Get caught red handed on Brant street on Friday - down town merchants would like to see you.

Event 100By Staff

July 16, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

They do it every summer – they use red bags to boost sales for downtown retailers – and it works for everyone – the retailers and the consumers.

Brian Dean, top toff at the Downtown Business Association was out drumming up business for those of his members that took part in the Red Bag Sale.  Too many of his members let the community down last Sunday.  Keeping the doors closed while the city works at getting people out on the street isn't thew way the game is played.

Brian Dean, top toff at the Downtown Business Association was out drumming up business for those of his members that took part in the Red Bag Sale.   He doesn’t exactly make a fashion statement does he?

The event begins at noon on Friday and runs till 9:00 pm in the downtown core.

Celebrate summer in Downtown Burlington! They’ll have you seeing RED all day with activities & events throughout the core.
Look for the red balloons! Get Caught Red Handed for Prize Giveaways!

If you’re spotted with a red retail bag you are in for a chance to win prizes from downtown businesses!

Red Bag event  logoFor every $50 spent, you get entered to win a $500 Shopping Spree! Participating businesses will being handing out the ballots upon purchase, fill out and hand in at our Burlington Downtown tent at Civic Square – set up outside City Hall.

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After a sloppy and messy debate council refers the Code of Conduct to the city manager; new provincial offense court house also given the go.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

July 16, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

This article has been revised.

They are now off for six weeks – except for a three day municipal conference in August the magnificent seven that lead this city of ours will be taking it easy.

During their last city council they came close to making absolute fools of themselves over a code of conduct that we doubt will be followed – and if it is – it will be used to continue the petty games we saw at the Wednesday night council meeting.

After what the Mayor called a “sloppy, messy” debate council put back in a section of the Code that had been taken out at a meeting May 12th.
There was all kinds of fulminating about principles and professionalism and the need to work as a team which isn’t what your Council did Wednesday evening.

After some discussion between Councillors Craven and Sharman in the foyer outside the Council Chamber, Councillor Sharman returned to his seat, said a few words to Councillor Lancaster and the meeting began.

Councillors Sharman and Lancaster: both part of the Shape Burlington committee who seem to have forgotten what the report was all about - civic engagement

Councillor Sharman tends to advise Councillor Lancaster on issues and directions.

Councillor Lancaster introduced a motion, seconded by Councillor Sharman to replace wording in the Code of Conduct that had been taken out at that May 12th meeting.

No one had seen the motion until it was introduced – not the Clerk or the Mayor. All the chatter about professionalism and respect for each other got blown out the window.

There is precious little respect between Councillors Craven and Sharman for Councillor Meed Ward. Councillor Lancaster tends to go along with whatever Sharman suggests.

The issue was about whether or not a council members can involve themselves in matters that are outside their wards.

The Gazette will report on that part of the meeting in another piece.

The final vote was to refer the revised Code of Conduct to the city manager where it will get debated under the Governance section of the strategic Plan. One of the problems is that Strategic Plan meetings are for the most part not recorded or broadcast on the city’s web site.

 

wev

They now have a Code of Conduct – will it make any difference as to how they behave with one another? Don’t expect any changes – the behaviour for most of these men and women is deeply rooted.

The Gazette will report on that part of the meeting in another piece.

Council goes into Closed Session to hear what city solicitor has to say.

Council went into a closed session to talk with the city solicitor about the latest move on the part of the ADI Development Group and the 28 storey project they want to build at Martha and Lakeshore Road. We have no idea what they talked about but the length of the closed session suggests that it was complex.

Earlier in the week the Ontario Municipal Board Commissioner who will be hearing the ADI application set a date for in March for the hearing.

The OMB meeting on Monday was, we are advised, a meeting to set out what the issues are and to narrow the focus – to determine just what it is ADI is asking the OMB to do.

ADI project - rendering from LAkeshore

It is going to take some really fine lawyering to prevent this 28 storey structure from going up at the corner of Martha and Lakeshore. OMB hearing expected to take place in March of 2016

The Gazette was not able to attend that meeting but our colleague Joan Little, a former city and regional Councillor and a columnist for the Hamilton Spectator, said she didn’t hear any discussion that had to do with the narrowing of the issues.

These preliminary meetings are held to get some sense as to how much time the Municipal Board should allocate for the hearing. The one looks like it is going to be long and contentious.

ADI has hired Weir & Foulds, a Toronto firm with an exceptionally strong pedigree – these guys don’t take any prisoners. Based on the two occasions the Gazette listened to one of their lawyer’s the city has its work cut out for it.

New Court House for Provincial Offenses gets the go-ahead.

There was more – the construction of a court house on Palladium Way at Walkers Line is now a go. The intention is to have a court house built that will hear Provincial Offenses only.

Burlington Court House

At least two more years for this Provincial Offenses Court House.

Citizens in the Alton Community were concerned with people being tried for criminal offenses being in the area. Provincial Offenses are things like Highway Traffic Act cases; charges laid against people who have been charged with a provincial law offense.  They aren’t going to see men and woman in handcuffs and shackles being led into that court house.

While the province is responsible for running the courts in which criminal cases are heard – the building that is being planned will not hear that kind of case

Council approved the issuing of a Request for proposals (RFP) to private sector investors/developers inviting them to purchase or lease the site the city owns and build the court house.

Transit issues got a very small mention – there are going to be talks with Oakville transit to look into what might be done to get some public transit to the court house.

City Manager James Ridge did say that there was some public education needed and that there would be public consultations in September.

The Court House to be built is expected to serve the needs of Region foe the next 25 years. The intention is to have the court house ready for occupancy in January of 2018.

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Forest Glen Avenue and Shadeland Avenue - Resurfacing and Reconstruction

News 100 redBy Staff

July 15, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

King Paving & Construction has been awarded the Forest Glen and Shadeland Avenue Resurfacing and Reconstruction project.

Shadeland cotructionProject limits are as shown in the attached map.

Road/Lane Closures

Throughout the project, the traffic will be restricted to local traffic only. Every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum. Construction signs will be posted and the site will be barricaded.

Please exercise caution and obey all signs placed for your safety.

Preliminary work is scheduled to begin early July and will continue through to the end of September.

The work includes:
Forest Glen Ave & Shadeland Ave
• Road reconstruction includes storm sewer and curb and gutters from Northshore to approx 300m north.
• Remainder of the roadway (to Townsend) is resurfacing only.
Ascot Place
• Road resurfacing with culverts installation in various locations
Access
Vehicle access to and from your properties may at times be difficult, additionally; driveways will be temporarily closed when work is being carried out in the immediate vicinity. Either the inspector or the contractor will notify you of access interruptions prior to the closure.

Parking on the street

For the duration of the construction, on-street parking will be relaxed for the “5 hour limit and overnight between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.” in your area, when your driveway is not accessible or if the street is closed. However, vehicles will be subject to enforcement of all other parking offences where:

• Signs are posted, i.e. prohibited parking, prohibited stopping, etc
• Signs are not posted, i.e. obstructing sidewalks, facing the wrong way, parked within 3 meters of a fire hydrant, etc
Garbage

Please continue to put your garbage and recycling out on the usual day. It is the contractor’s responsibility to move your garbage to a location that it can be accessed by the garbage truck and return your garbage containers. In order to help the contractor we would ask that you indicate, on you garbage cans and recycling bins, your house numbers.

Lawn Irrigation Systems
If you have a lawn irrigation system, we recommend you disconnect and remove any sprinkler heads within the City’s road allowance. As well, please have your system flagged that is near and City road works.

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Bob Missen gets the Lowville Festival to the starting gate - the weather looks like it is going to cooperate - will ticket sales be as good?

News 100 yellowBy Pepper Parr

July 15, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

 

There is an infectiousness to the guy.

He doesn’t stop – every idea is a great idea.
He’s been in show business forever and knows all the players – he drops names like rainfall.

Bob Missen

Bob Missen – one of the founders of the Lowville Festival – which takes place this weekend

The arts, the arts, the arts – they are what Bob Missen lives and breathes and if there is an opportunity to advance a cause or an idea or an event – he will be at the front of the line

When he delegated during one of the Stakeholders meetings that were held to ”inform” the Strategic Plan, the people in the room had to lean back a little to absorb the flow of words.

Missen knew that this was his opportunity to state his case – and he didn’t miss much of that opportunity.

Missen doesn’t speak from a script – he does wave his hands a lot and the passion just flows out of the man.

He promoted the Lowville Festival and certainly had the ear of the people who were in the room.

Missen’s mission if you will, goes far beyond the limits of Lowville where he is hosting the inaugural Lowville Festival; he sees no reason why the Nelson Quarry that is close to the end of its productive life can’t be converted into a park with an amphitheatre set beside the lake that would get formed when the quarry eventually fills with water.

PERL wants to esure that when this quarry is mined out that the site is properly rehabilitated and returned to the public.

Can the city get it hands on the quarry and turn the site into a healthy addition to the economy and social activity in rural Burlington – will the locals go along with such an idea o do they want to be left along to enjoy their piece of paradise?

Missen is talking the language that John Taylor lives – there are already people planning on a second conversation with the Nelson quarry people about having the city acquire the property.

A quarry in Action was recently acquired by the Region for a reported price of $1 – Missen likes that approach.

Burlington’s city council did a bus tour of the quarry site and were briefed on the time frames the Nelson quarry people were looking at – Councillor Marianne Meed Ward came away from that event feeling that there were potentialities.

The Lowville Festival event is pretty catholic in its breadth – there is just about something for everyone. “We are not at all sure where this is going to go” said Missen. “We just saw the locale as something with great potential and we put out the word and are now bringing all the wonderful talent this city has and letting the citizens hear for themselves.”

Teresa Seaton, centre, discusses where her cultiral hot spots in the city are located.

Teresa Seaton, centre, discusses where her cultural hot spots in the city are located.  Donna Graddon, on the right is thinking that one over.

Missen is convinced there is great potential for an explosion of artistic activity and it doesn’t all have to take place on the edge of the lake. The Escarpment is just as big a part of the city adds Missen and we want to take advantage of that setting.

“Losing Brian McCurdy as the executive director of the Performing Arts centre is close to tragic” said Missen “but there are some very good people in place and their focus now on community groups and encouraging local talent is something Burlington has needed for some time.”

“Hopefully” adds Missen, “McCurdy will be deeply involved in the selection of his replacement – he knows everyone and can be of immense help.”

Missen is of the belief that Burlington will create an Arts Council and that the city will fund it on an ongoing basis – and go so far as to give the Council a significant sum to be handed out to different arts groups – an amount of $100,000 has been floated.

The discussions taking place at the Strategic Plan sessions make mention of a role for the arts but the focus there is on vital neighbourhoods.

There was a time when individual council members listened to requests for funding and some dollars were handed out – it is unlikely that any of the seven politicians that lead us through the darkness are going to give up that perk.

The Collective had done their homework - they knew what they wanted - now to actually get it - that's their challenge.

The Collective had done their homework – they knew what they wanted – now to actually get it – that’s their challenge.

The arts community has certainly come to the surface and are now clearly visible on the radar screen – what kind of influence they can have on the bureaucracy is another story.

Culture Days is taking place in the city in September. Missen takes a lot of the credit for getting the city on board with that program which was a success last year.

The city currently has a Culture manager – she was upgraded from a culture planner – but other than a half time helper Angela Paparizo struggles with a large workload without the kind of senior management level support and direction.

Up until the appointment of Paparizo as a cultural manager, arts programs got stuffed in with sports and recreation – the two didn’t mix all that well.

Robert Steven AGB

Robert Steven. president of the Art Gallery of Burlington has yet to make any kind of a mark on the cultural scene – he is still working his way through the organization he was brought in to run.

The newly appointed president of the Art Gallery of Burlington, Robert Steven, came to us from Grande Prairie, where he ran a full slate of programs as the Director of Arts and Culture – Grande Prairie had a 2011 population of 55,000 – Burlington is three times its size. That city proved to understand that the arts was not only healthy for a public but was also a real business. Burlington isn’t there yet.

The city struggled with an ongoing subsidy of more than half a million dollars each year for the Performing Arts Centre; when they place first went operational Ward 2 councillor Meed Ward said she wanted the place to be self-sustaining if not profitable – she has since learned the arts don’t work quite that way.

The current council is not likely to lay out all that much money in 2016 – they are still trying to digest the possible 4% tax increase the finance department trotted out a few weeks ago.

Cultural projects manager Angela PapXXX and Stela selection jury member talk about the next project for the city?

Cultural projects manager Angela Paparizo and Trevor Copp have been leaders in pushing for the creation of a Cultural action plan – the  task now is to network and create some momentum at the bureaucratic level.

The emergence of a younger active more mobile demographic in Burlington has opened some eyes and resulted in the creation of an art collective that is not shy about getting their story out.

There is a Cultural Action Plan – in print at least – that needs to get some meat on its bones. It was in the hands of General Manager Kim Phillips who has since retired and really hasn’t found a home or a strong advocate. The Cultural manager has some networking to do.

Missen had hoped she would be a very visible presence at the Lowville Festival – Paparizo is on vacation that week.

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Hamlet to be performed outdoors in the hamlet of Lowville Thursday evening.

Event 100By Debra Pickfield

July 15, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Driftwood Theatre will be producing Hamlet at THiNKSPOT location in Burlington tomorrow (Thursday) evening July 16th.

Hamlet - skullPerhaps the most famous Shakespeare play will be performed from 7:30 until 9:30 pm (food will be available for purchase from 6:00 until just before the play begins).

Jeremy Smith, founder of Driftwood, will be staying for a wine and cheese Question and Answer period after the play – and with 20 years of taking Shakespeare on the road through-out Ontario each year I for one am looking forward to hearing his stories.

The feature that makes THiNKSPOT work is the setting and the level of facilitation,

The feature that makes THiNKSPOT work is the setting. 

For people like me who are very rusty with their Shakespeare, there is an equivalent to Shakespeare for Dummies on Thursday afternoon. We have a few spots left if you are interested in getting totally outside of your comfort zone (OK – that is actually me expressing my biggest fears – so now you know) – just let me know if you are interested in joining us tomorrow afternoon. (there will be some liquid courage provided somewhere at ThinkSpot.)

The Hamlet presentation is the first event in a four day event – the Lowville Festival – talking place in what some people are calling a hamlet – that is a stretch isn’t it?

THiNKSPOT is exactly what the name says: A place where people meet to think.

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Which is it ? Maranatha project doesn't look like what was approved at city council.

News 100 redBy Staff

July 15, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Which is it?

The one that was approved by the city at a council meeting or the one that is on the sales sign on the property?

Maranantha-revisions-8-and-7

The initial proposal was for an eight story building – that got whittled down to seven. Many felt there was still too much massing.

When Maranatha Gardens was first proposed it was a seven story structure that some felt had too much massing.

A lot of jaw boning with the people in the planning department brought about a revision that seemed to keep most people happy. The Mayor said he believed that some of the people who were opposed to the size of the building would eventually live in it – now there’s an endorsement for you.

Maranantha-6-storey-version

With even more jaw boning the project got cut down to six floors with a large open space to cut down on what many thought was a massive wall in a location that wasn’t appropriate

A community group took the matter to the OMB – but soon gave that up and for all intents and purposes the project was a go.

The lot has been cleared and there is some kind of a construction schedule.

Maranatha sign - difference

The what’s being offered for sale sign doesn’t look at all like what was approved at city council – why’s that?

And there is a sign on the property offering units for sale – it isn’t a picture of the building that was approved – it doesn’t look anything like the plan that was approved at city council – so – which one is it ?

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Performing Arts takes it outside - sweet sounds for the month of August - with a chilled Chablis.

theartsBy Staff

July 15, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

If you’re on the south end of Brant on a Friday evening in August you will hear the sweet sound of a saxophone – head towards the sound – t he Burlington Performing Arts Centre will present a free concert on the plaza, featuring a different performer each evening.

The performances take place from 6:30pm-8:30pm and the bar will be open. In the event of rain, the performance will move from the plaza into the lobby.

Performers include Jude Johnson (Burlington), Mike Malone (Hamilton), Joel Haynes and the Jazz Collective (Burlington/Toronto), and Micah Barnes (Toronto).

Jude-Johnsons-Jazz-

Jude Johnson a vocalist, songwriter and performer who grew up in Burlington.

Friday, August 7: Jude Johnson a vocalist, songwriter and performer who grew up in Burlington. She moved to Hamilton and is that city’s Special Music Ambassador. He was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction in 2009. He received the Hamilton Arts award for Arts Education in 2011. She has also been the unseen voice on many radio and TV commercials, been featured on CBC radio and sung on over 50 albums with a variety of artists.

SONY DSC

Mike Malone: Trumpet player, composer, and arranger. Malone has been part of the Canadian Jazz scene since the early 1970’s.

Friday, August 14: Mike Malone. Trumpet player, composer, and arranger; Malone has been part of the Canadian Jazz scene since the early 1970’s. From 1986 until retirement in 2011 he taught at Mohawk College including trumpet and composition courses. In 2013 he became Director of the Jazz Band at McMaster University.

Joel Haymesw - Jazz Collective

Haynes and the Jazz Collective

Friday, August 21: Joel Haynes and the Jazz Collective. Based in Toronto, the Jazz Collective serves up their own unique jazz compositions penned from each member with elements of high energy jazz and contemporary harmonies. The group is a “wish list of jazz musicians” put together by Joel Haynes (Burlington) & Jeff King (Toronto). The players: Alexis Baro (trumpet), Jeff King (tenor sax), Luis Deniz (alto sax), Adrean Farrugia (piano), Arti Roth (acoustic bass) and Joel Haynes (drums).

Micah Barnes

Micah Barnes started singing in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager,

Friday, August 28: Micah Barnes. Starting in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah Barnes is now a well-loved singer-songwriter. He toured the world with The Nylons, and later his solo career led to his #1 international club hit Welcome To My Head. Micah earned coverage in Rolling Stone magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”.

A glass of wine in hand, tapping your foot to the sound of a really good base player – with the smell of the lake in the air.

This is nice.

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Burlington Community Foundation adds some muscle and marketing talent to its board.

News 100 redBy Staff

July 13, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The Burlington Community Foundation can now move on to its normal mode of operation – getting ready for its annual Gala event in October and developing a number of community based programs.

The Foundation also beefed up its board and brought in some muscle and some top rate marketing people.

The Foundation now has two – not one but two Colonels on its Board.

Has there ever been a Board of Governors in Burlington history with two Colonels on its board asks Honorary Colonel Ron Foxcroft who is now joined by Honorary Colonel Tim W. Hogarth

Early in July the Community Foundation added three new people.

Tim Hogarth, CEO Pioneer Energy

Tim Hogarth, CEO Pioneer Energy, the Honorary Colonel of the Hamilton Light Infantry and now a member of the Community Foundation Board

Colonel Tim Hogarth of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry also the CEO of the Pioneer Group joined the Board of the Foundation along with Catherine Brady, Director of Client Services, ADFLOW Networks, and Neil Oliver, Group Publisher & Vice President, Metroland Media Group, have joined the foundation’s Board of Directors.

“It is an exciting time for BCF and we are delighted to welcome Catherine, Tim and Neil to our Board,” says Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Community Foundation. “Each individual brings unique business expertise and experience supporting various community initiatives. This added depth will allow our Board to continue collaborating within the community to build endowments, give grants and connect leadership.”

Adflow - Wallace - Brady - Davies

Catherine Brady, centre, explains how the AdFlow service works during a visit to their office by Burlington MP Mike Wallace

Burlington resident Catherine Brady brings a wealth of experience in business and non-profit volunteer sectors. At ADFLOW Networks Catherine manages an office of 30 and is responsible for training clients on digital software applications. Catherine’s volunteer leadership roles include past President of Rotary Club Burlington Central, Past President of the Art Gallery of Burlington Foundation Board, member of the AGB Governing Board and a United Way cabinet member. In 2014, Catherine was also instrumental in assisting the BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee fundraising efforts in community-based activities.

Tim Hogarth was appointed the Honorary Colonel of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry regiment in 2012. He has been awarded numerous accolades including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and was inducted into the Order of St. George (Canada & Americas). Tim is a founding partner of the Charter for Business Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme, former Vice-Chair Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and serves on various other charities and boards. Tim was educated at the Harvard Graduate School of Business and Bishops University.

Niel Oliver Metroland

Neil Oliver, a Metroland V and publisher of the Burlington Post

Neil Oliver is responsible for Metroland’s largest community newspaper group that stretches from Oakville, southwest to Niagara and northwest to Kitchener. He is the publisher of the Burlington Post and also responsible for Metroland’s three daily newspapers; The Hamilton Spectator, Waterloo Record and Guelph Mercury. Neil has over 28 years of experience in the media industry and holds an MBA from the University of Leicester. Neil has served on several boards in the not-for-profit sector as well as industry associations and lives in Burlington with his wife and two children.

“These new Board Members are joining a team that is committed to keeping Burlington healthy and strong,” says Mulholland. “In fact Tim’s involvement with BCF is a fabulous extension to the Hogarth family’s legacy,” says Mulholland. “His father Murray’s first gift started our foundation and he was also the first Board Chair. We are delighted that Tim, Catherine and Neil are joining us for the next leg of our journey.”

Foxcroft and the Queen

Ron Foxcroft, the second Burlington Honorary Colonel to meet the Queen this year.

Ron Foxcroft got himself in front of Queen Elizabeth a few months ago – Tim was presented to the queen last April at Canada House in London UK.  Hogarth adds: “It was all part of the commemoration of Canada’s contribution to various WWI battles namely the 2nd battle of Ypres, Belgium and The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry’s participation.

Expect this ongoing bragging rights discussion to lighten up things at BCF board meetings.  How Brady and Oliver are going to keep up with these two will be something to watch.

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Temporary Lane Restriction: Pinedale Avenue

News 100 blueBy Staff

July 13, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Temporary Lane Restriction: Pinedale Avenue

Appleby Village - Pineland construction BEST

Putting down a black top on Pinedale.

From July 15 to 17, Pinedale Avenue will have lane restrictions and delays between Appleby Line and New Street due to resurfacing work.

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Stuart Laughton to play the Inaugural Lowville Festival: event runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Event 100By Pepper Parr

July 13, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Stuart Laughton is reflective when asked what his part will be in the inaugural Lowville Festival that begins this weekend.

Laughton - pensive with trumpet

Stuart Laughton, trumpeter, will be playing parts of the Lowville Festival this weekend.

“I haven’t done all that much in Burlington or for Burlington even though the city has been my home more than thirty years” he said.

“My work as a musician kept me out of the city much of the time. When was asked to perform I was delighted and look forward to playing outdoors and getting a sense of the sound the land will give back.”

Laughton has played in rural settings before and spoke of the occasion when he would play his trumpet early in the morning when the mist had yet to leave the water.

“The animals in the forest react to the sound; birds will respond – it is quite a feeling.”

For a man who has played his trumpet in some of the biggest and the greatest locations in the world and shared a stage with some of the jazz greats – he marvels that a short distance from where he lives in Roseland there was the Brant Inn that had people like Duke Ellington playing. Louis Armstrong was a regular in Burlington, he adds.

A musician who sees himself as exceedingly fortunate and has this infectious enthusiasm for everything he does never had a clear goal – other than knowing that his life was going to be about music.

He was a founding member of the Canadian Brass and adds “things began to go very well for them when I left.”

His time away from the Canadian Brass – 35 years, had him travelling the world and playing trumpet on some of the most glamorous stage in exciting locations.

There is an almost boyish sense of enthusiasm to Laughton. He sees the sky as the limit to anything you decide to do.

During our interview at Laughton’s Roseland home – large boulders were being set on the front lawn – they apparently had to be in very specific locations. Laughton would scoot about the lawn watching as three very healthy young men and a Bobcat manoeuvered the boulders into place while he looked on – wanting to supervise but knowing that they knew what they were doing. The boulders were still being manoeuvered when the interview was over and Laughton returned to his role of a sidewalk superintendent.

The Lowville Festival isn’t just a jazz event; the programme includes a little bit of everything. Laughton was prepared though to talk about festivals in a community and how they can grow. He has been involved in the Halliburton Festival for a number of years and while Lowville isn’t quite the same setting he hopes that Lowville will find its place and become something that puts down its own roots.

Laughton points out that music goes through phases: there was a time when he played a lot of the clubs in Toronto: The Senator; The Colonial; George’s Spaghetti House to name a few.

A lot of those clubs are no longer in business – Toronto now has a very large annual Jazz Festival. There is a very successful, allbe it local, Beach Jazz Festival as well. These things come and go.

Laughton - with trumpet - tight crop

Laughton and his trumpet

Laughton plays guitar and has begun working with a voice coach – he wants to expand his reach and begin singing.

This man plays a very mean trumpet – and when he decides to let her rip – you are hearing the sound of a man who has been doing this most of his life and loves every minute of his lips pressing against the mouthpiece.

He is worth the drive to Lowville!

The full festival program is set out below:
Tickets can be had on line at Ticketpro
Available at the door – but cash only.

DRIFTWOOD THEATRE WORKSHOP
THURSDAY JULY 16 2:30 pm
6210 LOWVILLE PARK ROAD

Driftwood Theatre offers a free workshop and opportunity to perform in the evening’s performance of HAMLET. Contact www.thinkspot.ca to sign up.

DRIFTWOOD THEATRE’S HAMLET
THURSDAY JULY 16TH 6 pm Doors Open. 7:30 Show commences.
6210 LOWVILLE PARK ROAD

Shakespeare’s royal murder mystery featuring some of the most famous lines in theatre unfolds for audiences outdoors in beautiful Lowville Park. Driftwood Theatre. Toronto’s professional touring company, is offering this classic play for a Suggested Ticket Price of $20 or Pay What You Can.
Sponsored by THINKSPOT

SWINGIN’ ON A STAR
FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015 7:30 PM
ST. GEORGE’S PARISH HALL

Loretta Bailey and Robert Missen, hosts.
Artists include Stuart Laughton, Renee Barabash, Andy Griffiths, David Warrack, Lorraine Foreman, Michael Mulrooney, Jude Johnson, Charles Cozens, Wayne Strongman and the Lowville Festival Choir,

The first Lowville Festival with a Gala Concert featuring a wide range of superlative performers, most of whom hail from Burlington.

Classical, pop, jazz, blues, folk, musical theatre. The second half of the concert will be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Frank Sinatra. Proceeds from this benefit concert will be dedicated to the establishment of the festival.

$25 ADVANCE/$30 AT THE DOOR

MY CAT FLASH’S SOPHISTICATED SONGS FOR KIDS
SATURDAY JULY 18TH 2 PM
LOWVILLE SCHOOLHOUSE

ANDY GRIFFITHS and FRANK KOREN
Burlington singer-songwriter Andy Griffiths launches his new kids’ show, which will also entertain the kid in all of us.

$10

ROOTS N’ ROLL: ACOUSTIC ROOTS IN THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE
SATURDAY JULY 18TH 8 PM
LOWVILLE SCHOOLHOUSE

Andy Griffiths and Frank Koren and Kim

Join Andy and his Burlington musical friends for an intimate evening with local songwriters in the Victorian stone schoolhouse in the centre of Lowville.

$20

SUNDAY JULY 19TH 11 AM
LOWVILLE PARK, between the playground and the creek, under the trees
ADMISSION FREE

NIA is a joyful, mindful, and expressive physical conditioning practice, incorporating moves from dance, martial arts, yoga and other alignment arts, as well as individualized, free form movement. NIA offers fun and fitness to men and women of all ages and fitness abilities. Join Nia Black Belt teacher Anna Schantz for a NIA dance fitness experience in Music, Movement, and Magic. Theme: Psychedelic Sunday. Bare feet, hippie attire, and flowers most welcome. Suitable for everybody. www.nianow.com

FOR LOVE OF LOWVILLE
SUNDAY JULY 19TH 2 PM
LOWVILLE UNITED CHURCH

Lorretta Bailey and Robert Misen, hosts

Artists include Melissa Bel, Janet Turpin Myers, Loraine Foreman, Jude Johnson, Lorreta Bailey, Robert Missen and Daryl Webber.

Special Guest: GORDIE TAPP

Celebrating the rich historical and Escarpment heritage of the hamlet of Lowville in a concert that combines music and the spoken word. Local musicians Melissa Bel and Lorretta Bailey are joined by novelist Janet Turpin Myers. Legendary Burlington entertainer Gordie Tapp, formerly of Lowville, will be reunited with Lorraine Foreman, his colleague on Country Hoedown, one of the most popular Canadian television shows of the fifties.

$20 ADVANCE/$25 AT THE DOOR

SUMMER SERENADE
SUNDAY JULY 19TH 7:30 PM
ST. GEORGE’S PARISH HALL

Rebecca Caine of Les Miserables fame will be part of the Lowville festival

ROBERT MISSEN is hosting this event.
Artists include Rebecca Caine, soprano; Robert Kortgaard , piano; Rachel Mercer, cello; Stuart Laughton, trumpet; Renee Barabash, piano; Michael Mulrooney, piano

Missen says they will be bringing the inaugural festival to a glorious conclusion with a concert featuring some of the country’s finest classical and musical theatre artists. Rebecca Caine, the original Cosette in Les Miserables and star of the Toronto production of Phantom of the Opera; Oakville-born cellist Rachel Mercer; and virtuoso trumpeter Stuart Laughton will present a concert featuring Bach, Chopin and Schafer as well as a special tribute to The Sound of Music.

$25 ADVANCE/$30 AT THE DOOR

Lowville doesn’t see this much action even during the Winter Carnival. Getting around Lowville is easy once you know where you are going.

The United Church is at the corner of Guelph Line and Britannia Road with a decent parking lot behind the church.

St. Georges isn’t actually in Lowville, it isn’t even in Burlington. It is on Guelph Line just above Derry Road – can’t miss the place – it is a beautiful stone building built in 1896

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Community Foundation closes it books on the Disaster Relief Fund - $2.72 million distributed to 272 families

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

July 13, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

One of the toughest periods in the history of the city came to a close last week when the Disaster Relief Committee that was run by the Burlington Community Foundation closed it books after distributing $2.7 million to 272 families in the city who suffered significant damage from the August 4th flood.

Claimants can expect final financial assistance payment to be delivered in the next few weeks.

Flood Fairview plaza

It was a flood of epic proportions that hit both the commercial sector as well as thousands of homes,

“The entire flood relief experience has demonstrated what a strong, giving and resilient city Burlington is,” said Ron Foxcroft, Chair, BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee (DRC) and the guy that was behind the drive to raise just shy of $1 million from the community. The provincial government, through its ODRAP (Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program) matched every dollar the citizens raised on a 2 for 1 basis.

After 10 months of dedicated work the DRC has officially completed its mandate. During that time the Committee reviewed, assessed and processed 310 claims and spent numerous hours providing support and guidance to flood victims.

Flood BMO at the vault

The Bank of Montreal opened their vault and found $20,000 they could donate to the flood disaster.

Flood victims continue to share their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all those who helped in the flood relief efforts. One resident sent the following to the Foundation: “On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee. We will now be able repair our home’s flood damage and once again enjoy it with our children and grandchildren as we have done since 1973. ‘Thank You’ again, and please know that we are incredibly grateful.”

Flood Foxcroft at BMO hands out full upright

Ron Foxcroft – doing his pitch for disaster relief donations – he pulled in just shy of a million.

“Whenever we experience a severe rain storm in this city many of us will think back to August 4th and the devastating weather that changed the lives of many,” said Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Community Foundation. “We hope to also remember the goodness that prevailed in this city. It has been a remarkable experience working with so many devoted Burlingtonians throughout this process.”

The Community Foundation got pulled into the administration of the fundraising because the province required an arm’s length group to raise finds publicly and administer the program.

This wasn’t what the Community Foundation was formed to do – but they put their shoulders to the wheel and made it happen.

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SHOWTIMES July 17 to 23 , 2015

Event 100

Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA

 

Cinestarz logoSHOWTIMES July 17 to 23 , 2015

SAN ANDREAS PG
Fri to Thur 1:10 3:10 5:40 7:40 9:40

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON PG
Fri to Thur 12:25 3:10 5:10 7:10 9:40

MAX PG
Fri to Thur 11:15 1:15 3:15 5:20 9:30

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL PG
Fri to Thur 11:20 1:20 3:15 7:40 9:35

WATER DIVINER 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 7:30 9:30

PITCH PERFECT2 PG
Fri to Thur 5:05 7:40

TOMORROWLAND PG
Fri to Thur 1:10 3:00 5:15

MAD MAX FURY ROAD 18A
Fri to Thur 9:45

HOME G
Fri to Thur 11:10 3:30

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD PG
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:00 5:20 7:20

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35 years ago today Terry Fox stopped in Burlington - how many of you were there?

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

July 12, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

TerryFox  - full length

The farther he went – the worse the pain – until the cancer that was ravaging his body spread to his lungs

It was 35 years ago today – a guy with just the one good leg – the other a prosthetic that was pretty crude by today’s standards but there he was coming through the city with that step and a hop gait that we know by heart now.

Terry Fox had made it from the east coast of Newfoundland where he dipped the toe of his good foot into the waters of the Atlantic and vowed to make it to British Columbia.

The Marathon of Hope ended in just outside Thunder Bay

Today the group of people who meet for hours organizing and setting up the Terry Fox run every September gathered as a group to remember and celebrate the young man who showed Canada what hope and courage is really all about.

We owe you big time Terry.

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There was a lot of drooling going on along Brant Street Saturday - a lot of great rear ends on some of those cars.

Event 100By Pepper Parr

July 11, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

If it was meant as a way to get people out on the street – it worked magnificently.

Brant Street from Caroline to Lakeshore Road was shut down on a sunny Saturday while an estimated 15,000 people strolled along looking at the 100 + cars that were parked along the street – with many a proud owner sitting in a deck chair behind their car keeping an eye on the significant investment – many of these cars are as valuable as a house.

The oldest car was a 1919 Ford; the most expensive a $2.2 million Maclaren.

It was a dream day for the boys in shorts and dreams remembered for those who used to take that ’52 Chevy to the drive in theatre.

Put on by the Burlington Lions Club – it was an unqualified success by any measure.  See for yourself.

Man with a cane - maroon car

He just may have driven something like this once – perhaps his Dad taught him to drive in one!

Wall to wall card Nfty 55

Brant Street was closed off from Caroline to Lakeshore while an estimated 15,000 people strolled the street.

Fins on the Commander

It was the fins that got to us – they were seen as the sexist thing you could imagine – but we were younger then.

Love at first sight - red cars

We asked the photographer if it was love at first sight. “Yes it was” she said -” but don’t tell my husband.”

Pick up truck

Not the pick ups we see on the road today.

Thunerbirds

It must have been something to drive the curves in a road with that deck sitting out there behind keeping the rear wheels on the ground. These things had real horse power.

FRed Ford - a;most growling

That grill was not only something to get excited about – but it cooled that killer of an engine.

Ford - early one colour black

The oldest car in the show – a 1919 Ford.

Cream and brown Packard

A 1931 Studebaker that just reeked of class.

Blue roadster

A neat little roadster with a jump seat and a spare tire – they were needed when these things tooled along country roads.

Yellow Packard

You could almost hear the wistful sigh coming from this observer.

Ford + two others at Kellys

They were lined up like this all along Brant Street.

Smooth green bottom

When they talk about the sex appeal of a car – they are talking about curves like this

 

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Four Burlington athletes competing in the Pan Am games; two woman are strong in baseball

News 100 blueBy Staff

July 11, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington somehow managed miss out on the Pan American games.

The opportunity to have a facility in the east end of the city was lost – mostly due to a very strong reaction from the people who didn’t want anything done to Sherwood Forest Park

Now the biggest park the city has - and the furthest from the bulk of the population.

Now the biggest park the city has – and the furthest from the bulk of the population.

Burlington did get an excellent soccer pitch and a much improved park on the west side of the city.
City View Park is a superb site – with lot of room to walk and roam and 3  soccer pitches that the people of Burlington won’t get to use until the games are over.

The grounds are being used as a practice location for Pan Am soccer players. The city did collect a significant fee for the use of the grounds.
The soccer fields are covered with Astro turf which are seen as expensive to maintain.

In a media release the city sent out the names of eight Burlington affiliated competing in the Games: which is a cheaters way of saying there are eight Burlington or close by  athletes playing in the games. Why would the city add in the names of great athlete from Oakville, Mississauga and Hamilton ?

Mike Green, Racketball; is a Hamilton resisdent.
Melanie Hawtin, Wheelchair Basketball is an Oakville resident
Mark Oldershaw, Canoe, is a resident of Oakville
Ashley Stephenson, Baseball; is a Mississauga resident.

Hawtin and Oldershaw are well known to Burlington audiences; Hawtin in particular is one heck of a wheel chair basketball player.

The genuine Burlingtonians are

Brady Reardon, kayak
Autumn Mills, baseball
Tyler Muscat; the martial art of Taekwondo
Kate Psota, baseball

Autumn Mills,
Autumn MillsSince being selected to the Canadian Women’s National Team at age 16, Autumn Mills has competed in five editions of the IBAF World Cup and won three medals, including a best-ever silver in 2008. Her personal highlight has been playing on home soil in Edmonton at the 2012 World Cup where she got the save in closing out the bronze medal victory over Australia. Mills had played boys baseball throughout her childhood because she had no knowledge of any opportunity for girls in the game.

When she was 15 she was asked to try out for Team Ontario. That summer, she and her father commuted to Toronto from London every weekend for games. It was then that she finally heard about Team Canada and the chance to compete around the world, something she convinced herself she would be part of one day.

PERSONAL:   Family: Parents Daniel and Nancy Mills… Getting into the Sport: Started playing t-ball at age 4… She was on par or better than the boys and had a strong arm so stuck with it… Outside Interests: Earned her Bachelor of Arts in kinesiology and Bachelor of Education (primary/junior) at York University… Enjoys doing Crossfit, snowboarding, and going to Blue Jays’ games… Works as a police officer… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Luck is the residue of hard work”… Admires smaller guys in MLB such as Dustin Pedroia who make big plays and hit the ball with power despite their size… Superstition: The ball must be on the ground before pitching; if someone throws it she puts it down, walks around the mound and takes a deep breath before picking it up… Has a good luck Pandora bracelet with baseball charms on her left wrist… Always travels with a lacrosse ball… Collects different Starbucks city mugs… Nickname: Millsy

Tyler Muscat
MuscatThe martial art of Taekwondo is fascinating to watch – two people in the rink, each lightly bouncing in anticipation of the other person’s hit while trying to calculate their own strike. The energy that flows between the two competitors when they dance around each other, throwing jabs and kicks when they see the opportunity, is tense and powerful.

“My first Nationals was when I was 12 years old. I ended up getting first place.”

Tyler Muscat is a confident 19-year-old Taekwondo athlete who knows the sport well; he’s practiced it for the past 13 years of his life and he doesn’t see a near end. At the age of 10 he got into the competitive part of Taekwondo and has been going to competitions and traveling the world since. “My first Nationals was when I was 12 years old. I ended up getting first place, and from then on it just got better,” says Muscat, who lives just outside Toronto in Burlington, Ont.

He is heading to Russia’s 2015 World Taekwondo Championships later this week with promising ambitions of making it to the 2016 Olympic Games – he’s currently ranked 10th in the world for his weight division.

His speciality is his speed. Muscat says that in his division, 54kg – the lowest in the senior category, many of his opponents are tall and do this move called the cut-kick. What saves him is his speed and technique, they give him an advantage that makes it easy to get around the move.

Muscat isn’t too worried about the Russian Games right now, he sees them as more of an opportunity to grab points and advance his world rank. His confidence stems from two practices a day, each an hour and a half, and from his trainer Carla Bacco. He met Carla in the beginning of his Taekwondo career at his school Kicks for Kids, and has practiced there under her guidance since.

Kicks for Kids has become his current University/College since he decided to postpone his post-secondary degree indefinitely after high school. “There’s a perfect time for everything,” says Muscat, “I’m trying to focus on the main things right now. School is always there for you.”

When he decides to return he wants to pursue a career in marketing (experience with interviews and advertising himself as an athlete is his first taste in the line of work) and complete his post-secondary education. “I don’t think I will ever stop Taekwondo, even if I was in school,” says Muscat.

A constant quirk of his that has followed him through every country and competition is his familial support; while he appreciates his family’s help and encouragement he doesn’t allow them to go to his competitions. “I get nervous,” he says, “even Nationals in Toronto, I didn’t let my family come out to support me just because I’m particular like that.”

But whether he goes alone or not, Muscat’s confidence is unwavering and his world rank can prove it – coming back home to his family to celebrate the wins makes them that much sweeter.

Kate Psota
Kate psotaKate Psota is a veteran of the women’s national team, having appeared in every IBAF World Cup since its inception in 2004. She has won four medals in six tournaments, highlighted by a silver medal in 2008. Psota was named national team MVP in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 and 2012 she was a World Cup all-star at first base. Psota played collegiate hockey for the Laurier Golden Hawks, winning five consecutive OUA championships from 2006 to 2010. In 2009 she was a CIS Academic All-Canadian.

PERSONAL:  Family: Parents Ed and Monique Psota… Younger brother Mike… Getting into the Sport: Started playing t-ball at age 4/5… Nobody in her family was involved in the sport, but when she was young she was obsessed with watching the Toronto Blue Jays and wanted to play baseball just like them… Outside Interests: Graduated from Wilfred Laurier University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in geography and kinesiology… Earned her Bachelor of Arts in education from Queens’ University in 2011… Enjoys going to the family cottage, boating, fishing, swimming, and gardening… Works at a garden centre… Odds and Ends: Worked and trained in Australia during the 2012 season where she developed friendships with their national team members… Nickname: Sodey… Tries to bring home something reflective of the culture wherever she travel.

Brady Reardon

BReardonrady Reardon is a second generation Olympian who was proud to have his father Jim on-site to watch him at Beijing 2008. Just like his dad at Munich 1972, Reardon competed in the K-4 1000m. Reardon has competed at every edition of the ICF World Championships since his debut in the K-2 1000m in 2007.

In 2012 he began racing K-1 internationally and won a silver medal in the first K-1 500m race of the World Cup season. A longtime training partner of Burloak clubmate Adam van Koeverden, the two focused on the K-2 1000m in 2013 and won a silver medal at the third World Cup stop in Poznan. In 2014 Reardon teamed with Andrew Jessop in the K-2 1000m at the world championships and recorded one of Canada’s best results of the competition with their seventh place finish.

PERSONAL:  Family: Parents Jim and Danny Reardon… Older brother Tucker… Getting married in September 2015… Getting into the Sport: Grew up in the sport because both of his parents paddled… Outside Interests: Enjoys mountain biking, DIY projects, being outside with his dog Banditt… Has a degree in kinesiology from McMaster University.  Volunteers with KidSport.  Odds and Ends: Always drinks a Guinness before race day.  Always keeps his racing numbers.

Favourite motto: “When you think you’re going as hard as you can, toughen up and go harder”…

 

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Burlington Downtown car show will close Brant Street south of Caroline from 7 am to 5 pm this Saturday

News 100 redBy Staff

July 10, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

On Saturday, July 11 the Burlington Downtown Car Show will take up of all Brant Street between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road.
The following road closure will be in effect. Vehicles parked illegally in the event area will be tagged or towed to allow emergency access.

Car free Sunday 2012

The city made a bit of a splash in announcing the car free Sundays that worked well in the west end of the city – didn’t do as well downtown.

Road Closure
• Saturday, July 11:
Brant Street between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Resident Access
• Emergency Services access will be maintained at all times in the event area.
Parking Restrictions Posted
• Please remember to obey all parking bylaw regulations.
• Do not park at covered meters.

The Regional Police use bicycles on a regular basis as part of the way they do their work.  Are there any other civic employees using bicycles?

Brant Street south of Caroline free of cars – is this a direction the city wants to take for the street on weekends during the decent weather?

Supervision
• Road closures will be managed under the supervision of the Halton Regional Police Service.
• Event notices were delivered to all residences, religious centres and businesses affected by the event.

Event feedback

This is a positive step – if you’re unhappy with the closing of the street – there is a place you can go to and register your complaint.

Is this closing of Brant Street on a weekend a precursor to closing it throughout the summer?  There are members of council who want to do just that.

Make your views known.

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Bandits unable to finish off London Majors - lose the game 12-11. Darn!

 

element_sportsCBy Justin Lethbridge

July 10, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The Burlington Bandits started off hot but were unable to hold onto a lead and lost 12-11 to the London Majors.

Burlington’s Shaun Cooper got off to a great start with a two-run blast in the bottom of the first. Cooper’s 2nd two-run shot, combined with a few errors by the Major’s in the second and third innings resulted in a huge 8-0 lead for the Bandits after 3 innings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Both teams look on as the Bandits try to bring a win home in the 9th – they missed

Despite the huge deficit, the Major’s came out swinging in the fourth. First Cleveland Brownlee got the Major’s on the board with a home run, than two batters latter Larry Gonzalez got a two-run dinger of his own to cut the lead in half. Hits in the fifth and sixth innings would bring London to within one, than an error by Burlington allowed the Major’s to tie the game at 8-8.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bandits would respond. First Dan Franceschetti would steal home base than Shaun Cooper would add his third two-run shot of the night to retake the lead.

Two runs in the seventh followed by two more in the eighth allowed London to take the lead and their closer Braeden Ferrington shut the Bandits down. Through three innings he had five strikeouts while only allowing two hits to give London the dramatic victory.

Burlington has a week off until they start a home and home with Hamilton, while London is back at it on Friday at home against Guelph. The loss keeps the Bandits tied with Hamilton for second last in the league at 8-17 on the season. The full standings are: Barrie in 1st, Kitchener in 2nd, Brandford in 3rd, London in 4th, Toronto in 5th, Hamilton and Burlington tied for 6th and Guelph in last place.

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New rules will require the Air Park to consultation with Canadians in surrounding communities

airpark 100x100By Staff

July 9, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

The federal government has proposed changes that will improve the efficiency and transparency of the construction and operations of aerodromes in Canada.

The proposed changes to the Canadian Aviation Regulations would require proponents to consult with stakeholders before developing an aerodrome or significantly changing an existing one.

Stakeholders could include local citizens, municipalities, local aerodrome operators, air navigation service providers, and the Minister of Transport.

Air Park entrance uly 2013

Now what ? is the question Vince Rossi, president of the Burlington Air Park is asking himself.

The Government of Canada is working in partnership with industry and community stakeholders to support safe and responsible aerodrome development.
Canadians have 60 days to comment on the proposed changes.

The final regulations are expected to be published in Canada Gazette, Part II, in 2016.

Appleby Line resident Barbara Sheldon is expected to have already started writing her comments and just might invite Burlington Airpark president Vince Rossi over for a conversation about changes he made to the air park and the impact those changes have had on the value of her property.

The prospects for the Air Park are not looking all that good at this point in time.

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Figuring out what a Transportation Master Plan should recommend is no small task - and you want to get it right the first time - Part 2 of a series

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

July 9, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Part 2 of a series

City council got their first detailed look at the draft of the Transportation Master Plan.  They didn’t exactly cheer when the presentation was finished – it is going to mean some hard political decisions – which this council tens to do its best to avoid.

The draft plan however laid out a number of realities the city has to face.  In the first of this series we set out the players involved in transportation planning and the rules, regulations and provincial policy that impact on decisions the city makes.

With those limitations – and they are not insignificant, the transportation department is beavering away at completing the study and aligning it with the Official Plan in order to support and expand upon new and updated policies.

While the transportation department works on its plan – the planners work on the review and revision of the Official Plan and a team at city hall, plus city councillors develops the Strategic Plan the city wants to work to for the next four years.

Mobility hubs

What also has to be added to the transportation mix is what role mobility hubs will play in future thinking.

The transportation people, led for the time being by Vito Tolone, are doing a solid review of transportation trends in conjunction with our changing demographics, travel patterns and future community planning. Part of the team is planner Kaylan Edgcumbe.

They are Identifying the transportation facilities and services that will be required to meet the needs over the next twenty years and then develop the policies, guidelines, plans and actions that will guide day to day transportation programs and provide a basis for future capital budgets.

That is a mouthful!

What is NOT included in the TMP is a detailed analysis of specific intersections and roadways nor will it consider site specific impacts.  Detailed assessments will be addressed through project specific studies and may be recommended as a result of the TMP

What happens if the city doesn’t complete the TMP ? Well, all hell isn’t going to break loose but over time things will stop working the way people want them to work.

Day to day transportation programs would not be current with community needs or emerging trends; Capital infrastructure planning and budgeting would not be able to address evolving development trends and growth management policies.

Council and staff would not be able to respond to changing development standards and major planning considerations.

Regulating agencies at the Region, Ministry of Transportation and Conservation Halton would not be apprised of Council’s transportation vision and its preferred strategy for moving forward.

dfer

It sounded like a good idea at the time but there was too much that both IKEA and the city didn’t know about what Conservation |Halton and the Ministry of Transportation had to say about putting a large retail operation on the North Service Road at Walkers Line

Burlington ran into this problem when IKEA announced it wanted to move its location from Aldershot to the North Service Road at Walkers Line – that proved to be something that wasn’t possible given the views of Conservation Halton and the Ministry of Transportation. Tuck Creek was a significant conservation problem and the MTO couldn’t do what needed to be done with the QEW/Walkers Line intersection in time – which brought an end to any IKEA moved and put a significant dent in the careers of a number of people involved in the project.

Had there been stronger policies in place and a clearer planning vision, and better communication between the parties, a couple of years of grinding away at something that couldn’t happen might have been avoided.

Will a solid TMP avoid problems like that? Maybe – but what is clear is the need for a plan that fits into the requirements the province and the Region lay on us; that meshes well with the Official Plan and helps achieve the Strategic Plan – and is possible with the budget the city creates.

Council vote Dec 18-14 Water Street

Council members have to stand up and be counted – Councillor Meed Ward wasn’t with the majority on this vote

For all those people who think our municipal council doesn’t have a tough job, that they don’t work all that hard and it is really a part time job – think again.

This is hard work that requires the ability to think at several levels at the same time. Every member of the current council is challenged daily to keep on top of it all. Some of them don’t do all that well at it either.

The Transportation Master Plan study will:

Identify transportation policies and initiatives that are working in other areas that could be considered in Burlington
Ask citizens – where do we want to to go – how do we want to get there and how do we develop a solution that meets the needs of all residents.

Develop actions and policies that will guide day to day transportation projects providing a basis for future budgeting activities

So what is Burlington dealing with?
The infrastructure we have was designed for the car – what we have was designed to efficiently move the automobile and that has left us with urban sprawl. That urban sprawl is no longer sustainable

Population auto trips

Auto trips are rising faster than the population – building more roads will not get us out of this spiral.

90% of all trips in the city are by car

Levels of congestion are increasing; Commuting time is increasing; Cost to operate and maintain the current infrastructure is increasing; City revenue are not increasing at the same rate as growth or congestion.

This is not sustainable.  And we cannot build our way out of congestion

Modal share 2011The way we move around the community is heavily influenced by where we live, work and play. The way we travel impacts our quality of life, our health and relationship with our community

The majority of the trips are SOV – single occupant vehicle

To reduce congestion on our roads other travel modes must be available for both local and long distance travel.

Length of trips taken

Can those 2 km trips be made using a different mode of transportation? Is the car the only option? The current transit service is not going to coax people out of their cars and there are limits to how many people are going to ride bikes.

In 2011 over half of all daily trips in Burlington were 5 km or less. These trips could be easily replaced with walking, cycling or taking transit.

Where our workers livr

40% of the people who work in Burlington also live in Burlington – that means 60% of the working people use some form of transit

Where we work

Most of our residents work outside of the city – that represents a major transportation challenge.

Is the answer to all the questions that get raised in the data we have?  Because there is a lot of data.

Part 1 of the series

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You can't get a license for the pooch on Friday: city doing maintenance on its data bases - expect disruption.

News 100 greenBy Staff

July 9, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will be doing maintenance on IT databases beginning in the late afternoon on Friday, July 10. As a result, the following online services and forms will be temporarily out of service.

Burlington Heritage
• Online Tax Assessment
• Poll Locator
• Rep Locator
• Dog Licence Application and Renewal
• Property Information Request
• Business Licence Renewal

The online services and forms are expected to be back in service by 10 p.m.

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