 By Jim Riley
June 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington is presenting a visual discussion on the duality of the urban and rural aspects of Burlington. Chief Curator Denis Longchamps, along with the Burlington Fine Arts Association, developed the theme to celebrate the BFAA’s fiftieth anniversary.
There was also a Call for Proposals on this theme, broadening it to a multidisciplinary exhibition. Sixty-six art works were selected, with a very wide range of sizes.
This is a more cohesive exhibition than the All Guilds’ group show in 2015, but it still has challenges to overcome. With this curatorial theme, it has improved the unity of presentation. This exhibit presents an uneven quality of artworks.
This theme gave opportunities for the artists to express their opinions about how the urban and rural co-exist in our city. One of the roles of artists is to raise issues within the culture they inhabit. There are few cities that (philosophically and culturally) declare protection of a rural culture, geopolitically combined with an urban culture the way Burlington has – it was actually the province that imposed that requirement on us.. Many artworks spoke of romantic places, with a varying degree of success.
Longchamps hung the Urban Rural exhibit capably, by tying together themes of content, aesthetics and scale.
 Robert Bateman, Progress, 2015, acrylic Robert Bateman was invited to exhibit. I found it noteworthy that Bateman and Donna Fratesi’s themes dealt with destruction of Burlington’s historic architecture.
 Donna Fratesi’s they paved paradise , 2015 acrylic Fratesi
Both are accomplished technical painters. Bateman was clearer in his thesis than Fratesi’s “They Paved Paradise”. Fratesi seems timid about her message, but evokes a warm memory of the intersection of Pine and Pearl streets. It is a romantic reminiscence of downtown Burlington. Although Bateman relies on text, he creates a clear criticism of Burlington’s treatment of its historic buildings. He focuses on the United Empire Loyalist Fisher house being replaced by a parking lot. Both artists explore their connections to the urban downtown environment, but Bateman’s “Progress” is more directly critical of how we handle it.
 Lorraine Roy, “The Balance”, textile, 2015 Lorraine Roy’s “The Balance” is one of the stronger works in this exhibition. Her textile work not only functions well on a compositional level but demonstrates the “pull and push” between urban and rural ecosystems. The wrapped, uprooted tree balances precariously be-tween the two worlds as it searches for a transplant space. Will it survive? Roy’s imagery is strong with rich tones suggesting a Tim Burton-style nightmare quality. It is intriguingly executed, done with textile rather than paint.
 Helen Griffiths, after a day in (the country), oil, 2015 Similarly, Helen Griffiths’ “After a Day in (the country)” uses her well-developed painterly skills, but also teases the viewer to ponder why she is showing a wild skunk sniffing at a beautiful bundle of roses. The artist statement refers to wild animals invading her neighbourhood. Like Griffiths’ reference to wildlife,
 Victoria Pearce, Lost Between acrylic 2016 Victoria Pearce’s “Lost Between” uses images of Monarch butterflies, and the surrealistic imagery of an urban-rural coyote. The coyote is nestled in grasses as it floats over a grid of urban streets. This may be suggesting that a clash between natural and urban worlds is imminent. Certainly, the coyote making itself comfortable in the urban environment is a new reality for Burlington. All three artists successfully combine content and painterly aspects in their art practice.
 Vanessa Cres Lokos, Moving Forward, 2016, mixed media  Dawn-Hackett-Burns & Michelle Lynn, “Home Grown”, ceramic. Vanessa Cres Lokos, “Moving Forward” and Dawn-Hackett-Burns & Michelle Lynn, “Home Grown” were hung one over the other. Cres Lokos’ expresses her viewpoint on rural and urban issues by placing cows marching along the Burlington pier with a forewarning, overcast sky. Hacket-Burns’ and Lynn’s ceramic artwork explores residential homes overwhelming rural buildings and cattle.
The artwork is placed on a low plinth so that the viewer can hover and oversee the battle.
 Jan Kendrick, Rossana Dewey, Grace Afonso group image Jan Kendrick’s, Rossana Dewey’s, and Grace Afonso’s paintings were hung side by side. All three artists are skilled painters. They use a similar colour palette and their paintings are emotive and sensually compatible. Their artist statements refer to issues: mining the escarpment, the Greenbelt Plan, the mid-peninsula highway and the vanishing rural landscape. Their images speak of a vast rural environment, but do not deal clearly with the issues expressed in their artist statements.
 Kathy Marlene Bailey, Sanctuary Between, oil, 2016 Kathy Marlene Bailey, “Sanctuary Between” uses curving movement in a watery world of reflections that suggests a more rural, natural aspect of the theme. Her artist statement refers to city planners facilitating a residential invasion of natural sanctuaries. There is beauty and mystery in Bailey’s painting. There is a hint of the escarpment and a house, but the focus is on water. The painting’s message is some-what ambiguous, in comparison to her artist statement.
The Lee-Chin Family Gallery is a large space. Area around the art-works, and the scale of the various artworks, present a challenge. Petit artworks in such a large space are difficult to notice, given the works nearby that are ten feet high. Longchamps creates space and separation for the intimate works.
There may be too many works in the exhibition for a viewer to comprehend, beyond surface aesthetics. I think this is a group exhibition in which less would actually be much more. However, there are many artworks not mentioned here that you should view, to decide on your own.
The exhibition runs until September 5, 2016
Lee-Chin Family Gallery at Art Gallery of Burlington
1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington.
AGB Hours
Monday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
Jim Riley is a Burlington, ON, based arts writer, independent curator and a visual and media artist. His recent art practice involves public art and gallery video installations. Riley has a BA from Brock Uni-versity. He has exhibited his art for thirty years in Canada and the United States. Some of Riley’s video art is represented by V tape Distributions, Toronto. Website: www.jimriley.ca
By Pepper Parr
June 21, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A colleague mentioned article he had read in Urbanicity, a newspaper (in print) published in Hamilton that had an article by Burlington’s Ward councillor Marianne Meed Ward.
“She nailed it” said the colleague. What you think?
Meed Ward wrote about Intensification and Green space.
Intensification’s war on greenspace – and what we can do about it.
You’ve probably heard the word “intensification.” Likely in the context of defending a massive new residential over development. Possibly as a fatalistic response to the legitimate desire to protect farmland.
In simple terms, the word means putting more people into less space.
Intensification is supposed to usher in a utopian era of urbanism, saving communities from suburban, car-dependent sprawl while protecting green-space at the same time.
The problem is, intensification has become a war on urban greenspace that threatens to degrade the very communities it creates.
“Intensification” is being used as a bludgeon to justify every new development of any scale in any area, while removing almost every tree, shrub or blade of grass in the way.
This must stop.
For starters, let’s rid ourselves of the word “intensification.” Intensification is a plastic word that means whatever people want it to mean. Instead, we need to talk about the kind of neighbourhoods people want to live in, as our city grows and changes.
It turns out people want to live in traditional neighbourhoods, built before the supremacy of the car: places like downtown Burlington. New communities aim to mimic these historic neighbourhoods. Planners call it “traditional town planning” or the “new urbanism.”
 Residents in this community, west of Brant street didn’t like the level o intensification the developer had in mind and they were able to beat back the proposal. The key feature is walkability. But walking has to be pleasant (that’s one reason urban greenspace is important.) And walkability has to mean more than getting a bag of milk, picking up your dry cleaning, or visiting a “parkette” with a bench and a toddler slide.
If you have to get in your car to visit a park large enough to play a game of pick up football, or drive to a big-box store surrounded by parking to get groceries or hardware, or drive to another city to work, or get on a yellow bus to go to school, we haven’t achieved walkability.
All we’ve done is add more traffic.
Trouble is, the intensification we’re getting is almost exclusively residential, with token retail (if at all) that doesn’t come close to satisfying daily shopping needs.
 Is this the only solution we have to placing stores in our communities? We won’t build truly walkable communities until we address the commercial side of urban development, and wean ourselves off of the big boxification of shopping, schools and employment. Resi¬dential and commercial uses are still very much separated, with big box retail, office and employment sequestered on barren, clogged and treeless roads surrounded by seas of parking, far from neighbourhoods.
We won’t build walkable communities until people can work and go to school close by. I hear regularly from resi¬dents who’d gladly take a pay cut (and some have) to walk to a job in Burlington. At a recent proposed school clo¬sure meeting, a father spoke movingly about the impor¬tance of walking his kids to school – it was their time to connect. Other parents said they’d gladly keep their small, old school within walking distance, than go to a big, brand new school far away.
Finally, we won’t build truly walkable communities until we make walking pleasant. That means beautifying our city, and adding urban greenspace. Trouble is, new developments sprawl all over their sites taking up greenspace; the taller the building, the more sprawl, with development virtually covering lot line to lot line, especially in downtown areas where land is at a premium. We end up with the equivalent of a vertical suburb, with no greens¬pace. “Amenity areas” are counted as balconies and party rooms.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward with her daughter Miranda. The Councillor is expected to challenge the current mayor Rick Goldring for the chain of office in the 2018 municipal election, Even in our newer “smart growth” neighbourhoods that were supposed to be the antidote to suburban sprawl, there’s almost no greenspace around homes, virtually no room to plant a backyard tree or the space to grow the root system for a large boulevard tree. New townhouse developments have even more asphalt and less greenspace. To compensate for the lack of land to absorb stormwater runoff, we build underground cisterns.
We must do better. Here are just a few steps we can take to fight intensification’s war on urban greenspace:
• Value urban greenspace as much as rural. The province has protected rural Burlington via Greenbelt legislation; our job is to protect and add to urban greenspace. We shouldn’t trade off one for the other. City folk need greenspace every bit as much as rural folk.
• Aim higher than green roofs, low flow toilets, geothermal heating and the like for sustainable urban development. As important as these are, they don’t replace the need for actual trees and urban greenspace.
• Revise zoning to require more setbacks, trees, permeable land, low impact development, and onsite passive greenspace in urban redevelopments.
• Take parkland dedication on redevelopments as land, rather than fees as we do now. That would instantly add urban greenspace.
By shifting the conversation from “intensification” to community, we create neighbourhoods where people want to live. I hear regularly from residents who’d gladly take a pay cut (and some have) to walk to a job in Burlington
 By Pepper Parr
June 21st , 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Well, this could be awkward.
Burlington now has two Cabinet Ministers – a week ago we didn’t have one.
Eleanor McMahon (Burlington) was made Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Indira Naidoo-Harris, (Halton) Associate Minister of Finance, whose task it was to shepherd the planned Ontario Pension Plan into being.
 Yesterday the Ontario Minister of Finance announced that the province would abandon their plans for Ontario Retirement Pension Plan – what then does the Ms Naidoo-Harris have in the way of a job?
There is considerable controversy around whether or not pension plans actually need radical changes – the Conservatives certainly don’t think so.
Milton MP Lisa Raitt was very vocal last week with her views on pension changes.
Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister of Finance said in a statement: “There is an emerging retirement income challenge in Canada, and in Ontario. Workplace pensions are becoming less common and less adequate. Two-thirds of Ontario workers don’t have access to a workplace pension plan, and only one in four younger workers — aged 25 to 34 — participate in a workplace pension plan. Too many Ontarians are starting to approach retirement without the pension and savings they need.
“Our government ran on and won a majority mandate on a promise to enhance retirement income security for the people of Ontario. Today has seen a national agreement in principle to enhance the CPP that meets our commitment to hard-working Ontarians.
“Ontario has always favoured a national solution to strengthening retirement security. Since 2013, we have been calling on the federal government to enhance CPP because a national solution provides many benefits to Ontarians, including portability and cost effectiveness, while providing coverage to more people.
 Federal and provincial politicians meet in Vancouver – they decided to create a more beneficial pension plan. “In the absence of a willing or collaborative federal partner at that time, Ontario began establishing the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP).
“Ontario’s extensive consultations in developing the ORPP determined that to meet Ontarians’ retirement needs, CPP enhancement would have to be timely and provide a level of adequacy and coverage that reflects the design of the ORPP.
The federal government and enough of the provinces appear to have reached an agreement in principle to expand the Canada Pension Plan today.
So what does Indira Naidoo-Harris do now? Hopefully she didn’t print up to many business cards.
Naidoo-Harris is the member for NAME which includes large parts of rural Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
June 21, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
They are meeting and they are talking but that band of artists, musicians and actors that created ACCOB (Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington) and began to call themselves the “collective” are ready to make an announcement about what they feel is a significant step forward. Just when is not certain.
 Angela Papariza currently handles the cultural file at city hall – she has few resources to work with. One of her strongest allies is Trevor Copp who lit the flame that is keeping the water boiling within the arts community. As yet however, the arts community doesn’t yet have the ear of the civic administration and without a serious commitment by city council to fund the arts – little is going to happen.
The relationship between the arts crowd and the city manager is not good – one artist has said the city manage lies to them.
Inflammatory for sure – but that is where things appear to be with the artists.
Back in 2013 Trevor Copp, a dancer you want to see perform at least once in your lifetime, raised the profile of the arts community when he delegated to city council and got all the usual platitudes.
 Teresa Seaton, organizer of the Art in Action Tour, thinks through a response at one of the Cultural Action Plan sessions. She is one of 250 people organized as an Arts and Culture Collective in Burlington. While the elected officials did little – the arts community began to organize themselves and are pressing city hall staff – to little effect so far.
There is in this city, a significant number of people who want to see a more vibrant culture – something that is above and beyond the Sound of Music and the Teen Tour Band. They have their place, an important one – but there is more than that to culture.
 The Collective has done their homework – they know what they want – now to actually get it – that’s their challenge. Expect to see the arts community beginning to network and make connections with some of the people who wrote the large cheques that paid for the construction of the Performing Arts Centre and work with them for more quality and substance that can be put before the public.
It might get a little messy – but the world of arts and culture has seldom been a smooth one.
It is the performance that counts – not all the petty politicking that we are seeing now.
 By Staff
June 20th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Cabinet Minister Eleanor McMahon wants you to understand that she believes fervently that young people play a vital role in building our community.
 “To better understand issues impacting youth across the province and right here in our city, I organized a group of engaging Burlington high school youth to gain their perspectives”, said McMahon in a media release
“One of the issues the group is passionate about is making Syrian refugees feel at home when they arrive in Canada. As part of their effort to welcome these families, they’ve created a video that tells their story about coming to Burlington.”
A year in the making, this video explores the idea of what “home” means and highlights the emotional challenges faced when leaving behind the home you know and having to build a new one in an unfamiliar community.
The video will be screened at Burlington central Library June 28th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
By Staff
June 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Liberal MP Karina Gould released details today on a federal government program that will empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experience with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues.
Organizations are being invited to apply for funding for projects that address one or more of the program’s five objectives:
1. promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;
2. engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;
3. expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
4. supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
5. providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.
 Karina Gould, Liberal MP, listening to a senior. Eligible applicants include: not-for-profit organizations; coalitions, networks and ad hoc committees; municipal governments; research organizations and institutes; educational institutions, public health and social service institutions; aboriginal organizations; and for-profit enterprises.
Projects that received funding during the 2015-2016 proposal call year included the Burlington Baptist Church’s Circle of Friends and Community Development Halton’s Senior Connector Program.
More information on how to apply is available at Canada.ca/Seniors or contact MP Gould’s office directly at 905-639-5757.
 By Staff
June 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was rock-em, sock-em baseball with a thrilling nine inning that went into a tenth and ended giving the Hamilton Cardinals a dramatic 12-11 win over the Burlington Bandits Sunday afternoon.
The game had Hamilton’s David Vanderby walked with one out in extra innings, then advanced to third after a pair of wild pitches. He scored the winning run on Jake Osborne’s one-out single. Osborne finished with two hits, three RBI and a pair of runs.
Dre Celestijn had five hits, but the biggest was a single with the bases loaded in the ninth that scored two runs and tied the game. Tyler Hardie and Jake Foden each had two hits and two RBI, Chris Beer drove in a run, and TJ Baked added three singles and a run.
Russ Burroughs (1-0) picked up the win, throwing 4.2 innings of relief while allowing four runs (one earned). Burroughs scattered five hits, walked three and struck out two.
Starter Rhys Tapper went 5.1 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits, walking four and striking out one.
 Adam Odd had a solo home run and drove in two for Burlington. Adam Odd had a solo home run and drove in two for Burlington. Justin Gideon had two hits and two RBI, and John Whaley added two RBI. Nolan Pettipiece had two hits, an RBI and run, while Canice Ejoh, Kevin Hussey and pinch-hitter Julian Johnson had an RBI apiece. Grant Okawa singled twice.
On the mound, Liam Munshi (0-2) gave up a hit and walked two in relief of starter Jack Dennis, who allowed five earned runs on 10 hits over five innings.
Sixth-place Hamilton improved to 6-13, while seventh-place Burlington slid to 4-13.
Surging Majors beat Red Sox
Elsewhere the surging London majors beat the Brantford Red Sox 8-2 Sunday afternoon to increase their win streak to six.
Cleveland Brownlee went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, while Kyle Gormandy had three hits, three RBI and scored once. Taylor Carr and Carlos Arteaga both drove in a run on one hit.
Pitcher Oscar Perez went seven innings and struck out five for the win. He scattered 10 hits and two runs and walked one.
For Brantford, Nic Burdett singled, doubled and drove in both Red Sox runs. Lee Delfino, Wayne Forman and Jeff Hunt all had two hits apiece.
Nate Forer took the loss, though only one of the seven runs he allowed was earned thanks to a pair of Brantford errors. Forer lasted 4.1 innings and struck out three and walked three.
London improved to 14-4 and continues to battle with Kitchener for first place. Fourth-place Brantford dropped to 10-8.
In Toronto, Sean Mattson blasted a home run and drove in six to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to an 11-8 win over the Guelph Royals Sunday afternoon at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
Mattson hit a bases-loaded double in the first inning, singled home a run in the second and hit a two-run home run in the fourth.
Jonathan Solazzo had two hits, two runs and two RBI, Justin Marra, Dan Marra and Damon Topolie each had one RBI, Jon Waltenbury singled twice and scored three times, Connor Lewis had two hits and scored a run, and Grant Tamane had a single and scored twice. Ryan White collected two hits at the bottom of the order.
Dillon Mulholland (2-2) went seven innings for the win, giving up a run on six hits. Mulholland struck out six and walked one.
Richard Gill (2-1) took the loss, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits over four innings, striking out two and walking one.
Kingsley Alarcon and Trevor Nyp each had two RBI in the loss. Patrick Coughlin had two hits and drove in a run, and Adam Rossit picked up three hits and an RBI.
Aaron Loder drove in a run, and Keegan Marsden had two hits and scored once.
Fifth-place Toronto (8-8) moved back to .500, while the last-place Royals dropped their sixth straight despite scoring six runs in the ninth inning to make it close.
 In Kitchener, the Panthers kept pace with the London Majors and put some distance between themselves and Barrie with a 10-7 win over the Baycats Sunday afternoon.
Kitchener (13-4) remains a half game back of first place and now leads third-place Barrie (11-7) by 2.5 games.
Sean Reilly had two hits, including a solo home run, and scored three times for the Panthers. Tanner Nivins, Mike Glinka and Justin Interisano all drove in a pair. Frank Camilo Morejon and Mike Andrulis each had an RBI.
Matt McGovern (3-0) earned the win after going five innings and allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out two and walking two. Iannick Remillard picked up his first save after throwing two scoreless innings of one-hit ball, striking out two without walking a batter.
For Barrie, Kyle DeGrace, Kevin Atkinson and Jordan Castaldo all hit home runs. The trio combined for five hits, five RBI and four runs. Conner Morro had three hits and scored twice, and Zach Sardelletti had an RBI.
Jevon Jacobs went five innings in the loss, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits, while striking out three and walking one.
Future games
Tuesday, June 21
Kitchener at Guelph, 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton at London, 7:35 p.m.
 By Staff
June 20, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Is it part of a public relations offensive?
 LaSalle Park Marina. The LaSalle Park Marina / Burlington Sailing & Boating Club announced a public open house for Sunday June 26, 2016 – 10am – 5pm at LaSalle Park Pier
The public will be able to tour the City’s Open Public Marina; Boat Club; & Sailing School.
As part of the daylong event the Blue Flag, which is significant in sailing circles, will be presented to the LPMA Environmental Defence Canada.
There will be comments made on different initiatives related to the bay area and sailing.
 Trumpeter swan – magnificent creatures that many think need the marina space at LaSalle Park to survive the winters. Nonsense according the Marina Association. The LPMA has been in an ongoing battle with the Trumpeter Swan Coalition that is committed to ensuring that no harm comes to this species that has made Burlington their home. This struggle has been going on for some time.
There will be speakers talking about how the bay and the fish stock are being restored. Kelly Pike of the Bay Area Restoration Council will talk about advances in Remedial Action Plan to clean Up of the Harbour.
Dr. Christine Boston will talk about the Walleye/Pickerel Restoration Program.
The Sea Cadets will be on hand, the Hamilton Beach Rescue Boat – Coast Guard Auxiliary will be there to show the public wat they do.
Halton Regional Police Marine Unit will be cruising about – and – the Burlington Fire Department will have one of their fire trucks on display.
 The option the LaSalle Park Marina Association wants this design for the re-configuration of the boat facilities. John Birch, title, has pulled out all the stops on this one – the struggle to get all the funding in place for a marina that will allow the boaters to safely tie up there craft.
The Burlington Sailing & Boating Club (BS&BC) was established in 1975; the LaSalle Park Marina (LPMA) was completed in 1981.
Able Sail, a separate charitable organization was established in 2000
BS&BC and LPMA are self-help, volunteer, not-for-profit organizations.
Both organizations are committed to providing family-oriented, quality yet lower cost recreational boating activities, together they form Burlington’s only boating and water-access facility.
 By Staff
June 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Bandits did to the Guelph Royals what the league has been doing to them almost since the beginning of the season – beating the daylights out of their opponent.
The Bandits have been longer in the basement most of the time but yesterday they served up the Royals their fifth straight loss.
Christian Hauck (2-1) scattered four hits and one run over seven innings to lead the Burlington Bandits to a 10-1 win over the Guelph Royals Saturday afternoon.
Hauck survived seven walks and struck out four.
Justin Gideon tripled, singled and drove in three while scoring twice. He also walked three times. Jim Martin had two hits and two RBI, Carlos Villoria drove in a run on three hits, Kevin Hussey had two hits, an RBI and scored twice. Adam Odd, Canice Ejoh and John Whaley all drove in a run.
Matt Schmidt had the Royals’ lone RBI. Jeff MacLeod singled twice.
Evan DiMichelle (0-4) lasted four outs and gave up four runs on four hits, walking four and striking out two.
The Royals and Bandits are tied for last place with 4-12 records. Guelph has lost five straight games.
The Kitchener Panthers beat the league leading London Royals in battle for first place.
Needing a win to move into first place, Cory Hammond stepped up for the London Majors.
Hammond (2-0) struck out five in a complete-game victory as the Majors beat Kitchener 2-1 Saturday night and moved past the Panthers atop the standings. Hammond scattered 10 hits and didn’t walk a batter.
Keith Kandel drove in both London runs with a bases loaded single in the second inning. He added a double and accounted for two of the Majors’ five hits.
Ian Rendon (3-1) took the loss for Kitchener, allowing two runs on five hits over 7.1 innings, striking out eight and walking four.
Sean Reilly hit a solo home run in the third inning. Terrell Alliman had three of the Panthers’ 10 hits, while Justin Interisano added two singles.
London (13-4) is a half game ahead of Kitchener, which dropped to 12-4.
Third-place Baycats win third straight
Kyle DeGrace and Brandon Dhue each hit their first home runs of the season as the Barrie Baycats beat the Hamilton Cardinals 13-5 Saturday afternoon.
DeGrace added a single and had two RBI and two runs, while Dhue finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs. Ryan Spataro had four hits, two runs and an RBI, Jordan Castaldo, Zach Sardelletti and Jared McCord each had two hits and drove in a run, and Kevin Atkinson had an RBI. Jeremy Walker singled twice and scored twice.
On the mound, Brett Lawson (3-1) got the win after throwing 5.1 innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits, striking out three and walking two.
For Hamilton, Dre Celestijn finished a double short of the cycle, driving in a pair of runs. Geoffrey Seto had an RBI, and Jake Osborne had two singles and scored a run.
Kyle Adoranti (0-4) took the loss, giving up nine runs on 13 hits before he was pulled with one out in the sixth. Adoranti struck out three and walked three.
The third-place Baycats won their third straight and are 11-6. Sixth-place Hamilton fell to 5-13.
Future games
Sunday, June 19
Brantford at London, 1:05 p.m.
Guelph at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Burlington at Hamilton, 2 p.m.
Barrie at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
 By Staff
June 18th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
It took six months of investigative work – but on Friday the Halton Regional Police executed eleven Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants in the Halton and Hamilton area.
This was a combined operation involving the Hamilton, Waterloo and Niagara police services.
HRPS investigators have arrested 10 people for various drug and weapons offences. The seizures included:
8 kg of cocaine
63 kg of dry marihuana
a cannabis resin (shatter) lab
1.5 kg cannabis resin (shatter)
1.5 kg of psilocybin
$106 000.00 Canadian currency
9-mm loaded handgun
16 Percocet tablets
2 ballistic vests
1 replica handgun
Estimated street value of seized drugs: $1,465,000.00
Estimated wholesale value of seized drugs: $680,000.00
Charged are:
Anh Tuan NGUYEN (32yrs) of Oakville -Charges: Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Knowledge Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Adult Possession Prohibited Device, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Device, Unsafe Storage, Possession of a Loaded Firearm
Thanh Van NGUYEN (28yrs) of Hamilton -Charges: Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x 4, Possession of Controlled Substance x 2
Van Lo NGUYEN (34yrs) of Hannon -Charges: Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Van Dung LE (27yrs) of Hamilton -Charges: Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x 3
Van Hai HOANG (28yrs) of Hamilton -Charges: Possession for the purpose x 5, Possession x 2 Cuong HOANG (31yrs) of Hamilton -Charges: Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x 2, Possession of Controlled Substance
Kim Phuon NGUYEN (28yrs) of Toronto- Charges: Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Knowledge Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Adult Possession Prohibited Device, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Device, Unsafe Storage, Possession of a Loaded Firearm
Trevor STAFFORD (34yrs) of Hamilton – Charges: Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x2, Produce a Controlled Substance
Michael GREENAWAY (35yrs) of Hamilton-Charges: Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x2, Produce a Controlled Substance
Van Vuong LE (53yrs) of Hamilton-Charges: Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Produce a Controlled Substance The Halton Regional Police Service believes they have disrupted a significant drug trafficking network in the Halton – Hamilton corridor.
Anyone with knowledge related to this or other drug / weapons crime is asked to call the Halton Police Drug Unit at 905-878-5511 OR Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). -30-
 By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Now this is a real trip down memory lane.
The people who are in the process of refurbishing Freeman station – now that they have saved it from a wrecking ball – are holding a railway nostalgia workshop as part of Seniors’ Month.
The event will take place at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre Tuesday, June 21st, 1:30 – 3:00 PM
It will be a chance to share personal stories about traveling through the Burlington Junction Station.
 Can you date this picture? The car might help. They would love it if you brought any pictures you might have.
 By Staff
June 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Due to unexpected technical difficulties, www.burlingtontransit.ca – the online Trip Planner has been temporarily shut down while a solution is found.
The Gazette first reported problems with the computer application.
For access to real-time departure information, please call 905-639-0550 or visit Burlington Transit’s online schedules for scheduled departure times.
The Sound of Music Program for Saturday June 18th plus who is doing what at the five pods on Saturday.
And at 11 am the Festival parade which begins at Central Park; travels along Caroline Street to Pearl Street, west on James Street, then turns north on Brant Street, ending at Central High School.
 
 By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Is the Sound of Music about music or is it about people?
 Close to a full moon made it a wonderful summer evening. Friday evening was about as good a June evening as you are ever going to get.
Spencer Smith Park was packed. And yes some were listening to the music – the space in front of the five stages was jammed with people but there were just as many – perhaps more, milling about.
The Elwin’s were on the TD stage; at one point the singer barked out “There is no place I would rather be than right here in Burlington”. The crowd roared its approval.
Small craft were anchored close to the promenade, it looked as if there was a Coast Guard ship offshore.
The lights of the Skyway Bridge provided a backdrop; the surface of the lake was like glass – not even a ripple.
 The Ferris wheel and the carnival part of the grounds seemed a little bigger this year. There was a pleasant breeze coming in off the lake while goofy boys were trying to not pay attention to the girls who were walking quickly in group’s of at least three from place to place – seldom knowing just where the next place was.
The music was often more loud than good but the audience was eating it up.
 Emilie – Claire Barlow on the Cogeco stage in Civic Square Emilie-Claire Barlow was on the stage at Civic Square where the audience was quieter but very appreciative of the talent on the stage.
The different groups spread out along Brant street had their own followings with Dance schools showing people how to do different steps.
Couples were out for an evening; parents out with their kids – just a nice summer evening where you would bump into friends and chat.
There were a lot of paramedics and police officers – was the crowd ever at any risk?
When it was time to close down for the night the thousands of people walked along at a decent pace to the exits and on up the streets north of Lakeshore Road.
 This reporter didn’t see one dis-orderly person.
The evening had gone well.
By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The participants in the Inter County Baseball league who will play in the All star game have been announced
The players were nominated and selected by the field managers of the IBL.
The Barrie Baycats are hosting the 2016 IBL All-Star Game on Saturday, July 2nd at Coates Stadium in Barrie, Ontario and the game will feature the IBL All-Stars against the Canadian National Junior Team with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
There are just two players from the Burlington Bandits on the roster.
Ouch!
Justin Gideon and Christian Hauck got the call.
2016 IBL ALL-STAR ROSTER
P – Justin Marra, Toronto Maple Leafs
P – Chris Nagorski, Barrie Baycats
P – Jamie Richmond, Brantford Red Sox
P – Nathan Forer, Brantford Red Sox
P – Christian Hauck, Burlington Bandits
P – AJ Mackey, Guelph Royals
P – Phil Owen, Kitchener Panthers
P – Owen Boon, London Majors
P – Elis Jimenez, London Majors
P – Oscar Perez, London Majors
C – Kyle Degrace, Barrie Baycats
IF – Jordan Castaldo, Barrie Baycats
IF – Kevin Atkinson, Barrie Baycats
IF – Conner Morro, Barrie Baycats
C – Ricky Murray, Brantford Red Sox
2B – Ben Bostick, Brantford Red Sox
2B – Brandon Dailey, Brantford Red Sox
C – Tyler Hardie, Hamilton Cardinals
IF – Mike Glinka, Kitchener Panthers
1B – Sean Reilly, Kitchener Panthers
IF – Mike Ambrose, London Majors
1B – Jon Waltenbury, Toronto Maple Leafs IF – Johnathan Solazzo, Toronto Maple Leafs OF – Ryan Spataro, Barrie Baycats OF – Justin Gideon, Burlington Bandits OF – Chandler McLaren, Guelph Royals OF – Dre Celestijn, Hamilton Cardinals OF – Tanner Nivins, Kitchener Panthers OF – Byron Reichstein, London Majors
 Last game of the season last year for the Bandits was an exciting game – it looked possible in the closing innings.
By Staff
June 13th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Transit is adjusting weekday schedules on June 27, 2016 to align with the scheduling changes by GO Transit on the Lakeshore West weekday peak trains.
“These changes will improve transit connections at GO Stations in Burlington,” said Mike Spicer, director, Burlington Transit.
 The south side of the Burlington GO station – that seems to be going on forever. GO is revising their schedules which will result in a changes to the Burlington transit schedule. Routes 101 Express and Route 1 – Plains Road. “We are also experiencing a larger than projected ridership increase (in the 8 to 10% range) on the Route 101 Express. As a result, we will be increasing its rush-hour frequency to every 15 minutes.
Route 1 Plains will move to a 30-minute frequency.”
101 Express is getting an increase in time – every 15 minutes. Plains Road # 1 will get a decrease to every 30 minutes.
All changes will take effect on June 27, 2016. These will be minor changes
There will be more schedule adjustments once the Burlington GO Station construction is complete this fall when all buses will be routed to the station’s south platform.
 By Ray Rivers
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a rare moment.
Democrat and republican senators actually agreed to prohibit the sale of assault weapons to people whose names appeared on a terrorist-watch or no-fly list. In fact automatic assault weapons, like the US army’s M16, are restricted. So in theory civilians can no more legally obtain one of these any easier than they could a fully-functioning tank, B-52 bomber or a nuclear missile. But getting one of their semi-automatic cousins is a different story.
Bill Clinton, in 1994, signed a full-on ban for all assault weapons, though he had to include a ten year sunset clause to get the bill through Congress. And since GW Bush was president while the sun was setting, the ban wasn’t re-instated on its best before date, making it open season for gun buyers. So it’s no wonder that these assault weapons have been the first choice of the perpetrators of America’s mass shootings/killings since then.
 Less than $1000 retail The popular AR15 is a lightweight, compact rifle, which only requires a slight shift of one’s finger to fire off a round. And there can be as many as 30 rounds of ammo in the magazine should one want to do a lot of damage. It’s not clear how long it took the mad gunman to empty his magazine and re-load before he killed almost 50 people and wounded almost as many in that crowded night club in Orlando Florida last weekend, but it wouldn’t have been long.
Assault rifles have only one purpose, since they make lousy target or hunting guns – we once again we saw how effective they can be in the hands of a terrorist. Believe it or not it is possible to purchase one of these agents of death in Canada, if you are prepared to go through the hoops and hurdles. But then the weapon is restricted for use only on the target range.
As for US president Obama, gun control has to be one of his biggest failings. After each mass kill, he would rail and try to get new legislation to ban these guns. But like the cartoon character Elmer Fudd, he never could quite bag that prize. After Orlando the frustrated US leader complained that suspects on a terrorist-watch or no-fly list aren’t allowed to board a plane in the US but are free to buy an assault rifle.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Senate democrats picked up the theme and after a marathon filibuster session managed to get bi-partisan agreement. And It didn’t hurt that prospective GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump found himself also concurring.
 Charlton Heston clutching a rife at a National Rifle Association convention, Trump at one point in his life had been an advocate of more gun control. That is until the NRA (National Rifle Association) endorsed him for president. So now he argues teachers should also be gun slingers and that the best way to reduce gun killings is for everyone to carry a gun. Does he have a point? Had some of the partiers in that Orlando nightclub been carrying, instead of just carrying-on, they might have been able to take out the shooter before the count got to 49 fatalities.
But by extension that is a patently illogical argument. It’s true that mutually assured destruction may have kept nuclear armed nations from using their weapons, but would the same approach work for ordinary civilians? Defenders of loose gun laws are hardly driven by logic, meaningful empirical research or reason. But all they need to do is consider how loose guns were a failure even in the Wild West. Indeed the Wyatt Earps’ of that day kept the peace only by keeping the guns out of Dodge. Their gun laws were tougher than most American states have today and they worked.
Assuming the US House of Representatives also agrees to the modest assault rifle restriction, this would be a tiny step towards sensible gun policy south of the border. And a long march always begins with a first step in the right direction. That direction would be where Japan and Australia have marched, with gun laws that make mass shootings almost unimaginable.
The Chretien government made such a mess of introducing universal long-gun registration in this country two decades ago, that its eventual dismantling by the subsequent right-wing government was almost a given. And sure enough, once Harper got his majority he shut it down and destroyed all of the records which had been collected at significant public expense. In another blow to national unity he forced Quebec’s government into court in a failed attempt by that province to use those records as the basis for its own long-gun registry.
Perhaps as a sop to the western gun lobby the Trudeau government decided to campaign against bringing back the long-gun registry, in fact calling its creation a mistake. Still he did make several gun control promises during last year’s election, which are still in process.
 This is all you need in Canada One of those was to implement Canada’s obligations under the International Arms Trade Treaty, requiring manufactures and importers to place special markings on guns. The Harper government, likely in deference to the National Firearms Association (Canada’s NRA), had procrastinated on this simple requirement which facilitates international armament tracking.
And if eliminating the gun registry wasn’t enough, one Conservative MP, a mere month before the Orlando disaster, presented a petition to de-restrict the sale of assault weapons here in Canada. That would mean anyone with a firearms possession certificate could belly up to their local gun shop and bring one of those beauties home to show their little woman or man. Then it’s off to the woods to see about finally bagging that bunny in the bushes – or worse, for some other kind of hunting in a more public place.
Ray Rivers is an economist and author who writes weekly on federal and provincial issues, applying his 25 years of involvement with federal and provincial ministries. Rivers’ involvement in city matters led to his appointment as founding chair of Burlington’s Sustainable Development Committee. He was also a candidate in the 1995 provincial election
Background links:
Samantha Bee – US Guns – US Gun Laws
Guns and Crime in Canada –
Obama on Guns –
More Obama –
LGBT Orlando –
Trump –
More Trump –
US Gun Debate – Guns and the Wild West – Gun Marking Canada –
More Marking –
Liberal Promises –
Assault Weapons in Canada –
 By Staff
June 16, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Are you a soprano? An alto? A tenor maybe? Ah – then a bass?
Wayne Strongman, conductor of the 2016 Lowville Festival choir has put out a call to anyone interested in being part of a choir.
Rehearsal is Wednesday July 20th; 7:00 pm at the Lowville United Church.
 Rehearsals will take place in the Lowville United Church Concert takes place Friday July 22nd at St. Georges Anglican Church hall
The repertoire will include classical, musical theatre and folk songs
An ability to read music is a definite plus but it not mandatory.
This looks like a fun choir, a one shot deal with just the one practice. It will get you out of the house.
Wayne Strongman, the Festival Choir conductor Wayne was born in Hamilton and assumed his first position as church organist and choirmaster in the city at the age of 16. From there he went on to found Toronto’s Tapestry Opera, the country’s leading creator and producer of chamber operas, of which he was the Artistic Producer for 35 years.
He was the Artistic Director of Hamilton’s Bach-Elgar Choir from 1984-98.
If you have questions the man you want to talk to is Robert Missen – he is at: Robert Missen <rmissen@sympatico.ca>
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
With a unanimous agreement to accept the staff recommendation on just when French Immersion classes should start attention now has to be given to just how this might work out and the processes that need to be put in place to monitor.
Both Director Stuart Miller and Associate Director David Boag responded to trustee questions regarding the entry point to the program, the intensity of immersion, role of instructional staff in assisting parents to make an informed decision regarding entry to the program, special needs students and supports for their success.
 Miller confirmed the French Advisory Committee will be reconstituted to look at implementation and ongoing issues. Two minor but related motions were passed.
 Director of Education Stuart Miller on the right. One was to ensure that an annual report be added to the report schedule (starting in 2018), outlining the percentage and number of Grade 1 students in each elementary school that have registered for French Immersion or English programs for the following year, and that this report highlight any schools where fewer than 20 students have registered for the Grade 2 English program and that any school where registration percentages for French Immersion have increased from prior years and provide an action plan to address the enrollment in those schools.
The trustees resolved that additional minutes be added to the Core French Program. A recommendation will be brought back to the Board.
With the decision to introduce French Immersion at the grade two level and not do so until the 2017/18 year the board has time to prepare and to put processes in place to measure the changes.
During the discussion Wednesday evening Director Miller advised the board that the current uptake of French Immersion could not remain at the current level. He said it was not sustainable and that he felt a reduction in the order of about 7.5% was needed.
The gamble for the board is that the decision they made Wednesday evening will allow parents to rethink how French Immersion is going to be managed in Halton.
It will be a challenge.
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are going to try it again – and maybe this time produce more in the way of results.
The Hamilton and Burlington Chambers of commerce are holding their second Bay Area Economic Summit, to promote strategic cooperation between the two cities to advance their respective regional economic development, prosperity and quality of life.
Burlington should be grateful for letting Hamilton allow us to hitch our little wagon to the freight train they have pulling their economy.
 No reason why this shouldn’t be a relationship made in heaven – does it need an office dedicated to nurturing the relationship? While Hamilton city council seems to be waffling all over the planned LRT that gets loads of mention they do have a smoking economic agenda and is now the place to move to for all those Torontonians who were not able to convince their bank managers to go along with the size of the mortgage needed to buy a home in that city.
Hamilton is literally bristling with economic development.
Burlington outsourced its economic growth to an Economic Development corporation that said at its inception it needed time to gather meaningful data on which it could base their decisions.
Lots of data – but not very many decisions – they did put out an interesting graphic that WORDS.
 Art work used by the Burlington Economic Development Corporation. Did it manage to sell anything? The Economic Summit is taking place at Royal Botanical Gardens, half of which is in Hamilton and some in Burlington, on Tuesday June 21, 7:30 am-5:00 pm, followed by a leadership reception.
Premier Wynne will be speaking – she might want to avoid explaining why Burlington now has two Cabinet Ministers because she convinced old war horse Ted McMeekin that he could live life better by doing less.
The Liberals now own the political landscape in Burlington – but Hamilton is the city experience healthy economic growth.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring, will play key roles in the proceedings – Eisenberg has the better jokes. There will be an update from the federal government on stimulus funding opportunities available to the Bay Area community – that will keep both Mayors paying close attention.
The media release spoke of building “on the momentum” of last year’s inaugural intercity summit; the recommendations were cited in a post-event discussion paper.
“This year, we’ll focus on significant opportunities of mutual interest ranging from regional transportation and growth management to big data, workforce development and environmental stewardship,” said Keanin Loomis, president and CEO, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “It’s all about responding to the needs of our stakeholders and building a bay area partnership required to strengthen teamwork, and attract talent and investment.”
The agenda, built around the tagline Leading Change in a Regional Age, will dive into three interrelated themes of interest to decision- and policy-makers on both sides of the bay and beyond:
The evolving role of the Bay Area in a growing regional and international economy
Strategies and tactics to position the Bay Area for long term success
Priority planning and actions to drive collaborative change
 Mayor Rick Goldring with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne at Burlington’s Rib Fest. She visits the city frequently but doesn’t sprinkle any pixie dust. In addition to morning and noon hour plenary sessions that provide a platform for key messages and announcements, the agenda will include 12 interactive breakouts on topics ranging from regional superclusters and transformations in healthcare to waterfront development and mixed use transit hubs, to name a few.
The summit will wrap up with the release of a communique crafted by event leaders that outlines a commitment to key actions moving forward.
The first summit set out some early steps for an organization that would continue the dialogue that began in 2015.
Feedback during and after BAES 2015 demonstrated great enthusiasm for the initiative and a desire to do it again in 2016. The boards, members and staff of the Hamilton and Burlington Chambers of Commerce are therefore committed to reconvene all stakeholders in June 2016 and to advance (in the interim and beyond) the shared agenda that has emerged from our efforts.
The most important commitments required at this time are from the Bay Area Subcommittee and the Cities of Burlington and Hamilton, including both Mayor’s Offices and Economic Development Departments. We are looking for involvement and investments at the same levels as 2015.
Rationale: The summit provides an existing high profile, multi-sector platform to advance informed thinking and action on the subject of Bay Area cooperation.
Achieve and Promote Early Successes: We will work with our partners to help advance signature Bay Area initiatives that are ripe for success, for example:
- Help secure formal provincial recognition of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System as Ontario’s first “urban biosphere park”
- Help support the exchange of local best practices related to planning and intensification — a topic of growing importance to Hamilton and Burlington
- Help ensure the growth of “women in leadership” initiatives throughout the Bay Area
Rationale: Early successes in the advancement of the Bay Area will provide proof points and generate momentum moving forward.
Assign Dedicated Resources: If there is a desire to maintain the momentum and take advantage of the opportunities associated with further collaboration, we see the need to establish a part-time office dedicated to providing an interim organizational structure for intercity cooperation in the near and long term. Funding for the office would be provided by a consortium of stakeholders, including the City of Hamilton and City of Burlington.
Two immediate priorities for the office:
Form an intercity, multi-sector task force to investigate and report on proven partnership models that could be implemented locally to structure, fund, mobilize and sustain Bay Area cooperation over time. The task force would share its findings and recommendations at future summits.
Help local groups and organizations committed to Bay Area cooperation advance their shared initiatives — e.g., joint events, research, advocacy, planning, etc. A particular focus would be placed on helping achieve select “quick wins.”
Rationale: A dedicated office co-funded and supported by key Bay Area stakeholders would ensure that sufficient time and resources are applied to the important work of coordinating and driving the advancement of the Bay Area as a hub for economic development and quality of life.
This amounts to yet another office that will churn out reports and keep mid-level bureaucrats employed.
The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System isn’t going to create jobs that add to the wealth of the community – money will be transfered from one pocket of the bureaucracy to another.
Burlington has significant residential development underway – part of the drive to meet intensification targets that had already been met. The city is posting house price increases year over year in the 12% plus range – something that isn’t sustainable and makes the city too expensive a place for people who might find jobs in the city.
 Can the guy on the left negotiate a better deal than the guy on the right ? James Ridge, city manager for Burlington wants to convince Chris Murray, city manager for Hamilton to sell some water lots. What Burlington needs is a stronger employment base – that hasn’t been forthcoming despite a significant reset at the Economic Development Corporation.
There is one deal that could be closed at the summit – settling on a price for the water lots at LaSalle Park – any bets on who is going to get the better of that deal?
To register or learn more, visit www.bayareasummit.ca or contact Whitney Eames at w.eames@hamiltonchamber.ca or 905-522-1151 x 100.
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