Driftwood Theatre will be producing Hamlet at THiNKSPOT location in Burlington tomorrow (Thursday) evening July 16th.
Perhaps 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.
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.
The one that was approved by the city at a council meeting or the one that is on the sales sign on the property?
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.
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.
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 ?
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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, 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.”
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.
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.”
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.
Stuart Laughton is reflective when asked what his part will be in the inaugural Lowville Festival that begins this weekend.
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 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
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
He just may have driven something like this once – perhaps his Dad taught him to drive in one!
Brant Street was closed off from Caroline to Lakeshore while an estimated 15,000 people strolled the street.
It was the fins that got to us – they were seen as the sexist thing you could imagine – but we were younger then.
We asked the photographer if it was love at first sight. “Yes it was” she said -” but don’t tell my husband.”
Not the pick ups we see on the road today.
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.
That grill was not only something to get excited about – but it cooled that killer of an engine.
The oldest car in the show – a 1919 Ford.
A 1931 Studebaker that just reeked of class.
A neat little roadster with a jump seat and a spare tire – they were needed when these things tooled along country roads.
You could almost hear the wistful sigh coming from this observer.
They were lined up like this all along Brant Street.
When they talk about the sex appeal of a car – they are talking about curves like this
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.
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, Since 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 The 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 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
Brady 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”…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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
The 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.
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.
40% of the people who work in Burlington also live in Burlington – that means 60% of the working people use some form of transit
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.
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.
Three Burlington mortgage professionals have been recognized in a list of the industry’s female rising stars.
Carmen Campagnaro of Pro Funds Mortgages, and Ana Cruz and Lisa Pellerin of LA Mortgage Team Mortgage Intelligence have been included in Canadian Mortgage Professional magazine’s Women of Influence report.
This annual list honors 26 females who are making waves and reshaping the business – women who are behind some of the biggest deals and innovations in the industry. The list is diverse from CEOs to company founders to leading brokers – but all are professionals at the top of their game.
“We asked our readers to nominate women who are making a difference in their communities and the mortgage business as a whole,” said Vernon Clement Jones, editor of Canadian Mortgage Professional. “In just a few short years, the broker channel has seen a shift to fairer gender representation. While there’s still a long way to go, this year’s Women of Influence report is a testament to those strides.”
Carmen Campagnaro
Carmen Campagnaro got hooked on real estate when she purchased her first property at the age of 18. Since then, her passion for real estate has been complemented by a keen eye for sourcing, purchasing, flipping and selling properties. Being an avid investor herself, Carmen launched Pro Funds Mortgages in 1997 with the goal of helping others realize their own real estate goals with a focus on creative financing solutions.
Lisa Pelleri, on the left and Ana Cruz
Lisa Pellerin and Ana Cruz had an impressive 2014. In addition to increasing L A Mortgage Team’s revenue by 30%, they have built a solid team of mortgage professionals contributing to their success and won the Canadian Mortgage Award for Best Newcomer Brokerage.
Planning is making sure that all the pieces are in place before doing anything. Before that you have to be sue you know what all the pieces are.
The key document is always the budget – that tells you what the costs are and where the money is going to come from. It will be coming from your pocket – but then you knew that.
Municipalities are creatures of the province – they set the policy and municipalities work within that policy. Cities have to adhere to Regional policies as well.
The population of the country is growing; people gravitate towards the larger cities – Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver – you name it.
The province told the Region of Halton – you need to grow your population by a million people by the year 2041. The Region takes that number and divvies it up between Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
When Burlington gets its number we have to ensure that our policies allow for that kind of growth.
The developers are very aware of the policies and they bring forward development proposals that meet the policy.
The top part is the plan for 300+ townhouses, the bottom is the “thinking” for apartment buildings that would be in the 5-6-7 storey range for a development in the west end of the city walking distance from the Aldershot GO station.
Thus you get the ADI Development Group going to the city and saying they want to put 300 plus homes out on Masonry Court – and try to convince the city that the project meets all the rules – the biggest of which at this point in time is our need to intensify.
That need to add to our population bothers a lot of people – they want things to remain just the same – they like it the way it is. The one thing everyone can be absolutely certain of is this – nothing is going to remain the same.
There will be more people, there will be more traffic in Burlington. For those who don’t like the growth – they can move further out into the country; that’s just a hard fact we all have to live with.
Burlington has to figure out how it is going to handle all those new people who want to drive their cars on streets that weren’t built for the volume that is coming our way.
Burlington is developing a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that city council was given a peak at a few weeks ago.
The plan, which is some distance from complete sets out some of the realities the city faces – one of which is a decision made in the 90’s not to make Fairview a seven lane road.
In the lengthy presentation that set out a lot of facts – some of which the public is not going to like – the transportation department also offered up some idea. Get used to hearing the phrase “complete streets”
What is the Transportation Master Plan? It is a blue print that will be used to guide planning and implementation of a future transportation system, that is to be guided through the development of a sustainable, balanced transportation system.
The goal is to have a transportation system that is convenient, affordable and efficient – one that provides choice and allows residents to travel whatever way they please.
Traffic barriers in place on Lake shore Road fora Car Free Sunday.
That sounds very nice doesn’t it? – travel whatever way they please – hard to do if the road you want to drive on is clogged with traffic.
All this thinking loops back to the city’s Strategic Plan – what do we want ? What can we afford and how do we do all this and keep taxes at a level that are bearable?
The transportation department and the planning department are working together to produce a document that will give both city council and the public some choices.
One of the more immediate problems for Burlington is that we don’t have a Director of Transportation nor do we have a Director of Planning – which should be telling you the tax payers something. Why don’t we have these people in place today?
The former Director of Transportation decided that he wanted to try living in a different part of the country – he was ready for a change so he took a transportation job in Halifax. Same kind of job – just in a different city.
The former Director of Planning came to the conclusion that it was time to retire – that may not have been just his decision.
The city is without significant leadership in two critical departments and we are working with a city manager who is still figuring out where his bench strength is – truth be told – there isn’t all that much bench strength. James Ridge, the city manager, is down to a single General Manager who is stretched pretty thin at times.
A crack in a furnace released carbon monoxide into a home –
CO is a gas you can’t see, smell or taste so the only way to detect it inside the home is with an alarm.
The Burlington Fire Department has released a public safety video to create awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO). Julia’s Story captures the emotional account of one family’s close call with CO after a crack in the home’s furnace led to a CO leak inside the home. The video addresses the signs and symptoms of CO exposure and how to prevent the threat of CO poisoning at home.
“Julia’s story is part of a storytelling campaign aimed at sharing the experiences of city residents during emergency situations,” said Fire Chief Tony Bavota. “We are grateful to Julia and her family for allowing us to tell their story, which underscores the importance of working carbon monoxide alarms.”
If you live in Burlington and have experienced a fire or life safety emergency, the fire department would like you to share your story; email them at – firedepartment@burlington.ca.
“The intent of the video is to tell a real and meaningful story to spark conversation within our community about CO,” said Public Education Officer Kim Sopko. “There are many stories out there like Julia’s. Our goal is to find and share those personal experiences to hopefully prevent the same situation from happening to others in our community.”
Julia’s Story and other fire and life safety education videos can be viewed on the fire department’s YouTube channel.
CO is a gas you can’t see, smell or taste so the only way to detect it inside the home is with an alarm. If it the alarm sounds, get outside immediately and call 9-1-1. More information on CO can be found at: www.burlington.ca/co.
The Burlington Fire Department is a composite force that includes career staff and volunteers serving the diverse needs of the community. The department’s activities include fire suppression, fire prevention, education, training and emergency planning.
The Joseph Brant Hospital tag team paid a courtesy call on Council earlier this week and chit chatted about how things were coming along on the construction site; updated council on where things were with the community portion of the $120 million we have to come up with to get that refurbished hospital, large parts of which will be brand spanking new, top the point where people can use the place.
Annissa Hilborn and Eric Vandewall, she of the Hospital Foundation and he of the hospital itself, also left the city with a document that set out when and how much of the $60 million city taxpayers have been putting into a reserve fund for that rainy day when the hospital comes looking for a cheque.
The purpose of the meeting was to approve the amendments to the City’s Contribution Milestones and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the amending agreement.
Most recent rendering of the Joseph Brant Hospital showing the bridge from the garage.
In July of 2012, Council approved a Contribution Agreement that had the city contributing $60 million towards the purchase of eligible equipment costs.
At the time there was a bit of a squabble on how the city was going to give money to the hospital. They, the hospital, wanted the city to pay for building the parking garage which Councillor Taylor objected to – unless the city was going to get the parking revenue. That idea didn’t fly.
They eventually settled on the city agreeing to pick up the tab for up to $60 million in equipment costs.
The initial cash flow from the hospital represented the their preliminary estimate of the equipment needs and cash flow requirements over the life of the JBH Redevelopment Project prior to the award of the construction Contract to Ellis Don Infrastructure JBH Inc.
The revised schedule is now reflective of the equipment purchases required to align with the construction schedule of Ellis Don Infrastructure JBH Inc. which includes the opening of the new tower in 2017. The equipment requirements for the hospital fiscal years 2015/16 have decreased by $10.1 million. In 2016/17, the equipment requirements have increased by $22 million from the original contribution agreement. These changes are consistent with the construction project schedule and the requirement to acquire furniture, fixtures and equipment and install the same prior to the opening of the new tower in 2017.
The new tower will include a new Emergency department, three medical/surgical floors, a new ICU, new OR’s and day surgery and ambulatory care including a new Ophthalmology Clinic.
The comparison of the Revised Contribution Milestones is provided below:
2016 is going to be a crunch year – the hospital wants a lot of the money then – and we don’t have it – so we borrow – hoping that interest rates remain low.
The change in the cash flow advances the amount of debt required, but given the current favourable interest rates, the revised cash flow reduces the total levy and the length of time for the dedicated hospital levy from $62.1 million (19 years) to $59.5 million over 17 years.
The original cash flow is set out below
The revised cash flow means the city doesn’t have to borrow quite as much as it would have under the original flow.
The Contribution Agreement requires that JBH provide a Milestone Notice to the city at least three months in advance of each contribution date. This is critical in 2016 as this is the largest payment requiring a significant amount of debentures through the Region of Halton.
Each notice must contain:
• A statement confirming the application of all installments previously provided by the city to eligible costs • A statement confirming the amount contributed by the Foundation to Local Share Plan Costs at that time (the agreement stipulates that the cumulative city contribution is not to exceed the amount contributed by the Foundation) • A statement confirming the application of any unused funds from any prior city installment together with interest earned • Any unused funds together with interest earned shall be used on account of the next city installment.
The city’s $60 million contribution is made up of cash payments totaling $24.1 M and debentures of $35.9 M. Debt repayment (principal and interest) amounts to $41.52 M (10 year debt at 1.951% for the 2015 issue and an assumed 3% for the 2016 debt issue). All cash and debt repayment is funded by the dedicated tax levy for the hospital.
By Debra Pickfield
Perhaps 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).
SHOWTIMES July 17 to 23 , 2015
Since 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.
The 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.
Kate 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.
rady 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.
The 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 revised schedule is now reflective of the equipment purchases required to align with the construction schedule of Ellis Don Infrastructure JBH Inc. which includes the opening of the new tower in 2017. The equipment requirements for the hospital fiscal years 2015/16 have decreased by $10.1 million. In 2016/17, the equipment requirements have increased by $22 million from the original contribution agreement. These changes are consistent with the construction project schedule and the requirement to acquire furniture, fixtures and equipment and install the same prior to the opening of the new tower in 2017.
