 By Staff
August 20, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
This could be interesting.
HUGE NEWS! We’re almost there!
Thank You! Thank You! To all of you who are spreading the word about this movement! What if for one day everything stopped, and we all just listened to the music? …We may find out soon!
Let’s keep going. it should be easy to get 50 more cities, but another 37 countries will take some work. LET’S DO THIS! Let’s change the world!
Please register to be officially counted and added to our worldwide map of participants at: https://tinyurl.com/PMOTPD-2020
Explore the map at https://tinyurl.com/PMOTPD-MAP-2020
Or email your name, location and a photo to: PlayMusicOnThePorch@gmail.com
Related news story:
This Mayor has great pipes: she may sing for us from her porch!
 By Staff
August 20, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
A Different Drummer Books and Harper Collins Canada invite you to what Ian, proprietor of Different Drummer, is calling a a memorable encounter with a phenomenal person of letters.
If you’ve never heard of Thomas King – you are a diminished personality. He is funny, erudite and a great story teller.
The CBC series, The Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour which ran from 1997 to 2000 was some of the best radio you will ever hear. It should be available to the public from the CBC archives.
King is going to introduce his new novel Indians on Vacation as a discussion on line with Deborah Dundas, Friday August 28, 7pm, Live Online via Zoom
Registration to the ZOOM cast comes with the purchase of an autographed copy of the book. $32 – well worth the price.
 Thomas King, revered throughout the nation for his broadcasting, his social activism and his witty and profound fiction including Green Grass, Running Water and The Back of the Turtle, shares his irresistible new novel in a riveting online event.
Thomas King discusses Indians on Vacation and the passions and concerns that have shaped his long, colourful life in a vigorous conversation with Deborah Dundas, Books Editor of the Toronto Star, on Friday, August 28 at 7pm.
“From the first page, Thomas King’s sardonic and very funny voice leads us to places we never expect to go…European and Indigenous history collide, and there’s no one better to examine the aftermath.”–Deborah Dundas
To access the event, please purchase Indians On Vacation (autographed copies!) from A Different Drummer Books. They will send you the code required to log in via Zoom.
The book is $32, tax included, and will be available starting on the release date, August 25.
To purchase a signed copy, please contact us at 905 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com, or use the PayPal button at this link.
Books can be picked up at the bookshop, or delivered to you, no extra charge.
 By Pepper Parr
August 16th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Summer in the city on a quiet Sunday
Whatever heat there is going to be hasn’t arrived yet.
The streets are quiet. Groups gather around the strip malls.
In the downtown core there is a place where the traffic builds – the Centro Market that is tucked in behind the store on Brant Street – accessed off John Street.
 Social distancing limits the number of people who can actually shop – a decent line up, seen on the right, with people waiting for their turn. Life when there is a pandemic hovering over us like a huge dark cloud changes much of what we do.
 People line up, waiting for their turn to enter the market while a guitarist plucks at the strings. At the market it means standing in line – six feet apart, properly masked waiting for someone in the parking lot doing their shopping to leave so that the next person in line can go in.
There is a quiet casualness to it all. A musician plays a guitar quietly.
 The back hoe rests – waiting for the construction workers to return on Monday. Yards to the south of the market there is a massive back hoe parked for the weekend – waiting for construction workers to show up on Monday to continue with the excavation of the site that will see The Gallery, a 24 story development that will, when completed, change not only the look but also the feel of the downtown core.
Just to the north of the market – the Bentley, another condominium takes its place. As high as it is – it doesn’t feel as if the building is looming over the street even though it is flush with the side walk.
None of it seems to change the feel of the market in a parking lot.
 Produce is set out on table on on the tail gates of vehicles. What is missing is a spot where one can sit at a table with a checkered table cloth drinking good coffee, perhaps a double espresso and a croissant.
Can one hope?
By Staff
August 14th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Clean Up Green Up – the annual Burlington Green initiative that cleans up the litter that others leave behind will be different this year..
The program is in its tenth year – and has run into the pandemic wall.
Gathering the way they have in the past with garbage bags and gloves isn’t possible with the required social distancing.
The truly wonderful get together that used to take place in Civic Square won’t be possible either.
The creative minds at Burlington Green have found a way around the WORD – Clean Up Green Up is going to take place whenever you want it to take place and wherever you want it to take place.
They understand that the earth can’t wait. Litter has been accumulating in ditches, hydro corridors, along beaches and waterfronts, and posing serious risks to nature. We can still practice responsible social distancing while caring for the planet.
 Clean Up Green Up – all year long. Here is how it will work:
Determine a location in Burlington that your family, friends or small community group would like to clean up.
Let us know about your clean up by filling out the Clean Up Form and you can look forward to receiving the following benefits:
 When they take part in the Clean Up Green Up at a young age – they tend to stay with it – these two are proud as punch with what they managed to get done Your family/group will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a $50 gift card courtesy of the Burlington Centre! (where you can buy eco-friendly products, food etc.)
You have the opportunity to receive FREE clean up supplies for your group. Litter collection bags and gloves are available for pick-up by request and while quantities last.
We would love to receive a photo of you and your loved ones/group members ‘in action’ with the litter you collected. Send it along to us and we’ll be sure to post it on our Green Wall of Fame webpage for all to see!
Review our handy tip sheet for proper waste collection and safety information 0n the Burlington Green website. .
Ensure a safe Clean Up by following the most up-to-date COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Safely clean up your selected area in the community, count the number of full bags of litter you collected and take a group photo with your collected litter.
 Found in Sheldon Creek – one of the hot spots. Bring ALL collected waste home with you and dispose of it through your residential curbside collection. (Please do not leave collected waste at any parks, trails, businesses or green spaces, as city waste collection is not available at these locations.)
Send an email (cugu@burlingtongreen.org) to us with your attached group photo, and the total number of bags of litter you collected. We also invite you to let us know the location of any larger waste items or litter “hot spots” you spotted during your clean up so we can flag it for further attention.
 By Staff
August 9th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Pride Crosswalk went in about a month ago – this month the Black Lives Matter iconography has been painted on the sidewalk in front of City Hall.
There was an informal presentation with the Mayor and two Councillors (Nisan and Galbraith) today at 11:30 am.
Surprisingly, there were no people of colour on hand to take part.
 The artist took the statement a little beyond just words.  The Mayor, properly masked, speaking to residents and giving the Black Lives Matter iconography a little official touch. The artist was present at the time; she wishes to remain anonymous.
The names written on the large white letters are the names of Canadian and American people.
The painting is acrylic base and will remain until mid September 2020.
Another Burlington inclusivity statement. When the city take the steps to ensure that affordable housing is built in the city we will have moved beyond statements.
 By Staff
August 6th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The City is going virtual and is calling for local artists, cultural professionals and creative organizations to host free, interactive online events and activities during the 11th annual Culture Days.
 Scarecrows from the Burlington Student Theatre were on hand to see the Burlington Performing Arts Centre handed over to the community. Might we see them on our computer screens? Culture Days is extending beyond the traditional Culture Days weekend to a more inclusive and interactive four-week schedule of activities. Kicking off Sept. 25 and running until Oct. 25, Culture Days invites everyone to participate in and show appreciation for arts and culture in their own community and nationwide.
This year’s theme is Unexpected Intersections – encouraging creative and outside-the-box thinking to reveal new avenues of discovery, learning, and expression. In light of the current situation with COVID-19, Culture Days recommends digital presentations, do-it-yourself activities and self-guided programs.
 The Culture Days website encourages creators of every kind to showcase thousands of virtual and in-person activities. Visitors can find small-gathering or self-guided events near them, while going digital allows participants to virtually cross the country and discover live-streamed performances and other online presentations.
Culture Days encourages organizers to plan digital presentations. For in-person events, organizers should take a self-guided or pre-registered, limited capacity approach. Organizers must make sure they are following municipal, regional, provincial and public health guidelines in their jurisdiction. Ontario Culture Days has created resource pages for organizers and ways to discover Ontario arts and culture from home for audiences.
Event organizers may be eligible for funding through the Community Support Fund. The Community Support Fund combines existing grant programs to provide financial support to residents and community groups who want to enrich and connect the Burlington community through sport, recreation, art and cultural experiences. This is a one-time per year funding program designed to recognize the importance of supporting Burlington’s communities during these challenging times. By providing access to funding, the City is looking for innovative ideas to connect and enhance our community through events and activities that offer meaningful opportunities to strengthen and nourish community spirit.
If you would like to host a Culture Days event, register your event online with Culture Days at culturedays.ca. For more information about participating in Culture Days, assistance on finding a location for your activity, and possible partnership opportunities with the cultural boards, contact Adam Belovari at 905-335-7600, ext. 7335 or adam.belovari@burlington.ca by Aug. 31.
About Culture Days
Culture Days has become the largest cultural event in Canada, attracting an estimated 2.5 million annual attendees to thousands of free activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and municipalities in hundreds of communities across Canada. Burlington has been a little slow in getting on the Culture Days bandwagon – perhaps the virtual approach will be the nudge people need to take part.
 Councillor Sharma in conversation with Angela Paparizo Angela Paparizo, Manager, Arts and Culture urges residents to think about taking part: “As we plan for Burlington’s Culture Days in the midst of COVID-19, this is an opportunity for Burlington artists and cultural organizations to showcase their talents and engage our community. While Culture Days this year will look different, we have a rare chance to share Burlington’s arts and cultural community beyond our city. I encourage and look forward to once again working with the Burlington arts and culture community to present another successful Culture Days this year.”
Links and Resources
Culturedays.ca
Burlington.ca/culturedays
Community Support Fund
By Pepper Parr
July 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There have been 38 applications for patios on private property and 12 on city property for outdoor locations where people can dine and enjoy a cool one.
There are a number of applications in process.
 Dining alfresco in downtown Burlington: it will be interesting to see how creative the restaurateurs can get. The city is now going to consider allowing temporary tents as well.
The bylaw that is in place for outdoor patios has to be repealed first and a new bylaw out in place.
Council will meet as a Standing Committee Tuesday morning and will then meet as a Council and approve the new bylaw.
Let’s see how that goes. We will of course report on how this works out. There are a few locations that are in the process of erecting tents – which suggests this is a done deal.
 By Andrew Balza
July 24th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is a pleasant city in Ontario, bang on the border. To many people, passing through Burlington doesn’t include stopping in the city, but this trend may just be changing. Located near a lake and offering picturesque scenery, Burlington is becoming a more desired place to visit and hang around or so TripAdvisor’s rating for the city would suggest. Burlington, of course, won’t stop you from doing what you love best even if you are passing by. Many people come as a sort of getaway. The city offers quite a few pleasant eateries, a close-knit but discrete community and quality Wi-Fi. If you love gaming online, you won’t have any trouble staying in Burlington and benefiting from the quality Internet, whether you want to play roulette or enjoy a quick session in Fortnite.
Burlington has a simple look that allows the city to meld with nature and create a unique place. While economic opportunities are fewer than some busy hubs across the country, the city has such a strong pull that even tourists want to stay a little while longer and not leave.
 Royal Botanical Garden: Acre upon acre of gardens. This natural beauty that Burlington exudes is the city’s character. Thanks to the continuous efforts of citizens, the city has turned into a truly outstanding place to live. There are many places to see including the Royal Botanical Gardens that you could easily spend a ful day wandering the close to 100 acres of trails and gardens that are world class.
Art Gallery of Burlington has one of the best collections of ceramics in the country and a Gift Shop with a delightful number of original jewelry and cloth items on sale. The quality is exceptional.
Most people tend not to miss out on the Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area or Mt Nemo; a point from which you can see the CN Tower in Toronto – miles away..
 Spencer Smith Park runs along the edge of Lake Ontario. A favorite for every visitor – a place to enjoy the scenery and relax on a park bench. If you do love being near the water Spencer Smith Park and its walking paths that take you all the way to the canal that borders Hamilton, a neighbouring city.
The canal is the opening from Lake Ontario into Hamilton Harbour, a thriving port that has five to six new ship arrivals each day.
Burlington’s Making a Dent on the Map
Burlington’s definitely doing well on tourist platforms, such as TripAdvisor. The city has been reviewed by tourists repeatedly and today, you can expect to find an outstanding variety of tastes, food and more.
There is a fantastic selection of meals available in Burlington as well as drinking dens. If you are looking for cheap eateries, you can definitely rely on Burlington to deliver. Surprisingly, all of Burlington’s cheap eats are quality work and you will definitely not want to miss out on them, including D Hot Shoppe, Russell Williams Restaurants, Halifax Donair, and Zesty Pita & Burgers.
 One of the prime places to just enjoy the city is on the north side of Lakeshore looking out over the lake. This could be a social spot in almost anyone of the prime tourist destinations in Europe or North America – but it is right here in Burlington. If you’re lucky you might find a spot on the patios that overlook the lake and serves as hone to several very good restaurants. Pepperwoods is worth making a reservation at.
Cheap, though, doesn’t mean lack of quality, and you will quickly realize that the tastes offered in Burlington are always a delight. You should try Loondocks, Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, Amaya Express and so many others!
After travellers have had a hearty bite, they usually want to head for the lake, which promises to be one of the most amazing sights in the city. You will definitely appreciate the city.
If you are really looking for a place to relax, then you will be absolutely thrilled to visit any of the spas that are so highly rated on TripAdvisor. Most visitors agree that Sanctuary Day Spas is the best you can go to right now and TripAdvisor is not wrong. Nevertheless, whatever the spa you pick in Burlington, you can expect a quality service.
For fine dining options, you should visit Lord Nelson’s Seafood-Steak, Spencer’s at the Waterfront, Napoleon’s Steak & Seafood House or West Plains Bistro – all of these are great places to go get yourself a healthy bite that will definitely be worth your while.
Don’t hesitate to explore Burlington in its entire beauty and enjoy the many delights that the local community has developed for passers-by and tourists who want to stick around for a fair while and enjoy themselves.
By Staff
July 24th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
A real summer for Burlington seemed to have to wait until we got into Stage 3 – Playground equipment can now be used. Restaurants will invite patrons inside and parks will be more accessible.
 Events like this on the beach aren’t going to be part of this summer. That playground equipment is not being sanitized and standard health practices with heightened awareness such as staying home if sick, washing hands and not touching faces should be strictly followed. Parents and caregivers are advised to pack hand sanitizer as well as sunscreen.
Anyone using the playground equipment should still practice physical distancing of two metres with anyone not from their household or their social circle.
If a playground structure is busy, residents may want to consider one of Burlington’s many other parks or come back at another time.
Other Summer Activities
• Parks are open for casual use, such as exercising, picnics, kicking or throwing a ball
• Mountainside, Nelson and LaSalle Pools are open for leisure swims and lap swims with online pre-registration and payment only. Splash Parks at Nelson and Mountainside Pools are now open as well
 Kids + water = fun and noise. • Spray pads at parks are open
• Lowville Park is open. New, as of July 30, entry to Lowville Park will require pre-registration through parkvisit.ca/burlington. Reservations and use of the park remain free
• Redesigned summer camps are open. The next registration date is July 27 at 9 a.m. View camps at burlington.ca/summer
• Redesigned Adult 19+ and Adult 55+ programs are open. View programs at burlington.ca/summer.
Safety Precautions
• All City recreation programs are operating with public health safety precautions including increased cleaning (outdoor amenities like playgrounds are not sanitized), screening and reduced program capacities in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19
• Permits for picnics will not be issued in an effort to mitigate large gatherings at this time
• Physical distancing of two metres is still in place on public property with anyone not from your household or social circle and in groups of less than 10.
The Regional Public Health Unit will issue a report at the end of next week – we can expect a bit of an increase iin the number of people reported to be infected. If that number is very high the provincial government may decide that we are not yet ready for Stage 3 and roll us back to Stage 2.
The virus is transferred from person to person – it is up to us to do everything we can to ensure that we each, individually, are not part of that transfer process.
Or are we going to be really, really stupid and drink the KoolAid?
 By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ray Rivers Ray Rivers, our political columnist is part farmer (he and his wife used to raise sheep) an academic and a thespian.
Strange Bedfellows – is his play about people coping with quarantine during the COVID 19 lockdown in Ontario. It is nothing less than an historical bookmark of this very scary period. The play is part of the Hamilton Fringe Stream Out Loud series running from July 21 to 26, 2020 and will only be accessible on-line.
This is the third production Ray Z Rivers has brought to the stage at Hamilton’s Fringe. Five actors, through the graces of the internet and ZOOM, each play their parts from their own homes as the play winds through its story.
Play dates are Tues July 21 @ 6:30pm – Fri July 24 @ 8:30pm – and Sat July 25 @ 9:10pm
Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/strange-bedfellows-at-what-the-fest-tickets-112334495500
Contact: Ray Rivers – rayzrivers@gmail.com – 905-659-2069
Note: This play is not recommended for those under 18 years of age.
By Staff
July 15th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Giants, Dragons & Unicorns will be haunting the halls of the Joseph Brant Museum which is now officially open.
It is all part of the World of Mythic Creatures (organized by the American Museum of Natural History) that will be extended to January 3, 2021. Changes have been implemented to ensure the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers. Learn more about what to expect and how to pre-book your visit on our website.
 The Museums of Burlington is also offering a virtual summer program for kids. Virtual Visits are daily one hour Zoom sessions featuring live instruction by a Museum Educator who will guide a series of creative, hands-on, structured activities and crafts that relate to a weekly theme.
Programs are designed for children aged 8-12, parental supervision is required for some activities. Programs are one week in duration and take place from 11 am to 12 pm each day. The cost is $25/week and includes a craft supply bag.
How it works:
• Register online, you’ll receive an email receipt/confirmation.
• The week prior to the program start, you will receive the daily Zoom meeting links, daily itineraries and supply checklists.
• The Friday prior to the program start date, your supply bag will be packaged up and ready for pick-up at Joseph Brant Museum from 11 am to 3 pm. Please ensure you and your child prepare your supplies in advance so you’re ready to go for 11 am each day. There will be items required that are not included in the supply bag provided.
By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 The comments feature on the Burlington Gazette has been restored. It took a considerable amount of time and a cost that was not budgeted for.
The specifics of the why comments were not fully operational are still being investigated.
Our process for publishing comments will change in the very near future.
One active reader, who called to complain at least every third day made the remark that”you have the only place where people can air their view. Gratifying to know that.
 By Alex Pattison
July 14th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Gambling is a popular hobby for many people, as it’s an activity that can not only be super fun, but it can bring in some extra money for the lucky ones too. A lot of individuals are intrigued by gambling and want to give it a go. If you are one of them but are new to this world, you might not even know where to start, whether it’s by playing some games or even betting on some sports matches. To assist you on this journey, we’ve made this simple guide to online gambling in Canada that will help introduce you to all the major aspects of this thrilling activity.
 Online gambling sites are good clean fun – just do your homework and be aware of who you are dealing with. Is online gambling legal in Canada?
Playing at online casinos and sports betting is not illegal in Canada. However, Canadian online gambling regulations are not quite as straightforward. Each province has the freedom to draft and impose their own laws and rules. On the other hand, offshore companies are not allowed to operate casinos in the country but they’ve found a loophole and are basing their servers on the Kahnawake reserve territory. Therefore, as the situation is still a bit unclear, many provinces have been advocating for legislation on a national level that will eliminate all confusion.
For a casino to operate on Canadian territory, it has to have the right licenses and software certificates. Some licenses you should be on the lookout for include Kahnawake Gaming Commission, United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
How to choose a casino?
In addition to checking for licenses, when choosing a casino, you should do some research to make sure they are reputable. For instance, look up their online reviews and see what other people have said. How good is their customer service? What kind of offers do they have? How long does it take to get your winnings? When it comes to making the right informed decision, Adam Nadeau, founder of Playcasinos.ca recommends always playing at popular casinos with excellent player reviews. “Stick to a list of legit casinos that have been tried and tested. Also, research some of the most common scams to ensure you are not tricked out of your money,” Mr Nadeau advises.
How to stay safe?
Speaking of being tricked, you need to understand that casinos that have a licence are regulated by the responsible governing bodies, which protect and safeguard players from getting scammed. Moreover, top-rated casinos invest in encryption, meaning that all your personal and financial data is safe. However, if you decide to opt for other sites that are not approved, you might get an unpleasant surprise. Therefore, always do research on the casino you plan on joining and avoid those that have been blacklisted.
What games are available?
Once you’ve found a trustworthy casino you can join, you will want to check out their offer of games. If you are looking for casino games, you will be glad to hear that online casinos offer an even greater range of games than land-based venues. This is mostly due to the fact that there are many varieties of games available and traditional casinos simply don’t have enough space for everything on their premises. From card and table games to the ubiquitous slot machine, you can find a lot of ways to pass the time and have fun. On the other hand, if you prefer betting on sports, this option is also available. There is no need to leave your home to place a bet. Online sportsbooks often have better odds as well.
What to look for in terms of depositing and withdrawing funds?
Another thing that you have to pay attention to before you create an account is the types of payment methods a particular casino allows. For instance, most top casinos offer all the most popular methods such as e-wallets and debit and credit cards. Neteller and PayPal, as well as Visa and MasterCard, are accepted in most places. Then, you can also look into the option of having a prepaid card that you can pre-load with funds and use it to deposit the same into your account. The same methods are used when withdrawing your winnings. What you should do, however, is check how long it takes for a casino to pay you out and opt for those that don’t take unnecessarily long.
What should you know about bonuses?
Online casinos often offer all kinds of bonuses. While they may seem tempting, you need to know that they come with certain prerequisites. For example, there are free game bonuses that allow you to play a game without putting your money on the line. However, you also cannot withdraw your winnings until you put some money into your account. Whether it’s a welcome bonus or a refer-a-friend bonus, make sure you read the terms and conditions before committing to something.
From being aware of the legality of gambling in Canada to finding the best casino and knowing what to look out for, there is a lot to think about before you join a casino. Be sure to do your research, always read the fine print and you’ll be on your way to finding the right fit for your style of gameplay and your wallet. Good luck!
By Brenda Glass
July 13th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
It was on this day back on July 13, 1980, that I had the privilege to see and listen to Terry Fox.
 Terry Fox at the RBG in Aldershot July 13, 1980 I was able to just go down the street from my family home in Aldershot to the Royal Botanical Gardens Headquarters, Plains Rd W., where Terry made a stop.
It was a small gathering but it was there nice and close. I was there with my Kodak Instamatic camera. The attached photos are a photo of my original photos.
I believe the man in the light suit with white hair was Peter Pomeroy, Chair of Halton Region.
PS. I used to deliver the Burlington Gazette in Aldershot
 Terry Fox as he passed through Burlington on July 13th, 1980. The Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, an annual event in Burlington since 1981, won’t take place this year in its usual form. The physical distancing rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t permit large gatherings. And Terry Fox events are very large gatherings
This isn’t just in Burlington, but runs across the country. Volunteers from this outstanding community have worked hard for 39 years to grow the event to the point where it has raised $2.2 million for cancer research.
They were not prepared to just let the event dribble away – it was going to take more than a pandemic to close them down.
After the Foundation announced that the 40th Terry Fox Run would be a virtual event, the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee decided to take a creative approach to informing the community and telling parts of the unknown story.
Profiles of the people who got the event to where it is today appear on the Terry Fox Lives in Burlington blog and are being republished by the Gazette with permission.
By Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee
July 9th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Greg Pace
While we all know that the first Terry Fox Run was the Marathon of Hope – Terry Fox’s heroic, but shortened run across Canada for Cancer Research in 1980, but the first run as we know it today actually happened in 1981.
Terry Fox sadly passed away from cancer on June 28, 1981. Canadians were heartbroken. At this time communities across the country were organizing smaller runs for September of that year. Greg Pace, an athletic 20-something Burlingtonian, approached the Canadian Cancer Society (the Terry Fox Foundation was not yet established) about being the race director for Burlington’s first community run.
 Greg Pace – that surname is on the right man. Greg, who has plenty of race director credits under his belt today, had little experience in 1981, but had a love for running and was inspired by the cause.
While our run has happened on the waterfront for many years now (Beachway Park and Spencer Smith Park), the 1981 run was a 10 km route in and around Sherwood Forest Park. Today’s Sherwood Forest Park is dotted with ball diamonds, soccer fields and groomed grounds, however, it wasn’t that well-developed in the early 80s.
Greg recalls one participant completing the course in her wheelchair.
“I remember seeing her do that little ravine through the mud in her wheelchair…it was one of those huge motivating things…I saw her try to back her wheelchair up a hill. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, because obviously she was the last finisher.”
We continue to see people of all ages and abilities participate in the Terry Fox Run to this day.
Beyond 1981
Greg stayed on as Race Director/Chair for several more years. The first three years were held at Sherwood park with the 10k route. It then moved to Downtown Burlington near City Hall. Greg recalls that this was a 5k loop.
 This is what flyers used to look like – Adobe software didn’t exist then. Mimeograph machines were what we used. The first year, in 1981, the run was organized by Greg Pace and a few of his friends. It eventually evolved into a committee, which is how the runs are organized today. Greg was lucky to get to work with some very interesting people during his time as chair. From a local phys. ed teacher to local fundraising gurus – Greg had a diverse and experienced team behind him. His core committee included Chris Dooley, Fran Agnew and Margaret MacVinnie.
As the team got stronger, Greg was ready to let go of the reins.
“After the fourth or fifth year we gave it up and actually tried to recruit some people to take it over. The person that we recruited…about a month prior to it [the run] just said, ‘yeah, I’m not interested in doing it,’ so we had to scramble.” Greg Pace and his committee organized a couple more runs after that before handing it over to Burt McGrath.
Message of Hope
“Keep him in mind.”
– Greg Pace
I asked Greg for words of inspiration to help our community stay motivated for the cause during these difficult times. His message was simple. Keep Terry in mind.
He also said that if everyone whose life has been touched by cancer did something – raised a dollar or more – it would make a difference.
 Greg Pace out on a regular run with a colleague. It’s important to keep all those spirits alive. So, whatever you do, whether it’s a 5k walk or run, writing an inspiring message in chalk on your driveway or hosting a virtual party, do it with Terry Fox in mind.
Though Greg stays behind the scenes these days, he’s still a big supporter of the foundation and our local Burlington run. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us and sharing your stories and experiences.
Photographs and clippings provided by Greg Pace from his private collection, donated to the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee
By Staff
July 6th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
We live at a time when almost everything is virtual.
It’s an odd feeling.
How do you respond to something that is virtual? Where is the human element?
 Terry Fox running through Burlington in xx of 1980. The monument commemorating that event is right across Lakeshore Road Forty years ago Terry Fox ran along Lakeshore Road in his Marathon of Hope that ended in Thunder Bay on September 1st, 1980 after 143 days on the road covering 3582 km.
He died the following year 1981, on June 28th. ,
Since then communities across the country have been celebrating what Terry managed to get done in his short life.
The Terry Fox Run for Cancer always took place in September. The Fox Foundation decided that there would not be a Run this September due to the pandemic and the need to exercise serious discipline when it comes to huge numbers of people participating in an event.
 Burlington may be the only city in the country with a monument like this. The Burlington Terry Fox event didn’t was to miss a year – and it didn’t want to walk away from that 40th anniversary.
Terry ran through Burlington on July 13, 1980. The city is expected to raise the Terry Fox flag that day.
 Craig Gardner: “We had to get creative. The Gazette asked Craig Gardner how long has he been heading up the annual Terry Fox event in Burlington.
“I have been the chair now for five years now; I was on the committee for 5 years before that and a volunteer for 5 years before that. So I have been involved now for 15 years. The first run was in September of 1981 at Sherwood Forest Park.
“After 2 years it moved to city hall for almost 20 years, then to Beachway Park Pavilion for 14 years. The year I became chair is when we moved everything to the east end of Spencer Smith Park by the Waterfront Hotel. Hopefully we will be back there in 2021.
“After 39 runs we have raised almost $2.2 million for cancer research by over 24,000 participants and in addition the Burlington school runs have raised an additional $2 million plus.
“Now with no event we had to get creative – we looked at some pretty radical ideas. We are hoping that the social distancing rules are lightened up a bit and people will feel safer getting out and doing their own thing for the Run.
“The Terry Fox Foundation is expected to approve some ideas that have not been done before by anyone. Much like last year when we became the first local Terry Fox organization to apply for and get a Canada summer jobs grant to hire a student. We did the same this year as did three other run sites.
What are some of those ideas?
“Locally my committee took the 2019 participant data base and divided it up amongst themselves and we will be emailing or calling as many of the folks from last year (who gave us permission) as we can to tell them there is a 2020 40th anniversary event or events. We will describe it to them to ensure we follow COVID-19 rules.
“There are other ideas I can’t talk about yet – need to get possible participants fully onside. The ideas I can talk about are really ideas we are passing along to our teams when we call/email. This year anything goals and depending on Covid-19 numbers allowed we suggested things like pool parties, cocktail parties, BBQ’s sidewalk chalking, skateboard.
 Each of these woman had their own reasons for running this race and each ran it in their own way. Hundreds did just this during the Terry Fox Run for cancer research. This was in 2012 “As I say in 2020 anything goes – we are just ask people to register and collect donations from sponsors or donate themselves. We had arranged for a date to collect donations at all LCBO in Burlington, but we are not sure if that will fly – it is scheduled for mid-August.
 Truer words were never said: Will the community continue its support even if it takes place virtually. Craig Gardner explains: “We will start our promotion of the event after the July 13th Council meeting – he want be able to delegate but expects Councillor Bentivegna to speak to the event. City Hall is expected to hoist the Terry Fox flag in September.
“We plan to reach out personally to as many Teams and individuals as we can from last year’s run to see if they want to participate in this year’s virtual event.
“Virtual in this case means doing whatever you like whenever you like wherever you like to raise money for cancer research as long as Covid-19 rules in place are followed by each event.
“We have seen this year’s 40th anniversary shirt designed by a Foxer in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan (he won a contest with 1600 entries that the Fox family reviewed each of to decide the winner).
“With the big Spencer Smith Park run scheduled for September 20th is cancelled, we are asking people to register online either individually or as part of a team and send their personalized url to family and friends to donate.
Register online at https://www.terryfox.ca/terryfoxrun/burlington-on
The Burlington Terry Fox Run for Cancer people managed to get funding to hire a summer intern through the Canada Summer Jobs grant.
“The student we have is amazing. She has already gone through our data for each channel(Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) determining demographics of our audience, best time and day to post things, what things get the most hits. She is in the process of creating a calendar of postings. We have a lot of information to pull from with The BLOG, Terry Fox foundation and the Terry Fox Research Institute as well as information we have gathered thru filmed visits to cancer research labs at McMaster.
“One of my committee members has started a new blog this year. She is interviewing people associated with Terry in Burlington from the first run chair in Sept 1981 till present. There will also be blogs entries pre-dating the first run of when Terry actually ran through Burlington July 13, 1980. The plan is to post one new entry per week and share it to our various social media channels.
https://terryfoxburlington.wordpress.com/ The Gazette will carry those blogs.
Why did the Fox Foundation come to the decision there wouldn’t be a Run this year?
“As I understand it with hundreds and hundreds of run sites not only in Canada but global it is not easy to turn this ship on a dime and so not knowing what conditions would be like in September in all locations it was decided to make an early call and have everyone focus on the new way for this year. With some many businesses shut for extended periods it has been a challenge to get promotional materials even our iconic shirts are later than normal due to the pandemic.
 The event has always been heavily attended. “What are your hopes for this year?
“I would love to see everyone who has participated in any of the 39 previous years of first timers to get outside sometime over summer or September and do something for Terry and for themselves.
“Go for a walk, a hike, whatever works for you and donate yourself, get your friends and family to donate. Last year we came within $6,000 of our all-time record from 2005 – I would love to see the people of Burlington fight through the adversity of Covid-a9 and somehow manage to make the 40th anniversary the biggest year ever in Burlington and raise $130K.
T shirts sales are going well. We are selling them online from our Facebook page. We normally sell 100 or so in a good year and so far have sold almost 30 in the last few days.
What comes next?
“Hopefully a new normal will allow us to get back in our regular spot by the Waterfront Hotel at the east end of Spencer Smith Park with a bigger, better event than we have ever had. Sunday September 19, 2021 mark your calendars now.
If you have any questions about Terry Fox Run 2020 please contact Gardner at 905-599-8621 or scraiggardner@sympatico.ca
By Staff
July 2, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 Western end of the Beachway – It was one of the places to be. What did people do on Canada Day?
A lot of them took to the lake.
Those with big boats made part of the bay area a destination.
 With the heat – the water seemed like the place to be. May more took to the bars and restaurants that got creative and opened up patios.
It was a beautiful day – despite a virus out there that wants to hop from person to person like some kind of tick.
A quick look at what some people were doing.
 For some it was a quiet summer day.  For others it was high speed all out energy.  Was this a significant place for people to cross the street – or just another crosswalk?  What’s it going to be folks?
By Pepper Parr
July 2nd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
They came from the north of the Burlington Centre
They came from the south of the Burlington Centre
 Coming from the north – they lined up on Guelph Line patiently waiting to get into the parking lot.  They came from the south and lined up on Guelph line waiting to get into the parking lot. It was Canada Day and hundreds of cars and trucks lined up to get into the Centre parking lot to follow what looked like an obstacle course to get to a point where they had to make a choice – which of the four Rib choices did they want.
 The first traffic direction point. Note the line of cars on the left coming into the parking lot. It looked like an obstacle course and it was confusing – However there were Rotarians at every point guiding traffic.
 Traffic wound its way around traffic cones – as they were guided to the point where they had to make a decision. Cars then got to a point where the driver had to make a decision – which of the four rib choices did they want.
 There was the day’s offering. The traditional bill boards that Burlingtonians had looked at for years stood in front of them with flags flying in the wind. The Rotarian who was on that security point was getting frazzled at times as people asked: “Which one is the best?”
“They’re all great” he replied as he worked to keep the traffic moving.
And it moved quite well.
 Traffic pauses to pay for their order and then into the spot where they pick up their ribs and enjoy the sweet aroma of the piping hot food that is now in their car. Then they were in a line that got them to a point where there order was taken and paid for – they then proceeded to a pick up point on either side of the place where the ribs were being prepared.
It sounds a little convoluted, and it may have looked that way as drivers came in – but it went very smoothly.
 Is the the Burlington Centre parking lot. Or is it New York city? The photographs show dozens of cars all crowded together but everyone knew where they were going.
 The live entertainment was pleasant – the man knew how to work the strings of that guitar. His voice was just fine. There was live entertainment being broadcast over the parking lot – the singer was working his guitar to the fullest and producing a sound that fit the day.
 It worked – it worked very well. The Lakeshore Rotary who put on the event haven’t released any numbers yet – but it was clear to this reporter that the event made not have pulled in as much as the fill scale Ribfest has done in the past but it did very well under the circumstances.
The Rotarians are to be congratulated for being able to pivot and use Canada Day to put on their event. The Burlington Centre people deserve a “thank you” for making the space available.
The event could become an annual thing. It certainly worked on July 1st, 2020
 By Staff
July 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There is more to do than expected.
 The Lakeshore Rotary got creative and pivoted from the fall Ribfest and are holding the event on Canada Day in the Burlington Centre (Mall)
It will be a drive a drive through situation with all kinds of signage – Rotary is very good at signage. Traffic will be directed – you pick out and pick up your Ribs – pay for them and drive on through to wherever you are going to chow down those Ribs.
No mention of a beer tent
Expect the Mayor to be there.
The Ribfest opens at 11 am and runs through to 8 pm with music, entertainment and a performance by the Teen Tour Band
 Will this woman be at the Burlington Centre (Mall) on Wednesday? Earlier in the you can drop in at the Farmer’s Market – that opens at 8:00 am and runs to 2:00 pm.
Attendance by the produce people has been good. Lots of social distance rules in place with clear traffic lane markings.
Make a point of taking your mask. And perhaps wear something with a Canadian flag on it.
By Pepper Parr
June 30th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There are more people into gardening this year than most years.
The nurseries sold out early.
The pandemic has kept us all closer to home and deciding to plant some vegetable seeds seemed like a great idea to many.
The seed suppliers ran out as well.
The Burlington Food Bank has seven gardening plots around the city – they are looking for people to help out.
 Just imagine walking into the sunshine early in the morning and seeing this tree waiting for you to gaze. If you drive the country back roads with the window down you get to smell what I call the “sweet smell of new mown hay”
 The buds were bursting all over the place. The trees that are in full bloom all seem to have different shades of green.
The Catalpa tree that greeted me as I walked down the lane after picking up the newspaper was bursting with new flower.
The beauty just had to be shared.
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