left of the building for kindling.
It got moved from its original location when the space was needed for railway track expansion and was parked beside the fire station until a real home could be found.
That real home turned out to be yards away from the fire station.
A group of dedicated volunteers has worked for the past two years on making the space presentable for visitors.
They welcome anyone who wants to take part in the rehabilitation of this historic structure.
Station gets moved to its new home and is prepared for the concrete basement that will be poured beneath it.
They have set a very high barrier for themselves – the Grand Re-Opening of the station July 1st, 2017 – the day Canada celebrates is sesquicentennial – our 150th birthday.
If anyone can make this happen – it will be the crew that shows up regularly to nail down, sand and paint the planks and walls that have been restored.
They are about $250,000 shy of the budget they need to complete this work.
The time has come for city council to put a sum of money into the 2017 budget so these people can complete the job they started back in 2011.
If you live close to one of the parks listed below and have children that want a real Canadian experience – listen up. There is an opportunity to get out of the house at night and do something only real Canadians get to do – and that is water an outdoor rink and freeze your buns at the same time.
The 10 city parks that have a water supply suitable for winter watering:
• Brant Hills Park (2 rinks possible) • LaSalle Park • Sherwood Park • Bridgeview Park • Nelson Park • Tansley Woods Park • Central Park • Orchard Park • Ireland Park • Sheldon Park
Residents can suggest other park locations provided the site is suitable and they are willing to take on the water supply at their own expense.
The city is encouraging neighbours to come together this winter to maintain a natural outdoor ice rink in their local park. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now on www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink.
Here is how the program works
Applicants can choose from 10 city parks that have a dedicated water supply or another local park without a water supply.
City staff will then install rink boards in each requested park. As the colder weather arrives, each neighbourhood group will flood the rinks to get them ready for a first skate.
Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink. Applications are due by Nov. 1, 2016.
For more information, visit www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink, email skating@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7600, ext. 6454.
The Halton Region Health Department received test results from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on October 4 confirming a case of rabies in a raccoon found in Burlington. The Health Department is reminding residents to avoid all contact with raccoons and other wild animals.
Rabies is a viral disease that causes severe damage to the brain and spinal cord, and if untreated before symptoms appear will lead to death. The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually entering through a bite or scratch.
This raccoon is infected with rabies.
“Anyone who comes in physical contact with a raccoon or other wild animal should see a physician immediately and contact the Health Department by dialing 311,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “After someone is exposed to rabies, timely use of the rabies vaccine can prevent the rabies illness. The rabies vaccine is extremely effective if it is administered before any symptoms occur.”
There are a number of things you can do to protect your family and pets:
• Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date. • Warn your children to stay away from any wild, stray or aggressive animals. • Do not touch dead or sick animals. • Do not feed or keep wild animals as pets. • Keep your pet on a leash when off your property. • Seek medical attention immediately if you come in contact with a raccoon or other potentially rabid animals. • Any pet that has come in contact with a raccoon or other wild animal should be seen by a veterinarian. • Report all animal bites or scratches to the Halton Region Health Department.
For more information on rabies, call the Halton Region Health Department by dialing 311 or visit halton.ca/rabies.
The Molinaro’s decided they would do it differently.
A child with the Molinaro eyes – charmed everyone.
While it was a Chamber of Commerce event – the Molinaro’s prefer to put family first – so what may have been a first for Burlington’s Chamber of Commerce, there were half a dozen children who took part in the Distinguished Entrepreneur event at which their grandfather was being recognized.
Chamber of Commerce 2016 Distinguished Entrepreneur Domenic Molinaro
Having the children take part (and there wasn’t even one child melt down during the evening) was not the only first. Rather than have a boring speaker talk about the nobility of entrepreneurship – they brought in a comedian – David Hemstad, a comedian who had a half hour special on CTV and is a regular on CBC’s The Debaters.
Hemstad wasn’t sure at times if his audience was a bunch of kids in the front rows or the adult audience in the back rows who he couldn’t see.
All the name developers (except for one – we will leave it to readers to figure that one out) were in the Family Room at the Performing arts centre enjoying the café style food tables and the open bar.
An Italian conversation: Marylou DiSanto, Domenic Molinaro’s eldest child, in a conversation with her sister in law.
Domenic had dozens of people from the trades who were there to recognize his achievement – they knew, better than others, just how appropriate this recognition award was.
Keith Hoey and Mayor Goldring presented the award on behalf of the Chamber; Vince Molinaro spoke on behalf of his Father who stood beside him.
One could almost see the torch being passed – not completely though – Domenic Molinaro has a couple of more buildings left in him.
The Halton Regional Police Service has laid two Highway Traffic Act charges against the driver involved in Wednesday’s single motor vehicle collision involving a pig truck in Burlington.
The 25 year-old male from Brunner, Ontario faces one count of Careless Driving and one administrative-related charge.
Pigs being let out of a truck that had rolled over at the intersection of Harvester Road and Appleby Line earlier this week.
Witnesses to the collision who have not yet provided statements to police are asked to contact the 3 District Uniform Staff Sergeant at 905-825-4747 ext. 2310.
Hours after the truck rolled over a large group of demonstrators had descended on the location. The police had to cut a hole into the side of the truck for the pigs to get out and for a period of time there was considerable chaos while the pig were rounded up and then, according to people at the site, were walked to the slaughterhouse.
It was not a pretty picture.
Of the reported 180 pigs in the truck 40 are reported to have died.
Anita Krajnc under arrest at demonstration.
Anita KRAJNC, 49, of Toronto was arrested and charged with Obstruct Police and Breach of Recognizance in connection with this morning’s incident. KRAJNC was released on a Promise to Appear in Court.
Krajnc is facing a criminal charge of mischief, a trial that is scheduled to last 5 days – Krajnc has been in a courtroom for three days so far.
Has the creation and declaration of Proclamations by the Mayor gotten out of hand?
At the city Council meeting last Monday the mayor issued 20 proclamations and Declared that a specific day was being named as the day to celebrate whatever was being celebrated.
Eight of the proclamations were for events that had already passed.
Are these proclamations not “photo-ops” – part of the process of keeping your name before the public?
Should politicians not be known, recognized and rewarded for the quality of the work they do?
They had every reason to be smiling. Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster pose with five members of the Friends of Freeman Station after the Council meeting that approved the entering into of a Joint Venture that would have the Friends moving the station and taking on the task of renovating the building.
Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster don’t do coffee all that often but they deserve gallons of credit for the way they joined forces and made sure that the Freeman station for to stay alive. They made that happen.
Here is what our Mayor read out at Council Monday evening. You decide.
The effort to create a bigger sense of compassion for each other is noble and is certainly worth proclaiming.
Terry Fox Day – September 18, 2016 Franco Ontarian Day/Jours de Franco-Ontarien – September 25, 2016 National Coaches Week – September 17-25, 2016 Legion Week – September 18-24, 2016 Culture Days – September 30-October 2, 2016 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – September 2016 Doors Open Burlington – October 1, 2016 National Seniors Day – October 1, 2016 Hospice Palliative Care Day – October 8, 2016 Gift of Giving Back Day – October 12, 2016 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day – October 15, 2016 Workplace Bully Awareness Day – October 18, 2016 United Nations Day – October 24, 2016 Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Day – October 26, 2016 Compassionate City Week – October 2-8, 2016 Fire Prevention Week – October 9-15, 2016 Ontario Public Library Week – October 16-22, 2016 Local Government Week – October 16-22, 2016 Spiritual and Religious Care Awareness Week – October 17-23, 2016 Teen Driver Safety Week – October 19-25, 2016 National Occupational Therapy Month – October 2016
The Character Area Studies for Roseland, Indian Point, and Shoreacres neighbourhoods are nearly complete. City staff are preparing a report about these studies and their impact on other low density residential areas.
Indian Point – a small neighbourhood with a rich history – and a very divided population. Old timers wanted it to stay as it was – the “nouveaus” had plans for bigger homes and thoughts of dividing properties. Some of the early public meetings got pretty hot and heavy.
There will be a series of open house meetings you can drop in on anytime to learn more about these planning initiatives, ask questions, and share your comments.
The Character Area Studies for Roseland, Indian Point, and Shoreacres neighbourhoods were received by Council on February 29, 2016.
Staff have prepared policy and by-law amendments to implement these studies and for low density residential areas outside of the character areas.
Together, they will provide a proactive approach to support all established low density residential areas through an enhanced regulatory framework. The proposed drop in open houses are the final opportunity for you to provide input on these initiatives prior to a Council decision on the proposed amendments.
Lastly, the Statutory Public Meeting for Council to consider the proposed amendments to the Official Plan, Zoning By-law, Site Plan By-law, and Site Alteration By-law is being targeted for December, 2016. Confirmation of the Statutory Public Meeting date will be provided at a later date.
The Gazette will report during the weekend on how city council handled this matter.
The Gazette gets a couple of dozen request each week asking us to promote an event – more often tan not a store opening where the Mayor sometimes cuts a ribbon.
We explain two things to people who send in these requests – there is a line between our promoting an event and the business people advertising their events.
We got a request to mention the Shred It event Crime Stoppers is putting on – this is a really valuable public service and we have in the past promoted them.
Halton Regional Police Detective Constable Paul Proteau at an event with Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah
This year the Shred It event was to take place in Oakville and Georgetown. We explained to Detective Constable Proteau that we cover Burlington events – he responded with: “I know but I’m trying to serve as large an area as I can – that is why I chose half way between Burlington/Oakville right at HQ here.
Proteau added that in the spring we did Milton and now in the fall I’m doing Georgetown. I’m having this issue with the other papers too as they say if it isn’t in our city so we shouldn’t print it. I have to try and serve everyone in the region.
He mentioned as well that “we raised approximately $3100.00 with our combined spring shreds; hoping to make the fall outcome better as we didn’t do as well on the Sunday which was Mother’s Day.
Proteau made an important point – so here is what they want to say to the public about their Shred It event.
Halton Crime Stoppers needs your help to keep our communities safe and secure.
Not only do we require the eyes and ears of everyone watching out for each other, but you must make sure your own private and personal information doesn’t fall into the hands of criminals.
In an effort to protect area residents from becoming victims of identity theft and other fraud, Halton Crime Stoppers will host a Community Shred Event through our semi-annual Feed the Beast fundraising campaign.
The events run on Saturday, October, 15th at the Halton Region Centre, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville (lot A) and, Sunday, October, 16th at The Real Canadian Superstore, 171 Guelph Street, Georgetown. Both the Region of Halton and The Real Canadian Superstore are graciously donating the space on their property for the events.
On both days the event runs from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. The cost for the events are $5 per grocery bag, $10 per bankers boxes and $15 per larger bags and/or boxes. When you arrive look for the distinctive FileBank Canada truck with the large beast on the side which will be ready to gobble up your person documents so no one else can get them.
Autumn is traditionally a clean-up time when people get rid of clutter around the house, but Detective Paul Proteau, coordinator of Halton’s Crime Stoppers program, warns against throwing invoices, bank statements, old tax records or credit cards receipts in trash cans for local pick-up.
“Criminals routinely steal garbage left outside homes to obtain information that can be used to defraud people through various scams, including identify theft,” said Proteau.
“Shred all personal items to ensure your private information doesn’t get into the hands of those who will victimize you,” he said. “Scam artists can create phony credit cards to make purchases anywhere in the world; they can obtain mortgages in your name; they can get loans or they can produce documents and take over your identity.”
Proteau said victims of these crimes are forced to spend considerable amounts of money and countless amounts of time straightening out the problems that these criminals cause. “It is truly a nightmare for victims of identity theft,” he said.
Through the years Halton Crime Stoppers has set up Community Shred Events in partnership with FileBank Canada, not only to raise money to assist the program to combat crime, but more importantly to protect residents from the horrendous difficulties they can face through identity theft and other crimes that can be perpetrated when personal information gets into the hands of criminals.
FileBank Canada – an innovative shredding and record storage company established 28 years ago – provides a mobile, state-of-the-art pulverizing unit, free of charge to Halton Crime Stoppers, to instantly destroy any documents you bring to our Community Shred Event. Personal papers are reduced to tiny fragment and later recycled to produce other paper products.
So you are not only helping to keep our communities safe from crime, but you are also being green and protecting the environment. It’s a win-win situation for everyone when you shred your sensitive papers at the Halton Crime Stoppers Community Shred Event.
“Last year we destroyed hundreds of pounds of personal documents, that’s a lot of paper that didn’t find its way to a landfill” said Proteau.
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison was miffed when name Liz Benneian made mention of the date December 12th – as a deadline for an extensive review of the details, data and background by the City Manager of the proposed water break the LaSalle Park Marina Association says is needed to keep the boats safe from damage.
Where did you get that information asked Dennison – Liz Benneian smiled and said she saw it in an email.
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison.
Dennison wanted to know who the email came from – Benneain smiled again but demurred – Jack was going to have to dig a little deeper to find out just how information he saw as confidential got into the hands of the Save the Trumpeter Swan coalition.
Later in the council meeting that took place on Monday Dennison asked the Clerk what was done with the memo he had sent to all the members of council saying he was going to bring an amendment to a motion.
Meed Ward, who has chosen to be paperless, didn’t get a printed copy. All the other members of council got printed copies – several members of council apparently didn’t see or read their copies before the meeting.
Councillor Marianne Meed Ward
It “appears” that Meed Ward may have shared the information she was given electronically with the Trumpeter Swan people.
This isn’t the first time this Council has suspected Meed Ward of leaking information to people. She has never leaked anything to the Gazette, for which we will never forgive her.
Expect the Councillor for Ward 1 to be reading up on the city’s procedural bylaw to see if Meed Ward committed an infraction.
He came to this country with very little money, the clothing he owned in a single suitcase and the determination to create a life for himself in Canada
Domenic Molinaro has put up more than 50 buildings in Ontario – he is the developer who lined Lakeshore Road with condominiums and is in the process of building Paradigm – a five structure project that will house 2000 people steps away from the Burlington GO station.
Spencers Landing; the Strata and the Brock are Molinaro projects clustered around Maple Avenue.
And he isn’t finished yet.
Thursday evening Domenic will be feted by his colleagues and peers at the Distinguished Entrepreneur event being hosted by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce at the Performing Arts Centre.
Vince Molinaro will speak for his Father as son Robert and daughters MaryLou and Antonella and wife Lina listen proudly.
It is civic recognition well deserved by a man with a limited education but the grit and guts to keep doing what he knew he could achieve.
It was difficult to fully understand how grim things were at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road until you get the hear the squealing of pigs trapped in a truck that flipped over on its side when the driver lost control.
A reported 40 pigs were killed in the accident – those that got out of the trailer were walked to the slaughterhouse.
A 49 year old woman Anna Krajnc was arrested for obstructing police and released on a Promise to Appear in court.
It was hectic at the accident site and very difficult for people who cared about the animals.
The Halton Regional Police Service has charged Anita KRANJNC, 49, of Toronto with Obstruct Police and Breach of Recognizance in connection with rolling over of a truck carrying 180 pigs to a slaughter house.
Anita Kranjnc under arrest.
KRANJNC has been released on a Promise to Appear.
Kranjnc is currently being tried for “mischief” for giving pigs in a transportation truck water on a sweltering hot day. That trial was scheduled to take five days – three days of hearings have been held so far.
It wasn’t that good a deal but it was the only deal on the table and the people running the Friends of Freeman Station (FoF) were afraid, perhaps, that the city would walk away from the table and the structure they wanted to save and rehabilitate would be gone for ever – so they took the deal.
Sitting on some “cribbing” with a sign badly in need of several coats of paint, the Freeman Station gets ready for its big move.
The Friends of Freeman have spent $300,000 on moving the station the couple of hundred yards from where it was behind the fire station to a small piece of land next to the fire station.
They did get some money from the city – but it wasn’t “fresh money” it was money committed for one project and given to the FoF.
The structure was moved about 100 yards and settled into the space so that a basement could be poured.
The first chunk of change was $20,000 the city had budgeted to get rid of the structure, given that FoF were about to save the building it was appropriate that they get those dollars; the second bit of cash was $25,000 that was contributed by the Molinaro Group as a Section 37 payment. These are sums that a developer gives the city under a section of the Planning Act, in exchange for additional height or density on a project.
Molinaro had agreed to pay the city $25,000 for additional density on their Strata high rise on Maple Avenue. Ward 2 Marianne Meed Ward managed to get the city to give the funds to the FoF.
There was about $8000 in a trust account that was also given to the FoF.
They have put every penny they raised in both cash and in kind to very good use. During the Open Doors event on Saturday they had counted 250 visitors and the afternoon as far from over.
The outside of the structure is basically done – work on the inside is underway.
The structure is owned by the city, it sits on land that is leased from a corporation headquartered in Kentucky.
The 2.5 acre piece of land is landlocked – the only way to get a road to it is from the fire department parking lot.
The current lease is good until 2019 – at some point the land will have to be purchased. That lease is a Joint Venture situation where the FoF are on the lease on behalf of the city.
The mess with the proposed wave break at the LaSalle Park arena has made the city realize that their Joint Venture policy is in need of an upgrade.
What was basically scrap is being turned into a valuable building that will add to the history of the city. The value of the building will be upwards of half a million dollars – which goes on the city’s balance sheet.
The FoF have done a great job – but it isn’t over yet. They are going to need an additional $200,000 – and it should come from the city.
Early telephone with a headset.
The Mayor is reported to have told the FoF that when the need is needed – he will be there for them. Let us hope that he comes through for them – they deserve it.
During the Open Doors event the public got to see what is becoming an impressive collection of railway artifacts. While taking some pictures one of the FoF volunteers mentioned that the delivery book would show what had come to Burlington from Eaton’s – and the high school student looked surprised and asked – What is Eaton’s? We shuddered.
Every piece of freight -large and small was entered into a delivery book.
The collection is superb – but it does need some help in the way in the way it is being presented. The creation of the way artifacts are displayed is now an art form. Some of that expertise is going to be needed – but let’s get the structure completed.
The structure has a full basement that at some point will have a full blown model railroad set up.
At some point the FoF volunteers want to lay fifty yards or so of railway track and, with a gleam in their eyes they will tell you about the steam engine they really want to put on that railway track. Given the success these people have had – expect to see an old steam engine on the property at some point.
Telegraph keys – used to send messages in Morse Code. That was the way messages were sent up and down the railway line before telephones were introduced.
The FoF have sought provincial and federal funds/grants but do not qualify for various reasons; one of which is that they don’t own the building.
Also some grants require that people wait for the funding to arrive before starting a project, and the FoF didn’t time – they had to move the building because the fire department needed the space.
All they could do was get on with their own fund raising – and they have come up with $300,000
By Pepper Parr
The 10 city parks that have a water supply suitable for winter watering:
Staff have prepared policy and by-law amendments to implement these studies and for low density residential areas outside of the character areas.
Halton Crime Stoppers needs your help to keep our communities safe and secure.
Domenic Molinaro has put up more than 50 buildings in Ontario – he is the developer who lined Lakeshore Road with condominiums and is in the process of building Paradigm – a five structure project that will house 2000 people steps away from the Burlington GO station.
