 By Pepper Parr
August 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Collin Gribbons, a Burlington resident with significant depth in public transit matters, wrote in to say he “looks forward to the hemming and hawing as most of the current members of Council try to explain this one away.”
 Collin Gribbons Gribbons was commenting on the significant change in Burlington’s position on the MoneySense magazine listing of the best places to live in Canada.
For a number of years Burlington ranked at the very top – then there was a sudden drop from # 1 to # 31 – which is precipitous by any standard.
The “hemming and hawing” Gribbons was expecting came from Kwab Ako-Adjei, Senior Manager Government Relations & Strategic Communications who said: “We are fortunate to have beautiful natural features, rural area, escarpment and lake, but also have created and maintained a livable, thriving city where people and businesses want to be. Out of 415 cities and towns Burlington ranked as the sixth best mid-sized city and fourth best place in Canada in which to retire; Burlington scores very well.
“We also noticed that the new methodology is rewarding growth in mid-size communities, many fast-growing municipalities have jumped to the top of the list.”
Gribbons in his comments to the Gazette did point out that “The rankings were always skewed by things that didn’t really make a city a good place to live. For example, MoneySense awarded points based on how many cars a family had (the more the better), how old they were (under three years = good) and average incomes (higher=better).
“None of these have much to do with the overall quality of life in a city for the average working stiff. Maybe this year they’ve changed their scoring system to put more emphasis on things like walkability (very poor outside of downtown), the availability of transit and City spending on things that actually help people, as opposed to pouring millions into a marina that will serve only 100 or so boaters.
“Perhaps they even took into account the way Council completely ignored anyone who opposed the way developers are taking over city planning.”
The differences of opinion on why the drop in the rankings took place and what they mean could go on forever – Burlington tends to hang on to some issues like an old dog with a bone.
The ranking were editorial fluff from a magazine that wants to grow its readership. We can put this one to rest now.
 By Staff
July 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Oh dear.
The numbers are in for 2018
And Money Sense has done us a dirty.
The ranked Burlington rather poorly.
 Where is Burlington? 
The city has been hyping the high rankings they got previously. It became a mantra the politicians couldn’t stop sharing.
Oakville and Halton Hills ranked better than we did.
The results of the 2018 Canada’s Best Places to Live rank Oakville as not only the best place to live overall, but the best place for New Canadians, the third best place to retire and the fifth best place to raise a family. It’s certainly not the cheapest city in the country, but it has attracted a growing and increasingly diverse population because of its many strong points.
Senior staff in the communications department might choose to wear black arm bands to signify that they are in mourning.
The city has stupidly made great fan fare about a magazine listing.
There really are more important things for the city to focus on
Money Sense magazine has a circulation of 110,000 +
Now everyone knows our sad story.
The Gazette has asked Kwab Ako-Adjei, Senior Manager of Government Relations and Strategic Communications for a comment. We will share that should something come in.
Will the staff bonuses be any less this year? Does anyone at 426 Brant actually get a bonus?
By Staff
July 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Friends of Freeman Station manage to pull rabbits out of a hat more often than Mandrake the Magician.
They report that a “ very generous donor has step forward with a great addition to the station grounds and he is bringing in his own crew to transform the site. They should be on the site in early August.”
 One of the many artistic depictions of the Freeman Station that was once the original Burlington mobility hub – they called them train stations in those day. “Before they can start we need your help getting ready for a major outdoor transformation to the site. We need to move our outdoor storage area and relocate one of the shipping containers. We could really use your help getting ready for a major outdoor transformation to the site. Unfortunately the container must be emptied before we can move it.
“We will be working on this project from 8:30 am to 12 noon on the following days;
 Wednesday August 1st
Friday August 3rd
Saturday August 4
Wednesday August 8th if required
Friday August10th if required
Saturday August 1th, 18th, and 25 will be regular volunteer days.
If you are able to help even for just a few hours please come and help and see what is happening.
 By Pepper Parr
July 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette was able to get some background information on the organizational mess within Sound of Music Festival.
There is that wonderful Paul Newman line in “Cool Hand Luke” that goes: What we have here is a failure to communicate and that is basically what has happened.
At some point the president will come out of his tent, make a statement and things should settle down.
Our conversation was with someone who understands the board and the complexities of the festival business.
They are going to need a few days to let the dust they raised settle down.
Then they can get on with planning the 2019 program – it will be their 40th and they intend to make it the best they have ever done.
We hear too that the several chairs that resigned are re-thinking their position.
Peace love and light goes a long way.
Brian Ellis said in response to a comment from another Gazette reader that: “As a Past President of the S of M Board of Directors during the early years as a ‘not for profit’ organization, I would argue that the board has an obligation to its stakeholders to be as open and transparent as possible.
The volunteers, committee chairs, corporate donors and the citizens of Burlington in this case replace the shareholders of a normal ‘for profit’ company. It appears that the initial decision of the board (along with their subsequent failure to explain their actions) has the volunteers voting with their feet.
 These are the real shareholders – these are the people the Board should be responsible to – if the current board doesn’t understand that – look for a new board. It is the seeming unwillingness of the board to “deal with this internally” that has turned this into a full blown crisis. Pulling the rug over the mess as you seem to be suggesting will do nothing to resolve the situation.
Let’s leave it at that for the time being and give them some time to get their act together.
Salt with Pepper is an opinion column reflecting the thoughts, opinions, observations and musing of the Gazette publisher.
 By Pepper Parr
July 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It started out with an email sent on July 18, 2018, at 4:29 PM, from Peter Martin, president of the Sound of Music Festival who said:
Greetings Everyone.
Let me start off by apologizing profusely for the short notice of the cancellation of tonight’s meeting. This decision was made by the board.
Dave Miller is no longer with the festival.. We as a Board wish Dave the best of luck with his future endeavours.
We will provide further information at a later date.
The email stunned many.
Since then the Gazette has heard from many Sound of Music Festival volunteers; copies of emails have been sent to us.
 The volunteers – the heart and soul of the Sound of Music Festival. Here two check to see that the right vendor is going to set up in the right space. There appear to be two camps: a Board of Directors who are failing to comply with their own bylaws and a large number (estimated to be more than 500) of volunteers who are dedicated to the now fired Executive Director.
Those who have provided email messages have asked us to not identify them at this point in time.
The confusion for the people who actually make the Festival happen is evident in this response to the Peter Martin notice of a meeting cancellation:
This is very unprofessional…
There needs to be a wrap up meeting as per our bylaws when will this be happening?
Can we have a meeting to discuss what will happen in transition towards a new executive director?
Where will the job listing be posted?
We have scheduled meetings coming up with all of our suppliers who will be attending them with me?
Shall I cancel until further notice?
The inventory organization and storage move happening next Wednesday.
Have the vehicles been organized and what time will they be picked up?
I have my committee showing up at 6pm to start organizing who will be there to talk to the sponsors and arrange for the locations to be unlocked?
I would also like to inform you that xxx – redacted, will no longer be continuing with the festival, several members of logistics have heard that Dave has left and have made the choice to leave due to uncertainty of how this change will negatively impact the festival they feel that having a new executive director and operations manager will be too stressful and add a lot of work to their plate.
I am holding a xxxxx meeting this Friday to try and talk to people – is there more information I can pass on about the current situation?
Awaiting your response feedback / comments.
Another volunteer joined the email thread and asked:
 Festival set up crews setting up tents. The funny thing here I have ask myself, who is the BOARD? Is it strange that you are part of an organisation and you don’t even know who the BOARD is – the BOARD!
This feels like a stranger have just walked into your home and separated your family.
I agree we deserve answers. Also where can we read the constitution by which the BOARD operates, is there a constitution; who puts the BOARD in place?
What structure is this organisation following and how is the processes of the BOARD vetted? At the end of the day WHAT IS THE GOAL.
Burlington just might be witnessing the melt down of an organization that has put the city on the map and drawn thousands of visitors to the downtown core.
Volunteers have explained to the Gazette that there are reports that have to be made to granting organizations and sponsors in order to ensure that the Festival can take place in 2019.
 They stream into Spencer Smith Park in the thousands to take in a free concert. At this point the President, Peter Martin and another Board member have installed themselves as the co-executive directors until a new Executive Director can be put in place.
The Gazette has reached out to the President and the Festival Corporate Secretary for comment and answers to a number of questions. We have not heard from either person.
Many of the volunteers fear that the Board is going to choose someone with little or no experience with the Burlington Sound of Music.
It is not too late to save this incredible organization – but they are running out of time.
Dave Miller is taking a much needed break from this mess – he is reported to be taking a vacation that will see him unavailable until about the middle of August.
 By Staff
July 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Fire Department recognized 12 young people, aged 12 to 14, who successfully completed Camp Ignite, a firefighter boot camp, at a graduation ceremony at Burlington Fire Station 1.
 Camp Ignite graduates – 2018 Burlington Fire Chief Dave Lazenby and fire department staff, along with Big Brothers Big Sisters staff, volunteers and families congratulated the campers and celebrated their accomplishments at the department’s first-ever Camp Ignite.
 Rappelling down the wall of a building was part of the week long camp experience. Camp Ignite is a week-long boot camp, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and Hamilton, that gives youth the opportunity to participate in emergency response training while providing them with valuable life skills. Campers experienced a scaled-down firefighter recruit training program, including:
 Handling the fire hoses is not easy. The experience was very real for these young people. • Vehicle rescue training
• High-angle rope rescue training
• Car and dumpster fires training
• Search and rescue training
• Water rescue training
• CPR awareness and first-aid training
This camp was funded by donations provided by Burlington Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 1552 and the City of Burlington’s Parks and Recreation Department.
 By Pepper Parr
July 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
A follow up on that Sound of Music situation.
The Board and the committee chairs are meeting this evening.
What isn’t clear is – which chairs will be in the room?
Some have resigned and the vice chair has not been invited.
There are several chairs who have expressed their disdain, anger, disappointment – they are just royally pissed off – and they haven’t been invited.
There is someone who has been invited – an as yet unnamed mediator who is there to ensure that the meeting doesn’t turn into a punch up.
So far – not a word from anyone on the Board.
Stay tuned.
 With crowds like this – how can you screw things up. Easy end up with Directors who forget what their job is.
By Pepper Parr
July 25th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a lot of buzz, a lot of questions and very few answers on what appears to be a major mess at the Sound of Music Board of Directors level.
The Board recently dismissed Dave Miller as the Executive Director. These things happen,
However, in this situation there hasn’t been a word from the Board and there are a lot of questions from the 500+ volunteers – the people who serve on the 21 committees that make the Festival happen every year.
The Gazette has learned that the board in place now is not elected by the member of the Sound of Music.
More surprising – the Sound of Music doesn’t actually have a membership other than the directors who elect themselves.
 When Walk Off the Earth is on the stage Spencer Smith park is packed. It does have a $2 million dollar budget and consistently wins awards for the quality of the annual event.
In most not for profit corporations the Executive Director attends all the Board meetings – and Miller did attend the Board meetings – but he wasn’t permitted to stay for all of the meeting. He would deliver his report and then be asked to leave.
The Gazette has learned that the music selection, that is the bands that play at the event are not chosen by the Executive Director.
Many have complained about the quality of the bands in the recent past.
We are advised that the Board has hired a company to do the band selection for them in the future and that the company they have hired is owned or operated by a former Board member.
Anywhere else that would be called a conflict of interest.
The city of Burlington gives the Festival a significant grant every year, the province of Ontario also gives a substantial grant. The sponsors come up with an additional $400,000 + each year.
 It is the 500 volunteers that make the Sound of Music actually take place – and right now they are not happy campers. The Gazette has reached out to Peter Martin President of the Sound of Music as well as the Corporate Secretary. No response so far.
The Board appears to have taken the route that less sophisticated corporate officers take; duck, say nothing and hope that it will go away.
When there is a real story it eventually comes out.
The Gazette reached out to the Mayor – no response there either.
We have heard from a number of volunteers who are not happy campers.
We asked several of the candidates for public office and got the following responses:
 Ward 2 candidate Roland Tanner Ward 2 candidate Roland Tanner said: “The Burlington Sound of Music is an independent not-for-profit corporation. As such, its internal staff appointments are not a matter for the City of Burlington and it would be unhelpful for me as a candidate to pass comment on recent changes at this time. I look forward to hearing the Sound of Music’s plans for continued success as they approach their 40th anniversary.”
 Ward 4 candidate Shawna Stolte Ward 5 candidate Shawna Stolte: “As a Ward 4 Candidate I am disturbed about the secrecy and lack of information coming forward from an organization that has received millions of dollars of funding from the taxpayers of Burlington over the past 40 years.
I understand that there is likely legal reasons for not fully disclosing the details of the strife between the Sound of Music Board of Directors and the Executive but I do believe that some explanation is warranted and appropriate.
What disturbs me even more is the apparent lack of transparency and respect given to the hundreds of volunteers that make the Sound of Music Festival the success that it is.
The SOM is the keystone of Burlington’s summer festival season and these volunteers donate thousands of hours of their precious time from their work, family and leisure lives because they believe in the spirit of music and community that the Sound of Music Festival brings to the city. They deserve a better explanation as to what is going on.
The SOM is in crisis and at a crossroads. All organizations go through periods of distress, particularly when senior management are not on the same page, but I’m not convinced that the future of this event that is so critical to the cultural and economic prosperity of our city should be left in the hands of a clearly struggling organization.
 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward is a candidate for Mayor.  Candidate for Mayor Mike Wallace with his recent Order of the Rising Sun medals. Mike Wallace a former member of city council as well as a MP for Burlington said today that: “The Sound of Music festival is an important community event not only for Burlington residents but vital to attracting visitors and building the Burlington brand across Ontario. It is an important part of our culture and our economy.
“As a former board member of the organization, I appreciate the challenges of organizing and managing this fantastic festival with a complex mix of paid and volunteer staff. I welcome the opportunity to help the organization resolve any of the challenges it is facing, in any way I can.”
Ward 2 Councillor and candidate for the office of Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said: “The news was a shock. This must be difficult for everyone involved.
Legitimate questions have been raised around board governance which deserve a response. I encourage the board to be open and transparent with the community, while protecting personal privacy and confidentiality.
I thank Dave Miller and all the volunteers, past and present, who have given generously of their time to make this a great event for our community. We all want the event to be successful.
 Ward 1 city council candidate Vince Fiorito Ward 1 candidate Vince Fiorito said: “Since the SOM festival generates about $10M in local economic activity, attracts tourists, contributes significantly to Burlington’s strategic direction of an “Engaging City” and the City of Burlington (CoB) is a significant source of SOM funding, The City of Burlington is an important SOM stakeholder with an interest in its continued success.
To ensure the SOM festival’s continued success in the future, I recommend:
1) City Council request a seat on the SOM’s governing board (we voluntarily gave it up in 2015)… after the October 22nd municipal election.
2) City Council make an inquiry into the current state of the SOM governance and the festival’s viability going forward. Given the distraction of a looming municipal election, the ideal city councillors to lead this inquiry would be either retiring City Councillors Rick Craven, John Taylor or both.
3) City Councillors leading the inquiry meet individually with former Executive Director David Miller, President Peter Martin and Corporate Secretary Rich Anderson, for their suggestions on how the SOM festival can be improved going forward.
4) City Council send an email or letter to all SOM 2016-2018 volunteers, inviting their feedback and commentary for the purposes of improving the SOM festival going forward.
5) City Council meet “in camera” to discuss their findings and generate a report recommending actions to be taken to ensure the SOM festivals continued success going forward.
6) The city should approach other major SOM sponsors
a) to gauge interest in sharing the cost of an independent review of the SOM’s finances for the purposes of finding efficiencies and savings, going forward.
b) for their support of the CoB’s request to retake a seat on the SOM’s governing board
 Ward 2 city council candidate Lisa Kerns. Lisa Kerns, a candidate for the ward 2 council seat said: “From my perspective, more information concerning the change in leadership at Sound of Music appears to still be coming forward. My interest in this hinges solely on whether City funds were used appropriately or positions of power were abused. I hope the outcome of this change in direction is founded in transparency and respect, more so that the change contributes to enhancing the event.
The Sound of Music festival is a tremendous event for the City of Burlington and Ward 2 alike bringing vibrancy to our great City through culture and entertainment for residents and visitors.”
This is a story that isn’t going to go away.
 Craig Gardner on the left being recognized by Mayor Goldring Several of the volunteers the Gazette has talked to have either resigned from the committees they sit on or will resign in the near future.
Craig Gardner, a two year volunteer pointed out that the Committee chairs have to produce reports – and that those reports have to be submitted and accepted if future funding is to come through.
Gardner added that without the volunteers in place the Festival just couldn’t take place.
 By Staff
July 24th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The city of Burlington is continuing with its public art program and is looking for submissions for Lowville Park and the Appleby Ice Centre.
The mural commission for Lowville Park is $5,000 – design only.
The Appleby Ice Centre commission is $12,500 – design and fabrication/installation)
Applicants must be a resident of Burlington. .
Deadline: Friday, September 14, 2018
 Art work done above the grade separation on King Road. The Local Artist Program is dedicated to telling local stories using local talent. Each year, the City of Burlington public art program commissions local artists to create small to medium-scale artworks throughout the city. This can take a variety of forms including murals, small-scale sculptures and functional artwork such as bike racks and benches. These commissions are open exclusively to artists residing in Burlington, Ont. Free professional development opportunities are available to assist artists with the application process and project development.
The Application Package is available at:
Calls for Artists
By Pepper Parr
July 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Sound of Music is part of the heart of Burlington.
There are some who are uncomfortable with the noise. The SoM works hard to respect the time frames within which they have agreed to operate.
During the weekend they operate the city closes down Brant Street that is then flooded with people enjoying the city at its best.
But there is trouble in paradise.
The Sound of Music Board appears to be politically corrupt.
 Dave Miller, former Executive Director of the Sound of Music. The Gazette was made aware that Executive Director Dave Miller was summarily fired last week.
Shortly after that the Gazette began to hear from the hundreds of volunteers that make the festival the event that it is.
Many were prepared to talk but not on the record.
The Gazette reached out to the President and the Sound of Music Corporate Secretary and asked some questions. There was no response.
We asked Peter Martin, President the following questions:
Would you provide a statement on the organizational status of the Sound of Music.
Is there a replacement for Dave Miller in place?
Who will do the work that Miller has been doing?
Who will conduct the post festival interviews with the 21 committee chairs?
When will you be available for an interview?
We asked Corporate Secretary Rich Anderson the following questions:
Would you confirm that the Sound of Music Festival is incorporated as a non-profit in Ontario.
Would you set out how the by laws define the membership of the organization.
Would you describe the process that puts directors into office each year, that is who actually elects the directors and what are the requirements to serve as a director.
Would you provide me with the date of the last AGM
The Gazette has not had an answer from Martin or Anderson.
What we did get was a letter Tara Hambly, a chair of one of the 21 SoM committees and a former SoM vice president.. It is the volunteer committees that make the Festival the success it is.
The letter, written in September of 2016, was her resignation from the SoM. In a conversation Hambly said: “I am willing to go on record with how it changed back when I was on the board and the VP of the festival.
“I have been in contact with many who just resigned and forwarded my resignation letter from 2 years I have been involved in this Festival for numerous years now and have thoroughly enjoyed my time, however after the events of this past Wednesday I feel as though I am no longer able to continue in my role on the Board.
 When the music is right – Spender Smith park is filled. The music hasn’t been as right as many thought it should be the past few years. “As a Board member you sometimes you do not agree with the results of a motion, however, regardless of the outcome you as a Board member have to support the direction of the Board. I feel I am no longer able to support the decisions that the Board makes and therefore am resigning.
“When I chose to resign it was my decision and therefore, how I resign will also be my decision, not on the pre-written statement provided to me.
“Over the past year there have been specific decision that I am not proud of and feel need to be changed. My regret is that I have not always spoken up on some issues and for others I may have not spoken loud enough.
1. “The Executive Director should, by virtue of their role, be a member of the Board and be a part of all meetings to be able to offer expertise and opinions on any motion. They should not be a voting member, however, they should be there always, in a non-voting capacity. How can you have someone run the day to day dealings of a Festival and ignore their opinion? It is not right. If there are motions that deal with the contract or concerns of the executive director, at that point they can be asked to leave, but not having them there for the rest is detrimental to the organization. Withholding agendas and topics of discussion from the executive director do not allow for the input needed going forward.
 The Spoons on the Sound of Music stage – it doesn’t get better than that. 2. “AGM should be open to ALL. Having an AGM with only 10 directors present who are only concerned with re-electing themselves is not in the best interest of the organization. AGM’s use to be open to the public and notice was put in the paper so anyone could attend. SOM is funded with money from the city, government grants and sponsors. It is run by volunteers. All stakeholders should be able to have a say in who the Board is and who the Executive is. At the very least, the meeting should be open even if not everyone has a vote. Why make it so secretive? People have put their names in to join the Board to be brought to AGM and are then asked to wait outside. Why are they denied the opportunity to speak about their intent to joint the Board? The Board has given itself full power to make changes and decide who they want to join. Unfortunately, with this power comes personal agendas and vindictiveness. People are holding on to grudges from the past and awaiting opportunity to act on them.
3. “Transparency between the Board and Operating committee. Everything is done secretively in Board meetings. The Board has spoken up about concerns with transparency between the executive and the board thinking the executive is hiding information. The Board demands transparency however, refuses to be transparent with the chairs and vice chairs, volunteers who bring so much insight and expertise to the organization. Chairs and Vices have just as much right as the Board to offer opinions and to know everything that is going on. These volunteers devote hundreds, if not thousands, of hours every year to put on the Festival. With so much time devoted they have a right to know what is going on and to have a say.
 They come to listen – and listen they do. 4. “The make-up of the Board. If you are going to have a working Board it should go back to how it was with all Chairs being on the Board. Having some on and others not creates division within the organization. If you do not want a working Board then you have a Board run by completely outside individuals. But if it is a working Board, it should go back to how it was with all Chairs on the Boards and all chairs able to have a say in matters. Walking into operations meetings last year I could feel the tension in the room when the Board entered, especially when we entered late. First of all, I personally apologize for the lateness at times. My time is no more valuable than anyone else’s. Making people wait while a Board meeting is conducted is disrespectful. The Board should have either conducted meetings on separate nights or recessed to join operations at the designated time. Unfortunately, there are Board members who would leave after Board meetings. As a working board you should be aware of the operations of the festival and if not for that reason, attend out of respect to the volunteers giving up their time to follow through on Board motions. If it is to remain a working board, it needs to be a working board, and board members need to work with the volunteers to ensure the success of the festival.
5. “The division in the organization. There is a clear division among the board and operations. In speaking to chairs and vice chairs I personally feel that many do not feel appreciated for their contributions to the festival. Many have asked how you get on the Board and have come to realize that it is much harder than it should be. Anyone should have the opportunity to put in their name and be considered. There is a clear division between the groups as it is not transparent on how one can have a fair chance to get onto the board.
 The weekend event is a family affair. 6. “Conflicts of Interest. If you are financially gaining from your role in the Festival, or as a result of something you did while in your role at the Festival it should be openly disclosed to all so it can be decided if there is a conflict of interest or not. Many volunteers bring expertise to their committees from their work experiences, however, if their Festival involvement results in personal financial gain or employment opportunities, everyone should be made aware of the situation to decide if it is a conflict or not.
“I have enjoyed all my time with the Festival and it was very difficult to come to the decision to walk away from it, however, I know that right now being on the Board would be putting myself into an environment I do not want to be in. There are just too many decisions that I do not support.
“Last week someone told me everyone was replaceable. I agree we all are replaceable, but at what cost? People can be replaced however things will never be the same when they are and it’s not always for the better.
 Still some room for those with a blanket – crowds are fully engaged when the music is right. “I hope that things will change for the better and Sound of Music will once again find the greatness it had and a much warmer, welcoming environment to all, and equal say for all. Transparency to all stake holders is key to achieving this.
“All the best to each and every one of you I hope our paths cross in the future, it has been a pleasure.
“Please consider this my formal resignation, effective immediately.
Tara Hambly
The SoM is a $2 million operation that raises about $440,000 in sponsorship money.
 The many sponsors that make the Festival possible are all listed. Note that the pier in this 2011 picture isn’t visible because there was nothing to see. The city of Burlington funds the organization.
The province of Ontario funds the organization.
The TD Bank is a major sponsor
Tim Hortons is a major sponsor.
The list goes on.
The Burlington Downtown Business Association is one of the sponsors. In a conversation with Brian Dean, Executive Director of the BDBA he said that if there is an issue with the way the SoM Board is operating I will want to take that to my Board and ask for input from them on what the BDBA position with the SoM should be going forward.
One can expect all the sponsors to take a second look at just what it is they are sponsoring.
By Staff
July 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Former Conservative MP and Burlington mayoral candidate Mike Wallace has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese Embassy in Canada.
 Mike Wallace with Japan’s Order of The Rising Sun Award July 2018. This is a very significant award. The award puts him among 140 foreign nationals named earlier this year to the award of civil and military merit. The Ontario MP represented Burlington from 2006 to 2015 and is now running for mayor of the city in this October’s municipal race. He was previously elected four times to the Burlington city council before entering federal politics. Wallace was presented the award in a private ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa.
When Japanese Ambassador to Canada Kimihiro Ishikane presented the medals in July, Wallace had a strong cheering squad, with his wife Caroline, parents, sister and former staff all at the ambassador’s Rockcliffe Park residence.
“I am deeply honoured by this award,” Wallace said. “It is the Japanese version of Canada’s Order of Canada.”
Wallace’s fellow award 2018 award winners include former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S senators Robert Corker and John McCain, among others.
Wallace “contributed to promoting parliamentary relations and friendship between Japan and Canada,” as an MP and former co-chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, the 2018 medal list document said.
He was named co-chair of the group in 2011 after serving on the group’s executive five years before that. At the time he said he wanted Canada to pursue an active diplomatic relationship with Japan.
Japan was especially grateful for the leadership Wallace demonstrated in coordinating Canada’s response to the 2015 Fukishima disaster.
 Burlington’s Chain of Office, worn by the Mayor when he chairs council meetings and at Official events. “I want to follow our community’s lead in solidifying both economic and cultural ties with Japan as we have done locally with our sister city, Itabashi, Japan,” he said.
The Order of the Rising Sun outranks the Burlington Chain of Office. Would Wallace wear both – assuming he wins the election.
By Pepper Parr
July 23rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Generals sometimes haven’t a clue as to what is going on within the ranks.
And it is those in the ranks, in the trenches that make the Sound of Music Festival work.
And those people are very angry and anxious about what is happening to an organization they are passionate about.
There are 21 different committees that work to make the event happen each year.
 Brant Street getting ready for the Sound of Music. One of the key committees was scheduled to meet last Wednesday to wrap up the 2018 festival. Each committee chair is obliged to present a report about their festival experience – what worked well, what didn’t, areas to focus on for next year.
The comments the Gazette is getting include:
“It helps us to plan for next year. We received a message indicating the meeting was cancelled with no further information provided until Peter Martin sent a message stating Dave was no longer with the festival and that the Board had cancelled the meeting.
“We have demanded a meeting to understand why this happened and to present our reports. The board has no idea what half the committees do. For some, it’s their first year on the board. We also want answers as we reported to Dave and have no issues with him or his leadership.
“As many of us have resigned in protest (with no comment from the board), Peter only wants to have the current chairs at the meeting. Our operations rules state outgoing chairs have a duty to present their report. I would like that opportunity. I would also like to know why Dave Miller was fired because I believe it is a two or three year witch hunt come to fruition.
“It says so much about Dave’s leadership that many, many long-standing volunteers have resigned. It also speaks volumes about Peter Martin’s lack of leadership that it has been almost a week and nothing has been said about his dismissal to the people who worked the most closely with him. He is selectively reaching out to certain volunteers and ignoring others because he does not understand nor value the people who gave their time and effort to building the festival.”
The people who have commented have asked that their names not be used at this time. Several want to speak publicly but are waiting until scheduled meetings take place.
The Gazette has reached out to the president Peter Martin and the Corporate Secretary Rich Anderson.
There has been no response yet.
City council is basically on vacation until early September. The Gazette has asked the Mayor’s office for some comment. Nothing so far.
By Pepper Parr
July 23, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The sudden and very unexpected firing of Dave Miller as the Executive Director of the Sound of Music Festival could have serious ramifications for the city if some announcements are not made soon
The Festival is basically a volunteer operation with just four paid staff members running a $2 million dollar operation.
Peter Martin, president of the Sound of Music has not made a public statement.
The chairs of the various committees that do the work are upset and ready to make comments on their own, however everyone the Gazette has talked to have asked that their names not be used at this point.
When the music is good the crowds are great – so what happened? One committee chair has said that “Peter Martin is only selectively replying to requests for information.” This committee chair said: “ I sincerely hope that if he takes on this co-executive director position that he does not draw a salary as that would he a further conflict of interest for him.”
The Festival has 21 committee chairs that make the Festival work.
People directly involved in the organization point out that the Festival gets something in the order of $400,000 in grants annually and that the Sound of Music has to submit reports on what they did with the grant money in order to qualify for future grants.
With the chairs as upset as they are there is some doubt in the minds of many that it might not be possible to hold a Festival in 2019.
Festivals are big business for the communities that hold them – and they are competitive. Burlington has been a leader in the Festival business for a number of years and has worked to expand the size of the event. City council has not been as keen as the Festival leadership on growing the business.
One person told the Gazette that Miller was let go with no explanation to the membership and that there does not appear to be a replacement in the wings.
Dave Miller, former Executive Director of Sound of Music. Miller is at this point negotiating a severance package.
The people who do the volunteering are a dedicated bunch. Some use their vacation time to work the festival; there is a group that take a room at the Waterfront Hotel and sleep five to six people in the room they rent while they work the Festival.
There is the story of the volunteer who put in 140 hours over a 12 day period.
The Board in place now has four new members that are reported to have little in the way of Festival experience.
The current Board of Directors is made up of:
Peter Martin – President; Peter Van Dyk – Vice President; Scott Newport – Treasurer; Rich Anderson – Corporate Secretary, Andy Porecki – Director; Ashlee Sorochan – Director; Cyrus Jeejeebhoy – Director; Karen Loranger – Director and Pat Leyland – Director.
The Gazette asked one committee chair who elects the Board of Directors? The response was – “I don’t know.”
 Crowds were on the thin side during the ticketed events held during a Kick Off weekend. The Sound of Music Festival is a non-profit organization and has a set of bylaws that sets out who can be a member of the organization and who gets to vote.
The Executive Director of a non-profit cannot be a member of the Board. An Executive Director is appointed by the Board to run the organization.
 The Sound of Music is constantly looking for new revenue sources – Sweet Seats was part of an initiative to generate more revenue. The regulations that set out what a non-profit can do are quite different than the rules that apply to a corporation. The biggest difference is that a non-profit does not have any equity – no one can participate in the distribution of profits. There are no shareholders – just members.
None of the volunteers the Gazette spoke to could say just who the members are.
By Staff
July 23, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Mall is undergoing a major rejuvenation and upgrade – is a world wide brand going to be part of that re-branding?
Miniso is a discount store that started in Tokyo and is beginning to open the North American retail sector. Burlington appears to be its next location.
 A brand that is planning on 6000 locations in North America – expected to open at the Burlington Mall in the fall. Miniso, positioned as a Japanese lifestyle brand is part Chinese variety retailer, part discount store that could give other low cost variety stores more than a run for their money.
They already have stores in downtown Toronto at the Eaton Centre and at Bramalea City Centre, Square One and Erin Mills Town Centre. A store is expected at Oakville Place.
The stores are known for selling low price but high quality products, including cosmetics, accessories, stationery, electronics accessories, home decor, kitchenware, and snacks.
According to the brand’s website, the brand launches new products every seven days; shoppers are not likely to get bored.
 Packed with low cost – high quality goods the Miniso brand will keep the shopping crowd busy. An opening date has not yet been announced, the Burlington Mall is planning on an official opening of the refurbished mall and the announcement of five new restaurants and a number of new tenents.
The company was founded in 2011 by Japanese designer Junya Miyake and Chinese entrepreneur Ye Guofu, the company is headquartered in Guangzhou, China. In 2016, the company’s sales revenue reached $1.5 billion, up from $769.9 million one year previous.
Miniso has expanded outside of the Chinese market and operates 1,800 stores in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America. It plans to eventually open 6,000 stores worldwide.
By Pepper Parr
July 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Is there trouble at the Sound of Music?
Dave Miller The Gazette has been told by a source that has asked for full anonymity on the information that
Dave Miller , Executive Director of Burlington Sound of Music Festival, was fired by his board at a special meeting last night.
Our source adds that there are several other volunteer resignations as a result.
Miller has been the Executive Director for more than a decade.
The Gazette is following up on this story. Most of the people we have reached out to have gone to ground.
Update
The Gazette has been able to confirm that the Sound of Music Board parted ways with Dave Miller last night.
He said he also believed that several of the senior volunteers also left the organization.
In a comment during our short discussion Miller said that he wasn’t able to say much at this point in time but would have something to say in the future – and added that the future wasn’t going to be sometime next week.
Sound of Music – an award winning event that draws thousand into the city is reported to have fired their Executive Director.
 By Staff
July 18, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s time to put on a happy face and enjoy an evening of fun watching young people put on a performance.
It is young people acting in some cases for the first time – and they are good.
 They are guided and directed by the KooGle theatre people for a weekend of performances.
KooGle Theatre Company’s Youth Production of BYE BYE BIRDIE opens this Saturday, July 21
…Set in the late 1950’s, this irresistibly fun musical tells the story of a Rock ‘n Roll teen heartthrob recently drafted into the army who is about to give one last performance on the Ed Sullivan Show ~ which will make the town of Sweet Apple, Ohio ~ all shook up!
July 21
1:30pm and 6:30pm
July 22
1:30pm
Theatre Burlington, 2311 New St.
All tickets are $10 and are
General Admission Seating
To reserve your tickets, please call
905-633-8788 or email info@koogletheatre.com
 By Staff
July 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There are times when the city slogan – Burlington is one of Canada’s best and most livable cities, a place where people, nature and business thrive., makes sense and actually applies to the city of Burlington.
 They packed the Mainway arena to talk about how Burlington could best welcome Syrians to the city. Back in December of 2015 the Mayor of Burlington called a public meeting public meeting on Syrian refugees to gauge what there was in terms of community support. Many were surprised at the size of the turnout – Mainway Arena was close to packed.
 The turnout was impressive. Eleeza at the time a 10 year old, stood to tell the audience that she was raising funds to buys toys for the children who were arriving at the airport. People began putting money in her hands.
Burlington was capable and more than ready to welcome the new comers.
Just over a year ago Rory Nisan arrange for a candle light vigil to be held in Civic Square to recognize the senseless slaughter of six people at a mosque in Quebec city.
The idea took on a life of its own and is now an annual event when different faith groups get together and celebrate what they have.
ONE BURLINGTON FESTIVAL: Building Bridges Between Faiths
The event is to take place in front of the Band shell next to Central Library on August 6 from noon – 4 p.m. In the event of rain, the festival will be moved inside Central Arena.
“I am excited for this Festival and have been meeting with Muslim friends from the mosque, Hindu and Jewish groups and a variety of Christian leaders – and we will be able to learn about different faiths and cultures while sampling many different ethnic foods,” said Rev. Orville James, minister of Wellington Square United Church.
 Osob Adus, Burlington Citizen of the Year and well-known community activist, said the festival is a way of knowing and embracing the beauty of all faith traditions and creating bridges between them.
“Mutual understanding and respect are the foundations for building communities across the borders of difference,” said Adus, a Muslim.
Now in its second year, One Burlington Festival was initially held as a response to the Quebec City mosque mass shooting that occurred the evening of January 29, 2017 at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City.
This year, the festival will open with an Interfaith prayer led by five clergy representing different faiths. An Indigenous smudging ceremony will follow.
Throughout the afternoon, along with free food, entertainment from different cultures will be featured. Performers include local singer-song writer Kim Verrall and violinist Sophie Huang; the Burlington Slam Poets who are celebrating their 10th anniversary; First Nations performer Jimmy Dick and his family and dance groups from the Sikh, Persian and Afro-Canadian communities.
 Children’s activities and games include compiling a faith passport for which every child will earn an ecologically-friendly prize.
The ecological theme of this year’s festival focuses on building an understanding of the connections between faith and ecology. Everything from Eco-dinnerware to a green clean-up team are embedded in this year’s event.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Joelle Goddard-Cooling said it all – “I can see that the writing is on the wall” – Brant Street is going to have at least two tall buildings opposite city hall.
Despite strong arguments for something significantly different, Ward 2 city Councillor and candidate for Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, city council voted 5-2 to approve the Staff Recommendation for a 17 storey building with an additional floor with amenities
 Joelle’s on Brant Cooling, in a letter to members of Council said she and her husband operate a business on Brant Street and are “bracing ourselves for years of construction, noise, traffic interruption, mess, parking issues, loss of business. With my resident hat on, I have spoken to many of my friends and neighbours downtown and concern is very real – I hear that “this is not why we moved here” a lot.
“That being said, we have chosen to do business here and have had continued growth in our business for twenty two years this September. We landed at 457 Brant Street after three previous moves, at that time there were very few businesses surrounding us. We have been given credit for encouraging some of the revival we saw happening on Brant Street over 15 years ago. In fact, I personally was presented with a Queen’s Jubilee Award for my encouragement, mentoring, BDBA volunteering and genuine marketing and promotion for the downtown. We have watched businesses come and go, developers assemble parcels and leave unsightly empty spaces and we have also watched businesses come and thrive.
 Centre Market tucked in a parking lot for Sunday only operations – gives the core a level of civility other parts of the city just don’t have. “Development on Brant will definitely displace some of the anchor, destination businesses – ones that have created like minded environments for our longtime customers and who support downtown through lease hold improvements, street beautification and branding and marketing. A shining example is the Centro market every Sunday which suits the customer we are all trying to attract and which provides and amazing sense of community for the local residents.
“This is a lot of work for the organizers and volunteers and it is not a money making opportunity for Centro but a genuine community benefit. I have spoken to numerous other business owners who have shared their thoughts with me. Some have a good relationship with their property owner and are actively contemplating relocation. Others with a deep history confessed their worry with options of retirement, bankruptcy, and the challenges & uncertainty through the construction years.
“Those new to the retail area have hedged their bets on our amazing downtown and I can’t answer their questions on if Brant Street will be down to one lane through the construction? What types of retail can we look forward to once these building are erected? It seems that it has been difficult to fill this type of space over at Pearl and Pine.
Will there be many small spaces for (higher than now) rent in the future? What stipulations are being put into place to ensure that what goes in has value to all of the new residents and helps to build a sustainable downtown – the one that is visioned?
“Will we have additional police presence, garbage and street cleanup and snow removal? Will city staff, the developers, the BDBA, Economic Development and the residents be able to work together to address all of these issues and concerns? We have loading zone issues and parking struggles now. These are all priorities to businesses new, old and to come.
 Keeping it all there is the challenge. “What can we do now to set up the downtown for success in the future? Discussions with Brian Dean recommend that you endorse a retail study by the BEDC, with the support of BDBA that takes a true and very hard look at current and future retail trends downtown.
“This is mandatory as a tool to guide redevelopment. It will outline the need to retain successful businesses, adapt the size of commercial units to meet the needs of small business, help existing and future business understand the impact of demographics and spending habits of the next generation of downtown residents. It will guide and help the BDBA in partnership with commercial developers better merchandise and recruit meaningful and sustainable businesses that will help to optimize our commercial mix.
“I will go one step further and ask that you consult with the retail, service and hospitality experts that already exist downtown who are very aware of who their customer is and what is needed to flourish. Value in this study is through internal resources – we are at a critical point where the people that live this every day need to have their retail experience leveraged. We would welcome this opportunity.
To recap, here are some of the concerns we hope can be addressed:
Transition planning and support for the current tenants – relocation, assistance through construction street closures – giving this business value and seeking their input
Sidewalk closures – we need the sidewalks open, this construction will create a dead retail space from the Elgin Promenade to Centro if not kept as a pedestrian through way on both sides of the street
Parking lane closures cannot happen, parking is a huge issue now and during construction
What is the traffic flow plan? The traffic study was highly defended last Tuesday night but people are not buying it. We need confidence in a plan here.
Loading zones – how do we attract businesses that will sustain a walkable community without these?
Cleanliness, Beautification and Pollution. Our streetscape has been neglected for years while undergoing the streetscape study, now with the development we are told to wait until the development is done to fix the sidewalks. We have been the closest to the development of the Berkley – what will be done to keep Brant Street enjoyable under the unavoidable noise, congestion, construction materials, detours etc pollution?
How is the coordination of TWO tall buildings AND a hydro burying project on James going to be managed by the City?
To maintain some beauty in the area, empty storefronts need to be addressed. How about working with the property owners and developers to utilize space in a positive way – ie pop ups, creative art installations, a unified expectation of maintenance and appearance, pest control, co-operation with the BDBA for improved window coverings or branding? What can we expect here?
General Safety of the area is a concern, we know the City works hard to keep us safe, we did experience a gas line problem at the John & Caroline site and it was scary. We need a sense of protection for emergency management – ie power failure, gas lines, water table issues
Vibrancy? Will the developments be built in a way that will accommodate rooftop or first floor restaurants? Will there be attention made to create the charm and character desired by the residents at the first floor level? Will the public space be useful – what will be happening here in the open area(s) that isn’t happening in the Elgin Promenade or City Hall open area(s)?
 Joelle Goddard Cooling “We have talked heard the phrase win-win the past few weeks. Residents, business owners and everyone who cares wants to be involved. I truly hope that beyond the mandated development this council put value in what exists here now and has been here in the past.”
 By Staff
July 16th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 It was getting discouraging. The home team could always be found at the bottom of the standings.
Why were the results so dismal?
Then, from almost out of nowhere, the Burlington Herd come pounding back and beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 for their second win in a row.
The Herd got the win, their first at Christie Pits this season, just 24 hours after thumping the first-place Kitchener Panthers 11-4 to improve their record to 9-17.
 Say that again – The Herd beat the first place team with a resounding 11-4 win.
So why are they in the bottom of the league?
Maybe things have begun to turn around for the team?
Or maybe it was the threat of moving the team to Welland that inspired the players.
Related news story:
Herd president investigates what Welland Stadium has to offer.
By Pepper Parr
July 13th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
A candidate for one of the city council seats sent us a proposal that had come to his attention via ECoB: Engaged Citizens of Burlington that he felt council should consider.
The proposal is to use some of the community benefit money that would be a part of the process if the 409 project proceeds to move the Kelly’s Bake Shop from its current Brant street location to an empty city lot at John and Caroline, allowing Kelly’s Bake Shoppe to remain in the downtown core.
 Kelly’s Bake Shop has become a destination for many. A condo development threatens the existence of the buisness. While the sentiment is nice – this idea is fraught with problems.
First, John Street north of Caroline is not actually a street – it is a lane way and there might be issues over what can be built on a lane way.
Second, City Manager James Ridge brought to council’s attention that any rental the city might do would have to be at market rates – the Municipal Act requires him to do that.
Third, should the city be in the business of favouring a specific commercial operation? This is not the purpose of municipal governments. It opens the door for all kinds of cronyism – and if Ridge is against anything, his stomach would turn if he saw that happening on his watch.
The desire to do something for the cupcake store is based on an emotional concern – that’s not what city hall is about.
 Kelly Child’s is a very talented marketer – trying to convince a city to give her special treatment. It is the Gazette’s understanding that Kelly Child’s has yet to meet with the Economic Development Corporation; that organization is in place to work with commercial operations that need help.
What Kelly Child’s has done is play the “crying in public” card for sympathy and support. This is a business situation and we are talking about public money – be very careful.
The candidate said he has “spoken to Kelly Childs and confirmed that this is a proposal she would be happy to consider.”
I’ll bet she would be happy to consider the proposal.
The candidate, who we have deliberately not identified; (we don’t want to embarrass him any more than he has embarrassed himself by promoting a totally cock-a-mammy idea), said he “believes this is an excellent and inventive idea worthy of full and urgent examination by Council and Staff, and I will be supporting that examination.
 John Street at Caroline looking south – a proposed new location for Kelly’s Bake Shop. The building on the property has been demolished “Kelly’s Bake Shoppe is a Burlington success story that may become a Canada-wide and international success story. Burlington should do everything it can both to protect the heritage property and recognise the tenant’s special contribution to the downtown.
“I believe that this is a proposal well worth getting out to your readers today.”
Hmmm … is this what we want on city council?
Salt with Pepper is a column reflecting the opinions, views, observations and musings of the Gazette publisher.
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