 By Pepper Parr
September 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are called “ART QUILTs” which is defined as a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure.”
 Donna Funnell’s Stitch Scroll is a delicate length of cloth with exquisite stitching. Kind of technical sounding and really isn’t much in the way of an introduction to a marvelous art form that is currently on display at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
 Those ;eaves are not painted – they were stitched onto a piece of backing – the detail is incredible. Titled the Ginko Tree by Cecelia Cameron, Sudan Durham, Shirley Kilpatrick and Patricia Mennon – the Ginko Tree predates the dinosaurs. Called Fibre Content – the show includes more than 100 pieces that will delight the eye – there is one piece that you swear is a photograph but in close inspection is a stitched piece of work.
 It looks like a photograph – but it is stitching. “The Way is see myself by Sharron Deacon. A rare selfie. Our apologies to our readers for not telling you about this exhibition earlier – it runs at the AGB until the end of next Sunday.
Well worth taking the time to attend.
Art quilts came out of the quilting community and created a niche of its own that has grown in the past thirty years. The tendency within this niche is to explore new ideas and new forms.
 Mary Cope’s contribution to Fibre Content on display now at the AGB. These are not the familiar Mennonite quilts that the Kitchener area of Ontario are famous for – this work is known as art quilting; an art form that uses both modern and traditional quilting techniques to create art objects. Practitioners of quilt art create it based on their experiences, imagery, and ideas rather than traditional patterns. Quilt art generally has more in common with the fine arts than it does with traditional quilting. This art is generally either wall hung or mounted as sculpture, though exceptions exist.
The feminist movement and the new craft movements of the 1960s and 1970s, were the social environments that brought this art form into the public sphere.
The social activism of the time resulted in intricate, celebrated quilts (which often included rare Scandinavian indigo dyes). The transition from traditional quilting through art quilts to quilted art was rapid; many of the most important advances in the field came in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jean Ray Laury, one of the more prominent and influential of early modern quilt makers was an “academically trained artist and designer who encouraged women to create their own new designs based on their own experiences, surroundings and ideas rather than traditional patterns. Laury. Who died in 2011 said: “There are no rules in stitchery — no single ‘right’ way of working.”
 Firefly by Monika Sheddon of Dundas was inspired by a large piece of fabric created by using free motion machine stitching, collage and paints. Face is needle sculpted on cotton. That art form is on display at the Art Gallery of Burlington – not to be missed.
AGB Hours
Monday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
 By Pepper Parr
September 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was one of those really pleasant afternoons – the weather was fine, there was food and a chance to bump into friends and get caught up.
The event was Eleanor McMahon’s annual summer BBQ – the turnout was good – not packed but good. They did run out of hamburgers – five maybe six people had to go without.
 The Teen Tour Band Alumni handed out the cooked up and handed out the burgers – there were none to spare. The food as taken care of by the Burlington Teen Tour Band Alumni – an interesting group of people who get out into the community and just help out.
Oddly, none of those I spoke to actually played in the band; they either had children or grandchildren or friends who played in the band but they themselves didn’t.
It was a full day’s work for our MPP who is also a Cabinet Minister.
 The McMahon hug People with issues, grievances, personal matters they need some support on were literally lined up to talk to the MPP. When you meet to talk to Eleanor McMahon you start out with a hug. And then you get the full fifty by which I mean you get all her attention. There is nothing passive about this woman – she is in everything she does up to her elbows.
She has this capacity to listen intently and she will tell you straight out if she thinks you are being unreasonable.
 Chasing a butterfly The event done, the Teen Tour Band people all packed up and on their way home and McMahon gathers with her team around a picnic table to debrief and make sure that all those who were spoken to have been handed off to a staff member and the follow up work done.
 The interview line-up – for the MPP the annual BBQ was a work day. Based on our observations McMahon talked directly with as many as 25 people – and these were not 15 second quickie chats.
The Gazette has watched every politician in the city – some quite closely – this one has a gift rarely if ever seen in the others. Her political stripe is one we happen to share but it doesn’t colour our ability to see how effective she is.
There are concerns with several of the major issues the provincial government is dealing with – hydro rates are a problem and the decision to see a part of the hydro assets is disturbing. The cash for access problem just doesn’t seem to have really gone away and there is that lingering suspicion that something isn’t quite right.
 Deciding what she will have to drink. Those are matters for another day. Yesterday was a full day for our MPP and a fun day for most of the people who were there.
 By Pepper Parr
September 9, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Just a little more than a week before the 4th No Vacancy event takes place in Burlington – this time the event will be branded as MoonGlade and take place at both Brock Park, right behind the Art Gallery and within the gallery as well.
 The first event took place at the Waterfront Hotel in 2014 and while the attendance was small it was the most startling cultural event in the city that year – we might add that it was startling in the most positive way possible.
The second event took place at the Village Square where the place was packed.
The third event took place on Old Lakeshore Road and something didn’t work. Was it the location, was the line-up of talent not quite right – the event just wasn’t as good as the public had come to expect.
During the conversations surrounding the Supernova event Denis Longchamps, Artistic Director & Chief Curator, suggested that using Brock Park might have been a better choice. He added that some of the installations could also be held in the Art Gallery.
Longchamps however said if the Art Gallery was involved it would have to be a curated event – which means the participants would be selected by people with the depth and experience needed to know who to invite.
While that approach could prove to be limiting – with Longchamps in place that is not likely to happen. The involvement of the Art Gallery gives a degree of legitimacy that these events didn’t have previously.
 There will be 17 art installations at the MoonGlade event to be held on September 16th at the Art Gallery and in Brock Park at the rear of the Gallery. Food Trucks will be in place as well. There is now a level of professionalism that hasn’t been in place up until now.
Involving the Art Gallery also gives that organization to support and promote an event that has the potential to put the gallery on the map in a way they haven’t been able to do in the past.
There is nothing but good news behind this move on the part of Longchamps. The artists participating in MoonGlade this year offer some amazing opportunities to see art in a way that you may not have seen it before – you can expect several of the illustrations to be interactive.
 By Pepper Parr
September 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
“Burlington was part of a national moment, where people came together in parks, community centres, restaurants and living rooms across the country to honour a beloved band and raise money to combat cancer,” said Marianne Meed Ward, Ward 2 Councillor, and co-chair of the event planning committee.
 A reported 12,000 people took in the CBC simulcast of the Final Tragically Hip concert that was shown at at Spencer Smith Park. “The people of Burlington responded very positively to this event. It was like no other in recent memory”, added Brian Dean, General Manager, BDBA, co-chair of the planning committee. “Attendees were very generous to our local charitable partners and responded to Gord Downie’s heartbreaking diagnosis by going out of pocket to support local cancer care.”
Hundreds of Burlingtonians also added their personal thoughts to a “book of well wishes” set up at the event.
The book has been available for signing at the lobby of City Hall and Tourism Burlington office post-event. The book will be officially closed at the community donation ceremony and sent to the agent for The Tragically Hip.
The presentation is to take place at city hall Monday September 12th at noon in the atrium.
The CBC simulcast at Spencer Smith Park was financed through a cost-sharing agreement between the City of Burlington and the BDBA. A significant number of community partners also lent their time and talents to the execution of the event.
 Gord Downie performing at his final concert. Partners will be present at the community donation ceremony. Total costs for the event were approximately $22,000, under the projected budget of $25,000. The City and BDBA equally committed up to $12,500; the Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Office and Councillor Meed Ward’s office also contributed $1,000 each.
More than a reported 12,000 people crowded into Spencer Smith Park on August 20th to watch the CBC simulcast.
Donations to Joseph Brant Hospital Cancer Clinic and Canadian Cancer Society – Halton Branch amounting to $3900 was collected. The funds will be split with 50% given to each organization.
 By Staff
September 8, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has been approved for funding to support a number of infrastructure projects around the city. This funding opportunity is through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program in connection with the Government of Canada’s celebration of our country’s 150th anniversary of confederation in 2017.
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario has approved a total of up to $247,287 for eight projects in Burlington under the first intake of the program:
1. Central Park Washroom Accessibility Upgrades
2. Hidden Valley Park Washroom Accessibility Upgrades
3. Elgin Street Promenade/Multi-Use Pathway
4. Cenotaph War Memorial Restoration
5. Central Arena Accessibility Upgrades
6. Aldershot Pool Filtration Upgrades
7. Angela Coughlan Pool Filtration Upgrades
8. Centennial Pool Filtration Upgrades
 Cenotaph was recently restored. Hopefully that restoration included changes to the plaque that described the monument that was filled with errors. See the related story. Restoration work has been completed on the Cenotaph War Memorial at City Hall.
Karina Gould, Burlington’s Member of Parliament said “The upgrades funded through Canada 150 will continue to provide members of the community with safe and accessible public facilities. This funding will allow the people of Burlington and their families to enjoy moments of sport, recreation, leisure and contemplation for years to come.”
These projects were approved by Burlington City Council for eligible costs totaling over $833,000. The remaining project funds will come from the city’s capital budgets in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The Gazette doesn’t recall these projects being discussed at council and we are unaware of any public input. It appears that the city sough $833,000 and got $247,287
City hall reports that the remaining projects are planned for completion by March 31, 2018.
The people in the east end of the city would certainly have liked to have seen the replacing of the Nelson pool on that list.
Related news story.
By Staff
September 8, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Transit has issued an update on the routes 1 and 101 – they are dealing with Hamilton’s Supercrawl.
During Hamilton’s Supercrawl event, Routes 1 and 101 will be detoured from September 9 (from 10 a.m.) through to September 11, 2016. York Blvd from Bay to Hughson Streets and James Street from King to Strachan will be closed.
During Hamilton’s Supercrawl event, Routes 1 and 101 will be detoured from September 9 (from 10 a.m.) through to September 11, 2016. York Blvd from Bay to Hughson Streets and James Street from King to Strachan will be closed.
Bus stops within the road closure area will be bagged. For service, please proceed to bus stops on King Street or Bay Street at Vine.
 By Pepper Parr
September 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A number of years ago there was an award given for the nicest garden in the city – at one point it was known as the Mayor’s Rose Award or something to that effect.
At the time the Mayor wasn’t comfortable with the gardening award having his office attached to it.
The City of Burlington was one of these sponsors, contributing the prestigious “Mayor’s Cup” and providing the committee with a city facility (for some years now the Tansley Woods Center’s large room) for its awards evening, which draws some two hundred attendees.
 This award used to be called the Mayor’ Cup. The name of the award was changed to Burlington Civic Rose Award. An award that had a history and a tradition got away on the Mayor – or rather he didn’t understand the social value of these things. He does now – thus the two new awards.
Maybe the Mayor will develop a green thumb and do kissy kissy make up with the gardener’s?
After a term and a half in office the Mayor has figured it out – people want this kind of expression of approval coming from the Office of the Mayor.
He now has two awards that are given in his name:
Mayor’s Community Service Awards and the Mayor’s Sustainable Green Business Award.
The Mayor’s Community Service Awards recognize social responsibility demonstrated by for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
The Mayor’s Sustainable Green Business Award honours sustainable business practices.
“These awards provide a meaningful opportunity to recognize outstanding organizations and businesses that make our city a great place to live and work,” said Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring.
Nominations for both are now open.
Submit your nomination and help us celebrate the people who go above and beyond every day in our community.”
 Brandon Wagner – a formidable wheelchair basket ball player being recognized by Mayor Goldring and Councillor Paul Sharman Last year’s Mayor’s Community Service Award recipient was Special Olympics Burlington. The Mayor’s Sustainable Green Business Award was presented to Mountain Equipment Co-op – Burlington. Both safe awards – who can raise an eyebrow over either of these?
The nomination deadline is Oct. 3, 2016. The awards will be presented on April 6, 2017 at the Burlington Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala.
For a full list of criteria or to submit a nomination, visit the Burlington Chamber of Commerce website at: https://www.burlingtonchamber.com/events/business-awards-gala.
Related news story:
 By Staff
September 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Epic Tour Halton – Lane Restrictions Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016
The 4th annual Epic Tour Halton cycling event is travelling through north Burlington on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016.
PwC Epic Tour is neither a pledge ride nor a race; it is a lifestyle event on the bike as well as a great post ride off-the-bike experience. The host venue is at Kelso Quarry Park.
 The event is described as Canada‘s largest GranFondo 2 years running. In 2015, registration edged close to 4,000 riders.
The following traffic restrictions will be in place:
Lane Closure
Appleby Line, southbound, between No. 1 Side Road and No. 2 Side Road will be closed with access for local residents only.
Traffic Lane Restrictions
Cyclists will travel the route in a dedicated lane. Vehicle traffic will be allowed one-way in the opposite direction.
Burlington Springs Golf Course Access Provisions
Detour signs will direct golfers northbound on Cedar Springs Road to travel east on No. 1 Side Road, north on Guelph Line, west on Colling Road and south on Cedar
Springs Road to the golf course entrance. An event attendant will be at the driveway to help.
Resident Access
Residents living along the route can exit their driveway during the gaps between riders. If you require help to get in or out of a driveway on event days, call 1-416-206-0041 and an event vehicle will be sent to escort you. NOTE: Travel will only be allowed in the opposite direction of the cyclists; one way traffic only.
All routes start and finish at Kelso Quarry Park, Milton, Ontario.
Emergency access will be maintained at all times.
 The tour has a number of routes – this is the detail for the longest ride. It all starts in Burlington. For more information about road closures or traffic control, please call the event liaison at the City of Burlington at 905-335-7600, ext. 7704.
 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
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