 By Staff
November 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
 Helicopter with Santa aboard arrives at the Burlington Mall. The Ho, Ho, Ho man arrived at the Burlington Mall Saturday morning. He grabbed his bag of candy canes and headed for the store where he happily sat for hours getting his picture taken with kids on his knee and a smile on his face.
 This is Santa’s “cookie” elf -handing out cookies to the crowds awaiting Santa’s arrival. Check out the pink tool belt with the kitchen utensils. The elf learned her cooking skills at Tuck elementary school. The event is an annual thing for the Burlington Mall. Santa will be “in residence” from
10:00 am – 8:00 pm on Fridays, from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm on Saturdays and from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Sundays, starting November 15, 2014.
Once December hits and Santa and his elves have finished making toys for Christmas, he’ll be able to spend more time at his cabin.
 Santa listens carefully to make sure he gets the gift request right. His December hours are: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 am – 6:00 pm on Sundays.
 By Pepper Parr
November 15, 2014
Burlington, ON
She does it differently.
We get to many, but not all, of the local meetings Council members hold and while they each have their own style, ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward does do something uniquely different. She listens, she coaxes answers out of people and – yes she still talks too much. But her people – and those that show up are very much her people; like her and they trust her.
 Thursday evening the community meeting was about a condominium project basically across the street from the Performing Arts Centre wrapped around what is currently the Melodia restaurant. City hall is across another one of the three streets that border this project.
Zoning for the property is four storeys – and that zoning is specific to the property. The developer wants to add an additional floor and is asking for a change in the zoning and the Official Plan.
Meed Ward tends to personally oppose this kind of change in both zoning and the Official Plan. She argues that it is not the city’s job to make changes in zoning so that a developer can gain additional density and this a higher return on their investment.
Zoning on the property:
Permits high density residential, office & commercial uses
Permits density between 51 & 185 units per hectare
Retail uses required at grade
No surface parking permitted
Min. height 2 storeys – max. 4 storeys
Other Downtown Core sites allow up to 8 storey height through rezoning.
This area has a specific policy restricting height to 4 storeys to maintain compatibility with residential uses to the north and west
Meed Ward tends to look for trade-offs – in return for the additional density she looks for some form of contribution to the city. It can be public art or an amenity from which the public will benefit.
The fifth floor in the design is set back by about three metres on each side so that it doesn’t add to the perceived height of the building. What wasn’t stated at the meeting was that the mechanical equipment will be on top of the fifth floor; adding a bit more height.
The design is both traditional and classic in looks with detailing to be done in stone and brick. There will be bay windows in each unit with balconies built into the side of the structure and not hanging out on the side of the building.
Whenever a developer asks for a change local residents bring up the old setting a “precedent” argument and developers do try to exploit that when they are looking for a change in the rules.
City planner Bruce Krushelnicki tirelessly tells people that a change made in one location does not mean the same change is going to be permitted elsewhere. Planners ask one question: Is this a good plan and if, in their judgement it is good planning , they say so in their staff report. Have they made mistakes in the past? You bet your ‘bippy’ they have – the Ghent Street development was a serious mistake that we predict history will prove to have been wrong.
The re-development would be a fine addition to the downtown part of the city. Some suggested that allowing five stories would put pressure on the single storey and two storey dwellings in the neighbourhood – and it will. Many of the properties on Locust do not make economic use of the land they site on. Some of the properties are historic in nature and have to be preserved and the Heritage Advisory committee will be asked for an opinion on their historic credibility. One of the structures used on the property that was purchased by the developer used to house the Blair Lancaster Spa – while the building is on the Registry it is hard to see much in the way of historic value to the structure. It actually looks a little shabby.
The Core District group which keeps a close eye on development in their immediate neighbourhood and everything in the ward is good at getting the troops out to oppose projects. It would be a large step forward if they moved beyond just opposing and got into some serious thinking about what they want their neighbourhood to look like 5, 10 and 20 years out.
 Ken Greenberg told Burlingtonians in 2012 that they could have much more input if development proposals brought to the city if they organized. Noted planner Ken Greenberg was in Burlington in April of 2012, as part of the Mayor’s Insight series of events – one of the better things the Mayor did in his first term of office. Greenberg explained that it is possible for the residents of a neighbourhood to set out their basic principles and invite any developer with plans to meet with them.
That is a part of what happened Thursday evening but that event was organized by the ward Councillor – the residents themselves need to take control.
The architect and the developer that met with the public Thursday evening appeared to be quite willing to accommodate the audience. They have yet to take an application to the planning department. They were convinced to meet with the residents in the community – about 50 people attended and they listened. They will now go back to their drawing boards, perhaps make some changes and submit their application. They have bought and paid for the property so they have sin in the game.
The developer said that they usually build one bedroom units but that real estate people in Burlington advised them that the market wanted two bedroom size units. One parking space for each unit and ¼ of a parking space for each unit to accommodate visitors.
 The proposed development is two blocks north of this intersection. Adding a fifth storey to the proposed building is not going to change the texture or feel of the neighbourhood. When built – the structure will add dignity and grace to the streetscape. There really wasn`t much to complain about with this project. The chatter in the Gazette`s comments section based on a piece we published telling people about the meeting had these words: One said: “I do however like the design and the extra story is stepped back nicely and does not appear to be detrimental. If I’m a resident, I’d rather be near a high-quality 5 story building, than a cheapo 4 story building. Or a parking lot that a developer is sitting on in hopes of building something big for that matter. Hopefully they can get this done whether it happens to be 4 stories or 5 stories is not really the most important issue.”
Peter Rusin, a candidate for Mayor said: “This site is actually quite suitable for an 8-storey redevelopment. There is no reason for any of the old Meed Ward crazy type of resistance; that negative philosophy increases taxes for everybody, keeps unwanted upward pressure on housing price increases for everyone, and kills downtown businesses that hope to rely on more people living in the core. I just hope the old Meed Ward mentality changes in the new term of council. I hope she does her math homework; this assignment is easy. Go to eight stories and encourage even more intensified projects; The future of Burlington depends on it.”
Another astute observer made this comment: “The main difference between Ms. Meed Ward’s point of view and Mr. Rusin’s is that the electorate supported the former and rejected the latter.
A principle of good planning is that we establish a plan and be extremely prudent about changing it. I don’t believe we owe developers the “right” to make a living.
This is a good development. It will be pricy but there will be quality sticking out of every corner. We will be lucky to get it. At least that is my take.
Related content:
What Ken Greenberg had to say about involving the community.
Initial response to the project was divided.
By Pepper Parr
November 14th, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The end of the 100 day stretch comes to a close today. Ron Foxcroft took on the challenge of getting Burlingtonians to raise $2 million to support those people who were severely damaged by the August 4th flood.
 Anyone with the ability to listen got the Foxcroft pitch. That figure turned out to be more than the city would need – and more than we were able to raise as well. But that shouldn’t be seen as a failure on anyone’s part. A great job was done and by the end of the day the Burlington Community Foundation will release a new number.
While the “official” fund raising period comes to a close there are still major donations coming in. One of the major banks will be doing a presentation next week and there are a number of people who can and will write significant cheques now that they know every dollar they give is going to produce two more dollars from the provincial government.
The fund raising will continue, albeit on a smaller scale until December 15th. On that date – everything stops – and the BCF moves to the disbursing of the funds to those people who have submitted applications.
 Foxcroft was relentless in his drive to pull in the funds needed. There was quite a bit of his own money on the table as well.  Cheques like this just didn’t happen. It took many phone calls and a lot of persuasive language to get them written. We will tell you when this is all over which banks were at the table and which weren’t. The people of this city have done a fine job. Foxcroft has burned his candle at both ends and the people he works with at selling unique whistles want him back at his desk. The National Basket Ball Association wants to see more of him as well – and wife Marie hopes to actually have Ron at home for dinner in their house and not at some banquet. The two have not sat across from each other in their own dining room since August 18th. Light the candles Marie and set out the silver.
By Staff
November 14, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
A Burlingtonian is at least going to get a chance to carry the Pan Am Torch. We didn’t get to hold any of the Pan Am events at Sherwood Forest Park because of the mis-information that was handed out by both the city, the then Council member.
We did get to rent a brand new soccer pitch at City View Park to the soccer teams for practices but the public will not be allowed to watch any of those practices. We will be getting a pretty decent sized cheque for letting them use the space.
 And the Delta Hotel that will rise on Lakeshore Road along with a 22 and a seven storey condominium won’t be open in time for the games either.
But someone from Burlington will carry the torch through the city. And the public is going to be involved in choosing who that person is going to be.
Burlington is described as a major celebration community for the Pan Am Torch Relay and will choose a local resident to carry the Pan Am flame on behalf of the city.
The Burlington Pan Am Community Engagement Committee is accepting applications and nominations until Dec. 14. To be considered, applicants or nominators must submit a photo and a Letter of Interest explaining the connection to Burlington and what being Burlington’s community torchbearer would mean to him or her. The public will then vote on a short list of names the committee will release.
If you’re interested send your application to: www.burlington.ca/panam .
Allan Magi, the city’s executive director of capital works said: “We encourage residents who will be 13 years and older on May 30, 2015, to apply to be Burlington’s community torchbearer. “We’ll be looking to the community to help select the finalist to run for Burlington when the flame comes to the city.”
The short list of torchbearer nominees, including their submissions, will be shared at on the panam portion of the city web site.
Residents will be asked to select the community torchbearer to represent Burlington beginning Dec. 19, 2014. Voting will close on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015. The selected torchbearer will be notified in mid-January.
The relay begins in May 2015 with the traditional Aztec lighting ceremony at the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico. The Canadian journey for the flame starts with its arrival in Toronto on May 30, 2015.
It will then visit five cities in Canada, as well as 130 communities across Ontario.
 By Jennifer Soukup
November 14, 2014
Burlington, ON
Being the owner of a restaurant is like a recipe:
It starts off with a bunch of ingredients that all get whisked together in a bowl and cooked into something. You have to have many components for the end product to turn out. With time comes perfection.
There’s something about walking in every morning that I love. Kind of neat that after five years I still smile to myself when I pull into the parking lot and turn down the country music.
 Soukup does not catch the fish – when she fished – well she is pointing to her most recent catch. Starting up the coffee pot and checking with the bike store next door if the mail lady dropped off mail. Then it’s a whole bunch of ordering, scheduling, paying bills and prepping, before I turn the open sign to flashing.
I believe the old saying -if you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. Cutting a 700 pound fish sure feels like work, but knowing that the customers are happy with eating wild fish makes me happy.
Making everything from scratch and without preservatives is also time consuming, but it separates our products from the rest. So I guess if you love what you do then it just feels worthwhile.
When I was 25 I bought Boston Fish & Chips. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It has been a roller-coaster of learning that’s brought me to my fifth year here.
Not to mention all of my regular customers who feel more like family. I’ve grown as an individual, and I’ve really enjoyed watching all of their families grow as well.
There’s the elderly couple who come in every Tuesday at 10:45, even though we don’t open until 11 and the man makes sure I put exactly 12 French fries on his plate. Never 11, never 13.
There are the two little girls who ride here on their bikes from around the corner to share a plate of ketchup together, because I can never see the fries.
There is this older gentleman who always tells me a joke every time he comes I always listen carefully, even though it’s always the same joke over and over.
There’s the couple who brings me tomatoes from their garden and tells me stories about their beautiful granddaughter and the trips they’ve taken.
Plus my Mom and Dad who are my biggest cheerleaders and just a phone call away to listen, offer advice and come in to help on the biggest day of my year.
Don’t know where I’d be without them. My grandma who comes to bring me fruit and tell me stories while I cut cabbage, and my other grandparents who stop by regularly.
My sister and brother and their families who come and make sure I’m not working too hard. My supportive boyfriend who always seems to make me laugh and calm me down when things get hectic; my friends who don’t get mad at me for working long hours, and being okay with me meeting them after I close.
 Jennifer uses the sign her boyfriend painted to let people know she has been successfully running Boston Fish and Chips for five years. The girls who work for me, let me take some time to myself and letting me trust them with Boston. All of these things are the things that create my recipe. Without some of these components my end product might not turn out so well.
So if you’re driving by on November 15th, we are celebrating my fifth year here. We are giving away slices of cake and if you spend $25 you’ll receive a free order of onion rings. To all of you, who continue to touch my heart over the years, thank you.
 By Staff
November 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 You choose your bowl, get it filled with soup, enjoy the meal at a table with friends and totter along to the Arts and Craft Sale elsewhere in the building. Soup and a Bowl is reason enough to visit the Art Gallery of Burlington – the Christmas Arts and Craft Sale is what could keep you there long after lunch.
The Soup Bowl event has been taking place for 18 years with artists from around the province contributing the bowls that are used and then taken home.
The potters get a tax receipt for each bowl they make and a free ticket to the event for every ten bowls they make.
We asked: “Do some potters contribute more than one bowl?” “Oh my gosh” responded Anne Brownell, the staffer directing the promotion of this event, “we had people who made more than 100 bowls each.” Joanne Paas, Chu Luu and Greg Marshall contributed more than 100 bowls each.
We usually need between 700 and 800 bowls – we got 1500 this year so we are set for another year.
 The table setting would put a lot of Burlington restaurants to shame. The event has always been popular. The table setting in the Shoreline Room is not that far from the way the dining room at the King Edward hotel is set up.
With a tummy filled with unique soups – it is a short walk to the north end of the AGB and an opportunity to purchase art and craft items on sale.
 The AGB Guilds put on the Christmas Arts and Craft sale at the same time as the Soup Bowl event. Artists in Burlington see this as one of the premiere events for them to market their work. Six of the AGB Guilds take part in the event – something not to be missed.
The Arts and Crafts sale runs from November 13th through to November 16th.
By Pepper Parr
November 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Are the natives getting restless or has the onset of colder weather given them time they didn’;t have to pay more attention to civic matters?
The Core Residents group is reminding its adherents to write their letter to the city planning deaprtmnet registering their opposition to what some are calling “that 28 storey monstrosity” ADI Developments wants to put up at the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road.
“Tomorrow is the deadline” the group advises “for writing the city of your opposition of the ADI Developments Martha Street proposal. If you haven’t written Rosa Bustamante, please do (address below). Even a short but sweet note is critical and goes a long way. Encourage your neighbours to do the same.
“It is also time that we as a group became more visible and publicly voice our opinions” suggests Barry Imber who has been particularly good at putting some life into different initiatives. The small but very useful Farmer’s Market on John Street tucked in behind Centro on Brant Street got to where it is because of Imber. Effective guy.
 Artists rendering of the proposed 28 storey condominium ADI Developments has made an application to construct at the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road. Burlington residents are up against a very aggressive developer. ADI has big plans for themselves with four projects in various stages of development. Modr’n on Guelph Line is nearing completion. It is a nicely designed building; fits well into the community but we know nothing about the quality ADI strives for with their projects. No one has ever lived in anything they’ve built in Burlington.
There is then the Link2 project on Dundas and Sutton that got taken to the Ontario Municipal Board by ADI Development.
The Martha Street project was announced and the Gazette learned of the ADI purchase of the Masonry Road property.
The Planning Department has advised the Gazette that the time line for the Martha Street project, which has yet to be given a name is as follows:
“The 180 day appeal period begins after the applicant has provided the municipality with “a complete application” (as defined in the Planning Act) which includes the posting of the sign on the property. We provided correspondence to the applicant that their application was deemed complete, including the posting of the sign, on September 25, 2014. By my count, that would make the 180th day following that date March 24, 2015. If a Council fails to make a decision within 180 days of receiving a complete application, an applicant can file an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. It is my understanding that, in this case, the applicant would have grounds to file an appeal on March 25, 2015 if Council has not made a decision on or by March 24th, 2015.”
“Beyond writing the city”, urges the Core Residents Association “please continue to spread the word of this development and of the Core Residents Group itself. The website traffic has been excellent, and we have had many sign-ups for keeping in touch but we are stronger when we are all connected — we need many more.
Core Residents is on Twitter so please follow and retweet! @coreresidents
https://twitter.com/coreresidents
Email to: Rosa Bustamante, Development Planner; e-mail: rosa.bustamante@burlington.ca
phone: 905-335-7600 ext. 7811
Web: www.burlington.ca/374Martha
 By Staff
November 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
This weekend, November 14th to 16th, the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington (JLHB) unites with generous area designers, restaurants, and businesses to bring the Annual Holiday House Tour to Hamilton-Burlington for a 32nd year.
Visitors can tour three gorgeous homes, filled with stunning décor and holiday decorating ideas, and feel good about the fact they’re helping the Junior League to improve our community.
 The 32nd Annual Junior League Holiday House Tour includes three beautiful homes in Burlington, Hamilton and Mount Hope. “You can expect lots of excitement this year. The decorators have great things planned and the homes are absolutely gorgeous!” says Raeanne Milovanovic, House Tour Chair.
Every year, generous homeowners loan their homes to the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington (JLHB) and talented design professionals transform them to showcase stunning holiday décor and entertainment ideas. The public is invited to tour and view the incredible results. This year, the tour boasts three large homes showcasing a broad range of colours and styles.
 “Often it’s the little things. Everyone can find ideas for their own home, while on the tour.” says Dianne Brown, president of the Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington.
The tour runs for three days from Friday, November 14th until Sunday, November 16th. Don’t miss the chance to tour these distinctive homes and enjoy some holiday spirit.
 As the JLHB’s signature fundraiser, the 32nd Annual Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington Holiday House Tour of Distinctive Homes generates the financial resources to help the charitable organization, now in its 80th year, continue to make a lasting impact in the Hamilton-Burlington community. The JLHB’s current focus of young women affected by poverty grounds their volunteer efforts and resources in activities and partnerships across the community.
They are committed to helping women affected by poverty by enhancing their life skills and providing what the League can to help improve their chances for success.
By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Can someone really change the world with a giving heart?
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), will tell you people can, through the giving of one’s time, talent or treasure, make a significant difference.
Seven philanthropists and organizations from the AFP Golden Horseshoe Chapter will be recognized for their commitment to supporting and inspiring philanthropy in their communities through the 7th Annual National Philanthropy Day (NPD) awards presentation. Two of these outstanding people are Burlington.
National Philanthropy Day® is set aside to recognize, and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy – and those people active in the philanthropic community – have made to our lives, our communities and our world. Each year, AFP honours individuals and groups who, through their hard work and dedication, have enhanced and inspired philanthropy locally and around the globe.
National Philanthropy Day is officially recognized by the Government of Canada’s National Philanthropy Day Act. This acknowledges the important role philanthropy plays in building strong communities, promoting civic engagement and improving the lives of Canadians through the work of caring individuals and charitable organizations.
“We are celebrating those who have made significant contributions to philanthropy,” explains Roger Ali, President of the AFP Golden Horseshoe Chapter. “Volunteers, donors and fundraisers, and their dedication to doing good works for charities and causes within our regions is an inspiration to all of us,” he adds. “And we are part of something much broader; we share this day with some 50,000 people in more than 100 communities and around the world who are paying tribute to National Philanthropy Day in many distinct ways. I extend congratulations to all the award winners!”
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser – Susan Busby: Nominated By: Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation
Not only has Susan Busby’s personal giving been instrumental to the success of ensuring state-of-the-art health services for our community, her volunteer contributions are equally inspiring as an active and valued member of the Joseph Brant Hospital and the Foundation’s Boards. She served as Chair of Board of Directors, Volunteer Governor, member of the Ambassadors Council and Campaign Cabinet member, just to name a few.
 Susan Busby; recipient of the 2014 Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Volunteer award.
Susan is a true champion of children and youth in need. As a former teacher and principal, Susan recognized the importance of student success and achievement and dedicated her time to build the Halton Learning Foundation. Her involvement with the Nelson Youth Centres provided tremendous leadership as a tireless advocate and fundraiser. Through annual fundraisers she helped raise the profile of the organization in the community to support children’s mental health programs.
Susan exemplifies the true spirit and best qualities of our community. Her leadership and passion for engaging others to give truly represents philanthropy and the positive impact others can make in their community.
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser – Ron Foxcroft; Nominated by: Hillfield Strathallen College
Affectionately known as “Mr. Hamilton”, Ron Foxcroft is a passionate advocate for causes involving children and a healthy community, as well as a highly successful entrepreneur. In Ron’s words: “Building healthy bodies and minds makes for a stronger community. Recreation leads to a lifetime of better health, self-esteem, leadership and teamwork skills.”
 Ron Foxcroft; recipient of the 2014 Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Volunteer award. Ron has a steadfast belief that anything is possible with hard work, determination and the support of dedicated volunteers. He has an unwavering commitment to his philanthropy, the Hamilton/Burlington communities, and his untiring volunteerism. Ron never hesitates to use his broad network of connections and relationships to engage others and help him achieve his goals.
Over the years, he has been committed to a broad range of local causes including: McMaster University, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hillfield Strathallan College, Mohawk College, Hamilton Community Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, McMasters Children’s Hospital and City Kidz, just to name a few. Countless individuals and organizations have benefitted from his volunteerism and he is an incredible inspiration and role model for leadership and generosity.
The above is what the Association of Fundraising professionals had to say about Busby and Foxcroft. Here’s the real skinny on those two. Susan Busby will tell you that she has a saint of a husband who has been beside her every step of the way – and then some. Marie, Ron Foxcroft’s wife will tell you that she gave up trying to keep up with Ron. She’s happy when he gets home.
You could not find two people more unlike each other than Foxcroft and Busby. Busby uses her skills as a high school principal to let people understand how something should get done. She has that remarkable ability to let people figure out what she has in mind – and then she helps them get it done.
During her various assignments at the hospital Busby had to deal with people who had very healthy egos; she dealt with those egos very effectively, a testament to her length of service to the hospital and the wider community.
Foxcroft is a little more aggressive. He twists arms – nicely – but you know your arm is being twisted and if you’ve been around Burlington at all – give in when he calls.
Ron is the kind of guy who can keep a secret but he does that a little differently than most of us. He tells you the secret and makes you promise not to pass it on – and then he holds you to that promise.
Mayor Goldring called Ron Foxcroft when he needed help with raising funds for Flood Disaster Relief. Foxcroft had cheques on the table before the end of the week and began going through his Rolodex and making calls.
He set an ambitious target and then did a number on the provincial government to ensure that they too came through with the commitment Burlington needed. MPP Ted McMeekin, responsible for the Flamborough to the west of us was also the Minister who would have to sign off on the funding.
McMeekin got the Foxcroft treatment for three solid days – the man may never be the same. But earlier this week the local MPP’s, Indira Nadoor-Harris and Eleanor McMahon announced that the provincial government would provide up to $3 million to Burlington on a two-for-one basis; for every dollar we raised the province would add two dollars.
Ron Foxcroft didn’t start making calls during the media event at which the announcement was made – but he was on the phone while driving home – a hands free phone.
Fund raising ends on Friday, the evening Foxcroft and Busby are to be recognized. Will Ron walk from table to table asking for cheques – and has he put the touch on Susan Busby yet?
Two fine people being recognized for decades of personal philanthropy – kudos to the two of them.
By Staff
November 11, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Join the Arts Burlington Council in starting off the holiday season.
They will be conducting their annual Christmas Fine Art and Craft Sale, which takes place at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) Thursday, November 13 – Sunday, November 16.
 The six Arts Burlington guilds participating in the event include: Latow Photographers Guild, Burlington Potters Guild, Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Rug Hooking Craft Guild, Burlington Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild, and the Burlington Sculptors and Woodcarvers Guild.
The guilds continue to be an integral part of the AGB (formerly The Burlington Art Centre) since its inception more than 35 years ago. As drivers of arts and culture in the community, together the Art Gallery of Burlington and Arts Burlington strengthen the cultural landscape. With objectives to develop and maintain onsite and outreach programs, creative outlets and the expansion of visual arts, both organizations require support from the community. Providing an opportunity to increase public awareness of their services, this event is an important fundraiser for Arts Burlington and the Art Gallery of Burlington.
We invite you to come and take part in gift shopping from the unique works of art provided by the six guilds. In keeping with holiday tradition, there is a special tree filled with small gift items made by the guilds. All proceeds of these specially made items will go to the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Additionally, the AGB is hosting the always well attended Soup Bowl event. For more information and tickets (get them soon!) please visit
Dates:
Thursday, November 13 – 11am-3pm
Friday, November 14 – 11am-9pm
Saturday, November 15 – 11am-4pm
Sunday, November 16 – 11am-4pm
The Place:
Art Gallery of Burlington
1333 Lakeshore Road
Burlington, Ontario
905-632-7796
By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2014
Burlington, ON
From the RCAF Awards & Citations Page
BIRCH, F/O John Oswald (J23888) – Distinguished Flying Cross – No.103 Squadron – Award effective 26 September 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2373/44 dated 3 November 1944. Born 1920 in Winnipeg; home in Toronto; enlisted there 21 January 1942. Trained at No.6 ITS (graduated 31 July 1942), No.12 EFTS and No.2 SFTS (graduated 19 February 1943). Commissioned 1943. Award sent by registered mail 19 December 1945.
 Those are the bare facts – set out as only a military bureaucrat could. The fill story is:
One night in July 1944 John Oswald Birch was pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart. At the commencement of the bombing run the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The starboard fin and rudder and a portion of the tail plane and elevator were shot away. The mid-upper and rear turrets were rendered unserviceable. A fuel tank was pierced whilst much damage was sustained to the control surfaces. In spite of this, Flying Officer Birch executed his attack. On the long flight home it was very difficult to maintain control and it was necessary for another member of the crew to assist by maintaining pressure on the rudder controls but an airfield was eventually reached and a safe landing effected. In most difficult circumstances, Flying Officer Birch displayed notable skill, courage and tenacity.
Part of the crew on that Lancaster bomber that night was a man named McDonald. His son Terrence contacted the Gazette asking if a comment written by John Birch might be related to the man who brought that Lancaster bomber back to London where it crash landed.
Terence G. McDonald wrote the Gazette asking:
Dear sir, I was looking up something regarding Bomber Command and I came across your article dated August 27, 2013. One of the people who commented is John Birch. I was stunned because his father and my father were on the same crew.
 My father was the wireless air gunner and when they hobbled back to England my father, after seeing the majority of crew bail out, in turn bailed out and landed in a tree in Battersea Cemetery. In my father’s memoirs he talks about J.O.
I’ve attached the story as written by my father about that night. If you can track down John Birch and give him a copy I’d appreciate it.
We put the two men together and Terence G. McDonald and John Birch began a long electronic conversation.
Birch wanted to know if Terrence has “any photos or more info re my father, they would be deeply appreciated, as my father’s pilot log book, photo binders, DFC & other service medals, and uniform along with a treasured engraved Ronson lighter with the 103 Squadron logo gifted to him by his crew, and their names engraved on the reverse side, ‘to F/L J O Birch DFC, for getting us home’ were all lost in a house fire in the early 1950’s on Indian Point, Burlington.
 Officers and crew flying in Lancaster bombers were always at great risk and there was no comfort. These were bare bones aircraft built to carry bombs and fight off attacking aircraft with machine guns in turrets. “My father, so my mother told me, was deeply moved by the gift from his crew.”
Burlington’s John Birch went on to say that: David Fell, archivist for 103 Sq Association Elshom Wolds put me in contact with one of my father’s crew still alive. I received a very personal letter, from F/O A C P Gamble DFC a few years ago, who had replaced F/S Evans as upper turret gunner sometime in August 1944. F/O Gamble was on his second tour and was considered a lucky addition to the crew. He and my father became good friends and everyone referred to my dad as J O.
Mr Gamble stated in the letter, he’d flown with many pilots and considered “good old JO was the best and most skilled pilot I had ever flown with …, I feel I owe my life and surviving the war to your father’s flying skills’
“According to Mr Fell, that night, July 28-29 1944, 103 Sq suffered the worst losses of the war, having contributed 8 aircraft to the 3rd Stuttgart raid, only 4 returned, the rest either shot down or damaged and landing elsewhere. The sister Sq also operating out of Elshom Wolds, contributed 7 Lancs, with only 4 returning.
“Fell wrote that when my dad arrived July 7th 1944 at 103 Sq, moral was quite low, for the preceding 6 months not one aircrew had survived to be rotated out at the end of their tour.
“Casualty rates, as you know, in bomber command was 54% with a statistical likelihood of 5% loss per operation. 5% x minimum 30 operations to complete a tour – well, the math didn’t work out well for the aircrews.
 At the nose of a Lancaster there was a bomb aimer and gunners just above them Birch continues in his correspondence with Terrence to say: “While I knew the entire starboard fin, rudder; controls and horizontal stabilizer were blown off, and the turrets rendered inoperable due to the loss of the hydraulics, and the fuel tank holed, I did not know that 6′ of wing was also blown off along with the bomb bay doors. Lancs could take quite a beating. Quite amazing considering the Lanc’s origin was the disastrous Manchester – but the slide rule boffins at AV Roe added 15 feet of wing to the Manchester and an extra pair of Merlins, called it the Lancaster and a legend was born.
“I do know my father was quite worried when they didn’t report back to base for 3 agonizing days as he thought he might have ordered them to their injury or deaths. My dad’s Lanc made a belly landing at White Waltham SW of London (being the closest field they could make and near out of fuel) and he had directed the non essential crew to bailout once over England, as it was a very tough landing to effect – particularly so now that I know the bomb bay doors were blown off too, leaving a 33 foot long scoop on the bottom of the aircraft. The landing gear could not be lowered.
 At the tail of the plane were two more machine guns to ward of attackers from the rear. Birch adds that “it was a good thing for both of us my dad and crew regained control and pulled PB147 out of that dive, for neither of us were yet conceived – and Lancs had such a terrible survival rate in an uncontrolled bailout.
F/O J O Birch DFC was promoted to F/L. He was a Lancaster pilot attached to 103 Squadron RAF. As was common practice RCAF and other Commonwealth crews flew together often as mix and match from across the colonies.
“We owe so much to all of they who served, and really have no idea what it was like.”
That sentiment will fill the air and the hearts of those who gather at the Burlington cenotaph this morning.
By Staff
November 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
This Thursday Nov. 13th at 7pm., Rm 305, at City Hall, the city and Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward will host a public meeting to review the proposed five story condominium for the property at Blathwayte Lane and Elgin Street (Stretching over to Locust Street).
The lots are zoned as four storeys maximum. Five storeys will require a zone change and zone changes on any property in St. Luke’s Precinct will set a precedent toward other zone changes.
 Area residents do not approve of an additional storey being added to a proposed condominium in the community. The St. Luke’s precinct residents have been very successful in having developers stick to the rules and the zoning given to a property.
This meeting is an early stage of the process event where the developer is gauging community reaction. The precinct residents see this as a critical first meeting where they can influence a design and urge to the developer to adjust the building to fit within zone or take their model somewhere else.
St. Luke’s is an easy 15 minute walk from the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Martha Street where a developer wants to put up a 28 storey structure on a site zoned for a maximum of eight storeys. While there has been strong reaction to the Martha Street project that part of the city has not had the same success as the people in St. Luke’s.
By Pepper Parr
November 6, 2014
BURLINGTON. ON.
Local government works best when the people in the community play a meaningful role in the determination of what the tax rates should be and what the money raised is to be spent on.
Bureaucrats can`t do it all. In Burlington, many of the senior people don`t live in the city 0- their relationship with citizens is for the most part paper based and interactions at committee or Council meetings.
Burlington has a number of Advisory Committees – some work exceptionally well while others are a mess. This reporter has sat in on two Advisory Committee meetings where members were throwing copies of reports at each other.
 Nicholas Leblovic. chair of the now sunset Waterfront Advisory committee. Some Advisory Committees work well – others don’t. The city has created Advisory Committees and shut them down before they completed a full term; that was the fate of WAPA – the Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory committee that was the starting point for that startling decision of the Council that will end its tem at the end of the month.
There are Advisory Committees that do superb work – better than staff people at city hall. And there are Advisory Committees that are poorly chaired.
Who sits on the Advisory Committees?
The city runs advertisements asking for people to submit an application; they are reviewed, people are interviewed and the selections announced. The decisions of city hall staff who make the recommendations then go to Council where they are approved. There have been occasions when Council decide not to approve a particular person – that kind of a decision gets made in a closed session.
Thus the final word on who sits on those Advisory Committees is made by Council – they want to keep the trouble makers out – or do they want to ensure they will get people who will support what Council wants to see done?
Do Council members put names forward?
There are people in this city that do not agree with some of the policies city Council puts forward and they would like to see some form or organized opposition in place.
While municipal governments do not follow provincial or federal party lines – there are people who would like to see something in the way of an organization that is not specific subject based.
 The Official waterfront advisory committee was shut down by the city – citizens thought it important enough to have a committee and formed something independent of city hall. The Burlington Library is working with the city this year to put on an event that will let people learn more about the different advisory committees. The event will include committees that are not part of the civic administration.
The event: An Introduction to Boards and Committees, takes place on November 19th at the Central Library – starts at 7:00 pm. Oddly enough it doesn’t appear on the Library calendar and the city hasn’t said a word about it publicly. Disapointing.
The city has since advised that the event is n the city web site and that paid advertising is to appear soon.
While a large part of the city population lives south of the QEW – there are a lot of people north of that stretch of pavement. Why isn’t an event like this held in Alton in the recreational complex up there? This would give the people north of Dundas and those to the immediate south a chance to really participate.
Among the Boards and committees that will have representatives at the event are:
Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee
Burlington Cycling Advisory Committee
Sustainable Development Advisory Committee
Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee
Senior’s Advisory Committee
Inclusivity Advisory Committee
Mundialization Committee
Committee of Adjustment
Downtown Parking Advisory Committee
Burlington Public Library Board
Burlington Museums Board
Doors Open Volunteer Organizing Committee
Canada Day Committee Organizing Committee
Christmas Parade Committee
 Bfast is an independent group that is well informed on transit matter. They delegate frequently. We understand that BFast (Burlington For Accessible Sustainable Transit) will also have a table for people who want to be involved in transit issues.
By Pepper Parr
November 6, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
In his day he was one of the heavy hitters at Queen’s Park. He ran the elections that got Dalton McGuinty elected and re-elected. He had his own problems with an inquiry and was totally cleared. He experienced a little too much zealousness on the part of the police.
A new session of Engaging Ideas, proudly hosted by A Different Drummer Books and Burlington Public Library, features a guest renowned for his achievement and experience and for his insight into our political process:
 Greg Sorbara in the Legislature – always on his feet with the facts at his finger tips. A senior figure in Ontario’s governance, as long-serving MPP, as Liberal Party president and as Minister of Finance, Greg Sorbara will take his audience through the many colourful challenges of his long and extraordinary career, and share the startling facts and opinions newly revealed in his candid and provocative memoir.
“This is a lovely, insightful book from one of modern Ontario’s most influential figures. It provides deep insight and personal reflections on both the policy process and the real-world of politics from a man who has shaped the evolution of Ontario as much as anyone in the past three decades.”: that’s how Matthew Mendelsohn, a former senior federal and provincial civil servant describes the book.
The Battlefield of Ontario Politics on November 17 at 7pm at Centennial Hall, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street. Tickets are $10, available at A Different Drummer Books and at the Third Floor Information Desk at the Library.
Sorbara has been a member of the Ontario Liberal Party, and served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 until 1995, and then from 2001 until 2012, most recently representing the riding of Vaughan. Sorbara served as the Minister of Finance in the Liberal government of Premier Dalton McGuinty from 2003 to 2007.
He differed with Premier David Petersen on the calling of the 200xx election – won his seat but the Liberals lost that election. He ran for the leadership of the party; lost to Lynn McLeod.
He was a supporter of Dalton McGuinty and did all the backroom thinking for each of the McGuinty elections.
He resigned on October 11, 2005, following a police investigation involving his family’s real estate development firm and was reinstated on May 23, 2006 after a judge ruled that there was no cause for including Sorbara’s name on a search warrant.
 Greg Sorbara during the public investigation days. He was totally cleared of any wrong doing. Sorbara chaired the party’s successful 2007 election campaign but announced on October 26, 2007 that he was leaving the cabinet to spend more time with his family but would continue as a backbench MPP.
On August 1, 2012, Sorbara announced that he was retiring from the legislature but would stay on as chair of the Liberal’s election campaign.
He will be at the Central Library on November 19th – should be a fine evening. The man has a great story to tell.
By Staff
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Friends of Freeman Station are presenting their first museum exhibit in the community gallery of the Joseph Brant Museum.
Titled Railways, Regiments and Restoration: A History of the Freeman Station, the exhibit explores the 108-year history of the train station and the significance of the railways to Burlington using maps, photos and artifacts.
 Freeman station – the day cements was poured for the foundation. Visitors will learn about the arrival of railways in Burlington in the mid-1800s, their vital importance to the region’s economy, particularly fruit and vegetable production, the role of the Freeman Station in The First World War, and current efforts to restore the building to its former glory.
Highlights include a scale model of the station as it would have looked in 1906, maps showing the station’s location in the village of Freeman, and Grand Trunk Railway, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway artifacts recently donated to the Friends and never before exhibited to the public.
The exhibit opens November 4, 2014. The museum is open Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. General admission is $4.50.
The Friends of Freeman Station is a registered charity working to restore Burlington’s only surviving GTR station to its original appearance and open it as a museum. The building was moved to its current location in 2013 and this year the group has lowered it onto a new basement and begun work on the interior.
They are currently raising funds for a new roof and seeking volunteers. Their AGM will be held Wednesday, November 12th at 7 p.m. at Burlington City Hall.
By Pepper Parr
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
As you drive south on Walkers Line and pass under the GO tracks and get ready to drive over the QEW you may not see the construction taking place on the west side just a little north of the North Service Road.
 There is a fairly large sign with the word BELL on it and a Subway shop tucked in behind. That patch of land has a level of sensitivity to it that doesn’t apply to most other pieces of property in the city.
Some of that land recently changed hands at what can only be described as “eye-popping” prices. We got calls from a number of people suggesting we sniff around a little and learned that the whopper of a land sale price is related – tangentially – to the deal that never closed also known as the new IKEA location.
 This is where IKEA wanted to relocate their Aldershot operation. They were going to build a bigger store and add quite a few head office jobs as well. The city went along with Official Plan and zoning changes. The Conservation Authority would not go along with the parking plans close to Tuck Creek. The green line is Tuck Creek. Back in March of 2011 IKEA decided they wanted to move from their current Plains Road location to a property on the North Service Road. When the Gazette first learned of those plans we drove out to the site – what was immediately obvious to us was that the North Service Road was never going to be able to carry the traffic that IKEA planned on attracting.
And it wasn’t just the North Service Road that was a problem – Walkers Line itself would not be able to handle the volume that was expected to come in off the QEW.
Anything done to Walkers Line has to go through Ministry of Transportation filter. As the city worked its way through the IKEA proposal all kinds of interesting tid bits of information bubbled to the surface – the most significant being – a lot of people both at the city and IKEA had not done their homework.
 The owner of this property had plans to develop it beyond the single storey structure. His plans did not fit with the developing IKEA Plans. That red line is where Tuck Creek flows. In order for the North Service Road to get wider Walkers Line had to widen and that impacted on the ramps that lead from and to the QEW. Those QEW ramps are Ministry of Transportation (MTO) territory .
We walked the North Service Road from Walkers Line to Guelph Line to get a better sense as to what had to happen if the IKEA site was going to have roads that let traffic get to it.
It was at about this point in time that the Economic Development people began to feel their oats and were coming up with some slick marketing phrases. Burlington was going to have Prosperity Corridors – several of them.
The property either side of Walkers Line was going to be one of those prosperity corridors. The idea was to identify property that was zoned and labelled for economic development and get them to the point where they were “shovel ready”.
Members of city council and the Economic Development Corporation really liked that “shovel ready” phrase. It seemed to mean that when someone wanted to locate in Burlington the city had property that was ready for a shovel to dig into it and put up a building that was going to house people doing well paying high tech jobs.
 We will buy this said the city…. IKEA wasn’t going to employ all that many high tech people – it’s a retail operation but they were going to expand their head office administration space and bring in a bunch of people.
The IKEA plans didn’t make it through all the hurdles. More than three years at the talking stage but it was all for naught. When IKEA withdrew their application it wasn’t clear why they had decided not to go forward. That gets us back to that piece of property that has a building going up.
IKEA apparently wanted to put parking spots a little too close to Tuck Creek which runs down the east side of what is called the Hopewell property. The Halton Conservation Authority wasn’t prepared to go along with that idea. It all hinged on what the Conservation people call “top of bank” which is a term used to describe just what it says – the top of the bank – be it a creek or a large body of water.
 … and you can keep that part. Top of bank is the starting point for what is called “stable top” which has to do with the geology. Stable bank is determined by a formula that starts from where the top of the bank is. All complex and esoteric but it was those two terms that brought the IKEA project on the North Service to a halt.
A lot of time and a lot of money was spent on getting IKEA from Aldershot to the North Service Road. The people that make the wheels move at city hall decided to put a positive spin on the loss of IKEA and are saying that the North Service road has to be improved anyway so let’s get on with making the road wider and ensuring that access is what it needs to be.
 During this multi-year exercise the city improved its relationship with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and what it plans on doing with the QEW and its access ramps. They learned that Walkers Line will reach capacity around 2031 (some think it is already beyond capacity but those people don’t know what real traffic is) which means the MTO people weren’t wanting to pay a lot of attention to improving things on Walkers Line.
No Walkers Line improvement – not much you can do with the North Service Road and if you don’t do something with the North Service Road there goes the Prosperity corridor concept and there won’t be much in the way of land you can put a shovel in.
Different level of government has different levels of responsibility for roads. Walkers Line is a city road whereas Brant, Guelph Line, Appleby Line and Burloak are Regional Roads with some portion a city responsibility.
While all this is happening the owner of the land that is east of Tuck Creek and to the west of Walkers Line between the GO tracks and the QEW take an application to city hall.
The plans that property owner had did not fit in with the long terms plans the city had for improving access to the North Service Road. The city knew they did not want to approve the application and they probably knew they didn’t want to expropriate – so it was time to “do a deal” and what a deal they did.
 It is still an empty field on which a lot of money has been spent. Hopewell is still looking for a buyer and there are reported to be a lot of people “sniffing” around. Access to the road will be improved but the road itself is still two lanes. IKEA had planned on a $60 million 428,500 sq ft facility to originally open in 2013 The city bought a chunk of the land – it was 1.1 acres in size and paid $5,676,880 They then apparently gave the property owner an “enhancement” in allowing him to put more on the property than would have been permitted.
One exceptionally well informed Gazette reader had these comments:
“Was the $5.7 million just for the land and the building or was there monies paid for the property owner to move his tenants out of the existing building into the new building when it is completed?”
The Gazette learned that the $5.7 million was for the land shown on the graphics and the building – even though the building sits on land that is now owned by the city and the company – 1100 Walkers Line Inc.
“Were there any sweeteners in this deal – because it is a deal” says our informant.
“It is unlikely that a private property owner enter into a deal like this unless there was a benefit to him, at a cost to the City.
The property transferred from a private commercial property owner to City on February 10, 2014. At a Council meeting on February 19th, they went into a closed session to discuss a property matter” which we later learned was IKEA. The next day the city put out a press release saying IKEA had withdrawn their application.
The city is now stuck with land for which there is no justification because there is no reason to enhance access to the North Service Road.
“It is very unusual for any level of government to secure property under speculative conditions; in fact, governments typically only acquire property once there is justification to do so; the IKEA relocation was the justification, but, that did not happen, so this deal should also have not happened. It also becomes an issue of fairness and equity; why not buy up other locations from other private landowners? And who made the decision to buy the land that was purchased. Is there anything on the public record?
“If the market value of commercial land is in somewhere in the range of $1M – $1.5M/acre in Burlington, why did the city pay $5.7M/acre? Did the purchase price include payment for the demolition of an old commercial building and the cost to build a new 6-storey office building?
If so, is the $5.7M paid so far to the private property owner the end of it, or, is there more money to be paid by the City to the proud owner of the new building.
“Is this a case of enrichment? The City should have only entered into such a deal if the City had an irrevocable IKEA relocation play in place including all MTO interchange reconstruction commitments in place, together with cost sharing with IKEA to offset the City’s share of the total costs.
“Did the city have any indication that IKEA was going to withdraw their application? When did IKEA make the call to the city.
“One of the smell tests for this situation is this: If MTO were to reconstruct the interchange, they would only pay market value for the city’s 1.1 acre; basically, the city would not be able to recover the $5.6M because that is well in excess of the market value of the land bought by the City, and the interchange reconstruction would be under the jurisdiction of the MTO.
What our informant may not have been aware of is that Walkers Line is a city Road. MTO owns the ramps leading to Walkers Line and they have the right to intervene on anything built within 300 metres of the centre line of any MTO. So – MTO was “in the room” as they say, but they weren’t picking up any of the tabs.
“It appears” says our informant” that the City made and concluded a deal they should not have completed, to the benefit and arguably an enrichment of a private sector commercial land owner, and now they are pitching it as a planned acquisition to encourage new economic development at the northwest quadrant of Walkers Line and QEW.
“This deal is an expensive outcome from a major failed relocation which appears to benefit a private owner as enrichment”
Our informant thinks there may be more money to be paid to this property owner once construction is complete but doesn’t have any proof – yet he adds.
We are still tracking this part of the deal which as one authority who understands these kinds of arrangements said: “it doesn’t pass my smell test”
 The structure will rise to six storeys and over look the railway tracks at the back and the QEW at the front. On a nice summer day office workers can wander down to the edge of Tuck Creek, The steel beams for the six storey office building snuggled up close to the GO trains tracks are being put in place. The city is clearing the land they bought to improve access to the North Service Road – not that the road will be able to handle all that much traffic – but the Prosperity concept is now still valid.
Hopewell Developments, the people who own the land IKEA was going to build on are still looking for a buyer. That is one of the few remaining properties Hopewell has in Ontario – they want to pull back to their Alberta roots where they probably realize prosperity is much more than a corridor.
$5,676,880 for 1.1 acres of land. That is eye-popping. Admittedly the city also bought the building that is now on the land – but they are going to tear that down – and you know who is going to pay for the demolition.
By Staff
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
With the weather slipping into temperatures that call for a sweater and a scarf and a search for your gloves the idea of a hot bowl of soup sounds just about right. There is soup – and then there is soup and we all know the difference.
 Individually hand crafted bowls done by artizans across the province. Enjoy a special gourmet soup and then take the bowl home. The Art Gallery has this traditional celebration of both the culinary and ceramic arts. Starting November 13 and running to the 16th – they serve guests from beautiful handcrafted bowls donated by potters from across Ontario ready to be filled with delectable gourmet soups from some of the area’s finest restaurants.
AGB event will feature all of the best loved Soup Bowl elements – beautiful handcrafted bowls donated by potters from across Ontario ready to be filled with delectable gourmet soups from some of the area’s finest restaurants.
Guests choose their bowls, fill them with a gourmet soup to enjoy with the rest of their meal, and then take the bowls home after they are cleaned and packaged for them.
Soup Bowl is an important fundraiser which supports AGB programs and is quickly becoming a sold out event. Tickets are on sale now: $50 ($40 for AGB members) for all lunch and Friday evening sittings.
Tables of eight also can be reserved. Order tickets online or by telephone (905-632-7796, ext 326) or in person at AGB 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington.
 Shopping at the Arts Burlington Christmas Sale is an added bonus during the Soup Bowl. There is no admission charge to browse and buy at the Arts Burlington Christmas Sale, which features a wide variety of handcrafted items produced by the Guilds of Arts Burlington with Christmas in mind.
More than 2,000 visitors are drawn to the annual Christmas Sale of Fine Art and Craft presented by the seven Guilds of the AGB, and also to the seasonal beauty of the Gallery Shop, brimming with gift items carefully selected for quality and design.
It is open to everyone on November 13 from 11 am to 3 pm; November 14 from 11 am to 9 pm; and November 15 and 16 from 11 am to 4 pm.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is located at 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, and is an accessible facility with lots of free parking over the course of the event. The 2014 Soup Bowl is sponsored by Utter Morris Insurance Brokers Limited, Wendy and Don Smith, Smith’s Funeral Homes, Brechin and Huffman, Barristers and Solicitors and J.M. Edwards Associates.
 By Pepper Parr
November 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
In an early edition of this article we gave the closing date for the fund raising as November 4th – we were mistaken. Fun raising will end on November 14th. There are still have some gifts anticipated and promised by Nov. 14th. Some donours are waiting to hear what the Province does.
Mayor Goldring has come out from behind the Municipal Elections Act and is now acting as a Mayor and is keeping people posted through his blog with news and updates on the issues and fundraising efforts on the August 4 Flood Disaster.
 From left to right in the photo (and along the back) we have Burlington Lions Club members VP Barry Leppan, VP Blair Greer, VP Alastair Mirrlees (over Mayor Goldring’s shoulder), Director Jim McLaughlin (who is directly behind by Colleen) and President Ken O’Breza (the tallest gentleman). And of course Mayor Rick Goldring and Burlington Community Foundation President & CEO Colleen Mulholland in the front, holding the cheque for $8,000. Goldring reports that: “Almost $800,000 in cash has been raised by the committee to date.
“I have been in contact with both our local MPP Eleanor McMahon and Minister McMeekin’s office for the latest updates from the province on our ODRAP application which we hope will match funds raised. The Burlington Community Foundation has a 100-day campaign for fundraising efforts which will come to completion on November 14, 2014.”
One informed participant with the fund raising group says that “you need a search warrant to find the Minister” who will have to eventually sign off on the Burlington request for ODRAP support. Burlington has yet to hear anything official from the provincial government.
 Ron Foxcroft Kicking Off the Flood Relief Campaign. When the fund raising Kick Off event was held in August the Burlington Community Foundation understood that there were potentially 500+ homes that were either under insured or uninsured. They did a quick calculation as to what would be needed and came up with the $2 million figure – and that became the fund raising target.
The BCF didn’t quibble over that number – they just stepped up to the plate and began making phone calls – they also put $15,000 of their own money on the plate. At the time many people were up to their necks in water and sewage – this wasn’t the time to ask a lot of questions.
However, as the amount raised grew the fund raisers began to ask: – just how much money are we going to need? It became increasingly difficult to determine that amount. There was no clear picture on just how many people might need help. Was it 500 homes damaged but covered by insurance or was it 250 homes that were damaged an either didn’t have any insurance or were under insured.
There were many homes, especially in the Regent Road area where homeowners were told they could no longer buy insurance. Others learned that their insurance company had scaled back the level of coverage they could buy.
Burlington believed the provincial government would come through on the two for one Ontario Disaster Relief and Assistance Program (ODRAP). All anyone has heard so far is that we “should be optimistic” which sounds like a politician playing games.
Premier Kathleen Wynne is going to be in Hamilton next Saturday during the Tiger Cats game (who are they going to lose to this time) and will be pinning medals on four members of the Argyll and Sutherland Regiment.
Burlington’s MPP Eleanor McMahon appears to have been left out to dry on this file. Her efforts have been close to heroic but the provincial government doesn’t appear to have all that much – at least so far – for Burlington residents.
 Glenn Nicholson planned on an event to help a senior whose home was badly damaged by the flood: hundreds showed up including the Burlington Teen Tour band The $800,000 raised to date has been due to the outstanding efforts of the Flood Disaster Relief Committee, local businesses, sports organizations, neighbourhood groups and individuals. There was that great street party on Elwood and the $3000+ raised by an 11 year old student Sheil Patel and the $8000 put on the plate by the Lions Club. The supermarkets came through; the banks came through and local merchants put out the donation boxes.
Burlington is close to “donation exhausted” said BCF fund raiser Ron Foxcroft who added “and the flood is no longer front page news. Other organizations – the United Way and the Joseph Brant Hospital need opportunities to raise what they need – the BCF needs to close the books and make the best with what they have raised.”
The Burlington Community Foundation is moving from their fund raising efforts to managing the applications for Losses and Damages claims. The Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Committee is hosting a Town Hall meeting with the Claims Committee and Cunningham Lindsay, the insurance adjuster supporting the initiative. The meeting is planned for Tuesday, November 4th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm to answer questions and provide support to those interested in making a claim.
 Peter Hodgson led the Red Cross data collection drive to find out just how many homes had been flooded and how much help was needed. Councillor Meed Ward wore one of the first flood T-shirts. At this point there have been just 50 applications for financial support. The ODRAP program is intended for those who were either uninsured or under insured.
When the Red Cross did their door-to -door survey work immediately after the flood they reported that there were 500 homes that were severally flooded. However, Peter Hodgson, the Red Cross volunteer who led that data collecting team, found that many people whose homes were flooded said they didn’t want any financial support and that what money there might be should go to people who truly needed financial support.
Hodgson also found that there was no one home at many of the doors they knocked on. “We had no idea if they had suffered severe flood damage and moved out or were just away for a few days.”
Hodgson spent weeks on the data collection work even though his home was flooded and he still doesn’t have the full use of the house he lives in. “it might be three more weeks before all the work is done”, he said.
Colleen Mulholland lives in a house that was badly flooded as does Mayor Goldring and Burlington’s MP Mike Wallace.
 One of the unfortunate elements of this situation is that the information the Red Cross collected and turned over to the Region is being treated as something that comes under the privacy rules which means that the Burlington Community Foundation cannot access that data to communicate with the people who may need financial help and are entitled to financial support.
Colleen Mulholland, president of the Burlington Community Foundation, is spearheading a Town Hall meeting on November 4 at the Seniors Centre on New Street. “We have advertised the event and we hope we get everyone who needs help into the room. “We know there are hundreds of Burlington families who  will qualify for financial assistance and are concentrating our efforts to communicate with those folks and help them through the process,” says Mulholland, President and CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation. “We are also communicating with the provincial government to understand its position on providing financial assistance so we can be crystal clear on how much funding we have to disperse.”
We believe there are people out there who need the financial support that is available and either don’t have the forms and don’t understand the process.
“There is only so much time left – all the forms have to be submitted by December 14th and this program has to be wrapped up eight weeks after that deadline.”
 The fear is that there will be people who will not apply because they did not know or fully understand and they will lose out. Once the program ends it is over,
Since the Application for Losses and Damages became available on September 30th approximately 50 claims have been filed. The Claims Committee has set a deadline of December 14, 2014 for all Applications for Losses and Damages to be submitted. Disbursements will begin over the following eight weeks after the deadline.
 Bank of Montreal dug into their vault and found $20,000 for flood relief. Mulholland explains that “we will have volunteers on hand to work one-on-one to help complete the forms that are required. We will go to people’s homes to help them but we need to know who they are in order to help.
Mulholland would like every person who reads about this situation to tell five people and to ask those five people to tell another five people about the November 4th Town Hall meeting. “We just need to get the word out” she said.
Application forms are available on the BCF website, or they can be mailed out to residents by calling the BCF office at 905-639-0744, ext. 223.
By Pepper Parr
October 31, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Burlington, through its Public Art Program, has selected artist Simon Frank to install a public art piece at Mountainside Recreation Centre.
Frank was chosen by a community jury through the Public Art Program after the call for proposals produced a list of 32 submissions. The list was shortened to four artists: Karl Ciesluk from Ottawa, Ont., Simon Frank from Hamilton, Ont., Andrew Owen from Toronto, Ont. and Teresa Seaton from Burlington, Ont.
 werc “Frank has a well-established, contemporary art practice that examines the relationship between people and the natural environment,” said the jury’s statement. “He was able to clearly communicate his understanding of the community that the public art will exist in.”
Frank, a poet, artist and rustic furniture-maker, will use community input, the design of Mountainside and the natural area to create his final plan. He will be on site this fall to explore the area and consult with the community as he begins the $25,000 project. Dates, times and locations for public input will be announced.
The public art piece will complement the Mountainside Recreation Centre revitalization project.
Simon Frank was born in 1968 in Glasgow, Scotland, but grew up in Dundas, Ont. Over the past 18 years, Frank has participated in solo and group exhibitions across Ontario, as well as exhibiting in special projects in Saskatoon, Italy and South Korea. He has received grants from both the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.
 “Island” at the Dominic Agostino Centre Frank has installed two permanent, public art works in Hamilton: “Island” at the Dominic Agostino Centre (2003) and “Concrete Poetry” on Locke Street (2011). He has also been a finalist in public art competitions in Waterloo and Surrey BC. Frank is a member of the Hamilton-based collective TH&B, which has produced site-specific projects in Hamilton, Kingston, Buffalo and New York.
Over the past eighteen years, Frank has participated in solo and group exhibitions across Ontario, as well as exhibiting in special projects in Saskatoon, Italy and South Korea. He has received grants from both the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. Selected exhibitions and offsite projects include: “Take on Me”, Luminato Festival, Toronto (2014); “Romancing the Anthropocene”, Nuit Blanche, Toronto (2013); “View (from the escarpment)”, Art Gallery of Hamilton (2012); “The Tree Project”, McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg (2012); “Terra Incognito”, Rodman Hall, St Catharines (2009); “Earth Art”, Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton (2008); “Sketch for New Forest”, The Koffler Gallery,  Toronto (2007); “Wild Wood” Haliburton Forest Preserve, Haliburton (2007); “The Forest for the Trees” Galleria di Arte Contemporanea, La Spezia, Italy (2007); “Ice Follies 2006”, WKP Kennedy Gallery, North Bay (2006); “Gold Leaf” (performance), Art Gallery of Ontario (2005); “Shorelines”, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie (2005); “Exchange-Changing the Landscape”, The Tree Museum (2004); “SPASM II”, Saskatoon (2004); “The Geumgang Nature Art Project”, Korea (2002); “CAFKA/Power to the People”, Kitchener (2002); “Zone 6B: Art in the Environment”, Hamilton (2000). Frank is also a member of the Hamilton-based collective TH&B, which has produced site-specific projects in Hamilton, Kingston, Toronto, Banff, Buffalo and New York.
The mission of the City of Burlington’s Public Art Program is to enhance the quality of life in Burlington through art. The program strives to bring artwork by both established and emerging artists throughout Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
October 31, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
How do you move when the stuff you have weighs a couple of tonnes?
You hold a sale and move what you’ve got to the place where the buyer lives.
 Part of the Rickli Studio Walt Rickli is moving his studio and this weekend will be selling a large part of his inventory which includes many of the items at the Sculpture Garden tucked in behind the Lowville Bistro; 2 Lowville Park Road Burlington
It was close to 20 years that the Nelson Aggregate Quarry let Rickli set up his studio in their quarry. Within the next year the limestone beneath that studio will be transformed into gravel – thus the move. The actual “move out” date is June 1, 2015. “Although it is months away there is a lot of work involved in relocating my world” said Rickli. “It felt like the place to start would be to sell all existing sculptures.
 One of the more evocative stone sculptures in the Rickli collection. The sale takes place today – October 31st, and Saturday, November 1st as well as Sunday November 2nd 2014 at the Studio which is located on the # 2 Sideroad. There are signs at the gate with detailed directions. For those of you using your GPS to get there – the address is: 2433 No 2 Side Rd, Burlington, ON L7P 0G8
All sculptures will be available at 20% to 80% off list pricing.
For more information on what is being offered and the prices attached to pieces – click.
 The event will be held indoors at the studio (where it’s nice and warm!) I will also be including all sculptures on display in my Sculpture Garden in Lowville in this event.
Also – the winter season is approaching – I will be offering free storage of sold pieces until May 1, 2015 and I will arrange delivery and installation as required.
Rickli will be accepting a limited number of commissioned works over the winter months.
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