 By Staff
May 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This is an early notice. A Drawn from Clay: A Ceramic Collage Workshop is being offered Saturday, June 21, 1–4 pm at the Lee-Chin Family Gallery
$50 | $45 FOR MEMBERS
 Breanna Shanahan. Here is how the Gallery describes the event.
Let the AGB’s collection inspire you in this hands-on drawing and collage workshop in the Lee-Chin Family Gallery.
Participants are invited to draw in response to the many unique ceramics on view in A Curve, Not a Line, then learn how to cut and combine their drawings to tell new stories through collage under the guidance of artist and educator Breanna Shanahan.
Register today–spaces are limited. Register HERE
 By Staff
May 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce has named Sarah Stone as the Finalist for Young Entrepreneur of the Year
In their announcement the Chamber said: “What makes this achievement especially meaningful is Sarah’s journey, both professional and personal. She launched Stone Graphic & Web Design at just 19 years old while still in her first year of the Interaction Design program at Sheridan College. Now, at 23, she leads a thriving studio that provides branding, digital marketing, and web services to clients across industries.
“This well-deserved recognition honours her remarkable leadership, innovative thinking, and dedication to supporting businesses through design and marketing.
 Sarah Stone: “Alongside my work with clients, I also run an internship program twice a year.” Sarah founded her business not from a place of convenience, but out of a deep desire to help businesses communicate more effectively and reach their full potential. What started as a solo venture has grown into a trusted agency working with clients in retail, HR, fashion, security, education, wellness, and more. These industries all have very different needs, but they share one important requirement: strong, strategic marketing support.
Sarah’s entrepreneurial path has been anything but ordinary. At just 12 years old, she was diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), migraines, and seizures, a trio of chronic conditions that could have limited her potential. Instead, they became part of her story of resilience. Rather than letting those diagnoses define her, Sarah used her challenges to fuel her motivation and carve a path that few would dare to take.
Stone said “This recognition means a lot to me, not just professionally, but personally. I’ve lived with chronic health conditions since the age of 12, and building this business has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
“Alongside my work with clients, I also run an internship program twice a year to help students gain hands-on experience in marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship, something I’m deeply passionate about.”
Sarah credits much of her foundational growth to her time at Sheridan College, where she studied Interaction Design. There, she honed her skills in user-centred design, visual communication, and creative problem-solving, skills that would become the cornerstone of her business.
“Sheridan taught me how to take an idea and turn it into something real. More importantly, it showed me how to solve problems for people through design, and that’s what great marketing really is.”
The Sarah Stone story shows no signs of slowing down. Her story is a testament to what’s possible when creativity, courage, and resilience come together, and it’s clear that the best is yet to come.
 By Staff
May 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 This generation has spent their entire lives surrounded by screens. Generations Z and Alpha may have spent their entire lives surrounded by screens — and the deluge of content constantly streaming from them — but Brock University experts say it’s important not to confuse digital comfort with digital literacy.
“There is an assumption that this is just the world they live in as they have always had access to these technologies, but digital natives may, more than ever and more than anyone, need some kind of pause,” says Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film Studies Jennifer Ellen (Jenellen) Good.
“When we sit down in front of a screen, we do it because we enjoy what’s happening,” she says. “Understanding screens doesn’t then mean that those screens don’t have influence over us.”
And that influence continues to evolve alongside technology.
Parents and educators now need to consider not only how children are interacting with the internet, but also with artificial intelligence (AI).
 Mohammed Estaiteyeh says students can begin learning basic concepts of AI literacy as early as Grade 4, Assistant Professor of Digital Pedagogies and Technology Literacies Mohammed Estaiteyeh says students can begin learning basic concepts of AI literacy as early as Grade 4, with key strategies involving teaching verification skills such as fact-checking and reverse image search, promoting transparency in AI outputs and encouraging skepticism toward content.
“At this stage, they are already interacting with AI in everyday tools such as voice assistants, video recommendations and personalized learning platforms, even if they don’t realize it,” he says. “Introducing age-appropriate concepts early on helps lay the foundation of AI for deeper understanding later.”
More complex topics — like data bias, ethical concerns (such as the exploitation of cheap labour in poor countries for data mining), and the applications of AI in other fields like medicine and robotics — could be discussed with older children.
“Students must also reflect on issues of privacy, evaluating how their own data might be collected and used, and responsible use of AI in their own learning,” Estaiteyeh says.
“Early exposure would specifically benefit students from marginalized communities who are typically left behind,” he adds. “AI literacy is not just about understanding technology; it is about equipping students to navigate, question and shape the digital world they’re growing up in.”
 David Hutchison is a cross-appointed Professor in the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Digital Humanities, where he serves as Director. That begins with children and teens going beyond simply being comfortable using digital tools and social media and learning to use them in a “critical or reflective way,” says David Hutchison, a Professor in the Departments of Educational Studies and Digital Humanities.
 Child and Youth Studies professor Shauna Pomerantz says there is “always more to the story. With so much information — and misinformation — readily available to youth through platforms such as TikTok, discussions on navigating what children are viewing need to begin “right away,” says Professor of Child and Youth Studies Shauna Pomerantz.
“Pretending like socials don’t exist and hoping your child won’t be exposed to potentially difficult information online is unrealistic; burying our heads in the sand is not an option,” she says. “We need open and honest communications with kids about the joys and challenges of social media existence.”
Most young people understand the role of algorithms fairly well, Pomerantz says. However, it’s important to remind them their feeds “exist in an echo chamber, where their recorded ‘likes’ are reflected back to them through an algorithm that knows what each viewer wants to see, reinforcing the young person’s pre-existing perspectives.”
There’s “always more to the story,” she adds.
“Information is rooted in the political agenda of the media outlet or person putting it online, and we need to confirm facts via other sources, such as print media, parents and teachers, and alternative websites,” Pomerantz says. “We should also be talking to all genders about how social media amplifies hate and makes extremist views appear normal and necessary — this is perfect dinner conversation.”
Hutchison says students also need to be taught the fundamentals of navigating an online existence with the caveat that the guidelines for discerning fact from fiction are constantly shifting.
“In a sense, we’re in a post-truth world where a reliance on traditional forms of what is considered to be valid data or knowledge are actually under attack,” he says. “There are also people intentionally putting out content that is meant to mislead — unapologetically so. And there is also the issue of AI-generated information.”
 Jennifer Ellen (Jenellen) Good Equally important to teaching children how to critically engage with the online world, including the moral and environmental ramifications of their digital footprint, is spending time away from the never-ending scroll, Good says.
“All of this content is being created without context and it’s important for young people to not only be without their phones, but to also be without their phones running around, playing and interacting in the world, rather than through a screen,” she says.
 By Staff
May 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON’
An error in the date in the original story has been corrected. The mistake wasn’t ours.
Families, students, staff and community members are invited to attend an upcoming session as part of the Director’s Panel Series.
 The Indigenous community in Canada is much much more than a culture with colourful dances – it is a deep part of what Canada is today. Each session in this series explores issues and themes impacting students and education today. Sessions are led by Director of Education Curtis Ennis and Human Rights & Equity Advisor Pardeep Nagra.
Panelists featured in the Director’s Panel series may also include HDSB students, parents/guardians and subject-matter experts.
The upcoming session in the series will be:
Indigenous Rights and Education: A Shared Responsibility Monday, May 21 from 6 – 7 p.m.
This will be a virtual event with the livestream linked on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca).
Registration is not required.
Indigenous Rights and Education: A Shared Responsibility will explore the ways in which the HDSB promotes Indigenous Rights through education for students and staff that advances knowledge of true history, responsibilities and reconciliation, while amplifying Indigenous voices and addressing systemic barriers to support the achievement of Indigenous students. Panelists will discuss the shared responsibility and commitment to Indigenous Rights as outlined in the HDSB’s 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Joining the session as panelists will be members of the HDSB’s Indigenous Rights and Education Department.
Those interested in attending the event are invited to submit a question to the panel before the session through this Google Form.
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “When it comes to reconciliation, we all have a shared responsibility to continue listening, learning and reflecting on the truths and voices of Indigenous communities,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “This session provides an important opportunity for our students, staff, families and community members to deepen our understanding of the true history and current realities of Indigenous Peoples. It also serves as a platform to amplify Indigenous voices, engage in meaningful dialogue and commit to actions that uphold Indigenous Rights and advance reconciliation through education.”
 By Staff
May 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington, the Region of Halton Public Health Department and the University of Waterloo – Faculty of Recreation and Leisure Studies have been selected as one of four Canadian municipalities to join the conversation about healthy cities in Helsinki, Finland.
This opportunity is part of the Healthy Cities Research Initiative and has been made possible thanks to support from 8-80 Cities and funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).
 Helsinki Workshop
The grant to the participants includes all costs for a small group to travel to and stay in Helsinki, Finland from May 16-24, 2025. The group will participate in a workshop to learn about Helsinki’s smart growth strategies, including mixed-use developments and efficient public transportation, healthy urban policy, protecting green spaces, and sustainable growth.
The group includes Mayor Meed Ward, two staff members from the City of Burlington, one staff from Region of Halton Public Health and one faculty member from the University of Waterloo.
Helsinki is considered a global leader in complete communities. The workshop provides an opportunity for staff to see new perspectives and potentially broaden their approach to better serve our community through new ideas, strategies and proven concepts.
Burlington Workshops
The city will benefit from the Helsinki learning through two future workshops to inspire new ideas and foster collaboration to implement healthy urban policy in Burlington by adapting Helsinki’s strategies for improving/managing infrastructure, promoting health, and improving Burlington residents’ quality of life.
One workshop will be held with community partners and elected officials and the other will be held with residents. Dates and times of the workshops will be shared once details are finalized.
The end goal is to move towards the creation of more complete communities that meet people’s needs for daily living throughout an entire lifetime by providing convenient access to an appropriate mix of jobs, local services, a full range of housing, transportation options, inclusive spaces and public service facilities including affordable housing, schools, recreation and open space for their residents.
The CIHR stresses citizen engagement with this comment:
Citizen engagement is the meaningful involvement of individual citizens in policy or program development. To put it simply, citizens are “engaged” when they play an active role in defining issues, considering solutions, and identifying resources or priorities for action. This “meaningful involvement” can take place at a variety of stages in the research, planning, or implementation phases of a project.
The sustainable culture that has worked so well for the Scandinavian countries has yet to work itself into the way we do things in North America.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward is on the road again. This time it is to Finland for a series of workshops that Burlington doesn’t have to pay for. Mayor Meed Ward did say: “Helsinki is a leading example of a healthy, walkable, green city that provides inclusive housing and social services to all community members. With similar challenges and goals in Burlington, we can learn from their example. Along with other city participants in this conference, generously paid for by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research through the Healthy Cities Research Initiative, I look forward to learning and bringing home invaluable insights and ideas to support our community’s growth and well-being.”
The intentions are there.
 By Staff
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
ATTENTION Parents! Guardians! Grandparents! Caregivers! Aunts! Uncles! Elders! Teachers! Principals! Students! Mentors! Youth Workers! Educational Support Staff! School Trustees! Lifelong Learners and Allies in Education!
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre has announced its BPAC ONSTAGE offering, their new season of exceptional performances for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Their team has selected 16 performances and workshops designed to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts while bringing the Ontario Arts Curriculum to life.
You are invited to share news of our 25/26 BPAC ONSTAGE Season with the educators and learners in your life!
For only $10 per student ticket, the 25/26 BPAC ONSTAGE Education Series is exclusive to schools and offers students a window into the dynamic world of dance, theatre and music.
 An in-depth backstage tour and hands-on demonstration led by BPAC’s talented technical team New for the 25/26 Season, BPAC Backstage is an in-depth backstage tour and hands-on demonstration led by BPAC’s talented technical team, designed for high school-aged students considering a career in the technical performing arts!
 Golden Ticket Program provides FREE tickets to performances from our Education Series BPAC’s Golden Ticket Program provides FREE tickets to performances from the Education Series to students who would otherwise not be able to access these events. This program would not be possible without the generous support and donations from our community members like you!
Help us continue to enrich the lives of Burlington youth by donating to our Golden Ticket Program. You will receive a full tax receipt for donations of $25 or more.
For more information and how to donate, please visit: burlingtonpac.ca/golden-ticket
 By Staff
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Region Public Health will host information sessions to raise awareness about the impact of vaping on youth and how parents/guardians can support their children.
 An unfortunate pathway to nicotine addiction and other negative health effects. Vaping is a fast-evolving trend that has attracted youth and created an unfortunate pathway to nicotine addiction and other negative health effects. These information sessions will discuss what vaping is, the health risks to youth, youth experience and how parents/guardians can support their children.
The sessions, hosted by Public Health Nurses from Halton Region Public Health and school principals/vice-principals, will be held at four secondary schools across Halton. Public Health Nurses work to enhance the health of school communities by working collaboratively on policies, programs and building environments that prevent substance use/misuse and promote mental health.
At the information sessions, parents/guardians will gain a better understanding of vaping, including how to spot the risks, recognize the signs, talk to children about vaping and discover tools, strategies and resources to support their child.
Milton: Craig Kielburger Secondary School – Tuesday, May 27
Halton Hills: Georgetown District High School – Thursday, May 29
Oakville: Garth Webb Secondary School – Monday, June 2
Burlington: Nelson High School – Tuesday, June 3
 Those interested in attending are asked to register online by Thursday, May 22. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and the sessions will be held from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For those unable to attend in-person, there will be a virtual session held on Thursday, May 22 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Learn more on the Vaping webpage on the HDSB website.
HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 67,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
By Pepper Parr
May 14th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Part two of a two-part article on the Burlington Library CEO
“Our demographics.” There isn’t a lot of data, said Lita Barrie.
We don’t do a lot of gender-based analysis when we do our annual customer satisfaction survey. Typically, we weren’t asking people for demographic information, but this past year we did, and it definitely skews to women.
Who uses the library and how many people work there?
Number of staff FTE – 140
Number of books on shelves – BPL’s Collection totals 345,352 items – 305,662 physical items on the shelves
Number of videos on shelves – DVD’s comprise of 11% of BPL annual checkouts.
How many people hold a library card – 93,322 Active Library Card holders (i.e used within the last 2 years)
 Reading as a concept, whether as a social determinant of health, as a source of learning and growth, or even just for mental well-being is part of what libraries are in place to do. “Just be hazarding a guess to say how many, but it’s interesting, because definitely, for our author events, our book clubs, there tends to be a gender disparity between these and those just borrowing from the library.
“I think we’re seeing, even though we’re in sort of an information age where we’re surrounded with information, there’s more research happening now around attention span, because I think one of the things that people really struggle with is the long form of a book and being able to hold your attention to read for a longer period of time, but reading as a as a concept, whether as a social determinant of health, as a source of learning and growth, or even just for mental well being as a dream stressor. I think that’s the part you know.
 Books that were on hold and are now available are placed here for people to pick up. For those of us who are readers, we know all this. We know all of the things that reading brings us. But for people who haven’t had that; they haven’t discovered that, or they face challenges around that, convincing people of the value can be a bit of a hard sell.”
How do libraries work with educators?. Do they influence each other?
“Definitely, within the library sector, and this could be one of the things that we’ve seen in Canada over the last number of years, is a decline in school libraries. So definitely, kids aren’t having as much of a presence of the library in their elementary and secondary school experience, and that’s particularly true in Ontario.
“We work with educators when we look to find partnerships. “Teachers have big jobs, particularly now with all the things happening in society; the types of partnerships that we used to have is less common now, just because the school boards and teachers just don’t have the time or capacity for those types of collaborative relationships, which I think is a detriment to our ability to really make an impact, but we try to recognize that and find ways that we can engage. I used to have working relationships with educators at the start of my career.
 “The biggest factor in whether a child is a reader is their parent. “The biggest factor in whether a child is a reader is their parent. It’s not just being read to, it’s seeing literature at home, observing a parent. Those are some of the biggest determinants of whether someone is a reader.”
Is there anything that your people can do to work on the disinformation side?
“Very timely question. Definitely, that’s an area of focus we’re looking at. I was part of a podcast we worked on with the Privy Council on misinformation, disinformation, and trying to think about how we as librarians can play a more active role in that.
“We have found that the more confident we feel about our position on something, the more susceptible we are to misinformation.”
 Audience during the recording of the CBC Ideas program at the BPL.  CBC’s radio program Ideas recorded one of their program at the Burlington Central Library; the program was broadcast a couple of weeks later. Lita was not part of the CBC program just to introduce people – she was an active participant along with Ira Wells and Nahlah Ayed (Host, CBC IDEAS). Wells was speaking about an experience he had at his child’s school where they were reviewing the collection. The idea was that there would be nothing in the library that was printed for a certain time period.
“I share his belief that this is such a loss, because we librarians are on the front lines of providing the public with not just books – but a wide wide range of tools that educate, inform and entertain people.
 Lita Barrie (CEO, Burlington Public Library), Sabreena Delhon (CEO, The Samara Centre for Democracy), Meg Uttangi Matsos (Director, Service Design & Innovation, BPL), Nahlah Ayed (Host, CBC’s IDEAS), and Ira Wells (Professor, University of Toronto, critic & author). “The books coming in have expanded exponentially.
“The number and volume of reading material that is published on an annual basis, far exceeds our capacity from a budget standpoint, but I think our collection grows more as a partnership, because our team selects based on demand and what people are reading. We also try to balance that with making sure we have breadth and depth and scope, because we don’t want to be so driven by popular demand that you’re not walking into the library discovering something that you never imagined existed. It’s definitely a balance.
“We curate to a certain extent, that’s more of a business driven from our leaders. Our team works with a vendor. People also want the book the moment it’s printed. So we have partnerships with our vendors, we have something called an automatic release plan based on a profile of the type of collection that we have in the library.
“We get our copies of the book on the shelves quickly, that drives the bulk of our collection. Our team refines the selections that adds to the edges of what goes on our shelves; the process helps us build a very complete collection.
Is there anybody on staff able to say to somebody they’re talking to: there’s a book I think you should read?
 Lita Barrie: ‘It can be a bit of a nerve-wracking figuring out what people might want.’ “I have Pepper. I would hope that the majority of the people on our team would be able to do that, because that was one of the things that we’ve really focused because that can be a bit of a nerve-wracking figuring out what people might want. We’ve developed additional training for our team to ask questions: what does that look like, so that people can understand when they’re talking to someone about what they’ve read they can determine – is it the writing style, is it the content, is it the genre, and then being able to have a conversation with someone else.
“What part of that book did you really like, let them be able to point them in directions, and definitely, technology helps hugely for that, in terms of, you know, the way our catalogue is able to pull like the crazy word that you’ve never heard of.
Does Shakespeare matter we asked. “Yes – Shakespeare – on a daily basis, no, but it’s part of that breadth and that history of English literature that is the core of what it written and what is read.
 “One of the things we’re trying to encourage in people is to nurture themselves and nurture the lives of their children. It’s giving ourselves that space and that time to just let ourselves be immersed in something because there’s such a different experience between that immersion and the flip, flip, flip of the you know, video shots of information that people are getting through social media.
“I think I’m okay with where I’m going and what I’m doing with the library; it’s as much about who you are and the institution you’re in and where you’re going to take that institution at this point. When we celebrated our 150th a few years ago we recognized we are part of a profession that has such a legacy to it; there are people you will never know, who led the waves or created the opportunity for you to be here in that moment and then to hold that responsibility and think, okay, 150 years from now when BPL celebrates its 300th anniversary; what will we have we done in this moment to secure that future and make sure that the institution still has value and meaning.
 New Appleby Library at the Bateman Community Centre will have 10,000 square feet of space. Lita needed me to know that the Appleby Library at the Bateman Community Centre is going to give them an additional 10,000 square feet. “I don’t think most people realize just how big an operation it is going to be. We have dates for when the book shelves and those things will be moving in over the summer. Early fall is the date penciled in at this point.
We’ve spent so much time looking at the drawings. We’ve been working with the planning people going on five years for this project; it was a renovation of the school, which complicated things. It’s going to be really bright. The library board decided not to call the branch the Bateman branch. Currently it’s called New Appleby and that name will be used when we open at the Bateman Center.
 Lita Barrie: “I’m still having a lot of fun in Burlington.” What’s next? “
“Well, I’m still having a lot of fun in Burlington, so I have no I have no plans beyond, the work we are currently doing.
“I have the ability to work with the board, to really guide where the library is going; it’s just such a phenomenal time.”
Links:
Part 1 of this 2-part article.
By Staff
May 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District School Board (HDSB) students excelled at the annual Skills Ontario Competition, held on May 5 and 6 at the Toronto Congress Centre. The Skills Ontario Competition offers students a unique opportunity to demonstrate that they are the best of the best in their field, enabling and empowering youth to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies.
From the HDSB, 27 elementary and secondary students have earned Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in 13 various technological challenges. For secondary students, this provincial competition is a qualifier for the Skills Canada National Competition to be held later in May.
Gold Medal Winners:
 Jacob Bondarenko, Grade 12 student at Nelson High School, for Auto Collision Repair- Sabina Armstrong, Grade 12 student at Nelson High School, for Auto Painting
- Adam Scruby, Grade 11 student at Aldershot School, for Mechanical CAD
- Bella Zhao and Tegan Tao, Grade 11 students at Garth Webb Secondary School, for 2D Character Animation
- Neel Shah, Grade 10 student at Abbey Park High School, for IT Network Systems Administration
- Miles D, Charley D, Hannah P and Chloe R, Grade 4-6 students at Maplehurst Public School, for Lego Mechanical Engineering
- Melody Z, Aidan S, Bonnie C and Max T, Grade 7-8 students at Post’s Corners Public School, for Technology
Silver Medal Winners:
- Jessica Wang, Grade 11 student at Garth Webb Secondary School, for Computer Aided Manufacturing
- Manuthi R, Paige W, Agastya V and Elsa H, Grade 4-6 students from Stewarttown Middle School, for Character Animation
Bronze Medal Winners:
- Sienna Mason, Grade 11 student at Garth Webb Secondary School, for Fashion Design
- Neng Li, Grade 12 student at Abbey Park High School, for Coding
- Bronwyn Elms and Suhana Khatri, Grade 11 students at Abbey Park High School, for TV and Video Production
- Abu-Ubaidah A, Noel C, Mrinal G, Aryan D, Grade 7-8 students from Sam Sherratt Public School, for Vex IQ Robotics
The HDSB offers a number of opportunities to learn about and gain experience in the skilled trades, providing students with confidence, abilities and the opportunity to be successful in any situation.
 Hammers, saws and wrenches were once the tools for many of the trades. Computers and students who can write code are now a big part of the job for today’s students.  “The outstanding achievements of our students at the Skills Ontario Competition are a testament to their hard work, talent and the high-quality learning experiences provided through opportunities like the Halton Skills Competition,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. He adds that: “Their success at the provincial level reflects not only their technical skill but also the confidence, problem-solving abilities, and resilience they’ve developed along the way. These hands-on competitions play a vital role in fulfilling our commitment to Learning, Engagement and Achievement.
By Pepper Parr
May 11, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a 2-part article on the CEO of the Burlington Library
Lita Barrie has been the CEO of the seven-branch Burlington Library system since 2018.
She was the CEO of the Grimsby library from 2010 to 2012. It was a very small operation. She moved on to the Hamilton Public Library, where she climbed the ranks and became a Director and served from 2013 to 2018 when she was appointed the CEO of the Burlington Library.
Lita described Hamilton as a good five years and that it was time for a change.
 Lita Barrie: CEO Burlington Public Library With seven years at the helm in Burlington – one might ask: what’s next?
That wasn’t the way Lita Barrie wanted to tell her story. A lot has taken place since she started in 2018.
Libraries were where Lita started when she completed her studies at McGill University.
“My first library job was at the Hamilton based Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.
“Part of what we do at the library is trying to be responsive to the community. It’s a combination of why I really love the work and the people I work with, which includes people from the community. We’ve been through such a time of huge societal change, that I think has given us the impetus, as an organization, to reach out to individuals and try to meet the changing times.
“That’s part of our perennial challenge as a library, you don’t always know what the stats are across country on how many go to public libraries over the course of the year compared to how many attend major sporting events.
“When you go to an NHL game, you are sitting in the arena with everyone else watching, you get a sense of the enormity of the game. Libraries have a very small scale. With some of the author events, the scale is a little bigger, but you don’t get that sense of witnessing everyone’s experience at a library.
“We’re averaging an excess of 10,000 visits a month; on an average fall – winter month, we’re in the five to eight thousand range. It’s just the fact that we’re open 72 hours a week and that people can access the services as they need.
“I think some of the unintended consequences from COVID we all became very isolated in our homes, and concurrent to that, we had these devices in our hands that let us quickly swipe past anything that made us uncomfortable.
 We have to rebuild our ability to listen to someone fully and try and understand where they’re coming from. “We see it in small ways in the library that is carried forward into the way we interact as human beings. If someone says something that makes us uncomfortable, within reason, I’m not talking about gratuitous hate speech and things that just shouldn’t be uttered. But even in that middle space, we have to rebuild our ability to listen to someone fully and try and understand where they’re coming from, and recognize at the end of the day someone might have a different perspective than you, and as long as that perspective is not causing you physical harm or potentially hurting someone that there’s nothing wrong with that.
“We are a lot less comfortable with that idea than I think we were in the past, and less able to negotiate it, because, I think in that uncertainty, people have now felt silenced like, oh, it’s better if I just don’t say anything.
“I don’t think librarians are in place to just give people what they want. That might mean just comic books. We are there to feed them, to groom them. “The magazine section is an example. There are easily 20 to 25 different magazines on display – a whole new world is within those magazine covers.
“We curate what we put on our displays. One of my favorite things in the library is just watching a child explore the bookshelf and just that sense of freedom, of being able to pull something off the shelf and look at it and say, I’m interested in this is; to me, is such it’s so magical to be able to build that independence.
 We pointed out to Lita that we got the sense that this is very much her library. People respect her. She walks into a room asking people how they are doing. They don’t ignore her. Some of the people are special, they know her quite well. They get a great big hug. There is a lot of her personality in the place.
To get a sense of how she would advise the Board of Directors as to where she thought the library should go we asked Lita Barrie:
“If you had a magic wand and could do whatever you wanted – what would that be?” Her answer surprised me.
“I think particularly in this moment where there seems to be so much happening globally and we are fraught with so many challenges, I think my magic wand would bring about, in this moment, some kindness around the world, just for humanity to be able to take a collective breath and reset what it truly means to be a human being, and how we might be able to get back to or move forward to a different place.
 “We haven’t found a way to positively impact that yet. Are we teaching people to stand up? One of the things that we’re talking a lot about at the library board is working on a new, short strategic plan to get us into a better place.
“And one of the pieces that were that we’re thinking about is a library that can support our community in revisiting what it means to have neighbours who might have a different perspective on things than you.”
Lita wanted to talk about the moving of the Appleby library into the soon-to-be-opened Bateman Community Centre. “The new Appleby will have a Media Studio where people can do some sound production for podcasting or video production. They will be able to do that in those spaces.”
The books and people were in place when Lita Barrie was appointed the CEO, the introduction of technology is what has marked the changes she brought to the library. Who is she as a person?
Her Mother immigrated to Canada as a child; the family settled in the Hamilton area which is where Lita was born. I”‘ve always had family that lived in Hamilton, but it was only after I finished my post-secondary degree at McGill University that I ended up settling in Hamilton.
“I am comfortable mixing with people; that comes from my one grandmother, she’s a very sort of social person, but not wildly social, sort of just within her circle. Any time there was a milestone to be celebrated, it was celebrated. There was no excuse for not celebrating a milestone.
“I have so many memories of her at these large events, and just watching the way that she would not actually work the room, but be a part of the space. If it were her birthday, you would never know it, because she was so busy making sure that everyone was seen and included and felt like they were part of the celebration.
Hobbies, we asked. What do you do for hobbies? “We’re very fortunate to have a family cottage, so a lot of my summer is spent at our cottage. I love to surprise, so I will tell you Pepper, I like to read: You probably couldn’t have seen that one coming. I bake and love the outdoors, so lots of hiking.
 As the CEO of a seven-branch library service in Burlington, Lita Barrie is the spokesperson who does much of the media work. “My favourite book is always the book I haven’t read yet; same with movies, I don’t think I have one that I go back to as a favourite, but I’m continually interested to see what’s new.
We asked Lita: “You’re flying to Calgary or Vancouver. You don’t want to do any work stuff – you go to the newsstand to pick out a magazine. What would that magazine be? “I’d probably grab the Economist, it captures global events and issues. I find it not only insightful, but accessible, because they always have that blend of the longer form articles as well a shorter pieces.
When you’re travelling on vacation, where do you go? “In a few weeks, we’re off to Portugal.
 A 3d printer, one of the pieces of equipment in the Makers Space. “The use of technology in libraries is relatively new. Burlington, much like the Hamilton Library, had a Makers Space. We do have some individuals who have prototyped different devices, with the 3d printer and with the laser cutter. These people have done some pretty innovative things, but they go in, they do their project, and have a sort of private experience. Getting that collective impact with the Maker Space is a challenge we are looking at. We are going to be expanding the Maker Space concept to a few more of our branches. Up at the Alton branch, the Maker Studio is going to focus on five tools to support the kind of crafting based on the community.
At Central there are a number of people who come in every day to read the newspaper. It’s their routine; starting their day with someone saying good morning and being able to enjoy that newspaper in a place that is full of life and activity.
Those little ways, I think, are how we kind of keep our society stitched together, keep people feeling connected and part of something bigger than themselves.
A couple of quick factual items I wanted to address:
 By Staff
May 10th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Spring, the end of the school year.
The Halton District School Board recognized the success of 108 students at the 41st annual Celebration of Student Excellence event at Elsie MacGill SS (1410 Bronte St S, Milton) on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
Each year, one student from each HDSB elementary and secondary school is honoured for their excellence in self-improvement, enhancing the school and/or local community, citizenship, student leadership, academics, vocational studies and specialized programs or extra-curricular activities.
Amy Collard, Chair of the Halton District School Board, said: “Our 2025 Students of Excellence exemplify the remarkable learning and leadership taking place across all HDSB schools. These students have made meaningful contributions that enhance our schools and positively impact our communities. The entire HDSB community celebrates their outstanding achievements.”
Take a moment to scroll through the pictures of the 108 students who excelled. They are the future. The determined look on the faces of many, the shy smiles on others are a peek at who the leaders will be a couple of decades from now.
 By Staff
May 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Please register HERE
 If it is alive, how do we deal with it? Or – how does it deal with us? Renowned the world over for his vivid investigations of the natural world and our connection to it, award-winning author and scholar Robert Macfarlane visits on publication of his enthralling new book Is a River Alive?
“…a beautiful, wild exploration of an ancient idea: that rivers are living participants in a living world. Robert Macfarlane’s astonishing telling of the lives of three rivers reveals how these vital flow forms have the power not only to shape and reshape the planet, but also our thoughts, feelings, and worldviews. Is a River Alive? is a breathtaking work that speaks powerfully to this moment of crisis and transformation.” –Merlin Sheldrake
Jason Allen, esteemed broadcaster, publisher, and fellow environmental advocate will lead the conversation.
By Sidsel Nørgaard
May 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Across Burlington, the movement towards tobacco-free alternatives is reshaping community health initiatives. Residents are increasingly exploring options like nicotine pouches, aligning with local regulations that support public well-being. This shift highlights both the evolving preferences of individuals and the community’s commitment to healthier living.
The preference for tobacco-free products is gaining momentum, driven by awareness of health benefits and regulatory changes. As residents seek out alternatives to traditional smoking, platforms like gotpouches.com offer access to nicotine pouches and other tobacco-free options. These changes are impacting personal choices and contributing to broader public health goals within the community.
Local regulations and tobacco-free products
Municipal bylaws are playing a crucial role in shaping the availability and use of tobacco-free products within the community. These regulations encourage healthier lifestyles by limiting the use of traditional tobacco products, thus promoting alternatives that pose fewer health risks. Understanding these bylaws is essential for residents who wish to transition away from smoking towards safer options.
The enforcement of these regulations has facilitated an environment where tobacco-free choices are more accessible than ever before. This accessibility ensures that individuals seeking to quit smoking can easily find suitable alternatives that comply with local laws. Moreover, it underscores the importance of being informed about these regulations to make educated decisions about personal health.
For those interested in exploring these alternatives, it is important to recognize how these policies reflect a broader commitment to public health. By reducing barriers to access and promoting awareness, local authorities are actively supporting the community in making healthier lifestyle choices. This dynamic illustrates a proactive approach to reducing smoking-related health issues.
Impact on community health
 Decreasing secondhand smoke exposure a major social benefit. The rise in popularity of tobacco-free products aligns with ongoing community health initiatives aimed at reducing smoking rates and improving public well-being. Nicotine pouches, for instance, present a viable alternative for those looking to reduce their dependence on traditional cigarettes. They offer a smokeless option that mitigates exposure to harmful substances typically associated with tobacco smoke.
This transition is beneficial not only for individual users but also for the larger community by decreasing secondhand smoke exposure. As more residents opt for these alternatives, there is potential for significant improvements in overall public health outcomes. The shift towards nicotine pouches and similar products represents a collective step forward in achieving healthier communities.
The benefits extend beyond physical health, as they contribute to economic advantages by potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses. Embracing these alternatives supports a healthier population, which is an essential component of sustainable community development strategies.
Accessing resources
Accessing reliable sources for tobacco-free products is paramount for those considering a switch from traditional smoking methods. Online retailers play a significant role in this regard, offering convenient access to nicotine pouches and other alternatives. By ensuring that residents have easy access to these resources, communities can better support individuals’ efforts to make healthier choices.
Platforms such as gotpouches.com provide an array of options tailored to varying preferences, helping residents navigate their journey towards a tobacco-free lifestyle without compromising on quality or selection. These resources empower individuals with the information needed to make informed decisions about their health while adhering to local regulations.
As you explore these options, it is crucial to rely on trustworthy platforms that prioritize consumer safety and product integrity. This approach not only facilitates personal well-being but also reinforces communal efforts aimed at reducing tobacco use across the board.
Educational content
Understanding how nicotine pouches function is key for anyone curious about making the switch from traditional smoking. These pouches deliver nicotine without combustion, thereby eliminating harmful smoke inhalation risks. This feature makes them an attractive option for those seeking a safer way to satisfy nicotine cravings.
For individuals contemplating this transition, guidance on choosing suitable products can be invaluable. Information available through reputable websites aids consumers in making decisions that align with their specific needs and preferences. By doing so, you ensure that your journey towards a smoke-free life is both informed and effective.
The availability of educational resources enhances your ability to discern which products best suit your lifestyle and health goals. Leveraging such information promotes informed decision-making while supporting broader public health objectives within your community.
By Staff
May 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Day two of Education Week in Ontario.
The Halton District School Board is devoting today to Mental Health & Well Being – using the statement:
The Halton District School Board believes that healthy children and youth are more engaged learners.
 Totally focused while solving a problem. This makes it important to create conditions at school that lead to good health and enhanced learning. Healthy schools have learning environments where children and youth are supported by their school communities, enabling them to make healthy lifestyle choices. The HDSB works closely with Halton Region Public Health Department to identify, communicate and prevent health issues that may arise in our schools and communities.
The HDSB will showcase how schools are providing caring and supportive environments that create a genuine sense of belonging to support students in their pursuit of academic excellence.
Follow up on what the Board is doing through this LINK
By Pepper Parr
May 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board joins school boards across Ontario in celebrating Education Week from May 5-9, 2025. This week provides an opportunity to showcase the meaningful work taking place across HDSB schools and workspaces, and to recognize the achievements and contributions of students, staff and the broader school community.
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board.  Amy Collard, Chair of the Halton District School Board. “It has been inspiring to witness the incredible progress and achievements of our students across every aspect of their learning,” says Amy Collard, Chair of the Halton District School Board. “From academic milestones to personal growth, our students are continuously demonstrating their creativity and passions. These successes are not only a reflection of their hard work, but also the dedication and support from our educators, families and community.”
“Education Week provides an opportunity to reflect on and share the many success stories of academic growth and achievements that are happening across HDSB schools,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “These stories remind us that learning is not only about what happens in the classroom, but also about how we care for one another and grow together.”
Throughout the week, the HDSB will share stories and initiatives that demonstrate how the 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) is shaping learning environments and supporting student success and well-being.
Monday, May 5 – Spotlighting the 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan: To begin the week, the HDSB will share how the commitments in the MYSP, launched in the fall, are being put into practice through meaningful actions across HDSB schools and workplaces to support positive outcomes for students and staff.
Tuesday, May 6 – The role of Mental Health and Well-Being: As Education Week aligns with Mental Health Week, on Tuesday, the HDSB will showcase how schools are providing caring and supportive environments that create a genuine sense of belonging to support students in their pursuit of academic excellence.
Wednesday, May 7 – We are HDSB: The HDSB will spotlight the recently launched video series, We are HDSB, that shares the voices and experiences of students, staff and families across HDSB school communities. This series showcases the many ways people are building connections, demonstrating kindness and contributing to a strong sense of community. Each video provides a glimpse into the day-to-day experiences within schools, celebrating student success and the people and moments that help make HDSB schools and workspaces safe, welcoming and supportive places.
Thursday, May 8 – Celebrating Student Achievement: On Thursday, the HDSB will recognize the success of 108 students at the 41st annual Celebration of Student Excellence event. Friends and family are invited to celebrate virtually by viewing the livestream of the event which will be available on the HDSB website at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. The HDSB will also share student success stories from across HDSB schools that highlight how students are thriving in their academic journeys.
Friday, May 9 – Recognizing Kindness, Connection and Community: To conclude Education Week, the HDSB will focus on its commitment to Kindness, Connection and Community, as outlined in the 2024-2028 MYSP, and how it supports the success of students. Highlights will be shared from a recent Director’s Panel session where students and staff discussed how this commitment is being brought to life in schools.
 By Harold Dickert
May 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
By Way of Introduction. There are environmentalists who do there part day in day out – they know that climate change is taking place and there is a lot of work to be done. Then there are the really hard core environmentalists. Vince Fiorita (and it if don’t know Vince, you are not a real environmentalist) and then there are the really hard core types. Harold Dickert is one of those. He lives on a 6 acre piece of land in Kilbride and probably has a nickname for every tree on his property. Don’t ask for half an hour of his time – you will end up talking to him for several hours.
A Soil So Magical, It Might As Well Be Wizardry
 This isn’t just dirt. It’s a carbon-hoarding, crop-boosting, water-hugging powerhouse – soil with serious staying power. Picture this: a soil so rich, so fertile, so ridiculously good at its job that it makes modern industrial farming look like a toddler trying to build a sandcastle with a teaspoon. This isn’t some lab-grown, corporate-patented monstrosity—it’s Terra Preta, the legendary Amazonian “Black Earth.”
Ancient civilizations whipped up this soil cocktail long before carbon footprints were even a thing. The recipe? A mix of local earth, bio-char (basically charcoal, but don’t you dare call it ash), nutrients, and enough beneficial microbes to send a scientist into happy convulsions. The kicker? It’s still in Amazonian soil 3,000 years later, still making crops go gangbusters. That’s right—it’s soil with serious staying power.
Why Should You Care?
Because the planet is having a bit of a meltdown (literally), and Terra Preta is the comeback story we need. This isn’t just dirt. It’s a carbon-hoarding, crop-boosting, water-hugging powerhouse that can:
✅ Multiply Crop Yields – Up to eight times higher. That’s not a typo.
✅ Lock Away Carbon – Basically the underground vault of the climate world.
✅ Fight Climate Change – Because if we don’t, who will?
✅ Turn Invasive Plants into a Goldmine – More on that below.
The Mess We’re In
 Terra Preta. It’s the ultimate Swiss Army knife of agriculture—restoring soil, capturing carbon, boosting food security, and turning invasive plants into a resource instead of a headache. Ah, the modern world. So many innovations, so many terrible side effects. Here’s what we’re dealing with:
❌ Dead Soils – Industrial farming sucked the life out of them. Oops.
❌ Toxic Runoff – Fertilizer pollution creating oceanic “Dead Zones.” Not great.
❌ Invasive Plants on the Rampage – Like a botanical zombie apocalypse.
❌ Droughts, Floods & Angry Farmers – Mother Nature is Not Amused™.
❌ Global Food Shortages – Because “progress” should not equal “less food.”
Enter Terra Preta. It’s the ultimate Swiss Army knife of agriculture—restoring soil, capturing carbon, boosting food security, and turning invasive plants into a resource instead of a headache.
How Do We Scale It Up?
Governments, it’s your time to shine. Here’s how:
Bounty Programs for Invasive Plants – Pay folks to gather problem plants, turn them into bio-char, and voila! A win-win.
♻️ Composting 2.0 – Green bin waste deserves better than the landfill. Let’s bio-char it up.
Carbon Cap & Trade + Carbon Micro Credits – If you put carbon into the ground instead of the air, you should get rewarded. Period.
Community & Backyard Bio-Char Production – Imagine every backyard being a tiny carbon-sequestering machine. Beautiful.
What’s In It for Us? (Spoiler: A Lot.)
✨ More Carbon in Soil, Less in the Air – Climate change just got a little nervous.
Bigger Harvests – More food, fewer chemicals. Cleaner Water – Say goodbye to toxic runoff. Healthier Plants – Who needs pesticides when your soil is thriving? Better-Tasting, Nutrient-Dense Food – Your taste buds will write thank-you notes. A Soil System That LASTS – Unlike conventional farming’s one-and-done approach.
Built-in Drought Resistance – Bio-char hoards water like a paranoid prepper, releasing it just when plants need it most.
Microbial Paradise – Soil microbes love Terra Preta.
♻️ Less Waste, More Smart Use of Resources – Even invasive plants get a redemption arc.
A Step Toward Real Climate Action – Because hashtags alone won’t fix this.
 Good Carbon: Locked in soil, feeding plants, keeping ecosystems happy. It’s Not Just About Dirt – It’s About Carbon
Science alert! Pyrolysis (the fancy word for heating organic matter in the absence of oxygen) transforms invasive plants and waste into bio-char and syngas (a renewable energy source). This means Terra Preta isn’t just a soil revolution, it’s an energy solution too.
Let’s Rethink Carbon
Carbon isn’t the villain here. It’s literally the backbone of life. The problem? We keep putting it in the wrong place.
Good Carbon: Locked in soil, feeding plants, keeping ecosystems happy.
Bad Carbon: Floating in the atmosphere, melting ice caps, wrecking the climate.
Terra Preta lets us take the bad carbon and turn it into good carbon. Simple. Brilliant. Necessary.
Take Action (Because the Planet Won’t Fix Itself)
This is not a fringe idea. It’s real, backed by science, and ready to go. We just need people to get on board. That means you.
Advocate for bio-char programs in your city.
Make Terra Preta in your backyard (yes, really).
Support farmers using sustainable soil practices.
Watch, Read & Get Inspired
For the skeptics, the curious, and the already-convinced, here’s your homework:
“The Secret of Eldorado – TERRA PRETA” (National Geographic Documentary)
Terra Preta: How the World’s Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger (ISBN: 978-1856234375)
BURN: Using Fire to Cool the Earth (ISBN: 978-1603587833)
Join the Movement
I’ve been making Terra Preta in Kilbride, and guess what? It works. My last bio-char session had local environmental NGO leaders geeking out over its potential. Now, we’re figuring out how to scale this up.
Because climate change isn’t waiting, and neither should we.
Let’s dig deep and fix this—one bio-char batch at a time.
 By Eric Stern
April 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Election Scrutineering 101
I’ve always voted and paid attention to our political process. For last night’s election, I decided to go a step further. I volunteered as a scrutineer for the Conservative Party.
Training involved a trip to Emily Brown’s campaign office and 15 minutes. One of the other volunteers commented that he was there to understand the election process. Donald Trump has thrown into question the integrity of elections. Scrutineering gave me a unique opportunity to look behind the curtain.
One of the first things I learned was what constitutes a spoiled ballot. I’ve always carefully marked my X, making sure the lines stayed inside the circle. Elections Canada wants to determine voter intent. You don’t have to use an X. As I saw during the counting, people filled in the circle, people drew in stars or squiggles. As long as the intent was clear, the vote was counted.
An optional activity, from 7:30 am to 9:00 am, was to wave signs at Appleby and Fairview.
 They called them waves – they were held at many of the main intersections in the city. Typically, I dread this type of activity, but I have to admit it was fun. People honked as they drove by, people waved, people stared straight ahead and did their best to ignore us, and about one car in fifty waved their swear finger at all of us. Are we losing our civility? Is it time to have a law that says political parties can only talk about their platform, not disparage the other candidates? Justin “he’s just not ready” comes to mind, but so does this ad:
After a quick trip to the polling station in the morning, to sign forms and show my ID, I returned to the station at 9:10 pm. The doors were locked at 9:30 pm, and the counting process started. Ballot boxes were immediately sealed. Tables were cleared, and scrutineers from the various parties moved to their assigned tables.
Once the Elections Canada officials were ready to count ballots, the ballot boxes were opened, and the counting began. Each ballot was held up for the scrutineers to review and placed in a pile for the intended candidate. One official held up the ballots, a second kept a tally. There was only one spoiled ballot, someone had clearly voted for both the Liberal and Conservative candidates. Will Carney partner with Poilievre to form the next government?
The race was so close, there would be two in a row for Karina, followed by three for Emily, then five for Karina, then four for Emily, and almost no votes for the other parties.
After all the ballots had been counted, approximately 150 per poll, the count was double-checked. Multiple teams of officials and scrutineers completed this process concurrently. By 11 pm, the count for the polling station was complete.
Everyone, officials and party representatives, was respectful, friendly, and dedicated to the integrity of the process.
The integrity of our elections relies on all of us. Please consider working for Elections Canada or volunteering as a scrutineer.
By Staff
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Chronic lateness can often feel like an inescapable habit because showing up late to meetings, keeping friends waiting, or missing deadlines can lead you to constantly apologise for being late. People all over the world struggle with punctuality, and while being late might seem like a small flaw, it can have dire consequences.
If you are looking to overcome the habit of chronic lateness, then you are in the right place, as we have discussed several strategies and tips that can help you overcome chronic lateness and help you build a habit of being punctual and on time.
Understand the Cause of Chronic Lateness
Before you can fix any problem, you need to understand its root cause. Chronic lateness stems from a multitude of reasons, including :
 Poor Time Management Skills- Overcommitment
- Perfectionism
- Procrastination
- Lack of Prioritization
- Psychological Factors
- Poor Habits
- Mindset Issues
Understanding what causes you to be late is the first step towards overcoming chronic lateness, and you should start by identifying the causes so that you can address them effectively to overcome chronic lateness.
After you have identified the root cause of chronic lateness, here are some actionable tips and strategies that will help you overcome chronic lateness and be more punctual.
Improve Time Management
The foundation of punctuality is deeply rooted in time management. If you are not good with time management, then you cannot overcome chronic lateness because you won’t be able to take control of your time. Improving your time management skills is very important, and this can be done by using digital tools to procure the Salah Timing Calendar and help plan your day, breaking down large tasks, making a routine and following it, and adding extra time to your schedule for unexpected delays or last-minute changes.
Change Your Mindset
Your mindset plays a very important role when it comes to punctuality, and you need to change your mindset and shift your perspective to overcome the issue of chronic lateness. To do so:
Aim for arriving early rather than being exactly on time. Leaving early for a meeting or event will cushion you against unexpected delays.
- Rethink the importance of punctuality in your mind and think of time as a form of respect for yourself, as well as for others.
- Visualize the benefits of arriving early, such as less stress, more confidence, and a better reputation, which can encourage you to be more punctual.
Address Procrastination and Perfectionism
Procrastination and perfectionism are two completely opposite things, yet both of these often hold people back and lead to them being chronically late. If procrastination or perfectionism is holding you back, then it is time to address these issues by tackling tasks early, setting deadlines, embracing imperfections, and focusing on completing tasks the right way instead of making them flawless.
Develop a Pre-Event Routine
 Developing a pre-event and consistent routine can help you stay on track and organized, and avoid last-minute rushes. You can create a pre-event routine by creating a checklist for the steps that you need to take before leaving for an event, setting alarms and reminders to remind you when it is time to get ready, and prepare the night before by laying out your clothes, packing your bag, and gathering any material that you will need ahead of time, including the Montreal Prayer Calendar, to reduce stress and save time.
Avoid Overcommitment
One of the major contributors to chronic lateness is overcommitment. People who overcommit are the ones who constantly have a habit of being late because committing to multiple things can make you overwhelmed, leading to chronic lateness and impunctuality. This can be overcome by setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks that align with your goals and values, and politely declining requests that don’t fit into your schedule or priority list.
By Pepper Parr
April 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 It was the finals for the Battle of the Books; a public library program that started with twenty schools and was now down to the finals for the Junior teams – grades 3 to 5 and the Senior’s – grades 6 to 8.
John T. Tuck and Sacred Heart of Jesus were the semi-finalists in the Junior teams
St. Raphael and Ascension were the semi-finals in the Senior level.
Sacred Heart of Jesus won the Junior level for the second year in a row.
 Battle of the Books judges: from the left Deepti, Jamie and Sarah. It was not an easy task. More detail tomorrow with pictures of the winners.
Great to watch the kids collaborating to come up with the answers to the questions.
By Staff
April 23, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Library sent out the following statement a number of months ago:
“We live in an era of eroding democracy where polarization is increasingly fracturing our sense of a shared reality” adding that “ there’s a growing sense that our political system prioritizes short-term gains over the long-term health of our democracy.”
The CBC program, IDEAS decided to host a series of cross-Canada discussions that focus on local solutions with the potential to inspire national change.
Moderated by Nahlah Ayed, the discussions were to take place in Burlington, Charlottetown, Edmonton and Nanaimo, BC.
 Lita Barrie (CEO, Burlington Public Library), Sabreena Delhon (CEO, The Samara Centre for Democracy), Meg Uttangi Matsos (Director, Service Design & Innovation, BPL), Nahlah Ayed (Host, CBC’s IDEAS), and Ira Wells (Professor, University of Toronto, critic & author). Local innovators/thinkers/storytellers in each community came together for conversations that explore the next chapter of Canada’s democracy. In Burlington that included library CEO Lita Barrie and Ira Wells, a Professor, University of Toronto, critic & author).
The program will be broadcast on CBC’s IDEAS on Thursday April 24th at 8:00 pm
The series is part of CBC Collab fund and in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy.
Libraries are a target in the culture wars raging across the continent. Yet they define themselves as a place to give all people access “to the widest possible variety of expressive content.”
As upholders of intellectual freedom, can libraries remind Canadians what democracy is all about, and which values are still worth fighting for?
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By Staff
