 By Pepper Parr
October 14th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
You sometimes wonder how they think.
 Geraldos at LaSalle Park asked to have their lease agreement amended to allow them to do outside catering. The building sits on land that is leased from the city of Hamilton – that lease is due for renewal in 2017. Two leasing situations were before the Development and Infrastructure committee – Geraldos at LaSalle Park wanted to be able to move into the outside catering business and were asking to have their lease agreement revised.
Spencer’s on the Waterfront wanted the lease they have extended for an additional 15 years.
Staff provided comment on each situation – Gerlados has been in a contract relationship with the city since 1997: a Staff report recommended amending the agreement to allow them to expand into the catering business.
Geraldo’s provides residents and visitors the opportunity to experience part of the city’s history while enjoying the park, trails and surrounding facility where they have been operating the LaSalle Pavilion since 1997.
Revenues received from the tenant offsets the direct operating expenses of this particular facility and provides a contribution to the reserve account for on-going capital requirements.
The current agreement, contains a provision that excludes Geraldo’s from performing any outside catering – it expires in December 2016.
Council supported a six year extension agreement (2017 – 2022) which aligns with the land lease for the LaSalle Park with the City of Hamilton.
Under the current agreement, rent is paid as a percentage of gross sales. By allowing Geraldo’s to expand the catering business, all revenues generated from any offsite catering could result in a positive impact on the reserve account for on-going capital improvements. The current Reserve Fund balance as of June 30, 2015 is $637,786.
This was a no brainer and was approved and will go to Council on November 2nd for approval.
 Perhaps the finest restaurant in the city – with a balcony overlooking the lake that is THE place to be on a summer evening. If you don’t reserve for Sunday Brunch – you don;t get a seat. The Spencers on the Waterfront lease extension for 15 years was approved – it shouldn’t have been – there is a serious flaw in the proposed agreement – Councillor Meed Ward pointed out the flaw and was the only one to object to the lease extension.
The problem is with the parking. Spencers has exclusive use of 40 parking spaces to the west of the restaurant; given the consistent flux with parking issues Meed Ward felt being locked in for 15 years was not a wise move and wanted to see a clause that would allow the city to renegotiate that particular part of the agreement.
• A restaurant (Spencer’s at the Waterfront)
• Café/concession (the Bite – operated by Spencer’s)
• An Observatory (shared – both public and exclusive to Spencer’s for functions/events)
• Public washrooms
• A public lobby/gathering space on the lower and upper levels
• Mechanical and storage rooms
• Outdoor amenities including an ice rink in the winter, pond in the summer, along with splash pad and playground.
The Waterfront Centre operating budget is made up of operating costs to maintain the facility, outdoor amenities and the parking lot which are partially offset by the revenue received from the tenant and parking revenues.
Other indirect costs associated with Spencer Smith Park (e.g. landscaping services by Roads & Parks Maintenance) are outside of the Parks and Recreation Waterfront Centre operating budget. The Waterfront Centre operating budget is structured to transfer the net budget (profit) into the Waterfront Centre Capital Reserve Fund. These funds are used to stabilize and replace existing building components and maintain the outdoor amenities as well as to maintain the parking lot surface and machines.
Moving into a long term agreement with Spencer’s for years 2016 through 2031 there are some guiding principles for the financial commitment to ensure the facility is maintained to the high standard it is today.
Staff recommended continuing with the current tenant for a longer term agreement to ensure financial sustainability for the facility and continued service to the community. And Meed Ward wasn’t on for that.
 Councillor Meed Ward didn’t think the city should get locked into a 15 year agreement that gave Spencer’s the exclusive use of 40 parking spots – she wanted the city to have the right to re-open and re-negotiate that part of the lease agreement. She had concerns over extending the exclusive use of 40 parking spaces from 4:00 pm to midnight to the west of the restaurant and wanted a provision that gave the city the right to re-negotiate the parking spaces part of the agreement. Meed Ward made the point that parking is a critical issues in the downtown and wanted the city to have some flexibility.
Her colleagues didn’t see it that way – the five that were present voted to accept the Staff report. Councillor Sharman, chair of the committee was not present.
Reserving the right to renegotiate the parking was a good, commonly used business practice – that concept seemed to evade the Mayor and Councillors Craven, Taylor, Lancaster and Dennison.
You sometimes wonder how they think.
 By Staff
October 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The autumn hours of operation at the Royal Botanical Gardens have changed.
 Autumn ours have changed at the RBG RBG Centre will be open 10am through 5pm daily.
– The Hendrie Park/Rose Garden kiosk is now closed for the season. Weather permitting, access to Hendrie Park is available through the RBG Centre entrance.
– Laking Garden kiosk is now closed for the season.
– Extended hours will begin again November 14th for Holiday Traditions.
 By Staff
October, 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Councillor Blair Lancaster and grade 6 students from Trinity Christian School along with Retired Sgt. Jim Warford, 35 Composite Company, Royal Canadian Service Corp, members of the Royal Canadian Legion and members of the City of Burlington Mundialization Committee will be planting 700 tulip bulbs from the Canadian Garden Council to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and to celebrate the culture and heritage of the two nations.
The event is to take place on Thursday, October 15, 2015, between 11 to 11:20 a.m. at the Dutch-Canadian Friendship Garden, Apeldoorn Park on Elgin Street
 As a token of their gratitude for creating a home for the Dutch Royal Family the government of Holland has given Canada 100,000 tulips every year. 7000f those tulips will be sent to Burlington. The City of Burlington was selected as one of 140 recipients of tulips as part of the 70th Anniversary Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden. Overall, 100,000 tulip bulbs were distributed across Canada by the Canadian Gardens Council.
The 100,000 bulbs replicate the original gift given to the people of Canada as an act of appreciation for hosting the Royal Family during Princess Margriet’s birth and the role of Canadian Armed Forces in the Liberation of Holland.
 Mayor Goldring and Councillor Blair Lancaster being greeted by a member of the Dutch Royal Family. Councillor Lancaster, Mayor Goldring and a number of city hall staff spent several days in Holland during the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland by Canadian troops.
 By Pepper Parr
October 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is something about former Toronto mayors and the city of Burlington – we keep inviting them out to talk to us.
A couple of years ago Toronto’s Tiny Perfect Mayor, David Crombie visited the city to talk to the then Waterfront Advisory Committee. Mayor Goldring, then in his first term, did not make a practice of attending those meetings but with Crombie speaking the Mayor chose to sit beside him at the table.
 The last Toronto Mayor who came to Burlington was well received but not really listened to – what will we do with David Miller when he speaks? Crombie got the Waterfront Advisory Committee all excited with what was possible – but before any of the ideas got off the ground the city sunset the committee – they did manage to get two things done – a solid look at the way Windows on the Lake were created and they did get something into the Pump House in the Beachway.
 You wouldn’t know it – but this is public property and anyone can walk out to the end and look over the lake. City will now put signage indicating that the land is public. Great views. The disappointing part about the Windows on the Lake was the loss of a significant piece of land between the two Windows the city is going to gain. A piece of the city’s heritage was lost forever.
Former Mayor of Toronto David Miller is going to be in town November 3rd to speak at free community event called Take Action Burlington. The event is a joint initiative between Mayor Goldring’s Inspire Burlington Series and the City of Burlington and will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The focus is reported to be on what individuals, businesses and community leaders can do to continue to work towards fostering a healthy, green community. Miller who is now the CEO and president of World Wildlife Fund Canada, will be the keynote speaker.
Mayor Goldring will give a presentation on environmentally sustainable projects and initiatives in the City of Burlington.
Interactive exhibits from green-minded community groups will be on display before and after the presentations.
One of the stronger traits behind what Mayor Goldring does is his consistent commitment to the environment – he did slip up when he let the turbine get taken out of the pier design, but he has been an admirable advocate for the environment. While he was not in Burlington when the micro WORDS was unveiled at Burlington Hydro recently that initiative was very much in the Goldring view of the world.
Current Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito points out that Goldring was a federal Green candidate who pulled in 3500 votes when he ran – which in Burlington is a number that has yet to be exceeded – Fiorito doesn’t expect to do that well.
 A piece of our heritage lost forever. When David Crombie was in town he pointed out that there was a time when Burlington was the leader in the development of a waterfront trail through the city. Crombie probably lost weight when he learned that Goldring went along with the sale of public land that bordered the lake – even though city staff recommended the property be either kept by the city or leased.
We shall all wait to hear what David Miller has to say to us – and then wait a little longer to see if the Mayor heeds any of his advice.
 Are there panda bears in our future? With Miller being the CEO of the World Wildlife Fund and the Mayor returning from a trip to China – is there perhaps a pair of pandas in Burlington’s future – with maybe a zoo somewhere in the Escarpment? This city could certainly use some good news – any news would be nice.
 By Pepper Parr
October 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There were three parts to the program – didn’t matter which one you were watching, the choreography for each guides, pushes, and pulls audience members through physically raw movements and emotional extremes.
 Follower, leading – hierarchy and identity – all played out on a platform with some of the most imaginative interpretive dance this city has seen. Reflective/Vulnerable was at the Performing Arts Centre with a two evening and a single matinee program that opened with an interactive video installation put together by the Burlington Wholeshebang. Images appeared on a screen and people were invited to walk onto the platform and move their bodies anyway they wished – this allowed them to change the image.
Trevor Copp, a noted local dancer, said the idea was to make the line between the audience and the platform impermeable. A number of people took to the platform.
There was then a dance scene that was coquettish in nature featuring Lisa Emmons and Phillipe Poirier. . It is amazing to watch two dancers who know what it is they want to convey, use their bodies to send messages to each other. Lisa flirted with Poirier and used exaggerated looks over her shoulder while Poirier made clear his frustration with what this woman was doing to him.
Emmons has taken to one of the latest hair stylings where the left side of her scalp is been shaved clean leaving her with a very aboriginal look. It is arresting but it suits her.
Some strong music was played through the dance – ranging from Mozart to von Karajan and Fever Ray.
Few words were spoken during this dance routine – when it came to the point where Poirier wanted to say he was no longer interested and Emmons wanted to know why Poirier reverted to words and said: “It’s the hair”.
It was a fun, funny exceptionally well executed dance.
There was an intermission while the dancing areas was fitted with the props it would need. The audience could have been told that what was coming was harsh, raw – at times almost violent.
Titled: Blue (dot) Political, the dance had incredible energy and strength – there were times when the dancers appeared to be attacking each other.
A masked group – they could have been described as a chorus, were silent and tended to move in unison while Philipe Poirier, Lisa Emmons, Amanda Pye, Mateo Galindo Torres and Mayumi Laskbrook spilled energy all over the dance platform.
A statement was definitely being made – to whom was not clear to me but that huge energy and will was being put forward was never in doubt.
 Lisa Emmons performing in Blue (Dot) Political at the Performing Arts Centre. The performance notes say: How high you get is only important to how grounded you are – which really doesn’t say much. The notes go on to add Blue (dot) Political is a reflection of the roles of leader and follower: hierarchy and identity. And that is certainly what the performance conveys. Do the followers then overthrow?
The performance didn’t have answers – it focused on the struggle. At the close of the performance a flag that was on the back wall changed colour – what was a flag that was mostly white took on a red hue – it was a painful struggle, blood had been shed.
The attendance was small but not embarrassing – these dancers are well worth whatever time you choose to give them.
 By Pepper Parr
October 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Why is it so difficult to get answers out of city hall?
Tom Muir wrote Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward asking why she had not said something publicly about why city council did not manage to vote as a council against the proposed ADI development at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha Street.
Muir sent that information request in September 16th and said at the time that he asked for “an explanation of how the staff report on this ADI project did not make it to Council within the 180 days mandated in the legislation as default grounds for OMB appeal.’
He didn’t get a response and repeated his request.
His original request was set out in an email he sent to Meed Ward, the Mayor and the city manager.
On Thursday, October 8th Mayor Goldring responded to Muir with the following:
Hi Tom,
You will receive a meaningful answer.
I was away recently for 10 days and am obviously behind in responding to some emails as well.
Please be patient.
The Mayor has been away – in China – which is significant from an economic development aspect – and the city has not heard a word about that trip. That is another matter.
Meed Ward also said she would respond but Muir has apparently not heard from her yet. Her response has been to refer people to her Newsletters of March31st and September 16th.
Most people the Gazette hears from find the content of the two newsletter confusing.
 Aldershot resident Tom Muir wrote city hall on September 16th asking for an explanation as to why the city failed to get a response to a developer within the 180 day mandated deadline. The issue for Tom Muir was – how did the city fail to vote officially on the Planning department recommendation not to approve the development application.
Everyone at all concerned with the project new that when the 180 day deadline was reached ADI would be going to the OMB and asking them to approve the project because the city had failed to provide an answer within the 180 day deadline.
 The ADI Development Group sought permission to put up a 28 storey structure on a small lot at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha. The city’s planning department put some of their best people on the review of the project and delivered a sound report that said the project should not be approved.
That report went to the Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee where members of Council voted unanimously against the project.
That recommendation from the Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee is just that – a recommendation.
Recommendations from the Standing committee have to go to Council to become effective.
 This city Council never got the opportunity to vote against a proposed development within the 180 days they were required to do so. Many people in the city want to know why this happened. The Mayor has promised a “meaningful answer” six months after the event. Every member of Council will tell you that they are free to change their minds and the vote they cast at a Standing Committee when a report and recommendation gets to council.
The city’s Planning department was fully aware of the 180 day deadline.
Council meetings are scheduled on a meeting cycle that is public – but, and this is significant – Council can meet at any time at the call of the Mayor.
That the Mayor did not call a Special meeting of council is inexcusable. Had the Mayor done his job and called a Special meeting of Council the city’s position before the OMB would have been a lot stronger.
There still would have been an OMB hearing – but the grounds for that hearing would not be that the city failed to respond.
There are those who are saying the will of the city was clear at the Standing committee – and it certainly was – but that will has no standing until the city council votes on it.
 The ADI development is shown in the upper right, outlined in orange, the Bridgewater development that will break ground in earlier 2016 is shown in the lower left in red. All that happened on March 31st 2014, when Paul Sharman, Chair of the Development and Infrastructure committee advised the public that a summary of a planning report would be read but the city would not be voting on the matter because ADI had taken the matter to the OMB.
It is only now that we are hearing the Mayor say:
You will receive a meaningful answer.
Please be patient.
And so a cranky constituent waits patiently while the Mayor prepares a meaningful response – will the Mayor make a public statement on just how he failed to call a Special meeting of his Council and vote officially on this issue?
Or will Tom Muir have to send that response to the Gazette so we can make it available to the public?
This kind of situation crops up again and again with the Mayor and his Council.
There are many in the city who are concerned about what will happen at the Ontario Municipal Board hearing that is due to take place before the end of the year.
It is going to be a tough fight and there is no guarantee the city will win it.
 Two blocks away from the site where ADI sought permission to build a 28 storey structure the city approved the building of a 22 storey tower that will break ground in January. There is a 22 storey structure two blocks away – the Bridgewater development that will break ground in the New Year. Expect ADI to argue that they are as relevant to the development of the city as the Bridgewater project which was initially approved in 1985.
Far too many people have the sense that this Mayor does not have a firm grip on what the city wants and that he has not grown into the job of Mayor in his second term.
The Gazette interviewed Mayor Goldring when he was running for re-election in 2014. We were stunned at what little he had to say during that interview which took place in the offices of Rick Burgess, a Burlington lawyer who once for Mayor.
During that interview Goldring didn’t give any sense as to what he wanted to do in his second term. At the time it looked as if he was going to be acclaimed.
When Peter Rusin decided to run against the Mayor – the game changed quickly and Goldring had to scramble to find a campaign office and then raise the funds needed to run a campaign.
 Mayor Rick Goldring speaking during a municipal election debate when he had to run against Peter Rusin and Anne Marsden There was no comparing Rusin with Goldring. While the Gazette doesn’t think Goldring is doing a very good job – and that view is supported by a significant number of people with standing in this city – Rusin would not have been an improvement.
Anne Marsden ran against Goldring but was never a contender – she was a place for people who were dissatisfied with the Mayor to park their vote.
The Mayor no longer talks to the Gazette – he does not answer emails and we are not able to make appointments with him
When the Gazette was finally able to speak with Mayor he said that he would not talk to us because he felt we were unfair and biased.
That is a legitimate comment – however, Rick Goldring is the Chief Magistrate in this city and that position and title does not allow him to behave like a petulant little boy.
 The last Mayor to refuse to talk to media was Rob Ford of Toronto – a rather embarrassing comparison for Burlington, If he has a concern – he has the responsibility to meet with us and set out those concerns. The last Mayor to do something like that was Rob Ford in Toronto.
There is more to say on how this Mayor behaves – right now we are waiting to see what his “meaningful answer” is going to be and why it has taken so long for some kind of statement from city hall.
The city would also like to hear what the Mayor actually did in China?
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Beginning October 13, construction will begin in Millcroft Park to install free Cogeco Wi-Fi.
The construction and installation of equipment is expected to take four to five weeks.
The free Wi-Fi is a pilot test with Cogeco Cable to provide free internet access within certain areas of the park. Most of the city’s arenas, city hall and recreation and community centres already have free Wi-Fi access.
The park will remain open during construction.
 By Staff
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Human Trafficking and Vice Unit of the Halton Regional Police Service have arrested two individuals for trafficking female victims.
In the early morning hours of October 8th 2015, the Hamilton Police Service Tactical Response Unit along with the HRPS Human Trafficking and Vice Unit executed a search warrant at a Stoney Creek residence. Upon entry police located and arrested Andrew GORDON (32 years) and Astra MULAWKA (29 years) for human trafficking related offences.
During the search of the residence police located identification of females believed to be victims of human trafficking. The search warrant and arrests culminated a yearlong human trafficking investigation into GORDON.
 Andrew GORDON Evidence gathered throughout this investigation has revealed that GORDON is trafficking female victims in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Police have identified several human trafficking victims, however police believe GORDON is responsible for the exploitation and trafficking several other females throughout Canada.
Andrew GORDON has been charged with the following offences:
Count: 1) Trafficking in persons, s. 279.01. Criminal Code
Count” 2) Receiving financial/material benefit, s. 279.02. Criminal Code
Count: 3) Exercise control, s. 212(1((h). Criminal Code
Count: 4) Living on avails of prostitution, s. 212(1)(j). Criminal Code
Count: 5) Extortion, s. 346. Criminal Code
Count” 6) Knowingly Advertise and offer to provide sexual services, s. 286.4. Criminal Code Count: 7) Receiving material benefit, s. 286.2(1). Criminal Code
Count: 8) Uttering threats, s. 264.1(1). Criminal Code
Count: 9) Forcible Confinement, s. 279(2) Criminal Code
Count: 10) Assault, s. 266. Criminal Code
Count: 11) Assault, s. 266. Criminal Code
GORDON was held for a bail hearing and will appear in Milton Court today (October 9th 2015)
Astra MULAWKA has been charged with the following offences:
Count 1) Trafficking in persons, s. 279.01. Criminal Code
Count 2) Receiving financial/material benefit, s. 279.02. Criminal Code
Count 3) Living on avails of prostitution, s. 212(2). Criminal Code
Count 4) Receiving material benefit, s. 286.2(1). Criminal Code
MULAWKA will appear in Milton Court on November 2nd 2015. The Halton Regional Police Service Human Trafficking and Vice Unit believe Andrew GORDON who is also known as “ President” or “Bush” is responsible for trafficking other female victims, as such we have attached his photograph to this media release. We would encourage anyone with information relating to GORDON to call Detective Martin DICK at 905-208-0959 or 905-825-4747 ext 8723
By Pepper Parr
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir is an Aldershot resident who takes what goes on in his community seriously – he is a major thorn in the side of Rick Craven, the council member for the ward.
 Aldershot resident Tom Muir is a strong believer in community participation in how the city grows. He has issues with the way city council failed to do its job.,
Muir has been wanting to know how the city ended up facing an Ontario Municipal Board hearing over a development that was proposed for the Lakeshore Road/Martha Street intersection in the downtown part of the city.
Muir had written Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and copied the Mayor and the city manager in the middle of September about the matter and thought he deserved at least an acknowledgement. As Muir explains it “I asked for an explanation of how the staff report on this ADI project did not make it to Council within the 180 days mandated in the legislation as default grounds for OMB appeal.
“My initial message was sent to Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward, where the proposed project is located, and cc’d Mayor Goldring and City Manager James Ridge
Muir says he find it disturbing that his initial message has been completely and inexplicably ignored by Councillor Meed Ward.
Not on to be easily deterred Muir wrote a follow up letter asking to be informed about how the decision was arrived at to allow the 180 day period, mandated by legislation, to elapse before the Council vote was made?
“Whether it was deliberate or inadvertent, an explanation to inform citizens is warranted” said Muir.
“I have reviewed all of the pertinent content of the newsletters put out by Councillor Meed Ward, dated March 31, and September 16. There is no explanation there addressing my question; the latest newsletter commentary reads like the decision to let the timeline elapse did not happen.”
“What is written there rationalizes, and pardons, this failure to meet a deadline that triggers an automatic legal grounds for appeal to the OMB. It further denies that this failure matters, or is of consequence, and tries to project the blame for the predictable outcome on the developer ADI.”
Muir points out that the 180 day deadline was not legislated for nothing, so you can’t blame ADI for pursuing their legal rights. The fault lies in the city letting this happen.
The process timeline included in the March 31 Meed Ward newsletter shows that the city planning department recommendation for refusal of the ADI application was made public, and therefore provided to ADI, more than a week before the 180 day deadline. “In this situation” said Muir, “it is irrational planning management for the city to then fail to meet the deadline.”
“The city failure to meet this 180 day deadline is a major victory for the aggressive approach of ADI. It gives them an automatic appeal standing with the OMB, a very valuable legal right.
 Aldershot resident argues that the city’s failure to act properly on a development application almost legitimizes signs like this. “Further, it apparently legitimizes the several marketing activities they now have underway. These too are aggressive, speculative and misleading.
“These go beyond the controversial billboard on the proposed building site, and the storefront on Brant St being opened by ADI, advertising they are open for business for registration of purchases of “Lakefront Residences”, in what is called “Nautique”.
“Further, for example, I received a post card size advertisement in the mail, from a Loyalty Real Estate Brokerage, selling the ADI project address, but it is called a “Burlington Condominium”. It promises numerous project features, VIP first access, huge discounts, no lineups, instant gain on purchase, and wide selection of units.
“As well, in the Hamilton Spectator real estate section, New Home Living, dated October 3, ADI is advertising “Nautique”, as “arriving soon” and invites registration. Again, it is obviously the proposed project.
“This is spectacle, and where it will lead is assuredly to nowhere good for the city and citizens. It reminds me of a gold rush promotion mentality where shares in a mine site – in this case a patch of pavement and dirt – that has been salted, but not proved, are being hustled for sale.
“It begs the question of what the responsible city staff were thinking to surrender control of this development situation to ADI? What kind of city organization would allow this to happen?
“What kind of development planning strategy and tactics, and business plan does this action entail?
This appears an illogical retreat from a position of dominant planning argument, strength, and public support.
“What is the rationale for revealing, then folding a winning hand, thus letting ADI outflank the city, go straight to the OMB, and then use this to market what they failed to get the city to approve on official planning grounds?
“It could constitute city hall actions based on something sensible, or maybe worse, but how will we ever know with no information and transparency? It really needs inquiry, and needs to be visible. Transparent decision making processes are part of the foundation of the good governance of a municipality.
“You all know your duties and responsibilities under legislation and policy, and I will not read you chapter and verse, but just give a taste that is most relevant here.”
Section 224, subsection (d) of the Municipal Act is a good starting point. It outlines the role of the municipal council as follows:
“224. It is the role of council,
(d) to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;
(d.1) to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality;” (my emphasis)
 Aldershot resident Tom Muir wants city council to do the job the Municipal Act requires them to do. He’d also like an explanation as to why they appear to have goofed on the ADI development application. The Municipal Councillors Guide 2014 states that ,”Clearly, accountability and transparency are a priority in maintaining public trust in council and in the management of your municipality. Section 224 of the Act explicitly includes ensuring the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality as part of the role of council.” Control and responsibility are other givens.
Muir, who doesn’t give up on issues that he thinks are important adds the “Burlington Citizens Engagement Charter contains similar and identical text, and city commitment and policy. As does the draft Code of Conduct, approved by Committee, and passed to the City Manager by Council for inclusion in the Strategic Plan. You can add in the Oath of Office that Council members take.”
Muir sums up his most recent letter saying: “I hope that you can see your fundamental responsibilities, both legislated and policy, in this matter of providing the explanation I have asked for.
“It’s your duty to ensure the transparency and accountability that underlie credibility and trust.”
By Staff
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A company involved in determining what kind of advertising shows up on your computer screen when you are online decided it wanted to do something to help people during the Thanksgiving weekend – a time of year when the Salvation Army holds a major food drive.
Direct Access Digital, a twenty eight employee firm in the east end of the city divided the staff into four teams that then competed with each other to see who could raise the most in the way of food contributions.
They raised enough food to provide 1500 Thanksgiving meals.
 Vanessa Mateus and “Captain Alpha with some of the food that was raised by employees at Digital Direct Access Vanessa Mateus came up with the idea of giving back to the community, and the competitive nature that of the technology industry was all that was needed to result in 3000 items being purchased
In true digital fashion, Team Three, lead by “Captain Alpha”, quickly got online and ordered over 1200 items of canned goods to be delivered to the office and then taunted the other teams on the company’s blog to match that effort.
Digital Access Data (DAD) Director of Performance, Rob T. Case, has an affinity with the Food Bank. His family had used food banks for five years. After turning his life around, he became a successful digital marketer, worked at Google and joined the Direct Access Digital team this year.
Case said the food banks ” were there when his family of four needed them and it is important to give back, to show gratitude, especially at Thanksgiving.”
Another member of the team also claimed to have used the Food Bank in the past. She says, “Sometimes you find yourself in a place you never expected. You get help and drive forward.”
DAD co-founder, Eric Rodgers say that “When Vanessa Mateus, suggested we do something for The Salvation Army’s Food Drive it was absolutely something we wanted to support; we are always happy to help the community. There were challenges posted on our company blog from one team to another. It was pretty heated, but a competition worth winning.”
The team plans to do something for the holiday season, but they are not talking about their ideas yet.
Direct Access Digital, an award-winning digital-performance marketing agency based in Burlington is the two-time winner of The Google Search Excellence Award.
Founded in 2011, DAD has evolved into one of Canada’s leading boutique agencies, and now serve mid-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. Known for their expertise in all digital marketing verticals, from search engine marketing (SEM) to search engine optimization (SEO), local search, social media marketing and more, their true hallmark is building strong partnerships with their clients and working diligently to deliver the tools, data and strategies that drive customer conversions and sales while aiding brand awareness. www.directaccessdigital.com
By Staff
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police have made a male suspected of accused breaking into lockers belonging to members of a private gymnasium and stealing money from their personal belongings.
 Vezio CARDULLO In August and September 2015, Vezio CARDULLO attended a health and fitness gym on several occasions in the City of Burlington.
The accused broke into lockers belonging to members of the gym and stole money from their personal belongings.
Police have been unable to locate the accused and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
We will share “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
In this edition of Fugitive Friday, the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Vezio CARDULLO, 33 years old, of No Fixed Address.
CARDULLO is wanted by the Halton Regional Police Service for:
Theft under $5000 x 3
CARDULLO is described as 5’7”, 170lbs, bald with brown eyes. CARDULLO has forearm tattoo sleeves on both his left and right forearm and a scar under his left eye. CARDULLO is known to frequent Burlington and the surrounding areas.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in locating him are encouraged to contact D/C Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
October 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The results of a two-day commercial vehicle (CMV) enforcement blitz held at the Mohawk Raceway in Milton have surpassed records in the number of vehicles inspected and the total number of charges from previous years.
 Officer checking the condition of truck tires during inspection blitz. Police Officers and Inspectors from eight police services and two provincial ministries yielded the following results:
Total CMV’s Inspected 472
Total CMV’s taken out of service 167 (35% failure rate)
Total Charges Laid 348
Sets of plates seized 29
The out of service rate improved by approximately 6%; this could be attributed to an increase in compliance with safety statutes. In 2014, out of 457 inspected, 188 were taken out of service; a 41% failure rate. A total of 301 charges were laid in the 2014 blitz.
Of the charges laid this year, the following is a sampling of some of the offences:
Failure to complete annual inspection 55
Improper brakes 16
Insecure loads 23
Fail to complete daily inspection 60
Dangerous good violations 5
Driver’s Licence violations 13
Insurance violations 10
Based on these number more than a third of the trucks that pass you on the road shouldn’t be there – tougher regulations might be needed or heavier fines.
Having the trucks taken off the road for a short period of time doesn’t seem to be doing the job – this blitz takes place every year – the numbers don’t decrease.
By Pepper Parr
October 8th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each year the Fire Department holds an Open House which Fire Chief Tony Bavota describes as a day for the family that doesn’t cost a dime and “if they buy a hot dog from the service group they get it at cost – a great inexpensive family outing”.
But this year there was no Open House because the fire department HQ is undergoing a major renovation – so they had to come up with a new idea. And they certainly came up with what can only be described as a winner.
The Fire Department partnered with the Culinary class at Robert Bateman High school for a cook off between four teams. Each team was made up of a fire fighter and two students. Murray Zehr who runs the Culinary program said there are 300 students in the class where the focus is on nutrition and kitchen safety. The cooks had an hour to prepare the meal.
There were very good reasons for using a cook off as the focus for the event – 53% of the fires in private homes are the result of unattended cooking.
 Acting Captain Sam Wakunick taught the Gazette reporter a couple of things about unattended cooking. It was embarrassing. This reporter has some direct experience with unattended cooking and the Burlington Fire department. Shortly after moving into a new home and getting used to the stove I wandered away from the kitchen and then heard that beep beep sound of the smoke alarm. There was nothing I could do to shut the damn thing off the way you can in most houses. I called security and told them everything was under control but it was too late – the fire department was on the way and before I knew it Sam Wakunick was standing at my door in full fire fighter kit. I sheepishly explained what I had done – she smiled – Sam wasn’t a guy – and asked if she could just look through the unit – which wasn’t exactly tidy.
Months later I show up to cover a news event and there is Sam – reminding me not to wander from the kitchen when food is cooking.
The Fire department media people working with the Bateman staff came up with a really fun and instructive program that made the point – fires are dangerous and they can be prevented. It was also an opportunity to showcase the cooking talent at Bateman
 Fire fighter Peter Temoche explains a point to a member of his team Kristan Dymad – Alicia Ann Husk was also on the team. Each of the cooking teams was given a recipe and the ingredients – there was a table with all kinds of oils, wines, and fresh vegetables that cooks could dip into.
To jazz up the event – a fire fighter with the name “That Guy” who wandered from stove to stove and just became a pain in the butt. He would drop something into the food or give one of the cooks a penalty which meant they had to sit in a penalty box – and not be able to take part in the food preparation.
There was a party atmosphere that brought out the newly minted Director of Education Stuart Miller and Mayor Goldring who advised the students that he had absolutely no culinary skills but was prepared to serve as a judge for the cook off. The Mayor mentioned that during his recent trip to China he learned to ask what he was being served; “you sometimes didn’t want to know” he said. Burlington’s taxpayers however might want to know what the Mayor was doing in China for close to a week.
 Firefighter Dave Reid and Bateman students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales look into the ingredients they were given to cook up a meal in one hour. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales were on a team called the Dragons.
 Fire fighter Chris Grieve takes his cooks Cameron Davies and J.R. Kelertas through the approach he thinks they should take to preparing the meal. Chris Grieve, the fire fighter was on a team with students Cameron Davies and J. R Kelertas – they decided to be known as Five Arm Alarm; one of the students had a cast on his arm
Fire fighter Peter Tamoche teamed up with Krista Dymod and Alicia Ann Husk – they wanted to be called the Hot Tamales.
 Ty Solomon gets rapt attention from a student during the cook off. Ty Solomon and students Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw titled themselves: Kill it with Fire.
 The Bateman high school kitchen with its four gas stoves was a bit of a zoo with cameras all over the place and students scooting around picking up supplies and utensils. The kitchen at Bateman was a bit of a zoo with students photographers wandering all over the place, the Cogeco cable News camera kept popping up while cooks were scooting around getting equipment and ingredients while Dennis Hayes kept calling out trivia questions and announcing penalties and in the last fifteen minutes telling everyone how little time they left.
Students and other observers looked on from the back of the kitchen.
The judging was pretty tight: winning team got 75 points with two teams getting 71 points. They were judged on presentation and taste.
 Dave Reid’s team, on the left took first place while Ty Solomon throws his arms up and congratulates Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw who took second. There were less than four points between each team. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Plouffe and Hales took first place.
 While students were cooking up their storm other students were trying on fire fighter equipment. The fire department had three pieces of equipment parked outside the school and all kinds of fire fighter equipment set out for students to try on. There were 19 fire fighters helping out “on their own time” added Chief Bavota.
 By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Some of the most horrific highway accidents take place on holiday weekends – that’s when families are in cars going to see other members of their family. Check the newspapers Monday, listen to the radio – you will see and hear it all.
 Can we get through the Thanksgiving weekend without pictures like this? Try Over the Thanksgiving weekend, October 9th through to the 12th, the Halton Regional Police Service will be taking part in a national road safety partnership known as Operation Impact. The goal of the program is to remind drivers that an essential part of traffic education and enforcement is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways.
Officers assigned to Operation Impact will focus on behaviour that puts drivers, passengers and other road users at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, and all aspects related to aggressive/distracted driving.
Aggressive drivers often engage in a combination of high-risk road use behaviours; non-use of seat belts, drinking and driving and speeding. The results of these behaviours are often catastrophic for all involved road users.
This year there have been several motor vehicle fatalities investigated by Halton Police. Each of these deaths represents the tragic loss of a loved one – a senseless tragedy that in most cases could have been prevented.
Our annual participation in Operation Impact forms an important part of our overall traffic strategy where partnerships lead to greater road safety. A focus on high risk behaviours provides opportunities for enforcement as well as education.
A good program, that will be solidly enforced – what was missing? Not a word about distracted driving – the nut cases that think they can text and drive at the same time. If the behaviour isn’t mentioned and targeted it may not get the attention it deserves.
Operation Impact is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2015.
That is an interesting target – aren’t we already in 2015?
By Pepper Parr
October 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it a sign, a fence or hoarding around a construction site.
 City lawyers say this is a sign and not a fence or a construction site hoarding. Will now work with the developer to bring them into compliance. The city by law enforcement officer needed to know just which it was before she took any action on the huge sign that sits on Lakeshore Road at Martha where the ADI development Group has submitted an application to put up a 28 storey structure that was rejected by the planning department but never actually voted on by city council. It is now before the Ontario Municipal Board which will hear the ADI argument for the right to build the structure at a December meeting.
The by law enforcement officer had to respond to a complaint – but needed to get a ruling from the city’s lawyers.
It is a sign say the lawyers – now what?
 This isn’t construction site hoarding and it doesn’t look like a fence – so the bigger part was declared to be a sign and has to be brought into compliance with the bylaw – six square feet. Well as a sign it is too big – they are allowed to put up a sign that is not larger than 6 square metres. The sign is apparently close to 16 square metres.
The options for the city?
Fine the developer and force them to reduce the size of the sign. The city can do both but the understanding the Gazette took from our discussion with the bylaw enforcement officer is that they would probably not do both. The intention is to work with the developer and bring them into compliance.
Why the velvet glove treatment? ADI has run rough shod over every process and procedure the city has in place. They appear to see rules as things that are made to be broken or severely bent.
 Ciné-Starz
Upper Canada Place, Burlington, ON
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, October 09, 2015 through Thursday, October 15, 2015
The Perfect Guy (14A)
Fri – Mon: 11:30 AM, 9:30
Tue – Thu: 3:00, 5:10, 9:20
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (PG)
Fri – Mon: 7:20 PM
Tue – Thu: 3:20, 7:10, 9:30
Straight Outta Compton (18A)
Fri: 7:00 PM
Sat – Mon: 7:00, 8:45
Tue – Thu: 7:00 PM
Shaun the Sheep ()
Fri – Mon: 11:20 AM, 1:30, 3:35, 5:15
Tue – Thu: 5:30 PM
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (PG)
Fri – Mon: 1:10, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:15, 5:00, 7:10, 9:15
Pixels (PG)
Fri – Mon: 11:15 AM, 1:15, 3:20
Ant-Man (PG)
Fri – Mon: 1:10, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Mr. Holmes (PG)
Fri – Mon: 11:30 AM, 5:20, 9:40
Tue – Thu: 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 9:40
Minions (G)
Fri – Mon: 11:20 AM, 1:30, 3:15, 5:15, 7:00
Tue – Thu: 1:15, 5:40, 7:30
Inside Out (G)
Fri – Mon: 11:15 AM, 1:00, 3:20, 5:20
Tue – Thu: 1:00 PM
A Walk in the Woods (14A)
Fri – Mon: 3:15, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00
By Pepper Parr
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Membership has its privileges – The Art Gallery of Burlington launched their fall season with a members only reception that had the xx artists in the fall program on hand to chat up their work and answer questions.
 Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets In Spirit
In Spirit presents the work of Timothy Laurin, John Latour and Heather Murray. Timothy Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets. His practice focuses on identity and memory and how one informs the other and keep in flux one’s sense of self.
John Latour’s text-based art, sculpture, and found photography highlight the ways in which we connect with the past, and how this uniquely human activity is mediated through words, objects, and images. Heather Murray is influenced by her rural backdrop and creates diligently and enthusiastically out of her haunted historical studio in Owen Sound Ontario.
This exhibition is co-curated by Virginia Eichhorn, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and Denis Longchamps, Art Gallery of Burlington. The exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to November 15, 2015.
Co-curation with the Tom Thomson Art Gallery is not small potatoes.
 Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium. Not to be missed. Thrown
While the thrown vessel is the most common ceramic form, great skill is required to achieve total control in the medium. Once this level of skill is reached, the artist can then either create ever more complex forms or loosen up and relax. Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium.
The permanent collection is gem that is all too often hidden – it was what validates the existence of the gallery – the rest of the country just hasn’t discovered it yet.
Curated by Jonathan Smith, the exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to December 31, 2015 in the Perry Gallery.
 a snapshot of one of the collages “5 Glasses” featuring a photo of artist Clive Tucker surrounded by five different types of glasses. Click. Clip. Paste.
Jonathan Smith presents fifteen of his photo-collages ranging from the earliest created around 1997, to the latest one hung while the glue was still wet. Friends and family of the artist act as his models in this show.
The presence of the artist is suggested through his reflection with his eyeglasses or drinking glasses located in the foreground. Each work follows a set of formal principles: a grid is used for the collage composition following concerns of proportions, dynamic tensions and lines. The photos however were taken without any planned composition in mind. Many are captured at a table sharing a meal, at other times the models pose for the purpose of creating a collage.
Smith is the curator of the permanent collection. He has been with the AGB for 25 years and is an artist in his own right. The showing of his personal work in an exhibition was part of the thank you from the gallery board. Well deserved.
The exhibition is on until October 18, 2015 in the RBC Community Gallery.
 The AGB is going to use the corridor spaces to focus on regional work from different parts of the country. This preserve jar is a prairie contribution. Amber Fields of Grain
The wide open spaces of the Canadian Prairies have been home to a great many well-known Canadian ceramic artists. Beside such great functional potters like Robert Archambeau, the Prairies have produced its own particular brand of sculpture, “Prairies’ Funk” that was created by such notables as Joe Fafard and Victor Cicansky. The Wild West has its own unique culture that is explored, often with great humour and insight that reflects the wide open spaces of the plains.
This is an ongoing 2015-2016 exhibition curated by AGB Permanent Collection Curator, Jonathan Smith.
The Gallery is open to the public:
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
Admission is free
 By Staff
October 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Is there a cold winter coming our way?
September had some wonderful fall days – then suddenly it was gone and the winds were a little more brisk and had a trace of a chill in them as well.
Leslie Bullock – snapped a picture of the high winds late Saturday afternoon and shared it with friends – and we are sharing it with you.
What does the Farmer’s Almanac have to say – because that water looks cold.
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Editor’s note: Invitational seating is limited and has already reached capacity…sorry, no more guests!
During the city Council meeting earlier this week, ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster chaired as Deputy Mayor while the real Mayor was in Chine – we still don’t know why – a list of names of organizations was read out announcing that it was whatever the name of the organization month.
The media tend to take these announcements with a bit of a yawn – every organization seems to have its day at some point during the year.
It is only when we pause and say “I know that person” that some attention gets paid.
 Michael Swartz is being recognized by the Canadian Diabetes Association as its “National Volunteer of the Year. I know that man.
This isn’t the time or place to explain the circumstances under which media came to know Mike Swartz and his wife Janice Connell rather it is an opportunity to learn more about what he has done in the community.
Mike is for the most part a quiet person – he has done well materially in life and has served as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and with the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) in a variety of roles over the past twelve years.
The reception to honour and recognize him will take place at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the Fireside Room at 10:30 am on Saturday.
By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service have received three separate complaints from victims of a variant of a common phone fraud known as the “Grandparent Scam”. All three victims were residents of the City of Burlington and all three had adult children who were the subject of the scam.
The fraudsters are calling un-suspecting victims and claiming to represent the victims son/daughter who has been involved in an accident and needs financial assistance in order to be released following an arrest.
The fraudsters will then ask the victim to wire money to another third party usually out of the country in order to effect the release of their son or daughter.
In the latest rash of calls the suspects have been asking for money to be wired to Lebanon and combined the victims have wired a little under $20,000 dollars overseas. Once the suspects find a victim who is willing they will continue to call and ask for more money for various other delays in the court process.
The Halton Police Fraud Unit is warning the public of these ongoing frauds and advising that before doing anything to contact the involved family member and confirm they are OK.
Prevention is the biggest tool at the disposal of the police in these circumstance and once the money has been wired overseas it is gone for good and following the trail to a suspect is almost never successful. Any of the information provided during the phone call or for the purposes of the financial transaction is fake and subsequent investigation only takes police to a dead end.
Also still prevalent in the GTA area is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) phone scam. Police again want to warn members of the public that the CRA will never solicit money owing on an account over the phone. There are numerous administrative stages that the CRA will enter into first before making any demands for payment of fines or accounts and anyone who receives a phone call claiming to be from the CRA as their first contact on a delinquent account should independently contact the CRA to confirm the information.
With today’s technology the suspects could be working from anywhere in the world and are very skillful in hiding their true identity and location. If you are unsure, always make independent contact with the agency the suspects claim to be calling from and confirm the information you are provided.
|
|
By Pepper Parr
