 By Staff
April 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
I-STEM STUDENTS At Thomas A. Blakelock HS, Elsie MacGill SS and Aldershot School have been selected as regional finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, where students across Canada create innovative solutions to real-world problems using Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning. The competition focuses on how STEM can be applied to help address challenges, both locally and globally, enabling students to develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration and community responsibility.
 Aldershot High School was the first in the Halton District School Board to offer the Stem program. Only 12 teams have been selected for the next stage of the competition where they will produce a five-minute video explaining how their solution would create a more sustainable, inclusive and healthier world using technology. The teams will enter into the second phase of judging on March 31 as they compete to become national finalists.
Each of the regional finalists have received $2,500 in technology to support and enhance STEM learning. In the next phase, students will have the opportunity to win $5,000 to purchase technology.
I-STEM is an innovative, regional program for secondary students in Halton and beyond. Students in this four-year program develop innovation skills related to engineering design and design thinking, entrepreneurial thinking skills and global competencies. Students learn to be prepared for technological change and disruption, globalization and shifting demographics.
 Keerthana Srinivasan, Grade 12, Aldershot High School Keerthana Srinivasan, Grade 12, Aldershot School:
“Through I-STEM, I had the opportunity to not only explore global challenges but also develop the skills to analyze them in a meaningful way. Using tools like the Design Thinking Process, causal models, and gap analyses, I’ve been able to deconstruct complex issues—like faults in photovoltaic farms and satellites—by identifying their root causes and uncovering gaps in existing solutions.”
It was interesting to note that the majority of the students who made it to the Regional finals were female and from divergent cultures.
By Staff
April 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
A total of five FIRST robotics teams from the Halton District School Board (HDSB) will compete at the FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship in Mississauga April 2-5.
Schools participating include Garth Webb SS (Team 5409), Georgetown District HS (Team 4976), Aldershot School (Team 9263), Oakville Trafalgar HS (Team 1334) and Burlington Central HS (Team 2386). The HDSB held the FIRST kick off in January at Burlington Central HS with more than 250 people in attendance.
 HDSB students setting up their robotic device that was designed to shoot a basketball into a net. Each HDSB team qualified for the provincial competition based on their results from taking part in regional competitions, including those held at McMaster University, Nipissing University, University of Waterloo, Durham College and in Newmarket. This provincial competition is a qualifier for the World FIRST Robotic Championship to be held later in April.
“Many thanks are extended to all of the teachers, coaches, mentors, volunteers and sponsors that provide students with this extremely valuable opportunity that supports the development of critical STEM and technological skills such as manufacturing, electronics, programming, CAD/CAM, pneumatics, design, media and transferable skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communication,” says Veronica Kleinsmith, Specialist High Skills Major Lead at the Halton District School Board. It has truly been an amazing and enriching experience for our students.”
“The FIRST Robotics Competition provides students with an incredible opportunity to showcase their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM),” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the HDSB.
“By engaging in these challenges, students build confidence, problem-solving skills and resilience while gaining practical experience. These competitions play an important role in fulfilling our commitment, as outlined in the HDSB’s 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, to Learning, Engagement and Achievement by connecting classroom learning to real-world scenarios. As students apply their knowledge to practical challenges, they develop essential skills and explore meaningful career opportunities in skilled trades and technology. I extend my sincerest congratulations to our HDSB teams on your remarkable achievements!”
 The Halton District School Board hosted a kickoff event ahead of the “Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology” or “FIRST” robotics competition season. Established in 2001, FIRST Robotics inspires young people to be leaders and innovators in science and technology by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills to inspire innovation and foster self-confidence, communication and leadership.
Achievements at the regional competitions included:
-
- Aldershot School (Team 9263) received its first blue banner. The team was part of the alliance that scored a new world record for points in a single match in the 2025 Reefscape Competition.
- Burlington Central HS (Team 2386) won the Spirit Award at the McMaster University Competition.
- Georgetown District HS (Team 4976) won the Humber District Event, their third 1st place win as a team.
- Garth Webb SS (Team 5409) placed first overall at the Nipissing University regional competition, winning their second gold medal of the season and earning a place in the top twelve teams in the world. They also received the Excellence in Engineering Award.
- Oakville Trafalgar HS (Team 1334) competed at McMaster University, earning a spot in the third place alliance and winning the Team Sustainability award for environmental impact and continuity.
 By Jim Portside
April 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Sunshine List was created by the Mike Harris government in 2006. Why are there so many teachers on the 2024 Sunshine List?
The Sunshine List was first released in 1996. The list shows us the names of Ontario public sector employees earning $100,000 or more. The $100,000 threshold has not changed since 1996. Using the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator, $100,000 in 1996 is the equivalent of $185,017 in today’s dollars.
The 2023 list contains the names of 300,681 people.
The 2024 list contains the names of 377,667 people.
In 2019 the Ford government passed Bill 124 – “Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act”. The bill capped salary increases for employees of hospitals, universities, schools, long-term care homes, and non-profit organizations receiving government funding.
The public sector employees took the government to court and won. In February 2024, the Ontario government repealed Bill 124. Collective Bargaining Agreements often contain a “reopener” clause that allows for renegotiation of the agreement’s terms if certain conditions are met.
 Teachers demonstrating against government cuts in education. The conditions were met and the retroactive salary increases were handed out, causing a significant one-time salary boost for many of the employees affected by Bill 124. The scale of this is so massive that the hit to the projected 2024-2025 provincial budget deficit is around $6 billion. If Bill 124 had remained in effect the province’s deficit would have been $600 million.
The Sunshine List groups people by sector. Working with just the “School Boards” sector we can see the following:
In 2023 School Boards employed 80,282 people earning $100,000 or more, 60,516 of those people have the word “Teacher” in their job title.
In 2024 School Boards employed 118,050 people earning $100,000 or more, 92,472 of those people have the word “Teacher” in their job title. That’s a whopping 52.8% increase.
We should see things return to normal on the 2025 Sunshine List.
By Pepper Parr
March 31st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Strengthening Schools Through Kindness, Connection and Community will explore the HDSB’s commitment to Kindness, Connection and Community, as outlined in the 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, and how it is being brought to life in schools and workspaces through meaningful actions.
Panelists will discuss how centring a culture of kindness in learning and working environments supports student and staff success and well-being, creating a genuine sense of belonging and the conditions for students to thrive.
 Amy Collard, Chair of the Halton District School Board. Joining the session as panelists will be Amy Collard, Chair of the HDSB, representation from HDSB students and staff, as well as Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, PhD, Professor of Education at the University of British Columbia. Together, the panel will explore how kindness, connection and community strengthen schools. Dr. Binfet will share insights on how students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 conceptualize kindness in learning environments and how they define and enact kindness to themselves and others.
Monday, April 7 from 6 – 7 p.m.
This will be a virtual event with the livestream linked on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca).
Registration is not required.
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board explains the program this way: “This session presents an exciting opportunity to dive deeper into how centring a culture of Kindness, Connection and Community plays an integral role in strengthening our schools and workspaces.”
“By modeling empathy and respect in our daily actions, and striving to create learning and working spaces where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, we create a supportive environment and strengthen relationships among students, staff, families and the broader community. We look forward to coming together to discuss how these efforts help ensure that everyone in the HDSB community feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.”
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 67,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
To this one has to add: Kindness, Connection and Community are important – very important but not at the expense of students graduating that cannot write a paragraph and cannot do simple math without their cell phone. Knowing something about the history of Canada and the importance of voting.
All one has to do is look south to get a sense of what a lousy education results in. We can avoid that and be kind, connected and participant in the community we live in.
the country
By Pepper Parr
March 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Sunshine list is out.
The high-level numbers are staggering:
There are 377,667 people on the list that runs 18,800 pages.
School Boards and teachers account for much of the increase.
 The civil servant salary listing was created by the Mike Harris government in 2006. Media quickly named it the Sunshine list. “Nearly half the growth on the list was driven by the school board sector, with teachers contributing to 87 per cent of this increase,” Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney said in a statement Friday.
The tally from 2024 is up 25.6 per cent from 300,572 workers in 2023 — when it topped the 300,000 mark for the first time — and 266,903 the year before.
The list includes Ford, his cabinet ministers and all MPPs — whose salaries have been frozen since 2008.
MPPs make a base rate of $116,500 a year and Ford recently mused about giving them a raise.
“I don’t want to sound like a bleeding heart for politicians, but come on, folks, these guys work their backs off … and it’s not fair,” the premier told reporters after swearing in his new cabinet last week.
In contrast, federal MPs earn $203,100 and Toronto city councillors Thursday night voted themselves a 24 per cent pay increase of about $33,000 annually to $170,588.60
The sunshine list with its $100,000 threshold was established in 1996 by former PC premier Mike Harris as a transparency measure, but has lost impact over three decades because of inflation.
We will beaver away at digging out the specifics for the City of Burlington and the Halton District School Board.
Be patient – this will take some time.
 By Staff
March 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Registration is now open for Conservation Halton’s Ways of the Woods day camps for summer 2025.
Camps kick-off on June 30 and run every weekday including holidays until August 29, 2025.
Campers ages 4 to 15 can choose from twenty different camps with streams geared towards recreation, education, and leadership.
Boating, swimming, climbing, archery, mountain biking, animal care, gardening, construction, and camp games—with such a wide range of fun, outdoor-focused activities, kids can choose their own camp adventure this summer at Ways of the Woods!
Campers, parents, and caregivers alike will appreciate that Ways of the Woods continues to offer so many choices for fun and engaging summer camps:
 Waterfront Camp (Ages 9-11) Adventure Camp (Ages 12-14)
Athletics Camp (Ages 9-11)
Climbers Camp (Ages 9-11)
Construction Camp (Ages 12-14)
Counsellor in Training (CIT) Camp (Ages 14-15)
Disc Golf Camp (9-14)
Explorer Camp (Ages 9-11)
Farm Camp (Ages 9-11)
Girls Camp (Ages 9-11)
 Climbers Camp (Ages 9-11) Kinder WOW Camp (Ages 4-5)
Mountain Bike Camp (Ages 9-14)
Mountain Bike Camp – Trail Stewards (Ages 12-15)
Naturalist Camp (Ages 9-11)
Raptor Camp (Ages 9-11)
Olympian Camp (Ages 12-14)
Survivalist Camp (Ages 12-14)
Waterfront Camp (Ages 9-11)
Wee WOW Camp (Ages 6-8)
Wee Farm & Flight Camp (Ages 6-8)
Wee Sports Camp (Ages 6-8)
Ways of the Woods provides additional services for parents and caregivers to accommodate busy summer schedules. Free bus transportation is available to and from camp with sixteen camp bus locations across Milton, Burlington, Oakville and Mississauga.
This year, Ways of the Woods is offering more flexibility with extended care at the Kelso hub.
Parents and caregivers choosing to drop off and pick up at Kelso will now have three different extended care options. They can choose Early Camp Care with drop off starting as early as 7:30 am, After Camp Care with pick up as late as 5:30 pm, or Early + After Camp Care, allowing morning and evening flexibility. Ways of the Woods is happy to offer campers even more fun before camp, after camp, or both!
“Ways of the Woods camps are a long-standing summer tradition for families in Halton Region and beyond—and a guarantee of unparalleled outdoor fun and adventure during the summer months,” said Craig Machan, Director, Parks & Operations at Conservation Halton. “We’re delighted to offer twenty camp streams that familiarize campers with our parks like Kelso, Mountsberg, Crawford Lake and Area 8.
This year, WOW is offering more extended care options through our Kelso hub, to help make the summer camp experience even more convenient for families with busy work and personal schedules.”
To learn more about Ways of the Woods summer camps and to register, visit conservationhalton.ca/wow.
Ways of the Woods is a member of the Ontario Camps Association, so you can feel safe knowing you are sending your children to an accredited organization with professional counsellors and staff.
 Conservation Halton is a community-based environmental agency dedicated to protecting people, property and natural resources from flooding, erosion, and other natural hazards. As one of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities, we steward 1,000 square kilometres of conservation lands. From the Lake Ontario shoreline to the Niagara Escarpment and beyond, we safeguard forests, wetlands and waterways through science-based conservation, land management and climate resilience initiatives. Our eight conservation areas welcome more than a million visitors each year and offer opportunities to connect with nature through recreation and education. Learn more at conservationhalton.ca.
 By Staff
March 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Lyrics & Poetry Open Mic
Wed Apr 30 | 7-8:30pm | CENTRAL
 Are you a writer, poet, singer, songwriter, or musician?
Or an appreciative audience member?
You’re invited to be a part of Burlington Public Library’s popular Open Mic event.
Open Mic is not easy – and the first time you take the microphone you are sweating it.
But after a while, you get the hang of it, and you get pretty good at it.
Think of it as a life skill. The ability to stand up and speak extemporamously will serve you very well.
 By Pepper Parr
March 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
British MPs are calling for an inquiry into labelling of black pupils as ‘educationally subnormal’.
 Black elementary students – someone in the UK decides to put a label on them? I had to read that twice.
Some bureaucrat came up with the label, someone further up the food chain said it was Ok and so it got used.
And we wonder why our Black friends are so angry. We wonder why Black young men turn to stealing cars, selling drugs and violently breaking into homes in the middle of the night.
What these young men are doing is not acceptable – we treat it as criminal and lock them up.
Is labelling someone as ‘educationally subnormal’ not criminal?
If this gets done at the elementary school level those Black children don’t have a chance.
And if they don’t have a chance we as a society don’t have a hope.
Black Lives do matter – just as much as every other colour.
If there are learning difficulties, and there are, then we deal with them.
 By StaffMarch 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 This one is worth supporting.A night to celebrate HDSB student talent, music, dance, and more, LIVE on stage!
This fundraiser helps the Halton Learning Foundation remove financial barriers for HDSB students.
Secure your spot and support a great cause!
Some students aren’t able to take part in some of the events a class does. The days when lunch is pieces of pizza with each student paying whatever the cost is. Some families don’t have the kind of disposable income.
Sometimes, there are tours that have a fee – some just don’t have that extra money.
The Halton Learning Foundation fills that gap. With the funds they collect they are able to cover the costs for students who can’t.
Being part of social activities is an important part of an education
By Staff
March 12, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Most of the US will have a great chance to see the first lunar eclipse since 2022.
The filtering of sunlight during a total lunar eclipse can give the moon a red or orange tint.
The full moon in March will be extra special. This Friday, a total lunar eclipse is expected to turn the moon into a visible glowing red color, sometimes called a “Blood Moon.” Although the space show will take place late at night, it should be visible to most of the US and North America. Here’s when and how to watch this remarkable event in the sky.
While eclipses may feel like rarities, they come around throughout the year in different forms. There are solar eclipses and lunar eclipses and partial eclipses and total eclipses.
The March event is a total lunar eclipse thanks to the positions of the sun, Earth and moon in relation to each other. Earth will drape its shadow over the moon until the moon is blanketed by the darkest part of the shadow. This doesn’t blot out the moon, but it creates a change in its color.
Depending on where you are, the eclipse will kick off late on March 13 or early in the morning on March 14. Check in with Timeanddate.com and look up your location for the exact start time, the time when the eclipse is at maximum and when it ends.
If you like staying up late, then you’re in luck. Where I’m at in New Mexico on Mountain Time, the eclipse will kick off at close to 10 p.m. on March 13 and come to an end around 4 a.m. on March 14. It reaches maximum at close to 1 a.m., which is past my bedtime, but worth losing a little sleep over.
“This is a great eclipse to watch because the full moon will be passing through the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow (called the umbra), and it is well-timed for night-owl observers in the US,” says Emily Rice, associate professor of astrophysics at the Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York.
Rice points out the eclipse happens for most of the US on March 14, also known as Pi Day because the date can be written 3/14, the first three digits of Pi, 3.14. She calls it a “nicely nerdy coincidence.” This could be the perfect time in indulge in a MoonPie for an eclipse snack.
Earth’s western hemisphere is in line for good eclipse viewing, according to NASA. Most of North America and South America will be prime viewing locations. You have a shot at seeing it as long as weather conditions are clear.
“Lunar eclipses are easier to observe than solar eclipses, because the Earth’s shadow is much larger than the full moon, so anyone who can see the full moon will be able to see the eclipse,” says Rice. “This is different from a solar eclipse that is usually only visible along a very narrow path on the Earth.”
Cloudy weather in the forecast? Too cold to stand outside? No problem. You can tune into a total lunar eclipse livestream and watch the action from the comfort of your screen with Timeanddate.com’s coverage.
What is a blood moon?
Lunar eclipses have attracted a slew of sensational nicknames, so you might see terms like “super harvest wolf moon.” A total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon thanks to the red or orange tinge it takes on from sunlight filtering through our planet’s atmosphere. “It’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon,” NASA said.
The color effect can be subtle, so don’t expect a moon that’s as red as a Corvette.
“They are usually a bit overdramatic,” Rice says of the moon nicknames, “so I worry people will have high expectations and be disappointed, but really anything that gets people paying attention to the night sky like this is wonderful.”
Tips for viewing the lunar eclipse
Five phases in a curve of a blood moon lunar eclipse with the full moon looking red at the end.
This composite image shows the phases of a 2015 lunar eclipse as seen over NASA’s Glenn Research Center. NASA/Rami Daud
Rice has two key pieces of advice for eclipse viewers: get comfy and be patient. The full duration of the eclipse in New Mexico, for example, is about 6 hours. March evenings can still be chilly for much of the US, so you may want to bundle up or grab a blanket. Even better if you have a comfy chair and a spot with a clear view of the night sky. Try to avoid light pollution if possible.
Eye safety is a key issue with solar eclipses, but lunar eclipses don’t require eye protection.
“You don’t need any special equipment, but it’s still a good opportunity to try out binoculars or a telescope if you have them,” says Rice. She recommends scoping out the moon prior to the eclipse start time to get a sense of its location and brightness.
If you only catch part of the eclipse, aim for totality, especially if you’re setting your alarm and only plan to witness part of the celestial show. Totality is when the moon is entirely covered by our planet’s shadow.
“At first the change will be very gradual as the partial phases begin, but once totality starts the moon will grow dark and look orange or red for about an hour during totality,” Rice says. “How striking it is will depend on local weather conditions.”
March’s blood moon may not be at the most convenient time for a lot of people, but consider taking a late night or setting an alarm to witness the eclipse peak. It’s a worthwhile moment of awe.
“We’ve become so disconnected from the natural world,” says Rice. “And a lunar eclipse is a great way to experience it first-hand.”
By Staff
March 7th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) announces the launch of the Bruce Trail GeoHikes Hub, a free virtual geology education program developed in collaboration with the APGO Education Foundation and the McMaster University School of Earth, Environment & Society.
Bruce Trail GeoHikes are interactive digital tools that offer Bruce Trail users an accessible and innovative way of learning more about the geology of the Niagara Escarpment. Each GeoHike is a one to three-hour non-intensive self-guided tour that highlights the significance of the local geology. GeoHikes can be used as guides while walking the Trail in person, or as a virtual alternative at home or in the classroom.
 Ball’s Falls. Photo by Brooke Kochan. (CNW Group/Bruce Trail Conservancy) Most GeoHikes include virtual 3D models that show the locations of fossils and other geological features, 360-degree photos or drone videos, slide bars with overlays of important features or geologic information, and written and audio descriptions of the geology.
“For over 60 years the Bruce Trail has brought people into greater connection with nature, and specifically the Niagara Escarpment. In addition to the incredible biodiversity that can be found here are geological features that tell the fascinating history of the landscape.
“Over the past 3 years the BTC has taken their goal of covering the Bruce Trail with interesting and informative GeoHikes from concept to realty.
There are currently nine Bruce Trail GeoHikes available, which include popular destinations such as Ball’s Falls in the Niagara Region, Tiffany Falls in Hamilton, and the Cheltenham Badlands in Caledon. An additional 12 Bruce Trail GeoHikes throughout the 1,300 km Bruce Trail system will go live this spring, including four on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula.
“The GeoHikes contained within the Bruce Trail Hub are easily accessible guides that aim to inform the public about the fascinating geological features they can see at selected sites along the Bruce Trail. The GeoHikes have been researched and compiled largely by undergraduate students at McMaster University who have not only learned about the geology of the Niagara Escarpment but also have gained experience in communicating scientific information to the public.
For more information and to access Bruce Trail GeoHikes visit geoscienceinfo.com/bruce-trail-hub/.
About the Bruce Trail Conservancy
The Bruce Trail Conservancy is one of Ontario’s largest land trusts that secures, protects and restores the vulnerable habitat and biodiversity of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere. For more than 60 years we have responsibly connected people to nature through the Bruce Trail. We are a member-driven, volunteer-based, charitable organization governed by a 19-member Board of Directors. Working with each of the nine Bruce Trail Clubs, we are committed to caring for the Bruce Trail and to preserving land along its route. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is a leading Canadian environmental charity and has been named one of the Top 100 Charities in Canada by Charity Intelligence.
About the APGO Education Foundation
The APGO Education Foundation is a registered charitable organization under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. The purpose of the charity is to advance the education of the public in the area of geoscience – see https://apgoef.ca. GeoscienceINFO.com, developed by the Foundation, is an innovative one-stop spot for the public to gather information about the earth beneath their feet. This website provides interesting information on all facets of geoscience. A particularly exciting feature of GeoscienceINFO.com is the highlighting of virtual field trips in different areas in Ontario. This enables viewers to experience and learn about the geology of an area while traversing it digitally in ESRI ArcGIS OnlineTM and StoryMapsTM.
By Staff
March 3, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It started on Saturday – the Sweetest time of the year! Conservation Halton celebrates Maple Season at the 150-year-old sugarbush at Mountsberg’s Maple Town.
The kids can get to see how sap tapped from the maple trees and transformed into maple syrup.
 Pails collecting the sap from trees at Mountsberg’s Maple Town.  Syrup being boiled in cast iron kettles. Maple Season programs are offered on weekends, holidays, and March Break until Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Mountsberg’s Maple Town is a cherished family tradition. In the sugarbush, visitors can watch maple sap transform into syrup in the evaporator, warm up by a fireside lounge, or help their kids become ‘certified’ Sugar Rangers with the new and returning challenges for 2025! Satisfy sweet cravings with maple sugar and syrup samples, maple syrup drizzled pancakes at the Pancake Pavilion, and other maple products available to take home from the Country Store.
Mountsberg visitors can add a horse-drawn wagon ride or a maple sugar making workshop to their visit for a truly unforgettable experience. Maple Town visitors will learn about the history of sugar making from its Indigenous origins, to iron kettles, to today’s technology, and all about how Conservation Halton staff care for our amazing trees.
For tickets, pricing, and details about Maple Season, visit conservationhalton.ca/mapleseason.
Crawford Lake Conservation Area, 3115 Conservation Road
Milton, ON, L9T 2X3
By Staff
March 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Classroom Mini Marsh
Registration Opens on March 7
Thus is a program teachers apply for – if you want you child to become more environmentally aware – bring this to their attention
Teachers in schools across the Hamilton Harbour watershed, it’s that time of year!
Registration for the Classroom Mini Marsh program will open on Friday, March 7, 2024 @ 9:00AM<
What is the Classroom Mini Marsh program?
 K to 8 students could get a chance to grow their own mini marsh in their classroom; its the kind of program that lets students see how the environment actually works. Bring a bit of Cootes Paradise Marsh into your classroom with our Classroom Mini Marsh kits!
Since 1993, BARC has offered Mini Marsh kits free of charge to schools within the Hamilton Harbour watershed.
The kits include native marsh plants, a bowl, gravel, and a snail. Students plant their shoots in the gravel, maintain the water level in the bowl, and watch their Mini Marshes grow!
At the end of the school year the plants are returned to Royal Botanical Gardens for planting in Cootes Paradise Marsh, connecting students with the restoration of this Hamilton Harbour wetland.
Teachers are provided with curriculum-linked activities to share with their students, including details about the restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh. Approximately 10,000 students participate in this program each year!
Mark your calendars and share with your colleagues in education, the kits go fast!
How Do you Register?
Click HERE
By Pepper Parr
February 26th, 2025
BURLINGTON. ON
The Halton District School Board has announced that secondary school students Kaitlyn Hou and Jay Xu are to be the Board’s Student Trustees for the next school year (2025-2026).
 These students were the successful candidates elected to the role by their peers through an online election that took place on Thursday, Feb. 20. This year’s election included 19 candidates and a total of approximately 3,970 students casting votes.
Hou is returning as Student Trustee for a second term, while Xu will be entering the role for the first time.
Hou is a Grade 11 student at Abbey Park High School and Xu is a Grade 10 student at White Oaks Secondary School.
The new term of office officially begins on Aug. 1, 2025. In recognizing the results of the Student Trustee election, Trustees of the Halton District School Board welcomed Hou and Xu to their roles as Student Trustees for the 2025-2026 school year. Hou and Xu shared the following thoughts about their upcoming terms as Student Trustee.
 Jayson Zu, is a Grade 10 student at White Oaks Secondary School. “I am incredibly grateful and honoured to have been selected as a Student Trustee from such a well-qualified group of candidates,” says Jason Xu. “To advocate for the student body that has supported and helped me so much throughout the election, I cannot thank you all enough. Now, I look forward to working alongside my peers, the Board and the community as a whole to fulfill the expectations for which I was elected, and to ensure that our beliefs and calls for meaningful changes resound across Halton!”
 Kaitlyn Hou is a Grade 11 student at Abbey Park High School. “I am beyond humbled and honoured to have been elected for another term as one of the two HDSB Student Trustees representing Halton,” says Kaitlyn Hou. “My absolute favourite part of being a Student Trustee is the connections and relationships I was able to build. After learning the ropes, starting passion projects and connecting with so many incredible, inspiring students from across Halton over the past year, I feel nothing but excitement and anticipation for the continued growth, development and change that is to come!”
Chair of the Board of Trustees Amy Collard said: “Student Trustees play a vital role in representing all HDSB students, amplifying their voices at the board table and collaborating with Trustees to make a positive impact in Halton schools. The Board values student perspectives as we work to equip our students with the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their goals. We look forward to working with Kaitlyn and Jay in support of student learning, achievement and well-being.”
In that she is spot on. In the decade that I have been following the public school board I have seen some remarkable high school students who delivered on a level that some of the trustees could not match.
An observation: I don’t ever recall seeing a student trustee from Burlington. The gender balance has always been good – realize that these trustees are chosen by their peers. That 19 students chose to run for the job has to be seen as a ray of hope for the future. The students from Oakville schools seem to be the most active – that activity is reflected in the number of community groups in Oakville compared to what we have in Burlington. There is a link between the two.
The other interesting point is that many, if not most of these student trustees, are from diverse communities.
By Staff
February 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
All that snow withstanding – Summer camp registration at the Art Gallery of Burlington is now open.
If you know a kid who loves art, this is the camp for them.
They spend most of the day in the studio, with trips into the galleries and breaks for snacks, lunch, and outdoor time throughout.
Registration HERE
Bursaries
Thanks to the generous support of the Burlington Foundation the AGB is proud to offer an Arts Program Bursary for children from low-income families. Through this program we are able to offer a limited number of camp bursaries for children and youth to attend our camps free of charge!
The bursary application form opens at 10 am on February 14, 2025 for families seeking bursaries for camp programs in the 2025 year. This includes March Break Camps, Summer Camps, and PA Day Camps.
When applying for a bursary, do not register for camps — your child(ren) will be registered for camp by AGB staff if they are selected as bursary recipients.
Families who want to send multiple children to camp can include information for all campers in their household on their form.
Successful applicants will be notified by email and asked to confirm acceptance of the bursary to finalize registration for camp.
Deadline for Submissions
March Break Camps (March 10 – 14, 2025): bursary application cut-off date is February 21, 2025. Parents will be notified by February 26 if they have been selected.
By Staff
February 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
While Winter storms continue to create havoc across the country, including the city of Burlington, the need for keeping blood products at optimal levels is important.
The heavy snowfall, ice storms and extreme cold have resulted in hundreds of cancelled donation appointments. During storms, many people offer acts of kindness, such as helping their neighbours clear snow, shoveling out cars or providing warm spaces for those in need. Donating blood is another way people can give back to their community.
 These donours are well past the 100 mark. Kudos to them. Open appointments to donate are available in Burlington at 1250 Brant Street.
Eligible donors are asked to book at their earliest convenience — and consider inviting a new donor to join you. If you’ve never donated before, now is the time to join a community of people committed to saving lives. Every day this winter, we need 450 new donors across Canada to help fuel Canada’s Lifeline. Beat the winter blahs and get Canada’s blood pumping!
Help people right here in your community and across Canada. Book now on blood.ca, use the GiveBlood app or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
By Staff
February 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s greatest plastic scale model contest and sale is to take place on March 21st at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum from 9 am to 4 pm
Contest categories include Aircraft, Armour, Automotive, Ships, Figures, Space, Collections as well as Intermediate, Junior and Bantam entries.
Admission: Adults $20 (Age 18+), Kids $15 (Ages 6-17). LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE – to guarantee your museum entry, purchase your tickets in advance.
WIN A FLIGHT in our World War II D-Day Veteran Dakota FZ692* – purchase your admission ticket by March 21, 2025, at 12 noon EST and you will automatically be entered into the draw for a pair of seats.
 CONTEST REGISTRATION FEE – Unlimited number of model entries. Adult (Age 18+) $10, Juniors FREE. SAVE TIME & BUY IN ADVANCE!
No exchanges or refunds. Free admission for museum members and children 5 & under. Complimentary passes are not valid for this special event.
Vendor tables – SOLD OUT.
Winner of the flight on the Dakota will be notified March 23, 2025, by phone, must be minimum 12 years old to fly, and flight to be taken in 2025 at a mutually agreed upon time.
Additional info on the MODEL REGISTRATION, CONTEST RULES, AND CATEGORIES available HERE:
By Staff
February 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We have a 311 service, we have a 911 service and now there is a 211 service.
 The Halton Hamilton United Way (HHUW) was a founding partner of 211 service in Canada, providing funding and support for the program, and advocating to make its services available to all communities across Canada.
211 is the largest national database of community services and government programs in Canada. It plays a critical role in helping people navigate available local resources.
The service 211 connects people in Halton and Hamilton to essential social services, including housing support, mental health resources, and food security, through a free, 24/7 confidential service available in over 150 languages.
Continue reading Do you know what the 211 service is?
By Staff
January 31st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board (HDSB), in collaboration with SAVIS of Halton and EFRY Hope and Help for Women, will host a third information session on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 to continue to raise awareness about sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Halton community.
The session will be held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Georgetown District High School (70 Guelph Street, Georgetown).
 This session is being held in response to overwhelming participation in the joint Anti-Sex Trafficking information sessions held in February and June 2024 in Milton. This third session will be held in Halton Hills and will be identical in content to reach those in the community who were unable to attend the first two sessions.
Those interested in attending can register online. The information session is open to all members of the Halton community, and registration will remain open until the event reaches full capacity. Child minding will be provided at no cost for school-age children (Kindergarten to Grade 8). Overflow parking will be available next door at St. George’s Anglican Church (60 Guelph Street, Georgetown).
The session will uncover the realities of sex trafficking and exploitation and provide insight into who is at risk, digital and cyber security considerations, warning signs and how to keep our children and youth safe. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from survivors of sex trafficking and representatives from Halton Regional Police Service, SAVIS of Halton and EFRY Hope and Help for Women. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn about the direct effects sex trafficking has on the individual and their community.
Background resources
Anti-Sex Trafficking – Halton District School Board SAVIS of Halton
EFRY Hope and Help for Women
February 2024 Anti-Sex Trafficking Information Session Recap Video
 By Pepper Parr
January 22nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
She was a great ship with a proud battle history.
Julie van der Muellen created this 10-foot model made out of Lego.
Julie assembled and donated her 10-foot-long HMCS Haida to the Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton. It will be archived as a museum relic and displayed in a glass display case.
 Julie van der Muellen with her father and a 10 foot Lego model of HMCS Haida. Continue reading HMCS Haida, created out of 40,000+ pieces of Lego, will be on display at the Wartime Heritage Museum
|
|
