Ciné-Starz Upper Canada Place,
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, January 29, 2016 through Thursday, February 04, 2016
The Forest (14A)
Fri – Sun: 9:40 PM
Mon – Thu: 3:15, 9:40
Concussion (14A)
Fri – Sun: 1:00, 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40
Joy (PG)
Fri – Sun: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20
Mon – Thu: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20, 9:40
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (G)
Fri – Sun: 1:00, 3:15
Mon – Thu: 12:50, 5:45
Sisters (14A)
Fri – Sun: 5:00, 7:15, 9:30
Mon – Thu: 3:00, 5:00, 7:30, 9:40
The Good Dinosaur (G)
Fri – Sun: 12:50, 2:50, 5:10
Mon – Thu: 5:10 PM
Spotlight (—)
Fri – Sun: 1:00, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 12:40, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
The Peanuts Movie (G)
Fri – Sun: 1:10, 3:20
Spectre ()
Fri – Sun: 7:00, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 12:45, 7:00
The Martian (PG)
Fri – Sun: 4:45, 7:10, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 12:45, 3:20, 7:10, 9:35
 By Pepper Parr
January 25th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is recognized as one of the most important dance productions ever mounted by Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the highly-acclaimed Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation.
It will be on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre for one show on February 4, 2016. Book tickets here.
 Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancers Sophie Lee and Liang Xing perform a Pas de Deux in Going Home Star “This is an amazing opportunity for our patrons to see this production,” said Suzanne Haines, Executive Director of The Burlington Performing Arts Centre, “we look forward to welcoming the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to Burlington.”
Described as “searing and sensitive,” this ” emotional classical ballet” was first envisioned by the late Cree elder-activist Mary Richard and RWB’s Artistic Director Andre Lewis. “We aim to boldly continue our mission to teach, create and perform outstanding dance with intent to entertain, inspire and move audiences and present works that resonate beyond the walls of the ballet,” adds Lewis.
Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation was created with the guidance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and members of the Aboriginal community. Through stunning storytelling and captivating dance, this deeply moving ballet explores the powerful stories, both told and untold, of survivors of the Indian residential school system. The ballet explores the world of Annie, a young, urban First Nations woman adrift in a contemporary life of youthful excess. Annie feels strangely disconnected within her superficial loop. But when she meets Gordon, a long-haired trickster disguised as a homeless man, she’s propelled into a world she’s always sensed but never seen.
 Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancers Sophie Lee in Going Home Star Together, Annie and Gordon travel the streets of this world as well as the roads of their ancestors, learning that without truth, there is no reconciliation.
Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation is a representation of the many stories, both told and untold, by Indian Residential School Survivors and their families. The creative team that brought this story to life includes renowned choreographer Mark Godden, Canadian novelist and TRC Honorary Witness Joseph Boyden, Cree actress, former Member of Parliament, and TRC Honorary Witness Tina Keeper, Canadian multimedia artist KC Adams, accomplished costume designer Paul Daigle, and Juno Award-winning composer Christos Hatzis with Polaris Prize-winning Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq and Steve Wood and the Northern Cree Singers.
“Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation may be the most important work mounted by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in its illustrious 75-year history,” boasts Robert Enright, of CBC News.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was established in 2008 to tell Canadians about the history of Indian Residential Schools and the impacts it has had on Aboriginal children who were sent to the school by the Canadian government and to guide a process of reconciliation between and within Aboriginal families, communities, churches, governments and Canadians.
The TRC has a five-year mandate under the direction of the Chair, The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair and Commissioners Chief Wilton Littlechild and Dr Marie Wilson.
The creation of the Residential Schools is one of the blackest marks on Canadian history. It is something for which we are all responsible -and it is up to all of us to repair as best we can the damage we did and make way for the aboriginal First Nation’s people to become what they have always been meant to be.
 It happened – we did this to these people – a process of Truth and Reconciliation can heal some of the wounds and repair some of the damage. Going Home Star was commissioned by Artistic Director André Lewis; the production explores the world of Annie, a young, urban First Nations woman adrift in a contemporary life of youthful excess. But when she meets Gordon, a longhaired trickster disguised as a homeless man, she’s propelled into a world she’s always sensed but never seen. Not only do they travel the streets of this place but also the roads of their ancestors, learning to accept the other’s burdens as the two walk through the past and toward the future.
Together, both Annie and Gordon learn that without truth, there is no reconciliation. Based on a story by award winning Canadian author, Joseph Boyden. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is one of the world’s premier dance companies, founded in 1939.
Prior to all Dance Series performances join us in the lobby for pre-show chats by
Gary Smith, Hamilton Spectator – Ballet Review – Dance International.
Post-show talk backs will also take place, with various Artistic Directors and/or Company Members.
Ticket prices:
Regular Price: $59 + $2.50 Fee and HST (You Pay $69.50)
Senior Price: $47.20 + $2.50 Fee and HST (You Pay $56.17)
Youth/Child Price: $25 + $2.50 Fee and HST (You Pay $31.08)
Series Price: $53.10 + $2.50 Fee and HST (You Pay $62.83)
By Pepper Parr
January 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A funeral at a Performing Arts Centre? Well first it wasn’t a funeral – it was a celebration of the life of Thomas Sutherland – everyone in the theatre knew him as Tom.
It wasn’t a sold out event but it was better than many of the events for which tickets are sold.
A good 450+ were in their seats to listen to people who loved Tom dearly and wanted to talk about him before his passing in a very sudden death that no one was ready for begins to be forgotten.
His children Kirsten, Derrick and Matthew were there as were his grandchildren: Noel, Gavin, Oland and Jamie.
Walter Mulkewich asked the audience to “grieve the loss of a good man”.
 The arts were a big part of Tom’s life – he was an active supporter of the Performing Arts Centre and what was the Burlington Cultural Centre when he first got involved. I didn’t know Tom all that well – we would cross paths – we were both big L liberals and believed in the cause.
I last saw Tom at the Liberal Christmas Party at the Polish Hall. He was his usual loquacious self. I sort of knew he sang but wasn’t fully aware of the roll music played in his life.
That evening he sang and had MPP Eleanor McMahon joining her voice with his. I thought at the time – we are going to hear more of these two. McMahon likes to ham it up and, if one was to believe all that was said at the celebration of Tom’s life this afternoon – Tom was a born arm twister, could sell ice cubes to Eskimos and encyclopedia’s to people who didn’t know they really needed a set of the books until Tom got in front of them.
He sold the Spectator on the corner of King and James in Hamilton when he was a couple of sizes above a sprout – and as his sister told that story you could almost hear him calling out: Extra, Extra – real all about it in the Spectator. There was a time when that was the way newspapers were sold.
Tom did it all –and he did it his way. He loved to take the Frank Sinatra songs and sing his heart out. During the video that was played on Tom with all kinds of pictures there was his voice. I found myself asking if that was Tom or Frank himself.
 Was he singing or was he giving a speech? For Tom Sutherland they were one in the same – he did prefer the singing. The remarks made by the several people who spoke were more political than I expected and were, I suspect, a significant change for Burlington. The Liberals have only held the two seats for just over a year.
Tom ran federally again Bill Kempling in 1978 and again in 1980; he was the kind of guy who couldn’t pass up on an election campaign. Both MPP McMahon and MP Gould spoke entertainingly about their door to door experiences with the man.
One of the highlights of Tom’s personal political career was the occasion he got to introduce then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
He was clearly loved and treasured – he was a one of 11 children – with five of his brothers passing before him.
His sister Loretta spoke of the occasions when the family would be at the pier on the Beach in Burlington – no not the one we paid $14 million for – one of the wooden structures that were a part of the city we have forgotten about. But the Sutherland family hasn’t forgotten those days.
For a family of 11 – it was as if they were a small tribe – they cared for each other; the love was the glue that kept them all together; it was so evident in the pictures that were shown on the screen at the Performing Arts Centre on a Friday afternoon when several hundred people paused in their busy day to Thomas Sutherland.
 Minor transit delays Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 during Robbie Burns Road Race
Minor delays can be expected this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 on routes 2, 3, 21 and 25 from approximately 9 to 11 a.m. in downtown Burlington during the Robbie Burns Road Race.
 By Pepper Parr
January 19TH, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There isn’t going to be a Lowville Winter Fair this year.
City hall has moved the funds that were used in the past today for the event and put them into the Love My Hood project which is a program that allows any neighbourhood to approach the Parks and recreation department with an idea and ideally get the support they need.
 If there is going to be any marshmallows and hot chocolate it will be at a local rink event. Not in Lowville.  You can still toboggan at Lowville – but there will not be an organized Winter Fair this year. Parks and Recreations has come to realize that most communities know what they want and don’t have to be spoon fed.
Love My Hood is a pilot project to build a healthier Burlington by engaging and empowering residents to come together and provide events celebrating their Burlington neighbourhoods.
 Love My Hood helps residents bring events to all neighbourhoods throughout the city by supporting and encouraging Burlington residents to hold their own neighbourhood gatherings, activities or projects where neighbours can get to know each other. Love My Hood provides resources, support, guidance and eliminates some common barriers in event hosting.
There were 13 love My Hood events in 2015 – Parks and Recreation wasn’t prepared to say how many they hoped for in 2016 but they are aiming for 150 of them in 2017 – why 150? 2017 is Canada’s 150th anniversary of Canada.
Want to know more about creating an event for your neighbourhood? Contact Burlington Festivals and Events Office. LoveMyHood@burlington.ca
As for winter activities – the city now has 18 local skating rinks and they felt that Love My Hood programs could be developed around the rinks.
Lowville doesn’t have a local rink – thus – no Lowville Winter Fair. There was some talk about the Lowville community putting on an event – if they do it will be more local and not something that hundrds of people trooped up to Lowville to take part in.
Is this an opportunity lost? It will be interesting to hear what ward 3 Councillor John Taylor has to say on this.
Stay tuned for some comment from him.
In the meantime – if you want to do something for your community – fill in an application form at:
There is all kinds of information on this new approach the city has taken to empowering neighbourhoods and letting each community design programs it wants. Log into for more details.
 By Staff
January 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board is adding an Professional Activity Day to the school calendar – Friday, April 8, 2016 is the day you will have to find something else for the kids to do.
 The additional day is part of the negotiated terms bargained between the Ministry of Education and the federations representing Ontario teachers.
Schools will be closed to students and there will be no classes on Friday, April 8, 2016. This date has been added to the School Year Calendar posted on the Board’s website.
The Easter holiday is at the end of March.
 By Staff
January 13th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette has written about the 100 Women Who Care Burlington. It is a simple concept whose impact is very powerful.
The goal is to raise $40,000 (or more) annually for local registered charities or their charitable programs that help Burlington residents live their lives to the fullest. This is done by gathering 100 women (or more) who commit to donating $100 (or more), four times per year. At each of their one hour meetings, nominations for charities and/or their programs are submitted by members for consideration of the group.
To expedite the process, of the nominations submitted, three are selected at random and of those, the nominators have an opportunity to pitch their cause to the members, after which a vote is taken, ballots counted and cheques written to the organization that receives the most votes.
 The group is part of a grassroots movement that’s spreading rapidly across the globe. Men’s groups have also been formed (one is in the works for Burlington) and in some communities, the kids have been inspired to follow suit (with $10 donations).
Since their inaugural meeting in 2014, they have collectively donated in excess of $40,000 to:
– Burlington Humane Society
– Halton Women’s Place
– Home Suite Hope
– Food4Kids
– Carpenter Hospice
– Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton
– Community Living Burlington
– Friday Night Community (Wellington United Church)
 More information about the group can be found at www.100womenwhocareburlington.com. Their facebook page is www.facebook.com/100WomenBurlington
Meeting dates for 2016 are January 19, May 31, September 13 and November 29. All meetings this year will be held at Emma’s Back Porch at 2084 Old Lakeshore Rd.
Craig Kowalchuk and the team at Emmas Back Porch has a long history of giving back to the community and 100 Women Who Care Burlington are appreciative of their support in hosting our quarterly meetings this year.
Dermetics, a Burlington based business is sponsoring 10 of their staff as members. It’s been a fabulous way for their business to give back to the community, while involving their team as they contribute to the decisions on where the funds will be directed. Dermetics has also provided numerous door prizes and incentives to grow our membership.
Ciné-Starz Upper Canada Place,
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, January 15, 2016 through Thursday, January 21, 2016
Point Break (14A)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:10, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:10, 7:35, 9:40
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 7:40, 9:50
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:30, 5:10, 7:40, 9:40
In the Heart of the Sea (PG)
Fri – Sun: 7:25 PM
Mon – Thu: 2:50, 7:25
Creed (14A)
Fri – Sun: 5:05 PM
Mon – Thu: 5:10 PM
The Good Dinosaur (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:00, 3:15, 5:20
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:15
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (PG)
Fri – Thu: 5:10, 9:30
Spotlight (—)
Fri – Sun: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
The Peanuts Movie (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:15 AM, 12:45, 3:15
Spectre ()
Fri – Sun: 12:15, 2:30, 7:00, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 2:30, 7:00, 9:40
The Martian (PG)
Fri – Sun: 5:00, 7:25, 9:35
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:30
Snowtime! (La Guerre des Tuques) (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:20 AM
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 5:15
 By Pepper Parr
January 11th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Transparency and accountability are words that flow out of city hall – every organization uses the words – it is often difficult to see any meat on those bones.
There are also a number of organizations that get funding from various sources; grants and donations seem to be the biggest sources.
 John Mello with one of the Whinstone stones that are a part of the history of the station – there is a work day coming up when the things have to be moved. The Friends of Freeman station have produced a report that sets out what they brought in in terms of funds and how they spent them.
This level of transparency and accountability is a model for all the non-profits in the city – the public has a right to know what you are doing with the funds that you get.
For Friends of Freeman – here is their story.
Consolidated Financials: To date we have raised about $260,000 which represents about 50% of the estimated cost to restore the station and make it a viable asset to our community.
The following is summary of our budget expenditures to date:
Construction materials, including lumber, paint, hardware, tools….. 11%
Preparing building prior to move and the move…. 25%
New Roof ….4%
Hydro Installation……3%
Removal of Hazardous materials….4%
Grading Excavation and back fill …23%
Basement (foundation)….17%
Publicity and public relations, including Web site, email services, postage, bank charges, permits, insurance etc…..3%
Storage rental…..2%
Acquisition of artifacts…..8%
 John Aasgaard with some of the pictures that are in the Freeman Station collection.  Grill being fitted into the wicket of the Station Master’s office. Our organization is 100% unpaid volunteers.
Things slow down a little in the winter – but donations and volunteers are always accepted – the xxx stones are going to get moved soon – strong backs needed for that task.
Set out below are the chores that are waiting to get done along with some meetings. when the Missus wants you out of the house the Station is a pretty good place to scoot over to.
January 13th – 7 PM – FOFS Board meeting – City Hall – all members welcome
(We meet the second Wednesday of each month same place and time)
January 16th – 12 Noon – BDRC team meeting
– the Burlington Diorama Railway Club regular planning meeting
— Frank Rose room, Burlington Public Library
January 23rd – 9 AM – Whinstone moving day –
for this volunteer work day, strong hands needed, gloves,
steel-toed boots if you have them
January 30th-10 am-4 pm Train Show St Johns Church Hwy 5 Burlington
January 31st-10 am-3.30 pm Marritt Hall 630 Trinity Rd S, Jerseyville, ON
February6th Heritage Day Burlington Central Library 10 am-2 pm
By Pepper Parr
January 11th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was fine event – came off without a hitch and was different enough for people to perhaps return to next year.
It was the New Year’s Levee sponsored by the MP and the MPP for Burlington and they basically ate the Mayor’s lunch.
 It was a very respectable crowd – the public clearly wanted to take part in a New Year’s Levee. In Ontario the Levee has traditionally been a civic event. While MP Gould and MPP McMahon were doing their thing Oakville mayor Rob Burton was holding his levee. Burlington gave up on levees sometime ago.
No one knows where Mayor Goldring was – we didn’t see him.
 Levee participants were given the run of the Art Gallery and an opportunity to see how the politicians handled some of the equipment. MPP Eleanor McMahon tried her hand at one of the looms – she seemed surprised that she was able to make something. Gould and McMahon found a way to make the event more than just a bunch of speeches – they used the Art Gallery of Burlington as a backdrop and had tour guides to tell people what was done in the various Guild’s that were open. It worked very well and gave the Art Gallery of Burlington more visitors than they get normally. One of those win – win situations.
 MP Karina Gould enjoying a moment with two new Canadians at the New Year’s Day Levee held on Sunday. And they found a few ways to include the ethnic communities by handing out the very attractive folder that new Canadians are given with their Citizenship certificates There were 109 of those certificates to be handed out – they didn’t all show up – but many of them did and they were made to feel very welcome.
 Citizenship certificates for new Canadians – there were 109 of them on hand. It was a family event – there were art rooms for the kids to draw and paint.
There were several food tables set up- strawberries dipped in chocolate, nibblies and coffee, tea and juices.
There was no receiving line – and the two woman chose to be very casual. One of the Deputy Police chief’s was on hand – not in uniform.
It was casual, easy going and an opportunity to network like crazy.
 Oakville North Burlington MP Pam Damoff is shown how wool is prepared for a spinning wheel. Pam Damoff, the MP for Oakville North Burlington wasn’t front and center – she got tied down at the Oakville Levee (held by the Mayor over there) – happens when your constituency bridges the two municipalities.
There are in Burlington those old timers who remember the days when the New Year’s Levee took place at city hall. One such city stalwart got into his car with his wife and drove to the Art Gallery New Year’s Day at the appointed hour – found the parking lot empty and is reported to have said to his wife – what if you had a party and nobody came.
Yesterday they did come – thanks to MP Karina Gould and MPP Eleanor McMahon for holding the event. Jazz it up and bit and keep it fresh.
By Pepper Parr
January 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Getting traction with almost anything is usually a challenge.
For those who are introducing a new product or an idea it is never easy – for those in the arts it can be close to pure hell.
 What if no one comes? In Burlington it is seldom no one coming but the audiences are often very small – close to pathetic.
FORM one of the most cutting edge dance groups in this province had a very small audience when they performed.
Ralph & Lina was one of the funniest small plays put on at the Performing Arts Centre – 17 seats sold. The play wasn’t one of those avant guarde things that are hard to understand; it was funny, ribald and real. It stayed in ton for a number of days and the audience did improve but it was never near sold out.
Trevor Copp, who doesn’t fully understand what stage fright is – he is confident with his art form and consistently pushes the edges – is getting a little queasy about his upcoming “Air” production which opens in 2 weeks. “Can I ask something?”
“Please buy a ticket in advance. I get the last minute thing. But it’s killing me out here. I don’t know if people are coming – and shows may get cancelled if they don’t. So if you want to come – and it will be amazing, I devote my life to this.”
Click will get you to the box office:
 Oooops!
It happens.
Mistakes get made.
Some of the dates for the public meetings on the Strategic Plan were changed – and we missed updating our data base.
Earlier today we published a list of dates that were incorrect.
Sorry – the correct dates are set out below.
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016
Robert Bateman High School
5151 New St.
Cafeteria
7 – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016
Burlington Senior Centre
2285 New St.
Multi-purpose Room
7 – 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016
LaSalle Park Pavilion
50 North Shore Blvd. E.
Main Hall (upper level)
7 – 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016
Mountainside Recreation Centre
2205 Mount Forest Dr.
Community Room 2
7 – 9 p.m.
By Staff
January 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The word levée a social event that now takes place on New Year’s Day goes back to this country’s colonial times.
The Lieutenant Governor’s |levee still takes place at Queen’s Park and a number of armed forces regiments hold the event.
Close to a hundred different Ontario municipalities in Ontario hold a levee but Burlington apparently has never held a levée.
The times they are a changing. On Sunday, January 10th, Burlington’s MPP Eleanor McMahon and Member of Parliament Karina Gould will officiate at a levee to be held at the Art Gallery of Burlington from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
 McMahon and Gould at the 2015 Remembrance Day ceremony. No word yet on how the two women are going to style the vent. Will they have a receiving line, will they both wear long gowns?
Will McMahon sing – she has a pretty good voice.
Will there be a military presence?
Will members of the various youth military groups be on hand?
Will there be a piper?
Gould and McMahon have an opportunity to create an event that can be colourful, historical and not the usual “borington” event.
The two woman took part in the Remembrance Day event as a team bringing a quiet dignity to the role they each played.
“In the 18th century the levée in Great Britain and Ireland became a formal court reception given by the sovereign or his/her representative in the forenoon or early afternoon. In the New World colonies the levée was held by the governor acting on behalf of the monarch. Only men were received at these events.
It was in Canada that the levée became associated with New Year’s Day. The fur traders had the tradition of paying their respects to the master of the fort (their government representative) on New Year’s Day. This custom was adopted by the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors for their levées.
 MP Karina Gould The first recorded levée in Canada was held on January 1, 1646, in the Chateau St. Louis by Charles Huault de Montmagny, Governor of New France from 1636 to 1648. In addition to wishing a happy new year to the citizens the governor informed guests of significant events in France as well as the state of affairs within the colony. In turn, the settlers were expected to renew their pledges of allegiance to the Crown.
The levée tradition was continued by British colonial governors in Canada and subsequently by both the governor general and lieutenant governors. It continues to the present day.
As mentioned, the levée was historically a male preserve but during World War II levées were attended by female officers of the armed forces. Since then levées have been open to both women and men.
Over the years the levée has become almost solely a Canadian observance.
 MPP Eleanor McMahon Today the levée has evolved from the earlier, more boisterous party into a more sedate and informal one. It is an occasion to call upon representatives of the monarch, military and municipal governments and to exchange New Year’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year, to renew old acquaintances and to meet new friends. It is also an opportunity to reflect upon the events of the past year and to welcome the opportunities of the New Year.
It will be interesting to see how Gould and McMahon fashion this event – there is an opportunity to make it colourful with a historical tweek to it.
Keep the speeches short and ensure that the Tory’s are made to feel fully welcome – this isn’t to become a Liberal event.
Upper Canada Place,
Burlington, ON
Week of Friday, January 08, 2016 through Thursday, January 14, 2016
In the Heart of the Sea (PG)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:00, 7:35, 9:30
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 9:15
Creed (14A)
Fri – Sun: 3:05, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 3:45, 9:10
The Good Dinosaur (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:10 AM, 1:15, 3:10, 5:25, 7:25
Mon – Thu: 3:15, 5:25, 7:25
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (PG)
Fri – Sun: 1:15, 3:00, 5:00, 7:15, 9:45
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:15, 9:35
Spotlight (—)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:00, 3:45, 7:20, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 5:05, 7:20, 9:35
The Peanuts Movie (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:30 AM, 1:15, 3:15, 5:15
Mon – Thu: 1:15, 3:15, 6:00
Spectre ()
Fri – Sun: 2:40, 5:00, 7:00, 9:20
Mon – Thu: 1:05, 3:25, 6:30, 9:15
Suffragette (PG)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 5:25
Mon – Thu: 7:40 PM
The Martian (PG)
Fri – Sun: 7:00, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 1:10, 3:45, 6:45, 9:40
Hotel Transylvania 2 (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:15 AM, 1:00
By Trevor Copp
December 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Trevor Copp is the dancer who brazenly told city council in 2012 that there really was a cultural community in Burlington and Council needed to wake up and pay attention. That fresh start resulted in the creation of the Arts and Cultural Community in Burlington, a significant report on the state of culture in the city and the development of a Culture Action Plan plus the appointment of a Manager of culture at city hall. Copp sees that as just a start.
Last year the star of the cultural community was how many indy ‘up and coming’ local artists/orgs ‘up and came.’
 Kune Hua’s Wish Garden at the No Vacancy event held on Lakeshore Road this year. Selina Eckersall’s No Vacancy – a pop up Art event which was an unthinkable in Burlington five years ago – held its Supernova event this year on Lakeshore.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre saw its full local professional Series bloom with Tottering Biped Theatre, Nortsur, and Koogle Theatre all presenting works. The AGB’s new Executive Director Robert Stevens has for the first time acquired a piece by an internationally famous public art specialist from Lowville, Walt Rickli.
 The FORM brought some of the most progressive dance the city has seen – great performance poorly attended though. And an all-out first: FORM Contemporary Dance presented the first Burlington original contemporary dance event ever this past Fall.
Add in the Art in Action studio tour, the Burlington Slam Poets competing at the world championship, Symphony by the Bay rocking, and Burly Calling all holding their own beautifully.
This is what will finally get us to come into our own: artists doing it for themselves. We’ve been meeting up a storm at the City and progress is slow. The city is a big boat and takes a long time to turn, with several Councillors still needing convincing that the Arts have a place in our budget, not just our hearts.
Getting the City’s first manager of Culture Angela Paparizo into an office was a highlight – but we need a lot more of that going on so the City hall types can catch up to its people.
In 2016 I’d like to see even more independent artists making things happen. The Burlington Shebang – a multi-year collaboration of many local artists – will culminate at BPAC in May.
 The performance community really wants to see continued growth in for them in 2016 – they are hoping Susan Haines can deliver. She does need some time to put a program together. We’ll see if the new Executive Director at the Performing Arts Centre holds up Brian McCurdy’s vision of supporting local theatres. There’s a lot of possibility out there and we can have it all if we become impossible to ignore.
The City needs to kick in more real money and energy for the local artists: no more plans, we need money on the table. We are putting the ‘url’ back in Borington and this is our time.
By Pepper Parr
December 28, 2015
BURLINGTON,ON
Does the past give any hint on what the future will bring? What happened in 2015 – a review of 2015 quarter by quarter.
January 2015 – Not necessarily in chronological order.
Taxes, taxes, taxes – how much and what are they going to spend it on. The city has in the past worked to engage the public by holding workshops that are usually quite well attended – that didn’t prove to be the case in 2015 – a pathetic turnout for public meeting on the budget at the Mainway Recreation centre – drew less than three people. The weather wasn’t good but the weather couldn’t be blamed – hockey games being played at the rink next door drew hundreds of people. There was a message in there somewhere.
 Bridgewater stalls. The construction of a “legacy” project approved in 1995 on Lakeshore Road took a bit of a hit when the company brought in to build the three towers declared bankruptcy. It slowed down what eventually gets built on the southern side of Lakeshore Road
Property values rise 8.6% in Millcroft and the Orchard year over year; sales down 4%
Public got to hear that the city wanted to set the tax rate at – something upwards of 3.5% more than last year.
City provides an update on city manager recruitment. Burlington had just the one General manager, Scott Stewart and he is one of the people applying for the job of city manager. Pat Moyle was serving as interim city manager and Scott Stewart has been carrying the ball as the sole general manager. Council had not interviewed all the candidates.
 Scott Stewart Pat Moyle resigned to move into full retirement someone had to hold the job of city manager. City council appointed the city solicitor Nancy Shea Nicol as the interim city manager. Normally she reports to the General manager – Scott Stewart. Nancy Shea Nicol reports to Scott Stewart but because Stewart is one of the finalists for the job of city manager Shea Nicol has been made the boss of the man who she reports to.
Scott Stewart was not appointed city manager – he quit and moved to Guelph
Mayor thinks a pilot private property tree bylaw restricted to Roseland community might work – but that idea didn’t get any traction either.
 Flood damage. First of the flood victims got to see some financial support. Of the 310 claims made for short term immediate help just three were turned down.
Call has gone out for possible mural locations around the city. Drop in a sample of the results.
City wanted to use photographs to animate the new website which raised hackles in the arts community – they wanted the city to pay for the pictures they used or at least give the photographer a photo credit. City decided to use stock pictures it could pick up free. Look for reader comments
Jan 20th
 ADI project The ADI development for lower Martha at Lakeshore Road was shown to the public for the first time. Public was close to outraged. It was pretty clear that Burlington wasn’t going for the ADI development proposal to put a 28 storey tower on the corner of Martha and Lakeshore Road.
Council gets a pay raise: Recommendation was to: Maintain the compensation for Councillors at $53,095 per year and the Mayor at $121,676 per year (in 2014) and adjust annually on April 1 by a percentage equal to the average annual change in the all Ontario consumer price index (CPI) for the twelve month period October to September with the provision that the increase is to have the following banding:
Report on the office space needs for the city never gets made public.
 Beachway house sold. First of the Beachway homes sold for $600,000
The ADI group argues at a city council meeting that the design of their 28 storey tower will serve as an excellent gateway on the eastern side of the city into the downtown core. Residents argue it will loom over the neighbourhood. The 22 storey Bridgewater project a couple of hundred yards away will reach 22 storeys into the air.
Flood relief cheques will begin to go out next week; just 50% of approved claims being paid now – balance to follow.
City council voted 6-1 to sell off pieces of city owned waterfront property. Public did not get to see a confidential report from the city solicitor.
 Hospital redevelopment February 2015
Hospital foundation raised $2 million in four months – 40 of the 60 million needed is in the bank.
Council committee “miraculously” approves a budget in 3.5 hrs – now it goes to council for the rubber stamp
Flood relief money making its way to victims; partial payments averaging $9000 +
Mayor delivers his fifth State of the City address – promises to never mention the Pier again.
Municipal bureaucrat from west coast, former armed services officer and currently an academic administrator appointed Burlington city manager.
Waterfront Hotel to be demolished at some future date – three structures will go on the site – planners excited about the potential.
 Low liquidation discounts. Target liquidation sale discounts seldom top 10%.
March 2015
The ADI development groups gets to the OMB before the city even gets to vote.
Premier meets with Mayors – Mayor Goldring has yet to tell us what they talked about.
 Giving back Mayor gives certificates of appreciation to boys and girls who raised a record 281,878 pounds of food in the Giving Back project.
Pop up Patios to appear on Brant Street May 1st.
Public got its first look at what Beachway Park could look like – it was a noisy meeting.
City planner Bruce Krushelnicki retires joins the Ontario Municipal Board.
 City council voted 6 – 1 to sell a stretch of waterfront property between |Market and st Paul street south of Lakeshore Road – staff had recommended the property be leased. Top story: Selling of waterfront property:
Each of these stories can be read in full – all you have to do is plug the words into the search engine at the top of the home page.
By Staff
December 25th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The kids have been up for hours, the gift are unwrapped and you are settling in for a comfortable day or perhaps visiting with family, or food for family that will arrive soon.
 You are enjoying the holiday.
Remember, if you will, what we are celebrating – and the why of it all.
By Pepper Parr
December 24, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
How many will there be? We have no idea, said Gillian Kearns, interim director at the Wesley Urban Ministries in Hamilton, one of the re-settlement points for those people who have been sponsored by the federal government.
We are gearing up to get ourselves to the point where we have 150 places we can house people – which we figure will allow us to handle up to 450 of these newly minted Canadians who have come to us from the war torn Middle East.
There are currently 17 people at the Wesley office in Hamilton where there are 36 rooms in what was once a senior’s home.
 Once a Seniors’ residence this Catherine street building in Hamilton is where the bus with new Canadians stops and where the process of re-settling people from the Middle East begins. This is the first intake point and where we begin the process of orienting them to life in Canada, said Kearns who has been working with Wesley Urban Ministries (WUM), for three years, an organization that has been around for more than 60 years. We help them open up their bank accounts, get them used to transit in Hamilton and walk through Jackson Square with them.
 A parking lot with graffiti all over the walls of a building across the street from the Wesley Urban Ministry offices is what greets the new Canadians who arrived last week – no grass and not a tree in sight – but the rooms are warm and the food is good. Wesley Urban Ministries is right in the middle of that part of town where there aren’t’ a lot of trees and the closest park is a couple of blocks away. One has to look hard to see any grass. An abandoned bus terminal is steps away from the entrance to the WUM door and a parking lot across the street with some very impressive graffiti. You’ll never see anything like that in Burlington – over here we call it public art and pay artists a pretty penny to put it in place.
Wesley is now in the throes of hiring intake case workers – there were four and now there are ten; just about everything else has scaled up at the same rate explains Kearns.
Kearn’s doesn’t know if any of the government supported new Canadians will get to Burlington. “The biggest issue is the cost of housing – the funds these resettled people get can barely pay for housing in Hamilton and as everyone knows housing in Burlington is much higher.
 Canada has grown to a significant degree from immigration – there was a time when the railways and steamship companies advertised for immigrants. This poster is part of the story told when times were very different. Those that get to live in Burlington will be part of the group that came into the country as private sponsorships – there is no link between the government sponsorships and those that are privately sponsored.
There are about 20 groups in Burlington that are working on private sponsorships.
Individuals and faith groups have banded together to support families – to do so the group has to show that is has $30,000 committed to supporting the family for a year. We don’t know at this point what kind of oversight there is for these private sponsorships.
We do know that the rest of the world marvels that Canadians pull together and help these people financially, emotionally – they almost adopt them.
Canada has brought in around 7,000 immigrants each year with about 300 of them starting their lives in Hamilton, so we have quite a bit of experience explains Kearns – this wave however is made up of people who had to make decisions very quickly and they left conditions that were pretty miserable.
Of the 25,000 the federal government has said will come to Canada about 10,000 will be private sponsorships.
Wesley has an offsite kitchen that prepares meals for several of the Wesley operations. Their chefs know how to prepare the diet Middle Eastern people want.
Each day begins with breakfast which the immigrants prepare for themselves in the small kitchen in the building, the other meals are brought in.
The first group haven’t been here a week yet and we don’t know when the next group is going to arrive. The general public know about as much as we do. When the aircraft land in Toronto or Montreal decisions are made at that end as to where people are going to be sent. We get a call telling us that a bus is on the way with a certain number of people and we take it from there.
 Hundreds of Burlingtonians gathered at a public meeting early in December to learn what they could do to support immigrants who were about to arrive in Canada. We have no idea what is coming our way and the people on the bus know very little about where they are going – just that they are now safe, that the sheets on the bed are clean and they have a future to look forward to in a country that has welcomed them.
The hardest part of the task for the people doing the day to day work is always being “brain tired”. The problems just keep rolling in. Our case workers explained Kearns hear stories that are horrifying every day – we have to ensure that both our case workers and the people they are helping get the support they need as they do what is difficult work.
We create a profile for each immigrant so that we can figure out what they need to learn in terms of life skills; what they have in terms of work experience and education. They are in our care for as much as a year. The objective is to get them started and let them figure out what they want to do – they can basically go anywhere they want. They are permanent residents of Canada and in five years they can become citizens.
 Gillian Kearns, on the right, exchanges information with Burlingtonians at a public meeting early in December. She works with a team of people at the Wesley Urban Ministries helping the immigrants that have arrived re-settle themselves. Our job is to know as much as possible about each person so we can help them resettle themselves. We bring in people to do a full medical checkup – we look for signs of serious emotional stress and guide people who have come from half way around the world to a place they knew very little about adjust. The work is exciting Kearns added but there is just so much to do.
Clothing for everyone; answering the questions they have and helping them keep in touch with those they left behind. Getting the children into school and ensuring they can adapt.
At a time of year when the rest of us are celebrating a major cultural and religious event, at a time when we usually have snow, we too have to adapt to a change and at the same time help those in our care adapt to the massive change in their lives.
It is exhilarating and at the same time it is tiring, adds Kearns – but if we get it right we will have brought to this country people who will add to what we are – a caring, giving people who made a place for them in this world.
There is a small reception office on the ground floor of the Wesley Urban Ministry on Catherine Street where a cheerful well informed woman answers the phone and keeps in touch with staff. From time to time someone will quietly walk in and place an envelope on the counter. The receptionist smiles and asks – “would you like a receipt?” No – you can mail it, thank you.
That’s the way it works in this country.
Ciné-Starz Upper Canada Place, Burlington, ON
Week of Friday, December 25, 2015 through Thursday, December 31, 2015
In the Heart of the Sea (PG)
Fri – Thu: 11:00 AM, 12:45, 3:00, 5:30, 7:35, 9:40
Creed (14A)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 2:50, 4:50, 7:10, 9:40
The Good Dinosaur (G)
Fri – Thu: 11:00 AM, 1:00, 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 9:30
Love the Coopers (PG)
Fri – Thu: 11:00 AM, 5:10
The Peanuts Movie (G)
Fri – Thu: 11:10 AM, 1:00, 3:20
Spectre ()
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 2:45, 5:00, 7:05, 9:30
Suffragette (PG)
Fri – Thu: 3:35, 5:10
Bridge of Spies (PG)
Fri – Thu: 7:05 PM
Goosebumps (PG)
Fri – Thu: 11:05 AM
The Martian (PG)
Fri – Thu: 7:15, 9:40
Hotel Transylvania 2 (G)
Fri – Thu: 11:00 AM, 1:10
The Intern (PG)
Fri – Thu: 9:45 PM
 By Pepper Parr
December 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The parking spots outside city hall are not actually assigned to specific members o council but they each have habits and the Mayor tends to take the one closest to the building – he also tends to back is car in.
Late last week the Mayor was scooting across the parking lot while I was having a conversation with Councillor Taylor. The Mayor didn’t head for the car the city provides him as Mayor for the city – he headed for a small but very smart looking BMW.
 Smart little BMW being loaned out to people that will allow Burlington Hydro to collect usage data. Mayor was one of the earlier experimenters. Councillor Taylor mentioned something about getting to use the car sometime in the future – that was when the Mayor explained that the car was the property of Burlington Hydro – it was an all-electric vehicle that was being loaned out to various people to learn more about their driving habits. Along with the all-electric car there was an EV charging station where the user of the car could “fill-up”.
Burlington Hydro realizes that electric cars are becoming more popular and they need to ensure that the electricity grid that feeds hydro to our homes can manage the additional load that electric cars will place on the system.
Dan Guatto, a vice president and the COO for Burlington Hydro explained that each transformer on the streets of Burlington could probably handle as many as seven electric cars if the owners had EV charging stations in their homes.
And that is where hydro expects people to get the electricity they need into those cars.
 Electric vehicle charging station in city hall parking lot. The EV charging stations however are not just a big battery that put electricity into a car – they are actually “smart” EV chargers that are tied into the North American electricity grid with enough computing power to be programmed and managed the flow of electricity into the electric car and to manage the flow out of the car as well.
Guatto explains that the managing of the electricity is a significant challenge – the grid that we have in place wasn’t built for this added demand. So we have to manage the process of charging all those cars – ideally he added we would like to use nuclear generated electricity that we call upon late at night when it is least expensive.
The task right now is to determine what the demand I going to be – and the start of that process is to have the Mayor and other members of council driving the BMW while all the data is recorded and analyzed.
The Gazette doesn’t recall getting a media release from the city on this really interesting initiative – had we not spotted the Mayor getting out of the BMW we would never have learned about the program.
The city did have an EV charging station installed at the city parking lot on Locust Street and there was one of those infamous photo-ops done.
What has us scratching our heads is – why wouldn’t the Mayor want the citizens of the city to know about the program. It certainly fits into the Community Energy Plan that the Mayor loves to talk about.
One political wag suggested the Mayor didn’t want to have to explain to the public why he was driving a BMW leased by hydro. The Gazette would love to see the Mayor championing this initiative – it a great one.
The Gazette did suggest that its publisher might be able to help with the gathering of useful data if he had access to the BMW for a period of time – there was no response to that idea.
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