Terry Fox monument unveiled in Spencer Smith Park - tourists will come to the city to see this monument - kudos to the people who made it happen.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

May 15th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

There were few gifts in the weather this weekend.

Our Member of Parliament Karina Gould was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial pitch at a Burlington Bandits game – cancelled due to rain.

Hayley Marie Remple gave her Masters Class to flute players and then left town to begin her tour of western Canada. They are in for a treat.

Fox monument with Brant Inn

Monument marking the 3582nd kilometer of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Run that took place 35 years ago. The plaque noting that the historical Brant Inn used to be located a dozen yards or so to the south sits to the left of the monument.

There was an event that took place on a knoll on the north side of spencer smith Park where some history got cemented into place – not something Burlington has been all that good at doing.

A group of citizens thought it would be fitting for there to be a monument commemorating the day Terry Fox passed through Burlington on his Marathon of Hope 35 years ago.

The group that made this happen has chosen to be quiet – their concern was that the creation of the monument not take anything away from the annual Terry Fox run.

Fox monument with Brant Inn plaque - wide view

The Brant Inn was located close to the edge of the lake – immediately south o the plaque – the Terry Fox monument sits on a bit of a knoll just west of the pond where small model motor boats will soon be scooting around.

The monument is a very handsome structure.

It was originally going to be located closer to the intersection of  |Lakeshore Road and Maple – some one came up with the idea of a more prominent location – right up beside the plaque that notes the existence of the Brant Inn – once a hot spot for American musicians who came to Burlington by train where they could play, sleep and eat in the same location.

Brant Inn plaque

The plaque tells the story. It was the place to be in those days. Nothing like it in the city today. Pity

The Brant Inn plaque is 15 to 20 yards from the site of the famous Inn. With the Fox monument steps away from the plaque – Burlington now has a spot where some significant history is commemorated. The Joseph Brant Museum is but a football field length to the west.

It will be interesting to see how the Tourism people feature the existence of the Fox monument in their literature and web site.

getting new - yellowMake a point of getting out to see it – it is both handsome and significant.

Good things can happen in Burlington.

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Family portrait of the art community in Burlington to be made public real soon - in the meantime some on the sport snaps.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

May 15th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Our thanks to Kim Verrall and Louise Marie Vien for this collection of pictures.

Who knew there were that many people involved in ACCOB – the Arts and Collective of Burlington. They gathered on Sunday for a “family portrait” – the final image is in the hands of the photographer – it is to be posted to the ACCOB Facebook page – where everyone can tag the names.

An impressive gathering – we were told the Mayor had asked to attend – not sure if he made an appearance.

With the family portrait in place – city council now knows the arts community is real – and that it needs support – which does not appear to be forth coming.

ACCOB has a number of committees that are either sub-committees or affiliated with them – that have been meeting with various people at city hall – including the city manager – word is that there hasn’t been all that much traction and that Cultural Days in September is going to have to get by on $2500.

Feelings are quite high with one member of a group declaring that the city manager has lied to them.

Any hope for an Arts Council seems dim at best.

For today – the Family Room at the Performing Arts Centre was love, peace and kindness. The Gazette was unable to attend – Sunday of us is a day of worship and thanksgiving.

We wonder if those people with instruments broke out and if Tomy Bewick did a slam.

We will pick up what actually happened when we talk to people during the week.

In the meantime some on the spot pictures.

Collective # 8

Collective # 7

Collective # 6

Collective # 5

Collective # 4

ollective # 3

Collective # 2

Collective #1

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Hayley Marie Remple mixes media on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre and sends her audience home with warmer hearts.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

May 14th, 2106

BURLINGTON, ON

Hayley Marie Remple plays the flute – at time she attackes the instrument and on other occasions you can almost feel her straining to find the air she needs to finish the bars of music she wants you to hear.

Remple was on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre doing a benefit concert for the art Gallery of Burlington. Don Graves, a noted Burlington landscape artist with a life of music as his frame and a noted book reviewer as well describes what the audience saw and felt this way:

Hayley Marie Remple“A group of clever, inspired French composers: Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Faure, Widor and Satie. The time is 1870 to 1910. Add a gala young woman who mergers with her instrument, the flute, to weave an Evening in Paris, full of masterful playing, displaying that technique is something an artist should know but not show, a musician that spins history with multi-media storytelling and some of the finest flute playing I’ve heard in Burlington…ever.

“What brings this evening at the PBAC to a special moment in time is Haley Marie’s exquisite bringing together of music, history, coloratura playing and dynamic story telling.

Not a silo in sight. Music, painting, history, the era of impressionistic music in Paris and unveiled in an informal, warm and technically sparkling visual concert that earned her a well-deserved standing ovation.

Hayley Remple with flute and red dress“Is this where the concert hall may be headed? Did the Art Gallery of Burlington and the Burlington Performance Art Centre launch something that speaks to the future of an evening listening to music, listening to a story and watching a screen that unfolds the place, the atmosphere and its time? Yes, it happened in Burlington and this young flutist raised our sights, our visions and our joy.

One of the unfortunate aspects of single night performance is – we can’t say to you – “Ya gotta see this performance” – because she is gone – off to complete her five province tour.

Graves describes the performance well – he catches mixture of visual, verbal and the sounds from the flute well. He is a man with a good eye and a strong appreciation for music – he nailed this one.

He might have added that during the performance Remple has words pop up on the screen that explain the complexity of the music – nothing too deep – things like “I have to breath really hard for this part”

What the public saw and heard was a Carnegie Hall class artist who performs superbly and adds comments with words on the screen that add to the quality of the performance.

There are times when Remple comes close to attacking her flute – the finger work is superb.

She will do a Master Class for flute students Saturday afternoon.

Might she return – it was a performance worth recommending to friends.

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Brenda Hunter named citizen of the year for 2015

News 100 blueBy Staff

May 11, 2016

BURLINGTON. ON

Twenty of the city’s best were nominated and seven of those were named as the best we have at the annual Burlington’s Best Awards ceremony on May 11, 2016.
Six of the 20 came from ward 6.

“All nominees have shown passion, dedication and caring for their fellow residents and their city,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “They have a ripple effect of kindness and compassion that is inspiring. I applaud the Burlington’s Best Awards Committee for managing the difficult task of picking only one winner in each category.”

The Burlington’s Best categories include:

• Heritage Award
• Community Service Award
• Environmental Award
• Arts Person of the Year
• Junior Citizen of the Year
• Senior Person of the Year
• Citizen of the Year

Heritage Award
This award is sponsored by Heritage Burlington, a City of Burlington citizen advisory committee comprised of 14 volunteers with a mandate to provide advice to City Council on issues related to the conservation of Burlington’s cultural heritage.

The award goes to an individual who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the preservation of Burlington’s heritage, and has volunteered his or her time to support the preservation of Burlington’s heritage.

Winner: Winifred Stewart

Stewart has been a leader and supporter of heritage and culture in Burlington for more than 40 years. At Joseph Brant Museum, she has documented collection pieces, provided tours to young and old and has worked tirelessly to ensure future generations will continue to learn about the early settlement and development of Burlington and the important relationship with First Nations through Joseph Brant, Thayendanegea.

Stewart was a member of the Friends of Ireland House and spent hundreds of hours raising awareness and funds to ensure it became a museum for the citizens of Burlington. Her dedication and commitment to preserving, documenting and presenting Burlington’s heritage is a strong testament to her sense of community.

Community Service Award
This award is sponsored by COGECO, a diversified communications company that strives to meet the communication needs of consumers and advertisers through cable distribution and radio broadcasting. Cogeco Cable is the second largest cable telecommunications company in Ontario and Québec in terms of basic cable service customers.

The Community Service Award is given to an individual or group whose volunteer activity has contributed to the betterment of the Burlington community.

Winner: Janice Martin

Martin is a compassionate person, with a natural ability to make people feel safe and appreciated, who makes things happen in her community. She spearheaded a single moms’ group at Tansley United Church, which has empowered many single moms, allowing them to form positive and nurturing connections.

Martin helped to set up an after-school program called Chill Zone; a seniors program. She volunteers twice a month at the North Burlington Community Dinners and oversees the Food for Life program at the Tansley distribution location. Martin finds a way to meet needs either directly, by partnering with other community organizations or by sourcing funds and volunteers and then applying her impressive organization skills to make things come together.

Environmental Award
This award is sponsored by Walker Environmental Group, a leading waste management company that develops solutions for environmental challenges—solutions that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable—including aerobic composting, alternative energy production and environmental project management. The company’s diverse range of services provides sustainable solutions that reduce waste, improve energy efficiency and enhance the environment.

The Environmental Award is given to an individual or group that improved and/or protects Burlington’s environment.

Winner: Ken Woodruff

BurlingtonGreen president Ken Woodruff will chair the BurlingtonGreen AGM and participate in the "Think Tank" session they plan to hold. He is reported to be also participating in the Mayor's Dream Team that is meeting earlier in the same day. Busy man..

Ken Woodruff

Woodruff has tirelessly volunteered his time, energy and expertise for the past decade. He believes in the importance of giving of oneself to create a better, healthier Burlington for others to enjoy.

His hard work and dedication to environmental initiatives in Burlington, including protecting the rural environment and valuable green space, has touched many lives. Woodruff has pushed for environmentally sustainable policy and decision-making and has led the BurlingtonGreen team to grow as an effective, impactful organization through various programs, services and advocacy campaigns.
Woodruff’s passion and determined efforts to protect the health of the environment have made Burlington a better city for all of us to enjoy, now and in the future.

Arts Person of the Year
THE K.W. IRMISCH AWARD
The Arts Person of the Year Award was donated to the City of Burlington by the Irmisch family to recognize the importance of the arts in the community and to recognize all of the volunteers who work so hard to showcase the amazing talent and culture of Burlington.

The award is given to an individual who has contributed to the arts in Burlington as an artist, patron or advocate, including, but not limited to, visual arts, media arts, musical arts, performing arts and literary arts.

Winner: Dan Murray

Dan Murray BESR

Dan Murrray

Murray is a co-organizer of the Burlington Slam Project and has grown from a participating local poet into an international competitor and local artistic mentor.

In his co-organizer capacity, he has hosted nearly half of 2015’s monthly poetry shows, co-facilitated several free writing workshops with HYWire (Halton Youth Writers) at Burlington Public Library and has served in the official coaching role for Burlington’s 2015 International Slam Team.

Murray has become a top ranked Canadian spoken word artist who has successfully branched out into a musical career and continues to lend his time to help other writers. His contributions to this community as an organizer, artist and emerging mentor have had a tremendous impact on all who know him.

Junior Citizen of the Year
Youthfest was founded in 2002, and avidly promotes the importance of youth in our community, develops youth responsibility and action in the community and connects youth to meaningful volunteer opportunities and available supportive service. The winner will receive a $500 bursary, courtesy of the Bank of Montreal, which has been a leading and supportive partner since the inception of Youthfest.

The Junior Citizen of the Year Award is given to a high school student, 18 years of age or younger, who has made a significant contribution to the Burlington community.

Winner: Chris Choi

Chris is a natural leader, bringing dedication and passion to his various community volunteer roles. He has made a significant contribution at Burlington Public Library by assisting with the Teen/Senior Tech Meet-Up program where teens help seniors with computer skills.

Choi is recognized as a leader on the library’s Central Branch Teen Advisory Board and is a Youth Representative on the Library’s Advocacy Committee promoting lifelong literacy. Chris helped shape the development of 3 Things for Burlington, supported by Community Development Halton and Burlington Public Library, which promotes random acts of kindness by teens to create a positive impact on the citizens of Burlington.

Senior Person of the Year
This award is sponsored by the Williamsburg, an award-winning residence for seniors located in Burlington’s uptown core. Visionary in its design and progressive in the lifestyle offered, the Williamsburg is a community of vibrant, engaging and friendly residents.

The Senior Person of the Year Award is given to a Burlington resident aged 55 years or older who has advocated on behalf of seniors and/or made a significant contribution to the Burlington community.

Winner: Bob Pring

Bob_Pring BEST

Bob Pring

Pring’s volunteer community contributions are many and include the Art Gallery of Burlington, working with youth in hockey, developing skills across the generations in lawn bowling and helping those less fortunate through local social service agencies.

Pring recently initiated a project to make handcrafted canes for Burlington’s veterans and recruited members of the Sculptors and Woodcarvers Guild to help carve them. He knows the power of the arts can improve the lives of children in both school and life and has actively engaged and instructed children in woodcarving demonstrations for many years.

Citizen of the Year Award
This award is courtesy of the Rotary Club of Burlington-Lakeshore and the Rotary Club of Burlington North.

The world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on Feb. 23, 1905. Since then, the club has grown to include 1.2 million Rotarians belonging to more than 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries. Service above self is Rotary’s guiding principle.

The Citizen of the Year Award is given to a person whose volunteer activity has made a significant and sustained contribution to the vibrancy and wellbeing of the Burlington community.

Winner: Brenda Hunter

Brenda_Hunter BEST

Brenda Hunter

Hunter’s leadership and dedication to the healthcare needs of Burlington through her work with the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is inspiring.

She is a true champion of the hospital’s “Our New Era Campaign” which has raised more than $48 million and she successfully led the “One room at a Time Campaign” which raised $400,000 in support of the refurbishment of the Palliative Care Unit. Hunter is an example of leadership and volunteerism and her many contributions have transformed our community.
Burlington’s Best Awards are managed by a citizen’s committee established in 1965 with the mandate of recognizing Burlington residents who bring honour to the city and make a difference in their community.

Links:

Nominees for the 2016 Burlington Best Awards

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Scouts plant 250 trees on regional property - 150 participate

News 100 greenBy Staff

May 11, 2012

BURLINGTON, ON

Save the news feedOn Saturday, April 30, Halton Region hosted its 16th Annual Scout Tree Planting event at the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS) in Milton.
Hosted in partnership with Conservation Halton and local scouts from across Halton, over 150 scouts and volunteers participated in the event and planted 250 trees in celebration of Earth Day and Arbour Day.

“Protecting and enhancing the natural environment is a priority for Halton Region,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We are committed to working with our community partners to reduce our carbon footprint. Events like the Annual Scout Tree Planting contribute to the long-term sustainability of our community and give young Halton residents a chance to make a difference in Halton’s future.”

Carr + Vice + scout

From left to right: Halton Regional Chair, Gary Carr, Scout Deputy Area Commissioner, Bob Collison and Conservation Halton Board Chair, John Vice.

Chair Carr was joined by Conservation Halton Board Chair, John Vice and General Manager Hassaan Basit. Town of Milton and Regional Councillor and Conservation Halton Chair, Colin Best, along with Scout Deputy Area Commissioner, Bob Collison, were also on hand to show their support. The short opening ceremony recognized Conservation Halton’s dedication to protecting and restoring the local environment and the hard work and community spirit demonstrated by Halton’s local Scouts. After planting the trees, participants enjoyed a celebratory barbeque lunch.

Scouts - tree planting

From left to right: Halton Beavers – Cameron Reid, age 8 and Jacob Reid, age 6.

“The Annual Scout Tree Planting is a great example of what Conservation Halton values, three organizations coming together in partnership to do good work which will benefit the community now and for years to come,” said Conservation Halton Chair John Vice. “We get particularly excited when young people get a hands-on outdoor experience like planting a tree. Thank you to the scouts and their parents for planting trees at the Halton Waste Management Site.”

 

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Last tour before she gets hitched - Hayley Marie is bringing her flute to town

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 10th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Hayley Marie Remple is on the road – last concert tour before I get hitched” was the way she put the trip that is going to bring her to Burlington for a two concert program and a Master Class for flute players.

Hayley Marie RempleHailey Marie mixes narrative with visual presentation and the smooth sound of her flute as she tells the story of the composers who basically shaped much of the classical music we have today.

A graduate of both McGill and Yale – she has played on the stage of Carnegie Hall on two occasions – no small feat. Speaking of feet – she apparently plays barefoot.

This artist is on a five province tour – returns to Winnipeg for her nuptials.

Hayley Marie is a romantic who sees music as a way to tell a story – the sound if of course critical – but this isn’t a lady who stands up – plays and then sits down.

She talks and will tell you far more than you ever thought you wanted to know about some of the great composers.

May 12th at the Performing Arts Centre. 7:30 pm

This artist will play the work of Debussy, Ravel, Saint Saens,Faure, Wido rand Satie who were composing during the period Hayley Marie focuses on.

She has researched both the time frame she has chosen to focus on and the lives of the composers and tells the people who follow her all kinds of delightful gossip that she calls her Two Minute Talks

A Hayley Marie Remple Two Minute Talk

Previous articles:

An Evening in Paris

Someone is going to go to Paris

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What are your colours? Do they include a rainbow? Public attitudes to the LGBT community to be the focus of a school board conference.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

May 9th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Halton District School Board’s annual Inside and Out Conference will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Rd., Milton.
Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the conference concluding at 2 p.m.

HRPS cruieser with rainbow stripes

The Regional police have been very supportive and proactive in the way they work with the LGBT community. It’s the rest of the community that has to get onside.

The conference, titled, Inside and Out – What Are Your Colours? is in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and the Positive Space Network of Halton. These organizations work to eliminate bullying, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination in schools and youth communities.

The goal of the all-day conference is to provide a forum for students and staff, through various workshops, to discuss how they can make their schools more welcoming and inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and two spirit individuals.

The conference will also celebrate equity and diversity in the Halton District School Board. It is being organized by the Safe and Inclusive Schools Team and staff and students at Acton High School and McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School, including their Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) groups.

The conference will open with guest speaker MPP Cheri DiNovo, who is an activist for the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender people. The conference will close with a slam poetry performance by Jenna Tenn-Yuk. There will also be a reading by Nik Kaur-Singh and closing comments by Sam Lambert, both former Halton District School Board students and LGBTQ+ rights advocates.

A number of community agencies will be attending the conference including Halton Public Health, SAVIS, Positive Space Network, Youth Action Committee, EGALE Canada and New Directions Ministries.

The meeting is open to anyone wishing to attend

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Cherubini’s Requiem and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Regina Coeli at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 9th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Cherubini’s Requiem and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Regina Coeli

May 14th

The Burlington Civic Chorale is a mixed-voice community choir formed in 1994 through the collaboration of founder Dr. Gary Fisher and Mary Jane Price, former organist and music director at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church.

They rehearse and perform at St. Christophers Anglican church in Burlington, at 622 Guelph Line.

Their repertoire encompasses classical literature from the 16th century to the present; folksongs; opera choruses and vocal jazz.

Civic chorale

The Burlington Civic Chorale

2015-16 is their twenty-second season! They credit grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the United Way, the Toronto Foundation, and the former Halton Healthy Foundation; our loyal patrons and members; and local businesses who support them generously.

“We couldn’t have done it without some help along the way”, said Gary Fisher.

There next performance is May 14th – features Cherubini’s Requiem and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Regina Coeli
Tickets: Advance $ 20 or at the door $25 – 905-577-2425

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Free to the first person that gets to it - it should go quickly.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

May 5, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Two questions – what does the rest of the furniture look like?

Yellow couch

Free – what would you want in the way of chairs to go with this beauty?

And where can this beauty be found?

On Guelph Line, west side south of New Street.

To our surprise – it has been sitting at the edge of the road for two days.

It’s a beauty – isn’t it?

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Aldershot Arena closed for electrical work until week of May 31

News 100 redBy Staff

May 5th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

 

What started out as “unforeseen maintenance” issue has grown into a full blown electrical upgrade that is going to shutter the Aldershot Arena until the week of May 31 as the city replaces the electrical system on site following a transformer issue.

The power was shut off on April 22 in response to a problem with a transformer that supplies Aldershot Arena. The replacement of that hydro transformer means the city needed to upgrade its electrical service to meet Burlington Hydro’s current standard.

Parks and Recreation has temporarily moved its programs, including ball hockey, lacrosse and the No Socks for Ivan program, to other sites until the arena reopens.
“We are doing our best to make sure that all activities, including lacrosse, ball hockey and the No Socks for Ivan youth drop-in, have space in other arenas or buildings,” said Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation.

“We are informing people who need to know, and we want to thank everyone for their patience as we manage this temporary closure.”

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Oh Geronimo makes it to second round in CBC Searchlight talent competition - are we looking at another Walk the Earth?

News 100 redBy Staff

May 4, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington’s Oh Geronimo has advanced in CBC Music’s Searchlight contest.

The national competition which now has a field of 25.

The groupThere were about 2,000 hopefuls when Searchlight 2016 opened earlier this year.

There are 23 regions in total, each with a finalist. Oh Geronimo wins the Hamilton region.

Voting for the national round closes Monday, May 9 at 2:59 p.m.

The field is then trimmed from 25 to four.

Searchlight’s judging panel of Maestro Fresh Wes, Sarah Blackwood and Dallas Smith, will decided the three finalists who will move forward.

The fourth finalist will be determined by popular vote.

There also is exposure on CBC Radio’s q and, for the first time, on CBC-TV in a live special when 2016’s four finalists compete before judges and fans.

The lads explain: Oh Geronimo is a project that provides an escape from the daily rigours of adult life. In order to fully express ourselves, we ignore all of the distractions and freefall into the moment. Although Oh Geronimo was created about 3 years ago, the project truly came to fruition in August 2015 with a line-up change and the release of a 7-inch record. After touring the East Coast of Canada, from Toronto to Newfoundland and back, we released our debut full-length album, ‘Sleep Rhythms’, in March 2016.

Oh Geronimo is excited to explore the many roads yet travelled.

Check them out: CLICK HERE

 

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Spending the day with one of the most important people in your life.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 4, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Tea, tea, tea and Mummy.

There are a number of organizations offering a Mother’s Day Tea on the weekend.

For many – the parents live in Burlington and their adult children live elsewhere.

Mother with child - kissing

Doesn’t get much better than this does it?

With the warmer weather coming (it feels as if it is here) there are opportunities to get out.

The restaurants will be packed that weekend and besides – you get out to restaurants often enough.

Here are the events we have been told about.

Ireland House
May 8 2016, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Mother’s Day Tea Party – Au Chocolat
This year, we will be celebrating Mother’s Day with a chocolate themed tea party at Ireland House at Oakridge Farm. The day will feature presentations by local chocolatier Bernhard Mueller and a guided tour of the Museum.
The Mother’s Day Tea will serve premium tea from 3Teas and traditional tea refreshments such as sandwiches, scones, sweets and chocolate specialties. Tea times will run at 1 hour and 15 minute intervals, at 11am,
12:45pm, 2:30pm and 4:15pm.
The cost is $40 per person and must be purchased in advance, as seating is limited – Call 905-332-9888. Please request group seating if needed, at time of booking. Not recommended for children under the age of 10.
For more information visit www.museumsofburlington.com or call: 905 332- 9888.

Adult daughter hugging mother with flower bouquet

Making the time for them -they made the time for you.

Save tall yellowGallery 2 in the west end of the city is also offering a tea.
Cheryl Golding and her colleagues at the Gallery 2 on Spring Garden Road are hosting a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea on Saturday, May 7, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
They will be serving: tea/coffee, scones with cream, and a variety of sweet treats.
Cost: $30.00 per person.

St Stephens Mothers Day tea is a ticketed event, tickets will not be sold at the door. Give Linda Draddy a call at 289-337-4403 or email her at: pdraddy@cogeco.ca

M is for the many things she gave me, O is that …

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Councillor Taylor likes the attention rural Burlington is now getting - residents aren't all that certain there is a benefit for them in all that attention

News 100 greenBy Pepper Parr

May 4, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

I think most of the people who attended John Taylor’s constituency meeting at the Conservation Authority office on Britannia Road Monday evening expected to get a really clear explanation as to why the city decided not to go forward with the Mt Nemo study that started back in 2013.

There was an explanation – sort of. A combination of the things the study didn’t have going for it and the amount of money it was going to require (that is more speculation than fact – no one was able to say during the meeting just how much had been spent).

Mary Lou Tanner

Director of Planning Mary Lou Tanner – joined the city six months ago.

The explanations – three city staff people took a crack at it – was that they were going to go back to all the feedback that came from the Rural Summit in 2013. That event certainly produced a lot of comment – what disturbs is that neither the current planner nor senior policy planner Don Campbell were in place at city hall when that meeting was held.

Staff would have collected a lot of notes and there were probably a number of briefing papers prepared but there is nothing like being in the room to get a sense of what really happened.

It sounded as if the planning people – with a lot of input from the city manager – had decided that everything should come under the Strategic Plan umbrella. The Mt Nemo study didn’t appear to do that – so it got the hook.

Mt Nemo Rural-summit-map-682x1024

Rural Burlington residents look over a large aerial photograph of their part of the city and wonder how ling it is going to remain the way it is.

The Official Plan Review – that is now on again – is to comply with the Strategic Plan. A significant statement in that Strategic Plan is to manage and protect our rural environment. Manage it for who and protect it from what was a question residents asked on several occasions.

The city set out what had been done when the Heritage Character of the Mt Nemo Plateau was being studied.

1. Preliminary Study of the Heritage Character of the Mount Nemo Plateau
2. Heritage Conservation District Study

Assessed character and heritage.

Identified options for the long-term conservation and enhancement of the character and heritage.

Recommended further study.

Key Finding
‘…a distinct historical community represented by a range of heritage features and elements…bounded in such a clear physical manner…the study area can be identified as an organically evolved, continuous Cultural Heritage Landscape’

What is a Cultural Heritage Landscape? A collection of related built form, landscape, vegetation, archaeological resources and other elements that have heritage value.

What is a Heritage Conservation District? What would it do for people within the district. Most felt that all it really was – was another layer of regulation.

Geographically defined area
Protects from unsympathetic alterations
Applies to a collection of historic buildings, streetscapes, landscapes
Areas are referred to as “designated”
Tool to manage change in accordance with a set of Guidelines (Heritage Conservation District Plan)
Plans are unique and is developed with the community

Chronology:

June 2013 Council direction to undertake preliminary research
January 2014 Preliminary assessment presented to Committee
January 2014 Council direction to consult with public
February 2014 Public consultation event shared findings of the preliminary assessment
 April2014 Public consultation event to discuss the preliminary study, proposed next steps in starting a Heritage Conservation District Study
May 2014 Council Decision: To proceed with the Heritage Conservation District Study
October 2014 MMM Group retained to complete the HCD study
February  2015 Public meeting to present research and field work completed by MMM Group to date
February 2015 Council direction: Place Official Plan Review reports and Mount Nemo on hold pending start of the new city manager and Strategic Plan.
January  2016 Official Plan Review restarted.

Between February of 2015 and January of 2016 city council was working its way from what started out as a four year Strategic Plan to a document that covers the next forty years.

Rural Burlington residents wanted to know what the benefit was for them from this new approach. The comment was that while downtown grows “up” – the result of intensification, the rest of Burlington would grow outwards which would have more people using the rural part of the city.

It was about 15 months ago that rural Burlington began the discusion about what it wanted to be. Some things were clear - others not as clear. The early draft of a vision got put on a huge board and for the most part the communuty liked the look of what they had said to each other.

The early draft of a vision got put on a huge board and for the most part the community liked the look of what they had said to each other.

Most residents resented the layers of regulation they had to deal with: Conservation Halton, Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Region and then the city. It was too much.

Pros and cons

Once the planners had determined what the pros and cons were – the decision was pretty easy to make.

The planning department had two new staffers: a new director and a senior policy advisor – they reviewed everything they had and came to the conclusion that a Conservation Heritage District wasn’t needed, didn’t fit in all that well with the Strategic plan and certainly wasn’t’ what the residents wanted. Their graphic setting out the pros and the cons was enough to convince the politicians.

graphic02Staff saw the killing of the Heritage Conservation Districts as an opportunity to refocus; build on community feedback received to date and find the local vision that they believed came out of the Rural Summit in 2013.

The air park didn’t get as much as a mention.

Part two will follow.

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Burlington Green film schedule - Why does so much food end up in land fills? May 5th

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 3rd

BURLINGTON, ON

We all love food, so why are we throwing nearly half of it in the trash?

The Burlington Green people invite you to watch food lovers Jen & Grant take on quite a challenge.

BG bananaThis couple vowed to quit grocery shopping and to survive solely on foods that would otherwise be thrown away fir six months.

The film takes a glimpse into our standards for food production, and where this system is failing, leaving millions of pounds of food in the landfill, and half the world malnourished.

When: May 5, 2016, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ( doors open at 6:30 pm)
Where: Burlington Public Library (Central Branch), 2331 New Street
Admission: $5/person
*Complimentary refreshments courtesy of Goodness Me!

This event is part of the 2016 Eco-Film Festival presented by BurlingtonGreen, the Burlington Public Library and Halton Green Screens.

Future films on the program:

This Changes Everything
June 2, 2016 (join us for our AGM beforehand!)
Directed by Avi Lewis, and inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller This Changes Everything, the film presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond.

Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there. Throughout the film, Klein builds to her most controversial and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.

Flight of the butterflies
September 22, 2016

This film is about the remarkable Monarch butterfly migration, the most incredible migration on Earth, and the determined scientist who spent 40 years trying to discover exactly where the butterflies mysteriously disappeared when they flew south for winter.

The True Cost
November 24, 2016

This eye-opening documentary examines how the developed world’s desire for cheap, stylish clothes has led to the widespread abuse of the Third World sweatshop labourers who make them, the degradation of local environments, the waste produced, and what the fashion industry can do to change the situation.

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Art Gallery volunteers being treated to a PRIVATE performance - Haley to entertain 300 plus their guests.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 2nd, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington has thousands of people who volunteer – and it could use an additional thousand tomorrow – there is no reason to be at home doing nothing in this city. Volunteers make the place work.

The Art Gallery of Burlington has 300 + volunteers and they wanted to find a way to thank them in a very special way.

They found a way – they are sponsoring a PRIVATE performance of the Hayley Marie Remple concert at the Performing Arts Centre.

Volunteers only –

The performance – named “An Evening in Paris” is a combination of superb flute playing by Hayley Marie interspersed by short gossipy videos of the men who composed the music she will be playing.

Remple has certainly done her research – she tells all kinds of little known facts about some of the greatest composers the world has ever heard.

While Beethoven is not one of the composers she will be playing – the video on him is a delight– Remple calls them Two minute Talks.

Try this one – it is a hoot.

 

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Summer recreational programs directory now on line - Registration for adults starts May 14

News 100 blueBy Staff

May 2, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The Summer Live & Play Guide is one line and available in print now.

Registration for the recreation, fitness, sports and culture programs listed in the guide opens on Saturday, May 14 for adults 19+. Registration for all other programs is open now.
“We wait all year long for our great summer weather and now is the time to get out and play,” said Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation. “The city and its partners have something for everyone with programs and events ranging from swimming lessons and splash pads to camps, concerts in the park, bocce ball and so much more, all offered at multiple locations around Burlington.”

Ward 3 Mountainside Pool update July 30Mountainside Recreation Centre is featured on the cover of the summer guide. Recently renovated, this facility features a 50-meter outdoor pool with a one metre diving board, a double loop waterslide, shade structures, and a splash park, set to open on June 18. The park area of Mountainside features two playgrounds, a skateboard park, a basketball court and nature trails. A virtual tour of Mountainside Recreation Centre and park is available online.

The Summer Live & Play Guide is the City of Burlington’s guide to recreation, sport and culture programs and events offered throughout the city. The online Live & Play Guide allows residents to view available activities and register for programs directly. The online guide is mobile-friendly and allows pages to be easily searched and shared through email and social media. To receive future copies of the online guide by email, subscribe to the Live & Play e-newsletter at www.burlington.ca/enews.

Hard copies of the guide, printed on recyclable paper identified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo, are available at City Hall, 426 Brant St., Burlington Public Library branches or any city recreation centre.

For details on how to register for summer programs and events, see page three in the guide or visit www.burlington.ca/play.

The Nelson pool will not be among the locations available for the summer program.

Nelson pool status.

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Someone is going to win a trip to Paris - after they have heard the Hayley Marie Remple performance.

News 100 blueBy Staff

May 2nd, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

There is an opportunity for you to travel to Paris – basically free.

Yes there is a catch – you have to attend the one night only Hayley Marie Remple performance at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre and buy at least one of the $2 raffle tickets.

Eiffel tower

The Eiffel Tower

Should your ticket be drawn – and you must be in the theatre when it is drawn at the end of the performance – you will have won a trip to Paris put together by DH Tours.

On bench - white dress - flute

Hayley Marie Remple will be at the Performing Arts Centre May 12th

The idea came out of one of those late in the day conversations – Mary Mazur, Executive Assistant to the AGB CEO Robert Steven were going over details of the Evening in Paris event that is scheduled for mid May when Robert asked: “Wouldn’t it be great if we could raffle off a trip to Paris the night of the concert.”

DH tour with TICOThey approached DH Tour who said they would be happy to support the AGB with a trip. And what a trip it is going to be.

Return flights from Toronto to Paris
Return transfers from Charles de Gaulle airport to/from hotel
6 nights, central, 3 star hotel in Paris with daily continental breakfasts
Hop-on/Hop-off city sightseeing tour, 48 hour pass
3 day Metro Pass
2 day Musee Pass
All hotel taxes and service charges
All Air taxes
Paris maps and information package.

The concert is part of a month long five province tour Hayley Marie is doing. She has performed in southern California, Germany and France

Hayley Marie Remple scheduled at Performing Arts Centre.

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Prints of the Michelle Van Maurik white peonies painting will be available for Mother's Day at the Seaton Gallery.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 2, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

There are a number of events planned by various organizations for Mother’s Day.

Teresa Seaton is currently hosting an exhibit of Michelle Van Maurik’s  work at the Gallery until the end of May.

While the original of her “White Peonies” is not part of the exhibit there are now copies of a limited edition print available at Teresa Seaton Studio and Gallery on May 7th.
White Peonies was exhibited by invitation at the SNBA Canadian Delegation, Louvre, Paris.

Maurik white peonies LouvreSizes will include:

Giclee Canvas Print
Size: 24″ X 30″ (same size as the original painting) Limited edition size 100
Size: 16″ X 20″ Limited edition of 200

Giclee Museum grade watercolour paper
Size: 16″ X 20″ Limited edition size: 200
Size: 11″ X 14″ Limited edition size: 200

Michele will be at the Gallery on Saturday May7th from 2 pm – 4pm for signing.

Related links:

Setting up an exhibit.

Teresa Seaton Studio & Gallery
654 Spring Gardens Rd. Burlington ON L7T 1J1
Thurs – Sun, 11am-5pm
Mon – Wed, by chance or appointment
Cell (905) 510 5030

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The sweet subtle sound of a flute and some of the best gossip you are ever going to hear about giants in the world of classical music.

eventspink 100x100By Pepper Parr

April 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

A young musician who got hooked on history from her music teacher in high school is going to take to the stage of the Performing Arts Centre May 12th and put on a performance that is a combination of her playing her flute and film clips about the composers who wrote the music she plays.

The film clips are not going to be dry or dusty history explains Hayley Marie. The music during the period of time she is focused on – 1870 – 1910 was boisterous, ribald and vibrant and has been with us for more than 100 years.  Titled “An Evening in Paris” the performance entertains and informs – you will see classical music a lot differently when you walk out of The Centre.

Eyes with evening in parisThe classical music we know today came out of that period when Debussy, Ravel, Saint Saens,Faure, Wido rand Satie were both writing and performing.
France had taken a terrible beating during the Franco Prusian War during which there was a 135 siege of Paris forcing people to eat horsemeat. France was prostrate on the world stage.

It was out of that terrible defeat that France rose politically, economically but most importantly culturally.

The world saw the first of the Impressionists –Renoir and Monet were painting during this period. And the music just flowed.

Hayley Marie ties together both the music and the story behind the men who wrote the music. It is fascinating – gossip at its very best. She has a fierce interest in preserving the human side of classical music fired by a desire to show how these musical giants interacted with the society they were a part of – it wasn’t’ always a pretty picture.

On bench - white dress - flute

Hayley Marie Remple

Concert goers in the Paris that Hayley Marie Remple talks about was not polite society. Applause was loud, displeasure resulted in booing and throwing fruit at a performer. Patrons were known to jump up on their seats and shout. Fisticuffs were not unusual – Passions of people who were fully informed about the music they were listening to rose quickly – and everyone had an opinion.

The composers were real people with real problems, some had significant addictions and some had personal lives that would rival anything you read about Mick Jagger or Elvis Presley.

Hayley Marie, a Governor General Award winner and three time performer at Carnegie Hall walks on to a stage to present a performance that is part of a month long five province tour.

Remple has performed in southern California, Connecticut, Montreal and Winnipeg. In 2009, she completed her first concert tour of Germany and France.

A century after the deaths of these towering composers scholars are still studying their work and music The France she is going to reflect built the Eiffel Tower and created the statue of Liberty that was given as a gift to Americans.

May 12th – 7:30 pm

Performing Arts Centre

Tickets $35

Box office

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Art Gallery can take their show on the road - Trillium grant pays for the van and part of the costs of running the community outreach program.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

April 27, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

They are taking the show on the road – now that they are the proud owners of a Ford van. The Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) can expand its reach into the Halton community thanks to a three-year, $225,200 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant has provided the capital to purchase a van for community outreach and other projects.

AGB - Vanpresentation

The van will let the AGB staff take pieces from the various collections into the community; especially schools and seniors homes.

The AGB van was unveiled on Wednesday at a media event with local MPP Eleanor McMahon, who has been an advocate for arts and culture in our community, and Bill Allison, an OTF volunteer. Also in attendance were Robert Steven, President and CEO, and Anne Swarbrick, Foundation Chair.

We wondered if AGB president Robert Steven or Foundation president Anne Swarbrick would be given the keys and be tooting about town – nope – the insurance contract allows just six drivers – and the top dogs don’t count.

“The Art Gallery of Burlington is an absolute gem in our city, and one of my favourite attractions in Burlington,” said Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington who tried her hand on one of the looms the weavers guild has some time ago – McMahon won’t be giving classes – not for a while.

AGB presentation McMahon

Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon did most of the talking at the van presentation. She almost suggested she would be quite happy taking art lessons at the AGB – on a full time basis Ms McMahon?

She is a fan of the AGB though and was able to help them stick handle their funding application. “This Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will provide people who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to visit a chance to connect with the AGB and our city’s vibrant arts community, as well as support aspiring artists and museum workers beginning their careers.”

Along with the van, the grant is also helping with two special projects focused on different areas of outreach within the community, including Art-On-the-Go, an initiative to bring arts education directly to schools, seniors’ homes, and community festivals.

AGB OTF presenter

Bill Allison, an Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer with more than nine years of service presented a plaque – the check arrived several months ago..

Funds are also being used for the Artistic and Gallery Experience Mentoring Program, which provides opportunities for high school students interested in a career in the arts to be mentored directly by artist educators and other art specialists.

Save the news feedThe Ontario Trillium Foundation is the leading grant making foundation in Canada. Most of their funding comes from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. You may not win with you Loto 6/49 – but the community does well with the Trillium Grants.

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