 By Pepper Parr
September 24, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The spin at the Art Gallery of Burlington has begun.
The announcement that he had left the Art Gallery was made by Ian Ross on his Facebook page.
Sandra Edrup, Chair of the AGB said this morning that Ian Ross and the board met last week and mutually agreed that Ian Ross’s 20 years at the gallery would come to an end.
That was last week – but there was no announcement until the Gazette broke the story earlier this morning.
 Ian Ross in better days at the Art Gallery of Burlington Kim Varian, Doug Niven and Denis Longchamps are serving as a sort of triumvirate to run the gallery on a day to day basis while Anne Swarbrick serves as a volunteer temporary Executive Director.
A search team will be put together said Ms. Edrup that will be inclusive and include all the stake holders and the wider community to find a new President and CEO
The phrase “support for success” has entered the language the senior AGB people are using and there was mention of confidentiality and Ian’s career future.
Was the parting of ways the result of philosophical differences over how the new branding was to be put into play? Or was there a clash of wills between some of the newly appointed senior staff?
Ross has not been available for comment.
The AGB is an important part of the cultural tapestry of Burlington – it matters and the public that pays a large part of the tab deserves as much transparency as possible. They didn’t get it today.
 By Pepper Parr
September 24, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ann Swarbrick, former MPP in the Bob Rae government, then the executive Director of Habitat for Humanity , then the Chair f the Art Gallery of Burlington and and now in place as the Executive Director. Anne Swarbrick, chair of the Art Gallery of Burlington Foundation has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Art Gallery of Burlington.
The appointment follows on the heals of the very sudden and surprising departure of long time leader of the Art Gallery operations Ian Ross.
 By Pepper Parr
September 24, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
“Yesterday was my last day as President & CEO of the Art Gallery of Burlington” said Ian Ross on his Facebook page
That was a stunning statement.
No one apparently saw that coming
 Ian Ross, former President & CEO of the Art Gallery of Burlington – taking a bid by telephone at the most recent Art Auction. Was this planned. Did he jump? Was he pushed?
Nothing from the board of the AGB – that’s not good news.
In a statement Ross said: “I want to thank all of you for your great contribution to making our Gallery such a tremendous success. These past few years have been ones of positive change and evolution, and 2015 is full of great promise and potential. Thank you for all of your planning and vision.
“The AGB has been an inspirational part of my life and I am proud to have helped grow it and make it a better place for all. Together we have won awards for excellence from Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor and the Mayor of Burlington.
“Thank you all for your friendship and the warmth and kindness that you have shown to me and my family. We have all been positively ‘marked’ by our experience of living and working at the AGB.
“I wish you all continued success in moving culture forward in Burlington.”
 Denis Longchamps Dennis Longchamps was brought in more than a year ago to head up the curating and operational side of what was recently re-named and re-branded as the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Links:
Art Centre re-named and re-branded.
Director of programs appointed at Art Centre
 By Staff
September 22, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Sunday didn’t have much in the way of promise at around 9:30 but by 11 am the rain had stopped and the “beds” were lined up on Brant Street like racing cars in pit.
There was a buzz in the air and the “judges”, representing the four Rotary Clubs in Burlington, were looking over the entry papers.
The chief money counter for Scotiabank in Burlington announced that $20,100 had been raised for the Joseph Brant Foundation.
 Accura on Brant takes it again. The rules for the 5th Annual Amazing Bed Race were explained. Every team got two times trials and the 16 teams with the shortest times on the course up Brant Street would make it to the finals.
With a provincial election behind us, a municipal election almost upon us and a federal election in their air – it was not surprising that there was a strong political flavour to the event.
Politics however didn’t play in the results – it was, for the second year in a row a run off between the car dealerships.
 The Judges scrutinize the entries – all were found to be in order. The fasted speed was clocked at 28 kph and the shortest time was 13 seconds.
There were no accidents, providing the one runner who had the bed run over his foot.
Prize for the best decorated “bed” went to Burlington Taxi.
 By Pepper Parr
September 21, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
She pulled it off. With the help of her husband Dean and one of the most impressive collections of volunteers we have ever seen in this city, Selina Jane Eckersall held her second No Vacancy event, this time at the Village Square.
Jack Friedman, the man who built the Village Square, must have smiled when he learned that the space he created was being used the way he wanted it to be used.
Eckersall held her first No Vacancy at the Waterfront Hotel in 2013. It was a critical success and drove her to growing the concept and worked out an arrangement with the property owners at the Village Square to use the empty space.
Eckersall estimates there were between 2,000 and 5,000 people at the event – that is too wide a spread – the real number was somewhere above 3,500 based on what we observed.
Eckersall wasn’t prepared to say which was the best of the 30 installation but she did say that Appollonia Vanova and the Grand Connection were very popular.
 Lovely colours  The volunteers were superb. The volunteers were exceptional. If you had a question – they had an answer or they got you an answer quite quickly.
There were times when the space around the gazebo was packed so tightly you could hardly move. It was a friendly crowd – not a hooligan in sight.
In a city the size of Burlington most people know someone and the chance to meet up was just fun. Patrick Bermingham one of the artists, decided to rent one of the empty spaces for his own purposes and held a private party. He was able to invite all his friends, offer them a drink and have people get out to see some of the installations and come back to chat about what they had seen. Expect to see more of that next year.
 Dream catchers. And there will be a next year. Eckersall was going through what worked and what didn’t work. The installations at the Gym on Pearl didn’t get the traffic they should have gotten; the beer garden didn’t produce the revenue that was expected and Eckersall isn’t sure that she will use a portion of Pine Street next year.
Eckersall knows now that she needs to tweak the business model. The event cost about $10,000 to put on – revenue didn’t quite reach that level.
 The Juggler Sponsorship was good – but ways have to be found to increase the revenue. Selena Eckersall and her husband spent more than six months on this project and are not likely to see as much as a dime personally for their efforts. They might even have to dip into the cookie jar to make up the loss.
 Student Theatre mannequins It was an exciting event; it left all those who attended fully appreciating their community and the sense of community that was created in the Village Square.
It was a delight to see Angelo Bentivegna working the crowd and chatting with his friends. He was in full election mode and it seemed perfectly natural.
When asked: What was the biggest thrill for you? Eckersall didn’t need a second to respond – “Seeing all those people – the excitement of the artists and how inspired they were.”
What was the biggest disappointment?
Beer sales were much lower than we expected. We need to re-think the beer garden”, said Eckersall. All the activity was inside the Village.
Despite the low beer sales “the city is hungry for this kind of stuff and that was certainly evident” Eckersall added. The challenge now is to keep the content fresh and relevant.
The Cirque was different, it wasn’t as “scrappy” as the Art Crawl in Hamilton. There was more money in the space – Burlington is a wealthier city and that was clearly evident in the traffic – no one was wearing furs but there was a sense of satisfaction in the crowds – a crowd doesn’t seem to be the right word. There were a lot of people but it was more like a community getting together.
The mannequins located throughout the Village were all courtesy of the Student Theatre. The make up on a few was close to astounding.
 This took all the seniors back to the 60’s The juggler was close to a carnival pitchman – she moved beautifully and talked about her art. The belly dancers had nice costumes.
 Suspended illusions Eckersall is now looking for operational funding and working on writing for a Trillium grant. She might want to have lunch with Kelly Arnott of the Chilly Half Marathon fame, and talk about how one finds long term sponsors.
By Staff
September 20, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
There is something about a church fund raiser.
While the event is for the local people – anyone is welcome – you just have to show up and be ready to be social and talk to people.
 They are always very welcoming – I’ve been to events like this where people invite you back to their homes for a drink.
Thursday, the 25th the Lowville United Church is hosting a pig roast with all the trimmings. The Chef on hand will be making cuts from 5 to 7 pm.
It’s a short drive up Guelph Line – the church is at the corner of Guelph and Britannia. Chow down a good meal, chat with the folks and if you’re interested in what Lowville is like, drive on up to the Lowville Bistro for a glass of decent wine and a dessert you don’t need.
If you really want to make a day of it – head for Lowville an hour or two early and watch the salmon run in the Bronte Creek that runs through Lowville.
Tickets are $18 for adults – reserve one at 905-335-5099
New feature:
 Early in October readers of the Gazette will be able to use a new feature for announcing community events. Anyone will be able to go on line and post their event. Our editorial team will be moderating the posts to ensure they are appropriate. Watch for the notice.
By Staff
September 19, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON –
With Rainer Noack you always get more than you see. He is generous, colourful, creative and one of the most loving people you will ever come across.
 The Burlington Performing Arts Centre has announced Rainer will be the 2014 Hall of Fame Inductee. Rainer Noack is the Founder and Program Director of Burlington Student Theatre.
Through Student Theatre, Rainer has been providing training, camps, and arts opportunities for children and youth in the Burlington area since 1978. Having also taught for the Halton District Catholic School Board, it is clear that educating is close at heart for Noack.
With his love of the arts and his incredible commitment and contribution to the city of Burlington, Rainer Noack received Burlington’s Arts Person of the Year in both 1995 and 2009.
 The Hall of Fame award will be presented to Rainer Noack at the 2014 Cabaret: Escape to The Mediterranean at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, November 8. This year’s special guest performer is PAVLO. Proceeds from this fundraising event support the education programs at The Centre.
Rainer joins Gordie Tapp, a television performer of some renown as well as a member of the Hall of Fame.
 By Pepper Parr
September 16, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It look like there is going to be an opportunity for local artists to “paint the town. On Tuesday, October 7, 2014 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM local artists are invited to attend the briefing event at The Hive on Elizabeth Street.
This event is for Burlington artists only ‘No one from Nova Scotia at this event” said Jeremy Freiburger who is organizing the event for the city as part of its Cultural Plan.
 Jeremy Freiburger, author of a report that provided direction for the city’s cultural plan based on reams of data he had gathered. Now the city has to determine how it wants ti implement its Cultural Action Plan. The city is launching the Local Artist Mural Program. It is intended as an annual program that will commission small to medium-scale murals throughout the city. The intention is to have one in each ward but locations will not be worked out until there is significant public participation in choosing the locations.
Burlington residents will have the opportunity to submit suggestions for mural locations and themes and the resulting commissions will be open exclusively to Burlington artists. As part of the program, free professional development opportunities will be offered to artists who may not have previous experience creating public art and/or murals.
“To ensure this program meets the needs of local artists, we want to hear from you”, said Angela Paparizo, cultural co-ordinator for the city.
Local artists are invited to participate in an open brainstorming session – that’s the event at The Hive. The purpose of this session is to identify program goals and maximize opportunities for local artist involvement.
Artists will be given some help with scaling a work they want to do; there are health and safety issues with putting something on the side of a building – what are those issues and how do they get addressed.
Freiburger points out that these “murals” may all be 2D – “but a sound installation could be done” – imagine a graphic of a steam engine running along the old rail bed in the Beachway with the sound of the train whistle. The possibilities are close to endless.
Freiburger is particularly good at tweaking people’s ideas and drawing more out of them than they thought they had in themselves. “I want to know where do you need the help, where can they Jeremy help them
Is this going to be “upscale graffiti” – undoubtedly someone will see it that way and squawk at the $70,000 budget.
Burlington artists, working in a variety of mediums (murals don’t necessarily need to be painted!), are invited to attend a brainstorming session. Dinner and refreshments will be provided.
To register, please contact Kim Selman: kim@cobaltconnects.ca or 905-548-0111
 By Pepper Parr
September 15, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
If you have plans for this Friday evening and they are not to attend the No Vacancy Cirque at the Village Square – You might want to change your plans.
 The No Vacancy event last year was the cultural event of the year. This year’s event is much large and will run for much longer – from 7 pm to 2 am – which is mind boggling for Burlington. Pine Street is being partially closed for the event.
The event locations are shown in the map below; plan now for those you want to take in.
 There are more than 30 installations being shown. What’s an installation? It is what an artist decides to do with a space – they are free to do whatever they choose to do – except for taking down any walls.
Last year there were several mind expanding installations – and we’re not talking about the stuff you smoke.
This is something well outside Burlington’s comfort zone when it comes to art – give it a visit.
By Staff
September 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The largest climate march in history will be happening worldwide September 2oth, 2014, and Burlington is going to be a part of it.
 The march begins at 10:00 am – the route is set out below.
10:00am: Meet at the Bandstand in Spencer Smith Park.
10:45am: Begin march proceeding up Brant to Fairview – west to Maple, south to Lakeshore and back to the band stand where the Mayor is expected to address the marchers.
12:00pm: Meeting Mayor Goldring for a photo with the full worldwide petition.
12:15pm: Picnic! Please bring some food to share as well. (Or money if you’d like to go to one of the local cafes/restaurants)
The event is part of a world wide movement
March route runs anti-clockwise on the map above.
The event is being organized by Alanna Antrobus
 By Rick Benoit
September 6, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
To some people, playing golf is fun, for some it’s business – yet they all say drive for show and putt for dough.
But to a long driver, it’s all about drive for show! A long driver has one goal in mind – hit the golf ball as far as you possibly can and make sure it stays within the boundaries or “grid” as it’s called.
 Stephen Lowe – winding it up. The International Long Drive Challenge Canadian Long Drive Championships was held over labour day weekend in Port Rowan, Ontario at Starks Golf Course. Seems like an odd place to have a long drive event? However, the long drivers need a long flat hole about 450 yards wide with no obstructions in place, and therefore a golf hole works perfectly, and Starks generously donates all 9 holes for the weekend event.
The objective is simple. Each hitter gets 3 minutes and 6 balls and with a live DJ spinning the tunes in the background, the longest ball in the grid wins. This is the extreme of golf, the home run derby of golf some may say. PGA Tour players will average swing speeds in the 115-120mph range. The long drivers will swing higher than 130 mph. Some will shatter their clubs on impact, others have been known to break ribs while swinging. But ultimately, if you ask every golfer in the world everyone wants to hit the ball farther!
Blistery winds set the tone for some super hitting Aug 30 and 31st at the ILDC Canadian Long Drive Championships at Starks Golf Course in Port Rowan, Ontario. Ladies began the day with two time defending champion Fareen Samji of Burlington opening the day with a personal best 329 yards. ” There was a nice right to left breeze all day long and I worked really hard to get a draw swing going to have the wind help me a little and it paid off, ” said Samji of her incredible drive which was followed by sets of 317, 325 and 321.
In an interesting turn of events, youngster and newcomer Cory Ann Pond of Simcoe, a second year student at Georgian College defeated Lisa “longball” Vlooswyk of Calgary in the Semifinals with a drive of 325 yards. In the final set, Samji bombed a 321 yard drive to defeat Pond and become the 3 Time ILDC Canadian Women’s Long Drive Champion. Samji will once again represent Team Canada 1 at the International Team Finals in the Dominican Republic Nov 16-23rd.” I always enjoy hitting against Lisa and she is such a great competitor having won this event so many times ” says Samji. “It was nice to see Cory hitting the ball so well and let’s face it, she is 20 and I am 40 this year! She kept me on my toes,” exclaimed the Burlingtonian Samji, who is a Pedorthist and very active in the Burlington community.
 Fareen Samji , a Burlingtonian swings for one of those really long drives Port Rowan’s own Bill Stark began the seniors division ( over 45 ) on fire with a crushing 357 yards to make it to the final round. Contenders Ron Lampmans, Todd Herold and Stephen Lowe battled it out to see who would meet Stark in the finals and Burlington’s Stephen Lowe edged out Lampmans with 345 yards to get to the final round. The event is a double elimination knockout so Lowe had to beat Stark twice in the finals to defend his title. Lowe’s mental prowess prevailed and drives of 361 yards and 351 yards proved enough to beat Stark and become the 2 time ILDC Canadian Seniors Long Drive Champion.” It was a tough ride coming through the losers bracket, but I knew I had it in me, ” said Lowe. ” I have been working on tweaking a few things and some new equipment and it all just seemed to come together at the right time, ” said Lowe, a national accounts manager with PPG Industries.
 Fareen Samji with her cup – she has taken this award before. Her next challenge is at the International level in November. The day ended with an incredible display of power from the Men’s open division and Ottawa’s David Dahms set a grid record of 408 yards. The battle was on and drives of 370 yards were being eliminated! Niilo Schonfeld of Toronto was in fine form and got into the final round early with a 384 yard bomb. David Dahms of Ottawa and Connor Hadaway who both hit it over 400 yards several times during the day, battled it out with Hadaway edging out Dahms to meet Schonfeld in the finals. In the first final, Hadaway narrowly edged out Schonfeld by 5 yards to force a second set. However, Schonfeld came back with an incredible answer to Dahm’s record and set a new grid record of 412 yards with his sixth and final ball to claim the title as the new 2014 ILDC Canadian Men’s Long Drive Champion.
The top three men, the top senior and the top woman receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Dominican Republic to hit for the ILDC Team Canada 1 at the International Long Drive team finals Nov 16-23rd 2014. Lowe, Samji and Schonfeld were all Team Canada last year and are the defending champions in the team category and this year are looking forward to joining their team mates Hadaway and Dahms to regain their title.
By Staff
September 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 So much for the summer we didn’t really have – here we are rolling towards a fall season – which will perhaps be a lot nicer than the past 90 days.
Theatre Burlington is doing their part to make the fall season more endearing with their production of “Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror”, a comedy/mystery by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and Anthony Dodge
The production is a merry madcap mixture of mystery, murder and mayhem. A despicable theatre critic has been murdered, and Holmes and Watson are soon visited by George Bernard Shaw, an aspiring Irish playwright who entices Holmes to take the case.
As they cross swords with the most famous literary luminaries of the day — Oscar Wilde, Gilbert & Sullivan, Henry Irving, Bram Stoker, and a young H.G. Wells, Holmes and Watson come face to face with their own celebrity as they pursue the killer in this rollickingly funny whodunit.
You can say this about the two playwrights – they do know how to drop names.
Show dates are: September 19-20, 25-27, October 2-4 2014
All at the Theatre Burlington- Drama Centre (beside Central Library, 2311 New Street. All shows start at 8:00 PM
Adult- $22.00 Senior- $20.00
Reserved Seating- Call the Box Office 905-637-1728 to order your tickets now.
By Pepper Parr
August 31, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Those people who earn their living as artists – have a rough row to hoe. Artists get asked to do any number of things for free. We all assume that their art is far too expensive and we want to buy too cheaply, hold it until the artist become famous and then sell for a fortune.
 Margaret Lindsay Holton Burlington artist, Margaret Lindsay Holton is having a family-friendly SOLO art exhibition in the Hamilton Beach Rescue Community Hall at 316 Beach Blvd, on the Hamilton Beach Strip, Sunday, Sept.14th, 2-5pm. FREE lemonade, with free parking at the back of HBRU. ‘
 Summer Haze; Piano improvisations on a century-old Bell Upright – Performed by Margaret Lindsay Holton Holton ranges over several disciplines – never adverse to trying something new and different. Along with her art, Holton will be releasing a CD, Summer Haze; Piano improvisations on a century-old Bell Upright.
Pinhole photography is something Holton has been doing for years. She describes this as “the oldest known form of photography on the planet first used in Asia around 500 B.C, and in the West, around 500 A.D.
For Holton this is photography without the use of lens or fancy gadgetry that lets a small pinhole of light into a completely blacked-out cavity. This incoming ‘pinhole’ of light creates a reverse image of what the pinhole is facing, in other words, a ‘negative’. Today, from this ‘negative’, a ‘positive’ print is pulled using conventional darkroom developing techniques. In other words, the ‘positive’ photo image is what you see as a ‘finished’ photograph.
 Leaves you with the sense that you are seeing both summer and the beginning of the fall colours. Holton is fascinated that any ‘image’ can transfer without any mechanical intervention. She likes how this process forces her to ‘slow down’ in the act and art of taking pictures. Pinholing is the epitome of ‘slooow photography’. An exterior shot, on a good bright, cloudless day, can easily take 3-4 minutes of exposure depending on the camera she am using. She only get ONE shot per camera. Interior shots can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, again, depending on the incoming pinhole light source.
 Sugar Shack: Crisp feel, strong colours – about as Canadian as you can get. Hamilton Spectator art critic Jeff Mahoney had this to say about Holton pin hole work: “Perhaps more than any of the other arts, photography is the horse that memory rides on. Music can take us back, but it is not documentary in nature. And literature, for all its reach, precision and poetry, remains essentially abstract, from a sensory point of view, everything left to the imagination.”
“A memory is not what happened, it is not the thing that is being remembered. It is a shadow of what is being remembered, and a picture is a shadow of that shadow.”
“We try to get at memory to get at the life, the time, the emotion behind them. But the sources are no longer available and immediate to the direct senses. Their residue in the brain gets mixed up with static; extraneous feelings, psychic noise, dream and mental error. We use pictures and other media to get at memory, to fix it. And that confuses an already confused issue even more. Pictures are partial stories, subject to perspective and quality of light, leaving out much — smell, sound, touch, temperature, heart rate, context.”
“How are all these ideas contained in Holton’s art? In two ways. Computerized photo collage and pinhole photography. In the first, the collages, Holton uses computer manipulation to layer several colour photographic images, sometimes of the same subject taken from different and/or overlapping angles, sometimes of different subjects. Now this is what memory looks like. Or at least feels like.”
“Memory’s Shadow confirms our impression of Holton as an important mixed-media practitioner, with a genuine artist’s eye and a probing intellect.”
This is an artist worth spending some time with.
 Moody, soft use of colour leaves a sense significantly different than the Sugar Shack piece. Directions: If driving in from either Niagara or Toronto on the QEW, take the Eastport Drive ‘turn off’, and then turn into the ‘Hamilton Beach Community’ via Beach Blvd. Beach Blvd is only one long road for the length of the beach strip. The Hamilton Beach Rescue Unit – 316 Beach Blvd – is on the west side.
If you want to follow Holton – make a note that she is partaking in ‘Doors Open’ on Sept 27th at the Different Drummer Books, signing copies of a new WW1 short story anthology, ‘Engraved: Canadian. She has one story in the 16 piece anthology.
 By Staff
August 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
We all know what Rib Fest is – we get ourselves to Spencer Smith Park where we have to look through a haze of smoke to see the lake. The crowds are usually very good, the eating tables tend to have places to sit down and chow down on those ribs – they ain’t bargain prices but that is not the purpose of the event.
 Last year Premier Kathleen Wynne tried her hand at flipping ribs. Her tutor on the right didn’t think the Premier should give up her day job. The event is the largest Ribfest in Ontario. That happens because the Lakeshore Rotary, that has just 65 members, manages to pull together 600 volunteers to make it happen.
The funds they raise support: Community Living Burlington; Compassion Society; Hamilton Food Share; Salvation Army; RCBL Scholarship Foundation; Athletic Scholarship Foundation; Kenyan Scholarship program; Joseph Brant Hospital; Sew-on-fire Ministries; Wheel Chair and Specialized footwear and Earth Day.
This year they have been asked to lend strong support to the Flood Disaster Relief Funds drive.
Mayor Goldring called Linda Davies, President of the Lakeshore Rotary Club, and asked her if she would help out with the need to raise funds. Davies immediately called the other three Rotary presidents in Burlington and by the end of that day they had pulled together a team and had their show on the road.
RibFest 2014 was going to be another super-duper event and at the same time it was going to become a “premiere” fund raising occasion for disaster relief.
You are going to see dozens of people wandering the grounds and at the gates, carrying plastic buckets and asking for a donation of at least a Twoonie.
With attendance at the 175,000 level – the flow from RibFest could add as much as $250,000 to the public fund raising drive.
During the Kick off lunch OnSite, an organization that does set up work on the grounds, put up a donation of $500 and said they were challenging two people to take part in an event that was a twist on the ALS dunking campaign.
Sometime during the weekend these gents will be dunked with – not cold water – but BBQ sauce. One of the two asked how much it would cost him to get out of taking part in the event. It is going to be a different RibFest this year.
The entertainment line-up is superb:
Friday August 29th
 Noon to 2:00 pm Mike Stevenson and Friends
2:30 to 4:30 The Kat Kings
5:00 to 7:00 pm The Groove Corporation
7:30 to 9:00 Elton Rohn; a tribute to Elton John
9:30 to 11 Simply Queen; a tribute to Queen.
Saturday August 30th
 11:30 to 1:00 Grindstone Blues Band
1:30 to 3:00 – Stinky and the Hotrods
3:30 to 5:00 Runaway Angel
5:30 to 7:00 Community Soul Project
7:30 to 9:00 Justin Time
9:30 to 11:00 Freedom Train
Sunday August 31st
11:30 to 12:30 Bare Blue Sea
1:00 to 2:00 No Sugar Tonight ; a tribute to the Guess Who
2:30 to 3:30 Tim Park and the Younger Guys
4:00 to 5:0 IN2U
5:30 to 7:00 The Soul Project
7:30 to 9:00 Images in Vogue
 9:30 to 11:00 The Spoons
Monday September 1st
1:0 to 2:30 Corey Lueck and the Smoke Wagon Blues
2:45 – Rib judging events
3:00 to 4:00 Desire; a tribute to U2
4:30 to 5:30 Scarecrow; a tribute to John Mellencamp
6:00 to 8:00 David Love Band
 By Staff
August 25, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
INCITE A Single Moms Support Group, a local non-profit organization, will be closing its doors as of August 31, 2014, due to financial reasons.
 INCITE did great promotion for their events and turn out was usually quite high – the business model they had proved to be unsustainable. “As the Board of Directors, we are pleased to have provided support, encouragement, guidance, direction and opportunities for empowerment; to single moms and their children in our community, since April 2011.
Due to the passion, vision and direction of Executive Director, Beth Hudson, our organization has helped hundreds and truly made a difference in the Burlington community. For the last 3.5 years, INCITE has offered single moms a Weekly Support Meeting, Weekly Children’s Program, Social Outings, Philanthropy Events, Affordable Advice and a Good Samaritan Program.
We are proud that INCITE accomplished so much in such a short time, touching the lives of countless people. INCITE, with support from the community, through our Good Samaritan Program helped single moms-in-need through difficult times offering assistance with Christmas help, back-to-school supplies, furniture, food, toys, bikes and much more. Though many of our families were struggling, they gave back and helped others in the community through our Philanthropy Events; including volunteering at Wellington Square’s Community Dinners, the Rotary’s Ribfest and Amazing Bed Race, Salvation Army’s Christmas Toy Drive, as well as facilitated an “Extreme Makeover” on the Shifra House, a local shelter for young Moms.
INCITE A Single Moms Support Group quickly gained recognition across Canada and the United States, providing a rare and unique, but much needed support system, for single moms. Our popularity grew to over 11 000 visitors on our website annually and INCITE was showcased in the Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator and Burlington Post, as well as on CHML and Cogeco TV. INCITE also produced The Single Mom Show, a web-based show that offered professional guidance from experts, for Single Moms everywhere, as well as produced An Agenda For Single Moms, a book specifically for Single Moms that focussed on taking stock and goal setting.
We were very blessed and are extremely grateful for the support we received from the community. Though there are many to recognize, we want to especially thank Verico Designer Mortgages, Astra Print, the Central Rotary, Halton Region, Rick Burgess, Jeff Lewis, and The Centre for Skills Development & Training, for their on-going support.
 There were cheques, some very healthy cheques – there just weren’t enough of them. Thank you also to our amazing team of Volunteers and Staff, present and past. All of you added something very unique and valuable to the organization, team and families. We all greatly appreciate your passion and contributions, that ultimately made INCITE the success that it was, touching and changing lives.
We want to thank all of the Single Moms that participated in the group, offering their support, feedback, wisdom and experiences; ultimately helping other single moms along their journey. It definitely has been an incredible and memorable experience for all involved.
Thank you to all of you for your support these last few years and for your understanding during this difficult time.
Beth Hudson, the Executive Director of the organization that the annual operating cost was “around $36,000” – that amounted to $3000 a month. Hudson added that when they were refused charitable status by the federal government – that was the “nail in the coffin”. We could see it coming and there was nothing we were able to do to keep the doors open and the program running.”
There is one event – a weekend retreat in October that will take place. As for Beth Hudson -she will begin to work on a web based – national organization to be known as “Answers for Woman”.
Hudson reports that one in five families are run by single Moms.
 By Pepper Parr
August 25, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
My neighbour Rob, who is prone to stunts, pranks and practical jokes ,sent me an Ice Bucket Challenge. Jeez I thought, I’m going to have to do this or he won’t loan me his drill anymore and he does have a snow blower. So I was gearing myself up to walk across the street and submit myself to the dunking.
The President of the United States can duck these things – but I was pretty sure I had to go along with the gag. My one condition was that the event be filmed and the kids be on hand.
Then I came across the missive from School board chair and Ward 6 candidate Jennifer Hlusko who was passing along a piece form Macleans magazine.
Why the Ice Bucket Challenge is bad for you
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is bad … The marketing gimmick is very clever. It is short, immediately understandable, and like the most popular forms of slacktivism, it is easy to do, entertaining to watch, and narcissistically self-promoting. As a result, the ALS Association has received more than $70 million so far, compared to only $2.5 million during last year’s campaign.
We, as individuals and as a society, have finite resources to donate to medical research and other worthy causes. When we decide where to spend our charitable dollars, we need to consider three factors:
1. Where is the greatest need?
2. Where will my dollars have the greatest influence?
3. What is the most urgent problem?
The ALS challenge fails all three of these test.
 Did the School Board Chair get dunked? How did increasing ALS donations from $2.5 million to $70 million get defined as a failure. The people who went along with the dunking will send their donation and probably not cut back somewhere else.
The beauty of the human hearts is the way it can expand to meet the need.
Hlusko needs to think about an “expanded heart” procedure – and please – lighten up.
By Pepper Parr
April 19, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
We got our first look at what a No Vacancy event was about last year when Selina Jane Eckersall hosted an illustration event at the Waterfront Hotel. It was a little longer than the average movie but it came close to rocking the socks off the Burlington arts community.
 Selina Jane Eckersall points out a location that will be active the No Vacancy Night. Hundreds of people will be crawling through Village Square. It took place at a time when the arts and culture community was beginning to create a presence for itself. The city had accepted the Cultural Action Plan prepared by Jeremy Freiburger and while they weren’t able to act on very much of the plan they did re-allocate a staff member from Parks and Recreation to co-ordinate events that were cultural in nature. This kind of work was being done by the Parks and Recreation department where the culture was more athletic than artistic.
 The No Vacancy event was a critical success and is being repeated this year with a much bigger venue and a more exciting program. Selina Jane Eckersall sums it up with the comment: “We’re looking to give you the best Friday night you’ve ever had.”
There will be 30 unbelievably talented contemporary artists who will transform a variety of spaces inside Village Square into an art experience that will have a lasting impact. “This incredible walking contemporary multi-artist exhibition will feature the best of contemporary installation art from Southern Ontario.”
“Village Square will be buzzing with activity as people explore the alleys and walkways and enter spaces they haven’t explored before. We will also have performance and street art throughout the square and a pop-up art market that will be open until midnight. Burlington has never had an art event quite like this and it is going to be a wondrous experience.”
Half of Pine Street will be closed to traffic and all the space available to No Vacancy in Village Square has been allocated.
 Selina Jane Eckersall points to one of the locations for some of the “installation art” that will be on display for less than four hours September 19 – a not to be missed event. The artists doing the installations are being paid – a bit of a first for Burlington. In the past artists have been asked to donate to various causes – when they themselves are a cause. The beer garden profits will be used to pay the artists that are putting up the installations.
Eckersall is putting on a much bigger event this year and giving the Village Square some life – something it has needed for some time. The longer term plan for No Vacancy is to be quite ambitious. They have organized themselves as an Ontario Not for Profit Corporation and have gotten charitable status in Ontario and are going after federal charitable status.
Later in the year they will apply for Trillium Funding (that’s where a lot of your lottery money goes) so they can develop the much more robust program they have wanted to put in place for some time. “We want to open minds and push people out of their comfort zone just a bit and we feel that we need a bigger presence in the city, which is why we are looking for a place, where we can be seen and the work of the artists we want to highlight can also be seen.”
“We would like to find a building somewhere or work with someone who has space –visibility is key to what we are setting out to do. What we want to create is a facility that is part studio, part media lab and part gallery” said Eckersall. “One of the bigger challenges is to come up with a business model that can result in an operation that is sustainable – we are still working at that”, she added.
“We would really like to find a van we could use to transport some of the material involved. Installation art tends to be quite large.”
Eckersall says she has “no idea how many people are going to show up on September 19th – it could be anywhere between 500 and 5000.” The event will run from 7 pm to 2 am and as Eckersall says : “A night of incredible art installation in Burlington.”
All the space in Village Square have been allocated and the artists are busy working on the fun stuff. Administratively Eckersall is dealing with permits, contracts, and insurance.
There is going to be a “pop up” market. If there are artists out there that are looking for a venue to sell some stuff – touch base.
Eckersall says the event is all about “Art that makes your heart beat faster.”
By Staff
August 18, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) has been a champion of visual art and fine craft in Burlington in the more than 45 years it has been operating. They engage the community in the appreciation and creation of visual arts and are home to seven art and fine craft guilds. They provide opportunities for discovery and ‘hands-on’ learning, as well as mentoring and showcasing visual artists at all skill levels.
 The AGB is dedicated to the growth and promotion of our collection of Canadian contemporary ceramics.
The AGB is now going one step further in the development of the visual arts with the establishment of a residency in ceramics that will start in September and run for a full year.
The working days are flexible to suit both the Gallery’s needs and the successful candidate’s other commitments. A stipend of $200 per week is being offered.
The successful candidate will be expected to work as a studio technician for up to 15 hours per week, not to include the studio time used for personal artistic explorations.
Suitable candidates are: Recent graduate in ceramics from a recognized institution or in his/her graduating year in a ceramics program at a recognized institution. A person with an interest in arts and craft and able to tackle a few projects at once and deliver them all on time. Self-motivated and able to work in a communal environment.
The benefit to the artist is a great opportunity for the successful candidate to build their portfolio with diverse projects supporting our programs including the possibility of exhibiting in our Community Gallery.
The successful candidate will have access to a fully equipped studio including potter’s wheels, electric, gas and raku kilns. Tools, clay and glazes are not included.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to teach in our Community and Studio programs. The AGB is open some evenings and weekends.
Respond with a resume and cover letter by September 8, 2014 to:
Denis Longchamps, Chief Curator Art Gallery of Burlington
1333 Lakeshore Rd Burlington ON L7S 1A9
dlongchamps@artgalleryofburlington.com
A current portfolio will be required if you are selected for an interview.
By Staff
August 13, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
It will be the fun event of the weekend for families with small children. Each year the people who manage the events for the city put on a Children’s Festival that lasts two days. The coming weekend – Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th there will be thousands of kids with their parents stretched out along Spencer Smith Park taking in the various events.
The Festival is an award winning event that runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, in Beachway Park and on Sunday, Aug. 17 in Spencer Smith Park. This year’s festival features a super hero theme.
The Saturday action includes sand-sculpting, superhero shows, meet-and-greet opportunities, face-painting, balloon artists, and a children’s marketplace and food court.
 The little ones loved this game; parents got to help them along as they walked each of the challenges • Adults, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Families, noon to 4 p.m.
• Youth, ages 13 to 17, noon to 4 p.m.
• Children, ages 4 to 12 years, 2 to 4 p.m.
The Sand Sculpting Competition will award first, second and third prizes in each category as determined by the master sand-sculptor judges. A People’s Choice Award is selected by festival attendees who fill out a ballot. Prizes include a custom sand sculpture trophy for first prize for each category and great prizes provided by Burlington Canadian Tire stores for all prize levels.
 Many families make the sand sculpting a full day event – everyone takes part and they stake out their location as early as they can. Prizes for the best sculptures. Saturday’s free event features a Superhero Show with Spiderman and Batman, and superheroes Iron Man, Wonder Woman and Superman on the beach, and fun summer activities like face painting, a photo booth, marketplace, and food trucks.
The event continues after sunset with a free showing of the movie The Incredibles, on the Burlington Beachway, starting at 8:30 p.m.
 Is this one pretending to drive Dad’s car? Day two of the Children’s Festival takes place in Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Themed around superheroes, children can enjoy:
• Live Entertainment
• Play Zones
• Superhero Inflatables
• Character Meet and Greet
• Themed Shows
• Kids’ Marketplace
The Superhero Show with Spiderman and Batman, and superheroes Iron Man, Wonder Woman and Superman will appear again on Sunday, along with fun summer activities like face painting, a photo booth, marketplace, and food trucks. The Canadian Tire main stage will feature a Boy Band Mania tribute and a Selena Gomez tribute. Both shows will follow with a meet-and-greet with the performers, presented by Safari Dentistry
Day two of the Children’s Festival takes place in Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Themed around superheroes, children can enjoy:
• Live Entertainment
• Play Zones
• Superhero Inflatables
• Character Meet and Greet
• Themed Shows
• Kids’ Marketplace
The Superhero Show with Spiderman and Batman, and superheroes Iron Man, Wonder Woman and Superman will appear again on Sunday, along with fun summer activities like face painting, a photo booth, marketplace, and food trucks. The Canadian Tire main stage will feature a Boy Band Mania tribute and a Selena Gomez tribute. Both shows will follow with a meet-and-greet with the performers, presented by Safari Dentistry.
The pictures in this article were taken at last year’s event. They were having a great time.
 For some a snooze in the shade is a great way to spend part of the day.
By Staff
August 12, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
We are a little late getting this to you – the Art Gallery of Burlington issued a Call for photo submissions for the ‘Infinite Daydreams: Reflections on the Sublime Imaginary’ exhibit.
 The AGB says: “The exhibition explores how we respond to the sublime in nature – that sense of wonder, power and beauty we feel looking out at blue skies filled with clouds over the lake’s horizon. This is hard to capture in one photo, so we need lots!”
To be a part of a photo installation in the gallery, please send our guest curators:
– one photo of the sky over the lake, or
– one of the horizon
Photos will be added to the exhibition throughout the summer.
Email photos in .jpg format along with your name to infinitedaydreams1@gmail.com
The exhibit runs until August 24th – new material is added regularly.
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