 By Staff
May 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the most gifted and at times controversial writers on important public issues, Jeff Rubin returns to Burlington to mark a major event in publishing and in fiscal and environmental analysis–the release of his new book The Carbon Bubble.
 A compelling, forthright author and speaker, recipient of the National Business Book Award and author of two momentous works of economic forecasting, Why Your World is About to Get a Lot Smaller and The End of Growth, Jeff Rubin is in great demand in all media for his cautionary insights and startling predictions.
“If the world is changing, those willing and able to change with it will be rewarded. For a high-latitude country like Canada, whose average temperature is expected to rise a multiple of the global average that change points to a fundamental rethink of our national economic priorities.” –from The Carbon Bubble
 The Diffeent Drummer, is hosting Jeff Rubin in partnership with Burlington Public Library on Monday May 25 at 7pm in Centennial Hall at Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street.
Tickets are $10, available at the bookstore and at the third floor Information Desk at the Library.
To reserve seats in advance, please contact us at (905) 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com.
 By Pepper Parr
March 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
When we did a report on the reception for the publication of Janet Turpin Myer’s first book Nightswimming we said that “Burlington may have just witnessed the introduction of a major new writer.”
Meyer’s has just published her second title: The Last Year of Confusion
 Janet Turpin Myers works in a bright, sunlit room filled with the smell of cedar trees when the windows are open. Her publisher, Maureen Whyte said of Meyers: “I believe it demonstrates a true ability to write well when an emerging writer doesn’t merely copy a previous storyline. Janet has written an engaging, funny, yet thought-provoking book that takes readers on a wild – but rewarding – journey.”
A story brimming with satire, dark humour and truth, the book follows Villis, a cranky retired anthropologist and survivor of Stalin’s gulag work prisons, as he works vigilantly with his long-time pacifist friend, Bipin, to protect the unspoiled forest they call The Pearl.
There are no coincidences, Bipin believes – so when a young man on an obnoxious all-terrain vehicle begins chewing up forest trails and squashing amphibians, Bipin seeks the cosmic meaning inherent in this assault. But Villis wants to wage war.
The two friends’ naïve efforts to dispel the ATV-man from their beloved woodland haven spiral into a rollicking chaos of confusion, involving celebrity impersonators, visions of cavemen, and a time portal swirling from within the vibrating heart of The Pearl. Mingling pathos and tragedy with humour and a keen perception of the superficiality of current pop culture, The Last Year of Confusion conveys profound ideas regarding peace, faith and love.
 Janet Turpin Meyers, local author launches her first title. Her second title will be released later this month. “I have used satire and, yes, shock features, in this story for an important reason,” says Myers. “I want to encourage readers to think about how pop culture, TV reality shows and celebrity personalities have lured our attention away from not only the environmental crisis our planet is in, but also from the abiding threat to human freedom by oppressive political and state forces.”
Book Launch will be at – the Cedar Springs Community clubhouse on May 24th – 2081 Grand Blvd., North Burlington- , starting at 2:00 p.m. The author will give a talk about the book, along with a short reading. Refreshments will be served.
 By Staff
May 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There was no shortage of suspense and excitement as the winners were chosen at the 3rd annual Pythons’ Pit competition in Burlington last night.
 Cory Hudson – Ambient Audio Canada (Open Category Winner – $20,000) Developed by the Rotary Clubs of Halton, it is the region’s most exciting entrepreneurial event. Finalists in the Open and High School categories had the opportunity to pitch their business concepts and product ideas in front of a live audience and “The Pythons”, a panel of business moguls from the community. At stake: cash awards and range of in-kind professional services and mentoring to help them launch their businesses.
A large crowd of supporters were on the edge of their seats at Performing Arts Centre as the Pythons made their difficult decisions in the annual competition, which is supported by presenting sponsors RBC Royal Bank and MNP LLP along with several groups and community partners.
In the Open Category, Cory Hudson, a 5th year Biology student at the Wilfrid Laurier University (originally from Oakville) took home a $20,000 cheque for his handmade and engineered Bluetooth speakers with unique lighting features. Hudson believes his Ambient Audio Canada initiative “will help people create a deeper connection with their music” and the Pythons agreed. A surprise 3-month $7,000-worth free lease offer from RioCan sweetened the winning pot! Hudson was one of five finalists in the Open Category.
 Jennifer Palfi (High School Winner – $1,500) First Place in the High School Category went to a group of bright and energetic Grade 12 students from Burlington’s Nelson High School. David Vanderberg, Ben Mallory, Jassim Moslim and Megan Long impressed the Pythons with ‘Coffee Run’, a unique app that facilitates a more organized and systematic way to ease the ordering experience. They’ll share $2,500 in prize money.
 Robert Omer Carriere (Open Category Contestant) Other cash prizes in the six-finalist high school category went to Jennifer Palfi, a Grade 11 student at Bishop P.F. Reding High School in Milton for ‘PeraCards’, a unique app for sending handwritten cards from a mobile device and Kush Yegnaswami, a Grade 12 student at Garth Webb Secondary School in Oakville whose ‘Aquaponics’ food production invention captured the imagination of the Pythons.
 David Woolford (Python), John Stix (Python), Megan Long (High School Winner – $2,500), Ben Mallory (High School Winner – $2,500), Jassim Moslim (High School Winner – $2,500), Michele Bailey (Python) In the spirit of Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank, Pythons’ Pit attracts the best and brightest of Halton’s budding entrepreneurs. The event, emceed by veteran broadcaster Connie Smith was recorded live by TVCogeco and will be the subject of a multi-part mini-series in the fall of this year.
 By Staff
May 5, 2015
MILTON, ON
Crawford Lake Conservation Area is featuring the artwork and writings of talented Tuscarora artist Raymond R. Skye. The exhibit, titled Haudenosaunee Clans…Extended Families of the Iroquois opens today, Tuesday, May 5 and will be on display 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until June 30, 2015 in the newly built Deer Clan Longhouse.
 Raymond Skye The exhibit will engage guests in a rich experience combining art, video, and hands-on elements to build understanding of the heritage and clans of the Haudenosaunee people. Imagine standing in a modern longhouse, listening to the lyrical poetry of the book The Great Law Kayaneren’ko:wa as written and narrated in English by Metis author David Bouchard, and in Mohawk by Six Nations of the Grand River community member, Frank Miller. The powerful words are accompanied by the visual feast of Raymond’s artworks.
Tim Johnson, Associate Director for Museum Programs, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington and New York had this to say about Skyes’s work:
“The value of Raymond Skye’s artistry is immeasurable. In an information age where ideas and influences are transferred around the globe at the speed of light, it is vitally important that distinct cultures and nations have in place powerful and sustainable mechanisms for their preservation. As an earnest and life-long student and teacher of Haudenosaunee culture, Ray’s contributions to his heritage are numerous and exceptional.
His art documents the primary narratives of Haudenosaunee origin, emergence, and history, enveloping substance within imagery that informs cultural awareness and inspires the people to forever remember. The presence of an artist like Raymond Skye in our community and nation is not only invaluable, it is essential!”
—
By Staff
May 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On May 12, 1989, Mayor Roly Bird signed a twinning agreement with Mayor Kurihara of Itabashi, Japan.
 Many Burlington visitors see the rows of cherry blossom trees as a bridal arch. The trees were a gift from Japan. As a result of that agreement two rows of Sakura Cherry Blossom trees have grown in Spencer Smith Park.
On Saturday, May 9, 2015, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Burlington, Lakeshore Room the public is invited to the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival.
The Japanese look forward to the annual bloom of the sakura tree as it is the premier sign of spring in Japan and blossom viewing parties are organized by companies, departments, neighborhoods and families.
Highlights:
Japanese taiko drum demonstration, with Burlington’s own Do Kon Daiko drum group
Koto performance and hands on demo by members of Kiri Koto Ensemble
Japanese dancing performed by Suzuran Odori Dancers
Martial arts displays from Burlington’s Shudokan Family Karate.
A presentation outlining the history of the sakura, both in Japan and here in Burlington
 Each year, usually in May, the trees blossom adding to the splendor of |Spencer Smith Park Burlington’s sakura trees are located in Spencer Smith Park, near the gazebo and the pier
 By Staff
May 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Better late than never – I guess.
The city sent out a media release this morning saying who is part of the Burlington delegation in Holland to mark the 10th anniversary of the twinning of Burlington with the City of Apeldoorn and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.
The delegation left for Holland on Sunday and was busy at events on Monday.
 It will be the trip of a lifetime for those who will take part in the farewell dinner being held at Palace Het Loo Mayor Rick Goldring leads the delegation that consists of Ward 6 Councillor (and Mundialization Committee’s council member) Blair Lancaster; Scott Stewart, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure; Rob Peachey, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces; Ed Dorr, Chair of Burlington’s Mundialization Committee; and Charles Minken, Chair of Burlington’s Apeldoorn subcommittee. They will be in the Netherlands from May 4 to May 9, 2015.
The Burlington Teen Tour Band and a citizen delegation will also be in Apeldoorn.
 European splendor at its finest – tour of the Palace and dinner may well turn out to be the highlight of the event. “This is a great opportunity to join the people of the Netherlands to remember the Canadian and Allied soldiers who lost their lives for liberation and freedom,” said Deputy Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.
The delegation will also discuss business opportunities with Apeldoorn officials.
May 4 – Remembrance Day Ceremonies
• Commemoration Loenen
• Commemoration Oranjepark (silent walk of remembrance)
May 5 – Liberation Day
• Wageningen Parade (Burlington Teen Tour Band performing)
• Remembrance concert Amsterdam (official liberation concert on the Amstel for the King and Queen of the Netherlands)
May 6
• Veteran Affairs Canada event
May 7
• Tour of Apeldoorn’s water technology program
• Visit one of the City of Apeldoorn’s multifunction centres for firefighters, paramedics and municipal workers
• City Hall reception and Burlington Teen Tour Band performance
May 8
• Meeting with Apeldoorn officials to discuss business opportunities (Canadian Ambassador James Lambert to be in attendance)
• Preview of Burlington Park (the Burlington Teen Tour Band will perform)
• Citizen delegation farewell dinner at the A-Ford Museum in Beekbergen
 With gardens like this at the Palace Het Loo city Rob Peachey, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces should return to Burlington with hundreds of ideas for our Parks. May 9
• Apeldoorn Veterans’ Parade (Burlington Teen Tour Band closing the parade)
• Liberation concert with Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet
• Farewell dinner at Palace Het Loo
May 10 – return to Canada
The media release sent out this morning is the first recent mention from city hall of this event.
Related article:
City delegation in Holland
By Staff
May 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Art – mural art to be specific – is going totally local. If you don’t reside in Burlington – you don’t get considered.
The City’s Public Art program has been massaging this idea for a while now – calling it the Burlington Mural Project, it is designed to tell local stories using local artists.
 This mural is on a store wall in Scarborough. Intended as an annual program, it will commission small to medium-scale murals throughout the city. These commissions are open exclusively to Burlington, Ontario artists. There will be free professional development opportunities offered to assist artists with the application process and project development.
Six murals (one mural per ward) will be commissioned in Year 1 of the program. Commissions will range in value from $2,500 – $12,000 depending on the scale and complexity of the project.
The locations for the murals were selected through a public process. Residents were asked to submit mural locations and themes (via an online and in-person survey). 333 location suggestions were received, resulting in 114 unique locations. Locations that are not selected in Year 1 will remain on file for subsequent years of the program.
Applications can be found on the Calls for Artists page
The public art program hosted a ‘Murals 101’ workshop on April 25, 2015, which featured Karin Eaton, Executive Director of Mural Routes and mural artist Allan Bender in a lively discussion about contemporary mural making.
 This mural is at the rear of the Flat Iron building on Front Street in downtown Toronto They discussed a variety of mural techniques and materials using real life case studies. A copy of the powerpoint presentation and additional notes are available on the Public Art website.
The applications are due on June 8th
Application Review Sessions will take place on May 25-26, for those who need help preparing an application to the Burlington Mural Program? The Public Art Managers are hosting a free application review session on May 25-26. Book a one-on-one session (20-30 minutes) to review a draft of your application and receive constructive feedback.
These sessions are open to all artists who are actively preparing an application to the Burlington Mural Program. Attendance will be voluntary and appointments must be booked in advance. To book an appointment please contact: Kim Selman, kim@cobaltconnects.ca or 905-548-0111
There are a wide variety of resources related to mural production, installation and conservation online. The Public Art program managers have complied a list of useful resources that may be helpful when preparing an application.
The project is being managed by Cobalt Connects – they are looking at a possible ten year program but add that it will probably be more like five years.
Five murals in each ward of the city might be a little over the top’
It will be interesting to see what comes in in the way of ideas.
By Staff
May 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has announced the entertainment lineup for Canada Day that includes the Stellas and Symphony on the Bay.
The Stellas have been selected to headline the Canadian Tire Main Stage on at 3:00 p.m. Brad and MaryLynne Stella make up the husband-and-wife country duo from the Toronto suburbs, and have toured with Zac Brown Band, Johnny Reid and Terri Clark.
 Symphony on the Bay will have the Canada Day Fireworks accompanying their performance at 10:00 on Canada Day. Symphony on the Bay became an orchestra in 1973. It recently made the Burlington Performing Arts Centre its home and will play the celebrations again this year. The community-based symphony will accompany the fireworks presentation at 10:00 p.m.
 The Stellas have been selected to headline the Canadian Tire Main Stage on Canada Day. The Burlington Events Office held a Twitter contest for musicians to win a performance spot on the Canadian Tire Main Stage.
Residents voted on three finalists, with Devin Moody the winner. Moody, from Burlington, Ont., is influenced by 1950s’ music. He’s toured throughout Canada, the United States and Japan and is currently a semi-finalist in CBC’s Searchlight contest.
Other entertainment planned for the annual celebration includes:
• White Pine Dancers
• Burlington Teen Tour Band
• Jessica Mitchell
• Mystic Drumz
• Johannes Linstead
• Fireworks presented by BUNZL
 By Pepper Parr
May 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 2 of a multi-part series
 The park is close to massive in scale – at least for Burlington. City View Park is probably smaller. It will be a collection of destinations – most of which the public knows nothing. The Beachway Park Master Plan is essentially five different parks all rolled into one. It begins at the western edge of Spencer Smith Park and ends at the canal.
Its development has been controversial. That part of Burlington was once a thriving, albeit a bit of a down at the heels community
 1032 Lakeshore Rd. ; a cottage demolished in 1994  1174 Lakeshore Rd.; a cottage demolished in 1992.  Beachway house located at what was once 1066 Lakeshore. It too has been demolished. There have been Master Plans for the Beachway as far back as the early 70’s. The current plan is looking at a different reality: the population of the Region is going to increase significantly and the Region wants and needs additional park space – not necessarily for the people of Burlington.
The squabble over the thirty some odd homes that are still in the Beachway park – and these are no longer cottages that look like they need a little work – will work itself out. Expect it to cost the Region quite a bit more than they budgeted for property acquisition.
In part 1 of this series we took a closer look at the first part of the Beachway Park – the Living Shoreline which begins at about where the Joseph Brant Museum stands.
 The Strand part of the planned Beachway Park will be where most of the aquatic activity takes place. It is also the point at which Lakeshore as it exists now will end and shift to the north. To the west is what will be called The Strand. It will be the part of the park where most of the aquatic activity takes place.
It is also the part of the park that will pay homage to the native life that was prevalent when Joseph Brant was given the property and for many years before that.
Several of the War of 1812 battles took place just off the shore line. That part of Burlington reeks with history and the intention appears to be to capture as much of that history as possible and display it in this part of the park.
There will be three parking lots – one will hold 67 cars, the next 78 cars and the third 106 cars. None of these parking lots will be in places where there was housing.
This will be the main swimming area, there will be ramps for non-motorized boats. The Catamaran Club will be in this area; the Pump House is within this area, and there will be a rental building in the area. The water sewage treatment plant will be on the other side of Lakeshore Road screened by large cedar trees.
The Pavilion, which hopefully gets a major upgrade, will also be in this part of the park.
It is as this point in the park that the Lakeshore Road in place now, takes a close to 90 degree turn to the right and begins to align with the QEW.
 The blue squares indicate properties the park planners have said they must have if they are to complete the planned development. It is these homeowners who are most threatened. This is where what were some of what were described during the public meeting as “priority houses” are located.
The area will be populated with play areas, exercise areas, space for Food Trucks, the large outdoor fireplace that has the potential to become a significant focal point will be in The Strand. The fireplace will be fed by a gas line.
 Some parts of |Lakeshore will have parking space – others will not have any room for cars. Shuttle buses will be used to move people from parking lots to different parts of the park. Shown here are two proposed road alignments – one with parking, one without.  The intention appears to be to keep some of the quiet trail areas – maintaining this feature will depend on how much pedestrian traffic there is. The Waterfront Trail will continue through this area. There will be spaces that are created for parking and spaces that have nothing but trees and other vegetation
Moving west there is Wind Beach which will extend right up to the canal and include much better use of the canal area – park benches and perhaps some lighting.
There will be a number of interpretive centres and a Dune Boardwalk.
 The Wind Beach – a part of the Beachway that the public doesn’t get to very much – will undergo the most significant change and incorporate the canal area The Waterfront Trail will extend and curve to Eastport Drive, go under Eastport and on to the federal pier area. This part of the lakefront does not see much in the way of traffic now – that will change.
Lakeshore Road which will no longer come through the middle of the park – but will have been shifted to the north and closer to the QEW – opening up what was the road to recreational uses.
All of the homes in this part of the Beachway will have to be taken out for this to happen. What is currently known as Lakeshore Court looks as if it is going to disappear.
Is the battle over what is going to happen to the 29 homes over? Three have been sold in the past year – two were Estate sales.
Will most of them still be there ten years from now?
Is there a time line for the development of the park?
Is there an approved budget?
Related article:
Part 1 of a multi-part series.
 By Pepper Parr
May 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mayor is not in his office this week.
He is out of the country along with Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster taking part in the celebration of Canadian troops liberating Holland seventy years ago.
 When the announcement was made at a council meeting it was done very quietly. They Mayor wasn’t sneaky about it – he was just unusually quiet. Municipal politicians in Ontario were once infamous for the junkets they took at taxpayer expense.
Ever since those glory days politicians have been very, very quiet about their trips out of the country.
There was no media release about the trip. For a Mayor who rarely gives up a photo opportunity there was no picture of the group that left for Apeldoorn heading for the airport.
Nothing in City talk magazine about the trip – but there was a notation of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that led to the twinning of Burlington and Apeldoorn.
 The citizens of Holland crowded the streets of the cities and town when the Canadian army came through seventy years ago. Some of those people immigrated to Burlington and made us a bigger and better city. Burlington has a very engaged Dutch community that has served the city well. Our twinning with Apeldoorn is something to be proud of as is our twinning with Itabashi in Japan.
It would be just be nice if the Mayor’s office would be consistent in his understanding of what transparency actually means.
There was no mention of who from the Dutch community took part in the trip nor was there any mention of the senior staff members who are along for the ride.
Nothing wrong with the trip – Canadians are amongst the most welcome people in Holland – they have never forgotten what our troops did for them. It is fitting that a city that has been twinned is there to be part of the celebration – just be open about it.
And publish the expenses soon after you return.
 By Pepper Parr
May 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a multi-part series
There is still a lot of wind in the sails that drive the arguments about what should be done with the homes in the Beachway. While the current Council seems content to let things continue with the policy of having the Region getting possession of the properties on a willing buyer/willing seller basis – when it is patently obvious that there is just the one buyer – it is going to be sometime before the public sees any actual park construction taking place.
 It was a public Meeting to show off a new park for the Beachway – it got high-jacked by the people who live in the homes that have to be torn down to make the park possible. From a policy perspective – not much is going to happen until funding for the park is in place. That may not happen before the end of this term of Council. There is some work that can be done before the completion of the hospital in 2018. The rebuild of Lakeshore Road won’t get started until the hospital is close to ready to take patients.
The park design itself isn’t something the public, for the most part, knows very much about. City hall has done a terrible job of informing people.
There were a little over 75 people at the presentation, Cogeco had a camera in the room and there were more than 15 staff members from the Region and the city telling everyone how wonderful this was.
The Gazette obtained a copy of the presentation that was made before maybe 80 people earlier this month. Unfortunately most of the time that evening was taken up with what is going to happen to the homes. The actual park design didn’t get the intention it deserved.
We set out below a number of the illustrations to give the public a better sense of what the city and the Region have in mind.
 Anne McIlroy,the planner who led the team that designed the proposed park and Stirling Todd, the Regional Planner overseeing the development of the park for the Region. The design was prepared by Anne McIlroy and Associates, a Toronto firm that has done a lot of work for the city in the past. They were the firm that headed up the Character Studies for the Indian Point community, Roseland (that one is still working its way towards a conclusion) and a third study that will be done on the Shoreacres community.
The people who attended the public meeting on the Beachway park design were taken through a good presentation.
The presentation started out by explaining that the “The Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park is an extraordinary resource in the Region and the city, and a major source of pride that contributes significantly to the identity and culture of downtown Burlington.”
And if the park every gets built and look anything like the plans the public was shown – it will be extraordinary. But they are not there yet.
“It is an inviting and publicly accessible waterfront park” explained Anne McIlroy, “that supports a range of recreational, educational, cultural and tourist opportunities, while respecting its environmentally sensitive and complex ecosystem. New and enhanced park uses, activities and facilities will be carefully balanced with the need to protect and preserve and restore the unique natural beach and dune features.”
She added: “Improvements to Lakeshore Road and the Waterfront Trail will enhance connections to the broader community and support healthy living through the promotion of active transportation.”
Active transportation is a stretch – getting people in and out of the park will be a challenge. Shuttle buses are proposed and that is part of the solution – where the cars that brought people to the shuttle bus embankment point will park is not set out in the plan.
Enough of the complaints and concerns: Let take a close up look at the plan and you decide what you think.
What was once a vibrant but run down at the heels community that had houses yards from the railway line that once rant along the edge of the lake is to become a Regional Park with five distinct areas. If it ever gets built Burlington will become a significant destination for people who want to spend time near the water – another Wasaga Beach? The vision starts at Spencer Smith Park in the east and includes some changes to that park as well.
 There are really six different parks rolled into one park that people can move through freely.
The Master Plan has six areas. Working from the west there is the Skyway, Wind Beach and The Commons.
Then there is the Strand which is where most of the water based activity will take place. Working east there is the Living Shoreline that will focus on protecting the environmentally sensitive parts of the Beachway and then Spencer Smith Park itself
 The typology of the land lakeside of Lakeshore Road is environmentally sensitive with plant life that doesn’t exists anywhere else. It is also a dynamic beach whose sands shift over time. The park planners have put together a design that allows for a secure future of the different typologies. The typologies of the Beach are environmentally critical and the park designers were adamant in their desire to protect what nature has given us. Unfortunately there was little opportunity for McIlroy or her team to get that point across. The mood in the room, set by those who stand to lose their homes, was about their housing.
McIlroy took the position that the Beachway is a flood plain and the sand dunes are constantly shifting and have to be protected. Her mandate did not include the homes – from her point of view all she was concerned about was what she described as “priority properties” land that had to be obtained if the park was the work.
The view at the Region has been – that decision has been made. City council is going along with that decision.
A closer look at the different Master Plan areas:
 The Living Shoreline is the park the public is likely to experience first. It is passive in nature and will feature a boardwalk and a launch area for non-motorized boats. The Living Shoreline begins basically where Spencer Smith Park ends and where Lakeshore Road gets widened. The Joseph Brant Museum rests on one side of the road with the significantly upgraded shore beginning on the other side of the road.
 The sloped land leading to the waters edge is environmentally fragile. work will have to be done to protect this part of the park. The graphic of the Living Shoreline shows a boardwalk built in this area. There will be a significant stretch of new boardwalk built; a shuttle bus stop, ten parking spaces, a multi-use shelter and a non-motorized Boat Launch area.
 It will be a gas fed fireplace – Joseph Brant will shudder the first time they light it – but the feature has the potential to add to the sense of outdoors and native meeting places. It is on land Brant himself would have walked upon. There is nothing to stop the development of this part of the park. The planners might decide to wait until the construction of the hospital is complete before making the Boardwalk available to the public. The reconstruction of Lakeshore Road may delay development – the biggest impediment is that at the point in time there is no budget for any work.
This is not the first design that has been created for the Beachway Park. There are plans that go back as far as the ’70’s – all the others went nowhere. It will be sometime before any park construction begins – the hospital has to be completed and the issue of the homes that are now in place has to be resolved. Lots of active, noisy public meetings ahead of us.
 The early design plans call for additions to Spencer Smith Park where it will merge into the Beachway Park. This shade structure will allow for seating at Pebble Beach, one the locale for one of the jumpingist (it could be a word) jazz joints this side of Montreal.
By Staff
May 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It will be the weekend when the gardeners go nut2 – the 23rd and 24th of May. They will be flooding the gardening stores and working away in their gardens – and if there is a parent that is a gardener the kids are going to have to fend for themselves.
 The kids like getting up close to this kind of heavy equipment. It’s an inexpensive day out for a family. How about getting out and Touching a-Truck? Each year the city holds a celebration for National Public Works Week – public works people are the men and women who fix the pot holes, shovel the snow and clean the catch basins – the unsung heroes who keep the wheels of the city going around.
 Anyone who has nothing better to do is invited to the city’s roads and park maintenance facility to get an up-close look at a variety of city vehicles.
At the Touch-a-Truck event, families are invited to:
– Get close to city vehicles, including a fire truck, street sweeper, and
snowplow
– Sit in a backhoe simulator to experience what it’s like to be a driver
– Enjoy a free barbeque (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
So come on out to this year’s Touch-a-Truck event and get a unique look into our city vehicles. Saturday,
May 23, join the City of Burlington for the third annual Touch a truck event
11:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Location:
Burlington Roads and Parks Maintenance Facility
3330 Harvester Road
Burlington, Ontario, L7N 3M8
By Staff
May 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is the kind of community where many of the commercial organizations look for a way to give something back to their community. There are hundreds of examples of this kind of thing happening all the time.
Recently an organization, Food4Kids, that works at making sure kids who come from homes that just plain need help spoke to city council explaining what they do – they ensure that kids always have a lunch when they go to school. The Gazette did a piece on this organization a couple of months ago.
Somehow Food4Kids found the Keller Williams Edge Realty, Brokerage or maybe it was the other way around – whichever the real estate company decided their annual RED Day will be spent organizing a city-wide Food Drive in support of Food4Kids, Compassion Society of Halton, Reach Out Centre For Kids (ROCK) and Partnership West Food Bank.
 How would real estate agents run a food drive?
To generate as many donations as possible, Keller Williams associates will be canvassing area homes on the days leading up to RED Day and will return to Burlington neighborhoods on RED Day (May 14) to personally pick up non-perishable food items and toiletries, which are requested to be left on front porches by 9am
RED Day, which stands for Renew, Energize and Donate, is Keller Williams Realty’s annual day of service. Each year on the second Thursday of May, Keller Williams associates across the globe spend the day away from their businesses serving worthy organizations and causes in their communities.
This year, it is the seventh year they have held A RED DAY program, their focus is on hunger and food insecurity.
Donations can also be dropped off from May 11-14 at the Keller Williams office at 3027 Harvester Road, between 9am-7pm, and at the Royal Bank branches at Walkers Line/New Street and Appleby Line/Dundas Street during their regular business hours.
 By Ray Rivers
May 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was Dr. Benjamin Spock the father of us all? His ‘Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care,’ published simultaneously with the birth of the first postwar baby boomers, set the path for child development for my generation and, at least, for the one that followed. Spock held that sex-education, including its spiritual aspects, should be part of a broad health and moral education, from kindergarten through the end of high school, ideally carried out harmoniously by parents and teachers.
 Isn’t that exactly what the updated provincial sex-ed curriculum is trying to do? Spock has his detractors but there have been scores of pedagogical disciples who mostly followed in his footsteps and adhered to his general principles. And after a couple of generations it is hard to criticize what we have grown to know and appreciate.
Of course the ‘spare-the-rod’ clan, and those newer-Canadians who were steeped in a traditional authoritarian family cult, object to what they see as the self-actualizing child. They consider sex-education, any of it, an insult and a case of the state interfering in their personal lives. Some hold, and others worry, that what they call ‘juvenile permissiveness’ will lead to a more violent and sexually perverted society, even if the numbers don’t support that linkage.
But the elephant-in-the-room is whether sex-education encourages sex? Spock and his disciples argue that the more children learn about sexuality from authoritative sources (parents, teachers, accurate literature), the less they will feel compelled to find out for themselves. We’re talking about where they get their facts (friends, violent movies, the internet, sexting or worse).
G. W. Bush ushered in an era in US education where sex-education became nothing more than preaching abstinence. A decade later, the results have been shown to be dismal, at best. In the US there are 750,000 teen pregnancies each year, 82% unintended, and almost 60% percent of these result in children bearing children. The rest of the teen pregnancies are either aborted or were miscarried. And then there are the sexually transmitted diseases.
Obama overturned Bush’s failed initiative, and now the US only funds programs which have been proven effective at reducing teen pregnancy, delaying sexual activity, or increasing contraceptive use. Abstinence, no doubt, remains a topic of discussion within these comprehensive sex-education programs, but their primary purpose is to prevent negative sexual health outcomes.
Ontario’s new sex-education curriculum is to be implemented starting this September, which will land it just in time for the expected federal election this autumn. Some pundits have speculated that this might be a factor among voters who are unable to distinguish between federal and provincial policies and responsibilities.
 For many parents talking about sex is just not something they can do – a classroom can provide the information young people need – we cheat them if we fail to inform them. I recall canvassing, when I ran provincially in Burlington, and being accosted by voters angry over the implementation of the federal long-gun registry at that time. So that should be a consideration for the Liberal leaders. Though, the push-back on the curriculum is coming mainly from the religious-right, who identify mainly with the Conservative party anyway. And then there are the new Canadians who often find common ground with the Tories on this issue.
Of course if the parents could all be trusted to objectively teach their kids the essentials about sex, this might not even be an issue. But they don’t, do they? How many parents take the time or have the courage to discuss sex in the context of a modern diverse society – and beyond the elementary birds and bees?
Parents have no prepared curriculum and generally no training. And even if they did, the topic is likely way too personal for most of them to handle it in an objective and balanced manner. Kids find their way through the internet, on the streets or in somebody’s recreation room when the parents are still at work.
As for those angry, complaining parents who think they know better than professional educators and psychologists, the apple usually falls near the tree. Tolerance and respect for others is as important in sexuality as the lessons on anatomy, I would think – but what do I know.
I’m an economist, went to a one-room school, was raised on a farm and I got my education out behind the barn.
Background links:
Notable Quotes Dr. Spock How Dr. Spock Destroyed America
Effectiveness of Sex-Ed Programs Teen Sources of Sex Information Anti-Sex Ed Coalition
Wynne and the Federal Election Conservative Protests Canadian Pregnancies
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
 By Staff
April 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
For those of you who are absolutely certain there will be no more snow – this is good news.
For the pessimists – and after the winter we’ve had being a pessimist is not such a bad thing – you might want to wait and see what thing look like the long May weekend.
 Composting – best way to get a garden to really produce – bring your own bags, boxes and gloves. From Monday, May 4 until Saturday, May 9, 2015, Halton Region will once again host its popular spring Compost Giveaway between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS) located at 5400 Regional Road 25 in Milton. This event provides residents with an opportunity to pick up free compost (maximum seven bags or equivalent) created from Halton’s leaf and yard waste composting program.
“Halton is committed to working with residents to make the Region a more sustainable place to live,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr.
“Residents continue to divert 60 per cent of single-family household waste by participating in Blue Box, GreenCart, reuse, household hazardous waste and yard waste programs – an incredible achievement.
The annual Spring Compost Giveaway is just one way that we can thank residents for helping to divert yard waste away from Halton’s landfill.”
During last year’s Compost Giveaway events, 4,000 residents visited the HWMS and picked up approximately 2,000 tonnes of compost created from the leaves, brush, tree and garden trimmings collected curbside and dropped off at the HWMS.
The event is also used to raise money and donate non-perishable food items for local food banks and residents are being encouraged once again to contribute. In 2014, Halton residents generously donated over 5,000 kilograms of food and $9,041 for local food banks.
Residents attending the event are reminded that they are responsible for shoveling and bagging their own compost and bringing their own shovels, bags or reusable containers (maximum seven per household).
For best growing results, compost should be mixed with topsoil or another gardening fill, with a ratio of 60 per cent topsoil and 40 percent compost.
By Pepper Parr
April 29, 2015
Burlington, ON
It is coming up – Mother’s Day is not that far away. That means another breakfast in bed with toast that is dripping with syrup that will get spilt all over the sheets. The kids will love it and you will, eventually be happy they did what they did.
As they get older though – what about something a little more adventurous, a little more exciting and different.
Moms are Superstars. Maybe the kids could be superstars – for just a couple of hours.
 The Mother’s Day gift that just keeps on giving. What can’t they do?
Robin Pauhl who has one of those sultry voices knows how to get a tune across – the rest of us – well a Karaoke sound track is about as far as we get.
Pauhl came up with a really good idea.
She and her husband run BTown Sound, a studio where some pretty big names in the music world have laid down there sound tracks.
Pauhl is inviting families – everyone except Mom to come in and lay down a sound track of a Mother’s day greeting.
It will be unique, it will be different – the kids will have a great time putting it together and Mom will love and treasure it and want to play it for all the other Mother’s.
 For those that get into it – they really get into it. The young lady on the right got a little distracted. All the songs dedicated to moms will be recorded at $40 per hour instead of our regular fee of $60. This is perfect for all ages and a special present from kids and husbands. You can record to karaoke tracks, guitar, piano, violin, trumpet or even a full band.
Music lessons are an amazing way for kids to learn and grow, and on that note we’d like to introduce the Studio’s newest enterprise: B Town Sound School of Music.
There are only so many hours in a given day and only so many days left until \Mother’s Day – so pull everyone together, make your plans – maybe even write your song and book your time.
Don’t forget to take the IPhone and record it all.
Great idea Robyn –
 A last minute sound check before the tracks leave the studio. Give them a call – we just might manage to convince a family to let us publish one of the recording sessions. BTown sound is located at 919 Fraser Drive, unit 10 Burlington, ON, Canada – 905 616 7500 or email at robyn@btownsound.ca
Wish I’d known about this when my Mom was still with us.
 By Pepper Parr
April 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Culture in Burlington took another step forward last week when a Culture Days information session took place at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
 Local artists were able to set up a booth in Civic Square at the 2014 Culture Days – most reported they did very well at raising their profiles.
It was a small crowd but several of the people who play major roles in how culture is marketed and delivered in this city were in the room
There is a non-profit organization that maintains a web site with everything anyone would want to know about cultural events in the province. Culture Days raises the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities.
To make it really work the Culture Days organization say again and again – ya gotta register – and the earlier the better.
Register an event is what makes an event work. It is not the simplest thing to do. McLeod wasn’t able top get the computer she was using to project the process onto a screen but the Gazette went on line and gave it a whirl – and it does work.
There are four basic criteria to Culture Days activities:
1. Your activity is free to the public
All activities registered as part of Culture Days are free; that is, they cannot be ticketed or occur in a space that charges admission. If you have already planned a mix of free and ticketed programs, register your free activities with Culture Days, and simply let the public know that you have other activities available as well. Fundraisers or sales can happen in proximity to your free event as long as it does not overshadow or restrict/prevent access to free activities. Note: asking for voluntary donations or placing a donation box near the entrance is not the same as requiring donations.
 Teresa Seaton, a stained glass artist has been a prime mover behind the annual Art in Action tour – and is now part of the newly formed Arts and Culture Collective. 2. The activity takes place during the Culture Days weekend: September 25, 26 and/or 27, 2015 Activities registered as part of Culture Days take place during this year’s Culture Days weekend, but you do not need to have three days of activities or activities that last all day. Even a single one-hour participatory event scheduled during the Culture Days weekend qualifies. If your organization already offers arts learning or outreach activities, simply schedule one of your regular events during Culture Days.
3. The activity is participatory
All Culture Days activities are participatory in nature. This means that your activity involves some kind of hands-on aspect or offer the public “backstage”/behind-the-scenes access to see how you do what you do. Invite the public to go beyond a typical audience experience and instead play a part in the creative process. For instance, if you are in a choir, rather than stage a performance, you might offer a workshop on how to sing or harmonize; if you own or operate a dance studio, you might offer a dance class; if you are involved in a community radio station, you could offer a guided tour of your studio. Engagement and participation is key, regardless of the activity. Don’t forget that fun counts too! People love to do what they normally don’t have a chance to experience. Refer to the activity types in the upcoming section for more participation ideas.
4. The activity is registered at culturedays.ca
When you register your activity online, you officially become part of Culture Days and benefit from the national promotional campaign that directs the public to the website to discover activities in their community. Registering online also gives you the chance to be included in the national Public Relations and Marketing campaign. You can also sign up to get regular e-newsletters with valuable advice and news about Culture Days.
Activity Types and Categories
There are five basic participatory activity types that can be registered as part of Culture Days, encompassing a wide range of artistic and cultural categories/disciplines.
1. hands-on activity: create, help make or try doing something yourself
2. behind-the-scenes: see inside artistic spaces and get a peek at creativity in action (indoors/outdoors)
3. excursion: tour of more than one location (eg. art gallery crawl)
4. discussion: artist talks, panels, round-tables and other cultural conversations where you can learn and discuss
5. collective creation: contribute to a collaborative act or work or art
The criteria and the regulations have that distinct stamp of a bureaucrat on them – but the process does work.
 The city’s cultural manager guided Burlington’s participation in the 2014 Culture Days – Angela Papariza talks to Trevor Copp who took a plea to city council for a better cultural environment in the city. On the last Friday of September (September 25, 26 and 27, 2015) many municipalities in Ontario celebrate Culture with a three day event. Burlington has done this for a number of years and will be doing so again this September.
Promotion is critical according the Catherine McLeod who runs the Ontario arm of Culture Days
Why Register an Activity? From highlighting your community, raising your profile and meeting new audiences, to networking and connecting with like-minded citizens, the reasons are multiple!
 Some of the most exciting quilting ever done was on display at the Art Gallery of Burlington last year. It will be interesting to see how the Art Gallery chooses to participate in 2105 Highlight the Cultural Vibrancy of Your Community
Every corner of this country is full of creativity, arts and culture. By participating in Culture Days, you help your fellow citizens become aware of the many unique opportunities available to them and encourage participation in arts and cultural activities in your own backyard. You draw attention to the different cultures and heritages that contribute to the development and vitality of your community.
You cast a spotlight on the cultural organizations and individual artists in their midst.
From children’s choirs, “stitch and bitch” groups and performing arts organizations to art colleges, museums and design firms, there are myriad perspectives, experiences, disciplines and techniques to share and discover. Working together, Culture Days participants showcase the vibrancy of local arts and culture, and encourage everyone to discover something new, something different, and to re-connect with their own creativity and community.
Arts and culture initiatives and industries not only make a vital contribution to our dynamic economy but, crucially to the social development of our neighbhourhoods, regions and country, promoting life-long learning, creative thinking, resiliency, appreciation of diversity, compassion and so much more.
 Spread the word. Arts and culture are important.
Make Worthwhile Connections, Meet New Supporters & Audiences
A significant amount of Culture Days activity organizers share space with other organizers during the weekend, often collaborating with someone or organizations with which they had not previously worked. Whether it is to create a hub of diverse activities in one area to attract visitors, or as an excuse to finally contact someone you’ve been meaning to connect with, Culture Days is the perfect opportunity to meet other creative people in your area, share resources, form new alliances that will last year-round, and meet new potential supporters and audience members.
Collaborations can also inspire unique cross-pollination among creative practices, connecting across sectors, cultures and generations.
Moreover, your participation in Culture Days can be the catalyst to create a legacy of strong connections between citizens, artists, cultural workers and their communities.
 During the creation of the Spiral Stella the public provided artifacts that were bronzed and made a part of the sculpture that stands outside the Performing Arts Centre. Here children watch in amazement at how the moulds are made. Develop Your Skills
Culture Days offers a fantastic opportunity to sharpen your promotional and organizational skills.
By taking advantage of the free tips and tools offered on the website, you can make the most of your Culture Days experience and apply everything that you have learned or improved upon year-round.
Whether it is leveraging social media for the first time as a promotional tool, organizing as a community, or connecting with people as passionate as you are, the vast and varied network of collaborators that makes up the Culture Days initiative is the perfect support system.
Learning works best when you have people to share it with, so don’t hesitate to get out there and put it all into practice, and be sure to not be humble about your successes!
Raise Your Profile
Culture Days offers helpful tips and tools to conduct your own promotion and media relations. It is a great opportunity to be featured in your local paper, association newsletters, or arts blogs, to name a few. Don’t hesitate to tell everyone about your unique activity.
In addition to being included in the national marketing and communications campaign, you might also take part in local or regional marketing initiatives. By pointing the general public to culturedays.ca where your activity is registered, people in your community and beyond your usual circles will learn about you and your activity.
Benefit from your participation by collecting contact information, business cards and comments from your visitors. This is a chance to build your email list and collect glowing testimonials for your next brochure or website update. Just by sharing your passion and talents, you can recruit new members, clients or audience members on the spot.
 Making culture the focus of conversation is what the Culture Days committee feels will raise the profile of the arts in a community. Unite To Make Arts and Culture The Topic of Conversation
Culture Days is the largest-ever collective public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and cultural community in this country. Last year, artists, cultural organizations, diverse groups and local organizers in nearly 800 communities registered some 7,500 events. The marketing and media campaign generated impressions in the hundreds of millions.
In the three years since its inception, one in three Canadians reported being aware of Culture Days – that’s more than 11 million people!
By participating, you promote and reveal the creativity of our citizens, creators, organizations, and communities through a vast Canada-wide marketing and public awareness campaign. Whether you create a new program or already have a relevant interactive activity planned, everything included in the Culture Days weekend pushes arts and culture into the limelight.
It all happens September 25, 26 and 27, 2015 – what artists do between now and then will determine just how successful the day is. Wish for sunshine!
By Staff
April 23, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington’s annual art auction is going to be quite a bit more than a one night stand this year.
The auction is the premier fundraising event that draws hundreds of art enthusiasts and collectors who take home outstanding pieces of original art in support of AGB’s exhibitions and enriching the education programs.
 On this the first anniversary of the Art Gallery of Burlington under its new brand, they have grown the event into an Art Auction AND Sale to celebrate the tremendously talented local, regional and national artists and their work.
This year’s art experience starts Sunday May 31 through auction night June 6, 2015:
• Week-long Art Activities – Public Opening Preview, Art talks, Art Workshops, Art Collecting Seminars and daily auction previews.
• 200 for $200 Art Sale – May 31 – June 6, 2015. Featuring original, small artworks in various mediums available for purchase all week, maximum size in this category is 12″ x 12″.
• Live & Silent Auction – June 6, 2015
ABOUT AUCTION NIGHT – La Belle Époque: 1889- 1914
When you arrive at AGB June 6th, you will be transported to Paris at a time when artists from all over the world were drawn there to study and create; challenging traditional methods and presenting their work on the world’s stage. The Art Gallery of Burlington will be transformed into a Parisian marketplace as guests are immersed in the sights and sounds of late 19th century Paris for a celebration of artists and their work.
At 6:30pm the night begins with a catered cocktail reception while you preview the fabulous artwork on offer. The live auction starts at 8pm and the silent auction closes at 10pm as guests are treated to a Jazz Trio with musicians from Symphony on the Bay and enjoy Parisian style desserts and digestives.
Art Auction Preview: Opens Sunday, May 31, 2-5pm. Previews for the live and silent auction and the Art SALE are open all week during AGB hours of operation.
TICKETS: Art Auction tickets on sale now: Online, in person or by phone.
$60 for AGB members, $80 for non-members.
 By Staff
April 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Who are these people?
There are 15 of them, nominated by their peers for one of six Burlington’s BEST awards which will be announced at a city run gala May 14, 2015
The city has provided a short biography of each and the Gazette has added a few words on those we have met in our travels
 Angelo Bentivegna making biscotti Angelo Bentivegna initiated Beauty and the Bistro, a grassroots campaign to raise funds for a digital mammography machine with biopsy attachment for Joseph Brant Hospital – $450,000 was raised. Angelo has been a member for nine years on the steering committee for the “Gift of Giving Back” food drive. His newest project is coordinating the “Cooking for Friends” soup program at the Burlington Seniors Centre.
 Ron Foxcroft with the whistle that changed sports around the world. Ron Foxcroft is very well known to everyone in the community and a tireless supporter of everything Burlington, but nothing tops how he responded to the flood relief challenge on behalf of all of the affected citizens of Burlington. The short time given to this initiative to be successful and the focus required by Ron in leading the team was inspirational.
Maibritt Bergman A leader of the North BurLINKton Community Dinner: shops and picks up food donations, sets menu, leads volunteers for gym set-up, food prep, servers, clean-up. Establishes a very encouraging relationship among all the volunteers. Also, Regional Coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse yearly Shoebox campaign.
Helen Deadder cooks healthy home-cooked meals for seniors in the North end of Burlington. Helen loves to cook for those in her community and takes a detailed approach to the North Burlinkton 55+ Luncheon. She plans the meals, acquires the ingredients and slow cooks them to perfection.
Esperanza Peacock is a dynamic Burlington citizen who volunteers her time to many different community efforts around the city. She is a core team member for North BurLINKton’s Dinner Night Out, where she gives love and a listening ear to anyone who is in need. She runs a support group for newcomers to Canada, and is very passionate for new comers to feel apart of the community.
Bonnie Purkis has been very active on a number of fronts regarding services specific to seniors: she is an active volunteer at the Burlington Seniors Centre, has been a member of the Burlington Seniors Advisory Committee and has also started a very successful initiative at her place of residence (an apartment complex) to engage seniors in various social activities.
Kevin Han is a committed volunteer with the Chillzone after-school program which is a free after-school program focused in latchkey children in marginalized families. Kevin shows dedication to investing in the children through homework help and problem solving help and has become a reliable friend and role-model to the children.
Caitlyn Kay is involved at Notre Dame as a Prefect where she is a mentor and role model to the younger students. She volunteers at the school’s Breakfast Corner, providing nutritious snacks to students who arrive to school hungry.
Connor Fraser has volunteered in many different capacities over his four years in high school all related to giving of his time and assisting various organizations in our community – Burlington Green, Compassion Society, Rotary Club, to name a few. He maintains high academic standing and is Co-President of the Student Council, reads the daily announcements and is a member of our Link Crew (mentors for Grade 9 students)
John Kemp participated at the school performance\play called ‘Footloose’ as an actor, singer and narrator. He worked very hard and put all his energy and effort to make the play a success. He also plays the saxophone and speaks French fluently. John has a kind and helpful nature and has touched many lives with simple everyday actions.
Tomy Bewick has been involved in the Burlington Slam Project for nearly seven years where he has brought his love of spoken word and developed the achievements of each poet who has come through the Slam. Tomy has contributed his time, energy and focus on youth initiatives and building the art community in Burlington.
 Chris Giroux – the film side of the team planning on bringing a Film Festival to the city. Chris Giroux is the Co-Founder of the Tottering Biped Film Festival which recently had its second year. Chris works tirelessly to promote the art of filmmaking in Burlington and showcases our local talent base alongside an incredible line-up of international short films.
Leslie Gray runs KooGle Theatre Company and has created, produced, costume designed, performed, directed and choreographed since 2008 when KooGle performed their first production at the Central Park Bandshell. Leslie is dedicated to her craft and continues to provide professional theatre performances to Burlington, teaches musical theatre to ages 5-17 year olds and is always willing to collaborate with local artists.
Mary Jane Pilling has been a volunteer at Museums of Burlington since the program began in 1975. Through her dedication to the Museums of Burlington, she has had the opportunity to meet, educate, inform and preserve Burlington’s history for museum guests. Her care and recording of artifact items in the collection will touch the lives of Burlington’s future citizens.
Alan Harrington is president of the Burlington Historical Society and on the board of the Friends of Freeman Station. Alan created a Twitter account for Freeman Station and has assisted with fundraising, supplying Freeman t-shirts, Station-ery and other items. Alan conducted walking tours at Doors Open Burlington in September 2014 and will conduct the first Jane’s Walk in Burlington on May 2.
The late Dave Morris was a dedicated volunteer who worked tirelessly to help promote and conserve Burlington’s heritage. He was a member of Heritage Burlington from 2002 to 2010 and the president of the Burlington Historical Society from 2009 to 2010. Dave’s work in the community supported the efforts in the creation of Heritage Month and Doors Open. Dave built and maintained the BHS website and kept it up to date. One of his last projects was to digitize the oral histories and post them on the site. He was a member of the SOS – Save Our Station team that helped keep the Freeman Station from being demolished.
 Monte Dennis in the stripped shirt Monte Dennis is the current chair of the BurlingtonGreen Transportation Committee. He created a detailed scale model of an intersection, known as the Integrated Transit Intersection that accommodates all forms of transportation. He is active in promoting the Mount Nemo Heritage Study and the formation of the Ontario Soil Regulation Task Force.
 Susan Fraser getting her paddle signed by Olympian Mark Oldershaw. He willingly signed the paddle which will probably never go into the water again. Susan Fraser is BurlingtonGreen’s longest serving volunteer (since 2007). She has assisted with planning the city-wide Community Clean Up Green Up events, dedicated hundreds of hours to help the team deliver the popular and impactful Youth Eco-Summit and has assisted with elevating the voice of the environment on a number of issues in Burlington such as tree protection and wildlife habitat protection at LaSalle Park.
IronDames are a remarkable group of 15 dedicated and amazing women who take on physical challenges while raising crucial funding to support Burlington residents who are coping with a cancer diagnosis. They have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Wellspring’s Cancer Exercise Program which allows free access to physiotherapy and exercise services for those living with cancer.
Christine Karczmarczyk has made a significant commitment to volunteer as Volunteer Services Coordinator for the AGB. She worked tirelessly and single handedly for at least 24 hrs per week to keep the AGB program up and running from June 2014 – December 2014. She contributed over 500 volunteer hours in 2014 overseeing both the Student and Adult Volunteer program at the AGB (Approximately 90 active volunteers). She led and organized the whole ‘Volunteer Force’ for the Gallery’s community fundraiser, Soup Bowl held over four days in November 2014
Mary Nichol This nomination is made for the outstanding successes over more than three decades of recognizing sport accomplishments, of bringing sport groups together and in advancing the opportunities for sport in Burlington. Mary exemplifies this criteria as she “makes sport grow stronger” through her leadership as a Board of Director of the Burlington Gymnastics Club (BGC) and the President/Past President of the Burlington Sport Alliance (BSA), both volunteer positions, having served since 1979 and for BSA board since it started in 2001.
Bob Vandenberg has helped the the BTTB raise thousands of dollars to put towards their five year rings. He has assisted the Magic Moment Concert, the Burlington Beerfest and the Burlington Bandits in providing food items for their attendees. Bob started as a volunteer with the Band about 10 years ago. He is currently still an active volunteer with them, as well as the Bandits and Beerfest.
Unfortunately we do not have pictures of all the nominees.
By Staff
April 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Last day to sign up.
Last year more than 12,000 people took part in the annual BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association Clean Up Green Up Day
The events starts at 9 am to noon on Saturday, April 25th, 2015. School and Business Clean-Ups are taking place during Earth Week (this week) from April 20th to 24th.
 As the city’s largest volunteer participation action event, Community Clean Up Green Up Day is an important (and fun) opportunity for citizens, community groups, schools, and businesses to come together, make a difference for our environment and take pride in our city by cleaning it up.
Once you’ve done your share – head back to city hall for a bite to eat and join in the celebration – the place is usually packed.
Registration closes on Friday, April 24th.
Register here;
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