 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 Art in Action awarded two scholarships at their annual silent fundraising auction at Rayoon –Persian Fare in Burlington’s Village Square.
Ten Burlington public and catholic schools participated. Each school put forth an applicant that was pursuing a post-secondary fine arts program. Each student completed an application and included three digital images of their artwork.
 From left to right: Olivia Hashka - Nelson H. S. Winner • Honorary Chairperson for our 10th Anniversary. Rick Goldring, Mayor, Michelle Friesen - Robert Bateman H. S, Stephanie Moore - L. B. Pearson H. S. Darlene Throop, Art in Action Scholarship Chair. Missing Jessica Gneth - M. M. Robinson H. S. - Winner, Sara Fackrell - Aldershot H. S., Ashley Jean-Gilles - Assumption H. S. The jury process consisted of six Art in Action artists representing various art mediums. Two winners were selected.
Congratulations to Jessica Gneth of M.M. Robinson high school and Olivia Hashka of Nelson High.
Other applicants were Sara Fackrell of Aldershot high, Ashley Jean-Gilles of Assumption catholic secondary, Stephanie Moore of L. B. Pearson High school and Michelle Friesen of Robert Bateman high school.
The winners received a scholarship of $1000.00 each as well as free admission to participate in this November’s studio tour .
Art in Action celebrates it’s tenth anniversary this year and will put on an especially robust Studio Tour this fall.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 10, 2010 While Saturday was pretty close to a write off from a weather point of view and it was very difficult for the events being held outdoors at the Burlington Arts Centre as well as the Canadian Equine Outdoor Expo. Sunday was a completely different day..
The sun blessed us all and there was plenty to do for those who got out.
 All for a good cause - midriffs exposed and the dance of the seven veils - or at least parts of it were performed at the PERL fund raiser at the Polish Hall on Sunday. Elvis is reported to have made an appearance at the Polish Hall where PERL Protecting Escarpment Rural Land was holding a fund raiser, but I didn’t see him. I did see two genuine belly dancers who surely raised the blood pressure of a couple of the older lads as well as a bit of money for one of the better causes in the city. The afternoon event had a Silent Auction, a Garage Sale and the bar was open.
 The Cottonwood brass put on a nice little performance that consisted of music on instruments we don't see anymore and the story behind each piece of music. A short drive south at The Different Drummer Bookstore, the Cottonwood Brass were performing before a small but rapt audience. Small because the space available is tiny. Saw instruments that I didn’t think people played anymore. If you hear of an event this group is going to be playing at – make a point of taking them in.
Then across the city to the first Car Free Sunday event. It was a decent first effort that somehow managed a four car pile-up on a street that was closed to traffic.
 The streets weren't crowded but the turnout was worth holding the event again next year. Next car free day will be downtown July 15th. The streets certainly weren’t packed but there were enough to claim the event was a success. These things take time to develop a following. If promoted more creatively and talked of as a way for community to get together we should see this become something of a tradition.
There will be a second Car Free event July 15th in the downtown core. We will put up maps for that event a few days before hand.
 Some chose to sit in the shade listen to the music and enjoy time with their neighbours - summer in the city This Car Free Event was a Councillor Sharman and Councillor Dennison idea, which Councillor Meed Ward eventually bought into as well. Dennison was in Holland on a trip he paid for himself, where he represented the city at a number of functions. He had expected to be back in time to glide up and down Appleby on either his blades or his bike. Didn’t see him but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t on hand.
While other politicians were on hand it was more of a people event. The Teen Tour Band put in an appearance and there was a very robust yet laid back family of musicians on the stage. Pony rides were set up for the kids.
 That there is a two horse hitch girls and boys. There was a time when farmers in Burlington took barrels of apples to the Freeman railway station where they were transported to Toronto and points east. Then North on Appleby Line to the 1st side road and into the Iron Horse Equestrian complex where the Canadian Outdoor Equine Expo was being held. They must have taken a hit on the Saturday with all that rain and by the time I got there on Sunday things were very quiet but there were some fine looking horses to be seen. One magnificent two horse Percheron hitch and some very talented riders in the different rings.
 Not everyone got out to enjoy the sunshine. This horse was part of a larger hitch that was used the day before. It was one of those Sundays where families gather in the back yard with beer in hand and the BBQ sizzling and the kids in and out of the pool.
It was also a day to get out and about the city and enjoy everything it has to offer.
Now we go into Sound of Music week – we will have the full day by day schedule set out for you and get back to you with pictures that tell the story.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 10, 2012 He launched and managed to gain some altitude and it looks like he will stay aloft.
Jeremy Freiburger told a close to full house in the Performing Arts Community Studio the fundamentals of the community engagement part of the Cultural Plan that he has been contracted to prepare for the city of Burlington.
Freiburger is well qualified to take on the task and brings both energy and innovation to the work he has to do.
He does have his hands full working with the city’s communications people – but then he’s not the only one struggling with that department.
Freiburger has arranged to meet with citizens in every ward and while the turnout has not been large – those that did show up were enthusiastic. The first event was in Kilbride – to the surprise of many – culture is usually seen as something that happens south of the 401.
 Each yellow marker indicates a location that someone saw as culturally significant. The turnout was better in Kilbride than it was at the Senior’s Centre which is smack dab in the middle of Ward 2 where all the cultural mavens are thought to live. So much for that thought.
While Freiburger was talking to the audience in Kilbride about what he is setting out to do – a group playing baseball got rained out; Freiburger didn’t miss a beat – he invited them in to hear what they had to say about culture. This guy clearly knows how to innovate.
 David Auger thinks about where he spends his disposable income dollars on culture. Freiburger asks those who show up to do three things for him. Put a small dot on a map showing where they spend their cultural time and then go to an identical map and put down dots showing where you spend their cultural money.
Then Freiburger asks people to go to a very large map of the city and put down stickers on the places they like to go in the city. Lowville Park, put a sticker there, Student Theatre, put another sticker there. Freiburger wants to map points of cultural significance.
Out of all this data collection will come a picture of where people spend their time, where they spend their money and what it is about places they go to that attracts them.
Freiburger will be collecting data at events in each ward, for almost the first time we have seen events take place well north of the QEW divide. It would have been nice to see something in the Alton and Orchard communities. The Sound of Music crowd will be invited to take part in this exercise. If you didn’t get to one of the community events – Sound of Music and the Children’s Festival are good opportunities to take part in the data gathering
The crowd at the Performing Arts Centre heard Edie Friel, the man who put the city of Glasgow on the cultural map and made cultural events the strongest part of the Glaswegian economy by using a model from Azerbaijan to catch people’s attention. Using an Azerbaijani model to get the attention of people in Glasgow – – that’s chutzpah!
Friel explained the role culture plays in the development of a city. “People”, he said “don’t go to France, they go to Paris. People don’t go to Italy; they go to Milan or Rome. People go to cities because those cities have created a brand for themselves, a reason to go to that city.”
“When you brand a city you highlight it’s history, its heritage and its culture”, he said. We will come back to those three – they are very relevant to Burlington.
Friel pointed out that “we human beings have a need for membership, we want to belong to something”. That something can be a model railroad club, a photography club, a drama group. People go to things they identify with. There are literally thousands of people in Ontario who want to do nothing more than walk the Bruce Trail.
Most people either know what they want to do with their time and their disposable income or know they are open to a new idea; a new experience. Friel talks of “destination marketing” and he explains that you have to develop the “supply chain”. What does all that mean?
If Burlington is going to attract visitors we have to give them a reason for coming to the city – and those reasons are what he refers to as the supply chain. “Develop the brand” says Friel – “not the artists. When you do that, then people will come and see all the artists.”
 This artists wants to be a little higher up on the food chain - wants people to pay for the work artists do. There was at least one artist in the audience who didn’t see it quite that way. While he had no problem being part of the supply chain he suggested that the artists could be a little higher up on that chain and complained about artists being asked to do their work for free by people who had good jobs running the cultural institutions in the city.
A near perfect example of just that happening is the two events held at the Burlington Art Centre on the weekend. The BAC had invited more than 100 artists to show their work and at the same time has the six Guilds that work out of the BAC showing their work. The crowds will not be coming to see a specific artist – they will be here looking at artisans and while here get a good look at what the BAC does day to day.
Just what is the Burlington brand? Is Freiburger expected to create a brand for the city? Nope – his job is to put together a plan to market Burlington and its culture – without really knowing what that culture is. THAT is a task and a half. Burlington is certainly festivals. Is it a gathering place for artists? Maybe not yet – but if the Burlington brand is fully developed and exploited the city will become known as the place that always has a festival of some kind going on. If you develop the brand, if you make Burlington a place where people know there are a lot of artists – they will come.
Niagara on the Lake has a very clear brand? Well yes and no. The Shaw Festival takes place there but the Shaw is not the Niagara on the Lake brand. Stratford on the other hand is Shakespeare.
 Besides mapping data participants in the Cultural Conversations were asked to contribute their thoughts and ideas. The city has several events that are part of the brand – the Sound of Music Festival and RibFest – both of which need significant image upgrades. That’s not a criticism – it’s an observation. Burlington types are very edgy when it comes to making any kind of observation about how they are doing. The drama people understand the significant role criticism plays. Good critical comment helps an actor or actress improve their importance.
“A community” advised Friel, “has to believe in itself. You have to decide what the place is going to look like.” Now back to his comment about a community and its history, its heritage and its culture.
Burlington struggles with its history. There is a plaque in the western end of Spencer Smith Park that tells you the Brant Inn once stood there – but it doesn’t tell you very much about the Brant Inn and the very significant cultural events that took place there.
The Burlington Heritage Advisory committee is struggling with a way to get the community to agree on some format to recognize those structures in the city that are of cultural significance. That problem is almost like a festering wound with two sides not seeing the issue the same way.
The Freeman railway station has had to fight and scratch its way to stay alive despite a city council that exhibited truly disgraceful behaviour. Were it not for the efforts of Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster the structure would be fire place kindling somewhere. It isn’t a completely done deal yet but there is every reason to believe that the structure will be saved and that at some time in the future – maybe before the pier is officially opened – Freeman Station will be open for the public to use.
 Jeremy Freiburger - leading a committee with a mandate to come up with a Cultural Plan for the city. The question that comes out of all this is – how does a city create a cultural plan if it doesn’t have a clear firm sense of what its history is or a civic administration that strives to support and maintain that history? There was a point when Burlington had hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore and find a home for the structure – but the city couldn’t get agreement on where it should be located and the federal/provincial and municipal funding that was in place to do this was lost – it got used to pave some streets instead.
Burlington was once one of the premier locations in the province for fruit farms – that land got turned into shopping malls. Burlington and Maple View malls were once orchards – now they are covered in asphalt and serve as parking lots. The Freeman Station was one of several stations where barrels of apples were loaded into freight trains. There was once a cannery operation at the edge of the lake. Not even a plaque there now to mark a very important part of the city’s history.
Jeremy Freiburger has his work cut out for him. The city is at least looking at how culture can be highlighted and the city turned into a tourist destination. The basic elements are there – all we have to do is bring them to the surface, polish them up and Burlington will be a place to visit and spend some money while they are here.
Is that what this is all about?
We will follow the development of this plan.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 7, 2012 Bring it On – sounds like a bit of a challenge doesn’t it? And a challenge it is to protect the rural lands north of the Dundas-407 boundary. Getting out and telling the story and protecting your community costs money. PERL and groups like it hold every kind of event you can imagine. This time it is a Silent Auction, Talent Show & Garage Sale plus a Lucky Draw. Enjoy a beverage and meet your friends. The Polish Hall has a bar.
PERL – Protecting Escarpment Rural Land has been fighting this battle since 2008 and is part of a coalition of more than 13 different organizations the come under the SEHC – STOP the Escarpment Highway Coalition that tends to be the voice of the movement.
 These are the rural lands north of the Dundas-Highway 407 boundary. PERL wants them protected forever. Some want to build communities in this part of the city. The group is holing a talent event at the Polish Hall on Sunday the 10th from 2 – 4 in the afternoon. No entry fee. Just walk in and enjoy watching some local talent. There is apparently going to be an Elvis impersonator on the stage..
PERL is a local group that is part of a much larger coalition with community stalwarts like Isobel Harmer and her daughter, singer, song writer Susan Harmer very active locally.
PERL is a bit more grass roots than many groups – their people live in the community and have a passionate view of how important it is to keep the rural part of the city undeveloped.
While the local public and the Region argue against any highway that would run right through Lowville, the provincial government has bureaucrats and consultants beavering away on drawing for where a road should go and how wide the road should be – with all the work being done using your tax dollars.
PERL fights that kind of insidious effort on the part of consultants who don’t have a vested interest in the community and tend to think along the same lines of the people that sign the cheques.
PERL wants you to sign a cheque as a donation, for something you buy at the Silent Auction or out of the plain goodness in your heart.
Sunday June 10th, Polish Hall on Fairview 2-4 pm. Come for part of the event or make it a full afternoon. This one matters.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 6, 2012 Mayor Rick Goldring has upped the ante with his Inspire speaker series – bringing in motivational speaker Chris Crowley, who has been on the New York Times best seller for a book he co-authored with Henry S. Lodge M.D. They’ve sold over a million copies and have been translated into 20 languages worldwide.
Crowley a refugee from Wall Street, will be speaking at the Ron Joyce Centre, DeGroote School of Business on June 12, 2012 at 7 p.m. The online registration is now closed. If you would like to attend – please call 905-335-7607.
Admission is Free and open to all; seats available on first-come, first-served basis with registration. We will be offering a shuttle bus service from the Burlington Downtown Terminal at 6:15 p.m., with one stop at the Burlington Mall in the parking lot on the north west corner at 6:30 p.m. and arrival at DeGroote for 6:45 p.m. The shuttle will return along the same route, leaving DeGroote at approximately 8:45 p.m.
If audience reaction is any measure – Crowley is going to be a smash hit:
“Chris spoke to our manufacturing leadership team last Saturday morning. Wow! What a hit! Everyone is talking about it and they want to know when can he come back! I strongly recommend Chris to anyone, who is interested in improving their health or influencing others too improve. ”
—Dave Clark, VP of Operations, Bath Iron Works (Builder of major, surface ships for the U.S. Navy)
“What a pleasure!…All the audience responses rated you ‘excellent’. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.”
“From the moment you began until the very end, you had the audience’s undivided attention . You were ENTERTAINING, INFORMATIVE ANED DEFINITELY THOUGHT PROVOKING. You are spreading AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT IS CHANGING LIVES EVERYWHERE. How rewarding that must feel for you. Congratulations and keep up the good work.” ”
Teresa Trembreull, President, The Business Bank, Minneapolis Minnesota
“Chris spoke at the annual retreat of our informal group of senior executives and I have to say he was one of the most inspiring speakers we have ever had over the two decades we’ve been getting together. Our views of the future were completely changed and each one of us is already at work becoming younger next year.”
Joni Evans, Former Chairman — Simon & Schuster, super agent at William Morris etc. New York City
“Let me say how much I and everyone else enjoyed your talk at La Quinta. You were terrific!”
David Beck, President — American College of Trial Lawyers
“What a home run! You were the perfect catalyst and Keynote Speaker for our “Reversing The Aging Process …Symposium….a trumpet call that gives us hope.”
Bill White, CEO THW Design, International Architects, and Founder, The Vital Nation. Atlanta, Georgia
“He is a terrific speaker, the topic was electrifying and our members loved it.”
Tom Kittredge, Mountain States Young Presidents Organization. Charleston W. Va.
 So – what is all the fuss about? According to the blurb on the book – here s what Crowley is talking about.
“Turn back your biological clock. A breakthrough book for men—as much fun to read as it is persuasive— draws on the very latest science of aging to show how men 50 or older can become functionally younger every year for the next five to ten years, and continue to live like fifty-year-olds until well into their eighties. To enjoy life and be stronger, healthier, and more alert. To stave off 70% of the normal decay associated with aging (weakness, sore joints, apathy), and to eliminate over 50% of all illness and potential injuries. This is the real thing, a program that will work for anyone who decides to apply himself to “Harry’s Rules.”
Newsweek magazine had this to say:
What can you say about a 70-year-old guy who can kick your butt in spin class? Outdoors, it’s below freezing, and, though technically morning, still dark as night. But there he is, bouncing along on his stationary bike like a jack rabbit and grinning happily at his heart-rate monitor, while I, nearly 30 years younger, manage to keep up only by visualizing coffee. “Just 20 minutes till coffee, just 12 minutes till coffee…”
When the class is over, he places one leg up on the bike seat as if it were a ballet barre and gracefully touches his nose to his knee. Back at his apartment, over a bowl of oatmeal and bananas, he chats nonstop about fitness. The coffee arrives quickly, thank God.
 Looks pretty good for a 70 year old. Might be worth listening to. Meet Chris Crowley, who, together with his doctor, Harry Lodge, is on a mission to change your life. Their fast-selling new book, “Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond,” is a wisecracking but scientifically serious guide to health for middle-aged men who may be looking at their widening paunches, their aging spouses and their fast-approaching retirement dates with helplessness or panic. “Younger Next Year” has one main message: stay very fit and you will live a healthier, happier life, with more sex and less depression, well into your old age. What sets the book apart from its self-help brethren is its ebullient personality–which is mostly Chris’s. Describing himself as “lazy and self-indulgent,” Chris laces his very practical how-to advice with hilarious, self-effacing personal anecdotes, like the time he skied so hard “it hurt to sleep.” Then, just when Chris’s abundant cheeriness starts to grate, 46-year-old Harry steps in with sober chapters on body chemistry, which explain why fitness is the best medicine.
On this point, Chris and Harry are zealots: living a sedentary life is not just lazy, it’s lunacy. That’s why they follow what they call “Harry’s Rules” and think everyone else should, too. There are seven, chief among them: “Exercise six days a week for the rest of your life.” And “Quit eating crap.” Any book that advocates an easier way is, says Chris, “horses–t.” A lapsed fitness buff with plenty of excuses–a full-time job, a toddler, a life–I’m hoping these guys can get me back on track.
Chris and Harry met five years ago, when Chris began searching for a doctor in New York City. They liked each other instantly. Both grew up near Boston and share similar, old-school values having to do with discipline and hard work. At their first meeting, Chris was 40 pounds overweight and exercised only sporadically. Harry was already profoundly frustrated by the number of his patients who had diabetes and other “lifestyle” diseases. Harry started preaching the benefits of intense, regular exercise, and it wasn’t long before Chris got religion. He took up spinning, lost 40 pounds and began hounding Harry to help him write this book.
Chris is the flamboyant one: he’s larger than life. Married and a father by 20, he had two more children in quick succession, divorced at 32, made partner at the white-shoe Manhattan law firm Davis Polk at 37, married again, divorced again. After a long stint of dating (see chapter 20 for a wonderful description of a middle-aged man trying to ascend a ladder to a loft bed in a young woman’s studio apartment), he married again in 1993, and this time, “we’re never getting divorced.” Chris writes like he talks, in full paragraphs laced with profanity, but always hammering at his point. “I’m a world of fun and all that, but I’m a closet Virgo,” he says. “Very, very disciplined.”
Harry is the earnest one. Built like a cross-country runner, Harry works out each night on a 1970s-era NordicTrack machine he bought used for $25. He prides himself on being a “mildly Calvinistic Northeasterner. I tend to eat small portions and I don’t like spending money.” His passion is his work, and the quick success of their book fills him with joy. “We think we’re going to start a little revolution,” he says.
As for me, I’m trying. After that humiliating spin class, I vowed to follow Harry’s rules but already I’m slipping. I’ve eaten egg rolls for dinner and brownies for lunch. I’ve skipped scheduled workouts. As inspiring as they are, it turns out Chris and Harry can’t make you go to the gym, and reading their book won’t make you healthier either. The best they can do–and they know this as well as anyone–is give you a kick in the pants.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 6th , 2012 There is going to be some public art on the plaza at the front of the Performing Arts Centre at the intersection of Locus and Elgin – and the artist chosen will, we understand, come from either, Montreal, Maine or New Brunswick – according to sources who should know.
Deadline for first round consideration closed mid-April. Submissions were received from artists at the international, national, provincial and regional as well as local levels. The jury that is doing the selection has narrowed their choices down to three artists who have been asked to submit their drawings. No date on just when those drawings and the backgrounds on these artists will be made public. The city’s communications department appears to have run short of pencils and isn’t moving much copy these days.
Burlington insurance company owner Dan Laurie very generously put up a large part of the cost of the art work and he too is looking forward to a public announcement.
 The public art that is being chosen for the plaza in front of the Performing Arts Centre will get installed before the pier opens. With the pier however we know who is doing the work - can`t say the same for the public art. The information we have is that each of the artists has made a major contribution to public art in their communities and that whichever artist Burlington chooses we can expect to see some very good public art in front of a building that will serve as a fine platform.
Burlington is a little on the timid and conservative side of things when it comes to public displays. We are told that at least two of the artists are known to “stretch the envelope” and so we just might see something that will make amends for the unfortunate placement of the very delightful “orchids” on Upper Middle Road west of Appleby Line.
 Our Burlington thought the "orchids"would have looked great in front of the Performing Arts Centre but a jury of some very qualified people think otherwise and have narrowed the choice down to three people. You can be forgiven if you’ve never seen the work – it sits at the bottom of a grade separation on a road that has quite a bit of traffic. Nice art though and at some point the city might find the right location for the orchids.
City hall, which is handling the communications on the art that will go in front of the Performing Arts Centre appears to be sitting on the file and not saying a word.
The city hired Cobalt Connects to oversee the art selection jury and based on what little we know they have been doing a good job. The number of submissions was quite a bit higher than expected amd we are told that the quality was superb.
The art that eventually gets installed will be seen by Burlingtonians for a long long time. Given that public money is being used to pay for a large part of the art – it would be nice if the public could be told a little bit more about who the jury is looking at considering. Burlington is still suffering from the information deficit identified in the Shape Burlington report.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 4, 2012 Is that culture with a K Sir ?– and would you like fries on the side?
Just what is culture? There is a gang of guys that meets at the Queen’s Head on Friday’s for games of pool and conversation – they’ve been doing that for years. This city has numerous Bible Study groups, a number of book reading clubs. The crowd that gathers at the Legion for Fish and Chips on Friday – does they constitute culture? Or is it just “the arts” that are culture.
 Is this culture or is it craft and does it make a difference which it is? Burlington has realized that culture is business – big business of you do it right. The Sound of Music is said the bring $4million to the city (we would like to see how THAT number was arrived at); The Burlington Arts Centre will have 100 artisans selling their wares later this month and Art in Action will be holding a Silent auction at which 36 artists will put their work up for sale with the proceeds going to fund two scholarships.
Lots going on – but does the city really have a handle on the cultural file and are we making the most of the opportunity? Sometime back the city became aware of some provincial funding that was available for the development of cultural plans and decided to add funds of their own to the pot and is using the $100,000 to develop a Cultural Plan for the city.
During the first cut of the idea that was made to a Council workshop Jeremy Freiburger, the cultural honcho behind the drive, was asked by Councillor Meed Ward – what is culture. Like beauty – it is in the eye of the beholder. That and $5.00 and you’ve got a cup of latte, to which Freiburger is very partial.
So what do you get for $100,000 – it could turn out to be quite a bit more than first realized. Freiburger has made culture a business and he’s good at it. He has taken a number of old buildings in Hamilton and found a new life for them – getting different arts groups in space that works for them in terms of décor and setting and at a cost they can manage.
 Is Freiburger up a ladder on this assignment or is he up there getting a good look at the bigger culture picture in Burlington? Now he has to apply his expertise and experience to Burlington’s situation. The exercise is going to consist asking a lot of questions – and to get the answers to the questions Freiburger plans to go right into the community to the grass roots level and ask questions.
He has set up a Cultural Conversation in each of the six wards and managed to tick off the Council member for the wards when he sort of “uninvited” them to the event. Freiburger wants to hear from the citizens and he felt he would have a better conversation with the Council members out of the room. The politicians didn’t particularly like that one – but Freiburger knows what he is doing.
During his workshop presentation he asked council members some very direct questions. “Do you want more direct input throughout the process? And :How would you like to be kept up to date?
 Councillor Lancaster wants people that don't work at city hall on the Steering Committee. Blair Lancaster wanted citizens on the Steering Committee in a leadership role and “not just sitting there once a month getting an update”. She felt it essential that this look into culture “not be led by staff at city hall”. The Steering Committee currently keeps the following people occupied:
Chris Glenn, Director Parks and Recreation
Karen Sabzali, Manager, Community Development Services
Angela Paparizo, Recreation Planner
Brenda Heatherington, Executive Director BPAC
Jody Wellings, Special Business Area Coordinator (Downtown)
Ian Ross, Burlington Art Centre
Carla Marshall, Festivals and Event, City of Burlington
Barbara Teatero, Museums of Burlington
Maureen Barry, Burlington Public Library
Andreas Kyprianou, Royal Botanical Gardens
There are a couple there that won’t do much more than warm a seat; remove them and add at least four citizens, with at least two of them university students and Freiburger will have more in the way of bench strength. He is going to need it.
 Freiburger wants to get to the grass roots and ask questions; Councillor Lancaster wants to see some of those grass roots on the Steering Committee. Freiburger tends towards having data, fresh data and using that data to drive his decision making process. He mentioned during the Workshop presentation that there were two data bases that had approximately 650 names each – but when they dug down into the data there were something just over 150 that were still active. Freiburger wants better data, and his focus is to go to the community and to the stakeholders and ask a lot of questions.
 Freiburger and his team expect to have thousands of dots placed on maps - that data will tell him what people do culturally and where they do it. For example he wants to know what Burlingtonians identify as “cultural” locations. He will be asking people to put a little sticker on a map. By the time he has finished he will have a very valid representation of where people think culture can be found in Burlington. Then he takes it one step further and asks people: Where do you spend your money on culture? This is an excellent question. He may find that people tell him there are all kinds of cultural locations in Burlington but they don’t spend their money at these locations. His next question is to find out why.
In order to set out a Cultural Action Plan there has to of course be a plan to work from in the first place. Freiburger points out that culture is unique to each community and that what works in Kingston may not work in Burlington and what they do in Hamilton just isn’t a fit for the people of Burlington. It would be kind of nice though wouldn’t it, if there were Art Crawls in Burlington?
Freiburger wants to determine just what we have in the way of cultural resources. Yes, there is the museum, the Art Centre, the Performing Art Centre, Drury Lane and a dozen or so others. But Freiburger wants to go deeper – is there something that is being missed.
One of the things he will be doing is setting up a booth at the Sound of Music Festival and pulling people in to ask questions. He then plans to take part in the Children’s Festival and has some very unique ideas for learning what the young people think culture is and what it isn’t.
 As a video it was called The Sweater as a book it was The Hockey Sweater - a book for every boy and girl in the country. But is it culture ? Freiburger wants his data to be cross cultural and that means getting to the sports groups and hearing what they have to say. While sports at first glance may not fit the cultural lens a lot of people use – watch the British at their soccer matches – that’s cultural. Don Cherry doesn’t fit my cultural lens – but I would argue that Wayne Gretzky and Maurice Richard and Roch Carrier ’s book The Hockey Sweater is as Canadian culture as you’re going to get.
The first step in the developing of a Cultural Plan for the city is a “launch” which will take place at the Performing Arts Centre this Wednesday – June 6th. Go to eventbrite.com and enter Cultural Plan – Burlington and get yourself a free ticket.
There is more to tell about how this Cultural Plan is going to be developed – let’s see how the launch goes and we will follow up from there. In the meantime – check out the dates and times for the Cultural Conversations – and if this stuff is important to you – make a point of getting together with your neighbours and getting your views out on the table. Jeremy Freiburger is sincere, passionate about what he does and he not only wants to listen but he knows how to listen and when he isn’t sure he fully understood what you wanted to say – he will ask you questions.
Freiburger is one of those guys that you would describe as a bon vivant; the kind of person you want at a dinner party.
The question for Burlington as we go forward with the development of a Cultural Plan is this. Freiburger knows how to listen, and wants to listen. Will he be listened to?
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 4, 2012 More than 100 artists and artisans will be selling their original fine art and crafts in and around the Burlington Art Centre (BAC) on June 9 and 10.
 Work by Billy-Jack Miligan There will be two events – The Fine Art and Craft Festival and Kaleidoscope of the Arts, both taking place on the same weekend, and both at the BAC
The place will be filled with a unique selection of artwork to see and buy, from jewellery, clothes, accessories, and home décor to pottery, photography, fine art, weaving and unique crafts, all created by Canadian artists and craftspeople. It’s one-stop shopping at its best, with the added bonus of hands-on activities for all ages and entertainment by musicians John and Sheila Ludgate and friends.
 Rich Baker of Richcraft Ironworks The Fine Art and Craft Festival attracts artists and artisans from Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, Dundas, Mississauga, Toronto and beyond.
Kaleidoscope features sales of the work of members of six guilds at the BAC, plus hands-on activities for the family in guild studios: create and develop a photogram, weave a mugmat on a loom, finish and decorate a woodcarving or make and paint a sculpture, try rug hooking, and decorate a raku bowl and watch the firing (Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, $8) or create an urban smoke-fired pendant (Sunday, 12 to 3 pm, $5).
John and Sheila Ludgate and friends will perform throughout the weekend. John and Sheila are award-winning Burlington-based musicians known for their strong rhythms, vocal harmonies, and original and cover songs. Special guests Ian Reid, David Lum, Jericho (Jeremiah Budnark and Eric Bower), Dave Jensen and friends, and Shawn Brush also will entertain.
The whole weekend is a great way to see art in action. There is no admission charge. The BAC also is participating in Doors Open Burlington.
 John and Sheila Ludgate will perform throughout the weekend.
Hours are: Saturday, June 9, from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sunday, June 10, from 11 am to 5 pm.
You would have to try hard to miss the Burlington Art Centre – on Lakeshore right across from Spencer’s and the Discovery Centre. Plenty of parking in the rear off Elgin Street.
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 2, 2012 If Monday evenings are quiet for you – give some thought to getting out for part of an evening on June 11th, and taking in the Art in Action’s silent night fund raising auction taking place at Rayoon’s Persian Fare, a Burlington secret in the Village Square.
Tickets are $30.00 each and include a drink and appetizers. The food at Rayoon’s is an experience you don’t want to miss.
 A Helen Griffith's piece of fine art should tempt many bidders to the Art in Action Silent Auction. Thirty six artists are donating their work to the Silent auction. Included are hand turned wood bowls, fine art paintings, goldsmithing, iron and stained glass works as well as photography and jewellery.
New this year is the $50 table – bid $50 and you take it home. You might want to get there on time for this table.
This is the 10th anniversary year for Art in Action and to celebrate the event they will be creating two $1000. Scholarships for Halton Region students intending to pursue full time, post secondary education this fall.
THAT is Art in Action.
 A necklace by Terry Silvana will be amongst the items up for the Silent Auction. The group holds an art studio tour every fall – the dates for this year are Saturday November 3 and Sunday November 4th , 2012. If you’ve not been – mark the dates on your calendar – it is a fun experience driving from studio to studio.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 2, 2012 It’s sort of like what the big marketing organizations do – they call it brand extension. When you take a brand – say Tide, which every one knows is washing detergents with a very distinctive look and extend that brand say, into hand soap – always a tricky thing to do.
Ian Cameron over at Different Drummer Books is extending his brand from books, for which he is well known, into music – small quintets, trios, quiet, dignified. There will be no Silverstein at A Different Drummer Books, if you don’t mind.
 Cottonwood Brass will play some material from the War of 1812 era, plus some of their usual fine work. Sunday June 10, at 3:00 pm The Cottonwood Brass will be doing pieces under the theme: “Brass from the Past”, it’s a session of rousing vintage music played on antique instruments.
Their repertoire includes two fascinating recently discovered pieces of local origin and a generous helping of music spanning the years from the War of 1812 to the early 20th century.
The artists are Graham Young and Ryan Baker on cornets, Johnny Bissell on horn, Mary Ann Pearson on euphonium and Dave Pearson on tuba.
Tickets are $15, available here at A Different Drummer. Refreshments will be served after the concert.
You can contact Ian at : (905) 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com to reserve.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON May 28, 2012 There weren’t traffic jams around city hall but there were more than fifty people who made it to the breakfast served by the city to mark the first Bike to Work Day which was part of the Smart Commute Halton, that the city and the Chamber of Commerce got behind this year.
It was a start, marred by some political bafflegab that seems to have to be said. Here`s a sample:
 With a hearty breakfast in their tummies the cyclists that made it to city hall for the first Bike to Work Day in Burlington, pose and are now part of the city's history. Photo supplied by Region) “Transportation is an important issue for Halton residents,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “By partnering with the Metrolinx Smart Commute program, Halton Region is proud to offer Halton businesses and residents an easy to use alternative to driving alone. By working with the City of Burlington and the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, we’re excited to have motivating events like Bike to Work Day where cyclists can be thanked for their contribution towards making Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.”
“We encourage Burlington residents and employees to seek alternate means of transport whenever possible,” says Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring. “Whether you’re riding, walking or rolling, we hope to see you get up, get out and get moving.”
It would have been nice to hear an announcement about specific road improvements that would make it possible for people north of the QEW to actually cycle into the downtown core. It`s still a divided city for cyclists.
The next item on the agenda of those who would have us our bicycles every day of the week is two Car Free Sundays – June 10 and July 15.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 28th, 2012 – Biting the hand that feeds you is never a wise thing to do. Ticking off the people who sign your pay check might be called just plain dumb.
Telling a Ward Councillor in Burlington that you don’t particularly want him to attend a meeting you have called in the Councillors Ward and announcing the meeting without informing the Councillor borders on suicidal. It gets better. Jeremy Freiburger also advertised the events in the local newspaper without informing the Council members.
Two of the Burlington Council members are going to be away on the dates the events are to take place in their Ward’s. Councillor Taylor will be on vacation and asked for an “interview with Freiburger. Councillor Dennison will be in Apeldoorn, our twin city in Holland the day the Cultural Conversation is to take place in his ward.
 Cultural guru doesn't make any friends with Burlington council members - tells them they are not wanted at public Cultural Conversations. Freiburger advised the two council members that they weren’t actually wanted at the meeting. Freiburger explained that council members sometimes influence voters unduly. Ouch! Most politicians believe that it is the voters who influence them.
Councillor Jack Dennison looked a little dumb struck when he heard those words and he too asked for an “interview with Freiburger.
Councillor Taylor told Freiburger that he had chosen the wrong place for the event in his ward; Councillor Lancaster added that holding two events at Tansley Woods was a mistake as well.
Cultural has its sensitivities and politics has its nuances – Freiburger may have the sensitivities of culture down pat – but he has a lot to learn about the nuances of politics. Trust Councillors Taylor and Dennison to straighten him out very quickly. Councillor Lancaster may also have a couple of choice words for Mr. Freiburger.
Jeremy Freiburger is the cultural guru the city has hired to oversee the development of the Cultural Plan that will come in at a little over $100,000 – $61,500 of that is provincial money, the rest came from you dear taxpayer. If done properly a sound cultural plan can make a difference – the plan is the easy part – it is the execution of the plan that matters and that calls for as much collaboration as possible.
Telling Councillors that you don’t want them at an event in their ward that will deal with something as sensitive as culture is not what is meant by collaboration.
Mr. Freiburger may find his reception at the “interviews” he will be having on the 7th floor of city hall a little on the frosty side.
Freiburger also oversees the city’s Public Art Plan and is shepherding the choice of art for the front of the Performing Arts Centre, which by the way is progressing nicely – there is interest from local artists, regional artists, national and international artists.
This particular piece of public art is being funded to a very significant degree by local businessman Don Laurie of Dan Laurie Insurance, a company with offices in Burlington and Hamilton.
That one has a bit of a tussle going on over just how much the city has to say about what goes on property, which the city points out to the BPAC people is property that the city owns.
The Memorandum of Agreement between the city and BPAC has yet to be signed, that has been going back and forth between the city and the lawyers for more than a year – so in actuality the BPAC people are basically just squatters. But that’s another story we will follow up on for you.
Freiburger was taking Council through the process he is using to get the Cultural Plan completed and in place by the end of March next year. That is going to be tight and Freiburger is going to need Council on his side – he didn’t have them with him Monday morning.
There are plans for a very significant amount of public involvement beyond the planned ward meetings. Interaction with the Sound of Music and the Children’s Festival is included in the plans.
 Cobalt Connects is a simple concept - Freiburger went for a sophisticated look and what is really top level design - that works for the arts and design community. Burlington's city council just didn't get it. Freiburger is a decent presenter – he would talk and then break for some back and forth question and answer. Freiburger is a big believer that there has to be strong leadership if a Cultural Plan is to become effective and he wanted to know how Council felt about cultural management – pointing out that Burlington tends to prefer external relationships for cultural management.
“Does Council” he asked “have feelings regarding the development of internal cultural expertise vs. external?” He got his answer – Council felt that the city could manage its own cultural plan – it just needed to put one in place.
“How often do you want to hear from us” Freiburger asked Council. At least once a month they replied – they are going to keep this guy on a short leash.
There is a lot of rally good stuff in the plan that has been put together. We will report in more detail later in the week. It was given to the council members in a workshop setting – at some point it will work its way to Council Committee – that’s where the pruning will get done.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON May 25, 2012 TED – Technology, Entertainment and Design – have you heard about it? It appeared in the mid 80’s and became an international rage for a period of time. TED’s early emphasis was largely technology and design, consistent with a Silicon Valley center of gravity. The events are now held in Long Beach and Palm Springs in the U.S. and in Europe and Asia, offering live streaming of the talks. They address an increasingly wide range of topics within the research and practice of science and culture. The speakers are given a maximum of 18 minutes to present their ideas in the most innovative and engaging ways they can. While still influential, what the operators of the organization have done is use a marketing practice – extend the brand so that we now have TEDx – and that’s what’s coming to Burlington on Sunday.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. This event is called TEDxBurlington, where x = independently organized TED event. At the TEDxBurlington event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
The event, which is working from the theme Passion for Compassion, will take place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre followed by a reception at ThinkSpot on Locust Street. Attendance is limited to just 100 people and – sorry but the tickets are SOLD OUT. However, you will be able to go on line and see each of the six 18 minute segments.
The TEDx Burlington was brought to town by Spencer Caldwell who has tapped everyone he knows for help on this one and has been fortunate enough to get some local support.
Speakers include:
Arthur Fleischmann lives with his wife, Tammy Starr, and their three children, Matthew, Taryn and Carly, in Toronto, Canada, where he is partner and president of john st. advertising – one of Canada’s top creative, digital and design agencies. Born in New York, he grew up in the Boston area and attended Brandeis University, where he graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and Economics. He later earned an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Arthur co-wrote “Carly’s Voice: Breaking Through Autism” with his 17 year old daughter, Carly. One of the first books to explore firsthand the challenges of living with autism, Carly’s Voice brings readers inside a once–secret world, in the company of an inspiring young woman who has found her voice and her mission. As you will hear, his ‘Idea Worth Spreading’ is don’t judge a book by its cover!
 Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese,is founder and executive director of Save the Mothers and has been consulted by the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office as an expert in maternal health. Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese, is an internationally recognized expert in women’s reproductive health and winner of the Canadian Royal College’s second Teasdale-Corti Humanitarian Award. Dr. Chamberlain Froese has volunteered in some of the world’s poorest countries to make childbirth a safer experience. She is founder and executive director of Save the Mothers (STM) International, an organization dedicated to saving some of the 340,000 mothers within developing countries who die in childbirth every year.
Dr. Chamberlain Froese spends eight months of the year at the Uganda Christian University and four months in Canada advocating for safe motherhood, while teaching and working clinically at McMaster University in Hamilton. She is an associate professor in obstetrics and gynecology and co-directs the McMaster International Women’s Health Program. She has written a book, “Where Have All the Mothers Gone” and is also co-editor of the 2006 book “Women’s Health in the Majority World: Issues and Initiatives.” She was a special guest speaker for the Youth Summit of the G8 meeting in 2010 and has been consulted by the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office as an expert in maternal health.
Besides Uganda, during her career Dr. Chamberlain Froese has also spent time in Yemen, Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Congo and Russia doing work for women’s health. In 2006, she was one of only six individuals worldwide presented with the Distinguished Community Service Award from the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FIGO), recognizing her outstanding contribution to the health of mothers around the world.
Josh Nelson, at the age of 9, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. After enduring a 10 hour surgery, seizures, a stroke, a post-surgery syndrome that left him unable to walk or talk, 31 radiation treatments and 52 weeks of chemo, it became clear he was a fighter.
“I am now a nine year cancer survivor and I have not taken this title lightly. I have been invited by several community groups to share my story of hope and inspiration and have participated in many community events to help support a cause that’s close to my heart. One such event was the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride where, in 2009, I gave a speech in Burlington.
“I asked the riders to “ride for me until the day I can ride along side you myself.” They listened, and in 2010, my dream came true. On a tandem bike with Drew Molnar I rode across Ontario from Thunder Bay to Ottawa in an unforgettable life-changing five day journey. Last September, Mark Burger and I cycled tandem all the way across Canada on a 16-day, 7,000 km epic adventure from Vancouver to Halifax in the fourth annual Sears National Kids Cancer Ride.”
Michael Jones: Through the beauty of his music and the inspiration of his stories Canadian Michael Jones, a Juno nominated pianist/composer, leadership educator and award-winning author of Artful Leadership and Creating an Imaginative Life offers a unique and memorable experience. “Who will play your music if you don’t?” he asks. By asking the question that he was once asked, Michael takes us on a journey to explore the heart of our own creativity. In so doing he engages others in a uniquely evocative exploration of how, through our gifts we can co- create environments where people can learn… and ideas can grow.
Michael’s 1983 debut recording PIANOSCAPES was the first release on the Narada/EMI Record label and also served as a benchmark for the popular genre of contemporary instrumental music. Since that time he went on to produce fifteen more solo and ensemble recordings, appeared on more than twenty compilations and sold more than two million of his recordings worldwide.
Michael has performed in many settings including the Setagaya Art Museum in Tokyo Japan, the Seoul Art Center in Korea and The International Piano Festival in Montreal, Canada. He has also been a featured keynote speaker in leadership forums alongside such widely recognized thought leaders as Colin Powell, Peter Senge, Margaret J. Wheatley and Peter Block. And he has introduced his art in the facilitation of many large group engagement processes and worked with innovation teams within several leading global businesses exploring the synergies between creative artistry, authentic leadership and collective learning and innovation.
 Patrick O'Neil, acknowledged as a gifted teacher, mediator and mentor. Patrick O’Neill has been studying the wisdom traditions of the world for over 25 years and has integrated them into his extensive teaching, mentoring and consulting work. He has worked with thousands of people, and scores of teams and is acknowledged as a gifted teacher, mediator and mentor.
Since 1988, Patrick has led Extraordinary Conversations Inc., a leader in transformational change management with organizations and individuals. His clients have included The Walt Disney Company, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Ontario Pension Board, Nestle, Labatt Breweries of Canada, Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola, The Boeing Company, and the Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Patrick O’Neill’s work has taken him to global corporations in North America and Europe; to the townships of South Africa; and to the peace process in the Middle East.
Scott Graham is a bestselling author, singer/song writer and sought after keynote speaker. Scott has inspired leadership skills in children for over twenty years. He has created the Kids 4 Kids Leadership Programs, summer camps and Heroes Academy, positively affecting over 18 000 children. One of Scott Graham’s Kids 4 Kids graduates, received a personal invitation from Nelson Mandela as the result of his leadership endeavours.
 A leader in the Human Resources field Trish Barbato is also a certified fitness instructor, certified meditation instructor and a black belt in Kung Fu kickboxing. She is a CMA and a CA as well. Wow! Patricia (Trish) Barbato is the author of “Inspire Your Career” and a recognized authority and speaker on career and leadership topics. She is currently Senior Vice President, Home Health and Business Development for Revera Inc., a health services and accommodation organization in North America. Trish oversees over 5,000 employees across Canada and is responsible for service-based acquisitions. Prior to Revera, Trish served as President and Chief Executive Officer of COTA Health; Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for Providence Healthcare and Managing Director at Bayshore Healthcare.
Trish has been involved extensively with charities and non-profit groups. She is Past Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters Council of Champions, Board Director, Quality Healthcare Network and founder and Director of the Shambhala Meditation Centre of Mississauga. She is a Big Sister to Little Sister Caitlin. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Ms. Barbato is a Certified General Accountant and a Chartered Accountant. She is also a certified fitness instructor, certified meditation instructor and a black belt in Kung Fu kickboxing.
 Lifelong Burlington resident Spencer Campbell brought TEDx to Burlington. Spencer Campbell, the man behind the idea of bringing TEDx to Burlington has lived in the city most of his life with the exception of times spent in Asia, Western Canada and a few other interesting places. A business consultant who encourages respectful honest debate, he has dealt with many leading corporations to start-ups. Spencer has travelled extensively, including, among other places, to Mt. Everest, Calcutta (where he met Mother Theresa) and the awe-inspiring ancient cave drawings of the Dordogne, France. Ask him what it felt like to look up and see a chalk outline of a mammoth drawn by one of our ancestral cave dwellers.
In 2010 Spencer was part of the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride team that cycled from Vancouver to Halifax in 15 days to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer needs. “Working with a dedicated team, I am thrilled to help bring to our terrific city the prestigious TEDx event – the first of what is expected to be an annual event to listen, learn, reflect and share many great ideas.”
It’s quite a line up and another interesting first for Burlington. While the tickets are sold out – you will be able to go on line sometime after the event and watch all six of the 18 minute presentations. The material will be at: https://tedxburlington.com/ and we will let you know when it is all on line.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 25, 2012 – This is a whole new line of business for the Chamber of Commerce and if we don’t see CoC president Keith Hooey on a bicycle Monday morning we will sue for false advertising. The Chamber has partnered with the city and the Regional government to sponsor the first Annual City-Wide Bike to Work Day Breakfast.
The event will terminate at the corner of Elgin and Brant, which isn’t exactly ground zero for the most jobs in the city – but we assume the Mayor has convinced everyone within city hall to bike in and that will fatten out the crowd.
You can enjoy breakfast and have your bike looked at while you’re there. All the politicians will be on hand; prizes will be handed out including the grand prize of a trip for two to Quebec City courtesy of VIA Rail and a weekend cycling getaway to St. Catharines courtesy of Welcome Cyclists.
For more information on the grand prize, visit www.BikeToWorkDay.ca. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 1. Not sure why the contest closes four days after the event – you will figure that one out.
It happens Monday, May 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Breakfast starts at 7:30. Ride your bike to the corner of Brant and Elgin Streets for 7:30 a.m. and chow down.
Burlington has been bitten by the bike bug and for those south of the QEW events like this are great. But ways have to be worked out to get over that hump that crosses the highways and ducks under the railway tracks – that part of the city is a war zone for cyclists.
There are two events during the summer where parts of the city are going to be closed for Car Fee Sundays
 City's biggest advocates for more bike use gather at the announcement for the Car Free Sunday Burlington has planned. All three will be on hand for the Bike to Work event that is taking place all across the Region and in many parts of the GTA.. The guy on the far right is Sound of Music honcho Dave Miller. The first is June 10th, in the Appleby Line – Fairview part of town with the second taking place in the downtown core on July 15th.
Mayor Goldring has been a fan of using bicycles as much as possible and Councillor Jack Dennison is not only a bicycle fan but an avid cyclist as well – he’s the kind of guy that takes in five day cycling events as vacation time.
The city’s cycling Advisory Committee recently did a tour of the downtown opportunities to cycle and pointed out the gaps in the existing trails and those intersections where things were a little iffy for the cyclist. One couple from north of the QEW admitted that they put their bikes in the trunk of their car and drove to the Central Library which was the gathering point for the event.
Great to see the city getting behind the idea of cycling more – now they can get behind the idea of making all those north of the QEW equal participants.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 19, 2012 The Rotary Club of Burlington Central did something recently that should have been done some time ago, which was to recognize Deb Tymstra for the contribution she has made to the arts in Burlington.
The Paul Harris Fellow Award was given to Tymstra for her “tangible and significant assistance for the furtherance and better understanding of friendly relations among peoples of the world”. That doesn’t tell the half of what Deb Tymstra has done for Burlington.
We have in the past been critical of some of the governance practices of the organization Tymstra created but that criticism can’t for a second take away from the job she did during the years of tireless work in advancing the arts in this city.
 Always an artist at heart, Deb Tymstra worked tirelessly on behalf of the arts in Burlington. Rotarian Award richly deserved. The early, hard, ground breaking work done when a performing arts centre wasn’t much more than a glimmer in the eyes of Mike Wallace and Walter Mulkewich got done by Tymstra. She didn’t do it all but she was always there doing the work that had to be done.
She was both tireless and shameless in raising funds, raising the profile of performers in Burlington and never letting the community forget what it needed.
When the fund raising for the building of the Performing Arts Centre began, it was Tymstra who stepped forward with a $64,000 donation which amounted to almost all the money in the till of her organization.
When the people behind the building of a centre decided they wanted to use the name “Performing Arts”, which Tymstra had for her organization, she graciously stepped aside and came up with a new name for the works she was doing in the community.
Creative Burlington didn’t last as long as Tymstra had hoped but its closing had nothing to do with the passion and dedication she brought to the drive to develop not only a place for the performing arts to perform but the information and contacts of the people who did the performing.
Tymstra was never adequately recognized by the Burlington Performing Arts Centre people. Thankfully the Rotarians saw the gap and filled it.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 17, 2012 As a kid, I knew it as 24th of May – firecracker day. For Rick Wilson it will certainly be a crackerjack day. He will be meeting the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla at an event taking place at Fort York on the holiday Monday.
The Royal event is part of the Commonwealth celebration of the Queen’s 60th year on the Throne. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall
 Rick Wilson points to the error in fact on a provincial historical plaque. Will he get a chance to ask Prince Charles to help him change this mistake? Wilson, who is a serious amateur historian, a member of the Burlington Historical Society and a member of Heritage Burlington, the city’s advisory committee on heritage matters in the city.
Wilson has a very keen interest in the history of the province and thinks there is a very significant error on one of those historical plaques the governments of the country put up.
The plaque that bothers Wilson is in Hamilton and was put up by the provincial government. Wilson approached Mike Wallace and asked if his office could do anything about the mistake on the plaque. Wallace tried but when his office learned that it was a provincial matter there was nothing he could do. Wilson has not been able to get his telephone calls to Jane McKenna’s office answered never mind getting any help. We are hearing that complaint from a number of people. The Lady Jane, who represents us at Queen’s Park is still getting her office organized.
 Rick Wilson will, if he gets a chance, tell the Prince of Wales that ships of war did not sail into the body of water west of the Skyway bridge. Wilson won’t get his 15 full minutes of fame when he shakes the hand of the Prince of Wales, which is fortunate for the Prince, because Wilson knows his history and he could keep the heir to the Throne standing there for hours while he talks about the War of 1812 and how a serious mistake has been made about how that war was won and what was done right here in Burlington to bring about the victory.
 Rick Wilson believes he is standing near where the British ships retreated to and in doing so really won the War of 1812 for the British. There was a battle at Stoney Creek but the real fight, the one that mattered and resulted in mastery over the Great Lakes happened offshore from Burlington. Wilson is both informed and intense. If you want a conversation with him on things historical – you better know your stuff.
Meeting the Prince of Wales, who is also known as the Duke of Cornwall and a number of other titles, will be a huge day in the life of Rick Wilson. Little does the Prince know that had he the time Wilson could tell him all kinds of things about the war that surrounded the building, the burning and the rebuilding of the fort where the introductions will take place.
The current duke of Cornwall is Charles, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning monarch. Charles was officially proclaimed Duke of Cornwall at Launceston Castle in 1973. As part of his feudal dues there was a pair of white gloves, gilt spurs and greyhounds, a pound of pepper and cumin, a bow, one hundred silver shillings, wood for his fires, and a salmon spear.
But Rick Wilson already knows that and when he meets the Prince and his wife he will be polite and make Burlington proud that he was one of the few that got to meet the Prince at Fort York in Toronto to take part in the celebration of the 60th year that Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne.
By Pepper Parr
You heard it here first – Walk off the Earth will appear on the OLG stage June 17th at 3:45 pm.
That’s what 110 million YouTube hits and a slot on ELLEN will get you. What kind of a reception will the band get? Hard to tell. Will local guys make good go over in their home town? we`ll know that night won’t we.
 The people who run the Sound of Music in Burlington (this is the 33rd year the event has taken place) had a tough decision in front of them. Was the group available – of course they were available. They had to be on one of the stages and not a small stage either. What were they going to cost? More than the SOM had planned on spending. Before that viral wonder they were just another band struggling to get play dates – but now they had turned their 15 minutes of fame into careers where good management could get them into plays that had never heard of them before.
So, Dave Miller, SOM Executive Director, made the phone calls and put together a deal – the rest they say is history. We will get to see if this “viral” business makes any difference. You had to give then credit for a cool idea.
 By Pepper Parr
On Sunday “The Queen” will create two new Knights of the Realm and we will see Sir Paul of Sherwood and Sir Rick of Aldershot made knights as part of a visit the “Queen” is making to Ireland House on Sunday -Mother’s Day.
The event is part of a day of fun during which Ireland House will pay all kinds of attention to the Queen and the Monarchy – not that there is any relationship whatsoever between the Farm at Oakridge or the Royal Family for that matter, but it will be a nice day to have some fun in an ideal setting.
 This is how a "knighting" takes place today and each year the Queen knights a number of people. The event is one of those that the Museums of Burlington hold through the year. Joseph Brant did have a connection to Royalty, quite a strong one base on the evidence at the Brant Museum, but he is apparently not going to make an appearance with the impersonator filling in for “Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”
There will be “tea with the Queen” at Ireland House in the afternoon and at some point there will be a ceremony that ‘knights’ Councillors Paul Sharman and Rick Craven. There is an excellent opportunity for those participating to learn more about the heraldry that surrounds Knights, and Lords, and Barons and Viscounts and Dukes.
Knights of the medieval era were asked to “Protect the weak, defenseless, helpless, and fight for the general welfare of all.” These few guidelines were the main duties of a medieval knight, but they were very hard to accomplish fully. Knights trained in hunting, fighting, and riding, amongst other things. They were also trained to practice courteous, honorable behaviour, which was considered extremely important. Chivalry (derived from the French word chevalier implying “skills to handle a horse”) was the main principle guiding a knight’s life style. The code of chivalry dealt with three main areas: the military, social life, and religion.
 When given a title the recipient has the right to create a "coat of arms". What would Paul Sharman and Rick Craven have chosen for their coat of arms. The military side of life was very important to knighthood. Along with the fighting elements of war, there were many customs and rules to be followed as well. A way of demonstrating military chivalry was to own expensive, heavy weaponry. Weapons were not the only crucial instruments for a knight. Horses were also extremely important, and each knight often owned several horses for distinct purposes. One of the greatest signs of chivalry was the flying of coloured banners, to display power and to distinguish knights in battle and in tournaments. Warriors were not only required to own all these belongings to prove their allegiance: they were expected to act with military courtesy as well. In combat when nobles and knights were taken prisoner, their lives were spared and were often held for ransom in somewhat comfortable surroundings. This same code of conduct did not apply to non-knights (archers, peasants, foot-soldiers, etc.) who were often slaughtered after capture, and who were viewed during battle as mere impediments to knights’ getting to other knights to fight them.
 Probably not attire that we will see on either Councillor Craven or Sharman Sunday afternoon at Ireland House. Certainly not for Craven - but with Sharman - you never know. Becoming a knight was not a widely attainable goal in the medieval era. Sons of knights were eligible for the ranks of knighthood. While other young men could become knights, in theory, it was nearly impossible for them to achieve that goal, especially for those from the lowest class. Those who were destined to become knights were singled out: in boyhood, these future warriors were sent off to a castle as pages, later becoming squires. Commonly around the age of 20, knights would be admitted to their rank in a ceremony called either “dubbing” (from the French adoubement), or the “Accolade”. Although these strong young men had proved their eligibility, their social status would be permanently controlled. They were expected to obey the code of chivalry at all times, and no failure was accepted.[citation needed]
Chivalry and religion were mutually influenced. The early Crusades helped to clarify the moral code of chivalry as it related to religion. As a result, Christian armies began to devote their efforts to sacred purposes. As time passed, clergy instituted religious vows which required knights to use their weapons chiefly for the protection of the weak and defenceless, especially women and orphans, and of churches.
Some of this could well apply to our Council members and Burlington society in general but for this Sunday afternoon it will be a day of fun and game playing as someone impersonating the queen will tap Sharman and Craven on the shoulder with a sword and declare: “Arise Sir Paul”.
The Code of Chivalry continued to influence social behaviour long after the actual knighthood ceased to exist, influencing for example 19th century Victorian perceptions of how a “gentleman” ought to behave up to today.
Hopefully neither will take the statement all that seriously.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 7, 2012 It’s the kind of thing that could probably only happen in Burlington.
Scott Stewart, the toughest guy there is at city hall, is serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the official opening of the Community Gardens tucked in behind the Seniors’ Centre and the Library at Central Park, is at the podium thanking everyone and pointing out various people in the audience he feels deserve recognition. He refers to Dave McKay by saying: “Nice to see Mr. McKay, my high school science teacher here with us today. You know, I can’t say “Dave, he was one of my high school teachers and to me he will always be Mr. McKay”
Hometown, home spun perhaps but it was a look at the city as it is. The day was to recognize one of those events that happen because people do what has to be done to make a difference. And for Michelle Bennett that difference was a program that will ideally result in community gardens elsewhere in the city and for Bennett a nomination as the Environmentalist of the Year.
 Michelle Bennett was the key driving force behind the Community Garden project that had to go a couple of rounds with city committees before they got over that hurdle - Bennett was determined to make it happen - she succeeded. It all came together when Michelle Bennett and Amy Schnurr were going over some literature about a provincial government program that was part solid idea and part pilot project. It fit the BurlingtonGreen mandate like a glove but there was a hitch. They had to have some real, cold hard cash participation from the city or from an organization that was on a par with the city. The Region perhaps?
The two woman put together their application and got it off to Queen’s Park who got back to them saying they liked the idea but there was nothing about the city’s participation. Burlington Green people have no problem delegating to city hall. It didn’t go all that well during the first round. Both woman brought more enthusiasm than solid business case to the city council committee but they were on to something and that was enough for Council to ask staff to take a look at it and see if they could make something of it.
 Three of the four people who made the Community Garden project happen: General Manager Scott Stewart, BurlingtonGreen Executive Director Amy Schnurr and Rob Peachey, Manager Parks and Open Space for the city. That put the BurlingtonGreen ladies into the hands of Rob Peachey, Manager Parks and Open Spaces, who found a way to come up with things the city could do that would amount to the 15% in cash or in kind the BurlingtonGreen people needed to get the provincial funding secured. A location was chosen that worked for everyone. It had a water line, it was steps away from the library where classes could be held, it was moments from the Seniors’ Centre where BurlingtonGreen hoped to entice some of the members.
The provincial funding was for a “teaching Pilot”; a program that would figure out the nuts and bolts of how to get a community garden up and running; what you had to do, what you shouldn’t do and where you go for help – that kind of thing.
With the garden lots steps away from the Library BurlingtonGreen expects to do some class work there.
How representative are the 29 people who got garden lots and who are these people anyway?
 The politicians that smooth the rough spots to make things like community gardens happen were all out on Saturday. Well, there are people from every ward in the city. Burlingtonians got first dibs and given that there were 120 applications those who applied from Oakville are out of luck for the immediate future.
The grant from the province for a two year period was $74,650 total which goes to staff support, promotion, support of the Go Local Food Network, tools, events, plant material. The garden construction was paid for by the city – their cash and in kind contribution was required if the grant was to be awarded to BurlingtonGreen. It looks as if the city, that was originally a little skeptical about the project, came around quite quickly and was more than just a cheerleader on this project.
BurlingtonGreen didn’t track age information but they report there are certainly seniors involved in the gardens as well as young families and a youth group. In a couple of instances there are groups of friends involved. So there are certainly more than just 29 people working at garden lots in behind the library.
Great start to a project that will add several years to the lives of those Seniors who decide they want to get out into the sunshine and get some dirt underneath their finger nails. The objective is to use this first site as a prototype for other. Two years from now we should be seeing half a dozen community gardens around the city. The finance people at city hall might want to make a note to add a bit to the 2014 budget for this kind of thing.
Interesting crowd on hand for the event. Members of the Burlington Teen Tour Band were there to bring a little class to the event. The Lady Jane McKenna, who represents Burlington in the provincial Legislature, was not in attendance – but then she wasn’t on the “official” guests list and for reasons which the city’s public affairs department wasn’t able to make clear to us – there is a protocol that dictates who gets to speak and who doesn’t – the rule is basically the person delivering the cheque gets to do the talking. That may be a provincial government protocol but there is nothing saying Burlington has to adhere to such a silly rule. Jane McKenna is our MPP – she should be invited.
We don’t know if it was the sign of decent weather coming along or an environmental event, but it brought out all kinds of people including Henry Schilthuis, the man who operates the contracting firm of Henry Schilthuis and Sons, that is in a law suit with the city. Needless to say the Mayor and Henry did not exchange pleasantries.
 Dave McKay, the man one of the city's General Managers still calls "Mr. McKay" and the guy that taught thousands in Burlington all the high school science they can remember, was on hand for the event. Councillor Craven of Aldershot territory, some people call it ward 1, was on hand to get a look at how the gardens were set up and thinking that perhaps something like this could be done to make Francis Road the next possible community Garden site.
Local food security, which doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, was brought up.. The 29 gardens aren’t going to feed the city but hopefully we can begin to look at the part of the city north of Dundas as more than a place for the equestrian crowd and those that grow strawberries. There is a very significant opportunity to develop a much bigger market gardening business in this city.
Mayor Goldring let us see how little he knew about farming but did mention that he spent some time on his grandparents farm in the Niagara Region. And he did point out that there was a time when there were piers in Burlington that took away boat loads of fresh fruit from Burlington. He added quickly that he was talking of other piers.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 7, 2012 The BIG question come Friday afternoon when the Sound of Music Festival people announce the line-up for this June is – will they be on the stage?
Will who be on the stage? If you have to ask that question you are not a true native of Burlington and you should catch the GO bus to Hamilton before the sun sets.
Walk off the Earth – is who we are talking about. The video of their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” became rapidly popular on YouTube in early 2012, gathering over 100 million views in four months. It got them a spot on the Ellen DeGeneres Show for the accomplishment.
Gianni Luminati – Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Banjo, Kazoo, Keys, Drums, Vocals, Theremin, Beatbox, Xylophone, Cigar Box; Ryan Marshall – Guitar, Ukulele, Vocals, Trumpet; Mike Taylor – (Widely known as “Beard Guy”, “Beard Man” and “Sea Captain”) – Keyboards, Vocals; Joel Cassady – Drums, Cigar box guitar; Sarah Blackwood – Guitar, Electric Guitar, Kazoo, Ukulele, Banjo, Bass, Vocals, Piano, Glockenspiel, Tamborine, Cigar box guitar, xylophone.
In an early version of our story about this band we erred with a couple of the names and got this from a loyal reader. “They’re now up to over 10 million views! Small name correction: the one on the right is Michael Taylor, who just happens to be the father of my beautiful goddaughter! (It’s a small town.) Ryan Marshall is second from the right.”
 Better than the Fab Five - from left to right:Joel Cassady, Sarah Blackwood, Gianni Nicassio, Ryan Marshal and Michael Taylor. All of Burlington wants to see then in person. But now that they are “bigger time” than they have ever been the fee goes up – and given that Dave Miller didn’t manage to squeeze any additional dollars out of city council for this years events – the SOM folk could have found themselves between a rock and a hard place.
The SOM depends on the good will of the people in this city – so a way was found to get that band on stage – and they will be there. When – tune into Our Burlington on Saturday And we will tell you when.
You heard it here first.
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