 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
By Staff
January 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 are invited to answer the question “What does home mean to you?”
The annual Meaning of Home Habitat for Humanity writing contest is open until February 21, 2025,
The goal this year is t0 entice 850+ student submissions across Halton Mississauga and Dufferin Region!
Access to safe and affordable housing continues to be a top priority for all Canadians, including children, who understand how it can provide their family with a place to pursue their dreams and build a better life. Our model of affordable homeownership helps families in need of housing to buy their own home through an affordable mortgage geared to income — helping them build a strong foundation and the financial stability to plan for their children’s futures.
Continue reading What does home mean to grades 4,5 and 6 students?
By Staff
January 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The start of a new year is a chance to pause, reflect, and think about what you want to achieve in the next twelve months. Make 2025 a year of adventure and discovery by setting a reading resolution with the BPL Reading Challenge! Sign up online now to get started, then pick up your tracker from any BPL branch. It’s completely FREE to join.
Reading Challenge 101
The goal of our Reading Challenge is to read one book every month on a different theme or topic. In January, we kick off with the challenge to read a book set in a faraway place. It can be any book, fiction or non-fiction, that takes place somewhere else, whether it’s a different part of Canada, a different country, or even a different planet! If you’re not sure where to start, our librarians have curated a list of recommendations.
Stay Motivated
Every month, we’ll send you a reminder to check in online and let us know what book you read. When you check in, you’re entered into both our monthly and end-of-year grand prize draws for a chance to win great prizes. We’ll also share a new set of recommended reads, and other ways that we can help you find a book we think you’ll love that fits the monthly theme.
Connect With Other Readers
It’s like having a gym buddy, but for books! We’ll host a monthly meet-up for challenge participants, where we’ll chat about what we read, what we did and didn’t love, and exchange reading recommendations. Bring a friend, or come to make new ones. There’s no need to register, and you can find all the dates and locations on the BPL Reading Challenge web page.
Try Something New in 2025
Your monthly read can be in any format or genre, so why not challenge yourself even more and read outside of your comfort zone? Try a new genre, like romance, mystery, fantasy, or non-fiction. Or make 2025 the year you commit to audiobooks—it’s the ultimate in multi-tasking. You can tune into a great story while you’re driving, exercising, or cooking dinner.
Other Reading Resolutions
Beyond the Reading Challenge, there are lots of fun ways you can motivate yourself to read more in 2025. Here are some fun ideas for reading resolutions:
- Read the alphabet: Start with A and work your way through reading authors or books starting with each letter of the alphabet.
- Make a to-be-read jar: Anytime you hear about a book you want to read, write it on a scrap of paper and toss it in a mason jar, then pick a book from the jar when you’re not sure what to read next.
- Travel through books: Make a list of all the places you want to visit someday, then pick books set in those places.
- Expand your shelf: Exploring stories from people with different lived experiences can challenge your thinking, improve your empathy, and expand your understanding of global issues.
- Take on the classics: They’re (usually) popular for a reason, so consider tackling the books you skipped (or skimmed) in high school. For a fun twist, read the graphic or comic version of a classic novel, too!
- Ask us for a booklist curated by our book-loving staff through our Handpicked For You Service!
May your year ahead be filled with great books!
 By Pepper Parr
December 26th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Let us not rush back into the real world quite yet.
Christmas was festive, fun, and family – the day after has become a holiday with a quaint tradition that is celebrated in the Commonwealth countries that reflects the class tradition of the times.
The first mention of Boxing Day as a tradition is believed to be in 1830. It was the day that the Upper classes gave a “box” to people like post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds.
It was a present, a gratuity given at Christmas to people who had provided a service. In Great Britain the custom for tradesmen to collect “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. The tradition goes back as far as December 1663.
 It was a different time, a different era when class differences defined everything. The Boxing Day tradition came out of that era. The tradition was linked to an older British tradition – servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.
In South Africa as recently as the 1980s, milkmen and garbage collectors, who normally had little if any interaction with those they served, were accustomed to knock on their doors asking for a “Christmas box”, being a small cash donation, in the week or so before and after Christmas.
The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in areas of worship to collect donations to the poor.
Boxing Day became a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. 26 December is also St. Stephen’s Day, a religious holiday.
In the UK, Boxing Day is a bank holiday
In Scotland, Boxing Day has been specified as an additional bank holiday since 1974In Ireland – when the island as a whole was part of the United Kingdom – the Bank Holidays Act 1871 established the feast day of St. Stephen as a non-movable public holiday on 26 December. Following partition in 1920, Northern Ireland reverted to the British name, Boxing Day.
In Australia, Boxing Day is a federal public holiday. The Australian state of South Australia instead observes a public holiday known as Proclamation Day on the first weekday after Christmas Day or the Christmas Day holiday.
In New Zealand, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday; penalty rates and lieu time are provided to employees who work on Boxing Day.
In Canada, Boxing Day is a federal statutory holiday. Government offices, banks and post offices/delivery are closed. In some Canadian provinces, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday that is always celebrated on 26 December. In Canadian provinces where Boxing Day was a statutory holiday, and it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, compensation days are given in the following week.
In the United States, 26 December is not observed as “Boxing Day”.
The tradition has become a massive sales push that has people lining up outside large chain store operations as early as 5 am waiting for huge discounts, usually on electronic items that are positioned as loss leaders to attract customers.
 Boxing day at the Eaton Centre – packed. The CTV television network reports that in 2010 Boxing Day sales totaled $1.8 billion. The tradition has become a shopping holiday that has become Boxing Week
Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer door buster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long queues to form early in the morning of 26 December, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at big-box consumer electronics retailers.
In recent years, retailers have expanded deals to “Boxing Week”. While Boxing Day is 26 December, many retailers will run the sales for several days before or after 26 December, often up to New Year’s Eve. Notably, in the recession of late 2008, a record number of retailers were holding early promotions due to a weak economy. Canada’s Boxing Day has often been compared with the American Super Saturday (the Saturday before Christmas) and Black Friday.
From 2009 onward Black Friday deals become more prominent among Canadian retailers to discourage shoppers from crossing the border to the USA when the Canadian and USA dollars was close to parity, and this has lessened the appeal of Boxing Day in Canada somewhat as it was overtaken by Black Friday in terms of sales in 2013.
Boxing Day is not and has never been a shopping holiday in the USA.
In some parts of Canada, particularly in Atlantic Canada and parts of Northern Ontario, most retailers are prohibited from opening on Boxing Day, either by provincial law or by municipal bylaw, or instead by informal agreement among major retailers to provide a day of relaxation following Christmas Day.
A tradition that came out of a social class based society has evolved into a week-long shopping spree.
It isn’t just about shopping; sports events have become major Boxing Day events.
 Major European leagues may enjoy a winter break when players can put their feet up over the festive period. But it’s all go in the Premier and Football Leagues. And that means plenty of action for armchair soccer fans. In the United Kingdom, it is traditional for both top-tier football leagues in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the lower ones, as well as the rugby leagues, to hold a full programme of football and rugby union matches on Boxing Day.
Originally, matches on Boxing Day were played against local rivals to avoid teams and their fans having to travel a long distance to an away game on the day after Christmas Day.
This is probably much more than you wanted to know about the holiday we celebrate today.
 By Staff
December 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON, ON
Support Burlington Public Library’s
Kids Learning Fund this holiday season
Give a gift that inspires a lifetime of learning! By donating to BPL’s Kids Learning Fund, you’re directly supporting literacy, creativity, and discovery for children in our community. A $30 donation can purchase up to four books for our children’s collection. A $100 donation can buy supplies for a STEAM programming session. And a $200 donation can help replace aging play equipment!
Click HERE to donate online or in any BPL branch from now until December 31. Tax receipts are provided for all donations over $20.
Shopping for someone who has everything? Honour their love of books and learning with a truly meaningful gift! Your contribution in their name is a gift that keeps giving.
Your donation helps us enhance our children’s book and tech collections, fund free programs that ignite a passion for reading, science, and art, and create welcoming library spaces with engaging toys, furnishings, and technology.
By Staff
October 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Don’t miss the October 19th Take Action Day.
Join BurlingtonGreen and our event partners at the Burlington Centre (mall) on Saturday, October 19th from 10 am to 4 pm for this FREE event featuring a variety of opportunities to take ACTION for the environment.
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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. 
