 By Staff
August 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
What do the aboriginal people have to teach us? Is there something in their teachings that can be applied to the world we live in today?\
The Conservation Halton Crawford Lake Conservation Area will be holding a series of workshops led by Anishinaabe artist, musician, activist and educator, Eddy Robinson.
 Inside the Deer Clan Longhouse – this is not the kind of dwelling the aboriginal tribes lived in. The event will take place in the Deer Clan Longhouse, a stunning modern space located within a reconstructed 15th century Iroquoian Village.
The three workshops are on: how traditional ways can be practiced in an urban world; the importance of the teachings of the drum and song in building strength and community for Anishinaabe people.
Choose from three workshop themes; Anishinaabe Drum Teachings, Anishinaabe Songs, or Urban Indigenous Ways of Knowing, or join us for all three.
These workshops offer the opportunity spend an evening learning about our collective history while joining in on music and traditions that enrich the soul.
“Through stories and song, Eddy works towards a day when the power of knowledge, inclusiveness and sharing of First Nations cultures helps our nation and all its’ people become connected and stronger.”
~ Wab Kinew (Canadian hip hop musician, broadcaster, and university administrator)
Saturday, August 22
• Anishinaabe Drum Teachings, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Urban Indigenous Ways of Knowing, 7 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, August 29
• Anishinaabe Songs, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Urban Indigenous Ways of Knowing, 7 to 9 p.m.
Workshops tickets are $25 per person (+HST). For more information or to register visit www.conservationhalton.ca/events.
Eddy Robinson is Anishinabe (Ojibway/Cree) and a member of the Crane Clan, a leadership clan for the Anishinabek. Born and raised in Toronto, he is a First Nation citizen of the Missanabie Cree First Nation. It was in the city that he found his cultural identity and got in touch with his spirituality through spending time with Traditional Healers and Elders visiting Toronto.
Over the past 20 years, Eddy has worked in Indigenous communities throughout Ontario, striving to improve the quality of life for his people. Eddy has evolved into a noted Anishinaabe artist, musician, activist and educator, and is a member of the National Speakers Bureau.
About Crawford Lake Conservation Area
Crawford Lake is located at the corner of Guelph Line and Conservation Road (formerly Steeles Avenue) 15 km north of the QEW, and 5 km south of the 401 in Milton. The pristine waters of Crawford Lake have drawn people to its shores for hundreds of years. The rare lake, with surrounding boardwalk, is nestled in lush forests atop the stunning Niagara Escarpment where visitors can watch soaring turkey vultures glide through the Nassagaweya Canyon.
 Conservation Halton is the community based environmental agency that protects, restores and manages the natural resources in its watershed. The organization has staff that includes ecologists, land use planners, engineers, foresters and educators, along with a network of volunteers, who are guided by a Board of Directors comprised of municipally elected and appointed citizens. Conservation Halton is recognized for its stewardship of creeks, forests and Niagara Escarpment lands through science based programs and services. You can step back in time and explore the 15th century Iroquoian Village that has been reconstructed on its original site at Crawford Lake. The spirits still sing in the longhouses where tools, animal hides and the smell of smoke let you experience the rich history of Ontario’s First Peoples.
 Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street,
Burlington, ON
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES August 21 to 27 , 2015
VACATION 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:00 3:00 5:35 7:40 9:40
SOUTHPAW 14A
Fri to Thur 1:00 3:15 5:00 7:20 9:40
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Thur 11:15 1:15 3:15 5:15 7:20
IRRATIONAL MAN 14A
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:30 5:35
MAGIC MIKE XXL 14A
Fri to Thur 9:40
PAPER TOWNS PG
Fri to Thur 11:15 1:15 3:20 7:40
SPY 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:30 9:35
TERMINATOR GENISYS 14A
Fri to Thur 11:15 7:15 9:30
AMY 14A
Fri to Thur 3:15 5:20 9:20
 By Pepper Parr
August 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part one of a two part feature on the development potential for the city
Each city council, at the beginning of its term, meets for a number of weeks and hammers out a Strategic Plan.
That Plan sets out what the city council wants to get done during the four years they are going to serve the citizens.
There is very little in previous Strategic Plans worth remembering, except for the plan approved in 2011. For the most part they were a collection of pictures and motherhood statements.
I had the opportunity to look at six or seven previous Strategic Plans – something I doubt the majority of the current Council bothered to do. Councillors Taylor and Dennison were at the table when those documents were approved.
The Strategic Plan approved by the previous council, which was made up of the same people we have in place now, was a very impressive departure from anything done before.
Both Council and staff worked very hard – sometimes at cross purposes – to produce a document that served the city well. There were some very moving occasions when we got to hear how Councillors felt about the city they were leading.
In the closing session Councillor Jack Dennison spoke very emotionally about the need to ensure that the downtown core was given the attention and the resources needed to grow and become a large part of the focus for Burlington.
We also got to see some of the character traits from some of the Council members that were disturbing then and disruptive now.
The city was fortunate to have an excellent facilitator who not only led the group but educated several of them on what works and the way Strategic Plan development gets done.
Perhaps hoping to build on what was achieved the last time around Council set out to craft the Strategic Plan for this term of office. It is not going very well.
 It may well be 2016 before the Strategic Plan is approved. will it be as good as what this Council did in 2011? The city hired KPMG to direct them in the creation of the Strategic Plan for the current term but did not manage to get the same facilitator.
There is now a team in place that is going to do tonnes of research and bring back a large handful of options. Unfortunately,
 Georgina Black did a superb job of getting a new city council through the creation of a significantly different Strategic Plan. Councillor John Taylor loved every minute of it. Burlington wasn’t able to get Georgina Black back – she was the facilitator who did such fine work with council in 2011. Much of the work that KPMG is going to do was already being done by Frank McKeown, the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation. McKeon wasn’t able to attend the meeting at which all the research work KPMG is going to do was discussed.
McKeown explains that he wasn’t told of the meeting until two days before it took place and that he was already committed to be elsewhere.
McKeown adds that he had not seen the agenda. When it was brought to his attention – I think we heard him gulp. McKeown will resolve that problem and will have the needed discussions with KPMG.
The creation of the 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan is not off to a very good start. Council will not meet on this matter until the second half of October. They will have been in office for a year by that time
There are going to be some very sticky Governance issues that do not look as if a reasonable resolution is going to be found. Despite the comments made regularly by Mayor Goldring – his is a very fractious council that is deeply divided on some critical issues.
The amount of time, attention and financial resources to be given to community based initiatives will be limited by budget constraints due in no small measure by the cost of the 2014 flood.
Some exceptional work has been done within the cultural sphere – the city now has two new people running major cultural institutions. Robert Steven is running the Art Gallery of Burlington and Susan Haines will take over the running of the Performing Arts Centre in September. Hopefully the Centre Board has retained retiring Executive Director Brian McCurdy to serve as a consultant for three to six months to oversee the transition.
The Performing Arts Centre had gotten itself to the point where it was finally stable financially and the program being offered was working. Community groups were now a real part of the program offerings. There is every reason to believe that Haines can continue the work McCurdy did and eventually grow her board to the point where she can put her own stamp on the place.
 The concept might have merit but there is no way this kind of an installation is going to work on a single lane road that is the main entrance to the hospital once the redevelopment has been done. Lakeshore Road has to be widened for the hospital traffic. The Museums have their work cut out for them but it doesn’t look as if they are going to draw on the city for financial support. There is however, some very hard thinking to be done on just what happens to the Joseph Brant Museum. The plans on the drawing board are just not going to work – someone needs to have the courage within the Museum Board to look at the facts and the changes that are going to take place on Lakeshore Road when the hospital re-development is done.
Ireland House on the other hand is a gem; it offers some exceptionally good programming.
Development: what does the city want and where does it want any development to take place – and what kind of development as well.
 Waterdown Road is being widened – a precursor to some significant development. The Aldershot GO station was named a transportation/development hub – the developers may get their shovels in the ground and have walls up before the city arrives at some decisions. There is all kinds of development taking place in Aldershot – there is some dissension amongst the more active citizens and the council member does need to learn to listen a little better. Understanding who he represents would be a useful contribution Rick Craven could make to the quality of civic government in this city.
Councillor Meed Ward continues with her, unique for Burlington, approach to involving the people she represents.
There are two areas of development that can re-shape the kind of downtown core Burlington is going to have – both are in her ward.
Before going into any detail on those two opportunities – the culture at city hall needs a closer look.
There are departments that work exceptionally well – finance is perhaps the best run shop at city hall. The team if focused and well led. They were given the task of revamping the way budgets were prepared and presented to the public and told to make personal accountability part of the way city hall does business.
 Scott Stewart and former city manager Jeff Fielding – they were quite a tag team for as long as it lasted. Fielding always let you know what was in the works – the new city manager has yet to reveal a management style. Then city manager Jeff Fielding challenged the finance department to bring about the change – then he departed for greener pastures and became the city manager in Calgary to the work that gets done.
The finance department did deliver; unfortunately there isn’t a champion on city council to ensure that the work done is continued and that staff get the direction they need.
A significant cultural change is taking place within the planning department; the hiring process for the new city planner is at the short short list. That decision may have already been made.
This is a critical choice – the department is in the middle of completing a much delayed Official Plan Review; we may not see that document until the end of the year.
 A rapt audience listened to an overview of the 2014 budget. What they have yet to have explained to them is the desperate situation the city will be in ten years from now if something isn’t done in the next few years to figure out how we are going to pay for the maintenance of the roads we have. Add in the cost of the 2014 flood and the city has a whopper of a budget to explain. Public engagement is a sorry mess – few remember the recommendations that came out of the Shape Burlington report that every member of this council heartily endorsed and then forgot about. There are reports of an initiative the city will announce in the fall that is neighbourhood oriented – it will be interesting to see the details.
The current city manager doesn’t seem to have all that much appetite for real public engagement, the communications department is asking the public what they think about City Talk, a magazine format distributed to every household, that does more for the members of city council than anyone else.
Council members love the thing; the communications department spend endless hours making revisions and the public for the most part doesn’t know it exists. There is a savings opportunity there.
Now to the development potential in ward 2.
Part two of a two part feature.
 By Staff
August 17, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
An MM Robinson grade 12 student has just completed a three week training program and taken part in a very prestigious rifle contest in Bisley, England.
Aaron Kurd, proudly represented Burlington and his army cadet corps as a part of the Royal Canadian Army Cadet National Rifle Team (RCAC NRT) competing in the Imperial Meeting at Bisley, England. This is the largest shooting festival in the nation, held annually since 1868, that attracts top marksman from all across the globe.
“The training and the potential opportunity to parachute is the reason I joined Army Cadets.” He said, “But shooting turned out to be what I really wanted to do.”
 Aaron Kurd accepting the Gold Highest Possible Score Cross presented by Major Bezanson, Officer Commanding National Rifle Team. As part of the Royal Canadian Army Cadet National Rifle Team, Aaron’s score in this competition counted towards the Highest Possible Score award, an award only given to those who earned perfect scores. Over the past 8 weeks, he scored 10 Highest Possible Score, earning the Gold Highest Possible Score Cross presented by Major Bezanson, Officer Commanding National Rifle Team.
“Being able to represent Canada, and tour around places like Vimy Ridge in France is just exactly why I joined cadets.”
Kurd, a Grade 12 student at M.M. Robinson High School, spent 3 weeks at Bisley, England competing in the Imperial Meeting hosted by the National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom. Upon his return to Ottawa, he also competed in the Ontario Rifle Association (ORA) matches and the National Cadet Full-bore Championship (NCFC).
The cadet program includes international exchanges to England, Wales, and Scotland is a free program designed to develop strong citizenship and leadership qualities for youth between the ages of 12-18. The program also aims to promote physical fitness, and stimulate interest in the activities of the Canadian Armed Forces.
 By Pepper Parr
August 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a wonderfully hot day but if you were at the edge of the water the breeze made it all bearable – certainly so for the hundreds of kids and their parents who had taken over Spencer Smith Park.
If you were walking along Lakeshore Road between say between John Street and the Art Gallery of Burlington shortly after noon you would have come across a procession of people carrying what might have looked like small tree branches painted vivid colours.
They were being led by a young man playing a saxophone – if you thought it was some kind of a procession – you were right – but a funeral procession?
 The funeral mound of Henrietta Martin. Bit of a stretch but if you were in on the event from the beginning when it started at John Street you would have known that it was an “installation art” funeral procession for “The Beloved Departed”
There were no hymns; there was music. This was a very “white” event.
 The parasols covering the funeral mound of Henrietta Markham were later used by those in the procession to the Art Gallery of Burlington. Words were spoken. A few lines from the 17th century poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick were read:
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
Then the procession along Lakeshore Road.
It was whimsical, it was a Kyle Tonkens piece of interactive installation art done in the memory of Henrietta Markham, who in a letter said to come from the grave, said:
In the eyes of those whose lives you’ve touched,
You are a heavenly gift.
Beautiful and awe inspiring.
 By Staff
August 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
We are having our share of rain – and it is interrupting what people can do in the parks
The following Sport fields are closed on Friday August 14, 2015:
Ireland D1 & D2
Millcroft D1 & D2
Nelson D1
Sherwood Forest D1, D2, D3, D4
 Sunflower field on the North Service Road east of Appleby Line Sunflower field on the North Service Road east of Appleby Line
Sunflower field on the North Service Road east of Appleby Line
By Pepper Parr
August 14th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
When there is a media release from Margaret Lindsay Holton we read it with both interest and anticipation – for we seldom know where she is going to come from or go to next.
Holton is a writer, an artist, a photographer and in her own way a political activist – add to each of these a passion that is usually very focused. With Holton you know you are going to have a robust conversation.
 Margaret Lindsay Holton Photo by Jeff Tessier
I recall the piece she wrote for the Gazette on a gas station attendant who put more gas than she wished to purchase in her vehicle; she wanted him to take out the portion she did not intend to purchase.
Holton’s next initiative is a film based on a published short story Holton wrote.
The Frozen Goose, first published in the critically acclaimed cross-country World War One anthology, ‘Engraved: Canadian Stories of World War One‘ , the story follows a back-woods Canadian family as they cope in the aftermath of The Great War …Their lives have been shattered. There has been Great Loss. And then – a horrific incident occurs that tests the very last shreds of their Survival Capabilities …
Holton will direct; cinematography will be handled by local photographer Mark Zelinski. The intention is to shoot in the first week of February, 2016.
The cast includes two veterans of the local stage; Leslie Gray, co-founder of Koogle Theatre Inc, and Rod McTaggart – known for his recent performances at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre and Theatre Aquarius.
Newcomers to the set include Evan Cook and the brilliant young starlet, Hannah Ralph – of Hamilton.
 Holton intends to contribute a percentage of the net revenues to support The Red Cross of Canada. “Without The Red Cross” said Holton,” life would be very bleak for many throughout the world.”
However, before the cameras can roll funds have to be raised. Holton is launching an IndieGoGo campaign which is an online approach to raising funds.
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES August 14 to 20 , 2015
Films shown in red are revisions to the original schedule.
IRRATIONAL MAN 14A
Fri to Thur 11:40 1:30 3:30 5:30 7:40 9:30
PAPER TOWNS PG
Fri to Thur 1:00 3:10 5:15 7:20 9:20
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:05 3:00 5:20 7:20
MAGIC MIKE XXL 14A
Fri to Thur 11:15 7:40 9:45
TERMINATOR GENISYS 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 3:00 5:00 7:20 9:35
SPY 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:20 9:20
AMY 14A
Fri to Thur 1:20 5:20 9:30
I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS PG
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:15 3:40
 By Pepper Parr
August 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Now that we know a little about the three young girls in Burlington who will be taking part in the CNE Rising Star Talent contest – we can tell you something about what they are facing at this competition.
There are several hurdles these young girls have to go through to make it to the top.
 Olivia Koren on the left and Poppy Munro on the right loosen up as they get ready to take part in the CNE Rising Star event at the end of the month. They got into the competition by sending in an application with a video – judges looked at everything and invited specific people to attend.
There are 48 contestant in the Junior class and 72 in the Youth class.
The Rising Star contest is for singers and dancers. Michael Bubble, the crooner, was a winner in the singing competition many years ago
All the girls from Burlington are in the Junior class; thy are all dancers.
All the action is on the International stage at the Enercare Centre on the CNE grounds. No cost to get in but you do have to pay to get into the CNE.
 Lauren Salt’s pink cast will be gone by the time she is ready to take her place on the stage at the CNE Rising Star Talent event at the end of the month All the shows take place at 6:30 pm
Preliminary judging takes place on August 21st to the 24th
Semi finals are on August 31st and September 1st
Finals for the Junior level are on September 5th.
The contestants will be judged on their natural ability – 20%
They will be judged on the staging and showmanship of their performance; 20%
The audience will tell what they liked – 20% of their mark comes from the audience
The judges give 40% based on the quality of the performance.
The Gazette will follow their progress and let you know how they do.
By Pepper Parr
August 12th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Being a kid can be fun, if you have the friends you want and really interesting things to do.
For hundreds of young girls in Burlington that fun and those friends are in the dance classes they take.
The city seems to have dozens of dance schools that have these girls burning off energy and keeping very fit.
For some the classes are recreational and for others there is a long term goal and for other it is quite competitive which leads to some travel and for three Burlington girls from two different dance schools the competition takes them to the Canadian National Exhibition’s Talent event that has taken place for the last 29 years.
 Poppy Munro will dance with her friend Olivia at the CNE Talent contest  Olivia Koren will be a contestant at the CNE Talent event Poppy and Olivia practice at Creative Dance and Lauren works out at The Dance Station where Mindy Mosey and her sister Melissa run the program at a school that has been in operation for ten years.
Lauren, a grade 7 student at St. Christopher Elementary School spends about 15 hour a week at The Dance Station where the core of just about every program is ballet. Mandy, who once danced professionally sees ballet as the core for all dance.
Olivia Koren and Poppy Munro, who will be doing a Hip Hop piece at the CNE attend different schools; one is at Tuck and the other at Central.
They are at that point in life where they believe they will be in dance for the rest of their lives.
 Lauren Salt on the parallel bar with her instructor Mandy Mosey Both girls seem remarkably at ease over the upcoming competition – something for which they have been putting in months of practice.
Tomorrow we will tell you more about the actual competition they will be taking part in.
 April 12, 2015
By Justin Lethbridge
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite giving London everything they could handle, the Bandits were unable to complete the comeback and were eliminated from the playoffs after a 5-3 loss. After two straight wins and a rain delay, Burlington and London met at Labatt Park for game seven on Tuesday night where the Majors punched their ticket to the semifinals.
 Coach Kyle grew the team to the point where they put up a solid fight against a team they were not able to beat all season – pushed them to a seven game playoff series. Burlington put up a good fight thanks to another RBI by leageue leader CF Shaun Cooper and runs by SS Keith Kandel, DH Adam Odd and C Kevin Hussey. Bandits pitchers Dylan Perego, Blake Weston and Brandon Catena allowed a combined nine hits and five runs while earning two strikeouts through eight innings.
London only needed eight at bats to come away with the victory thanks to another strong performance from pitcher Luis Pina who had six strikeouts while only allowing six hits and three runs through 7.2 innings of work.
Offensively CF Chris McQueen led the way with two runs and one RBI.
 Bandits owner Scott Richardson saw his team make the London Majors work for the quarter finals win. The Bandits didn’t make the finals last year – progress. Despite entering the playoffs 0-5 against London, Burlington came within a win from semifinals.
Burlington’s success came off of CF Shaun Cooper’s league leading four home runs and 12 RBI’s.
Unfortunately for the Bandits, London’s pitching was just too good with Luis Pina and Oscar Perez combined for 33 SO’s.
The Bandits proved to be a plucky team when they got into the playoff rounds – they battled back again and again; pretty good for a team that wasn’t in the playoffs at all last year.
London plays the Kitchener Panthers in the semifinals starting Thursday in Kitchener.
The other semifinal got started with the Barrie Baycats etching out a 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES August 14 to 20 , 2015
IRRATIONAL MAN 14A
Fri to Thur 11:15 3:30 5:30 7:40 9:30
PAPER TOWNS PG
Fri to Thur 1:00 3:10 5:15 7:20 9:20
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:05 3:00 5:20 7:20
MAGIC MIKE XXL 14A
Fri to Thur 11:15 7:40 9:45
TERMINATOR GENISYS 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 3:00 5:00 7:20 9:35
SPY 14A
Fri to Thur 11:00 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:20 9:20
AMY 14A
Fri to Thur 1:10 1:20 5:20 9:30
I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS PG
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:15 3:40
By Staff
August 11, 2015
BURLINGTON,
 The seventh game in the first round best out of seven games series between the Burlington Bandits and the London Majors was cancelled due to weather.
The game will be played Tuesday in London, Ontario.
By Staff
August 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
We called them the good old days – when life was simpler, everything was cheaper and it seem like a “better time” or so we tell ourselves.
One of things that was different a couple of decades ago was that we were more self-sufficient – because we had to be.
You made your own fun – you used your imagination because the stuff kids play with today wasn’t in the stores several decades ago.
The Halton Conservation organization, besides overseeing the watersheds and regulating many of the environmental rules they also run a number of educational programs; they work with schools getting into classrooms and passing along some of the environment fundamentals.
From time to time they put on a program that is just plain fun. “Hey kids”, they ask “have you ever wondered what your parents or your grand-parents did for play when they were your age? They probably spent a lot of time outdoors. They probably went exploring, or built a fort, or skipped stones on a lake, or climbed a tree.”
 Crawford Lake – an environmental gem with an incredible story. A program taking place at both the Mountsberg and Crawford Lake Conservation Areas on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will give kids time for fun activities that are not only lots of fun but will get them outside and active, at Amazing Things To Do Before You’re 12 event.
Regular park admission applies and Halton Parks members can show their pass for admission.
 Orienteering – a skill that every young person should know something about – they learn to “box a compass”. Conservation Halton staff will help you to learn how to use a compass, make pottery, hold a snake, start a fire without matches or to skip a stone on the lake, and much more. It will be a great day full of family fun, and who knows, maybe you can prove you are the greatest stone skipper of all time!
All the activities engage children and their families with nature in a way that is sure to create long term family memories.
 Will your children ever get a chance to skip a stone over water? The program came out of the 2005 book by author Richard Louv who introduced us all to the dilemma of the disconnect between children and nature in his ground-breaking book “Last Child in the Woods”. He coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder which aptly describes the poor physical and emotional health of children and adults due to the lack of direct exposure to the outdoors.
Take your kids out for the day – they will sleep soundly when they get home.
About Mountsberg Conservation Area
Mountsberg Conservation Area is located on Milburough Line, five km west of Campbellville, ON, between Highway 6 South and the Guelph Line. This 472 hectare park includes extensive wetlands, forests, fields, and a reservoir. Mountsberg hosts many family friendly events which are sure to become family traditions for many in the community. It is also well known for the Mountsberg Raptor Centre, which is home to 15 different species of native birds of prey. Many of the Raptor Centre’s resident birds of prey have permanent injuries that have left them incapable of surviving on their own in the wild.
By Staff
August 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Leslie Gray over at KooGle Theatre Company is still looking for strong jazz style dancers in their 20’s, 30’s for the Culture Days event on Sept 27 at 1pm.
 Rehearsals begin Sunday August 23; they want to get the team in place as soon as possible.
These are usually fun events – email Leslie at info@koogletheatre.com
By Pepper Parr
August 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Performing Arts Centre has a new executive director.
Suzanne Haines will assume her new role effective September 1st replacing Brian McCurdy who has held the position since August 2013.
 The Executive Director is charged with developing an effective economic operating model for the performing arts centre, balancing between community-based arts groups, the Centre’s presenting series of programs and other community and corporate usage.
Haines will be the third person to hold down the job since the Performing Arts Centre opened in the fall of 2011.
“We received great interest in this position from across the country and beyond, and feel we have chosen an individual whose experience and qualifications are best suited to lead us into our 5th Season and beyond,” said Theatre Board chair Ilene Elkaim.
Haines was previously employed as General Manager of the Gateway Theatre, a $2.4 million operation in Richmond, B.C. As the only professional performing arts organization in that community, which has a large east Asian population, Gateway produced and presented theatre, acts as a cultural venue for the community through rentals and year-round youth educational and outreach programming.
As CEO of the organization, Suzanne was the community builder, and the face of the organization to the community. She is credited as being successful in converting the Gateway Theatre into a highly engaged community centre.
 Brenda Heatherington had a great pedigree on the content side – many felt she didn’t get the support she needed on the finance and administration side.  McCurdy ran a tight ship took moderate risks that paid off. He is going to be missed – not only because he was a decent guy but because he had the chops to do the job right. “This is an important leadership role and while we are disappointed to see Brian leave us, we are grateful for his contribution and dedication. We wish him all the best and hope he will return to visit soon, as a patron and to witness first-hand the impact he has had here in Burlington and on this wonderful facility”, said Theatre Board chair Ilene Elkaim.
“Brian provided great leadership and direction and guided us forward with a strategic focus for the next three years”.
 The opening night for the Performing Arts Centre was a glamorous affair – the place has yet to live up to its original billing. Indeed, McCurdy steadied the ship and brought some financial discipline to an operation that was bleeding more red ink than city council could stomach.
Haines ran the Gateway for 12 years. She announced in April that she would be leaving the theatre. Brian McCurdy announced his plans to retire the second half of May.
The Gateway switchboard said they did not think they should be saying anything about Ms Haines other than that she left in April.
The Gateway has two theatres: a 540 seat Main Stage and a 100 seat Studio B. They also offered year-round acting, musical theatre, and technical training classes for youth aged 6 – 18; adults classes were also available.
The current Performing Arts Board is working from a Strategic Plan that McCurdy’s thumb prints are all over – that’s the good news. If the board can stay on that course and the marketing team continues to do the job they’ve done in the past – we could be OK – I think
By Justin Lethbridge
August 9th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A tremendous effort by Pitcher Steven Dressler, earned the Bandits a 9-4 win to even their series against the London Majors and force a game seven. Dressler pitched 7.2 innings allowing seven hits and four runs, while earning five strikeouts.
After a scoreless first inning, Burlington exploded for six runs in the 2nd led by a three run blast from Centerfielder Shaun Cooper.
 Pitcher Steven Dressler, earned the Bandits a 9-4 win After a back-and-forth 5th inning, Cooper would add two run shot for his fifth run of the series. Cooper leads the IBL with 11 RBI so far in the playoffs.
While London would score two runs in the eighth, Burlington had the game in hand.
Brandon Catena came in for the save and through 1.1 innings allowed no hits while earning one strikeout. Despite being down 3-1 to the higher seeded Majors, the Bandits have rattled off two straight wins in convincing fashion to force a seventh game in London.
Since losing the first game of the series, Burlington has dominated the Majors in London, outscoring them 15-3 in the last two games at Labatt Park.
 Burlington is one strong performance away from a birth in the semifinals. The final game of the series goes at 7:35pm Monday night, in London.
The Bandits were not able to win a single game against London during the regular season – now they are one win away from taking the quarter finals.
The winner of the Burlington – London series series will play the 2nd seeded Kitchener Panthers in the semifinals.
The other semifinal series will be the Barrie Baycats vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs.
By Justin Lethbridge
August 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A tight defensive game resulted in the Burlington Bandits shutting out the London Majors 3-0 to force a game six in Burlington.
 The bats were big enough on Friday night to keep the team alive in what was a very tight defensive game. It was a much needed win for Burlington, not only to stay alive in the best-of-seven series, but to shutout a Majors team that has scored well against the Bandits so far this series.
It was the Bandits first win this season against London pitcher Oscar Perez who earned 10 strikeouts while allowing nine hits and three runs through nine innings of work.
Burlington’s Dylan Perego earned his second win of the series. Through eight innings he allowed six hits and no runs with three strikeouts.
Leftfielder Justin Gideon got a run in the first as well as bringing in third baseman Levi Larmour for a run in the ninth.
Centerfielder Cooper got his second home run of the series in the seventh inning.
The two teams get back at it at 1pm Sunday afternoon, at Nelson Park.
A Burlington win would force a seventh game back in London on Monday night.
 The Bandits had every reason to celebrate Friday evening – it was a remarkable win against London – and the first shut out as well – 3 -0 Marvelous! There are many that didn’t think the team was going to make it out of London Friday night – there is spunk in them yet.
 By Clinton Dixon
August 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
After a poor outing in game 1 against London,
Bandits starting pitcher Matthew St. Kitts could only manage to pitch one inning in Burlington’s Thursday night 9-2 loss to London at a Nelson Park. He gave up one run on four hits Thursday night before having to leave the game with a shoulder injury.
 The bullpen didn’t really deliver for the team Thursday night. Exactly what the Bandits had hoped wouldn’t happen, as their bullpen had been shaky the last few games, especially in middle relief.
Immediately after the pitching change the London Majors loaded the bases with no outs. Luckily for Burlington the damage was limited to just one run scored thanks to outfielder Justin Gideon. Gideon was able to record an outfield assist when he unleashed an absolute laser of a throw to gun down London’s Argenis Vargas at home; a call the Majors debated vehemently.
Bandit Coach Kyle was expecting more from the team in the quarter finals – they aren’t out yet – but they are real close, Every one of the Majors’ coaches came out to argue with Home-plate Umpire, Chris Walters, claiming that Burlington’s Catcher, Kevin Hussey, blocked the plate. London’s arguments didn’t amount to anything and Burlington was able to escape the inning down only two runs.
Unfortunately in the next few innings Burlington wasn’t able keep hold of that momentum, as London kept chipping away at the Bandits poor pitching. The inning would later come to an end thanks to some terrible base running by London’s Cleveland Brownlee.
After a routine groundball produced an out at first base, Brownlee decided to try and take home, only to be thrown out at the plate by about ten feet. The poor decision got Burlington out of the inning, but not before falling behind 4 to 0.
After giving up another run Burlington was finally able to get on the scoreboard thanks to some atrocious fielding by London. First the Majors’ Center Fielder, Julio Guzman, saw a routine fly-ball bounce off his glove; Keith Kandel managed to take second on the error before scoring on the next play – another error, this time coming from London’s Shortstop Paul Lytwynec. London would go on to record a total of four errors in the inning before recording their first out; unfortunately Burlington wasn’t able to take advantage of the sloppy play, only managing to get one run across the plate.
Things settled down from there over the next few innings of play before London blew the lead open in the eighth. Even the co-owner of the Bandits, Scott Robinson, was forced to admit that it was “a very good inning for [London].”
The Majors’ plated four runs in the inning to take a 9 to 2 lead over the hometown Bandits. The score wouldn’t change from there as London would hold on for the victory.
 The kids had a great time running the bases after the fourth inning. The loss leaves the Bandits down 3 to 1 in the series heading back to London tomorrow night; but Justin Gideon, the Bandits Left Fielder, isn’t shy about how he and the rest of the team feel about their chances going forward in the series. “I think we’re better than London. We get base runners, we just need to cash them in and I think tomorrow’s the day.”
All in all it was a strong showing for the unlucky Bandits, who feel they’ve played well against London to this point. Coach Kyle MacKinnon knows that his team can win Friday night when they make the do-or-die trip down to London. “We go in with a game-seven mentality from here on out – you lose you go home. Hopefully these guys don’t want their summer to end yet and obviously I don’t either.”
Game 5 of the Quarterfinal Series will take place at 7:35 p.m. at Labatt Memorial Park in London.
If Burlington is able to stave off elimination Game 6 will be played Sunday afternoon at Nelson Park in Burlington.
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