 By Pepper Parr
February 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Response to our readership survey is doing well.
 We’d like to convert those weekly and every three day people to daily readers. The monthly readers were all residents somewhere other than Canada. Snowbirds maybe? We asked our readers what they think of the work we do and what they would like to see more of and what they would like to see less of. The survey will stay up for 21 days – and then we will publish the results.
One thread that is consistent is the reaction to opinion pieces that are clearly political. We have two people who write a “column”. We don’t tell the columnist what to write; each one comes up with ideas of their own and they run them by the publisher. I get to say Yes or No.
Columnists are people with opinions, insight and experience. They are a critical part of a civilized dialogue that needs to take place in every community. The work done by a “columnist” is not reporting nor is it journalism. It is comment and opinion.
On a number of occasions we have run pieces offered to us by people running for office. We think it important that anyone running for office be given an opportunity to get their ideas out to the public. We were not interested in their ‘platform’ but we were interested in their thinking process. There were more than a dozen that were offered to us during the last election that we turned down – not because of the candidate but for what they had written. Most just gave us their platform – that’s advertising. We were interested in think pieces.
We also interview candidates and elected officials. During the last election two candidates refused to be interviewed.
A number of people made comments on these political viewpoints. We have reproduced several below and have added our own commits to the views these readers have expressed. We’ve not used the names of the writers but have put in initials to separate the views of one writer from those of another.
JF: “I agree that the coverage of City Hall is the strength of the Gazette. It fills a void. It does it well.
I get annoyed when they write upon or “create” Federal “issues” with the well-known Liberal Propaganda slant. It is not helpful. It simply comes across as a blowhard bravado and the motives are obvious. The Liberal Party echo chamber loves it, but it is of little value to the community. Zero value to journalism.”
This writer seems to not appreciate that the writer is a columnist – sharing an idea or a concept or a criticism. Yes, Ray Rivers is a known Liberal and writes from that vantage. Mike Wallace is Burlington’s MP – when he distributes his newsletter door to door you know that he is going to tout the Conservative party line – that what he is – a Conservative.
“When we can discuss and debate issues with a non-partisan perspective, value is added. When the so-called “debate” is simply to retort to the Liberal Party position on something Ray or Pepper have concocted, it is just that. A retort.”
We don`t for a second think a partisan comment does not add to the debate. The Conservatives fought hard to create the CBC; the Liberals fought hard to end capital punishment. Were these `partisan` issues?
“I know what to expect if I buy Torstar papers vs the National Post. I know what to expect if I watch CBC rather than Sun News. Is this what we want the Gazette to evolve into?”
Burlington does seem to have a problem with independent opinion. Ray Rivers is a Liberal, always has been. Thinks marijuana should be legal -the publisher disagrees with him and that the Senate should be abolished – again the publisher disagrees with Rivers.
I hope that as publisher of the Gazette we offer our opinions and make certain that there is space for people with other opinions. There are a couple of genuine nut cases out there that we don’t publish.
DG:
“Completed the survey, but disappointed that I didn’t get the opportunity to comment on the op ed-style pieces written by Ray Rivers and various candidates, including the Liberal candidate for the provincial riding. Very politically biased writing. Certainly not balanced reporting or opinions. The Gazette is more of a Liberal mouthpiece than The Star.”
DD: “The blatant Liberal propaganda and negative representation of other parties is a little bias for my taste but it is your Gazette (I did agree with Ray just recently………..so perhaps the blog is working).”
We were asked why there was not a regular column from a Conservative. Russ Campbell produced a few for us – but he decided he would rather publish his own material. We have approached a few “died in the wool” Conservatives – no takers yet.
 From the left: MP Mike Wallace proudly displaying the Book of Best Wishes that went to the Prince as a first birthday card, Councillor Jack Dennison, Joe Veitch, without whom the Book of Best Wishes would never have been done; Mayor Rick Goldring who was an early supporter of the project, Councillor Marianne Meed Ward, originator of the Book of Best Wishes idea and publisher of the Gazette, Councillors John Taylor and Rick Craven. What we don’t want is material sent to us by either the MP or the MPP that someone in Ottawa or Queens Park wrote for them. We are interested in publishing viewpoints that stir debate and bring forward fresh ideas that can be defended.
We get material from the provincial government daily. The local MP seems to have forgotten our address – but when there was a photo opportunity – he was front and centre – actually on the left in this photograph.
 By Staff
February 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) is launching its new self-guided tour program to assist gallery visitors in enjoying more of what the AGB has to offer. This new approach begins Saturday.
 Chief Curator Denis Longchamps “Chief Curator Denis Longchamps is raising the quality of AGB’s exhibition offerings throughout 2015,” says Interim Executive Director Anne Swarbrick. “This Sunday’s public reception formally launches Of Water and Tides by international artist Lyndal Osborne, linking the environment and the arts. At the same time, visitors will be able to follow the new self-guided tour programme to savour exhibitions in the AGB’s two other galleries, the Permanent Collection Corridor, and reflect upon Sally Michener’s fun ceramic installations with coffee in The Conservatory.”
Lesley McInally’s Passage exhibition in the Perry Gallery possesses evocative powers that drive the viewer to decode the narrative elements which she hints at but never states.
 Thousands of people from out of town visit the AGB every year. HomeGrown, winding through the Permanent Collection Corridor, draws from the AGB’s nationally significant 2,400-piece Collection of Canadian Ceramics. This exhibition by award-winning Curator Jonathan Smith traces the history of ceramics in Ontario over the last forty years. Starting with the refined functional ware of Ruth Gowdy McKinley and her effect on the program at Sheridan College and elsewhere, this exhibition looks at the development of the more sculptural approach by younger artists such as Reid Flock and
Mary Philpott. Flock is the third of the thirteen recipients of the Clay & Glass Gallery’s prestigious Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics whose successful career first started in the AGB’s pottery studio. The others are Kasia Piech and Ying Yueh Chuang.
Gallery visitors will be awed by Osborne’s installation throughout the AGB’s Lee-Chin Family Gallery. Longchamp’s 2015 engaging programme year will also include Naked Craft, an initiative with Canadian and Scottish artists that he has scheduled to tour Halifax and Quebec City; and In Spirit a collaboration with Owen Sound’s Tom Thomson Gallery that will tour work from regional artists throughout Burlington, Owen Sound, Woodstock and Montreal.
The bills do have to be paid. Admission to the AGB has been free for a location that is basically open every day of the year. 
The AGB will encourage visitors to assist through a suggested admission initiative. Noting that approximately 80% of Ontario’s art galleries charge admission fees, the AGB points out that members and children 12 and under can visit all exhibitions, as often as they like, free and take advantage of the self-guided tour. Non-members and new visitors to AGB will be asked to contribute $5 to tour the multiple exhibitions.
You just know that suggested is going to become mandatory – and perhaps that is the way it should go. The people that make the AGB work financially have done a great job without having to put in an admission fee. If it could be kept at $5 for a few years that would work.
 The Art Gallery has grown over the years with pieces added on. It has a charm and a character of its own – and sits on some of the most valuable land in the city. The AGB stages as many as 10 regional, national and international exhibitions a year and is home to the world’s largest, acclaimed collection of Canadian contemporary ceramics and seven fine craft guilds. An interactive and creative space, they provide art education programs and public tours for people of all ages. Spanning over 44,000 square feet, the space boasts seven equipped art studios, three galleries, a one of a kind gift shop, an exhibition courtyard and year-round conservatory.
Gallery Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
The Art Gallery of Burlington is located at1333 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, ON L7S 1A9
Art Etc Gallery Shop and Art Sales and Rental Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
At $5 a pop – the AGB is one of the best entertainment offerings in the city.
 By Staff
February 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Beer Festival – a two season event – will be holding it’s winter season at the Waterfront Hotel Friday and Saturday of this week.
 Two programs – a full scale beer tasting and pairing event – tickets are $125 each and then the Saturday session from noon to 11 pm – where you can taste a solid section of craft beers.
No American big brands names at this event.
Friday February 6 – begins at 6 – runs till 11 guests will participate in an exclusive three-hour tutored pairing, where they will be guided by an esteemed panel of speakers through seven small dishes, each accompanied by unique beers from premium craft breweries. The Master of Ceremonies for this evening is Bill White from Niagara College, who will share his passion and knowledge of beer over the course of the event. This special event will provide beer connoisseurs with a unique opportunity to engage with members of the craft beer community, and get a more in depth look into the craft beer industry. $125 a ticket.
Saturday February 7th – Winter Beer Fest – noon-11 pm
$25+HST [Includes five 4 oz. samples and a Winter Fest tasting mug]
On Saturday, the indoor/outdoor space of the Waterfront Hotel Ballroom will be transformed into a beer fans paradise, where Festival-goers are invited to sample an array of products offered by 10-12 talented local brewers, warm up with winter comfort foods and enjoy live entertainment all day.
Wayne Brown is the mind behind this event. While relatively new to the city – it has attracted a growing following.
 By Staff
February 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON.
Burlington has a practice of recruiting citizens to sit on Boards and committees that are involved in the operation of the city. There are advisory committees and Committees that the city must create as well
The city sees the appointing of citizens as part of its strategic direction for Excellence in Government as identified in the City’s Strategic Plan.
Through its citizen committees and municipal boards, the city says it is forging strong community relationships with open dialogue and citizen involvement in municipal issues.
Citizen committees offer Burlington residents the opportunity to provide Council advice and recommendations on various matters and/or organize activities that strengthen the community’s connection to the municipality.
The Clerks department conducts a recruitment process during the fall of each year. Recruitment opportunities are advertised on the City website as well as in local media.
This time around the Clerks department organized a volunteer fair where the public was invited to learn about all of the various opportunities available; more than one hundred applications were received from individuals expressing interest in the committees and boards.
The interviews for the citizen committees and boards were held in December 2014 and January 2015. The interview teams for each were comprised of the Chair or Vice Chairs of the Committees, staff liaisons and Council members.
The interview teams made their selection recommendations based on the respective committee’s needs as well as the applicant’s knowledge of the role, relevant skills and experience, expressed dedication/commitment/time availability, and communication skills.
The terms of reference for the citizen committees specify the duration of the appointments and provide for staggered terms to ensure continuity in the operation of each committee.
The interview team for the Committee of Adjustment (which includes the Property Standards Committee and Committee of Revision) recommended five individuals for appointment and three alternates. The Terms of Reference for the Committee of Adjustment however, stipulate that there are to be five members and only one alternate.
Staff are recommending with the guidance from the Legal department that a member of Council be appointed to act as an alternate member on the Licensing Committee. Should a member of the Licensing Committee have a conflict of interest, the alternate member would be required to participate in Licensing matters.
City hall has put a very positive spin on the process of involving citizens. There is some information that doesn’t get passed along; an oversight perhaps.
There is no longer a Transit Advisory Committee – yet transit is one of the most pressing problems the city has. The subject is seen as important enough for a citizens group to have formed a committee of their own that delegates to Council regularly – they are seldom actually listened to yet it is made up of people with an excellent understanding of transit and how it is managed in the Greater Toronto Area.
Many years ago when the Orchard community was being developed provision wasn’t made for a lot of space to park cars. At the time the thinking amongst planners was that public transit would be developed and families wouldn’t need two and three cars.
Well public transit wasn’t developed and parking in the Orchard is a mess. The ward Councillor for that part of the city, Paul Sharman, has done as much as he can to create solutions to a messy problem which might not exist if there were a well thought through, properly financed transit policy.
Matters of confidentiality plague at least one of the Advisory committee. Heritage once found itself having to go into a closed session without the members of the committee fully understanding what that meant.
The city does have some exceptional Advisory committees. Heritage was a mess until decent leadership was put in place and solid policies implemented. The Heritage Advisory actually got a close to standing ovation from council for the excellent work they had done.
Then a council member, whose name shall go unknown, began to talk about bringing that function back into city hall.
They sometimes just don’t know when to leave well enough alone.
City Council approved the following appointments citizen committees and boards.
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Kate White
• Howard Bohan
• Dorothy Kosinska
• Daniel Boag
• John Vice (Alternate)
• Pauline Laing (Alternate)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Arthur Rendall
• Ashley Taylor
• Brian Ouellette
• Adam Spencer
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Carolyn Barnes
• Julian Riano
• Sumit Kumar Tangri
• Tim Park
• Katherine Miller
• John Thompson
• Emma DeFields
• Anthony Zhou (Alternate)
• Michael Leone (Alternate)
• Albert Faccenda (Alternate)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Cycling Advisory Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Lindsay King
• Jeremy Santucci
• Brad Slade (term to expire 2016)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Inclusivity Advisory Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Michael Demone
• Dana Anderson
• Katelan Dunn
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Mundialization Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Chuck Morris
• Arnold Koopman
• Rob Lyng
• Bill Stafford
• Kevin Visser
• Sai Ramanathan
• Mary Vuk
• Neal Patel
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Seniors Advisory Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2017:
• Robert Lovell
• Kim Routlege
• JR Gauthier (Alternate)
• Peter Cowman (Alternate)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Burlington Public Library Board for a term to expire at December 31, 2018:
• Gloria Baxter
• Micki Clemens
• Nancy Douglas
• Maciej Jurczyk
• Brian Kenny
• Denise Maraj
• Catherine Benzie (Alternate)
• Shelley Easton (Alternate)
• Chris Gauthier (Alternate)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Committee of Adjustment for a term to expire at December 31, 2018:
• Malcolm Ramsay
• Rob Bailey
• Lindsay King
• Alexandra Rawlings
• Terry Kay
• Grant Newbury (Alternate)
• John Calvert (Alternate)
• John Vice (Alternate)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Audit Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2018:
• Peter Maher
• David Tait
• Brian Goard
• Maciej Jurczyk
• Paul Vetrone (Alternate)
Approve the following citizens for appointment to the Conservation Halton Board of Directors for a term to expire at December 31, 2018:
• John Vice
• James Sweetlove
• Gerry Smallegange
Approve the following citizen for appointment to the Downtown Parking Committee for a term to expire at December 31, 2018:
• Joe Henning
By Staff
February 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Passage. The wok of Lesley McInally opened at the Art Gallery of Burlington late in January. The Opening reception takes place on February 8th along with another exhibit that might well take up all the attention. It would be a mistake to not find time to slip over to the Perry Gallery and spend some time appreciating the slab built paper clay vessels.
 A Lesley McInally slab built paper clay vessel. Born and raised in Scotland, Lesley McInally got her degree in ceramics and printmaking from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee University. She immigrated to Canada over a decade ago and settled in the Georgian Bay area, in Cookstown, in a landscape that reminded her of her homeland. Her slab built paper clay vessels, while functional in form are inspired by the landscape of both Canada and Scotland, especially the historic stone structures that show the accumulated layers of age.
McInally’s forms take on the soft rounded contour of stones that have faced the effects of weathering over time. These forms are often pierced with openings so that pinpoints of light illuminate dark interiors.
Her surfaces range from mists of colour to glaze that resembles cracked, blistered, and peeling paint. In the last couple of years she has developed a technique where she uses her old printmaking techniques. She layers ceramic pigments and hand coloured porcelain engobes to create complex textural surfaces that reveal hidden burst of colour similar to lichens.
McInally’s work possesses evocative powers that drive the viewer to decode the narrative elements which she hints at but never states.
Lesley McInally will be showing at the AGB until March 22, 2015
By Staff
January 29th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Imagine the Lee-Chin Family room at the Art Gallery of Burlington aglow with 7500 glass jars lit with candles inside them.
This is the view that will be before you at the Art Gallery of Burlington when a major installation opens next month: Of Water and Tides.
 Lyndal Osborne with some of the over 7,500 glass jars she uses to take us on a journey involving two amazing rivers: one in Australia, one in Canada. International artist Lyndal Osborne uses over 7,500 glass jars to take us on a journey involving two amazing rivers: one in Australia, one in Canada.
This major cultural event will challenge your views on how we think about our richest natural resource – water.
Shoalwan: River through Fire, River of Ice (2003) and Tidal Trace (2004-2013) are two major installations in the oeuvre of Australian born artist Lyndal Osborne: both are inspired by bodies of water.
Shoalwan is a reflection on her experiences along the Shoalhaven River in Australia and of the North Saskatchewan River that flows near her home in Edmonton, Alberta. It presents her contrasting experiences in two countries that are antipodal.
Tidal Trace, in collaboration with John Freeman, came to be from her experiences at Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland where she noticed plastic and metal refuse, items left behind on the beach or thrown at sea, were brought to shore by the rolling of the waves, like a macabre dance of gift-giving.
 A reflection Lyndal’s experiences along the Shoalhaven River in Australia Shoalwan and Tidal Trace invites visitors to meditate and contemplate on the beauty and force of water. It also reminds us of the destructive power of the human race in the name of evolution and technological advancement.
In the end…who will win?
Of Water & Tides showing at the Art Gallery of Burlington from February 7, 2015 to April 5, 2015. There is no admission charge for AGB events.
By Pepper Parr
January 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The boys are at it again.
Mischa and Mel Aravena are part of a crew that will be putting on performances of Red, the six time Tony Award winning play, written by John Logan. The run begins January 29th at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC).
Nortesur Productions, a Burlington based group is behind this initiative. The company is made up of the two Aravena boys and their Dad.
 Mischa is in the back, Mel in the foreground: moving the set for the Harold Pinter play “Betrayal” that they were painting in their driveway for a Hamilton Fringe Festival production. They were work shopping Red in Hamilton when Brian McCurdy, Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre in Hamilton saw their work and decided to bring the production to Burlington.
McCurdy has done a lot to develop local talent on the BPAC stage.
 Red, a dramatic production has won six Tony Awards. Red is about Master Abstract Expressionist painter Mark Rothko has just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant. In the two fascinating years that follow, Rothko works feverishly with his young assistant, Ken, in his studio on the Bowery. But when Ken gains the confidence to challenge him, Rothko faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing. Raw and provocative, RED is a searing portrait of an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he tries to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting. It is a fascinating exploration into the life of an angry and brilliant mind.
This level of critically acclaimed drama is not seen nearly often enough in Burlington.
The Aravena boys have had work in the Hamilton Fringe Festival. Mel does the production work – Mischa is the performer.
The production runs from Thursday January 29th through to Saturday February 7th.
Tickets available at the PAC box office.
Show Times
Jan 29 7:30 PM Feb 05 7:30 PM
Jan 30 7:30 PM Feb 06 7:30 PM
Jan 31 2:00 PM Feb 07 2:00 PM
Jan 31 7:30 PM Feb 07 7:30 PM
Tickets Available at the BPAC web site.
By phone: 905-681-6000
Regular Price: $29 + tax
Series Price: $25 + tax
Senior Price: $25 + tax
30 and under: $25 + tax
 By Mark Gillies
January 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON.
Part 1 of a 2 part feature
 Sir Allan Napier MacNab was a wealthy lawyer, a Prime Minister, a co-founder of The Great Western Railway, including business partner and close friend of Peter Carroll. Here’s a question for you. When Hamilton’s Sir Allan Napier MacNab the wealthy Prime Minister of Upper Canada, from 1854 to 1856, went dining at a castle in Aldershot, where did he always go?
If you said, Rock Bay, consider yourself a genius. If you have never heard of Rock Bay, don’t feel bad, you are not alone. This is just one more of Burlington’s greatest treasures, regrettably, forgotten over time.
Rock Bay was the first stone castle-like mansion built in the Aldershot area during the early 1850s, by one of Canada’s wealthiest men, Mr. Peter Carroll. Many at the time referred to his residence as Carroll’s Castle, because it did resemble a castle.
 Dundurn Castle was built for Sir Allan MacNab and completed at a cost of $175,000 in 1835. This artist’s impression shows us what Dundurn Castle looked like in this same year. Dundurn Castle, which we are more aware of, is located at the western end of Burlington Bay on land named Burlington Heights. This beautiful grandiose home built for Sir Allan MacNab, over a 3 year period, was completed in 1835, at a cost of $175,000. We just don’t know about its neighbour, Rock Bay Castle, nor do we know much about Peter Carroll.
What was it that these men had in common? Allan MacNab and Peter Carroll both attained enormous wealth and great power. They were best of friends and business partners. Allan MacNab was a lawyer, but amassed his wealth in land speculation. Peter Carroll was a land surveyor by profession, eventually retiring from this field, in favour of establishing a construction company that built and owned major toll roads across the colonial province. To say the least, this career move was extremely lucrative. Road construction and tolls were the catalysts that launched Peter Carroll into new wealth. Among the many roads in Upper Canada that Peter constructed and owned were these familiar local routes; Waterdown Road, Plains Road (then called the Hamilton and Nelson Gravel Road) and Carlisle Road, plus most roads surrounding Hamilton. Before retiring from land surveying, Peter was responsible for the creation of the grid pattern street layout in Hamilton, a contract offered to him by his good friend, George Hamilton, the founder of Hamilton, Ontario. Peter, under a similar contract, also surveyed the entire Burlington Bay.
Three great minds work together to amass their fortunes
Allan MacNab and George Hamilton were already longtime boyhood friends, both born and raised in Niagara-on-the-Lake. These two men rose to prominence mainly from their efforts in battles during the War of 1812. Helping to defeat the American invasion at Queenston was their crowning achievement in the military. Allan MacNab was knighted by Queen Victoria. Peter Carroll served as a lieutenant-colonel in the militia in these same battles. This is most likely where he first met the other two men, prior to all three setting out seeking fame and fortune after the war ended.
It was basically these three men, after the war, who worked together to shape the future of Hamilton, plus the surrounding areas, including Aldershot. All three men acquired massive tracts of land in this same area, and even abroad. Peter Carroll for one, had extensive land holdings in Iowa and Illinois. All of this land provided the three landowners with unbelievable wealth. These three men influenced the future direction for the Province of Upper Canada, mainly through politics.
Peter Carroll selects a beautiful setting to build his mansion
A spectacular view from Burlington Heights looking east towards Lake Ontario, was the best property for Allan MacNab to build Dundurn Castle. Peter Carroll, not to be outdone, one day, also wanted to have a palatial home with a view overlooking the same Burlington Bay. Unfortunately, the Dundurn Castle site was already taken. As Peter continued to work his way into the power brokers’ circle, with his wealth continuing to dramatically increase, he finally decided it was time to build, and purchased a 40 acre tract of land on the northwest side of Burlington Bay.
 This old land map shows us where Peter Carroll’s property was located in Aldershot. Today, the same property is where Woodland Cemetery, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Plains Road curve are located. It was not uncommon for men of great wealth to showcase their success with massive homes. Peter was shrewd enough to not upstage his friend and mentor, Sir Allan MacNab, by building a larger mansion, despite possessing enough wealth. Peter’s home would be on a smaller scale, but would resemble a castle in England. Peter hired an English architect who specialized in manor homes. The architect was brought over to design his new home. The land that Peter Carroll purchased is now occupied by Woodland Cemetery, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Plains Road curve in front of the RBG headquarters. The massive stone structure began its construction in the late 1840s. Cut stone was shipped in from a quarry located in Queenston. The mansion was finally ready for occupancy in 1855. The beautiful estate featured a port cochere, stables, outbuildings, a mammoth entrance gate, and small guest lodges located just inside the gates.
 The Bayview cottage was put up for sale by auction in 1855 when Rock Bay was ready for occupancy. The advertisement describes the building, and the grounds available for purchase. Part of the estate was set aside for farming. Peter Carroll has been identified as one of 2 people to introduce commercial peach farming into Upper Canada. Oak trees were planted on either side of the long winding drive heading towards the mansion, beginning when you turned off from the Hamilton and Nelson Gravel Road. Many of these same oak trees planted on Peter Carroll’s estate are now over 160 years old, and if you position yourself correctly on the grounds of Woodland Cemetery, it is possible to follow the route of the original laneway right to the front entrance of Rock Bay. Peter’s first home in the area, was an oversized board & batten wooden cottage, called Bayview. This building was located on the same property, and was constructed a few years before the mansion was built. When Peter was ready to move in to the larger premises, Bayview was put up for sale by auction.
 Peter Carroll was on the Board of Directors for several corporations, including the Gore Bank. This drawing is the Gore Bank office in Hamilton. Peter Carroll sits as a Director on two different banks
As Peter became more influential and powerful, he was invited to be on the Boards of several corporations, including the Bank of Brantford and the Gore Bank. In those days banks issued their own currency in the form of bank notes, but they were actually promissory notes.
A Great Western Railway “Founding Father”
While the mansion was still under construction, and even after Peter Carroll moved in, Sir Allan MacNab and Peter Carroll continued to move along fairly quickly in the business world. They believed a railway was needed to help open up southwestern Upper Canada for more European settlers who were arriving in increasing numbers.
 The Great Western Railway built train stations, bridges and track all across southwestern Upper Canada. This is a rare photograph of a very early Great Western Railway locomotive, tender and cars. One of the greatest achievements for these men, was to finally receive a charter from The Parliament of Upper Canada in 1845, to create the Great Western Railway, 7 years before The Grand Trunk Railway was incorporated in 1852. The new railway company began construction of trains stations, rail lines and bridges, mainly in southwestern Upper Canada. Rail service began in 1853. Sir Allan MacNab became President, and a group of men, mainly prominent lawyers, including Peter Carroll formed the first Board of Directors.
 The Great Western Railway was the first in Upper Canada to establish itself as a major player in the market. The drawing of the suspension bridge, a marvel for its time, shows a GTR train crossing. Peter Carroll was on The Board of Directors for the Niagara Suspension Bridge Company and The Great Western Railway Company. The Niagara Suspension Bridge
Even back in the early 1840s, before their railway charter was awarded, these men realized accessing the bigger American market was going to be key for their financial success. The Great Western Railway Board believed the rail line should one day connect to the United States by a bridge. With that decision made, Peter Carroll became a Director of the Niagara Suspension Bridge Company of Canada. The International Bridge Company of New York was the second company involved with the bridge construction. The two companies would have joint ownership. This first railway suspension bridge in North America was built across the Niagara Gorge, an expanse of 800 feet. The suspension bridge when it opened in 1855 was considered to be an engineering marvel, for its time.
In part 2 of this 2 part feature find out what happened over 100 years ago to this beautiful castle-like mansion. over 100 years ago? See 2 very rare old photographs of what Rock Bay Castle looked like. Whatever happened to Peter Carroll? Why is he not in the history books?
 By Staff
January 24, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON.
It was a different piece of “installation art”.
Jim Riley came up with this idea of filming people who are kissing each other. It was a little outside the comfort zone for some and we don’t know yet how people are going to react to the projections on the windows on the west side of the Art Gallery of Burlington.
 They are worth looking at. The way people of different ages handle “the kiss” is interesting – we will leave it at that.
The Gazette works closely with a number of staff at the AGB – the odds on favourite amongst the female staff member’s is the one they refer to as The Long Kiss.
Jim Riley explains video installation as an art form that combines video technology with installation art. Between 1970 and 1995, artists used TV to present their video art. The technology available today allows much bigger and bolder projections.
Love Kiss can be seen from Lakeshore Road using video projectors and two windows between dusk to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday
The TV monitors, as well as the video projections, may also be viewed inside the gallery.
 Riley thinks the locale might become a spot for couple do pause sometime during Valentine’s Day.
 By Staff
January 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Adults understand the relationship between nature and the environment – well some of them do. But how do you get that connection across to the pre-teens and the teenagers in the house?
 Snowy Owls are expected to show up in even higher numbers than last year. Young people have a connection with nature – they will stop and watch a hawk swoop in and grab a smaller animal from the ground. The will even marvel at an owl as it swoops from the top of a telephone pole to clutch a mouse scurrying through a field.
How do you get them to dig a little deeper and come away with an understanding that was based on an experience they had?
Bird Studies Canada does what they call for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The 18th annual count is taking place February 13 through 16.
Anyone in the world can count birds at any location for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count and enter their sightings at www.BirdCount.org.
The information gathered by tens of thousands of volunteers helps track changes in bird populations on a massive scale.
 The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with partner Bird Studies Canada.
Bird watchers fell in love with the magnificent Snowy Owl during the last count when the birds were reported in unprecedented numbers across southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes states, the Northeast, and down the Atlantic Coast. Expect Snowy Owls to show up in higher numbers during this year’s GBBC, too.
“It’s called an ‘echo flight,'” explains Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “After a huge irruption like we had last winter, the following year often yields higher-than-usual numbers as well. The abundance of lemmings that produced last year’s Snowy Owl irruption likely continued or emerged in new areas of eastern Canada, more owls may have stayed east after last year’s irruption, and some of last year’s birds that came south are returning.”
 “This may also be a big year for finches,” notes Audubon Chief Scientist Gary Langham. “GBBC participants in North America should be on the lookout for larger numbers of Pine Siskins and redpolls. These birds also push farther south when pine cone seed crops fail in the far north of Canada.”
Bird watchers from 135 countries participated in the 2014 count, documenting nearly 4,300 species on more than 144,000 bird checklists–that’s about 43% of all the bird species in the world! In addition to the U.S. and Canada, India, Australia, and Mexico led the way with the greatest number of checklists submitted.
 Common Redpole “We especially want to encourage people to share their love of birds and bird watching with someone new this year,” says Dick Cannings at Bird Studies Canada. “Take your sweetheart, a child, a neighbor, or a coworker with you while you count birds for the GBBC. Share your passion and you may develop a brand new bird watcher!”
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature and show some love for the birds this Valentine’s Day.
Participation is free and easy. To learn more about how to join the count, download instructions, a slide show, web buttons, and other materials, visit this website: While you’re there, get inspired by the winning photos from the 2014 GBBC photo contest.
 By Staff
January 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON.
The city wants to make the streets look nicer. A number of years ago they installed really nice looking bike racks – they were attractive – so much so that many people didn`t use them – they didn`t know they were bike racks.
 Lovely public art – it’s a bike rack. Hard to tell what its purpose is – needs a small sign – Park your bike here. Margaret Lindsay Holton, a local artist, tells of a person she saw chaining their bike to a pole that was beside one of the bike racks – the rack was so attractive people didn`t realize what they were for. “That was one of those occasions I wished I had had my camera with me” said Holton.
At some point the city might add small signs to the racks – saying what they are – they are very nice.
Through its public art program, the City of Burlington is inviting the public to provide suggested locations and themes for a series of local murals and is offering three ways to comment between now and Feb. 6.
“This is a great initiative that will Increase local artist participation in the City of Burlington’s public art program,” said Angela Paparizo, manager of arts and culture. “We’re excited to engage residents in the creative process through mural site selection and community storytelling and hope they will take advantage of the opportunity to shape art in their community.”
Murals are a new thing for Burlington. There was a poster put up on a building – the garage at the foot of Locust Street – that has great potential as a mural site.
 Scarborough, Ontario went for murals in a big way. Might Burlington see work of this quality? Scarborough took to mural art in a big way and has done a great job. It will be interesting to see what the Burlington art community does.
There is a fine mural on the Flat Iron building on Front Street in Toronto that has stood the test of time. Unfortunately the city mural program does not apply to private buildings.
The Burlington Mural Project is designed to tell local stories using local artists.
 Could this have been Burlington when it had radial lines in the city? The program has a budget of $5,000 to $10,000 for each mural and will commission small to medium-scale murals throughout the city, with one mural location and story selected for each of Burlington’s six wards.
 This mural on the Flat Iron building on Front Street in Toronto is on a private building. Burlington has decided its mural program will be on just city buildings – pity. These submissions will be reviewed by the city’s Public Art Implementation Team (PADIT) and a jury of citizens. Locations and artists will be chosen based on public input. The murals will be open exclusively to local Burlington artists. Free learning opportunities will be offered to artists who may not have experience creating public art and/or murals.
This program was developed in consultation with members of the local arts community. In October 2014, a brainstorming session was held with members of the local arts community. Based on this session and feedback, a Program Guide has been developed. Click here to access a copy.
Artist applications for the selected mural projects will be released in late February 2015.
The city will have a Public Art Booth at the Lowville Winter Games on Sunday, January 25 – share your ideas.
There is no limit on the number of submissions per resident.
By Staff
January 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The city web site is getting a serious make over.
Council was given a quick preview of what the public will see in the very near future. It is going to be a much more useful web site. In the past when one did a search you often got documents that were as much as ten years old but often not the one you wanted.
One of the “public involvement” aspects will be a photo submission. The city decided they didn’t want to use “stock” photos – so they are going to the public and asking anyone to submit a photograph.
The City will determine which photographs submitted will be used. They will select photos for use based on overall quality, scenic shots and community in action shots.
The photos selected will help to promote our community and may be part of the new City of Burlington website. The decisions of the City with respect to all aspects of the submission are final. All photos must have been taken in the City of Burlington and be submitted in one of the following categories:
• City of Burlington Arts and Culture
• City of Burlington Council
• City of Burlington Festivals and Events
• Living in Burlington
• City of Burlington Recreation
• City of Burlington Waterfront
• City Programs
Photos on the website will be changed on a seasonal basis – they will be looking for photo submissions on a regular basis.
It`s a good idea. You have to put up with all the baffle gab the legal department put in – just say yes to whatever they ask. When you see words like: irrevocable, perpetual, you know there was a lawyer in the room.
 By submitting your photographs, you accept and agree to abide by these terms and conditions. If you are under the age of 18, then you must have the written permission of your parent or legal guardian to submit your photographs and your parent or legal guardian must accept and agree to abide by these terms and conditions.
If your photograph is chosen for use, you hereby grant The Corporation of the City of Burlington and any other parties designated by the City the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, transferable licence to use, edit, alter, reproduce, distribute, and publish your photograph in any manner and in any media for promotional matters or purposes of advertising, trade, display or exhibition. The City will not pay you or others any royalty, licence fee or any costs for such photograph. You also waive any moral rights that you may have in the photograph in favour of the City.
The City may or may not include any photo credits with the use of your photograph. That is really kind of cheap and mean spirited – if someone goes to the effort to submit a picture – the east the city can do is give a photo credit.
By submitting a photograph, you represent and warrant that the photograph you submit is an original work by you, that you own or control all of the rights in and to your photograph, and that such rights are free and clear of any and all third party claims or rights. You release the City and any other parties designated by the City from any liability associated with your submission. You understand that the City has no control over, and is not responsible for, any further use or misuse of your photograph by others. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the City and any other parties designated by the City from all liabilities and losses arising out of or related to your submission or the rights granted herein.
If an individual appears in your photograph, you are responsible for obtaining the consent of that individual to have his/her likeness displayed and published by the City. The City may request Photo Consent forms from submitters.
 By submitting your photograph, you consent to the use of your name and address (city and province/territory) without further compensation to you.
If you want to be part of animating the city`s web site and you can take a decent picture – join the parade.
Click here to submit a picture.
By Staff
January 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra will do their second performance of its new Gallery Series of chamber concerts to be held at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Taking place at the Art Gallery of Burlington on Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30pm. The Gallery Series brings our region’s local art galleries and professional orchestra together to create intimate, 60-minute chamber concerts in inspirational and beautiful environments.
 The Hamilton Philharmonic will play within the setting of the current exhibit An Aqueous State by photographer Janusz Wrobel, Within the setting of the current exhibit An Aqueous State by photographer Janusz Wrobel, and This Pocket of Deeds by Warren Hoyano, the HPO Woodwind Trio performs glistening and harmonious works written for flute, clarinet and bassoon.
Principal flutist Leslie Newman, principal clarinetist Stephen Pierre and bassoonist Melanie Eyers show Burlingtonians the beauty of these symphonic instruments in an environment that allows audiences an up-close experience with professional musicians.
“We are delighted to bring our professional musicians to the Art Gallery of Burlington and offer Burlington residents a great chamber music experience in such a unique setting,” says Carol Kehoe, Executive Director of the HPO.
 Hamilton Philharmonic will perform at the Art Gallery of Burlington The performance is hosted by HPO composer-in-residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte who provides context for each musical selection on the program.
Following the performance, Art Gallery of Burlington Chief Curator Denis Longchamps provides an introduction to the exhibit before inviting guests to join HPO musicians and Gallery staff for a reception.
Art Gallery of Burlington is located at 1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington
Reception following the concert. Cash bar
The Gallery Series is a FREE concert series with donations gladly accepted at the door. Seating is limited seating and on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP is recommended by calling 905.526.7756. Doors open one hour prior to the concert starting.
By Pepper Parr
January 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Brian Dean, General Manager, of the Burlington Downtown Business Association is a happy camper. He has more clients.
Some of those clients are not all that pleased that they are on the client list.
 Purple lines how the new territory added to the BDBA boundary. The addition of the names on the list came about when the city went along with the BDBA request to enlarge their boundaries. They now extend further north on Brant; take in a large chunk on the west and a bit of land on the east.
Every commercial operation within those boundaries is automatically a member of the BDBA which adds to the BDBA revenue base because commercial operations are automatically members of association.
Dean does a good job of representing the commercial interests of the downtown core. His objective is to use BDBA tax levies to make the downtown part of the city look better and to use those resources to promote programs that benefit all the commercial retailers and service providers.
 Brian Dean, top toff at the Downtown Business Association was out drumming up business for those of his members that took part in the Red Bag Sale.
Good business associations add value for their members. There are opportunities to use the collective energy of the commercial sector to create a sense of place and make it a destination. Ottawa has it Byway market, Toronto has a Distillery District – Burlington doesn’t yet have a sense of identity. Strangely enough Spencer Smith Park does have an identity – it is the locale for two of the best events in the province. RibFest and the Sound of Music draw thousands of people.
Napanee has a part of town that, believe it or not, that has become a fashion destination. Napanee? So it can be done.
The BDBA has a member of city council who sits with the association as a liaison; traditionally the member for the ward fills that role – but not always.
In the “putsch” (a secretly plotted and suddenly executed attempt to overthrow a government). that took place at city hall on December 18th Marianne Meed Ward was replaced as the BDBA liaison by ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster. The argument given for the change at the time was that ward 6 is kind of separated from the city and it would be a good idea to have someone from that part of the city on the BDBA. And, as Lancaster pointed out, she does have 30 years of downtown business experience.
The city council liaison is not a voting member nor is there presence required to create a quorum. Dean, the general manager, can if he wishes ask anyone at the meeting to serve as a “guest” chair. You can see where this is going; the city council politics are spilling over into the boards, committees and agencies that make so much happen in the city.
 Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster thinking through the answer to a question. Dean is quick to tell people that Meed Ward is a significant asset on his board, no one seems prepared to point out that while Lancaster did have a Spa with her name on it in the downtown core – she didn’t work at the Spa. As she told the Gazette some time ago: “I have professional managers run the place – they use my Miss Canada brand.” The Spa was closed in 2014.
By Pepper Parr
January 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON.
The promise is being kept.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is doing more and more in the way of community programming. June Cash is nice, if you like that kind of stuff, but there are thousands of people in the city that want to do more than buy a ticket and watch. They want to do.
 Bhattacharya and Laberge- Côté’s working the stage And if dance is your thing there are a series of dance classes being offered in the next couple of months. This pilot initiative aims to increase the range and diversity of dance available to communities in Ontario outside of Toronto. From dance classes and workshops to artists in residence to the presentation of dance work from leading Ontario-based professional choreographers, Ontario Dances will offer the public and professionals alike the opportunity to participate in dance at all levels.
You must be registered to take part in any of the classes. You register. Links are set out below for registration. Each class has a different registration link.
Funded by the Ontario Arts Council’s Ontario Dances Program which seeks to have more live dance performances in Ontario communities and more people engaged, interested and invested in dance at a local level in our province.
There are four different classes:
Master Dance Class with Rosemary James
Creative Process Workshop with Christopher House
Contemporary Collaboration –
Contemporary & Classical Bharatanatyam Technique
 Master Dance class The Master Dance class will be led by Toronto Dance Theatre Rehearsal Director Rosemary James for young dancers. Participants must be 14 years of age or older with a minimum of 2 years of dance experience.
Maximum Participants: 20
All participants MUST be registered.
Register for this class here
Creative Process Workshop with Christopher House
Sunday, January 25, 2015 (1pm – 4pm)
in the Marshalling Room
An interactive working session aimed at exploring the creative process underlying the development and production of choreography. Christopher will present his approach to the creative process, particularly as it relates to his experience creating new works. During the session, he will engage participants in a variety of creative and/or choreographic exercises aimed at fostering their artistic development, and may also explore the different performance goals and/or production considerations relevant to various forms of dance and theatre.
Led by Toronto Dance Theatre Artistic Director Christopher House.
Participants must be 16 years of age or older with a minimum of 2 years of dance experience.
Maximum Participants: 20
All participants MUST be registered.
Register for this class here
Choreography & Collaboration
Saturday, February14, 2015 (1pm – 3pm) in the Marshalling Room
This workshop is ideal for dancers with training in EITHER contemporary dance (including jazz, modern, ballet) or classical Indian dance styles. Bhattacharya and Laberge-Côté with backgrounds in bharatanatyam and modern dance have been collaborating for over a decade. They have developed a specialized approach to dance training that transcends perceived boundaries of form and technique. During the afternoon session participants will be led through phrases of Bhattacharya & Laberge- Côté’s work Akshongay, giving them the opportunity to work with established choreographers in a rehearsal like process. The class culminates by delving into the creative process as the participants are guided through tried and tested methods of collaboration.
Participants must be 16 years of age or older with a minimum of two years of dance experience. Ideally participants would take both classes (10am & 1pm).
Maximum Participants: 20
All participants MUST be registered.
Register for this class here.
Contemporary & Classical Bharatanatyam Technique
Saturday, February14, 2015 (10am – 12pm)
in the Marshalling Room
Participants must be 16 years of age or older with a minimum of 2 years of dance experience.
Ideally participants would take all both classes (10am & 1pm).
Maximum Participants: 20
All participants MUST be registered.
Register for this class here.
 There have been some incredible performances on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre, The Performing Arts Centre has put son some wonderful dance productions in the past. Hopefully the Ontario Arts Council pilot Dance Outreach program will prove to be a resounding success – and we will see more dance on that stage.
By Pepper Parr
January 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
For those of you who remember the “drive-in” movies – there will be an opportunity to re-live that experience when you are driving along Lakeshore Road and passing the Art Gallery of Burlington between January 16th and February 15th.
 Love – the moment! Jim Riley, a Burlington, based video artist will have a two-channel window installation showing in the evenings. The video installation will be visible after dusk in two windows facing Lakeshore Road at the Art Gallery of Burlington. During other gallery hours, monitors will play the videos in the Community Gallery of the AGB.
 Love – same gender Riley’s art practice involves taking a moment of time, slowing it down, and placing it in a circle for the audience to examine. The circle acts as a portal to that moment, for the viewer to explore. As a non-linear story teller, Riley invites the audience to pause and view the two videos on a winter evening walk or, in a fleeting moment, from their vehicle.
Seven couples were invited to engage in the project. They were given minimal instruction, and they decided how to interpret the directions.
 Janet – self love The main circular image illustrates the couples’ love. The participants reflect a wide span of backgrounds. Images range from young sweethearts to middle-aged duos, interracial lovers, same-gender couples, single parent and child love, and a mature couple that have been lovers for nearly fifty years. Viewers may find their interactions intriguing.
 Lilly – self love. The participants were each asked to bring an object that represented them. These solo images are shown in the smaller Lakeshore window. The contributors are also shown individually, representing self-love. Viewers are invited to connect the dual images of Love Kiss with the solo imagery.
There are several theories as to the origin of a kiss. The kiss has been used as ritual, and to show affection or sexual and romantic love. Kissing between humans may be seen as a form of loving non-verbal communication.
Riley was a participant in the No Vacancy – Cirque event held at the Village Square last September.
 By Staff
January 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON.
Ray Rivers will not be with us this week. He is in New Zealand pondering what he wants to do in 2015 and doing some R&R with his wife who is a New Zealander.
 Gazette columnist Ray Rivers checking out local media in New Zealand. Grandchildren, family dinners with copious amount of wine and good conversation will keep him busy until we see him back in Canada at the end of February.
He will write his column from New Zealand and will appear every second week.
Meanwhile he peruses the local media.
 By Staff
December 31, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Barracudas brightened up their holidays with two Tournament Medals at the 34th Annual Mississauga Chiefs Christmas Classic that was held December 27-29, 2014.
Burlington’s not-for-profit hockey organization offers girls a fun environment to play Canada’s favourite sport – hockey.
 Midget AA Silver medal winners at the Mississauga Chiefs Christmas Classic – Burlington Barracudas  Barracuda Peewee DS level they took bronze at the Mississauga Chief’s Annual Classic They brought home a Midget AA Silver Medal and at the Peewee DS level they took bronze.
Founded in 1996, The Burlington Girls Hockey Club provides a safe and fun place for more than 750 young female athletes to play hockey. The not-for-profit organization offers programs for girls ages 4 to 21 at both the house league and competitive (rep) levels.
 By Staff
December 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Roy Brooke is an avid cyclist who lives in Victoria BC. On a trip to Copenhagen Denmark he experienced physically separated bikes and cars with a dedicated cycle tracks.
Brooke tells his story: “Visitors to Copenhagen tend to notice that it is tough to take a photograph without a cyclist or bicycle in it. Cyclists seem to be everywhere, and statistics bear out the impression — 55 per cent of Copenhagers’ use bicycles each day and 41 per cent of people arrive to work or school by bike in the Danish capital.
 In Copenhagen cycling is not limited. any any one demographic “On a visit to Denmark I started to notice who was actually doing the cycling as much as their sheer numbers — old, middle-aged and young people, families with children, women in high heels, people doing chores, people just getting around; every possible segment of society seemed to travel by bike.
“As a parent, what surprised me were the many mothers and fathers in the downtown core with children on their bikes.
“At home in Victoria, I bike on quiet residential streets with my four-year old on the back in his carrier. However, I never venture downtown with him on my bike. In my judgment as a parent, neither the core of our city or the roads that lead to it are safe enough for me to travel by bicycle with my son.
“Yet in Copenhagen, a much larger and more bustling city than Victoria, families ventured into the busy core at all hours with children.
“I rented a three-speed cruiser at my hotel and set forth to find out why. After a few hours biking around Copenhagen, I had several clear impressions. Foremost, during the entire time I biked around town, I never once felt like I was running a gauntlet of death between parked cars on one side and speeding traffic on the other. Almost every route physically separated bikes and cars with a dedicated cycle track.
“In some areas, this was a bike lane on raised pavement. In others, simply but ingeniously, parked cars rather than people were the ones in the road nearest the traffic. This let bikers and pedestrians use the calm, safe space between parked cars and buildings.
 Lanes created for bicycles where they don’t put riders in harms way and pedestrians have the sidewalks to themselves. In Copenhagen it isn’t a “them” and “us” – cars and bikes each have their place.  Traffic management includes instructions for cyclists. “In places without physical barriers between cyclists and car traffic, thick lines painted on the pavement and wide cycle tracks kept cars at a distance, and all intersections were marked to prioritize cyclists.
“In a word, I felt safe.
“I also didn’t need to think much to bike. It was clear where I had to go because cycle routes were clearly delineated. It was clear when I had to go or stop because there were usually stoplights just for bicycles. And, it was clear where I could park or rent bicycles: just about anywhere.
“In short, things were designed not only for motorists but cyclists also.
“My overall impression is that Copenhagen’s physical separation of bike and car routes and having fully integrated design takes the “us versus them” out of cycling. I never felt irritated by motorists because I never came near them. I assume that I never bothered motorists, for the same reason. Pedestrians, motorists and cyclists thrived side by side because the urban system was built with everyone in mind.
“Above all, I understood why parents took their children into Copenhagen’s core on bikes. If Victoria had similarly modern cycling infrastructure, I would do the same here.
“Many other cities — Barcelona, Paris, Dublin for example — have made similarly large and fast leaps. Separated bike lanes, bike-share systems and lowered speed limits were common denominators in their success.”
 Burlington has recently marked lanes to alert car drivers to merging bicycle traffic. Is the time right for Burlington to make a similar leap? A start has been made. We have the chevron markers and there are now several bike lanes clearly marked with green paint alerting drivers to the merging of bicycle tragic,
During the recent municipal elections very little was heard from the cyclist lobby and as close to nothing from any of the candidates. Mayor Goldring seems to have assumed that he has learned a lesson after his flip flop on bicycle lanes along Lakeshore Road.
Burlington could join the ranks of leading, livable cities, not through a dialogue that is about cars versus bikes, but one based on the actual evidence: that proper, modern biking (and pedestrian) infrastructure makes life better for everyone.
New Street is scheduled to have some major infrastructure work done in the next few years. There was a proposal that dedicated bike lanes be part of that infrastructure upgrade – it wasn’t going to be cheap. The argument was to add the dedicated lanes while an upgrade was being done.
That item will come up during the budget debates in February.
By Pepper Parr
December 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
During the 2014 budget deliberations council wasn’t able to find the funding needed to cover the cost of a person to be named as manager of culture for the city.
 The first Culture week for Burlington had a great turnout in Civic Square. Then city manager Jeff Fielding said at the time that while he couldn’t promise anything he would do his very best to find some savings somewhere and crate the position of Manager of Culture for the city.
In 2013 and 2014 the city began to see a different cultural community; the Art Community Collective was formed, the first No Vacancy was put on at the Waterfront to critical acclaim to be followed by a second much larger presentation at the Village Square.
The city held its first Cultural week; the Performing Arts Centre was under stronger management and was making time and space for the smaller community groups – and they weren’t asking for an increase in funding.
The Burlington Art centre underwent a name change and then a change in its leadership.
 Angela Paparizo, now the Manager Art and Culture with Trevor Copp whose delegation brought about a shift in city council’s thinking in 2013 Things on the cultural side of the city were getting more attention and more funding.
General Manager Scott Stewart announced to staff that Angela Paparizo was the successful candidate for the position of Manager of Arts and Culture.
The internal announcement went on to say that “Angela brings more than 10 years of experience in Public Administration, a Master’s Degree in History and Bachelor Degree in Journalism. Angela is continuing her education in Cultural Planning with the University of British Columbia.
“As a Cultural Planner for the City, Angela’s work has been focused on the development of the Cultural Action Plan, Public Art Program, Cultural Mapping, Relationship with Cultural Joint Ventures and Support for cultural community through Community Development and Facility Fee Waiver fund.
“Angela’s experience and passion for arts and culture has helped her successfully develop and deliver Culture Days 2014 in collaboration with artists and cultural organizations.
 Performing Arts Centre – a key cultural stakeholder – where do they fit into the Cultural Plan and how much input will they have? will they be truly an arm’s length organization? “While working in various management positions in the past, Angela’s extensive experience in project management including proposal writing and budgeting has helped her strategically plan highly creative and impactful arts and culture programs that inspire public involvement and provide value to the community.
“As a Manager of Arts and Culture, she hopes to continue her rewarding work in advancing collaborative, community-based programs and services, developing cultural opportunities in Burlington and enhancing the quality of life.”
 With a new name and a brand that is being developed and some bright people running the show – where will the Art Gallery fit into the Cultural Action Plan. The challenge now is to put energy and financial resources into the job as it has been outlined. It is a significant step for the city. In the past culture has resided within the Parks and Recreation department where the focus was on sports and recreational activities.
With new, and hopefully more focused management, culture and the arts will have a chance. The trick is to ensure that we get beyond “Elvis on Velvet” and that the community understands it will take time to pull all the stakeholders together and get them singing from the same sheet music.
There is a very delicate balancing act to be done; diplomacy is going to be a key element and the prime stakeholders will have to be brought on side. Avoiding turf wars will be a challenge.
How avoiding a lineup of artists with their hands out gets pulled off will be interesting to watch.
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