 By Pepper Parr
September 24, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
“So what about that sign?” asks ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward.
“Unfortunately,” she explains “the city has no legal grounds to govern the content of signs. These types of signs that appear before an application is approved have occurred before on other development sites in the city, and we cannot stop them.”
 This is the side of what ADI Development calls “hoarding” along Lakeshore Road where there is very high viability. The city describes this as a commercial sign. “We do, however, govern the size and installation of signs. At my request, by law enforcement looked into this sign and have confirmed the sign is too large. However, ADI is arguing that the sign is hoarding to secure the vacant lot. Our bylaw is apparently silent on messages appearing on hoarding. So for now the sign remains.
 The side of the same sign that traffic does not see – hoarding is usually used to contain a lot. Battling this one out is going to consumer a lot of city staff time. Councillor Meed Ward sees this practice as an abuse of the sign bylaw and something that will detract from the look of the city if it is allowed to continue. It will be interesting to see what kind of support she gets from her fellow council members. “This seems to me to be a significant gap in our sign regulations. There is hoarding at the corner of Brant and Blairholm, currently painted black; the owner has been asking to place a billboard here for years. How long do you think it will be before we see a sign replacing the black paint on this hoarding, or elsewhere in the city? We don’t want a billboard-as-hoarding free-for-all.
“I have asked for a meeting with our bylaw staff to discuss how we might revise our bylaws to address the issue of oversize signs masquerading as hoarding.
Meed Ward adds that “Any sign or advertisement suggesting the imminent arrival of a development project that has not been approved is misleading and confusing. These signs create concern around whether a deal has been struck behind closed doors without the public’s knowledge in the dog days of summer. Emphatically, no. Such signs also require an exasperating expenditure of time and resources to correct the facts.
Meed Ward adds that she is not persuaded the sign is “hoarding.” The sign is only in one corner of the lot – the part facing traffic; the other sides are open, with wide gaps between boards and caution tape. Most hoarding runs the perimeter of a property. This construction effort is not securing the site. I’m concerned about public safety and the security and installation of this massive billboard. I will be doing some further investigating with staff.
“I will be sending correspondence to the developer asking that they show more respect for the community, remove the existing sign, and state in any future communication that this project is proposed only and subject to an OMB decision next year” said Meed Ward
“I will also ask that they not to use hoarding as an opportunity for an oversize billboard, but erect a sign more in keeping with our sign bylaw.”
By Staff
September 24, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A fourth GO station for Burlington? It is in the works.
Metrolinx has identified the area between Walkers Line and Cumberland as one of a number of areas on the Lakeshore \West corridor that are under consideration
 A fourth GO station for Burlington – near Walkers Line? Metrolinx plans to hold municipal meetings in the fall o gather local knowledge of the specific sites and provide background to stakeholders. Public meetings will follow.
Metrolinx clearly understands there is a need for an additional GO station capacity. Where do they get their information?
In a statement Metrolinx said they “identified station sites based on station spacing, transportation connectivity and ridership, available space for a station along with technical and operational concerns.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Goldring would like to know when Metrolinx will complete the work they started at the Burlington GO station. The Molinaro people may well have their five structure project next to the Burlington GO station built and occupied before all the GO station upgrades are done.
The key words in the Metrolinx announcement were “transportation connectivity”. The city needs to find a way to get people to use transit to get to the GO stations – they’ve yet to come up with an idea the public will buy into.
There is a serious need for some creative thinking and more in the way of public education – what we are doing now just isn’t sustainable.
 By Staff
September 23, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Route 1 East detour in downtown Hamilton – Saturday Sept. 26
 Bulldogs hold their home opener for the season – bus route gets altered. This Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 from approximately 3 to 7 p.m., Bay Street in downtown Hamilton will be closed between King Street and York Boulevard for the Hamilton Bulldogs home opener. During this time, the Route 1 East will be detoured as follows:
• Regular routing to King Street and Bay Street
• Continue West along King Street
• Right at Hess Street
• Left at Cannon Street
• Resume regular routing.
Pick-up and drop-off locations in the detour area will be at King & Hess Streets as well as at Hess and Cannon Streets.
  By Staff
September 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, on
Culture Days has become a model opportunity for citizens, businesses, and all levels of government to collectively help lead the development of Canada through the development of the arts and cultural life of our communities. Volunteers lead and contribute to the success of Culture Days at every level. It is a grassroots, collaborative movement that works.
There is a national advisory board, a national board of directors with some very powerful and effective people sitting around the table. There are then Tasks Forces within each province.
The national objective is create opportunities for people to explore, discover and participate in arts and culture in every community across the country. In 2014, the fifth annual Culture Days event took place in more than 850 Canadian cities and towns, with attendance topping 1.6 million Canadians. Last year, more than 1650 activities were presented across Ontario.
The purpose is to hold events that will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community.
For the next three days you get to see what Burlington has to offer in the cultural world.
Saturday 26th
Morning Yoga in Civic Square
Time: Class 1 – 8 to 8:45 a.m., Class 2 – 9 to 9:45 a.m.
Location: Burlington City Hall, Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Come and enjoy free yoga classes open to all ages and abilities. Participate in 45 minutes of fundamental postures. This practice is focused on body awareness, breathing and feeling good. Bring your yoga mat and an open mind!
Organizer: AnyBodysYoga, anybodysyoga@gmail.com, www.anybodysyoga.ca, 905-869-0255
Music Lessons for all Ages
Time: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Burlington Music Centre, 2311 New St., in Central Park, Burlington, Ont.
Description: Music is for all ages – you can learn to play an instrument at any age! Speak with music teachers, test out instruments, learn some more about the effects music has on the human brain and how it improves learning, social skills, ability to multi-task and more.
Organizer: Rob Bennett, Rob.bennett@burlington.ca, www.burlington.ca/en/live-and-play/music-lessons.asp, 905-335-7807
 Sit in with the Burlington Teen Tour Band during Cultural Days Burlington Junior Redcoats Marching Band
Time: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Burlington Music Centre, 2311 New St., in Central Park, Burlington, Ont.
Description: For ages 9 to 13. Come and sit in with or march beside band members at a regular Saturday rehearsal. The event is to be held outside weather-permitting, and inside if weather does not accomodate. Previous music knowledge is not required, so come on out and see what it is like to be a young member of a marching band!
Organizer: Rob Bennett, Rob.bennett@burlington.ca, 905-335-7807
Celebrating Burlington through Photos
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Tourism Burlington Visitor Information Centre, 414 Locust St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Celebrating 30 years of tourism in Burlington through photos, featuring local attractions and famous Burlingtonians from the past and present. Activities include interactive displays, hands-on activities, a scavenger hunt, and more!
Organizer: Tourism Burlington, info@tourismburlington.com, www.tourismburlington.com, 905-634-5594.
Music and Meditation by the Lake – Celebrate Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Day
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: Spencer Smith Park – Gazebo, 1400 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Join us for collective meditation on live flute music. Experience Raag Durga interpreted by Francesca Smita Soni, a William Blake Duet, Tim Bruce (actor and music therapist), Sunny Levi (Opera singer), bhajans singing, and inner centre chakra workshops with Ontario Yogis.
Organizer: Free Sahaja Yoga Meditation, 905-484-2068, contact@free-meditation.ca, www.free-meditation.ca.
Doors Open Burlington
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Locations: see complete list below
Description: Doors Open Burlington will feature sites located in the downtown and waterfront areas of our city. The event will highlight important buildings, organizations and landmarks that make Burlington a culturally vibrant place to live, work and visit. Admission is free.
Participating sites include: Joseph Brant Museum, Art Gallery of Burlington, Spencer Smith Park, Gingerbread House Gardens, St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Eglise Saint Philippe, Different Drummer Books, Burlington Central High School, Burlington Masonic Centre, displays at Tourism Burlington, Vintage Motors at Burlington Central Public School, and the Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukranian Church. Visit our website for event details at www.doburlington.com.
Site list:
Joseph Brant Museum: 1240 Northshore Blvd. E, Burlington, Ont.
Art Gallery of Burlington: 1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Vintage Motors at Burlington Central High School: 1433 Baldwin St., Burlington, Ont.
Different Drummer Books: 503 Locust St., Burlington, Ont.
Eglise Saint Phillipe: 472 Locust St., Burlington, Ont.
Gingerbread House Gardens: 1375 Ontario St., Burlington, Ont.
Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukranian Church: 419 Pearl St., Burlington, Ont.
Burlington Masonic Centre: 463 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
St. Luke’s Anglican Church: 1382 Ontario St., Burlington, Ont.
Tourism Burlington: 414 Locust St., Burlington, Ont.
Spencer Smith Park: West Lawn – Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Burlington Central Public School: 638 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Organizer: Doors Open Burlington, hello@doorsopenburlington.com, www.doburlington.com, 905-332-9888
 The Different Drummer Book Store – well worth a visit  St Lukes Anglican church – one of the riches pieces of Burlington’s history. 
Etsy: Made in Canada Marketplace
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel and Conference Centre, 3063 South Service Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Etsy: Made in Canada is a national grassroots initiative celebrating the crafters, collectors and artisans in local communities across Canada. Made in Canada marketplaces will pop up in 33 cities on September 26, 2015. Explore handmade wares and vintage goods in an artisan marketplace.
Organizer: Jacqueline Hunter, show director, Etsy Canada, info@craftian.ca, www. craftadian.ca/etsy/, 289-239-8163
Celtic Music Performance
Time: 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: City Hall, Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Enjoy 30 minutes of Celtic music presented in a light orchestral format.
Organizer: Celtic Fiddle Orchestra of Southern Ontario, Cfoso.exec@gmail.com, 519-219-0757
Burlington Student Theatre Presents: Burlywood
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: City Hall – Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Burlington Student Theatre will feature local artisans in theatre, music, dance, film, photography, visual art demonstrations and interactive opportunities. Performances by: Burlington Student Theatre, Halton Dance Network, wushu and Chinese lion/dragon dance demonstrations and performances! Join us for free, family friendly events.
Organizer: Rainer Noack, rainer.noack@burlington.ca
 An example of the work Donna Grandin does. Collaborative Acrylic Painting and Art Display in Civic Square
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Visual artist Donna Grandin will start a painting and then encourage the public to collaborate on it. Individuals will have the chance to express their creativity and add to the piece. The painting will be completed in the artist’s studio on October 2, and one of the participants will be chosen at random to win the collaborative painting.
Grandin was born and raised in the Carribean, and has been living in Burlington since 1998. She exhibits and sells her art in both the Carribean and Canada. Locally, her work can be found at Art Etc., the Art Gallery of Burlington or Blue Roots Art Studio.
Organizer: Donna Grandin, fine artist, Blue Roots Art Studio, donna@bluerootsartstudio.com, 905-639-3419
Photo-Acrylics by Beth Bennett
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: ‘Photo-Acrylics’ is a combination of Bennett’s photography and acrylic painting with a twist – the look and feel of painting with wax. Bennett is happy with her art when both photography and painting elements are visible yet cohesive. She has also photographed a brick wall and would like community input on how to turn this photography into a “photo-acrylic”. What should be placed on this brick wall? Come out and share your ideas!
Organizer: Beth Bennett, bethbennettartist@gmail.com, www.bethbennetartist.com, 905-333-9868
B Town Sound Record in Studio and Sing on Stage
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: 919 Fraser Dr., units 9 and 10, Burlington, Ont.
Description: We invite everyone to have a tour of our recording, rehearsal and event facility as well as the new addition of our music school. We welcome you to sing on stage to karaoke tracks with the instruments we have at the studio, or with instruments that you have brought with you.
Then you will get the opportunity to sing in the isolation room of the studio and feel what it is like to record a hit song!
Our clients include: Silverstein, Billy Talent, Finger Eleven, New World Son, and Youtube star Walk off the Earth
Organizer: B Town Sound, Robyn Pauhl, robyn@btownsound.ca, www.btownsound.ca, 905-308-0026
 See the Art Gallery through practiced eyes. Free Gallery Discovery Tours
Time: 1 – 1:40 p.m.; 2 – 2:40 p.m.; 3 – 3:40 p.m.
Location: Art Gallery of Burlington, 1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Free guided tours of the Art Gallery of Burlington in conjunction with Doors Open. Tours will be approximately 40 minutes in length.
Organizer: Art Gallery of Burlington, 905-632-7796, info@artgalleryofburlington.com, www.artgalleryofburlington.com
Guild Demonstrations
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: Art Gallery of Burlington, 1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Free demonstrations by our 7 guilds in their studios. Participating guilds include the Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Handweavers & Spinners Guild, Burlington Fibre Arts Guild, Burlington Rug Hooking Guild, Latow Photographers Guild, Burlington Sculptors & Woodcarvers Guild, and the Burlington Potters’ Guild.
Organizer: Art Gallery of Burlington, 905-632-7796, info@artgalleryofburlington.com, www.artgalleryofburlington.com
 Teresa Seaton, a stained glass artist has been a prime mover behind the annual Art in Action tour – she will be doing workshops as part of Culture Days. Stained Glass Demonstration – Copper Foiling Method
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: 654 Spring Gardens Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Teresa Seaton, a fifteen-year veteran of stained glass, will be demonstrating her copper foiling techniques as she completes a stained glass panel. Teresa’s gallery features a large selection of her latest works and now exhibits the work of established and emerging Canadian artists.
Organizer: Teresa Seaton, tmseaton@cogeco.ca, www.teresaseaton.ca, 905-510-5030
DIY BookArts: Hardcover
Time: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Burlington Public Library – Brant Hills, 2255 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Using the library’s bookbinding equipment and supplies, build your own hardcover book to take home. Personalize it with a painted book cover. No bookbinding experience required. Ages 18 and up.
To register, call 905-335-2209
Organizer: Burlington Public Library – Brant Hills, arkelll@bpl.on.ca, www.bpl.on.ca, 905-335-2209
heartBEATZ
Time: 2 to 3 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: The Halton Dance Network’s presentation of ‘heartBEATZ’ is a transformative event that embodies HDN’s mandate to build community in and through dance. A local choreographer will collaborate with drummers and a dance collective from the three communities to create an original dance work. We will also invite a local dance studio to showcase a dance number from their current repertoire. ‘heartBEATZ’ will conclude with a community interactive dance experience/workshop involving the audience and all dancers.
Organizer: Halton Dance Network, Kate Lowe, www.haltondancenetwork.com, katewlowe@hotmail.com, 905-637-5408
Celtic Fiddle Music: In Canada and Abroad
Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Burlington Public Library – Central, Centennial Hall, 2331 New St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Alana and Leigh Cline talk about the history of Celtic music in Canada, and perform tunes from Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Scotland and Ireland. You won’t want to miss this foot-stomping, hand-clapping, feel-great musical experience in celebration of Culture Days!
To register, call 905-639-3611 ext. 1321
Organizer: Burlington Public Library – Central, arkelll@bpl.on.ca, www.bpl.on.ca, 905-639-3611 ext. 1321
 Margaret Lindsay Holton – a Hamilton based artist who works in several mediums has put together an innovate program that marries poetry to ping pong. Ping Pong and Poetry – with Margaret Lindsay Holton
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Burlington HIVE, 901 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ont.
Description: Join in the fun as Golden Horseshoe poet and painter, Margaret Lindsay Holton, bats bon mots and balls in a playful ‘ping pong and poetry’ Round Robin. Poets will unleash a few lines of potent poetry her popular poetry collections, ‘On Top of Mount Nemo’ and ‘Bush Chord’.
Organizer: Margaret Lindsay Holton, owner/author of Acorn Press Canada, mlhpro@hotmail.com, 905-393-5196
 By Staff
September 23, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Friday the 25th
Culture Days has become a model opportunity for citizens, businesses, and all levels of government to collectively help lead the development of Canada through the development of the arts and cultural life of our communities. Volunteers lead and contribute to the success of Culture Days at every level.
There is a national advisory board, a national board of directors with some very powerful and effective people sitting around the table. There are then Tasks Forces within each province.
The national objective is create opportunities for people to explore, discover and participate in arts and culture in every community across the country. In 2014, the fifth annual Culture Days event took place in more than 850 Canadian cities and towns, with attendance topping 1.6 million Canadians. Last year, more than 1650 activities were presented across Ontario.
The purpose is to hold events that will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community.
As a grassroots, collaborative movement, Culture Days relies on your participation.
For the next three days you get to see what Burlington has to offer in the cultural world.
Celebrating Burlington through Photos
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Tourism Burlington Visitor Information Centre, 414 Locust St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Celebrating 30 years of tourism in Burlington through photos, featuring local attractions and famous Burlingtonians from the past and present. Activities include interactive displays, hands-on activities, a scavenger hunt, and more!
Organizer: Tourism Burlington, 905-634-5594, info@tourismburlington.com, www.tourismburlington.com
 We As One: Bridging Meditation, Living Arts and Spirituality
Time: noon to 8 p.m.
Location: Burlington City Hall, Civic Square, 426 Brant St., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Come and celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sahaja Yoga Free Meditation in Burlington. Enjoy live music and dance performances, including: bhajan, qawalli, opera, flute, harmonium, drums, violin and vocals. Participate in a guided meditation on planet earth, self-realization “Experiment with Truth,” individual chakra and art workshops, realized souls gallery, cool kids workshop, clay sculpting, Indian mythology workshop, kuchipudi “Living Goddess Performance,” aarti group featuring Greek, Persian and Irish Dance, yin yang energy-balancing workshop, and “Shri Saraswati” henna palm painting.
Activity Contact: Sahaja Yoga Meditation, contact@free-meditation.ca, www.free-meditation.ca, 416-628-0355,
Volunteer Coordinator/Organizer: Ioana Popa, ioanayoga@yahoo.ca, 905-484-2068
 stained glass artist Teresa Seaton – will give a workshop on stained glass Stained Glass Demonstration – Copper Foiling Method
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: 654 Spring Gardens Rd., Burlington, Ont.
Description: Teresa Seaton, a fifteen-year veteran of stained glass, will be demonstrating her copper foiling techniques as she completes a stained glass panel. Teresa’s gallery features a large selection of her latest works and now exhibits the work of established and emerging Canadian artists.
Organizer: Teresa Seaton, tmseaton@cogeco.ca, www.teresaseaton.ca, 905-510-5030
B Town Sound Record in Studio and Sing on Stage
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: 919 Fraser Dr., units 9 and 10, Burlington, Ont.
Description: We invite everyone to have a tour of our recording, rehearsal, and event facility as well as the new addition of our music school. We welcome you to sing on stage to karaoke tracks with the instruments we have at the studio, or with instruments that you have brought with you. Then you will get the opportunity to sing in the isolation room of the studio and feel what it is like to record a hit song! Our clients include: Silverstein, Billy Talent, Finger Eleven, New World Son, and Youtube star Walk off the Earth
Organizer: B Town Sound, Robyn Pauhl, robyn@btownsound.ca, www.btownsound.ca, 905-308-0026
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES September 25 to October 01, 2015
SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE G
Fri to Sun 11:20 1:40 3:20 5:30
Mon to Thur 1:00 3:10 5:30
MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. PG
Fri to Sun 1:00 3:15 5:00 7:10 9:20
Mon to Thur 1:00 2:45 5:00 7:10 9:20
NO ESCAPE 14A
Fri to Sun 11:30 1:30 3:30 5:30 7:30 9:30
Mon to Thur 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:00 9:00
PIXELS PG
Fri to Sun 11:30 1:30 3:20 5:20
Mon to Thur 5:00
RICKI AND THE FLASH PG
Fri to Sun 11:20 1:20 5:30 7:30 9:30
Mon to Thur 1:00 5:20 7:10 9:30
TRAINWRECK 18A
Fri to Sun 7:20 9:40
Mon to Thur 1:00 3:00 7:00 9:15
JURASSIC WORLD PG
Fri to Sun 11:20 3:15 7:10 9:30
Mon to Thur 3:00 7:10 9:00
SOUTHPAW 14A
Fri to Sun 9:30
Mon to Thur 3:15 7:10 9:30
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Sun 11:20 1:20 3:30 5:25 7:30
Mon to Thur 1:00 5:15
 By Pepper Parr
September 22, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
While photographing the sample suites of the Bridgewater development I asked Jeff Paikin to stretch out on one of the couches, put his feet up on the table and act as if he owned the place. “Actually, I do own the place” he responded. And indeed during the construction stages he own all three structures.
The hope is that at some point in the future the hotel building will be sold. Marriott will be the tenant. Eventually all the units in the two condominiums will be sold and Paikin will move on to something else; quite where one goes after building the landmark structure in a city he cares about is anyone’s guess. Paikin is smart enough to stay out of politics
 An architectural rendering of the Bridgewater site lit up at night. will they be able to see this from Niagara Falls. President and co-founder of New Horizon, Jeff Paikin, was born and raised in Hamilton. He attended Mount Allison University, and joined the family firm: Ennis Paikin Steel when he left university.
A couple of successful bids for reinforcing steel to be used in high-rise condo construction, office towers, and the SkyDome got Paikin to thinking about the idea of complete design and construction. In 1993 that dream became a reality and New Horizon Development Group was born but only after the right partner was found.
Joe Giacomodonato was working with Paikin on a townhome development on Headon Road in Burlington. They soon realized they shared a vision – “build it right and they will come”. They united their complementary skills for the long term.
Paikin handles land acquisition, product development, marketing and financing of new projects – as well as the coordination of the company’s community involvement. Giacomodonato, vice President and co-founder, builds the projects, bringing his inexhaustible energy and uncompromising eye for detail to every aspect of his role at New Horizon.
Bridgewater is going to use every skill the team has – it will probably be the premiere condominium residence in the area.
Let’s take a look inside:
We don’t know what the lobby of the 22 storey building is going to look like – at this point what is known is the layout of the various units and what the sight lines are going to be.
 Jeff Paikin stretches out in the living room of the model Bridgewater suite. He is in the final stages of selling the units – past the 65% point. The living room is spacious – made for entertaining. One has to wonder what impact this project is going to have on the furniture and fixtures retailers in the city.
 When Jeff Paikin was taking us through the Master bedroom we commented that strong black coffee, fresh bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon were made for this room he commented that we now knew what the Bridgewater was all about. The model suite that is laid out has two bedrooms; a master bedroom and a guest bedroom. The spaciousness and the views are what strikes a viewer. There is nothing pinched about the units.
The living room can accommodate 18 to 20 people comfortably.
 Balconies that wrap around the building and are wide enough to set a table out on. Paikin, who never stop selling the units, explained in his most earnest manner that the design of the balconies was very deliberate – they wrap around the corner of the unit and they are quite wide. Once could have breakfast on those balconies.
The model suite is set out to show the space at its best but changes can be made to the design and at those prices buyers can ask for changes. The model we looked at didn’t have what I would have chosen for a kitchen and I think I would have upgraded the bathroom considerably.
 The kitchen area in this model has all kinds of little nooks and crannies – and loads of natural light. What the model suite does is give the interior decorators an idea of what can be done – and you can bet close to your bottom dollar that some of the best decorators in the GTA will be doing work on many of the units – there are 24 in the small tower and 126 in the larger tower.
 We can only begin to imagine the impact this project is going to have on the city over all and the downtown core specifically. IBI Page and Steele were the architect’s on the project.
 By Staff
September 22, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Monday September 21st, 2015 at approximately 6:25 pm, a lone male suspect is reported to have walked into EB Games located at 1200 Brant Street in Burlington between the QEW and the North Service Road.
The suspect demanded cash from the employees in the store while concealing what appeared to be a handgun in his hand.
The suspect then proceeded to select several items in the store. Upon leaving the store, the suspect was observed entering a silver or grey coloured SUV. The suspect vehicle was last seen southbound on Brant Street near the QEW.
No one was hurt as a result of the incident.
Suspect Description: male, white, average build, 5’10” to 6’0″ in height, 25 – 30 yrs, short brown hair with an unshaven appearance.
Investigators are attempting to gather surveillance footage/photos and if available will update.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Ron Hansen at 905-825-4747 extension 2315 or Detective Phil Vandenbeukel at 905-825-4747 extension 2343 of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
September 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The people of Burlington did it for the 35th time – the Annual Terry Fox run for a cancer cure.
This time it could well have been called the Team Casey get together.
 The fast runners had finished the course – those who chose a more leisurely pace brought up the rear. Casey Cosgrove who has battled cancer for a number of years and has become something of a poster boy for the people at the Princess Margaret hospital where his treatment program takes place chose a spot yards away from where the Terry Fox marker is going to be placed greeting friends (and there were a lot of them) and having his picture taken.
 Another Team Casey  A Team Casey – there were about eight of them. There seemed to be as many Team Casey T-shirts being worn as there were Terry Fox –shirts.
The weather was perfect
Don Carmichael reports that there were 900 + participants, 44 teams – way up from last year. 110 volunteers. More than $ 67,000 raised on the day with donations still pouring in. It’s not too late to donate. We want to reach $100,000.
 Many walkers were alone with their thoughts – a card with the name of a person they wanted to remember affixed to their sweater The Run is a day out for many people – a time to chip in and do their bit – many people make this an annual family event. Brian Heagle was out there with his family, including his Mother – she seemed to do just fine.
One participant had completed his walk and was about to head home and said to the child with him – “why don’t we walk out on the pier”. We asked: “You’ve never been out on the pier” “Nope” he replied – “I always felt it cost too much and I didn’t want to go out on the thing.”
Resentment persists doesn’t it?
 The location of the Terry Fox market that will be erected later this year  KM 3582 – a point at which Terry Fox paused as he left Burlington and head to Hamilton on an epic journey he was not able to complete. And so does the annual run. Later this year a marker will be set in concrete at one of the points Terry Fox stopped at as he ran through Burlington 35 years ago.
By Pepper Parr
September 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a 2 part feature.
The day any one of the Bridgewater developments is opened – you may not see much of Jeff Paikin – he will be quietly walking from location to location polishing a door knob, picking up a piece of scrap paper or chatting up one of his neighbours. Paikin is not only the builder of the three structure project – he is also the owner of one of the condominium units
The project has been in the works since at least 1985. Paikin wasn’t the designer, the vision wasn’t his but a series of circumstances dropped the project into his lap and he is like a kid with a new toy.
 The Bridgewater is going to be a sterling project – because that’s what Paikin builds.
The Gazette was taken on a tour of the sales office – parts of which are a built to scale of several of the rooms that will be located between the 9th and the 16th floor.
In the middle of the sales office is a very large model of the project which gives a great view of what the buildings will look like and how they will impact the city.
And they are going to impact the city.
Let’s start from the outside and work our way in – the sales office will be used for a Christmas party being given for the people who have purchased units – this will be a very high end – someone who is being asked to pay more than $3 million for the top floor of the 22 storey condominium – those are big bucks – and you don’t serve those people peanuts and cheap beer.
 When the party is over – the sales office gets taken down – not by a bulldozer – it was built to be taken apart, stored somewhere and used again.
Days later – the shovels go into the ground.
Expect it to be the photo op of the century for Burlington.
 Elizabeth Street as it is today – it will be re-graded but still steep. The entrance to all the parking and lower access to each building will be at the bottom of this grade. There won’t be much seen by the public for a couple of months once the cameras and the television people leave the site.
The project is going to have four floors of underground parking including a level that vehicles will come into at grade – but that grade will be at the bottom of Elizabeth Street.
You can just imagine what kind of a photo op the putting of shovels into the ground is going to be. If the Mayor does a selfie – we hope it is better than the one he did on the bus several months ago.
While the Bridgewater is being constructed, just a three minute drive to the west the Joseph Brant Hospital expansion and re-development will be going on. Burlington actually has cranes on the skyline these days.
The Waterfront hotel is in the process of going through a design exercise that may see the existing hotel torn down and a much higher structure going up (more than 28 floors?) along with two smaller structures that will be located south of the current foot print.
The decision as to what can be done south of the current hotel sits in the hands of the Conservation Authority.
The design exercise has the city ordering up two designs and the owner of the property putting forward his own preferred design.
 The view from the steps of the Bridgewater sales centre has two cranes on the horizon lifting buckets of concrete as the redevelopment and expansion of the Joseph Brant Hospital progresses. The Waterfront hotel in the foreground is in a redesign stage. Those three projects, the hospital, the Waterfront Hotel and Bridgewater will result in a downtown core that most people in this city are not aware of and many may not be ready for – but they are coming.
We step inside the sales centre – this is a “by appointment only” operation, you realize you are in what amounts to a two bedroom unit that is lavishly decorated by Brian Gluckstein. Everything is real not a piece of plastic in sight.
In part two of this feature we take you through the layout of the rooms and the design features – expect to see this location in one of the higher end design magazines.
When we last met with Jeff Paikin he had five sales situations in the pipeline – three of those came through and last week he booked $3.1 million in sales. Very nice.
The first thing you see at the sales centre is a large model of the project – “that cost $40,000” claims Paikin. It could have – it is big enough.
When the sales centre gets taken apart the model gets tossed – the Gazette has some ideas for that. Stay tuned.
The grade from the street level to the walkway at the edge of the lake is steep – quite steep and must have been a challenge to the landscapers.
 In order to keep open space for the public to enjoy between the hotel and the condominiums several sets of stairs are in place at the south end – they look steep.
 There are several ramps for those who don’t want to manage the stairs and there is a nice winding pathway on the east side – that is already in place.
What the public has not seen is the layout and design of the court yard outside the rear of the hotel and between the two condominiums – one on the east – 22 storeys and one on the west – 7 storey’s.
Set out below are several views of the model. There is a reasonably sized reflecting pool in the courtyard area. Paikin said it was something the city wanted – he didn’t seem to have much enthusiasm for the thing.
It isn’t clear yet how much of the court yard space is going to be fully public and how much will be allocated to the hotel for what will be a lovely outdoor cafe – if such a things is included in the court yard. The hotel, which was originally going to be a Delta Hotel got upgraded to a Marriott when the two operations were merged some time ago.
If the stairs at the south end prove to be too daunting there is a lovely winding path down the eastern side of the 22 storey condominium.
At one point there was talk of some of the lower level condominium units opening out onto that walkway.
The winding path down the east side of the Bridgewater development may prove the easier to navigate.
The walkway is in place now – it was part of a property exchange with the city that included the promenade at the south end that continues on into Spencer Smith Park and eventually into the Beachway Park.
People will be able to have a breakfast in the fresh air overlooking the lake and then walk right through to the canal on the western border of the city. We just might be getting close to what Hamilton has in their waterfront. Some sculpture will be needed at some point.to the
Contrary to rumours being floated around, Jeff Paikin did not buy half of the top floor of the 22 storey condominium; he has a unit in the 7 storey condominium on the west side of the site.
 By Pepper Parr
September 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The crowds they had hoped for did not materialize but the weather did hold. There were more people at No Vacancy’s Supernova this year than there were at the Cirque event held at Village Square last year.
 Perhaps outside some comfort zones. Let’s look at what was good. The Art Market was good – some of the exhibits stunned people a little – others were a pleasure to look at. Art is supposed to take you out of your comfort zone.
The Teresa Seaton/Tomy Bewick event and the Kune Hua event were superb – illustration art at its best.
Hua was a last minute entry – 36 hours before the opening he was still working through his concept – it turned out to be one a very emotional event for many people.
 Several thousand ribbons were draped over the branches of the trees in the Wishing Garden. Set in a lot that was once a gas station the Wishing Garden was a collection of birth tree branches planted into pots with small white lights strong along the branches.
Visitors were invited to take a ribbon and write a wish and then tie it to one of the tree branches.
Hua believes that with all that energy; all those wishes collected in a single place – change was inevitable. Only those who tied a ribbon will know if there was a change – one can say however that there was a mood in the darkened space where you could smell the lake and not feel you were being intruded upon by the noise from Emmas Back Porch just yards away.
 Tomy Bewick intoned in a strong passionate voice while Teresa Seaton spread the feathers about the ground “feathers spinning in the downdraft” The Seaton/Bewick event was more of a performance – and for those that listened there was a sense of trance as Bewick spoke ans Seaton moved around the space placing feathers fashioned out of stained glass on the ground while Bewick chanted
she’s walking down that road again
flying off the fumes
this highway life on a long enough stretch wears thin
Seaton would gently place a few stained glass feathers on the ground while Bewick continued …
watching the freebirds float above
feathers spin in the downdraft
wind kicks sand across face releasing strained tears
the rain makes the asphalt seem slick
the sheen of blacktop coated hopes slippery
you see the machinery from a distance
silhouettes like soldiers along a long abandoned flightpath
from a thousand miles the towers look like flamingoes
stilted sun refracts rainbows in cracked glass
It wasn’t dramatic but it drew you in as the Bewick voice continued to intone and the feathers took their place on the ground as Seaton stepped around gently
 The audience didn’t move while Bewick and Seaton performed – they stood silent for a few moments when the performance ended – it was that kind of event. she’s walking down that road again and the fumes are getting stronger
the feathers falling faster
there is disaster on the horizon, stretched like the skeleton of industry
It was a fine performance given every hour. If you missed this – you really did miss something.
The problem areas – getting crowds out means promotion – some thought there wasn’t enough done. The location was very good – did the organizers create too much space?
They were able to set aside basically all of the Old Lakeshore Road but there weren’t enough artists to take up the space which left the event feeling it was a little thin on the contents side.
There were a lot of people at the event – it was hard to appreciate just how many because there was acres of space. At Village Square everything was crowded in – which made it seem very busy.
There could have been more artists – it takes time for this type of event to gain a foothold. This was the third event put on by the No Vacancy group.
 It was electric – it had energy and it had three dimensions – you left feeling better after looking at this piece of work. One of the problems they might want to give some attention to is the identity of the event. No Vacancy is the sort of umbrella name with each event given a different theme name each year. That gets a little confusing for the casual visitor.
The organizers do something few other events of this type do – they ensure that the artists are paid – and that can be a real grind when other than the beer garden and perhaps some revenue from the art market there is no revenue stream. There were sponsorship’s and the city did kick in some money – there may not have been enough.
 The Poacher Ukelele Band and the jugglers didn’t seem to fit into the art theme – but there were people who enjoyed both. The juggler was determined to make the event pay for him – which was outside the boundaries set by the organizers of the Supernova There was security that wasn’t needed – this was a very tame crowd that mixed well with the people that troop into Emma’s Back Porch.
But there was something missing – and the organizers are going to have to take some time in a month or so and think through what the recipe needs. A little more spice? Perhaps. More interesting artists and a program with a map of who was where. There apparently was a map – we didn’t see it until after the event.
Printing a program means getting advertisers – and that requires time which the organizers just didn’t have.
 The Art Market was in a smaller space this year and it had the crowds that in retrospect were what people missed overall. There was a very cruel, uncalled for comment from an artist who said ‘this was probably the last No Vacancy event. The artist who made the comment had submitted an event but was turned down and is reported not to have been prepared to make revisions to what was a collection of paintings that were for sale. Supernova was not at art sale – it was a collection of art illustrations – an event that you interacted with.
It was an uncalled for comment from an artist currently looking to the community for financial support.
After two outstanding successes the turnout this year is a bit of a setback. The arts are fickle – it doesn’t always turn out the way people hope it will
What the arts community has to do is be mature and stop going on about how great the event was – it wasn’t great. This year something was missing – the people who did all the grunt work will work it out.
 The Beer Garden was well situated – the band was loud – by the time this reporter was ready for an ale – the gates had closed – it was after 11 pm. The arts community has to call a spade a spade and work towards improving the event – what was great was the close to incredible support from the volunteers – who don’t get as much as a dime.
Be kind to Selena and Dean Eckersall – they put their hearts into this and deserve an opportunity to put the event on next year
By Allan Harrington
September 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was perfect – a great day for those of us who appreciate almost everything British to see about 1,000 motor cars on display in neat rows on the pleasant grass-covered fields of the Bronte Creek park. Some came from as far away as New York and Pennsylvania to get nestled between the trees.
 Thousands of cars – all British – and a perfect day. There is such a rich variety among British motor vehicles that are distinctively different from the typical style of North American cars. Whether it is their soft curved lines, google-eye headlights, or being slung low to the ground.
 Proud – very British – posh! Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Land Rover
Majestic people carriers suitable for a chauffeur to romp across a country estate. One Rolls Royce there claims to be the original used in the old Grey Poupon mustard advert.
 Meant for narrow windy roads – with the wind in your hair. Triumph, McLaren, TVR
Sporty models built to easily traverse the thin winding two lane back roads of England.
Austin Mini, Sunbeam, MG
Tiny ones that can dart through the busy congested city of London a la Mr. Bean.
 They look like Smarties in a bowl – all bright colours – great for skipping about crowded streets. De Lorean
Famous from the Back to the Future movies. About 11 made it to the show in their typical stainless steel silver plus and one in a bronze gold colour. Being made in Belfast Northern Ireland they are welcome among the other Brit-Mobiles. Yes all the flux capacitors were functioning.
Lotus, Aston Martin
High tech cars James Bond can do his spy business with.
Isn’t car manufacturing dead in the UK? No. There are over 30 car manufacturers in Britain with total output being just over half the number made in Canada. Well “somebody” needs to keep making the cars with a steering wheel on the wrong side.
 A grateful child – with a picnic basket to make the day perfect. Boots and Bonnets
Visitors were asked to vote on their favourite and with so many excellent choices — it was impossible task for this visitor.
By Staff
September 18, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Lakeshore Road Lane Restrictions for Terry Fox Run – Sept. 20
 The northbound land of Lakeshore Road will be closed from Maple Avenue to the Halton Skyway Waste Water Treatment Plan between 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20 for the Terry Fox Run.
The southbound lane will remain open.
By Pepper Parr
September 18th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A select group of people saw the Premier of Flash Flood – a Cogeco TV documentary on the flood that drowned parts of Burlington on August 4th 2014.
The 28 minute film will be shown on Cogeco Cable – channel 23 and 700 for HD
Airdates are:
Sun, Sep 20, 2015 20:00:00
Mon, Sep 21, 2015 17:00:00
Wed, Sep 23, 2015 19:00:00
Thu, Sep 24, 2015 15:30:00
Sat, Sep 26, 2015 17:30:00
Sat, Sep 26, 2015 22:00:00
Kristin Demeny was the lead reporter on the project that started the day the rains fell. She didn’t become aware of the flooding until around 4:30 that day by which time many people had everything in their basements floating in several feet of water.
 Kristin Demeny, Cogeco’s lead reporter on the August 2014 flood, was everywhere during the days after the flood. she was in the homes that were ruined and talked with hundreds of people whose lives had been forever changed. She was literally everywhere the first few days after and said she crawled through close a 100 basements to personally see and record the damage. “There was a woman in her 90’s – there with her son looking at all the ceiling tile that had come down in the basement. Her husband, no longer alive, had built the home for the two of them. It was heartbreaking to meet and talk to these people.”
Kristin did her first piece of broadcast reporting when she was 17 – “I fell in love with the business that day and have been in broadcast all of my career”. She includes her formal training at Loyalist College as part of that career.
She worked with CKWS in Kingston, the CBC television affiliate and proudly point to two stories that went network wide.
Demeny has been with Cogeco for five years.
Ben Lyman, Manager, Programming and Community Relations at Cogeco Cable, is recognized as the Executive producer of the documentary and said that “, we had documented so much footage at the start of the flood for our new local news program, we knew we could take it a step further.”
“At that time we decided we can produce what could be considered a historical documentary on this flood. That we would sit down with residents that were affected, let them tell their stories of how devastating this flood actually was to them and the city as a whole.
 It was a flash flood – and the damage done was significant. Most of the city wasn’t even aware that it had happened – the rain fell in just one part of the city – 191 mm in a single day, “We knew a documentary was the way to move forward with this project. Kristin Demeny who had been our lead reporter in covering the flood was the lead producer for the project and with the help of Daniel Ricottone’s editing skills (he directed/edited TVCogeco’s Special on Chris Hadfield before he took command of ISS), we knew this duo would be able to tell the stories that needed to be told and create a lasting impact for our viewers.
“Once you watch this documentary, you really empathize with the victims of the flood and you realize how much work needed to be completed to get their lives back on track. As the station manager, I was very proud of the work our team completed in producing this doc. and was very pleased to see, in particular the vision I had for this flood documentary come to fruition this fall.”
It is certainly worth watching.
 By Staff
September 17, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
All the work, all the anticipation and then the scurrying around to make it actually happen – and we realize that it comes down to the weather.
There are some people who don’t know about the event – where have they been?
It is Supernova – takes place on Old Lakeshore Road from 7 to midnight. More than 20 artists showing you what they do.
 Last year it was called the Cirque – 3500 people showed up – this year it is a Supernova on Old Lakeshore Road. Worth the walk. Last year the event took place at the Village Square – 3500 people showed up.
This year there is a lot more space – enjoy the night.
One of the artists has created a Wishing Forest. Here is how he tells that story.
By Pepper Parr
September 17, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir, an Aldershot resident known for his persistent questions at city council meetings and what his council member might call ongoing badgering.
Muir is one of those guys that wants to look at the details – for he knows the devil is always in those details.
He currently wants to know why the city did not have a position on the application the ADI Development Group had made for Official Plan and zoning changes to the property at the south north corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha Street.
City council did debate the application at a Standing Committee and Staff put forward an excellent report which set out what the Planning department thought. During the debates at the Standing Committee it was pretty clear that no one at city council was on for this project and most of the hands went up saying this isn’t for us – but those votes are not recorded and have no standing.
 Not on single member of city council was for the ADI development – but they never got to vote officially against the project. some either forgot to count the number of days before ADI could go to the OMB or there was plain rank incompetence somewhere. It is the votes at city council that matter – and there was never a vote by city council because – wait for it – the 180 day period had ended the day before city council was to meet – and the ADI Development Group had taken their application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) arguing that the city had failed to make a decision on their application within the 180 day deadline.
“I would like an explanation” asked Muir “of how the staff report on this project did not make it to Council within the 180 days mandated in the legislation.” The fact is the planning staff did get their report to city council and it was debated at Standing Committee. The other fact is that the Mayor either couldn’t count out 180 days or didn’t think it mattered all that much.
 It is a very large building – the highest ever proposed for this city and is on a very small lot. The city planners recommended it not be approved – a Standing Committee agreed – but city council never got to officially vote no on the project. There was more than enough evidence to indicate how ADI was going to behave – they had already taken the city to the OMB on a different development.
Muir is quite right however – there has never been a word from the office of the Mayor on the ADI development – there was a discussion at Standing Committee earlier in the week on a confidential matter related to the Lakeshore Road development.
Muir calls this a “a failure of transparency and accountability” – the failure is in the city not realizing the kind of developer they were up against. ADI knew what the rules were and he played by them.
The city did not have a scheduled council meeting and didn’t see any reason, apparently, to suggest to the Mayor that he call a special council meeting – he has the authority to do that.
 The city has a major beef with this sign – don’t think it is legal. The failure is that the city council apparently did not see this coming – when they should have. The Director of Planning should have had a meeting with the Mayor to advise him of the seriousness of a delay and then followed that up with a memo to cover his butt.
The Mayor should have seen this one coming.
The ADI development was on the agenda the evening council met to vote officially on the proposal. When city staff got word that ADI had taken their application to the OMB council was no longer permitted to discuss the issue – it was now in the hands of an OMB Commissioner.
Muir wants to “know the line of responsibility for this failure”. Look to the planning department, the city’s Solicitor and the office of the Mayor.
 The ADI Development Group is converting a lower Brant retail location into a sales office for their Nautique project – as yet approved – for the corner of LAkeshore Road and Martha Should ADI prevail at the OMB hearing, and there are a number of reasons to believe they will, the city will pay a high price in terms of the way they want to develop their downtown core.
There are better ways to run a city. The first hearing of the ADI application to the OMB is scheduled for March of next year.
Meanwhile ADI has opened up a sales office on Brant Street. They have redone the outside of the building and appear to be putting up a high end sales office. Many people are asking how they can do this when the project has yet to be approved by anyone. Good question. ADI can open an office to sell whatever he wishes – what he will be doing is taking registrations and perhaps a deposit from people who think they would like to purchase a unit.
 ADI redid the front of the sales office location with stucco giving it a softer look. The detailing on the inside is very polished and sophisticated. There will be a lot of muscle behind their sales and marketing program. Their advertisements are already seen on web site with a considerable amount of newspaper advertising as well The ADI people don’t do very much without the advice of their legal counsel – and they have retained a very competent firm, Weir & Foulds, to represent them. Expensive – but they are tough guys to beat.
By Pepper Parr
September 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Look in almost any car in a mall parking lot and you will see a car seat for a child in the back. Legally required and gratefully used by every parent – was the seat properly installed?
A the leading provider of Canadian car seats is sponsoring the Canadian Walmart Car Seat Clinic that will take place in the parking lot of the Walmart located at 4515 Dundas Street W on September 26 from 10 AM – 4 PM.
The sponsors are encouraging people to make an appointment on their website (www.gracobaby.ca/news), but we will also take drop-ins.
 There is a right way and a wrong way to install a car seat. You have to have one – might as well do it properly. Appointments will last for approximately 30 minutes (per car seat). The technicians will check and install seats for all ages and stages and any brand car seat. They encourage people to bring the manuals for both their vehicle and their car seat, along with their child if possible.
Graco Canada, the sponsors of the event, claim that 90% of Canadian car seats are installed improperly and/or misused. Common errors include a missing top tether, an improperly positioned chest clip, and loose harness straps, not to mention children riding in seats that do not accord with their weight, height, and age.
The simple habit of a child wearing a winter coat within their car seat can render the seat ineffective. The reality is that parents and caretakers love their children, but they don’t always know how to best protect them in a motor vehicle.
By Pepper Parr
September 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The recommendation in the Staff report was to Dissolve the Flood Disaster Relief Committee and direct the City Clerk to notify the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of the dissolution of the City of Burlington’s Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
Dry, cold, bureaucratic wording that added: the purpose was to comply with the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) Guidelines that require municipal councils to pass a resolution to dissolve their volunteer disaster relief committees.
 The storm came in from the west and hovered over the headwaters of the creeks – and stayed there for more than six hours. And that was it – Burlington’s response to the August 4, 2014 flood was now officially closed.
Yesterday, many of the people involved with responding to the flood gathered at the Performing Arts Centre (now to be known as The Centre) to congratulate those who had done so much and hand out the obligatory plaques, which are an important part of the process, and to watch, as Mayor Goldring put it, “the world Premiere of the half hour documentary: Flash Flood produced by Cogeco TV”
The film told the story of how on Aug. 14, 2014, ten days after the rainstorm, at a special meeting of Council, the city unanimously supported requesting the Province of Ontario to declare the City of Burlington a disaster area for the purposes of seeking funding (both the public and private components) through ODRAP.
The Burlington Community Foundation was approached to assist with the establishment of a Flood Disaster Relief Committee (DRC) to help address the financial needs of the residents impacted by the storm. Colleen Mulholland was given a plaque and for the first time in the past year she had her picture taken without a cardboard donation cheque in front if her. Ron Foxcroft, who can now take Colleen’s phone number out of his speed dial list said his city was “aggressively generous” – and it was.
The documentary told the story of how the community pulled itself together, helped each other and fought hard, and it was a fight, to get financial support from the province.
There were perhaps 50 people in the room watching the documentary was shown. The strongest point that came across was the way people managed the loss of personal property – pictures, mementos, keepsakes that were gone forever.
One woman had the shoes she was to be married in stored in her basement – they were saved and she wore them several months later.
One couple told of learning that there insurance was limited to $5000 – with a $1000 deductible.
The audience learned that the Mayor, whose home was badly flooded, was just settling the finer points of his claim with his insurance company.
 Mark Preston on the left was one of the insurance brokers evaluating the claims – Rick Burgess on the right gave legal advice through the claims process. Mark Preston, an Aldershot based insurance broker said that he had three clients that were flooded and that the local group of insurance brokers had more than 40 claims on the go.
Mayor Goldring made the comment that those who bought their insurance on-line learned the hard way of the real value an insurance broker brings to the table.
 Nancy Swietek, on the right, listen to a flood victim during a public meeting. Colleen Mulholland and Ron Foxcroft were once again lauded for the outstanding work they did – it was well deserved. The three insurance experts who were drafted – which is the best way of explaining how they ended up doing the job they did – were also recognized. The two men and one woman worked for hours every second week as they reviewed every claim and determined what could be paid out. Those three insurance people, Mark Preston, Nancy Swietek and Bruce Russell didn’t get paid a dime. Nor did Rick Burgess, who sat in on all the meetings of the Claims committee providing legal advice.
The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) allowed the agency that co-ordinated the fund raising and the claims process to be paid for the reasonable expenses they incurred. The Community Foundation submitted a bill for less than $85,000 – the bargain of the century for the city.
The final speaker, at an event with an open bar, not something done in this city very often, was Eleanor McMahon, who at that time was newly elected and had never heard the acronym ODRAP – neither had any one at city hall for that matter. “We learned what that meant pretty quickly” said McMahon who did a fine job of binding the city’s wounds and putting a soft, dignified close the a disaster that while local was nevertheless devastating for those whose homes filled with water much faster than they thought possible.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon at the Elwood Street party months after the flood. “We had people in this city whose lives were on their front lawns” said McMahon, “going through an experience they believed they would only see on television”. But it happened in Burlington where people learned very quickly how to ask: “How can I help?”
One man told of a lady who went door to door in the Regal Road area with green plastic bags asking people to put their laundry in the bag and she would return with it washed and folded. The speaker in the documentary had difficulty telling that story – he kept gulping. While she would not want us to say who she is – it was Carol Gottlob who walked around taking in laundry.
Councillors Dennison and Sharman made hundreds of visits to homes even though there wasn’t all that much they could do personally other than follow up on matters.
The handling of the claims and the concerns had been outsourced by city hall to the Burlington Community foundation – which is what the ODRAP regulations required. All the city was permitted to do was pick up the reasonable costs incurred by the foundation.
For many people in the flooded areas – it was the occasion when they met many of their neighbours for the first time.
The city and Regional Council have set aside $110 million to improve the management of storm water. An additional person has been added to the payroll to set up procedures and over see this kind of problem in the future –a future that everyone believes will include more weather related problems – climate change and its consequences are being visited upon us.
 The Storm Water Management tax is going to hit the strip malls heavily – the asphalt covering didn’t allow for storm water to drain off quickly. There is expected to be an additional line on the tax bill related to the management of storm water – the Fairview strip malls and the large mall parking lots are going to feel the weight of this tax more than anyone else. The huge swaths if asphalt that cover those parking lots meant the flood waters had nowhere to do – expect that problem to get some hard nosed thinking at city hall
 For many residents it was a very personal experience and they needed help – badly. The documentary Flash Flood will premiere for the public this Sunday (Sept 20th) at 8:00 pm
Kristen Demeny was the camera operator and interviewer and the energy behind the production. Joey Ricottone did the editing and Ben Lyman was the Executive producer.
In the not too distant future a plaque with the names of the major donours and the people that were there when they were needed will be bolted to a boulder in Civic Square – future generations will glance at it and know next to nothing of the day that 191 mm of rain fell on a part of the city in less than seven hours and damaged more than 3500 homes and scarred the hearts of many for life.
“Whenever it rains” said one man in the documentary “I look outside and wonder how long it is going to rain this time.”
By Staff
September 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Walkers Line – Nighttime Closure on Sept. 16
All northbound lanes of Walkers Line will be closed at North Service Road for excavation work starting Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. to Thursday, Sept. 17 at 5 a.m.
Northbound traffic will be detoured along North Service Road.
Southbound lanes on Walkers Line are not impacted.
 By Staff
September 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 3 of a 3 part feature
All of the artists taking part in the Supernova this Friday are looking at the weather forecasts – this is an outdoor event.
throughout the area are gathering together the material and tools they will need to set up their art installations along Old Lakeshore Road for the third annual No Vacancy event – which this year is being called Supernova.
 Dozens of art ventures will appear on the Old Lakeshore Road, immediately outside, adjacent to and across the road from Emma’s Back Porch the evening of Friday, September 18th beginning at 7 pm – the installations will be in place until just after midnight and then disappear just as quickly as they appeared.
The now annual event that began in 2013 at the Waterfront Hotel where new ground was broken in the Burlington arts world. The second year drew 3500 people to the Village Square made No Vacancy, which is given a different title each year, an event that was now a must for the city.
Selena Eckersal and her crew – the people making all this happen with a piddling $5000 in financial support have announced that The Poacher Ukulele Band will be performing at SUPERNOVA on September 18th on Old Lakeshore Rd in Downtown Burlington, Ontario. They are a fun, passionate group that will have you singing and dancing along with them! Stay tuned to find out exactly what time and where they will be playing.
The Gazette has given a bit of a background on each of the participants – there are about 20+ of them – all up for one enchanting evening.
We start this time with:
 Emilio Portal
My practice is based on hunting and creating stories, scenarios and objects that explore the hidden, oppressed, unexpected, appalling, subtle and forgotten.
I am of mixed ancestry: my father is Peruvian; my mother, French Canadian. My origin is a constant personal reminder of the complex story of colonialism, expansion, growth, and its precarious and paradoxical terrain.
Through a multiplicity of means, (story-telling, photography, drawing, printmaking, poetry, video, sound, woodworking, installations and slow performances) I contemplate the questions:
How do we make meaning?
What is our ethos?
emilioportal.com
 Liz Little
Liz Little is a multidisciplinary artist working mainly in drawing, printmaking, and installation. She is a recent MFA graduate from the University of Waterloo and received a BFA with Distinction from Concordia University in 2010. Her work has been exhibited in Canada, the United States, and Germany and is part of national and international private collections. She is the recipient of several scholarships and awards, including the Sylvia Knight Award in Fine Arts, the Keith and Win Shantz Fellowship, and the Bill Watson Memorial Award for Printmaking. She currently lives and works in Toronto, ON.
lizlittle.org
 Caitlyn Jean McMillan
Caitlyn Jean McMillan earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay ON in 2008, her Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Regina in Regina, SK in 2012, and completed two residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts in 2008 and 2010. Since graduating, Caitlyn has shown in Thunder Bay, Toronto, Sudbury, and Sarnia, where she currently juggles art-making while working as the Community Arts Educator at the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery.
Caitlyn Jean works in a variety of media, from painting and drawing to new media and projection. Sometimes she enlists the help of Lisa Smith for her expertise with new media work.
caitlynjean.com
Miles Rufelds
 Miles Rufelds is a video and media artist from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He received his Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Ottawa in the spring of 2015. Coming from a background of abstract drawing and painting, he has come to work primarily in video and installation art, but branches at times into photography, sculpture, and audio. Rufelds’ art addresses the absurd and often-contradictory relationships that have existed between human beings and inanimate objects throughout history, abstractly questioning the role that nonhuman things can play in both the construction and diagnosis of the post-industrial human psyche. He has exhibited in various channels of the Ontario art community, such as the University of Ottawa’s Gallery 115 and Paradigm Gallery, as well as Cambridge, Ontario’s Idea Exchange gallery.
 And All Was Bright
And All Was Bright (Ben Robertson) is a musician and multimedia installation artist from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. His sound arrangements are progressive, emotive and strongly driven by concept; they span the spectrum of melodic dronescapes, noise, and heavy distortion. His video arrangements are abstract yet convey the underlying concepts behind the work. The installations are fully immersive. He fills the performance space with heavily-processed sound, projected visuals and controlled lighting, occupying the viewers’ auditory, visual, and physical senses.
andallwasbright.com
 VERSA
Versa is an audio/visual collaboration between process-based artist Monika Hauck and musician Alex Ricci. Influenced by contemporary soundscape, instrumental post-rock and 60’s psychedelic, the project combines heavily effected bass guitar compositions with projected visuals created live on stage. The composition of the music serves as a cause for the visuals, and vice versa; the need for movement in the visuals dictates choices made in the arrangement.
Tomy Bewick
Tomy Bewick is the founder, host and artistic director of the Burlington Slam Project (BSP), a monthly poetry platform in Burlington, On. He is a poet familiar with national and international finals stages, as well as a full-time professional with a specialty in environmentally sustainable construction (LEED AP, BD+C). Tomy has published two collections of poems, released three full length spoken word CD’s and featured across Canada, with multiple appearances in the US. He enjoys working with new poetic voices in his community, as well as continuing to provide a platform for local and international artists to share their words, at the BSP.
www.burlingtonslam.wordpress.com
 Klaus Pinter
Klaus Pinter is an International Artist who Lives and works in Vienna. Quite how he wound up in Burlington is something you can ask him when yiou meet him Friday evening.
klaus-pinter.net
 Frances Adair McKenzie
Picture
Frances Adair Mckenzie lives and works in Montréal. She combines genres and technologies to invoke fantastical internal and external worlds. Her work results in a din of concentrated effects, melding both high and low cultural references.
Frances attained a diploma in New Media from B.C.I.T. and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University. The National Film Board of Canada has com- missioned her animations and her work has been exhibited at the Musée de art Contemporain de Montréal, and the Société des Arts Technologiques. Frances also collaborates with Aleks Schurmer, to form the collective Party Like it’s 1699. The collective’s aim is to take classical music from the confines of the modern concert hall and reclaim it as a popular medium in the form of a digital Baroque opera.
 Brody Robinmeyer
Brody Robinmeyer is of European-Dominican descent, was born in Toronto moved to Iceland and then back to Ontario. Briefly studied in the U.K. as well as Germany. Graduated with a fine arts degree from Ryerson University. His artistic practice is strongly influenced by current scientific understanding and its intersection with eastern philosophies (i.e. hsin hsin ming). Currently working from his atelier in Hamilton.
Ms. Anonymous
 Ms. Anonymous has been namelessly creating art for almost two decades. You may have already seen her work without knowing it was hers, been in her presence without noticing her, and been touched by her work in some way. Ms. Anonymous prefers to remain nameless, faceless and unknown without the need for any recognition. She wishes for her art to speak for itself, with a voice of its own and an energy and life force that lives beyond the need for a creative host. Ms. Anonymous believes that it is her anonymity that allows her to be bold, provocative and unafraid in art.
Part 1 of a 3 part feature.
Part 2 of a 3 part feature
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