 By Pepper Parr
September 7th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
MoonGlade, that No Vacancy event that will take place Friday September 16th at the Art Gallery of Burlington, has attracted artists from across the country.
 Denis Longchamps, Artistic Director & Chief Curator at the AGB explains that the event was curated by his office. Curating is a process whereby artists were selected and invited to submit a project. Longchamps adds that is why “you are noticing the focus on social responsibility”
 Kelly Bruton – one of 17 installation artists participating in the MoonGlade event at the Art Gallery of Burlington on September 16th – 7 to midnight. Kelly Bruton will be doing an installation she calls The Mending Factory. “It is a participatory performance work designed to engage in dialogue with the public about our over-consumption of clothing and its impact on our environment.
“Through the generosity of people’s individual labour they will to be part of a simple assembly line process that deconstructs t-shirts by cutting, and then reconstructing the strips into a hand woven rug. The actions are a metaphor for examining and taking apart systems (deconstructing) to fixing and changing supply chains (reconstructing).
“I am using this performance based work to communicate and share my concern about environmental disasters with others while sharing useful textile knowledge and skills.
“I see these factories like social structures, spaces for direct “hands on” experiences, dialogue and learning. The mending factory is suitable for all ages.”
Kelly makes her home in St. John’s Newfoundland, an island rich with natural spaces for inspiration and artistic challenge. Living in this cultural community has resulted in the blending of disciplines within an individual practice. Kelly’s interdisciplinary practice ranges from Set Design for Film and Television, Costume Design for the stage to exhibiting her Fine Art Textiles internationally.
 The textile piece, Gondawana, by Kelly Bruton was part of the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador gallery presentation Migrations. Photos by Eric Walsh She studied Fine Art at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, where she graduated with degrees in Fine Art and Art Education. Her Art and life is enriched by the travel that she has done over the past twenty years. She has trekked into mountain ranges Rockies (Canada), Simien (Ethiopia), Himalayas, (India and Nepal), has reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, traveled by water into the Okavango Delta (Botswana), Lake Malawi and Lake Tana (Ethiopia).
Kelly also uses her skills as an Artist for social change in her local community and abroad. She served on the Board of Directors for Oxfam Canada for nine years and a three-year term as a Board Trustee for Oxfam International. This voluntary work in International Development is inspired by her own experience living and working in Botswana in southern Africa in the mid 1990s and her travels. She is a founder and Executive Board member of the Social Justice Cooperative of Newfoundland and Labrador.
 By Staff
September 6th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Less than ten days and the crowds will descend on Brock Park – just behind the Art Gallery of Burlington and take in the fourth edition of No Vacancy which this year is branded with the title – MoonGlade.
There will be 17 installations both inside and outside the Art Gallery.
 One of the 2014 No Vacancy installations. Live music and Food Trucks parked along Nelson Street.
Jim Riley, a Video Artist and Sound Sculptor Aaron Hutchinson will be setting up their installation in the Rotary Room of the AGB. They are calling it “Inside his mind 2”
The genesis for “inside his mind2” was the artist’s reflections after a day of bicycling with his fourteen-year-old nephew. Ten years later Riley has revisited the concept of “transitioning” in this video installation. Riley blends documentary evidence and social commentary to depict the transformation for boy to young adult man, as seen in our contemporary culture.
 Inside his mind There is a two channel video projection using a left and right eye to show the past and present activity of the young man. Riley incorporates the blood moon in to this installation both within the space as well as video projections. The moon is often used to symbolize mystery such as transitions.
Aaron Hutchinson has collaborated with Riley to create the sound sculpture for “inside his mind2”.
Sound Sculpture is an intermedia and time based art form. It is an expansion of an art installation in the sense that it includes the sound element and therefore the time element.
 Jim Riley, video artist Jim Riley is a Burlington, ON, based artist and independent curator who is deeply involved in the organizational side of the arts collective that has upgraded itself to an Arts Council. His art practice is a blend of documentary evidence, personal ideology, social commentary and artistic investigations. Riley’s present aesthetic investigations explore time and perceptual memory. His recent art practice has involved public art and gallery video installations. He has a BA from Brock University. Riley has exhibited his art in Canada and the US. Some of Riley’s video art is represented by V tape Distributions, Toronto. www.jimriley.ca
 Aaron Hutchinson Aaron Hutchinson is a new media artist and musician from Hamilton (MA in Communication and New Media, McMaster University). He currently makes music in a variety of ensembles that have taken him around Canada, the United States and Germany. Aaron won the 2012 Hamilton Arts Award for emerging artist in New Media. He is a founding member of the Hamilton Audio Visual Node (HAVN) and the music director of HAVN records. (aaronhutchinson.ca)
 By Pepper Parr
September 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
In September there will be two cultural events that will spell the end of the summer season on the community based cultural scene.
 While yet to take place the Premiere of The Frozen Goose adds to the film work being done in the city – MoonGlade will be the fourth No Vacancy event and well known artist Margaret Lindsay Holton will premiere her latest short film – The Frozen Goose
Burlington has a Performing Arts Centre and an Art Gallery plus a Museum that are handsomely funded by the municipality.
There are dozens of other small groups whose performances get done because committed volunteers make them happen.
These small groups struggle to stay alive financially – but stay alive they did.
Debra Pickfield sponsored a Shakespeare production at her ThinkSpot location in Lowville.
 Traditional summer theatre fare – that turned out to be a hoot. Kudos to KooGle for putting this one on. The KooGle Company put on the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Performing Arts Centre; where despite precious little marketing and promotion support from BPAC they had two sold out performances and more than respectful audiences during the two week run.
The Lowville Festival did their thing for the second year and are convinced that what they set out to do last year has legs and are planning for a third year.
 Trevor’s Copps production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was perhaps the most ambitious and successful summer theatre event – despite what the weather tried to do to him. Trevor Copp spent a number of years convincing the Royal Botanical Gardens that the grounds were a great place to hold an outdoor theatre production; August saw a two week run of A Midsummer Night’s dream – despite weather that just didn’t want to co-operate. The venue, which started with 220 seats and was able to ramp it up to 270 – it was a sterling event – well worth doing next year.
Has the city reached a tipping point – a time when there are enough well run events to draw visitors to the city?
Are we at the point where smaller tour operators can fill a bus and bring them to the city to take part in a cultural event? Not quite – but there is movement.
What is needed to grow ourselves culturally to the next level? Anyone with any experience in the cultural field will tell you that events bring in people – the Sound of Music draws thousands of people who are not Burlingtonians. They are also comfortably funded by the city. RibFest does the same thing.
The Art Gallery runs its programs throughout the year and draws a lot of traffic during the summer.
The Performing Arts Centre has yet to come up with a theme that can get bums into seats during the summer. There are many opportunities to develop programs or partner with other groups to put the venue to good use.
 Barbara Lica gave the city a taste of some really pleasant contemporary jazz on the Plaza at the Performing Arts Centre – it was part of their August program. The Centre does have to be given credit for the excellent Jazz on the Plaza program it offered last year and continued this year and also for adding events on Tuesday’s for younger people.
Trevor Copp and his Tottering Bipod Theatre looks as if he is going to be able to put on another production next summer – by the time the Café will, hopefully have its liquor license so patrons can enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a show – perhaps even during intermission.
 Jude Johnson singing Forever Young – she had them standing on their feet. The Lowville Festival people are looking for a way to make use of the grounds at Lowville Park – they really like the idea of using the outdoors – with maybe a large tent as a theatre.
Rob Missen waxed eloquently as he spoke of “the sound of Bronte creek” bubbling away serving as a back drop for the musicians or the actors. Getting outdoors would allow them to attract larger audiences; the church halls in rural Burlington do have their limitations
There is a much healthier local culture scene; the arts have become a hive of activity – but they still need help. All the city departments have submitted their core budget and the hinted 3.5% plus tax increase might mean there isn’t all that much cash to spare.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon managed to get the Art Gallery the funds to pay for the van that will be in the field taking art to the community. The artists have decided to be more proactive and formed an Arts council that they hope will allow them to get a little more from the city (good luck on that one) and be in a position to get funding from the province.
Burlington’s MPP is now a cabinet minister heading up the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport; she will do as much as she can for the home team – let’s hope that she remembers the little guys and doesn’t shower the Art Gallery, Museum and Performing Arts centre with provincial money.
It has been a good season – there is hope.
 By Staff
September 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is an event in this city that takes place once we are into the fall season – we show off – or rather we show our stuff.
This year, the general public will have an opportunity to see what a group of very dedicated volunteers have done with a railway station that is an important part of the city’s history – a structure that sat on cribbing and was about to be demolished and sold for kindling.
A hearty band of volunteers fought city council’s shameful inertia and found a home for the station and began the process of renovating and refurbishing the structure.
 Allan Harrington with a paint brush – an upgrade form his profession as a “bean counter” on th left. The station Master’s office and the ticket wicket on the right. October 1st is Open House for a number of locations in the city. For Freeman Station it is the first time the public is going to be able to walk through the place and see what a local train station looked like in the very early 1900’s
They are doing a superb job – but it isn’t completed. They face two challenges – 1: to be ready for their Open House and 2: to begin to close the structure in before the cold weather sets in – all the signs are that we are going to have a beaut of a winter.
 Sitting on some “cribbing” with a sign badly in need of several coats of paint, the Freeman Station days before it was moved to its new home. Can you help out?
They need help to clean up the baggage room and portico, to install wood siding on the back outside walls, painting both outside and inside, as well as many other jobs to get the station ready for winter and Doors Open on October 1st. Everyone at the Freeman station is a volunteer and we really could use your help.
Volunteer Work Days, September 10th, 17th and 24th
We need your help even if you are only available for a few hours with only one month before Doors Open and we want to put our best foot forward. Come on out and help us get ready, work on the station, our artifacts, and a myriad of smaller tasks to get ready for Doors Open Burlington on October 1st. Bring work gloves and wear old clothes.
 Looks a lot better today than it day 18 months ago – but it isn’t ready yet for public viewing – help out of out can. To alert us to your skills, please email info@freemanstation.ca to let us know that you are coming.
 By Staff
September 2, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
People now remember to take a sweater with them these days – not something we would have done two weeks ago or during much of July and August.
 Is this what we can expect this winter? The people in the Nelson community got through the year without a swimming pool – will they remember what their city did to them come the next municipal election?
A brutal summer appears to be over even though official summer doesn’t end until September 21st.
Our clocks go back an hour on November 6th – will we have snow by then?
 The Farmer’s Almanac advises that we are in for a winter that may be as tough as the summer we just got through. Shudder
The Almanac says January and February of next year are going to be particularly heavy.
You might ant to buy some road salt early – last year stores ran out.
 By Staff
September 2, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
When the province announced earlier this year that beer would be available for purchase at supermarkets Burlington residents wanted to know where they could make a purchase.
The answer at that time was – not in Burlington – Oakville and Hamilton – but not in Burlington.
Yesterday the province announced that wine would be available for purchase at supermarkets – and we made the list – there are a number of supermarkets that will be selling wine as of October 28th.
In its media release the Ministry of Finance said: Ontario has selected the first grocers that could sell both domestic and imported wine inside up to 70 grocery stores across the province, increasing convenience and choice for consumers.
The winning grocers were selected through a competitive bidding process held by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The sale of wine in grocery stores is scheduled to begin October 28, 2016.
 Don’t expect the wine selection in local supermarkets to look anything like this. Reflecting a mix of independent and large grocers and geographic representation to ensure fairness, the successful grocers in the Burlington market are:
Loblaws Inc.
Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.
Metro Ontario Inc.
Sobeys Capital Inc.
Fresh Market Foods
Wal-mart Canada Corp.
Fortinos appears to be missing from the list, however they are part of the larger Loblaws operation – perhaps they will come under that brand name – checking on that.
The other supermarkets that will sell wine in the province are:
Canex Canadian Forces Exchange System
Coppa’s Fresh Market
Farm Boy 2012 Inc.
Highland Farms Inc.
Starsky’s Fine Foods Hamilton Inc.
Uxbridge Foods Inc.
Yummy Market Inc.
These grocers will have to abide by the requirements for the safe sale of alcohol overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), including designated sales areas and standard hours of sale, limitations on package sizes and alcohol content and staffing and social responsibility training requirements.
The longer term plan is to eventually have up to 450 grocery stores authorized to sell beer and cider and, of these, up to 300 may also sell wine.
 It will be interesting to see which wines the different supermarkets decide to sell – it will tell us something about how well they know their customer base. Up to 70 existing winery retail stores that operate just outside a grocery store’s checkout will also be permitted to operate inside the store and share the checkout. These “wine boutiques” will broaden their assortment to sell wines made by other Ontario producers, and will be located at grocery stores that sell beer. These wine boutiques will be permitted to begin operating this fall, at the same time as wine is introduced to grocery stores.
Sales of beer in grocery stores started in December 2015. Between December 2015 and the second week of August 2016, grocers received more than 532,000 cases of beer from the LCBO, amounting to net sales of approximately $24 million.
By Pepper Parr
August 30, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Teresa’s uniquely sculptural fine art stained glass is an artistic trademark featuring multi layers of glass panels with spun wire. Her use of a refined colour pallet creates a mood and atmosphere that is distinctive to Teresa, making her one of Canada’s most notable emerging stained glass artists whose work is in a number of prominent homes in the area.
 Teresa Seaton and Slam poet Tomy Bewick joined talents to do a remarkably moving installation at the third annual No Vacancy event last year. Seaton is one of 17 artists who will set up her installation for the 7:00 pm opening of the Fourth Annual No Vacancy event taking place on Friday. September 16th at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Each year the No Vacancy events are given a unique name – this year, their fourth they are calling the collection of installation MoonGlade.
Each artist determine how the want to use there art to create a space that you walk into – one doesn’t just look at art hung on a wall – you interact with it.
Jim Riley, an installation artist in hiw one right, as a “three dimensional art form that is often specifically designed to use the walls, floor and space of a room as a sculptural artwork itself. The artist uses objects, video, sound or other material to create the artwork. The audience enters in to the space and becomes part of the actual artwork as opposed to passively looking at one sculpture, one painting one video or other singular artwork.”
 Teresa Seaton was awarded a commission by the city of Burlington to create a piece of public art for ward 3. Seaton graduated from York University, BFA in drawing and sculpture, then completed her Graphic Design Diploma at Sheridan College leading her to successful career as Senior Designer and Creative Director with clients from Toronto to New York.
Teresa chose stained glass to express her artistic voice in 2001. Working full time as a stained glass Artist she opened the doors of Teresa Seaton Studio & Gallery in 2013. Teresa’s gallery features a large selection of her latest works and now exhibits the work of established and emerging Canadian artists.
Last year Seaton worked with Slam poet Tomy Bewick; together they used his poem and Seaton’s stained glass feathers to tell a unique story.
Their performance was close to the best, if not the best installation last year.
Friday, September 17th, 7:00 pm to 11 pm in Brock Park, behind the Art Gallery of Burlington and inside the art gallery as well.
 By Staff
August 27, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They did it – the Toronto Maple Leafs have forced a seventh and final game against the London Majors . Game 7 will determine who Barrie in the IBL final. They crushed the Majors 16-4 Saturday night at Christie Pits to tie the best-of-seven semifinal 3-3.
Justin Marra homered and drove in four with a pair of runs to lead the Leafs, while Grant Tamane had a three-run blast in the eighth inning. Sean Mattson had two hits, two RBI and two runs, Jonathan Solazzo went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, Ryan White had two hits with a pair of RBI and scored once, and Jon Waltenbury had four singles and two runs.
Dan Marra singled and scored twice, Brendan Keys drove in a run and scored twice, and Connor Lewis had a double, RBI and three runs.
Mike Wagner (4-0) picked up the win, allowing three runs on 11 hits over 6.2 innings, walking three and striking out seven.
For London, RJ Fuhr doubled, tripled and had an RBI with two runs. Byron Reichstein had two doubles and an RBI, Chris McQueen and Kyle Gormandy each singled twice and scored once, and Keith Kandel had an RBI.
Owen Boon (1-2) was pulled after five outs and gave up eight runs (two earned) on eight hits, walking one and striking out one.
Game 7 is Sunday night in London at 7:05.
London will have the home field advantage but that may not be enough to take a gritty baseball team that has come back again and again to win.
The Barrie Baycats are getting a rest – they are going to need everything they have if they find themselves going up against the Toronto team.
This just might be a Hwy 400 series final.
The Maple leafs ground out a seven game win over the Brantford Red Sox to win their quarter final series.
By Staff
August 24, 2016
Burlington, ON
A trial for an animal rights activist charged with mischief for giving water to pigs that were in a sweltering truck on their way to slaughter began this morning.
 Anita Krajnc Anita Krajnc of Toronto faces jail time or a maximum $5,000 fine for providing water through the narrow openings of a metal trailer to the pigs as they were headed to Fearman’s Pork Inc. in Burlington, Ont.
Krajnc, 49, is part of the group Toronto Pig Save, which held a vigil outside the pork processing plant on June 22, 2015.
The comments being made by readers who are following a twitter news feed by CBC reporter Samantha Craggs are diverse to say the least.
Worth tuning into.
The protesters have been on the scene for a number of years – they are persistent. Fearman’s is taking a beating in the public relations world.
 That pig may not be human but the look in its eye says it is in serious distress. The charge of mischief is for giving pigs water in a sweltering truck while they were on their way to a slaughterhouse in Burlington.
Krajnc said her group stands on a traffic island at Appleby Line and Harvester Road once a week to “bear witness” to the animals going to slaughter at Fearman’s Pork Inc.
‘In legal circles, people are scratching their heads’ said lawyer Gary Grill.
On June 22, Ktajnc said, temperatures were high, and her group poured water through the holes. In court documents, Halton police refer to it as an “unknown liquid.”
The Halton police have had to manage calls from the slaughter house every week – at one point the protesters managed to actually get to what is called the hog chute – the spot where the pigs are off loaded from the truck into the plant.
On June 22nd, Krajnc said the driver got out and told them to stop, and she quoted a Bible verse at him about giving water to the thirsty.
“He said, ‘They’re not humans, you dumb frigging broad,'” she told CBC News.
The pork farmer who owned the pigs, Eric Van Boekel of Oxford County, contacted police the next day, court documents say. Police investigated and pursued the mischief charge. Punishment for the charge ranges from a fine to up to 10 years in prison.
 Anita Kranjc supporters outside the courthouse Gary Grill, Kranjc’s Toronto-based lawyer asked: “Taxpayers are paying for this.”
Grill said the question isn’t how he and co-counsel James Silver will defend the case, but how the Crown will prove that what Kranjc did was criminal mischief.
Kranjc, 48, said if she is fined, she will refuse to pay.
The trial continues.
 By Pepper Parr
August 24th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
 Lydia Santia Lydia Santia was an Honors Studio Art student at McMaster University.
She grew up in Etobicoke, Ontario.
 Portraying repetition and futility? She is primarily focused on projection installation and its implications regarding portraying repetition and futility.
Her work is centered in exploring a fleeting relationship with her suburban childhood and the implications this relationship carries for her as an adult.
Santia spends her adult life challenging her typical upbringing in a comfortable home in a suburban neighbourhood. She currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario and holds a BFA degree from McMaster University.
Lydia has exhibited her work in Toronto and Hamilton; her work is owned in several private collections.
By Pepper Parr
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Margaret Lindsay Holton has been a fixture on the Burlington culture scene for a number of years – she has also been a passionate advocate on environmental issues.
There are those who will remember the pin hole cameras she used to make and many who will remember her art.
The most recent short film – The Frozen Goose will be premiered at the Art Gallery of Burlington September 11th.
 She has done film work before; Frozen Goose is her production from start to finish – a process that put her through all the wringers that film production impose on people.
She started out with a budget of $87,000 – that got dropped to $15,000 when a sponsor she was sure she had took a pass. The $11,000 budget she paired things down to was what she had to go forward with. “I had to make it work” was the way Holton explained the drive and persistence she brought to the production.
She did some crowd funding – that’s seldom the deal those offering the service make it out to be.
The next step was to sell some of her art – had that not raised the needed funds – the family heirlooms were perhaps next.
Film producers spend as much time on the financial side as they do on the actual production of the film – and the production side is never a cake walk.
The production had 140 shots taken during 11 scenes in 11 different locations.
“One of the scenes required solid lake ice, but there was none to be had at the designated lake location, so, last minute, an alternate shallow pond, frozen solid, was used.”
 Originally published as a short story in 2014 – The Frozen Goose focuses on the struggles of a rural Canadian family coping in the aftermath of World War One. Loss, anger and deep misunderstanding mingle with tender trust – and love – as a broken family inch towards the future.
It’s a part of the First World War experience that has never been fully explored.
“I got the filmmaking bug after working as a Production Assistant for the commercial film house of Roseanne McWaters & Derek VanLint back in the early 1980’s” she said, adding, “I went on from there to co-produce, co-direct and script a 54 minute ‘experimental documentary’ :In the Eye of the Hunter” with a Ryerson University Film & Photo Arts grad, Jane Walker Manchee, that was broadcast, 2 years later, on Rogers Cable 10.
 Margaret Lindsay Holton is an established artist as well as a filmmaker. Her work consistently sells quite well.  At times Holton takes a sparse, almost minimalist approach to canvas. she has a strong following. It was a big hit on the late night cable TV world; had a novel interactive ‘open-response line’ (predating the internet) that allowed viewers to verbally comment on the show after every broadcast. Comments were eye-opening, insightful, at times unnerving – and always invigorating. The film ran on Cable for 6 months in a late night slot.
Deepening her filming skills Holton attended two week-long Canadian Film Production industry seminars: one in New York City, and the other in Brockville, Ontario, (where she met the incomparable Peter Wintonick. Canada’s best documentary champion.) Peter and Holton became – and remained – good friends until his recent passing . Holton also worked one short summer as a P.A. in the Publicity Department at what is now called the Toronto International Film Festival, aka TIFF.
Holton has shot over 40 shorts, less than 20 minutes each. These have usually been embedded in published stories.
 Cameron Brindle is a budding young thespian, who turned 9 in January. Growing up, he showed a love of all things theatrical from a very early age. He honed his original talent as both an actor and director in countless games of dress-up with his sister, before starting his formal training in drama classes at the age of 4. For the last two years, Cameron has focused on improving his technique and developing improvisation skills, as an active member of the Waterdown-based Creative Theatre Company. He also regularly presents in school assemblies and is a member of the Glenview School Primary Choir. Cameron loves history, travelling and playing with his friends. He is an expert on all things ‘Star Wars’, and dreams of being a Jedi when he grows up. The Frozen Goose is Cameron first film. The cast consists of youngsters Hannah Ralph & Cameron Brindle who join acting veterans – Leslie Gray,
Rod McTaggart and John Fort.
 Hannah Ralph – ‘Bella’ Hannah entered the Hamilton arts scene at an early age. She had her first stage debut at the age of 6 at the semi-finals of the Rise to Fame Youth Talent Search at the Western Fair. At the age of 14, Hannah has become an accomplished vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and actor. She is currently a member of the internationally recognized Hamilton Children’s Choir. She has performed most recently at Polyfolia Music Festival in Normandy, France, the Hamilton Juno awards, the PanAm games in Toronto, and as a cast member of the production of Apocalypsis at the Luminato Festival in Toronto. Hannah has also trained in the theatre with Lou Zambrogna of Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius and has been the lead in local productions of The Wizard of Oz and Pinnochio. Hannah is currently attending acting classes at Lewis Baumander Acting Studios and studying privately with Michael Gordin Shore, in Toronto, where she is pursuing her acting career.
Holton is a member of the Filmmakers Alliance of Burlington (aka FAB.) and was, at one point, a very active member of the arts collective that has gone formal and is now calling itself an Arts Council.
The film is being premiered on September 11th, with two showing – one at 3:15 pm and a second at 4:00 pm at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
The film has a run time of 25 minutes. There will be a ‘live’ musical interlude by fab folk group, with fiddler David Clarence MacLean, WhiskeyEpiphany, entertaining between shows.
Whiskey Epiphany is a Celtic/Acoustic/Folk band from Southern Ontario, Canada. The band was formed in 2011 and includes principal songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Mike Gravitis, his sister/vocalist Lianne Gravitis, bass/guitarist and banjoist Jack MacLean, his father/fiddler and mandolinist David Clarence MacLean and Dave Gould on percussion. Whiskey Epiphany performs regularly at many venues, festivals, corporate functions and weddings in Canada and the USA.
Tickets for the Premiere are available on-line ONLY. Link is HERE
 Leslie Gray – ‘Helen’ Leslie Gray as ‘Helen’ in TFG – Photo Credit – MLH ProductionsActor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, Leslie has worked in all aspects of the performing arts. TV/Film credits include Emily in Hacks (Comedy Network), Featured Photographer in Terry (Shaftesbury) and has appeared in Riding the Bus with my Sister (dir. Anjelica Huston), Darcy’s Wildlife, Missing, The West Wing, Man of the Year (with Robin Williams) and many more. She has on camera training with Jayne Eastwood, Bernadette Jones, Millie Tom, Laura Jones, Crystal Proctor and Anne Tait. Leslie is also a musical theatre performer with training from Sheridan College and has performed in over 40 musical productions across Ontario. She is currently the co-artistic director, along with her husband Christopher, of Burlington’s professional theatre company KooGle Theatre Co. This July Leslie will be playing “Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere” in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Leslie also teaches at Burlington Dance Academy (musical theatre and tap), Centre Stage Theatre School (guest teacher) and ArtHouse (musical theatre workshops).
 John Fort is a Hamilton-based actor, known for his supporting roles in CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries and assorted indie low-budget productions. Known as a ‘scrapper’, John is an accomplished martial arts student, and has taken acting workshops with the Performing Arts Guild in Toronto under David Rotenberg, an advocate of the ‘method’ style of acting. John’s favourite actor is James Dean.
 Rod McTaggart is an actor, entertainer and musician, recently known for his riveting performance in John Logan’s RED at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. In 2014, he played in Adam Riggio’s ‘You Were My Friend’, Gary Santucci’s ‘Democracy is Dead’ and Norm Foster’s ‘Under the Bright Sun’. A mature actor, Rod centered ‘stage left’ after working as a Stage Manager for the Oakville Drama Series. His film experience includes, ‘Infirmity'(2016), ‘This is How We Walk’ (2012) – selected for The Short Film Corner at Cannes, and ‘Happy Birthday Day’ – selected for TIFF in 2012.
By Pepper Parr
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
With a name like “No Vacancy” what was one to expect at an event that ran for just a couple of hours at the Waterfront hotel when it was first put on in 2013.
A murder mystery perhaps?
What the city got to see was some ground breaking art – described as “installations” which Jim Riley describes as a “three dimensional art form that is often specifically designed to use the walls, floor and space of a room as a sculptural artwork itself. The artist uses objects, video, sound or other material to create the artwork. The audience enters in to the space and becomes part of the actual artwork as opposed to passively looking at one sculpture, one painting one video or other singular artwork.”
Doesn’t sound all that exciting when explained – you had to be in one of the rooms back in 2013 to appreciate what was being done.
No Vacancy put on a second event in 2014; it was one of those boffo – close to over the top events that was presented at the Village Square and given the name Cirque
The third year was put on at Old Lakeshore Road where the audience wasn’t as robust. Up until the 2014 event the group that put on the event did so without anything in the way of financial support from the city.
In 2015 and in 2016 a grant of less than $5000 each year was made available.
Each No Vacancy event is given its own unique name. The group has chosen MoonGlade for the 2016 that will take place in Brock Park, at the rear of the Art Gallery on Lakeshore Road and some space inside the gallery.
There will be 17 different individuals installing their work.
There will be a pop up arts gallery, live entertainment and a collection of food trucks.
 Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese-Canadian artist born in Nanjing, China, who currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada Among the installation artists will be Xiaojing Yan who is returning to the No Vacancy list.
 A collection of ceramic spoons arranged to form a bridge – installation art at its very best. Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese-Canadian artist born in Nanjing, China, who currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Xiaojing Yan received a B.F.A in decorative art from Nanjing Art Institute, China, in 2000, and an M.F.A in sculpture from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA, in 2007. The central themes running through her work concern immigration, identity, cultural difference, and transmigration. Often using traditional Chinese materials and practices within the contemporary aesthetic.
Yan’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Canada, China and United States.
Her work was included in the featured project at Art Toronto 2014 and the featured exhibition “Beyond Geography” at Art Toronto 2012. Recent solo shows include “Hybrid Vigour” at The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Canada(2015);”Cloud Cell” at the Red Head Gallery, Toronto(2015, 2012), “Innocence & Experience” at Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto(2014), “Red and White Melody” at TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary (2014). In September 2017, Varley Art Gallery in Markham, Ontario will present her solo exhibition. And in November 2017, Suzhou Museum will present her first solo museum exhibition in China.
 Xiaojing Yan was one of the artists that contributed to perhaps the most attractive collection of bike racks in North America Yan has been in many public and private collections including the most recent permanent collection “Cloudscape” at Seneca College at Newnham Campus, Toronto, Canada (2013).
Yan is the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the 2013 Mandarin Profile Awards. Additional information on this installation artist can be found on her web site: yanxiaojing.com
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the Largest Human Letter by forming a giant J in Spencer Smith Park.
 The Brant Hospital Foundation is going to attempt to put 2,167 people in the space shown in the graphic and win the Guinness Book of Records title for the Largest Human Letter by forming a giant J in Spencer Smith Park. Bring your friends, family and co-workers and be a part of history! Plan to arrive at Spencer Smith Park at 12 noon for on-site registration.
This event is free but you do need a ticket.
You can get that ticket by clicking HERE:
You do have to bring the ticket with you so that the hospital foundation can accurately measure the number of participants for the world record attempt. They will be scanning digital or printed tickets at the event and ask you to please bring your printed ticket or an electronic ticket on your smartphone.
When you arrive at the park you will be given a rain poncho to be identifiable as a participant and be assigned to a numbered section.
Participants will be asked to enter the formation upon arrival, and will remain there until the record attempt is complete and verified by the Guinness World Records judge on site. Water and snacks will be provided, and there will be live entertainment throughout the day including a DJ and emcee on stage to keep participants informed.
The current record for this category in the Guinness Book of Records is held by Dell Computers, who formed the slanted E in their logo with 2,166 people. We require 2,167 people to break the record. For the safety of all participants, the first 3,000 people to register at Spencer Smith Park will be permitted to be a part of the Guinness World Records Official Attempt.
 An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital which will now face the lake. The entrance will be off Lakeshore Road with the new parking lot just to the west of the hospital. This all happens Sunday, 2 October 2, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (EDT) at Spencer Smith Park. There will be all kinds of sign showing you where to go.
This is an exciting and really innovative idea – can Burlington do it?
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is responsible for raising funds for the hospital – they are currently well into the raising of $60 million for the re-development of the hospital that is taking place now on Lakeshore Road.
 By Pepper Parr
August 21, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The number is reported to be between 8,000 and 12,000.
And it was huge.
 It was wall to wall – with the crowd stretching far into the western part of Spencer Smith Park But it was more than that – it was the looks on people faces and people who mouthed the words to many of the songs.
It was hot.
When Gord Downie first appeared on the giant screen he was in a passageway hugging and greeting the members of his band. The last performance of the Man Machine Poem tour as about to begin and the crowd of 6000 in the Kingston venue went wild.
 He gave it everything he had and went through three costume changes during a performance to be remembered for a long long time. And then he began to do what he does best – entertained an audience and took them back to better days.
At one point he came close to lecturing the Prime Minister who was in the audience which seemed OK especially when he said Justin had 12 years in office ahead of him
The aboriginal community has always been a concern and a passion for Downie – and he directed the Prime Minister to do something about that as the Prime Minister stood quietly with a look of both awe and respect for the man on the stage. “We are going to figure it out” said Downie.
 There were very few open spaces like this – these didn’t have all that good a line of sight. Some media reported three encores – I thought there were more than that, closer to five. As he left the stage during one of the encores he said: “Have a good life.”
The Tragically Hip music is not the genre I prefer and I didn’t know very many of the songs. I was there to report on the event – and it was amazing – he did three costume changes – each into a different metallic coloured suit and a different hat with feathers. A blue suit, a maroon suit and a gold suit; he was resplendent.
 The audience of between 8,000 and 12, 000 listened quietly and during the closing numbers stood to applaud an incredible performance. He kept pulling up his trousers – as if they didn’t fit or he had forgotten his belt; maybe it was the equipment attached to his waist.
What was amazing for me was the size of the crowd; perhaps the biggest Spencer Smith Park has experienced. It was a well behaved crowd – and the expected plumes of thick white smock with that identifiable pungent odour wafted over the crowd at the base of the screen.
The simulcast into Spencer Smith Park happened when the ward 2 councillor for the city and the Burlington Downtown Business Association approached city council and asked them to match the $12,500 that the BDBA had raised. Council said yes and the team that made it happen got into gear.
 The technical part of the performance went off without a hitch. They arranged for a small trench to be dug to bury a TV cable feed, along with a back up. The equipment that made the technically flawless production happen sat under a tent humming away with one at the controls – the technology was superb. Andie Porecki , president of the Sound of Music said everything technically had gone perfectly.
 The enormity of it all hits Downie – this is the last performance Downie played with is audience and at the close of one of his encores he thanked the audience for “keeping me pushing”
Two things struck me – the pain in his face at times; the howls that were almost primal and then his ability to shift into a lighter mood.
 You sat where you could; police patrolled an event that didn’t have a spot of trouble. The officers did wear Tasers however. At the end of one of the encores a member of the band appeared to have to lead him off the stage – didn’t matter – he returned.
At the second to last encore, the moon that was in the eastern sky was muted by drifting clouds; some of the audience was beginning to pick up their chairs and head for home. The concert was well past the 11 pm finish time.
Like the Spring break up on some rivers – the winter ice did not want to let go. No one wanted it to end.
 By Staff
August 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Is there something Shakespearian about the way things have worked out with the performance schedule of the two week run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the RBG Rock Garden?
Traffic tie ups on the QEW kept several cast members in the cars and not on the lawn – resulting in the cancellation of the Friday performance. Bad enough that they had to contend with weather, that just didn’t work for them, – then traffic kept a couple of his performers in their cars somewhere on the QEW Friday evening
There are two performances left – this evening and then Sunday evening.
Reception of the play has been great.
A site that will allow 220 seats had to find a way to get 255 in place only to have the rain get in the way – again.
 The setting was superb – the rain wasn’t really necessary. The weather issues need not get in the way of a superb idea – what will they plan for next summer?
By Staff
August 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a close to perfect evening – not even a hint of rain.
The folks that live downtown and those that made themselves aware of the free Jazz events on the Plaza at the Performing Arts centre began to take up seats as early as 5:30 pm for a 6:30 performance – they knew that the seats get taken up quickly.
This is the second year of what is turning out to be a very popular event.
 Barbara Lica, charming both an audience and a microphone. Good music, Barbara Lica, Romania’s gift to Canada took to the platform and never failed to delight. The cash bar was open.
Barbara Lica, a night light lyrical voice. The Jazz part of the Centre’s summer program end next week when Vincent Wolfe & the VegasNorth Seven will be playing.
The fall program really doesn’t begin until very late in September when the Centre celebrates five years of existence – they are bring Royal Wood back for this occasion.
An opportunity to listen to a growing artist and to take a look back at what the Centre has given the city that gave so much to get it built.
The audience has grown, putting a management team in place has proven to be more of a challenge than many expected. The arts are different – not like running a factory.
There have been three Executive Directors during the five years of existence.
 There wasn’t seat to be had – some people sat on the other side of the street to just listen. What the general public doesn’t see or hear much about is the elementary and secondary school programs.
The Centre has an 11 performance program for kindergarten to grade 8 specifically curated for young audiences to be more than just regular, old field trips. Instead, they are unique cultural excursions that nurture the development of creative students and who in turn build creative communities. And tickets are $10 each.
Among the school program offerings are: The Lightning Thief, I.aM.mE Dance Crew, Peter Rabbit Tales, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories plus The Spirit of Harriet Tubman.
There are also workshop’s for students.
By Pepper Parr
August 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A national newspaper recently said that God Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip, was attending his own wake.
 This evening tens of thousands of Canadians across the country will listen during the last stop of an immensely successful cross country tour – sold out at every stop – comes to an end in Kingston, Ontario – their home town.
Downie was told by his oncologist, who will be in the audience tonight that his brain cancer is terminal. In the 1980’s Terry Fox ran through Burlington as part of his Marathon of Hope – he wasn’t able to complete the run – but since that amazing effort on his part millions has been raised to pay for the research that has to be done to beat back cancer.
 Gord Downie – performing. Tonight, perhaps millions will listen to that final concert. Will those listeners be generous enough to pump additional millions into cancer research as Gord Downie once again gives it everything he has?
That’s what that concert this evening is really all about – our chance to show who we are and what we can do.
Think about passing along the price of a good dinner in a fine restaurant to the cause.
Donate to
There is a free shuttle bus service from the Burlington GO station to the John street bus terminal – a short walk to Spencer Smith Park.
CBC is running an hour of Olympic’s coverage before the concert. The Hip concert will begin at 8:30.
You can donate online.
There will be people on site accepting cash donations.
There will be two stations on site where credit card donations can be made.
Give till it hurts – cancer does hurt – ask Gord Downie.
Joseph Brant Hospital Cancer Clinic
Canadian Cancer Society – Halton Branch
This event came out of an initiative from ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and the Burlington Downtown Business Association who proposed that the city match the $12,500 the BDBA put up.
By Pepper Parr
August 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is going to be a “twofer” that is two things for the price of one.
And when the one is free – this is an occasion you don’t want to miss.
 The Tragically Hip have spent a lot of time on the road in a bus – they will play in Kingston on Saturday and be simulcast across the country. The final event of the current cross country tour is being done by the tragically Hip from their home base in Kingston, Ontario and is being simultaneously broadcast to a number of cities across the country.
Burlington is one of them.
With the Olympics eating up a lot of television time – the CBC has decided to start the broadcast an hour early – it was originally to begin at 8:30 pm
It will now start at 7:30 pm with the first hour devoted to Olympic events.
This just might mean that the comments local politicians will want to make might get skipped – that would be nice.
The evening is an opportunity to pay homage to a band that as a significant part of the lives of a major demographic – it is also an opportunity to pony up with some of your cash and support the cancer research that may someday come up with a way to treat the cancer that for Gord Downie is terminal – the cancer research people have made tremendous strides – let Downie you know you are going to do your part.
It is going to be an emotional evening.
 Gord Downie Bring your lawn chair/blanket, water bottle & cash/credit for donations to our local charities for brain cancer research and treatment.
Volunteers will be circulating to collect cash; credit card donations will be processed at two booths at the event.
People can also donate in advance.
Joseph Brant Hospital cancer clinic
Canadian Cancer Society – Halton Branch
The city is making it easy to get to the event – they suggest you leave the car at home – finding a parking spot will be a challenge – and take the GO train and use the shuttle bus that will run from the Burlington GO to Spencer Smith Park until 1 am – which gives you loads of time to grab a brew and a bite at one of the local hospitality establishments in the city.
“Tragically Hip Shuttle” is available from Burlington GO station, north side, from 6 pm to 1 am.
This is an alcohol-free, family friendly event that will proceed rain or shine.
By Pepper Parr
August 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
“What a week” said Trevor Copp as he prepared for the second week of a two week run of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing at the Rock Garden of the RBG on York Blvd.
 A scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed on a lawn at the Rock Garden section of the Royal Botanical Gardens Copp tells people that while he listened to the Mayor who was commenting on the event at its opening night he wondered if he wanted to warn the crowd how the energy and attendance tends to drop down after opening. “So glad I didn’t. We’ve had a full week of huge crowds playing to an ever stronger show. It couldn’t have gone better.”
Copp may have stretched what really happened – they had to delay the show one night while it rained – but the audience was loyal and they waited out the rain
He had to cancel one show – weather just wasn’t co-operating.
Copp’s troubles were environmental – everything else was typical Trevor Copp: exciting, different and surprising. You aren’t likely to see another production of the play done with that much energy.
 If you’re on the right Road you can’t miss the place. Copp closes with: “Love to have you as a part of our second (and final) week of this inaugural run.”
Where is this place? It’s at the newly opened Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) ROCK GARDEN (1185 York Blvd), which is a couple kms along the same road (towards Hamilton) from the RBG Main Entrance. There is a huge sign and plenty of free parking right across the street
When? 7pm this Wednesday to Sunday; August 17-21. The Gardens open exclusively to ticket holders (your tix include admission to the Rock Gardens) at 5pm, so get there early and enjoy the newly re-opened Gardens.
 By Staff
August 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This soggy weather is mucking up a lot of programs.
The city announced that the following Sportfields are closed Tuesday August 16th
All baseball diamonds
Maple Park – F1
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