 By Staff
September 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Keeping a downtown vibrant, healthy and attractive with the right mix of merchants is easier said than done.
 The location was good: was it the prices?; the service? Many people thought a butcher shop was just what the downtown core needed – apparently not. For every ten stores that open – ten find they have to close their doors after six months of toughing it out and finding that the great idea they had just didn’t work.
Setting up a new business is not an easy undertaking. That lesson got punched home for the butcher shop that took a brave step and opened up for business at the corner of Lakeshore and Brant street – which is about as downtown core as you can get.
 A sad message about a dream dashed. It didn’t work out – and the doors were recently closed.
Is there an opportunity for some comment, reflection on what didn’t work and why?
 By Staff
September 8th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Keith Marshall will be at the Fireside Lounge at the Art Gallery of Burlington to talk about his latest on Wednesday September 9th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
 His work is on display and will be open to the public until September 28th.
 By Pepper Parr
September 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Once the “love in” part of the evening was over – those in the room at the Royal Botanical Gardens were able to take part in a good discussion on what the province was planning on doing about transit in the province.
 Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs is in the thick of transit issues as well – Ted McMeekin takes part in Town Hall on Transit Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon and Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs MPP Ted McMeekin hosted the event at which Minister of Transportation Steve Del Luca did most of the talking and the listening.
The stopover in Burlington was the fourth Town Hall type meeting Del Luca has held – 40-50 people in the room – close to a quarter of them bureaucrats of one flavour or another.
He told the audience that his mandate was to “catch up” and “keep up” on transit matters. While highways are a large part of that mandate – this meeting was about transit.
Difficult for a Burlington audience not to want to drift into highways when the QEW and the 403 cut us into pieces.
Del Luca pointed out that the government has committed $130 billion over ten years into getting a transit system that meets the needs – it’s amazing how these people throw around those big number – billions – millions.
An additional $31.5 million has been has been added to put a 15 minute – both ways service in place on the Lakeshore, Kitchener, Stouffville and Barrie services.
De Luca made a strong point when he explained the situation on the Barrie line: four trains leaving Barrie every morning and four leaving Union Station for the trip home each evening.
Which was Ok for people who just commute and stay in the city all day but for those who want to slip into the city for an early afternoon meeting and then head back to an office in Barrie the current service doesn’t work – those people explained Del Luca drive in and out – adding to traffic congestion and wasting a lot of time behind the wheel of a car.
The Transportation Minister added that getting 15 minute service has some hurdles to be gotten over – and the electrification of the system has its own problems.
Track ownership is also a problem – but Del Luca was able to leave the impression that he has a strong team and that they can learn to understand the problems and then find solutions.
What was refreshing was that Del Luca didn’t even try to sugar coat the problem.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon hosts a Town Hall on Transit and lets the Ministers do all the talking. He made it clear that he wants to see the changes made within a decade and that to make it happen there has to be a change in the culture – the car isn’t going to be what it has been – both in the way it is used and in the way it is designed for the future.
The rail lines are going to be electrified – if we don’t do that greenhouse gasses will kill us all.
Everyone wants better service but the changes we need to make to provide that service will be disruptive – which boots the ball into the political realm. Del Luca’s trip to Burlington was to get a sense of what the public in this part of the world was thinking.
Something not usually seen at Burlington based event s was the participation of students from McMaster. All males and all appeared to be graduate level students – and they had good questions.
Del Luca, who represents Vaughan in the Legislature, pointed out that his mandate is focused on capital projects – this guy is building a transit system – all the bells and whistles on what happens when the transit system is in place is the responsibility of the municipalities that connect with those rail lines.
The only thing the Ministry does, explained Del Luca, is give the municipalities a portion of the gas tax it collects. Burlington got between $20 and $21 million last year.
There are Buringtonians who come close to swallowing their tongues when they see some of that tax rebate being put into infrastructure (roads) upgrades and upkeep.
The cultural change the Minister is working to bring about hasn’t penetrated as deeply as it is going to have to in Burlington – the city may be one of the last to fully understand what has to be done.
There were people from Burlington transit and transportation in the room – but they didn’t seem to be paying a lot of attention from where I was sitting.
There was a little bit of money for new ideas and pilot projects explained Del Luca. “We put $1 million into a fund for new ideas and doled it out in $100,000 grants. It was so popular and useful that we increased the annual allotment to $2 million.”
Milton got a grant to create an application that would let commuters use their smart phones to tap into their transit schedule – there was no mention of any application from Burlington Transit.
 Minister of Transportation for the province Steve Del Luca engages Greg Woodruff on the role of the car in future transit plans – both agree the car isn’t going away. Aldershot activist Greg Woodruff engaged the Minister on the role cars would play in transportation. He pointed out that the car is undergoing a very radical change and added that research suggests there will be 40% fewer cars on the road within the decade – what does that do to your transit plans he asked.
Del Luca told Woodruff he didn’t think he was wrong and added that within the decade 70% of the cars on the rod will be automated. Both men agreed that the car was not going to go away and it doesn’t need to go away – it will just play a much different role and will not dominate the way it has for the past number of decades
While transit was the focus of the meeting – land planning policies that make sense was a critical clutch point – and the sense in the room seemed to be that we weren’t doing all that well on developing those policies.
 Ted McMeekin, a political activist who got into government to make changes talks with Rishia Burke, a staffer with Community Development Halton – an organization McMeekin got started with others many years ago. One could almost see the torch being passed. Minister McMeekin, who wasn’t saying all that much, explained that he was coordinating a review of the urban sprawl we have to work with and what part urban boundaries play in transit planning.
There are transit advocates in Burlington who wonder why the Oakville, Milton, Burlington and eventually Halton Hills transit services are not rolled into a single service – York Region has done that very successfully.
At some point there is going to be transit service along Dundas and rolling up into Milton – whose court will that ball be in – Milton or Burlington?
Creating a smoother transition for transit users in the east end of the city who want to or have to use both Oakville and Burlington transit is another problem
When Burlington’s politicians got all hairy about transit and began taking the bus to work, and making sure there was a photo op to prove they had actually ridden the bus, ward 2 councillor Marianne Meed Ward took the bus to a Regional meeting – that isn’t something she will be doing again.
It has become clear to the government that in order for transit use to be increased – growth and intensification has to be along transit lines.
 Vito Tolone, interim director of transportation for Burlington, did a lot of listening as the two provincial minsters did all the talking. Their comments seemed to tie into the Draft Transportation Master Plan Tolone is working on Where are the transit corridors going to be in Burlington. Vito Tolone, interim Director of Transportation, is working on a Transportation Master Plan – a draft was put together by people from both planning and transportation. While far from complete – there were some pretty solid suggestions as to the direction the city could consider taking.
Unfortunately there wasn’t much in the way of enthusiasm in the response from city council on what was a well presented set of suggestions and ideas – whatever Burlington does – transit is going to have to be the core – and this city council just doesn’t have much of an appetite for more busses on the streets – all they can see is empty busses going by.
Minister Del Luca asked the municipalities to “work with us and get it right” He wants to do away with the artificial transit barriers and the artificial municipal barriers to get it right.
It is not going to be easy to do that with the city council Burlington has today.
The last topic to get some time was the HOT lanes that were put in place for the Pan Am Games. It may not be popular, but High Occupancy Toll lanes are becoming the flavour of the month in transit and transportation circles.
Ontario transportation officials are fine-tuning a plan to introduce the concept to selected highways in the Greater Toronto Area. Most Ontarians are familiar with HOV (or High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes that require a vehicle to have at least one passenger.
The HOT lane expands upon that, extending access to lone motorists — but charging them a toll. The government is moving ahead on installing high occupancy toll lanes. These are on the way but “we want to make sure we get it right,” he told the media.
At the Burlington event Del Luca said the move wasn’t intended to produce revenue but to free up capacity – the thinking being that if someone was prepared to pay a fee to drive in a HOT lane that meant their car would not be taking up space in the free lanes.
Del Luca told the Burlington meeting that the government had not clearly communicated what the program was, how it would work and the difference it would make.
He certainly got that part right. Many wonder just what the cost would be – and how much would be spent on creating the things – whenever government and technologically are in the same room – the costs just seem to rise – remember the mess and the expense with making hospital records electronic – gazillions – and it isn’t done yet.
 By Ray Rivers
September 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each week between now and the day we all vote, October 19th, Ray Rivers is going to give Gazette readers his take on how the election is going. The week that was will appear every Monday morning.
Thanks to a reader it has been brought to my attention that the report of the father of the drowned refugee child refusing Canadian citizenship was false, despite its broad reporting by media including the CBC and National Post. Please disregard that line in the column for that reason and if interested please take the time to consult….
Note from that website that…”As National Post editor Jen Gerson suggests, the blunders in reporting this breaking news story do not change the core substance of it: the drowned boy whose picture made the world suddenly care about the refugee crisis might have found refuge in Canada. His family had tried. Our Immigration Minister was directly approached about this specific case.
The story would have been no less impactful had it been reported accurately, and there is no evidence to suggest that the mistakes were made out of partisan bias or intent to sensationalize or deceive. They were mistakes, which often happen in breaking news stories.”
Thanks again to readers who take the time to contribute to the discussion. It is exactly for situations like this that I include my primary source
Ray
Advertising – it’s what chews up so much of the money in election campaigns. And, of course, it usually works, though not always as expected. For example, the Conservative ads prior to the last election in 2011, implying that Liberal leader Ignatieff had returned to Canada out of opportunism rather the welfare of Canadians, may have helped knock the Liberals into the Parliamentary basement.
 This advertisements did some damage – will it come back to haunt the Conservatives? This time the Tories have taken aim at another Liberal leader, Mr. Trudeau, claiming that he is ‘just not ready’ to be PM. And one pollster is claiming that it has already been effective in dissuading otherwise Liberal voters. Of course, that seems to fly in the face of the latest CBC ‘poll tracker’ which has the Liberals slipping into second spot, ahead of their Tory arch-enemies and closing the gap with the front running NDP.
One has to recall how the Conservatives blew it big time when Kim Campbell was running in 1993. Tory strategists, including the current Toronto mayor of the same name, had ordered up a series of four ads depicting Mr. Chretien as unsuitable for the big job. The images used were unflattering, highlighting a childhood illness which had left him slightly disfigured.
Despite protestations by her campaign team, Campbell pulled the ad in response to a chorus of public protestations. But it was too late and the Conservatives were decimated at the polls, dropping to only two seats.
 Mike Duffy is on trail – hard to realize that with the way the proceedings in the courtroom are going. Mr. Harper’s drop in the latest polls reflects a campaign gone awry. The Duffy Senate scandal is still in people’s minds and nobody believes that Mr. Harper didn’t know about the payment nor try to cover it up. If anything will tick off the public, it is an almost never-ending stream of lies.
Then there is the sad state of the economy, covered in my regular column a week ago. The PM’s has been cherry-picking the statistics to put on a happy face on what is pretty clearly bad news – but nobody is buying.
Most recently Canada’s failure in the Syria/Iraq refugee crisis has demonstrated an inexplicable level of incompetence in administration and policy. The minister, Chris Alexander, clumsily and stupidly attacked the media while being interviewed on CBC’s ‘Power and Politics’. The next day, in an admission of his failure, Alexander postponed campaigning so he could return to his office to fix what he should have taken care of months earlier.
This issue has come back all the way to Harper heartland. While other Calgarians were protesting the refugee mess, the City’s popular mayor, Mr. Nenshi, added his voice. He attacked the PM’s response to the crisis and Alexander’s performance. Nenshi demanded bringing back ministerial responsibility and accountability, code words for somebody needs to be fired.
And that would be the Minister, who is apparently unable to answer Nenshi’s questions on how many refugees Canada will accept or even how many have been admitted so far. Meanwhile the father of the drowned young boy, who has brought this issue to light, is so upset he has turned down a belated offer of Canadian citizenship.
 As a political advertisement – this one worked. Iggnatief lost his own seat and did indeed return to Harvard University – truth in advertising? Also newsworthy, the PM’s wife, Laureen, appears to disagree with her husband’s views on Marijuana and his so-called ‘tough on crime’ mandatory sentencing policy. And then, the Conservative internet folks seem to be unable to locate and use the right images to go along with their social media stories. One would expect such sloppiness from a losing campaign.
And nobody, it seems, wants Mr. Harper to lose this election more than newly crowned Mrs. Universe. Ashley Burnham, a Canadian of Cree origin has called on the country’s first nations to help vote him out of office.
 Ashley Burham, a Cree, was named Miss Universe – and is not a fan of the Prime Minister – thinks she can persuade the Aboriginal community to vote this time and vote for someone else Finally, there is pee-gate. Yes, the Conservative candidate in a Toronto area Riding is caught on camera urinating into a homeowner’s coffee cup and putting it back in the sink, while doing a home repair (his business line). This story is now trending on Twitter and prompting one tweet, “Too bad the Conservatives are no longer progressive, so we could argue whether Jerry Bance is a small p or big P candidate”.
If Mr. Harper’s house of cards includes using his considerable financial capability, particularly during this super-long election campaign period, to fill the airwaves with attack ads, he is in trouble. He knows the opposition can’t match him with attack ads of their own. But with all the bad news the PM has been generating his opponents don’t need them.
Ray 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. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
‘Just Not Ready’
Mulcair is Ready
Poll Tracker
Chretien Ads
Nenshi
Laureen
Social Media Sloppy
Mrs. Universe
Refuses Citizenship
Pee in a Cup
 By Staff
September 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was blistering hot out there today and it isn’t going to be any cooler on Sunday – this heat is expected to stay with us until Monday.
 The lake is often shrouded in fog = as ship works its way toward the entrance of Hamilton harbour – passing the Burlington pier Maximum temperatures near or above 30 degrees and minimum temperatures near or above 20 degrees are expected through Monday. Meanwhile, peak humidex values near 40 are forecast for Sunday and Monday. These conditions may produce much discomfort for those who may not have access to a cool or air-conditioned place.
It is expected to remain very humid Tuesday, with maximum temperatures in the high twenties.
While extreme heat can put everyone at risk from heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for – older adults – infants and young children – people with chronic illnesses such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions or psychiatric illnesses – people who work in the heat – people who exercise in the heat – people without access to air conditioning and – homeless people.
 Drink plenty of liquids especially water before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place. It could be a tree-shaded area, swimming facility or an air-conditioned spot such as a public building, shopping mall, grocery store, place of worship or public library.
 By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is reopening Waterdown Road between Plains Road and Masonry Court on Friday, Sept. 4 between 4 and 5 p.m.
This section of the road had been closed since May 2015 for reconstruction. Working with the city and Halton Region, the contractor installed the new storm sewer, new water mains and reconstructed the roadway, widening the road by one lane northbound and one lane southbound and adding bike lanes in both directions.
 The work done to upgrade Waterdown road south of Hwy 403 got done in pretty short order. It has to be seen as part of the growth that will take place in Aldershot in the near future which will include significant population increases – might call for a ward boundary change as well. Waterdown Road carries 20,000 vehicles a day. The city wants to thank motorists and nearby residents and business owners for their patience during the temporary closure.
The reconstruction project is scheduled to finish in June 2016
The reconstruction of Waterdown Road followed the opening up of the access ramps to highway 403 and sets up Aldershot for a level of development that is important to the city but unwelcome by a number of Aldershot residents.
 The expropriation of all the variety store property, which wasn’t necessary, did open up the land to the east of Waterdown on the north side of Plains Road – a stretch that includes the adult entertainment operation that many would like to see leave the community. The expropriation of the Murphy’s Variety property at the Plans Road – Waterdown intersection was necessary for the road to be widened – taking all the property when the findings of an WOD said it wasn’t all necessary was brutal – showed municipal government at its worst.
The ADI Development Group plans for a large two phase development that was to include apartments and stacked townhouses is somewhere within the planning department – it isn’t clear if the application has been withdrawn or if the city is still negotiating with ADI
 He loves his Ward, he knows his constituents and their needs. He has to be given credit for shepherding the significant amount of development that has taken place. Does the Council member have a larger vision for Aldershot? The proximity of the Aldershot GO station made this part of the city ripe for development. The King Paving property on the west side of Waterdown is surely getting a close look by developers who can put that land to better use and help Burlington meet the intensification targets the province has given the Region
This development takes place at the same time the city gets closer to selecting a new planner to replace Bruce Krushelnicki who retired several months ago.
The re-opening of Waterdown Road and the construction of the King Road grade separation suggest that Aldershot is primed for major growth – which might even include sidewalks on those streets that don’t have them.
 By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Changes on Route 1: Detours because of the Labour Day parade in Hamilton. detour on Labour Day – Monday, Sept. 7, 2015
 And the union makes them strong – Canada Auto workers – marching in a Labour Day parade Due to a Labour Day Parade in downtown Hamilton, Burlington Transit’s Route 1 will need to detour from approx. 9:30 a.m. – noon as follows:
Route 1 West (into Hamilton)
Regular routing to York Blvd. and Dundurn St.
• Right at Dundurn
• Left at Main St.
• Right at Locke St.
• Left at Bold St.
• Right at James St.
• Left at Augusta St.
• Left at John St.
• Left at King St.
Route 1 East (out to Burlington)
From King and John St.
• Left at James St.
• Right at Hunter
• Right at Locke St.
• Left at King St.
• Right at Dundurn St.
• Left at York St.
• Resume regular routing…
By Pepper Parr
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you thought you had heard the end of the battle over what is going to happen to the 29 homes in the Beachway Park – think again.
The Regional announced that they have now managed to purchase four homes in the Beachway:
1011 Lakeshore Road which they bought close to a year ago, I09 Willow Avenue, 115 Willow Avenue which were estate sales and 1019 Lakeshore Road which was sold in April.
 Sold to the Region as part of estate sale; this unit was barely habitable. Nevertheless a princely price was paid for the house. The two Willow residences were part of an estate sale; one of the houses was close to being uninhabitable.
The 1019 Lakeshore Road residence was owned by Burlington lawyer Katherine Henshell who was a candidate for the ward 1 seat in the last election. She fought a tough battle and managed to ruffle the feathers of the incumbent, Rick Craven, when she suggested his property be turned into a bird sanctuary. Craven nevertheless prevailed and remains the ward 1 council member.
Henshell said she arrived at the decision to sell after talking to Anne McIlroy, the planner who was retained by the Region to put together a draft design for a park which was shown to the public at a meeting last April.
 The public got its first look at what the Region had planned for the |Beachway – it was to be a public park with no homes in it. It was a long range plan – 20 years plus and was going to cost $51 million Henshell says she talked with McIlroy, and asked if her instructions were to produce a plan with the homes in place and to produce another plan without the homes in place.
 Planner Anne McIlroy who has done a lot of work for the city of Burlington as well as the Region was retained by the Region to design a park for the Beachway. Henshell says she was told that the instructions the planner was given were to produce just the one design. Henshell said she decided then that there was no point in holding out and that she didn’t think there was much hope.
Henshell had her law offices at the location but moved those office to the downtown core and was renting the property.
She apparently felt that now was a good time to take whatever price the Region was offering. She declined to say what that price was – but did say it was registered on title. The Gazette dug out that those numbers. Wow!
 The Henshell property is on the right. The property to the right was bought by the Region last year and was rented back to the sellers for a two year period. Property transfer closed on August 12, 2015. Purchase price appears to be $550,000.00; the documents do not say if this figure includes all the other incentives; legal costs, moving costs, and a disturbance allowance which the Region has said in the past it would provide. The Region’s appraisal report has not been made available.
The Henshell property was transferred from her name to a numbered company early 2015.
The net gain to Henshell over four years was $240,000, that’s a 65% increase over a four year period, which is well over the market price increase trend.
All these numbers are part of the public record.
The property sold for $90,000 in 1995
It sold next for $110,000 in 1999
Sold next for $310,000 in 2011 – Henshell was the buyer.
Sold next to a numbered company that Henshell is believed to have owned and the sold to the Region for $550,000.
Who ever said property was not the best possible investment in Burlington?
Assuming no significant improvements were made to the house, and if you use a 10% price increase year over year, that would bring the property up to about $450,000 from July 2011 when she bought it, to August 2015 when she sold to the Region.
It would be easy to conclude that the Region paid an extra $100,000 just to shut her up. Henshell appears to have done well on this transaction.
The Henshell lot is only 2,400sf, whereas the lot next door (1011 Lakeshore) is just over 8,000sf.
 This was as close as Katherine Henshell got to representing the ward 1 seat she ran for in 2014. Hensehll adds that she felt the instructions to produce just the one plan – one with no homes in place – came from the city. Nothing to that effect was ever said at any Burlington municipal meeting. Her view was that if the city was not going to do anything to support the concept of homes in the park then it was wise to take the price being offered and get the equity out.
The Region is arguing that all sales are made on a willing seller/willing buyer basis. The Region is cerainly a willing buyer with a cheque book that seems to have no limits.
The sellers have no one else to turn to – no one is going to buy the property knowing that the Region is going to hound them into selling by offering great prices.
While the willing buyer/willing seller case it put out – there isn’t a person in the Beachway who doesn’t believe the Region will expropriate when they get down to the last few homes – but that is 20 years away.
In May of this year Halton Regional Council approved the Burlington Beach Regional Park Master Plan which would turn the park into a signature waterfront destination, while preserving and protecting its rich and sensitive natural environment.
In a recent statement the Region said: “Implementation of the plan has begun and Regional staff is committed to ensuring you are kept informed about our progress on the work happening in your area. This letter is to inform you that as of October 1, 2015, Halton Region will commence the decommissioning and demolition work to remove all structures located on the following properties in Burlington: 109 Willow Avenue, 115 Willow Avenue and 1019 Lakeshore Road
Halton anticipates these works to be complete by December 31, 2015. As part of the demolition works, the site will undergo environmental remediation work to ensure that the properties are suitable for future park use. The environmental work includes: excavation of any contaminated soils and/or septic systems, filling and
 An attractive, well maintained home in the Beachway – the owners struggle to ensure they will be able to remain in their home. The Region is said to have offered $750,00 for this property which has a smaller unit at the rear of the lot. grading of the site (if necessary), and surface plantings to inhibit soil erosion and control surface drainage. This work will be complete during normal business hours to minimize disruption. The Region advised people in the community that all materials left on site from this work will be disposed of. “If you, or someone you know, are presently storing materials at these locations, we ask you to remove them at your earliest convenience.”
Full disclosure: The Gazette has retained Katherine Henshell to represent the company as defendants in the libel case with the Burlington air park.
By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Watch for it. The smoke from the grills at Spencer Smith Park should begin to rise sometime this afternoon as the crews prepare for the opening of the 20th Annual Burlington Rotary Ribfest.
The event starts today Thursday at 5:30pm And runs to 11pm, Friday to Sunday 11am – 11pm and Monday 11am – 8pm
To celebrate the 20th year Rotary added an additional day for feasting on those ribs.
 Premier Kathleen Wynne decided to show the boys how ribs should be flipped. Mayor Rick Goldring on the right likes the look of what he has done while Gary Murray, president of Gypsum Technologies adds another to the ribs that will go on sale. A couple of years ago the Premier of the province put in a shift at the grill – a very short shift – but she was there flipping those ribs.
While all is well at Spencer Smith Park and the Rotary operation – there is a simmering battle between two competing ribfest organizations heating up in Hamilton.
The following was reported in the Hamilton Spectator:
The Rotary Club of Burlington-Lakeshore is locking horns with a private ribfest company, the Northern Heat Rib Series, over the timing and location of their smoky, meaty, BBQ-sauce-infused events.
The Burlington Rotary, which runs Canada’s Largest Ribfest, hosts a massive event at Spencer Smith Park every Labour Day weekend.
The Northern Heat Rib Series — a brand-new business launched in April — hosted the first Hamilton Ribfest at Valley Park on the first weekend in June. Justin Brown, owner of Northern Heat, says he was simply aiming to provide a ribfest in an area that didn’t host one.
But the Rotary club isn’t impressed. Earlier this summer, Brown received a letter from several Rotary clubs — spearheaded by Burlington-Lakeshore — stating the club’s disappointment in his fledgling business venue.
 Burlington RibFest is a remarkable success – the result of a lot of hard work over a long period of time. If you looked around there was still some sitting room. The weather was close to perfect and the music was good – great way to bring a summer to a close. Soon after, a ribber booked on Brown’s Northern Heat Rib Series was kicked out of the Rotary’s Labour Day event in Burlington. Other ribbers have since pulled out of Brown’s events for fear of the same treatment. Brown has also lost one of his major sponsors.
“I’m not interested in any of this conflict. It’s not what I’ve decided to come into business for,” Brown said.
But Jeremy Racicot, co-chair of Canada’s Largest Ribfest, says Rotary is simply trying to defend its customers. He says the ribfest market in this area has already been saturated.
“We’re not a bully. We’re just protecting our charity,” he said.
This is the 20th year the Rotary Club of Burlington-Lakeshore has been running Canada’s Largest Ribfest — just one of the many Rotary chapters that operates ribfests around southern Ontario. The Waterdown Oh Canada Ribfest, run by the Rotary Clubs of Flamborough and Waterdown is a smaller player — albeit still popular — on the local ribbing scene.
 John Thorpe on the left and Bob Penning stand beside the cupboard with crests from Rotarian clubs around the world. Both men were founders of the exceptionally successful Rotarian Rib Fest celebrating its 20th year of operation, Later this week we will tell the story of how Name Thorpe and Bob Penning; two Rotarians, built the Rib Fest to the event it is today. It’s quite a success story.
By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Canadian National Exhibition has been holding the Rising StarTalent dance and song competition for more than 29 years. some great performers got their start at that event.
This year three girls from Burlington took part and all three made it to the semi- finals.
 Lauren Salt made it to the finals at the CNE Rising Star Talent contest. Lauren Salt trains at the Dance Station and both Poppy and Olivia train at the Creative Edge Dance Studio under the name of “Frenemies”.
Lauren Salt has made it to the finals and will dance at that level Saturday night. Her Mom says “she is pumped”. Lauren has been in dance since the age of two – she sees this as a full time career option. We will report on the results.
 Olivia on the left and Poppy on the right – made it to the semi-finals at the CNE Rising Star competition. Poppy and Olivia are content with having made it to the finals. They had a lot of fun and the experience was good for them. we may see more of these two in the future.
By Pepper Parr
September 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Prime Minister came to town and spoke to a decent sized audience at a small steel plant and told them if his government was re-elected there would be an Advanced Manufacturing Hub created in Burlington. A number of people in the twitter world were asking – what is an Advanced Manufacturing hub?
 Prime Minister Harper making his Advanced Manufacturing hib at a steel plant in Burlington on Tuesday. The Gazette is asking – where does that hub fit in with the long range Strategic Plan the city has been working on. We are in pretty close contact with the Economic Development Corporation in Burlington and we’ve not heard a word about this idea from them.
The city is certainly talking about hubs, mostly in a transportation context, with the idea of developing both housing and office accommodation as part of those hubs. The city has four mobility hubs of in mind; one at each of the GO Stations and another at the John Street bus terminal.
 Federal Liberal candidate for Burlington: Karina Gould Liberal candidate Karina Gould, who was in all probability not in the audience when the Prime Minister spoke, had these comments on the Conservative announcement.
“After a decade of watching manufacturing jobs disappear under Stephen Harper no voter is going to believe that he suddenly cares about the sector. Over the next 10 years a Liberal government will invest $60 billion in the kind of productivity enhancing infrastructure that all sectors, including manufacturing, need to compete in the 21st century.
“Strong economies produce goods. Manufacturing is the number one investor in research and development. It provides good jobs outside urban areas as well as in urban centres. We will help manufacturers to modernize and to reach new markets. We will help small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets and help them gain a foothold in Europe. We need to be prepared for the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
“Since Stephen Harper came to power our growth in exports has been the worst of any G7 country.”
 Conservatives at 28.8; NDP at 30.8 and the Liberals at 29.7 – tight. There is certainly an election taking place and with the opinion polls where they are it is an all-out effort on the part of every candidate.
By Staff
eptember 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Performing Arts Centre is going to be one of the stops for the World Premiere Tour of the unique classical ballet Sleeping Beauty.
The performance will take place October 2, 2015 at 8:00 pm.
Dance Critic Gary Smith will give a pre-show talk, in addition to a post-show chat with the artists.
 Sleeping Beauty, Performance, Act I Sleeping Beauty is one of the world‘s most famous classical ballets and holds a place in the repertoire of virtually every major company.
This major new ballet tells the enchanting story of Aurora and her prince complete with its inherently magical qualities and dazzling choreography. The fairy tale about a young woman placed under a spell to sleep for a hundred years only to be awakened by a kiss is an easily accessible story. It appeals to a child’s imagination and holds a special place in the hearts of adults.
 Superb performances of Sleeping Beauty are going to take place on the stage at the Performing Arts Centre – October 2 The underlying theme is the tug between the forces of good (the Lilac Fairy) and evil (Carabosse), serving as an important thread to the plot. Told in three acts, the ballet benefits from the character development and technical expertise for which Canada’s Ballet Jörgen is known.
Artistic Director and award-winning choreographer Bengt Jörgen focuses on the magical elements and the interpretation of the ballet as a nature allegory: The young woman represents nature, the wicked fairy is winter, who deadens life with pricks of frost until a young man, spring, cuts away the brambles to allow the sun to awaken sleeping nature. Sleeping Beauty by Canada’s Ballet Jörgen draws on the traditional choreography by Marius Petipa to spin a tale of nature and love that will inspire young and old alike.
 Sleeping Beauty has a very large cast – it is a traditional ballet that has been done as a Walt Disney film and is a favorite with young people and adults that appreciate the richness of the story and the strength of the dancers. The delightful story will be danced to the original 1890 score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set to a libretto based on Charles Perrault’s story La Belle au bois dormant. In ensemble with stunning costumes and captivating lighting design, Sleeping Beauty by Canada‘s Ballet Jörgen is guaranteed to provide an evening of entertaining and inspiring live performance.
If you want your children to have some understanding of what great ballet is – this is the event to take them to – the Walt Disney movie version always does well – real dancers with fabulous choreography is one of those things every child should have an opportunity to see.
Tickets can be purchased online www.burlingtonpac.ca, by phone 905-681-6000 or in person at the Box Office located at 440 Locust Street.
By Staff
September 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
You know the federal election is in full swing when the Prime Minister comes to town and announces his government will build a new Advanced Manufacturing Hub in Burlington if he wins the Oct. 19 election.
Prime Minister fills the floor of a steel plant in Burlington – promises to create an advanced manufacturing hub in the city – if he wins the election. No details on who the private sector partners are or which part of the city this might be located in. Speaking at a campaign event at Harvester Steel in Burlington, Harper said the centre will focus on “cutting edge products and technologies.”
Everyone should know by this time that governments do not create jobs – unless they hire more civil servants.
The private sector creates jobs and there wasn’t much heard from the private sector about how much of their money was going to be pumped into this idea – and that is all it is at this point – an idea – a good one if it is executed properly.
The announcement will have come as a bit of a surprise to the Chamber of Commerce and the city’s Economic development Corporation who were expected to attend and clap at the appropriate time.
Harper’s event, which focused on beefing up the manufacturing sector, came on the same day that economists announced Canada is officially in a recession.
Does the Prime Minister’s visit to Burlington suggest that Mike Wallace’s seat is in trouble?
If we see him again before October 19th – then Burlington is up for grabs.
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES September 4 to 10 , 2015
SINISTER 2 14A
Fri to Thur 1:20 3:30 5:20 7:15 9:10
AMERICAN ULTRA 18A
Fri to Thur 1:35 5:40 7:30 9:20
FANTASTIC FOUR PG
Fri to Thur 11:30 1:30 3:15 5:30
JURASSIC WORLD PG
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:00 3:20 5:10 7:00 9:15
VACATION 14A
Fri to Thur 11:20 1:30 3:15 5:10 7:30
SOUTHPAW 14A
Fri to Thur 11:15 7:20 9:30
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Thur 11:15 1:15 3:15 5:15 7:15
PAPER TOWNS PG
Fri to Thur 11:00 3:30 9:30
AMY 14A
Fri to Thur 9:15
By Staff
September 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Below is a review of real estate sales for the full month of July 2015, provided by the Rocca Sisters and Associates, broken down by area with their latest forecasts.
 
The Burlington market has remained strong into the summer with a 3% increase seen in both average sale price and the number of home sales in July 2015 as compared to the same month in 2014. The number of days that a property remains on the market has also decreased from 29 days to only 27 days. We are experiencing a higher than average number of requests for evaluations this month, so our prediction is that there will be a strong, more balanced upcoming fall market.
By Staff
August 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Lane Restrictions on Pine Street – Sept. 3 to 5
 You are looking at a Master Coffee Brewer- finest coffee in town Halton Region will be installing new wastewater main liners on Pine Street, between Elizabeth and Pearl Streets. This construction will take place at night from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. starting Thursday, Sept. 3 to Saturday, Sept. 5.
Lane restrictions will be in effect.
Whew – so I can still get my engines going at Tamp – need that coffee
By Staff
August 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A monument. A tangible piece of history placed in a prominent spot to signify the beginning or end of something – a life, a war, a turning point in history – that is what Burlingtonians can expect to see in the very near future.
 Prominently located at the west entrance to Spencer Smith Park there will be a six foot high, three foot wide place marker to remind the public and tell the youth of the future about the remarkable attempt a young man made to run across this county with one good leg and the other an artificial leg that was always uncomfortable.
There are several markers in the Terry Fox Journey – British Columbia where his dream was born; St. John’s, Newfoundland – where his journey began and sadly, Thunder Bay, Ontario – where his run came to an end.
“We as Burlingtonians make no special claim of ownership over Terry’s legacy,” said Greg Costa, the lead on the Monument project, “however, on July 13th, 1980 something extraordinary did happen here. Terry brought his Marathon of Hope along Lakeshore Road, to North Shore, up King Road, and across Plains Road.”
“We weren’t the beginning or the end of this journey, but we’re proud nonetheless to be part of the journey. While the end of his run, and subsequent death left a permanent mark on every Canadian, it was his journey that truly touched lives. It’s what brought people to the streets to witness a once in a lifetime moment. A moment that showed the full spectrum of what it is to be human. Terry’s run was about sacrifice, friendship, determination, and strength. Not just physical strength, but strength of character.”
On this the 35th anniversary of Terry’s run through Burlington, what’s the perfect way to mark the occasion? While 35 years is a long time, no doubt, it’s not nearly the end.
Terry reached Burlington with many kilometers behind him, and many yet to go. Just as we have reached 35 years of participating in community runs in Terry’s name to raise money for cancer research – we have many years ahead of us.
Terry said: “Even though I’m not running anymore, we still have to try to find a cure for cancer. Other people should go ahead and try to do their own thing now.”
And we did. We have for 35 years – but we’re not done yet.
 The Burlington Terry Fox Monument Project Team has proudly announced plans for a “mile”marker” monument at the west end of Spencer Smith Park to celebrate Terry’s journey. “We hope that this will not only pay respect to one of the greatest Canadian Heroes this country has ever known,” said Costa, ” but to act as a reminder that we’re not finished what he started. Not yet.”
The Monument group is grateful to the City of Burlington for donating the location where the monument will be placed.
Funds for the monument are being raised privately and separately from the Terry Fox Foundation or the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee
This is a separate community project – they have decided to be very low key until the annual Terry Fox runs takes place September 20th. They do not want to confuse the public – the Monument is not part of the drive to raise funds for cancer – it is to pay for a marker; something that every citizen will smile at when they see it and every visitor will want to have their picture taken in front of.
Greg Costa at the Burlington Terry Fox Monument Project, is passionate about Terry’s vision and his legacy. You can reach him by calling 905-335-1909 or emailing him at costagreg@cogeco.ca.
Their goal to erect a monument to commemorate the 35th year of the Marathon of Hope in memory of Terry Fox and his life time achievements in the fight against Cancer.
 This is a private citizen group led event. Costa points out that “we are not a registered charity, your donation cannot be tax receipted.”
This initiative is the kind of thing that makes people proud of the city.
 By Staff
August 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Do you remember the s l o w dances?
Sure you do – and Kyle Tonkens, a local installation artist would like you to experience those wonderful evening dances once again.
 Your invitation. On Thursday, September 10, between 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm., Tomkins is inviting you have one of those slow dances as the sun sets in the west. The event features a real-time two hour sunset, where there will be live music, refreshments, and of course wonderful works of art on display.
I wonder if they will play Red Sails in the Sunset – that one always worked for me.
The event takes place at the The Art Gallery of Burlington on Lakeshore Road.
 It was vision and cultural courage that got this piece of art outside the Art Gallery of Burlington – plus the desire of a man to make a statement of his devotion to his wife. It will be held in the RBC Community room where a glorious sunset will be projected on the south wall of the community room. For those who want the real thing in the way of a sunset – they will be able to dance outside close to the Rebbecca – one mans statement of his love for his wife.
The sunset that will be projected was filmed at Princess Point – a part of the Cootes Paradise where the view of sunsets is incredible.
Admission is free.
By Staff
August 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you see someone with behind the wheel of their car with their cell phone next to their ear – you know the driver of the car has at least $490 he doesn’t need.
On September 1, 2015, the rules of the road will be updated to include tougher penalties for distracted driving, new rules to protect cyclists and measures to ensure the safety of tow truck drivers and children riding school buses.
 This will cost you $450 starting tomorrow – plus three demerit points. Getting Tougher on Distracted Driving
Penalties for distracted driving will include an increased set fine of $490* and three demerit points upon conviction. Novice drivers will receive a minimum 30-day suspension for the first conviction and longer suspensions for subsequent convictions.
If current collision trends continue, fatalities from distracted driving may exceed those from drinking and driving by 2016. Research indicates that a driver who uses a cell phone is four times more likely to be in a crash.
Keeping Cyclists Safe
The “dooring” of cyclists will carry an increased set fine of $365* and three demerit points upon conviction. New rules will also require drivers to leave a one-metre distance where possible when passing cyclists, or they may face the penalty of a $110*set fine and two demerit points. Cyclists who don’t use the required bicycle lights and reflectors face a higher set fine of $110.
 This is called “dooring” – using your rear view mirror before opening the car door prevents that from happening. A bike must have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between ½ hour before sunset and ½ hour after sunrise, and white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on rear forks.
Staying Alert Around Tow Trucks and School Buses
Drivers must now leave a safe passing distance between themselves and tow trucks stopped on the roadside to provide assistance. Failing to slow down and move over for a tow truck can result in a set fine of $490.* School buses will be more recognizable — they will now be the only buses permitted to be chrome yellow.
By Staff
August 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is going to be a Town Hall meeting on transit issues on Tuesday September 1st at the Royal Botanical Gardens starting at 6:00 pm through to 7:30 pm.
 The event is being hosted by Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon and Hon Ted McMeekin, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
Ontario Transportation Minister Steven De Duca is the featured guest.
Not a lot of information in the meeting notice we were sent other than to say they will be speaking about transit issues and answering questions.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon and Hon Ted McMeekin, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs are hosting the Transit Town Hall meeting. Transit is a major issue for Burlington as it grapples with the intensification that is to take place and an ever more crowed QEW.
GO transit is a provincial service that is critical to Burlington.
There was no sense that a major announcement is to be made – but there is a federal election and the Premier of the province has gotten behind federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau who recently announced a policy that will pump millions into public infrastructure.
The event is for anyone who wants to be at the RBG – the Gazette will report on the meeting.
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