 By Staff
September 15th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Media yesterday, including the Gazette, reported that two students were found to have been infected by the Covid-19 virus.
The two people who were infected were students but they didn’t contract the virus in a classroom.
Neither had yet started school.
They were declared infected by the Public Health Unit on the weekend.
Halton District School Board Director of Education Stuart Miller found himself with a piece of bad news on his hands before the school doors even opened.
So far there has not been an infected student or teacher identified in the school board population.
Media got their information from the school board web site.
 By Staff
September 14th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
It was just after 7:00 pm yesterday when a police officer spotted a car moving a little too quickly in the of Billings Court and South Service Road in Burlington.
 A traffic stop was conducted and grounds were formed for a lawful search of the vehicle. Search of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, valued at over $100,000, as well as $15,000 in cash.
That is a very significant drug inventory.
Parteek Ghuman (19) of Stoney Creek has been charged with:
-Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl
-Obstruct Peace Officer
Ghuman has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
This is an example of excellent police work.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact D/Sgt Jared McLeod of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2385.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
 By Staff
September 14th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
How do the seniors in the city tell their personal stories about the city they live in and their experiences?
Most are not “news-makers” – these are people who live lives and have a story to tell and something they want to leave with their family.
Nikki Rottenberg, a retired social worker who went on to re-make herself into an award winning writer, learned of the City’s Matching Fund; applied and was given a grant.
The grant from the city was to put together a collection of creative works of older adults living in the city.
 Voices of the City published in August 2020, is an anthology of their fiction and non-fiction stories, poetry, artwork and photography. The youngest contributor is fifty-five years old; the oldest ninety-five.
Most had never been published before. One woman expressed how much it meant to her to be part of the project. “You’ve given me purpose again.”
There are thirty-seven contributors in all including Melodie Campbell, dubbed Queen of Comedy by the Toronto Sun, who wrote two funny pieces, and Benjamin Gleisser, an award winning journalist who submitted a short story. Others include, Margo Jamieson, a professional musician, pianist, singer, photographer Rolly Astrom, a retired Dofasco worker, Mr. Guiling Pan emigrated from Wuhan, China who enjoys drawing and poetry, and Jane Pilling-Cormick, a retired researcher and teacher.
And there are more, many more. Too many to list but all equally skilled in their craft. Some of the works are uplifting, others moving, and inspiring.
The project was supposed to close in May but due to Covid-19 it had to be extended to August. And there could be no celebration as planned. Instead, contributors had to pick up their books in a parking lot, wearing masks and keeping a distance from each other.
Some of the books will be distributed throughout the city at libraries, MP’s offices, City Hall and various community centres for residents of Burlington to enjoy. Copies can also be purchased through The Halton Chapter of CARP. All money from the selling of the books will be going towards advocating for better conditions for those living in long-term care homes.
Rottenberg teamed up with the Halton Chapter of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired People). Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of the book ($12) can be in touch with CARP. Send Tom Carrothers a note at: carphaltonchapter@gmail.com
or give him a call at 905-319-7345
 By Pepper Parr
September 14th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The report that two students were found to be infected was incorrect. Two people were found to be infected – they were not in classroom at the time – they had yet to start school.
 Parents walks her son up to the entrance at Charles Best It was not an auspicious start.
First day back at school and the Halton District School Board reports a student at Brant Hills with a COVID infection.
In a brief statement on the Board’s COVID-19 Advisory Committee page they report that a positive test was recorded at the Brant public school in Burlington and the Garth Webb Secondary School in Oakville.
The COVID-19 Advisory Committee provides the number of positive COVID-19 cases that are connected to schools. For all confirmed cases, families and staff at the school will be notified by letter. Halton Region Public Health will contact any close contacts directly.
The web site page does point out that: “ A positive case at a school does not mean the individual was exposed to COVID-19 at the school.
They may have been exposed somewhere else in the community. The identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation and will not be shared.
Neither school will be closing nor will any classrooms/cohorts be closed.
This morning students at Charles Best Public School arrived by car, by bus and some walked.
 Students get off school bus and head for their classrooms – all wearing masks. The start of the day was orderly with every student sanitized and let into the school.
Security was tight with principal Paul Thomson walking the perimeter of the school property in a safety vest and a walky-talky on his hip.
School buses arrived, students hopped out while small groups of parents, not wearing masks, chatted with each other.
It was a nice fall day and while things were a little edgy – the day got off to a good start.
 Children on the right are keeping their social distance from people walking along the pathway.
 By Pepper Parr
September 12th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
All the angst, all the concern and even the worry on the part of parents gets faced Monday morning as those who have decided to have their children attend school send them out the door Monday morning – and hope that they are safe.
The educators – all the way from the Director of Education and the classroom teachers – even the custodial people – are anxious.
What happens when someone becomes infected?
There are rules and protocols galore out there to deal with the child that has a temperature or a runnier than usual nose.
 The challenge is to stay positive. There will be situations where someone will over react. And there will be situations where a situation should have gotten a closer look.
Everyone is on pins and needles.
Tonnes of money has been thrown at this problem. Schools have enough PPE to last them through to Christmas.
There are all kinds of “what if” questions.
Basically if there is a child that is not well – the child gets sent home.
The Regional Public Health Unit is all over this issue. If a child Is sent home – does the class get shut down?
What has to happen for a school to be closed?
 Hand sanitizer and a sign in sheet at the only entrance to the school. This will fall to the principal along with the Superintendent who oversees health issues and the Public Health Unit. Every school has to post a notice on the school web site reporting that someone at the school has been diagnosed as infected.
The province has a reporting system that will detail where the infections were found and how many.
The communications lines will be wide open.
One should feel sorry for the students who sneezes twice in a row – they will be all over the kid.
Everyone at a responsible level is saying “there will be infected people who are identified as infected people. Some of them will be teachers – we have already heard of infected teachers and how the class they were teaching was closed.
Expect the number of infected people to rise. The big question is – how high might it rise and at what point does the province decide that schools have to be closed and everyone gets taught online.
Last week Paul Thomson, principal at Charles Best Public School, met with parents in an outdoor session with everyone six feet apart. “They asked questions” he said “and I gave them the information I had.”
 Entrance to all the schools will be strictly controlled. Parents will not be permitted to take a child into the school. They get left at the door where teachers greet them. Thomson is a believer in keeping people informed and being open, direct and honest.
Monday morning the kids troop into the school. The hand sanitizer is just inside the the front door; teachers in full PPE will be there to greet the children.
Everyone will be trying to focus on the educating of the children in their care.
Whatever in the way of the covid virus gets into a school we know that someone brought it into the school. The person who brought it into the school picked it up from someone else. We are the people who pass this virus on to others. If we keep a safe distance, wear our face masks and wash our hands regularly we will be safer.
The understanding at this point is that the virus needs to replicate itself in people. By staying apart that virus can’t replicate.
Everyone believes that there will be a virus and that that will save us all. Hope does spring eternal doesn’t it.
By Pepper Parr
September 12th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Member of Parliament Karina Gould had a busy week. Everywhere she went federal money was being handed out – all for needed community based interests – but it did have just a hint of – is there an election on the horizon to it.
Earlier in the week there was $5 million for transit over a three year time frame.
 Karina Gould, Burlington MP and a member of the Liberal Cabinet, announcing federal finding for seniors. Last Friday Gould, who is a Cabinet Minister, announced an investment of $65,600 in Burlington. These funds will support projects delivered by community organizations to help seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support for these projects is being provided by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), which fosters social inclusion and engagement of seniors by encouraging them to share their knowledge, skills and experience to stay active and engaged.
 Michelle Murry. on the left, with Minister Gould at the funding announcement at the Halton Industry Educational Council. The Halton Industry Education Council is receiving $21,000 for their project expanding online safety and technological literacy for seniors.
With this funding, HIEC will be able to expand their program to include more seniors in Canada and allow seniors to stay connected with their families, feel confident in accessing online supports and information, reduce social isolation and positively impact their mental well being.
Halton Food for Life is receiving $20,000 for their Supporting Seniors Through Accessible Food Provision. Food for Life delivers fresh food bags each week along with accessible meals for seniors who are in self isolation at home, ensuring access to healthy food to seniors across Halton during this difficult time.
The Centre for Skills Development is receiving $24,600 for their Better Together program which is designed to improve the quality of life of seniors during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Seniors will be able to attend workshops on how to navigate social media to stay connected, participate in home exercises and engage in conversations regarding mental health, nutrition and exploring wellness.
These projects announced today are funded through an additional investment of $20 million in funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Organizations will receive up to $25,000 in funding to offer immediate COVID-19 relief or recovery activities to seniors. The projects will include activities such as:
• promoting computer literacy and virtual activities, such as exercise classes, among seniors;
• supporting the delivery of food and medication or personalized monitoring of seniors by phone or by videoconference;
• assisting seniors with essential activities, such as visits to the doctor;
• hiring staff to replace a loss of volunteerism capacity due to the outbreak;
• providing information to seniors regarding how to care for themselves in light of experiences relating to the pandemic; and
• providing training on disease prevention, use of personal protective equipment.
Projects were selected based on equitable distribution of funding across the country, after consideration of active projects taking place in communities. Projects focusing on vulnerable populations or serving rural and remote communities were prioritized.
These additional projects will help ensure as many communities as possible across Canada have projects aiming to reduce seniors’ isolation within the community, improve their quality of life and help them maintain a social support network during the pandemic.
Background:
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving their health and well-being. NHSP funding supports community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects. The projects are led or inspired by seniors who are making a difference in the lives of others and their communities.
Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experience to the benefit of others. The objectives of the NHSP are:
 promoting volunteerism among seniors;
engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.
Since the NHSP was launched in 2004, more than 23,600 projects have been funded across Canada. Further to the Budget 2019 investment of an additional $100 million over five years, and $20 million per year ongoing, the Government of Canada will be supporting even more projects.
Community-based projects
Community-based project funding supports activities where seniors are engaged, connected and actively involved in their communities. Organizations are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding, and small grants of up to $5,000 are available to organizations that have not received funding within the last five years.
 Burlington seniors at a Transit workshop discussing their specific needs. Burlington MP Karina Gould looks on.
As part of the 2019-20 NHSP community-based call for proposals, organizations were invited to apply for funding under the NHSP’s three national priorities:
preventing elder abuse and fraud, including measures to reduce crimes and harms against seniors;
supporting healthy aging in community, addressing dementia, including community supports and intergenerational housing; and
counteracting ageism in the workplace to promote labour market retention of seniors.
Burlington has, on a per capita basis, one of the largest senior populations in the province.
 By Pepper Parr
September 12th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a series
I met an interesting man last week.
In his mid-twenties he was a youth pastor and then moved on to become a church planter.
Church planting is work that is driven by faith. The objective is to plant a new church in a new community.
They start out meeting in private homes with just a few people and over time build that group to the point where they need space and rent a school gymnasium or a store front.
The men (there are some women who are church planters) do not get a salary – they have to find people who will sponsor them in the work they are doing. The denomination he was working with had provided the sponsors.
For people of faith this is indeed a calling.
 For Robin Bailey getting to the job he has now tested his resolve and his faith. The man I was sitting across a table from was in a different job now. Getting to the job he has now was tested his resolve and his faith.
At one point in his church planting career, in early 2008, before the recession took hold, he took some time off to travel to Ethiopia to pick up the three year old boy he and his wife adopted. Judah was another expression of their faith.
Upon his return from Ethiopia the church planter was told that there was no longer a job for him, the sponsorship money had dried up.
Optimistic by nature the young man went looking for work. This was 2008 -09; not a time to go looking for work – there wasn’t much to be had. Bailey came out of the prairies where hard luck and hard times were just part of what life is.
There was a job offer – but that fell through. The little money they had was running out.
There was still no work. Food Banks and Employment Insurance were the resources he had to turn to. His application for Employment Insurance was turned down.
He was told he could appeal – which he did.
“I sat in my chair at the appeal and watched while one of the men being paid to listen to the appeal fell asleep.
 Robin Bailey, Executive Director of the Burlington Food Bank during one of his daily podcasts. “I sat in my car after the appeal hearing, feeling like a failure. I could not get work, I could not provide for my family. There just didn’t seem to be a way out.
“That was the day” said Robin Bailey “that I learned what human dignity really meant –“mine was taken away from me that morning”.
Shortly after Robin got a job with the Salvation Army where he spent seven and a half years.
For a short period of time after that he tried his hand at sales and customer relations – it wasn’t work that was feeding his soul.
A friend told him about the Food Bank – he applied just over three years ago and has been there ever since: listening and serving the needs of people who need help.
He has walked in those shoes.
Related news story
By Staff
September 12, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Buy a Smile Cookie, help support the Burlington Food Bank.
100% of proceeds from each #SmileCookie help support local charities.
Grab yours from September 14-20.
This is a simple, direct approach.
I think they expect you to buy a cup of coffee as well.
By Staff
September 11th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The data and the insights are courtesy of the Rocca Team – a leading Burlington real estate company.
During the month of August, we saw sale prices rise over 20% as compared to August 2019. Remarkably, sales were also up, over 39% and of course days on market were down, by just over 43%. During the month of August 2020, almost ⅔’s of the sales were for the asking price or more. Considerably more!
Just under 20 properties sold for more than 10% over the asking price. Inventory levels remain very low but only because demand is so strong. In August 2016, one of the strongest August’s on record, we saw 131 sales as compared to 219 in August 2020 – that’s a 67% increase!
At the end of August 2016 we had fewer active listings – 163 as compared to 185 in 2020 or, a 13% increase. In short, we would need at least 50% more active listings then we had at the end of August to be on even footing with one of the strongest fall markets ever experienced in the Burlington market!.
What Does This Mean?
August has historically been the second-slowest month of the year, second only to December but in 2020, it turned out to be more like our May – felt more like a spring market than a dead heat summer market. Things have not changed much since July – still extremely overheated in all of our trading areas and no end in sight.
The Federal government continues to support those that have been adversely affected by the pandemic – renters – both commercial and residential, mortgagees, by allowing deferrals and by providing a continuous income stream to individuals that have lost their jobs. Once all of this assistance comes to an end we are certain there will be an impact on the housing market. We do not, however, believe it will be significant enough to erode property values significantly. We expect that the market will cool in late fall or early 2021 but we don’t expect it to freeze!
Condominium market
Sale prices in August slipped slightly, by 2.5% as compared to August 2019. The more important number, however, is price per square foot and in August of 2020 it was $540.00, up just over 7% from August 2019.
Sales were up in August, by 25% and days on market were down by 25% to 24 as compared to August 2019. Inventory levels at the end of August suggested a tight market, favouring the seller but demand was definitely nowhere nearly as strong as we saw in the freehold market.
During the month of August 2020, condo apartments sold for 99.87% of the asking price, on average.
By Staff
September 11th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
REGARDING PROVINCIAL OFFENCES ACT MATTERS
Revised September 2, 2020
All in-person Provincial Offences Act matters (e.g., traffic tickets and offences under provincial legislation) scheduled until October 16, 2020 will be rescheduled. Do not attend court.
 If you were planning on going to court – the date will have been changed. All in-person Provincial Offences Act (POA) matters scheduled from Monday, March 16, 2020 through to and including Friday, October 16, 2020 will be adjourned and rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, do not attend court. This applies to all POA courts in Ontario.
A notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the court. For more information, please contact your local Provincial Offences court.
Contact information for all municipal courts is available here: https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/Court_Addresses/poa/
Updated information about court proceedings at the Ontario Court of Justice can be found on the Court’s website at https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/.
On August 20, 2020 the Ontario government announced that the limitation periods order under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020 suspending any time limitations setting out the commencement of POA proceedings will end on September 13, 2020.
Therefore, the following POA limitation periods will resume running on September 14, 2020 including:
• Time for provincial offences officers to file a certificate of offence or parking infraction;
• Time for defendants to file notices of intention to appear;
• Time at which a fine goes into default and may be subject to enforcement; and
• Time for appeals.
Please be advised that the Chief Justice has made a subsequent order pursuant to s. 85 extending certain timelines for the Ontario Court of Justice under the Provincial Offences Act until December 1, 2020.
A copy of the order is available on the Ontario Court of Justice website.
By Staff
September 11th,2020
BURLINGTON, ON
This one is a little on the complex side.
The Regional Police have signed on to a web site that will aid them in finding people who are lost and help people who are lost in getting found.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) announced a new partnership with What3Words. They are one of the first police services in the country to adopt this potentially lifesaving technology and is confident that this new program will help reduce response times.
The service is called – What3words – described as an easy way to communicate an exact location. This is done by dividing the world into 3 metre squares and assigning each square a unique combination of three words.
We did say it is complex.
For example, the what3words address of the HRPS Headquarters’ front entrance is Erupt.Venomous.Linear.
Using the app, callers can communicate their precise location to call takers at the HRPS. If they do not have the app, the HRPS can send callers a text message that will identify their location and unique what3word address. HRPS communicators can then direct officers to the exact location of the caller.
 It is complex – but if it works – it could be great. “This technology could be especially helpful in situations where people have become lost hiking, or have driven off the road and are trapped in a vehicle and don’t know where they are” says Staff Sergeant Stephanie Jamieson, Communications Bureau.
“We think this will also help immensely along the 325 square kilometres of Lake Ontario policed by the HRPS Marine Unit. Boaters can become stranded or lost and struggle to communicate their location to police.”
This program is far more precise than a traditional cell phone ‘ping’ often used by emergency services.
The HRPS will begin using this technology effective immediately.
The app is available for free on iOS and Android or via the online map at what3words.com. It’s also available in more than 40 languages.
The app also works offline, making it ideal for use in rural areas of Halton that may have poor or unreliable data signal.
For more information a video on how the program works can be found HERE.
 By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Where do you find the time to complete a survey the Ministry of Transportation has sent out on long-term transportation planning for the Greater Golden Horseshoe?
The results of the survey will help inform and guide highway and transit investment from today to the year 2051. Gathering input directly from communities is part of the government’s commitment to develop regional transportation plans that reflect local needs and priorities.
 “We’ve received great feedback as we develop this transportation plan and are encouraging even more people to participate in helping to shape the future of transportation in the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “This survey is incredibly important. We need the community to take part in order to build a high functioning and efficient transportation system that will keep families and the economy of the Greater Golden Horseshoe moving.”
The survey is the latest step in continued engagement with the general public, municipal and freight stakeholders, businesses and Indigenous communities. A summary of the survey findings will be produced by the Ministry of Transportation and posted on the Greater Golden Horseshoe transportation plan web page.
Link to the survey is HERE
The survey’s closing date is October 26, 2020.
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There are a couple of commercial operations in the Burlington Heights Plaza, it’s at the intersection of Guelph Line and Upper Middle Road.
They deal in used clothing and toys – mostly for children.
People show up with items they want to sell – sometime the commercial establishments buy what is offered – on occasion they will explain there is no market for what is being offered.
The seller will leave, disappointed – but such is life.
Unfortunately – a problem crops up with what is done with the items that were not sold.
 Unsightly for sure. Why are all the bags of clothing left on the ground. Are the bins full. The merchants at Burlington Heights might want to collaborate and get this mess cleaned up. A Gazette reader and his wife sent us a note saying: “…the very lazy habit of dumping trash beside charity bin has finally got my goat…”
Not only is the dumping illegal but really disgusting from a visible view point. What I feel is happening at these particular bins is a result of folks bringing all sorts of stuff to two stores in the Food Basics plaza on Guelph line.
When the store(s) do not wish to buy their stuff…bingo, they dump this junk at the bins….how convenient for them…out of sight …out of mind.
If they acted just a little bit more responsibly, they could off load much of their stuff at Value Village or the Salvation Army where much of it could possibly be recycled…or at least disposed of responsibly.
We don’t know who is dumping the clothing – but we do know the commercial operators – might they ask people who they do not buy from to take what they wanted to sell to Value Village or the Salvation Army and not dump it in the bins on the site?
A final thought – were the bins just full and there was no place to leave the donation someone wanted to make other than on the ground ?
Did our reader call the company that put the bins in place?
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Saying that “The Premier and our government made a promise to parents, that we would ensure that they would have access to the same information that we have.” the province created a web site that will report on the most up-to-date COVID-19 information available, including a summary of cases in schools and licensed child care centres and agencies.
If a COVID-19 case is confirmed at a school it will be posted to the web site. Data is current as of 2:00 pm the previous day.
Click HERE for the web site.
Set out below is what one of the pages on the web site looks like.
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The taxpayers of Burlington can now get a peek at what Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has planned for a week.
This is a new feature coming out of the Mayor’s communications department.
It is described as “a regular and predictable communication of my high-level meetings, media engagements, events and regular communications”.
 An example of what the Mayor is providing is HERE.
Look at the September 9th entry for Clearwater Development Discussion entry. Was that meeting with the developer, who has revised the plan for two medium rise buildings in what is a single dwelling community or with the ward Councillor: who was involved in that meeting? This particular development is of serious concern to a number of people in the community.
One wonders if this weekly peek is being put in place rather than a Registry that has been proposed by ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns.
A Registry is a list of the people that an elected official meets with on city business.
A Registry entry would set out the name of the person the Mayor or Councillor met with, the company they represented, the business that was discussed and the length of time the meeting lasted.
There are a lot of people who want to do business with the city of Burlington. Many think that the Mayor can serve their interests well and they look for an opportunity to meet with and impress the Mayor. Never hurts to have friends in high places.
A former Mayor of Burlington once told me “anything that happens in the city comes through the office of the Mayor”. A Registry is a much more disciplined document and in some municipalities there are penalties for not complying with keeping an accurate and timely Registry – no noting that you met with someone three months ago.
During the presentation of a development by a large corporation at a public meeting the senior officer of a much smaller development organization approached a Councillor who was elected for the first time in 2018. It was a very casual meeting, lasted just a few minutes during which a business card was presented. I would bet dollars to donuts that there was a follow up meeting.
And there is nothing wrong with that – but, when public money is involved – you note the event.
This is a good and commendable effort. More detail would make it what the public is entitled to.
By Pepper Parr
September 10th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
A statement came out of the Mayor’s office on Wednesday commenting on an appeal that had been made by a developer that was before LPAT – the Local Planning Act Tribunal.
The development was the one First Capital had for the Appleby Mall where they wanted to build two towers – one 17 storeys and the other 12 storeys that were going to be very close to the Pinedale Street sidewalk.
In the Statement the Mayor said:
At the City Council meeting on Aug. 24, 2020, Burlington City Council approved the recommendation to accept an offer to settle the issues in dispute between First Capital (Appleby) Corporation and the City with respect to First Capital’s appeal currently before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).
The settlement between the City and First Capital resolves the issues in dispute between the City and First Capital on the basis that First Capital and the City will seek LPAT approval of a revised development concept for the property at 5111 New St. The City and First Capital will request the LPAT withhold a final order approving the development until the City and First Capital are satisfied with technical studies that are required to support the revised development concept.
 The rendering of what was proposed at the first round of plans for the project. while the structures have a brutish look to them – they are quite close to towers that are not much lower less than a block away. The revised development concept proposes 368 dwelling units in both apartment and townhouse forms located on a portion of the site of the former Appleby Mall that currently contains a parking area adjacent to existing retail/commercial uses. The revised development concept reduces the building heights of the original proposal from 12 and 17 storeys, down to a 9 storey and two 12 storey buildings that follow the Official Plan. The revised development concept also: increases setbacks from Pinedale Avenue; reorients and redesigns the buildings to achieve compliance with the City’s Urban Design Guidelines; introduces townhouse units at the base of the buildings; and provides enhanced landscaping, among other things.
Nice bit of news for which council is prepared to take most of the credit. In the Statement there are congratulatory comments from the Mayor and the ward Councillor about some help from a community organization.
 Configuration of the new residential buildings went through a number of changes. At one point they were going to face Appleby. The large shape middle right is the Fortinos location along with a number of commercial retail units. The City and First Capital will attend at the LPAT hearing scheduled to commence on Oct. 26, 2020 to seek approval of the Official Plan amendment, Zoning Bylaw amendment and revised development concept by the LPAT.
That is not the full story.
The proposed development goes back to the flooding that took place in the east end of the city in 2014.
First Capital was doing a major re-development that changed most of the property allowing for some intensification.
During the flood it was learned that there were serious problems with the storm water management infrastructure that required the Region to do serious upgrades that put the development on hold for a number of years.
During that time people in the community began to organize and oppose the development
END of part 1.
By Staff
September 9th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
With Public Health saying holding an event with up to 50 people was now legit Tammy Fox, Executive Director at the Performing Arts Centre has released her fall season program.
Abbreviated as it is – it is a welcome step forward.
That 50 people rule means that there will be no more than 50 people in the theater – they will be masked and spread out so that the six foot separation measure is met.
 Tammy Fox is thrilled – she wants her patrons to return and has a solid program in place. Tammy is thrilled – as well she should be. She has been stuck at home pushing paper and working the telephone. Tammy Fox is a people person – she needs interaction with people.
The Fall line-up of incredible live entertainment options to lift the community’s spirits in these unprecedented times is part of why the program was put together.
“As a facility, BPAC is perfectly positioned to welcome back audiences with patron safety at the forefront; with its spacious Lobby, increased ventilation, physical-distancing ticketing system and additional health and safety measures to put theatregoers’ minds at ease.
“Many presenters have pivoted to exploring online content offerings and virtual performances, and while BPAC is also considering live streaming options, the organization believes that there really is no replacement for the experience of live entertainment in engaging the community and in supporting Canadian artists.
“All patrons must wear a mask, hand sanitize upon entry and maintain social distancing outside of their social circle. Patrons are expected to self-screen, and of course to stay at home if experiencing COVID-related symptoms or if suspecting recent exposure to the virus. Health and safety measures are also being implemented backstage to protect artists, and throughout the venue to protect staff and volunteers.
Most performances will be 70-75 minutes in length, and while the Lobby bar will remain open for one hour prior to each performance, intermissions have been suspended in most cases in order to reduce the risk of overcrowding in the Lobby.
 Sandy Horne – one of The Spoons. Kicking off the Fall line-up is an intimate evening with Burlington’s own THE SPOONS on Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd at 8pm, performing as an acoustic duo.
Canadian pop superstar CHANTAL KREVIAZUK will be presented over a three-evening period from October 8th to 10th. “We all have a need to connect so badly right now and there is no better way than through the music. If we can do this safely, I am thrilled and well, to be fair to my kids, they could use a break from their mother!” says Chantal.
 Gord Downie. BPAC’s annual Cultural Diversity Festival will begin with its yearly fundraising performance LEGACY: A Tribute to Gord Downie in support of the Downie-Wenjack Fund, featuring Hamilton native TOM WILSON, Indigenous duo TWIN FLAMES, and more, on Thursday, October 15th and Friday, October 16th.
On October 17th and 18th audiences will be treated to BENEATH SPRINGHILL: The Maurice Ruddick Story, about the racial tensions that surfaced in a rural community as a result of a mining disaster, written and performed by Stratford actor Beau Dixon, who seamlessly plays 10 vivid characters. BPAC will also present four performances of DRAG QUEEN MUSIC BINGO with Fluffy Soufflé – each one featuring a different era of music, and tons of exciting prizes to be won!
Two events that had been scheduled for the second half of BPAC’s 19/20 Season, which had to be canceled due the pandemic, have been rescheduled – jazz artist ELISE LEGROW on October 25th and singer/songwriter KEVIN FOX: Songs for Cello & Voice on November 1st.
 Comedian Sean Cullen Toronto mainstay the ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE will be presented at BPAC for the first time, in a series of performances over October 30th, 31st and November 27th and 28th. The October 30th performances will feature actor-comedian SEAN CULLEN with host ALI HASSAN.
Other performances will include comics Nigel Grinstead, Keith Pedro, Peter White, Patrick Haye and more.
Multiple Juno-Award winner SARAH SLEAN takes the stage on Saturday, November 7th and CBC Radio host and BPAC favourite TOM ALLEN presents A POE CABARET on Sunday, November 8th.
Classical pianist LESLIE KINTON Celebrates Beethoven on November 29th and Talk is Free Theatre will present INTO THE WOODS In Concert, a ‘lightly staged’ musical theatre production featuring both professional performers and 27 local youth from December 3rd to 12th.
 The first two people to enter the Main Theatre for a paid performance hand their tickets to an usher. Staff are hoping the audiences return. Tammy Fox, BPAC’s Executive Director, is hoping that audiences will return with pent-up enthusiasm after months of having only online access to entertainment, and with a new appreciation of the importance of communal connection.
“Putting together a fall season full of incredible Canadian talent over the span of a week has been a little hectic to say the least,” she says, “however the applause really needs to go to our staff, who have been working tirelessly to ensure our safe reopening, to our Board of Directors whose unwavering support in resuming live entertainment offerings has given us the confidence to forge ahead, and to all of the amazing artists who have agreed to be included in the Season – because frankly they have all, in deference to our 50-patron capacity limit, committed to performing at rates well below what they deserve and are accustomed to.
It’s been a team effort, and I am beyond grateful to be surrounded by this community of dedicated artists and arts-lovers.”
BPAC Board Chair Nancy Brewer says “We’ve been holding your seat! And now, what a fantastic fall season we have for you. I’d love to see you in the audience as BPAC welcomes you back, safe, secure & ready to entertain you!”
Tickets go on sale to BPAC Members on Friday, September 11th, and on sale to the general public on Monday, September 14. Renew your BPAC membership to be first in line and to receive $5 off all regular-priced tickets!
Visit https://burlingtonpac.ca for a complete listing of performances.
Box Office Information:
Online: www.burlingtonpac.ca
Over the Phone: 905.681.6000 – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
In Person: 1 hour before each performance.
By Staff
September 9th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Helping Business be a Successful Tool for Social, Cultural and Environmental Change is the theme behind the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) which is a $50M national initiative led by Community Foundations of Canada and funded by the Government of Canada to help social purpose organizations (non-profits, charities, co-operatives, hybrid social enterprises, and mission-focused for-profits) go from great ideas to investment ready.
Organizations have the potential to receive from $10,000 to $100,000 in non-repayable capital to develop their enterprise.
 Applications for the second and final round of funding will be accepted starting 9 a.m. EST Tues. Sept. 8th until Fri. Oct. 9th, 2020
Burlington Foundation is excited to be a local partner in the Brant | Halton | Peel Partnership (made up of six Community Foundations, Sheridan College and EDGE), with the partnership allocating $715,000 in Round 1 funding to 23 social purpose organizations impacting our local communities.
As we’ve acutely seen in 2020, it is vitally important to have healthy and thriving social purpose organizations, which will also be key in Canada’s recovery efforts as we #BuildBackBetter. Through the IRP, together, we’re helping to build more resilient, sustainable and inclusive communities.
By Staff
September 7th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service has concluded a robbery investigation which occurred at an Esso Gas Station in the City of Burlington on September 6th, 2020.
At approximately 6:10am on Sunday September 6th, 2020, a lone male entered the Esso Gas Station located on Plains Road and proceeded to jump over the counter with a knife in his hand. The lone male lunged towards the store clerk causing the victim to put his hands up in order to defend himself. As a result of this altercation, the victim’s hand was cut by the knife. The male continued to lunge towards the victim who proceeded to run into the main store area to get away from the knife welding male. The lone male then proceeded to grab approximately $550 cash from the till before fleeing the Esso on foot.
Police attended at the crime scene and were later able to arrest the suspect. The victim immediately contacted 911 and police and ambulance responded. The victim suffered a large cut to one finger and had the tip of another finger cut off. The victim was transported by ambulance to Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital where he received a number of stitches. The victim was eventually released from hospital after receiving medical treatment.
Investigation by Halton Police revealed that the lone male had attended the Esso Gas Station on September 5th, 2020 at approximately 6:00am and had attempted to break in through the back door. The male was confronted by the victim at that time and fled the scene. As a result, police identified a 16 year old male responsible for the robbery.
On Monday September 7th, 2020, investigators located and arrested the 16 year old male outside of his residence in the City of Burlington.
Police executed a search warrant at this residence and as a result of the search; Halton Police located and seized a knife, cell phone, clothing and recovered Canadian Currency.
Investigation by the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau has led to the following charges against a 16 year old young offender from Burlington whose identity cannot be released:
 The Young Offender Act was designed to attempt to intercede in the lives of young men and women who are in conflict with the law and treat them differently by protecting their identity. • Robbery
• Aggravated Assault
• Disguise with Intent
• Attempt Break and Enter
The Young Offender was held for bail and will appear in Milton Court on September 8th, 2020.
Anyone with information in regards to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Colin MacLeod of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2357.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
Please be reminded that all persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
 By Staff
September 7th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Here is what we are getting from the front lines at Rib Fest – taking place at the Burlington Centre (formerly the Mall).
Just back from Rib Fest (they let us put up some signage to advertise Terry Fox event), reports Craig Gardner who is heading up the 2020 Terry Fox Run. He faces the same problem the Rotary was up against – their events were cancelled and everyone had to scramble to come up with an alternative.
“People started showing up at 9 for RIBS – by time I left shortly after 11 am the lineup was getting rather large. Looks like a great day for Rotary.
“Everything is nicely laid out easy to navigate and will hold lots of cars. Appears to be much better lay out than July 1.
Another Halton resident sent us a note about her visit to the “Valhalla of Ribs” adding – I attended at about 11:10 by which time 500 or 600 had already preceded me.
The volunteers do an excellent job of answering questions and keeping the long snaking lines of vehicles moving toward the Valhalla of ribs.
I wanted to get try ribs from two vendors but that’s impossible with the current, but necessary, setup. And how to choose the ribs you want to try?
Advice to me, which I followed, was to choose the shortest line.
The entrance is off Fairview – lots of signage – you can’t miss it.
|
|
