The city invests a considerable amount of money in public art and throughout each year contests are held that allow artists to pitch their ideas for what is referred to as “installation” art; something that is not permanent and is often work that can be interacted with.
The city announced seven installation art locations that were to be launched along with Culture Days which took place late in September.
A communications glitch got in the way of our publishing and promoting these events. The Senior Manager Strategic Communications prevented us from talking to the Manager of Cultural Services for some clarification.
The answers the Senior Manager Strategic Communications gave us were not clear and we didn’t have the time to do the back and forth that was required to get clear answers.
Cobalt Connects, the Hamilton based organization that manages the selection of artist’s process, made what appears now available. With that information we can now share with you what the city made possible.
These installations were available on September 27 and will be on display until October 27, 2019. There are seven Temporary Art Installations.
These artists transformed spaces across Burlington with temporary public art installations. By placing art in unexpected spaces such as parks and community centres, the Public Art Lab brings contemporary art to new audiences. All installations are free of charge! The Public Art Lab is produced by the City of Burlington’s public art program.
The art is pretty well distributed throughout the city – except for Aldershot – they got stiffed.
Kristina Bradt has done Intersection which is a Soundscape Projection installed in the lobby of the Tansley Woods Community Centre.
Bradt visited the facility at different times throughout the season to collect sound using a field recorder. By capturing the sounds of the activities, events, and people that move through the space, Bradt captured that which often goes unnoticed.
The different sounds from activities at the Tansley Woods Community Centre got transformed into art.
Bradt then uses these recordings to create a large-scale floor projection that features bright, abstracted imagery that has a contemporary feel and brings a sense of wonder and curiosity directly inspired by the energy and livelihood of those who inhabit the space. What you see is the artist’s interpretation of the sound data, turned visual art.
Kristina Bradt is an artist and public art enthusiast living in Windsor, Ontario. Bradt earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from University of Windsor (2017) with a focus in Sculpture, Drawing and Digital Media.
Her interest in 3D printing inspired her research into art that depicts the visualization of sound over the past 2 1/2 years and led her work at Artscape Gibraltar Point for her first residency this past February (2019).
No need to do any tax accounting for your on-line wins
We won’t be exaggerating if we state that taxes are every Canadian’s worst nightmare! And when it comes to online gambling, an immediate question asked by every player is – are they required to pay taxes on their winnings at such platforms?
Well, the good news is that you don’t need to pay any taxes on such winnings if you are only a recreational player and a Canadian resident.
So, I could sign up to www.casino.com to play the desert treasure slot, win a huge sum and get to take the entire win home, without paying anything to the exchequer.
Why casino players aren’t required to pay any taxes.
Canadian government can’t tax any gambling activity because it doesn’t serve as a regular source of income, and doesn’t originate from property, employment or any other regular earning means. Gambling also isn’t considered a type of business and majority of Canadians don’t live off their gambling winnings. In the eyes of the law, taxing such events will not be fair. Here’s more on the peculiarities of gambling in Canada.
Are Canadians required to pay any taxes on gambling winnings?
No, there is no need for Canadians to pay any taxes on winnings from gambling activities like lotteries, sports betting, horse racing, online casinos etc. however, you must declare any interest earned on these winnings in the T5 form. Any such interest is taxable in nature and you could be fined if you are caught not paying taxes on it.
Are professional Canadian gamblers required to pay taxes?
Anyone who gambles full-time, whether off-line or online, and makes a living from the activity, must pay taxes on their winnings. Hence, professional blackjack players, poker players or anyone who calls themselves a professional gambler, will be perceived as a running a freelance business, the income from which is taxable in Canada.
However, there’s a catch. The Canada Revenue Agency has been very slow in assessing and auditing people whose primary source of income is gambling. Why this is so is because these people are essentially operating the business and the profits earned from the business are taxable.
No calculations to be done.
But the same business can lead to major losses, reducing overall income. If the Canadian revenue agency starts taxing these professional players in a forceful manner, it could have a very bad domino effect throughout Canada.
This doesn’t mean that if you are a professional gambler, you should avoid paying any taxes. It’s only information that you should be aware of.
Gambling wins in Vegas or US as a Canadian citizen
Anyone who visits Las Vegas or United States to gamble and comes back with the winnings, must pay close to half of their winnings exceeding US$ 1200 as taxes to the government. If you thought you could just avoid declaring any such income, well, think again! When you walk up to cash out your winnings at the booth, 30% is deducted as tax at source there and then!
Although the year is coming to a close, there are still loads of great events to enjoy at casinos in and around the Burlington area. We’ve scoured the best live gambling venues surrounding the city and compiled a list of the very best events taking place. See out 2019 in style with one of the suggestions below!
Not all the casinos in the area have spaces for events but those that do have some seriously great entertainment lined up. There are also a plethora of poker tournaments and special cash games dotted around.
In case you don’t have enough time to visit a casino in Burlington you can always sign up for one of the many Canadian no deposit options. Be wary though and rather start with a no deposit bonus to test the waters first.
Elements Casino Brantford When you’re not propping up a slot machine or indulging in either limit or no limit action at one of the 14 live cash game tables, why not venture into one of the great shows the casino hosts regularly.
Below, you’ll find the full line-up of events for the rest of the year.
Ryapsody Rebels (October 25)
“Hooligans with music in their blood”, the London, Ontario-based three-piece will bring their stripped back indie jams to the casino this October.
MixMaker (October 26)
DJ MixMaker will bring the party on Saturday October 26.
Falls View Casino Resort
Eric Suen & Vivian Lai (October 20 – October 21)
An evening of classic Cantonese and Mandarin hits with Hong Kong’s acclaimed duo.
The Midtown Men (Stars from the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys) (October 23 – October 27)
After gelling onset in the hit musical, Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Robert Spencer decided to take their ‘60s show on the road. Check them out this October at the casino.
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield (November 1 – November 2)
The multi-decade-spanning Rick Springfield will perform hits from his extensive back catalogue to kick off the November events program. Appearing over two nights, you’ve no excuse not to get over for this intimate performance.
Keeps on trucking Eric Moo (November 3 – November 4)
Award-winning Malaysian singer-songwriter Eric Moo will be at the casino performing hits in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
The Jim Cuddy Band (November 6)
The multi-gold-record-selling Jim Cuddly Band will appear before a local crowd to perform hits from his five solo albums. Being a local boy, we’re expecting this one to be popular.
Collective Soul (November 7 – November 8)
American alt-rockers Collective Soul will hit the casino with their blend of post-grunge and soft rock jams. Even after more than 25 years in the game, this five-piece are still more than capable of rocking a crowd. Come see for yourself this November.
Brandi Carlile (November 9 – November 10)
The genre-spanning Brandi Carlile will be putting on an intimate solo performance.
Air Supply
Air Supply (November 14 – November 16)
Starting their musical journey in the mid-1970s, transatlantic soft rockers Air Supply have a raft of hits to date. You can catch them performing a huge selection from their multi-decade career this Fall at the casino. Firm favourite
Christmas On Ice (November 21 – December 8)
Kicking off Christmas in style. This high-octane figure-skating spectacular is bound to get you in the festive spirit!
An Evening with Old Dominion, The Band Behind the Curtain (December 12 – December 13)
Hot off the back of the release of their latest self-titled album, this Nashville-based five-piece are keen to perform their latest material. For all you older fans, we’re sure the country/rock/hip-hop mashup will throw in a few classics to boot!
Casino Niagara The Casino Niagara’s EV2L Sports Bar & Entertainment area host live weekend entertainment each week. There is also a truly scintillating menu in the joint, loaded with classic bar snacks. It’s the perfect place to take in a live performance, watch the game, or hit the dance floor after hitting the casino’s tables.
Triple Crowns (October 25 – October 26)
There’s no cover charge for this night of rock and pop hosted by Triple Crowns!
Stone the Radio (November 1 – November 2)
Kick off November with Stone the Radio, one of Ontario’s finest alternative and classic rock covers bands. Dig out your leathers and we’ll see you at the front!
DJ Recon (November 8)
Get ready to boogie with the multi-genre disc jockeying of DJ Recon.
Renegade (November 9)
Featuring an eclectic roster of tunes ranging from AC/DC to Bruno Mars, there’s something for everyone at a Renegade show! Come and see for yourself.
By Design (November 15 – November 16)
This local quartet will be performing rock classics from throughout the ages.
DJ Vibe (November 22 – November 23)
Local master of the turntables, DJ Vibe, is sure to start the party at Casino Niagara this November. Will you be there?
DJ 5150 (November 29)
Another night another DJ! This time it’s DJ 5150 spinning the tunes for the party people of the Casino Niagara.
Razorbax (November 30)
Local classic rockers The Razorbax will perform their countryfied jams for your listening pleasure.
The Brant Hills Community Centre got a Jimmy Limit photo treatment to help tell part of the communities story.
Photos from Brant Hills Community Centre is a series of large-scale photographic murals inspired by the functions and surroundings of the Brant Hills Community Centre.
Materials associated with sports, the gym and library have been combined with materials found in the natural park surroundings of the community centre. By using the language built around commercial photography and advertising, Limit’s images document unlikely assemblages, which cause the viewer to question the motives of the imagery when placed in the public realm.
Jimmy Limit is a photo-based artist living in St. Catharines. Limit has exhibited throughout Canada and the United States including Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn Estonia, Rodman Hall St. Catharines, Clint Roenisch Gallery, Toronto and Printer Matter, NYC. Recent public works have included Photos for a Project in Progress at the Bentway in Toronto and Photos for Vacant Storefronts, for CAFKA16 in Kitchener, ON.
More at: jimmylimit.com
The city invests a considerable amount of money in public art and throughout each year contests are held that allow artists to pitch their ideas for what is referred to as “installation” art; something that is not permanent and is often work that can be interacted with.
The city announced seven installation art locations that were to be launched along with Culture Days which took place late in September.
A communications glitch got in the way of our publishing and promoting these events. The Senior Manager Strategic Communications prevented us from talking to the Manager of Cultural Services for some clarification. The answers the Senior Manager Strategic Communications gave us were not clear and we didn’t have the time to do the back and forth that was required to get clear answers.
Cobalt Connects, the Hamilton based organization that manages the selection of artist’s process made what appears now available and we share it with you.
With information that is clear we can now share with you what the city made possible.
These installations were available on September 27 and will be on display until October 27, 2019. There are seven Temporary Art Installations
These artists transformed spaces across Burlington with temporary public art installations. By placing art in unexpected spaces such as parks and community centres, the Public Art Lab brings contemporary art to new audiences. All installations are free of charge! The Public Art Lab is produced by the City of Burlington’s public art program.
The art is pretty well distributed throughout the city – except for Aldershot – they got stiffed.
The city invests a considerable amount of money in public art and throughout each year contests are held that allow artists to pitch their ideas for what is referred to as “installation” art; something that is not permanent and is often work that can be interacted with.
The city announced seven installation art locations that were to be launched along with Culture Days which took place late in September.
A communications glitch got in the way of our publishing and promoting these events. The Senior Manager Strategic Communications prevented us from talking to the Manager of Cultural Services for some clarification.
The answers the Senior Manager Strategic Communications gave us were not clear and we didn’t have the time to do the back and forth that was required to get clear answers.
Cobalt Connects, the Hamilton based organization that manages the selection of artist’s process, made what appears now available and we share it with you.
With information that is clear we can now share with you what the city made possible.
These installations were available on September 27 and will be on display until October 27, 2019. There are seven Temporary Art Installations.
These artists transformed spaces across Burlington with temporary public art installations. By placing art in unexpected spaces such as parks and community centres, the Public Art Lab brings contemporary art to new audiences. All installations are free of charge! The Public Art Lab is produced by the City of Burlington’s public art program.
The art is pretty well distributed throughout the city – except for Aldershot – they got stiffed.
Troy Lovegates, Hide and Seek at Spencer Smith Park has a communication challenge of its own.
We were Ok up to this point. Where is the stamp we are supposed to put into the map we picked up at the Gazebo. Confusion reigned – it was good idea though.
It is a Wood Sculptures, Scavenger Hunt Map
Hide and Seek is a series of folk art wood sculptures that have been hidden throughout Spencer Smith Park.
So far – so good.
Park visitors are invited to participate in a “scavenger hunt” to find the sculptures and collect a stamp at each location.
Who hands out the stamp ? Are they just sitting there for the taking? What happens when it is raining?
Visitors can pick up a map with clues from the birdhouse box located beside the gazebo and start their adventure.
The first people to turn in their completed map to the Burlington Visitor Centre (414 Locust Street, 9:00 am 0 4:00 pm) will receive a special prize!
Is this the first person every day?
Sounds like a great idea – but the instructions aren’t clear enough. If this part of this art event worked for you – do let us know. We might be the ones that are a little thick.
Troy Lovegates is an internationally prolific street artist who begins his process by immersing himself within the project’s immediate area, breathing in its surroundings and passersby. His public art centres on the holistic importance of community, frequently featuring images of residents taken on early expeditions around a project site. Lovegates has spent many years exploring the nooks and crannies of Lake Ontario, its nearby railway corridors and green spaces.
The city invests a considerable amount of money in public art and throughout each year contests are held that allow artists to pitch their ideas for what is referred to as “installation” art; something that is not permanent and is often work that can be interacted with.
The city announced seven installation art locations that were to be launched along with Culture Days which took place late in September.
A communications glitch got in the way of our publishing and promoting these events. The Senior Manager Strategic Communications prevented us from talking to the Manager of Cultural Services for some clarification.
The answers the Senior Manager Strategic Communications gave us were not clear and we didn’t have the time to do the back and forth that was required to get clear answers.
Cobalt Connects, the Hamilton based organization that manages the selection of artist’s process made what appears now available and we share it with you.
With information that is clear we can now share with you what the city made possible.
These installations were available on September 27 and will be on display until October 27, 2019. There are seven Temporary Art Installations. These artists transformed spaces across Burlington with temporary public art installations. By placing art in unexpected spaces such as parks and community centres, the Public Art Lab brings contemporary art to new audiences. All installations are free of charge! The Public Art Lab is produced by the City of Burlington’s public art program.
The art is pretty well distributed throughout the city – except for Aldershot – they got stiffed.
The wish might get you thinking – which is the point of it all.
The installation at the Norton Community Park is called Typographic Fencing; something that defines space and prompts conversation by creating large-scale text in areas where it is not expected— around the edges of parking lots, near ravines, off divided highways, around a fenced-in playground.
These temporary installations are woven out of flagging-tape, a simple, inexpensive material used to mark boundaries. Squares in chain-link or vertical-bar fences become pixels on a screen or canvas, the medium for messages. The messages are installed anonymously and removed without ceremony. By transforming large-text into large questions, aim to spark a dialogue.
Lambchop is a street artist and designer based in the American South, specializing in permanent and ephemeral public installations investigating the relationship between place, typography, and interaction. Lambchop’s work has been exhibited internationally and recognized with a Communication Arts Award, a Society of Typographic Arts “STA 100” Award, has been featured through DesignMilk, NotCot and SHFT.
More on this artist at: cargocollective.com/lambchop
Charo: Instantly recognizable for her witty humour, lovable accent and mastery of the flamenco guitar.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre presenting: Charo: Hot Flamenco Night on Saturday, October 12 in the Main Theatre, the only Canadian date for this legendary performer.
Instantly recognizable for her witty humour, loveable accent and mastery of the flamenco guitar, Charo has been an integral proponent of contemporary Latin music since the 1970s.
is also smoking hot!
Although popular as a musician, singer, comedienne, stage and screen performer, it is Charo’s trademark quirky comedy and expressions – Cuchi-Cuchi! – which has endeared her to the world.
Charo: Hot Flamenco Night will feature a mixture of her patented rhythms and mastery of classical guitar. It is a combination of the most exciting and original music of today and the most famous classical masterpieces in the world. Charo performs passionately throughout, blending heart and soul with her unique Flamenco style.
Charo is an American music and pop culture icon who has entertained millions throughout her career. She also teams up with top-name DJs and producers from around the world, who add their dance mixes to Charo’s virtuoso guitar performance to creates dance hits.
Charo: Hot Flamenco Night Saturday, October 12 at 8pm 440 Locust Street, Burlington, Ontario Tickets can be purchased by telephone, online or in person: 905-681-6000, https://burlingtonpac.ca/events/charo/ Tickets: $69.50 Sponsored by Andrew Peller Ltd.
More than 150 visitors came from across Halton Region to attend Nelson Aggregates’ Quarry Open House and Bus Tour.
Nelson President Quinn Moyer said: “We were pleasantly surprised. Attendees showed a lot of interest and support for our operations, our expansion plans and our vision for turning the site into a park over 30 years.”
The golf club property that is on the western side of the properties would be turned into a very large park.
The Open House featured bus tours of the quarry and interactive exhibits, including quarry machinery such as crushers, loaders, bulldozers and excavators.
“It’s great to see residents interested in the types of operations that form the foundation of our daily lives,” Moyer said. “It’s easy to forget that the building blocks of where we live come from quarries like ours.”
The Mt. Nemo quarry has played an important role as Burlington’s main source of limestone for more than 50 years. Its aggregate forms the foundation of most roads, buildings and infrastructure in Burlington.
One quarry that is close to be mined out; two new quarries that would be open and then everything would be turned over to the public.
A proposal is underway to expand the quarry over the next 30 years, and to donate the rehabilitated land in parcels over that time to form the largest park in Burlington.
The proposed park would be nearly six times larger than Burlington’s City View Park. The size and scale of the park would allow for abundant recreational opportunities, from biking and swimming to rock climbing and soccer.
A lake – 77 acres in size will be formed out of a mined out quarry.
The Gazette asked a reader to take the tour and come back to us with his views. He didn’t take out his wallet to buy into it – but did say that he wanted to hear more. “Was this a gift horse whose mouth we should be looking into” he asked “or is it a Trojan horse that we would regret letting in.”
The Nelson Aggregate people have yet to have a conversation with the ward Councillor, Rory Nisan, who has said he doesn’t want anyone to shape his opinion of the project, has shown no interest in hearing what the aggregate producer has in mind.
So far, the only Councillor who has been to the site is Angelo Bentivegna who was with our reader.
Our reader has said he is of two minds. The one thing he is certain about is that the city should be talking to the Nelson people and learning more about what they have in mind.
The Planning department, who have more on their plates than they can handle now, are certainly not out there looking for things to do.
Our reader said he was really impressed with the potential but did wonder if Burlington needed another park.
What our reader did find interesting was that no one he talked to came out and said they did not want a park in that part of Burlington.
With the public tour behind them Nelson now has to craft the application it has to take to the city and at the same time think through the various levels of government they are going to have to satisfy and how best they can do that.
The next step is to have a pre-consultation meeting with the Planning department – expected to be sometime in November.
The big picture question is: Is another park needed? Not today perhaps but in 30 years the need for public space will be a lot different than it is today.
October 1st is National Seniors’ Day and the city is going to celebrate with several free drop-in programs.
The objective is to honour and encourage older adults to connect and play which is important for a healthy, active life.
On this day, City of Burlington Adults 55+ Aquatics and Skating drop-in programs are free for participants aged 55 years and older.
Golf goody: two adults aged 55 years and older can play for the price of one between 10 a.m. and noon.
At Tyandaga Golf Course, two adults aged 55 years and older can play for the price of one between 10 a.m. and noon.
Community partners will be at various facilities with information on services and fun activities.
Older adults are encouraged to visit any of the locations listed below to meet community partners and be entered for the chance to win one of two Burlington Seniors’ memberships and one of two Parks and Recreation $25 gift cards.
There is nothing fancy about the place. It’s simple, serves the purpose with a bus stop almost outside the door and plenty of parking. And the kitchen will rustle you up a sandwich if you’re hungry. The Seniors like it the way it is.
Participating Locations:
• Aldershot Pool
• Tyandaga Golf Course
• Burlington Seniors’ Centre
• Tansley Woods Community Centre
To view a complete listing of drop-in programs CLICK here.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward tells us that “The older adult population of Burlington is vibrant and engaged, and a vital part of our communities. I encourage all adults aged 55 and older to take advantage of the free drop-in programs or to stop by the Burlington Seniors’ Centre to see our community partners, socialize and enjoy the day.”
Mandy Newnham, Supervisor of Recreation wants these senior’s “to come out to the variety of registered and drop-in recreational programs for Adults 55+ across the city to keep active and play every day.”
Ensuring Burlington is an age-friendly city is a commitment Burlington City Council made in the City’s 25-year Strategic Plan. Under the ‘A City that Grows’ direction, the City committed to developing an age-friendly strategy that supports aging in place. Ensuring sufficient Adults 55+ space for recreation and social activities is provided throughout the city is part of the plan.
A number of weeks ago the Gazette had an email conversation with city manager Tim Commisso who wrote about some of the changes that would be taking place at city hall.
He mentioned at the time that he had 17 direct reports and that he wanted to reduce those considerably so that he could concentrate on the development of a strategy that would fill the direction he was given by council back in February.
Yesterday Commisso put his plan on the table during a closed session of council. The new organizational structure was adopted by Council during the closed session – the public got word of it when they put out a media release. We have absolutely no idea what council thought of the plan – did they ask for changes? Was there a vigorous debate?
The plan looks to be solid. The Gazette learned from a former senior staff member that it was a “plan that should work”.
Director of Human Resources Laura Boyd
We asked Commisso if the Burlington Leadership Team would continue to operate; recall the Director of Human Resources Laura Boyd wrote in her exceptionally revealing report to council back in July said:
“When the results were further analyzed, it became apparent that communication within the organization diminishes between hierarchical levels.
“Specifically, between the Burlington Leadership Team and the Supervisors/Manager level and then between the Supervisors/Managers level and their direct reports.”
Commisso told us that the “city’s internal leadership/strategic management structure will still encompass: Exec Directors, Directors (Department Heads) and City Mgr. BLT will meet weekly and provide strategic management oversight on day to day City service delivery, review of upcoming Council reports, implementation of Council V2F work plan and other corporate projects. BLT also deals with city policies and procedures, budget development, ongoing council/ staff relations.
He added that “The Strategy and Risk Team (SRT) will meet biweekly and will focus at a more detailed level on corporate strategy execution and related risk mitigation and also reporting on same to Council on a regular basis. SRT is a new leadership team comprised of Exec Directors and City Mgr. SRT will also focus on corporate wide business processes such as customer service, health and safety.
Commisso said “This approach is a best practice for municipal and public sector governance” and added that “We will need to align the new structure with Council’s standing committees and are working on a report to Council on that for Oct.
The Gazette wondered aloud during a telephone conversation earlier today if this organizational change was not a consolidation of power in the city manager’s office. Commisso doesn’t see it that way. He did reduce the number of direct reports from 17 to 12 and admits that even twelve is a little on the high side.
One of the problems Commisso has is the quality of his bench strength – there are a number of senior people not exactly pulling their weight – at the same time there are a significant number of young people who have done well but find it difficult to see Burlington as a place where they can grow meaningful careers – there have been four city managers in a six year period.
You build a team by ensuring that management stability is in place and that it is going to be there for some time and that there will be opportunities for professional growth.
Getting the new organization in place has been a huge task for Tim Commisso; he loved doing the work – says he loves the city. He’s not a talkative man – without ever having had an opportunity to sit opposite the man it’s difficult to get the measure of him.
Our conversation with him on Wednesday was short – he was swamped.
We wanted to ask: Is this just round one of the blood letting at the staff level. It would have been inappropriate of him to respond but the question remains. Many of the keen observers of city hall matter don’t feel the job has been completed.
Strategy is just one part of what Commisso believes has to be put in place. The other is a change in the culture – that one is going to take years – it will have to start soon for staff to buy into it and then years to make changes and make them stick.
Can MacDonald and Magi instill a different more meaningful sense of confidence in staff? Does Human Resources have a handle on just what the problems are and perhaps some solutions as to how to give the place a shot of something?
The Gazette recalls a citizen who once worked at city hall in a very senior job where he was right in the thick of it all. He gave some thought to running for office – actually came close to deciding he would and then decided that it was “too toxic” (his words) and left the public office job to others.
While Commisso can perhaps pull rabbits out of hats (that is not a skill set he lays any claim to) he has to cope with a city council that does not yet have a full year under its belt.
Mayor Meed Ward fully understands the power she has when she wears the Chain of Office. Can her colleagues restrain her? They have done just that a few times.
He has to deal with a Mayor who has an agenda and she is certainly pushing that agenda. If he doesn’t have a real concern over how reserve accounts are handled – then he should have. He needs to find a way to counsel the Mayor and educate the newer council members on why we have reserves and the way they should be handled. All five of the newbies have turned to the city manager for advice and direction – when their job is to hold the man they are turning to accountable.
Commisso didn’t think that was a problem. The governance people we spoke to told us that it was a serious problem and that Commisso was walking on this ice.
The mention that Burlington is one of the best places to work just isn’t true. The chaos is disturbing.
With Heather MacDonald and Allan Magi serving now as the management level directly beneath the city manager there is a line of authority and direction that has been missing for some time.
Heather MacDonald, now one of the two leaders working with the city manager to make it all come together in conversation with a citizen at a public meeting.
It is going to take a bit of time for the two to get the hang of the job. MacDonald came to Burlington a relatively short time ago to serve as the Planning Director and now finds herself as responsible for the effective administration of a much bigger plate. She was doing just fine with the Planning problems; the Interim Control Bylaw was hers to oversee as well as the re-writing of the Approved Official Plan.
Behind all that there is the pile of development applications that are going to flood the city when the Interim Bylaw gets lifted. There is a lot of work on that table.
Two new positions have been created: Customer Experience Manager-Business Development Executive Director of Strategy, Risk and Accountability
They will both be posted on the city’s web site and be open to outsiders.
City manager Tom Commisso is often the only senior administrative person at council meetings. He says what he has to say in relatively few words.
Commisso believes they are both critical – it will be interesting to see the job description when it is posted. The use of the word ‘accountability’ raised an eyebrow- just what does the city mean when they say ‘accountability’.
This is something we will return to once we see the job posting.
Here is where I wonder what some people think they are doing.
We get literally hundreds of comments each day. More than a third are just plain foul, filled with nasty comments about other people. We don’t publish these – straight to trash.
About one quarter are good and of that half are superb. I am proud to publish those comments. On occasion we take a well written, soundly argued point of view and turn it into an opinion piece.
There is another bunch that come in. The name of the sender doesn’t match what we have in our data base so we send out a test email to see if the address is valid. All too often the email is illegitimate and we get a message like this.
<mariememe1965@gmail.com>: host gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com[74.125.142.27] said: The email account that you tried to reach does not exist. Please try 550-5.1.1 double-checking the recipient’s email address for typos or 550-5.1.1 unnecessary spaces.
Our testing the email address was because we saw something suspicious in this one that said the following:
I’ve met her and I liked her! I felt a genuine concern and nothing scripted. Hoping that this paper writes articles on ALL candidates – fairly.
The comment was related to the article we wrote about Conservative candidate Elizabeth Jane Michael in which we reported on her deciding not to take part in the planned election debates.
We will write fairly about a candidate – we would like to speak to them.
Stunts like this hurt a candidate – it is clear that someone wrote a comment that was designed to leave the impression that the candidate was worth voting for – but they weren’t prepared to say who they were.
You can’t do that – at least not in this newspaper.
The city made it official – the LaSalle Park Marina Association will operate the marina but the city does expect them to change the name of the organization and get the word ‘community’ in there somewhere.
Peace, tranquility and good governance have settled on the marina.
The next step is to put a business case together. There was some additional positive news – the wave break that is being installed looks as if it is going to come in at less than the $4 million and the city think the Marina association might be able to come up with a bit more than the $2.7 million in fees to the city.
It has taken years to get to this point – council is as pleased as punch with the way it worked out. Mayor Meed Ward said she was pleased to see nothing but smiling faces watching the proceedings in city council chamber.
The Friends of Freeman Station are going to get the $150,000 needed to relocate the steam engine and the two rail cars that are currently located at the St. Lawrence Parkway facility in Morrisburg, Ontario.
Steam engine plus tender and two rail cars could be set up at Freeman.
The city will actually own the rolling stock – the FoFS will get to do all the cleaning up and refurbishing of the equipment.
Hopefully the people giving the rail equipment away won’t have any problems with the city owning the asset.
It was a busy city council meeting with much more news to follow up on.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
Council took a break and when they returned the Mayor dumped all over the Burlington Post over errors she said they made in a story about how the city wants to manage the pan handling situation at major intersections in the city.
“They got it wrong” said the Mayor, “completely wrong”
Going by the endless headlines one gets, being a lottery winner can be a truly memorable and exhilarating experience for anyone. After all, these events transform regular people like you and me, into millionaires overnight.
It’s all about luck.
There are several accounts of the lucky Canadians buying a lottery ticket and thus a fortune for themselves. And many others continue to try their luck on a daily basis. The best ways to be one such winner is by playing reputed and well-known lotteries in Canada.
You can play Powerball online, Lotto 6/49 and more. Here in this article, we will tell you about the biggest lottery winner from Canada and the US Powerball which gives you a chance to win several more millions of dollars from Canada.
Record Lottery Winner from Canada
The biggest lottery winner from Canada is a woman named Zhe Wang from Mississauga, Ontario. In 2016, she won $ 64 million, the biggest jackpot ever in the history of Canadian lottery. As per the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., Zhe Wang had the single winning ticket for that jackpot. The ticket was for the Lotto 649 draw of October 17, and was purchased from a Petro Canada in Mississauga.
As per the gaming agency, Zhe Wang’s big win puts her at the top of the biggest lottery prize winners from Canada who won through a single ticket. Before her the largest Lotto 649 win record was held by 4 joint winning tickets – 1 from western Canada and 3 sold in British Columbia. That was for a total sum of $ 63.4 million, drawn on April 13, 2013.
US Powerball gives you a chance to score an even bigger win
US Powerball, which has had some of the biggest winners in the history of lottery ever, for instance this $ 768 million, 24 year old winner, requires you to match 5 numbers from 1 to 69, as well as the Powerball number ranging from 1 to 26 on the ticket. There are several other prizes as well, with a total of 9 prize tiers. Not to forget, the popular Powerplay multipliers. In the event that someone else also gets the same numbers, the jackpot amount is shared between them, and if no one hits the jackpot, the money is rolled over to the next draw, continuing this way till a winner comes along. Please note, it’s pretty common for such rollovers to happen, the reason why US Powerball jackpots are considered the biggest in the world.
With lotteries it is the luck of which ball comes down the chute.
While in the United States, the age limit to play Powerball is 18 (19 in Nebraska and 21 in Arizona, Iowa and Louisiana), in Canada too you should be minimum 18 years to play this lottery. In the event that you win the jackpot, or any prize for that matter, there will be no tax due from you in Canada. You stand to win exactly the same amount of money as any winner from the United States.
Myles Rusak, Executive Director of the Sound Music seemed to be telling council that these huge events are no longer the attraction they used to be.
Myles D. Rusak had to wait hours before he got his ten minutes to tell city council meeting as a Standing Committee that he had wonderful news for them: From its humble beginnings in 1979 as a showcase for the Burlington Teen Tour Band to its current iteration as Canada’s Largest Free Music Festival; over the years this Festival has evolved in many new and exciting ways.
Rusak didn’t use the phrase Sound of Music – it would appear it is going to morph into the “Festival”.
Rusak was the last speaker during what had been a very full day – and it would run on into the evening. He got his ten minutes but there were no questions – council was making a hard stop – they wanted to go home for dinner.
These huge events don’t pay the bills. The SoM board wants to re-imagine the event.
Rusak explained that the Sound of Music is a registered Non-Profit Organization that has an obligation to you, our stakeholders, to share with you how we operate, where our funds come from and the overall impact of the Festival on the community.
Moving forward we aim to be a resource for emerging artists, and a year round showcase for local talent.
Under new management (there was no mention of how the SoM unceremoniously dumped the previous Executive Director) we aim to evolve yet again to increase our capacity for supporting Music and the Arts in our community.
Our vision is to not be defined exclusively as a “festival” – moving forward we aim to be a resource for emerging artists, a showcase for local talent and a valued community partner who wants to see Music and Performance in this community thrive in new and exciting ways.
Our commitment to you is a new level of transparency and accountability; an admission that they had not been all that transparent or accountable in the past?
It was at this point that Rusak advised council that he wasn’t in front of them asking for money – but that he would be back.
Rusak apparently didn’t realize that for the most part the 2020 budget has been drafted and except for some serious tweaking there aren’t likely to be any major changes – unless the Mayor decides to continue with her raids on reserve accounts.
But I digress.
If the numbers are what we think they are – the SoM doesn’t make any money on the ticketed events.
Rusak told council: “We know you work hard for your money and you deserve to know how it’s used when you buy a festival ticket, VIP upgrade, merchandise or beverage at the Festival. I do hope this report answers those important questions.”
He trotted out that phrase that covers all past sins – he was going to be “accountable and transparent”.
Rusak had some astounding news:
The Sound of Music pumps $12.7 million into the local economy.
These numbers don’t add up to the $12 million touted.
A quarter of a million people attended – the spending doesn’t appear to be in sync with that figure. The 34% that were non-local – does that mean Hamilton?
Every dollar invested in the Sound of Music returns $160
MORE here
Rusak also had a dour note. The festival market is changing he said and “we have to change or we die”.
And that’s when he explained that the event had to become more than a three day event. Sound of Music had already grown to a couple of additional days when ticketed events took place.
Sound of Music is talking to Cogeco about doing something with the community cable operation. An all year round program.
He talked about putting something together with the Performing Arts Centre. The folks over there have been trying to get the Sound of Music in their building for the past two years. PAC Executive Director Tammy Fox told the Gazette that she will get them in there at some point in the future.
Impressive numbers – what do they mean? No analysis was offered.
The Sound of Music Executive is currently working on a Strategic Plan that Rusak assured the Councillors would be made public. Sound of Music doesn’t have the best of reputations for telling people what they would like to know about the revenue and expense side of their operation.
They tend to tell people what they want people to hear.
Rusak is new to both the organization and to Burlington.
He cuts a fine figure. Time will tell if he actually walks his talk.
The Regional government created a Community Investment Fund that supports a wide range of non-profit health and social service programs and initiatives that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents.
Approximately $1 million is available for new grants in 2020.
Halton Region administrative offices.
Funding is provided in single and multi-year grants through two categories:
• Category One: one-year of funding up to $30,000 to non-profit, charitable or unincorporated community organizations for short-term, small capital and/or innovative projects.
• Category Two: up to three years of funding to charitable organizations for programs and initiatives.
Applications for HRCIF funding must focus on supporting vulnerable residents in our community. The HRCIF encourages organizations to submit proposals that demonstrate collaborative approaches to address community needs and is aligned with Halton’s overall approach to community safety and well-being planning.
The deadline to apply to both funding categories is November 1, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Community organizations interested in learning more about HRCIF and the application process can attend an information session on September 25 or October 1.
To register for these sessions and for HRCIF guidelines and application forms, visit the HRCIF webpage or call 311.
Request for Expressions of Interest For public art proposals at City View Park. Deadline: Friday October 11, 2019 Budget: Budget: $120,000 CAD
The City of Burlington invites professional artists to submit Expressions of Interest to create an exterior public art installation for a new pavilion being constructed at City View Park (2500 Kerns Road, Burlington). This competition is open to all Canadian and International professional artists and/or artist-led teams.
Proposed pavilion got City View Park.
A professional artist is an individual who has specialized skills and/or training in his/her artistic discipline (not necessarily in academic institutions), has a history of public presentation and is critically recognized as an artist.
The artwork will be located in a large naturalized area in front of the pavilion. This area serves as an entrance point to the pavilion, linking together pathways from the (future) parking to the front entrance and a central roadway. This location will also allow for excellent views of the artwork from inside the pavilion’s main lobby as there are large glass walls looking out onto this area.
An artwork proposal is not requested at this time. This is a two-phase process: in Phase One, applicants will be reviewed on the basis of artistic merit of past work, professional qualifications and experience. In Phase Two, short-listed artists will be required to submit a preliminary artwork concept proposal that will be displayed for public comment and jury review. Artists selected for the short-list will be provided with a full Request for Proposals outlining detailed artwork specifications prior to developing their proposals. Short-listed artists will be paid an artist fee of $1500 to develop their proposals.
To learn more and apply visit: burlingtonpublicart.com
It cleaned up pretty good. The station was the start of trips to other places. And it was where you got off when you were coming home. Troops left for war from the station. They would march up Brant Street and onto the railway property. Keeping it and turning it into a small local museum has taken a lot of work with many obstacles to overcome. Now the station has to be prepared for the winter weather.
They need some help.
They are a great bunch to work with and this will get you out of the house.
The Friends of Freeman Station note that it has been a great first summer season at Freeman. Now we need help tidying up, getting the Station ready for the winter. Hopefully you will be able to spare some time on one or more of the following days to help out.
Evening settles on the station.
September 14, Saturday 9am to Noon Scrape & Paint Outside Trim September 16, Monday 9am to Noon Winterizing the Station September 18, Wednesday 9am to Noon Moving the compound September 21, Saturday 9am to Noon Scrape & Paint Outside Trim September 23, Monday 9am to Noon Winterizing the Station September 25, Wednesday 9am to Noon Winterizing the Station September 30, Monday 9am to Noon Winterizing the Station October 2, Wednesday 9am to Noon Winterizing the Station
Just come on down to the Station in your working clothes and we will set you onto to the tasks required.
This one has been a long time coming – and very richly deserved.
The volunteers that made the restoration of the Freeman Station possible worked hard against some really unfortunate resistance from the city council at the time.
They were never BFF but then Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster stood up when it mattered. Here they pose with five members of the Friends of Freeman Station after the Council meeting that approved the entering into of a Joint Venture that would have the Friends moving the station and taking on the task of renovating the building.
It was then Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster that stood up to be counted and were there every step of the way as the volunteers overcame one obstacle after another.
The Mayor at the time seemed mute; two Councillors came close to conspiring to ensure that it didn’t happen; a staff civil engineer was less than truthful when she said the structure might well fall apart if any effort were made to move it.
Despite all this – a location was found, the station was successfully moved and the renovations began to take place. Hundreds of people offered memorabilia.
Telephone used by station masters,
The collection of railway lanterns is close to embarrassing – they have half a dozen key sets as well.
They have one of the receipt books that lists every package that came into the station and was shipped out from the Station.
Don Smith tells people of the days when he was a boy and would go with staff from his Dad’s funeral home to pick up new coffins that were being shipped to the then town.
A short while ago the Friends of Freeman FOFS learned that a steam engine and a tender plus two railway cars were available for the right organization.
The Friends of Freeman jumped aboard that idea and did their homework; approached council asking for some help.
They needed financial backing which they would have liked to see in the form of a grant, but if that was not possible, they would do the fundraising needed to pay the City back. A letter from the City indicating this financial support to move the equipment would form a key element of their proposal and would make it very compelling.
Council agreed to provide up to $150,000 to transport the engine and rail cars from Morrisburg, Ontario where they are a part of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC) and are located at Crysler Park, near Morrisburg.
The SLPC has decided the equipment does not fit its mandate as it is too modern for the era they depict at Upper Canada Village, and they do not wish to restore it. They have put it out to tender with the proviso that it must go to a museum, municipality or other similar entity in Canada, for preservation. The equipment will be granted at no cost, except its removal and relocation.
It was a great opportunity with a relatively short time line. An application had to be in by October 4th. FOFS didn’t have that kind of money – they asked the city if they would backstop the funding requirement.
The station sits on private property that is a hydro right of way. Rent is $1 a year. The city owns the station – the Friends take care of it.
The city was prepared to go further than that – the recommendation out of committee was to put up the $150,000 as a grant – and then they got really generous and said that it was about time the city bought the land the Freeman Station sits on.
It can’t be used for any development – most of it is beneath a hydro right of way.
The engine – believed to have been used on one of the runs into Burlington.
The tender carried coal used to create steam to drive the four truck engine.
A passenger car that is believed to have been used during trips to Burlington.
A baggage car that could also be refrigerated.
This equipment is extremely rare, and in relatively good condition, needing only cosmetic restoration. The passenger car is so rare it may well be the only one left of its type in Canada. The locomotive served the Burlington area at one time, the refrigerated baggage car was of a type, and may have been one, that served the Freeman Station fruit platform. The passenger car may well have served Freeman Station.
FOFS has assembled a team of restoration experts and has the volunteer and sponsor base needed to restore this priceless historic railway equipment and make it, along with the station, a showpiece of which the citizens of Burlington can be proud.
They also have the land to accommodate the additions. Having restored Freeman Station and raised almost $1 million in funds, services and labour to do so, they can demonstrate to SLPC that they are a worthy candidate to receive their valued artifacts. At the present time FOFS has $30,000 available for restoration work.
The major issue is the cost of moving these large and heavy pieces to Burlington. FOFS has contacted four highly qualified and experienced movers of heavy equipment and asked each for a proposal. Three of the four have been to look at the equipment. All have given FOFS preliminary cost estimates ranging from $100,000 to $300,000. FOFS is now waiting on formal quotes and will meet with each to negotiate.
Volunteer working on the outside of the station.
The Freeman Station renovation is now virtually complete and is accepting visitors, and school trips. The station has proven to be a popular addition to the public spaces in Burlington.
They are now open Saturdays and Public Holidays and have visitor numbers typically between thirty and one hundred, with much larger crowds when they have a special event such as Doors Open. The addition of this rare railway rolling stock will add greatly to the attractiveness of Freeman Station and make it a more significant tourist attraction.
The challenge is going to be – where will the rolling stock go – they don’t want to block the view of the station.
It will draw visitors from far and wide and add to the educational experience provided by the station.
To make their proposal to SLPC credible by the deadline of October 4th, FOFS needs to demonstrate that they have the financial capability to move the equipment. Expect this to be approved at the council meeting on the 23rd.
Mayor Meed Ward may well drive to Morrisburg to present the application herself.
With 1500 plus people attending a very inclusive event at the Art Gallery it was not unusual to see city council decide that it too could make a difference and get its inclusivity colours out there.
Councillors Galbraith and Kearns got together to decide they would ask their colleagues to support their decision to put in a “rainbow” crosswalk.
Heck, Hamilton has one – we could do the same thing – and we might even go several steps further.
The city wants to be aboard the emerging focus on the LGTBQ2IS+ community. This year the City raised the Pride flag for the month of June. This fall, the Art Gallery of Burlington’s new exhibit “The Gender Conspiracy” opened. Burlington’s Inclusivity Advisory Committee, at their June 2019 meeting, supported working on Pride events for June 2020 with staff and citizens.
The Regiomal police were one of the first to show their colours.
An area where numerous municipalities are also showing their support for Pride and the LGTBQ2IS+ community is installation of rainbow painted crosswalks at controlled intersections. It is an important public statement of welcome and inclusion that will be available year-round in our City.
In discussions with staff, Galbraith and Kearns felt it was time for the City to initiate a rainbow crosswalk. A staff direction was needed now so that the crosswalk could be painted in the spring in time for Pride 2020. They recommend the following staff direction:
“Direct the Director of Transportation Services to work with Councillor Kelvin Galbraith and the Aldershot Community in determining the most suitable location(s) to install rainbow crosswalks in the City of Burlington in recognition of Pride and inclusivity; and,
That the installation(s) be completed prior to Pride Month 2020.”
Well, they went quite a bit further than that. Director of Transportation Vito Tolone said there was enough money in the budget to put in at least two rainbow crosswalks.
He was given thee task of coming up with a list of all the places a rainbow crosswalk might be suitable. Opposite the Art Gallery is a sure bet.
A four way – all way crosswalk – where all traffic is stopped and the public uses the space for a couple of minutes and then it reverts to traffic. Sharman saw the stripes as being rainbow.
It then became a bit of a contest to see which wards would have the first rainbow crosswalk.
Councillor Sharman blew the debate wide open when he suggested: “Why are we limiting ourselves to just one crosswalk taking people from one side of the street to the other.?”
Sharman suggested the city consider installing a four way – all way rainbow crosswalk. He didn’t get a round of applause for that one – but if this idea has legs you just might see something like that in front of city hall joining it to the two 23+ story condominiums that are going to be in place on the other side of the street in the next four years – by about the end of the term of this council.
During the debate Councillor Kearns read into the record requests for rainbow crosswalk(s), were delivered to her office by local high school students, residents, and in direct conversation with constituents. The purpose is to show visibility and awareness to the ever evolving 2SLGBTQ Rainbow Community.
“On September 6th, I attended as an Ally with over 1500 people at the Art Gallery Burlington for The Gender Conspiracy: An Open Letter to the Trans and Gender Diverse communities. It was an evening of contributing artists & community partners who are supporting a dialogue addressing human rights advocacy.
“The purpose of a rainbow crosswalk here, just like the one presented at the United Nations which has been painted in the rainbow colours associated with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or two spirited movement is a reminder to local and world leaders that the fight for equality continues. This is not a gesture of special rights, it is acknowledging the battles that this community has faced historically around the world. I respect that this is a private matter for many, but it is right to honour those who have fought for rights in society – Harvey Milk, Larry Kramer, Sven Robinson, and the LGB youth who have a 14 times higher risk of suicide than heterosexual counterparts. We have to believe that we are part of ending this legacy and that we believe inclusivity means celebrating people for their accomplishments and merit only.
Councillor Kearns with the kind of side walk crossing lines she would like to see. The first might be in Aldershot.
“This has been a tough staff direction to bring forward. It is bold to open an emotional, objective, personal conversation in a very public forum. I personally have stretched my education, understanding and empathy to be certain that this work is meaningful.
“I know that the optimal location would be in the downtown and I fully support that. But at this time with the onset of construction, there are unintended consequences that will project negatively on this initiative. Councillor Galbraith has stepped up to propose a location on Plains Road on the other side of Wolf Island Bridge – an entrance to Burlington, this signals that individuals are entering a safe & inclusive city.
“Our commitment to inclusivity as a City is strong, it brings us together, it does not divide us.
“We know this by the symbolic raising of our Pride Flag in June, by having Halton Regional Police Service as a recognized leader for its award-winning efforts to reach out to the diverse communities it serves, and by Burlington’s Inclusivity Advisory Committee working towards Pride events for June 2020 with staff and citizens.
“Our commitment to inclusivity as a City is strong. We are making life more welcoming, to creative inclusive space, and to show that love is love.”
As the committee was getting ready to move on to the next item she advised her colleagues that Tuesday was National Suicide Day.
Considering the hectic lives we lead these days, going about your day-to-day work without taking a break can take a toll on your health. This is where the importance of taking a vacation every now and then comes into the picture. And what better way to take some time off than indulging in your favourite casino games!
Although the ideal scenario would be you travelling to some land-based casino resort, spending a few days (and nights!) there and coming back refreshed, if it’s something that you don’t have the inclination or the budget to do, you can always play exciting casino games on your mobile phone too! For instance, these are the best mobile casinos available to Canadian residents.
The Burlington residents on the other hand can try out any of the below detailed land-based gambling options closest to the city. And if you’re in the mood to venture a little farther, here are four of the best land-based casinos in and around Ontario.
The Flamboro Downs is essentially a horse racetrack based out of Dundas, Hamilton. It houses close to 800 OLG slot machines for people wanting to indulge in some exciting gambling. The place is close to 20 minutes’ drive away from Burlington and once you are done gambling, you can admire Hamilton’s popular peak and two scenic waterfalls – Tew’s Falls and Webster’s Falls.
OLG Slots Casino & Campbellville Mohawk Racetrack
Around 30 minutes’ drive from Burlington, OLG Slots Casino & Campbellville Mohawk Racetrack is counted amongst the most visited gambling venues in Canada. You can witness plenty of contests and races happening here on a daily basis, with many bars and restaurants in the vicinity. The casino enthusiasts can play at 912 slot machines installed by OLG Slots at the venue. Who knows, if it’s your lucky day, you might win big like this woman from Ontario.
OLG Slots Casino & Woodbine Racetrack
Situated 59 km and 40 minutes’ drive away from Burlington is the OLG Slots Casino & Woodbine Racetrack, 20 miles west of Toronto. The establishment houses 2500+ slot machines and various other electronic gambling options including Sic Bo, poker, roulette, baccarat and blackjack. The Woodbine racetrack offers bets on Greyhound and horse races, apart from many more.
OLG Casino Brantford
While OLG or Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation owns several different casino facilities in leisure centres across Ontario, it has its own establishment in Brantford known as the OLG Casino Brantford. This casino facility is 56 km and 40 minutes away from Burlington. Spread over an impressive 30,000 ft² area, it offers 540 gaming machines, 59 casino gaming tables, several poker games and an exclusive poker room.
OLG Slots Casino & Elora Grand River Racetrack
Also known as the Grand River OLG Slots, this facility is situated in Wellington’s South Boulder Highway, inside the Grand River racetrack. On offer are a wide range of bingo games, slot machines and live harness racing. You can reach here in 1 hour by car from Burlington, and once here you can also sample a wide range of culinary options around the racetrack.
By Pepper Parr
