 By Staff
May 27, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
What is it like to make a significant difference to the lives of more than 1000 children?
Tomorrow, Saturday, Canadian Tire holds their Jumpstart Day and the local Canadian Tire store in Burlington will be celebrating with a fun-filled day of activities for the community.
 An impressive growth rate – raising funds for kids who can’t afford sports equipment. Jumpstart takes place at Canadian Tire this Saturday. Jumpstart Day is an annual fundraising celebration to help kids from financially disadvantaged families across Canada, participate in organized sport and physical activity. Jumpstart Day kicks off Jumpstart month in June, and last year, more than $1 million was raised in Canadian Tire stores from coast-to- coast across Jumpstart Day and Jumpstart month.
Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped more than 1 million kids across Canada, including 4,500 in Burlington alone. Last year, more than $100,000 was disbursed to help 1,050 kids in Burlington get involved in their favourite sports and physical activities.
The all-day event will feature fun games for kids and a BBQ from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
 By Staff
May 25, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
What did you do on the holiday weekend?
Some people took in the pier.
How many? Not as many as one might have expected – but see for yourself.
There is an eye in the sky –
 By Staff
May 25, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Symphony on the Bay: The Orchestra for Kids.
May 28 11:00 AM
Admission is $10 + HST for children (one free chaperone per child).
This program was sold out last year so buy your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
 All this – for $10
 By Staff
May 22, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The position on the score board is looking quite a bit better.
The Burlington Bandits scored four runs in the ninth to break open their game against Hamilton and win 10-5.
Julian Johnson had three of the Bandits’ 15 hits. Justin Gideon, Shawn Mayhew, Kevin Hussey, Carlos Villoria and Nolan Pettipiece all had two hits. Pettipiece added two RBI, Villoria and Mayhew each drove in a run, and Gideon scored three runs.
Christian Huack (1-0) picked up the win with three innings of relief. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, walking three and striking out five.
 Finally – a win on the scoreboard. Starter Ryan Beckett went five innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out five and walked two.
For Hamilton, Chris Beer had two hits, two RBI and two runs. Kyle Adoranti drove in a pair of runs, Darek Bishop had an RBI, and Marcus Dicenzo had two hits and two runs.
Benson Merritt (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs (none earned) on four hits in five innings of relief, walking two and striking out two.
Tim Black started, going three innings and giving up five runs on eight hits, striking out one and walking one.
Burlington improved to 1-3, and Hamilton fell to 0-5.
Toronto Maple Leafs won 8-6 over the Brantford Red Sox Sunday afternoon.
Toronto improved to 3-1 and Brantford fell to 2-1.
The Kitchener Panthers kicked off their home schedule with 21 runs and 27 hits in a 21-1 rout of the Guelph Royals Sunday afternoon.
Kitchener improved to 4-0, while Guelph dropped to 1-3.
The London Majors and Barrie Baycats split a doubleheader Sunday afternoon in Barrie.
Baycats took the first game 3-2
In Game 2, London starter Elis Jimenez (1-0) threw a seven-inning four-hit shutout as the Majors won 4-0. Jimenez struck out three and walked four.
London is 3-1 and Barrie 2-2.
Upcoming games:
Monday, May 23
Kitchener at Guelph, 1 p.m.
By Staff
May 20th , 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Teresa Seaton has invited her friends to see Tamara Kwapich’s ” Feathers Fur and Fables” Exhibiton on Sun June 5th form 1pm – 4pm.
She will tell you it is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
 Michele VanMaurik’s peonies We will take her word for it – what we can tell you with much certainty is that you want to get to the gallery before May 29th –which is when the Michele VanMaurik exhibiton comes to an end.
If you haven’t had a chance to see her flowers you are really missing something.
Kwapich’s was one of the artists chosen for the mural project – she did the apple scene for the Orchard community.
 Tamara Kwapich – self portrait Her self portrait is an interesting piece of work.
 By Staff
May 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This is nice news – the arrival of some warmer weather means the opening of the city’s splash pads on Saturday, May 21 followed by pools beginning June 18.
 The Nelson pool – which won’t be open this year. “Splash pads and pools provide a fun way to spend a summer day,” said Chris Glenn, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “As the warmer temperatures return, the city’s nine splash pads and six pools will provide families with a quick and easy way to cool off all summer long and to stay active together.”
A complete list of splash pads can be found at www.burlington.ca/swimming.
Pool Openings
The summer swimming season opening dates include:
June 18
• Mountainside Recreation Centre – Outdoor Pool and Splash Park
• LaSalle Outdoor Wading Pool and Splash Pad
June 30
• Angela Coughlan Pool
• Burlington Centennial Pool
• Tansley Woods Community Centre
July 4
• Aldershot Pool
 Michelle Benoit – getting in some pool time last year.  The outdoor pool and splash pad at Nelson Park will be closed this summer for construction. All swimming programs have been accommodated at other city facilities. For updates about the replacement of the outdoor pool at Nelson Park, please visit www.burlington.ca/nelson.
If you have questions contact staff at swimming@burlington.ca.
By Staff
May 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This does not look good for the Burlington Bandits – two games played; two games lost and two games rained out.
 The Brantford Red Sox plastered the Bandits 6-0 Thursday night.
Brantford used five pitchers to scatter five hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. Matt Martinow pitched the first three innings, giving up one hit while walking a pair and striking out three.
Tanner Guindon (1-0) picked up the win, striking out three without walking a batter over two innings. He allowed one hit.
Brantford improves to 1-0, while Burlington drops to 0-2.
Upcoming games:
Friday, May 20
Hamilton at London, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, May 21
Kitchener at Burlington, 1 p.m.
Toronto at Guelph, 1 p.m.
Hamilton at Brantford, 2 p.m.
By Pepper Parr
May 19th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Introducing new technology into a retail operation with a very strong brand has to be managed very very carefully. There can be no glitches.
McDonalds took a bold step and put in large screens at which people could place their food orders – the device covers all the bases and accommodates just about every need you can imagine.
 Some people prefer the smile that comes with the service from a person behind the counter. But at some locations – the devices don’t get used. “There are people who would rather talk to the person behind the counter” explained Ryan Sgro who has the ability to hold a conversation and at the same time constantly scan the service counters.
“Each McDonalds has its own environment – some get more traffic at the drive through – others have line ups that lead out the door” added Sgro.
The McDonalds on Plains Road and King Road intersection in Aldershot is one of those place people drop into – quite often a group of people getting together to have a cup of coffee. The windows on the western side draw those who want to read a newspaper in the sunshine.
For those who decide to use the screens – they are actually fun.
You sort of talk to the screen by just touching it.
 Eating in or taking it home?  I wanted an Angus burger and the options available to me were right in front of me – all I had to do was touch the screen.  I could tune up the taste as well – give it a little zip.  The result of the Angus Burger I created can be seen by the smile on my face. My friend was just as pleased with her salad The Sgro family operate six franchises in Burlington and one in Waterdown. Ralph, who started out with the McDonalds corporation a long time ago as an employee where he once worked at the Guelph Line location, drops by and remind son Ryan of a task and then nods to a customer who has been coming to the Plains Road location for years.
There are a lot of young people in Burlington who got their first job at McDonalds, said Ralph. “I’m pretty certain that we trained a lot of the people who now work at Canadian Tire because when I go in there to make a purchase I see a lot of my former staff working there” he added.
Ralph talks about the value of community for his locations. “There was once a serious fire at Walkers Line and Upper Middle Road – we made up meals for the firemen (and women) who had to battle that blaze – we ended up feeding some of the people who had to flee their homes.” Ralph explains: “We had a kitchen and food – they were hungry – we fed them.”
Ryan comments on the view some people have that the technology is taking jobs away from people.
“Nothing could be further from the truth” explains Ryan. The technology allows us to handle food orders faster which means more volume which means needing more people in the kitchen.”
Also, people can take their time in front of the screen and they usually aren’t holding anyone up – there are two of the large screens in each location. Once you get the hang of the things they are pretty easy to handle.
 The burger I created was so good – they named it after me. But the Sgro family nixed that idea – they did let me have the picture. McDonalds calls the technology – “Create your taste”.
It worked for me.
 By Staff
May 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington public art program is inviting professional artists and artist teams to submit expressions of interest for an Artist-in-Residence program.
Working with the city’s Arts and Culture staff, the selected artist(s) will conduct a 6-month residency to research the existence of ‘cultural nodes’ in Burlington.
In addition to attending planning meetings and consulting with key stakeholders, the selected artist will create temporary public art interventions to engage and interact with the community.
This is a non-live-in residency however the selected artist is expected to visit Burlington frequently and must live within easy travel distance.
The city’s public art program, funded for the most part from Planning Act Section 37 funds (these are monies developers give the city for additional height and density among other things). The city puts $50,000 of its own money into the public art plan.
The opportunity is made up of a $10,800 artist fee and up to $10,000 materials
 Early in the creation of the Cultural Action Plan people were asked to indicate where they saw culture taking place in th city. The next step is to build on the knowledge gathered. The city has a Cultural Action Plan as well as a Culture manager and of course there is the robust arts collective that leans on city council every opportunity it gets.
Burlington hired Hamilton resident Jeremy Freiburger to craft the Cultural Action Plan. The work leading up to that document included asking people to map out where they “do” culture and how they define culture. Links below on those new stories as well.
The focus appears to be looking for ways to better define cultural nods. We are not sure that research actually makes that kind of thing happen – when people find a place they want to be they gather at that place and it just becomes a node. The approach this call is using sounds and feels a little like “social engineering” – and we know where that kind of effort gets us.
The project goals include:
The integration of an artist’s perspective into planning cultural nodes
Create opportunities for street-level cultural engagement through unique public engagement activities and temporary public art installations
Make recommendations on ways to link identified cultural nodes
Make recommendations on future permanent public art installation(s) related to cultural nodes
The deadline for this opportunity is Monday, June 20, 4:00 p.m. Artists wishing to learn more about this project are invited to an optional information session on Wednesday, June 1 (7:00 to 8:00 p.m.). The presentation will be followed by an open Q&A session with the public art manager.
 From the left – three people heavily involved in the cultural community: Deb Tymstra, Teresa Seaton and Donna Grandin. Artists interested in learning more about this project are invited to an optional information session at the Halton Hive, 901 Guelph Line, Burlington. Loads of parking. The Hive is just south of Harvester Road . A brief presentation will be followed by an open Q&A with the public art manager.
Those wishing to attend must RSVP by Monday May 30th at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-in-residence-information-session-tickets-25377297179?aff=mcivte
For more information contact:
Kim Selman, the Public Art Manager over at Cobalt Connexts is the lead on this. You can reach her at
kim@cobaltconnects.ca or at 905-548-0111
 By Staff
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Tansley Woods pool is closed for the remainder of the day due to an unforseen maintenance issue. The pool is expected to reopen at 6:00 a.m. on Friday May 20, 2016
The following programs are cancelled:
• Combo Lap Swim 10:30am-noon
• Lap Swim Noon – 1:30 p.m.
• Water Running 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Swimming lessons 5 to 8:30 p.m. Information on make up options will be distributed at next week’s lesson.
• Aqua Boot Camp at 7:35 p.m.
• Leisure Swim 7:30-9:00 p.m.
• Swim Training 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The Aldershot pool closing announcement used the same wording – they were close for several days.
They rarely say what they mean by an unforeseen maintenance issue.
By Staff and Pat Shields
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Bandits (0-1) will have their fingers crossed for clear skies when the Brantford Red Sox (0-0) come to town on Thursday night.
The Bandits have played only one game in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) regular season thus far, thanks to inclement weather on the weekend. The Red Sox are in a similar position as both of their opening games last weekend were postponed.
Although the Bandits showed signs of rust in their home opener against the London Majors (1-0), simply getting back on the field and seeing live pitching should help their cause significantly.
 Bandits would like to get out of the dugout and onto the field – 0-1 so far this year. Burlington will have their hands full with the perennial powerhouse Red Sox, who have won 15 IBL championships since joining the league in 1934.
Brantford finished 3rd in the IBL last season with a solid 22-13 record. Their playoff run ended early though, as they fell in Game 5 of their first round matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bandits fared well against the Red Sox last year posting a 2-3 record in five closely matched meetings, including taking the final two contests.
To notch their first win of the 2016 season, the Bandits will need to get to Brantford pitcher Nathan Forer. The 4-year veteran finished 2nd in the IBL last season with a 2.51 ERA, to go alongside a 6-2 record.
Burlington and Brantford will begin play at 7:30pm at Nelson Park on Thursday. The Bandits will be back in action on Saturday, May 21 when they clash with the league-leading Kitchener Panthers (2-0).
Elsewhere in the league:
The Barrie Baycats and the Toronto Maple Leafs game saw the Baycats record an 8-5 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night.
Barrie and Toronto are both 1-1.
Upcoming games:
Thursday, May 19
Brantford at Burlington, 7: 30 p.m.
Friday, May 20
Hamilton at London, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, May 21
Kitchener at Burlington, 1 p.m.
Toronto at Guelph, 1 p.m.
Hamilton at Brantford, 2 p.m.
 By Pepper Parr
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Have you herd of the Eddies?
The 15th annual Eddies Gala Awards evening – a popular festival celebrating student filmmaking – will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
The theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the awards celebration begins at 7 p.m., followed by screenings of this year’s winners. This event is open to the public, no tickets are required and admission is free.
 A clip from an Eddie winning entry. The Eddies, the Halton Student Film Festival, celebrates student success in filmmaking by recognizing technical and creative achievements and is open to all elementary and secondary students. Previous Eddies award winners have gone on to achieve success in the film and television industry, with some capturing prestigious awards for their work.
This year the event is highlighted by an impressive list of professionals who will judge the submissions. They include:
• Mandy Holyoke – Production Coordinator for Little Charmers, a popular Nickelodeon animated series.
• Kyla Springall – Assistant Production Manager at Cineflix, has been Production Coordinator on Property Virgins for 84 episodes and is now coordinating a Property Virgins spin-off series.
• Vaishni Majoomdar – experience includes casting on Good Witch, Reign and Schitt’s Creek.
• Omar Salama – Creative Director at Block 94.
• Jeff Bowman – retired Multimedia Administrator and co-founder of The Eddies.
• Ana Yavari – Editor on The Tudors, The Borgias and the Showtime series Penny Dreadful.
“Approximately 500 students participated this year from various subject areas making this a true display of how technology can be integrated in all academic and technical subjects,” says Dale Andrews, teacher at White Oaks Secondary School and co-organizer of The Eddies.
For a look at one of the entries that won last year CLICK here
By Pepper Parr
May 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The question was – what will she have to show us when the Performance Arts Centre reveal takes place? Will it compare favourably with the superb program Brian McCurdy delivered before he took leave of running the Centre?
And would there be room for the local talent – and not just shows that were travelling and could spend an evening in Burlington?
And is the lineup for 2026/2017 a good line up?
 Performing Arts Centre president Suzanne Haines chatting with a patron after the presentation. Suzanne Haines delivered.
It’s a more than decent line up – and if the VIP members who lined up to buy tickets are any indication – the year will keep city council happy, meaning that BPAC won’t be back asking for more money – they already get close to a million dollars as it is.
A VIP member is a patron who has purchased 4 or more shows in the previous season and the capital donors and supporters.
There are a couple of boffo stand outs to comment on. The Shanghai Acrobats from China are astounding – a cultural circus if you will.
 Two Performing Arts Centre patrons flipping through the program book. The Aga Boom – three clowns that will delight both parents and the children they bring with them. The pricing on this one is great $15 if you bought a series.
Series pricing is $5 off the regular price if you buy tickets to four or more events. If this show doesn’t sell out – turn the Performing Arts centre into a day care centre.
A lot more jazz than one might have expected – most of it top rank
A solid family program for the Christmas season.
Some greats – Les Grand Ballet out of Montreal, the Nylons Farewell tour, Piaff! The Show (expect this to be a stunner) The popular Gerry Dee and
There wasn’t as much local talent given an chance to grow on the stage. There are going to be what are commercially called Added Value events – which will be performers in the Family Room entertaining theatre goers before and after different shows. That’s a start.
Last summer the Performing Arts Centre put on free Jazz on the Plaza concerts that were a huge hit. They have expanded the program to include a Tuesday night live, a Friday Jazz on the Plaza and Sunday Family Fun.
The presentation of the 2016-17program however was weak – it lacked any pizzazz.
 Patrons lined up to get their tickets booked. Performing Arts Centre president Suzanne Haines stood on one side of the stage and Director of Programming Costin Manu stood on the other side and read from telepromters. One would speak and then the other – as they passed the job back and forth.
There was an opportunity for the two of them to ham it up a bit and become part of the entertainment. At one point Costin was dancing away in small circles on his side of the stage – while Suzanne tapped her toes on the other. They could have danced towards each other and made their presentation much livelier.
Costin Manu can be very funny – he should have been given a writer to provide him with a bit of a script. It is after all show business.
 Ilene Elkaim, chair of the Theatre Board listens to a patron The “reveal” as many people chose to call the event closed with a nice touch. Haines announced that Royal Wood would return to the stage on October 1st – the 5th anniversary of the opening of the venue.
The Gazette was there that evening, which was described as a soft opening. The house wasn’t packed but the attendance was more than acceptable.
As Wood was taking his final bow two of what I describe as the “blue rinse” set strode up the aisle muttering about the lousy performance. They proved to be completely wrong – the place works – now to keep the costs in line and the content current, popular and just a little edgy at times.
 Deb Tymstra who reports on culture for Cogeco took in the evening and chats up a friend. The real test is to see the box office numbers – sales Tuesday night won’t be known until next week – they don’t appear to have adding machine over there.
The Gazette will comment and report on the evening later in the week. It was a fun night, the finger food offering was plentiful – the wine offerings at the bar could do with some expansion. The program book patrons took away with them is a keeper – everything you want to know about the new season is within a well designed book.
 By Pepper Parr
May 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Friends of Freeman station have to be nominated next year for one of the Burlington’s Best awards. This is without a doubt one of the best community organizations in the city. They fought hard to overcome serious inertia on the part of city hall and city council to save the Freeman Station.
 Sitting on some “cribbing” with a sign badly in need of several coats of paint, the Freeman Station gets ready for its big move. The city at one point had a very significant federal government grant to move and refurbish the station but couldn’t agree on where it should be located.
At one point the city ran an advertisement asking if anyone wanted the thing – to the best of our knowledge no one responded.
The late Jane Irwin fought hard to find a way to keep the structure that was in very sad shape sitting on cribbings beside the fire station on Fairview.
A city engineer actually told a Standing Committee that it couldn’t be save. That didn’t deter a group of die-hards who were not prepared to let the station get reduced to kindling.
 They had every reason to be smiling. Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster pose with five members of the Friends of Freeman Station after the Council meeting that approved the entering into of a Joint Venture that would have the Friends moving the station and taking on the task of renovating the building. Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster who don’t agree on very much most of the time did come together and champion the Friends of Freeman Station. Now whenever there is a photo op the rest of council can’t line up fast enough to get their picture taken. Wait until the day the Station is officially opened – they will all be there with their best smiles painted on their faces.
But I digress – the Friends are going to be at Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way, on Wednesday, June 1st – 9:30 – 4:00 to tell anyone who wants to listen about the station.
“Nostalgia… and fun!
— will be the order of the day when the Friends of Freeman Station travelling model railway exhibit is displayed at the Tansley Woods Community Centre in conjunction with the City of Burlington’s Parks and Recreation Department kickoff of Seniors’ Month — Wednesday, June 1st from 9:30 AM to 4 PM.
Nostalgia… “I remember travelling by train from the Burlington Junction Station…” Young-at-heart Burlington seniors recall fondly their experiences, as we re-create the era of steam power. You’ll see a model steam locomotive and passenger train, arriving and departing from a model of the the Burlington Junction Station just as it happened in the early Twentieth century. A beautifully crafted 1/24 scale model of the Station will be part of the display.
Fun! “Look, Grandma! It’s Thomas the Tank Engine!” Bring your grandchildren to see a rare demonstration of Thomas and friends Percy, Annie, Clarabell, Troublesome Truck #1, and Troublesome Truck #2 running on our scale model railway.
 Bob Chambers points to a detail of the Freeman Station model he built in his kitchen in a short 41/2 months. The model will be on display at the Tansley Woods Community Centre. Tansley Woods Community Centre
We’ll be there… to share the amazing story of the relocation and restoration of Burlington’s 1906 Grand Trunk Railway Station, slated for completion in 2017. There, on the Lower Level, we’ll be constructing a historic model railway diorama depicting early Twentieth-century life in the hamlet of Freeman, now a part of Burlington.
This is one of the organizations that deserve whatever you can manage in the way of donations. Every dollar they get does into the refurbishing that are a a 100% volunteer organization –no one is paid – they rely entirely on private and corporate donations to fund the costs of restoring the Burlington Junction Station under an agreement with the City of Burlington.
They are superb at scrounging as well
By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There were few gifts in the weather this weekend.
Our Member of Parliament Karina Gould was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial pitch at a Burlington Bandits game – cancelled due to rain.
Hayley Marie Remple gave her Masters Class to flute players and then left town to begin her tour of western Canada. They are in for a treat.
 Monument marking the 3582nd kilometer of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Run that took place 35 years ago. The plaque noting that the historical Brant Inn used to be located a dozen yards or so to the south sits to the left of the monument.
There was an event that took place on a knoll on the north side of spencer smith Park where some history got cemented into place – not something Burlington has been all that good at doing.
A group of citizens thought it would be fitting for there to be a monument commemorating the day Terry Fox passed through Burlington on his Marathon of Hope 35 years ago.
The group that made this happen has chosen to be quiet – their concern was that the creation of the monument not take anything away from the annual Terry Fox run.
 The Brant Inn was located close to the edge of the lake – immediately south o the plaque – the Terry Fox monument sits on a bit of a knoll just west of the pond where small model motor boats will soon be scooting around. The monument is a very handsome structure.
It was originally going to be located closer to the intersection of |Lakeshore Road and Maple – some one came up with the idea of a more prominent location – right up beside the plaque that notes the existence of the Brant Inn – once a hot spot for American musicians who came to Burlington by train where they could play, sleep and eat in the same location.
 The plaque tells the story. It was the place to be in those days. Nothing like it in the city today. Pity The Brant Inn plaque is 15 to 20 yards from the site of the famous Inn. With the Fox monument steps away from the plaque – Burlington now has a spot where some significant history is commemorated. The Joseph Brant Museum is but a football field length to the west.
It will be interesting to see how the Tourism people feature the existence of the Fox monument in their literature and web site.
Make a point of getting out to see it – it is both handsome and significant.
Good things can happen in Burlington.
 By Staff
May 11, 2012
BURLINGTON, ON
 On Saturday, April 30, Halton Region hosted its 16th Annual Scout Tree Planting event at the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS) in Milton.
Hosted in partnership with Conservation Halton and local scouts from across Halton, over 150 scouts and volunteers participated in the event and planted 250 trees in celebration of Earth Day and Arbour Day.
“Protecting and enhancing the natural environment is a priority for Halton Region,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We are committed to working with our community partners to reduce our carbon footprint. Events like the Annual Scout Tree Planting contribute to the long-term sustainability of our community and give young Halton residents a chance to make a difference in Halton’s future.”
 From left to right: Halton Regional Chair, Gary Carr, Scout Deputy Area Commissioner, Bob Collison and Conservation Halton Board Chair, John Vice. Chair Carr was joined by Conservation Halton Board Chair, John Vice and General Manager Hassaan Basit. Town of Milton and Regional Councillor and Conservation Halton Chair, Colin Best, along with Scout Deputy Area Commissioner, Bob Collison, were also on hand to show their support. The short opening ceremony recognized Conservation Halton’s dedication to protecting and restoring the local environment and the hard work and community spirit demonstrated by Halton’s local Scouts. After planting the trees, participants enjoyed a celebratory barbeque lunch.
 From left to right: Halton Beavers – Cameron Reid, age 8 and Jacob Reid, age 6. “The Annual Scout Tree Planting is a great example of what Conservation Halton values, three organizations coming together in partnership to do good work which will benefit the community now and for years to come,” said Conservation Halton Chair John Vice. “We get particularly excited when young people get a hands-on outdoor experience like planting a tree. Thank you to the scouts and their parents for planting trees at the Halton Waste Management Site.”
 By Pepper Parr
May 11, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
We know where she sits in the House of Commons and we know she is there – as long as one subscribes to Tweets –
We know she speaks in the House of Commons because we can follow her speeches – but we are pressed to know what she is doing in the community because we seldom hear from her office
For the record – here is Liberal MP’s tweet traffic for the past few days along with comments she made on International trade.
 Karina Gould being congratulated by Mayor Goldring on the eve of he election win. Goldring had spent the evening in Conservative Mike Wallace’s campaign office until he had to go to the Gould victory party and congratulate her.  Karina Gould Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.
Canada’s economic growth as a trading nation is directly linked to international trade. The government strongly supports free trade as a way to open markets to Canadian goods and services, grow Canadian businesses, and create good-paying middle-class jobs.
The scope of the trans-Pacific partnership (TPP) is significant. To re-state the oft-quoted figures, the TPP encompasses 800 million people in 12 countries with a combined GDP of $28 trillion U.S., covering nearly 40% of the world’s economy. It is also an agreement that was negotiated by the previous government.
Our pledge to Canadians is to ensure they are fully consulted on the outcomes of the TPP. Our job is to carefully review the text and continue to consult with Canadians. The government wants to ensure that Canadians can have a good look at the TPP and that they can ask questions and express their views on whether the agreement is in the best interests of Canadians.”
Can’t wait to learn when Gould is going to meet with Burlington business people on just what the TPP trade agreement will mean to Canada and how it might impact local business people that deal in international trade.
Gould proved to be a very strong campaigner – she was unrelenting during the election and used more than a year to build inroads into the community and took the seat from Mike Wallace. Many said that Gould didn’t win because she was the better candidate – they attributed her win to the close to total collapse of the NDP vote.
It is clear now that the public bought into what Justin Trudeau was saying and that they had has enough of Stephen Harper. Gould had convinced enough people that she was worth more than a chance.
The task now for Gould is to consolidate the win and build strong relationships with the community. We’ve not seen all that much of her since the New Years levee.
She was seen at the photo op when the Art Gallery of Burlington took possession of a van for their Road Show initiatives.
Gould will be the focus for a Chamber of Commerce BBQ event in July where members can rub shoulders with MP who is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development.
By Pepper Parr
May 10th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The changing face of the city.
 This will become the face of the Joseph Brant hospital when it opens in 2017. The Joseph Brant Hospital is beginning to look real – the ground has been broken for the Bridgwater development on Lakeshore Road where trucks are in and out in a matter of minutes as the excavation work gets done.
 The five tower Paradigm on Fairview street is on time – units will be occupied in towers A, B and C 2018. The Paradigm project on Fairview next to the GO station is quickly rising. It won’t be much longer until the public can see the slabs being poured as they get to the 5th and 6th floor levels.
It will be a different city come 2018
The public can get a better sense of what the Bridgewater is going to look like as the caissons are put in place and the excavation work progresses – the foot print and the structures relationship to the street is becoming clearer.
For the sidewalk superintendent – here is how things are coming along:
 One can get s sense as to how the Bridgewater is going to relate to the street. The concrete barrier to the right is where the sidewalk will be – the pylons are where the edge of the building will rise out of the ground.  The eastern edge of the Bridgewater project – where the 22 storey condominium will be located – can be seen where the construction worker in the background is standing. Old Lakeshore Road is to the left.  Excavation involves a fleet of trucks taking earth out of the site.
By Pepper Parr
May 9, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
“I am still a stage 4 lung cancer patient” explains Casey Cosgrove, “but the trials I was on at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto have come to an end”
He now returns to the Juravinski hospital in Hamilton where his treatments will continue.
 A really special team – Casey Cosgrove and his supporters. That tattoo on his right leg has been there s long it has to be refreshed – the colours are fading. “I am not cured – but the cancer has been stopped and the cancer researchers now know a lot more about my cancer and the way it works in my body. The cancer was stopped but it is now growing, that’s why I have to start a new trial.”
“The immune drugs they have used sort of trick the cancer and send it in a different direction. It’s a little like a shell game that the drugs and the cancer play inside my body.”
Casey Cosgrove has been involved in a number of cancer treatment trial programs. Some have succeed in extending the life of a patient; in other situations the cancer has outsmarted the drug.
Casey is now sharing his story to raise awareness about lung cancer and new treatment options that offers the potential for a longer and higher quality of life.
 Community support at its most precious. That team is more like an army. Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer worldwide, claiming more lives every year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancer combined?
In 2015, it was estimated that 26,600 Canadians would be diagnosed with this disease. Despite these staggering statistics, advances in the treatment of lung cancer have progressed slowly.
Casey was diagnosed in 2010, – he lives his life day by day. He serves as a vice president of Lung Cancer Canada, is almost a feature in the annual Burlington Terry Fox run where his team – a large number of people who do the run to support Casey Cosgrove.
 It’s a tight family that live life to the fullest – every day. Dad and daughter His children understand the story of their Dad’s health but there is nothing morbid about the life the Cosgrove family lives. They have dogs – three of them. Casey teaches leadership at the University of Guelph, his wife Bryna works as a professor at Seneca College. Both sons plays excellent hockey; his daughter is currently doing some modelling. A normal family with network that is there for him every day of the year.
Casey can remember the day he saw Terry Fox on his run 35 years ago.
Sometime later Casey had a Terry Fox tattoo put on his lower right leg. That tattoo has been there so long explained Casey that I have to go in and get it refreshed – it has begun to fade.
Casey will tell you that there is hardly a kid in this city involved in sports that I haven’ at some time coached. Call him and he says yes to every request for help. But Casey is reluctant to take on any long term commitments – he has a hankering to get into public life – if he ran in his ward he would win by a very large margin. Being able to complete a long term task is an ongoing concern – so he works on smaller projects and enjoys life with his family.
 The monument will be unveiled Sunday forenoon. The day of our conversation at the end of the pier Casey mentioned he had had that end of life conversation with his oncologist; that was a number of years ago.
Some refer to Casey at the lung cancer poster boy. Casey will look you in the eye and tell you that he is a stage four lung cancer patient who has been treated for the past six years –and he leaves it at that.
Next Sunday afternoon he will be part of a group that unveils a monument – a marker of the spot that Terry Fox passed when he was doing his Marathon of Hope run 35 years ago.
By Staff
May 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
What started out as “unforeseen maintenance” issue has grown into a full blown electrical upgrade that is going to shutter the Aldershot Arena until the week of May 31 as the city replaces the electrical system on site following a transformer issue.
The power was shut off on April 22 in response to a problem with a transformer that supplies Aldershot Arena. The replacement of that hydro transformer means the city needed to upgrade its electrical service to meet Burlington Hydro’s current standard.
Parks and Recreation has temporarily moved its programs, including ball hockey, lacrosse and the No Socks for Ivan program, to other sites until the arena reopens.
“We are doing our best to make sure that all activities, including lacrosse, ball hockey and the No Socks for Ivan youth drop-in, have space in other arenas or buildings,” said Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation.
“We are informing people who need to know, and we want to thank everyone for their patience as we manage this temporary closure.”
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