 By Staff
October 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service provides Police Record Checks to all residents of the Region of Halton, for volunteer or employment purposes. This service is most efficiently obtained ONLINE or you may attend one of our five police facilities.
 On November 1, 2018, the Police Record Checks Reform Act will come into force, ensuring a clear, consistent and comprehensive set of standards to govern how police record checks are conducted and disclosed in Ontario.
The Halton Regional Police Service offers three types of Police Record Checks for the members of the public who reside in the Halton Region. If you are unsure as to which Record Check you need to complete, please see our website.
• Criminal Record Check – Learn more or apply online now.
• Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check – Learn more or apply online now.
• Vulnerable Sector Check – Learn more or apply online now.
The Impact on Youth Record Checks
These standards also include how police services release Police Record Checks containing youth records to applicants. Up until now, police services have released a Police Record Check containing youth records directly to the applicant who then provides the Police Record Check to the organization or volunteer agency. The federal and provincial government has found this approach to be contrary to the Federal Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).
As of November 1, 2018, youth can only apply for a Police Record Check if:
A. The youth is applying for purposes of employment or volunteering directly with:
• the Government of Canada;
• the Government of a province; or
• a Municipality;
OR
B. The youth requires their own youth records for their own personal information (Privacy Request).
The Halton Regional Police Service will only provide Police Record Checks to applicants under the age of 18 for government positions.
What does this mean for Non-Government Agencies and Youth Seeking to work or volunteer at these organizations?
Effective November 1, 2018, non-government agencies are not authorized to receive any youth Police Record Check results. Similarly, youth are no longer required to undertake a Police Record Check for volunteer or paid employment with these agencies.
To require applicants to apply and pay for a Police Record Check when no results will be released is not in the best interest of the applicants, the police service or the community.
Non-government agencies will now have to proceed with alternative application steps, such as interviews and references for youths, and not rely on, either in part or solely, a Police Record Check, as they may have in the past.
If you have to be finger-printed you need to make an appointment and provide some very specific information. Here is the link for more information on that service.
For more information about Police Record Checks, please visit our website: https://www.haltonpolice.ca/about/courtsrecords/policerecordchecks.php.
You are also invited to contact our office directly with your inquiries:
Information and Records Services
2485 North Service Road West
Oakville, ON L6M 0Y3
P: 905-825-4777 ext. 4712
 By Staff
October 28th, 2108
BURLINGTON, ON
We really should have told you about the Diana Thorneycroft exhibit when it opened at the Art Gallery.
It opened in September – the election kept us away from a lot of the cultural life of the city.
 Diana Thorneycroft Thorneycroft is a Winnipeg artist who has exhibited various bodies of work across Canada, the United States and Europe, as well as in Moscow, Tokyo and Sydney. She is the recipient of numerous awards including an Assistance to Visual Arts Long-term Grant from the Canada Council, several Senior Arts Grants from the Manitoba Arts Council and a Fleck Fellowship from the Banff Centre for the Arts.
 It is huge, sweeping from floor level to the height of an average person’s shoulders. Kids will love it – just make sure they don’t touch the ponies. Her exhibit may have been the last one outgoing Senior Curator Denis Longchamps did for the AGB before he headed west to the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in Waterloo.
The Thorneycroft work has been the subject of national radio documentaries and a CBC national documentary for television. Thorneycroft’s photo-based exhibition, The Body, its lesson and camouflage was on an eight city tour from 2000 to 2002.
The exhibit at the AGB covers three of her recent works Herd, The Village and Black Forest (dark waters); it is a stunning installation. Over a hundred and fifty toy horses stampede throughout the gallery in Herd, some with morphed appearances. The altered physical representation of the horses highlight a juxtaposition of the animals as vulnerable yet powerful, tamed but wild.
Introducing young children to art is not always easy – they have yet to develop critical skills. The Herd is big and imaginative- the kind of visual that will stretch a young mind. It will be difficult to keep their hands of the hundreds of ponies that are charging up a steep slope.
Thorneycroft is known for creating provocative and controversial photographs that challenge her audience’s viewing experience. Her seemingly comical images composed of innocent subjects-dolls and toy figurines -and set against the landscapes of the Group of Seven and their contemporaries reveal, upon a closer examination, a deeper and darker meaning.
Titled Group of Seven Awkward Moments, the exhibit was at the McMichael Art Gallery in Kleinburg.
 Looking down the ramp the ponies are running up. In one of the pieces in that exhibit she used Arthur Lismer’s 1922 canvas, ‘Sombre Hill, Algoma’ as her backdrop. In the foreground is a model of the Avro Arrow airplane propped up by pontoons that Thorneycroft took from a Cessna model. An interceptor aircraft, the real Arrow in the mid-1950s was celebrated as the cutting-edge of Canada’s aviation industry.
However, in 1959, at the height of the Cold War, its production was cancelled by the Diefenbaker government and all five flying test models and production aircraft destroyed, along with their blueprints. In Thorneycroft’s alternate universe, though, one has survived and been adapted to serve the more prosaic needs of the Great White North.
You will see that imagination at work in the Herd – on at the AGB until the November 18th.
 A closer look at those ponies is the result of an artist’s imagination at its fullest.
 By Pepper Parr
October 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette met Alison Braithwaite a number of years ago when she was in the private sector. She had this capacity to pick a point in a conversation when she could shift the direction a conversation with a few words.
I wondered about how she had done that for some time after the coffee meeting we had.
 Alison Braithwaite – “Words powerfully manifest our lives
“Words are powerful. The words we choose to use influence what we manifest in our lives and how we feel in our bodies. This week, I was speaking to someone who is very special to me. She was talking about her life and some of the challenges that she is facing at the moment. What I heard her saying was: “I am in a fight with this. I am fighting that. I need to fight this other thing.” For her, in this moment, everything seems to be a battle.
“The words we choose affect our bodies
“What I observed in her body as she spoke was how she tensed up as she spoke. The more she spoke of her fights, the more her body tensed up. It was like her body was preparing for battle and getting ready to ward off the missiles being launched her way. I could see the energy she was using just thinking of the battle.
“Let go of the fight
“The metaphor of war is used a lot in our culture. It seems that we, for whatever reason, always need an enemy. We battle the bulge, we battle drugs, we battle cancer and mental health issues. This battling an enemy becomes a big problem when the enemy we are battling is a part of ourselves.
“Shift the metaphor
“We need to shift our metaphors. The metaphor I like to use is that of a kayaker, skillfully navigating white-water. We all have white-water in our lives at times, fighting the water is not going to get us through it.
Reading the water, feeling the water, dancing with the water and skillfully navigating through it works much better.
“Embrace the messiness
 “A kayaker does not run from the messiness of the whitewater, she sees it, recognizes it, accepts it and moves through it. There is no fight there. Her body becomes as fluid as the water as she chooses her path, navigates her way through and celebrates with euphoria when she is through the tough parts.
“Let’s embrace the messiness of our lives. Accept it without fighting and navigate our way through.”
Questions for self-reflection
1. Over the next week start to notice the words you use. You may want to get some help with this. It is always easier to notice what someone else is saying than hearing what we say ourselves.
2. Notice what metaphors you are using. Are you struggling, fighting, stuck, challenged or moving through things?
3. How is the language you choose limiting or expanding you?
4. What shifts could you make to use more empowering and expansive language?
Remember, you are amazing, you are capable, you are skillfully navigating through life and that is worth celebrating every step of the way.
 By Staff
October 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The election debates took up most of the available oxygen and we missed the celebration and recognition of World Teachers’ Day last Friday, as proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
 An inquisitive young mind. World Teachers’ Day is devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world, as well as taking time to look at and address issues pertaining to teachers. World Teachers’ Day also celebrates the role teacher’s play in providing quality education at all levels, which enables children and adults to learn to take part in and contribute to their local community and global society.
This year’s theme, ‘The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher,’ has been chosen to remind the global community that the right to education cannot be achieved without the right to trained and qualified teachers.
Teachers at the Halton District School Board support the learning, growth and success of more than 64,000 students. Guided by the Board’s Multi-Year Plan, teachers help students focus on important values including accountability, collaboration, creativity and integrity.
 By Staff
October 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The mid 60’s were the years when the Board of Education couldn’t build schools fast enough.
The schools are now celebrating their 50th anniversaries. Some of the schools are also now closing.
Mohawk Gardens Public School is the next to celebrate a 50th anniversary. The school is a JK to grade six with 398 students.
Former students, staff and community will be attending an Open House on Saturday, October 20 from 12 – 4 p.m.
 Strong school spirit. What is now Mohawk Gardens Public School (5280 Spruce Ave., Burlington) opened its doors in 1968 and since that time hundreds of students have experienced a positive start for lifelong learning.
On Monday, October 15, the school will hold a student assembly featuring a special slideshow and guest speakers to mark this 50-year milestone. Halton District School Board dignitaries will be in attendance, and a panoramic photo will be taken of the student body wearing Mustangs spirit wear and the school colours of blue and orange.
Mohawk Public School was officially opened on October 15, 1968 and was merged with Elizabeth Gardens Public School to form Mohawk Gardens Public School in 1984.
To recognize this, there will be displays from all three schools including opening the 25th anniversary time capsule from 1993.
 Keeping the students in the same place while the picture was taken must have been a challenge. Attendees can visit classrooms, see student projects and memorabilia displays, enjoy refreshments, pizza, birthday cake, a photo booth and children’s activities.
There will be a choir performance and dedication ceremony of the school’s outdoor learning garden starting at 2 p.m. Board and local dignitaries will be in attendance.
Legacy Bricks for the outdoor learning garden are available for sale to anyone through School Cash Online and forms can be submitted to the school’s office. Bricks will be installed in spring 2019.
The school is accepting memorabilia from all decades to be showcased. To provide mementos, email mohawkgardens50@gmail.com
By Staff
October 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Centre for Skills Development and Training is in the business of training people for good jobs and then helping them get those good jobs.
They hold information sessions for people who are interested in training. The have a Job Board as well.
They are currently interviewing for Metalwork and Assembly Technicians.
 By Staff
September 26th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Members of the Halton Partners for Car Seat Safety recently conducted a Car Seat Inspection Clinic at the Wellspring Church on New Street in Burlington. This group is a collaboration of the Halton Regional Police Service, the Halton Region Health Department, the OPP, the four municipal Fire Services and a number of community volunteers.
In the course of the clinic, police officers interacted with all drivers performing cursory checks of car seats and identifying those requiring further inspection.
 Learning how to set up the car seat correctly. Officers conduct these inspections under the authority of the Highway Traffic. Occupied car seats form part of a vehicle’s equipment.
Police conducted 90 inspections (the 5-point ‘quick’ inspection).
Results:
Link to Ministry of Transportation web site – detailed instructions.
Some noteworthy observations:
• Children showing up in a booster when they should still be in a 5-point harness
• Many untethered or loosely tethered forward-facing car seats were identified.
• A number of boosters were inspected where it was determined that parents had not installed supplied screws in the armrests.
The Halton Partners for Car Seat Safety recommend parents and guardians to read and follow all manufacturers’ instructions when installing a car seat. For car seat resources in your area, dial 311 for information.
By Staff
September 24th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Freeman Station is something you will want to take a look at during the Open Doors event that is part of Cultural days that take place from the 28th to the 30th.
 Is there room on those tracks for a steam engine?  That yellow object is in place to stop a train that is rolling along the track. The renovation – rebuild crew has added a section of rail in front of the building.
Question is – when will there be a steam engine on those rails?
 Check out the milk can on that baggage wagon. This is one of those citizen initiatives that managed to overcome every block and hurdle the city put in front of them.
When you tour the site – make a point of thanking those volunteers.
And enjoy what they have done.
The Gazette is grateful to Alan Harrington for the photographs.
By Staff
September 21st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Penny Hersh is asking:
 Penny Hersh, president of ECoB Is this what the City has come to? A grassroots citizen group is unable to provide residents with voting information?
Hersh asked the City Clerk, Angela Morgan, who is also the Returning Officer for the municipal and Board of Education elections, if she could get copies of the notices the city had on the elections and distribute them to people who attended the debates they are running in every ward of the city.
Here is the response from the city,
“Penny, Danielle (a city staff member involved in the administration of the election) forwarded your request for printed information about voting locations from city hall for distribution at the ECOB organized debates.
“As the Returning Officer for the election, I fully support community organized debates however, my role is to ensure that all events association with the City of Burlington Clerks department are completely impartial.
“I have received numerous complaints and concerns from members of the public about the ECOB, specifically that they are not impartial and the organization is vocally supporting specific candidates.
 City Clerk Angela Morgan is also the Returning Officer for the October 22nd Municipal election. “Given these concerns, we cannot permit the City of Burlington logo or materials to be distributed at these events. Please ask members of the public to go to our election page (address below) to get all of the information that they need to ensure they are on the list and know where to vote.”
The Gazette wonders what steps the Returning Officer took to determine if there was any truth to the information they were given.
Would the Returning Officer care to share the complaints she was given?
A video of the entire ward 5 debate is available at CLICK HERE. The city staff running the election would be well served to watch the event and determine for themselves if ECoB is an impartial organization.
There is not a single shred of evidence to even suggest that ECoB has done anything to favour any one candidate. The bias against ECoB at city hall is both palpable and disturbing.
Angela Morgan has provided the public with the following information.
Are you on the voters’ list?
The voters’ list contains the names, addresses and school support for each eligible voter.
Elected positions include Halton Regional Chair, Mayor and members of City Council for the City of Burlington, trustees for the Halton District School Board and Halton District Catholic School Board and Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.
To see if you are on the voters’ list:
• Go to burlington.ca/election
• Call Burlington City Hall at 905-335-7600, ext. 7481
• Visit Burlington City Hall at 426 Brant St., first floor, Clerks Department, or
• Visit any branch of Burlington Public Library.
Not on the list?
You can apply to the city clerk to add your name to the voters’ list or correct your information. If your name is not on the list or your information is incorrect, you can complete an Application to Amend the Voters’ List form.
Forms are available in the Clerks Department, first floor, Burlington City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or at the voting location on voting day. Forms must be completed in person and identification that includes your name and address is required.
Voter Information Notices
Voter Information Notices have been mailed. This notice includes your Voter Identification Number and provides dates, times and locations for voting, including Internet voting.
If you are on the voters’ list for the 2018 Burlington municipal election, you should have received your Voter Information Notice by mail by Oct. 1. If you did not receive your notice, or there are errors on your notice:
• Call the City of Burlington at 905-335-7600, ext. 7481
• Email elections@burlington.ca, or
• Visit Burlington City Hall, 426 Brant St., from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ways to vote
Voters have options for how, where and when to vot for the Oct. 22 election.
Online Registration and Voting (Oct. 1 – Oct. 17):
• Anytime
• Have access to the Internet? If yes, vote online from anywhere
• Use your Voter Information Notice (VIN) to register and vote at burlington.ca/election
Advance Voting (Oct. 13 and 17):
• 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Oct. 13, Mapleview Shopping Centre-food court, 900 Maple Ave.
• Oct. 17, Mapleview Shopping Centre-food court, 900 Maple Ave.
• Oct. 17, Tansley Woods Community Centre- community rooms 1 and 2, 1996 Itabashi Way
Election Day (Oct. 22):
• 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• NEW in 2018 – Vote Anywhere your Ward
• Vote at any of the four locations in your ward.
By Staff
September 20th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Today the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released results showing Halton District School Board (HDSB) students perform above the province in Grade 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics, and on the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
 The successful completion of the OSSLT is a requirement for graduation. These results are based on assessments completed in the 2017-2018 school year and show that HDSB students are well above the provincial standard (Level 3 & 4, or a B grade or above).
For Grade 9 Math, there are different assessments for students in the academic and applied courses. The Grade 9 Academic Math assessment results decreased by one percentage point to 91% – they remain above the provincial average of 84%.
There were 3,597 students enrolled in the Academic Math course in 2017-2018.
For the 616 students in Grade 9 Applied Math, results increased from 52% to 54% this year. This is nine percentage points above the provincial average of 45%.
The OSSLT results for 2017-2018 were also released today.
The HDSB’s success rate for students writing the test for the first time decreased by two percentage points from last year to 85%. This is similar to the drop in the provincial average from 81% to 79%. The overall results for the OSSLT demonstrate that students in the Halton District School Board continue to have strong literacy skills.
 David Boag, Associate Director for the Halton District School Board said: “Last year, the Halton District School Board implemented a new Math strategy and this strategy is bearing positive results. We will continue to ensure math and literacy remain core areas of interest and focus as we continue to support all of our students.”
 By Lisa Bull
September 18th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Hello All – As the “accused” in the article that is linked below (and another PAR “expert” and Committee member) I thought it only fair that I have a chance to respond. Not that I expect to change any minds that have been made up about what “really” happened but to share my perspective. As most intelligent adults know, there are always multiple sides to every story and there is no such thing as a “true” account. Accounts can only represent the perspective of the person sharing them. So – here’s mine.
 Ward 5 trustee Amy Collard giving Director of Education Stuart Miller the evil eye. As anyone who followed the PAR process knows it was wrought with conflict, misinformation and confusion from the start. And, this continued right until the night of the final vote to determine which, if any schools in Burlington would be closed. The tension of the night was palpable – it was clearly felt by the Trustees and all of us who attended in the gallery. I came to the evening hopeful. I knew that our Trustee – Amy Collard – was planning on bringing forward a motion to introduce some alternate solutions to closing Robert Bateman (the full motion is posted on the Save Bateman Facebook site) I – like many of the community members were hopeful that the other Trustees might be willing to give this motion a chance. Ms Collard had shared her planned motion with her colleagues in advance of the meeting so they knew it was coming.
I thought her brave, innovative and courageous for wanting to try AGAIN to look at another option other than closing a school. However, it became clear very quickly that none of the other Trustees were interested in this. Much confusion began to take place as ms Collard tried to introduce her motion. The Chair was incredibly rude to Ms Collard during this process and other Trustees – including Leah Reynolds appeared to be working hard to vote against Ms Collard’s right to be even being able to introduce the motion. All of this can be seen on the video tape of the evening. As I sat with a friend and fellow Bateman parent – in awe of what was going on in front of us – we noticed that Councillor Meed Ward was furiously typing away on her I-Pad in front of us. She was making no attempt to shield her notes and we weren’t standing our our chairs or peering over her shoulder to read.
What she was writing was clear as day and right in front of us. Was she saying “CLOSE BATEMAN?”. Of course not.
But, what she appeared to be doing was providing very directive advice to Ms Reynold on how to stop Amy Collard’s ability to make a motion and then to stop the motion itself. At first, my friend and I couldn’t believe what we were reading.
While the photos posted on social media were a bit blurry, the messages we read Councillor Meed Ward typing were perfectly clear. They included:
 Was trustee Leah Reynolds getting instructions from PARC member and ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. The evidence suggest that might have been the case. ” DON’T VOTE IN FAVOR! “(caps on in original) Let it go – done your job”
“Do not support (uphold) the Chair’s ruling to allow the amendment”
“Okay – you have done your job”
I still have the photos and am happy to share if someone wants to invest time in having them enhanced.
Maybe I’ll be proven wrong?
However, from our perspective, it appeared very clear that Councillor Meed Ward was a/ telling Ms Reynolds how to act, vote and speak and b/ that she was attempting to influence the outcome of a critical Board vote.
In my experience as a member of the PAR Committee I’d tried at least once to collaborate on an effort to stop all school closures. I’d tried to bring the whole Committee together to write a letter to the Provincial government as a group and while most all of the other school reps agreed to this, Ms Ward and the other rep from Central waited until the last minute and then decided not to work together with the Committee.
This lead me to believe that Councillor Meed Ward was focused solely on keeping Central open and had no interest in working with others to keep all schools open.
 Marianne Meed Ward at her iPad. I add this only to explain that I had every reason to believe that Ms Meed Ward was working with Ms Reynolds to shut down any attempt to save Bateman from closure.
Was I right in my assessment on the night of the vote? Councillor Meed Ward argues that I was not, She argues that she was merely trying to help Ms Reynold navigate Robert’s Rules. I can tell you that from what I saw, her notes appeared to go far beyond this. I suspect that the full “truth” will never be known.
I made the decision to share this information publically because I was shocked by what I saw. As someone who lives in Ward Two I was already incredibly disappointed in Ms Reynolds decision to go back on her campaign promise of “Close No Schools” and felt that the communication between her and Councillor Meed Ward was unacceptable.
I know that Councillor Meed Ward has a small but strong core of avid supporters who will defend her and her conduct until the end. And, in our democratic society they will soon have their right to show that support by voting for her. I, on the other hand, will show my support for leaders who I believe have demonstrated a commitment and a willingness to support to ALL citizens of Burlington.
 Lisa Bull in the purple scarf – Steve Cussons is to her left – short grey hair at a packed public meeting on the closing of two of the city’s two high schools. One final thought for you all. I’m currently dealing with a serious health issue. And, while all of the activity around PAR and the election seemed so important and so critical months ago and inspired so much passion, rage and anger I am learning – unfortunately the hard way – that these issues, while are important, are certainly not the most important things in life.
So I leave this discussion by genuinely wishing everyone all the best.
Related opinion piece:
The opinion piece Lisa Bull is responding to.
 Editor’s note: The Gazette did ask Meed Ward for a copy of all the notes that were sent from her to trustee Leah Reynolds. There was no response. We are in the process of getting all the photographs taken and having them enhanced so that what was photographed can be seen by the public.
By Staff
September 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The next P.A. Day Camp being put on by the Museums of Burlington is on October 5
 The theme is a “Spy School”
Space is limited.
Reserve your spot online or call 905.332.9888 and ask to speak with one of our Educators.
 By Staff
September 19th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington READS is an author & book talk series that runs in the fall and spring. The library features three celebrated and thought-provoking Canadian books and invite local readers to come together to meet the authors and discuss the titles. Presented in partnership with A Different Drummer Books and Art Gallery of Burlington
Meet the Author: Tim Cook, Vimy: The Battle and the Legend – SOLD OUT
We mention this event to give you a sense of the quality of the programs being put on by the library.
Date: Wed September 19
Time: 7-8.30pm
Place: Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Room, 1333 Lakeshore Road
Tim Cook talks about Vimy: The Battle and the Legend, and his 10th and newest book released on Sep 18, The Secret History of Soldiers: How Canadians Survived the Great War.
A bold new telling of the defining battle of the Great War, and how it came to signify and solidify Canada’s national identity. Tim Cook, Canada’s foremost military historian and a Charles Taylor Prize winner, explores why the battle continues to resonate with Canadians a century later. Vimy is a fitting tribute to those who fought the country’s defining battle. It is also a stirring account of Canadian identity and memory, told by a masterful storyteller. (excerpted from www.penguinrandomhouse.com)
Meet the Author: Plum Johnson, They Left Us Everything
Date: Tue October 23
Time: 7-8.30pm
Place: Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Room, 1333 Lakeshore Road
 About the book
After almost twenty years of caring for elderly parents, author Plum Johnson and her three brothers have finally fallen to their middle-aged knees with conflicted feelings of grief and relief. Now they must empty and sell the beloved family home. Plum thought: How tough will that be? I know how to buy garbage bags. But the task turns out to be much harder and more rewarding than she ever imagined. They Left Us Everything is a funny, touching memoir about the importance of preserving family history to make sense of the past, and nurturing family bonds to safeguard the future. (excerpted from www.penguinrandomhouse.com)
Meet the Author: Tom Wilson, Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers, and the Road Home
Date: Sun December 9
Time: 2-4pm
Place: Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Room, 1333 Lakeshore Road
 About the book
Raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton, for decades Tom Wilson carved out a life for himself in shadows. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for family secrets and lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It’s a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are.
 By Staff
September 119th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Green asks you to mark the date for the Municipal Election All-Candidates Event on October 3, 2018
 They will be hosting an All-Candidates Event and Mayoral Candidates Debate in partnership with Nuvo Network ahead of the Municipal Election. The event will be held on Event Wednesday, October 3, 2018 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Nuvo Network, located at 1295 North Service Road, Burlington – at the Intersection of Kerns Road.
 BurlingtonGreen Executive Director Amy Schnurr will moderate the Burlington Green Mayoralty debate. The format of the event is a Mayoral Candidates Debate that will be moderated by Amy Schnurr
There will also be an opportunity for the ward candidates to engage and interact with the crowd before the debate Mayoralty debate takes place.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman, who has said he will not take place in the debate to be held in his ward this evening but that he would take place in the Burlington Green debate.
Problem with that is there is no debate for the ward level candidates – which Councillor Sharman knew.
Burlington Green asks that: “If there is a local environmental issue that concerns you that requires immediate attention, please let us know. Or, if you are someone with an interest in environmental issues who likes to follow local politics, we can use your help and invite you to learn more about our volunteer Advocacy Team.
The Mayoralty debate is part of Burlington Green’s Advocacy initiative. Working under the tag line Our Voice the environmental group sets out subjects they have focused on.
Protect Burlington’s Trees
Plan Effective Transit
Preserve Greenspace
Conserve Natural Habitat
Trumpeter Swans
Save Farmland
 By Steve Cussons
September 17th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
With the Municipal Election looming and the volume of untruths in this election I find myself compelled to present my expert opinion on this issue. I say expert as I was a very active member of the PARC representing Aldershot HS and community and attended every single meeting including those at the Board after the vote was made.
The first untruth is that Marianne Meed Ward had an unfair influence during the par process because of her position as Councillor. I can emphatically state the she had no more influence than myself and the other 12 community members of the PARC. In fact her professionalism added important value to an otherwise difficult process. More importantly the committee as a whole had no real power in the whole process other than to provide recommendations to Board.
 Members of the Halton District School Board PARC committee meeting in a formal session. Unlike some committee members Marianne always kept her composure even when being attacked by fellow committee members. She was elected by the school council where her children attend just like six other members that were put on the committee. Marianne disclosed up front to the Board of her role as Councillor in the city and was told she was still quite welcome to join the committee. The other seven community members like myself were randomly chosen by the Board as we had put our names in the hat to be part of the PARC. Our mandate was to represent our respective communities and to bring forward to the committee ideas comments and concerns of our respective communities. I know each of us did exactly that, no more no less and this included reasons for not closing schools and reasons for closing various schools.
Many members put forth recommendations to close schools other than their own based on feedback from their community. So to suggest that Marianne had any more ability to move a certain objective forward than any of the other members is just plain false.
PARC member Marianne Meed Ward typing on her computer. The other major untruth being circulated for months and I believe will be ramped us as the election draws closer is that on June 07 the night of the final vote to close Bateman &Lester B Pearson Marianne Meed Ward and Trustee Leah Reynolds colluded to help close Bateman. This is an outright lie and I am an expert as I sat beside Marianne that evening and was in discussion with her about the motion on floor which had nothing to do with the vote to close Bateman but a different motion all together.
The rules were so uncertain that not only did the board require some guidance from legal counsel and then actually had to go in. private session to try and sort out the protocol.
Marianne provided Trustee Reynolds with her interpretation of the ruling as she saw it as Trustee Reynolds was an active participant in the motion. What bothers me more is that Lisa Bull the PARC Representative sitting right behind Marianne and myself took the totally unethical first step of capturing images of Marianne’s private laptop screen she was using to capture the texting.
 Leah Reynolds being observed by HDSB vice chair Kim Then to take it one step further posts it on social media suggesting the conversation was about how to vote to close Bateman and plying Trustee Reynolds with direction. I am appalled the a fellow member would stoop to such low and yet the media has never question the ethics of this. I have a timestamp of the moment the images were snapped and they were at least an hour before the vote to close Bateman.
It was confirmed that all the Trustees that evening were receiving mobile communications from constituents and others for various reasons and I input and this was a normal practice allowed at these meetings. The fact they needed very specific lawyers experts in procedural matters to assist in deciphering what the was the correct process and then have to go into private session should be obvious why someone like Marianne with years of this type of process being City Council would be stepping in to assist Trustee Leah as she happened to be the Trustee in the ward she represents on City Council and the Trustee of the school where her children attended.
 Lisa Bull There was no collusion but there was certainly unethical behaviour by Lisa Bull a fellow PARC member and then to be exaggerated and pushed as truth in social media by many others in the community unhappy with the decisions.
In summary it is sad that we have had to close to schools but to defame individuals that continually put out an earnest effort to help our communities in so many ways is so wrong. I am not running for any office, my school did not close but I pride myself in ethical behaviour and will stand up when I factually know untruths are being made to hurt others I respect.
I am ready to debate any one on the facts of the PARC process and the specific night of the vote to close two schools.
 Steve Cussons is an Aldershot resident and a business man who operates a modern printing company..
By Staff
September 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board is proud to be hosting a Human Rights Symposium this year to bring together educational and community partners to engage in vital conversations focused on Indigenous Rights and the current realities faced by Indigenous Peoples. The Symposium will take place on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at the Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre (3063 South Service Rd., Burlington).
 Jesse Wente  Susan Aglukark A full day of learning is planned with breakout sessions. The symposium is highlighted by two keynote speakers – Canadian singer songwriter Susan Aglukark, followed by CBC broadcaster, film and pop culture critic Jesse Wente. An agenda and list of workshop presenters can be viewed here.
Registration for the Human Rights Symposium opens Tuesday, September 11, 2018. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, keynotes and workshops. To register now, click here.
 A blanket ceremony done by Nelson high school students. The ceremony is a powerful depiction of the shrinking land mass that the First Nations used to have, This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Human Rights is the work and responsibility of all members of society,” says Rob Eatough, Superintendent of Education for the Halton District School Board. “As such, we’re looking forward to bringing educators and community partners together to listen and engage in focused learning about Indigenous rights and actions to move us forward in a good way.”
“The Halton District School Board recognizes the importance of engaging in vital conversations to challenge our thinking,” says Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “The Human Rights Symposium provides an opportunity for community partners to gather together to examine important issues connected with implementing the National Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action.”
For event details or support with the registration process, please email symposium@hdsb.ca.
 By Staff
September 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is that fall festival hymn:
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
 Loads of things for the younger ones to do. Burlington’s rural roots made farming a part of our DNA. The folks at Ireland House do an annual event that takes a stab at experiencing the tradition this Sunday, September 16, 11 am to 4 pm.
Meet baby farm animals (bunnies, goats, ducklings & chicks!)
Burlington Horticultural Society – make a fall floral arrangement in a mason jar
 The hay maze is a challenge – hopefully someone explains where the hay came from and what farmers do with it. Face painting
Children’s crafts
Fair-style games: can stacking, ring toss, horseshoes
Historic house tours and demonstrations
Hay maze
Pony rides
Vendors’ market
Main stage entertainment
Applefest Fall Fair is part of the Museums of Burlington program that takes place with the assistance of many volunteers.
Admission is FREE, courtesy of our sponsor, The Rocca Sisters Team.
Parking is available at MM Robinson High School, 2425 Upper Middle Road.
By Staff
September 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The staff at the Nelson Youth Centre tell the story about Ben, a young boy who was rapidly losing his way.
He was 13 years old with a long history of failures when he came to the Centre. He was very angry and defensive and was not about to trust anyone. Ben had no friends and too many people had let him down in his young life. In addition, his teachers and school were not feeling hopeful that he would be able to continue in the main stream. His mom loved her son but was at loss on how to help him. We knew that Ben desperately wanted to fit in and have a friend of his own but lacked the skills and confidence to make this happen.
Over time while attending the program and with the support of the Centre’s staff Ben was able to figure out who he was and what he wanted. Ben found his voice. During the 6 months he was in the program, Ben began to connect with his peers and express himself in a healthy and socially acceptable way. He was also able to connect with his teacher in a way that allowed him to benefit from the learning environment. He was finding hope and a place for himself in this world.
Ben was given the task of mentoring new children coming into the program; he now had a purpose and a way to share with others what he had learned about himself and what he needed to be successful. He successfully graduated from the Centre’s program and was unrecognizable as the boy who first came to our door. Ben was now seen as a leader in school, had multiplied his friends, and was moving in a positive direction.
A year later, in high school, Ben returned to the Centre as a volunteer. Nelson Youth Centres had made such a difference in his life, connecting him to school, family and friends he wanted to pay it forward. Ben was able to help others a see a future as bright as own!
By Staff
September 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was forty years ago when Ron Gardner founded the Nelson Youth Centre.
It has been serving the children and youth ages 6 to 18 in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
Nelson Youth Centres is an accredited children’s mental health centre.
The occasion is being celebrated with a party on September 15, 2018, 10:30 to 3:00 at our home base on New Street.
Current and Past Board Members will be taking part; they include Burlington philanthropist Susan Busby (retired school principal), Chris Lawson (Halton Regional Police Services), Martin Venema (Sr Director RBC), Ron Gardner (Founder, Funding Innovations). Activities for the day include tours of the newly renovated building.
 The Nelson Youth Centre on New Street in Burlington, Nelson Youth Centers started out in a community room in Port Nelson United Church in 1978. The Church provided a space to turn our vision into reality for youth and children in our community. In 1982 with the support of the City of Burlington Nelson Youth Centres moved into our current home on New Street, where they are able to offer group therapy. The Centre has developed an After School Treatment Program.
 Over the next 40 years and with the generous and ongoing support of our community, the Centre expects to expand their services. The Centre now has thirteen full time staff members.
Every year, the Centre changes the lives of over 300 children.
Nelson Youth Centers started out in a community room in Port Nelson United Church in 1978. The Church provided a space to turn the vision into reality for youth and children in our community. In 1982 with the support of the City of Burlington Nelson Youth Centers moved into their current home on New Street.
By Staff
September 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Different Drummer books is sponsoring Tim Cook, multiple award winning, nationally revered historian and author The Secret History of Soldiers, How Canadians Survived The Great War on Wednesday September 19 7pm at Art Gallery of Burlington
Dr. Cook will discuss The Secret History of Soldiers in a riveting presentation in the Shoreline Room at The Art Gallery of Burlington on Wednesday September 19 at 7pm.
Admission is free, but space is limited–please register for the event at this link or by contacting us at (905) 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com.
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