CineStarz to open on Brant Street June 5th - play bill not yet decided on.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

May 29, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

There is no business like show business – the bright lights and the Hollywood Stars and the Red Carpet and the dress that reveals more than the one your wife wears – the glitter and the glamour – some of it is working its way to downtown Burlington.

Cinestarz logoThe frumpy bumpy theatre that operated out of Upper Canada Place shut down their marquee for the last time a number of months ago and the place remained dark. The previous owners found that the cost of upgrading the equipment to run digital operations was more than they were able to handle.

Cinestarz Gaetien with film drive

Gone are the days when cans of 35mm film were shipped to theaters around the country – today the flick comes loaded onto a hard drive tat is slipped into a server and programmed fr viewing. CineStarz technician is testing the system before a planned June 5th opening.

CineStarz, an organization with six movie theatres under its management is doing a major upgrade to the space and the facilities.

“I’m putting more money that I planned on spending into the renovation” said Bruce Gerburg, the man overseeing the opening of the new location.

Cinestarz projector

Projector is one of seven in the room – one for each theatre at the CineStarz.

Cinestarz server

Server sits beneath the projector. Films are loaded onto a hard drive and just slide into the server.

The renovation and upgrade of the theatre that will have everything its predecessor didn’t have.
Bigger screens, better projection equipment and a much more modern look.

Cinestarz Bruce Gerburg in projector room with chairs

Bruce Gerburg, who lives on his cell phone, runs a six theatre operation and will open the latest one in Burlington on June 5th. He prowls through the projection room where equipment is being wired and programmed for the big opening.

Painters, carpenters, electricians and video technician are crawling all over the place to have things ready for the opening on June 5th
What will projected on the screens? – Gerburg can’t or won’t say until he has firm information from his booking agent.

The intention is to have all the current cinema offerings with at least one of the six screens devoted to “art” films.

Art wasn’t a term that Gerburg defined.

The biggest difference, besides the look of the place, is going to be on the second floor where all the projection equipment is located.

Movies are all digital now – there are very few that have reels of 35mm film trucked in. “These days we get what is basically a hard drive that we slip into the server” said Gerburg. “We program the projectors from a lap top or from something as simple as a smart phone”

CineStarz - programa from a smart phone

Technician can program any server in the seven theatre set up from a smart phone.

“I can have the guy who is selling popcorn in the lobby program a projector in another city” – the technology makes all this possible.
New seats are being installed and “there isn’t a seat with a poor sight line” said Gerburg.

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Board of education wants to boost development charges by an additional $500 - residential growth in Milton and Oakville means more schools needed.

News 100 blueBy Walter Byj

May 28, 2014

BURLINGTON, ON

The Halton District School Board wants to boost the development charge by an additional $500; explains that growth in Oakville and Mississauga will require additional school facilities.

The Board of Education 2014/2015 Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) data that covers new capital initiatives from 2016/2017 to 2019/2020 indicates there are going to be more students than the current schools can handle.

The board administrators seen the need and are disappointed at the public response. Domenico Renzella (Manager of Planning), said there were a total of 1100 hits on the LTAP page on the board’s website which resulted in a 104 survey responses. This seems like a low number for the whole of Halton and begs the question, was the method of advising the community adequate?

Housing Alton community

Halton District School Board wants to add $500 to the development charge it levies for new home construction

Perhaps it was and the community is satisfied with the board. If not, then the communication needs to improve. The LTAP is a solid document and is the result of hard work by the staff and will proceed to the next stage, but the lingering question is, did the public have adequate input.

In part, due to high residential growth in Oakville and Milton and the need for additional schools, the board will be asked to pass an amendment to the current Education Development Charge; the board is being asked to increase the residential charge from $3380.00 per residential unit to $3969.00. For non-residential units, the proposed increase is from $.87 per square foot to $1.02.

Notice has been sent out that public input is requested at a June 3rd meeting to be held at the Halton District School Board at 7:00pm.

The Halton board, along with other boards in the province are legislated to have strategies that cover at least four years. 2015/2016 represents the final year for the current board strategy and Stuart Miller (Associate Director of Education) presented to the board for approval the 2015/2016 strategy. The strategy which encompasses students, staff and systems provided for a thoughtful discussion between Mr. Miller and the trustees.

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Changing the Channel on television set made in Korea in a plant whose energy came from a coal fired generator.

Rivers 100x100By Ray Rivers

May 28, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It is easy to become complacent on a sunny spring day in Burlington. It is easy to ignore the cumulative effect that our lifestyle is having on the planet’s climate. But the TV news tell us about the destruction from increasing levels of tornado, storm and flash floods, as we saw recently in B.C. Then there is California experiencing its worst drought ever. It’s all so depressing that you just want to change the channel.

Coal burning plant China

Developing economies use coal because it is available and it is relatively cheap – we eventually all pay the price.

Blame China, Korea and India for their dirty industrialization policies, using cheap dirty coal to fire their economies and take them out of the dark ages and perhaps into a new one. It is ironic and sad that they started burning coal in a big way just as we learned how bad these carbon emission can be for the atmosphere. Of course we in North America, Australia and even Europe still burn coal (though Ontario has eliminated coal power plants). And you can change the channel but that TV was probably made in Korea.

In the last federal budget, Mr. Harper’s election budget, as every other one of his budgets, has ignored our ever increasing contribution to climate change. And we’re not alone. US presidential contenders, Australia’s dinosauric leader and even the leader of once progressive New Zealand have allowed the global commons to slip almost completely off the political page, as they pursue today’s issues without any consideration of tomorrow..

There are people who still think there is a debate about whether climate change is real, a phenomenon psychologists call being in an echo chamber. They have pre-conceived notions that the environment is a conspiracy, constructed by a ’60’s hippie crowd, to take away their freedom… to pollute – so they just listen to themselves. Why shouldn’t we live the way we always did? These folks are watching the ‘Leave it to Beaver’ channel or something on 100 Huntley Street.

Harper - fists

Making a point; speaking for Canadians – is he saying what we want him to say?

Canada’s environment minister pulled some imaginary emissions targets out of the air. But without a hint of a roadmap there is no hope of getting there – though perhaps that is the idea? Just like a New Year’s resolution, they’re soon to be forgotten the next day. So why even bother? And besides, these new numbers pale in comparison to the imaginary numbers the Americans and Europeans have generated.

The 21st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference takes place in Paris this coming December. But you can tune out because all expectations are that we’re looking at another failed conference. The only meaningful attempt at global climate cooperation, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, was critically wounded when GW Bush took the US, it’s chief architect and player, out of the deal only a couple of years later. After all, he has oil in his blood. And Canada’s own wanna-be-oil-man, our PM, whited-out Canada’s signature on Kyoto as soon as he had nailed his majority government.

So this year’s meeting is featuring something called ‘intended nationally determined contributions’ (INDC). These virtually meaningless theoretical voluntary commitments will be offered up by many of the 194 nations in the global climate change game. But since the national targets will be internationally unenforcible, no party will be held to account. So this meeting in the City of Love will not have much to do with love for the environment, or for our children’s children.

It is the ‘tragedy of the commons’ that brings all these nations together once a year, to keep alive the process that requires nothing short of re-genesis. Whether a common pasture, the oceans’ fisheries or the planet’s atmosphere, the ‘tragedy’ can only be abated or avoided through more governance, not less. And that was what Kyoto was all about. Today we have ISIS and an errant Russia gone rogue to add to the mix, so don’t expect any re-runs this year.

Canada’s excuse is that, despite being one of the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting nations per capita, we are still a relatively small part of the global GHG contribution. That is our echo chamber and we’re sticking to it. Canada rationalizes that doing almost nothing is just OK. Inertia has become our climate change strategy. And business as usual, despite occasional lip service to the contrary, prevails, at least at the federal level.

In fairness, the previous Liberal government did little more than sign onto Kyoto with its ambitious targets, which even they would have had trouble to attain – though the Ontario and Quebec governments did. So maybe targets are important. I’ve always believed that it is better to shoot for a high goal and fail, than to have never shot at all. I mean what kind of hockey player goes out on the ice without the prospect of scoring a slap shot on his/her mind?

Climate change - polar bears on flowsBut Canada’s hockey-author, our PM, is just not into the game when it comes to protecting the atmosphere. He was an ardent climate change denier in his opposition days. And his government has stayed pretty true to form on that count. So even if individual Canadians wanted to contribute to the fight against climate change they are leaderless.

If your national leader is missing in action on this matter, how does a nation mobilize? My New Zealand friend refers to sic critical lost years. We in Canada will have recorded a lost decade, perhaps it is time to change to change the channel.

Background links:

Climate Change Canada

World’s natural Disasters      More Disasters      Climate Change Echo     More Echo

100 Huntley Street      Conference      Tragedy of the Commons      New Zealand

 

Rivers-direct-into-camera1-173x300Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.

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Ontario plans to increasing protections for Condo Owners; little late for the $4 million that was taken from a number of Burlington condo corporations

News 100 redBy Staff

May 27, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Ontario is introducing new legislation to increase protections for condominium owners, improve how condo corporations are run, and ensure that condo boards are governed professionally.

Four stoey buildings are what Stephen Chen thought the Official Plan was all about - he reads about 17 and 22 stoey builldings and asks if this is the kind of "high rise jungle" citizens want.

One of the many condominiums in Burlington. The rental unit market is, to a large degree, made up of condo’s bought as investments and rented out.

The proposed Protecting Condominium Owners Act marks the first major overhaul of the province’s condominium laws in more than 16 years. It is based on more than 2,200 consultation submissions from condo owners, developers, managers and industry experts during a public review of the Condominium Act.

If passed, the proposed legislation would establish:

Clearer, more comprehensive rules to prevent owners from being surprised by unexpected costs after buying a newly-built condo
• A new Condominium Authority to provide quicker, lower-cost dispute resolution and help prevent common disputes
• Strong financial management rules for condo corporations to help prevent financial and organizational mismanagement
• Better governance requirements for condo boards, including training for condo directors
• Mandatory licensing and education requirements for condominium managers.

Brock Condo

The Brock, controversial when it was proposed, now fits nicely into its neighbourhood.

More than 1.3 million Ontarians live in condos – a number greater than the populations of Saskatchewan or Manitoba.
More than 50 per cent of new homes being built in Ontario are condos.
There are currently 700,000 condo units in Ontario, up from 270,000 units in 2001.  –  51,000 units are currently under construction.
The government received about 200 recommendations for updating the Condominium Act through its public consultation process.

Related story:

Condo management operator arrested for bilking condo corporations of $4 million

 

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Strategic Plan team listens to stakeholders - culture seemed to be the common thread in their thinking. No one asked for better roads.

Strategic Plan WorkbookBy Pepper Parr

May 26, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It is starting out as a different Strategic Plan review exercise.

Each term of office city council reviews the Strategic Plan and fine tunes the document to determine if any changes are needed.

In the past – prior to 2010 – the Strategic Plan was a collection of pretty pictures and bland statements. The current Mayor had at that time a Chief of Staff who thought the Strategic Plan should actually mean something and after more than eleven half days of meetings the city came out with a strategic Plan that set out three priorities:

Vibrant Neighbourhoods
Prosperity
Excellence in government

StPlan flip charts

Ideas and points made floated around the room like confetti at a wedding when the 2011 Strategic Plan was crafted – expect this next team to be as active with the flip charts.

Those three, as limited as they were, amounted to the best council could do at that time. They were led by one of the best Strategic Plan facilitators in the country who asked them at their first meeting what they had as a BHAG – the room was silent.

BHAG – a Big Hairy Audacious Goal – the city didn’t have one and the best the team that was crafting the Strategic Plan could do was talk about the things they wanted the city they ran to be able to do and achieve.

Magi McKeowen Lancaster look at day's poster work

Making sense of all the notes and the different ideas left a lot on the table – crafting a strategic plan of this scale was a first time event for several members of council.

Be friendly, be prosperous and have decent government. At the session Tuesday the staff and members of council talking part in crafting the 2015-2018 plan heard that we aren’t as friendly as we would like to be and that the prosperity isn’t all that well distributed.

How good a government are they? They all got re-elected – that must mean something – that the majority of the people surveyed did not think their government listens to them says something else.

This Council now has a full term under their belts and they know a lot more about civic government than when they started crafting the 2011 – 2014 Strategic Plan.

The Tuesday session was listening to numerous stakeholders – all the way from the Cycling Committee to the Art Gallery of Burlington and more than a handful in between.

The trend in most of the thinking is that being a “smart” community making use of technology and ensuring there was a strong cultural base was the best way to reach the goal that everyone wanted – even though that goal was never spelled out.

Noack interview - city culture days 014

Culture was the brightest thread seen during the Strategic Plan session that listened to the Stakeholders.

The “automobile” and good roads and lower taxes didn’t get very many mentions. The tone was that if we can become more diverse, have a strong sense of cultural well-being people will want to move to Burlington and corporations will want to locate here – and if those two things can happen – we will be a prosperous community.

The delegations made were for the most part very solid. There were a few that said they got very short notice which suggests there are some snags to be worked out in the flow of things – but they crew setting out the Strategy for the next three years is off to a good start.

Taylor with Black smiling

Georgina Black of KPMG facilitated the 2011 Strategic Plan workshops and grew this council much more than they expected. Bringing her back would be a smart corporate move.

The delegations need some thought before they can be reported on in any depth – we will get back to you with that.

No BHAG yet – and this |Council may not yet have one on them. Time will tell that part of the story.

As yet there is no facilitator in place – staff report that they are negotiating with someone – they said that more than a month ago.

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Gas being pumped into vehicles with stolen plates - driver pulls away without paying.

Crime 100By Staff

May 26, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Now there is an interesting – even if criminal idea.

You steal the license plate off a car.

You put the stolen license plate on your car just before you drive in to fill your gas tank.

When the tank is full you drive off without paying for the gas you took.

Gas theft suspect

Looks pretty relaxed doesn’t he? Recognize him – call it in.

The plates on the car you are using might get caught on camera – not to worry – the plates are not yours. You might get caught on the camera as well but it wouldn’t be too hard to effect a disguise

The Regional police have run into this problem – early in April a suspect in a suspect was driving a grey Pontiac Grand Prix GT with stolen licence plates attached to it. The suspect filled the tank and fled without paying for the fuel.

The most recent case was at the Petro Canada Gas Station located at 5600 Mainway in the City of Burlington; a quick flip to the QEW where traffic will hide you.

Any person who may have information that would assist police in identifying this suspect (PHOTOS Attached) are asked to contact D/Cst. Dave Ardrey of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2306 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222 8477 (TIPS), or through the internet at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).

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Learn how to manage the collection agencies and set up a budget to get out of debt.

News 100 greenBy Staff

May 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlingtonians don’t like to talk about poverty or personal debt. It doesn’t fit with the way the city sees itself.

We don’t see poverty on the streets – I was stunned when a fellow going through a tough time asked if I could give him bus money – he assured me he wasn’t a drinker.

I was stunned for a moment and admit to fumbling through my pockets for some money. It was close to the last thing I expected to experience on a Burlington street.

Bottle collector

In Burlington? Definitely.

I do see a number of people who make the rounds on garbage days looking for beer bottles and aluminum cans that they redeem.

There are other levels of poverty that we don’t see on the streets – personal debt hounds more people than we are prepared to admit and the collection agencies are merciless. While they are regulated – that doesn’t stop the more rapacious debt collectors.

Banks don’t work out debt problems with their clients – they send the debt along to collection agencies and you work it out with them.
Those $300 for $20 pay day Loan companies that are located throughout the city are close to usurious with their interest rates. But they are often a last resort for some people.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is now accepting clients who live in Burlington. CA:P is part of a national charity that works with a household to work out a five step debt reduction plan for people who are in way over their heads.

5 Step Plan to be DEBT FREE

1. Home Visits
After you make the call CAP, a Debt Coach and Support Worker from the local CAP Debt Centre will visit you in your own home.

2. An effective budget
Our trained Debt Coaches then work out a realistic budget for you, negotiating affordable payments with each creditor.

3. CAP Plan
You will get a FREE CAP Plan. You make regular payments into it and CAP will then distribute this on your behalf.

4. Severe Debt
If you are in severe debt then we can support you through insolvency options.

5. Debt free.

You use your CAP Plan to pay your bills and debt repayments and you will be supported by CAP until you are debt free.

You can call the organization at their toll free number – 1-855-214-9191. Their service is confidential and it is free.

They are not going to pay your bills for you but they will help you work out something with your creditors and teach you how to better manage the money you have.

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Air park gets $3500 of city's money for including some wording in an affidavit; plus a six month delay for a constitutional issue.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

May 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

City hall kept getting the feeling that they were being jerked around by the owners of the Air Park on Appleby Line where tonnes of landfill, much of it from sources unknown, had been illegally dumped putting significant sums into the coffers of the Air Park.

Vince Rossi, president of the Burlington Executive Air PArk and beleived to be the sole shareholder of the private company, met with north Burlington residents.  He took all the comments made "under advisement"..

Vince Rossi, president of the Burlington Executive Air Park and believed to be the sole shareholder of the private company, met with north Burlington residents. He took all the comments made “under advisement”..

It took a court case to determine that the city had some regulatory authority over the air park and the winning of an appeal to drive that point home.

The city then asked the Air Park to submit a site plan for the work they had been doing on the property.

The Burlington Executive Airpark was given 30 days, from March 20, 2015, to comply with the city’s site alteration bylaw 64-2014 after months of discussion between officials at the city and the Airpark failed to produce the required application.

The City of Burlington site alteration bylaw 64-2014 regulates the placing, dumping, cutting and removal of fill or the alteration of grades or drainage on a piece of land. Individuals undertaking this type of work are first required to submit an application to the city for a site alteration permit.

wwer

Trucks dumping fill on air park  property.

The Burlington Airpark Inc. has not submitted an application for a site alteration permit for the entire area of the Airpark property where substantial quantities of fill were deposited between 2008 and 2014.

The hearing that was to take place on the 28th was to have a judge compel the Air Park to file the site plan.

On May 21, last Thursday, the Ontario Court of Justice heard a motion from Burlington Airpark Inc. to remove paragraphs from a City of Burlington affidavit supporting the city’s application. Burlington Airpark Inc. argued these paragraphs contain an improper reference to “without prejudice” discussions between the city and the Airpark.

The Ontario Court of Justice granted the motion to remove the paragraphs from the affidavit and awarded Burlington Airpark Inc. $3,500 in costs to be paid by the city.

The court date to hear the city’s application regarding Burlington Airpark Inc. was rescheduled from May 28, 2015, to Nov. 10, 2015, before a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

wefr

Burlington Air Park with two runways.

The November date is the earliest the Court has sufficient time to hear the city’s application and a Notice of Constitutional Question filed by Burlington Airpark Inc.

The notice challenges the constitutional validity of the city’s site alteration bylaw 64-2014.

Most people thought that question had been answered by the Ontario Court of Appeal – this matter is going to go around and around – the Air Park wants – perhaps needs, to buy some time. Drug dealers and other criminals do that kind of thing all the time.

Hearings for discovery of the tree people being sued by the Air Park for saying things President Vince Rossi didn’t like are to take place in June.

Wonder how they should go about getting a delay – is there a constitutional remedy for them ?

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Air Park gets a delay in the hearing to compel them to file a site plan - they raise a constitutional issue. Can you believe that?

airpark 100x100By Staff

May 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Air Park hearing moved back from late May to November 2015 – why so long?

The Air Park has raised a constitutional issue.

More detail to follow

 

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Regional police cracking down on distracted drivers - asking for public to help.

News 100 blueBy Staff

May 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

On Friday May 22, 2015 between 6:00am and 6:00pm, officers from the three regional District Response Teams collectively worked together to target the Big 4 driving behaviours that are responsible for placing road users at most risk, namely;

impaired driving
 distracted driving
 aggressive driving
 failure to wear a seatbelt

Officers focused their efforts along the Dundas Street commuter route in the City of Burlington and the Town of Oakville.

Small click here - blackDuring the one-day education and enforcement project, a total of 197 Provincial Offence Notices were laid. The majority of these charges consisted of speeding and distracted driving offences.

Officers also provided several warnings and cautions regarding driving behavior.

Halton Regional Police would like to remind motorists that holding a cell phone when driving a motor vehicle is likely to become the leading cause of traffic fatalities by 2016. As such our Service remains committed to targeting motorists who commit this offence and doing all that is possible to ensure a safe commute.

The next Regional Safe Commute initiative will take place in the Towns of Milton and Halton Hills.

Anyone can report a traffic or driving concern by visiting our website and making a ROAD WATCH complaint.

ROAD WATCH is a community driven program encouraging anonymous reporting of incidents involving dangerous and/or aggressive driving. This program is an opportunity to bring an aggressive driver to our attention. Be the extra eyes and ears and learn more here:

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Two of the city's unions tell their negotiators - we will strike if we have to: outside workers and transit are not happy workers.

News 100 redBy Staff

May 25, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Two of the unions the city works with held strike votes which gave their union leaders the go ahead to meet with the city and attempt to resolve the local issues.

Bus terminal John Street 4 busses in-out

Transit workers and the city’s outside workers have told their union leaders they are prepared to strike for a better deal.

The city Roads and Parks Maintenance union voted by 97% in favour of a strike last week and Burlington Transit Local 2723 voted in favour of strike action Sunday by 96%.

Getting a strike vote from the union membership does not mean there is going to be a strike – what it does mean is that the union negotiators have a mandate to begin negotiations.

The next step is for a conciliator to be brought in and determine if the issues can be settled.

Meeting with the conciliator can last half a day or many days.

At some point the Conciliator has to produce a report – at times the conciliator is unable to produce a report and the situation is in what is referred to as a “no board report”.

A union has to wait for a minimum of 30 days after a no board report is issued before they can call a strike.

It is a situation that does have to be watched’ 96 and 97 per cent mandates are not to be trifled with.

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MPP opens new office - decorates the space with local art.

Event 100By Staff

May 24, 2014

BURLINGTON, ON

Small click here - blackDon Graves gets around – he paints. He has shown his work in many shows and is off to Port Credit to take part in an event there – and didn’t take part in the official opening of the new office MPP Eleanor McMahon opening this Friday afternoon.

Grindstone Ravine.30x40  Graves

Don Graves painting of Grindstone Creek decorates the walls of the constituency office of Eleanor McMahon.

When Don learned that MPP Eleanor McMahon was officially opening her new constituency office he felt some original Canadian art would be needed to decorate the walls.

And he just happened to have what he felt was perfect for an office.

So – Don’s painting was unveiled on Friday at the office opening without the artist being on hand to take a well-deserved bow.

Graves doesn’t know if our MPP is purchasing the painting or if it is just going to hang on the wall for a period of time and be returned.
Cheryl Goldring, wife of the Mayor, will have a piece of her art on the walls as well.

McMahon office - worker facing

Sign goes up on the office of Burlington’s MPP

The new digs for the MPP are several steps up from what she had on Brant Street. The washroom in the new location is bigger than the office McMahon had previously.

There is a small boardroom with all the office space walls done in glass.

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How does a community choose between its heritage and the need to intensify and at the same time treat the owners of property with the respect they deserve and ensure that their property rights are protected?

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

May 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

How does a community choose between its heritage and the need to intensify and at the same time treat the owners of property in the downtown core with the respect they deserve and ensure that their rights as property owners are protected?

Burlington has lost a lot of it heritage properties. The city seems to have a problem with wanting to keep buildings that reflect the character of the city as it went through its various development phases.

It was the citizens and two members of city council (both first term members) that saved the Freeman station from becoming kindling for a fire place.

The city has a deep rich history as the “garden of Canada” that many people are unaware of and something that is never celebrated.
That history could be used to create a more acute awareness of the past and use that to build an identity that is more than a magazine’s definition of Burlington as the best mid-sized city in Canada.

Burlington city councils’ have always had difficulty with fighting to save properties that have heritage value.

Studio - Ghent farm house - bigger view

View of the old Ghent farmhouse from Brant Street at the corner of Ghent Street.

There is a property on Brant Street that has very significant historical value that is part of a small land assembly. The property is currently on the municipal registry of historically significant properties and has been given an A rating.

The owner of the property wrote the planning department advising they wished to have their property removed from the registry. Sixty days after such a request the city has to either seek to have the property designated as historical under the Planning Act or issue a demolition permit if one is requested.

The question becomes – is this property significant enough to be designated?

Ghent house - bigger view

A wider view of the former Ghent Farmhouse and its neighbours today.

A Staff report put on the May 11th Development and Infrastructure agenda but pulled when the issue it was related to was withdrawn by the owners of property at 795 Brant.

The Planning and Building Department received a written request to remove the property from the Municipal Heritage Register to allow the demolition of the farmhouse. If the city does not take a position within the 60 day period, a demolition permit must be granted.

Council must make a decision as to whether to designate the property pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act in order to protect it from demolition or to remove the property from the Municipal Register to allow its demolition.

Ghent farmhouse - rear view

A rear view of the former Ghent farmhouse – numerous additions have changed the look of the building – have those additions made the structure any less significant historically?

With the request to have the building taken of the municipal register withdrawn the matter is moot – but this issue will be back before Council in the not too distant future.

This request is being made to facilitate redevelopment of the subject property in conjunction with 789 Brant Street.

The Staff Direction set out in the report that was withdrawn makes it clear where the Planning department wants to go – that may not be where city council wants to go – and it is the elected officials who make the final decision.

Burlington City Council Group

The developer assembling the property and representing the owner is reported to have lined up at least four council votes. Which of these four are onside for the destruction of the house?

People acting for the property owner are believed to have lined up the four votes on council they need to vote against the Staff recommendation.

Staff asked that the city “State an intention to designate the house and property at 795 Brant Street, Burlington, pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act.

“Authorize the City Clerk to present the Designation By-law to Council to designate the property at 795 Brant Street, Burlington, pursuant to Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act if there are no objections to the statement of intention to designate in accordance with Section the Act and

“Authorize the City Clerk to take necessary action in the event that there are any objections in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.

The property has always been seen as historically significant. It was given an “A” grade when it was evaluated by Heritage Burlington in 1995, and later re-evaluated with the same “A” grade in 2003.

Ghent Gillies Maple Lodge 1902

Maple Lodge was built in 1854 by the Bent brothers, Jabez a brick maker, George a mason, and James a carpenter. George Ghent and his family lived for many years at Maple Lodge. The non-designated 161 year old historic home is in jeopardy of potential demolition, due mostly in part to the intensification policy of the Ontario Government. Maple Lodge is located at 795 Brant Street on the south east corner. This is how the home looked in 1902. Today, it is a commercial property.

Additionally, in 2014, Heritage Burlington retained a consultant to conduct a review of all formerly graded “A” properties on the Municipal Register to determine if they still belong on the Municipal Register. The recent review of the subject property by the consultant provided a grade of 82/100 (based on Heritage Burlington’s newly created “Evaluation Criteria”), and it was recommended it remain on the Municipal Heritage Register.

Currently, the property is within the boundary of “Downtown Growth Area” in the Official Plan; and zoned as “MXG” – “Mixed-Use Corridor Zone”.

The Planning department maintains that the “Maple Lodge” or “William Ghent House” or “Bray-Ghent Farmhouse” is a good example of an early vernacular style farmhouse; and is associated with the early farming in Burlington. “The house is significant as it provides the evidence of Burlington’s past. In addition, it has other important contextual, historical / associative, and physical/design values.”

One of the first families to settle in Brant’s Block was the Ghent Family. They had originally come to North America from Wales, settling in Maryland, then moving to North Carolina. As sympathizers with the British during the American Revolution, they were severely persecuted.

Ghent Gillies Rev David Ghent

The Reverend David Ghent was a brother to George Ghent and another son of Thomas Ghent and Elizabeth Davis. Rev. Ghent was instrumental in aiding William Lyon Mackenzie’s escape to the United States. Historically that was a very significant event. If this were the United states the house would have been saved years ago.

Thomas Ghent came to Canada with his wife’s family, the Davises, and was one of the early settlers in Saltfree Township. In true pioneering spirit, he purchased land from Joseph Brant in 1804, and became one of the founding families at Wellington Square. For 150 years, members of the Ghent family farmed continuously in Burlington.

The two-storey brick farmhouse was built in 1854 by Jabez Bent, who is also believed to have constructed the wall around the Union Burying Grounds and the Calvary Baptist Church (1446 Ontario Street).  Bent sold the house and its farm to Frederick Bray in 1859, and in 1896, the property was bought by William Ghent, who was the fifth generation descendant of Thomas Ghent. In 1909, Ghent divided the farm, including Ghent Avenue, into parcel lots. This house and its lot were bought by Edward Harmon and his sons in 1909. The house was a residence for the Alphonse Brooks family from 1935 to 1975, when it was converted to commercial use.

The Planning department describes the house as the last farmhouse in the area and is a landmark along Brant Street. The house is on its original location; and is a familiar structure in the context of the neighbourhood and downtown. The house is now surrounded by mix of land uses, such as, residential, commercial and mixed-use developments, and various architectural designed buildings.

“The “William Ghent Farmhouse” is a two-storey solid brick structure with end gable roof, and features symetrical three-bay façade and rear additions.

“The multiple rear additions were likely added over the years as the family grew. The rear and side additions feature gable roofs. The central door at the front façade has a detailed wood surround. Other architectural elements of the house include brick chimneys at the two ends of the gable roof of the original house; wide overhanging eaves and paired brackets under the eaves of the original house; and wooden window frames on the ground floor front façade and on both floors of the north-east side façade highlighted by wooden voussoirs.”

“There have been minor changes to the heritage attributes but the original character is retained. Visible changes to the building include painting of the brick façade, asphalt roof shingles, commercial signs, and windows and shutters have been replaced by aluminium framed single-hung one over one windows.

“Additional chimneys and skylights have been added. The rear yard of the property has been entirely paved to accommodate parking spaces and a driveway for commercial use, with the exception of shrub and coniferous trees to the side yards and lawn immediately in front of the house.

These are not minor changes by any stretch of one’s imagination.

The planners argue that “architecturally, the front façade and north-east side of the “William Ghent Farmhouse” is the most significant.

From a historical or associative perspective, the property satisfies the criteria for designation. Staff is of the opinion that the house is historically tied to its surroundings as the development around it (including Ghent Street) was part of the original farm.

“Staff does acknowledge that the house has been converted from its original purpose as a residence to commercial use. Nevertheless, they are of the the opinion that despite the alterations to the building and site, the property has retained much of its original character and fabric.

“The demolition of this unique style farmhouse would mean a significant loss of the property’s historic and cultural heritage values. Each heritage property that is lost incrementally undermines the city’s ability to understand and celebrate its past through tangible physical resources.

Hotel on lower Brant Street

Lower Rant Street with two of the downtown core’s most historically significant structures. Would these two buildings ever be asked to meet with a wrecking ball?

Burlington’s Official Plan contains a number of policies related to the conservation of cultural heritage resources calling for the city to protect, improve and manage its cultural heritage resources in a manner that furthers the heritage objectives of this Plan and sets an example of leadership for the community in the conservation of cultural heritage resources. Cultural heritage conservation planning shall be an integral part of the land use planning process in the City of Burlington.

There are apparently other options. Staff suggests there is a third option which is to enter into discussion with the property owner and recommend that the request for demolition be withdrawn until such time as a comprehensive review of options including the demolition, conservation and incorporation or partial conservation of the house be explored.

City staff recommended that the property not be removed from the Municipal Register to facilitate demolition and that Council state its intention to designate the property. With the withdrawal of the request to be removed the municipal registry those suggested discussions can now take place.

If the property were to be designated it would be eligible to apply to the Community Heritage Fund for eligible restoration project. This would cover up to 25% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $15,000.

Burlington’s Heritage Property Tax Rebate program could also be available to the owners of the property. Currently, the program is only for residential uses in accordance with the recommendation of Heritage Burlington in its 2012 report, A New Approach to Conserving Burlington’s Heritage, a commercial component will be explored for the 2016 tax year.

Clemens Jim - Heritage

An opinion on what to do with the property will be sought from the Heritage Advisory committee. Chair Jim Clemens will have much to think about with this one.

There apparently isn’t going to be a formal public consultation, however, both Heritage Burlington and staff visited the property and it is on the |Heritage Advisory committee’s agenda.

Should Council eventually accept staff’s recommendation to state its intention to designate 795 Brant Street, the Ontario Heritage Act requires that notice of the intention be given to the City Clerk, and that notice be served on the owner of the property; the Ontario Heritage Trust; and published in a newspaper having general circulation in the City.

What does all this mean to the people who own the property and want to sell it and take their profit and move on?

What does this mean top the developer who is assembling the property and planning a project that will fall well within the Official Plan and the applicable zoning bylaw?

How does a community choose between its heritage and the need to intensify and at the same time treat the owners of property in the downtown core with the respect they deserve and ensure their rights as property owners are protected?

Background:

The history of the Ghent family and their significance to the development of Burlington.

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Does the Ghent house on Brant Street at Ghent matter historically? Should it be saved and if it should how can a city do that?

Who Knew 100x100 2015By Mark Gillies

May 23, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has the enviable distinction of being located right in the centre of the area known at one time as “the Garden of Canada”. The Village of Burlington at the turn of the 20th century was producing agricultural products that were shipped across Canada and around the world.

Ghdent Gillies Garden of Canada

Burlington, and especially the village of Freeman was a very busy place at the turn of the 20th century. Market gardeners used the Grand Trunk Railway to ship their fruit and vegetables out of the area, bound for destinations across Canada and around the world. Market gardeners would line up alongside the tracks at the very busy Burlington Junction train station in Freeman waiting their turn to load their produce on to the boxcars. Today, the historic Freeman train station has been relocated to Fairview Street and is undergoing restoration.

Our local farmers were referred to as market gardeners. Most major varieties of fruit and vegetables were grown locally. This agricultural base provided great wealth to the local economy. So, how did Burlington evolve into this status of providing food for the tables of families right around the world?

The answer goes back to this historic date in time, December 16, 1773. On this day, a civil act of disobedience changed the course of history, an event that affected the world right to this day. What happened has become known as the Boston Tea Party, where Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty boarded three ships in the Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of tea overboard, in protest to British rule and taxation.

This resulted in the passage of the punitive Coercive Acts in 1774 and pushed the two sides closer to war. This was the catalyst for the American Revolutionary War which saw approximately one third of the 13 colonies population remain loyal to Britain and the monarchy. During and after the war, Loyalists were seriously harassed, forcing many to leave their homes. Some went to Africa, and founded Sierra Leone, others went to the Bahamas, some families went back to England, while many relocated to Upper and Lower Canada. They were known as United Empire Loyalists.

Ghent Gillies Boston Tea Party

This single act of protest escalated into the American Revolutionary War in I775. Citizens of the 13 colonies were divided between independence or choosing loyalty to Britain. Many loyalists left for Upper and Lower Canada to start over. Burlington and the surrounding areas were major destinations for some of these United Empire Loyalists.

So how does this have anything to do with Burlington? Actually, it has everything to do with how Burlington emerged into the city that we enjoy today.

Let’s start with William Alexander Davis who was born in 1741 in Baltimore, Maryland. He married Hannah Phillipse and they owned a plantation in Franklin, Orange, North Carolina. William Davis became quite wealthy and was a loyal British subject. Their neighbours on another plantation were the Gant family.

During the Revolutionary War, General Cornwallis and 2,000 British soldiers marched into North Carolina. The General set up headquarters on the Gant plantation, and the soldiers were sheltered and fed at the Davis plantation. To compensate the Davis family, General Cornwallis issued a “Due Bill” for 10,000 pounds. Among the British soldiers that stayed with the Davis family was a young man by the name of John Graves Simcoe, a soldier with the Queen’s Rangers. A lasting friendship began, which was to have a huge influence on William Davis several years down the road after the war terminated in 1783.

Over the next several years, the Davis family could not properly re-establish their plantation due to continued harassment by the rebels, and the punishing tax system that was enacted on Loyalists. They decided to leave for Upper Canada, where John Graves Simcoe was now the Lieutenant Governor.

Ghent Gillies John Graves Simcoe

John Graves Simcoe was born in 1752 and died in 1806. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1791 to 1796. Simcoe was a personal friend of William Alexander Davis, and was instrumental in relocating the Davis and Ghent families to the Stoney Creek area of Upper Canada.

The family walked and drove several wagons the entire 800 mile distance from North Carolina to Upper Canada. Included in the entourage were William & Hannah’s seven children. Their one daughter Elizabeth had already married Thomas Ghent, and he also made the trip. (The Ghent name was originally Gant, and it may have been Thomas who initiated the spelling change).

Their trip ended at the Genesee River in Rochester where they stayed over the winter, and in the spring Governor Simcoe upon hearing of their plight, sent a gunboat to pick up the family and their belongings. They were relocated in the Stoney Creek area where Albion Falls eventually became the sight for William Davis’ two mills. The area became known as Albion Mills. This land was the compensation for the Due Bill..

Ghent Gillies Battlefield House

Battlefield House Museum in Stoney Creek was the homestead of James Gage and his family. James married Mary Jane Davis, a daughter of William Alexander Davis.

In 1804, Thomas Ghent purchased 200 acres of land from the estate of Joseph Brant, who had been awarded the land as compensation for Brant’s support of the British during the Revolutionary War. The land was called “Brant’s Block”, the area that is now mainly downtown Burlington. Asahel Davis, one of the sons of William Davis and brother-in-law to Thomas Ghent also decided to purchase land from Joseph Brant’s estate.

Ghent Gillies Asahel Davis

Asahel Davis was a son of William Alexander Davis and the older brother to Mary Jane Davis who married James Gage.

And now, we get to the place in our local history where we can see the humble beginnings for “the Garden of Canada”. The Davis and Ghent families had wisely brought fruit seeds from their North Carolina plantations and planted them in the Stoney Creek area where their original farms were located. The young plants were later transferred to the Thomas Ghent and Asahel Davis farms in Brant’s Block. This would officially start Burlington on its way to becoming the focal point for “the Garden of Canada”.

Small click here - blackThese two Brant’s Block farms were located in the Plains Road area, west of Brant Street, in an area which later became known as Freeman. Joshua Freeman from Nova Scotia, and his family settled in this area around Brant Street and Plains Road.

Asahel Davis built a couple of homes, and one still stands to this day, but the original house cannot really be seen. The home is called Woodland Terrace, and is located on Plains Road at the QEW. The house was rebuilt in 1883 and became much larger. It was altered by Burlington’s leading house builder of the day, George Blair, for Charles Gilbert Davis, a grandson son of Asashel Davis, and brother to Hannah Augusta Davis.

Ghent Gillies Woodland Terrace Residence

Woodland Terrace is a beautiful large historic building on Plains Road located on the eastern side of the QEW. It is still there. Local home builder George Blair added to the original home of Asahel Davis in 1884 for Charles Gilbert Davis, a prominent local market gardener and owner of the house.

Ghent Gillies Charles Gilbert Davis

Charles Gilbert Davis was a son of Gilbert Davis. Gilbert was a son of William Alexander Davis. Charles Gilbert Davis was a very successful market gardener on Plains Road. He took his grandfather Asahel Davis’ house and had George Blair build around it to create Woodland Terrace.

It was Asahel Davis who donated a corner of his property for the creation of the Union Burying Ground, which is located on Plains Road right in front of the Fortinos and Ikea stores. William Alexander Davis died at the age of 92 in 1834 and is buried in this cemetery.

Ghent Gillies Union Burying Ground

The Union Burying is an historic treasure and has been designated as a United Empire Loyalist cemetery. The property was on a corner of the original Asahel Davis market garden farm. It is located on Plains Road, in front of Fortinos and Ikea. Many of Burlington’s earliest settlers are either buried here or at St. Luke’s Cemetery.

Asahel Davis had a sister Mary who married James Gage. James was responsible for setting up Wellington Square, formerly known as Brant’s Block. James Street in downtown Burlington is named after him.

Asahel Davis had a son named Gilbert Davis. One of Gilbert’s daughters was named Hannah Augusta Davis. She married Thaddeus Ghent, the son of George Ghent. One of their children was Frederick Davis Ghent, who became the second Mayor of Burlington in 1917.

Ghent Gillies Rev David Ghent

The Reverend David Ghent was a brother to George Ghent and another son of Thomas Ghent and Elizabeth Davis. Rev. Ghent was instrumental in aiding William Lyon Mackenzie’s escape to the United States.

Thomas Ghent died in 1824, and his wife Elizabeth Davis died in 1841. Both are buried in the Union Burying Ground.

As a matter of local interest, Thomas Ghent had one son named David Ghent, a man of the cloth, who was responsible for hiding William Lyon Mackenzie during the 1837 rebellion.

Although Thomas Ghent’s house has not survived, one of his other children, named George, also a prominent local market gardener; bought a house on Brant Street that was called Maple “Maple Lodge”.

The home was built in 1854, and credit for the construction of the house goes to Jabez Bent who was a brick maker by trade. It’s probably more accurate to say it was the Bent family of brothers who were responsible for building this house. Jabez had a brother George, who was a mason, and another brother James Cushie Bent who was a carpenter. George most likely was responsible for the foundation, James built the framing, and Jabez manufactured and installed the bricks. As a side note, Jabez is also credited locally with building the stone wall around the Union Burying Ground around 1884. It was probably his brother George who did the work, since Jabez and his family had already moved away in the late.

Ghent Gillies George Ghent

George Ghent, a son of Thomas Ghent and Elizabeth Davis was born in 1806 in Brant’s Block. One of his sons was Thaddeus Ghent, and his grandson was Frederick Davis Ghent, son of Thaddeus Ghent. Fred Ghent was the second mayor of Burlington. George and his second wife Anna Bray lived at Maple Lodge on Brant Street. George’s first wife was Catherine Bates, and she died in 1844. George was a prosperous market gardener. He died in 1883 and was buried in the Union Burying Ground.

What’s so significant about the George Ghent house? It symbolizes the entire span of over 220 years as to how Burlington evolved into market gardening and “the Garden of Canada”, an industry that was created from the ravages of the American Revolution, propelling Burlington into world prominence and locally, new found wealth. The George Ghent house should be a national historical monument.

Unfortunately, in 1975 this treasured landmark, was unwisely converted into a commercial property. Mayor George Harrington and his council approved the decision at that time, despite objections from concerned citizens. The beautiful handmade red brick exterior was covered over with an unsightly dull grey paint. The backyard became a parking lot.

Much of the historical architecture internally has been removed or changed. But down deep, underneath it all, the core structure is still with us, after 161 years. This building is a very, very significant part of Burlington’s colourful past. We are so lucky to have it with us.

Would you like to see this historic structure for yourself? The house just recently has become potentially vulnerable, and its survival could be in jeopardy very soon. It doesn’t  have an Ontario Heritage Act designation to save it from demolition, and it should have. This beautiful historical property can face demolition without any legal problems. There is nothing in place to protect it.

Heritage Burlington, a citizen’s advisory committee under the chairmanship of  James Clemens, has not attempted to designate this house historical. They boast that Heritage Burlington’s mandate is to preserve and conserve our cultural heritage, yet some of their decisions are totally opposite to their own mandate. Heritage Burlington reports to Burlington’s City Council. From some of their controversial past recommendations, Heritage Burlington appears more concerned to see how many true historical properties can be removed from the Heritage Registry, rather than adding them to the list.

I see this as their way to clear obstacles created by heritage buildings that appear to be standing in the way of new construction by developers. Even one of the Heritage Burlington committee members actually is a developer, owns a company that specializes in demolishing old and historical buildings and replacing them with “monster” homes. It’s unbelievable, but true. Does anyone see a conflict of interest here?

Another member of this committee (but does not have a vote) is Councillor Marianne Meed Ward who represents the City of Burlington.
Don’t count on Heritage Burlington for support to protect this historical house. Don’t look to your City Council for heritage support. Our Councillors as a group have a very disappointing track record when it comes to preserving our local heritage. Prepare yourself to see another piece of our incredible history meet the fate of the wrecker’s ball.

For residents living in Burlington, you have most likely driven by this historic treasure countless times, and never gave it a second thought. You should go see it now at 795 Brant Street, located on the southeast corner of Brant and Prospect Streets, before developers attempt to knock it down; probably with the blessing of your City Councillors.

Ghent Gillies Maple Lodge 1902

Maple Lodge was built in 1854 by the Bent brothers, Jabez a brick maker, George a mason, and James a carpenter. George Ghent and his family lived for many years at Maple Lodge. The non-designated 161 year old historic home is in jeopardy of potential demolition, due mostly in part to the intensification policy of the Ontario Government. Maple Lodge is located at 795 Brant Street on the south east corner. This is how the home looked in 1902. Today, it is a commercial property.

The Brant and Ghent Street corners are up for proposed re-development; the George Ghent house is also clearly in play with a developer assembling the land and getting ready to ask the city for a demolition permit.

This is the kind of damage caused by proposed intensification when it impacts your community. You can lose important parts of your local heritage, oh so very quickly. Once they are gone, they are gone forever!

On May 27, 2015 at the Performing Arts Centre, there will be the second of four public meetings on what the pubic is prepared to accept in the way of downtown development.  There will be an opportunity to talk about plans for the Brant and Ghent corners, plus the Lakeshore area of Burlington. You should make plans to attend.

Now is your chance to be heard, and express yourself. Let them know that you don’t want your local heritage continually threatened like this. It is that important.  Before you know it, we could all be living in the permanent shadows of hi-rise buildings, unless we speak up now.

Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, who grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families.

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Meed Ward prepares for her second public input workshop - first was a notable success.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

May 21, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The first of four public Workshops on what people want the downtown core to look like was a success – a notable success. “Destination Downtown – a conversation about our future” invited ward 2 constituents to consider this question: What if developers, businesses and residents could work together to build our downtown – finding common ground instead of fighting?

DSC01978

You can almost feel the thinking taking place as theses residents discuss the information on the developments maps they were given

The answer was some 125 people that included developers, residents and an impressive number of planning staff who took part in two hours of animated discussion.

Councillor Marianne Meed Ward had caught the sense of many downtown residents who wanted to be involved in the growth of their community and not be unempowered dupes who leave everything to the politicians and hope they get it right.

The Gazette asked Meed Ward what she had learned from the first experience and where was she going to go with the second Workshop which takes place at the Performing Arts Centre, May 27; at 7 pm

“I hope that we succeed in building on what we learned at the first Workshop” said Meed Ward who will be putting all the comments – and there were hundreds of them, on her web site.

Meed Ward added that the people in her ward care passionately about what happens in their community and they felt it was great to be able to participate and sit beside a developer and ask why they built what they built.

Meed Ward added that there was a willingness on the part of the residents to understand that there will be changes – they just want to be involved in determining what those changes are going to do to the city they live in

Meed Ward said it was clear that those taking part in the Workshop wanted good design and that they wanted the city’s heritage protected.

Part of the purpose was to allow developers and residents to meet each other and for the residents to get beyond the stereotype that developers are interested in profit and nothing more than profit. Meed Ward didn’t add that there are still developers who take that approach – they weren’t in the room that evening.

DSC02017

Residents and planner exchanged ideas and opinions during an active two hour public meeting on downtown core development.

The event was focused on ward 2 – Mayor Goldring was in the room and sat in on several of the groups that were poring over large drawings of where development was taking place – the drawing were quite a jolt for some – there are a lot of projects in various stages of development.

The second Workshop is going to focus on two separate developments – situations where there isn’t a site plan – no clear idea what will be built.

Property has been assembled – the developers are now thinking through what they want to do and measuring that against what they think the market wants.

The Molinaro’s have assembled several parcels of land on Brant at Ghent – where there happens to be quite a bit of development that is in various stages of progress

Studio - Ghent farm house - bigger view

A farmhouse once occupied by members of the Ghent family is part of a land assembly – the house has heritage value. Which comes first – a farmhouse that has been altered significantly and sits on property that is under utilized or the potential to put up a structure with the potential for eight storey?

The property known as the Ghent farmhouse appears to be in play; significant expansion of Brant Square Plaza has already been put before the public – site plan approval for that development which will add four storeys to the two storey structure on the south end to Olga is expected by the end of the year.

Molinaro Robert + two people

Robert Molinaro explains the data on a map of downtown developments to Workshop participants.

When the Molinaros’ took their Brock street development that is now becoming occupied – Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon has moved in and will hold a formal opening later this month – the 27th, they tended to buck the views of the people who took part in the public meeting. That project was eventually approved with significant height and density changes.

The Molinaro’s learned however that it is wiser to work with a community and bring as many people as possible into the tent.

When the large Fairview property next to the GO station was acquired and plans for a five tower development was proposed the first thing the Molinaro’s did was meet with the ward councillor and get the public involved.

It worked for them and the number of developers who showed up at the Workshop suggests that the Meed Ward approach may become the direction that becomes the norm for this city.

Another project that will be looked at closely is at Lakeshore and Burlington. The developers apparently want to hear what the residents think – there are no commitments that they will leave the Workshop promising to do what the residents want – that’s not quite the way residential development takes place.

While the event took place in ward 2 and was about ward 2 – the concept that Meed Ward is fashioning is applicable in every ward in the city.

It could work in Aldershot, and in the east end of the city where Councillor Sharman reigns and ward 6 as well.

Development activity - Meed Ward workshop May 2015

A Downtown core map setting out where development is currently taking place or planned.

One would hope that the other members of council would have wanted to at least look in on what Meed Ward was trying to do and see if it might work in their wards.

Unfortunately the divide between the kind of thinking that moves Meed Ward forward and the approaches much of the rest of council take don’t suggest smooth sailing for project that the public wants input on.

If Meed Ward came up with the idea – the rest of Council won’t go near it – with the exception of Councillor Taylor and to a lesser degree Councillor Dennison.

Councillor Lancaster is focused on winning the federal nomination for the new Oakville North Burlington riding – her constituents shouldn’t expect to see much of her locally.

If she wins the nomination and goes on to win federal seat the city will have to hold a by-election to replace her. There are people in ward 6 who are lining up to file their nomination papers.

Meed Ward appears to have tapped into a public desire to take part and to be involved.

The only cautionary note is that the largest property owner in the city and the developer who took his project to the OMB were not in the room.

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Property Manager Charged in 4.1 Million Dollar Condo Management Fraud

Crime 100By Staff

May 21, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

After a lengthy investigation by the Halton Police Regional Fraud Unit, a St. Catharines man has been arrested and charged for his involvement in defrauding thirteen local condominium corporations of 4.1 million dollars between March 2009 and September 2014.

Brett Mackenzie LEAHEY, 45 yrs, acted as the owner/operator of Integrated Condominium Management (ICM), a property management firm responsible for servicing and managing the finances of ten condominium corporations in the City of Burlington and three in the City of Hamilton.

Among several of the allegations, Mr. Leahey forged property maintenance invoices and contracts, fraudulently charged the condominiums for work not completed and re-distributed assets from the corporations to his business accounts for personal use.

“Our investigation would indicate that Mr. Leahey clearly took advantage of the position entrusted to him by these corporations for his own personal gain,” stated Detective Constable Derek Wilson of the Halton Police Regional Fraud Unit.

Leahey will appear for a bail hearing at Milton Provincial Court on Thursday May 21st, in relation to the following charges:

• Defraud the Public
• Fraud Over $5,000 – 7 Counts
• Laundering Proceeds of Crime – 3 Counts
• Utter Forged Document – 11 Counts
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime – 2 Counts

The condominiums involved were not named in the police report.

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Gary W. DeGroote named the Community Foundation Philanthropist of the year

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

May 21, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) announced today that Gary W. DeGroote has been named the 2015 Philanthropist of the Year. He will be honoured at BCF’s annual Masquerade Ball on October 24th, 2015, at the Burlington Convention Centre.

Gary DeGroote

Gary W. DeGroote, Community foundation philanthropist of the year

“Gary DeGroote epitomizes what it means to be a sustainable philanthropist and we are honoured to work so closely with a man who has made such an incredible impact on Burlington and the wider community,” says Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Community Foundation. “Gary is a true leader who not only supports our foundation but also consistently demonstrates a passionate, caring and generous commitment to the arts, youth and recreation.”

The Philanthropist of the Year award presented by Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life offers the chance to publicly honour and thank a noted philanthropist for their positive impact on Burlington and surrounding communities. Gary and his family have a long history of sharing their time, talent and treasures.

Gary’s leadership in many endeavours will be forever noted in Burlington’s history. A passionate supporter of the arts, his Titanium Benefactor Gift helped to kick start the fundraising campaign for the renowned Burlington Performing Arts Centre. His contributions are too numerous to list as Gary and his family continue to donate countless hours of leadership and significant funding to the arts, culture, recreation, youth and education sectors in Burlington.

“It is a true honour to receive this award” says Gary DeGroote. “I hope this award encourages others to give to our community in their own way. Gestures of kindness and gifts of time and resources are what keep our communities strong and vibrant. I am very proud to support Burlington and all of the fabulous organizations that work each and every day to help make life better for others.”

DeGroote came up through the ranks of the company his Dad formed and later sold. In a Bloomberg report for 2007 Michael DeGroote was reported to have a net worth of $1.23 billion, up 6% from the previous year.

BPAC people in pic

Gary DeGroote co-chaired the fund raising committee that raised much of the $28 million it cost to construct the Performing Arts Centre

DeGroote was generous to his community and plunked down $5 million to kick start the fund raising for the Performing Arts Centre.

Businessman Gary DeGroote seems to be following in the footsteps of his father, Michael — the former Laidlaw Inc. CEO turned philanthropist — with a $5-million pledge in November 2006 toward Burlington, Performing Arts Centre. He’ll still have a long way to go, though, before he tops his dad’s record-breaking $105-million donation in 2003 to Hamilton’s McMaster University, which named the DeGroote School of Business after him.

DeGroote co-chaired the fundraising committee for the $28-million Centre that was brought in on time and on budget.

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He wanted to be at home every night - come October that is where he will be - McCurdy retires.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

May 20, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

There is a scene in the movie ET where the lost alien says “Home” – he just wanted to go home.

That’s the reason Brian McCurdy tendered his resignation earlier this week to the Board of the Performing Arts Centre. McCurdy’s wife remained in Kingston when McCurdy took on the job – he commuted on weekends but it go to be more than he wanted to continue doing – he will leave his office in October.

He said he has enjoyed his time in Burlington but now he wants to retire and spend more time with his wife in Kingston.

Six thousand five hundred tickets for performances at thge Burlington Performing Arts Centre have been sold.  More than 550 were used on the first night.

Retiring Executive Director leaves the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in better shape than he got it it. He will be missed.

McCurdy seemed prepared to stay on a little longer if that is what was needed to find and break in whoever is hired to replace him – but he will not celebrate Christmas in this city.

McCurdy has offered to serve as a talent scout for the Hiring committee the board will establish. He seems to be leaving on the best of terms

In his almost two years as the Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre he has improved the program and gotten most of the past financial difficulties behind him.

He is proud of the three local production groups that are now making significant use of the facilities. The Todering Biped, the Koogle Theatre and Nortsur productions have each mounted performances. Some were better than others – but at least community groups are using the space.

“It takes time” said McCurdy “to build an audience for new artistic endeavours. It took time for the public to get used to the size of the subsidy the BPAC needs and will probably always need.

The Performing Arts Centre now has a solid reputation and draws audiences from Toronto – they advertise regularly in the Globe and Mail

Asked which performance was he most proud of bringing to Burlington: the Pat Metheny Unity Group.

If the Board has the good sense to involve McCurdy in the hiring process we will be well served.

The disturbing part of all this is that we had first class talent at BPAC – now we have to go looking all over again.

Home – that summed it up

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Burlington author Janet Turpin Meyers launches her second title - an interesting read.

News 100 yellowBy Pepper Parr

May 20, 2014

BURLINGTON, ON

First time authors are usually given some room from reviewers. That initial title is looked at for possible potential – maybe this is an author that has more than one story to tell.

Janet Turpin Meyers, local author launches her first title at the end of the month.

Janet Turpin Meyers, local author launches her first title at the end of the month.

Janet Turpin Meyers published “Nightswimming” in 2013 – it was a good read; there was promise and it turned out to be a book that you would both recommend to people and give as a gift to your more discerning friends.

Then book two arrives and it is picked up with both interest and some wondering – what has she had to say this time?

“The Last Year of Confusion” is not “Nightswimming” her first title – it wasn’t supposed to be but for those who so enjoyed Meyers’ first novel there was the hope that this second book would be as pleasurable.

There aren’t as many things to identify with in this second title, at least not for this reader. I was able to identify with many of the “Nightswimming” characters and as I read through that title there was a sense of dread when I began to realize how it was going to end.

No sense of dread with Last Year of Confusion and fewer characters that I identified with – which doesn’t for a moment take away from the book.

When you find yourself with a cast of characters that includes Jesus, John Lennon, Ghandi and Elvis impersonators you know this is going to be different. There are actually two Elvis’s – but I don’t want to give the story away.

When the lead characters have names that are not exactly memorable and bring their own baggage and history to the table – it takes a little adjusting.

Meyers - cover_last-year-of-confusion-final-small-199x300Add in the aboriginal police officer with Bigcanoe as a surname and some difficulty fully comprehending the police policies and procedures and this reader settled into what was going to be a different read.

Add in the Easter Island moai and a character who both counts his blessings and write them up in scribblers he has scrounged and while writing up Blessing # 13,890 easily refers to Blessing # 232

A Time Portal and a “blue suede shoe” plus the television crew from a reality TV show – and you’ve begun to get a sense of where Meyers is going to take you.

This second title is a different read – worth the time if only because it gives you a chance to follow a growing author who is clearly going to be writing for some time.

While not yet recognized there are more books coming from Janet Turpin Meyers.

A reception celebrating the launch of The Last Year of Confusion will be held at Cedar Springs on Sunday May 24th

 

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Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre appears to have resigned - the job is being advertised

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

May 20, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The notice that the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) s looking for a new Executive Director was brought to our attention by an observant reader.
The several hundred word notice published on the BPAC web site mentions the building and the amount of space and who the designer was and then gets to the meat of the media release.

The position of Executive Director is open

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Brian McCurdy improved the quality of the performances brought to Burlington and made a huge dent in the losses that were being incurred. His position as Executive Director of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre is being advertised as open.

The release doesn’t say if Brian McCurdy resigned or if he was asked to leave or if he is suffering from poor health and has to slow down.
No one was available at this early hour – 8:00 am, to comment. The last media release on the BPAC web site was September 19, 2014.

The event to announce the fall line-up is scheduled for later this month – will McCurdy be on hand?

Did he resign, was he asked to move on? Nothing in the way of information.

McCurdy has done a fabulous job of getting the BPAC out of the financial slump it was in – the place was bleeding deficits and costing the public very close to $1 million in subsidy

He made big improvements in involving community groups – BPAC was a healthier place because of McCurdy.

McCurdy took over at BPAC in August of 2013

Losing Brian McCurdy is not good news for Burlington.

Anyone interested in the job has to get their application in no later than Friday, June 26th in confidence to: bpacjobs@burlington.ca

More when there is more to tell

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