 By Pepper Parr
October 18th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They get called shut-ins; people that just aren’t able to get out and mix with people.
Sometimes it is because they don’t have a car, sometimes it is because the public transit isn’t all that good and it takes forever to travel a small distance.
 Fred Hendriks, president of the Burlington Seniors Community – a group that is doing some much needed programing for seniors in the city. The Burlington Seniors Community, a private company that was created when some of the people who were active at the Seniors Centre were told they had to vacate the space they had in the building.
There were a lot of hard feelings but they did what they had to do and began creating programs for seniors they felt were needed.
That’s how Seniors Without Walls started as a pilot project that the BCSI people expect to grow.
Penny Hersh, one of the BSCI volunteers, explained how it got started. “The idea wasn’t ours – it was being done in other cities, Ottawa, Edmonton and Winnipeg are examples. The idea is to get people together by telephone on a conference call.
We keep the groups quite small – not more than 10 to 12 in a session.
People who want to take part just give us a call – 905-631-2524 – and we set them up. There is no cost.
BSCI has a contract with Mercury Teleconferencing who handle all the technical stuff.
Hersh explains that there are a lot of lonely people out there who can’t get out – and many of them don’t have a lot of friends or social contacts. They want to connect with people – and we make that possible.
The conferencing takes place twice a week – when the pilot has run for a number of months the BSCI will evaluate how things have gone and decide how they want to go forward.
“We got a lot of help from Heather Thomson at Community Development Halton” said Hersh and the Library is very interested in what we are doing.”
 Some equipment that is being considered for use by seniors. BSCI is in the process of re-defining themselves now that they are out on their own and not working with the city. They are looking into setting up some exercise equipment that will be outdoors that seniors can use. They held a Thanksgiving lunch and were a little overwhelmed with the turnout – but we didn’t turn anyone away” said Hersh.
 This is what conservation is all about.  By Staff
October 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Conservation Authorities have found that their Sharing Experiences workshop have worked well since their inception in 2009.
Local Conservation Authorities and environmental organizations are partnering to host the 6th biennial Sharing Experiences workshop that will provide an opportunity to hear about different local groups and their activities.
The goal is to link like-minded people so they can work together to effectively preserve and improve their local natural environment. In addition, this year will see the inclusion of a keynote speaker to set the tone for the event.
The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at the Puslinch Community Centre at 23 Brock Road South, Guelph, ON N1H 6H9 and will include presentations and small breakout sessions from knowledgeable and experienced members of the environmental community.
The workshop organizing committee is currently seeking input from groups and individuals in the community to get a sense of topics of interest for the workshop agenda.
As in past years, the goal is for the agenda to be designed by those planning to attend the workshop and therefore relevant to local issues and activities. Some topics from previous years have included; social marketing and communications, engaging youth, habitat rehabilitation, volunteer management, liability and insurance, partnerships, grants and funding, working with local government and strategic planning. Ensuring that an innovative and varied set of topics are selected for this workshop is a priority.
The organizing team is comprised of Conservation Halton, Credit Valley Conservation, Friends of Mill Creek, Grand River Conservation Authority, Green Venture, Hamilton Conservation Authority, and the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club.
 Working as a breakout group during the 2016 Shared Experience Workshop The 2016 Shared Experiences day was a great success with 94 people in attendance, 10 presentations, 58 organizations present along with our 2016 keynote speaker Gord Miller.
To assist the team in developing a comprehensive workshop program please submit your topic ideas by Wednesday October 25 to: Colleen Lavender at 905-854-9229 ext. 222, Fax 905-336-6684, or e-mail clavender@hrca.on.ca
For more information please visit the Sharing Experiences Workshop webpage, https://conservationhamilton.ca/sharing-experiences-workshops-2/.
 By Staff
October 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
When you have a show stopper of a production or an international celebrity – the tickets go fast.
When you have an amazing raffle – the tickets should go just as fast – except there is no limit to the raffle tickets.
Burlington Green has teamed up once again with their partner MEC to raffle off three very nice prizes.
 First prize – INNOVA Swing I Inflatable Kayak 1ST PRIZE:
The INNOVA Swing I Inflatable Kayak with foot pump, all accessories and paddle – $1,080 value
 Second prize – Women’s Cruiser Bike 2ND PRIZE:
NORCO Women’s Cruiser Bike – $480 value.
3RD PRIZE:
Matched Pair of Haliburton Hand-Crafted Wooden Paddles – $280 value.
TICKETS: $5 each / 5 for $20
Available up until the draw on November 21st at the MEC service counter on Brant Street and from BurlingtonGreen staff and volunteers.
I have chosen to take that “from any BG staff or volunteer and am going to send a chunk of change to Amy Schnurr via Interac and ask her to mail me the raffle ticket. Her email address is info@burlingtongreen.org – I would really like to fill her email box.
Winning tickets will be drawn on November 21st, 2017 at 9:00pm at the “Connect the Dots” event
at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre!
General Admission tickets for Connect the Dots with David Suzuki have SOLD OUT in their first week available!
Less than 15 VIP tickets remain, so hurry over to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre box office and get yours before they’re all gone!
For Official Raffle Rules, click here.
 By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
She was in what she calls her “happy place” sitting quietly with her library card in her hand getting ready to speak.
 Eleanor McMahon, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport was kicking off Public Library Week and announcing improvements to digital services at 307 libraries and library organizations across the province.
She spoke too of the valuable role that libraries play in Ontario communities.
Shelagh Paterson, Executive Director, Ontario Library Association said that libraries serve as the greatest equalizer for access to information across our communities.
The Library Digital Services fund provides resources for people in the community to use at its Ideaworks Studio, including a new 3D printer, digital embroidery machine and new digital media software. People will be able to enjoy these specialized technologies for their own interests and to help with projects and schoolwork.
 McMahon told the small audience that Ontario is increasing access to technology, digital services and training opportunities at public libraries in towns, cities and Indigenous communities across the province. Funding is helping libraries offer more technology in their communities, such as wireless internet connections, new computers, and e-books, as well as classes on topics like social media and computer literacy.
 Ontario is investing $3 million through the Improving Library Digital Services fund to support up to 307 libraries and library organizations across the province. This includes $1 million for rural, remote and First Nation public libraries through 2017 Budget Talks. Burlington Public Library is receiving $25,000 from this fund.
This investment builds on a commitment in Ontario’s Culture Strategy to support Ontario’s public and First Nation libraries as essential spaces for people to access cultural experiences, technology and community life.
Library week runs from October 15-21; the first took place in 1985
By Staff
October 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There are going to be a surprising number of very prominent speakers in Burlington during the month of November.
 Tomson Highway Tomson Highway is being brought to the city by the Arts Council, that’s a citizen led group – at more than an arm’s length from city hall.
Moses Znaimer is being brought to the city as one of the Mayor’s Inspire series of speakers.
And Burlington Green is bringing David Suzuki in for a day in November.
That is an impressive list of people – they will add much depth to the conversations that take place in this city.
Each of the sponsoring groups deserve credit for making this happen.
 Moses Znaimer Moses Znaimer was the founder of the City TV network and one of the better thinkers this country has produced. He is a member of the Order of Canada and one of the people behind Much Music radio.
Znaimer, who has never been short of ideas, owns a commercial classical music radio station and is the founder of the Zoomer concept that caters to the interests and needs of the boomers who have become the Zoomers.
Znaimer will speak on the New Vision of Aging.
 David Suzuki David Suzuki, who is perhaps the best known environmentalist in this country and known around the world for his tireless efforts to educate a public about an environment that might not last.
Tomson Highway is a playwright, a musician and at times a very funny man.
All three are well worth your time.
Related articles:
Tomson Highway to speak in Burlington
David Suzuki will be at the Performing Arts Centre
Moses Znaimer to speak on Aging
 By Pepper Parr
October 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a long time in getting to this point and the decision to take the plunge and transform the existing Joseph Brant Museum into a 17,000 square foot location was not a unanimous city council decision.
Councillors Jack Dennison and Marianne Meed Ward were not onside for this nor was Councillor John Taylor all that enthusiastic about the plans that were put forward – but all it took was the votes of four of the seven members of council – and that they got – so they moved on to the next step of breaking ground.
 Spades in place waiting for the breaking of the ground. Shortly before the spades were put into the ground Burlington MPP Eleanor announced that the province was going to come up with the final million that was needed to see the development as fully funded.
There was some concern about the $1 million actually coming from the province – but city council wanted this project so badly that they went out on a limb, decided which of the reserve accounts they would raid for the funds and hoped the province would come through.
With a budget that seem to have to edge into the 4% increase level each year and the discovery that Burlington transit is going to need a very healthy sum of money – that million as important.
 Barb Teatero and her husband during the round breaking ceremony for the transformed Brant Museum. With the immediate financial concerns covered the Museum Staff and the Museum Foundation Board gathered together and watched two indigenous dancers perform ceremonial dances and then took part in a smudging ceremony that was quite something to observe.
The weather held and the hope was expressed that 18 months from now a ribbon cutting ceremony would take place to open the site.
 Members of the White Pines Indigenous dance group atch while the dignitaries make the speeches. Aron Bell a noted indigenous story teller is in the center There are dozens of hurdles to overcome between now and then but Friday morning was an occasion to celebrate – the performances would have made Joseph Brant proud.
The original house was the building Joseph Brant died in – the structure on the site is a 1937 replica of the house Mohawk native Joseph Brant, Thayendanegea, built on a 1798 Crown land grant.
A modern addition to the museum will be built into the grassy area under the current museum.
The expansion, a modern addition to the museum will be built into the grassy area under the current museum by contractor Aquicon Construction that will add more than 12,000 square feet to its current size.
The hope and the expectation is that the transformed Joseph Brant Museum will become a cultural destination and a place to host national exhibitions and the collection of artifacts.
 Indigenous dancer does a grass dance to prepare the land for the ground breaking. During the ground breaking event McMahon said that those who worked so hard to make the ground breaking possible will, at some future distant date, be lauded for the decision they made.
We should make a record of those people in the event that the public finds that lauding is not what gets done. There are a lot of questions to be asked and the requirement for much, much more in the way of transparency and accountability.
There is some pretty fast poker being played here.
 The traditional dance wear has 365 small bell sewn into the skirt. The Joseph Brant Museum Transformation will include total square footage of 17,000 square feet in the expanded site. Construction is expected to take 18 months, depending on weather
The total project amount is approved at about $11 million, which includes a contingency fund and allows for cost increases due to a winter construction period. Funding includes:
$3.4 million from the City of Burlington
$4.7 million from the Government of Canada
$1.5 million from the Province of Ontario
$2.5 million from the Joseph Brant Museum Foundation
The museum has 25,000 artifacts and receives a reported 18,000 visitors a year.
Joseph Brant, Thayendanegea, was born in 1742 and died in 1807. In 1798, the Mohawk and British captain was granted 3,450 acres at the head-of-the-lake (Burlington Bay) by King George the third.
 The Joseph Brant tomb outside a Mohawk Chapel just outside Brantford, Ontario Brant’s body was carried by members of the Mohawk tribe from Burlington to Brantford, Ontario where his remains rest in a small white chapel,
 By Staff
October 12th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Arts and Culture Council of Burlington is excited to announce its first fundraiser, “An Evening with Tomson Highway” on Saturday , November 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Studio Theatre of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Incorporated in 2016 and officially launched in April, 2017, the Arts and Culture Council of Burlington, or ACCOB, has a mandate to increase public understanding and appreciation of arts and culture in Burlington, and to advocate on behalf of the artistic and cultural community in the city.
ACCOB already has 65 individual and organizational members and is looking to increase its membership to better benefit the local artistic and cultural scene. It is currently participating in the Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s “Festival of Trees”, which will help to provide funds for artists and cultural groups to use the Studio Theatre at BPAC.
ACCOB is also providing the jury process to administer the new grants which the City of Burlington plans to distribute to projects submitted by members of Burlington’s artistic and cultural communities.
 Tomson Highway – to speak in Burlington November 4th at the Performing Arts Centre. The November 4th event is another collaboration with the Burlington Public Library’s One Book One Burlington, which is focusing on Indigenous works this year. Tomson Highway is an award-winning Cree playwright, novelist, writer and musician who will be speaking to us about the importance of arts and culture in a community.
He is the first Indigenous person to be awarded the Order of Canada for his work in the arts and he has devoted his life to the development of a vibrant indigenous culture in Canada.
An accomplished pianist, Highway often performs his own works from his various plays and musicals and he will be using the wonderful grand piano at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on November 4.
Highway holds honorary doctorates from ten Canadian universities. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario (now called Western University) with a degree in music and English.
Highway’s latest book, “From Oral to Written: A Celebration of Indigenous Literature in Canada, 1980 to 2010 was published in July.
Highway is an accomplished playwright who was nominated for a Governor General’s Award and the Dora Mavor Moore Award. He won the Best New Play Floyd S. Chalmers Award
Anyone who writes a play with the title Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing – which he did in 1989, has to be listened to – Tickets are $35 and are available at www.burlingtonpac.ca, 905-681-6000 or in person at the box office.
 By Staff
October 12th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It used to be called the Boy Scouts association. Not anymore.
The Boy Scouts of America (USA program) recently announced changes to their membership policy to allow girls into the Cub Scout program and confirmed that older girls will be able to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
 Queen’s Venturer Mikhayla Doroshuk and Terry Grant Chief Scout The Scouts Canada membership has been officially co-ed since 1998 and welcomes all to its membership regardless of gender, race, culture, religious belief, sexual orientation or economic circumstances and has always taken an inclusive approach to its membership.
Scouts Canada is a separate and distinct organization from the Boy Scouts of America.
Canada doesn’t have an Eagle Scout level – the Canadian equivalent is the Queen’s Venturer Award.
There is a very active scouting movement in the Region.
By Pepper Parr
October 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Royal Botanical Gardens seem to be in a constant state of change and upgrades.
The model railway installation, that is very popular, is going to be located in what was once the Old Tea House located in the wonderful Rock Garden that is a must see.
 New home for the Model Railroad exhibit. The new installation will be ready by November where the Local Railway Heritage Display will feature the unique model train display that celebrates and depicts the rich heritage of railways throughout Hamilton, Burlington, the Niagara Escarpment, and Lake Ontario shoreline.
On a recent tour of the Rock Garden with a friend we came across what used to be the old Tea House where my friend told me they had a light menu that included a lunch.
My friend added that if you go far enough back, likely as many as at least forty years or maybe fifty years ago, there was a paved road in front of the tea house which we actually walked on and I believe another entrance off York Blvd leading to a parking lot down there for a number of cars – a long time ago.
I am not sure when the parking lot was built across the road. I believe that for many years the main access from that parking lot was through a tunnel below York Blvd near the railway.
 One of the paths in the Rock Garden My friend added that the RGB people “have done a good job” but added that the Rock Gardens are in the City of Hamilton, not Burlington, making it a Hamilton attraction.
Mark Runciman, the CEO of the RBG doesn’t differentiate between the two cities – he crosses the border half a dozen times each day.
 The Rose Garden – the way it used to look – a redesigned garden is now being put in place Another change taking place at RBG is the Rose Garden, something Runciman points out is not easily changed. “Our rose enthusiasts are very particular about what we do with that garden.”
 Drains being prepped in the Rose Garden that was first open to the public in 1967 The problem for Runciman and his team of gardeners is that the pesticide ban now in place means new bugs show up and they do much damage to the rose plants which mean everything has to be taken out each year.
The new Rose Garden plan features a spectacular display of roses and companion plants intended to extend seasonal interest and keep diseases at bay. They are able to do this by putting in companion plants that will keep the bugs away from the roses.
The focus is on disease resistant, disease-tolerant and cold-hardy roses, including Canadian introductions. The end result will be an innovative, sustainable and inspiring experience at what is the quintessential rose garden for Canada’s largest botanical garden.
There is a drive on now for sponsorship for the newly designed rose garden.
 Bloom times Visitors will notice that the pergolas are being retired and removed from their place in the garden. When Centennial Rose Garden was planted in 1967, these wooden structures were built to hold climbing plants over the garden’s pathways. Fifty years later, the wood has aged and weathered and the gardeners now find that it is the plants that are securing the pergolas.
More on what’s happening at the RBG in the weeks ahead.
By Staff
October 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison wants you to know that the New Street Road Diet Pilot is not about the number of bicycles that are on the road – it is about making New Street safer, more accessible and calmer without significantly increasing travel times.
 New Street with lanes for cyclists on each side – under construction. Dennison said he has been advised “that the report with staff’s recommendation will be presented on Monday, November 27, 2017 at a Committee of the Whole meeting.”
The report will be made public on Friday, November 17, 2017. We will get the details to you.
 What we used to have on the left – what we have now as a pilot on the right. In between – more public engagement that this council every expected. Anyone interested in speaking to this item at the meeting, please be sure to register.
 By Staff
October 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City will be doing some upgrades to its IT systems.
As a result, phones and most online services, including registrations, will be unavailable Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The upgrade will provide benefits as it will enable the delivery of increased internet and processing speeds and network capacity, which supports our continued goal of technology modernization.
 Information technology services getting an upgrade. During the upgrade, many services will be unavailable including:
• Online registrations, including parks and recreation
• Parking exemptions
• Business licence renewal
• Marriage licences
• Dog licences
• Tax payments
• Online reporting
• Burlington Transit phones and Trip Planner
• GIS/Mapping
• Phone and voicemail
Please consider using the city’s systems at alternative times.
We apologize for the inconvenience while this necessary work is being done.
By Neil Sullivan
October 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
When we think of Niagara, we imagine an area that thrives almost by default. Aside from Toronto, it’s probably the biggest attraction in close proximity to Burlington, and it’s known the world over as a sort of natural wonder. This fall, however, there have been some troubling reports indicating that the area is experiencing some potentially serious financial woes.
 The water isn’t as clean as many people think it is. For the most part, these woes appear to be due to a dispute between the State of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians. For some time now these two entities have essentially had an agreement in place to share revenue from the casinos in and around Niagara, which actually account for a great deal of Niagara’s budget. However, the dispute has resulted in disruption of incoming casino revenue for the city. Because of a hitch in the extension of the revenue sharing agreement, the Seneca have declared that they owe the State of New York no further payments – which, if they stick to it, will be a fairly devastating position.
New York is also in a fairly poor position to exert any sort of pressure on the casinos themselves. For one thing, the Seneca Nation is its own entity and appears to have every right to operate the venues independently. Additionally, however, if casinos did close or receive pressure, New York would risk losing gamers over the border. As we know, Canada has its own legal casino venues not too far from the area. And online casinos have become more popular as well, with iGaming sites and software providers partnering to create the most cutting edge games for those who would rather play online. In short, there are alternatives to the Seneca casinos just on the Canadian side of the Falls.
These are the core issues giving Niagara trouble, though it should be mentioned that tourism, too, could be in a precarious position. Naturally the Falls are the main draw to the area, and will always attract tourists regardless of what’s going on with the casinos. However, if there’s anything that can make the Falls less appealing as a destination, it’s probably the overflowing wastewater that’s been plaguing them of late. Just recently reports surfaced of a 15 million gallon discharge of “untreated sewage and stormwater” flowing out at the base of the American Falls, and it wasn’t the first time this season that something like this has happened. Naturally the Falls have a way of cleaning themselves up, at least to the naked eye – but think about how much 15 million gallons really is. The mere thought of that much sewage would give any traveller pause regarding whether or not to visit the area.
Fortunately, these issues shouldn’t have big enough economic consequences to directly affect Burlington, and they may even be limited largely to the U.S. side of the Falls. But it’s still a fairly significant issue for the greater area if these problems cause a significant crisis for Niagara.
By Connie Price
October 6th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
What a wonderful day……..just what the Burlington Seniors Community Inc. had hoped for!
The Volunteer teams of St. Christopher’s Open Doors cooks and servers and BSCI’s Board and Volunteers worked together seamlessly: all deserve credit for the efficiency with which the meal was prepared, including the 225 lbs. of turkey cooked and served.
 The Burlington Seniors Community organization organized a Thanksgiving day dinner – cooked more than 200 lbs of turkey The attendance, even though we initially thought we would limit it to 225 – 270 were fed. We didn’t turn anyone away.
The decorations and tables were inviting and attractive with a Fall theme, which afforded us the opportunity to give each table centerpiece as a Birthday Gift to whomever at the table had a Birthday nearest to the Event.
 The Thanksgiving Day Dinner took up two rooms at St.Christopher’s – 270 were fed and entertained. Turns out the Seniors can run programs of their own without having to deal with city hall. While the Guests ate, Aldershot High School Student, Alex Bella performed magic and card tricks at the tables to baffle the seniors.
The Entertainment was outstanding, fun and all seniors themselves. The performers included the New Horizons 20 piece Band, comic musical singer Bette Pender & Sinatra style crooner Fred Burnell, both from the Burlington Footnotes, the Weekly Strum Ukulele Trio and last but certainly not least Burlington’s Singing Veteran, Bill Read, who led the audience singing through a medley of old tunes with his Ukulele, including a patriotic song he had written and performed many times in the past 18 years singing for early morning commuters at the Appleby Go Station.
He concluded his performance along with the afternoon, by asking everyone to stand and sing God Save the Queen and O Canada with him.
Very emotional for many. What gifted and talented seniors we have in Burlington!
As the Guests left, they were given a Take Home Bag with items, information and literature of importance to seniors.
Some of the types of Senior Exercise Equipment available to promote balance & increase flexibility, while encouraging social and mental health through socialization. Since BSCI’s mandate is “To be a leader for information, education, recreation and social interaction for our diverse and growing community of seniors” , we also circulated a Survey with information and questions asking the seniors’ opinions on two projects we are currently promoting and want their input and comments about. We received 152 completed Surveys, regarding our new Seniors Without Walls Program and the building of Outside Senior Exercise/Social Spaces.
These are just two of the projects that BSCI are becoming involved in to further our aim to fill some of the current gaps, especially for socially and physically isolated seniors.
The Thanksgiving dinner was a day of rolling up our sleeves and doing the work to accomplish it.
 By Staff
October 4th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This evening from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm the doors will be open at THiNKSPOT for anyone who wishes to drop-by (even if for a few minutes) as a Silent Vigil for victims of all accidents and tragedies: for families, friends, and loved ones; for survivors and first-responders who will have memories for the rest of their lives; for the psychological fear this can randomly happen again; for individuals who feel such anger and hatred that their choice is to kill another human being.
THiNKSPOT is just what the word says – a spot to think, reflect, exchange ideas, learn what other people think and explain what you think to others.
 The feature that makes THiNKSPOT work is the setting. It is located in Lowville, yards behind the Lowville Bistro, surrounded by the Walkt Rickli Sculpture Garden where there is plenty of parking across the road.
Those who take part will will create a mural from play-doh, crayons, markers, LEGO, the dry-erase wall, paint, gifts of nature, as a response based on unconditional love for every part of the system that we are connected to.
Debra Pickfield, the woman that runs THiNKSPOT, said earlier today that her “ personal belief is we are connected to every part – even the evil, anger, and hatred – because my choosing to ignore macro-level actions and events that may have caused the horror, means I am also connected to the micro-level outcome. I cannot wipe my hands and say it has nothing to do with me.”
She suggests you “ bring your families; or come on your way home from work; share with your friends and colleagues. Help us bring a collective response of community and caring that defines us – not the hopelessness and fear that separates and detaches us.”
By Pepper Parr
October 4th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
You’ve heard the phrase: “The earth moved” perhaps in a context you don’t want to expand on.
We came across a piece of film footage that is actually awesome. The earth literally moved!
It runs for 20 minutes – you won’t want to spend that much time on it. But the first three to four minutes are riveting to watch.
 If there was ever any doubt in your mind that the earth’s climate has changed – spend a couple of minutes on this.
You will see a glacier of ice being pushed into the sea and creating huge waves.
They call it glacier calving – walls of ice as high as fifty feet – maybe more just crashing down into the sea. That ice will flow into the waters resulting in a cooling that changes a weather pattern.
It is the sight of the ice crashing down that makes this film footage so fascinating. It was taken from people who are on a ship who are recording the glacier as it disintegrates.
It’s worth a few minutes of your time. Come back to it when you have the time. Just the first couple of minutes:
Click here for the link.
By Pepper Parr
October 3rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A number of years ago when city hall was working its way through the mess related to the building of The Pier, a former General Manager, who is no longer with the city, said that from time to time there is a project that just doesn’t go right, and added, “the pier is one of those projects”.
The plans to create a totally different Joseph Brant Museum than the one we currently have, which is a bit of an embarrassment, might be turning into one of those projects that just doesn’t go right.
The new museum idea has been in the works for more than a decade.
 The Joseph Brant Museum as it looks today. There were all kinds of problems raising the money that was needed. There was a bit of a shortfall (just a million dollars) and the city went out on a limb saying it would pony up the funding shortfall and look to the province to get the money back.
Most of this council just wanted to get the project moving.
Once the city has put their money on the table I don’t we should expect the province to come along with a cheque but that is an issue that will get worked over later.
The Capital Projects people at city hall told city council that if the project was to get started – they needed the city to commit. The city committed and the tenders went out.
And darn – the best tender came in at just shy of half a million over the budget.
Things were indeed going wrong.
 The current replica of the original structure would be raised and re-oriented with increased exhibition space created underneath. The lowest bid for construction of the Joseph Brant Museum expansion was $8.9 million from Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd.
The total project cost had been estimated at $10.4 million in November 2016; that got revised up to $10.965 million in September 2017, and revised upward again last week to $11.437 million after construction tenders came in.
The city was prepared to put up $2.1 million – that share has risen to $3.978 million which doesn’t include additional operating and capital costs.
Funding for the project is now:
Federal Cultural Spaces Grant: $ 4.479 million
Provincial Trillium Grant: $ 500,000
Joseph Brant Museum Foundation: $ 2.479 million
City of Burlington: $ 3.978 million (up from $2.1 million)
TOTAL: $11.437 million
Building the expansion isn’t the only thing that has seen cost increases.
The cost of operating the museum once it has been re-built is looking at a shortfall that is projected to be $208,000 – for the hiring of three additional staff. That staff will run a program about which basically nothing is known.
There is mention of two travelling exhibits each year will provide revenue. A staff report is suggesting that the financial problems be worked out in the 2018 budget with a combination of one-time funding of $87,000 spread over two years, and an increase to the base budget grant of $150,000, followed by 2% annual increases thereafter.
Consistently increasing capital and operating costs are not the only issue. There is a really messy land ownership matter that has yet to be resolved.
Details on that are far too complex for this article. Just who owns the land (at this point in time the hospital does) but they can’t just sell the property. The federal government has their hands in this one.
 In this portrait Joseph Brant is seen wearing the gorget given to him by King George III. That gorget is the most important piece in the collection at the Joseph Brant Museum. The original owner was Joseph Brant himself who was given the land for his service to the Crown.
How the city thinks it can get the land as city property is an amazing story – wait for that one.
Is the rebuild of the Joseph Brant Museum a doomed project? If the project were a hospital patient the doctor would be suggesting it might be time to get your affairs in order.
City council hasn’t heard the last of this one.
An election issue perhaps? The Museum, the New Street Road Diet, the 2018 budget that is going to be painful, the cost of getting the transit system the city is going to need if we are going to get people out of their cars are all major issues. How many members of the current city council are going to be re-elected in October of 2018 – just a year away?
Five of the seven members of Council wanted to see the project proceed. Meed Ward and Dennison dissented.
By Staff
October 3rd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Building community needs big bold steps with people who are prepared to put their resources behind an idea.
 Michael G. DeGroote was one of those people and last week McMaster University folk gathered for their annual Evening of Accolades gala to recognize DeGroote for his exceptional generosity to the University by naming him the 2017 Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni
The Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award was first presented in 2000 to its namesake, Dr. Wayne C. Fox. Each year the legacy of the award continues to recognize our outstanding alumni. It is presented to an alumna or alumnus of the DeGroote School of Business whose personal accomplishments, reputation and character have by association enhanced the reputation of McMaster University.
Twenty-five years ago, the DeGroote School of Business became the first named business school in Ontario with the unveiling of a brand new building at McMaster University. The man behind that building was Michael G. DeGroote.
His path to success is both inspiring and remarkable. Born in Belgium in 1933, DeGroote immigrated to Canada with his parents as a young teenager. He left school in Grade 9 to work the tobacco fields in Southwestern Ontario, in order to help his family make ends meet. At 18, he acquired a used truck and established a small trucking firm, carting farming supplies around the region.
After moving to Hamilton in the late-1950s, DeGroote purchased Laidlaw Transport Ltd. In the years ahead, he would grow the company into the largest school bus operator and third-largest waste management company in North America. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990, and was awarded an honorary degree from McMaster in 1992. He currently resides in Bermuda.
 Celebrating the Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award tradition with past recipients: Back row from left: McMaster President Patrick Deane; David Feather, MBA ’89; Neil Skelding, MBA ’88; Paul Allison, MBA ’81; John Marinucci, B. Com. ’80; Gino Scapillati, B. Com. ’81, Len Waverman. Front row from left: Teresa Cascioli, B. Com. ’83; Michael G. DeGroote, Hon. Doc. ’92; David Williamson, B. Com. ’83; Ed Minich, MBA ’74. A longtime friend and supporter of McMaster, DeGroote made global headlines in 2003 following a landmark $105 million gift to the University. The gift established a number of medical research centres, and facilitated completion of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MDCL). The McMaster School of Medicine was renamed the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine in 2004.
A decade later, graduands of the School of Medicine were surprised when DeGroote took to the stage during Convocation to announce a new $50 million gift. The latter supports an increased focus on national and international health leadership at McMaster, and prompted the forming of the Health Leadership Academy (HLA) – jointly overseen by the Faculties of Business and Health Sciences – among other resources and research endeavours.
The occasion marked the School’s silver anniversary and took place last week at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
By Staff
October 2, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The city has managed to get a lot of mileage out of the wood salvaged from two trees they said had to be cut down – they had lived 70 years and that was enough.
The wood salvaged from the trees has become iconic and is being made available to people who the city thinks will do something useful with the planks.
There are 15 planks, no detail on the length, width or thickness that will be given to whoever wins a draw to take place October 10th at city hall
 The trees and the setting. The Trees and the Gazebo are no longer part of the scene in Spencer Smith Park. There were 469 applications from people interested in making furniture or art from the wood 15 wood salvaged from those two iconic weeping willow trees removed from Spencer Smith Park.
The 70-year-old trees near the gazebo at the waterfront park at Lakeshore and Brant streets were removed in June 2016 after City of Burlington arborists found significant rotting and areas of decay in the trees. The trees were originally transplanted by park founder Spencer Smith in the 1950s.
The city is making use of the Spencer Smith willow tree wood through:
• Wood boards finished by local companies Arborwood Tree Service Inc. and Exotic Woods
• Wood chunks and 100 tree cuttings distributed in June
• A tribute planned for Spencer Smith Park at a later date.
 Willow tree trunks being trimmed and turned into planks. Due to the overwhelming interest in the wood boards, eligible applicants—those who demonstrate a skill in woodworking or who have hired a skilled woodworker—will be entered into a draw on Oct. 10. Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward will draw the winning names.
The community, including all willow wood applicants, is invited to watch the draw take place on Tuesday, October 10th at 5:45 p.m. in the Atrium of City Hall, 426 Brant St.
Those who cannot attend can see the video on the city’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Winners do not have to be present when their names are drawn.
 By Staff
September 26, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Herd today announced that the team has re-signed manager Kevin Hussey for the 2018 season. Hussey returns for his first full season as the skipper after replacing former Herd Manager Jeff Lounsbury in 2017.
 Kevin Hussey – won one game against a superior team – that got him the job of coach for the Burlington Herd. The 30-year-old Hussey was named the fourth manager in Burlington Herd history on July 13, 2017, the day he led the Herd to its first and only victory during the quarter finals – the London Majors took that series 4-1.
Looks as if the Herd felt that if Hussey could win a game against a tough team perhaps he was the guy to be given the task of somehow making a winning tram out of the Herd.
We wish him well,
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Kevin played four years of college baseball at Olney Central Junior College between 2006-2008 and Chicago State University between 2008-2010.
During his time with both colleges, Kevin was a two year starter in both the NJCAA Division I and NCAA Division I baseball programs.
 Hussy took to the field with the Burlington Bandits as the teams starting catcher. In 31 games played, Hussey recorded a .290 batting average with 12 doubles, one home run and 16 RBIs. This past season with the Herd, Hussey has recorded two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI’s.
“We are very excited to welcome Kevin back as the field manager for the Herd,” said Herd President Ryan Harrison. “Kevin is committed to winning and creating that winning atmosphere in the clubhouse.”
In addition to his duties as field manager, Hussey will have direct input in assembling the 2018 roster for the Herd, including scouting, signing players and handling all operational aspects of the on field team.
InterCounty Baseball came to Burlington in 2011, first as the Twins, then as the Bandits and now the Herd
By Staff
September 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
David Suzuki won’t get to Burlington until November – but if you want a ticket to the event – log into the Performing Arts Centre Wednesday – sometime after the noon hour and get your ticket. – They will move quickly.
 Jane Goodall spent time in Burlington in 2012 – she was a huge hit. Burlington Green has been very good at bringing top name speakers to the city. Jane Goodall came in 2012 And was a huge success.
You can expect even more from Suzuki.
“We’re expecting tickets to sell very quickly. David Suzuki doesn’t come to this part of the province often,” says BurlingtonGreen executive director Amy Schnurr. “All summer we’ve heard how excited people are to hear him speak.”
“Grassroots people have been organizing in towns and cities like Hamilton and Burlington and asking our politicians to recognize our right to live in a healthy environment,” said David Suzuki, award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. “For the first time in Canadian history, our elected members of parliament are coming around to the simple but powerful idea that Canadians deserve to drink safe water, breath fresh air and eat clean food.”
Both Hamilton and Burlington have passed declarations recognizing their residents’ right to live in a
healthy environment.
 David Suzuki is a very engaging person. He dives right in and asks questions – younger audiences love him; adults revere him. Before the public event, David Suzuki will join 700 Halton youth for a free all-day environmental leadership conference co-hosted by BurlingtonGreen and the David Suzuki Foundation.
“Youth have a vital role to play in the environmental rights movement,” says Peter Wood, national campaign manager for environmental rights at the David Suzuki Foundation. “Two years ago, students at Ancaster High School and Acton District High School self-organized and successfully lobbied their city Councillors to pass a declaration supporting the right to a healthy environment. By inspiring government to do the right thing, the youth of today can become the environmental leaders of tomorrow.”
Event information are available at www.BurlingtonGreen.org or through the Burlington Performing Arts Centre box office. The event doesn’t appear to be on the Performing Arts Centre web site – you might be better served to give them a call – 905-681-6000
|
|
