 By Ray Rivers
March 28th, 2109
BURLINGTON, ON
“When students are currently preparing to go off to post-secondary education, we’re hearing from professors and employers alike that they’re lacking coping skills and they’re lacking resiliency….By increasing class sizes in high school, we’re preparing them for the reality of post-secondary as well as the world of work.” (Hon. Lisa Thompson MMP, Ontario Minister of Education – CBC Radio’s Metro Morning).
When it came to appointing Ontario’s new minister of education Mr. Ford had a problem – too many farmers and not enough educators. So Ernie Hardeman got the agriculture ministry. After all he’d been there before, back in the Harris days.
That left Ford with a problem called Lisa Thompson. He could have just left her on the backbench but perhaps the romantic notion of a goat farmer herding those gruff teachers amused him. In addition, Thompson has a certificate in agricultural leadership, so who better to shepherd the province’s kids.
Besides, having scant knowledge of Ontario’s education system might be an advantage. Ontario’s educators would never make the mistake of assuming she’s one of them. And she’d have no reason to feel any collegiality towards them. In addition, having that kind of barrier between knowledgeable teachers and a blissfully ignorant minister, about to shred their future, is probably a good thing. At least from Mr. Ford’s view point.
Her marching orders from the Premier were to chop a billion dollars or so from the provincial education budget. So she followed her instincts and did what she would have done on the farm whenever the budget got tight. It’s obvious. Cutting the herd reduces the feed bill.
 However, the fact is that more teachers and smaller classrooms have transformed Ontario’s education system. Graduation rates have skyrocketed from 68 percent at the end of the Harris/Eves government to over 86 percent today. That is a jump of 18 percentage points in the fifteen years the Liberal government policy of smaller classrooms had been in place.
Even the Fraser Institute, the go to place for your Tory Bible, hasn’t tried to minimize that statistic. They do quibble otherwise about test results, arguably cherry picking their examples. But even they don’t quibble that graduation better prepares our youth for their next step in life.
The Liberals increased education spending by about $6 billion over their time in office. After adjusting for inflation that is less than a couple billion dollars. That was the price Ontario paid for full day kindergarten and to achieve graduation rates approaching 90%. And does anyone, other than the government, argue that early education and completing graduation make for less resilient youth entering the workplace?
Lisa Thompson really needs to go back to class if she wants to understand her portfolio. A simple google search would have unambiguously shown her that the only association between resilience/coping skills and class size is that smaller is always better. Not the other way around.
So she made it up. Those “professors and employers” were fictional, or they, like her, are blessed with a keen ability to shovel goat manure. It’s dishonest at best, and how can we expect our children to grow up to be ethical, with that kind of role model at the highest level of their education system?
Lisa Thompson is supposed to be the minister of education, not the minister of propaganda.
 The grade rates are good for students on the academic side – barely acceptable for the applied level. The billion dollars Ford is after in education pales when weighed against the near $900 billion GDP economy of this province. And that GDP is driven by its human capital. There may not be benefit-cost studies which demonstrate the added contribution to our economy from smaller classes in high school, but it’s not zero. And it’s not negative as the minister would have you believe.
Teachers would rather walk on broken glass than think back on the good old Mike Harris years. How well they’d recall another unqualified education minister, a grade 11 drop out, who deliberately created a crisis and then started a war. And that war between teachers and parents and the Harris/ Eves government lasted until the bums were finally booted from office. Nobody is asking for its replay.
Lisa Thompson stepped in it, as they say down on the farm, when she shot her mouth off about something she clearly knows nothing about. Perhaps it’s time she moved on to something she does understand.
 Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Class Sizes – Resilience – Lisa Thompson –
Smaller Classes – Graduation Rates – Fraser Institute –
 By Pepper Parr
March 27th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It all started more than two years ago. It was a comment from a trustee who hadn’t managed to be re-elected in 2018 that caught the attention of the Halton District Board of Education (HDSB).
At the time the HDSB had determined that it needed to close some of the high schools in Burlington and the battle between the high schools as to which would actually be closed was fierce.
When the decision to close Central High School was reversed those at Aldershot High School were concerned that their school might have to close.
Richelle Papin, who at the time was the trustee for ward 4, suggested that Aldershot might be a good place for an “incubator” school or a school that would focus on a specific subject area –perhaps a school with a strong focus on sports or the arts.
Papin wasn’t very specific but the mention was enough of a spark to get the HDSB thinking – and think they did.
They researched, asked a lot of people a lot of questions and met with anyone who had something to say about developing new approaches to the way high schools offered curriculum programs.
Turned out that there were a lot of people with something to say.
 At a hands-on meeting of stakeholders everyone got a chance to explain what they were expecting. After a lot of stakeholder meetings and conversations with people who were taking a long, deep, serious look at how high school students were being prepared for university and the work world HDSB decided that STEM – Science Technology, Engineering and Technology was a direction they wanted to go in –then they added an i to coin the phrase iStem which was what would be offered at Aldershot high school.
The standard high school offering would continue – the iStem would be an additional layer that would earn the graduates a certificate which is expected for entry into most universities in the country and position the holders of the certificate with great job opportunities.
iStem students don’t get a pass on the traditional class requirements. To get an iStem certificate they have to complete:
Gr. 9 STEM Math
Gr. 9 STEM Science
Gr. 9 STEM Geography
Gr. 9 STEM Technological Design
Along with
Gr. 9 English
Gr. 9 French
Gr. 9 Arts (Elective)
Gr. 9 Physical Education
 Superintendents Terri Blackwell and Gord Truffen explaining the justification to the Board of trustees who gave the go ahead for the idea. In the early days the Board thinkers were cautious- they thought they might attract 35 – maybe 50 students.
As the staff and the teachers get closer to the September 2019 opening they find themselves looking at 124 students enrolled in the program – far more than anyone was even prepared to even dream of two years ago.
The Superintendent behind the new offering, Terri Blackwell turned over every stone she saw and asked questions.
Getting the word out to the community was the task that teacher Kerry Sager was given. Sagar is one of these people who is best described as a “keener”. Once she has her eyes focused on the objective she is tougher than a dog with a bone.
She used every medium she could find to get the word out – she spent part of a day putting 1000 flyers on the seats of GO trains to get the word out.
And the word did get out.
Sager found that the parents of the students who applied wanted to be in on the process as much as possible – they see this different approach to educating high school students as a path to success for their children.
 Lead teacher for the iStem classes at Aldershot High School Kelly Sagar Deciding who would be a good fit for the program was not a process that went looking for the “best and the brightest”.
“There is nothing elitist about the iStem program” said Sagar. “What we were looking for were students who had ideas; things they wanted to get done and with the capacity to look at problems differently.
One of the problems the students are going to be asked to take on is called: Ship the chip – the exercise is to put a potato chip in a container and ship it to themselves and have it arrive in perfect condition.
In each of the grade levels the focus will be on what is being called a “tool kit” that will serve as a guide.
Year 1 – Engineer’s Toolkit In grade 9, students explore and develop innovation skills related to engineering design and design thinking. Engineers use their creativity and analytical skills to invent, design, and build things that matter. The design thinking process brings the lens of human-centred design to solving real world problems. These design processes will enable students to further develop mindsets that include creativity, critical thinking, strategy, and project management.
 The night that parents with their student children showed up for a briefing on the iStem program stunned board staff. The crowd filled the auditorium, then the cafeteria and then the library. Superintendent Blackwell and Director of Education Stuart Miller were surprised and delighted – they had taken a chance – and it paid off. The program at Aldershot will start with the 124 grade nine students who will progress right through to high school leaving. The difference is that they will have taken an approach to learning that is different than the standard curriculum. In 2020 there will be a new grade nine until the school has a full complement of high school classes.
These students are not top level marks types. There is at least one with a learning disability.
The selection was based on the answers the students gave to the questions they were asked on why they wanted to be an iStem student.
“The answers we got from those that were selected were awesome” said Sagar.
The space in the high school is being renovated to meet the different needs of an iStem teaching environment that begins in September.
 By Pepper Parr
March 26th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Interesting how things change. What was once defined as an organization that had little if anything in the way of credibility grows to become what looks like a growing and politically influential organization.
 People were stunned – they saw it as mind boggling. When the development of a 24 storey development across the street from city hall was first shown to the public there wasn’t a lot of protest. ECoB was created by a group that was stunned by the kind of growth that was taking place in the city’s downtown core. The possibility of a 24 storey building rising across the street from city hall was mind boggling to these people.
The approach they perceived was being taken by the city’s Planning department and the degree to which the city council that was in place at the time was just too much for what was initially a small group of people who were described as “the anti-development crowd”
During the 2018 election three of the members of council seeking to be re-elected: Blair Lancaster, Paul Sharman and Jack Dennison would have nothing to do with the group that organized and held ward level debates that produced packed church hall meetings.
 Councillor Paul Sharman was a No Show at the ward 5 debate Sharman wouldn’t take part in the ECoB ward 5 debate, neither would Lancaster who arranged to hold her own debate. Dennison said he wouldn’t attend and jerked the ECoB people around with scheduling. Dennison did see that he was making a mistake and left a city council meeting early to take part in the debate at Nelson High School – he still lost; mostly because he was running against a single candidate with no vote splitting possible.
ECoB met a public need and has decided to continue to do what it could to ensure that there is an informed electorate that can be made aware of what is going on at city hall.
 Crowds like this for a ward level debate were close to an unheard of event in Burlington. They took up one of former Mayor Rick Goldring’s ideas – he created the Inspire Series of speakers that came to Burlington. It was a good idea.
ECoB created their Inform series –the first takes place June 13th, and will feature Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in conversation about issues that matter to both communities.
Roland Tanner will serve as facilitator of the event.
The event was scheduled to take place in the Community Theatre in the Performing Arts Centre. They “sold out” in less than 12 hours after the free tickets were made available.
 Penny Hersh – ECoB co-chair One member of council wasn’t able to get a seat – she waited too long. A waiting list was set up.
Penny Hersh – ECoB co-chair (Roland Tanner is the other co-chair) looked for a way to book the Main Theatre which can hold at least 750 people.
“It’s a bit of a gamble” said Hersh “but the demand seems to be there so we took the risk”. Hersh added that some of the strong supporters wrote big cheques to help cover the cost. Kelly’s Bake Shop decided to be a supporter – think Cup Cakes when you are downtown next.
 Paper money please for the donation box at the ECoB Inform event on June 13th. And think donation when you take your seat – there will be highly visible donation boxes – think paper money.
ECoB is a bit of a different fish when it comes to their organizational structure. “Our goal” said Hersh, “was to help people in each ward create their own ward level organization that would focus on their issues. We don’t tell them what to do. We support them, answer their questions and give them any advice when they ask.”
There are active ECoB groups in all six wards. “Some are better organized than others, some are truly representative of the community,” said Hersh.
 By Staff
March 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Every year for the past 15 years the Halton District School Board has showcased the artistic talent of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students The presentation fills the Brock Room at the New Street Education Centre on 3250 New St, Burlington.
The popular event will showcase the artistic talent of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students, with various styles of artwork displayed including paintings, sculptures, puppets, paper maché, crayons, pastels, ink, fabric, 2D and 3D pieces.
 From the hands of an elementary school student.  Student took a discarded circuit board and turned it into a statement about where people live. The exhibit pieces are selected by teachers to highlight art curriculum expectations. The purpose of the Elementary Art Show is to showcase student artwork and hopefully inspire and encourage others to pursue creative endeavours.
More than 1,000 students, teachers, parents/guardians, and community members are expected to visit the Elementary Art Show to tour the works of art over the course of the three-day exhibit. Professional artists from the Art Gallery of Burlington will demonstrate different artistic techniques such as pottery, weaving, spinning, photography, fine art and more. The artists will provide students with hands-on opportunities to show them how art can have a place in their future.
 Rebecca MacRae, Instructional Program Leader – The Arts “Elements and Expressions displays the self-expression, imagination and artistic mindset of our young Halton artists,” says Rebecca , Instructional Program Leader – The Arts for the Halton District School Board. “The pieces in this exhibit show the range of art disciplines the students explore with their visual arts teachers. Through the creation of art, students explore their ideas and imaginations and connect to their own realities.”
Student artwork will be on display during the following times:
• Tuesday, March 26 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 27 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Thursday, March 28 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, March 29 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
March 18th, 21019
BURLINGTON, ON
The province announced major changes in the way education is going to be delivered to elementary and high school students in the province.
They want to take the cell phones out of the hands of students.
They want to get ‘Back-to-Basics’ Math Curriculum, Renewed Focus on Skilled Trades and STEM – Science,Technology Engineering and Mathematics curriculum.
The Halton District School Board HDSB is more than a couple of steps ahead of the province. In September they will open the first part of the iStem program at Aldershot High School. A total of 124 students have registered in a program that has taken two years to create.
Terri Blackwell, Superintendent of Education said “after extensive consultation with parents, staff, post secondary partners, industry leaders and students in the 2017-2018 year lead to the Innovation – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (iStem) Program at Aldershot. This past year we have been working closely with an outstanding Advisory Group consisting of post secondary partners, community organizations and industry leaders.
“The Engineer’s Toolkit in grade 9, the Entrepreneur’s Toolkit in grade 10 and the Global Innovator’s Toolkit in the senior years was developed in partnership with our ever growing Advisory Group. With a focus on Innovation (the “I” in iStem), students will contribute and thrive in our technologically intensive world through interdisciplinary learning opportunities connecting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Learning in the classroom will be paired with experiential learning and mentorship with the community and workplace.”
Halton District School Board Superintendent Terri Blackwell and Director of Education Stuart Miller at the first parent night announcing the program. Blackwell added: “As part of the application process students were asked to respond to a number of questions: “What is one problem you would like to solve or big question you would like to explore as part of your learning in the iStem program?”.
“We were inspired by the responses from students and will continue to build learning opportunities with input from them.”
Director of Education Stuart Miller said: The Minister of Education has spoken previously about the need for more opportunities for students to pursue an iStem curriculum.
We are very proud at the HDSB that we have gotten out in front of the province’s direction. Almost two years ago we began the process of enhancing the program at Aldershot High School by focusing on iStem (i being for innovation) commencing in September 2019. Through the work of many staff, but in particular Superintendent Terri Blackwell we have forged relationships with post secondary institutions and some private companies in helping us develop it. We have had tremendous interest from not just the community, but also beyond and as a result we will see a large increase in the number of students attending Aldershot in September enrolled in iStem.
“More importantly we will be preparing these students to pursue many opportunities beyond High school related to all things iStem.”
The provincial media release on changes coming to education covered much more than iStem.
All the buzz words that the PR types the government has hired are in the province’s Media Release. “We will make sure our students are leaving school with the skills they need to build good lives, families and careers right here in Ontario, while ensuring the system is both fiscally sustainable and respectful of parents.”
 Minister of Education Lisa Thomson “The new vision will modernize Ontario’s classrooms and provide students with more learning opportunities to prepare them for success in post-secondary education, apprenticeship and training, and the workforce. The plan would include:
Modernizing classrooms by expanding broadband, developing a new policy that will ban the use of cellphones during class except for educational purposes and modernizing the approach to assessment and evaluation with a renewed focus on equity across the province.
Introducing changes to education funding that keep resources focused on students in the classroom.
Supporting teacher mobility, greater transparency, fairness, consistency and accountability to school board hiring practices of teachers.
Maintaining class sizes for Kindergarten to Grade 3, establishing a consistent approach to class sizes for grades 4 to 8 and aligning secondary class sizes more closely with other Canadian jurisdictions, while introducing a new approach to e-learning and reducing pressure on school boards to put students in portables and split classes.
Undertaking curriculum reform that will include:
A new math curriculum that will focus on math fundamentals for all grades;
A renewed focus on STEM, skilled trades and financial literacy; and
A modern and age-appropriate Health and Physical Education curriculum that will keep students safe.
“There will be clear provisions for parents who wish to exempt their child or children from sexual health education, and online modules will be available for parents who want to discuss sexual health topics at home whenever they feel their child is ready.
“The government is committed to discussing the key elements of the proposed plan, including hiring practices and class sizes, through a consultation process that allows partners to provide the benefit of their expertise, experience and ideas.
 Minister Lisa Thomson “We welcome conversation with any education stakeholder who is prepared to work with us in good faith to ensure our plan continues to serve the best interests of Ontario’s students in a way that works for families and school boards and is fair to our educators.” said Thompson.
Look carefully at some of the phrasing:
“…prepared to work with us in good faith to ensure our plan continues to serve the best interests of students…”
They don’t say they are going to listen.
“…establishing a consistent approach to class sizes for grades 4 to 8 and aligning secondary class sizes more closely with other Canadian jurisdictions.”
An increase in the number of students in classrooms.
“Supporting teacher mobility, greater transparency, fairness, consistency and accountability to school board hiring practices of teachers.”
Teachers aren’t interested in the kind of mobility the government is talking about. Transparency is a two way street.
The document was released on a Friday at the end of the Spring Break when what parents are about most concerned about is knowing that they are going to be able to get on a flight that gets them back so they can have the kids ready for school on Monday.
 By Alison Braithwaite
March 14th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
I have these beautiful black, flat, polished stones that are magnetic. I believe it is called hematite. I love how they feel in my hand and I love that they are magnetic.
When I hold them I feel grounded.
Then I noticed something. I was playing with two of the stones the other day and I noticed something interesting. I was playing with their resistance.
You know how when you bring two magnets together the wrong way, you can feel the strength of their resistance? No matter how hard you push them together they resist.
 If you push them past a certain point the magnetic forces them to either side of each other.
And you know how when you flip the magnets the other way there is a strong force that instantly brings the magnets together.
What I noticed was that as a certain point the force that brings the stones careening together and the force of resistance that repels the stones feels the same.
I found this so fascinating.
Immediately, I thought of how this applies to life; how it applies to dealing with difficult situations.
We have all likely felt that resistance when we are pushing forward to achieve something. That moment when we think this is too hard, it’s taking too much effort, why can’t I get past this point, why don’t they understand what I am trying to do.
Then one magic step forward and everything opens up and starts to happen so fast and with so much ease.
And then there’s the other situation…
 Force and resistance – shows with magnets – in life as well? The situation where we keep pushing and pushing and the harder we push the more we are flung onto a different path. It can be exhausting.
If you find yourself constantly pushing with nothing to show for yourself
1. Take a moment to notice what’s happening.
2. Pause.
3. Assess the situation.
Ask yourself some questions
How long have you been striving in this situation?
• Sometimes we push ourselves too hard to change a situation or achieve a goal. We are so focused on pushing forward that we lose perspective and exhaust ourselves.
How are you physically, mentally and emotionally feeling?
• Sometimes we don’t pay attention to ourselves and how we feel. Yet we have this inner wisdom that knows exactly what our next step should be and that answer may be rest, regroup, think again.
What is the next right step?
• What is the next right step for you, not just for the situation? You are just as important as the situation.
Are you about to take the same step?
• Sometimes we do the same thing over and over again and expect something different. In order to come together, one of the hematite stones needs to be flipped right over and then instantly they are drawn together.
How can you flip yourself, your thinking, your beliefs and perspectives?
• What stories are you telling yourself about the goal, the situation and the people involved?
• What stories are you telling yourself about your abilities, your determination, your state of mind?
• How can you flip yourself, see things from a new and energizing perspective?
• What would it be like to create the opposite story, take on the opposite belief, talk to someone about where you are that you have never spoken to and in fact maybe avoided to get their perspective on things?
• Is there something that you need to accept about the situation or the people involved in order to realign yourself to who you are?
How can you flip the situation?
• This one might be a bit tougher to unearth. It means looking at the situation, the people involved, the beliefs that they hold, the stories they are telling themselves about the situation from as many perspectives that you can. What can you do to shift their perspectives, their stories, their beliefs? If you try to do it by force you will exhaust yourself.
• Somewhere in all of this is a point of leverage, where one person involves shifts and with that, the whole situation flips. And your story is key. There is something in your past experience that is key to what you believe. How can you tell your story or help someone experience what you have so that light bulb goes off inside them and their understanding flips?
Is it time to actually follow the other path?
• Don’t’ get fooled into believing the resistance you are feeling can just be pushed through.
• When you bring two magnets together and they resist, one gets thrown to the side, displaced, oriented differently. Perhaps it might be easier to follow the path in the direction you are being thrown. Just maybe things will open up for you if you walk that way.
Next steps:
1. Make a decision.
2. Take action.
3. Monitor the action and how you are feeling.
4. Adapt your approach. (So you feel like yourself).
Welcome into and expect ease and grace in your life. You and life will be so much more amazing if you do.
You can follow Alison HERE.
 Alison Braithwaite spent years in the corporate world – environmental services. She was a member of the executive team of a North American wide aggregate, emulsion and environmental company where she was responsible for environmental performance and sustainability. Braithwaite has a Master of Arts in Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching both from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.
 By Staff
March 7th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
This weekend at the AGB: John Willard Fibre Arts Resident Line Dufour is hosting two exciting demonstrations!
Saturday, March 9 | 11 – 4 PM: Tapestry Weaving Demonstration in the Brock Lobby
Sunday, March 10 | 11 – 4 PM: Felted Wool Balls Session in the Textile Studio
 The John Willard AGB Fibre Arts Resident Line Dufour The community is invited to make their own felted wool ball.
Participants can bring their own materials, including lopi or feltable yarn, a darning needle, pantyhose, 1 yard of non-feltable yarn (polyester, acrylic, cotton), and scissors.
Participants can also pay $5.00 to be provided with any materials needed!
By Pepper Parr
March 7th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Governance and the not for profit sector are not always that comfortable with each other.
 There are a number, far too many, organizations that are incorporated as not for profit corporations that has little, if any, understanding of just what the Directors are supposed to do and what they are not supposed to do.
We could use all our fingers to count off the organizations that are a mess when it comes to the quality of the work their Directors do.
Conflicts of interest and the tendency to get into the weeds of the organization.
Policy is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, operations is the responsibility of the Executive Director who is chosen by and reports to the Board.
Community Development Halton (CDH) has put together a half day course that every Director of a not for profit organization should be required to take.
The United Way funds many of the not for profits’ – they should make the receiving of any funding dependent on every Board member having been trained as a Director.
The Regional government should take the same position.
The wider community will be better served if these Directors are trained.
A brief description of what the CDH is offering:
 This class will provide an overview of the role, scope of responsibilities, and understanding of key elements shaping the effectiveness of Boards of Directors in the not for profit sector.
Focused particularly on people who are new or considering becoming a Board member, the session will also serve as a “refresher” for those with experience on Boards and senior staff who are charged with providing support to the Board.
Facilitator: JODY ORR, runs the Chrysalis Group and has an extensive background working in and with the not for profit sector. She has a Master’s degree in Sociology and is a founding principal in an organizational and community development consulting firm.
 Jody worked for 17 years in the not for profit sector and has, since striking out on her own, supported not for profits, big and small, with a major emphasis on building capacity in a variety of areas, including effective governance. She was the lead staff person in two large voluntary social planning organizations and a Board member and President of a variety of not for profits.
She also is the Coordinator of the Halton Not for profit network.
 By Staff
March 6th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
If you started as a student at Burlington Central High School (BCHS) in 1964 or ended your time as a student in 1969 the Class of 1969 – 50 year Reunion want to hear from you. They are having a party!
It will take place at the Burlington Golf and Country Club on Friday, June 21, 2019
Mix and mingle, and see how many people you can recognize; 6:30 PM Buffet dinner – Cost $50 Contact: bchs69@cogeco.ca for more detail.
 The Class of 69 wants to celebrate their 50th graduation anniversary. Pass this message on to other grads that may not see this message. (We are still looking for email address and or contact information for our fellow students. If you can help please reply to our email address bchs69@cogeco.ca
For those of you planning to attend from out of town, the planning committee has secured a block of rooms at the Waterfront Hotel. Discount code is BCHS69.
It has been 50 years since graduation.
Alumni close to home, from distant parts of the country, and even the world, will gather to reconnect and share the paths their lives have taken.
 They fought hard to keep their school open and they prevailed.  The tag line never changed. Over the last several years, BCHS has been fighting for survival. The Halton District School Board voted to consider closing BCHS. Students, Alumni and parents of current students, rallied against this proposal and were able to achieve a stay of execution. Central could be around for another 50 years.
The 50 year event will take place at the Burlington Golf and Country Club, located at 422 North Shore Blvd. E., Burlington.
B
CHS, the first Burlington high school, celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2022.
By Staff
March 6th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board values input from parents/guardians, members of the community, staff and students concerning the development of the 2019-2020 budget.
Individuals are encouraged to provide input on the budget priorities for the upcoming school year online through a questionnaire on the Halton District School Board’s website at www.hdsb.ca. To access the questionnaire, follow the link from the homepage or directly here. Input must be received by March 19, 2019.
 Trustees and Board staff welcome public input on budget matters. Before providing input, individuals are encouraged to review the Board’s Multi-Year Plan 2016-2020, Special Education Plan and Operational Plan. A key objective of the annual budget process is to align the Halton District School Board’s financial resources with these important documents.
Community members are also able to delegate to the Board of Trustees. Please follow the Delegation By-law posted on the Halton District School Board website (found under the ‘Our Board’ tab).
 By Andrew Drummond
March 4th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
 From the left: Councillor Bentivegna, Mayor Meed Ward, Councillors Paul Sharman and Lisa Kearns
Halton Women’s Place held their annual fundraiser gala recently. It was a delightful affair with 413 attendees including politicians of all levels and parties. Part of the event was a live auction where one of the “items” being auctioned off was an evening party with a number of gentlemen from the Oakville Fire Department. It was a touching gesture (which raised $3,000) and was a wonderful way for the department to give back to the community.
However, as the department’s spokesperson took the stage to extol others to bid on them, he told the crowd about some startling statistics about Halton Women’s Place and the work that they do and the constraints that they work under. The most alarming statistic was that the shelter only has 52 beds and that as a temporary shelter, the majority of their residents are being transitioned to a full time, safe housing. This process used to take six to eight weeks, but now can take up to six to eight MONTHS.
There is such a lack of affordable housing in Halton region that a woman fleeing violence with her children can wait up to eight months in a shelter.
 Within the HWP annual reports, an even more troubling trend appears. In 2014, the shelter housed 270 women and 211 children for some period of time over the year. The report also noted that “766 women did not receive shelter due to capacity”. In 2014, the shelter only was able to serve 39% of the need in the region. Compared to 2018 however, 2014’s 39% was a success. As a result of the reduced availability of safe, affordable housing in Halton, in 2018, HWP was only able to serve 173 women and 183 children. They no longer list the number of women turned away in the annual report, but only being able to assist 74% of their 2014 number cannot be a good sign.
There are two critical issues then, which need to be addressed for our community to be able to successfully assist women fleeing violence and abuse. First need Halton Women’s Place needs a stable source of funding.
Second Halton Region needs to ensure there is adequate housing for women to transition into. From the chart below, over the last 5 years, the level of funding from government sources has increased at less than the rate of inflation (8.2% total). As a result, HWP has increasingly relied on private funds to make up the gap in funding.
Fortunately for the shelter, the public has responded (+45.4% over 5 years), but raising private money is time consuming and unpredictable and forces HWP to devote its efforts away from its primary focus – helping abused women.
The second critical issue to alleviate the pressure on HWP is to increase the availability of subsidized housing across Halton Region. On the Region of Halton website for subsidized housing, there is an ominous note about wait times for subsidized housing.
“It is not possible to provide a specific wait time. Criteria used to place individuals and families changes regularly. Halton Region must follow provincial government regulations, which means the date on your application is not the only information used for placement on our wait list. The waiting time can sometimes take several years for units highest in demand…”
Finding affordable housing can take years. Hundreds of women fleeing violence are turned away from shelters in our region because of overlong wait times for safe, subsidized housing. This is simply not acceptable.
Turning battered women away is one part of the issue, but the longer wait times also have an impact on the women who do get into the shelters. One of the most important things these women need at this time is stability. They and their children are rebuilding a life, and the months they have to wait to start it is a significant strain on everyone. Permanency is a requirement for building a stable new life.
In its recent 2019 budget, the Region of Halton proposed a 1.9% tax increase for regional services. Regional Chair Gary Carr has taken to social media repeatedly to boast of “delivering an average property tax increase of 0.7% for Regional Services from 2007 to 2018, while maintaining or enhancing core services.” All of these increases fall below the rate of inflation. In other words, overall, Halton is collecting less tax to provide services and the end result has been, wait times for subsidized housing increasing year over year.
 Community level support was evident. Can’t say that much for the support from the Regional government. The question is then, why is sufficient safe, affordable housing for our community’s most vulnerable people not considered a “core service”? There is clear evidence that the region is providing far less than what is required by its citizens and yet tax increases are still being kept below the rates of inflation. There is hope however, in 2018 Burlington elected a slate of progressive city councillors that are determined to work to support the more vulnerable among us.
But the effort needs to come from all levels of government. Our community needs the provincial government to increase shelter funding to at least the level of inflation. Our community needs the regional government to invest in enough subsidized housing that the wait times can be measured in weeks and not years. And our community needs the city to live up to its commitment to its most vulnerable.
In 2017 in Halton there were 3,156 police calls for domestic violence. And in Halton we only have 52 shelter beds for the women who made those calls.
 By Staff
February 28th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is pleased to launch a new youth mural project. Lead by professional artists, youth will get a hands-on opportunity to make a mural that will be unveiled as part of Youth Week (May 2019).
The city is looking for youth ages 14 – 18 to help create a mural that will be part of the City of Burlington’s public art collection.
Workshops
• Youth participants are invited to attend one of 3 meetings on their area to learn more.
• Each meeting is 2-3 hours long and includes a dinner break (food and refreshments provided)
• The meeting includes hands-on art making activities; each participant will take home their own graffiti art inspired poster
• The workshops will take place at the following locations:
Meeting 1 Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St. Tuesday, March 19 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Meeting 2 Haber Community Centre, 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr. Wednesday, March 21 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Meeting 3 Mountainside Community Centre, 2205 Mount Forest Dr. Thursday, March 22 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Attend any ONE meeting to meet the Artist and discuss the project. Dinner provided.
Project team meeting: Week of April 1-5, Student Theatre Centre 2131 Prospect St. – exact date and time TBD
Production: April 15-30 unveiling and launch Saturday, May 4, during National Youth Week.
How to Participate:
RSVP to rainer.noack@burlington.ca
About the Artists
Jimmy Baptiste is a youth educator/facilitator, graphic artist, curator and muralist raised in Montreal, Quebec. His aim is to develop and provide his clients a unique approach to education through the arts. He promotes the use of murals as graffiti vandalism deterrent, engages people of all ages in positive skill-building experiences while simultaneously supporting local arts and culture, and enhancing a neighbourhood’s beauty for residents and visitors.
In 2015, Jimmy received the P. Lantz Bursary as an artist-in-residency from the Department of Integrated Studies and Education (D.I.S.E) of McGill University in Montreal. He as collaborated with various organisations like Mikw Chyiam as artist in residency in first nation communities, A’Shop, Under Pressure Graffiti Festival branding, Cossette Media and the Educational Program of Place des Arts in Montreal.
Hans Schmitter is a US born, Montreal-based artist with over 20 years experience with spray can art and graphic design. He has worked on countless commercial projects and painted hundreds of murals, large and small, in many locations around the world. He has worked as a solo artist and in collaboration with other artist and team members, in every capacity, from assistant to creative director
By Staff
February 26th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Bureaucrats at almost every level want to know what the people they serve think – so they do surveys.
The Halton District School Board is inviting students, parents, staff and community members to participate in the online engagement survey: Have Your Say. Topics for feedback include learning opportunities, communication, involvement in schools, technology use, equitable and inclusive learning environments, and transportation.
 Student comment gathered in a 2017-18 survey. Was there nothing negative gathered? The surveys are open for all groups from Feb. 1 to March 29, 2019. The information gathered from the survey will help the Board continue to create a positive learning environment to help shape school improvement and well-being plans. The survey will be available at www.HaveYourSayHDSB.ca, or via the Board’s website at www.hdsb.ca. The survey is available in six additional languages: Arabic, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, and Urdu.
The Have Your Say survey will provide the Board with feedback regarding the goals and targets in the Halton District School Board’s Multi-Year Plan (2016-2020).
The Board will share a summary of the information collected with all stakeholders in June 2019. This data continues to support school and system improvement planning.
The Have Your Say survey is completely anonymous and the questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Individual responses will be grouped together for analysis.
 Stuart Miller, Director of Education “As partners in education, your input is valued and appreciated,” says Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. ”The Board is committed to engaging our community and building relationships to continually improve the educational experience for all students. We recognize your involvement is critical to student success, which is why we’re inviting you to complete this online survey. With your feedback, we can help guide meaningful change to improve student learning, well-being and success.”
 By Staff
February 26th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
An application for a retail cannabis store in Burlington has been received by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Written comments due by March 6
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (ACGO) has received an application for a retail cannabis store in Burlington at 103-4031 Fairview St.
 Proposed location for a retail cannabis operation. On Fairview east of Walkers Line. Written comments about the proposed location at 103-4031 Fairview St. will be received by the AGCO until March 6, 2019 and may be submitted online at www.agco.ca/iAGCO. The AGCO will accept submissions from:
• A resident of the municipality in which the proposed store is located
• The municipality representing the area in which the proposed store is located and/or its upper-tier municipality.
Comments submitted to the AGCO should relate to the following matters of public interest:
• Protecting public health and safety
• Protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis
• Preventing illicit activities in relation to cannabis.
After March 6, the AGCO will consider all written comments and available information to decide whether the application for the proposed store location will be approved.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has been an advocate for retail cannabis operations. During the election campaign she said she was surprised at the resistance to retail locations in the city.
When it came to a vote at city council Councillors Shawna Stolte, Ward 4 and ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentevegna voted to not have retail outlets.
 Mayor Meed Ward supports the opening of a retail cannabis site: two of the six Councillors were not n side with her. The Mayor said: “This is the kind of location where it is appropriate for accommodating retail cannabis stores in our city. It is more than 150 metres from any school or any of the other locations of particular concern, including parks, pools, arenas, libraries or recreation centres. And it is also along transit routes and near the QEW/Hwy. 403.
She added that the city “won’t be submitting comments to the AGCO on this application given its suitability. The public can submit their comments by March 6 to the AGCO’s website. Burlington City Council is in the process of creating a task force to develop a set of standard comments we would provide to the AGCO, when applications come forward, that reflect community perspectives on where these should be located.”
Meed Ward has been appointed as one of four members of a working group at the Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO), part of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, that will work to develop similar guidelines for suitable locations. The working group includes mayors of two municipalities that opted in and two that opted out of allowing cannabis retail stores, recognizing that our concerns are similar. The guidelines we create will be shared with the AGCO and our municipalities.
 By Staff
February 25th 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is currently reviewing the boundaries of Frontenac Public School along with the following Ward 4 elementary schools: John T. Tuck, Pauline Johnson, Ryerson, and Tecumseh.
This review will not impact current high school boundaries. That means students currently residing in the Nelson HS catchment will continue to be directed to Nelson HS.
 Pauline Johnson PS has a number of portable to accommodate the student population Boundary reviews are necessary when student enrollments are imbalanced. When populations exceed school capacity, portables are necessary. When individual school populations are consistently low (under 60% utilization), school closure conversations (otherwise known as a Program Accommodation Review) can be triggered.
The school board publishes an annual report on the current and long term enrollment predictions for all schools in Halton. This report is called the Long Term Accommodation Plan
The Boundary Review Committee (BRC) consists of a superintendent, a trustee, and two parent representatives from each school in the affected communities. BRC meetings will take place at the New Street Education Centre (3250 New Street), also known as Gary Allan HS, from 7–9 p.m. on February 26, April 9, and May 14. The public is welcome to attend, as observers, at any of the BRC meetings.
The public is invited to participate in the Boundary Review Public Consultation meeting being held on April 30 at the same location and time as above. Here, the public may view the options being considered and ask questions of the HDSB staff and Boundary Review Committee members in attendance.
By Staff
February 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
We are going to get through this winter.
 The people at the Art Gallery are so certain that we will they have announced “ officially “ that Spring + Summer Program Registration opens Wednesday, March 13!
You can register online at agb.life/springsummer2019 , by phone at (905) 632-7796, or in person at our Brock Lobby Front Desk!
The people who pump out the news at the AGB have said that: “If you heard that registration was starting on another date, ignore those rumours! In order to give you the best registration experience possible, we moved the time. We’re so sorry for any inconvenience this change may cause!
 By Pepper Parr
February 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was great!
 Michael Jones talks to Liz Benneian about the turnout for Family Day – it was great. It had been a tough weekend weather-wise but it changed for Family Day and particularly for those who took the opportunity to gather at LaSalle Park and watch the Trumpeter swans and walk among them.
 People walked about the swans while those with impressive camera equipment were clicking away. The swans were at one point on the very edge of extinction and in some communities they are still at risk.
 At feeding time the birds cluster and poke away at the food. The birds with light brown colouring are younger birds. But at LaSalle Park on Monday they were out there for all to see. Liz Benneian stood at the entrance telling anyone who would give her two minutes more than they ever thought they would know about the swans and the problems and victories that the Trumpeter Swan Coalition have experienced.
The Gazette sponsored a photo contest with the Coalition. There wasn’t very much in the way of lead time but at the end of the day there were more than a dozen entries with more to come.
There are some stunning pictures that will be shared once the judges have done their job.
 Liz Benneian uses every opportunity she gets to tell the swan story. The Coalition shares the waterfront space with the Marina – that relationship gets stiff from time to time. With changes on city council there appears to be a much better relationship coming to the surface.
 A swan about to take flight. The public participation was good – and the people on hand to tell the swan story were exceptionally well informed.
 They mate for life and swim around in pairs much of the time. Is there a lesson here for the rest of us?  The swans gather in a small cove at the eastern end of the waterfront park.
By Larisa Wong
February 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the most popular social media platforms is Snapchat. It has grow in popularity ever since launching and it is particularly a hit with young adults and teens. If you use Snapchat, then you probably see many emojis, but do you actually know what they are and what each one means? Don’t worry because the rest of this article will go into more depth about what they are and what some of them mean.
What Are Snapchat Emojis
Snapchat emojis tracks the way you and your friends on the platform interact with one another. The emojis that show up on your friends tab can be affected by various factors, such as how often you and your friend send one another snaps, the length of time you’ve been friends and other users you interact with. These are the main factors.
Think of Snapchat emojis as other emojis that are commonly used on social media sites, but they are slightly unique.
What Do They Mean
Here is what the most popular emojis mean:
 The Baby Face– Do you see this emoji? If so, then you’ve just added someone new to your Snapchat’s friends list. If you just joined Snapchat, then this emoji will be shown frequently. Think of the baby face emoji symbolizing that you are brand new to the site or that you have new friends on Snapchat, if that makes sense.
The Birthday Cake Emoji– If the birthday cake emoji pops up near one of your friends as you’re scrolling your list, then you can probably guess what it means. If not, it means it’s their birthday. When a person signs up to Snapchat, they provide their date of birth and on that date is when the emoji will appear near their name. Don’t forget to wish them a happy birthday if you notice this emoji near their name.
Fire– Have you been snapping with a friend for at least three days in a row? If so, then you’ll see the fire emoji on your list. The number next to the flame will represent how many days your streak is. If it’s four days, then the number for will be next to the fire emoji.
Hourglass– This emoji means that your streak is about to end with the person that it is next to. All you have to do is send them a quick snap. After you do this, your streak will continue, but do remember that chatting along won’t keep the streak going. This is why you’ll want to take snap selfies via the selfie camera.
Grimace– The grimace emoji appears when you share a best friend with the friend that the emoji is showing next to. It indicates that the person interacts quite a bit with the friend you interact with regularly. The more you interact with specific users, the more likely you’ll end up seeing the grimace emoji appearing.
 The Smile Emoji- This emoji means the users is one of your good friends because of how frequently you interact with them. It also means they send you many snaps and so do you, but it does not indicate they are your number one best friend. The more active you are on Snapchat, the more of a chance you have of spotting this emoji.
The 100– This is one of the best emojis on Snapchat. Make sure you take a screenshot of it if you come across it because it means that you are on a huge streak. To be more specific, it means your streak with a specific person has hit the 100 day mark, which is quite impressive.
Purple Zodiac Sign– When you click on a user’s name to view their profile and you see a purple Zodiac sign near them, it means they have entered their birthday. The Zodiac symbol for that month shows up. If you ever get curious about who has entered their date of birth and what their Zodiac symbol is, then click on people’s profile.
Gold Heart- The gold heart emoji indicates that you and the person are best friends on Snapchat. It means you have sent this person many snaps and they have done the same. In fact, it means you’ve sent them the most and they’ve sent you the most.
 Sunglasses– The sunglasses emoji means you and the person share a close friend. A close friend does not mean they are one of your best friends, but it is a user who sends you snaps on a regular basis. Don’t be surprised to see this emoji pop up regularly as you become a more frequent user of the platform.
Now you know what Snapchat emojis are. You also have an idea of what some of them mean. With that said, if you’re not using emojis on Snapchat, then you should start.
Larisa Wong is a recognized expert on the use and meaning of emojis She works out of the Murcia region of Spain which borders on the Mediterranean Sea.
Related link:
More on the Snapchat people.
By Staff
February 11th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Second information session on private tree bylaw to take place February 26 – bylaw becomes effective March 1st in Roseland community.
The City of Burlington’s second public drop-in information session on the Roseland Private Tree Bylaw pilot is set for Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Central Arena’s auditorium.
The first drop in session took place at LaSalle Park, about as far away as one could get from where the impact of the bylaw is going to be felt.
The Private Tree Bylaw will come into effect on March 1, 2019, only within the Roseland community area, for two years. Later this year the city will begin the process of public engagement on the possibility of implementing a citywide private tree bylaw.
 These trees in the east end of the city are at the edge of land that a developer wants to put two apartment towers on – the trees would be cut down and replaced. The pilot project aims to protect private trees with diameters larger than 30 cm, historic and rare tree species from damage or destruction.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to attend to learn more about how the bylaw will protect Burlington’s tree canopy and how it will impact their homes and businesses.
Businesses such as landscapers, pool companies, homebuilders, general contractors and tree companies are also encouraged to come and learn about the bylaw.
The first information session was held earlier in the month specifically for Roseland residents. Approximately 25 people attended the session.
 Private property – private tree. This type of thing would not be possible under a private tree bylaw – without something in the way of consequences. About the Private Tree Bylaw
No person can injure, destroy, cause or permit the injury or destruction of a tree with a diameter of 30cm or greater or of a tree of significance (historic or rare).
To read the full bylaw, including information on permits, exemptions and fines, visit Burlington.ca/PrivateTree.
Examples of exemptions include:
• Trees with a diameter of less than 30cm
• For the purpose of pruning in accordance with Good Arboricultural Practices
• For emergency work
• If the tree has a high or extreme likelihood of failure and impact as verified or confirmed by an Arborist or the Manager
• If the tree is dead, as confirmed by the Manager of Urban Forestry, or designate
• If the tree is an ash tree (due to the Emerald Ash Borer), as confirmed by the Manager of Urban Forestry, or designate
• If a tree is within two metres of an occupied building
• For more exemptions, visit Burlington.ca/privatetree
 This will tree was taken down in |Spencer Smith Park because it was thought to be diseased and in danger of falling down. No permit was needed. Permits
A person wanting to remove a tree with a diameter larger than 30 cm or of significance can apply for a permit online by visiting Burlington.ca/privatetree.
Fines
Minimum fine is $500. Maximum fine is $100,000.
Public Information Session
Residents and businesses are invited to attend an information session on the Private Tree Bylaw pilot on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Central Arena (auditorium), 519 Drury Lane, Burlington.
The session will allow residents and businesses to learn about the Private Tree Bylaw and how it will impact their homes, business and neighbourhood by speaking with city staff including members of the Forestry Department.
For those who are unable to attend, more information can be found at burlington.ca/privatetree.
In comments from the Office of the Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said: “I know from talking to residents that there are many people in our city who are passionate about our trees. Their benefit extends far beyond the beauty they provide. Their ability to mitigate flooding and absorb pollution is tremendous. They are a critical part of Burlington’s green infrastructure; we need to protect them and that’s what we believe this Private Tree Bylaw will accomplish.”
Steve Robinson, Manager of Forestry explains that: “Every tree matters. Our trees are under constant threat from climate change, weather-related storm events, invasive insects and diseases, as well as people. The benefits trees provide to all of us are critical such as air quality, shade, and carbon sequestration. We are working hard to protect trees, including encouraging preservation and replanting to restore lost canopy. It takes decades for the lost benefits of one mature tree to be replaced. Together, we can keep Burlington green and healthy which benefits us all.”
 When large numbers of new trees have to be planted scores of volunteers show up. There are those that are having problems accepting that the city can tell them what they can do with trees on their property. Understanding that a tree is not a person’s property but a piece of nature that they have become stewards of while they are owners of the property. As a steward their role is to do everything they can to ensure the tree is cared for and allowed to grow to its full maturity and serve the environmental needs of the wider community.
One can no longer cut down a tree just because one no longer wants to rake the leaves up in the fall.
 By Staff
February 6th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
They are the largest swans in the world, native only to North America and they have made an amazing comeback from the brink of extinction. On Family Day, Monday, February 18th, come to LaSalle Park, in Burlington, to meet the Trumpeter Swans and hear their amazing story of conservation success.
 The event will be held between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. when members of the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Group and the Trumpeter Swan Coalition will be on hand to introduce you to these magnificent birds that have fought their way back from extinction with the help of a group of dedicated volunteers. Hear the Trumpeter Swans’ amazing stories and learn more about them from the team of women who band and tag the birds.
The event will be held along the shoreline of Lasalle Park, 831 Lasalle Park Road. Booths will be set up near the boat launch. Banders and taggers will be working in the beach area. LaSalle Park is the largest over-wintering site for Trumpeter Swans in Ontario. Between 125 to 200 Trumpeters gather near the harbour from December to March.
The event is free. All ages welcome. Dogs make the Trumpeters nervous so please leave your pets at home.
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