 By Staff
December 31st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is said that “80% of human experience is filtered through the eyes”. The choice of a colour used is then critical.
But who makes that choice?
The Pantone Color Institute helps companies make the most informed decisions about color for their brands or products. Whether it is color trend forecasting, brand color development, custom color solutions, or product palette selection, the Pantone Color Institute guides their clients through the development of a color strategy.
They also make a pronouncement on what the colour for a year is going to be – and the trend makers tend to follow.
The Color of the Year 2018 is a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.
Expect to see a lot of it – we were having lunch at the Tin Cup on Friday and sitting at a long table with at least 30 boys celebrating a hockey event was a Mother with purple hair.
 Pantone maintains that their 2018 purple alludes to the mysteries of the cosmos and the unknown. Not sure the Mother had an “unknown” look about her – more one of being frazzled trying to cope with the boys who all needed to talk at the same time – loudly.
Laurie Pressman, vice-president of the Pantone Colour Institute, said: “The Pantone colour of the year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.”
 By Staff
December 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Promoting a Comedy Festival seems like a good way to close out the year.
The Burlington Downtown Business Association (BDBA), in partnership with the Kitchener-Waterloo Comedy Festival and The Water Street Cooker are putting on the 3rd Annual Burlington Comedy Festival.
The three-day kicks off on Family Day: Monday February 19th, 2018.
Featuring over twelve comedians and variety performers at two venues tailor made for live stand-up: The Burlington Performing Arts Centre and the Water Street Cooker (2084 Old Lakeshore Road)
The 3rd annual Burlington Comedy Festival, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, commences with a Family Variety Show. This show is suitable for all ages and features award winning, international circus artists. Including a Portuguese Clown who is one of the judges on Portugal’s Got Talent, a Magician who has performed in Las Vegas and a Juggling and Acrobatic Duo who will be coming direct from China.
The show runs approximately 80 minutes, Family Day: Monday February 19th, 2018, with no intermission. Seating is general admission. Tickets are $15.00 and show time is 3:00 p.m. at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
That same evening the “Best of the Fest” (tickets are $49.00) at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 8 p.m. start time. The seven comic lineup is headlined by comedian/actor Kevin Pollak, “The Kids in the Hall” alumnus Scott Thompson, and Canadian writer/actor Jon Dore.
The Festival concludes with two performances at The Water Street Cooker: Tuesday February 20th and Wednesday February 21st. Featuring “up close and personal” comedy (and a variety act) starting at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.
This includes admission to the reserved seating area and $25 for dinner at Emma’s Back Porch. A $54.00 package!
The material is not censored and intended for a mature audience. Seating is general admission, no recordings are permitted.
For a full list of complete acts and to buy tickets
Brian Dean, Executive Director, Burlington Downtown Business Association wants to make the experience of live comedy against the backdrop of Lake Ontario an annual tradition.
 By Pepper Parr
December 26th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Let us not rush back into the real world quite yet.
Christmas was festive, fun, and family – the day after has become a holiday with a quaint tradition that is celebrated in the Commonwealth countries that reflects the class tradition of the times.
The first mention of Boxing Day as a tradition is believed to be in 1830. It was the day that the Upper classes gave a “box” to people like post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds.
It was a present, a gratuity given at Christmas to people who had provided a service. In Great Britain the custom for tradesmen to collect “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. The tradition goes back as far as December 1663.
 It was a different time, a different era when class differences defined everything. The Boxing Day tradition came out of that era. The tradition was linked to an older British tradition – servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.
In South Africa as recently as the 1980s, milkmen and garbage collectors, who normally had little if any interaction with those they served, were accustomed to knock on their doors asking for a “Christmas box”, being a small cash donation, in the week or so before and after Christmas.
The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in areas of worship to collect donations to the poor.
Boxing Day became a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. 26 December is also St. Stephen’s Day, a religious holiday.
In the UK, Boxing Day is a bank holiday
In Scotland, Boxing Day has been specified as an additional bank holiday since 1974In Ireland – when the island as a whole was part of the United Kingdom – the Bank Holidays Act 1871 established the feast day of St. Stephen as a non-movable public holiday on 26 December. Following partition in 1920, Northern Ireland reverted to the British name, Boxing Day.
In Australia, Boxing Day is a federal public holiday. The Australian state of South Australia instead observes a public holiday known as Proclamation Day on the first weekday after Christmas Day or the Christmas Day holiday.
In New Zealand, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday; penalty rates and lieu time are provided to employees who work on Boxing Day.
In Canada, Boxing Day is a federal statutory holiday. Government offices, banks and post offices/delivery are closed. In some Canadian provinces, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday that is always celebrated on 26 December. In Canadian provinces where Boxing Day was a statutory holiday, and it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, compensation days are given in the following week.
In the United States, 26 December is not observed as “Boxing Day”.
The tradition has become a massive sales push that has people lining up outside large chain store operations as early as 5 am waiting for huge discounts, usually on electronic items that are positioned as loss leaders to attract customers.
 Boxing day at the Eaton Centre – packed. The CTV television network reports that in 2010 Boxing Day sales totaled $1.8 billion. The tradition has become a shopping holiday that has become Boxing Week
Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer door buster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long queues to form early in the morning of 26 December, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at big-box consumer electronics retailers.
In recent years, retailers have expanded deals to “Boxing Week”. While Boxing Day is 26 December, many retailers will run the sales for several days before or after 26 December, often up to New Year’s Eve. Notably, in the recession of late 2008, a record number of retailers were holding early promotions due to a weak economy. Canada’s Boxing Day has often been compared with the American Super Saturday (the Saturday before Christmas) and Black Friday.
From 2009 onward Black Friday deals become more prominent among Canadian retailers to discourage shoppers from crossing the border to the USA when the Canadian and USA dollars was close to parity, and this has lessened the appeal of Boxing Day in Canada somewhat as it was overtaken by Black Friday in terms of sales in 2013.
Boxing Day is not and has never been a shopping holiday in the USA.
In some parts of Canada, particularly in Atlantic Canada and parts of Northern Ontario, most retailers are prohibited from opening on Boxing Day, either by provincial law or by municipal bylaw, or instead by informal agreement among major retailers to provide a day of relaxation following Christmas Day.
A tradition that came out of a social class based society has evolved into a week-long shopping spree.
It isn’t just about shopping; sports events have become major Boxing Day events.
 Major European leagues may enjoy a winter break when players can put their feet up over the festive period. But it’s all go in the Premier and Football Leagues. And that means plenty of action for armchair soccer fans. In the United Kingdom, it is traditional for both top-tier football leagues in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the lower ones, as well as the rugby leagues, to hold a full programme of football and rugby union matches on Boxing Day.
Originally, matches on Boxing Day were played against local rivals to avoid teams and their fans having to travel a long distance to an away game on the day after Christmas Day.
This is probably much more than you wanted to know about the holiday we celebrate today.
Taken during a Burlington Santa Claus parade – it expresses what we believe the season is really all about. The fundamentals of our society are based on that message.
 By Staff
December 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Five-year old Damian De Freitas and his family joined Burlington Fire Chief Lazenby and the firefighters at Headquarters for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Fire Department. This wasn’t a quickie tour – Damien was the winner of Family Fire Escape Plan Contest which made an Honourary Fire Chief.
 Damian De Freitas seems to like the Fire Chief’s office – and the hat fits. “Damian was so excited when he found out he won the home escape plan contest. The Burlington Fire Department was so wonderful. Our family really enjoyed the tour, information and gifts we received—all with a personal touch. ”
The City of Burlington Fire Department recently hosted Chief-for-a-Day family fire escape plan winner, Damian De Freitas, at Fire Headquarters.
The Burlington Fire Department held a contest for all Burlington students to create and submit a fire escape plan to help children learn the importance of family escape planning. The fire escape plan from five-year-old De Freitas was randomly selected from the entries received in October for Fire Prevention Week.
De Freitas was given his own set of firefighter bunker gear. He and his mother Katelyn, father Kevin and sister Claire were invited to tour Burlington Fire Headquarters at Station No. 1 with Fire Chief Dave Lazenby.
The station tour included:
 Damien being shown the ropes by several of the fire fighters. • The fire training classroom
• Chief Lazenby’s office
• The Burlington Fire Department boardroom
• Simulation Command Post training room and truck
• Halton Emergency Services dispatch
• Burlington fire trucks, equipment and tools
• Pizza lunch with the Station 1 fire crew.
Lazenby had explained to the participants in the contest that a fire can double in size. That is why having a home fire escape plan is one of the most important things you can do for your family. Draw a map of your home with all members of your household. Be sure to include every level and room as well as stairways and hallways. Practice your plan twice a year, once at night and once during the day using different ways out.
 Honourary Fire Chief shares lunch with the fire fighters while his parents look on. Damien’s Mom, Katelyn De Freitas, said “He was so excited when he found out he won the home escape plan contest, he will be sleeping in his Fire suit tonight
 By Staff
December 23rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s a day Jamie Leslie isn’t likely to forget.
She was at Kelso/Glen Eden with her Dad, Dave day on Friday when she was declared the one millionth visitor in 2017 to a Conservation Halton location.
The visits number includes those who have enjoyed recreational programs and services at Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso / Glen Eden, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg, Rattlesnake Point and Robert Edmondson.
The Conservation people have been working towards that millionth visitor number for some time. Chief Administrative Officer Hassaan Basit and Director of Parks and Recreation Gene Matthews made the target number a must for the year.
 Georgetown resident Jayme Leslie was the one millionth visit to a Conservation Halton location. Jayme, a Georgetown resident, received a gift package which will give her and her family the opportunity to keep enjoying our parks in 2018 and beyond. The package included a Glen Eden Season pass for 2018-19, a Halton Parks Membership for one year, merchandise and maple syrup from Mountsberg.
Basit, who is intense, but not the kind of guy that goes over the top with his comments. On this occasion however he got excited and said: “As we approach the end of the year it is fantastic to be able to celebrate a milestone like one million visits and we would like to thank everyone who came to enjoy our beautiful conservation areas.”
Visitation at Conservation Halton’s conservation areas has grown steadily over the past few years. In 2013, visits went over the 800,000 level, and last year almost reached 1,000,000. During that time period, the number of visits to Hilton Falls, Mount Nemo and Rattlesnake Point has more than doubled as people are enjoying the scenic views from those parks which are each along the iconic Niagara Escarpment and other activities like hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing.
 By Staff
December 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The folks at the head office of Conservation Halton on Britannia Road are excited – they are poised to reach the milestone of one million visits to its Conservation Areas in a calendar year for the first time in its history.
 The view from Mt. Nemo The visits number includes those who have enjoyed recreational programs and services at Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso / Glen Eden, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg, Rattlesnake Point and Robert Edmondson.
The one millionth visit is expected to take place this week and a celebration will be held this Friday, December 22 at 11 a.m. at Glen Eden. Ontario’s third busiest ski facility will serve as a backdrop for this milestone; Glen Eden is also opening for the 2017-18 ski and snowboard season the day before.
 Chief Administrative Officer Hassaan Basit has driven the growth of Conservation Halton – 1 millionth visitor expected this week Conservation Halton operates seven primary conservation areas – Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso / Glen Eden, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg, Rattlesnake Point and Robert Edmondson. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational programs – birding, boating, camping, cross country skiing, dog walking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and swimming.
 By Staff
December 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has several organizations that operates at arm’s length from city hall. The Art Gallery, the Performing Arts Centre and the Museums. Add the public library to that list.
Those organizations don’t have publicly elected leadership but they do have leadership drawn from the community.
 A good animated conversation. They happen often at the Art Gallery. Some are better than others in looking to the community in a very public manner for their leadership.
The Art Gallery (AGB) said in a recent statement that they “ have a strong desire to represent our community, and so we are seeking community leaders who have an interest in becoming involved at the gallery. “
“The Board of Directors and various committees at the AGB provide high-level guidance, counsel, and support to the organization.
The AGB is holding an Open House & Information Session, January 9th at 7 pm at the Art Gallery. If you plan to attend let to Alya Shah know email alya@agb.life
The current Board members are:
Tim Caddigan, Chair
Brenda Bowlby, Vice Chair
Jim Commerford, Vice Chair
Paul MacDiarmid, Treasurer
Tom Evans, Secretary
Sandra Edrupt, Past Chair
Ted Bossence
Greg Henderson
Paul Subject
Blair Lancaster, City of Burlington Representative
Bob Pring
Allan Ramsay
Roxanne Field
The AGB Board has two members from the Art Gallery of Burlington Foundation. They are:
Robert Redhead Chair & Secretary, AGBF
Kenna Danyliw, Vice Chair AGBF
Holiday Season events and program at the AGB
Open December 24, 10am – 3
pm
Closed December 25 & 26
Open December 27, 28, 29 & 30, 10am – 5pm
Open December 31, 10am – 3
pm
Closed January 1, 2018
AGB Shop Holiday Hours
Closed December 24, 25, 26 & 31
Open December 27, 28, 29 & 30, 10am – 5pm
Closed January 1 + 8 & 9 for inventory
FAMILY HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIO
DEC 23 & 30, 1 – 4 PM – ALL AGES (FREE ADMISSION)
Everyone is invited to the AGB’s FREE drop-in art studio for some creative holiday fun! Our artist instructors offer ideas as sources of inspiration and encourage visitors to engage in art and craft making. Children must be accompanied by parents or adult caregivers.
FAMILY HOLIDAY ART BREAK
DEC 27 & JAN 2, 1 – 3 PM
An opportunity for parents, grandparents, guardians and young people to share in some creative time. Our instructor will lead you through the current exhibition for inspiration then guide you through an art making workshop to create a memento of your visit.
CREATIVE HANDS HOLIDAY PROGRAM
DEC 28 & 29, JAN 3, 4, 5, 1 – 3 PM (AGES: 5 – 12)
An afternoon break for parents – no adults allowed at this 2 hour session where we will explore a variety of mediums as we get crafty. Bring your imagination!
 MP Karina Gould, on the right with a couple at a New Year’s Levee. NEW YEAR’S LEVEE
JAN 7 , 1 – 4 PM – ALL ARE WELCOME (FREE ADMISSION)
All Burlington residents are invited to the third annual New Year’s Levee co-hosted by MPP Eleanor McMahon and MP Karina Gould. Enjoy free access to the gallery including demonstrations and hands-on activities. Light refreshments will be served. No RSVP required. We will be collecting non-perishable food items for the local food banks.
Related news story:
 By Staff
December 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Glen Eden is preparing for its best opening week conditions in recent memory!
Cold December temperatures have allowed Glen Eden’s snowmaking team to make snow day and night over the last 10 days. The hills will be set to open this Thursday, December 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Glen Eden expects to be fully operational with all lifts and trails open. The Learning Centres and the Terrain Parks will also be ready.
 A really exhilarating view. The trip down is a real high. Glen Eden is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. except for December 25 when it will be closed for the day. The latest information can be found on the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, as to which runs and lifts will be open, as well as the Terrain Park location, number of features and other details.
“The team at Glen Eden is looking forward to welcoming skiers and snowboarders for another fantastic season,” said Gene Matthews, Director, Parks and Recreation. “Our snowmaking team has been working around the clock to get the hill ready with the best conditions possible. We are confident all visitors will be pleased with our surface conditions whether they are learning to ski or snowboard, out enjoying some runs with family and friends, or throwing it down in the Terrain Park.”
 All the lifts are in great working order – ready for the first skiers on Thursday. In the last ten years, Glen Eden has been open before Christmas seven times, Boxing Day once and December 27 the other. The only time in the last ten years Glen Eden did not open until January was 2016. Opening date that year was January 8 during an el nino winter.
Glen Eden is home to one of the largest Learning Centres in Ontario, with a wide variety of lessons and programs for all ages and abilities. There are two Christmas Camps during the holidays. Camp #1 starts on Boxing Day, and Camp #2 starts January 2, 2018. Group lesson programs run starting on Boxing Day, there are also private and semi-private options. Visit the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, or call Visitor Services at 905-878-5011, ext. 1221, for more information.
 Glen Eden: They have been laying down snow for the past ten days – conditions will be great for the Thursday opening. The Terrain Park is where a lot of the action happens at Glen Eden. The “Big” Parks, Nighthawk and Falcon have upwards of 40 of the most progressive features dedicated to these two runs during peak season. Glen Eden has lots of options for keeping things fresh while pushing your limits and developing your skills.
Christmas Theme Day – December 23
Skiers and snowboarders are invited to celebrate the holidays a few days early during Opening Weekend at Glen Eden at the Christmas Theme Day on Saturday, December 23. Visitors can join in the fun and help us decorate our On-Slope Christmas Trees on the Learning Centre. Wear your Santa hats, ugly Christmas sweaters and bring your sweet tooth for some candy canes. Keep your eye out for a special guest in a red suit while enjoying the slopes at Glen Eden!
New Year’s Eve Ski & Dine – December 31
Join us for New Year’s Eve on the slopes, for music, s’mores, campfire, a ginger ale toast, dinner and more from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Ski & Dine package is $39 per person and includes lift ticket and dinner in the West Lodge. New Year’s Eve dinner will be snacks, salad, pasta, dessert and soft drinks. Reservations are required. New Year’s Eve Ski & Dine tickets can be purchased on the website www.gleneden.on.ca or at the Visitor Centre by December 26, 2017.
 She’s ready! Glen Eden’s Discover Skiing and Snowboarding is a lesson program for first timers and beginners and are available starting this weekend. During the season, Discover is offered weekends, holidays, and March Break from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m. on non-holiday weeknights. Glen Eden’s snow pros will help ensure you learn the basics – equipment, stopping and turning. By the time you complete the program you should be ready for the big hills. Discover is available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless you’re booking a large group. For groups of 20 or more people please call 905-878-5011, ext. 1278, at least one week in advance.
Glen Eden is located on Kelso Road, near Tremaine Road and Highway 401, and is a 20 minute drive from Mississauga, Burlington and Hamilton and is operated by Conservation Halton. During the season, Glen Eden is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for skiing and snowboarding with the Snow Tube Park open on the weekends. For more information visit the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, or call 905-878-5011.
By Staff
December 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Not just a bunch of Old Timers strapping on the shin pads the Burlington Old Timers Hockey Club looks for situations where some help is needed and find a way to have a good time and help out others.
They did that late in November with a Christmas Dance at the Legion and raised $3,575 for Burlington Food Bank
On hand were some of the best dancers in the league and their wives! The fabulous live band for the night was SpeakEasy, featuring Lloyd Millar, from our White division and as a Special Guest Singer/Performer, 16 year- old Alyssa MacKenzie joined the band for a few songs.
Through player donations, prize table raffle tickets and a delicious Christmas Home Baked goods table the league was able to raise $3,575 for the Burlington Food Bank to help them with their ongoing contribution to our community!
 Shown here are the BOWSER Babes, BOD members, League Convenors, and Colin Ashdown (event organizer) presenting Robin Bailey (Burlington Food Bank) with a cheque for $3,575 The Food Bank is committed to ensure that no one in Burlington struggles with hunger. They provide food to those in need. In order to do that they need funding – the Oldtimers came through.
 By Staff
December 17th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They live life a little differently in Lowville.
They celebrate the Winter and Summer Solstice.
The purpose of ThinkSpot Solstice events have been solely around coming together as strangers or friends and finding that commonality to realize we are not alone as we walk this journey of life.
That’s the “why” – and to witness that happen twice a year is an unbelievable gift.
 Lowville residents parading around their community during the Winter Solstice. In the past a community has gathered paraded around the community and then gather to set paper lanterns into the night sky.
 Lanterns are illuminated and set afloat into a Winter Solstice night. The lanterns have been an amazing and beautiful way to celebrate our connecting and thank you to everyone who has been part of the past nine solstice events. For the last few months we’ve been wondering about how to create something new;
Kune Hua and Arryn Ter Smitte figured it out last week.
Lowville Burning Man – Family Style is coming to life next Thursday (December 21st) in Lowville. For those of you who are familiar with the festival in Nevada each year you will know what happens at the end when a beautiful creative masterpiece is set on fire.
 The Burning Man is a celebration – that will take place in Lowville. How does it come about – you have to be there to be part of it. At 7:00 pm a light dinner will be available and we will begin to create a Lowville artistic expression that will be an honouring of 2017 – what we are grateful for; what we wish to let go of; and what we may have lost (a relationship, friendship, job, family member, pet – anything that is of value to us).
We will be providing wood and tools (drills, hammers, screwdrivers, nails/screws, glue) so that people can get in there and create whatever comes to life. We will also provide cedar rings and sage for everyone to use as mementos.
What you can bring is any flammable memento (non-combustible is a definite requirement, no metals or concrete) that you wish to add to the sculpture. Perhaps a shirt, a stuffed animal, a pet collar, .a letter to your higher self – anything that you wish to offer as a symbol of 2017.
At 8:00 pm we will go for a candlelight walk through Lowville Park as we celebrate the shortest day/longest night of the year – and then at 8:30 pm come back to light the Lowville Burning Man Sculpture.
At 9:00 pm we will release one sky lantern to celebrate our coming together and welcoming the beginning of longer days and sunlight.
Please RSVP so we can plan for food and materials required. The evening is complimentary although we do request a donation of personal items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, tampons, underwear and warm socks (new only please)) to be shared with people experiencing homelessness.
 By Staff
December 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A group of Dads in Burlington joined together Tuesday night at The Anchor Bar to have some fun and to raise some money for the Burlington Food Bank.
Burlington Dad’s is an online group and this was a rare live get together… hopefully becoming an annual event. Organizers Rene Schuster and Peter Winstanley never expected the level of generosity shown by their group and were thankful for all the support received. “This event grew from Rene and Peter saying we would like to see our members in person and give something back… we never imagined that the guys would get on board the way they did. Lots of generous guys in Burlington! Thanks for putting food on the table for Burlington families this Christmas guys!” said Peter.
 Shown here are Jamie & Mark Little, Peter Winstanley and Rene Schuster presenting Robin Bailey (Burlington Food Bank) with a cheque for $3,189 from Burlington Dads. Not shown is the additional 512 lbs of food donated the same night. The cheque presentation was broadcast live to the Dads Group. Burlington Dad’s was formed by Rene Schuster in March of 2014, and now assisted by Peter Winstanley. Burlington Dad’s was formed by Rene Schuster in March of 2014, and now assisted by Peter Winstanley. Basically it was Rene’s brainchild; a Dads helping Dads group. If you need some advice, something fixed, in search of a service, or simply need to vent, the Dads are always obliging.
There is no drama allowed, which means only a select few get in. It has grown to over 1,300 members, and includes Dads in the Oakville/Burlington/Hamilton area.
Check it out
Burlington Food Bank is committed to ensuring that no one in Burlington struggles with hunger. They provide food to those in need. If you or someone you know is hungry and in need of help, call them at 905-637-2273. https://www.burlingtonfoodbank.ca
By Staff
December 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has been identified as one of 40 municipalities set to have a cannabis store by July 2018. The LCBO will make the determination of where a cannabis store is located in Burlington.
The city will be working with the Ministry of Finance and the LCBO to develop guidelines and the process for choosing store locations. The guidelines will achieve the provincial objectives of protecting youth by ensuring stores are not close to schools while providing access in communities and addressing the illegal market.
 Where in this fair city will the cannabis retail outlet be located. If it is on Brant Street will it bring the much discussed vibrancy to the area? The City of Burlington, like other municipal governments across Canada, has been paying close attention to provincial and federal legislation regulating cannabis.
Burlington joins 28 other municipalities for one or more standalone cannabis retail stores to open in July 2018. The other municipalities:
Ajax, Belleville, Barrie, Brampton, Brantford, Cambridge, Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, Lindsay (Kawartha Lakes), London, Mississauga, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Oshawa, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vaughan, Waterloo, Whitby and Windsor.
Odd that Milton, the municipality with the highest population growth in Halton, is not on the list.
The city uses the tag line: “Burlington is one of Canada’s best and most livable cities, a place where people, nature and business thrive.” That just might become true next summer.
By Staff
December 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Those festive lights in Spencer Smith Park didn’t fall of the back of a truck and suddenly glow. Volunteers from the corporate sector and high school students created the lights and installed them late in November and were turned on December 1st. Community spirit at its best.
They will be in place until January 8th and are turned on at 4:30 PM – 12:30 AM
The 2017 lighting marks the 22nd anniversary of this event.
 The festival gets its start early in December when Burlington Electricity Services Inc., a subsidiary of Burlington Hydro partners with the Burlington Downtown Business Association’s (BDBA) for the Candlelit Stroll through the downtown core and the lighting of the Tree of Hope.
Volunteers from Burlington Electricity Services Inc., Burlington Taxi, King Paving, Robert Bateman High School, T.A. Blakelock High School (Oakville), and local residents help with set up the lights in Spencer Smith Park
 There were 15 students from both schools involved with the project. The Students designed and built the newest hockey themed display. Expect to see two new displays from this crew for the for the 2018/19 year.
CHML’s Joey Castillio served as the emcee for the tree lighting and the Candlelit Stroll event.
By Staff
December 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Lowville Festival, Burlington’s festival of all the arts for the artist in all of us, is presenting a special Yuletide concert in collaboration with St. George’s Church Lowville.
 Dylan-Thomas A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES, the beloved recollections of fabled Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, will be the featured work in a fundraising concert that will feature songs and stories of the festive season in Wales and around the globe.
The main artists in the concert- legendary Toronto publicist and actor Vivienne Muhling; soprano Gaynor Jones, formerly of the Canadian Opera Company; Robert Missen, Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Lowville Festival; and pianist David Low, one of the region’s most distinguished keyboard artists- have been performing Welsh-themed concerts in Toronto and region for several years. Both Ms. Muhling and Ms. Jones hail from Wales.
This concert will be launched on Tuesday December 12th at the Performing Arts Lodge in downtown Toronto. In addition to the Thomas work, there will be a selection of Welsh and other nations’ hymns, songs and carols, as well as readings from other Thomas poems, and a special rendition by Lowville Festival Co-Artistic Director Robert Missen of A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
 St Georges Anglican Church For the December 17th concert, which will take place in the seasonally bedecked sanctuary of St. George’s Anglican Church, a beautiful Edwardian stone edifice in north Lowville, this quartet will be joined by a number of local performers, including Lowville Festival Founder and Co- Artistic Director Lorretta Bailey, the well-known Canadian musical theatre performer; and Major 7th Band, a Lowville ensemble with a Celtic flair, which has come to prominence in the last short while. A couple of Special Guest Artists will be announced shortly.
All of the artists are donating their services to the concert. Proceeds will benefit both the Lowville Festival, which will be presented on June 8-10, 2018, and St. George’s Anglican Church.
The Festival has been delighted to collaborate with St. George’s on a number of Festival events since the Festival’s inception in 2015.
For more information and tickets contact Robert Missen at 905-632-6047.
TICKETS $25/GENERAL ADMISSION
Available at DIFFERENT DRUMMER BOOKS and at the CHURCH OFFICE
Or by phone at 905-632-6047
Online at SNAPD TICKETS BURLINGTON
 By Staff
December 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
We are coming to the close of Canada’s sesquicentennial – our 150th anniversary as a country,
Both the federal, provincial and municipal governments’ have poured a tonne of money into this celebration.
When the Gazette’s political columnist Ray Rivers was touring a Canadian Armed Forces training base in Ukraine he was able to hand out Canada 150 pins to the troops serving in Ukraine.
Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon announced last week the names of the Burlington150 Award recipients at a special reception held at Crossroads Centre in Burlington.
McMahon said the 150 residents “embody the qualities and values that make our province great and who have dedicated their time and talent towards community service in Burlington.
The recipients contribute to:
• Celebrating diversity/inclusion
• Building community/capacity
• Protecting the heritage of Burlington
• Protecting the environment
• Promoting a healthy community
In July 2017, residents of Burlington were asked to nominate suitable candidates through an application process organized by MPP McMahon’s Constituency Office.
Photographs of some of the recipients are shown below.
Awarded were:
Woman
Sue Aiken
Michelle Bennett
 Michelle Bennett an advocate for community gardens.  Cheryl De Lugt Dorothy Borovich
Rishia Burke
Lana Biro
Susan Busby
Karen Candy
Charlene Cheng
Angie Crichton
Cheryl De Lugt
Kristin Demeny
Mary Dilly
Amy D’Souza
Jody Dugas
Erin Dunham
Elaine Evenson
Tanya Ferro
Jasmina Garbus
Stephanie Geosits
Judy Goodings
Shirley Heathfield
Janine Hersey
Becky Hewis
Frances Hillier
Beverley Jacobs
Paulene Jodry
Candice Keem
Lisette Kingo
Marina Lloyd
Jean Longfield
Lisa Lunski
Heather MacLeod
Diane Miller
Colleen Mulholland
 Colleen Mulholland Mary Nichol
Sandy O’Reilly
Gwen Piller
Dorothy Pocock
Connie Price
Sara Rams
Fareen Samji
Chloe Schleichkorn
Amy Schnurr
Peggi Shepherd DeGroote
Janice Skafel
Sheila Slattery-Ford
Joanna Sparrow
Hanadi Subhi Almasri
Bonnie Sylvia
Patricia Vollick
Carole Ward
 Carole Ward on the left. Jessica Wesolowski
Pam West
Darlene Wierski-Devoe
Men
Don Allan
Andy Barber
Rob Bennett
Angelo Bentivegna
 Angelo Bentivegna Kale Black
Rev. Bill Bond
Rick Burgess
Colin Campbell
John Chisholm
Stephen Clarke
Casey Cosgrove
John Creary
John Doyle
Ron Foxcroft
Gil Garbus
David Goodings
Brian Hansell
Alan Harrington
Dr. James Henry
Fergie Holland
Bill Hughes
Cam Jackson
 Cam Jackson  Rainer Noack David Johnson
Ron Kirk
Craig Kowalchuk
Doug Leggat
Bryce Leggatt
Marcus Logan
Matthew MacPherson
Ken Maitland
Ted Michaels
James Morrison
Walter Mulkewich
Rainer Noack
Fred Norman
Angelo Paletta
Dr. Bob Peeling
Bob Pring
Bill Reid
 Karmel Sakran, chair of Halton Learning Foundation Karmel Sakran
John Searles
Don Smith
Jonathan Smith
Murray Sutherland
Jim Sweetlove
John Thorpe
Dave Tourchin
Jack Van der Laan
Peter John Van Dyk
Mike Vencel
Scott Wallace
George Wright
Dan Wynnyk
 Griffin Gervais second from the left.  Rory Nisan on the left. Youth
Janna Abdelaziz
Sara Ahmed
Aiman Akmal
Madeleine Barbeau
Sarah Bennett
Kennedy Boyd
Charlotte Brooks
Sean Clarke
Hannah Doherty
Autumn Finley
Victoria Finley
Jerry Gao
Griffin Gervais
Grace Hellam
Luke Hellam
Emma Jackson
Riya Karumanchi
Megan Lee
Jacob Lightfoot
Tianmi Liu
Aidan MacMillan
Carina McDonald
Thomas McDonald
Brianna Moore
Rory Nisan
Shawn Patrick
Sean Reynolds
Pranetr Ranjit
Kate Smith
Keri-Lynn and Maddie Smith
Phoenix Smith
Ayden Soares
Aleksandra Sorbovski
Jessica Sumner
Abbey Syer
Luis Tavares
Noor Toeama
Gershon Tsirulnikov
David Vandenberg
Olivia Walker-Edwards
Emma Ward
Taylor Ward
Connor Withers
Grace Aleta Workman-Porecki
By Staff
December 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Terra Madre Day is Slow Food’s annual day to promote the diversity of food traditions!
Children age 7-10 are invited to join us for this free workshop to work on a United Nations Nutrition Badge.
 Learn about food safety, food planning, seasonal fruits and veggies. International students will share traditional vegetable dishes from their countries. Families are invited to join at the end of the workshop to celebrate their child’s success and try some of the international dishes.
For ages 7-10 years
Student Theatre Centre, 2131 Prospect Street
Sunday Dec 10, 1-4pm
Register for free
By Staff
December 7th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Sound of Music Festival wants to add another day to their already existing paid event which is held the weekend before the festival, on Sunday, June 10, 2018 from 1 to 9 p.m. and would like to know if there is community support for the second event.
The short, one-question survey will be open until Dec. 14, 2017.
 Sound of Music wants to add an additional ticketed event day. City wants to know what you think. The festival has had a paid event since 2015 to support performances on the Father’s Day weekend and help ensure a quality festival for years to come.
In 2017, a second event was added to help celebrate Canada 150 which was very well attended.
Sandra Maxwell, supervisor of Festivals and Events explains:
“The Sound of Music Festival organizers have approached the city to ask if they can host another paid ticket event as a way of financially supporting the four-day festival on Father’s Day weekend. We would like to know if there is community support and appetite for this sort of event and encourage all residents and people of surrounding area to provide their input into this short, one-question survey.”
Dave Miller, executive director of the Sound of Music Festival adds that “… the success of last year’s additional day on Sunday, June 11 in honour of Canada 150 and the growing popularity of the ticketed Kick-off Concert, we’re hoping to have the Kick-off event for Sound of Music Festival 2018 running for two days instead of one, making it a full weekend experience.
“Proceeds will support overall costs of the event including stages, security and great musical talent.”
The Sound of Music organization has not made any comment on how much they earned from the additional day nor what they did with the extra income. A bit more transparency would be appreciated.
LINK to the survey.
 By Staff
December 6th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This could be fun.
Former ward 4 candidate for the public Board of Education seat Margot Horne Shuttleworth has gone public with in a Facebook message to her wine loving friends.
Holiday Wine Exchange – forget the cookies — who wants 36 bottles of wine?! 🍷🍷
The weather outside is frightful, but the wine is so delightful…
Who wants to participate?
 I need a MINIMUM of 6 participants to join in a holiday wine exchange. Buy ONE bottle of wine valued at $20.00 or more and deliver it to one person. That’s it!
I will PM you the name/address and in return you will receive 6 – 36 bottles of wine!! (# of bottles depends on the number of participants).
Let me know if you are interested and I will PM you the information. Please comment on this post if you’re in. Just keep in mind, you only have to buy ONE bottle valued at a minimum of $20.00 and, if everyone participates, you can receive up to 36 bottles of wine!!!
Only comment if you are really going to participate. If you say you will and don’t, it doesn’t work for everyone else. Give it a try. It could be fun and you could stock up for the holiday season with the purchase of only ONE bottle!!….. you need to be local…. but should be fun!!
Margo Horne- Shuttleworth on Facebook at –
https://www.facebook.com/margo.shuttleworth/
By Staff
December 6th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Parks and Recreation department appears to now have a marketing unit.
They are offering rentals at up to 40% Off during the holiday season.
Starting December 1st, through to January 7, 2018, all Ice, Gyms, Pools, Auditoriums and Community Rooms will be on sale. For more information and terms and conditions: visit burlington.ca/rentals.
Some of the $$ off opportunities are:
|
|
