 By Mark Gillies
March 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part two of a four part feature
 John Waldie spent most of his time in Toronto during 1886 preparing to create his biggest business venture to date.
 The historic home called “Erin” was purchased as a wedding present for his second wife, Sarah Ann Jarvis. Sarah was to become the stepmother to John’s 13 children. While John Waldie was in Toronto, the family stayed in Burlington until John was ready to move his family into “Glenhurst”, the first mansion built in Rosedale. John, a widower for one year, had just remarried December 16, 1885 to Sarah Ann Jarvis, and almost immediately, he went to Toronto by himself to start his new company leaving Sarah in Burlington with his 13 children. As a wedding present, John had purchased “Erin”, a home for Sarah at 3265 Mayfair Place in Burlington. Sarah was to care for the children at this home until it was time to have them all move to Toronto.
On November 20, 1886, the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company was incorporated. John had purchased a failing sawmill in Victoria Harbour named Kean, Fowlie and Company. The former company had gone through rough times and were unable to continue.
The Victoria Harbour Lumber Company grew and prospered under the management of John Waldie. In order to make the business successful, it was necessary to create a village for the employees. The area was fairly remote at the time. Streets were laid out, and in 1888 construction began on buildings and houses.
 To make the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company successful, John Waldie built most of the town, enabling his employees to live and work locally. The general store was a company store, owned and operated by the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company.  Fortunately for John Waldie, the Grand Trunk Railway built a train station in Victoria Harbour. The location was ideal, as it was right across the road from his sawmills. The station was used to transport logs into Victoria Harbour, and to ship finished cut lumber out of the community. The Grand Trunk Railway had arrived and built their own train station. John Waldie built a general store. He had more than enough experience on how to build and run a successful general store, having purchased his first in Wellington Square when he was just 22 years of age. John had a second store built in Wellington Square, and it is still there to this day, at the northeast corner of Lakeshore and John Street.
 John Waldie built a library for the residents of Victoria Harbour and furnished it with books, just as he had done for Burlington. Pic: St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church John, always an avid believer in reading made sure that they built a library for the residences of Victoria Harbour. It was a beautiful facility, and is still in the village to this day, as well as the general store.
 John Waldie was a Presbyterian. He financed the construction of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Victoria Harbour. The church opened in 1906. Waldie, a devout religious man, built St Paul’s Presbyterian Church in 1906 for this little hamlet. The church is still functional to this day.
 This rare aerial view of Victoria Harbour was how the village looked around 1920. The intersection of William & Albert Streets is at the top and in the middle of the photograph. In the background, you can see the three mills, the log booms in the bay, the Grand Trunk Railway station to the upper left, railway box cars are to the upper right, the General Store and Library are across the street from each other on either side of the main intersection. If you’re going to have all these buildings for your employees, then you better have houses for them. John set out to build most of the houses in Victoria Harbour. They were small, but efficient. The houses had an early nickname, and were called “saltboxes”, but that went by the wayside when John had the houses painted in the company’s colours of white and yellow. The trim was white and the exterior walls were yellow. The new nickname was “canary houses”, and many are still referred by that name today.
 Once the logs had been cut, they were transferred to the planing mill. Here they were prepared into a finished product.  Victoria Harbour Lumber Company consisted of three sawmills: Mill #1 & planing mill; Mill #2, and Mill l#3. Workers poured in from all over Canada, the United States and Europe eager to work at the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. There were three mills at the water’s edge, and they were kept busy, sawing and planing lumber. Timber was brought to the mills from all around the Muskoka area, even as far north as Sudbury and North Bay. The railway brought some logs and so did the ships. Logs were also floated to the mills from many different locations. Upon arrival to the mills logs were kept in the water with huge booms, and were dragged to the mills when ready to cut. The finished lumber was then loaded in to railway boxcars or ships and sent to their destination.
 Ships provided a second option to transport logs and finished lumber. The Victoria Harbour Lumber Company utilized both ships and rail for their products. The tiny hamlet of Victoria Harbour with about 200 dedicated workers at the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company had made John Waldie the second wealthiest lumber baron in Canada by the turn of the 20th century, in just over 20 years.
My next article will be a continuation on the wealthy philanthropist, John Waldie and his family. Whatever happened to his 13 children, some lives ending in tragedy? What happened to John’s two wives? Find out next time.
Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, who grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families.
Mark will write a regular column about colourful local history introducing Burlingtonians to the people that made this city what it is today.
 By Staff
March 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you were with us way back in 2010 when we first hit the streets you would have known us as Our Burlington. The name for the newspaper on a web site was chosen by the late John Boich for reasons we all felt were good at the time.
 We realized in late 2011 that Our Burlington didn’t sound like a newspaper and we weren’t treated as a newspaper. So we chose Gazette as the name we would be known by.
When we called someone and said y we were from Our Burlington we could have been anything from a pet grooming operation to a flower shop.
When we changed the name to the Gazette people knew in an instant what we were – and for reasons we can’t explain – there was an immediate uptick in the readership. For the first few days there was a rise of 5% that then moved to 8% and the increase held.
We tell you this because we kept the Our Burlington name – there were still people who had us bookmarked as Our Burlington and that was how they got to us.
 Anyone looking for Our Burlington will get this message. The old website address is no longer functional – we have been the Gazette for close to two years. Anyone who went to Our Burlington got sent directly to the Gazette – they didn’t even know they were being transferred.
The Our Burlington web site address is no longer functional; it has been taken down. Try to go there and you get the Server not found message.
For those that lose their way – you’ll figure it and come back.
 By Pepper Parr
March 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
At the beginning of each meeting of the city Councillors the Chair asks if there are any declarations of interest. Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison frequently has to declare an interest because his sports club operations provide recreational services to the city.
A declaration of interest prevents a member of council from voting for anything that he or she stands to benefit from. Other than that – it’s all pretty tame stuff.
A question cropped up at the Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee this afternoon when it looked as if ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman was in the process of getting himself into a conflict when he suggested that Lori McDonald spend some time in his part of town.
 Lori MacDonald is the woman who wants to bring ArtFest to Burlington for a three day gig she wants to hold on Old Lakeshore Road.
The dates for the event are May 29-31 – which happens to coincide with the Car Free Sunday that is sponsored by Councillors Dennison and Sharman using the $10,000 the pinched from the city budget
Mayor Goldring wanted to know if the organization could “pull this off” with the time they have. MacDonald sounded confident and she seems to have much of the hard early stage work done. There are a couple of hair dressers on Old Lakeshore that are concerned about their clients getting into their shop.
MacDonald has been working on this project since October but hasn’t been able to say anything about it until Council had given it a nod.
Artfest Ontario is MacDonald’s company – which she owns runs. She has been in the art development business for some time – got into creating Artfest when she took on the development of an art show at the Distillery District in Toronto.
She used to do three a year in Toronto but is cut back to one due to the Pan Am Games. She has run an Artfest in Kingston for the past three years and is looking forward to getting something going in Burlington.
She really wanted to be at Spencer Smith Park but that wasn’t possible.
 The tents will be set up along Old Lakeshore Road ans in the Emmas Back Porch parking lot. The old Burlington Art Centre (now the Art Gallery of Burlington) used to run an outdoor art show but after a couple of really bad years due to weather for the most part gave up on the project which created an opening for MacDonald
She expect to set up more than 100 10 x 10 foot tents along Old Lakeshore where she is getting great cooperation from Craig Kowalchuk at Emmas Back Porch who has turned his large parking lot over to the Artfest.
Council will give the go on this, if that is their wish, March 23rd.
In the meantime Sharman will be doing his best to coax Lori MacDonald to ply her trade at Sherwood Forest Park during the Car Free Sunday May 31st.
I could have sworn I saw Paul Sharman wink at MacDonald while she was giving her delegation
By Mark Gillies
March 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part oneof a four part feature.
John Waldie was born in Scotland in 1833 to James and Jessie Waldie. The family immigrated to Upper Canada in 1842 when John was nine years old. The family settled in Wellington Square, a village of about 400 residents. Nearby Port Nelson located at the foot of Guelph Line had about 60 residents.
John Waldie was an incredible businessman and philanthropist. He was “The Father of Burlington” & “The Father of the Burlington Library”. James Waldie was a tailor, one of four tailors working in Wellington Square until 1852. In that same year James, Jessie and their young daughter Agnes moved to Huron County and purchased 100 acres of farmland. Their son John, then 19 decided to stay in Wellington Square. Little did John Waldie know in 1852; that one day he would amass a great fortune and his decisions would affect so many people.
 John Waldie’s general store located on the northeast corner of Lakeshore Road and John Street was the place to shop in Burlington for clothing and home furnishings. The store employed 12 clerks, and everyone was kept busy serving a large clientele. John had been employed as a store clerk for one year at the dry goods store of local businessman William Bunton. John was adept at business, and at 22 years of age in 1855, he purchased the business from Mr. Bunton. Not long after, John Waldie built a new store at the northeast corner of Lakeshore Road and John Street. The building is still there, with most of the historic features not visible to most.
 The “Azov” was a freight sailing ship that transported both wheat and timber. The vessel was owned by John Waldie and William Bunton.  In 1885, John Waldie’s sailing ship “Sweepstakes” sank in Big Tub Harbour at Tobermory. Today, this is Canada’s most famous dive site for ship wrecks. William Bunton and John Waldie continued working together in other business partnerships. Both men entered into the shipping business and owned two sailing vessels. They were called the “Azov” and the “Sweepstakes”. Bunton already owned one of the three wharves located at the foot of Brant Street, and these two ships transported local timber and wheat. The name “Sweepstakes” may be familiar to diving enthusiasts.
The ship was built at Wellington Square in 1867 and sank in Big Tub Harbour at Tobermory around September 3,1885. Today the ship is the most visited dive wreck in Canada.
 John Waldie and William Kerns were good friends, business partners and political foes. John was a Liberal, and William was a Liberal-Conservative. Both represented Halton County at different times. From 1866 to 1885 John had been in partnership with William Kerns. The store was sold to Kerns when John Waldie moved to Toronto and began the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. In 1887 Waldie decided to enter federal politics as a Liberal candidate, and represent Halton County. The riding was held by William McCraney, a Liberal, and a wealthy lumber merchant, who won the seat in 1882 when Sir William McDougall, a Father of Confederation, decided to run in another riding. When McCraney decided not to run for a second term, his friend John Waldie decided to run for office in the 1887 election.
Waldie’s Conservative opponent was local merchant David Henderson. The vote was close, Waldie 2,222 votes; Henderson 2,213 votes. Up to this election, John Waldie had been very active in the local community.
For two years, John had been the Reeve of Nelson Township and was elected to become the first Reeve of the Village of Burlington in 1873
Burlington was the name selected to replace the names Wellington Square and Port Nelson.
It was John Waldie who was the “architect” for combining the two communities together. In 1877, it was reported, “Whether for good or evil, the fact of incorporation is due to Mr. Waldie”. I think it is quite fair to say, John Waldie is the “Father of Burlington”. In 1877 John Waldie then moved on politically and became the Warden of Halton County for two years, a forerunner of today’s Regional Chairman.
 David Henderson and John Waldie had a mutual respect for each other. Both men battled for the same federal riding of Halton County several times. John Waldie represented Halton County federally several times. His 1887 win was short lived, lasting only one year. Amidst allegations of bribery, a by-election was called, and David Henderson, a Conservative in 1888 won Halton County. John Waldie did not contest the seat. But Henderson also faced similar allegations of corruption, and another by-election was held, just six months into office.
This time Waldie and Henderson faced off for a second time. The election was close. Waldie 2,042 votes; Henderson 2,018 votes. The next election was in 1891, and the two were at it again. The vote was close, Henderson 2,441 votes; Waldie, 2,337 votes. Another by-election was called in 1892 and David Henderson was acclaimed. In the 1896 election, the two men squared off for the last time. The election was close, Henderson 2,460 votes; Waldie 2,376 votes.
 John Waldie while serving in Ottawa as the Liberal representative from Halton County, developed a close friendship with Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier. This friendship helped Waldie after he left office. John Waldie was also President of the powerful Lumbermen’s Association, and he lobbied on behalf of the lumber industry, fighting against unfair trading practices by the Americans. John Waldie’s political career had come to its conclusion. While in Ottawa, he did manage to make some great connections. One of his closest friends was Sir Wilfred Laurier.
John Waldie and his family moved from Burlington to Toronto in 1885, however they still regarded Burlington as home. It’s not that they wanted to move away; they had to move in order to properly develop his new Victoria Harbour Lumber Company.
 Historic Knox Presbyterian Church on Elizabeth Street was the recipient of custom made imported stained glass windows; a gift from philanthropist, John Waldie. John Waldie was a Presbyterian, and a member of historic Knox Presbyterian Church on Elizabeth Street. When you drive by the church, have a look at the beautiful stained glass windows. John Waldie had them manufactured in Scotland and brought them over as a gift for Knox Presbyterian Church.
John Waldie believed in reading as the best means to develop your learning capacity. In the very early 1900s, the Village of Burlington was having difficulty with establishing any kind of a library system. At the time, various residents would keep a small selection of books in their own homes, and area residents would drop by and borrow one or two books. The system was not working and in danger of closing. On hearing of this situation, John Waldie proposed a solution.
 The new Burlington Public Library opened its doors in 1906. The building and books were donated by philanthropist, John Waldie. The Public Library was located on Brant Street, where the City Hall is today. If the Village of Burlington could find some land, Waldie would build the library building, and donate it to the village. When the new facility opened in 1906, Mr. Waldie also stocked it with a donation of 6,000 books. I think it would also be accurate to call John Waldie, “The Father of the Burlington Library”.
By a deed dated 30 September 1888, The Greenwood Cemetery Company of Burlington purchased eight acres for $2,000. The Greenwood Cemetery Company was owned by John Waldie and they purchased the land from local market gardener James C. Filman for the purpose of establishing a cemetery. Block 50, a large block near the centre of the cemetery was purchased by John Waldie on 2 December 1889. Waldie’s parents, both Presbyterians, died in 1864 and 1868 and were buried in St. Luke’s Anglican Cemetery. Knox Presbyterian Church did not have a cemetery. These two burials motivated John Waldie into creating the Greenwood Cemetery Company.
 Sarah Ann Jarvis was just 29 years old when she married the widower John Waldie, who was 52 years of age. Sarah was to become a stepmother, since John was the father of 13 motherless children. On September 18, 1885, John Waldie, a widower married for a second time. The new bride was Sarah Ann Jarvis, who at 29 years of age was 23 years younger than John. Waldie’s wedding gift to his new wife, Sarah was a home located at 3265 Mayfair Place in Burlington.
 John Waldie purchased 3265 Mayfair Place as a wedding present in 1885 for his new bride Sarah Ann Jarvis. The residence was called “Erin” and the home still retains this name today. It was called “Erin”. Originally built in 1845 by Henry Sovereign, a United Empire Loyalist descendent, owned later by Moses Wilkins, then owned by John Waldie, this historic home has undergone several cosmetic alterations. The residence is located behind the Water Treatment plant on Lakeshore Road, but at one time the home sitting on a small hilltop commanded a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. The Henry Sovereign residence “Erin” is very similar to “Sovereign House” in Bronte; another historic home that was built in stages by fellow relative Charles Sovereign between 1825 and 1846. Today, the home is operated by the Bronte Historical Society and is used as a museum.
John Waldie died at 3:00 PM, June 12, 1907 at his residence “Glenhurst” located in the prestigious Rosedale area of Toronto. A week prior to his death Waldie suffered from bouts of violent coughing. Waldie, already in ill health, had a weakened heart and was unable to survive.
The funeral procession for John Waldie originated in Toronto. The Grand Trunk Railway with a special funeral train transported the mourners and coffin from Toronto to Burlington’s historic Freeman Train Station. The coffin was removed and transferred to a hearse provided by the Edgar Williamson Funeral Home on Brant Street.
 Edgar Williamson operated the local funeral home in Burlington. Today, we know it as Smith’s Funeral Homes. Mr. Williamson provided the horse-drawn hearse to carry the late Mr. Waldie from the Freeman Train Station to his final resting place in Greenwood Cemetery. The procession slowly made its way to Greenwood Cemetery traveling south on Brant Street, and turning right on to Water Street. Brant Street was lined with mourners as they paid their final respects to a favourite son. It wasn’t a state funeral, but it was visually overwhelming. At Mr. Waldie’s funeral, one of the many in attendance to pay respects to this great man was David Henderson, John Waldie’s political adversary. John Waldie, a self-made man, had returned home to his beloved Burlington for the last time.
My next article will be about John Waldie’s Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. This company made John Waldie one of Canada’s wealthiest men, and the second most powerful lumber baron in Canada.
Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, who grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families.
Mark will write a regular column about colourful local history introducing Burlingtonians to the people that made this city what it is today.
 By Pepper Parr
February 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has thousands of people who remember all too well the public debate over the adoption of a new flag for the country. Lester B.. Pearson, the Prime Minister at the time was giving a speech at a Legion gathering – they came close to booing him off the stage.
 Noon of February 15th, 1965 – the \red \maple leaf was flown from Parliament for the first time. But at noon on February 15, 1965 the red maple leaf went up the flag pole on Parliament hill – and at locations across the country – and has been there ever since. That flag had a very difficult early childhood.
The flag that is raised each day and taken down each evening on Parliament Hill is donated to some organization where it is proudly flown. The list for flag requests stretches four years into the future.
Now that it is part of who we are there are groups across the country who want to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the red maple leaf.
 A massive Canadian flag was passed hand over hand amongst a huge crowd in Montreal days before the citizens of Quebec voted in their referendum to remain a part of Canada. Hometown Proud, a unique national program, that is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Flag of Canada is doing a cross country recording session tour and will be in Burlington March 10th to record the students at Pauline Johnson public school taking part in a national version of O Canada.
This unique program commemorates and aims to educate students on the history of Canada’s national flag, as well as unite students in what may be the largest recording of O Canada.
Getting to the point where Canada could celebrate the 50th anniversary was not an easy process. The link below is a CBC clip on the raising of the new flag. It is lengthy – 20 minutes – but if you want to fully appreciate what we went through – take the time. Watch for that Canadian hero Georges Vanier who was Governor General at the time. Stooped and looking every day his 70 |+ years Vanier watches as a flag he loved and fought under – losing a leg in the process – is brought down.
The film footage is HERE
 The Gazette’s Education reporter Walter Byj needed a reason to get out of the house – and as chilly as it was he braved the wind off the lake and snapped this picture of the waterfront looking east. The small structure on the left is Emma’s Back Porch.
 By Pepper Parr
February 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
City hall has announced the closing date for nominations for a BEST AWARD. It is April 7, 2015
There are a number of categories – all have merit.
What the awards don’t have is an acceptable level of transparency which tarnishes what is an important program that recognizes individual effort to better the community.
Last year there were a number of nominees whose names were put forward by either their spouses, partners or parents.
This is what fan clubs do.
 An award given by a community with the nomination coming from people who have taken the time to think about who they want to recommend is a true award. When Mom fills in the form and sends it in – it just isn’t quite the same.
The prestige behind the award is paramount to its usefulness. To be a true award with value there can and perhaps should be years when an award is not given.
This city keeps telling anyone with two ears that we are “the best mid-sized city in Canada” There is an opportunity with the Burlington Best awards to begin to behave like one.
There have been comments in the past about people who have “’gamed” the nomination and used the award to start a political career.
In 2011 a small group of people had gathered in the foyer space outside the Council chamber at city hall to talk about John Boich’s health. It was not good and he died several weeks later.
One of the group said to the others” I want to nominate John for an award – the rest of the group immediately agreed and collectively they put together the documents.
John was named the Citizen of the Year several hours before he died in 2011.
The terms of reference for the Awards committee appear to have a sunset date of 2006 – they need an update.
The following are the awards given by the city.
• ARTS PERSON of the Year: An individual who has contributed to the arts in Burlington as an artist, patron or advocate including but not limited to, visual arts, media arts, musical arts, performing arts and literary arts.
• Citizen of the year: A person whose volunteer activity has made a significant and sustained contribution to the vibrancy and wellbeing of the Burlington community.
• Junior Citizen of the year: A high school student, 18 years or younger who has made a significant contribution to the Burlington community.
• Senior Citizen of the year: A person, 55 years or older who has advocated on behalf of seniors and/or made a significant contribution to the Burlington community.
• Environmental Award: An individual or group that improved and/or protects Burlington’s environment.
• Community Service Award: An individual or group whose volunteer activity has contributed to the betterment of the Burlington community.
• Heritage Award: An individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the preservation of Burlington’s heritage, and has volunteered their time in an effort to support the preservation of Burlington’s heritage.
There are people who have done some incredible service for both the city and its citizens. Forms and background on the procedures can be found HERE
 By Pepper Parr
February 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you can get yourself over to the Central Library on Sunday the 8th of March you will have a chance to meet one of those old timers who has done it all but doesn’t know quite how to hang up his spurs.
 Sandy Thomson recalling some history for Burlington |Gazette reporter Walter Byj Sandy Thomson, the great-great grandson of Captain George Thomson, a Berwick, England native who was the Burlington Beach Canal’s lighthouse keeper and diarist for 29 years in the 1800’s has produced a short film on the lighthouse.
The diaries became the base documents for the short film that Sandy and his small film crew have completed.
The diaries were preserved and are at the Brant Museum along with the lenses from the lighthouse.
Sandy Thomson still drives a motorcycle and has a small film operation – Cine 16 that keeps him busy.
 The Burlington canal lighthouse
The original Burlington Canal Lighthouse and Light station were built in 1838 to guide ships into Hamilton Harbour. The current stone structure as it stands today was built in 1858 and sits adjacent to the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge under the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway.
The Burlington Canal Lighthouse Group (BCLG) is a non-profit organization formed by Hamilton and Burlington community members to preserve the Burlington Canal Lighthouse and Lightstation. Current member of the BCLG, Sandy Thomson says, “It is important to preserve the lighthouse that has both historical and educational importance. Other lighthouses have been restored on the Great Lakes and this is the only one left to be restored on Lake Ontario.”
 Captain Sandy Thomson at the wheel of a Russian tug Thomson is the owner of marine-parts manufacturer, Thordon Bearings, in Burlington. He provides innovative products to the marine industry around the world. While building a market for his propeller shaft bearings, Thomson captained a Russian steam tugboat, Rudokop, and toured all the major ports in Europe in the 1990-2000’s promoting Thordon’s propeller shaft and rudder bearings to ship owners and shipyards in the Baltic, North, Mediterranean and Black Seas.
“My great-great grandfather maintained the lighthouse for those vessels entering Hamilton Harbour on those dark and stormy nights, and as a former sea-captain, I can appreciate what a welcome sight that light is”.
The video will be shown during the BCLG’s general meeting at the Burlington Central Library on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 2:00pm. The public and new members are welcome!
By Pepper Parr
February 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This was the 19th time former MP and Member of the Privy Council Paddy Tourney held her event for younger woman in Burlington. It was a sold out – not the first time that has happened.
Each year Torsney sponsors a breakfast and brings in a speaker to talk about woman’s issues.
There are men in the room – but they are vastly outnumbered. The room – usually at the Holiday Inn – always has a buzz to it. The buzz at a women’s event is always quite different than when it is mostly men gathered.
 Burlington’s Paddy Torsney being Paddy Torsney While Torsney would like the ticket price to cover all the costs – it never quite works out that way. What she does is look for corporations or individuals who will take a table and cover the cost for young woman to attend the event.
Torsney is currently the International Parliamentary Union Permanent representative at the United Nations in New York – where she advocates for the IPU and comes to terms with living in New York City.
 Dr. Catherine Zahn talks to students about the importance of completing their education. These high school students attending this annual event are at that stage in life when values and choices are being formed. This year Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, spoke about the importance of mentoring and the changing view the public is developing about mental health.
Dr. Zahn is advocates strongly for making mental health part of the health system. “The divisiveness between communities and hospitals is not doing anything for anyone” she asserted and pointed out that it is time for more in the way of both resources and an understanding of the needs of people with mental health issues.
 Elizabeth Small, on the left, was recognized for her success in being trained as a construction worker. Zhan shifted back and forth between the importance of young women finding the mentors they need and the changing public view of mental health issues.
There was a time she said that literally and metaphorically people with mental health issues were shut away and we knew nothing about them.
That day is gone – but Zahn doesn’t believe that we are yet at the point where mental health is understood and appreciated for what it is across the public health spectrum.
 Students from Corpus Christ attend the women’s breakfast. She seemed to feel that we are much further along with women experiencing the equality they are entitled to – however she is quick to point to the huge income disparity between men and women.
Zahn suggested that the solution to getting a stronger understanding and acceptance of mental health issues is to treat it the way the fight to beat cancer was waged. “Make it an issue and focus on the impact mental health has on not just the individual but the families involved and the larger community” she said.
There is a shortage of professional’s in the mental health field – without the investment in these professionals we will not make any advances” said Zahn.
“I am very optimistic both about the changes taking place in the opportunities for young woman today and the advances we can make in the treatment of  mental health” she added.
Torsney made the point with her comment to the younger audience when she said: “You are a different generation; things that are obvious to you were not obvious to us”.
You could almost feel the torch being passed from one generation to the next.
 By Staff
February 23, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Expect to see the Councillor for ward 1 on a street corner in Aldershot as soon as the weather warms up enough.
Rick Craven has gotten his community, the city and one of his more important election campaign donours to come together and raise the funds for some “public” art that will improve the look of Aldershot.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven is shameless when it comes to promoting Aldershot. If there is just one thing that Councillor Craven does – that is improve the look of Plains Road. Many will disagree with some of his thinking and the policies he promotes but you can’t take away from the guy his continued efforts to make Plains Road a nicer looking road.
And one has to give him credit – he has come up with some impressive results.
 The art selected will be placed on city owned land adjacent to the Jazz project now under development on Plains Road. “Residents of Aldershot Village have been working together to create a great neighbourhood for decades. Recent efforts to improve Plains Road have made significant progress towards increased pedestrian access and beautification of the street. To compliment this work, an exciting new public art project is now taking shape.
“Driven by the community, this project is an innovative partnership between local residents, businesses and the City of Burlington. The public art installation will help to beautify Plains Road and create a year-round neighbourhood hub for all to enjoy.
“The artwork will be located adjacent to the Branthaven Homes’ Jazz condominiums, engaging Plains Road and the neighbourhood.
“An open competition will be held to get proposals from professional artists from across Canada. Three short-listed designs will be selected for public viewing and comment. A community jury comprised of local residents, business owners and artists will select the winning design.
“The artwork will be installed in the summer/fall of 2016 along with a community celebration and artwork unveiling!
“To make this project a reality, a fundraising target of $75,000 has been set. The City of Burlington, Branthaven Homes, Aldershot Village BIA and Plains Road Village Vision have already raised $60,000. We are now reaching out to corporate sponsors and community members for the final 20%.
Their goal is to raise $5,000 through an Indiegogo campaign. 100% of all donations will go towards the artwork commission. All donations over $25 will be issued a tax receipt from the City of Burlington. With is bitterly cold weather people must be saving a bundle on those expense lattes they don’t get out to buy. Click HERE and send some of that saved cash to help fund this initiative.
The mission of the City of Burlington’s Public Art Program is to enhance the quality of life in Burlington through the rich context of the arts. The program strives to bring artwork by both established and emerging artists to the city centre and the neighbourhoods throughout Burlington, Ontario. The Public Art Program provides cultural opportunity, guides the evolution of a vibrant artistic character for the City’s emerging public places, and ensures a visual legacy for all to enjoy.
Jeremy Freiburger of Cobalt Connects advises on the public art program for the city and is facilitating this program.
The art selected will be placed on a piece of property adjacent to the Jazz project owned by the city.
 By Staff
February 23, 2015
BURLINGTON,ON
The good people at The Different Drummer bring you this news with their apologies.
As a result of the extreme cold weather alert, our event planned for this evening at the Central Library with Paula Todd will be rescheduled. We will be in touch when we have all the details.
Todd was going to give a talk on her most recent book: Cyber Mean
Ian Elliot is very sorry for any inconvenience and will refund all ticket purchases.
By Pepper Parr
February 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
While the Mayor may have given one of the driest and flattest speeches heard in some time Keith Hooey, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce did a great number in teasing the audience as to who the next Entrepreneur of the Year was going to be.
 Dan Lawrie, an artist in his own right with a piece of art that is part of his collection. Lawrie was named the 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year At one point Hooey had the crowd laughing with him – that Mayor Goldring should be so lucky.
While there was no drum roll – Hooey told his audience that Dan Lawrie would be the 2015 Entrepreneur of the year.
 Dan Lawrie put up a significant portion of the money needed to pay for the creation of the Spiral Stella. While the Gazette always felt that entrepreneurs were those young guys with nothing but energy working to get a start-up off the ground – Burlington sees it differently.
We would put Lawrie in the ranks of the season veterans who runs a tight operation and has grown a very significant business that covers Burlington and Hamilton very well. Bur more on Dan Lawrie and what he has achieved when we do a full profile.
Right now – Dan is the Man for 2015.
Lawrie was the guy with the wallet behind the Spiral Stella that sits outside the entrance to the Performing Arts Centre where it really doesn’t get noticed.
By Walter Byj
February 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a class that was half an hour late – technology got the blame.
School board meetings are now projected onto a screen that is behind the chair facing the trustees. Some had difficulty speaking and watching themselves in real time.
Votes will no longer be a simple show of hands – the vote count is taken electronically and projected onto the screen. A lesson here for Burlington city council.
There was just the one delegation: Christian Dragnea of Oakville who thanked the board for their efforts in determining the boundaries for the new elementary school in Neyawagaya/Dundas Street area in Oakville. Recognizing that no decision is perfect, the recommendation brought forward was easily the best. The new boundaries for both the new schools in Oakville and Milton were passed unanimously. Kudos to the board.
Next was an item that will most certainly be quite controversial, not only for Halton, but also for the entire province. With the new Health and Physical Education curriculum to be released shortly, trustee Gray, Halton Hills, presented to the board the following recommendation.
“Based on the need to ensure common understanding and consistent messages about the curriculum expectations associated with the new Health and Physical Health Education Curriculum, be it resolved that the Chair of the Halton District Board be directed to write a letter to the Ministry of Education to insist the following:
-the time frame of the full implementation of the new Health and Physical Curriculum ensures professional training sessions for both elementary and secondary teachers and members of school admin teams take place prior to implantation to ensure a fulsome understanding of the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate at each grade level.
-full funding and resources are provided to support Board training and curriculum implementation.
This was passed unanimously by all the trustees. No doubt this will occupy much of their time and efforts in the near future.
In September of 2014, the HDSB introduced a program whereby 40 minutes a week of Primary Core French teaching for grade one students began in 24 Halton elementary schools; 12 of those schools were located in Burlington.
Although a full year has not been completed, the feedback to date has been positive and the initial 24 schools will expand the program to grade two in the 2015/2016 school year. Along with the grade one students, they too will receive 40 minutes of French on a weekly basis. This program is to expand to an additional 12 schools next year with the hope of all schools being on board by 2018.
The additional schools for next year are yet to be determined. Chair Amos wanted more schools in the program as soon as possible. Associate Director Miller explained that getting proper staffing would be difficult in the short term and that they were following the original plan to be completed by 2018.
Trustee Grebenc (Burlington) asked if a search outside the province was being conducted to locate additional French staffing. Miller responded that due to limited funding resources, recruiting was limited within Ontario. Robert Hamilton, Principal of French Programs, confirmed that New Brunswick would be a primary source of new teachers as the program expands and that they would plan to do some recruiting in that province.
Trustee Pappin (Burlington) asked where the time comes from to teach French. She was assured that it is not taken from literacy or numeracy but rather during arts or phys ed time periods. It should be noted that the Ministry of Education does not provide a primary Core program in French and that it is the HDSB staff that is developing the program.
The board will continue to monitor the program and seek additional parent input to determine its success. If fully implemented, the timetable will be as following,
Grades 1 to 3 40 minutes weekly
Grade 4 120 minutes weekly
Grade 5 160 minutes weekly
Grades 6 to 8 200 minutes weekly
 David Eaule retires after 40 years in education – he has been with the Halton Board for five years. The board was also told that a JK program will not be not be offered at Pineland this coming school as the target of 15 student was not reached. Only 12 students were enrolled as of February 15th. Superintendent of Education Eatough stated that all parents have been advised and are in the process of making alternate plans.
The evening concluded with Chair Amos emotionally reading a letter from Director of Education, David Eaule, announcing his retirement effective August 31st 2015. Eaule has been an educator for 41 years and decided it was time to retire. Euale said that during his five years with the Halton board he has worked with 25 trustees. He has no current plans.
 By Staff
February 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has had community gardens ever since Michelle Bennett and Amy Schnurr delegated to city council for support in creating a garden back in behind the library and the Seniors’ Centre on New Street.
 Michelle Bennett pacing off the size of each lot in the Community Garden that opened in WHEN The garden was a hit from the Get Go – every politician that wanted to get their picture taken was there.
The public seemed to want them and so the city began spending some of the tax dollars it collects asking people where they would like to see community gardens set up.
There are currently three community gardens in the city: Amherst Park Community GardenFeatures: 28 ground based plots, two wheelchair-accessible plots, water, street parking, full sun, storage shed, security fence, proximity to playground.
 Amy Schnurr proselytizing for community gardens. Central Park Community Garden; Features: 28 ground plots, two wheelchair accessible plots, parking, washrooms, water, full sun, storage shed, security fence, proximity to playground.
Francis Road Bikeway Community Garden; Features: 20 ground based plots, two wheelchair accessible plots, street parking on Warwick Drive, water, full sun, storage shed, security fence. There are no public washroom facilities at this garden location.
The City did one of their online survey to help gather input from the public about the location of the city’s next community garden.
“The city currently has three community gardens, which have been very well received by gardeners and the surrounding neighbours,” said Rob Peachey, manager of parks and open spaces. “The city is now seeking input about the location of a fourth garden which will be ready for planting in the spring of 2016. We want to hear from residents about where in the city they’d like to see the newest community garden.”
The short online survey is available at . It will remain open until Sunday, Feb. 22.
The information collected from the survey will help inform city staff with their final recommendation to City Council at a meeting of the Development and Infrastructure Committee in June.
This year’s Burlington Seedy Saturday (community seed exchange event) is happening as part of the Burlington Public Library Eco Fair on Saturday, April 18. Contact their marketing department or event coordinator Craig Logue loguec@bpl.on.ca for more info.
By Staff
February 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A nice story, the kind of thing one likes to read about. Leslie Gray and her husband Christopher of KooGle Theatre partnered with the Symphony on the Bay to do a performance of a medley of Rogers and Hammerstein classic musicals.
Oklahoma, South Pacific, King and I and the Sound of Music; concert sounds sure to please all ages and at prices like
Adult: $31.75 +HST
Senior: $23.75 +HST
Student and Child: $17.75 +HST
Leslie and Christopher will be the soloists supported by the Symphony on the Bay.
 Symphony on the Bay will support Leslie and Christoper Gray as they take a Sunday afternoon audience through a medley of Rogers and Hammerstein classics. Sunday the 15th at the Performing Arts Centre at 3:00 pm. There were just 21 tickets left at 6:00 pm this evening.
 By Staff
February 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A constant irritant for most Burlingtonians is being included in with the city of Hamilton when things are being counted.
That much touted “Best Mid-sized city in Canada award became possible when former Mayor Cam Jackson went after the publishers of MoneySense magazine and explained that Burlington was not really Hamilton.
 Chris Byrnes, the owner of a radio license in Woodstock commented that “Each time I return to Burlington, it frustrates me that there is no local radio station in my home town, a city of over 176,000 people.
Burlington is the largest city in Ontario, and perhaps Canada that does not have the benefits of a local radio station. So I did something about this and found a FM frequency and filed an application with the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) back in late 2013, after conducting an audience demand study, an economic study and having conversations with some of the key stakeholders in our city.
On 16 January the CRTC finally issued a public notice inviting comments from the public on the “appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve Burlington, Ontario.”
In this public notice they also say “The city of Burlington is included within the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which is currently served by seven commercial radio stations.
Burlington accounts for 24% of the total population of the Hamilton CMA.” They go on to say they want “additional information that the Commission will take into consideration before making a final determination on whether it should proceed with a call for applications”
 It will be an uphill battle, explains Byrnes to convince the CRTC in Ottawa that Burlington is not part of the Hamilton CMA. But if enough Burlington residents and business owners submit their comments to the CRTC, then perhaps the CRTC may then invite applications for an FM license to serve Burlington.
Byrnes would like you to support this application and bring radio to Burlington.
He explains how to do this.
Your comments need to be in your own words, but you might want to mention how long you have lived and/or worked in Burlington and tell them why you feel Burlington is a distinct city and not part of Hamilton. You might also mention that Hamilton radio stations do not serve Burlington. Lastly, tell them why you feel it is important that Burlington needs its own FM radio station.
You can send your comments electronically: Here’s the link:
Click on this link to submit your comments directly to the CRTC.
When you get to the website you will be asked to write your comments in the comments box or if you wish, write a letter first and save it. Then follow the instructions to upload a word document.
Next click “I do not wish to appear” (as they are seeking public written comments and there will not be a hearing at this early stage) and then provide your contact information in the required fields (first and last name, your email address and the city you live in). Then agree to the terms and conditions and click submit.
There is a degree of urgency – comments must be sent before February 17th. Monday, the 16th of February is Family Day in Ontario – use the day off to bring radio to Burlington.
By Mark Gillies
February 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 2 of a 3 part feature
Their last farewells were at Freeman Station
 Private H. Kearse who lived on Brant Avenue died in World War 1. He left his wife and 3 young children in Burlington, so he could fight in France with the 86th Machine Gun Battalion. His death was reported in the newspaper before Private Kearse’s widow was officially notified. The last time this hero saw his family, was when he waved goodbye to them at the Freeman Station. When our boys left, there was not a dry eye to be found anywhere. When Canada answered the call to go to war, Burlington did its part. One hundred years ago, as World War 1 began, with a population that was less than 2,000, Burlington sent 300 sons. We responded in World War 2, and sent even more. The boys went to defend our freedom, and the town proudly marched them up Brant Street and onto the train cars at the Freeman Station. Some did not return. Their names are remembered at the Cenotaph on the grounds of City Hall.
Before Los Vegas, there was Burlington!
Most people do not know that in the 1890s and for another 30 years, Burlington was regarded as one of North America’s hot vacation playgrounds, especially for wealthy Americans. One of Burlington’s favourite sons, A.B. Coleman, who built and lived in the “Gingerbread House” on Ontario Street, was a wealthy entrepreneur who among other business endeavours, built and owned the Hotel Brant, the Brant Inn, Burlington’s first golf course on Francis Road, and developed most of the homes at historic Indian Point, mainly for the benefit of wealthy Americans and Europeans.
 The Hotel Brant was a beautiful 5 Star hotel that overlooked Lake Ontario. The developer and proprietor, Burlington’s A. B. Coleman was the man responsible for stimulating the tourist industry in Burlington. He advertised the Hotel Brant all over North America and Europe, as the perfect summer vacation destination. Tourists flocked to Burlington. Most arrived by the Grand Trunk Railway and stepped off at the Freeman Station. The Hotel Brant, in the Garden of Canada, was advertised all across North America, and even Europe, as the perfect summer vacation destination. The 200 room hotel offered beautiful cool summer breezes, a roof garden, fishing, bathing, bowling greens, ping pong, billiards, boating, canoeing, golf, tennis, swimming, even furnished bungalows.
 Wealthy Americans and Europeans were lured to the Hotel Brant by an intensive advertising campaign. This advertisement appeared in the Washington Post on July 17, 1904. Tourists from the United States, Europe and from across Canada flocked to the Hotel Brant. How did they get here? Most came by train and disembarked at the Freeman Station. Burlington at one time, with only a population of about 1500 people had 4 train stations. One was in Tansley, one in Aldershot, and the 4th, the Burlington station, not to be confused with the Burlington Junction station, was across the street from the Brant Inn and Hotel Brant and it too received many tourists destined for the Hotel Brant. Sadly, we have demolished the Tansley station, the Aldershot station, and the Burlington station downtown, leaving only the Freeman Station for us to enjoy today.
The Hotel Brant came to its demise when the Government of Canada expropriated the building in 1917 and converted it into the Brant Military Hospital, as a facility to care for our injured soldiers returning from overseas after World War One. The Brant Military Hospital was eventually demolished. Today, it is the site of the Joseph Brant Hospital.
The Brant Inn, a world famous entertainment mecca
 The Brant Inn was known all over North America and parts of Europe as a great entertainment destination. The owner A. B. Coleman brought in world class singers and musicians to entertain the patrons. If you wanted to see these performers in person, most arrived by train. Even the performers came by train to the Freeman Station. Undaunted by the loss of the Hotel Brant, A.B. Coleman turned his attention to his other moneymaker, the Brant Inn, which was located just across the street. The historic Brant Inn which was demolished in 1969 was to become one of North America’s greatest venues for entertainment. Almost every single major musician and singer from the 1920s up to the big band era and beyond, played the Brant Inn. The Brant Inn was advertised all across North America as the place to be to see the world’s greatest entertainers perform in person. If you couldn’t get to Burlington to see your favourite entertainer live, you could always hear them on radio. Their performances were broadcast live right across North America. For those that travelled to Burlington from somewhere across North America or Europe, you usually arrived by train and stepped off at the Freeman station.
 The Brant Inn received continuous publicity all over North America and Europe. This story about Ella Fitzgerald appeared in the Pittsburgh Courier on August 2, 1947. Burlington was a famous tourist town, as well as being an agricultural community. With a population just like a village, Burlington responded to the tourist trade and had several hotels ready for weary guests. Outside of the Hotel Brant, Burlington had three more on Brant Street. You could stay at the Hotel Raymond, or the Queen’s Hotel, and if they were full, you could find accommodation at the Burlington Hotel. These were the earliest hotels, and later on, many more were built.
 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stopped at the Freeman Station in June 1939, as part of their cross Canada tour. It was the only time British Royalty had ever been to Burlington. The Royal Family stopped to visit Burlington at the Freeman Station
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth arrived in Canada in 1939. The Royal family were invited to tour right across Canada and into the United States. This was the first time British Royalty had ever been to either country. The Royal couple in the month of June stopped in Burlington to say hello to the thousands of residents who showed up to catch a glimpse of the two as they waved to everyone while visiting at the Freeman Station. The King and Queen were on their way to St. Catharines to officially open the Queen Elizabeth Highway. For local residents, this was to be their only time to see Royalty in Burlington. The British Royal family have never returned to Burlington. It was an historic moment at Freeman Station 76 years ago.
 World famous author Peter C Newman arrived with his family from Austria to the Freeman Station after World War 2 to start all over again. The ravages of war had left the family with nothing. Their new life began on a local farm in Freeman. This photo from around 1946 shows Peter in Freeman with his favourite farm horses Bob & Joe. Welcome to Canada, your new home
Canada was founded on immigration. Burlington received not a few, but thousands of new residents over the decades. They came for many different reasons. Economic hardships in Europe, the ravages of war, new war brides, a chance to start a new life in a new land, were all catalysts that brought us these inspirational people. Most came with nothing, except the clothes they were wearing, and maybe a suitcase, and that was it. When they stepped off the train at Freeman Station, and looked around with some fear in their eyes, little did they know what was in store for them in Burlington. But, every single new immigrant will always remember the Freeman Station, where their new life began in Canada.
Tomorrow, find out what the Freeman Station symbolizes, and why it is historical.
Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, who grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families. Mark writes a regular column about colourful local history introducing Burlingtonians to the people that made this city what it is today.
Part 1
By Mark Gillies
February 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you’re like me, you really enjoy living in Burlington. We live in one of Canada’s wealthiest communities. We are also fortunate to live in a community that has a rich historical past. No doubt about it, this city has a lot going for it, yet at the same time, there is still much more room for improvement. As an historian, I have never seen so many in one community so determined to obliterate its historical past. What a shock! Over the years our local demolitionists have done a good job, there is not much remaining from the 19th century. Many Burlington buildings from the early 20th century now appear to be targeted too, even if they have historical recognition. The demolitionists continue to win most battles. The preservationists continue to lose most battles. Future generations will be denied the right to much of their heritage.
 Burlington was put on the map with the combined efforts of the Grand Trunk Railway and our market gardeners, with both moving us quickly into the 20th century. This extremely rare full colour advertisement (only 1 remains) was inserted into European newspapers at the turn of the century, as an enticement to stimulate European immigration to the Garden of Canada. There was a point in the recent past when the city of Burlington was prepared t sell the Freeman station for kindling to anyone who would cart it away. A city engineer stood before Council and said the build was structurally unsound and could literally fall apart any day. What that engineer did not know was this: much of Burlington’s current wealth is due in no small measure to the existence of the railway station at the Burlington Junction.
But hey! Who cares about historical buildings?
We have to give credit to local organizations like the Burlington Historical Society who work hard at documenting some of Burlington’s rich historical past, and they must become completely frustrated when there is nothing available to fill in the missing parts of our local heritage. Without their efforts, few of us would know anything at all about some of our glorious history. There are a couple on City Council who try their best to keep some of Burlington’s historical buildings relevant, and free of a wrecker’s ball. They can only do so much.
There are a few local citizens and businesses who thankfully come forward and voice their concerns in opposition to historical buildings facing demolition, and there are those who operate our two museums doing their best to showcase our past. There are some dedicated homeowners of historical residences who do their best to preserve the historical aspects of their property. Outside of these few, there seems to be an overwhelming desire to rid the landscape of anything that is old, and replace it with something else. This could be a new hi-rise condo, a hotel, a plaza, a factory, an oversized house, or anything else that may generate new tax revenues.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-progress; I’m really pro-heritage. I believe that as a society we have to do much better to harmonize the two together. The answer is to not always knock old buildings down, that’s too easy, and it’s cowardly. The intelligent and correct answer is to work with our historical properties and responsibly integrate them into today’s world.
Why is this desire to destroy everything old happening in Burlington? I believe it can be summed up in one word, “ignorance”. There are those from within the general public, some members of our own City Council, some employees at the City of Burlington, some in our educational system, some local developers, some in our own Heritage Burlington, even some departments within the provincial and federal governments who haven’t a clue about what is historical and what is worth saving in Burlington. What’s worse, many of them just don’t care.
 Residents are so fortunate to have the 1906 Freeman Station in Burlington. At 109 years of age, this building has outlived all of us. It is recognized provincially and federally as historical, but this city owned property lacks the will of our local government for any financial support. The Burlington Junction Train Station, or as it’s more commonly called, the Freeman Station, is a perfect example of how ignorance almost destroyed Burlington’s most historically significant building EVER.
The Garden of Canada made Burlington world famous
The Freeman Station represents the focal point of our community. Our whole local society and lifestyle, over several generations, can be worked around our local train station. Without the presence of the Grand Trunk Railway which ran their double tracks through Burlington, stretching from Montreal to Chicago, and with their other track running across the Beach Strip into Hamilton, the Niagara Region and into the United States, Burlington would probably not exist, as we know it today. Prior to the establishment of the predecessor railway through Burlington by the Great Western Railway, co-founded by Hamilton’s Sir Allan Napier MacNab, and Peter Carroll from Aldershot, goods were shipped by sailing vessels.
In the 1850s era, it was not uncommon to see wagons loaded with lumber lined up for over a mile waiting to be unloaded at the wharf located at the bottom of Guelph Line, and during the same period, they even backed up Waterdown Road at Brown’s Wharf in Aldershot. Over time, roughly 2-3 decades, when the timber had all been harvested, and the lands cleared for farming, the second local economic base became wheat, shipped first by sailing vessels, then by rail. When the Canadian west opened up in the 1870s & 1880s with free land available to new settlers, many of our local wheat farmers moved to the prairies, and wheat ceased to be a local crop. This left Burlington and surrounding areas looking for a third economic base.
Established farmers and even new settlers decided they would try other agricultural products. Their choices were fruit and vegetables. As it turned out, this was just about the most perfect location in all of North America for a wide variety of food production. The soil conditions, the temperature, the growing season, everything was perfect for great harvests. In short order, Burlington had thousands of acres of flourishing apple, pear, peach, plum, and cherry trees, plus strawberries, melons, tomatoes, beans, celery, cucumbers, and countless other fruits and vegetables under cultivation producing vast quantities.
There were market garden farms covering Aldershot, Freeman, Nelson, Appleby, Port Nelson, Kilbride, Lowville, Campbellville, Tansley, Zimmerman, all villages surrounding Burlington, with the Freeman Station at the heart of the whole area. Our area was a market gardening mecca, so much so, that Burlington became known around the world as “The Garden of Canada”. The harvests were so bountiful, that Burlington shipped produce to Hamilton and Toronto, and when we saturated those two markets, the market gardeners expanded some more, and shipped all over Ontario, and then it was all across Canada, followed by Europe, and then it was South Africa. Burlington was helping to feed many parts of the world. The name “Aldershot melon” became just as famous internationally as the well known “Idaho potato”.
Just in time delivery started with the GTR at Freeman Station.
 What made Burlington wealthy in the early part of the 20th century was the ability of the local market gardeners to get their high grade produce to the Grand Trunk Railway’s Freeman Station and have it shipped across the country and around the world, arriving just as fresh as when it was picked. How did our market gardeners get this fragile produce to these destinations? The 1906 Freeman Station which is now being restored and re-located to Fairview Street, was the focal point for most of this growth. Previously, there were two other train stations in Freeman which were destroyed by fire, one in 1883 and the other in 1904. They also played a part in this new economy. If it wasn’t for the railways in Burlington, the local wealth generated would not have happened. Burlington became very affluent at the turn of the 20th century, due to the efforts of the Grand Trunk Railway to quickly move the product, the local development of refrigerated boxcars, and also, our market gardeners who comprehended the science of agriculture, and maximized their yields. But, this was just one part of the Freeman station’s significance to Burlington. There were many more.
Tomorrow, find out how the Freeman Station played different roles in Burlington during the early part of the 20th century.
Mark Gillies is a lifelong resident of Burlington, who grew up in Aldershot and developed as a local historian, researcher, master genealogist and writer who has a passionate interest and extensive knowledge of the many early pioneer families.
Mark writes a regular column about colourful local history introducing Burlingtonians to the people that made this city what it is today.
 By Pepper Parr
February 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The city’s Tax Stabilization fund got clipped for $140,000 this morning.
The Tax Stabilization find is the account that any surplus from the previous budget goes into. As of today there was an uncommitted balance of $4,003,163 so the $140,000 that was handed over to the Art Gallery of Burlington didn’t leave that much of a dent.
With the city budget about to be debated – why hand out $140,000 now? That amount is to cover the 2014 shortfall that was the result of a number of items. In their delegation to the Community and Corporate Services Standing Committee this morning Anne Swarbrick and Sandra Edrup set the financial scene.
 Management problems prevailed in 2014. In January 2015, Art Gallery of Burlington staff met with Mayor Goldring, Councilor Taylor, and the Director of Finance to discuss their financial challenges. They had spent more money than they had in the bank. The major factors contributing to this deficit include:
Lower participation rates than forecast in educational programs.
Lower corporate and membership results than targeted in enterprise programs including lower catering and room rental revenues and the cancellation of the Creativity Forum due to insufficient registrations.
Lower than targeted sales revenues from Art Inc.
Increased staffing costs as a result of the installation of the new HVAC system.
We understood the first three items – but we are really pressed to see the relationship between “increased staffing costs” and “the new HVAC system” but no one on Council saw this as a problem.
This request was in fact a done deal – the delegation was just to give the transfer of the $140,000 a sheen of legitimacy.
The possible reason for the $140,000 loss might be related to some degree to the firing of the former President and CEO of the Art Gallery of Burlington. In the pleadings to Council the AGB said: “As a result of a combination of factors flowing from the issues referenced above, and re-organizational initiatives undertaken to correct them, the Gallery is currently undergoing a process in order to manage and plan for 2015 pressures.
They added: “As you will appreciate, the Board of Directors has increased their oversight of the AGB until such challenges can be resolved, including organizational review efforts that are now underway with the assistance of an excellent external consultant whom we have been able to recruit with no additional financial pressure on the organization’s resources
He had been with the art gallery for more than 15 years – suddenly he is gone.
There was no thank you, certainly no golden watch – but there appears, we are unable to confirm this, to have been a financial settlement which was not made public. Ross is gone, a search committee was created, advertisements were run, resumes received; the 35 that came in cut down to 9 out of which the Search Committee will settle on a short list of at least three.
 Ann Swarbrick, former MPP in the Bob Rae government and now the Interim President CEO of the Art Gallery of Burlington has shown she knows how to call in favours. Interviews will take place in March; the search committee hopes to announce their choice in April. Asked if there were going to be any woman on that short list and we were given “the look”: With Anne Swarbrick and Sandra Edrup on the search committee you know there is going to be at least one female on the list – even if it has to be a male that underwent a medical intervention.
In their delegation Swarbrick and Sandra Edrupt. Chair of the Board of Directors, said: “The Art Gallery is currently undergoing a change management process including reorganization initiatives to manage and plan for 2015 pressures.
The Art Gallery of Burlington has an accumulated deficit of $140,000 from their 2014 operations which represents 5.7% of their total 2014 operating budget of $2,453,450. The city gave the AGB a grant of $790,685 in 2014.
The AGB Foundation has allocated $160,500 to the gallery to support the 2015 programs, which will leave the Foundation with a balance in their reserve fund of approximately $65,000. These funds are ear marked for non-recurring and known costs they will face in 2015.
The gallery itself does not have a reserve – which is skating on pretty thin ice.
The financials given to the Standing Committee that approved the $140,000 payment for the 2014 shortfall looked like this:
REVENUE SUMMARY
Year-end Budget
City of Burlington – Operating Grant 790,685 790,685
Provincial funds
Ontario Arts Council 47,500 50,000
-Ontario Trillium Fund 4,508
Federal funds
Human Resource Canada 2,518 3,000
Earned Revenues
Education Fees 272,485 346,000
Art Etc Gallery Shop 525,737 660,500
Rental, Events, Memberships 438,107 355,765
AGB Foundation Grant 158,500 158,500
AGB Foundation/OAC Foundation 23,695 15,000
AGB Foundation/BCFoundation 13,111
TOTAL REVENUES 2,276,846 2,379,450
EXPENSE SUMMARY
Exhibitions 206,640 214,490
Education and Outreach 286,408 316,777
Enterprise/Marketing 331,433 172,751
Art Etc Gallery Shop 497,865 566,520
Administration 365,893 402,084
Occupancy and Maintenance 728,563 706,828
TOTAL EXPENSES 2,416,802 2,379,450
Net deficiency of revenue over expenditures (139,956)
The numbers tell the story. Fail to meet the objectives and there is always that Tax Stabilization to save the day. The prime question is – why did it take so long to see where the damage was being done?
By Staff
February 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If there was any doubt before – there is non now.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman is now an Ontario Tory. He sent the following out to what we presume is the Burlington Progressive Conservative membership list.
Dear members and supporters of the Ontario PC Party.
 Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman – now a member of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. Please forgive this intrusion on a Saturday afternoon. I wish to introduce myself on the eve of Christine Elliott’s special Membership Drive Reception in Burlington tomorrow, Sunday. I plan to attend the meeting and I have been asked to encourage others to join us.
Some of you already know me as a member of Council for our fine City of Burlington. I have joined the Ontario PC Party. My intention is to work with members of our community to rebuild the party with the goal of a PC majority government in the next Ontario election.
I acknowledge being a new comer to the PC party and in that regard have a lot to learn. With that said, I offer energy, commitment and passion to my personal goal, which is to make a contribution to the renewal of Ontario for the long term good of our citizens.
I look forward to meeting you between 2:30 and 4:30, Sunday February 8th at Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 60, 828 Legion Rd
Hope to meet you tomorrow!
Paul Sharman
Sharman is reported to be preparing to run against Liberal MPP Eleanor McMahon in the next provincial election.
|
|
