 REVISED
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 28, 2013. I didn’t see Rick Wilson out on the pier this afternoon with a telescope but there were around 100 people who were up on the observation deck or crowded around the rail of the pier watching the five tall ships manoeuver and getting in position to pass through the canal, under the lift bridge and into Burlington Bay where they were to sail around the bay letting people on both the Hamilton side and the Burlington side see these majestic vessels catch the light winds before they tie up at the various piers they have been given for the duration of their stay in Hamilton.
Wilson, a history buff who will, if you let him, tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the War of 1812 battle that took place on the lake just off the foot of Brant Street, or so some believe, that changed the outcome of the War of 1812 that lasted three years.
 They weren’t easy to see but they were certainly out there; five tall ships lining up to pass through the canal and into Burlington Bay where they will tie up in Hamilton for the weekend. Today, there were five tall ships, easing their way into the canal. There were supposed to be six – no idea where that last one got to – but the five were out there on the lake. Many wondered why the ships didn’t come in closer to the pier – wind was not all that good and they had to be far enough out on the lake to be able to line up in procession to get through the canal.
 The public gets some value from their $15 million pier (true cost is going to be $20 million) as they watch Tall Ships prepare to sail into Burlington Bay. It was expected they would all drop their sails as the went through the canal but at least one went through with all their rigging up.
 The tallest mast on this ship had to have a hinge placed on it so it could clear the lift bridge that lets her into Burlington Bay. The tallest of the ships, the Solandet, had to put a hinge on part of their tallest mast – it was just a little too high to pass underneath the lift bridge safely.
The sky was a little overcast, weather muggy, rain off and on – not the best weather in which to see these ships. They will be in Hamilton Friday through to Sunday. Tours are available.
The expectation is that all the ships will sail out of Burlington Bay at the same time. Exactly when that will happen isn’t all that clear.
There are more than a dozen ships taking part in what is billed as Tall Ships 1812 Tour with different ships showing up at different ports. St. Catharines, Dalhousie are among those that will be visited.
 The Niagara, one of six Tall Ships that will tie up in Hamilton after taking part in a sail past around Burlington Bat. None of this matters to Rick Wilson, his mission, driven by his passion is to have a plaque set up on the Burlington Heights to replace the one that everyone now agrees is just plain wrong.
 Here they come. Slip over to the links and read that tale of the role British ships sailing off Burlington played in winning the War of 1812 where ships fired cannon balls and iron shot at each other. For those who dive as a hobby – there are cannon balls to be found at the bottom of Lake Ontario –possibly right off the front of Spencer Smith Park.
Our colleague chose to catch the ships as the passed through the canal. She made a better choice than we did.
Margaret Lindsay Holton has written for us in the past. Some of her columns can be seen at:Terra Greenhouses and Are you nuts?
Tall Ships passed through the Burlington Canal under the Skyway Bridge mid-afternoon on Friday, June 28th.
Black and white photo montages by Margaret Lindsay Holton – Mid-career artist and author from the Golden Horseshoe Region of Ontario, Canada.
 Passing through modern history. 
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. June 24, 2013. If you were out and about on the weekend – and who wasn’t – you were at a BBQ with friends and family or perhaps at one of the events in the city.
The kids were “knocking themselves out” at the Norton Skateboard Park; Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster was not exactly serving tea – but she was on the street meeting and greeting her constituents while the Friends of Freeman Station were proudly showing a model of the Freeman to anyone who passed by their booth set up in the Burlington Mall.
 Just hanging out on the street with the girls – a lazy summer afternoon in Alton Village.  The Terry Fox Run to Cure Cancer people were out trying to attract and involve people from the Alton Village to take part in the event in September,  The stage certainly wasn’t city issue – shows what you can do with a couple of 2×4’s and a sheet on canvas if you have to keep the sun off you. Music was OK. Lancaster hosted the first of the Car Free Sunday’s held in the northern part of the city – and the turnout was better than the first such event held on Appleby Line last year. Despite close to blistering heat people turned out. The Rotary was on hand with plenty of cold bottled water.
It was a chance for people to get out and mingle, take in some of the events and just enjoy themselves – and see a street with nary a car on it.
 Did he make it? If you were one of many at the Norton Skateboard Park on Saturday you would have seen some impressive acrobatics going on. On Saturday the younger set were out at the skateboard park showing us what they can do when they fly around on those boards with wheels on them. My generation used orange crates mounted on a plank that had old roller skates screwed onto the bottoms.
The Saturday event was frenetic, the Sunday event was paced and easy-going.
 Bob Chambers points to a detail of the Freeman Station model he built in his kitchen in a short 4 1/2 months. The model got its first public viewing at the Burlington Mall on Sunday. For those at the Burlington Mall is was cool inside. The Friends of Freeman Station (FoFS) were proudly showing off the new model of their project built by Bob Chambers, a former photographer with the Spectator. Bob’s wife Grace who paints with water colours was quite pleased to see the model out of her kitchen and on its way to its first public viewing. It took a very short 4 ½ months to complete the model which has a lot of detailing. The shingles put on the roof of the model came in at more than the cost of the shingles on the original station. It is a very attractive model built to scale. Worth looking at.
As for the station itself – it still sits on steel girders waiting for the move to the new location. The FoFS now have their building permit which they proudly display to anyone who asks. Don’t ask for details on how long it took to get the document – sad story.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 21, 2013. With a full 13 member Board of Directors compliment in place, the Performing Arts Centre focuses more tightly on the business of finding a replacement for the previous Executive Director.
The Burlington Theatre Board Inc., the organization that oversees the operation of the Centre, a not for profit corporation and represent the public interest. It is made up of 13 people who serve staggered terms of office.
 It’s an attractive building and a very people friendly building – it just doesn’t appear YET, to have enough friends. Last year was a tough one for the organization. Rental revenues were down and there was serious concern at city hall over the need for increased financial support – in excess of what was expected. Council wanted changes made and went along with the financial requirement in the 2013 budget but made it clear there was going to be a different business case put in place. Councillor John Taylor who chairs the Budget and Corporate Services committee, has the BPAC people back before him sometime in October. When he was arranging for BPAC to return he made it clear that “this was not going to be a simple 10 minute delegation with questions and answers to follow”. Taylor was going to get right into the sand box with these people and work to ensure there was a plan that the public could live with.
It was shortly after that meeting that the former Executive Director decided she would return to her roots in Alberta.
A number of resignations within the Burlington Theatre Board had taken place and there was a call made to the community for replacements. With that task completed the Board was able to focus fully on finding the next Executive Director.
The Centre has an excellent program that will take them right into the spring of next year
There were over 90 applications for the Executive Director position, which Chair Burgess believes “speaks to the positive reputation the Centre has developed in its short life within the industry”. That’s one way of looking at it.
The search committee includes Allan Pearson, Peter Ashmore, Ilene Elkaim, Burlington city manager Jeff Fielding and Chair Richard Burgess. They are down to their short list and expect to be able to announce a replacement before the end of July and ideally have the new person behind a desk for Labour Day.
 The first two people to enter the Main Theatre for a paid performance hand their tickets to an usher. The next twelve months are critical for the Centre. A new Executive Director will give the day-to-day operations a boost but the Centre needs more than some bucking up at the staff level. The place hasn’t caught the interest of the overall public – at least not yet. The Centre is not yet seen as “our place” with the majority of the population. It does have its advocates and a small core of solid ticket buyers but it isn’t seen as an integral part of the city that is supported by everyone.
The Brant Street Pier with all its troubles was clearly a place the public took to in less than two days once it had been opened by the Burlington Teen Tour Band.
 It was the Official opening night – the place was all gussied up – and it looked great. Cogeco Cable covered the event with five cameras. The Family Room, shown here, was a delight to be in. The ticket price of $400+ was a little too steep and some had to be given away to ensure all the seats were filled. While the economic growth of the city isn’t dependent on the centre if we are to be seen as a vibrant community – the arts are a large part of that equation and the focal point for the arts has to be the Centre. We do need however to stop talking in superlatives about the place. It is a fine building with a good Main Theatre as well as a smaller Community Theatre. The most outstanding aspect of the place is the Family Room with the balcony surrounding the space. It also has probably the biggest bar in the city, certainly the nicest – although they could pump up the wine selection a bit.
Will the centre become an election issue in 2014? Hopefully not – because the arts always seem to take it in the shins when it comes to funding. Burlington wants to talk about “shaving and paving” its roads and the massive infrastructure deficit we face.
 Councillor Rick Craven sits on the BPAC Board along with the Mayor. Better reports to the public on what’s going on over there would help – and not just how wonderful the program is.  Mayor Goldring can be direct and to the point when he wants to be – his public deserves better reporting on what happens at the BPAC Board. There is an interesting year ahead for the Burlington Performing Arts centre. If the Board of Directors can get the selection of a new Executive Director right and work out a business plan that is sound and satisfies the city – we will be off to a good start.
The politicians we place on that Board need however to do a better job of keeping their fellow council members and the public at large up to date on what is happening.
We hear next to nothing from Councillor Craven and the Mayor, who sit on the Board, about what’s going on over there.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 16, 2013. They used to be located on Locust Street, half a block away from city hall – just a bit further from the Performing Arts Centre. The service they offered was delivered from that location but the overhead was – well too much.
Debra Pickfield called the place THiNKSPOT – a place for groups of people to get away to and think – think differently and work “outside the box”, a phrase that is terribly over used but does describe what gets done at THiNKSPOT.
 THiNKSPOT is a place for people to gather in small groups and large groups to talk. Breaking the boundaries that tend to determine what people can and should do at whatever work they do is not easy. Management tends to want things to run smoothly – no disruption please. Pickfield argues that disruption is exactly what is needed if organizations are going to be moved out of the complacency she feels smothers many operations.
 The feature that makes THiNKSPOT work is the setting and the level of facilitation, Pickfield works as a facilitator and from her perspective, location and setting for meetings is critical. Meeting in a stifling hotel meeting room where the setting isn’t much different from the office is not, according to Pickfield, conducive to bringing about a change in the way people think.
So – off to Lowville she went, where she rented a nice space. The setting is pleasant. The grounds are really nice with a sculpture garden yards away and, if people need to get out for a walk to talk, the paths and streams of Lowville Park is just across the road.
 While the setting is important – people use THiNKSPOT to transfer knowledge and exchange ideas and use the latest in technology to make it happen. One of the draw backs was the amount of meeting room space. Quite a bit but at times not enough for larger groups. What Pickfield didn’t know when she decided to move her operation to Lowville was that there was an old school-house literally on the other side of the road. Once Pickfield saw the space she met with city property types and put together a rental arrangement. She now has a very small meeting space, a larger meeting room and now one of those large school-house rooms as well.
Pickfield explains: “We focus on shifting the way people think and the way they work together. When you connect all the various intricate pieces of the puzzle – the people, the process, and the place – you create a sort of “sweet spot” where we can collaborate and think creatively and find solutions to complex problems.”
So – what do they do up there in Lowville?
Pickfield is holding an event to introduce people to the setting and to give them an example of how it all comes together. She is holding – not sure what to call it – let’s say an “event” which Pickfield describes as a unique way to experience THiNKSPOT and then extends an invitation:
We hope you can join us, and look forward to catching up and seeing everyone on June 20th as we introduce THiNKSPOT 2.0 Take part in a Summer Sockstice in the idyllic world of Lowville for a time of storytelling through Art.
A wonderful selection of artists will share their creativity and encourage you to recognize the creativity that resides in all of us.
Join Walt Rickli, sculptor, Fred Magie, songwriter/musician, Kevin Sutton, spoken word and drummers Tribal Thunder for an evening of creativity through music and stories.
 Admission – a half a dozen or so pairs of socks – there are people out there experiencing homelessness and a pair of socks is a big deal for them. Want in? Click here and reserve a spot.
There is no admission – there is the request that you buy a bundle of socks that will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness. That’s why the event is being called a Summer Sockstice.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 15, 2013. It opened – indeed it did and the event was wonderful to watch, a delight to be part of and a milestone for the city. That milestone has the potential to become an albatross around the neck of this city but today is not the day to quibble.
 weft It is done – it is open and the public seem to love it. There were out in droves on the Saturday when the Burlington Teen Tour Band marched the full length of the pier and returned with the city lag snapping in the breeze.
 These things happen. The city decided their wouldn’t be a “ribbon cutting” but instead there would be a banner made up and stretched across the pier for the Burlington Teen Tour Band to march through making the opening of the pier. The sign was supposed to read Brant Street Pier NOW but the banner was longer than the space and – well the W of now got hidden. Ooops! Not an omen – please. The applause was very real. I’m not sure if those young men and woman in the BTTB were fully aware of what they were participating in –but it was an historic occasion for the city.
 They were sticky, they were gooey, they were soft and moist – one per person with more than a thousand made up to be given away. Did you get one? The city had more than 1000 cupcakes on hand to pass out – they were all used up.
Hard to say how many people actually visited the pier on the Saturday – it will have approached 5,000 by the time the day was over.
Now what?
The pier will find its place. The city will come up with ways to program the location and people will see it as something that makes their city just that much different from any other city in the province.
The birthing pains were excruciating and we know that from this point forward every politician will talk about the event as something historic. Hopefully it will move the politicians off that ‘safest city in the country” line they keep touting.
 A picture that should be etched in the mind of every citizen in the city. Glorious! It is interesting that they speak of the pier as the completion of the city’s waterfront park. The question as to what the Region does with the Beachway Park to the west of Spencer Smith has yet to be determined and for the waterfront to have some harmony the two will have to – and should – complement one another.
All in the future – this weekend the city celebrates and acknowledges that we now have something no one else has –and it is truly wonderful.
Are there flaws, deficiencies and things that need to be fixed quick, quick? You bet there are – but today is not the day to point to hose.
Point instead to that picture of the full Burlington Teen Tour Band marching back towards the city with the flags flying and the full band playing.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2013 For opening number two of the Brant Street Pier the God’s shone upon the city and the sun was out – the breeze from the lake was pleasant and, as has been standard for the pier – the opening was late by about a quarter of an hour.
 A colour party from the Iron Duke Sea Cadet Corps in Burlington. But it was a good occasion. All the movers and shakers and the people who make things happen were out on the site. The speeches were mercilessly short. The guest list was very short as well – some real surprises as to who wasn’t on hand. More on that later.
 Seven hands – seven futures for the city. The focal point was unveiling the plaque with the hand prints of seven young people, one from each council member. The seven were chosen from the more than 440 who sent in an application along with their thoughts on what the pier would mean to them.
Theses seven were recognized when the final beam of the pier was bolted into place and had a section of steel with their names on it. At that time their handprints were taken and later used to make casts from which a mold was made to cast the bronze plaque that was unveiled this afternoon.
That plaque is going to be out there for more than 100 years during which time those seven boys and girls will return again and again with their spouses, the children and their grandchildren. It is a wonderful piece of local history.
What kind of a pier is it going to be? Like a new restaurant, it will take some time to find its market; those people who will be out there day after day. While it is very early one could begin to get a sense of how people are going to relate to the structure.
It will serve the city well. It’s construction was plagued with problems and while those were not the making of the current civic administration is a serious blot on our copy books that is working its way through the legal system That full story has yet to be told. There is a serious bump out there that the city has yet to get over.
How and when people make the pier their own will take a little time. One “pier walker” wondered if someone would hold Tai Chi classes out at the very end of the pier? What a neat idea. Will weddings be performed on the observation deck? Will anyone remember that there was supposed to be a win turbine at the top of the beacon on the observation deck? It was going to provide all the power to keep the lights on.
With the pier officially opened we now head for the “third” opening that will take place on Saturday.
Sometime next week the words Brant Street Pier will get moved from the Project and Initiatives part of the city’s web site.
A traditional bronze plaque was set out on the pier with the names of the current Council members. It may well be the only public mark of the municipal political service some of them have given.
 Henry Schilthuis on the left, along with an aide.  Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster on the right walks with former Ward 6 Councillor Carol D’Amelio. Expect to see these two running against each other in 2014. D’Amelio wants back in.  Note quite the traditional photo op – most of those who took part in the official opening of the pier gathered at the end. For once everything worked.  The ceremonies over the Naval Promenade becomes the fous with the Seniors’ out in force listening to the All MAle Welsh Choir. Strolling along is Craig Stevens, the city’s project manager on the pier project. He direction and oversight kept the project going when it got a little wonky at times – but that’s another story. So who WAS there and who WASN’T there?
Some thought former Mayor Rob MacIsaac would be on hand to say a few words about how this project came about. However, had MacIsaac ben on hand then former Mayor Cam Jackson would have had to be on hand – and that wasn’t going to happen.
Regional chair Gary Carr sent his regrets.
Former city council member Carol D’Amelio was on hand. She and Councillor Blair Lancaster toured the observation deck together. Expect those two to battle it out in Ward six next municipal election. D’Amelio wants back in. She gave up her Council seat in 2010 to run against then Mayor Cam Jackson and while she did better than Jackson the city wanted a new look and chose Rick Goldring.
Councillor Taylor didn’t attend. Councillor Dennison did but he wasn’t talking about his decision to appeal the Committee of Adjustment decision that went against him to the Ontario Municipal Board. The decision to appeal will mark the beginning of the end of his 20 years of political service.
Henry Schilthuis and one of his able assistants made an appearance. Schilthuis was the original contractor on the pier. e walked away from the project when he realized, in his opinion, that it could not be built with the plans he was given.
A court of law will decide if Henry Schilthuis was right.
The pier is now part of the city. Is it what those Council members back in 1999 thought it would be? It will find and make a place for itself. The city can settle into its next biggest problem – the absolutely obscene situation with the Air Park.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2013. The Saturday is the blowout day for the Sound of Music – the day they pull out all the stops and begin with a parade with every possible group they could find to take part. As events in this city go it at times beats even the Santa Claus parade – except they don’t have the big guy in the red suit.
There is a new parade route this year. It starts at 11:00 am. at Central Park; travels along New Street and James Street to City Hall; then turns south on Brant Street, west on Lakeshore, ending at Maple Ave., featuring as always Burlington’s own Teen Tour Band and Junior Redcoats.
With the parade ending the music begins.
Here is the lineup for the first half of the day.
People will certainly want to get out onto the pier and take in the view.
Then back for the evening schedule.
 By Staff
Taking part in the Sound of Music this year was different. The people were there; the sound was as good as it usually is – but there was something difference. People walked onto the grounds of Spencer Smith Park the way they always have but this time they veered the east just a bit and out onto the expanse of this pier that leads you out into the lake.
Burlington is the only city that has a pier that juts out into the water the way ours does. Some people think there is a reason for this.
For those who wished there was an observation deck that gave people a view they had never had of the city before.
With the “quick tour” of the pier over people then headed west on the Naval promenade and on to enjoying the festival.
The line-up for today is set out below in two parts.
 Events at the pier then take a break while the public officials take the time to formally open the pier. When the festivities are over take the time to wander back and have a look at the plaque that is set up. Nice piece of public art.
 The Sound of Music Festival schedule shows bands playing while the politicians are giving speeches. Given that those politician are the people funding parts of the Sound of Music that didn’t look like a wise move to me..
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. June 13, 2013 Show time. The SOUND begins at 5:30. The schedule for tonight is set out below.
 This year, the Sound of Music may have something significant to compete with. The city is expecting to have all the gating removed from the spanking new Brant Street Pier, which will allow people to walk out onto the pier and take it all in.
 There is a lot to see – print out the map.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. June 13, 2013 The Regional Police are passing on some sound advice.
Figure out beforehand where you want to meet with all the members of your family in the event that one of them gets lost.
 The Lost and Found Tent is on the Naval promenade just to the west of the entrance to the pier that you can now walk out on. The Halton Regional Police Service want to help the public to prevent unnecessary trauma to family members who become separated while attending this year’s Burlington Sound of Music Festival being held from June 13th until June 16th.
The Service recommends you establish a pre-determined meeting place when arriving at the venue in the event you become separated. Establishing a meeting place with older children and adults and/or advising young children to go to the nearest police officer for help will ensure an immediate and safe reunion.
A ‘Missing Person’ tent has also been established at the festival. Look for the Happy Face 🙂 on the map. The tent is on what is now the Naval promenade just to the west of the entrance to the pier – which you will be able to walk out on this weekend.
 By Walter Byj, Correspondent
BURLINGTON, ON. June 11, 2102. I was asked by the publisher to give my first impression of the pier at night. I had been down to the pier with my wife after learning that the pier lights were now functioning,
So we ventured down to the lake Sunday night to experience the pier at night. I mentally set no expectations as to what to expect. I wanted to be impartial so that I could judge the pier at night in an open and honest manner.
However, emotionally, I wanted to be impressed and to have somewhat of a WoW factor when viewing the pier. I knew that there would not be neon lights flashing, this would be way over the top, but hopefully there would be a feeling that the lighting system would mesh well with the pier. In sports parlance, I wanted not just a home run, but a grand slam. I guess I set my goal too high.
I was not ecstatic with what I saw, nor was I disappointed. I felt more like the title of an old Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is”, a kind of hollow and empty feeling.
Perhaps being disappointed because I expected much more, I turned to my wife to get what is always her honest and truthful opinion. Her response, “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Sometimes a sober second viewing is needed. Perhaps there will be more appreciation of the pier once it has been walked on and then viewed upon leaving.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 22. 2013. Burlington native Bill Wood is bringing his band, The Woodies back Home to perform at Emma’s Back Porch on Thursday, June 13 at 9 PM. An ex Nelson High School Alumni – Bill Wood who is best known as the front man for Canadian Pop stars Eye Eye, had a slew of hits in the 80’s including “Out on a Limb”, “X-Ray Eyes” and “Endless Night”.
 The Woodies on a Come Back Tour – Emmas June 13 Some of the bands you may remember Wood being in include The Oh No’s where Woodie was band mate for several years with fellow Burlington boy Mychael Danna. Today Danna is a very successful Academy Award-winning film composer, winning the Best Original Score for “Life of Pi.”
Bill Wood, modestly corrects the public record and explains that he was nominated for single of the year. “I believe Glass Tiger took it home. The album was nominated twice, once for single of the year, and one for producer [Terry Brown] , but neither brought home the gold”, adds Wood.
Other Burlington bands Wood was a member included Darwin, Shadowfax, Skyballoon and Popeye.
 The stairs went in in 1992 when new management took over the rental of the building. Today what was once the “hot spot” in Burlington is now a quieter, more sedate location for brunches and special events. The picture above the clock is the restaurant in its prime. Craig Kowalchuk is opening up what many knew as the Tree Top part of Emma’s Back Porch for the event.
For those who are getting close to collecting pension cheques the Tree Top will evoke fond memories and smiles of a time when Burlington didn’t have a night life. “It was The Brant Inn and the Tree Top”, that was it.
 Back in the days when it was a more colourful establishment – these stairs were THE entrance to the Tree Top – getting up was a bit of a grunt. There are those who tumbled down. Kowalchuk has been the sole owner of Emma’s which is a very popular locale with a great deck on the lake side. Tough to get a seat much of the time.
Inside the furniture is what Kowalchuk calls “Canadian Country Cabin” which is another way of saying there was no other place to put that old furniture.
But if you look at many of the tables you will see initials carved into the surface. “A lot of broken hearts can be seen in those carvings” said one patron who was talking to Kowalchuk about the sanding and re-surfacing he wanted to do to the table tops. “No, assured Kowalchuk, we are not sanding those carvings away, we are just taking off some of the grime and then putting a better surface on them.”
Kowalchuk has run Emma’ since 1992 when he installed the grand stairway with the magnificent clock on the west side. Before that was put in the way to the top floor Tree Top was up a skinny, steep stairway. It was a grind to get up and those stairs saw more than one person tumble all the way to the bottom – with a couple of bounces.
Kowalchuk brings a background in the setting up of franchise operations for one of the better operations in the country. He understands the fundamentals and runs a pretty tight ship. He is also president of the Burlington Restaurant Association and has some concerns about the city’s banner policy.
Emmas is a little more sedate these days. Quieter, more of a family place for many.
But it wasn’t always that way. We lived in the place and we have any number of ways to prove we were legal. “We Lived at the Treetop” Bill Wood said enthusiastically.
The Woodies Come Back Tour has a cover charge – a modest $10 If the crowd wandering down around the pier is small that might be because everyone is at Emmas listening to a group that was part of a very colourful past.
 George and Emma Byrens, who purchased the building in 1919. It was once the location of the jumpingest joint in town. There was the Tree Top and the Brant Inn and that was it. Now it is a quieter, more sedate location – Mother’s Day Brunches and special occasions. The building is believed to have been the home of the Kern’s family and the place Lt. Col, William C. Kerns was born in. Kerns was a partner in Waldies, a store located on John Street and eventually became the sole owner.
There was a fire in the top floor of the building at one point and that may have been what resulted in the location becoming a restaurant.
George and Emma Byrens, who purchased the building in 1919 had the place up to 1952. That’s where the name Emmas Back Porch came from.
Somewhere the name Estaminet got put into play – why that name isn’t all that clear. Estaminet is French for a small bistro or café.
The Cooper family then bought the place and in the early 60’s they created the Tree Top lounge. At one point they had rented the place to a group from St. Catharines but that didn’t work out so they took it back.
 It’s not a street that gets used all that much. the properties to the left lost much of their value when the Conservation Authority revised the set back required for properties fronting on the lake. Now there really isn’t anything of any height that can be built on those lots. The properties to the right have significant potential if someone can assemble enough of the land and then convince the city to contribute the street and come up with [piece of land big enough for a decent development that gives the public access to the water. The Official Plan Review team will be hiring a consultant to come up with some ideas. Along the way the property was sold to Mayrose Tyco, the group that is building the Bridgewater condo complex a couple of hundred yards west on Lakeshore Road. Mayrose also owns the parking lot across the street
No one knows yet how many people are going to show up the 13th to tell the full story. We may have to promise not to identify anyone personally
An evening at the Tree Top to get yourself started on the Sound of Music festivities sounds like an interesting way to spend a weekend.
If you go this far – you will have spotted all kinds of mistakes as to who owned the place when and what it was called. Talk to three people and you will get four stories. Help get the story right – leave a comment and we will update this piece on a part of Burlington’s rich colourfull history.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 6, 2013. It’s a good idea; it should work. And if you ever wanted to try out one of those stand up paddle boards well Maria Gerow has just the thing for you.
Gerow has always thought setting up a rental location for paddle boats and deck chairs somewhere along the Beachway Park was a great idea. “I’ve had the idea for more than five years and I’ve been bugging the city for the past three years about renting the Pump House and running a rental operation out of the place”, she said.
 Many have wanted something in the Pump House – the hope was that maybe an upscale wine bar – the best that could be done was a rental outlet. The signage on the door isn’t very upscale. Perhaps there will be something better than a hand drawn sign in the near future. When the city Waterfront Access Protection Advisory Committee (it was sunset last December) recommended putting something in the building – they thought an upscale coffee shop with a nice selection of wines would be just the ticket – Gerow saw her chance and when the city ran its advertisement looking for a tenant for the space she moved real quick and got her idea in front of the right people and before she knew it – well it didn’t happen quite that fest – I mean this is city hall – she had a three year contract and opened up the last long weekend and she was in business.
 Looks easy enough and if you want to try it – Burlington Beach Rentals is the place. A Burlington resident Gerow was in insurance for some time but that entrepreneurial streak in her came to the surface and she now has a business called Burlington Beach Rentals – where you can rent paddle boats; stand up boards, chairs to sit out in the beach on with an umbrella.
Sun tan lotion, sun glasses will also be available. Small rental lockers and for those who rent chairs – WiFi is also available.
Gerow has targeted the “family friendly” market. If you’re a boozer and a carouser – don’t bother dropping by.
 Two adults or one adult and a child. Looks like fun. Prices seem reasonable and according to Gerow the demand is there. Now all she needs is some sunshine.
The Beachway will be going through a change; not in the next six months but certainly in the next few years. The Regional Planning people produced a report which they felt set out a detailed background. some feel the report was badly biased and there is a bit of a move to have the report sent back for a re-write.
However, the report is a regional document and the decision as to what will be done is a Regional decision. It will be up to the Burlington Council members to convince their fellow regional council members to accept what Burlington wants done. And that is a large part of the problem: Burlington isn’t at all clear on what it wants.
The people who live in the Beachway have made their point loud and clear – they don’t want to have to move. They like where they are and they think that if anything is done about housing in the Beachway it should be to add more housing.
 The Family Medical facility under construction will be the first part of a several phase re-build of the hospital. When completed it will change fundamentally the way people see and use the west end of LAkeshore Road. A couple of years from now the hospital will open the Family Medical facility where ten new doctors will practice on the ground level of a structure that will have several levels of parking. The entrance to that facility will be off Lakeshore Road which will change the traffic pattern considerably.
When the hospital completes its re-build the entrance to the hospital will also be on Lakeshore Road which will change that par of the city.
Lakeshore Road will become the entrance way to a park – what we don’t know is what kind of a park will it be?
The Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade will be completed by the time the Family Medicine Facility is operational. The planned planting of a cedar tree screen will make the roadway much different than it is today.
Is the Burlington Beach rental operation the first part of the change?
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 7, 2013 — The Brant Street Pier will open to the public on June 13, two days ahead of the community celebration planned for Saturday, June 15 at noon at Spencer Smith Park.
“We are opening the pier to the community as soon as it safe to do so,” said Scott Stewart, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure. “The pier will be open and the fencing will be down the afternoon of Thursday, June 13.”
The city is also lighting up the pier, including the beacon feature, each night starting at 9 p.m. following successful lighting tests earlier this week.
 Less than a week – and hundreds of people will be out on the pier enjoying the view. The pier could hold more than 2100 people – assuming they were standing shoulder to shoulder. Is there a Guinness Book of Records opportunity here. Maybe 2000 people enjoying the Goodness of Guinness all at the same time with a helicopter overhead recording the event. Dial up the city events department – see what they think. The city is planning two celebration events related to the pier. The first is a thank you event to recognize the city’s funding partners, including the federal and provincial governments, Halton Region and Burlington Hydro. That takes place Friday, June 14 at 1 p.m. and includes speeches, a plaque unveiling and a tour of the pier.
MP Mike Wallace, Mayor Rick Goldring and representatives from Conservation Halton, Burlington Hydro and other community partners are expected to attend. The seven children who will leave their hand prints on the pier will help dignitaries unveil the plaque that recognizes the completion of the Waterfront at Downtown Burlington, including the Brant Street Pier.
 Charissa Pavlou, one of the city’s best kept entertainment secrets. Hear her just the once and you will want to know why we aren’t seeing her during the Sound of Music Festival. This young lady is going to break through big time soon. The second event is on Saturday, June 15 at noon, when the Burlington Teen Tour Band will march out onto the pier to signal the pier’s official opening. When the band leaves the pier, the community will be invited to walk on the pier and eat free cupcakes, leave hand prints on a canvas and enjoy local entertainment, including from Burlington vocalist Charissa Pavlou and other local artists.
So – here is how it is going to play out. Assuming the work is complete – all the fencing will come down the afternoon of the 13th and anyone wandering around can stroll out to the end of the pier. No sense of occasion, no marching bands, nothing special. And at $20 million – this is special.
Then a day after the politicians will show up and huff and puff and look important; unveil the really rather nifty plaque that will have been put in place and all get their pictures taken. There are a lot of gulls flying around – you know what one of them can do to the dignitaries on this occasion don’t you?
Then the NEXT day the pier will go through yet another opening when everyone will be cleared off while the Burlington Teen Tour Band will march out and open the pier for the people. Cupcakes get served – maybe balloons too.
Then everyone gets cleared from the pier at 3:00 pm so things can be set up for the fireworks display that night.
 Here is the Burlington Teen Tour Band opening up the Performing Arts Centre. Imagine them doing the same thing on the pier. Going to be a glorious sight. Mercy on us all – what a mess! Now you have some idea as to just why it took three times as long as expected to get built and more than twice what the city expected to pay for the thing. Someone called the pier the “mistake on the lake”; could he have been right.
Whoever is making the decisions about the opening doesn’t appear to have any sense of occasion or a feel for drama. The dignitaries could have been lined up and given credit for finding the money to build the thing and then the plaque unveiled. Right after that the Burlington Teen Tour Band could have come marching in off Lakeshore Road down the promenade and out onto the pier with all their flags snapping in the wind. The public would have followed them on out to the pier.
The band could have done one of those fancy turns they do at the end of the pier and come marching back towards the public that would have been kept back a respectable distance with a nice fancy felt rope. The BTTB could then have stopped just down from the node – played a few pieces and then someone would declare the pier officially opened.
Instead we are going to get one dreary official opening and then another yes you can go on the pier – now you can’t and then later you can go out again.
Enough to make you dizzy. However, when you eventually get out there – it is something.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 5, 2013 They didn’t say very much but they at least said something. It would have been nice if the public relations agency that ran the Kraft Canada Game Goes ON contest had communicated with the various hockey clubs around the country on how the processing of the prize money was going.
 This red button got clicked thousands of time by minor hockey associations across the country. Minor hockey associations across the country used two days in April to corral every person they could find to click on that red button on a web site and rack up votes for different levels of prize money. It was quite a public relations feat – that kind of went sour when it took so long for the prize money to actually get to the clubs.
Burlington`s minor hockey association entered the contest and ended up one of the five Ontario Regional winners. When the prize money didn’t show up Our Burlington started asking questions.
 John McNeil put together the team that took on the Games Goes on Challenge that won BLOMHA a $20,000 prize. Here is what we got from Sherri-Lyn Brown, with the public relations company that ran the contest: “Please see the response below from Joanna Milroy, Senior Consumer Promotions Manager, Kraft Canada.”
Kraft said: “Thank you for your inquiry. Each of the winning communities can expect to receive their prize money in the month of June. We look forward to seeing the impact that these funds will have on the Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association.”
Each of the prize-winning clubs want to say thank you for what they won – they will probably do so a little less enthusiastically. Pity.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 5, 2013. There was a man named Beverly Baxter. Those of you who recognize the name will know your Canadian history well.
Baxter wrote a column in Macleans magazine from London and gave us a perspective on foreign affairs that wasn’t available anywhere else.
Baxter wrote during and after the Second World War and brought Canada essential reportage, trenchant opinion and vivid portraits of his associates, prominent among them Winston Churchill, Lord Beaverbrook and Anthony Eden.
Baxter was born in Canada, served in WW I and stayed in the UK where he worked as a writer and then as an editor of a number of very influential newspapers. He left the newspaper business and ran for public office and served in the British house of Commons for more than many years. He is said to have won his seat in the 1959 British election without ever giving a speech.
 A view of the way Canada outgrew its Imperial Heritage. Neville Thompson, distinguished author and venerated scholar of modern British history, wrote a fascinating chronicle of a statesman and columnist at the heart of global political process through three decades, highly influential and closely read by Canadians everywhere.
Thomson will be at the Burlington Public Library along with the fine folks from A Different Drummer Books, partnering to bring you a significant literary event.
Baxter’s reporting and commentary gave Canadians the information they needed to form their own opinions at a time when most of our information came from the United States or Great Britain. It was Baxter who gave us those foundational tools to develop our own viewpoints.
Examining the stirring columns that appeared weekly in Maclean’s for nearly twenty-five years, Dr. Thompson charts the times, the events, the careers of the leaders and Baxter’s impact upon them in a vivid, discerning and compelling account.
Canadian thought and opinion was shaped by Baxter in a way that isn’t fully appreciated.
Thomson, in his, Canada and the End of the Imperial Dream: Beverley Baxter’s Reports from London through War and Peace, 1936-1960, should prove to be a very entertaining speaker.
Tickets are $10, available at the bookstore and at the third floor Information Desk at the Library. To reserve seats please contact us at (905) 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com.gaging Ideas Monday, June 17 7pm
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 4, 2013. The Board of The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is pleased to announce the election of four Directors at its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The election returns the Board to its full complement of thirteen directors. Joining the Board are Donald Baxter, Michael Southon, Barry Simmons and Arthur Salzer.
Don Baxter has spent several years in Economic Development positions, including Burlington Economic Development Corporation from 2002 to 2008. Baxter brings experience in business management positions and board governance to the board. He is involved in the development of the Roseland Community Organization as well.
Baxter, who was executive director of the Burlington Economic Development Corporation where he picked up the tag of Burlington Booster moved on to Mohawk College where he served as the executive director of corporate training and partnerships.
 It was built on time and on budget; they hired an accomplished Executive Director then the wheels got loose and things didn’t run smoothly and the blame game began costing the Centre its Executive Director. Before joining the BEDC, Baxter was a founding partner of consulting firm Economic Growth Solutions Inc., doing education, tourism, economic development strategy and downtown work for municipalities, provincial ministries, colleges and school boards and private clients. He also served as executive director of economic development for Metro Toronto.
Baxter is a registered professional planner and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, Economic Developers Council of Ontario, Economic Development Association of Canada, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, and the International Economic Development Association.
He also worked in the consulting and municipal planning fields, and was seconded to be Research Director for a Federal/Provincial Task Force on the Supply and Price of Serviced Land in Canada. He then became Commissioner of Planning and Development in a Toronto municipality responsible for planning, building and economic development activities. For 11 years, Don was Executive Director of Economic Development for Metro Toronto, including economic development responsibilities as diverse as hosting the G7 summit, establishing the GTAA, international bids, and developing the National Trade Centre. He has degrees from the University of Guelph and Queen’s University.
Give them an Oil thigh Don and show them how it’s done
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. June 2, 2013. A Mother – daughter pair at a book launch – each with their own title: certainly a first for Burlington.
The Different Drummer; always doing something different has two authors at the bookstore June 9th – at 2:00
 Sylvia McNicoll, nationally renowned educator, activist for literacy and prolific author of fiction for young people, including the Silver Birch Award winning Bringing Up Beauty, introduces her compelling and timely new novel Dying to Go Viral.
 Jennifer Filipowicz, artist and journalist, is Sylvia’s daughter. Jennifer presents her first novel, a work of science fiction, Wardroids.
Sylvia and Jennifer share a gift for hearty, imaginative storytelling and are rousing company. A wonderful afternoon is in store. Admission is free, everybody is welcome. Refreshments will be served.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 31, 2013. Things have never been really smooth between the Sound of Music people and city hall; there is always something those two are squabbling about. If it isn’t parking spaces for the SOM people then they differ over who is going to pay for what – this year that what are the fireworks. The city feels they are doing the SOM people a big favour by allowing the fireworks to be done on the brand new pier – saving SOM the cost of getting a barge.
SOM is getting the feeling they are being hustled by the city and that there event is being used to draw crowds for the opening of the pier.
Mayor Rick Golding did say the city was going to horn in on the Sound of Music to open the pier – maybe the Mayor thought the music festival is what would draw the crowds for the two opening events that are going to take place. With a lot of noise and fireworks (no balloons we are advised) the public might get moved into an oooh and awe mood and forget just how much, what was for a time, called the “mistake on the lake”
At this point, weeks before the opening of the pier and the kickoff of the Sound of Music, which begins with a parade the city and the SOM people are differing over the actual parade route.
 Sound of Music volunteers marking locations for vendor booths – 800 people volunteer to make this happen. The SOM people had hoped the event would come into the core via James Street and swing south along Brant to Lakeshore and proceed west along Lakeshore and then have the Burlington Teen Tour Band part of the parade make a u-turn and get back to Brant Street and swing south into Spencer Smith Park and out onto the pier.
That idea, much to the dismay we are told of the SOM people, has not gotten any traction and so the parade will now come into the core via James Street and go north on Brant and end at Caroline.
The Burlington Downtown Business Association is apparently miffed as well – there members were hoping for something more dramatic.
Maybe the city didn’t want SOM going out on the pier until it was officially opened and before our MP Mike Wallace gets to tell the folks who elected him just how much he has done for them. And he has done a lot.
Is this just another squabble between the city and the Sound of Music? One would think that an organization that drives millions into the local economy would have a stronger working relationship with the city. Is it the city that is being difficult or is it the SOM management that doesn’t know how to manage?
There are hundreds of volunteers who make SOM happen. One would think that the management skills needed to make that work would be more than capable of getting along with city hall. Are they both not on the same page.
Something to look into in the future.
The Sound of Music was an event started by the city more than 30 years ago. In 1998 city hall realized they couldn’t manage a task of this magnitude and spun it off in 1998 to a newly incorporated community group that was called the Sound of Music Festival Inc. It was as bit of a grind in the early years but they have grown the business and today the event is one of the top ranked things to take in.
It is Canada’s Largest Free Music Festival. More than 200,000 people enjoy the biggest annual gathering of music by the lake and enjoy free concerts spanning all genres.
 A bit dated perhaps – but still a great group – something for the parents? The Festival Kick-off is on Friday June 7th, on Burlington Hyundai Community Stage including performers Honeymoon Suite (honeymoonsuite.com) and The Spoons (thespoons.ca).
Opening night, Thursday June 13th, on Festival Stage, features Toronto natives Down With Webster (facebook.com/downwithwebster).
Friday evening at OLG Stage boasts Jully Black (jullyblack.com), and Big Wreck (bigwreckmusic.com) at Festival Stage. Danny Fernandes (dannyfernandes.com) is co-headlining with Alyssa Reid (alyssareid.com) on Burlington Hyundai Stage.
 Burlington’s own – The Spoons – they were part of the opening of the Performing Arts Centre. Nice to see them back in town. Saturday afternoon, on Festival Stage, are illScarlett (illscarlett.com) and USS (ussmusic.com), followed in the evening by LIGHTS (music.iamlights.com). It’s Country all day long over on OLG stage, in the afternoon is Small Town Pistols (smalltownpistolsfans.com), the evening line-up features Doc Walker (docwalker.ca). Sharon & Bram are taking the stage Saturday afternoon at Burlington Hyundai Stage and see Royal Wood (royalwood.ca) downtown at Cogeco Stage.
Sunday’s performers include Platinum Blonde (platinumblonde.com),April Wine(aprilwine.ca) and 54-40 (5440.com) on Festival stage. Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace (rainemaida.net) will be on OLG Stage.
 By Staff
Burlington, ON. May 29, 2013. The Burlington Art Centre announces the appointment of Denis Longchamps as Director of Programs. Longchamps replaces George Wale, who is retiring from the position after 27 years of exemplary service to the BAC during which time he built an outstanding ceramics collection.
Longchamps comes to Burlington after serving as Manager of Exhibitions and Publications at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He brings a passion for his curatorial work, which bridges both contemporary art and craft practices.
Longchamps created the Craft Journal (craftjournal.ca), which he edits and publishes semi-annually.
Longchamps studied Art History at York University before moving to Concordia in Montreal, where he received a Masters and PhD in Art History.
 Denis Longchamps – new director of programming for the Burlington Art Centre brings years of experience to the new appointment. Good Luck Mr. Longchamps. Longchamps will oversee the BAC’s Programs department, including the planning and implementation of 20 exhibitions and related receptions and artists’ talks; 200 studio courses for adults and children every year; the Permanent Collection, which now numbers over 2,000 contemporary Canadian ceramic artworks; and guild-related programs with seven juried exhibitions each year. The role also involves mentorship and professional development programs and special projects.
“Denis’ proven experience in exhibitions, education and collections will be a great addition to the BAC’s Program team,” says Ian Ross, Executive Director of the BAC. “His strong connections in the art scene will build on the BAC’s solid foundation to increase its profile in Burlington, the Halton region and across Canada.”
That experience may become very useful to Burlington and the evolution of the Art Centre as the city looks at its cultural assets and thinks forward about how to best manage them and get full value for what we have.
There has been more than one conversation about re-locating the Art Centre from its site on Lakeshore Road to a possible new structure in the downtown core. Some at city hall believe that the value of the land the Art Centre sits on could be realized if it were sold and used to develop additional condominium housing – the site is certainly well suited to that.
The $6 million the property is said to be worth would go a long way to building a structure that could house a truly superb Art Centre.
Denis Longchamps may be part of a very significant change to the arts community in this city.
At a recent council committee meeting earlier this week General Manager, Budget and Corporate Affairs Kim Phillips advised that the cultural plan expected in June will not be ready – then – it has been pushed back to the fall.
|
|
