 By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
There is now a little bit more to tell about the conversations that have taken place between people at City Hall, the Art Gallery of Burlington and Brock University.
In a previous article we said: “Turns out that Brock University, headquartered in St. Catharines, has been sniffing around the Art Gallery of Burlington to see if some kind of a deal can be put together.”
There are a number of different pieces that need to be pulled together to get a clearer picture of what might be taking place.
We know that Brock University people have been talking to people in Burlington. At the time we didn’t know quite what the Brock agenda was. Nor did we know who at City hall was having the conversations with Brock – was it on the administrative side or the political side?
We do know that the discussions put the president of the Art Gallery of Burlington in an awkward position.
We are now pretty sure those conversations were with the Office of the Mayor.
What was the connection between Brock, the AGB – that we did not know.
Some context.
 Martin von Zan and his daughter Kayla of Interkom Smart Marketing Martin van Zon of Burlington based Interkom Smart Marketing prides himself on the work he has done for the St. Catharines Performing Art Centre where we understand he has helped them with fund raising. Van Zon was always disappointed that the Burlington Performing arts centre didn’t avail themselves of his services.
We know that Martin van Zon has had discussions with Mayor Goldring about being involved in the Mayor’s re-election campaign. We suspect he has asked von Zon to play a major role in his 2018 re-election campaign.
We know that Kayla , Martin’s van Zon’s daughter, is deeply embedded in the Mayors Millennial Advisory Committee. she was part of the committee, along with a Kimberly Calderbank, Christopher Reuse and Tyler Freeman who presented their subcommittees co-created critical success factors for the work plan at the May meeting of the Millennial Advisory Committee.
We know as well that Martin van Zon has been hired by Brock University as a consultant to help the University decide what it wants to do with the Rodman Collection.
How do all these pieces come together?
 Rodman Hall Art Centre – part of Brock University in St. Catharines has a highly rated collection. In 2003 Brock University bought the Rodman Hall Arts Centre for the token fee of two dollars, and the agreement that no assets or holdings would be sold off for 20 years.
In 2015, Brock University VP Finance and Administration Brian Hutchings said Brock is “looking to reduce its subsidy to the Rodman Hall Arts Centre by 50%”. He is reported to have added that they needed to determine where Rodman fits in Brock’s orbit which was something to be studied. The university then went looking for an external consultant.
They ended up hiring van Zon for a reported $50,000 to hold four discussion meetings in St. Catharines about the Rodman Hall Arts Centre.
Those meetings did not go all that well. We will return to them
A little more background.
In 1955, St. Catharine’s residents began to develop an interest in a cultural centre. They saw many advantages from the coordination of activities among the cultural groups active in St. Catharines and region and decided to hold a conference to explore some ideas.
From that meeting came the idea that an arts council be formed. With that objective set – the group set out to find a building and facilities to provide workshop and studio space for activities of the member groups and a gallery for art exhibitions. They did that during 1957-58.
In early 1959, the nascent Arts Council approached Mr. T. R. Merritt, then the owner of Rodman Hall, and learned that Mr. Merritt was not only willing to sell his property, but was pleased at the prospect of his family home becoming a civic cultural centre. An agreement was reached quickly, on price and conditions, and the Arts Council was ready to proceed with property purchase and arts centre establishment.
 St, Catharines is bisected by the Welland Canal. The Rodman home was built for one of the sons of the man who built the first canal. St. Catharines is bisected by the Welland Canal – the route that let ships pass from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. William Hamilton Merritt (1793-1862) built the first Welland Canal. The accomplishments of the various members of the Merritt family are so significant to St. Catharine’s that the city declared November 27th a “Merritt Day.” which marks the anniversary of the first passage of a vessel through the Welland canal.
Rodman Hall became Rodman Hall Arts Centre on September 17, 1960
From 1960 through to 1975 the Hall grew adding to its collection and to the size of the property. It was seen as one of the best preservation efforts in the province.
New facilities provided by the 1975 expansion qualified Rodman Hall as a “National Exhibition Centre” with the principal function of providing exhibitions of fine art which may be seen by the people of St. Catharines and Niagara Region. Being designated a National Exhibition Centres was significant; it meant that quality work could be displayed from the most important galleries in Canada including the National Museums of Canada International Exhibition Programme.
 An installation at Rodman Hall From 1975 until the end of 1981, 125 exhibitions have been presented. Attendance has increased 50 per cent in the last ten years. By the end of 1981 the collection numbered 375 works valued at $550,000.
Rodman Hall flourished.
By the end of the 1990s however accessing public funds was becoming increasingly difficult for the Rodman administration
Brock University stepped in and bought the place in 2003 when they were flush. Rodman Hall continued to operate as a public entity distinct from the university.
Brock’s financial contributions toward running the facility and maintaining the building and property rose considerably over the past decade. The university calls the costs for ongoing operations and needed capital upgrades “a growing concern.”
A recent Rodman Hall budget of $840,000 Brock kicked in $576,000.
Brock needed a way to cut its contribution in half, and asked Rodman Hall’s citizen advisory committee to offer suggestions by early summer on how to achieve that goal.
When Brock University bought Rodman Hall for two bucks, the sales agreement stipulated Brock couldn’t sell off any property or assets for at least 20 years.
The flush days of 2003 had clearly come to an end.
 Rodman Hall Art Centre – outdoor art classes. All other facets of the university’s operation have been recently scrutinized, said Brock’s top finance official Brian Hutchings, and Rodman Hall is no exception.
Many thought Rodman should be self-sufficient. Those of us who look at the cost of running the art Gallery of Burlington and the Performing Arts centre know better.
This is where van Zon enters the picture. He has a $50,000 contract from the university to hold discussions with the St. Catharines community. He reports to the Brock University board of trustees.
The meetings van Zon held didn’t go very well – in fact they went rather badly.
The buzz in St. Catharines is that Rodman will be “given” to a “newly formed non-profit” in the summer of 2016, whose mandate will be to then sell the parkland and building. This money will then be the base of a larger fundraising campaign to build a new public gallery in downtown St. Catharines.
Interkom Smart Marketing was said to be “re-evaluating Brock’s relationship to Rodman Hall Arts Centre”. This was not going down very well with the St. Catharines arts community. van Zon was getting a very rough ride.
van Zon appears to have come up with a solution – make a deal with the Art Gallery of Burlington that has them taking on the Rodman collection with perhaps some of the funding coming along with it.
 Did Brock University want to convince the Art Gallery to take their collection. What a feather that would be in the Mayor’s cap – nice wave to ride an election win on.
The Rodman collection has a far superior reputation than the Art Gallery of Burlington collection.
Would it be less than logical to conclude that Martin Van Zon believes he can deliver a big one for the Mayor by having the Art Gallery of Burlington accept the Rodman collection? Are we certain? No – for the most part this is speculation. But if you look at the record and all that has taken place, it is not too far from a logical conclusion.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for a statement from the Office of the Mayor
What got this story started?
By Staff
November 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Is this a wickedly smart promotional tactic or are seat sales down so badly that something had to be done to boost sales.
Whichever, – it sounds like a good deal – you might want to take them up on it.
This Friday use promo code 25on25 to
receive 25% OFF regular tickets
for the following performances:
Quinn Sullivan – November 30
The Nutcracker – December 7 & 8
Maceo Parker – December 10
A Christmas Carol – December 22 & 23
Form Contemporary Dance – January 14
Lee Ann Womack – January 14
Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera – January 19-21
Fernando Varela – January 28
Rant Maggie Rant – February 2
Stewart Goodyear – February 3
Western Swing Authority- February 4
Receiver of Wreck – February 9-11
Robert Dubac’s The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? – February 11
African Guitar Summit – February 16
Sarah MacDougall – February 17
Diana Panton – February 18
Whitehorse – February 21
Infinity – February 23-25
Balé Folclórico Da Bahia – March 2
Eliana Cuevas – March 4
Larry Carlton – March 9
Rémi Bolduc Jazz Ensemble – March 10
Stephen Fearing – March 22
Kaha:wi Dance Theatre – March 27
Shaolin Warriors – April 10
Morgan James – April 13
Johannes Linstead – April 26
Confessions of a Red Headed Coffeeshop Girl – May 4-6
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal – May 4
Offer valid on regular price tickets only on November 25, 2016. This offer does not apply to Youth or Child pricing. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or be applied to previous purchases. Offer only applies to performances listed above. No refunds or exchanges.
 By Staff
November 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Thursday evening, November 24th, BurlingtonGreen, in partnership with Burlington Central Library and Halton Green Screens, will present the fifth acclaimed film of their 2016 Eco-Film Festival series, The True Cost.
This documentary tells the story of the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the clothing industry has on our world. The links between declining clothing prices and increasing human and environmental impact are forged as the audience gets a behind-the-scenes look at the industry. The True Cost is a revealing film that compels us to ask, “who really pays the price for our clothing?”
 If the price is right – what is the true cost? All areas of the industry are explored and exposed, from production of raw materials, to manufact-uring, to international shipping and retail networks, to the ultimate disposal of massive quantities of clothes. In particular, the film examines the damaging effects of “fast fashion”.
Similar to many other environmental realities facing our planet, the clothing industry follows the pattern of exploitation of people and the environment in the developing world, in order to feed the insatiable appetites of those in the developed world. This film project was initiated by people within the clothing and fashion industry itself, who have witnessed the grim reality of the situation firsthand.
In attendance during this film screening will be Kale Black of BurlingtonGreen, who will briefly share with the audience how he makes a positive difference through the informed purchasing choices he makes.
For those who make the time to see the film – it will be an eye opener. Unfortunately, the people who need to see the film are probably not going to be there.
The film trailer.
When: Thursday, November 24, 2016. Doors open at 6:30 pm with film beginning at 7 pm.
Where: Centennial Hall, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street.
Cost: $5 per person (free for BurlingtonGreen members).
 By Staff
November 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Santa 5k Race will be taking place in downtown Burlington on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 requiring some street closures from 7 to 11 a.m.
Routes 3 and 5 will be temporarily detoured in the area.
For real-time transit information and to plan your trip please use Trip Planner or call 905-639-0550.
 By Staff
November 22, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
She has made it to the big screen!
Well – in a manner of speaking.
 Margaret Lindsay Holton Margaret Lindsay Holton took her latest film to the public last September and got a more than polite response.
It was a short film with all the production problems that every film bumps into – they are just tougher to manage when the budget is shorter than the film.
But it was produced and then what? The best that happens to most of thy get sown at small film festivals where everyone says something polite and he artist goes looking for money for the next production.
Holton however is persistent if nothing else. She convinced the people at CineStarz to show her film in a commercial setting. People are going to have to pay to see the film just the way they would pay to see any other film.
This is a limited engagement – the CineStarz people may have required Holton to guarantee a limited number of ticket sales.
 It’s an interesting film, poignant, funny in a Canadian way at times. Hopefully Holton will get the word out to every high school student studying film to attend – it is worth seeing as a nice piece of works that touches on a significant issue.
Holton refer to the event as a “Very Special ‘ONE-TIME’ Canadian THEATRICAL RELEASE at :
Cinestarz, 460 Brant Street, (Downtown Burlington) on December 18th, at 3 o’clock.
The Frozen Goose is based on a short story of the same title written by M.L.Holton, published by Seraphim Books.
 By James Burchill
November 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON. ON
In 1860, due to continued pressure from the various employers, the government developed the first education system: to create literate employees.
The employers of the time were finding it progressively harder to find employees who could read and write.
So bowing to capitalistic pressures the government created a system of public education with the sole intent of creating “literate employees”. Like the modern army where we train people to become soldiers, the education system was created to create “factory workers”.
This was 155 years ago and nothing much has changed since. In fact the education system is still producing “literate employees” – not free thinking, creative types, but human ‘worker bees’ or drones.
The education system instigated testing to measure advancement and learning but now the testing is often more important than the skills they try and train. In fact, most students only focus on how to “ace the tests”. What good is that?
After school the students go on to “higher education” – there is another oxymoron as research shows only a few post graduate students actually end up using their degrees in their careers.
Why spend all that time, energy and money only to not use the degree?
 It’s a job! When asked why they went to University, or why they got a degree the student answers were frighteningly similar – “to get a job”.
We have created a system were the apparent need to get a job is so great that people will spend about four years and $50,000 on a degree for the sole purpose of ignoring it later and using it to apply for jobs!
In conclusion, we create “literate employees” who now feel so compelled and “must” get a degree to apply for a job (which we all now know has no security anyway) to enter a social and economic environment where they are ill equipped to handle the majority of ‘free-agent’ type thinking (remember this creativity was eroded during school years during the mania with testing and NOT creativity) and did I mention that the cost of this education was over $50,000 (I can’t bear to add in the time before University and the lost opportunity costs.)
My point? Simple, if you have children remember this about the system, firstly it is a system and it is antiquated and there solely for the purpose of creating ‘literate employees’. Know that there is no law (at least here in Canada) that says your children MUST go to school – you can home school.
That the training they are receiving is not going to be very helpful in years to come as the work place is becoming more fragmented and a free-for-all-free-agent place (remember school does not train and create entrepreneurs only ‘workers’) and finally that you and I came from this same training and we need to remember what we most likely think about or world is probably wrong.
How we perceive our environment is a function of how we think about it, and how we think about our environment was ‘trained’ into us by the early educators we were exposed to (school, the place where ‘literate employers are created)
 James Burchill is the founder of Social Fusion Network – an organization that meets regularly in Burlington to allow networking and relationship building. He also writes and trains people about how to make technology work for them.
By Pepper Parr
November 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Big name in the music world and a lady with a colourful background is going to be at the Port Nelson United Church December 10th for a single performance.
Liona Boyd, the five-time Juno Award-winning guitarist, will be bringing her Winter Fantasy Tour to Burlington on Saturday December 10th. Lowville Festival and Port Nelson United Church are co-presenting “The First Lady of the Classical Guitar”- events starts at 7:30 pm.
Liona Boyd has enthralled millions with her romantic and unique brand of classical, folk and world music. She has performed solo and orchestral concerts around the world, had her own television specials, and recorded twenty-seven albums, many of which have gone Gold or Platinum. She has had over four million views on YouTube. Over the past several years, Ms. Boyd has also branched out as an accomplished singer-songwriter.
 Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau with Liona Boyd at Juno Awards, O’Keefe Centre, Toronto Ontario. Boyd was also the one-time lover of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau –an intriguing lady.
A Winter Fantasy is a celebration of the music of the Yuletide season, and features fantasias on many popular carols and seasonal songs. On this tour she will be introducing the talented young Waterloo-based singer-guitarist Andrew Dolson. She will be also be joined by the Port Nelson United Church Choir under the direction of Music Director Stillman Matheson.
 Liona Boyd – classic guitarist. Liona Boyd’s concert is a co-presentation of Port Nelson United Church and the Lowville Festival, “a festival of all the arts for the artist in all of us” which is held annually in the majestic Escarpment country of north Burlington.
PORT NELSON UNITED CHURCH
3132 SOUTH DRIVE, BURLINGTON
7:30 pm
TICKETS $30
AVAILABLE AT 905-637-5631, DIFFERENT DRUMMER BOOKS and at the Door
By Pepper Parr
November 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Are there some really big changes in the wind for the Art Gallery of Burlington?
The city has always wanted a major academic institution in the downtown core. At one point it looked as if McMaster was going to have a structure on what is now the Elizabeth Street parking lot but that didn’t work out the way the city wanted it to – McMaster got a better offer for land on the South Service Road so a progressive university set up shop beside a field where someone is growing hay that they really don’ harvest.
 Brock University has been around for 50 years and has been spreading its wings – with facilities in Hamilton and an apparent interest in taking up lodgings in Burlington. Turns out that Brock University, headquartered in St. Catharines, has been sniffing around the Art Gallery of Burlington to see if some kind of a deal can be put together.
An informed source says the talks haven’t been going all that well – and that the problem is with the Burlington side of the negotiating table.
No one at Brock wants to say anything at this time.
The AGB spent a couple of hours Wednesday evening take a small audience through a Strategic Plan exercise that had all the right buzz words in it: Inclusive; Inspiring; Encouraging; Engaging; Collaborative and Respectful.
Those and the right Gift Card will get you a cup of coffee.
There is a Draft Strategy that is based on three pillars- the Gazette will report on these later.
One of the objectives appear to be having hands-on activities always being available for walk in visitors – a challenge and not something the clubby Guilds are likely to welcome.
 AGB president Robert Steven. AGB president Robert Steven has to be credited with boosting donations somewhat but the place has a long way to go to raise the funds needed for the Art Gallery program wish list.
Getting into bed with a university would certainly juice up the place – but it doesn’t look as if there is going to be anything to announce in the near future – other than – there have been talks.
Picking up this news from the “grapevine” however is not the smartest way for the AGB to get the news out. The objective is to get in front of the parade and lead the band wagon so people can jump on.
 By Staff
November 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Teen Tour Band has been selected to take part in the January 1st, 2018 Tournament of Roses Parade!! There is no better way to end of the band’s 70th Anniversary year then to be selected as a Rose Bowl Band!
 This is a biggie – an accomplishment that very few bands are ever given the opportunity to participant in. This will be the 5th time the BTTB has been given this honour so even in our own history a very small number of band members have been a part of an achievement of this magnitude!
It may seem like a far way off…it is not! The Band has a lot to accomplish between now and the
They need to recruit at least 40 more members. The band has to be a minimum of 200 members.
 The stadium where the American football classic is played.  A part of the Rose Bowl parade – one of the best in the United States. Expect a knock on the door – they will be out fund raising, Dedication and commitment on the part of the band members – to attend all performances and rehearsals as they prepare for this 5.5 mile parade.
The Rose Bowl – an American football classic takes place in Pasadena California.
 By Staff
November 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are going to do it again – they do it every year.
More Ho Ho Ho guys and gals that you would expect to see anywhere.
Burlington apparently puts more of the Ho Ho Ho’s on the street than any other Santa 5K run
This year the event is on Saturday November 26.
The route being run and details are set out below.
Ho Ho Ho!
 By Staff
November 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) held their Benefit Bash last week and gratefully accepted a donation of $10,000 from Siemens Canada in support of students of the Halton District School Board.
The donation kicks off HLF’s “No Student Left Behind” holiday appeal which is raising funds to ensure the estimated 10% of students of the Halton District School Board who live at or below the poverty line can access emergency funding or student subsidies to help them stay in school and focused on learning.
 Ann-Marie Koumettou, Sr. Communications Consultant, Siemens Canada; Lesley Mansfield, Executive Director, Halton Learning Foundation; Ann Adair, VP, Communications and Strategy, Siemens Canada; David Grant, Board Chair, Halton Learning Foundation. A key component of the No Student Left Behind appeal is a gift catalogue that enables people to purchase gifts that students need, such as warm winter coats and boots, athletic equipment, healthy snacks and lunches, or fees to participate in field trips.
“If you’re searching for a holiday gift for your child’s favourite teacher, or that hard‐to‐buy for relative, consider giving a No Student Left Behind gift,” says Lesley Mansfield, Executive Director of the Halton Learning Foundation.
“For a society to grow and be sustainable we need to ensure children have a strong educational base,” said Robert Hardt, President & CEO, Siemens Canada. “I personally believe it is the duty of the private sector to add value to society by, among other things, supporting educational goals.”
This is the second year in a row that Siemens worked with HLF to ensure that no student in our community misses out on their education because they don’t have the money to fully participate in school,” Mansfield said.
 Olympian Mark Oldershaw An avid supporter of Halton Learning Foundation, in addition to supporting No Student Left Behind, Siemens Canada also provides mentoring for Halton District School Board high school students, field trips to Siemens facilities and donations of funds towards STEM programming at Halton schools.
Olympian Mark Oldershaw –sponsored by RBC — spoke about the importance of mental wellness to an athlete.
By Pepper Parr
November 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Do you know what a diorama is? We had to check the dictionary on this one – it describes “a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit.”
That is what the Friends of the Freeman Station want to put on the lower level of the building that is currently going through extensive refurbishing.
 There was a time when the city couldn’t give the station away.  The Friends of Freeman Station convinced the city to give them the building – this was the day it got moved to its new home. This is a crew that has yet to finish what is a massive under-taking – and here they are moving on to an even bigger task – that’s chutzpah – and a desire to turn a structure that the city was going to sell for kindling into what will become a premier destination for visitors for years to come.
The “diorama” is properly known as the Lower Level Railway Diorama; a unique and special historic model railway diorama on the Lower Level.
When finished, it will recapture the nostalgia of the times, depicting early Twentieth-century bucolic life in the hamlet of Freeman, now a part of the City of Burlington, Ontario.
The Burlington Junction Station was the hub of Freeman community life for almost 100 years. The personal and commercial comings and goings of the community were centered there — the crisscross of railway lines brought goods and people to the area, and they were the primary mode of shipping goods, especially produce, to world markets.
 When 40 trains ran through the city – produce was king. Maple Avenue was a prime road to the Burlington Junction; Burlington Mall was farm land and the Orchard was where the apples grew. And box cars took tonnes of produce around the world. With more than 40 trains a day, the Station was a busy place, punctuated by the roar of the steam locomotives, the wail of their whistles, the clackety clack of the rail cars. Numerous first-hand accounts, first-person interviews, and meticulous record searches have thoroughly documented life in the village.
More than 18 months in research and planning will have gone into the Lower Level Railway Diorama project by 1 July 2017.
Their target (and the Friends of Freeman team reach their targets) is to have the model railway layout running by then, with the project continuing to expand and grow after that.
The model railway in the diorama will be quite unique, unlike anything seen in this part of North America. It will showcase a beautifully crafted 1/24th scale model of the Burlington Junction Station. Matched to the scale of the Station model, the railway rolling stock will feature era-specific Grand Trunk Railway steam locomotives, passenger and freight cars in 1/24th scale (“G” scale).
 Just a hint at what the model railroad set up is going to look like. If you would like to participate in the project, you’re invited to email them, detailing your particular interests and skills. We need painters, miniature modelers, computer and sound technicians, model railway enthusiasts, model railway display builders, and craftsperson’s. Send them an email – they would love to hear from you. info@freemanstation.ca
By Pepper Parr
November 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
If the number of people who toured the houses the day the Gazette covered the event – then the 34th Annual Junior League Holiday House Tour was a success.
Three homes were on the tour this year with the Hampton Court House in Burlington drawing the biggest crowds.
 Tucked near the end of a cul de sac in Roseland the extensively renovated home was the highlight of the 34th Annual Junior League Holiday Home Tour. It is a very large house that had undergone a significant renovation with more than 1000 sq. ft. of space added to what was a house on a double lot.
As we watched the crowds of people waiting to enter the house we noticed that the age range of the visitors was pretty consistent – 25 to 45 – seemed to be the age of the bulk of the visitors.
 Dining area was set between a kitchen with two islands and a living room – all the space blended in together very well. There were 12 guides scattered through the house that had been opened up, especially on the main floor where a lot of walls were removed.
Keeping the flow of people moving smoothly fell to the crew that met you at the door. You first had to remove your shoes and put them in a bag that was provided. Then the guides pointed in the direct they expected you to go.
 Master bedroom. Rooms for the children were at the other end of the house. Not always that easy but one of the guides, we won’t identify her, but her initials are EM, was superb at handing out the instructions. Polite, direct and efficient, so much so that we asked if she was perhaps a serving police officer. No she replied but I do love this job.
Traffic moved – efficiently
Then you moved from room to room taking it all in
On the main floor, in the kitchen that had two islands, small groups of woman would gather and debate the merits of the design and the placement of different pieces of furniture.
 Storage space – everything behind the wall is storage space – you just pushed the wall and the doors opened up. Much attention was paid to the colours used – “Thunder white” was used extensively apparently. Each house on the tour – there were three had a team of “reps” the people who made sure everything went smoothly during the months that led up to the event.
Dianne Brown and Iris Hughes, co-chairs of the Holiday House Tour spent endless hours over many months getting everything in place. Securing space for people to park their cars and putting the shuttle buses in place was not as simple as many people thought it should be. The bumps got ironed out – eventually.
 A champagne cooler was set out on one of the kitchen islands. did the Junior League team get to pop the cork when the event was over? They certainly deserved it. The members of the Junior League operation were enjoying themselves. They will be holding information evenings on January 14th and 28th – you might want to note the date and touch base with these people at info@juniorleague.ca
The Annual Holiday House tour raises funds for a number of projects.
By Pepper Parr
November 11th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It takes months of planning and dozens of meetings to put together the Annual Junior League Holiday House Tour – and the woman who do all the work get a small treat – touring the homes before they are opened to the public.
Dianne Brown, co-chair of this year’s tour sent along some early snapshots of the Burlington Hampton Court home and the home in Ancaster.
The Junior League looks for three to four homes each year that are decorated for the Holiday Season by decorators that are a combination of companies who have volunteered their services for a number of years while others are new to the event.
 Peacock feathers on a Christmas tree fit in very well with a home that had a very open modem look that the Interior Design/Build people put together. Marnie Warner and her team from the Interior Design House in Burlington did the Hampton Court house which her firm also renovated and added a large master bedroom above the garage.
 Whimsical art provided by the Interior Design House was placed in a corner with lots of light changed the feel of the room. Work was being done on the renovation, that was very extensive, while the Interior Design House people were bringing in furniture. It go a little hectic the final day.
 A more traditional approach taken to a Christmas tree in the Ancaster home. The Ancaster home was decorated by a team of designer/decorators that included Holland Park, Alto Interiors, Toth Interior Design, Green with Envy and Images Staged with Flair – each are doing different parts of the four bedroom, four bathrooms home.
A third home in eastern Burlington is included in the tour. That home was decorated by Hudson Interiors, Details Interior Design, Welcome Home Interiors, Megan and Megan, House of Fraser Décor and Marquis Cavalier Dream Store.
 From left to right: Dianne Brown, Fonda Loft, Jackie Cracknell,Liz Vandenberg, Annette Hamm, Cate Banfield, Karyn Glibbery, Roseanne Grego-Venneri, Sarai Spzak, Barb Oliver, Jane Tynan-Byrd, Iris Hughes. Middle: Anne-Louise Watts, Kathy North-Ross, Wendy Powell Front: Rachel Griffiths, Emily Stewart The group of woman who enjoyed a well-earned glass of wine before the set out on their pre-tour tour are set out below in their group photo.
 A formal dinning room set up in the Ancaster home. The Junior League Holiday Home Tour is the organization’s annual fund raiser. The Tour takes place from Friday through to Sunday: The event hours for this the 34th Annual House Tour are: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are available on-line – cost $25 for the three house tour; $30 if you are paying cash at the door
 By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
James Burchill, the guy that beavers away creating a network for those commercial services operators and budding entrepreneurs who don’t fit in at the Chamber of Commerce and aren’t comfortable at the service club level but who nevertheless want to be part of a network, is back.
Burchill created the Social Fusion Network that went through several toothing experiences. He has put on two mini trade shows that out shone, significantly, what the Chamber of Commerce put on recently at the Holiday Inn.
Burchill is a shameless self-promoter – who understands social media and uses it to great effect for both his own interests and those of his clients.
He is also as up to date as anyone can be on the almost hourly changes in the high tech field.
He needed to take some time off for personal family matters – life tends to get in the way of business – and is now able to give his networking operation the time and attention it needs.
What do my people really want asked Burchill. So he did what anyone with the initiative would do – sent out a survey. He had to send it out several times (there were no repeats in the responders) to get a statistically valid return. Here is what he knows – and it was enough to decide there would be another trade show at the Performing Arts Centre – but that won’t be until April 6, 2017
Here is what Burchill knows – and what you now know:    
So it will be a 5 pm start – run for two hours and probably be at the same location each time. The Beaver and the Bulldog at the Waterfront was popular – but parking was a perennial complaint.   
What did the repondes have to say? While they may have said maybe to several of the questions – they had comments.
Having to pay for parking sucks. They (the B&B) really should compensate for that I think. Sometimes you get the same people out every week….need new blood!
Speed dating like encounters with frenetic networker’s. Also, should have members take an oath to be honest in their engagement practices.
Location requires parking costs, just a minor annoyance. Tend to see the same people, however that makes it easier to spot and connect with the new ones.
Not long enough
Too many changes with this group. It’s not exciting like it used to be to attend. I used to look forward to this meetup in Burlington..
I get three copies of each message you send and at times I feel a little badgered. paying for parking
People who throw their cards in your face before saying hello! Timing. Clear theme and goals.
They are always welldone! Thank you
Sometimes there are too many people that are just running around handing out business cards. A lot of members really push their products/services
Always in downtown Burlington. How about a location at the mall off Burloak or something closer for Oakville folks?
So many realtors, insurance people and investment people many of which only want to pass out as many business cards as possible in the evening without making any real connections with others
No focus.
Start time should be 6pm 8pm
Perhaps that it may not be the best demographic for my particular service. Too many financial planners. Need new people to join.
People trying too hard to sell their services and not interested in your own
Always the same people from very small service businesses providing mostly consumer type products hanging out with each other need more business to business members
It lost it’s local flavour long ago. It needs to be a Burlington group with Burlington business. Far too many people coming from way out of town for a “quick hit”. Successful networking is about building comfort & confidence in a relationship. These were previously quick encounters, like speed dating!
We have to give Burchill credit for letting it ll hang out. Those doing the objectionable stuff – take notice. The Trade Show is GO! 
By Pepper Parr
November 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Just days away from the Junior League Annual Holiday House tour when you will get to see what professional interior designers can do to give a home that festive look.
One of the Premier designers in the city, Marnie Warman, was given the task of decorating a home for the season that she renovated for her client.
Located in Roseland the 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom – 6000 sq. ft. house was gutted and rebuilt and is now getting a holiday season festive touch added.
 The stairway to the second level doesn’t make a grand statement. The lower level is wide open – that;s the statement. You have to see it to appreciate it. “When we were given the renovation assignment” said Warman “ we began to go over the house – there are always problems. This house still had live knob and tube electrical service and parts of the house were really not properly supported.”
“There was a lot of basic structural work to be done. The house was broken up into a bunch of small rooms with walls everywhere.”
 What will a designer do with a sun room like this to make it festive? “The client wanted a more open concept and we were able to do that. The result is a large area that could easily hold a party of sixty people who could mill around form the kitchen at one end to a nice sun room on the other end.”
In between there is a fire place that can be accessed from both the inside of the house and from the outdoor patio.
“We added a master bedroom above the garage that has as much privacy as anyone could want.”
The 76 year old house had a radiator along one wall that was so big it had to be cut into two pieces just to get it out of the building.
There are some situations said Warman, where it is probably better to tear down and re-build but this home was on a double lot and had good bones. The end result is certainly worth seeing.
 A before picture of one of the two islands in the kitchen. Can you imagine what a designer will do with this space. You can get to see for yourself during the Holiday Tour that begins on Friday. A new stairway to the upper floor was included in the renovation. There is nothing grand about the stairway – it doesn’t make a statement but it is a very attractive access point to the upper level of the house.
Warman has been doing design work for more than 26 years. She studied design at Sheridan College and has done a number of total renovations in the Oakville Burlington market. She has watched the change in the way people want to use space.
“Most of the time people aren’t exactly certain as to what they want. Living rooms have become obsolete; family/recreation rooms have become media centers.”
“The kitchen has become the hub. The home, being decorated this year for the Junior League event, has two islands in the kitchen area that is close to the side entrance where the two car parking garage is located.
The houses in the more mature neighbourhoods in Burlington and Oakville were built at a different time explains Warman when the needs and desires for space were quite different. People now want things to be open with lots of light.
The Hampton Court house was turned over to Warman and her crew in September of last year when they basically gutted the structure down to the studs. “This isn’t for the faint of heart” Warman will tell you.
Her operations is made up of two corporations. The Interior Design House is a retail operation with more than 9,000 item on the sales floor – this is eye candy for the furniture freaks.
The other side of her operation is the IDH Build Group – these are the people that renovate and rebuild. Warman will tell you that the only thing they don’t sell in the store is mattresses and appliances.
The homes that the Junior League includes in their annual tours usually involve several different designers with each doing a different part of the house.
 A cozy corner TV space just beside the open kitchen. When the designers are done that lone Christmas tree will have company. The other two homes in the tour, a second home in Burlington and a home in Ancaster are being decorated for the Holiday Season by a number of different firms.
In Ancaster Holland Park, Alto Interiors, Toth Interior Design. Green with Envy and Images Staged with Fair are doing different parts of the four bedroom, four bathrooms home.
The second home in the east end of Burlington is getting the touch from Hudson Interiors, Details Interior Design, Welcome Home Interiors, Megan and Megan, House of Fraser Décor and Marquis Cavalier Dream Store.
Warman who has all but lived in the Hampton Court house for the past week working feverishly with her team to get the house completed – she flies to Peru on Wednesday to take part in her son Trevor’s wedding. That was cutting it close.
The Junior League Tour take place from Friday through to Sunday: The event hours for this the 34th Annual House Tour are: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are available on-line – cost $25 for the three house tour; $30 if you are paying cash at the door
By Pepper Parr
November 7th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Everyone appears to still be in the dark as to just what is going on at the Seniors’ Centre.
One source said “I went on the Centre web site there was only a notice of what has happened and the Board would be meeting in November and the results of that meeting would be posted on that site, so like everyone else I am in the dark.
“There is a general notice at the Centre of what has happened issued by the city you could call and pick one up they are on the front counter.”
The Board seems to be hiding behind their web site.
The city has just moved in and taken over – so much for citizen participation.
The Seniors will get angry and at some point elect a new board.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward serves as the city representative on the Seniors Advisory Council. The city council representative on the Seniors Advisory Board, Marianne Meed Ward has said she “was hoping the discussions the city and board were having over the past year would lead toward a new MOU that would benefit both parties.”
At the same time she said: “The BSCI now has an opportunity to chart a new role for itself serving seniors in Burlington, and I have committed to stay on the board to assist them in this transition for as long as they would like.”
This is very unlike Meed Ward. Every battle she has taken on – the Pier, the different developments during her six years as a city councillor, the sale of waterfront property – you name it – she has been at the front of the parade.
The Beachway was not in her ward and it drives Councillor Craven crazy when she involves herself in that issue. There has never been anything shy about Marianne Meed Ward in the past – so why the backing away now?
This was the organization with the potential to be a large part of what was going to propel her into the Office of the Mayor.
To say that the BSCI “now has an opportunity to chart a new role for itself” is so completely disingenuous.
It would appear that she too has left them to their own devices and with the leadership the BCSI has at the moment it is going to be slim pickings for the over 55 set.
For the first time in a very long time Meed Ward’s political instincts appear to have deserted her.
Everyone loses.
By Pepper Parr
November 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is almost done – close to being ready for a ribbon cutting ceremony if the Mayor is foolish enough to do any such thing on the site of where he went along with giving away a significant part of the city’s heritage. The Mayor didn’t do this all by himself – every member of Council except for Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward, voted to sell the land next to the lake to the people whose property abutted land that was owned by the city and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
 The potential was for a lovely little parkette that would have been a nice quiet place to enjoy the lake. The city sold a critical part of land that was owned by both the city and the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources. The patch of land to the west on Market Street was made into a Window onto the Lake – the patch of land to the east on St. Paul was also made into a Window on the Lake. They sold the family jewels for a pittance – and put an end to a true Waterfront Trail.
 It is an absolutely superb site that was sold because the city council didn’t have the foresight to keep the land and let it become a part of the Waterfront Trail. We did get two Windows to the Lake out of it – and they are close to being ready for public use.
 The Window at the foot of St. Paul is a little austere but it is better than nothing. What a great place to sit down and read a good book. Plenty of space to set out a blanket and just enjoy the view.  Resident makes the best of late afternoon sunshine in new chairs placed in one of the city’s newest Windows on the Lake. There are two Windows, one on Market Street and the other at the foot of St. Paul.
 The Window at th foot of Market street is a nice, quiet secluded area tucked in behind a small grove of trees. Great place for a quiet conversation.  Looking north to the foot of Market street the red leaves and the blue chairs are a lovely contrast. Of the two the one at west on Market is the nicest. It is tucked into a nice small grove of trees and is a little more intimate than the one on the east side.
By Staff
November 5, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
 Spring forward – fall back. That was how I was taught to remember the change in the way we record time.
It is fall – the leaves are turning and it is time to turn the dial on the clock back one hour before you tuck in Saturday night and enjoy that extra hour of sleep.
 Or get up at the same time and have an additional hour to get some work done.
Whichever, make a point of enjoying the changes in the colours of the leaves on the trees – might be time for a nice drive out into the country. Escarpment is great at this time of year.
By Pepper Parr
November 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
In response to the question: What happened? Ward 2 city councillor Marianne Meed Ward said she “ was hoping the discussions the city and board were having over the past year would lead toward a new MOU that would benefit both parties.
Meed Ward was talking about the significant change that has taken place in the way programs and services are being delivered at the Seniors’ Centre which is a piece of city property that the seniors use.
 The Bistro, the heart of the Seniors’ Centre and the focal point for many of the administrative problems. The Seniors organized themselves as a not for profit – Burlington Senior’s Centre Inc. (BSCI). They elect a board which serves for a two-year period. It is that Board that has been “negotiating” with the city
There was a Memorandum of Understanding that set out who was to do what and who was going to pay what that had been put in place a number of years ago after considerable disruption and happiness on the part of the seniors.
There was a meeting a number of years ago that drew 300 seniors and they were not happy. The MOU seemed to settle things down.
Now things have flared up again.
 Joe Lamb wonders why someone didn’t call him. Joe Lamb, the person who negotiated a very fat deal for the seniors wonders why no one called him when things were going wrong.
The current president of the BSCI, a non-profit organization, hasn’t been able to make himself available for any kind of interview. Fred Hendriks issues media releases and doesn’t allow for any follow up.
Some of those with past board experience complain that Hendriks isn’t much of a communicator – they got that right.
Meed Ward adds that “With the recent change, members of the Seniors Centre should not notice any difference to services or programming.”
 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward listening to a senior. She continues: “The BSCI now has an opportunity to chart a new role for itself serving seniors in Burlington, and I have committed to stay on the board to assist them in this transition for as long as they would like.”
Meed Ward is the city representative on the Seniors Advisory committee.
There is indeed trouble in paradise. Don’t think this story has come to an end.
The seniors are one of the few really well defined groups in the city with a lot of time on their hands. They have in the past badgered city councillors with telephone calls when they weren’t happy.
The French have a phrase for it – some things never change – Et certaines choses ne changent pas.
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